WSB (World Series of Boxing) - Season 3 ***Champions: Kazakhstan Astana Arlans***

Round 2

Usyk is prodding Nistor on the bridge of the nose with his sharp right jab, tracking into the ropes with his body cheated askew using angles to bounce off them and boomerang past Nistor as he lumbers in with hard windmilling lefts behind his exploring right jab. Quick footwork by Usyk, shifting his weight constantly from the ball of either foot and keeping the faucet running, pouring right jabs all over Nistor as he advances. Nistor absorbs several penetrating straight punches as he looks to land heavily on Usyk with his stubbier arms roving up and brought down with mean intentions. Nistor can't quite pin Usyk on the ropes long enough to find him cleanly.

10-9 Usyk

20-18 Usyk

 

All three judges gave it 10-9 to Usyk and have it 20-18 to Usyk overall.

 

Round 3

Usyk is putting in work from long range, catching Nistor at the end ofhis jab and then putting in left crosses on Nistor's doughy belly. Long right hooks turned over by Usyk to counter over the slow right jab of Nistor. Usyk is backing up to the ropes and twisting in either direction with his arms down to slip Nistor's lunging blows. Nice duck and swerve to the side to slip a jab by Usyk, keeping his gloves overhead just in case but never removing his eyes from his opponent. Nistor bashes Usyk into the ropes, hitting guard but knocking him forcefully off balance with a couple of heavy chops. Usyk caroms off the ropes and circles by Nistor, holding up his tight guard as Nistor continues pounding at him. Heavy chopping left by Nistor, wrapping around the pole of Usyk's vertically held right arm, barely preventing it from touching his chin. Usyk is blocking most of it, but Nistor is the clear aggressor in this last minute and may be impressing the judges.

10-9 Usyk

30-27 Usyk

 

All three judges gave it 10-9 to Nistor and have it 29-28 to Usyk overall.

 

:yep

Yeah, I consider him a bit of a fraud so knocking him silly doesn't mean all that much.

Having said that, I'm starting to believe in Nistor's power thanks to Round 3. (as is Usyk, I think...he looked quite alarmed even though he kept most of it from getting to him flush)

 

Round 4

Usyk is dancing on his toes, putting in the right jab past Nistor's and then quickly covering his face before Nistor can bash it with a left. Nistor harries Usyk to the ropes, throwing a much higher volume than he did in the first several minutes. All slow chops but he is putting torque on them and staying close enough he doesn't need to worry about picking his aim. Usyk is blocking as he gets pushed back, and working in counter right jabs and 1-2s where he can, leaning back to slip an odd punch and load up and put emphasis on the left crosses when he snaps forward again.

10-9 Usyk

40-36 Usyk

 

All three judges gave it 10-9 to Usyk and have it 39-37 to Usyk overall.

 

Great fight, even though it's a shutout on my card.

Different sort of shutout altogether than Sep vs. Lapin was. :yep

I'm actually nervous for Usyk entering the 5th. He needs to stay focused!

 

Round 5

Nistor is tucking his chin and coming forward with big left hands. Nistor down, slip. Usyk is dancing away and doubling or tripling up on the right jab, turning it out nice and straight from his guard. Left hand lead dropped in by Usyk from outside, cracking Nistor on the kisser as Usyk collapses into him for a brief hug and breather before letting go and darting outside. Nistor lost his gum shield. Time out to replace it. His corner tries sneaking him water as his back is to the ref. Time in. BIG combo by Usyk, jumping around Nistor and flashing both hands out the instant he touches the ground, two and three punches at once. Nistor turns to face him, clearly exhausted. WILD shots by Nistor, windmilling both arms in toward Usyk and easily getting slipped. Counter right jabs by Usyk as he turns Nistor, remaining close and bracing his movement with a steadying wrist held against Nistor.

10-9 Usyk

50-45 Usyk

 

Official cards:

49-46
49-46
49-46

UD for Oleksandr Usyk

 

He does occasionally register an "OH ****" expression when caught, but yeah never in serious trouble.

 

Highlights of the whole meet now.

Based on them it seems Toitov didn't have it all his way but probably didn't receive a gift either. (which is going to remain a concern with these finals being in Astana...)

Damn, Lomachenko put on a clinic from the look of it. What a ferocious knockdown!