I was going to do a full RBR but didn't think it would be so early on the broadcast (4:30pm-6:30pm EST) They battled toe-to-toe all throughout the 6th, Achour's uppercuts the most potent weapon between them but they're both digging in with plenty of hard shots, keeping their chins tucked and exerting strength in a shoving match whenever they aren't swapping hooks and straight thrusts on the waistline.
Both have fought Luká Konečný (in both cases, for the WBO European middleweight title) and lost on points. They also have a common opponent in Damien Bertu. Achour outpointed him twice; Fhima drew with and has a decision loss to Bertu.
20-18 Achour so far in the 2nd half. He is jogging backwards, lowering his guard, baiting Fhima to come in pounding away with plunging jabs and torpedo rights on the body, and countering with drum-roll flurries and hooks diving to either side past Fhima's hips.
...I can't remember much about Fhima...but I swear I saw him get robbed... Edit- Yup, I did against Goekalp Oezekler
Round 8 Achour is still cleverly dictating terms of the infighting, ducking away, popping up double jabs into the bottom of Fhima's chin when he comes blindly rushing in, slapping him on the side of the head with hooks from below after dipping to either side. Fhima is scoring with right hands bouncing off the back of Achour's head when he bends over but is always countered from beneath. Achour is touching first and last in the exchanges. 30-27 Achour (+ whatever happened in the 1st through 5th :conf)
When he fought Goekalp Oezekler in Germany, and lost a SD? :think It certainly wouldn't have been against Konečný; he was a full level above both of these guys.
Yeah was Oezekler, was Juergen Langos having a mare at ring side that day, Alekseev Vs Arslan saw Arslan being jobbed too
Round 9 Lots of mutual holding and hitting, mostly with uppercuts into the ribs. Achour is looking tired, hanging on now after each hook thrown. Achour goes down, think it was a slip although leather was flying. More hugging & plugging. Nonstop short range free-hand body uppercuts. 10-9 Fhima 39-37 Achour
The crowd in Louvroil is on its feet. They want to see the challenger - who is a hometown guy - rally and stop Achour.
Round 10 Achour is getting dragged into a messy brawl now at mid-range. Achour misses hooks, elbow wrapping around Fhima's neck as Fhima plants a right hand on Achour's nose. Achour holds. Uppercuts by Fhima, snapping Achour's head back. Achour pinches Fhima's arms to his sides with his own, and thumps lightly on his sides with paddling wrist-flaps. Fhima marches him backward, heaving into him and throwing pendulum shots at the body. 10-9 Fhima 48-47 Achour
Official cards: Smail Alitouche 95-95 Jackie Queant 95-94 Achour Roger Hitz 94-97 Fhima ...split draw!*
The champ retains, in hostile terrain. (kind of...still France...though where else does one bring the French MW title?) Good fight, at least the 2nd half that I caught. I'd tune into a rematch.
