Andy Lee vs. Saul Duran RBR

Round 1

Jabs by Lee. Long right hands by Lee. Duran is backing up to the ropes, shrinking back and covering up. Long jabs and hooks by Lee, pressing in. Duran just keeps sitting back on the ropes. Oh my. Duran is VERY pudgy. Very soft in the middle. It's only a matter of time before Lee notices and starts to target the body. For now he's switching stances and popping jabs in Duran's face. Duran tries to duck inside on him. Body shots lobbed in by Duran, from way too far out. No chance of landing. Duran charges in, arms wrapped around his head. Lee check hooks him into the ropes. Lee pops the southpaw jab into Duran's face, holding that stick out Wladimir Klitschko style. Duran ducks and skitters to his right on the outside. Lee hammers him to the floor with a left. Slip? KD? Can't tell how that was ruled. Right hook to the flab by Lee.

10-9 Lee

 

Hate it hate it hate it!!

 

Round 2

Andy Lee jumps out with his right jab and keeps it fluttering in Duran's face. Duran gamely tries to duck in and land body shots but Lee is smashing him in the face with plunging counter lefts on the way in. Lee backs him up to the corner with right jabs to the face. STRAIGHT LEFT TO THE GUT!!! Duran is dropped to hands and knees!! In bad shape!!! Waved off!! Duran slumps over the top ropes and CRIES.

TKO2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Lee looked good and sharp...but to be fair, it looks like they just recalled Duran from a side gig as a competitive burrito eater to resume his boxing career.

 

Lee says he hurt him with body shots early on, and knew it. He gives Saul respect for even taking the fight on very short notice, since he previously had FOUR DIFFERENT OPPONENTS scheduled only to pull out for this date. (including Alexis Hloros and Alexis Camacho).

He is looking forward to beating JCC Jr. and thanks the Detroit fans for coming out.

Nice guy.

Show's over.

 

You know what? Upon reflection...

I was harsh on Saul for his physique (and he wasn't that long out of the ring...he just fought twice in November, against the same guy...) - but he did take this on very short notice, I think literally about 24 hours, as the 4th substitute replacing whoever Lee's original opponent was...

And he did actually try.

Completely outmatched, and even with a full training camp I'm sure he'd have been KTFO in under three rounds...but he went for it.


And yeah, he'd been stopped a dozen times before and was in poor shape so there isn't much to read into the victory - but Lee did look very sharp. Better even than in the Vera rematch.

I'm not sure about favoring him over Chavez Jr., but that will for damn sure be competitive. :bbb