Yoan Pablo Hernandez vs. Steve Cunningham II & undercard RBR

Round 10

Good hard left hand lead by Alexeev, then rotating out to his own right to keep Licina turning. A bit of leaning together, both using elbows to push out against the other man. Good double right jab and straight left hand up top by Alexeev. Lead left catches Licina coming in. Alexeev backs up and lines up his right jab. Clinch, with Licina's head squeezed between Alexeev's palms like a vice grip. Alexeev circles left and pops the right jab. Licina eats a BIG LEFT UPPERCUT, head snapping back. Alexeev is just painting all over the canvas. Licina keeps his guard up but his body language is giving the ref cause to look closely at him. Licina is throwing nothing in return - just an odd jab or wide chopping right here and there, half hearted.

10-9 Alexeev

98-92 Alexeev

 

Round 11

Licina keeps trying a 1-2 and getting timed and countered with straight lefts. Alexeev is using good footwork, keeping his right shoe just an inch past Licina's left and never flat. Good right jabs by Alexeev, with Licina trying to bob and weave in past them but failing. Alexeev hooks off the right jab as Licina pushes his way in. High left jabs by Licina miss. Jabs to the face by Alexeev, just brushing softly and scoring without any intent to damage. Licina digs some body shots but can't land more than once at a pop before Alexeev drills him with a solo left or 1-2 to the face. Licina blocks a 1-2 and leans in to clinch. Forearms pressed together, Licina backs out with an uppercut and misses. 1-2 to the head by Alexeev.

10-9 Alexeev

108-101 Alexeev

 

Alexeev is trained by Oktay Urkal. I'm glad Urkal is still around the sport. Always liked him. Nice guy and good fighter. Just unfortunate that the few times he stepped up in class, it was too far up and he wound up in way over his head.

 

Round 12

Licina is slugging away, trying to land something to the body with underhand lobs using both hands. Alexeev is leaning off to the side to dodge Licina's slow jabs and banging his grotesque face with hooks and straight line drive lefts. Licina is banging away with hard bombs, but all wide and telegraphed and ultimately blocked or errant. Alexeev backs up and corks in a right upper-hook from outside. Double jab to the guard, and a HARD left uppercut stepping in by Alexeev. Again a double jab, left uppercut combo by Alexeev. Licina keeps blocking and plodding forward. Head clash.

118-110 Alexeev