Fight Night Review 25th June 2016

fight night, review
On Saturday night the O2 hosted a packed night of boxing here is my review of all the action.

 

Anthony Joshua v Dominic Breazeale 

 

Anthony Joshua put on an impressive display to retain his IBF world championship with a 7th round knockout.

 

The atmosphere was electric as Joshua walked to the ring and he seem to be loving it!

In the 1st round Joshua came out working behind his jab and seem to able to tag Breazeale at will, just waiting for the perfect time to throw his right hand. In the 2nd he rocked Breazeale, but Breazeale recovered well.  However it just looked like a matter of time before the inevitable happened. The 3rd was the same Joshua just couldn’t land his right hand clean. In the 4th Joshua rocked Breazeale again at this point I was thinking what is his chin made out of. In the 5th Joshua continued the onslaught but still he seem to be having trouble landing the killer blow, but you have to credit Breazeale’s defences and stamina to still be in there.

Going into the second half of the fight Joshua had won every round on my card. Going into the 7th Joshua was in complete control the only thing missing was the knockout, and seconds later it came in spectacular fashion.

George Groves v Martin Murray

Groves a worthy winner but you have to question the scoring yet again

 

Walking to the ring both men look tense but ready and you could see that both men knew what was at stake.

The 1st round was very much like a chess match both men just feeling each other out and not wanting to make a mistake.  The 2nd round started the same but Groves did seem to be landing more often and forcing Murray on to the back foot.  The 3rd started the same but by the middle to the end of the round punches started to flow from both of them with them both trying to be on the front foot.  In the 4th the fight came to life with both men letting their punches go but Murray seem to me to be having the better of it.  In the 5th Groves seemed happy to stay on his back foot and let Murray come on to him. Still Murray seemed to be landing the better punches.

Going into the second half of the fight I had it a draw but you could score it either way. In the 6th Groves tried to take control of the fight he was landing some powerful looking shots on Murray’s head and body. In the 7th Murray came back again but it was another round you could score either way. In the 8th Murray looked tired and it looked like Groves could land at will. In the 9th Murray tried  to come back and tee off on Groves but Groves still looked the fresher of the two and he could still move out of the way of Murray’s attacks. In the 10th Murray had the better of it rocking Groves more than once.  In the 11th both men looked exhausted and not much happened. So going in to the 12th it was still all to play for.   The 12th was another even round with both men giving everything they had. By the final bell I had Murray up by 1 but it could have gone either way.

Chris Eubank JR v Tom Doran

Chris Eubank looked impressive with a 4th round knockout to retain his British title.

Walking to the ring both looked up for it. Of course Eubank walked to the ring in over the top fashion. In the 1st round Eubank came out dancing and looking to work off his jab, but he didn’t have it all his own way Doran landed some good shots which staggered Eubank. In the 2nd both men had their share of success, but Eubank seem to be landing the better quality punches.  The 3rd started well for Doran but he didn’t make the most of it. Out of nowhere Eubank turned on the style and floored Doran but he did well to beat the count. The 4th started slowly but again Eubank floor Doran with a body shot again Doran beat the count, but seconds later  he was put over again, and again he beat the count. Then with 2 minutes and 35 seconds gone in the 4th Doran was put over yet again and the referee stopped the fight.

Conor Benn v Lukas Radic

Conor Benn continued to impress with a 1st round knockout.

Conor Benn got the big build up on he’s way to the ring.

From the 1st bell Benn looked to take control landing regularly and mid way through the round he put Radic on the canvas but he bravely beat the count, but seconds later he was knockdown heavily again and this time the referee didn’t even bother with  the count.

Dillian Whyte v Ivica Bacurin 

It was a good comeback for Dillian Whyte as he score a 6th round knockout.

Walking to the ring Whyte got a good reception and he look happy just to be back in the ring. In the first Whyte was boxing well behind his jab, he was looking to land power shots to both the head and body Bacurin could not get away from him. 2nd round was much the same Bacurin seemed to have no answers the only thing he could do was clinch and hold. The 3rd was much the same but Whyte was doing a great job of cutting the ring down.

 

Going into the second half of the fight I had Whyte winning every round. In the 4th Whyte was looking for more power shots but he couldn’t land clean.  The 5th was much the same but the fight was starting to get scrappy in the 6th Whyte wobble Bacurin more than once, and finally with 2 minutes and 6 seconds gone in the 6th Whyte put him down and he couldn’t beat the count.

John Wayne Hibbert v Andrea Scarpa 

Heartbreak for Hibbert as he’s stopped in the 6th rounds

Walking to the ring both men looked confident. In the first round Hibbert looked to get on the front foot, landing regularly  to Scarpa head and body.  At the start of the 2nd Scarpa came out swinging pinning Hibbert on the ropes,Hibbert battle back well towards the end of the round but Scarpa looked in control.  Hibbert had a better round in the 3rd, and it was shaping up to be a good fight. In the 4th Hibbert wobbled Scarpa with a shot to the body but Scarpa came back well. However Hibbert continued.  to land the better and more powerful punches. In the 5th disaster struck when he was put on the canvas with a heavy shot to his head, he also had a cut to deal with below his eye.

Going into the second half of the fight I had Hibbert up by one, but he looked like he’d got nothing left  in the tank. Mid way through the 6th Hibbert was stopped on the advice of the doctor.

Please comment below and let me know what you think.

 

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