It’s a big night in combat sports and Inside Fights has you covered. In addition to live coverage of UFC 103, we will also offer live round-by-round coverage of tonight’s boxing pay-per-view headlined by Floyd Mayweather Jr and Juan Manuel Marquez. Fight night is upon us. Click inside for full coverage of all the action.
Cornelius Lock vs. Orlando Cruz
Referee: Robert Byrd
Orlando Cruz throws a pelvic thrust on his intro. Very nice. This fight is replacing Zab Judah and Antonio Diaz on the televised undercard.
Round 1
Lock drops Cruz with a right hook with one minute to go in a dull round. A nice flurry closes the round and Lock goes down due to s slip. That is a 10-8 round for Lock.
Round 2
Lock is fighting with a lot of confidence after the knockdown. Cruz is being very patient, maybe because he just got knocked down in the first round. Lock isn’t exactly a powerhouse puncher but he’s putting his combinations together very well. I already miss Zab Judah and his wacky antics.
Round 3
Cruz has a nice three punch combo. Lock responds. A nice flurry ends this round. These guys have been boxing one another but the last 25 seconds were a slugfest.
Round 4
Lock is working the body of Cruz. Cruz lands a nice counter right. Lock is putting a lot of visual damage upon the face of Orlando Cruz. Cruz has swelling on the left side of his face.
Round 5
Lock puts Cruz down with a quick right hook. Cruz gets up but looks awful and the ref call off the fight.
Winner: Cornelius Lock by TKO at 2:08 of round 5.
Michael Katsidis vs. Vicente Escobedo
Referee: Russell Mora
Round 1
Escobedo starts with jabs. Katsidis comes inside with power shots. Katsidis goes to the body and follows with two heavy shots to the head. Escobedo responds with more jabs. It will be interesting to see who imposes their will in this fight. Katsidis is cut over his left eye. A nice combo ends this round for Katsidis.
Round 2
Katsidis is trying to get inside but Escobedo is doing his best to jab him on the way in. Escobedo is covering up more in the second half of the round as Katsidis moves in. Early on, it is Katsidis that is establishing the pace of this fight.
Round 3
Escobedo already seems to be getting worn down by the pressure of Katsidis. Not good for Escobedo. Katsidis doesn’t even have to eat jabs to get inside any longer.
Round 4
Escobedo has a better showing this round. He seems to realize he has to do more in order to stay in this fight. Katsidis forces Escobedo on the ropes and pounds the body. Escobedo keeps backing up due to the pressure but isn’t landing any punches of consequence. Katsidis is controlling this round and this fight.
Round 5
Escobedo comes out and forces the action in the 5th round. He backs up Katsidis with his jab. Katsidis responds by closing the distance. Katsidis eats a jab as he comes inside. Escobedo is doing a better job of picking off Katsidis as he comes in. This was probably the best round for Escobedo.
Round 6
Katsidis pushes Escobedo against the ropes early in the round. This round is all Katsidis. He gets inside on a clinch and lands a nice uppercut. Escobedo backs up and Katsidis chases, landing nice jabs. Escobedo doesn’t look to have the will power to stand in here with Katsidis for the final six rounds. Katsidis is capable of being put down, and it looks like that’s what it will take for Escobedo to win this fight. He needs to knock Katsidis out.
Round 7
More bullying from Katsidis. Escobedo is game and sticking to his gameplan but his gameplan currently sucks. It’s not working and he needs to change it up. Not much different here as Katsidis lands a good amount of power shots while Escoebdo figures out a way to get back into this fight.
Round 8
Escobedo is fading and seems discouraged. Katsidis is still on the attack. Katsidis is landing power shots. Escobedo responds with good jabs but it’s not enough to get back into this fight.
Round 9
Katsidis still looks fresh. I know that’s his thing and he’s known for keeping a strong pace, but it’s still interesting to see him do it every time out. Escobedo doesn’t have much pop left on his jab. His best bet would be to go for broke ala Ricky Hatton in his loss against Mayweather. He’s not going to win on the cards so he might as well try for the knockout.
Round 10
Katsidis backs Escobedo on the ropes and goes to work. Katsidis works hard and is still going for the KO. He lands a nice combo to Escobedo’s head. It’s worth noting that Escobedo is doing a fine job of hanging in this fight. He’s showing a good chin and hasn’t completely gassed. Katsidis moves his head well to avoid an Escobedo counter and responds with a body-head combo.
Round 11
Katsidis still on the attack in round 11. He’s certainly making himself easy to hit. It’s open for Escobedo to get into exchanges, but he doesn’t want to do that. The time to stay at a distance and jab is over. Katsidis controls the pace in this round. He can seemingly do what he wants without any consequence from Escobedo.
Round 12
Katsidis comes out aggressive in the final round. That’s why so many fans like Katsidis. He comes to fight and entertains the crowd, even when it’s probably advantageous to slow down. One minute to go. Katsidis has swelling on the right side of his face. If you go by looks then you’d think Escobedo has won this fight. But that’s just Katsidis. He cuts easily and shows the wear and tear of a fight very vividly. The fight comes to an end and we go to the scorecards.
Winner: Michael Katsidis by split decision.
116-112 Escobedo, 115-113 Katsidis, 118-110 Katsidis
Chris John vs. Rocky Juarez
Referee: Joe Cortez
Round 1
Rocky is sporting a mowhawk. Chris John is not. Juarez pushes the action in the first. John catches him with a nice uppercut as Juarez comes in. This will be telling throughout the fight.
Round 2
Juarez is being more active but Chris John is out-boxing Juarez. It’s a lot like their first fight that ended in a draw. Only this fight isn’t in Houston so Juarez may not benefit from it. Juarez is not landing his power punches as John is doing a fine job eluding the heavy shots from Juarez.
Round 3
It has been a slow fight. John is the more accurate puncher. Juarez is still struggling to land his big shots. John is boxing well but Juarez lands a strong right hand to close the round.
Round 4
John is keeping at his workman like output. John is not doing anything spectacular in this fight. Juarez is doing a lot of whiffing and taking shots at bad angles. John is using his technique and skill to out perform Juarez.
Round 5
Juarez gets inside and lands good body shots. John responds with a combo. Juarez tries to get inside but John is a combo machine. Juarez comes in and eats two jabs for his effort. Juarez feints to no avail as John lands two more straights that score to the head.
Round 6
Nice exchange. John is backing up and counterpunching. Juarez is pushing the attack but getting eaten up with jabs. They end up in a clinch and Juarez goes to the body. John comes back with shots to the dome.
Round 7
I’m bored by this fight. That makes me surf the crowd for celebrities. I think I see Ted Kennedy in the crowd. He’s quickly reached Elvis levels. You know when people claim they saw Elvis at a 7-11? I think I saw Ted Kennedy at the Chris John-Rocky Juarez fight. Charles Barkley is really in attendance. That reminds me that NBA training camp opens in two weeks. Juarez is just not landing enough punches to be scoring any points in this fight.
Round 8
Chris John is landing with accuracy. John goes high and gets caught behind the head of Juarez. Juarez takes the opportunity to go to the body. Chris John is outworking Juarez. I would think Rocky Juarez would be trying a little bit harder here. As Max Kellerman pointed out, Juarez was a silver medalist in the Olympics and he has been a silver medalist in his professional career.
Round 9
John pops Juarez in the face and snaps his head back. John flails as he comes inside on Juarez. They get turned around and Juarez pops Juarez on the belt line on his back. The round ends and John looks confident and unphased by anything Juarez throws at him.
Round 10
John rips combos while Juarez takes them. The best thing Juarez has going for him is his mowhawk. John lands more jabs to Juarez. Chris John is winning this fight. Juarez is throwing punches but none of them are landing. John is landing and basically doing what Chris John does.
Round 11
John lands a jab as Juarez comes in. Juarez won’t be going down, as John landed three consecutive uppercuts and Juarez kept coming forward. One of my viewing compatriots thinks that Juarez should retire. I wish he would retire from this fight, at least.
Round 12
Juarez comes in and lands a nice right-left combo. John responds with a one-two. Juarez lands a couple of body shots during a clinch and Cortez breaks them up. They are fighting inside a phone booth now. Juarez wobbles Juarez with 30 seconds to go! John is hanging on but not looking good. Juarez is on the attack and John stumbles on a clinch attempt. They trade shots to end the round as John opts not to clinch in the final seconds. Juarez nearly dropped John with that punch. We go to the scorecards and I’m afraid it’s too little too late for Juarez.
Winner: Chris John by unanimous decision
114-113, 119-109, 117-111
114-113 is a joke.
Floyd Mayweather Jr vs. Juan Manuel Marquez
Referee: Tony Weeks
Tyrese Gibson sings the National Anthem. A great rendition but then Tyrese plugs his website and such immediately following. Doesn’t seem like the right time for that. Juan Manuel Marquez comes out with the usual Mariachi Band. Floyd Mayweather Jr enters to absolutely nothing.
Round 1
We are underway with the main event. Feeling out process to start. With two counter-punchers, no one goes out and dictates the pace. Floyd dodges a lunging right from Marquez. Floyd blocks two left hands from Marquez. It was a slow start to the round but Mayweather showed little ring rust.
Mayweather 10-9
Round 2
Marquez lands a nice straight right hand that makes Mayweather smile. Don’t make Floyd smile. Floyd lands a short left hook that puts Marquez on his butt. Marquez gets back up and chases but can’t land on his target. Floyd is avoiding his punches well. Marquez gets a left in but not enough.
Mayweather 10-8
Round 3
Mayweather is quick tonight. He shoots some nice jabs out there and Marquez can do little about it. Nice left hook from Floyd. Marquez with an overhand right. Another stiff left jab from Mayweather as Marquez tries to come inside. It’s quite a problem for Marquez. Floyd is bigger, stronger, faster, longer, and better defensively. Marquez is having trouble getting inside.
Mayweather 10-9
Round 4
Marquez lands a nice right straight but Mayweather shakes him off. Mayweather looks crazy good in the ring. His jab is landing accurately and he’s got good body movement in avoiding the punches of Marquez. Mayweather got caught against the ropes and Marquez lands a beautiful overhand right. It does nothing to shake Floyd.
Mayweather 10-9
Round 5
Mayweather goes to the body and Marquez attacks. He comes at Floyd with a barrage of punches but Floyd backs off avoiding any real damage. Marquez throws a nice combo while Mayweather is against the ropes but nothing lands clean. Mayweather lands a nice short left. Marquez lands a good right hand and Mayweather responds with a quicker right hand of his own. Mayweather is very hard to hit tonight.
Mayweather 10-9
Round 6
Marquez opens with a crisp left. Marquez gets inside but Floyd earmuffs the offense of Marquez. Left from Mayweather. Floyd has his hands down and is still defending Marquez well. Floyd counters with a sharp jab. Mayweather lands a nice one-two. Mayweather muscles him on the inside. Nice overhand right backs Marquez into the corner. Another right and a left from Mayweather as the round comes to an end. Mayweather looks very good.
Mayweather 10-9
Round 7
Mayweather goes back to the jab. Marquez forces Mayweather back in the corner and puts together a nice string of punches that gets the crowd excited, but none of them land very clean. Floyd gets in and lands a jab and gets right back out. Mayweather remains hard to hit. Marquez can’t land to the body enough to slow him down.
Mayweather 10-9
Round 8
Floyd stalks Marquez now. He lands a nice combo. Marquez goes upstairs and misses entirely. Marquez goes to the body but Mayweather blocks and taunts. Marquez had him on the ropes but doesn’t land anything.
Mayweather 10-9
Round 9
Floyd starts off without aggression so Marquez tries to push the fight. Mayweather avoids and counters with two jabs. Marquez goes to the body and Mayweather blocks with his left. Marquez goes to the head and Mayweather dodges. Mayweather lands a stiff combo. Marquez can’t do anything here. He’s not cut or swelling but the corner should think about calling an end to this. It’s a shutout for Floyd and Marquez has no shot to finish him.
Mayweather 10-9
Round 10
Mayweather is closing the distance. Marquez is backing up now. Floyd lands four straight jabs. Marquez tries to get inside but nothing is working. Floyd backs Marquez into the corner and lands two more jabs. Marquez slides his way out and Floyd is dancing around the ring. Marquez has nothing. Floyd lands a sweet left hook followed by a right straight that backs Marquez up.
Mayweather 10-9
Round 11
Mayweather covers up to avoid the Marquez assault. Floyd with a left jab. Marquez misses on two punches. Mayweather lands two. Marquez misses again. Floyd has him on the ropes. Left from Mayweather. Two rights from Floyd. Marquez backs up to a jab. Left hook from Floyd. One two from Floyd. Marquez comes back with a body shot but it is blocked. Marquez eats a punch on the way in. Floyd is dominating. Be careful what you wish for Manny Pacquiao fans.
Mayweather 10-9
Round 12
They touch gloves to start the round. That is the most accurate shot Marquez has landed. Mayweather lands a perfect left hook. Marquez with a left to the body. Floyd jabs to the body. Floyd with a right hand. Marquez in the clinch. Floyd jabs the body again. One two from Floyd. Marquez eats another jab. Marquez lands a left but misses a counter left hook. Marquez comes in and misses a combo. Floyd lands two hard rights in the final 30 seconds. Marquez goes in during the final ten seconds but Floyd avoids him.
Mayweather 10-9
Inside Fights Score: Mayweather 120-107
Winner: Floyd Mayweather Jr by unanimous decision.
118-109, 120-107, 119-108
Floyd avoided questions about the weight and fine after the fight. Max Kellerman asks Floyd about Shane Mosley, who just so happens to be in the ring. Bernard Hopkins starts jawing before Floyd can answer and the entourages start to get into it. No punches are thrown but it gets heated. Max tries to shift the conversation to Manny Pacquiao but the ring is too cluttered. Floyd wants to respond to the Shane comments but Max kicks it back to Jim Lampley because he didn’t like Floyd’s attitude. Whatever. Let the guy talk.
Juan Manuel Marquez now demands an interview after the fight. He admits that Floyd was the better man that has a better style. Not sure why this is such a pressing interview for Marquez. Lampley asks Marquez just that. Marquez wants to thank his Mexican fans.
Thanks for joining us for the live blog. Good night.
