Denis Lebedev vs. Youri Kalenga RBR

Poor Kostya. Facing every disadvantage you could think of (except for experience, obviously) - in with a kid that's much younger, bigger, stronger, faster, more athletic and agile, more explosive - and then to suffer a shattered nose. :-(

Speaking from experience myself, that is an uphill climb even if you're on even terms with (or even superior to) your opponent. Having your airways fill up with blood is a terrible condition under which to have to stay alert enough to swap blows and defend yourself.

One tough Cossack, though. (is there any other kind, really?)

He was never going to quit (and might not have even gone down), the corner's towel saved him from himself.

 

I agree with some of the comments I'm seeing on Twitter.

Offensively he's a phenom but we are going to need to see him tested. He showed little regard for defense against Piternov, but then again, he didn't really need to.

Guarded optimism. :thumbsup

 

Manuel Charr vs. Johann Duhaupas, 10 rounds @ heavyweight

 

People were impressed with Duhaupas recently because he was competitive in a loss to Erkan Teper.

Now, I've not seen that fight but have always been of the mind that Erkan Teper is absolutely dreadful (just another Edmund Gerber waiting to be exposed) - so the fact that Duhaupas lost to him period, competitive or not, indicates to me that he isn't all that good. :think

 

...he did, however, KO Rosberg, which is actually somewhat impressive.

 

:thumbsup

Of course, I still haven't forgotten how bad Charr looked against Yakup Saglam, whom Charr obviously took very lightly, and who seemed on his way to maybe an upset before the injury.

This is the heaviest Charr has weighed since he fought Saglam. :think

 

Round 1

Duhaupas is making his way across the ring with long spidery reverse steps on his tiptoes, dropping in left jabs on his much shorter target. Charr tanks in, lead-footed on the gas pedal in 2nd gear, steadily pressuring, chin tucked into his chest, waiting until he gets close to break guard and dig with hooks on the body. Duhaupas is clipped below the elbows and forced to bend down to push off with his forearms while backing up.

10-9 Charr

 

:nono He didn't even make 175lb tonight, was effectively a Cruiserweight.

 

Round 2

Duhaupas is finding a bit of success by simply being first to pull trigger, pecking at the pinky side of Charr's face with a double jab to press Charr's own gloves against his face and then whipping a right hand around the side. Duhaupas repeats the 1-1-loop (and some modified versions with an uppercut on the mouth following the double jab) combo several times and keeps Charr out of hooking range with it. Charr is stretching up his own left jab now, crab-walking in, body cheated 45° clockwise away from Duhaupas. Charr is hunting, calculating, but too slow to effectively cut the ring off. In one moment he gets Duhaupas briefly leaning over the ropes but his 1-2s don't find the mark and Duhaupas is able to slip free.

10-9 Duhaupas

19-19

 

Josh would put both down for the count in the same night.l

 

From Twitter:

Frenchie is a live dog here at +900. Good skills, outworking Charr. Might get taken out with body shot, but very live dog.

I'd agree with that.