MegaBoxing: Rajesh Kumar vs. Adam Kipenga Hatibu RBR

For anyone confused by the commentator (the fat man they keep showing at ringside who is speaking - or rather yelling - in English) ..."Luka" is Kumar's nickname.

 

Round 3

Kipenga Hatibu is stuffing the right jab up top, overreaching with it but not connecting as Kumar bounces around on his toes. Kumar showing decent footwork defensively, and rushing in with some nice left hooks on the chest & chin. Kipenga Hatibu still clapping him with both hands when he strays too near, but Kumar is able to get off consistently in combination without taking many receipts.

10-9 Kumar, close

29-28 Kipenga Hatibu

 

Round 4

Kipenga Hatibu is working the right jab, knifing it out into the guard. Kumar hopping in & out, taking jabs on the forearms and then leaping clear of Kipenga Hatibu's left hand. Occasionally the right hand lead of Kumar is able to sneak in and tap Kipenga Hatibu on the nose. Kumar is feinting with the left jab, creeping to his right, widening the distance between them, and then jumping inside with a superman right, tagging Kipenga Hatibu.

10-9 Kumar

38-38

 

The between-rounds hype gal with the mic audible over the PA getting the crowd pumped up (and helpfully letting them know how many rounds are left) is a nice touch.

 

Round 5

Kipenga Hatibu is working the right jab up top, slapping down low with the left - but Kumar is consistently able to sidestep and catch him with left hooks and right uppercuts from a tight, high guard. Kipenga Hatibu far busier, and Kumar a good deal more accurate, cherry-picking effectively and continuing to outmaneuver the challenger despite a much lower work-rate.

10-9 Kumar, close

48-47 Kumar

 

Round 6

Kipenga Hatibu is swarming, pressing his right shoulder & bicep into Kumar to ram him against the ropes, and flurrying straight into his face, then slapping hooks into the body at point blank. Kumar is laying back and covering up, then swinging big counter hooks, occasionally stunning Kipenga Hatibu slightly but unable to pry him off.

10-9 Kipenga Hatibu, close

57-57

 

How you seeing it @Chuck Norris?

 

Same as you. Though my interest has dropped since I saw the result.

 

This commentator has me cracking up. "THIS IS WORLD CLASS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO VEGAS TO SEE WORLD CLASS BOXING, COME ON, IF WE CHEER LOUD ENOUGH THEY MIGHT KNOCK EACH OTHER SILLY, COME ON, GO KNOCKOUT GUYS! BTW THE WOOD CLAP MEANS TEN SECONDS LEFT, SO DON'T BE CONFUSED IF THE ROUND DOESN'T END RIGHT AWAY WHEN YOU HEAR IT, THAT WILL BE A BELL! WHOOOOO! THIS IS WORLD CLASS!"

 

Ah, I've managed to avoid spoilers.

 

It's a shame there aren't that many indian boxing cards.

 

Round 7

Kipenga Hatibu is cracking down with bullwhip lefts on the face of Kumar, landing them down through his pinned-together gloves and cleaving his guard apart. Kumar is staying tightly shelled up, countering in spurts with shoeshines on the body. Kipenga Hatibu smothering him, flurrying into his face when they gain separation, then walloping the body up close. The mid-range seems to favor Kumar best to get full snap on his shots and Kipenga Hatibu isn't allowing him that room.

10-9 Kipenga Hatibu

67-66 Kipenga Hatibu

 

Round 8

Kipenga Hatibu and Kumar are both hurling the kitchen sink, toe-to-toe, until the ref calls timeout. Both ignore him, so the fat American dude commentating from ringside has to yell (his mic is booming over the PA, so the crowd has been listening to his call this whole time) at the fighters in the ring "TIME, TIME, TIME!" and then repeating the Indian word for time until both realize what's going on. Apparently they're having a worker come in with a mop. The canvas is too moist. Alright, time in. WTF. They're flurrying away in the pocket - and straight away Kumar is down, slip, appears to still be a wet spot despite the best efforts of the janitor or whatever to dab a mop head at it for ten seconds. Kumar lands a body combo, and then falls onto all fours while dancing away, the ring blatantly still extremely slick. Kipenga Hatibu tiptoes into Kumar, jabbing the body, unsteady, nearly slipping himself. Chopping right by Kumar. 1-2 by Kumar.

10-9 Kumar. Insane round. Indian boxing is a trip, man.

76-76

 

Girl in the Sequined Jacket: Only two more rounds to go! That is six minutes of boxing. All the Adam fans, let me hear you say "Gooooo Adam!" (nothing happens, there happen to be no Tanzanians in the crowd at this Indian boxing match) ....okay, and now all the Luka fans, let me hear you say "Goooooo Luka!" (mild pop) ...okay two more rounds, yay, let's go..

 

Round 9

Kipenga Hatibu is neutralizing Kumar's left jab by shooting his right against it, zapping it mid-flight like a clay pigeon. They remain at long distance, which favors Kipenga Hatibu. Left hand leads from outside by Kipenga Hatibu, sailing over Kumar's guard. Kumar steps in and lands a glancing left hook. Kumar now moving very well, gliding clockwise, surging in with a 1-2 and then spiraling outside again the moment he lands his right cross and snaps Kipenga Hatibu's head back. Flurry downstairs by Kipenga Hatibu bending low and diving inside. They exchange hooks, both grazing the chin. Shove-down by Kipenga Hatibu with both arms planted on Kumar's sternum, correctly not ruled a knockdown. Bevy of quick jabs by Kumar, all caught on the forearms of Kipenga Hatibu.

10-9 Kumar, close

86-85 Kumar