Elliott Matthews vs. Diego Burton & J.J. McDonagh vs. Michael Nieroda RBR

I know, everybody should at least get a "Regular Interim Silver Participation Badge" or something, even 4 rounder tomato cans like Bajzath.

 

Round 5

Matthews is barring entry with his jab as Burton repeatedly jumps in with the 1-2 thrown in midair, or slashes up top with a left hook while dropping his upper body and head down inside and to his right. Matthews is outmaneuvering Burton and utilizing his reach advantage, jab pumping nonstop although he never snaps it to make it a meaningful punch.

10-9 Matthews

48-47 Matthews

 

Diego seems to have run low on ideas and is rapidly nearing the point where he will need to score the first ever stoppage of his career.

 

:scaredas: That's like half their purse!

 

Round 6

Matthews is jabbing into Burton's face and curling his back into an arch, leaning over outside to make Burton's straight punches cascade off him. Matthews is putting up some left hands from the hip behind the right jab. Matthews is backing Burton into a corner now with the southpaw 1-2. Burton has both arms up tight against his head, parallel, saving his energy and looking to chase Matthews out to center ring with some hard jabs and rights. Matthews glides away and makes him fall short.

10-9 Matthews

58-56 Matthews

 

The commentators saw the 6th level, 10-10...but they already said before it started that if Burton didn't take it he would need a KO on their cards.

 

Round 7

Matthews is rolling his shoulders, baiting Burton by leaning in, then tilting out and putting out the right jab. Burton runs into a left uppercut and thinks better of his attack. Burton is taking steps to his right, dragging his left foot, looking for an opening and bursting in with quick right hands but unable to surprise Matthews. Range controlled by Matthews, jabbing and moving. Burton hammers with his left forearm in lieu of a jab on the way in, hacking at Matthews's right glove. Matthews scoots back and lands a right jab after circling off the ropes, then clinches. Burton is lunging for the body with straight shots but Matthews is dancing away too quickly for him. Head clash, Matthews badly cut. Blood streaking down into his eyes. High double jabs and rights on the middle by Burton.

10-9 Matthews

68-65 Matthews

 

Diego may have just hit the jackpot. (with his noggin :!

 

Round 8

Burton starts aggressively, working the body and head with both hands as Matthews covers up and blinks away the still-flowing blood, putting out light right jabs. They are interrupted after less than a minute of action to have Matthews' cut looked at.

Jeff Hinds waves his arms.

We are going to a technical decision. The partial eighth gets scored.

10-9 Burton

77-75 Matthews