[kenyan_cheena]

ROUND TWO


Johnson starts the round nicely by teeing off with a left hook to Beckett's head. The Englishman backs off and Johnson follows, trying unsuccessfully to land the right hand. However, not long after, Johnson scores with a damaging uppercut.

Yes, it is apparent that Beckett has already slowed down following his first round blitz. Johnson unleashes a straight right, which Beckett blocks with his gloves. He fires back with a big solid right of his own, the sweat spraying off the Texan's head from the impact of the punch.

Beckett follows up with a wild uppercut, thrown from way outside. If Johnson had been more alert, he could have made the Englishman pay dearly, but all he manages as a counter is a straight jab.

Beckett is on the ropes and Johnson is leaning on him. Johnson gets off a short hook on the inside. Beckett moves into a neutral corner, backpedalling, his face a portrait of concentration. Johnson comes in close and fires away at Beckett's body and head, doing little damage.

Beckett sidesteps, moving to a position where Johnson is now in the corner. The #3 seed unloads with a left hook, missing. Beckett comes back with a straight right that pierces Johnson's defence, snapping his head back! Johnson bounces off the ropes and the crowd roars, sensing that he might be hurt. They could not be more wrong as Johnson sends out an impressive retort - left jab, straight right, left jab, left jab, right hook - that backs up Beckett.

Johnson is talking to his opponent, nodding his head. The Texan bobs and weaves, his gloves held high, making Beckett frustrated. The English fighter's workrate is way down on the first round. Beckett is on the ropes again, with Johnson working in close. A short, clean uppercut takes Beckett on the chin. He ties up Johnson.

As the bell sounds, Johnson lands a left-right combo and Beckett retaliates with a big right after the bell! Johnson's eyes go wild and he pushes the Englishman in the face, right hand cocked, incredulity ablaze upon his countenance. Johnson glares at the referee before returning to his corner, walking backwards and watching Beckett. The crowd is absolutely loving this fight.

*

Okay, that was more like what we expected. A solid round for Johnson in which he really picked up the pace. Beckett was nowhere near as busy as he was in round one. I'm curious to see if this is all strategy, or if he just got too excited in the opening round.

My Scorecard: Johnson 10-9
(Bout tied 19-19 after two rounds)

Punch Totals, Round Two

Johnson - landed: 33 thrown: 101
(progressive total - landed: 49 thrown: 117)
Beckett - landed: 12 thrown: 29
(progressive total - landed: 29 thrown: 166)


ROUND THREE


Johnson rushes out and tears straight into Beckett. It seems that the Texan is still steamed from the incident at the end of round two. Johnson lands a solid left jab but misses with a follow-up straight right.

Beckett is able to wrap him up, briefly curtailing Johnson's fury. Referee Medina-Solar is forced to separate the two fighters. The Englishman pushes Johnson back, looking for room. But Johnson has him trapped in a corner, so Beckett fights his way out. A trio of left jabs allows Beckett some breathing space, and before long the two men are in the centre of the ring.

Johnson is showing a lot of upper body movement, although his feet are planted in the same place for now. He gets the smallest opportunity and partially lands a right cross. Beckett retreats into a corner and Johnson unloads with a flurry of punches, finishing off with a pair of damaging right uppercuts, to the delight of the HSBC Arena audience.

Beckett ties his man up, smothering the Johnson's onslaught, allowing himself a breather. Surprisingly, Johnson also looks a little bit tired. Could it be that the extra weight he's carrying is playing a part?

Beckett is really not throwing many punches now. Johnson has clearly become the aggressor in this bout. He snakes a pair of jabs through Beckett's gloves. The Englishman looks like he just wants to make it to the end of the round, showing a very defensive mindset.

Johnson misses with a right and Beckett counters with his first solid punch of the round, a right cross that bounces off Johnson's forehead. Again, though, Beckett finds himself trapped in a corner. Johnson scores with his own right cross, before Beckett ties him up. Johnson makes himself some room and blasts away with a left hook.

Beckett fires back, finding the mark with a snappy left jab. He ties Johnson up and the two men throw ineffective shots from in close. Beckett leaves his feet as he launches a nice left hook. The bell rings but Johnson counters with his own left hook. Beckett retaliates with a left and a right before the referee steps between the two men, chastising them both for once again throwing punches after the bell. The crowd comes to it's feet and applaudes, appreciating the passion with which these two warriors are contesting the bout.

*

Johnson appears to be in control of the bout, but Beckett is showing that he's a tough nut to crack. He's backing up his pre-fight bravado. Surprisingly (considering the belief that Johnson has an excellent defense), Beckett landed every punch that he threw in round three. However, he did seem to be throwing mainly single punches rather than combinations. Johnson looks comfortable, but to be truthful, he does not look as good as most expected him to be. By no means is he dominating this fight, but if things stay as they are, he should finish with a comfortable, if unspectacular, victory.

My Scorecard: Johnson 10-9
(Johnson leading 29-28 after three rounds)

Punch Totals, Round Three

Johnson - landed: 29 thrown: 74
(progressive total - landed: 78 thrown: 191)
Beckett - landed: 13 thrown: 13
(progressive total - landed: 42 thrown: 179)