Matthysse vs Kiram: Live streaming results and round-by-round coverage

Tonight at 10:30 pm ET, HBO gets its boxing year started with a Boxing After Dark doubleheader from the Forum in Inglewood, California, featuring a pair of world title bouts.

In the main event, Lucas Matthysse (38-4, 35 KO) takes his third crack at a world title and first as a welterweight, facing Thailand’s Tewa Kiram (38-0, 28 KO) for the vacant WBA “world” title. Matthysse is the favored fighter, but he’s also older, naturally a bit smaller, and has tasted defeat. Kiram is a wild card here — he’s untested at this level, but potentially quite dangerous.

In the co-feature, Jorge Linares (43-3, 27 KO) will defend his WBC lightweight title against Mercito Gesta (31-1-2, 17 KO). Linares is the heavy favorite, as he’s on a terrific run right now and stands as the top rated lightweight in the sport.

Wil Esco will be on the round-by-round call tonight. Join us for all the action!

RESULTS

• LUCAS MATTHYSSE def. TEWA KIRAM by KO (1:21 of Round 8)
• JORGE LINARES def. MERCITO GESTA by unanimous decision (118-110, 118-110, 117-111)

ROUND BY ROUND

LUCAS MATTHYSSE vs TEWA KIRAM

Round 1: Kiram comes out and looks noticeably larger than Matthysse. Kiram feeling out Matthysse from the outside which is probably a good idea to start. Kiram throws a couple probing jabs with little-to-no power behind it, just establishing the distance. Now Kiram puts a little more heat on those punches and is keeping Matthysse at bay. Matthysse tries a big overhand right but can't close the distance. Pretty slow round but I like Kiram in this one. Kiram 10-9.

Round 2: Matthysse comes out looking to land something hard right away but Kiram keeps him at arms distance with a few punches. Matthysse having trouble early adapting to Kiram's size and style. Kiram continues to be successful keeping Matthysse at the end of his jab, which is negating most of Matthysse's offense. Matthysse tries to press forward more aggressively now to get some shots off but can't quite get the distance he wants. Matthysse lands counter right hand but I think Kiram is controlling the action. Kiram 10-9, 20-18.

Round 3: Kiram sneaks in a couple body shots and then gets back on his back foot, establishing the range with his jab. Matthysse stalks Kiram around the ring, but can't close the distance and the crowd gets anxious as the punching is at a minimum. Matthysse tries a double left hook that partially lands. Matthysse lands a straight right. Right hand to the body lands for Mattysse might've been the best punch of the round. Matthysse 10-9.

Round 4: Matthysse trying to crowd Kiram straight away and Kiram is doing his best to prevent that from happening. Kiram getting aggressive for the first time in the fight and coming foward behind a bunch of left jabs. Right hand over the top lands for Kiram. The crowd is not impressed and is generally booing this fight. Matthysse lands a jab and has established a distance more favorable to him as the rounds have worn on. Matthysse lands a straight right hand and Kiram pumps some jabs and pivots away. Left hook grazes Kiram at the bell. Matthysse 10-9, 38-38.

Round 5: Matthysse has a cut over his left eye, the referee says it was from a legal punch. Matthysse tries a homerun overhand right hand but it misses Kiram. Jab lands for Matthysse as Kiram gets less active with his longer jab. Still slow action and more boos rain from the audience. If this was sold as an action fight, well, I'm yelling 'bait and switch.' HBO announcers basically claim this fight hasn't been as good as advertised because Matthysse is a washed fighter now. Matthysse 10-9.

Round 6: Matthysse lands a right hand to the body. Kiram throws out a few more jabs now and lands a couple. Matthysse misses big on another homerun punch. Matthysse tries whacking Kiram to the body as the fighters get tied up. Referee warns Kiram for holding too much. Not an exciting round, or really an exciting fight. Matthysse 10-9, 58-56.

Round 7: Controversy may emerge as the referee confiscates a substance from Kiram's corner that he was sniffing in between rounds. The commission will try to identify the substance. But for now we're back in action. Kiram looks like he's busted Matthysse's nose a little with his jab. Kiram content to keep this fight on the outside as much as he can, and he's having more success than Matthysse would like as he wants to close the distance to land his power shots. More probing jabs land for Kiram who isn't impressing, but I think he's fighting more of his fight. Kiram 10-9.

Round 8: Hard one-two lands out the gate for Kiram. Matthysse presses forward and crushes Kiram to the mat with a left hand! Kiram beats the 10 count and looks like he's not too hurt as stands his ground and fires back. The fighters exchange and Matthysse catches Kiram with a left hand that drops Kiram again! Referee immediately waves off the fight. Matthysse KO-8.

JORGE LINARES vs MERCITO GESTA

Round 1: Gesta comes out quick with a couple combinations that Linares is able to block for the most part. Gesta keeping up the quick pace by attacking early and often in the opening minute. Linares probes with a couple jabs but can't find the range. Gesta presses back forward and momentarily backs Linares to the ropes. Linares lands two chopping right hands on the inside and the goes downstairs with a couple body shots. Gesta lands a jab down the middle. Straight left hand lands for Gesta right before the bell. I think Gesta's work rate got him this round. Gesta 10-9.

Round 2: Linares tries a counter hook to the body that partially lands as Gesta jumps in. Both fighters trade a few punches on the inside and grin at each other. Gesta rushes in behind a split guard and Linares sneaks in a counter. Hard right hook lands for Gesta at the end of a Linares combination. Both fighters exchange leather at center ring with about equal success. I think Linares just edges this round by a slight margin. Linares 10-9, 19-19.

Round 3: Gesta counters Linares attack and lands a nice body shot to end it. Solid straight right hand lands for Linares, with Gesta acknowledging it was a good shot. Linares lands another right hand which catches Gesta unprepared. Linares continuing to look for a home for that straight right hand, and Gesta isn't coming forward with the same enthusiasm he was in the opening two rounds. Linares meets Gesta again with a lead right hand and then comes with a solid left hook. Good round for Linares. Linares 10-9.

Round 4: Linares comes out with a one-two combination right at the bell. Another short right hand lands for Linares, who has found his range and pet punch. Gesta misses on a three punch combination. Linares throws a flurry of punches, starting from the body which caught Gesta clean. Gesta tries to come back but Linares is able to catch the punches on his arms. Check left hook lands for Linares as Gesta looks for some payback. Linares slips as he unloads a combination to end the round. Linares 10-9, 39-37.

Round 5: Gesta comes out a little more aggressive but the fighters end up in a clinch without getting any clean punches off. Linares throwing more and more combinations and is finding a home for that right hand to the body and head. Left hook lands for Linares at the end of a three-punch combination. Gesta tries to grind out some action but throwing a lot of shots in close with little results to show for it. Hard lead right lands for Linares! Then Linares goes downstairs right afterwards! Gesta nods at Linares. Linares throws six or seven punches in a blur to end the round. Linares 10-9.

Round 6: Gesta walks right into another Linares lead right hand. Linares is real comfortable in this fight right now and is putting it on display for the crowd. Gesta tries to launch a sustained attack but can't find the target with any consistency. Linares lands a couple more chopping rights upstairs as the fighters get tangled in close. Another lead right from Linares finds the mark! Then a one-two! Gesta is getting tagged up now but he hasn't seemed to get hurt yet. Linares 10-9, 59-55.

Round 7: Gesta gets clipped but a short uppercut as he looks to close the distance. Hard left hook to the body lands for Linares! Linares rips off another six punches to the body and head which ambushes Gesta. Gesta trying to work but doesn't have much steam on his punches, he's not as quick on his feet either. Linares notices and puts together a few more combinations which has him scoring at a stunning rate. Linares throws five or six more punches in a flurry as the bell sounds. Linares 10-9.

Round 8: The hand speed difference between Linares and Gesta is becoming increasingly prominent as the fight wears on. Gesta lands a lead left, Linares simultaneously lands a counter left hook. Well, there you have it! Linares is winning this fight big but he's just emerged with a cut over his right eye. Lead right hand lands for Linares once again! Linares 10-9, 79-73.

Round 9: Linares comes out with several punches, scoring a few good ones to the body. Gesta not imposing himself enough at this point to change the pace of this fight, nor put pressure on Linares' cut. Linares showboats but doing his version of the Ali shuffle, and Gesta returns the favor. Left hook lands for Linares at the end of a combination but Gesta just smiles as he takes the punches with no problem — Linares still scoring though. Linares 10-9.

Round 10: Gesta pressing forward again to open this round but Linares tries to line up a left uppercut that just misses. Both fighters trade punches and both landing at center ring. Sneaky uppercut lands this time for Linares, Gesta keeps on coming. Gesta chasing Linares around the ring a little now, trying to keep the pressure on Linares. Linares lands another left uppercut, then one to the body. Gesta throws some but LInares is able to slip. Gesta lands a couple of shots to end round. I still think Linares takes the round. Linares 10-9, 99-91.

Round 11: Gesta backs Linares up to the ropes but Linares pivots to center ring and lands yet another lead right hand. Linares keeping his hands moving more frequently and although he hasn't been able to hurt Gesta, he's able to land on the target much more often. Hard left hook lands for Gesta amidst a Linares combination. Even still, Linares is just outclassing Gesta. Linares 10-9.

Round 12: Gesta's trainer Freddie Roach sounded pretty desperate in the corner in between rounds, he knows his fighter is down big. Last round and Linares is trying to pick off Gesta's attack early with sharp counter punches. Linares gets knocked to the mat but it was ruled a slip, and it was awkward enough that it might've been. Linares comes with three punches that fall short and Gesta capitalizes by countering with a hard left. One-two land for Linares again. Linares punching more to end this fight which is going to win him this round for me and cap off the fight. Linares 10-9. BLH scores it for Linares, 119-109.