CBS Sports: Akhror Muralimov vs. Derric Rossy RBR

Round 1

Muralimov is stalking Rossy, taking hard stabs into his chin with a high left jab. Rossy is staying tall, with a good half foot on Muralimov, easing away, pivoting away from the ropes, hands low, popping light jabs on the backfoot and curling his body around to absorb Muralimov's occasional lunging rights on the outer left shoulder. Muralimov is sticking the jab on the ribcage and diving in with a right above the navel. Rossy steps to his left and drags a counter uppercut into Muralimov's face. Muralimov pushes him into the ropes and they scrabble at each other, both missing and scrubbing each other across the face with their lacing.

10-9 Muralimov

 

Round 2

Muralimov is crowding in, guard tight, pawing with jabs. Rossy steps on Muralimov's foot and jabs into him. Muralimov down, reverse somersault, tumbling ass over teakettle, ruled a push. Muralimov is warned for leading with the head, burrowing in with overhand rights as Rossy leans away, up on his toes, keeping distance. Sweeping counter left hook by the eye by Rossy. Body shot by Muralimov. Rossy is circling left, waiting by the ropes, setting a trap and flinging himself into Muralimov at the last second with a jab and flailing downward right.

10-9 Rossy

19-19

 

Muralimov's record is a tough one to decipher. His only three meaningful opponents before tonight came in a nine-month span.

UD8 over Carthron - okay, doesn't say much either way. That's what a prospect ought to do. Not stopping him isn't the end of the world, nor is dropping a couple of rounds, he's a little better than his record. :conf

KO over Durodola, that's impressive. :good

Held to a MD by the meandering lug Evgeny Orlov, though? :-( Not a good look.

Conclusion: :?:?:?:?

Even now after six minutes of very even action with Rossy, who's maybe the eighteenth or nineteenth best American heavyweight: :?

 

Round 3

Muralimov is pushing Rossy into the corner and winging big left hooks up top. Rossy is cut by the upper eyelid, shaking his head and smirking as he skates along the ropes. Rossy is countering with long jabs leaning in, feet anchored outside. Muralimov is shuffling in laterally, opening up with left hooks. Rossy is caught and hurt. Muralimov bombing away. Rossy backs into the ropes and snaps a turn, popping defensive jabs.

10-9 Muralimov

29-28 Muralimov

 

Might want to cancel that. :yep

Even if he kayos Derric, very uninspiring-looking for a prospect...

 

Round 4

Muralimov is diving in past Rossy's left jab and winging big double and triple headhunting left hooks, thrown from above his own neck, leaving himself wide open. Rossy is switching to southpaw on the outside as he circles, putting a right jab in the cookie jar from outside. Rossy steps gingerly around the ring, keeping Muralimov at bay with a blinding curtain of light jabs. Muralimov repeatedly dives in past them and windmills up top with grazing hooks as Rossy leans back.

10-9 Muralimov

39-37 Muralimov

 

I mean, these guys are better (not just bigger) than Lee/Tapusoa/Mraknovic/Valykeo, but...

 

Nah. Glazkov is an idiot and had a bad night.

Kind of like how Boytsov is better than losing to Leapai and really let himself down underperforming like that. (which he actually paid for; Glazkov was lucky he didn't pick up the L as well)