Wladimir Klitschko vs. David Haye & undercard RBR

Has anybody heard if the inclement weather in Hamburg is going to affect the chief supporting bouts? (ie Ola Afolabi vs. Terry Dunstan)

I guess we'll know in about fifteen minutes if the coverage doesn't start as it's supposed to on the myriad British/German/etc. networks.

 

Ashley Sexton vs. Mike Robinson (8 rounds @ bantamweight) is halfway through!

 

Round 5

There is much excessive holding. Most is initiated by "Robbo". The ref keeps warning him but isn't threatening to take a point. Like a dozen holds in the first minute. Sexton tries to work short double left hooks to the jaw while sidestepping Robinson's diving grabs and body-jabs. (the jabs to the body are honestly just a pretense to Robinson attempting to grab). Robinson again tangles his arms around Sexton's and wrestles him until a break is called. 1-2 to the body by Sexton as he backs away and keeps Robinson chasing and lunging low. Lots of rough arm-flapping on the inside as each jockeys for position.

10-9 Sexton

If the rounds have all gone like this (and my impression is that they have) Sexton should be pitching a shutout, and this ref should be reprimanded if he hasn't deducted any points for Robinson's constant fouling.

 

Round 6

Robinson sets back to task, trying to duck and roll inside with his shoulders hunched up protectively and his head leaning side to side as he tries to clap Sexton with blind over-hooks and grab him around the waist. Sexton is kept from countering effectively through the first minute and is actually losing the inside battle as Robinson violently grabs, thrashes, and shoves him. Sexton is pushed to the ropes and has to put his full weight behind a left hook to get some separation as he struggles to hold his ground. Robinson comes diving in with overhand rights, head leaned off to the side. Sexton starts to land his right hand counter and some jabs to the body as he slides his feet back to stay out of the grabby zone.

Close round, but Sexton came back and did enough to preserve it.

 

Round 7

Robinson is leaping straight back as Sexton tries to target him with a long 1-2, then bouncing off his heels to come colliding into Sexton with arms akimbo to maul him and cast himself over him like a net. Sexton is doing well to work the body as much as he can before springing backward out of the clinches and taking a deep breath to brace himself for the next. Robinson is just walking forward, willingly eating chopping jabs and trying to block what he can as he tries to grab Sexton time and again. Lots of wrestling. No warning. A break is called. Sexton tries an overhand right but has his arm intercepted and twisted behind his head in midair. Robinson comes diving in with a right to the body and is countered.

10-9 Sexton