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

Harris' gas tank running low? Braithwaite turning it on and not finding much of a willing dance partner. Harris just wants to clinch, separate, and jab from a distance now.

 

Harris well up at the halfway point, but I've finally given Braithwaite a share for his edge in activity, mostly body shots.

49-46 Harris

 

Harris pumping out the left jab almost exclusively, in control with it for the first minute plus. Couple of hefty overhand rights smashing into Harris' face as Braithwaite creeps in past the jab. Braithwaite throwing big sidewinding rights into the flanks, and then hooking into Harris' temple with the right coming up from a crouch. Another for the underdog.

58-56 Harris

 

Braithwaite patiently absorbing Harris jabs and 1-2s against the gloves, then plying him with an uppercut gliding in while Harris is attempting to pull out surreptitiously. Braithwaite times a battering ram of a right past the Harris jab, spinning his face around. Braithwaite hopping in and now showing a light sneaky up-jab that rattles off the face of Harris.

10-9 Braithwaite

67-66 Harris

 

If the Welshman doesn't seize momentum back again somehow, we could be headed for an upset.

 

Heavy rights by Braithwaite, doubling up on chopping blows to the head and hooks on the body while bracing himself against Harris' chest with a pushed jab. Harris just keeps sticking the jab out, trying to get some breathing room, and chipping away on Braithwaite's body but unable to discourage him. Big slapping hooks by Braithwaite, arm punches but winged hard, crashing into the raised right arm protecting the face of Harris.

10-9 Braithwaite, close - get the feeling the last two could go either way, as Harris had a much better round than he has in a while despite losing this one.

76-76

 

Spencer Fearon has it 78-75 Harris. He gave Braithwaite the 4th and 6th, with the second 10-10.

 

Harris spat his gum shield in the ninth - can't tell whether it was an intentional time-buying measure or just too forceful an exhalation. (but either way could portent that he's feeling the pace)

 

Harris digs down deep and finds some nice quality in the middle minute of the ninth, landing 1-2s charging in and then bashing hooks on the back of the head as Braithwaite curls forward and tucks up. Overhand rights and left hooks by Braithwaite scoring in the final twenty seconds - really making the round a toss-up ...uneventful first third, then a strong Harris period, and then a brief Braithwaite resurgence where he lands the couple of most thudding blows of the round.

I rarely do these but I'm scoring that one level.

10-10

86-86

 

Fearon gave that one to Braithwaite, and has Harris' lead on his card narrowed to 87-85 (meaning Braithwaite still needs a KD in this final frame to get a draw)

 

10th will decide the contest, on my scorecard.

 

Messy finish here, lots of clinching and punches getting smothered on each other's gloves/wrists/forearms/crotches in the tight melee.

 

Braithwaite hook rocked Harris onto the bridge of his foot, might've been the best clean shot either landed in those last three minutes and with that Braithwaite just shades it for me, 96-95.

Won't be shocked if they gave it to the more known and saleable commodity in Harris though. Not a terrible robbery if they do.

 

Fearon couldn't split R10, and has it 97-95 Harris.

 

That was actually really good.