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April Title Fight Recaps Cont.
WBC Cruiserweight Title Fight: Jean-Marc Mormeck (5-0, 3 KO) vs Thomas Hansvoll (1-3)
Mormeck was tested in his first defense, dropped by challenger Jose Maria Flores, before coming back to punish him for a 10th round TKO. Hansvoll has been disappointing, and after a first round here where he rattles Mormeck with several power blows in the final 30 seconds, Mormeck decides he better get down to business. He does and the assault is on. Hansvoll wakes up in round 7, which he dominates after 5 rounds of abuse. But Mormeck regains control, drops Hansvoll twice in the 8th and again in the 9th before referee Larry Rozadilla stops the madness at 2:14 of the 9th.
Jean-Marc Mormeck TKO 9 (punishment) Thomas Hansvoll
IBF Jr. Welterweight Title Fight: Meldrick Taylor (4-0, 1 KO) vs David Sample (0-2)
Taylor has gotten a load of criticism for seeming to never just take over a fight as his talents dictate he should. He's the champ, but he's never looked stunningly impressive, and with his skills he should. Against a winless opponent in Sample, prime pick for a first defense who shows up not looking in great shape, it's another enigmatic performance from Taylor. After an opening round in which he rips lightning-fast combinations off Sample's face with ease and precision, he lets Sample back into the fight in the second, not moving but standing there and letting himself get hit again and again. Taylor dominates the third round as he did the first, only to again stand right in front of Sample in the 4th and get drilled with power shots he SHOULD be avoiding. Round 5...Taylor assaults Sample again with his speed. But in the 6th, Sample is allowed to dictate and Taylor lands little while absorbing several hard blows.
Were it not for the out of shape Sample essentially running out of gas so early, Taylor may well have lost his title. In fact, Taylor allows Sample to hang around and beat him in a toe-to-toe war in round 13. Still, Taylor does enough to win the unanimous decision, 146-141, 146-141, 145-142. But it ain't pretty and, if he keeps fighting like this, someone like Ubaldo Sacco or Zab Judah is going to take his strap.
Meldrick Taylor UD 15 David Sample
More to come...the big one...Ali/Lewis.
GH
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