James DeGale vs. Paul Smith RBR

Round 5

Macklin jabs and covers. He is propelling himself in and out of range, seeming a bit defensive minded after the war in the 4th. The Spaniard is trying to prod his way inside with a jab slung from his left hip. Macklin is pretty well evading and counter-jabbing, but is conceding lots of floor. Macklin starts to change his angle and land the jab partially on Macklin's chin, which gets the Brit incensed and drawn into a short brawl. Macklin goes back to circling away and is caught in a corner with a thudding right hand to the ear and then a left hook below the belt. Varon has a point taken away for a low blow. Macklin recovers and lands some good counters while blocking as Varon tries to rush him. Varon lands another hook to the gonads unseen.

 

Round 6

Macklin takes the lead with his jab. Varon takes a few moments to get up his gumption and then rips off a couple dozen hard hooking shots in an attempt to cut Macklin in half, but most of them are blocked. When Macklin gets right up against Varon a few of the punches do loop around his guard and land on the side of his head. Macklin is landing his own body punches after pushing off with his forearms and resetting but is getting outworked by Varon.

10-9 Varon for the first time.

59-54 Macklin

 

Round 7

Both jab fiercely while tiptoeing across the ring. Varon telegraphs a 1-2 in an attempt to press Macklin into the ropes but the latter slips out the side door. Huge leaping hook by Macklin after he feints with the lead right. Varon is walking headlong into some snapping jabs. He wades in and gets himself leaned against Macklin, where he starts slapping with shots under the elbows and behind the ear. It gets pretty ugly, with lots of wrestling and arms trapped.

10-9 Macklin, he turned it back into a boxing match for most of the round.

 

Round 8

Macklin throws several punches out of the gate, with variety to match the volume. Varon gets his motor running about a minute in, as usual - hurling a high 1-2 and hooking to the body in between. As usual the infighting in the remainder of the round is fairly even.

 

Round 9

It's a slugfest inside until Macklin gets some distance and starts boxing off the back foot with his jab. Varon walks him to the ropes and blasts away with hard rights and big hooks. Macklin is landing hard counters while getting backed successively into every set of ropes. Varon is consistently getting to him and pinning his upper body against Macklin's, to get set up for some clapping punishment to the body.