On the main event for HBO's October 27 broadcast of Boxing After Dark, veteran Argentinian welterweight Luis Carlos Abregu derailed previously unbeaten Puerto Rican sensation Thomas Dulorme, knocking the younger fighter down early and then systematically breaking him down en route to a Round 7 TKO.
Dulorme looked confident early, employing superior hand speed to beat Abregu to the punch, getting the better of many exchanges. But Abregu hung tough and remained patient, and in the third round, he dropped Dulorme hard as the younger fighter exploded forward in attack mode.
Dulorme made it to the bell for the round, but Abregu measured him the entire time, landing hard, measured strikes as he trapped Dulorme in the corner.
In the fourth and fifth, Dulorme worked desperately and scored flush, punishing shots, but Abregu was able to shrug them off and keep coming. By the end of the sixth round, Abregu's ring experience had become evident, and he repeatedly walked his less-experienced opponent into punishing combinations to the body and head.
Abregu hurt Dulorme in the seventh and reacted like a shark sniffing blood. He knocked Dulorme down with a brutal combination in the corner, and the Puerto Rican's own corner asked the referee to wave off the action.
It was an impressive veteran performance for Abregu, who ran his professional record to 34-1 with 28 stoppages.
Abregu's only career setback came against the highly rated pound-for-pound fighter Timothy Bradley in a fight where the Argentinian was fighting with an injured right hand. After dispatching Dulorme, Abregu made it clear that he was hungry for redemption against the only man to hand him a professional loss.
Speaking to HBO's Max Kellerman in the ring post-fight, Abregu stated that he felt he could beat the unbeaten Bradley if he got a shot at him when healthy.
In the post-fight press conference, Abregu repeated his desire to gain redemption against Desert Storm. When asked who he wanted next, he only mentioned Bradley. When other fighters were mentioned, Abregu made it clear that he would fight whomever was available to advance his career.
But he kept coming back to Bradley.
Whether or not Bradley is likely to view a rematch with Abregu as an attractive option for his own career remains to be determined. Abregu is a sturdy, skilled professional, and with two good hands, he would be no easy out for Bradley.
Either way, Abregu has to be viewed as yet one more player in the loaded welterweight division. Since he won the WBC international title, it should put him in pretty good standing for a crack at Robert Guerrero's strap.
A showdown between Abregu and the Ghost would be a competitive, entertaining affair that would more than warrant a premium cable main event.
But any number of relevant, fan-friendly fights could be made with Abregu at this point. Aside from Pacquiao or Mayweather, he would be a credible, relevant opponent for anybody in the welterweight top 10.
Briggs Seekins is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, everything in this article is first hand reportage. Follow Briggs Seekins on twitter at https://twitter.com/Briggsfighttalk
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