Oleg Maskaev vs. Danny Williams RBR

OK. I'm sold. (although this isn't my first time seeing Pap)

The Knockout Man has legit power worthy of the moniker.

Escobar did well to survive there, but I'm not sure he can hang around for the second half of this. He got decked, authoritatively. He must still be seeing double.

 

Round 6

Papazov is living by the left hook, slapping it up top and looking for the KO. Escobar wisely moves in, ties up, then slides backward with Papazov laying into him spinning his wheels in the mud. Uppercut flurry by Escobar, countered by a left hook at roughly 75% power, still rocking him. Light parting jabs shot out in the air by Escobar dancing outside after Papazov expends some energy slapping hooks across his shoulderblades ineffectively.

10-9 Papazov

59-54 Papazov

 

Round 7

Papazov is slapping at Escobar with upward-arcing left hooks and hooked overhand rights, nearly indistinguishable but for the hand used. Escobar is backing up and catching Papazov flush with counter 1-2s but not slowing him down. Papazov smacks Escobar on the gob with a double hook and keeps pressing him across the ring. Uppercut leaning in by Escobar. Left & right hooks to the jaw by Escobar. Right hand backing up by Escobar.

10-9 Papazov

69-63 Papazov

 

Fun, close seventh. Not close enough IMO to give Escobar as even a pity round, but considering he was almost knocked out cold in the fifth being this much in the game and making the action even remotely close is quite something.

 

Round 8

Papazov is whipping in hooks at Escobar's face and body, turning his hips with each. Escobar is backing out, countering with sweeping uppercuts with his longer arms, then jabbing Papazov in the face at long range. Papazov ounces in place and then moves in with a high double jab, dodged as Escobar melts into a slumping pose. Clubbing right by Papazov, hitting shoulder. Left hooks to the body and overhand right counters by Escobar standing in with Papazov. Stiff forearm shiver by Papazov shoving Escobar into range for a wide hook. Escobar turns with the hook but still takes it on the chin, and sticks a counter jab.

10-9 Papazov

79-72 Papazov

 

Come on, Serge! You can make the finish line! :bbb

(with apologies to Fedor & his rep/KO % - but he can work on those anew next time out...he is still a young work in progress...)

 

Round 9

Papazov is winging big hooks and missing a large share, most sliding up Escobar's shoulders as he turns each in rhythmically and counters with jabs and right hands. Diving right hand to the body by Escobar, falling low and darting out without straightening into Papazov's trajectory with his coil-mechanism action figure hooks thrown predictably at Escobar's head space. A few get through by the law of averages, and manage to snap Escobar's head around when they connect.

10-9 Papazov

89-81 Papazov

 

Round 10

Papazov is throwing hard uppercuts to the body and overhands on the forehead pushing Escobar into the ropes. Escobar answers in kind, meeting Papazov shot for shot and loading up just as he is. EXCELLENT action with nary a ream of paper's width between them. Escobar is ROCKED BY A LEFT HOOK, struggling to hold on. He manages to get his left glove clasped over Papazov's shoulder and prevents himself from collapsing, then backpedals to the ropes flicking up left jabs from the hip. Leaping hook by Papazov. Escobar is rocked. Twenty seconds left. Flurry by Papazov. He is glancing at the ref hoping for a "Krasnodar special", feeling there is nothing more he can do to secure a stoppage. Escobar keeps himself alive throwing a weak jab or right hand every ten seconds. Papazov waves at the crowd and showboats in between launching big hooks.

10-9 Papazov

99-90 Papazov

 

...and, he is the naturally much smaller man. He is the current Argentine super featherweight champion. (as of his Cinderella Man upset of Rodriguez in April)

He is one hard-nosed little road warrior. Viva Loco Lima!