Souleymane M'Baye vs. Ismael El Massoudi RBR

Some sources had this broadcast reported to start fifteen minutes ago (at 3pm EST/8pm UK) but a 12-round undercard bout just finished up between Lee Haskins and Mohamed Boulegcha. :conf

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Based on the championship rounds, it looked to me like Haskins was in a nice comfortable rhythm of stepping around the slow and flat-footed Boulegcha and pecking away at him with quick but non-damaging combos out of his southpaw stance while dodging telegraphed clubbing blows. From that last several minutes it doesn't seem to have been a particularly exciting battle. There was a lot of dancing to and fro with each man taking and then surrendering the lead, and lots of tangled clinches and slapping exchanges up close.

The Eurosport commentators feel it should be just about a shutout for Haskins, so there likely wasn't ever any change in pattern or any real drama.

 

119-107 Haskins
117-109 Haskins
119-107 Haskins

The commentators are a bit baffled by how that judge found three rounds for Boulegcha. They were worried about a potential hometown robbery before the cards were read.

 

The Morrocan had come in with a pair of minor bantamweight trinkets (IBF & WBA sub-world titles); Haskins lifted both just now.

 

Now it is Rachid El Hadak vs. Rene Huebner for the Euro CW title.

France vs. Germany...WWII grudge match! :fire

 

Round 1

Big left hook by Hadak to introduce himself. He then backs slowly away, luring Huebner along while sliding his feet out wide. He kicks his rear leg out in a sweep behind himself and then rotates to square up to Huebner, popping a trail of jabs before sliding his lead foot back to his starting position. It's a very basic fundamental approach and a slow pace. Huebner isn't able to get past the jab, which isn't particularly strong or quick. Huebner has a bootleg Abraham style, coming forward in a peekaboo guard but taking too many steps inside and getting countered around the gloves.

10-9 Hadak

 

Round 2

Huebner now tries to bash his way inside with powerful hooks, blinking and grimacing with the effort (clearly visible as he drops his right hand and leaves his face completely unprotected while digging in). He accomplishes the minor feat of backing Hadak to the ropes momentarily, but it quickly settles back into an outboxing clinic by Hadak. Combos being thrown in counter now by Hadak, landing several hooks as he turns Huebner and then drops his arms down below his hips in an emulation of the "Argentine" style.

20-18 Hadak

 

Round 3

Hadak is getting loose and cocky now, tossing out jabs from down at his hip as he strafes all around Huebner at arm's length. Looping rights behind the jab are crashing around the thumbs of Huebner's gloves. Ineffective chopping jabs constitute all of Huebner's offense. He is coming forward but just getting outworked by an enormous margin with his high guard getting patty-caked. Hadak is getting the measure of his man and taking aim with those looping rights.

30-27 REH

 

Round 4

Hadak is going to the body now, chin tucked and a bit more workmanlike but still not keeping his hands up or otherwise giving Huebner much respect as he slowly circles within range. A few slowly snapped jabs are slipped by Hadak with mere turns of his head. Body shots, straying low and Hadak is warned. He gives an acknowledging nod. Backhand jabs from the hip by Hadak as he circles and bobs from the neck up as though grooving to some smooth R&B. Nice piercing jabs by Hadak. Huebner keeps following and getting tagged in the face despite his steadfast hand positioning.

40-36 Rachid El Hadak

 

His velour longjohns, you mean? :yep

 

Round 5

Hadak is throwing several jabs together now, never fully unbending his elbow from the partway retracted configuration so it appears he's actually throwing short little hooks. Jabs just crash into and through Huebner's gloves. Jabs from Huebner - slow and ineffective as usual - continue to get slipped by just minimal head movement and shoulder rolling from Hadak. The looping right makes a return, as Hadak starts to get bored with just turning and jabbing Huebner. The right is whipped around from the side and pulled straight back so it can quickly be boomeranged again. It's mostly hitting glove, but Hadak is still securing himself every round on activity alone (and a few of the rights do get through).

50-45 Hadak

 

Round 6

Jabs and rights to the body by Hadak. Huebner tries to create exchange by intentionally separating his arms and leaving an opening as bait. Hadak is able to simply launch fully extended jabs through the gap and redden Huebner's nose with them without ever getting close enough for the German to strike back. Huebner puts his guard back up and continues to fall prey to the jabs and whipping rights he walks straight into. Hadak hits gloves and keeps circling, opening his mouth wide to leer at Huebner. Swarming combo around the sides by Hadak.

60-54 REH

 

Round 7

Feints by Hadak, and Huebner backs up. Big looping rights back Huebner up. Body shots make him double over. Jabs snap his head back. Combos have him in full retreat, but his nature gets the better of him and it's right back to plodding onto jabs and looping rights with his useless high guard getting badly abused (Hadaks'fists managing to leak through, below, above, and around the gloves). Hooks and uppercuts a growingly more frenetic Hadak.

70-63