Corley looks all business during the instrumental Star Spangled Banner. :bbb Decent brass rendition. Now they're doing the Argie anthem as...a HARMONICA SOLO? Maidana also looks totally serious (somehow). This is surreal.
Round 1 They've already called "seconds out!" and Maidana still has a freaking baseball cap on. WTF. The bell rings. Corley runs to the center of the ring. They trade jabs, Maidana's right against Corley's right. Corley dips low and throws a left hand. Corley parrying most of Maidana's jabs, defending well. Corley misses a right hook as Maidana ducks. Maidana is backed up into a corner by a 1-2 but pops right out. Maidana nearly catches Corley with a straight right hand reaching. Maidana shoeshines to the body as Corley recovers his balance from teetering out of the way of the big shot. Maidana is picking Corley's pocket with short little punches as Corley tries to settle back into a comfortable firing range. Corley advances behind a stretching jab, with Maidana mirroring his upper body movement and defending. Left cross to the chest for Corley. Another. Maidana pushes Corley away with his jab and lands a right hand to the body.
Round 2 Corley throws big left hands out of the gate. Maidana is composed, and throws neat little combos that have the crowd roaring. Most of the exchanges result in the opposing stances drawing them together in a clinch. Corley lands a lead left and a follow up right jab and the Spanish-speaking commentator blurts out "ChopChop!". Corley is swinging with power, straight lefts and right hooks and hookercuts. Maidana lets Corley get in and out, landing a jab without getting countered. Corley gets bold and presses forward until Maidana starts batting him back with the 1-2. Maidana takes a right hook flush just before a clinch is initiated. Maidana is accurate with his jab but unable to put much power together.
Round 3 Corley is staying behind a responsible guard now, tucking up and blocking Maidana's power punches and sneaking out with left uppercuts. Maidana pours on some big shots as Corley lays up on the ropes. AND BACK COMES CORLEY, chasing Maidana across the ring with his left. Maidana flurries again but Corley isn't giving him any clean headshots. Maidana lunges to the body with a 1-2. Corley hops around Maidana and floats in with a quick jab from different angles. Maidana keeps trying to run Corley down and winding up with his head pinned under Corley's right arm. Maidana jabs over Corley's right jab, trying to feel out for his chin to give himself a sort of tangible target for his right. Corley keeps slipping and moving, and tying up when Maidana gets into position to work on the inside. Maidana is cut somehow - it isn't clear what from. The bell rings and Corley is arguing with the referee - again, it isn't clear about what.
Oh, damn. Look at IB coming up with this fight. Damn good work. Hey, IB...do know what happened in the Calderon-Segura fight? I don't want to give out any spoilers.