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The chief support bout on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights telecast from the Northern Quest Casino in Airway, Washington features former Olympic Bronze Medalist and current unbeaten prospect Andre Dirrell, 3-0 (3), meeting journeyman Carl Cockerham, 12-9-3 (4), of Las Vegas in a super middleweight contest.
Round One: The shorter Cockerham hasn’t fought in a year-and-a-half and has taken the fight on two days notice, but the older fighter doesn’t show it. He begins to stalk the novice carefully but the Olympian is much too fast of foot to be trapped. Dirrell begins to take shots at the opponent without landing and gets caught while going straight back with his hands down. Dirrell has knockout power with each punch, which makes for wild off balance misses. Cockerham is cagey with excellent head movement. Dirrell is staying on the outside, leaping in with wild misses. Not much happens in this round and it’s hard to call but Cockerham was more composed, he just didn’t land much of anything.
Round: Even 10-10.
Round Two: Dirrell is looking more active and this round is featuring a lot of running around by both men. Dirrell lands a good body shot that slows the veteran down a tick. The kid then lands a good right hand while shooting in. Cockerham is looking more cautious and Dirrell remains wild, expending much energy without much payoff, missing many punches in flurries. Dirrell lands a good jab before rushing in and landing a hard bolo body shot that has Cockerham holding on.
Round: Dirrell 10-9.
Round Three: Cockerham is knocked down almost immediately from a triple left hook but gets back up. Dirrell is more aggressive, using his speed to leap in and land hard shots before grabbing the smaller journeyman. Cockerham comes forward and lands a tight overhand right but pays for it on the inside before the referee breaks them. Dirrell lands another hard bolo left to the body. The round ends with another at the bell.
Round Dirrell 10-8.
Round Four: Dirrell is on his bike, taking a breather and Cockerham is chasing ineffectively, finally landing another good right hand to a surprised Dirrell. The youngster lands a good right but is spending most of the time looking to KO the opponent with one shot. Dirrell doesn’t have much of a plan, just trying to improvise which is allowed by his raw quickness of foot and Cockerham’s lack of offensive skills.
Round: Dirrell 10-9.
Round Five: Dirrell lands a good bolo body shot as Cockerham comes in and then the sensation lands another. Dirrell goes down on a slip after missing with an all or nothing shot. Cockerham shows his frustration by slamming Dirrell into the canvas in the corner. Dirrell begins to clinch and a wrestling match ensues with nothing more of consequence taking place, but the kid was clearly affected by the rough housing by Cockerham.
Round: Dirrell 10-9.
Round Six: The round opens with good action, both landing glancing roundhouse blows. Lots of posturing and clinching. The two trade left hooks on the inside. Dirrell lands a hard stunning bolo left to the body as Cockerham rushes in. The veteran lands a flurry to the body as the fight degrades into two tired fighters falling all over each other along the ropes. The round ends.
Round Dirrell 10-9.
SaddoBoxing: Dirrell 60-54
Teddy Atlas: 60-53
Judges: 60-53/59-54/60-53
Dirrell WUD5.
Richard Eberline can be reached at richardeberline@fastmail.fm
