Toshiaki Nishioka vs. Rafael Marquez & undercard RBR

Round 8

Marquez throws a jab and a right as Nishoika is ducking in past him but doesn't land clean. Marquez loops his left arm around Nishioka's neck as the champ keeps darting in low and oddly trying to grab Marquez. It's unclear why Nishioka is drawn in to Marquez like a moth to flame now, instead of boxing outside as he'd been doing nicely for the past few rounds. :huh Nishioka is getting horny for the KO, perhaps? Yeah, he's picking up the aggression and it's a bit of an awkward fit on him (as more of a counter puncher). BOOM! Head clash. Nishioka's fault, but it hurt him a lot more. He is cut. Time in. Nishioka is blinking through the pain. Marquez comes on strong! Right hands! Nishioka is able to gather himself, and backs off into circling range after taking minimal damage. Marquez chases and lands a jab. BIG straight left to the gut by Nishioka!! That would have knocked the wind out of lesser men. Marquez keeps pressing forward. Lunging right hand to the body by Marquez. Another lunging right, grazing the chin of Nishioka. Marquez is a right hand machine.

10-9 Marquez

76-76

 

Round 9

Nishioka is caught with a left hook while moving to the ropes. Marquez is winging out hard shots while rapidly giving chase, emboldened by the cut and his success late in the 8th. Left hand lead lands for Nishioka. Marquez lands a 1-2. Nishioka left hand! Marquez right hand, left hook!! A fight is breaking out!! They circle each other a bit closer than before. Nishioka waves his right glove around, faking Marquez out before throwing a left hand lead and then a short combo behind it. Marquez looks to blast him with a right hand, but is held off by the Nishioka jab. Nishioka feints a hook to the body but pulls back. Marquez goes for his own double left hook to the body and holds NOTHING back, landing with a hard thud-thud. Nishioka stays in close for the most part but is darting back whenever Marquez starts to move his hands. Good rights landing for Marquez, and good lefts for Nishioka. Good technical fighting at mid-range by both.

86-85 Marquez

 

Round 10

Big lefts by Nishioka, landing very solidly on the face of Marquez. VERY straight and powerful lefts by Nishioka!! Marquez is in trouble! Nishioka is really bringing the hammer down with that left! Marquez skirts to the ropes, and just gets slammed with left crosses behind the bracing right jab! Overhand left by Nishioka, pivoting into it. Left uppercut by Nishioka as Marquez was ducked low for a second, just glancing as Marquez snaps up straight. Right jab by Nishioka. Right hand to the body falls short for Marquez. Nishioka is bossing Marquez, landing a left uppercut to the sternum and a right hook up top. BIG LEFT HAND! ANOTHER BIG LEFT HAND!! Marquez is on jelly legs, but bravely hanging in there! Powerful laser lefts from Nishioka! WHIPPING left hand across the face by Nishioka! Marquez throws a lead right coming forward, and Nishioka slips it while stepping around Marquez.

10-9 Nishioka

95-95

 

Round 11

Nishioka circles out to his left, and waves his hands around to intercept the errant right hands of Marquez. Right hook upstairs by Nishioka, and he leaves the glove resting on Marquez's shoulder before nailing him with a left hand. Several lefts by Nishioka! Combos! Marquez is getting banged up! Nishioka is patient and collected, not wasting energy. Nishioka ducks in front of Marquez, and then pushes up with a left hand landing flush against Marquez's face. Nishioka works his way in, slowly - and then takes a quick pair of steps to throw an accurate combo before moving back outside. Marquez is backed up by powerful lefts, and ducks while shrinking back and blocking. Right jab, left hand by Nishioka on the front foot. Left uppercut by Nishioka. Right hook up top. BIG left hand lead to the jaw by Nishioka. Marquez lands a right hand but only partly as Nishioka rolls back with it.

10-9 Nishioka

105-104 Nishioka

 

Round 12

Nishioka takes a right to the body while strafing around Marquez. Nishioka is right in front of Marquez, ducking and circling tight. Marquez throws a good right uppercut, but takes a right hook! Fast pace! Marquez works at the body, but Nishioka is too quick on his feet, buzzing around him and jabbing him in the head. Jab and a left cross from Nishioka. Marquez gets doubled over by a left to the body. Nishioka keeps pressing in close. Right hook by Nishioka just misses. Marquez throws a 1-2 but it is very fat and limp, going over Nishioka's shoulders. Nishioka ducks very low in front of Marquez, then straightens up and lands a combo. Marquez is fishing for him but can't find Nishioka's head cleanly. BIG right hand lands for Marquez!! Nishioka ducks inside and then pops up flurrying! Both let their hands go! Left hook Marquez, right hook Nishioka! Marquez's glove touches the canvas - slip! Big left hand to the body by Nishioka! 1-2 by Marquez!

Final bell!!

115-113 Toshiaki Nishioka