Rhun's RBR - Ted Bami v Guiseppe Lauri (European Light Welter Title)

Evnin Folks,

I'm back for another Friday night evening of boxing, and while Adam is off at the Contender International in Newcastle, the Sky Sports cameras travel to Crawley, for this rematch for the European Light Welterweight belt. Last September, Bami took the decision by 5 or 6 rounds from the judges, as well as being deducted a point, but Lauri is a very experienced fighter, with defeats against Ricky Hatton and Junior Witter in his distant past. Here's the tale of the tape:

Ted Bami (21-2, 11KOs). : Going into the first fight with Lauri, Bami had been fighting 6 and 8 rounders, so was a bit of a surprise victor, but was clearly ahead after the 12 rounds when it went to the cards. Not a huge puncher, but showed some quality last time out, and although originally from the Congo, is nowadays listed on Boxrec as being from Brixton. The concern for him will be a little bit of ring rust, having not fought in the past six months.

Guiseppe Lauri (42-5, 24 KOs). : The experienced Lauri lost out in his last fight with Bami, but not overly so that he will be worried about the rematch. Although only 30, he's been around on the European scene for a very long time, and as well as fighting Witter and Hatton, has been there or thereabouts getting IBF Inter-continental fights and beating Amir Khan victim Laszlo Komjathi twice. He has however beaten a punchbag in january, with Miro Dicky (4-20-2) pushing him six rounds. With Lauri neither a big puncher, I'd have my money on another 12 rounder.

Also on the bill we have Gyorgy Hidvegi v Ismail Abdoul for the IBO Inter-continental Cruiserweight title (I think I just wasted five seconds of my life typing that out), and the return of Michael Hunter after losing to Steve Molitor at Featherweight. Eyes down look in folks, it starts in 15 minutes.

Lauri coming in looking confident, and has brought a few Italian fans over with him for this bout. Coming in to 'Still DRE', and I gotta give him some respect for that, cause I love that track. I'm not sure what the song Bami is coming into, but the track sounds as the Dogtanian and the Muskahounds theme tune. Looks confident enough, and boujnces of the ropes. It's fight time next.

Round 1:

Lauri refuses to touch gloves at the start of Round 1. Good hard jab from Bami to start, but distant so far. Good hook from Bami at the side of Lauri's head. Lauri connects with a jab. They clench and wrestle a bit on the ropes, and the most interesting thing so far is the referee's dreadful mullet. Lauri works the jab. Hard right to the body on the inside from Bami. Good jab,hook,ja from Bami. auri looks to go too the body....an awful lot of wrestling here as they tie up, with Lauri just shoving Bami onto the ropes. Decent right from Bami.

Bami's round 10-9

Round 2:

Good thudding jab from Bami. Body shot from Lauri, and an uppercut grazes his head from Bami. Lauri comes in, and Bami misses with a big right. Two short uppercuts on the insids from Bami, as Lauri seems to be tying up an awful lot so far. Lots of short punches in the clinch, but an even bit so far. Nice left hook shocks Lauri, and Bami comes forward with a right, and a jab. That mullet on the ref is dreadful. Another uppercut from Bami, and a Lauri jab on the bell.

Bami again: 20-18

Round 3:

Thanks for the sticky. Lauri jabs. Good body shot by Bami, as Lauri lurches into the clinch again. Good jab then a hook from Bami. Lauri returns a jab. Good straight right from Bami. Lauri finds gloves with a jab and hook. Jab, hook from Bami. Nice uppercut on the inside, but Lauri throws another jab back. Still clenching for ages. Lauri had Bami in a headlock....Bami warned for dipping his head. Good uppercut from Lauri, as a hook from Bami gets through. Big right from Bami, and Lauri grabs his left and unloads three hard hooks.

Bami again for me. 30-27

Round 4:

Cagey opening, with Lauri taking the middle. A couple of hooks from Bami as Lauri clinches, and Lauri has cut the left eye of Bami, looks like a headbutt, cause Lauri ain't thrown anything. Ref has a look at it. Lauri starting to jab now, but Bami returns a hook, and some body shots in the clinch. Good jab from Lauri, and another hook. Bami ties up for the first time, he dabs at the cut again. Jab from Bami. Hooks from Lauri in the clinch, and LAuri warned for rubbing his head in the cut. I really dislike that in a fighter. Just like Derry Matthews. Uppercut from Bami at the bell.

Lauri's first round.

39-37

Thanks for the rbr cc bud. :)

Round 5:

Huge chunk of grease on Bami's eye. Body shots from Bami, and two good hooks. Body shots from Lauri, 5 or 6 get through. Lauri trying to load up and throw massive shots. Windmilling with his legs wide. Bami with a decent riht. Bami's backed off, and Lauri comes ack with a pair of jabs. Bami jabbing, but he's lost his rhythm, and the ref has bizarrely warned Bami. Good body hooks from Bami, and a fine right. Bami with a decent uppercut, and throwing jabs. More jabs form Bami, but not enough to win. Tied on my card.

49-47

Round 6:

Good jab and uppercut from Bami, who has about 2 oz of grease on that eye again. Jabs again. Lauri fires a jab of himself. Lauri rubbing his goatee in the cut. Good body shot from Bami, and Lauri doing the wrestling. Lauri should be in the WWE. Big right from Bami. A good jab. The ref is having a go at Bami. Bami loads two into the body. The ref is a Spaniard....explains something perhaps. Two good body shots from Bami and a hook.

This is getting dirty, but Bami is reasserting himself. 59-56

Round 7:

Body shot from Bami. Jab gets thrugh also. Good right hook and uppercut from Bami, and Lauri grabs on again. Lauri goes for the suplex. Ref ignores it. This is getting silly. Bami with jab and two hooks. Lauri complains of being hit on the back of the head. Lauri punches after told to split. Two good upercuts on the ropes from Bami, but Lauri woth some body shots of its own. Good right from Bami. This is better. Lauristumbles to the floor. Lauri grabs Bami's neck, and Bami warned again. Sharp jabs from Bami. Jab hook from Bami, and Lauri is again looking to spoil.

Bami again.

69-65

Round 8:

I'm not sure how Lauri thinks all this spoiling will win him the bout. Body shot opens from Bami. Both fighters warned. Jabs from Bami, andLauri with a long straight to the body. Bami hanging his left like Froch, but as he jabs, Lauri comes through with a jab. ANother hit to the back of the head from the ref, but he seems not to want to deduct points. Decent flurry from Lauri, with three short hooks. That mullet is shining, it has even more grease on it than Bami's eye. Good jab from Bami, and Lauri gets him into the headlock. Bami deducted for ducking his head. Bizarre decision.

Bami won the round, so with the deduction it's 9-9 for me.

78-74

Round 9:

Lauri gets through with two jabs. Jim Watt has it 76-76. Hook connects from Lauri. Uppercut on the inside from Bami, but Lauri replies with body shots. Uppercut and body shot from Bami. Lauri with a jab and hook. A 30-second wrestle there. Lauri is sneaky. Huge right from Bami rocks Lauri. And now the Italian is looking to tie up. Lauri connects with a jab. The ref has a word with them both. Another two good rights from Bami. Lauri jabs and grabs Bami in a headlock.

Jim Watt asked: "Is Lauri trying to con his way to the title?" Not on my card, but a round for him at least.
87-84 to Bami

Round 10:

Jab from Bami, and Lauri grabs the headlock. Hook from Bami in the clinch. Lauri is grabbing the head constantly, and the ref is ignoring it. Another jab from Bami, but gets caqught coming in. Two hooks from Bami, and Lauri putting in some body shots. Good right from Bami, but it only grazes Lauri. Lauri gets in the headlock. What is LAuri complaining about. Good hook from Bami, but Lauri has his own jab in. Lauri tying up one hand and hooks with the other. Bami is warned again. Good jab from Bami, but Lauri misses with four hits. Good right and Lauri stumbles onto his back. Knockdown and 8 count. Bami with a somersault as the ref counts it.

Bami with the knockdown, but Lauri is shaking his head in the corner.

97-92 to Bami

Round 11:

Two hooks from Bami, his confidence is growing. Lauri tying up, and grates the cut with his head. Bami missing with a right, L:auri grabs the headlock, and the ref warns Bami>!>!>!!>???? Hook from Bami. And a body shot. Lauri jabs, but he looks a spent force now. Body shot from Bami. Lauri looking for a DDT, and the ref warns Bami again??? Lauri comes forward, and conencts with one body shot. Bami with the jab. Body shot from Bami, and a right connects. Bami warned for ducking in, but with a hand around his neck he can't get up. Lauri with body shots, and a hook. Body shot from Bami.

Bami again, but the commentators say it is much tighter than I have it.

107-101

God this is awful refereeing! Lauri is such a dirty bastard!