Billy Joe Saunders vs. Bradley Pryce RBR

Round 2

Smith is pushing in on the bigger Graterol, digging away to the body. Peach of an uppercut to the jaw by Smith after pushing Graterol back against the ropes. Smith isn't giving Graterol any space, shoving into him with both arms and ducking his wide swings to try and get free. Body shots by Smith. Forearms to the chest to keep Graterol in place, and then clapping shots up top and hooks to the body by Smith. Double jab by Smith as Graterol backs off. Whipping right to the body by Smith from outside. Graterol holds until the ref begs off. Jab-feint by Graterol circling left. Smith doesn't fall for it, pulling his own jab. Hooks to the body by Smith. Graterol circles left on his toes, looking precariously off balance as he tosses out some light jabs while getting brushed by the end of Smith's jab.

20-18 Smith

 

Round 3

Graterol is ducking and swerving in with slicing shots to the body and getting caught atop the head with right hands from Smith. Graterol backs up and jabs. Smith bobs and weaves, slipping the jab and stretching his own out into Graterol's face. Overhand right from a crouch by Graterol, missing and getting countered back toward the ropes. Graterol sits on the ropes as Smith fires at him, then ducks against him to lean out. Graterol tries to loop a big right hand around a Smith left jab and they both miss. Smith targets Graterol from a couple feet away as Graterol slides his back along the ropes. Big body shots by Smith, plugging away in bursts of fours and fives. Big looping right to the body by Graterol, knocked back by a jab to the back of the head. Smith nails him with a right hand that slightly wobbles Graterol.

30-27 Smith

 

Round 4

Smith pins his arms together to keep out a Graterol right to the body, then lifts his gloves to block a high jab. Smith walks Graterol back and lands to the body. Head bump, Smith getting the worst of it as he takes Graterol's crown full on the nose. Mild complaint. Back to action. Graterol is ducking and jabbing dizzily. Smith chops with a few lefts and rights and can't find the mark as Graterol keeps flopping about. Clinch. Graterol is making it ugly. Now the ref warns Graterol to watch his head. Jabs and rights up top by Smith. Hold, and Smith uses his free right arm to batter Graterol's left flank. Graterol spins Smith to the ropes and backs off.

40-36 Smith

 

Instant karma: Graterol has reaped a nasty cut for all the butts he's initiated. :!:

 

Round 5

A bit of circling and fencing with jabs, and the fight is paused to have the tape on Graterol's gloves looked at and fixed. A bit more circling and fencing - and another pause. More glove malfunctions in Graterol's corner. Liberal amounts of tape wrapped around his wrist. Time in, and Smith is throwing straight combos out of both the orthodox and southpaw stance, switching smoothly. Graterol is getting in a few pokes to the body but mostly backing up with his buttocks stuck out behind him and his head bowed and covered. Lots of grinding and pecking on the inside. Ugly round, with lots of interruptions - but still clearly Smith's.

50-45

 

Not a happy camper on his stool:

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Round 6

Graterol ducks low and rams his head forward, butting Smith in the crotch. Smith motions incredulously to the referee, more offended than hurt. Stern warning given to Graterol, who enters a dubious plea of Smith pushing down on the back of his head. Graterol spends the rest of the round spoiling...running, ducking, and flopping against Smith. A few clean rights upstairs by Smith, and some scythes to the body. A few weak jabs and pushed rights by Graterol while flopping in.

60-54 Smith

 

Round 7

Smith is blocking some weak thrusting attacks from Graterol and trying to stay outside as Graterol tries to stick to him like flypaper, using his punches as a mere ruse to try and clinch. Smith is throwing some hooking combos from outside, but is a bit tired himself and throwing arm punches that Graterol can duck and dive through on his way to a holding attempt. Smith is exerting his strength to push Graterol to the ropes but not accomplishing much there.

70-63 Smith

 

"I'm getting shut out and cut up!! :cry:"

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Round 8

Another early pause to check the tape on Graterol. Lots of scrappy awkwardness as they resume, with Graterol drifting toward the ropes and then lurching in to slide under Smiths' arms and hold. A few clubbing shots by Smith, making do as best he can. Graterol making him look horrible...not trying to win, just last. He does.

80-72 Smith

 

This kind of tells the whole story, really...

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