*** Dmitry Pirog vs. Javier Maciel RBR - live on ESPN3.com ***

:good

I really hope this winds up on Youtube for our boxing fan brethren who weren't able to join us this afternoon.

 

Good score. :deal

 

Round 8

Nagaev tries to back Rahimov up. Rahimov stuffs a few upjabs in his face, then converts a pulled jab into a hook. Rahimov landing better but breathing heavily. Wrestling, that will sap his strength in a hurry.. Nagaev body punching. Jab from Nagaev, and then a hook to the body. Right hand to the body. Left hook, right hand left hook right hand left hook to the body. OH!!! Rahimov wakes up, and blasts Nagaev with a nice triplet of 1-2's!! Backing Nagaev up, hurting him! Nagaev goes right back to work on Rahimov's body. Both guys throw hard shots, all deflected. BIG FOUR PUNCH COMBO BY RAHIMOV!!!

***** of a round to score..I think Rahimov stole it. 77-75

 

Slight concern in Nagaev's corner..

 

Round 9

Rahimov pushes him to the ropes and Nagaev starts tossing out body punches like a cornered animal. Rahimov leans against him. Uppercut by Rahimov. Nagaev flurries but Rahimov ducks (and doesn't even need to put much effort into it as he's so short already ). Rahimov landing, pecking away at Nagaev but lets him off the ropes. Rahimov jabs up high, leaves the glove in Nagaev's face and smacks him in the side of the head with a right palm. Nagaev isn't getting any body punches off, ineffectively slapping at the head and trying to old. Rahimov jabs him in the face and lands a right cross. Clinch. Double left hook by Nagaev, blocked. A couple of soft right hands land by Nagaev. Flurry by Nagaev, but Rahimov taps him on the head with several short blows, causing him to dip at the waist and take a few flush shots to the forehead as he backs up awkwardly. Rahimov pushes forward and lands an uppercut. Big flurry by Nagaev, but not much of it is landing and none of it is damaging. Nagaev lands a surprise left hook!! Right hand!! Left hook!! Whoa! Where did that come from?

Good ending by Nagaev, but honestly Rahimov did plenty to get the round.

 

The teeny tiny one.

 

Round 10

Rahimov lets fly jabs and uppercuts but isn't landing as Nagaev shields himself by just pushing his arms out in the line of fire. Nagaev lands a couple of clapping blows to the head and then refocuses on the body. Rahimov leaning but not punching again. Wrestling. Hook to the nape by Rahimov, sort of an unintentional rabbit punch. Nagaev works the body. Rahimov slaps out with some high combos but hitting arm. Nagaev landing body shots. Nagaev is ducking down in between his volleys and Rahimov is scraping his back with hooks. Big body shots by Nagaev. Lots of effective body shots scoring by Nagaev. Rahimov gets an odd power shot in here and there, but getting outworked this round. Clinch. Nagaev keeps working his arms, but they're wet noodles.

Nagaev got it.

96-94 Rahimov

 

Through ten, 96-94 for the home boy.

Rustam could eke out a draw if he owns the championship rounds.

He needs a KO to win for me, and isn't likely to get one unless Rahimov gasses badly.