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ROUND SIX
The audience come to their feet as one and show their appreciation for the great spectacle these two warriors have given them as Stewart and Goddard touch gloves to begin the final round.
Stewart looks much more determined and hungry than he did only two rounds earlier, while Goddard is still, in my opinion, showing that he has not recovered from that brutal left hook in the fifth.
As the round progresses, my suspicions are confirmed. Goddard has nothing left to offer. Within the first 92 seconds of the round, Stewart unloads a world of hurt on the Australian, landing a crunching left uppercut, a straight right that snaps Goddard's head back, another brutal uppercut and a sizzling four punch combo.
Despite his best efforts, Goddard's body is unable to deliver the punches that his mind is asking for, and Stewart, confident that he's done more than enough to win both the round and the fight, keeps Goddard at bay with a series of double and triple jabs. In the process, he shows everyone that he can box just as well as he bangs.
The final bell sounds, the two combatants embrace, and the crowd rises to their feet once more, offering a sustained standing ovation for what might well be the fight of the year.
*
Well, it wasn't quite the explosive finish some might have hoped for, but they can hardly complain. Joe Goddard was not the same fighter after being floored in the fifth, and Alex Stewart realised this and made the most of it. This was a fantastic battle, probably the best I've had the pleasure to be at ringside for. I'm pretty confident that the judges will award the victory to Stewart, but you never know...
ROMAN'S SCORECARD: STEWART 10-9
(STEWART WINS THE BOUT BY THE SCORE OF 57-56)
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