Serhiy Fedchenko vs. Willy Blain RBR

Round 6

Fedchenko is mostly coming forward now, but still ducking and swerving his upper body guard and all to avoid Blain's barked-out-loud chopping and slapping attacks. Fedchenko is getting underneath and throwing up some good jabs. Blain keeps punching while getting backed up by the jab.

60-53 Fedchenko

 

Round 7

Fedchenko walks Blain across the ring with his jab and nearly pins him in the corner with a pair of far-reaching right hands that graze the head but land partially atop the shoulder. Blain circles to his left and waves his right jab out at full extension near Fedchenko's face, then abruptly throws a straight left that makes the hometown fighter blink. Blain is hitting, setting sail, drifting off to the side and hitting again before grabbing. Right jabs and lefts by Blain as he keeps floating around Fedchenko. Big cut between Fedchenko's eyes. thirty seconds in the round. Doctor checks it out. He's OK to go on. Caused by a legal blow, I think. (otherwise his team would probably push to stop it and go to the cards). They both flurry hard at each other and land their rear power hands.

10-9 Blain

69-63 Fedchenko

 

Fedchenko actually has three cuts. One just below and to the right of his right eye; one just below and to the left of his left eye, and the one between them.

Replay shows there was a pretty hard headbutt in that last round. Maybe one of the cuts was from the butt.

 

Round 8

Blain holds his right hand out while circling against the ropes, and Fedchenko smacks it aside with his left. Quick right jabs up from the hip by Blain. Fedchenko loads up a right but Blain dives inside and lands a quick pair to the chest before backing out untouched. Fedchenko is lunging in and double jabbing. The crowd is chanting encouragement and clapping rhythmically. Blain circles and holds his right arm out like a stick, keeping Fedchenko forked out at range and then landing big straight lefts. Good slick movement by Blain, dancing to either side of Fedchenko with his hands down and pulling his head back to slip jabs. Blain dances and lands right jabs.

10-9 Blain

78-73 Fedchenko

 

Oh, OK. Well they must be showing it on delay in Fedchenko's country then, unlike Blain's.

Thanks for not blurting out! :good

 

By all accounts he was getting close to shut out, and was nearly KTFO by Botha many times.

 

Blain has really found a working formula the last couple of rounds. Unfortunately he waited until he'd already lost half of the scheduled rounds and been knocked down - which means that without a KD of his own to balance the scales he can't even eke out a draw by winning every single remaining round...and he doesn't seem to have the power for it.

 

Round 9

Fedchenko is missing jabs to the body, darting in low and hoisting himself back. Blain pops his southpaw 1-2 and moves, making Fedchenko slice at the air. A few spirited body shots by Fedchenko. Rabbit punch. Blain keeps circling, slipping and popping the 1-2. Some high slapping lefts seem to stun Fedchenko a bit.

10-9 Blain