Prizefighter: Super Featherweights RBR

Choi Tseveenpurev vs. Ben Murphy are at it.

Round 1

After a good first minute for Murphy, landing a bit sharper while Choi starts wild, the tide begins to turn. Choi wings hard curving punches from different angles with both hands, swarming Murphy while turning him. Murphy tries to counter but is getting beaten to the punch and landed on quite a bit.

10-9 Choi

 

Round 2

Murphy is down off a slip. Choi keeps targeting the body with every punch in the book, throwing with bad intentions. Choi pressuring effectively and circling Murphy, bobbing and weaving when Murphy telegraphs his overhand counters. Murphy backs straight up and leaves a jab to stave off Choi. Murphy is getting touched up on the outside as well - not with any hard stuff, but little jabs and a light shower of lead rights are scoring. Choi gets back inside and nails Murphy on the ropes a couple of times. Murphy keeps his gloves up and tries to bend forward right in front of Choi to defend but is getting rocked around by the sheer force of blows and his own exhaustion.

20-18 Choi

 

Round 3

Murphy comes right to the frontlines with a wide right hand that is mostly absorbed on Choi's ponytail. Choi gets right back to his high workrate and landing fast short punches aplenty, especially with the left. Murphy tries to just punch through Choi's offense but isn't quick or accurate enough. Choi starts working uppercuts inside. Murphy begins to surge forward, eating punches but pushing Choi to the ropes. Murphy is letting his hands go now on even level with Choi. Murphy is still getting hit as the Mongolian fights off the ropes, but Ben slaps him good for everything he takes (and Choi's shots don't have much leverage). Strong finish from Murphy.

10-9 Murphy

29-28 Choi

 

Choi does win it 29-28 and advances.

He looks pretty spent, however.

 

Choi says Murphy is very strong (having come down from lightweight/light welterweight) and then mentions something about a headbutt. He says he kept trying to slow Ben down with body shots but that it didn't really work. He's all out of breath.

 

Gary McArthur announces in a badass Scottish accent that he's "just here to do the business". :happy

Derry Matthews says he's here to prove the doubters wrong.

They both seem motivated. Let's see if it shows when they fight...NOW!

 

Round 1

McArthur asserts his right jab and throws a few whirlwind combos. Matthews turns his left shoulder in and circles right to limit the blunt impact of McArthur's attacks. Matthews starts to time him with long left jabs and right crosses on the turn. McArthur is knocked down by a check hook. He gathers himself and starts tossing right jabs right back in Matthews' face. McArthur comes forward with a few more speed-bag combos but Matthews steps by and lands a counter right on his chin. Again McArthur walks into a straight shot and nearly goes down. The 1-2 works well for Matthews now, who no longer needs to back off as much and has staked a claim in the middle of the ring. A wild left hand from McArthur lands and holds Matthews off for a bit.

10-8 Matthews

 

Round 2

Matthews bossing McArthur with his lengthy jab. McArthur keeps spinning his fists around each other in a neutral position by his stomach like the inside of a lottery machine and looking to squeeze a winning ball in the direction of Matthews' chin. Matthews is just out-maneuvering and out-punching McArthur. Hard long jabs continue to slice up the face of McArthur and crosses get in the mix after every few connect. McArthur is hit with a hard right hand and wobbles, turns his back and goes down to his knees. It is NOT ruled a knockdown as the referee was busy warning Matthews about standing on McArthur's lead foot. McArthur gets up and Matthews starts pounding his body, and is all over him. McArthur is down again off a body shot and saved by the bell.

10-8 Matthews