Stuart Hall vs. Vusi Malinga & Frankie Gavin vs. Bradley Pryce RBR

The BN commentators agree the seventh was still Malinga's even with Hall's late flourish.

 

Round 8

Hall loses his gum shield. Back in. Looping right leads by Hall. Malinga comes forward and batters Hall with right hooks and straight lefts. Counter right uppercut bending inside by Hall. Right hook below the ear by Malinga as Hall stays bent down in front of him, bald pate exposed to him. Lead right by Hall, softly washing up on Malinga's guard. Hooking combo by Malinga. Quick uppercut flurry by Hall leaning in, blocked. Big right hook by Malinga. Left hand by Malinga. Another right hook by Malinga is ducked and cuffs across the back of Hall's neck. Clinch.

10-9 Malinga

77-74 Hall

 

Round 9

Malinga is stepping in with the right hook and left uppercut on the jaw, rocking Hall and forcing him to dive in to clinch. Hall is getting herded by the right jab of Malinga, walking him down and ignoring his light body combos. BIG left hook late by Hall, stunning Malinga but not enough without a knockdown to reverse the previous couple of minutes.

10-9 Malinga

86-84 Hall

 

Round 10

Malinga is pressing in and slapping the back of Hall's neck with the right hook, planting the left uppercut on the underside of his chin. Hall is grinding his face into Malinga's chest and grabbing at his arms to pull them down while scrabbling for body shots and keeping himself pressed in close. Uppercut combo to the body by Malinga. Back and forth, both arm-weary, running on fumes and throwing punches on sheer adrenaline.

10-9 Malinga

95-94 Hall

 

Whoever ends up getting their hand raised tonight will be a finer IBF champ than previous belt holder Jamie McDonnell (even though McDonnell has a h2h victory over Hall) - or at least a more entertaining one.

 

:nod