ESPN+ Sans Limite: Jean-Thenistor Pascal vs. Michael Eifert & Mathieu Germain vs. Steven Wilcox RBR

Round 6

Germain is applying pressure, throwing big hooks at the body leaping in to cover the distance as Wilcox slides his feet ever further apart so he can simply drag the front leg away to retreat. Wilcox attempting to set traps and impale Germain on his jab, with lots of twitchy side to side leaning, but Germain continues to machete his way down the center path, forcing the action intermittently with hooks or spearing rights jumping in. Wilcox tries pelting him with straight counters but his aim is a mess at this range, missing over Germain's shoulders. Big hook coming up from a crouch by Germain and Wilcox's chin is turned.

10-9 Germain

58-56 Germain

 

Upon further BoxRec analysis to ballpark their relative class - Germain's blemishes (two losses and one draw) have come against much higher caliber fighters than Wilcox's (three losses and one draw). Uriel Pérez Vallejo, Yves Ulysse Jr. and Steve Claggett are much better than anybody Wilcox has drawn with or lost to.

 

Round 7

Germain is clapping high with hooks, boxing Wilcox's ears with them. Wilcox actually gritting his teeth and throwing some brief combos in the pocket with Germain now, landing a little but still getting walked down and out-hurled. The jab of Wilcox is melting off the rear padding of Germain's fists as he applies smart bobbing pressure.

10-9 Germain

68-65 Germain

 

Round 8

Germain is perhaps gassing slightly, as he's doing more bouncing around on his toes and tying up than punching. Wilcox for his part is sensing the door open for a comeback and bent on making the most of it. Wilcox throwing straight combos, most of his jabs whiffing over the head of Germain but the second shot sometimes getting through, or if not he is able to whack the body with hooks in the clinch. Germain still jumping in with high-hooking attacks but untidier, missing more. Wilcox the one throwing more now, albeit missing a lot except for his weird flurrying uppercuts. Hook by Germain at the bell.

10-9 Wilcox, close

77-75 Germain

 

Put it this way: for a regular TV co-main event (which I guess we can basically consider this in the US, even though ESPN+ isn't technically a television outlet) this is ...fine. Not great by any means, it's messy and they're feather-fists...but I've seen much worse.

For you poor international saps who bought it, though? ****-poor co-main of a poopoovoo.

 

Round 9

Germain is cut by the right eye. Unclear if from a butt or punch. Both men are fired up by the development, and the crowd senses a feeling in the air that one man or another might catch something wild. They clearly want some late dramatics, even though nobody in that ring has a lick of KO power. Wilcox jabbing the body as Germain simply moves in a wide circle around him, reminiscent of the first two rounds. Germain then jumps in past a jab and straps Wilcox across the jaw with a left hook, following up with several more pursuing up on his toes, reminiscent of the few after that. Sort of a microcosmic one-minute recap of the first half.

10-9 Germain, very close

87-84 Germain

 

Round 10

Germain is slashing high with hooks. Wilcox maintaining distance. Wilcox now tagging Germain's dome with long straights, and then falling in and slapping the sides with his free hand. Both absolutely going for broke, Wilcox with wet noodle arm punches on the inside. Germain is carrying his hands low, watching Wilcox scoot around, taking long breaks thinking his next move through, burning daylight. Germain tries a double jab and right hand rocketing up from the hip and misses everything. Wilcox sniping with the jab while slouched over at mid-range. Very womanly straight flurries by Wilcox stepping in, but they're managing to back an exhausted Germain into the corner.

10-9 Wilcox

96-94 Germain

 

A draw is fine, as the 9th was super close. Germain definitely swept five rounds, though (third through seventh) so Wilcox winning would be a bad call.

 

Official cards:

Decamufel 96-94
Leblan & Jirrah 97-93

UD for ... Germain

 

With that, "G-Time" becomes the IBF light welterweight intercontinental champion. I suppose there's a crack in the door for him to jump into a top 15 ranking with that org as of the next reshuffling (there are currently two vacant spots up top, so everybody might get pushed up to make room) but honestly he gets smashed by any of those names, including the likes of Commey and Spark.

 

Marie-Ève Dicaire in the ring with a special introduction, wearing a pink blazer over a tucked white undershirt that isn't form-fitting but can't disguise those mamelles.

Okay, now she is translating her speech into English. Apparently she announced her retirement last week, and thanks everybody, yadda-yadda. "Let's get onto the main event now, eh??"

 

Pretty sweet video package, showing highlights of Pascal's best and flashiest offensive moments versus Carl Froch, Jean Pablo Nievas, Adrian Diaconu, Silvio Branco, Diaconu II, Dawson, Hopkins I & II, Kuziemski, Blades, Bute, Kovalev, Álvarez, Elbiali, Bosse, Browne, Jack, and Mèng.

 

Eifert walks out to crickets. Weak turnout by the German-Québécois.

 

Tinny recording of the German anthem played over the PA.

 

Did they say the girl that sang "O Canada" is named... June Sixteen? As in, the date? That's her name?