*** Dmitry Pirog vs. Javier Maciel RBR - live on ESPN3.com ***

Round 3

Maciel is letting his hands go a bit more off the backfoot, but still remaining careful. Pirog is trying to touch him downstairs. Good body combos by Pirog. Maciel lands a left hook to the body. Everything from Maciel is one-and-done, while Pirog bunches his punches. Maciel is getting inside without getting hit, and lands a left hook to the body. Very cagy contest. Very tactical. Pirog is changing stances and trying to set traps. Maciel is getting bolder by the second and trying to come forward while still defending, and then let his hands go when he's right on top of Pirog. At mid-range, Pirog jabs and hooks. Maciel backs away and slips some jabs with his left hand low like Prog. LEFT HOOKS to the body by Maciel!! Big right cross to the face by Maciel! Pirog answers back! Trading!!! BIG RIGHT CROSS AGAIN BY MACIEL!! Pirog grins. Pirog flaps his wings, trying to look ultra calm.. maybe a bit rattled.

29-28 Pirog

 

Take THAT, 99% of smugly ignorant assholes who reasoned that Maciel would be blitzed in a round just because they'd never heard of him!!

(^ such dumb logic, btw. "Oh, if he was any good I'd have seen him a bajillion times by now" NOT NECESSARILY, DOUCHEBAG!!!)

 

Round 4

Maciel is working the body now, giving Pirog a taste of his own medicine. Pirog himself is now headhunting a bit with hooks. Maciel is backed into a corner but lands a counter hook as Pirog comes in. 1-2 by Pirog is blocked but knocks Maciel to the ropes. They tie up awkwardly and bump heads and then break clean when Benji Estevez asks, and Pirog extends his glove for a sportsmanlike knuckle-tap, which Maciel obliges. What gentlemen!!!! Pirog lands an upper-hook. RIGHT CROSS BY PIROG!!! Maciel tries to cover up. COUNTER LEFT HOOK BY MACIEL! RIGHT HOOK TO THE FACE, LEFT HOOK TO THE BODY BY MACIEL!! Pirog puts his head down and swims right inside and shoeshines on Maciel, smothering him. Maciel misses a hook at the bell.

39-37 Pirog

 

Round 5

Pirog launches long right hands out of a crouch from outside. Pirog using range. Maciel is defending well, keeping his hands up & moving in accordance with where Pirog is placing his jab. Maciel really impressive despite losing. Pirog jabs at Maciel's forearms, then swipes with a hook to back Maciel up. Maciel is in a corner, and gets clipped with a right hand, but still blocking and slipping a lot of Pirog's reaching shots. Maciel comes forward and jabs, but Pirog drives him away with some hooks. Pirog using lots of jerky upper body movement and still turning his shoulders in and out on the way inside. Right cross to the ribs by Pirog. Maciel is throwing straight short punches but Pirog is too slippery and is outscoring him with body shots. Pirog gets lowblowed. This time Maciel extends his glove for a courtesy tap. ABSOLUTE GENTS! Seriously, good sportsmanship is always nice to see. Pirog blasts Maciel against the ropes, lefts and rights getting blocked but shaking Maciel in place.

49-46 Pirog

 

He did look better against Jacobs, but he doesn't look bad here.

It's just that people had stupid expectations that he would blow out Maciel, because they assumed Maciel would suck simply on account of being an unknown.


Maciel is good. Pirog is very good. :good