MTK Global: Michael McKinson vs. Martin Harkin & Jay Harris vs. Marcel Braithwaite RBR

Round 2

Butler is throwing jabs and lead hooks driving in, then pounding Walker onto the backfoot with the right cross while bundling his arms together forming a shield against the odd spray of counters Walker is mustering. Butler is doubling the jab and chopping with the right coming in. Walker hurt by an uppercut before he springs away, nearly into the ropes. Butler is spearing the right up top, getting Walker to duck in place, then darting in and hooking the body. Walker hooking with Butler in the pocket, getting the worst of it. Walker grunting with each punch, wasting lots of wind and missing to boot. Getting ragged under Butler's pressure.

10-9 Butler

20-18 Butler

 

Round 3

Butler is sticking with the double jab and hammering right, as this combo seems to be the most effective way to get the malleable Walker scrambling away in predictable straight lines. Walker fires a throwaway jab and jumps in behind it with a big right hand but the opposite arm of Butler comes down to deflect it and he scores a punishing hook on Walker before he can withdraw. Butler is keeping his gloves up, ducking the Walker jab or letting them skid up off his thumb pads, and pressing in close, right hands driven persistently into the body. Great economy of movement from Butler, parceling out his attacks with high accuracy, meting out damage.

10-9 Butler

30-27 Butler

 

Interesting, didn't realize Butler was a huge Chocolatito fanboy as the commentators just explained. I can sort of see a little Argüello worship imprinted on his own style, now that you mention it..

 

Round 4

Butler easing off a tiny bit this round, letting Walker circle, mug and pose for long stretches. When they step together and let rip the cleanest and hardest stuff continues to be from Butler, particularly with the straight right hand turning Walker's head around. Neither is throwing all that much, both catching their breaths.

10-9 Butler

40-36 Butler

 

Round 5

Butler is throwing 1-2-3s now, raising and lowering his elevation with each shot to spread the impact from belt to chin. Walker gets in a nicely timed spring-up counter right hand through a Butler combo, but is getting tuned up before it and following. Walker reacting troublingly now to flush shots landed; even the left hooks on the body send him fleeing rapidly. HUGE rights on the body loaded up as Butler snipes from outside.

10-9 Butler

50-45 Butler

 

Round 6

Butler is letting Walker shoot his shot, covering up and backpedaling into the ropes as Walker unloads, almost everything blocked on the forearms or skimming off the outer biceps. After letting the role-reversal last a couple of minutes Butler again starts coming forward and controlling Walker easily with straights and hooks. Butler has turned southpaw, just toying with his prey and landing with no more difficulty than before in this stance. Right hook leads and left uppercuts bouncing Walker against the ropes.

10-9 Butler

60-54 Butler

 

Spencer Fearon has it 60-54 Butler, only way to have it really.

 

Round 7

Butler is shaking Walker up with half-pulled left hooks slammed into the side of his guard pouncing in, then delivering his jab and 1-2 between the compromised and loosened defenses of Walker after resetting in front of him at mid-range. Walker is doing his best to anticipate Butler's attacks, jabbing with him and winding up the odd right hand but only ever grazing if that.

10-9 Butler

70-63 Butler

 

I'd not realized he was still even actively campaigning - glad to see it, but doubt he'll ever rise to world championship level again (even though he looks to have barely lost a step). 31 years old with a decade in the biz and 224 rounds (232 after today) on the odometer makes for a well-used fly/bantam.

 

Round 8

Butler is doubling and tripling jabs up past Walker's, threading needle on him and prodding him back with flush trebuchet rights high on the nose. Butler dances in close after skirting the ropes, ducks a Walker right hand, and bops him on the cheek with a left hook. Butler just too fluid and crafty for him. Not pushing very hard for the stoppage, content to get the shutout here.

10-9 Butler

80-72 Butler

 

Spencer Fearon had it a clean sweep and says Butler is several levels above.

 

Scored by referee John Latham, 79-73 for Butler.

Not sure where Latham found one to give Walker tbh.