Noel Murphy vs. Mikkel LesPierre RBR

Murphy not wonderful going backwards, is he? And he doesn't have the power to keep forcing LesPierre into retreat, so it'll be hard for him to find a way to reverse tide here, I suspect..

 

Round 6

LesPierre is shooting his jab at the exact same time, using it as a chaff grenade to disrupt Murphy's and knock it into chaos or off-orbit, leaving Murphy's jaw unprotected for a long left uppercut. LesPierre casually shoveling the underhanded left out from mid-range and retracting with a scissor-step before Murphy can gather himself to retaliate. Murphy counterattacking with flurries when his turn comes but just a step too slow to make good. LesPierre's height and economical footwork (not fast or fancy, just smart, not wasteful) making a difference. Murphy eating some embarrassing counters, still gunning hard though, propping up off the ball of each foot with his flurries.

10-9 LesPierre

58-56 LesPierre

 

Round 7

LesPierre starting to line up Murphy dead in his sights, taking aim comfortably with the 1-2 dialed in, timing Murphy's every forward step and clanging his open jaw shut with the left cross. LesPierre is pecking at Murphy with pot shots at will from outside, a mixture of long prodding jabs along the cheek, orbital bone, and under the gob, and those long lead left uppercuts. Murphy finally gets in a few good licks in the last ten seconds, bashing down repeatedly with the left and whipping in a few 1-2s as LesPierre breaks his guard to trade freely with him, not respecting Murphy's power. LesPierre laughs at him as the bell rings and they set out for their corners.

10-9 LesPierre

68-65 LesPierre

 

Round 8

LesPierre is visibly tiring but still putting in the lion's share of the work, and the overwhelming majority of the stuff actually connecting. Doubling up on the left uppercut, even. Murphy just plowing ahead, ramming his right shoulder toward LesPierre, walking through whatever he needs to, and either hitting the body if he can manage or just snatching LesPierre before he can squirm away down the ropes. Lots of clinching now. LesPierre no longer has the energy to bust loose himself, ref needing to get involved. Ugly, mauling fight now for long stretches, with no quality work from either. On the breaks, LesPierre is popping those jabs and placing the left uppercut from afar but only lightly. Murphy getting in nicks & scrapes on the body, but having to overreach for everything underneath LesPierre's outstretched arms, with LesPierre's gloves pushing into his face to hold him at bay.

10-9 LesPierre

78-74 LesPierre

 

Round 9

LesPierre is splaying his legs out now into a wide trapezoidal sprawl, planting his feet to stand his ground in center ring shooting jabs into Murphy's forehead. Murphy is rolling pit-pat combos into the stomach, shoving LesPierre backward, pushing his arms up and over his head, resulting in messy clinches. Ref getting agitated, doles out a stern warning for rabbit punches. Murphy heaves an impatient sigh, not appreciating the interruption. Murphy kept at the end of LesPierre's jab for most of the last minute as LesPierre manages to turn it back into a boxing match. Pretty slick maneuvers by LesPierre twirling along the ropes, turning his cheek and sucking in his belly in turn to slip head & body shots.

10-9 LesPierre

88-83 LesPierre

 

Round 10

Artur Mercante Jr. is getting absolutely fed up with the roughhousing. Sine incidental headbutts. LesPierre is hit with a rabbit punch or elbow after Murphy caught him with a big looping left and got overexcited and (I think?) Mercante docks a point from Murphy. Or else final warning. Not clear, I'm watching on mute (girlfriend thinks I'm studying, only way she'll leave me be, RBR's aren't sacred ). Murphy throwing absolute haymakers now, over the top, grazing. Pumping body combos like mad. LesPierre is mostly wincing and colliding with Murphy to tie up and stall. LesPierre in a lot of pain, whether from the fouls or legit body shots or a little of both.

9-9 (10-9 Murphy minus a point)

97-92 LesPierre

 

Okay then, just Mercante gesticulating dramatically. In that case 10-9 Murphy in the last, for a final score of 97-93 LesPierre for me.

 

Official cards:

97-92
95-92
95-92

UD for Mikkel LesPierre