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As extensively detailed on this site, many people figured Wayne McCullough to be a spent force in terms of world title contention. However, the Irish warhorse proved all of the doubters wrong last night in Las Vegas with a stunning performance against Oscar Larios in a rematch for the WBC super bantamweight |
championship of the world. Things got heated very quickly and stayed that way between these two fighters in the pre-main event fight of the evening and the crowd loved every second of it. Once again, SaddoBoxing delivers the goods with the round by round account of the fight so check in for Larios-McCullough II as it happened.
Round one: It is all action right from the start as Larios and McCullough go right at each other with some serious leather. They match one another virtually punch for punch in this round. Larios does some excellent work with his straight right hand while McCullugh, it must be said, steals the eye with the greater volume and sharpness of his left hand work. McCullough’s jab as well as his left hooks to the head and body are stellar components of his work in this round. Larios is cut around his right eye.
Score: McCullough 10-9.
Round two: McCullough comes out with the same intent but less accuracy. Larios starts to take over with good body shots and long, winging shots both upstairs and down on the challenger for a spirited rebuttal to McCullough’s opening domination.
Score: Larios 10-9.
Round three: McCullough comes in with his head down and winging shots to Larios’ head and body while the champion looks more focused about his work. Larios snaps in a right-left combination. McCullough looks hurt from a Larios right hander. Larios is much sharper it seems and begins slicing away at McCullough with left uppercuts and long right hands. The round ends with some incredible action as McCullough grits his teeth and really digs deep to force Larios back. Larios’ cut is streaming down his face.
Score: Even 10-10.
Round four: McCullough flurries out a quick combination to the head of the champion. McCullough is punching virtually non-stop here and it is a great performance from him at this point that has the crowd on its feet. Larios looks under fire. Larios decides it is time to start reversing the flow of things and comes back at his challenger with some left hands. Larios looks hurt but smashes home a right hand. McCullough is devastating Larios with his left hand work in this round.
Score: McCullough 10-9.
Round five: Larios has his cut checked by the ringside doctor in his corner. Both fighters land a collective ton of combinations. McCullough is keeping it tight and lands a lot more of his good left hook work while Larios’ right hand is an unmistakable highlight of his arsenal tonight. Both fighters land a lot of shots in this round but it is McCullough who seems to be getting through with the more effective work.
Score: McCullough 10-9.
Round six: Both fight more defensively in this round but Larios is able to land the cleaner shots for the most part. The action is considerably slower overall in this round.
Score: Larios 10-9.
Round seven: This is much more like it. Larios’ right hand starts a series of punches that remain unanswered from McCullough for a few seconds which is worrying for the challenger. McCullough’s workrate drops dramatically as Larios lands another series of punches, particularly the right hand. McCullugh typically swarms back in a gutsy display but it is another round for the champion.
Score: Larios 10-9.
Round eight: Larios’ awkward style means that McCullough is experiencing a lot of trouble at this point in getting his shots off. Larios hurts the challenger to the body with left hands and really concentrates on a solid body attack. McCullough is trying to get back into it but Larios is just too consistent to allow it.
Score: Larios 10-9.
Round nine: Larios cannot miss with head shots here. McCullough is stunned with more head punches and the signs are not good. It looks as if the fight has gone out of McCullough; he wants to do more and is defiant to the champion, shaking his fists and smiling when punches land but he is not doing anything to combat the sway of the action going against him.
Score: Larios 10-9.
Round ten: Freddie Roach warns McCullough in the corner that he is taking too much punishment and he will stop the fight if he feels the cause is lost. Larios gets in with more great combination work and McCullough still cannot get inside enough. McCullough monetarily gets the left hook working again but Larios figures it all out quickly and takes over again.
Score: Larios 10-9.
In between rounds, ringside physician Margaret Goodman steps in to stop the fight on behalf of Wayne McCullough; the Irishman is heartbroken and virtually begs for the chance to continue fighting.
The winner by technical knockout at the end of ten rounds of action, and STILL WBC super bantamweight champion of the world, Oscar Larios.
Writer’s note: This was very difficult to watch because it really represented the last chance for McCullough who always gave his all to boxing and would fight on. It brings up a very tricky debate in that doctors such as Goodman have fighter’s lives in their hands and walk a fine line between acting too soon or too late. HBO’s Larry Merchant came up with another typically condescending remark along the lines of, “The adults have taken charge,” in response to McCullough’s stoppage. I fail to see how an individual such as Merchant can sit on his perch with absolutely no empathy for the sacrifices a fighter such as Wayne McCullough has to make, and what fighting means to him, and to have that taken away for the first time, and then comment so flippantly. Larios is a very good champion and deserves to be in some recognizable matches where he can make some money.
Jim Cawkwell can be reached at jimcawkwell@yahoo.co.uk
