Ren TV/Ushatayka: Murat Georgievich Gassiev vs. Ademola Michael James Balogun RBR

They just showed brief highlights of Balogun destroying Trey Lippe.

 

...oh god, did they have a 4pm EST (midnight in Moscow, 1am in Yerevan) ring walk time baked into this shebang the whole time? Were they counting on Bayona vs. Rasulov going the distance? Is that why all this filler?

 

Repeating the same - and I mean exact same - package of Gassiev highlights from ten minutes ago now.

At this rate @CST80 might actually wake up in time.

 

Murat Georgievich Gassiev vs. Ademola Michael James Balogun, 10 rounds @ heavyweight

 

This is for the vacant WBA inter-continental heavyweight title.

Interestingly, the ring announcer introduced Gassiev with "and the challenger for 'his' belt..." after having just introduced Balogun.

Mike Balogun has never been WBA inter-continental heavyweight champion.

Dude isn't on his A-game tonight, but he does get high marks for enthusiasm with all the screaming. Going to need some tea with honey on those pipes all weekend.

He obviously wants to make his mark with that catchphrase "let the fists...now...FLY!"

 

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Round 1

Gassiev is coming forward, reining up a couple of paces off from Balogun, then dipping low with his knees bowed outward to either side, then half-stepping in with a jab feint and pulling back. Very cagey stuff. Balogun for his part not taking any bait, just rowing out the southpaw jab comfortably from mid-range, happy to play some patty-cake with Gassiev's roaming left glove. Neither has thrown a spiteful power shot yet, over two minutes in. Gassiev is applying pressure but not firing. Balogun flurries his way out of a corner and is clipped on the bottom of the jaw obliquely by a Gassiev right hand. It snaps his neck back but he recovers well, as it wasn't very flush. Long light right jabs pattering the guard by Balogun at long range just before the bell.

10-9 Gassiev, very close

 

I know we're spoiled by all the scantily clad ring card girls in most other parts of the world, but I'm kind of digging the classy beauties in green satin dresses thing.