Marco Huck vs. Denis Lebedev RBR

Round 1

Firtha jabs forward, imposing his size. Povetkin stays shelled up and circles while blocking. Povetkin tries a few low-dipping jabs and lead rights to the body, Ibragimov-style. Firtha rushes in to press against Povetkin whenever the body shots start coming his way in combination. They begin to clinch up with Firtha grabbing Povetkin in a headlock. Povetkin is being more aggressive now, thrusting up a 1-2 off the front foot. Firtha is mostly trying to block and no longer mounting any offense.

10-9 Povetkin

 

They must have a delay. :think

You may want to stop reading for a while to avoid spoilers, if you prefer to watch it in real time.

 

Round 2

The two heavyweights jockey for position with their feet, moving laterally together and squared up facing each other. They each fire their jabs with a short step, trying to make the other man give ground but neither succeeding. Povetkin's jab finds its mark a bit quicker, but he's reaching up to land it. Nice lead left hook around the guard by Povetkin. Firtha smiles to acknowledge it. They clinch up and Povetkin hits while holding with his free arm. Firtha has a big 1-2 ducked. Povetkin is dancing in front of him in defensive rhythm but is shy with counters.

20-18 Povetkin but the rounds are fairly close.

 

Round 3

Povetkin jabs to the body and darts back out. Firtha puts his arms high up overhead - showboating, maybe? Povetkin doesn't like it and charges him with a series of hard punches that drive Firtha to the ropes. They carry each other back to the middle and return to warring jabs and falling into clinches. Povetkin throws a quick little 1-2 that surprises Firtha and whistles through his gloves but doesn't appear to hurt as it was more speed than power. They come together and Firtha does a bit better with the infighting, shoeshining to Povetkin's chest until he backs off. They are grabbing and holding each other's arms quite a bit now and are warned for it by the official. Povetkin again closes out the round taking a 20 second or so defensive breather.

 

Round 4

Firtha leads with his jab but isn't reaching Povetkin with it as the smaller man shrimps up and takes baby steps out of the way. Firtha starts launching himself forward to lunge with the jab now, and Povetkin simply adjusts by springing back off his heels. Firtha is the aggressor but is falling short with just about all of his jabs. He tries a few slow uppercuts aimed at Povetkin's body but they don't come close either. Povetkin lands a 1-2 to the body but has barely countered. Firtha lands an uppercut. Povetkin lands another low 1-2 whlie ducking a Firtha right hand. Firtha tries to blast Povetkin at mid range and takes a stiff jab in the face.

 

Nobody.

 

Round 5

Povetkin comes forward behind his jab and lands a vicious hook to the body. Firtha is pawing up and down with his jab but not looking to engage at close quarters. He pushes down on Povetkin's head with his forearm when close. It is getting pretty ugly. Povetkin repeatedly lands jabs from the outside before getting folded up with his back pushed down. Firtha lands a right hand on Povetkin while ducking but misses an entire follow-up combo. Firtha lands a jab and a body shot during some quick circling with both looking tired and off balance.

I haven't yet found a clear round for Firtha, but Povetkin hasn't been as consistently sharp in 3-5 as he was in the first two. He only looks decent in spurts and takes large chunks of time off.