the what fights did you watch today\scorecard thread.

Josh Warrington SD12 Lee Selby

Warrington is a busy boy earlier and he takes control of the ring, the pace and of Selby. Selby looks to be the bigger man though and isn't shy of stalking and jabbing. Warrington though has a high guard, a slight twitch of the head that I imagine is disturbing when you're trying to measure him up, and is the harder worker when the tide breaks. Bad cut on Selby's left eye in the second after a clash of heads; body attack swings the round for Warrington who thrashes Selby throughout these three minutes.

I hate the word, but Selby really was exposed in this fight. He's "slick" he's "the white Mayweather" but when he ends up in a ring with a fighter who is bringing heavy educated pressure he gets caught flat-footed and running away straight, both of which will get you hit against Warrington. He studies up a bit in round three; more circular movement and more holding inside. I gave him a highly arguable fourth, too, but his ability to take a round seems directly related to Warrington's energy level who appears the total general here. If he wants to bring rushing coutner-pressure to Selby's work, he takes the round; if he wants to lead, he takes the round - Selby looked like he might force his way into the box seat in a narrow seventh and eighth but Warrington found new heights in the tenth and eleventh; a little closer than I remember it but still Warrington's fight.

117-111 Warrington.

Warrington:1,2,5,6,7,9,10,11,12.
Selby:3,4,8,.

 

Josh Warrington UD12 Carl Frampton

Warrington is actually right up there for a counter-rushing guy who can find the holes when he induces the disorganization. He gives guys frights but unlike many of his ilk he can actually take advantage of the confusion in a real way - rushes Framtpon out of position in the first and really hurts him while following up. I also like the way Warrington remains languid, de-wired pre-rushes, calm, just showing some deception in his style, not that Frampton is deceived but I think it does make a difference. The most interesting thing to me about the early going in this fight is that Warrington is barely outjabbing Frampton and probably out-jabbed Selby too when it mattered. He's showing the right movement, too, it's Frampton who looks static and planless.

I gave Frampton the fourth though and you could arguably give him the third so Frampton is still bang in the fight despite the disastrous start. Warrington controls the tempo; Frampton follows him round the ring at low risk unless Warrington rushes; then Warrington holds his ground - then Frampton steps off. It's up to Warrington whether he picks it up and forces a firefight on his man. He does so in five and clearly takes it. The seventh, though, is the real death knell for Frampton. Not a huge amount happens - short firefight in the middle of the ring on a minute which is very close - but Warrington lands the better punches. Frampton is supposed to be the bigger puncher and better technician but neither thing is apparent. So I have Frampton in need of fireworks after just seven rounds.

Hammering for me.

Warrington:1,2,3,5,6,7,9,10,11,12.
Frampton:4,8.

118-110 Warrington.

Official: 116-113, 116-112x2.

 

Josh Warrington SD12 Kid Galahad

This fight is not good, but it's got a very interesting first round. Galahad looks better defensively orthodox but offensively southpaw and is switching often. Loads of holding; warnings for the heads, mostly to Galahad. Warrington nicks the first though Galahad lands the single best punch. Warrington throwing a bit more together in combo though - Galahad is bound to try to slow this down, it's just the way it has to be. Second still absorbing though, both tempers are bad, interesting to see Galahad manhandle Warrington a bit.

Interesting to watch Warrington move off Galahad, try to bring him forwards. It's been interesting, Warrington's development; he was one-dimensional, then he wasn't, because he could out-jab jabbers and move rather well. But now he's just doing what he did against Selby and Frampton arguably when it isn't working. Maybe he is one dimensional, in a different sense. Horribly close fourth. I think Warrington lands the better stuff. Galahad outlanded him. Galahad also pivoting well, but he's not really punishing Warrington; i'm not too sure what to make of the pattern now. But I think Galahad controls the action so completely in the sixth he has to be given it. So I have them all square after six rounds. Galahad warned for holding though.

I'm actually quite enjoying this fight. It's weird, Warrington making the fight, Galahad countering well, holding judiciously and often controlling the action, he's the general. I end up with a draw, which feels about right.

Galahad:2,4,6,7,8,12.
Warrington: 1,3,5,9,10,11.

114-115.

 

Rey Vargas UD12 Franklin Manzanilla

Vargas had a good year last year, doing away with one of the perennially irritating Kameda brothers and with Franklin. Huge for a super-bantam at close to 5'11 he remains decent on the inside, and better than decent when he finds his way. Landed a double left uppercut right-hand combo on Kameda that needed to be seen to be believed. This is reportedly the fight where Vargas began to mix more in close as opposed to replying upon that reach and height.

Vargas was dropped heavily in the second though and it looked heavy. The warning signs were there for Rey, Franklin was charging him pretty aggressively and winging on occasion. Right uppercut sent Vargas snooping back and he got dropped with the follow up left hook. Round was in the balance anyway, but that's a handy point for Franklin. Fight on.

Vargas looks to establish the jab at the beginning of the third, but he can't resist the opportunity to land a right uppercut to the torso and right hand in combination; gorgeous punches. He really does punch fluidly for such a stringy chap. Triple left hooks from Vargas who is hunting the body from his lofty settlement in the fourth; he's also cut by an accidental clash of heads in this round, doesn't look serious. Franklin is still rushing but he's rushing with so much commitment when he does (And he's doing it less) that he quite often finds himself off balance. Vargas is dominating outside and generally landing the best stuff inside. Probably Manzanilla won the sixth with one of those persistent rushes and some nice bought jabs (though this round is arguable) to keep in touch. The fight is close after six but doesn't feel close. Surprisingly good though, this is my first time watching it.

Point off for Franklin for hitting on the break. In truth though, he's been fighting pretty dirty. Cuts Vargas again with another accidental headbutt to underline this; Vargas will probably try to keep distance now. Manzanilla is a wild man: hitting after the bell, pushing, pushing on the head, headbutts, cuts over both eyes for Manzanilla, it's a pretty crazy fight. I can't really say Vargas coasts home, but he's certainly taken some of the pep from Manzanilla with that bodywork and he's able to score points with the jab in the closing rounds to make sure.

Thoroughly enjoyed this.

116-109.

Vargas:1,3,4,5,8^,9,10,11,12.
Manzanilla:2*,6,7^,

*Vargas down.
^Manzanilla point off for hitting on the break then unsportsmanlike conduct (pushing).

Official: 117-108 x3.

 

Isaac Dogboe TKO11 Jessie Magdaleno

Magdaleno sets himself up early as the boxer, pawing with that range finding southpaw jab, Dogboe bringing the pressure; and it's good pressure until he gets knocked on his ass. He holds a little behind that knockdown, Dogboe, as Magdaleno turns stalker, but he's fighting back by round's end, albeit with limited effectiveness. Dogboe looks shy in the second, understandably, and when he does move in he's off-balance. He has a lot of wor to do at closing this gap, will be interesting to see how he achieves it...he wins the second by sweeping Magdaleno back with wide hooks, nothing special, but enough to bag a nothing round.

Magdaleno wins the third with a gorgeous counter left hook and then he steps in with Dogboe and wins exchanges in the second half of the round. But Dogboe was wining the round before that punch landed, steady pressure, stepping inside, pushing Magdaleno back with his superior strength, head to shoulder, landing body shots. Magdaleno should have learned from the third that he needs a punch to win rounds, if he just boxes he will lose. Though tbf he is winning after three. Dogboe is re-establishing his pressure with meaning in the fourth though and he is having success cornering Magdaleno who is arguably showing signs of inactivity. In the fifth Magdelano comes out a little more aggressively, gets caught square and is dropped heavily by a single left hook. Very lazy, very weak to be hit by such a knockdown but Dogboe goes right to work behind it, winning the round clearly and rather brutally to take the lead in the fight for the first time.

Dogboe doesn't really come with serious volume, but he punches hard and he waits until his man is compromised positionally before getting serious, usually. So it's a different kind of heart-breaking. Magdaleno doesn't look worn yet, but he's not having a great time. He tends to get out-fought in fire-fights - such as the beginning of the seventh - and it leaves him a little planless. Hard to attack him but giving ground just lets Dogoe get the momentum going. When he gives, he ends up at the ropes where Dogboe is exploring his uppercut and his left hook below the elbow. There is enough variety to keep Magdaleno confounded. Eight and nine are just rewrites of the same story. In the tenth they play the familiar game, Magdaleno surely aware that he's in desperate trouble, and should be looking for the KO. He's mostly circling away though and giving ground when he gets hit. Magdaleno gets hurt by a two punch combo, covers up on the ropes and allows himself to be dashed to the body. Magdaleno just looks all in to me.

The eleventh round stoppage, when it comes, feels a relief. Magdaleno seems determined to duke it out ring centre, but once again finds himself by the ropes pretty quick. A left hook keeps him down to the count of eight and Dogboe's follow up body attack is the first really sick spell in the fight. The referee rightly rescues his man when he's ditched by another punch to the head.

Dogboe: 2,4,5^,6,7,8,9,10.
Magdaleno:1*,3,

*Dogboe down
^Magdaleno down