ShoBox: Austin Trout vs. Frank LoPorto & Michael Oliveira vs. Xavier Toliver RBR

Round 2

Toliver starts out jabbing well but Oliveira walks him down and lands some reaching right hands to push Toliver back against the ropes. Toliver switches to southpaw and flurries in wide from the sides as Oliveira throws slow but straight shots down the middle. Now Toliver is caught on the ropes and Oliveira is teeing off with the 1-2, hooks, and looping powerful rights. Toliver is trying to just slap out with counter hooks while leaning back against the ropes. Oliveira is patient, letting Toliver get halfway through his hooking motion before starting the next attack. Toliver lands a couple of slaps to the body. Oliveira jabs his way in and hammers down with clubbing right hands that have Toliver covering up.

19-19

 

Eric Williams (Toliver's trainer) just betrayed an interesting strategy...

"We're going to have to give him the next round, too"

That is, they're going to have Xavier play it safe and do what he can to rest and conserve energy and probably concede a 10-9 round...sort of like in baseball when they intentionally walk a batter.

 

Round 3

Oliveira is marching forward slowly, swinging his heavily muscled left arm in front of his turned-aside body. Right hands try to drill Toliver against the ropes but Toliver has his own long right hand counter waiting to spring out of the corner! Oliveira marches in and bangs away with hooks up top (partially blocked on the back of Toliver's right glove, but clipping his ear) and short tapping uppercuts to the body as his left holds Toliver still by a grip on the back of his head. A few body shots by Toliver, but getting drowned by Oliveira's activity. Wild overhand right by Toliver. 1-2 by Oliveira bangs Toliver on the chin as he leans against the ropes.

29-28 Oliveira

 

"If I had my way, Showtime would show bantamweights and nothing else".

- Farhood

 

It just occurred to me - Bernstein & Farhood. :blood

These guys are usually Showtime's expert analysts...on separate shows. They're each usually paired with a play by play man (and sometimes a color commentator as third wheel).

 

Round 4

Oliveira is jogging forward, throwing some shots at Toliver's head and finding it but wary of the counter jab. Toliver is getting caught on the thick of the beard by some uppercuts. Toliver hangs in there, missing some jabs but making Oliveira constantly duck and remain passive. Solid right hand lead by Toliver. A sliding step back, and Toliver raises his guard while dipping and dodging back toward the ropes. Another good right hand. Oliveira comes forward and lands some wild looping power shots. Looping right to the body by Oliveira. Toliver leans in and tries to flop on him but has to step back out toward the ropes to avoid the body blows.

39-37 Oliveira