Edward Cheeseman vs. Scott Fitzgerald - IB's standalone RBR scorecard

Round 7

Fitzgerald looks as if he's suffering from heat stroke, just pawing out with slow-motion jabs in the same inaccurate spot over the head of the ducking and strafing Cheeseman. Fitzgerald is plodding, holding out the left in place as though eyeing up a pool shot, but then either refraining from throwing his right or just sending it half-heartedly in at mid-range, splashing harmlessly against the guard of Cheeseman. Still lots of spring in Cheeseman's legs, using nonstop movement. Fitzgerald ducks a jab and then attempts to slip the double-up but can't prevent it from rubbing his cheek. Fitzgerald jumps in with a short left hook, tapping on the folded arms of Cheeseman.

10-9 Cheeseman

69-64 Cheeseman

 

Round 8

Fitzgerald is getting jabbed in the chest and throat, and his own jabs are churning the air with Cheeseman never setting himself in one place. Fitzgerald lobbing hooks at the hip, barely getting a piece from outside. Cheeseman is on his bike, only engaging in spots, on his own terms, defensively sound and forcing the action into a staccato rhythm. Cheeseman bodies up against Fitzgerald in the middle of the ring and whips some lefts into his side. Now a flurry into the face before circling rapidly to his right. Cheeseman then makes Fitzgerald miss 4-5 punches in a row at point blank. Guard busting 1-2 by Cheeseman. Short left hook on the stomach by Fitzgerald.

10-9 Cheeseman

79-73 Cheeseman

 

Round 9

Fitzgerald is jabbing high only for Cheeseman to sidestep, duck low, jab the body, and then resume his movement leftward all in one smooth motion. Fitzgerald is slow-galloping around the ring to keep up with Cheeseman, but not very enthusiastically, wary of getting tattooed with counter jabs anytime distance narrows. Cheeseman flurries to get Fitzgerald shelling up and then bops him atop the head with a long fly-fishing right. Combos now by Cheeseman, standing in front of Fitzgerald and daring him to rumble. Fitzgerald tries, but all his shots upstairs are ducked or parried & countered. Fitzgerald now resorts to jumping in and throwing big wrecking balls at the waist of Cheeseman. That works, somewhat, but he's only able to land once in a half minute or so.

10-9 Cheeseman

89-82 Cheeseman

 

Round 10

Fitzgerald is marching up and throwing hard left hooks into the body. Cheeseman responds in kind. Fitzgerald is missing jabs badly at mid-range, the head of Cheeseman still darting side to side nicely, even as his legs begin to remain fixed a bit more in place a beat or two longer than in the single digit frames. Lots of pressure by Fitzgerald, but all pretty sloppy and hitting arms or backside thus far. Cheeseman leans forward, earmuffs on, soaking up combos on the backs of his gloves. Cheeseman steps outside and claps a right hand over Fitzgerald's left ear. Now a long range body shot from Cheeseman. Fitzgerald is at least hurrying inside now, a little more urgency in his pressure, but still very little quality in his attacks.

10-9 Cheeseman, very close

99-91 Cheeseman

 

Round 11

Fitzgerald is pushing the jab out high at the hairline or down at the belt line of Cheeseman, but tepidly, and without any follow-up (not even pluralizing the jab). That urgency from the previous round seems to have subsided, at least in the first minute here. Cheeseman dances around, never resting either foot on the canvas more than a half-second, at the very least going en pointe as he leans partway in with a downward-reaching jab on the body. Cheeseman is countering nicely while turning Fitzgerald 360°. Fitzgerald connects on a few body shots hauled in from well outside. Cheeseman amps up his efforts to create space as Fitzgerald keeps targeting his body. Cheeseman down, slip. Cheeseman's balance starting to look shaky as he tries clinching and is almost pushed down by Fitzgerald.

10-9 Fitzgerald, very close

108-101 Cheeseman

 

Round 12

Fitzgerald tries clapping his fists over the busy Cheeseman jab, but finds it like catching a butterfly without a net, barehanded. The jab either gets through before he can trap it or changes its trajectory and stamps him on the forehead. Cheeseman is still light on his feet, sprightly, dropping in jabs from every point on the compass. Fitzgerald loading up on climbing left-right combos off the hip, just battering the guard. Desperate pressure by Fitzgerald, slinging bombs, nothing getting through despite the crowd oohing and ahhing. Cheeseman moving and jabbing, only cuffed with hooks as he bends over and covers his face.

10-9 Cheeseman, close

118-110 Cheeseman

 

Oh my, that decision was very... not good.

 

Is that just because people came in with distorted perceptions of Fitzgerald being on a higher plane because of the Fowler 'upset', and how Cheeseman had looked versus García? Those cards look expectation-tailored.