ESPN2 FNF: Ishe Smith vs. Cecil McCalla & Ashley Theophane vs. Mahonri Montes RBR

Montes is trained by Fernando "KO-Chulito" Montiel's father.

 

Round 1

Theophane is moving in with a high guard, pecking with the jab. Wide slapping hook by Theophane, blocked. Montes is creeping in, trading jabs with Theophane. Leftward movement by Theophane with the high guard, bottoms of his elbows flush with his pecs. Busy jab by Theophane. Montes is stalking, waving his right palm to smack down the jab. Left dig on the body from Montes. 1-2 by Theophane, knocked back reeling from the force of landing. Theophane reaches in and slaps with a wrist-flick hook on the jawline. Theophane dances to his left, creating distance, and then charges in with the high guard up, ramming his forearms into Montes. Theophane jabs and moves, and ties up by the ropes when Montes drives into him. Body shots traded. Break ordered. They keep landing kidney punches.

10-9 Theophane

 

Round 2

Theophane is jabbing and moving, tying up when Montes closes in. Fairly predictable repeat of the 1st. Theophane is stifling a lot of Montes' work in the clinches, pulling his arms down. Montes is stalking, falling in with rights clapping on Theophane's back as they hug up.

10-9 Theophane

20-18 Theophane

 

Well, this is scintillating.

 

Round 3

Theophane is circling left, splaying his knees and body-feinting, causing Montes to flinch and step back, then landing a jab and continuing to move laterally. Theophane sweeps out light slashing combos along the body as he skirts the ropes with Montes in pursuit throwing ill-timed and poorly aimed harpoons at the belt line.

10-9 Theophane

30-27 Theophane

 

Yeah but this was some cupcake matchmaking. He fought guys like Montes on the come-up in England like ten years ago. :dead

 

Round 4

Theophane is circling and petering out jabs into the guard, light on his toes. Montes is stalking, beginning to find a little contact with the jab scrubbing the side of Theophane's head, grinding him into the ropes, landing some incidental forearm and initiating headbutts, leading with his cranium as he leans his tall lean upper body in looking to hit Theophane on the sides. Theophane escapes to move and jab.

10-9 Theophane, closer

40-36 Theophane

 

Round 5

Theophane is getting pressured steadily and kept on his bike throwing jabs until he runs low on room, clinching until ordered to release. Steady jabs by Montes, fishing low with a few change-up hooks. Montes walks into a big overhand right from a crouch, Theophane springing a trap on him from against the ropes. Theophane is moving and timing Montes' slow, ponderous 1-2s and threading a counter jab up into the open center lane.

10-9 Theophane

50-45 Theophane

 

Some people on Twitter have Montes up. :blood

I find Theophane as boring as the next guy does, but...