In an entertaining couple of fights from York Hall, airing on tape delay on ShoBox, Tyson Fury was much too much for a game and extremely tough Rich Power, and John O'Donnell outpointed Terrance Cauthen in a 12-round welterweight main event.
Fury (12-0, 9 KO) won an eight-round shutout decision over Power (12-1, 9 KO). Power took the fight on one week's notice and it showed, as did the fact that he'd never gone beyond four rounds in a fight before. The 30-year-old from Michigan (now fighting out of San Diego) has plans to go into MMA, and his only sparring for this fight was against K.J. Noons, a part-time pro boxer of debatable merit and Strikeforce MMA star. For a guy who's 30, really raw, had never fought anyone worth much, and was taking the fight on a week's notice, Power acquitted himself quite nicely.
Fury was simply too talented for him. Power's chin was the story of the fight, as he took some shots in a very tired state that might have put down a lesser foe, but never really seemed too hurt. The young, 6'9" Fury showed some marked improvement over his last fight with John McDermott, which turned into a battle of two exhausted men nearly tipping over. Fury paced himself better this time out, used his length, and when he did really commit to his jab, was able to use it nicely. He's not as ready as he thinks to face the winner of Chisora-Sexton II, but he'll probably be there sometime next year. There's really no rush, and he's still learning on the job.
O'Donnell (24-1, 11 KO) outpointed Cauthen (34-7, 9 KO) on a referee's score of 118-112. Bad Left Hook had it 118-111 for O'Donnell, who kept a strong pace, landed more telling and cleaner shots throughout the fight, and notched the best win of his career over a still-solid veteran. Cauthen is still going to have a few years as a journeyman gatekeeper, as he still looked fit, quick, smart, and in the end, punchless, which promoters like in an opponent.
We'll be back tomorrow with more round-by-round coverage, for Klitschko-Peter II and Molitor-Booth starting at 3pm EDT, and later at 10pm EDT for HBO Boxing After Dark.