Nathan Cleverly vs. Tony Bellew & James DeGale vs. Piotr Wilczewski RBR

Round 1

Saunders comes forward with several quick flashy combos out of the southpaw stance, rolling his left up at different angles from down below and setting up with his right jab. Very fluid attacks by Saunders. Szekeres is backed up, just trying to get a hand out to hold Saunders off. Szekeres down from a hard clapping right hook. He gets up but is swept to the ropes by a long barrage of left and right hooks to the body by Saunders while trying to cover up. Trapped, Szekeres is taking huge blows with a few getting through to bounce off his skull. The ref gives another count and at about eight decides "Nah". Wave off.

 

Saunders says he didn't mean to stop the guy in the first round. Oops.

 

Szekeres had nothing to offer. He was spared a beating.

People like Zakman would call it terribly quick, but it was honestly fine. Nowhere near Calzaghe-Manfredo level at all.

 

Steve Bunce just went on a long rant about how boxing fans on the internet "on various sites" have referred to him as being a "Hungarian bum" - at which point the main play by play guy tried to protest and Bunce said "No, no they're paying fans and they're entitled to an opinion. The fans can say, you know - what they want. They're entitled to an opinion so long as they're paying their money ?)" and goes on to say that when Szekeres is beaten by an American like Manny Steward's guy Dominic Dalton it's gushed over, but when it's a Brit like Saunders it's written off as "Oh, he was a bum".

Bunce sounds incredibly bitter and petty, really. And what the **** is with only being entitled to an opinion if you're paying? (presumably meaning for a ticket to the live event or for the PPV/broadcast channel fees)

 

WTF? We get all these first round KO mismatches, but not Webb-Smyle which is maybe the most competitive match on paper outside the co-features?? :blood