Vitali Klitschko vs. Manuel Charr RBR

Round 2

Meryaesev is hooking the body on the way in and clobbering Rajapbaev with a precipitation of rights to the temple. Rajapbaev gamely hangs in the pocket and tries to bounce his fists off Meryasev's chest but can't hold him back. HARD left hook to the head by Meryasev after a half-step back to set it up, rocking Rajapbaev over to one side as he covers up. They fight in the clinch, shoving each other back and forth and chipping away down low. Rajapbaev summons up a reserve of energy and puts together a long burst to get off the ropes, but Meryasev blocks most of it while stepping back.

20-18 Meryasev

 

Round 3

Meryasev has turned southpaw and is putting in left uppercuts to the body, but getting slapped in either side of the face with counters coming forward. Hard lefts driven across by Meryasev, putting Rajapbaev nearly on the ropes. Rajapbaev wisely twists his heels at just the right moment to avoid ever backing all the way into the ropes as they navigate around the full perimeter of the ring; Meryasev working the body and Rajapbaev looking for counters where he can find them. Nice right hand doubled up by Rajapbaev, uppercut (really almost an upside-down straight shot) to the ribs and then a cross to the jaw. Meryasev keeps pushing forward and wrestles Rajapbaev into submission in the middle of the ring, roughing him up but no longer focusing his body attack.

Really weird choice by Meryasev to turn southpaw. It didn't make him more effective; quite the contrary, it made this very close.

30-27 Meryasev

 

You don't learn defense crushing cans.

 

Round 4

Meryasev dives in, wearing his palms like a hood, drilling at the body of Rajapbaev. Light counters bounce off Meryasev's head, hooks and looping rights as Rajapbaev takes large steps away to draw him into them. Big digs to the body by Meryasev, but Rajapbaev is landing the eye-catching head shots. Right hand, left hook, right hand by Rajapbaev briefly taking the lead and collapsing atop Meryasev when finished. Double jab, and right hand to the face by Rajapbaev, keeping Meryasev quiet. Nice combo by Rajapbaev on the front foot at the bell.

10-9 Rajapbaev

39-37 Meryasev

 

I think the loud voice over the PA just now was announcing the open scoring. :? It's in Russian though, so...

 

Round 5

Meryasev is flopping in with his shoulders hiked up to his face, and chopping at the body on the inside while leaned up against Rajapbaev. Left and right hooks to the brow by Rajapbaev as he tries to push out and hold Meryasev off and stay clear of the ropes. Uppercut by Rajapbaev, huge effort, snapping his knees locked with it, but blocked. Rajapbaev again finishes the round backing Meryasev up with steady combos.

10-9 Rajapbaev, but that was another close one. Meryasev got in some tasty left hooks despite his output withering.

48-47 Meryasev

 

Round 6

Rajapbaev loops a pair of rights around Meryasev's emergent guard. Hard body shots by Meryasev, ducking forward very low and blocking until he's in position. Rajapbaev is herded into a trot as the crowd gets anxious thinking Meryasev may have done some damage. Meryasev keeps stalking, looking for more body shots. He's a southpaw now, waving a right jab. Rajapbaev circles right and lets his upper body fall away, hanging out of reach. The stance is too awkward for Meryasev to pressure with, so he goes back to orthodox and rips a massive left hook under the spleen. Hard body shots by Meryasev throughout the last minute.

10-9 Meryasev

58-56 Meryasev