Firat Arslan vs. Alexander Alexeev RBR

Round 3

Fhima keeps hooking Ozekler in the body and swarming in on him with uppers. Whipping shots to the body from mid range by Fhima, while leaning his upper body over and tilting his head out of the way of Ozekler's counter shots. Ozekler now tries coming forward with alternating left and right hooks, but Fhima gets his elbows up. Counter flurries from Fhima, putting Ozekler back on the defensive.

30-27 Fhima

 

Round 4

Fhima varies up his combos - jab, overhand right, jab...jab, jab, overhand right...triple body shot, jab. It's all combination work from Fhima, untiring, all thrown while circling with solid foot placement. Nothing too thunderous, but not powder puff slaps either. Ozekler keeps throwing one right jab at a time, looking hopelessly out hustled. He manages to catch Fhima with a couple of clubbing shots late after blocking a flurry, and chases Fhima back to the ropes but isn't able to mount enough of a rally to steal the round.

40-36 Fhima

 

Round 5

Ozekler steps in and tries to jab with Fhima, having resorted to his customary orthodox stance. He follows Fhima around but isn't able to close the distance with his slower legs. He also loses every long distance exchange of flurries with his slower and somewhat shorter arms. Fhima just keeps stepping, jabbing and hooking all in rhythm.

50-45 Fhima

 

This is for the WBC Mediterranean Middleweight title, 1st defense of Ozekler.

The Turk (nicknamed "Sultan") is about to lose his title to the Tunisian challenger if he doesn't find a useful strategy in a hurry..

 

Round 6

Fhima circles and lobs soft jabs from outside while turned sidelong. Whipping right hands behind the jab, as Fhima keeps Ozekler constantly turning. Ozekler breaks his guard just long enough to lunge and dive in with a jab, but gets shoved back. Fhima flurries and moves, never letting up.

60-54 Fhima

 

Round 7

Ozekler is pushing forward and managing to get his arms around Fhima for a few bearhugs after missing his jabs wide. Fhima is jabbing through his guard while circling with his hands down and waiting for Ozekler to dive in for another hold. Horrible round. Diving overhand right by Ozekler, headbutting Fhima in the hairy chest. Mmm, sweaty follicular snack.

70-63 Fhima

 

Round 8

Fhima circles, jabs, flurries, and then ducks forward to cover his head with his gloves wrapped around its top. Fhima deflects a few clinching attempts from Ozekler and lets him bounce a few jabs off his steepled gloves atop his head. Ozekler tries an uppercut and has a little success with it, causing Fhima to straighten up and get clubbed with a few rights in the process - but then it's directly back to Fhima circling and jabbing busily as Ozekler does nothing but plod after him. Fhima is showing signs of tiring, arms down & mouth open, but still able to keep well outside.

80-72 Fhima

 

Round 9

Fhima doubles and triples his jab. The ref warns him to keep his head up as he's ducking forward to meet Ozekler. More double and triple jabs by Fhima. Glove touch on the canvas by Fhima, just a slip. No KD. Weak double jab, right hand careening off the guard by Fhima. Ozekler is just standing there in his shell, doing nothing. Fhima circles and jabs at him. Ozekler thinks he sees an opening and tries to bash Fhima back to the corner. Nothing lands. Overhand right inside by Fhima as they push at each other forearm to forearm and wrestle for control of the center ring. They trade jabs, Fhima countering over Ozekler's but getting hit with it.

90-81 Fhima

 

The EuroSport commentator confesses that he's "being kind" to Ozekler to have given him the 9th as a pity round. :yep