Andres Cortes Defies High Octane Abraham Nova, Seeks Unanimous Decision
Andres Cortes failed to do his job on the scales but was finally rewarded in the ring.
The local junior lightweight prospect was credited with more accurate hitting in a decision win over Abraham Nova. The scores were 97-93, 97-93 and 96-94 for Cortes, despite Nova’s high-octane attack Friday on ESPN+ from the BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas.
Cortes jumped up and started hard. It was in line with his fighting style, although he owed it some after the beating on Thursday. The undefeated North Las Vegas native was 0.8 pounds over the junior lightweight limit and didn’t bother to shed the excess weight. The opening round saw both boxers have their moments. Cortes was the more accurate and efficient of the two, although Nova always put up a fight.
The second was the best in Cortes’ fight. Nova entered the fight as a contender, having lost to WBC 130-pound contender O’Shaquie Foster (22-2, 12 KOs) earlier this year. However, he struggled to defend the uppercut, which Cortes landed at will with both hands.
The change happened a third time. Nova connected with digging body shots and all of Cortes’ previous powerful attacks. It was Nova who became a busy fighter after Cortes set the pace early.
Anxiety grew in Cortes’ corner through five rounds. Luis Cortes, Andres’ older brother and head coach, was worried that Nova was stealing rounds and would run away with the decision.
Cortes tried to take the lead in the second half but was often forced to score. Nova continued to come forward but was not as efficient as he had been in previous rounds. Cortes used self-defense to set up his case. Nova’s wild shot was fired by Cortes, who responded with a right. Still, Nova was a very busy fighter as he threw 99 punches in the round.
Nova stepped up his offense in the eighth, as he threw 113 punches. Cortes spent most of the round based on the ropes or defense. He had a brief period of success with a pair of counter rights. Nova shrugged off the blows and released at the last minute.
Fatigue clearly set in for Cortes, the results of a bad weight cut and failure to make 130. Nova drove home a one-two down the middle. Cortes got his back against the ropes again, where he allowed Nova to let his hands go in hopes of making a mistake. It wasn’t going to happen, as Nova always hit with his right hand.
The action understandably slowed down in the tenth and final round. Nova landed 120 punches in the ninth and picked more downs. Cortes tried to close the gap but was taken by right hands every time. Adjustments were made as Cortes stepped back and went inside. Cortes landed a left hook in the final ten seconds for the win.
Cortes moved to 22-0 (12 KOs) with the win, although he will have to decide his weight class moving forward. He insisted that the fight for the title is in his hands but he still has to show that he can win 130.
Nova dropped to 23-3 (16 KOs). The loss is the second in a row, although surprisingly he also walked away with a positive reaction to his career. He took the loss despite throwing and landing more punches, 198-of-763 compared to 172-of-497 for Cortes. However, it was Cortes’ sharper hitting (34.6%, compared to Nova’s 25%) that swayed the judges.
Top ranked WBO featherweight Rafael Espinoza (24-0, 20 KOs), No. 6 at 126 by The Ring, defending against local Sergio Chirino (22-1, 13 KOs).
