Chris van Heerden vs. Matthew Hatton RBR

Round 1

Mabuza is walking Hlatshwayo down and plunking both fists down hard on the body. A bit of head movement by Mabuza parachuting in, but still not respecting Hlatshwayo's pop one bit. Weak counter jabs pushed out by Hlatshwayo, and some of his own slaps to the body, but Mabuza is steering him consistently to the ropes and getting the best of him there.

10-9 Mabuza

20-18 Mabuza

 

Round 3

Mabuza is throwing powerful rights up top behind a stiff and mean set-up jab. Everything straight and compact form Mabuza. Hlatshwayo is giving ground and putting high jabs into the wrists of Mabuza, not generating the same penetrating snap that Mabuza's got on his. Hlatshwayo ties up. Break. Mabuza keeps grinding in, leans against Hlatshwayo, and throws a huge uppercut that catches a piece of the tip of his chin as Hlatshwayo pulls back. Hlatshwayo is trapped on the ropes and tries to hook free, but Mabuza slides outside and resets before diving back in with more hard clips to the body. Hlatshwayo is pushed into a corner and clubbed with a high right over his cross-turned left arm. Weak jabs by Hlatshwayo, Mabuza passing through them like a bead curtain.

10-9 Mabuza

30-27 Mabuza

 

I see no reason for Hlatshwayo to make the final bell.

 

Round 4

Mabuza keeps the sled flying, mushing the huskies with the stiff high jab. Mabuza hooks off the jab, reaching and tapping Hlatshwayo on the side of the head. Hlatshwayo loads up on a 1-2 leaning back with his legs set wide, trying to punch himself a reprieve. Mabuza is unimpressed and keeps grinding in. Hlatshwayo bounces a jab off his crown and relents, letting Mabuza push him to the ropes once more. Hlatshwayo triples a jab as Mabuza dips low for an uppercut and nearly slips on the canvas in so doing. Mabuza whirls in rights over the top as Hlatshwayo backs off and jabs. Mabuza is spun to the ropes from a short lean-in and Hlatshwayo hooks at him petulantly.

10-9 Mabuza

40-36 Mabuza

 

Round 5

Hlatshwayo is circling to the right on his rickety stilts, throwing the 1-2 and having a bit of success on the outside getting off first while making Mabuza lunge in with diving rights. Mabuza is throwing the jab before he's shifted his lead heel off the canvas, adding a bit of jerkiness and drag to his motions. Hlatshwayo is still getting backed up and nicked with the 1-2 but is putting in more counters and nearly tit for tat. 1-2 to the forehead by Hlatshwayo as Mabuza rushes in. Hlatshwayo leans back to make Mabuza miss a few uppercuts.

10-9 Mabuza, but that one was close.

50-45 Mabuza

 

"He ees holding zee wattah een hees mouth and hee ees not speeting eet back in zee boo-keet. Hee ees swallowing eet which means hee ees dee-ha-DRAY-todd. Hee ees verrah dee-ha-DRAY-todd. :nod"

 

Round 6

Hlatshwayo is circling to the ropes and doubling his steps to angle off them, throwing straightaway jabs and light upper combos to the body on the ever-present Mabuza. The pressure and body punching never quite lets up as Mabuza begins to pace himself slightly and mix in big left hooks over the guard. Weak jab and overhand by Hlatshwayo scoring before the bell.

10-9 Mabuza, another close-ish one.

60-54 Mabuza

(could at best for Hlatshwayo be 58-56 Mabuza...)

 

Setting up a robbery? :err

The commentators are talking about how it could be scored a variety of ways and "anything could happen".

 

Round 7

Hlatshwayo is roaming with his rear foot, kicking it out behind himself and waiting until he feels solid ground beneath to put out his light counter jabs. Mabuza presses in, bodies up against Hlatshwayo, pushes off and fires a few hard uppercuts. Hlatshwayo ducks a wide hook and clinches Mabuza tightly. The ref has to order a break. Quick combo to the guard by Hlatshwayo. Mabuza goes into a shell. Hlatshwayo presses the advantage and gets a few licks in atop Mabuza's head, over his gloves. Mabuza seizes back the reins and rides Hlatshwayo to the ropes, putting in those body shots.

10-9 Mabuza

70-63 Mabuza