Robert Marek Parzęczewski vs. Şahan Aybay & Tomasz Nowicki vs. Joel Jalil Julio Mejia RBR

Impressive that Julio both returned and consistently throughout his comeback has made the limit in the same 154lb division he left off in before his semi-retired/inactive period of several years. Shows he's a gym rat if nothing else.

 

Dziękuję ci!

 

Round 1

Nowicki floating his right glove out in a jab-fest. Lots of head movement by Julio, whose legs aren't what they were a dozen years ago, understandably, so he just sort of shuffles laterally in the pocket. Nowicki just a little busier offensively.

10-9 Nowicki, close and uneventful

 

Round 2

Nowicki ducking some can-openers thrown by Julio with either hand while hopping straight up and down in place, bending over, and then lurching up on the ball of either foot to get a clear look down past the guard. Very jittery stuff from Julio, attempting to attack from odd angles to keep Nowicki thrown off. To his credit, the unbeaten local fighter is remaining calm and managing to feed Julio some needle-threading left hands on the schnoz.

10-9 Nowicki

20-18 Nowicki

 

Round 3

Nowicki doubling the right jab and hurling the left cross up at the head of Julio, getting a rise from the crowd but yet to plant it smack-dab on target. Julio not liking all the contact on his arms, letting them splash apart upon blocking as he scuttles outside to reset. A few looping counters from Julio, throwing from down by his thigh, but Nowicki spotting them and picking them off before countering with straights.

10-9 Nowicki

30-27 Nowicki

 

Round 4

Nowicki prodding Julio in the body with jabs and conserving energy by carrying both arms down at his sides during the periods of inertia when neither is pressing the attack. Julio tries finding range with his left jab but Nowicki able to maneuver his chin around it, dipping his shoulders and turning his neck to slip and counter while always stalking and backing Julio up. Lots of shelling up and defensive showboating from the Colombian, but he's still getting struck more than enough to be outpointed. Not a horrible performance for a 36 year old (especially with just five bouts since he was 26) but Julio boxing to go the distance here, not win.

10-9 Nowicki

40-36 Nowicki

 

Round 5

Nowicki loading up now on big cannonball lefts after thrusting his right foot out between Julio's and leading off with right hooks. Nowicki seems like he's going for a KO, which is a strange choice being this early in the contest with Julio not having ever seemed hurt thus far (and known to be tough, only ever stopped by huge punchers in Mandingo Warrior and El Perro), nor particularly fatigued, and Nowicki himself being 8-0 (2). Nowicki getting a name chant from the crowd, with synchronized foot stomping and everything, but not finding a way to crack the nut. Julio being very uncooperative and employing just enough footwork, counter-jabbing, and clinching to never be put in trouble.

10-9 Nowicki

50-45 Nowicki

 

Round 6

Nowicki paint-brushing Julio's face with light right jabs, then diving in to shoulder-tackle him across the ring. Julio whacking down with rabbit punches. Bit of disorganized chaos in there, ref having a word of caution to all. Julio now has turned the tables on Nowicki and started coming forward pumping out uppercuts until Nowicki gives ground. Julio keeps advancing but leaving a little room between them, landing some left jabs and then ducking away to the side, slipping Nowicki's counters. Some nice backfoot 1-2s and scooping lefts on the body from Nowicki.

10-9 Nowicki, closer... most competitive and entertaining round yet

60-54 Nowicki

 

Round 7

Nowicki throwing away double right jabs up high and then curling a left into the body, or combining a lead right hook with a left cross from the rear hip to Julio's kisser. Nowicki really dialed in and focused now, regaining the initiative. Julio dancing away, left arm unfurled vertically against his side and leg, occasionally jogging halfway inside with his gloves tucked up snugly under his chin to poke at Nowicki with some rights on the chest or throat. Nowicki slashing over the roaming left glove of Julio with a right hook from outside, then stepping away to show the crowd that when he doesn't force Julio to engage, there's no fight. Pretty sure they know, Tomasz.

10-9 Nowicki

70-63 Nowicki

 

Round 8

Nowicki finding Julio with lefts after fiddling around with a few missed right jabs ahead of each, getting a bead and taking aim. Julio treating it all like a light spar, dancing around, popping the odd left jab at Nowicki, kicking heels together and running in circles around him to not ever get drawn into any sustained brawls. Nowicki looking very impatient but also wary of rushing in recklessly and getting caught with any nukes. Probably wise...power is the last to go, and Julio was always dangerous and has fought conservatively enough to have a big finish in his tank if Nowicki made a mistake.

10-9 Nowicki

80-72 Nowicki

 

Oh, guess it was only scheduled for eight, not ten, as they hug after the bell and their corners enter the ring. Okey dokey... should be a UD8 shutout for Nowicki then, I would imagine.

 

Official cards:

??
??
??

UD for Nowicki

(counting on @johnny_o to come through w/ those scores )

 

Thanks again! I'm guessing they all gave Julio the sixth, and then maybe the seventh or eighth for the pair that had it closer.