Canal+ Sport: Nadjib Mohammedi vs. Hadillah Mohoumadi & Rénald Garrido vs. Massi Tachour RBR

With a third of the contest still remaining I'm going to say this has to be in the running already for the domestic FOTY in France.

You could easily have it 68-65 either way. Each man has a pair of clear rounds but the rest, DAMN close.

 

Round 8

Garrido is marching after Tachour, still keeping up the pressure from the seventh but minus a little coal in the furnace. Right hands whistling in the air but landing a wee sight off the mark. Tachour has figured out a minor adjustment, ducking to his left when Garrido comes at him with the overhand right, and throwing his own no-look overhand in reply. One catches Garrido and shakes him up a touch. Garrido follows, missing punches...Tachour backing up, jabbing Garrido just above the crotch and on the arms.

10-9 Tachour, pretty slow & relatively dull round as both men catch some breath.

76-76 Garrido

 

Round 9

Garrido is putting his all into the engagement! Rolling his shoulders to move his fatigued arms through sheer willpower, managing to summon a blur of windmilling overhands to back Tachour consistently across the ring. Tachour is too gassed out himself to mount any meaningful rallies to halt Garrido's advance. Tachour dusting the crown of Garrido, punching over the fists and brushing his mohawk as Garrido pounds the body up close and resumes the overhand storm at mid-range.

10-9 Garrido

86-85 Garrido

 

The 9th was super close. These guys are both warriors.

 

Round 10

Garrido is whipping his fists overhead like a morning-star. Even his left hook is elevated, descending upon the guarded face of Tachour but still issuing damage. Tachour is throwing shoeshines when Garrido is atop him, and then clinching. Tachour on his bike. Here comes Garrido. Tachour is sticking out his jab, mostly using it to pick off Garrido's bombs in midair. Garrido is staying hot on his trail, pumping out head and body shots. BIG downward slices by Garrido, cutting naught but wind.

10-9 Garrido, not a lot clean but his ineffective aggression netted him more contact than made by Tachour.

96-94 Garrido

 

Official cards:

96-94 Garrido
98-92 Tachour
97-93...

SD for Tachour

 

Well, even though I'm biased for Garrido and scored it for him, I'm not going to say it was a robbery. Both scores for Tachour were too wide, though. 96-94 across the board for him would've been perfectly acceptable.

Plus, check out Garrido's reaction immediately after the official scorecards were read. He applauds, then walks up behind Tachour, sticks his skull between his legs, and lifts him into the air in a show of class & sportsmanship that illustrates exactly why you HAVE TO be a Garrido fan.

 

Nadjib Mohammedi vs. Hadillah Mohoumadi, 12 rounds @ super middleweight

 

Round 1

Mohammedi is nettling with the jab, waving it up near Mohoumadi's face an inch away from the pinky side of his gloves. Mohoumadi ducks and rolls behind the guard and comes up with a counter right on the face while Mohammedi is flurrying at him. Mohoumadi is aligning his elbows over his core and leaning to either side, dodging or catching jabs and then snapping out his own. Mohammedi doing most of the lateral movement while Mohoumadi watches & spins. Weak double jab by Mohammedi gaining purchase, looping a right hand around the guard once inside and then fleeing before Mohoumadi is able to counter. Mohoumadi snakes out a quick jab but Mohammedi slips it with a crick of his neck and backward lean. BIG hook by Mohoumadi, ducked. Very quick slippery defensive moves by Mohammedi.

10-9 Mohammedi, looking fantastic