Steven Butler vs. Stephane Fondjo Hendjou & Jhon Elin Orobio Siniestra vs. Xolisani Ndongeni RBR

Novák represents a marginal step up for Sanford, with the Czech being just the second undefeated opponent in the Canadian southpaw's young 4-0 pro career. Novák has faced signifcantly better opposition than Sanford's sophomore opponent, Tomás Andrés "The Saiyan" Lastra Oñate of Chile (rated #815 of 2,768 active men at 140lbs on BoxRec), however.

 

I just found out Wyatt Sanford is married to a fellow Olympic athlete in retired Canadian diving legend Pamela Ware.

This content is protected

Cutie-patootie power couple.

 

10-9 Sanford, controlling range with the right jab, throwing fast deterrent combos when Novák ventures too far inside.

 

Wouldn't hold my breath for anything too competitive; I've seen Santana-Salcedo several times on these Québec shows and he's being brought along very carefully.

 

Novák managed to close the distance and initiate some rough clinches in the second but still hasn't really lain much leather on Sanford. (a few elbows inside, though)

20-18 Sanford

 

Novák has an awkward style and is difficult to score clean on consistently as a tall & spindly fellow southpaw with a tight guard and propensity to palm-slap oncoming fire down while pressuring...but I'm not sure what his game plan is here, besides collecting a paycheck. He's in a deep hole at the halfway mark and generating virtually none of his own offense.

 

Carlos Irusta has it 30-27 Sanford.

 

Novák not a very easy guy to look good against.

 

Sanford upping his output in the 5th, doubling up on the line drive left and throwing more right hooks. Let's see if he goes all out in the final round to push for the KO.

 

Sanford jabbing into the forearms to keep them pinned at Novák's chest and then slamming an underhanded left into his exposed flank. Spirited exchanges inside, Sanford landing his right hook without taking a receipt, showing off some defensive pocket slickness. Novák has a reddened nose, maybe bloody.

Sanford baiting Novák to fire his jab, slipping it with a backward lean, and yo-yoing inside to land his own. Both working their free hands while grinding together hip to hip. Sanford walking Novák down, catching a left hand lead on the mitt, and then headhunting only for Novák to dive and clinch around the waist.

Good sixth.

 

Matt Casavant turns in an insane scorecard - first round 10-10 even, 4th and 5th to Novák, with Sanford just barely squeaking it out 58-57.

The commentators for ESPN Knockout in Argentina are laughing in disbelief at that.

 

Much more reasonable scorecards from the official judges:

60-54 x2
59-55

UD for Sanford

 

The rest of the card is all scheduled ten rounders (four total) from here out.