PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight kickboxing rules bout between Gennady Golovkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas Stevenson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Golovkin
vs
Stevenson

180 cm
25
178 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
170 lbs
4 - 4 - 1

Excellent boxer
Self confident

Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Gennady Golovkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 1, fighting out of The Island, Thomas Stevenson!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Michael Johnstone and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevenson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Stevenson misses with a body shot
and Stevenson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Stevenson keeps the fight on the outside.
Stevenson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Golovkin counters with a nice body shot.
Golovkin fails in his attempt to clinch.

Golovkin has managed to clinch.
Stevenson can't break the clinch.
Stevenson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Stevenson is looking to break free of the clinch but Golovkin has double underhooks.
Stevenson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Golovkin's efforts to push away.
Stevenson lands a right hand.

Stevenson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A leg kick checked by Golovkin.
Golovkin misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Golovkin doesn't manage to clinch there - Stevenson circles away.

Golovkin moves into range and clinches up with Stevenson.
Golovkin tries to circle away but Stevenson has him pinned against the ropes.
Golovkin working hard to break the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Stevenson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Golovkin avoids it.
Golovkin stalling the fight.

Stevenson breaks from the clinch.
Golovkin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Golovkin throws a head kick that misses

and Stevenson counters by clinching up.
Stevenson swings wildly with an uppercut but Golovkin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Stevenson tries to work over Golovkin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson has had enough of the clinch but Golovkin keeps him there for the moment.
Golovkin is trying to force a seperation but Stevenson has the dominant position.
Golovkin is looking to break free of the clinch but Stevenson has double underhooks.
Golovkin tries to break the clinch but Stevenson is controlling the position.

Stevenson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Golovkin misses with a few strikes there.
Golovkin comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Golovkin instigates a clinch.
Stevenson throws a punch but it's blocked by Golovkin.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee is keeping an eye on Golovkin - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stevenson tries to break the clinch but Golovkin is controlling the position.

Stevenson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stevenson avoids the head kick by Golovkin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gennady Golovkin dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Golovkin has Stevenson up against the ropes in a clinch.
Golovkin digs a right hand underneath Stevenson's ribcage. Stevenson let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Golovkin is looking to break free of the clinch but Stevenson has double underhooks.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Golovkin has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Golovkin manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Stevenson is looking to control Golovkin's arms but Golovkin gets an underhook and turns him. Now Stevenson has his back to the ropes.
Stevenson has Golovkin pressed against the ropes, preventing Golovkin from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Stevenson slows down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson is trying to break free.

Stevenson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stevenson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Golovkin throws a body kick that misses.

Stevenson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Stevenson avoiding damage as Golovkin throws knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Golovkin's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Stevenson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Some bone on bone action there as Golovkin checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Stevenson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Golovkin doesn't manage to clinch there - Stevenson circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Stevenson.
Golovkin throws a head kick that misses.
Stevenson wants to clinch up but Golovkin keeps it at a distance.
Golovkin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Golovkin clinches.
Golovkin is trying to break the clinch but Stevenson has him pressed against the ropes.

Stevenson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Golovkin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stevenson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Golovkin tries to clinch there but Stevenson circles away.
Jab from Golovkin.
Stevenson avoids the head kick by Golovkin.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Golovkin rushes Stevenson and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gennady Golovkin dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Stevenson gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Gennady Golovkin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Stevenson moves into range and clinches up with Golovkin.
Golovkin tries to break the clinch but Stevenson is controlling the position.

Stevenson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Stevenson darts in and clinches Golovkin up against the ropes.
Stevenson taking a breather.
Golovkin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Golovkin looking to stall.
Golovkin is looking to break free of the clinch but Stevenson has double underhooks.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Stevenson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Stevenson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stevenson is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Golovkin tries to clinch there but Stevenson circles away.
Golovkin lands a really nice looking cross but Stevenson seems unphased.
Golovkin wants to clinch.

Golovkin pushes Stevenson up against the ropes in a clinch.
Stevenson blocks the elbow strike.
Stevenson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Golovkin is defending well for now.
Golovkin trying to stall but Stevenson improves his position.

Stevenson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Stevenson tries to clinch but Golovkin moves out of range.
Stevenson looks to land a body kick but Golovkin moved away.
Golovkin tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Stevenson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Golovkin comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Stevenson throws a front kick that sends Golovkin stumbling back into the ropes.
Stevenson misses with a straight right.
Golovkin dodges the punch combination from Stevenson.

Golovkin pushes Stevenson up against the ropes in a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stevenson with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Stevenson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Golovkin throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stevenson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stevenson darts in trying to clinch
and Golovkin counters with a stiff right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gennady Golovkin.
Well Golovkin has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:27
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:27
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gennady Golovkin!
Gennady Golovkin was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.