By: Christopher Roche
9:17PM
I took the plunge and plunked down $49.95, against my better judgement for this pay-per-view card. I am on the record as picking Hopkins to win a wide unanimous decision. My pick can be read at tigerboxing.com.
So far I am extremely disappointed in my choice to buy this card, as I just saw one of the biggest mismatches possible on a pay-per-view card. Liberado Andrade landed at will against Ted Muller, and despite the lack of a knockdown, the referee stopped the bout early in the second round.
I am not sure why matches like this are even allowed, especially on a televised pay-per-view card. Muller fought bravely, and he is a tough guy, but he was grossly overmatched.
So far, we are not off to a good start.
9:34PM
Things have heated up at the Mandalay Bay. The second round of the Michael Katsidis vs. Czar Amonsot bout just concluded. Katsidis is throwing bombs, and Amonsot is roughousing. Katsidis just caught Amonsot with a nice counter right hand that planted the charging Amonsot. Amonsot got back up and appeared sturdy. A cut and massive swelling just started around Katsidis’ left eye.
10:10PM
The tenth round just ended, two more to go.
These two lightweights are fighting with an amazing spirit. The $49.95 I spent is entirely used up, and the next two fights will be gravy. Katsidis is cut on both eyes, and his left eye looks like Rocky Balboa’s in the first Apollo Creed fight. Katsidis sensed the urgency of the doctor’s inspections, and he overwhelmed Amonsot with a nasty assault that resulted in a knockdown. Amonsot somehow got up and survived the round. Amazing.
10:17PM
Summary
Although Amonsot came back in the third and fourth rounds, Katsidis took over from the fifth on and devastated Amonsot in the tenth. The eleventh and twelfth rounds were somewhat slower, as Katsidis was a little punched out and Amonsot wanted no more of Katsides’ power.
Katsidis wins a unanimous decision in a fight of the year candidate.
11:06PM
The Oscar Larios vs. Jorge Linares bout has been action-packed. Here in the 10th, Linares has a big lead.
Linares just scored a knockdown from the accumulation of punches, and Larios cannot continue.
Linares wins by TKO and is the new WBC Featherweight Champ.
11:10PM
Up next the Main Event! Hopkins vs. Wright
11:41PM
Three rounds are complete in Las Vegas. Hopkins landed a nice straight right that stunned Winky in the first round. The second round was a bit of a love and hug fest.
The third round opened with a Hopkins headbutt. Winky has a nasty cut near his left eye, and he has complained to the referee several more times about Hopkins’ headbutts. Hopkins is working his straight right hand very well.
11:54
Through Six..
This bout is very difficult to score. Compubox is claiming that Winky is blocking almost all of Hopkins’ shots. Winky is pressuring Hopkins, but he is not landing a ton of leather. There have been several clashes of heads, and it looks like Hopkins is trying to set Winky up for the counter. Winky’s corner has done a great job on the cut, and it appears to not be a factor.
12:07AM
Going into the 10th, Harold Lederman has it 87-84 Wright. I disagree, as I think Hopkins won the last three rounds, but this is very difficult to score. Hopkins was just warned for holding, and Referee Robert Byrd said he is going to start taking points, in the 9th. Blood is flowing from Winky’s left eyebrow once again.
12:19AM
Hopkins turned it up in the final three rounds, and Winky complained to the referee several times for various reasons. Wright looked tired down the stretch, and Hopkins ended the somewhat sloppy affair strong.
Hopkins wins a fairly wide Unanimous Decision, 116-112 and 117-111 (twice).
Harold Lederman had the bout a draw 114-114.