By Brian Blackwell: HBO Boxing After Dark – Houston, TX [Toyota Center]
Daniel Jacobs [17-0(15)] vs Ishe Smith [21-3(9)]
Round 1
Jacobs asserts himself. He begins with the jab. They circle the ring to their lefts. Smith is doing a lot of blocking, and throwing a lot of nothing. Smith warned for a low blow.
10-9 Jacobs
Round 2
Smith keeps backing Jacobs into the ropes, but he is not throwing anything. Good left look for Jacobs. Smith is blocking a lot of punches. Smith warned again for low blows.
10-9 Jacobs
Round 3
Two left hooks land for Smith. Jacobs has a great work rate, and it is winning rounds for him, but not many punches are getting through Smith’s guard. The jab is Jacob’s best friend at this point. Another left hook lands for Smith. Ishe warned again for low blows. I do not know what Smith is waiting on, his lack of punch output is going to cost him the fight.
10-9 Jacobs
Round 4
The two exchange heated words at the center of the ring. I don’t know why Smith is talking, he needs to throw punches. Jacobs lands to the body. Ishe seems to be waiting on the left hook, but that punch is not relevant enough for him to waste so much time trying to land. Jacobs continues to outwork his opponent.
10-9 Jacobs
Round 5
Smith looks slow and tired. Jacobs continues to throw combinations. Another left hook lands for Smith. Plain and simple, Smith is going to lose this fight because of lack of work rate. Ishe refuses to back away from Jacobs after the round. He receives a warning from the referee.
10-9 Jacobs
Round 6
Right hook lands for Jacobs. If Ishe would let his hands go, this fight could get interesting real quick. Two hooks land for Ishe. He needs to let his hands go. Jacobs throws a punch during the break, and receives a warning from the referee. Another left hook lands for Ishe.
10-9 Smith
Round 7
Whenever Jacobs is on the ropes, he is getting nailed by hooks to his melon. Right hook for Ishe. Jacobs needs to get off the ropes. Jacobs unloads with combinations, but not much landed.
10-9 Jacobs
Round 8
I am telling you, if Ishe loses this fight, it will be his own fault, because he will not let his hands go. When he backs Jacobs to the ropes, both of his hooks are landing, but he simply refuses to take advantage of this. Jacobs continues his usual work rate. One minute into the round, and Ishe has thrown four punches. Ishe lands two left hooks, but he has thrown another round due to his poor work rate.
10-9 Jacobs
Round 9
Ishe looks exhausted. Jacobs lands to the body. Ishe needs to realize that he is not a power puncher, so he simply cannot afford to throw and land so little. Two left hooks land for Ishe. Ishe loses a point for a late punch after the bell. That just might be the end for him.
10-8 Jacobs
Round 10
I am absolutely through with Ishe. What is he waiting on? He follows Jacobs around the ring, but will not throw punches. What is he afraid of? I hope he isn’t afraid to lose, because that is inevitable at this point. The round ends.
10-9 Jacobs
Unanimous Decision Daniel Jacobs – New NABO Middleweight Champion
Robert Guerrero [24-1-1(17)] vs Malcolm Klassen [24-4-2(14)]
Round 1
They exchange jabs. Straight left for Guerrero. Body shot for Guerrero. Guerrero looks game tonight. Klassen looks confused. 1-2, 1-2, 1-2. Guerrero looks great. Klassen lands a right hand, but loses the round badly.
10-9 Guerrero
Round 2
Pretty even round. Klassen finally mounting an offense. Guerrero still letting his hands go. Well, at least Klassen is answering now.
10-9 Guerrero
Round 3
Guerrero looks sharp, but he is wide open for the counter right. Klassen lands to the body. Guerrero’s work rate is relentless.
10-9 Guerrero
Round 4
They exchange body shots. Klassen lands to the body. Counter right lands for Guerrero. Klassen needs to throw the right. Counter right lands for Klassen.
10-9 Guerrero
Round 5
Counter right lands for Klassen. Klassen is now matching Guerrero’s punch output. Klassen drops his guard at the end of the round.
10-9 Klassen
Round 6
Guerrero fires the jab. Left hook for Klassen. Guerrero continues his work rate. His jab is non-stop. Body shot for Guerrero. Uppercut knocks out Klassen’s mouthpiece.
10-9 Guerrero
Round 7
Guerrero working off the jab. Two left hooks for Klassen. Guerrero keeps firing that jab into Klassen’s face. Guerrero’s volume of punches is winning him this fight. Straight left causes a cut over Guerrero’s eye. Referee says it was accidental.
10-9 Guerrero
Round 8
Two counter rights for Klassen. He needs to up his punch output. Klassen is targeting Guerrero’s bloody eye. He needs to throw more punches.
10-10 even
Round 9
They exchange against the ropes. Klassen lands a right hand. I wish he would throw it more. Klassen lands a combination to the body.
10-9 Klassen
Round 10
Great fight. They continue to unload on each other two minutes into the round. Guerrero’s face is a mess. He looks tired. Non-stop action until the bell.
10-10 even
Round 11
Guerrero has thrown exactly 1000 punches up until this point. Wow! Big right hook for Klassen. Guerrero is getting careless. They slug in the center of the ring. Another counter right for Klassen. 1-2. 1-2. 1-2, all for Guerrero as the round ends.
10-9 Guerrero
Round 12
Klassen needs a knock out. He goes straight at Guerrero. Guerrero holds. Klassen misses a huge uppercut. Guerrero holds. They battle until the final bell.
10-9 Guerrero
Unanimous Decision Robert Guerrero – New IBF Junior Lightweight Champion
Juan Diaz [34-2(17)] vs Paulie Malignaggi [26-2(5)]
Round 1
Paulie comes out firing the jab. He looks fast. Juan plods ahead. Paulie jabs constantly to Juan’s face. The jab looks great. His left glove shields him from several left hooks by Juan. Paulie is cut over his left eye.
10-9 Paulie
Round 2
Juan is pressuring. A left hook momentarily stuns Paulie. Juan continues to land. Paulie absorbs the punches. He sure doesn’t back down! Right hook lands for Juan. Paulie goes back to the jab. Another right hand hook lands for Juan. Paulie answers with a combination. Diaz is cut over his left eye.
10-9 Diaz
Round 3
The cuts appear identical. Paulie continues to fire the jab. Straight left stuns Paulie. Straight left lands for Paulie. Body shot for Paulie. He continues to jab. Diaz fires hooks with both hands. Diaz’ cut is dripping blood.
10-9 Malignaggi
Round 4
Juan continues to pressure. Left hook for Juan. Malignaggi appears to be either stunned or off balance. Left hook is landing at will for Juan. Diaz’ cut continues to drip blood.
10-9 Diaz
Round 5
Diaz lands to the back of Paulie’s head. Four left hooks for Diaz. Paulie answers with a quick combination. Paulie warned for throwing a shoulder. Straight left opens Diaz’ cut again. It looks horrible.
10-9 Malignaggi
Round 6
Ouch! Two cuts above Diaz’ eye. Looks like an elbow was the cause of the cut, but the referee tells the judges that it was an accidental head butt? Paulie targets the cuts. Juan appears concerned about his eye. Juan works the body. Great exchange by both fighters. Close round.
10-9 Malignaggi
Round 7
Juan is really working the body now. Overhand right by Diaz. He lands with a straight left. His cut is bleeding again.
10-9 Diaz
Round 8
Malignaggi appears to be tiring. Juan continues to work the body. Paulie needs to do more than jab at this point. Paulie’s trunks are about to fall off! Literally! LOL! Tighty whities!
10-9 Malignaggi
Round 9
Juan’s cut is becoming less of a factor in the fight. All of these rounds are very difficult to score, as they are very evenly matched. Right hand by Diaz loosens two of Paulie’s dreads. 1-2 for Diaz. Paulie jabs his way out of a jam. They exchange great combinations. Paulie’s trunks are falling off again. Juan’s cut is bleeding again.
10-9 Diaz
Round 10
All Paulie is doing is firing jabs. All Juan is doing is firing hooks. Juan hits harder, but it is his face that is the bloody mess. Paulie is yelling something at the announcer’s booth. His trunks are falling off again.
10-9 Malignaggi
Round 11
Paulie has no power, but neither does Juan, and it is the lack of power in Juan’s punches that is costing him at this point. Paulie is now boxing very well. He shakes a jab, and lands one of his own. Juan’s face is a bloody mess. Body shot for Diaz. Paulie’s trunks are falling off again. Diaz’ punch output has dropped tremendously. Great round for Paulie.
10-9 Malignaggi
Round 12
Depending on how this fight is scored, Juan may need at least a knock down to win. Paulie is holding. Left hand lands for Diaz. They exchange at the center of the ring. Three hooks by Diaz. 1-2 lands for Paulie. Juan needs to get with it. They exchange until the final bell.
10-9 Diaz
I scored the fight 7-5 Malignaggi
Official scorecards were 115-13 Diaz, 116-12 Diaz, 118-110(!!!!) Diaz(WOW?)
“Boxing is full of SHIT! Every F***ing fight! The only reason I continue fighting is because it’s a good paycheck!” -Paulie Malignaggi
One good thing I can say about Paulie Malignaggi, is that although he lacks some serious power in his punches, he is a fantastic boxer. He is very fast, very quick on his feet, has a terrific jab, and can take a punch extremely well. The thing I like best about him is his concentration in the ring. He knows how to fend off opponents’ power punches with his quickness, and solid jab. Very entertaining to watch.
Both of these fighters appear no better than to be classed above B- opposition level. Both fighters lack power, and although Diaz may appear to be the all-round better boxer, he seriously lacks in the speed department. I think he deserves a shot at someone like Andre Berto, but I think Berto would put him to sleep. How about a fight between Juan Diaz and Victor Ortiz?
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