Bad Left Hook Fight Night: James Kirkland v. Ricardo Cortes

Comcast had this listed as 10:30 and this is, y’know, 9:57. Oh well.

47-47 score

Reyes looks a little tentative in the two rounds I’ve seen.

Exactly what I expected. Pissed that the start time on my cable was off because I don’t expect the Kirkland fight to go long.

Teddy has it 95-95 with a 10-8 third for Reyes on a knockdown.

96-93
97-93
96-93

ROLANDO REYES VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION

(last 10 years, that is)

Totally spaced out and forgot to watch Reyes!

Still stoked to see James do his thing though

Just a time-filler. Countryman is from D-TROIT, so he’s my boy.

This is a four-rounder. Orta is going after my boy. Teddy says Countryman hasn’t fought for a year. What a great last name, anyway.

Orta is pressing Countryman on the ropes and trying to work the body, cutting off Countryman’s reach. Lots of trading, very close fighting here in the first two minutes. Nice shot from Countryman to the side of Orta’s head. As Brian says, great sound on that punch.

Countryman has switched stances. There’s a big right, Orta backs down a little. Orta has never been knocked out. Countryman takes the opening round with the two best punches, and for keeping pace with Orta when pressed.

Countryman 10-9

They get Emanuel Augustus on the phone to talk about being named Most Memorable Fighter of the decade, and all he does is thank people he knows. Now he talks about the Ward fight.

Countryman comes out this round wanting to work from distance, and Orta keeps trying to spring inside without much success. Orta warned for something. Couple of come-in shots from Orta. Countryman is swinging wild and not putting much together. Nice trade by the ropes, with Orta’s back on the cables this time.

Countryman 10-9
Countryman 20-18

Countryman with a long, sharp right hand to the mouth. And another one, as Orta tries to shuck and jive his way inside. Orta pops Countryman with a left to the body, and a RIGHT HAND PUTS COUNTRYMAN DOWN!

He’s up, and Orta throws a body shot and starts wailing away. Countryman is covering up and looking for something to do. Orta with combos, and working the body, and Countryman looks a bit lost right now. Uppercut hurts Countryman.

Countryman isn’t landing anything at this point. Right hand from Orta! BIG round for Orta, and now the fourth round is crucial.

Orta 10-8
28-28

Countryman struggles again this round, but Orta isn’t doing a whole lot, either. Countryman’s jab is fairly effective, I guess. He could be scoring enough to eke out this fight. 30 seconds left for something to happen. Orta backs him into the ropes and works again, but Countryman slips away. I think Countryman barely survived this fight enough to win it, but it wasn’t very impressive.

Countryman 10-9
Countryman 38-37

38-37
38-37
38-37

JAMES COUNTRYMAN VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION

He gets booed because he was knocked down and Orta did a good job, but Countryman won more rounds. What do you want?

I love this bitch

I’ll say 2:04. Cortes will hang tough!

The Cowboys won’t go to the playoffs and the Jets will win the Super Bowl. Is he high?

The Austin Music Hall is an awesome, awesome boxing room.

And here we go.

Kirkland comes out throwing, Cortes tries to go to the body. Cortes is throwing shots downstairs, but Kirkland is doing his usual storming. Left hand snaps Cortes back. Well, these two are throwing leather. Cortes hurt!

Kirkland is straight headhunting. You have to give Cortes credit for throwing some nice body stuff, though. Cortes’ left eye is messed up already. Two minutes in — drop him, James! Aw, my mark comes and goes.

Well, Cortes may survive the round. Kirkland is hurt a bit, but not bad. He just keeps coming. Hell of an opening round.

Kirkland 10-9

Kirkland with a nice combo, but he’s again totally headhunting and nothing else. Nice 1-2 by Kirkland. Body, head, Cortes is down! Illegal shot that would’ve gotten Humberto Soto banned from boxing.

Cortes is up and will try to continue. Cortes trying to push Kirkland away, but James just keeps firing. Referee stops it. Cortes was trying to fight and hates the stoppage, but I think it was obvious what we were seeing. Still, probably a bit early.

James Kirkland TKO-2

James handled it.

Later than I expected but did his thing

He just fights like that.

If he’s on another BAD, he’ll wanna show the HBO world he’s an exciting fighter as well