Dzinziruk-Dawson RBR

Round 3

Santiago working the body and Paris able to deflect much of it with his elbows but not countering. Paris ducks and slips some punches to get off the ropes and still looks slick but not the ring general he was early on. Paris jabs at the gloves of Santiago and gets walked down into the ropes. Santiago just keeps his hands moving and stays as close as he can. A big right hand catches Paris in the middle of a slipping move and snaps his head back.

Santiago round. 29-27 Paris

 

Round 4

Paris walking away from Santiago, using the full ring and jabbing defensively when they close. Santiago is plodding after him and conserving his own energy. Paris begins to mix in lead rights with the jab, before covering up into a popped shoulder/right hand defense. Santiago just chases and headhunts to get the gloves up and then bangs the body. Good strategy. Paris is taking a lot of punishment downstairs. Paris tries some hard power shots from out of his shell to back Santiago off but to little avail. Santiago continues to walk through jabs and maintain aggression.

Even after 4.

 

Round 5

Santiago is very confident, his guard split wide apart, hands pumping and ready to fly at Paris. Paris keeps his left arm low, his shoulder squeezed up, and his feet still carrying him around ably, but he looks tired. His whole mouthpiece is visible. Paris times Santiago with a few one-twos. Santiago just taking them, maybe hoping Paris will punch himself out to compound the bodywork he'd been doing earlier. Another low blow from Paris and he gets a final warning. Santiago seems OK continuing right away. Paris swinging at the waist, trying an uppercut. Santiago just keeps coming, "through the front door", and rapping the knocker hard.

Close round.

 

Round 6

Paris opens up with a big right hand. Then a jab snaps Santiago's head back. Paris is looking as sharp as he was in the first. He moves and boxes. Santiago catches up to Paris on the ropes and swings, putting punches together in multiples but nothing too fast for Paris to block or slip. They punch together, and Paris lands an uppercut while Santiago lands a hook. Santiago follows Paris into a corner and allows him to simply eel his way right out of it. Santiago whacks the earmuffs as Paris backs up. Paris throws a right hand, it lands, and then as he retracts it he backhands Santiago with it. Crazy. Two lands for one punch. That's an isolated connect ratio of 200%. :blood

Paris rope-a-dopes a bit, landing right hands while Santiago just tries to land anything.

Even again after six.

 

Paris is actually the harder hitter by far, but he's a pot shotter with a cute boxing style.

Santiago's no feather fist, but he'd need to land something perfect to end it with a single shot.

 

Round 7

Santiago walks into a lead right, then a jab. Santiago trying to find the familiar target of the body but Paris is back to his quick elusiveness. Paris sort of feints with a half-assed triple jab in Santiago's face as he backs up, then follows up with a quickly converted hook. Paris walks briskly across the ring, creating maximum distance from Santiago. Santiago just plods toward him with a guard up. Paris slows down - again, by the ropes, as he's stupidly managed to do in almost every round. Santiago able to get off impressive flurries during these moments but not landing a whole lot. 1-2-3 lands for Paris. A huge no-look overhead can opener right misses barely for Paris. Santiago pushing his punches and weary of counters now.

67-66 Paris

 

8th and final round

Santiago comes out on fire, blasting at Paris with both hands. Paris responds in kind, keeping his punches snapping forward off the back foot. Santiago trails after him fist-first, able to land hard to the head of the shorter Paris whenever they get near the entrapment of the ropes. Paris lands a pair of very hard right hands, the best of the round if not the fight. Paris continues to throw hard to the body and finally gets Santiago himself on the ropes. Santiago returns the fire with his own hard shots that momentarily stunt Paris' offense. This is a great fight. Santiago throws in a slow, steady rhythm, 1-2-1-2-1-2. Paris is winded and trying to back off. He ducks and slips but eats more shots than he used to. Paris collapses against Santiago, pushing him into the ropes. The referee is unable to break the clinch before the bell signaling the end.

Paris 77-75 but I could see a draw.

 

Oh snap - I completely blanked on the referee taking a point in the 1st for the low blow.

That makes my card 76-75 Paris. He could conceivably lose this if one of the close rounds was tipped for Santiago on an official card or two.

 

Official: Split Decision

77-74 Santiago
76-75 Paris
76-75 Paris

Two judges got it exactly right, but the crowd boos.

 

:think

That would be a dream job. Ringside seats? Sign me up. :yep

 

Dzinziruk interviewed by Steve Farhood through a mobster-looking translator. He says he misses boxing (after the long layoff) and looks forward to showing off for the fans. He states he's well-studied and prepared for Dawson.

He is a handsome fellow, and sounds articulate enough (not knowing his language). If he's impressive in the ring he has star potential.