Tony Bellew vs. Edison Miranda RBR

The round was basically over. Had he beaten the count he'd have been saved by the bell.

 

Round 1

Evangelou is leading with left hooks as Connor comes pumping in with left and right piston shots to the head. Evangelou is able to slip most of them or take them rolling along his shoulders, looking to unload a big counter left hook. Connor is the one coming forward, the constant aggressor but seems to be a much weaker puncher and doesn't place his shots very well, just operating on a volume game plan. Enough quality from Evangelou to offset the quantity in Connor's favor.

10-9 Evangelou

 

Round 2

Evangelou lands a nice counter right as Connor comes plopping his shots in. Evangelou is no longer hung up on just the left hook, becoming more comfortable throwing the 1-2 after slipping the drum-rolls of Connor. A bit of stuttering leg movement by Evangelou to throw Connor off the scent, and then a left hook cuffing up across the side of the head. Connor keeps pumping jabs and dumping buckets of rights over the top - very inaccurate, especially when compared to Evangelou. It's work rate vs. sharpness here, with the latter shading it. (although if Evangelou were throwing any less..)

20-18 Evangelou

 

One knockout between these guys in twenty one combined bouts (belonging to Evangelou; Connor has none); this is probably going the full ten. :yep

 

Round 3

Wild hook by Evangelou, ducked. Connor tries to press the attack with his straight shots but can't lay a hand on him as Evangelou bends back at the waist and walks backward with exaggerated steps. Connor walks Evangelou to the ropes and manages to get through with an uppercut. Evangelou circles away to the middle of the ring and scores a 1-2. Left hook by Connor, caught on the glove. Connor keeps swatting with it, pressing Evangelou back. Evangelou plays possum and then unloads a 1-1-2 to chase Connor away, fully across the ring. OHHH!! Evangelou hurts him with a left hook, snapping Connor's head back!!! Evangelou over-commits going for the finish and Connor is able to duck under and escape. Evangelou comes running in with left hooks up top and rights to the body. BIG hook to the face by Evangelou. Connor holds. Connor has a bloody nose. Connor flicks jabs to the body. Right hand lunging in by Connor, caught and held until the bell.

Damn, Connor was about to get that 10-9 until he got shellacked.

30-27 Evangelou

 

Uh, nevermind. :!:

 

Round 4

Evangelou is waiting, no longer rushing for the finish. Connor is barging in with double jabs and right hands, eager to gain back the momentum by taking this frame. Lots of aggression by Connor, jabs and rights, but a HUGE LEFT HOOK by Evangelou and blood is gushing out of Connor's nostrils. It must be affecting his breathing, but he still keeps up his breakneck pace, nary a backward step, hacking away at Evangelou even as those coiled left hooks remain a constant threat. Long jab by Connor, lunging in, HEAD SNAPPED BACK by a left hook from Evangelou.

40-36 Evangelou

 

Round 5

BIG left hooks by Evangelou, can't miss the head of Connor. Evangelou is leaping in and hooking high, getting ducked. Connor rallies every few steps, dropping anchor and flashing out several jabs and rights. Evangelou is able to lean and slip his way in and keep Connor rocked back on his heels with those big hooks.

50-45 Evangelou

 

Round 6

Evangelou is resting on his laurels, back to the early round pattern, letting Connor outwork him even though he's defending against the large majority of Connor's shots, and throwing very little back himself even if they are effective left hook leads and counters with both hands. Evangelou is simply not doing enough. Connor comes forward, with a constant stream of red falling across his upper lip. 1-2-1-2-1-2 by Connor, having a good round...until Evangelou hurts him again in the final minute. Left hook and chopping right by Evangelou. Connor resumes control with his jab, circling around and turning Evangelou.

Tell you what, I'm giving that to Connor. Evangelou's outburst wasn't impressive enough to steal it, even if the crowd overreacted to it.

10-9 Connor

59-55 Connor

 

Total punch stats through six, per Sky:

Evangelou 80 of 273, 29%

Connor 51 of 268, 19%


:blood

Those can not be right.