Denis Lebedev vs. James Toney & undercard RBR

Round 6

Melendez is down, but it's a slip/push from Bakhtin's forearm. Bakhtin stays on the jab. Melendez rolls his fists around in nervous circles, getting backed up to the ropes and trying in vain to time and place a counter. Melendez taps himself on the chin, showing some bravado as he eggs Bakhtin on. Bakhtin responds by pressing in and shoving his left forearm against Melendez's throat to throttle him and get him leaning involuntarily back over the edge of the top rope. Bakhtin keeps jabbing from outside and working the body with quick vicious snaps once he corners Melendez.

60-52 Bakhtin

 

Thanks! My concentration isn't optimal right now.

 

Round 7

Bkahtin is jabbing Melendez's face off. Melendez has turned southpaw but it isn't doing him much good. Now he's getting his explorative right jab countered with lefts and is even more open to that right cross down the middle. Bakhtin tags Melendez and opens up with even longer and harder combos, almost losing his balance and having to hold Melendez briefly for support.

70-61 Bakhtin

 

Round 8

Melendez begins with some fire in his belly, digging lead lefts to the body and then harassing Bakhtin with a relentless high right jab. Melendez is spinning his fists around each other and seeming to get excited at the prospect of coming forward, which Bakhtin is allowing him to do. Melendez has pretty much shied Bakhtin into backing away and just tossing an occasional lone lead right hand. Melendez isn't landing much but is coming forward for the first half of the round. Bakhtin circles left and flicks his jab. Melendez steps in and lands a hooking left, glancing the jaw of Bakhtin. Combos from Bakhtin as he spins Melendez to the ropes and tees off on his guard. Lots of straight and sidelong slapping shots from Bakhtin, but most are blocked.

Most competitive round yet. If you were looking for one for Luis...

80-70 Bakhtin