PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Mircea Lucarescu (ranked 6976 p4p, 130 weight class) and Paul Beecher (ranked 1928 p4p, 85 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Lucarescu
vs
Beecher

171 cm
29
144 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

225 cm
23
285 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mircea Lucarescu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paul Beecher!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Summer Carpenter and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Beecher slips a jab from Lucarescu.
Lucarescu misses with a wild body shot.
Beecher fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Lucarescu.
Lucarescu on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Lucarescu misses with a series of wild punches.
Beecher let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Mircea Lucarescu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lucarescu misses with a wild body shot.
Lucarescu lands with a cross.
Lucarescu walks into a stiff left hand from Beecher.
Lucarescu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Beecher.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Beecher fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lucarescu manages to avoid it.
Lucarescu throws a body punch but Beecher moves out of range.
Lucarescu misses with a body shot.
Lucarescu lands a right hook to the body.
Beecher is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Beecher misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucarescu misses with a series of wild punches.
Beecher shapes to counter with a head kick.
Lucarescu checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Lucarescu throws a body punch but Beecher moves out of range.
Beecher misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A shot to the body from Beecher misses
and Lucarescu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lucarescu blocks a head kick by Beecher.
Lucarescu misses with a straight right.

Beecher moves into the clinch.
Beecher tries to throw a body punch but Lucarescu avoids it by throwing Beecher back against the ropes.

Lucarescu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No joy there for Lucarescu, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Beecher throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lucarescu throws a predictable looking body shot
and Beecher counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beecher takes a jab right on the kisser.
Lucarescu misses with a wild body shot.
Beecher unleashes a big counter combination but Lucarescu bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Lucarescu punishes Beecher's body with a nice straight punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Beecher throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lucarescu throws out a loose jab but Beecher uses good head movement to avoid it.
Beecher pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Beecher looks to throw the jab but Lucarescu is out of range.
Lucarescu is looking to counter punch.
Beecher throws a leg kick but Lucarescu sees it coming and moves out of range.
Lucarescu takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Beecher avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Beecher has taken the fight to the clinch.
Beecher pushes off an throws an elbow but Lucarescu leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Beecher misses with a punch to the body.
Beecher lands a left hand that snaps the head of Lucarescu backwards.
Beecher misses with a punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beecher misses with a hook from the clinch.

Beecher pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lucarescu takes a swing at Beecher's ribcage but misses.
Beecher throws a fast counter high kick but Lucarescu manages to duck under it in time.
Beecher slips a jab and a cross from Lucarescu.
The fighters circling - Lucarescu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Beecher blocks a jab.
Lucarescu fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Beecher manages to avoid it.
Lucarescu is looking to wear down Beecher with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
The crowd cheers as Lucarescu lands an impressive looking overhand right. Beecher doesn't seem phased though.
Lucarescu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Beecher was well out of range. Poor timing from Lucarescu.
Beecher throws a head kick but Lucarescu moves out of range.
Lucarescu is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Lucarescu scores with a hook.
Lucarescu throws a series of punches but Beecher moves out of range.
Beecher wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lucarescu has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Beecher.
The fighters circling - Lucarescu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Beecher appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Beecher lands the left hand.
Beecher lands a jab to Lucarescu's midsection.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lucarescu dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lucarescu slips a jab from Beecher.
An attempted straight right counter from Lucarescu misses the target.
Beecher moves in looking to clinch but Lucarescu pushes him off.
Beecher takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Lucarescu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Beecher is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lucarescu.
It looked like Lucarescu was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Beecher.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Paul Beecher will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lucarescu moves out of range as Beecher throws a body kick.
Beecher tries a head kick but it misses.
Lucarescu lands a body shot.
Mircea Lucarescu is winning the standup battle so far.
Lucarescu scores with a shot to the body.
Beecher misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lucarescu.
Lucarescu lands a slapping body shot.
Beecher has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Beecher there as he acknowledges the shot.
Lucarescu throws a right hand that Beecher ducks under and follows up with a left that Beecher also avoids with ease.
Beecher moves away from the strike by Lucarescu.
Beecher now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Lucarescu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Beecher follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lucarescu takes a swing at Beecher's ribcage but misses.
Lucarescu throws a jab but it's blocked by Beecher.
Jab, jab by Lucarescu - just one landing.
Sloppy strikes from Lucarescu. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beecher takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Beecher motions for Lucarescu to come forward. Beecher throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Lucarescu looks to land a combination. Beecher sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Beecher avoids the body shot from Lucarescu.
Beecher gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Lucarescu counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Beecher misses with a left hand
and Lucarescu counters with a nice uppercut.
Lucarescu misses the jab.
Lucarescu fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Beecher on the side of the head.
Beecher throws a body shot but no joy.
Lucarescu misses with a body shot.
Lucarescu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Beecher can do to turn this around?
Lucarescu gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Beecher.
Lucarescu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Beecher.
Beecher is trying to counter with his kicks.
Beecher slips a jab and a cross from Lucarescu.
Beecher uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lucarescu.
Beecher is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Beecher keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Beecher appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Some wild striking there from Lucarescu.
Lucarescu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Beecher was well out of range. Poor timing from Lucarescu.
Beecher tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lucarescu was well out of range. Poor timing from Beecher.
Lucarescu scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Beecher throws a body punch but Lucarescu moves out of range.
Lucarescu misses the shot to the body.
Beecher pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A shot to the liver by Lucarescu. Beautiful body shot.
Lucarescu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Beecher moves away.
Beecher avoids the body shot from Lucarescu.
Beecher thumps Lucarescu with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beecher scores with a decent looking hook.
A telegraphed right hand from Lucarescu misses the target.
Lucarescu swings away with a body shot that misses
and Beecher counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Lucarescu thinking.
Beecher thuds a left hand into Lucarescu's body.
Lucarescu lands with a cross.
Beecher tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Lucarescu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
As Beecher looks to move away, Lucarescu throws a big counter combo but Beecher just gets out of the way.
Lucarescu feints a jab promting Beecher to slip. Lucarescu then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Beecher slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Beecher throws out a leg kick but Lucarescu moves out of range and Beecher only half commits.
Beecher looks for the body kick but Lucarescu saw that one coming.
Beecher throws a head kick that misses
and Lucarescu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lucarescu sizes up Beecher with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Beecher takes a shot right to the bread basket.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Beecher lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lucarescu takes a swing at Beecher's ribcage but misses.
Beecher now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Beecher throws a body punch but Lucarescu moves out of range.
Beecher throws a push kick but Lucarescu slaps the foot to one side.
Beecher moves out of range as Lucarescu strikes.
A little jabbing left from Beecher on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Beecher moves out of range as Lucarescu strikes.
Beecher flicks out a counter leg kick but Lucarescu steps away.
Beecher throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lucarescu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Beecher.
Beecher ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lucarescu moves away.
Lucarescu lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Beecher backs up against the ropes.
Lucarescu throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Beecher stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Beecher slips under a jab.
Lucarescu takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Lucarescu throws a right hand that Beecher ducks under and follows up with a left that Beecher also avoids with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mircea Lucarescu dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Lucarescu swings away with a body shot that misses
and Beecher makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Beecher swings away with a body shot that misses
and Lucarescu connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Beecher ducks under a wild hook from Lucarescu.
Beecher looks to score with a jab to the body but Lucarescu is just out of range.
Beecher takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Beecher throws an off balance right hand
and Lucarescu counters with a left to the body.
Beecher throws a body shot but no joy.
Beecher throws a sloppy head kick
and Lucarescu counters with a stiff right hand.
Lucarescu swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Beecher is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Lucarescu with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Beecher attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Lucarescu catches Beecher with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Beecher connects with a body shot that sends Lucarescu's belly button to the back.
Lucarescu looks to land a right hand but Beecher moved out of range.
Lucarescu lands a nice looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucarescu lands a slapping body shot.
Beecher ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Nice defenses there by Lucarescu.
Beecher looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Beecher tries to clinch up
and Lucarescu counters with a nice body shot.
Lucarescu misses with an uppercut. Beecher saw that one coming.
Beecher lands with a shot to the body.
Lucarescu throws a body shot but no joy.
Beecher uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lucarescu.
Lucarescu looks to land a left hand but Beecher moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucarescu throws a body punch but Beecher moves out of range.
Beecher misses with a wild body shot.
Lucarescu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Beecher moves away.
Beecher tries to close the distance and clinch but Lucarescu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lucarescu was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Beecher's jab looks to have found its range, popping Lucarescu under the eye.
Lucarescu throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lucarescu. Beecher does a little dance to reset his feet.
Beecher swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A big left from Lucarescu misses.
Lucarescu cracks Beecher with a right hand to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lucarescu misses the shot to the body.
Beecher ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lucarescu moves away.
Beecher throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Lucarescu just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lucarescu is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Beecher.
Beecher uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lucarescu.
Beecher is looking for the big counter here.
Lucarescu misses with a jab, cross combination.
Beecher scores with a nice right hand.
Lucarescu connects with a body shot.
Lucarescu dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lucarescu takes a swing at Beecher's ribcage but misses.
Beecher is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Lucarescu just misses with a punch to the body.
Lucarescu looks to score with a jab to the body but Beecher is just out of range.
Beecher misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lucarescu.
Beecher misses with a head kick.
Lucarescu went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Beecher moves out of range as Lucarescu strikes.
Beecher keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lucarescu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beecher tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Lucarescu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lucarescu comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Beecher just misses with a punch to the body.
Lucarescu lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Nice body punch from Lucarescu.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Beecher keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lucarescu uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Beecher.
An attempted straight right counter from Lucarescu misses the target.
Beecher tries to work over Lucarescu's front leg with a kick but Lucarescu checks it.
Lucarescu throws a hook but Beecher avoids it easily.
Beecher just misses with a punch to the body.
Lucarescu throws a jab when Beecher was well out of range.
A jab from Beecher misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Beecher. Lucarescu does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lucarescu throwing a counter right hand but Beecher manages to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mircea Lucarescu showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lucarescu has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mircea Lucarescu!
In his post fight interview, Mircea Lucarescu started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.