Classic fights I've watched recently

[handsofstone]

Krzysztof Wlodarczyk vs Steve Cunningham 1+2

[scartissue]

Paulie Ayala v Johnny Tapia I

Johnny Tapia v Paulie Ayala I (bantamweight title)

Round 1: 10-9 Tapia
Round 2: 10-9 Ayala
Round 3: 10-9 Ayala
Round 4: 10-9 Tapia
Round 5: 10-9 Ayala
Round 6: 10-10 Even
Round 7: 10-9 Ayala
Round 8: 10-10 Even
Round 9: 10-9 Tapia
Round 10: 10-9 Tapia
Round 11: 10-9 Tapia
Round 12: 10-9 Ayala

Total: 115-115 Draw (actual scores: 115-114, 116-113 and another 116-113 all for Ayala)

Man, these were tissue-paper thin rounds, guys. They went at it hammer and tong. I felt Ayala landed the cleaner punches but Tapia was ever-busy and fought his heart out. They both did. Beautiful little contest and I do think a draw would have been the right decision for what these two put into it.

[NazNaci1]

To be honest, a UD was harsh on Tapia.

A genuine draw would have been, probably, the right result. Possibly a little of politics in there, too.

Great fight, though and Johnny was a fabulously skilled, ballsy fighter who was never afraid of anyone..

[handsofstone]

Grigory Drozd vs Krzysztof Wlodarczyk

[handsofstone]

Andriy Kotelnik vs Marcos Maidana

[NazNaci1]

Andriy Kotelnik vs Marcos Maidana

Good fight, bro.

Maidana's fight with Khan was pretty hardcore, too. Have to give Khan credit for the balls he showed in that fight. Maidana is one hard hombre.

[handsofstone]

Andriy Kotelnik vs Marcos Maidana

Good fight, bro.

Maidana's fight with Khan was pretty hardcore, too. Have to give Khan credit for the balls he showed in that fight. Maidana is one hard hombre.

Maidana will always have a special place in my heart after he humbled Broner

[NazNaci1]

Maidana will always have a special place in my heart after he humbled Broner

Agreed, my man. One fight that I return to whenever I feel like I need a bit of a 'lift'.

[handsofstone]

Devon Alexander vs Andriy Kotelnik

[handsofstone]

Souleymane M'baye vs Colin Lynes

[handsofstone]

Sergey Kovalev vs Gabriel Campillo

[Bodyshot3]

Maidana making the loathsome Broner look like a nipple......one of boxing's best-deserved hidings

[NazNaci1]

Jamie Moore vs Matthew Macklin

[handsofstone]

Joe Smith Jr vs Eleider Alvarez

[handsofstone]

Chad Dawson vs Antonio Tarver 2

[handsofstone]

Chad Dawson vs Glen Johnson 2

[handsofstone]

Steve Cunningham vs Guillermo Jones

[hhaehre]

Johnny Clark-Paddy Maguire. Not world class, but a pretty awesome slugfest.

[handsofstone]

Steve Cunningham vs Marco Huck

[handsofstone]

Zab Judah vs Lucas Matthysse

[handsofstone]

Lucas Matthysse vs DeMarcus Corley

[handsofstone]

Jermell Charlo vs Tony Harrison 1+2

[bennie]

Johnny Clark-Paddy Maguire. Not world class, but a pretty awesome slugfest.

A brutal bantamweight fight in the days of 15-rounders. Maguire was a bit too green for Clark at that stage of his career but he came back to win the British title from Dave Needham and earned well towards the end of his career under Mickey Duff. His last fight came against the ill-fated Johnny Owen at the old National Sporting Club on Regent Street. I remember watching it on the box. Maguire was a body puncher and he gave it everything against the younger man until Owen's superior boxing skills and conditioning won the day. Owen (and Clark) died many moons ago but Maguire is still going strong in his native Belfast.

[handsofstone]

Carlos Takam vs Tony Thompson

[NazNaci1]

Bobby Chacon v Boza Edwards II