Dmitry Yuriyevich Bivol vs. Lenín Castillo & Oleksandr Oleksandrovych Usyk vs. Chazz Witherspoon RBR

Round 1

Bivol is feeling out Castillo, feeding in the jab and veering aside to dodge Castillo's own lowered-gangplank jab. Bivol quicker and more accurate with his jab, and neither man is throwing much of anything else here in the opening frame. Castillo trying some different angles with his feet sliding along the canvas, never really picking them fully, just giving Bivol different looks with the jab and gauging his reactions. Bivol doing his own reconnaissance, jabbing alternately from the chest and hip and seeing if Castillo will respond to feints.

10-9 Bivol

 

For all his bulk, yeah.

 

I had been wondering if maybe Bivol was in for much less of a sure-thing breeze of a night's work than Usyk tonight...and that was back when the opponents were Castillo and Spong...

I like Chazz Witherspoon but even in his best night on his prime I don't think he can trouble Usyk any more than Castillo has through a round and change here against Bivol (which is to say, not really much, but more than I think Spoon can manage later)

 

Almost brushed a glove on the canvas versus Berridge. Almost.

 

The dance continues. No drama.

20-18 Bivol