James DeGale vs. Paul Smith RBR

The meat and potatoes of the card are about to be served. :good

 

Matthew Macklin and Ruben Varon are in the ring.

 

Round 1

Macklin fires some hard double jabs up-and-down and backs Varon up with low crosses. Varon keeps his knees bent and springs laterally while trying to protect his face and chest and fire off a few of his own counter jabs (none landing). Macklin is really committed to the driving 1-1-2 and is keeping Varon shy with it. Varon is beginning to throw a few more combos of his own as Macklin's output slows. Both are blocking the majority of punches. Macklin is getting some in to the body while Varon is almost exclusively headhunting with rights and rising hooks.

10-9 Macklin

 

Round 2

Macklin is aggressive to start. He is keeping the left cocked in front of him, alternately pumping out long jab sequences and hooks. The two circle close together with neither giving ground. When Varon blocks the power punches of Macklin they wind up leaned against each other trading body shots. Varon backs Macklin up to the ropes with a slapping and pecking onslaught to the body and head. Macklin shells up and explodes with some powerful counters every few seconds. Heavy shots are landing for both.

Closer...20-18 Macklin

 

Round 3

Macklin comes forward with jabs and long right hands to the body, keeping his posture low. Varon is slapping with low hooks and rights over the top as Varon comes at him. They are trading some big blows at point blank, with Varon taking the brunt of it above his belt. Macklin mixes in a few headshots during extended combos to the body, including a 1-2 and a short hook that land flush and turn Varon's head a bit. Varon is still right in it, pressing his shoulder against Macklin's and unloading ammo.

 

Round 4

Macklin controls the early going with his left hand - jabbing, hooking, and feinting. Varon ceases backing up nearly a minute in and tries to stand firm with some heavy right hand punches with his feet set, but Macklin tags him with his hard 1-2. Both men are warned individually for low blows as the short-range body-punching battle heats up. They land jabs at the same time, and wind up shoulder to shoulder again with vicious uppercuts breaking up a litany of attacks to the torsos. Macklin lands a very long two-fisted sequence to Varon's chin but the man hangs tough against the ropes.

40-36