Fox Sports 1: Antonio Tarver vs. Mike Sheppard & Thomas Williams vs. Yusaf Mack RBR

Round 9

Williams is stepping forward and landing the left uppercut behind the right jab. Mack is driven into the ropes and rallies with some body shots and big elbow-level-with-the-shoulder left hooks, but he can't hold off Williams as he steps in and flurries on him before circling around to reset. Mack is just a step behind Williams all the way. Williams begins to hurt Mack with some right hooks pushing him into the ropes near the end of the round, walking through all of Mack's deterrent fire, mostly body shots and some increasingly flaccid left hooks up top.

10-9 Williams

89-82 Williams

 

Mack was still a capable and dangerous light heavyweight contender until last year.

Despite suffering career setbacks every time he started to built up some momentum (at the hands of Berrio and then Andrade following a strong run in 2004-2006, then Johnson in 2010 and Cloud in 2011) he always returned with a chip on his shoulder and some modicum of self-belief that he could patiently work his way into contention with his above-average power and skill in spite of his questionable chin and lack of many available gears or explosive speed or athleticism... right up through his one-sided glorified spar with ancient Sheika...

Then when he stepped in with Froch, you could see that something was gone, that glint of competitiveness in his eye, the way he carried himself - maybe the moment got to him, or the reputation of Froch scared him, or whatever...and sure enough he got destroyed. He then reportedly looked horrible & disinterested losing a UD to an unknown back in April...and now tonight...

The thrill is gone. :verysad

 

Round 10

Williams is hurtling in with left uppercuts and right hooks, pushing Mack to the ropes. Mack stumbles backward, rights himself, eats a head-snapping right jab and looks to balance the scales with some left hooks but fails to make an impression or consistently find Williams as he moves in to flurry and then drift off aside. Mack is fighting back hard, but aiming more to survive on his feet than make a last-minute reversal of fortune.

10-9 Williams

99-91 Williams

 

Official cards:

Rich Green 99-91
Rocky Young 97-92
Alex Levin 98-92

UD for Thomas "Top Dog" Williams Jr.

 

Randy Caballero vs. Jessy Cruz, 10 rounds @ bantamweight

 

Randy Caballero wore a t-shirt into the ring that read "RIP to my good friend, Frankie Leal"

Were he and Francisco sparring partners or something?