ESPN2 FNF: Argenis Mendez vs. Rances Barthelemy & Caleb Truax vs. Ossie Duran RBR

Round 7

Truax is moving and tossing uppercuts into the body of Duran, loading them up while on the back foot and twisting inside to dig them into the ribs but leaving his lacerated face exposed to Duran's jabs and the newly introduced chopping overhand right. Duran has Truax running and pawing light jabs into the air, looping rights into the back of Duran's left glove. Truax is bouncing around nervously as Duran smoothly rolls in like a tank, occasionally scoring with jabs and chops on the moving target as he maneuvers him wherever he pleases. Desperate body shots wound in from outside by Truax.

10-9 Duran, close

69-64 Truax

 

Round 8

Truax is getting consistently backed up by the overhand right, nearly trapped on the ropes. Truax dives in behind the blocked jab and grabs until the ref asks him to let go. Duran is walking forward with his forearms pinned together in a net to catch Truax's jab. Counter uppercut by Truax as Duran comes in. Chopping right by Duran. Truax zigzags in and out with jabs between the thumbs and curled rights under the left elbow, not lingering enough for Duran to give him a receipt.

10-9 Truax

79-73 Truax

 

36, which is old for how many hard rounds Duran has gone with a slew of world class boxers. He looked awful last time versus Korobov - this is actually better than I expected from him. (and conversely, worse from Truax who is supposed to be in a showcase here...)

 

Atlas has it a draw, 76-76, giving Duran the eighth.

 

Round 9

Truax is popping very light double jabs into Duran's nose as he darts in and out, tiring visibly as he does more leaning in on Duran than jogging and shimmying now. Duran is catching most of Truax's jabs that don't skim through pure air on his forearms and blasting Truax on his bloodied face with his own ramrod jab. Chopping rights by Duran are ducked as Truax keeps moving in and out and then aside to get into a circling rhythm for a spell between rushes in to lean and rest.

10-9 Duran

88-83 Truax

 

Stats through nine:

Truax 98 of 608, 16%
Duran 99 of 387, 26%