Michael Grant vs. Francois Botha & Ali Funeka vs. Zalani Marali RBR

Round 2

Makabu is ripping away with sharp right hooks and left hands. Otas is backed up to the ropes again and pounded through/over/around his guard. Otas tries to duck and roll against the ropes or flick out some counters but he's got nothing with which to stop Makabu's advance. Very tight and disciplined attack from Makuba, remaining in his high guard when not throwing (which isn't often). Crisp accurate shots. Left uppercut to the solar plexus. Right hook to the side. Right jab to the face, double left through the gloves and a right hook to the ear. Chopping left to the other ear. Right jabs to the face and a left uppercut. Big 1-2!! Otas on the ropes!!

Waved off? No! The ref was just waving his hands and stepping between them to get Makuba to stop attacking (must have not heard the bell)

20-18 Makabu - the 2nd was almost 10-8

 

They have only shown close-ups of rows & pockets of the crowd on their feet, no wide shots yet.

I'd venture by the noise level that it's pretty packed.

 

Round 3

Makabu rips away with hard right hooks and left hands coming forward, but is slowing down some. Otas trades with him in the pocket, leaning against him and hooking the body. Makabu is still landing the better shots and more of them but is no longer backing Otas up as consistently. Just an outpour or right jabs and hooks from Makabu to set up his left hands, throwing everything at about half the force and speed of the first two rounds but still in high volume. Otas is getting bolder with trying to punch with him but only finding a few scraps of body available with Makabu's arms in the way when either punching or guarding.

30-27 Makabu

 

Round 4

Otas comes forward and shovels the body, pinning Makabu on the ropes for a spell. Makabu comes back and works the southpaw 1-2 in succession to drive Otas back and then starts loosing left uppercuts. Right hooks to the body by Makabu. Otas flings both arms in high from either side, and his fists bounce off Makabu's shoulders. Makabu drops his hands and shakes his head at Otas, then runs in place and then does a roadrunner dash around him to the delight of the crowd. Makabu comes forward and flicks right jabs and straight lefts through the guard to back Otas to the ropes, and once there pounds his organs to a pulp with hard body shots.

40-36 Makabu

 

This referee needs to understand that when you jump in between two boxers while one is abusing the other, and wave your arms - people are going to misinterpret that as a stoppage (rather than a "hey guys, the bell sounded...so how about we stop punching, eh?")

He did it again.

At least he isn't British.

Any British ref would have stopped this rounds ago.

 

Round 5

Right jabs and straight lefts to the face by Makabu. Left uppercuts and right hooks to the body. Otas is backed up to the ropes and clasps the insides of his gloves over his forehead while ducking back against them. Otas is basically just trying to avoid getting hit in the face as much as he can now, yielding everything else as collateral damage. Makabu takes what he is given to work with and pecks away with short straight shots to the top of the head and powerful pendulous shots to the body. Otas tries to spring forward with his forearms held out to shove Makabu back but lacks the strength. Makabu rips away with a right hook around the left glove, slamming into Otas' head. Again Otas ends the round taking a beating against the ropes, with the referee jumping in and waving to tell Makabu to stop punching. WTF!

50-45 Makabu

 

Oh, that's why Ilunga Makabu got a "bomaye" chant - he's from the Congo (formerly Zaire, where the RITJ was). That makes much more sense. :yep I'd thought it was strange that a South African would be getting a chant originating from a completely different country.

He must have brought a contingent of fans from the Congo.

Unsurprising that he has a following - he legitimately looks the goods (although Otas isn't giving him much of a challenge).