It's time for Showtime Championship Boxing, coming to us tonight from the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. Paul Williams and Nobuhiro Ishida will collide in the main event, but before we get to that, IBF light heavyweight titleholder puts his gold up for grabs against Gabriel Campillo.
Gus Johnson, Al Bernstein and Antonio Tarver are on hand to call the action, and Tarver has special insight into the light heavyweight division after spending so much time campaigning there. The Magic Man believes Cloud still needs one defining fight against a compelling opponent to really become a household name. Until then, all he can do is keep winning and trying his best to look good doing it.
Campillo comes to the ring first as the challenger. He's a former WBA titleholder looking to capture his second world championship belt. Hailing from Spain, Campillo is 21-3-1 but just 2-1-1 in his last four bouts.
Cloud makes his ring walk to some old school music, namely "Can't Truss It" by Public Enemy. His professional record is a perfect 23-0 with 19 KOs.
Two judges are from Texas and the third is from Minnestoa. The referee for this bout is Mark Nelson. Jimmy Lennon Jr. handles the formal fighter introductions, getting us prepared for a scheduled 12 rounds of boxing for Cloud's IBF strap.
Round 1
Cloud flicks some jabs right out of the gate. Campillo circles and remains cautious. Cloud throws the right to the body. Both men jab away with Cloud landing more. Campillo keeps moving but gets hit with a two-punch combo to the face. Cloud sets up a huge right hand that sends Campillo straight down to the canvas. He beats the count but still has 1:06 to try to survive. Cloud closes in and smashes Campillo into the ropes. The ref calls that a knockdown too since the ropes held him up. Now Campillo has just over 40 seconds to make it out of the round. He does it, but that was a great first round for the champ.
Tylwalk: 10-7 Cloud
Round 2
Campillo tries to throw something to show he's still in it, but Cloud smacks him with a counter right. Now Campillo jabs and comes forward. Cloud reaches to try to score with another big right. The champ jabs and weaves while coming in. Campillo uses multiple jabs to set up his left hand. There come three punches in a row from Campillo. Cloud tries two straight rights but Campillo is moving well. Good combination punching from Campillo as he makes an impressive response in this round.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Campillo
Round 3
Both men attempt to pick up the pace a bit. Campillo looks very comfortable behind his jab, but he needs to be wary of counter rights. Campillo finishes a combo with an uppercut, then goes back to work again. Another uppercut lands for Campillo, and he puts head and body shots together. Campillo continues to out-work Cloud as they move around the ring, but he is flirting with disaster from Cloud's haymaker counters.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Campillo
Round 4
Cloud goes right after Campillo with repeated left hooks, mainly to the body. Campillo avoids real trouble and isn't throwing as much. Cloud tracks him down but gets put on the defensive once Campillo starts punching. Campillo covers up well while Cloud unloads with both hands. Cloud is targeting the body more but eating shots to the head at the same time. Close round this time.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Cloud
Round 5
Campillo controls the pace again in the first minute, throwing too many punches for Cloud to set himself. He shrugs off some flurries by Cloud and attacks the body. Cloud is missing a lot in this round, possibly tiring himself out. He does find the range with a left hook. Campillo settles with a stiff jab, then both men try some combo punching. Campillo lands repeated head shots in the final 10 seconds, but Cloud connects with his own right hand at the bell.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Campillo
Round 6
Cloud opens with body shots. Campillo keeps both gloves hugh to block hooks, but Cloud keeps coming. The champ is cut in two different places, which could contribute to his sense of urgency. Campillo weathers the storm and returns fire with both hands from the outside. Cloud thumps home a left hook, then counters with glancing shots as Campillo pulls the trigger. Another close round that I could see going either way.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Cloud
Original Story:
http://www.boxingwatchers.com/2012-ar...
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February 20, 2012
