Sergey Alexandrovich Kovalev vs. Igor Gennadyevich Mikhalkin & Dmitry Bivol vs. Sullivan Barrera RBR

Round 7

Bivol has taken a curling iron to his right hand, anti-straightening it, adjusting to Barrera having figured out how to buoy his neck up and to one side while pulling away. Bivol nailing him with the kinked overhand right, both in standalone form and behind the jab in lieu of a cross. Barrera is getting bolder, perhaps gambling on the hope that Bivol is tiring based on his reduced output since the sixth, but is getting himself punished. Every time Barrera lands a jab even obliquely Bivol detonates a jab/overhand combo across his face.

10-9 Bivol

70-63 Bivol

 

Round 8

Bivol is catching Barrera's 1-2s on his forearms, putting them forward in quick successive rhythm to catch each punch in turn and then landing timely counter jabs and his own 1-2s. Both have swelling around the bottom of the eye socket, been a few headbutts now. Ref pauses for another one, Barrera getting the worst of it. HUGE chopping right from Bivol charging in, making Barrera cover up against the ropes. Barrera hurt, swinging wildly at Bivol's midsection with uppercuts to back him off while letting his neck go slack and head dangle below the waist, hoping Bivol can't find him that low with anything with too much leverage, especially as he's lolling around throwing his uppers. The gamble works, he survives to see the bell.

10-9 Bivol

80-72 Bivol

 

Ward didn't have Barrera shut out through eight, did he?

 

Lederman has it 80-72 Bivol.

 

Round 9

Bivol is shooting first, taking initiative with the jab, scoring it, then giving a little twist of his arm while sweeping inward so that its underside causes Barrera's counter jab to become stuck on it like flypaper. Bivol landing HARD right hand counters whenever Barrera gets brave enough to headhunt. Barrera is jabbing with Bivol in the middle of the ring. Mistake. 100% of his get blocked and close to as high a percentage land for Bivol, and they're powerful.

10-9 Bivol

90-81 Bivol