BRADLEY EDGES HOLT, ANNEXES ANOTHER BELT

In a Junior Welterweight Championship unification bout, undefeated WBC Champion Timothy Bradley added the WBO version of the title when he twice climbed off the canvas and edged Kendall Holt with a unanimous decision in Montreal.

Heading into the fight, the normally soft-spoken champions had only positive words to describe one another when in front of boxing media but uncharacteristically traded more than their share of tongue lashings when in front of one another. This animosity carried over into the ring when, during Referee Michael Griffin’s instructions, Holt decided to lean over the microphone and speak directly to Bradley, trying to intimidate his younger opponent. Bradley stared back, unresponsive, as Holt repeatedly asked him if he was ready.

Things couldn’t have started much worse for Bradley, who got caught exchanging with Holt and was floored in the very first round by a devastating left hook that could have, and probably would have put most junior welterweights to sleep. But Bradley showed great determination in getting back to his feet almost instantly after the first knockdown of his entire boxing life, though he did stop to take a knee and collect himself. Holt landed another left hook when the action resumed, but Bradley was able to make it out of the round.

The WBC Champion bounced back well, winning the second and third rounds as he pressed the fight to Holt, who was satisfied to lay back and wait for opportunities to counter punch. As a result, Bradley was able to land more punches, focusing on the body of the WBO Champion, though Holt did land his share, and, when they landed, they were undoubtedly the harder shots. At one point in round three, Bradley attempted the swiping right hand that he had used to fell Junior Witter and made him the star he is today but whiffed badly.

A clash of heads brought forth a complaint from Holt early in round four, but, midway through the round, he landed two sharp jabs, which appeared to be one of his better weapons. Bradley must have not liked what he felt because he opted to engage in a slugfest, won by Holt, who landed two right hands, one of which knocked the WBC Champion’s head away and moved him back. Another brushing of the heads had Holt pawing at his right eye, which had been cut on the eyelid. He answered with a solid jab that snapped Bradley’s head back, but another head clash had Holt complaining to Griffin once more, though he won the round with his power punching.

Immediately winging shots at one another to begin the fifth round, Holt stopped and pointed out another head clash to Griffin, and the referee confirmed what was happening. After Bradley scored with a nice volley to the head and body of a covering Holt, Holt answered with a punch that went low, earning a warning from Griffin. The WBC Champion started working his jab from there, landing to the head and body and controlling Holt. Bradley followed up a good round five with an even better round six, starting to connect with his right hand more frequently. Whenever Holt held to slow the pace, Bradley went to work on the WBO Champion’s body. Somewhere among the flurries, one of Bradley’s shots strayed too low for Griffin’s liking as he issued the WBC Champion the same warning Holt received in the fifth.

Bradley missed a big home run bomb in the seventh as Holt came in, and the two hit heads yet again. Holt then forced Bradley back into the ropes and drew back, threatening to hit him as Griffin was breaking the fighters up, complaining bitterly that the WBC Champion had hit him with another headbutt. Holt started throwing with both hands and got caught with several rights from Bradley for his trouble. The WBO Champion held on, allowing Bradley to beat on his body with both hands. Bradley then scored with two hard body shots, and Holt had no choice but to hold on as he was momentarily frozen. Holt went wholly defensive after that, turning sideways and doing his best to take as little punishment as possible. Bradley took advantage to stuff Holt with several short left hooks to the head, winning a dominant seventh round and appearing to be on his way to scoring a stoppage.

Round eight was more of the same. Holt scored early with a left hook, but Bradley got him back with one of his own to the body. Holt dropped his hands and kept his distance after that, hopping around the ring and trying to buy some time. Bradley proceeded accordingly with controlled aggression, shooting combinations to Holt’s open head and mixing in jabs to the body when it was available. Holt got a breather when he pulled Bradley’s head down and the WBC Champion hit him low, but Griffin claimed he saw Bradley’s head pulled down and thus didn’t take a point. A good exchange ended the round as Holt scored with a right but ate a left hook from Bradley, but it was Bradley’s round again as he won his fourth in a row.

Round nine began with an exchange of right hands, Holt’s knocking Bradley back. Holt ducked a left hook and countered with an uppercut to a doubled over Bradley, but Bradley quickly fired back with slapping punches from both hands. Holt started using his jab after that, turning Bradley’s head with the first one he threw. Bradley tried to answer with a flurry inside but ate a big right from Holt, following a headbutt, and each man put a glove to his head to acknowledge the force of it. Fortunately, no further cuts resulted. Bradley connected with some rights down the stretch, but Holt appeared to do enough damage to pick up a badly needed round.

After hitting Holt with a slapping left hook inside in round ten, Bradley dodged a four-punch combination, showing some of his defensive skills. They traded jabs, and Bradley landed a straight right that caused Holt to turn sideways. Bradley then pounced on the WBO Champion, smacking in two kidney shots and attempting a right over the back of the head as Holt was turned away. Holt complained to Griffin and tried to get a breather, but the referee implored him to fight. Holt urged Bradley to fight clean, but Bradley gave him a shrug and, after touching gloves with his opponent, got in two solid body shots and a straight right to the head that produced a groan from the tiring Holt. Holt answered with a right to the head but took a counter left hook from Bradley. Holt smashed home a big low blow before the bell, but Bradley won the round.

In round eleven, Bradley pounded a right hand into Holt’s chest, followed by an uppercut, before Holt answered with a left hook. Holt again turned his back on his opponent, allowing Bradley to shoot some shots at the back of his head, all of which missed, but, when Holt turned around, he ate a jab to the mouth. The tiring Holt kept his distance and laid on the ropes, allowing Bradley to score with one-two’s to the head. Holt did next to nothing as Bradley worked his jab and followed him around the ring, scoring points. Bradley connected on a nice left hook and avoided the counter right, and a late rally from Holt wasn’t enough to take the round, which meant he needed a knockout, or at least some knockdowns, to win the fight.

After touching gloves with Bradley before the bell to begin the twelfth, Holt patted his opponent on the head. From there, Holt seemed to take his time looking for a knockout blow as he scored with his left hook. He landed another one almost a minute later but failed to put Bradley down. Lacking the legs to get the job done, Holt held onto Bradley and glanced at the overhead screen to see how much time he had left either to survive or score the knockout. He got in some good body shots but walked away and held when Bradley, who was surely ahead, tried to engage him.

Then, with thirty seconds left in the fight, Holt took a jab across the nose and countered with an uppercut that buckled Bradley’s knees. Holt fired off a flurry of punches, but Bradley was already doubled over and touched his glove to the canvas as he tried grabbing Holt around the waist. Griffin swiftly ruled a knockdown as Holt walked away, raising his gloves and grinning. Bradley tried to argue the call as he got back to his feet and the crowd booed the call, though it was the correct one. The final ten seconds were spent staring at one another until the bell rang. Holt, thinking he had pulled it out, spit out his mouthpiece and started talking once again while Bradley walked away, raising his hands in victory. Holt smacked Bradley’s arm, turning the WBC Champion around, and embraced his opponent.

Whereas he had taken liberties to verbally assault Bradley before the fight, Holt was very complimentary of his opponent immediately after, talking with Bradley before they embraced and wished one another well in the future. The faces of both men told the story as they waited for the decision to be announced. Bradley could hardly raise his hand while Holt was already on his knees, covering his face with his hands. Neither had ever lost a twelve round decision.

In a fight that had been emotional for all parties involved, Bradley pulled out a close but unanimous decision by scores of 115-111 twice and 114-112, and the emotion carried well beyond the bell as Bradley collapsed on the canvas in tears, pounding the mat and shouting. Holt looked disappointed yet calm as he stared blankly into space.

Judges Richard DeCarufel, Raul Nieves and Jack Woodburn should be commended for the scorecards they turned in, which reflected the fight that had taken place. While Holt’s two knockdowns had made the fight much closer on points, Bradley had been the more active fighter throughout and scored far more frequently than did Holt. Holt didn’t complain about the decision but rather his own shortcomings in not bringing a better effort at times in the fight.

Now a double champion at 140 pounds, Bradley launches himself among the top three players in the division alongside Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao, who fight one another next month. Even though Bradley and Holt both approached this fight thinking they could get the winner of that fight, it probably isn’t going to happen. Hatton and Pacquiao are at the point in their careers where they will take big fights or no fights, and Bradley just isn’t a big fight for either. Still, Bradley’s win over Holt sets him up to be the man at junior welterweight once Hatton and Pacquiao move on. There will be plenty of other names in the division, and Bradley is really still learning his trade having become a champion so early into his career. He has plenty of time to make money in the sport and become one of boxing’s stars.

The loss isn’t too big of a hit on Holt. He landed the harder punches in the fight but didn’t win enough rounds, simply put. The knockdowns kept it close and competitive and reminded everyone that Holt can bang as well as anybody at 140 pounds. He would make for a great fight for almost anyone in the division and could easily earn another title shot for himself if he stays active. Nate Campbell or Zab Judah would be great bounce-back opponents.

ANDRADE POUNDS TSYPKO, WANTS BUTE REMATCH

On the undercard, super middleweight contender Librado Andrade also scored two knockdowns over Vitaly Tsypko en route to a wide unanimous decision in an IBF eliminator bout.

Andrade was making his return to Montreal since nearly scoring a final seconds knockout over IBF Champion Lucien Bute back in October. Despite trailing badly on the scorecards, Andrade was able to bounce Bute all over the ring in the twelfth and final round that night before finally putting the champion down with only seconds to spare. Referee Marlon B. Wright controversially stopped his count against the weary Bute to reprimand Andrade about staying in his corner during the count and gave Bute the benefit of the doubt when it appeared he may not be able to continue. As a result, Bute survived the round and won the fight.

Bute was in the front row for Andrade’s thrashing of Tsypko and went so far as to reach out his fist and touch it to Andrade’s glove, personally congratulating his opponent on an impressive victory. The crowd chanted, “Bute,” to vocalize its intent for a rematch between the two, which seems likely to come to fruition now that Andrade is the number one contender.

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