Winstone v Saldivar
1. 10-9. Winstone, Good control with the jab, these opening tentative first rounds often go to the jabber as the fight is fought at his range.
2. 10-9. Winstone, bit more action in this and Winstone risking the right hand with some success, but on the odd occasion he missed, Saldivar made him pay
3. 10-9. Winstone, another really good round for Winstone with plenty of variety of shots
4. 9-10 Saldivar, He started to get going and won this one big, when he puts the foot down like this Winstone doesn't seem to have the power to deter him
5. 9-10 Saldivar, closer round, Winstone only really scoring with the jab though, had to give it to Saldivar for heavier shots and big flurries, not afraid to miss or get hit to get those big shots in
6. 10-9 Had Winstone winning it, rocked Saldivars head back with straight lefts and rights. But Saldivar almost did enough in the last minute for a share
7. 9-10 Saldivar. Great round, Winstone landing some good clean shots but Saldivar like a force of nature when he lets both hands go, some good work to the body and even having success with the jab towards the end
8. 10-9. Winstone, very clear Winstone round, snapping his head back with both hands again. Shame he hasn't heavier hands or he'd have floored him more than once
9. 9-10 Saldivar. He wins these rounds when he lets his hands go. I've agreed with Carpenter in every round other than a couple half rounds
10. 9-10 Saldivar, slow start, think Winstone showing signs of tireness, which played it's part in his defeat last time
11. 9-10 Saldivar, this fight is going the way of the last, Saldivar taking over here
12. 9-10 Saldivar. Better effort from Winstone here, landing good shots, but Saldivar now like a man possessed coming thorough everything and wearing him down. Hurt him on the ropes in the middle of the round
13. 9-10 Saldivar more of the same
14. 8-10. Could have been 10-7, Winstones out on his feet, dropeed and almost put through the ropes. A similar story to the first
15. 9-10 Saldivar. Winstone doing well to give some back. Not sure if it's his lack of punch or Saldivars chin but he cannot put a dent in him or slow his advance. I don't think I've seen a better fighter at coming on strong right to the 15th round, what an engine this little fella had
Noticed as early as the first round, that Winstone brings his left back very low after throwing the jab. For someone with such an excellent jab, it's odd that he would do that, leaves an obvious target for counters. Think he sometimes gets away with it because he throws it straight out with a reach advantage and takes a step back. When he throws it in isolation he gets away with it, he paid for it more when he stayed in range or got into exchanges
The rounds where Saldivar lets his hands go, Howard doesn't look like he can cope with him. Thankfully for him Saldivar couldn't sustain that every round. I'm perhaps being unfair to Winstone, maybe it was his good boxing that deterred him in some rounds but it looks very much like when Saldivar goes to work he takes the round and when he takes a round or 2 off, Winstone had the greater success at range
Gave Saldivar credit for his boxing at times in the last one but he is a tad cruder in this one, swinging away to body and head and being happy to miss and take the odd shot to get success. His success in the first was largely down to workrate and brute force but more so in this I felt, he's a bloody machine when he gets going and he just seems to get stronger and stronger. The 15 round distance suited him well
Carpenter too stick last time for his partisan commenting. I note in round 9, that I had agreed with his scoring in pretty much every round. Either Carpenter did a better job or I called it just as bad as he did
also i think winstone used his right hand better, and worked the body better, fascinating how two such quality operators can continually ask questions of each other