PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Whealer Van Hire (ranked 1364 p4p, 23129 weight class) and Franko De Cremonesi (ranked 105 p4p, 427 weight class). De Cremonesi has chosen Maniac (Eurobeat Remix) as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Van Hire
vs
De Cremonesi

170 cm
30
145
15 - 1 - 0

172 cm
29
157
13 - 6 - 0

World class boxer
Cardio machine

World class boxer
Granite chin

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Whealer Van Hire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Franko De Cremonesi!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Cremonesi takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Van Hire uses good head movement to avoid the hook from De Cremonesi.
De Cremonesi lands a lovely overhand right.
Van Hire moves out of range of the body kick from De Cremonesi.
Van Hire throws a body punch but De Cremonesi moves out of range.
Van Hire throws a leg kick but De Cremonesi checks it.
De Cremonesi steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Van Hire scores with a kick to the midsection.
Van Hire blocks a leg kick.
Van Hire is looking to counter punch.
De Cremonesi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Van Hire is looking for a counter combo.
De Cremonesi throws a push kick but Van Hire slaps the foot to one side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Cremonesi misses with a lunging right hand
and Van Hire cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Van Hire blocks a leg kick.
A little feinted left hand from Van Hire on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
De Cremonesi misses with a body kick.
De Cremonesi scores with a decent looking hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Cremonesi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Van Hire. Van Hire obviously looking to wear him down.
Van Hire bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of De Cremonesi's head.
De Cremonesi jabs Van Hire to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A decent looking body kick lands there for De Cremonesi.
De Cremonesi misses with a kick to the body.
De Cremonesi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Van Hire has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by De Cremonesi.
De Cremonesi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A head kick misses from De Cremonesi.
De Cremonesi swinging wildly here.
De Cremonesi throws a hook to the side of Van Hire's head but Van Hire sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from De Cremonesi.
Van Hire misses the shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
De Cremonesi drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
De Cremonesi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
De Cremonesi connects with the punch.
De Cremonesi takes a swing at Van Hire's ribcage but misses.
De Cremonesi throws a right and a left that both miss.
A lazy body kick from De Cremonesi
and Van Hire counters with a series of strikes. De Cremonesi will be more careful next time no doubt.
De Cremonesi is looking to land body kicks.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts De Cremonesi, as that shot connected.
Franko De Cremonesi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Hire moves out of range of the body kick from De Cremonesi.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Franko De Cremonesi dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Van Hire tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Van Hire takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
De Cremonesi throws a half hearted mid kick.
De Cremonesi throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
De Cremonesi misses with an uppercut
and Van Hire counters with a stiff right hand.
Van Hire looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Franko De Cremonesi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Van Hire loads up on a big right hand but De Cremonesi slips the punch.
De Cremonesi swings widly with a right hand
and Van Hire counters with a series of strikes. De Cremonesi will be more careful next time no doubt.
Van Hire pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Hire on the wrong end of a nice jab.
De Cremonesi slips a jab from Van Hire.
De Cremonesi lands a leg kick that knocks Van Hire off balance momentarily.
Van Hire misses with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Cremonesi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Van Hire is looking to counter punch.
De Cremonesi throws a half hearted mid kick.
De Cremonesi misses with a body shot.
De Cremonesi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Van Hire.
De Cremonesi lands with a hook. Van Hire tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
De Cremonesi throws a wild body kick that Van Hire sees coming a mile off.
De Cremonesi cracks Van Hire with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
De Cremonesi throws a head kick that half lands.
De Cremonesi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Van Hire throws a shot to the body.
Van Hire throws a jab when De Cremonesi was well out of range.
A low kick lands for Van Hire.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by De Cremonesi. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of De Cremonesi.
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!
De Cremonesi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Van Hire manages to avoid it.
Van Hire is looking to counter punch.
De Cremonesi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
De Cremonesi looks for the body kick but Van Hire saw that one coming.
Van Hire looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
De Cremonesi throws a lazy uppercut
and Van Hire counters with a left to the body.
Van Hire moves out of range as De Cremonesi strikes.
De Cremonesi is looking to land body kicks.
De Cremonesi moves out of range as Van Hire throws a body kick.
De Cremonesi thinks about the counter body kick.
De Cremonesi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and De Cremonesi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
De Cremonesi throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Van Hire counters with a stiff right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Whealer Van Hire will probably get the nod.
That's time! Van Hire's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Van Hire takes a shot to the body in his stride.
De Cremonesi tries to land a leg kick but Van Hire saw it coming and moves away.
De Cremonesi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
De Cremonesi misses with a body kick.
De Cremonesi misses with a body shot.
De Cremonesi just misses with a punch to the body.
Some bone on bone action there as De Cremonesi checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Van Hire moves out of range of the body kick from De Cremonesi.
Van Hire is looking to counter punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Cremonesi looks to throw the jab but Van Hire is out of range.
Van Hire swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
De Cremonesi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Van Hire.
Van Hire lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
De Cremonesi throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Van Hire counters with a thumping low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Cremonesi gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Van Hire counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
De Cremonesi changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Van Hire blocks a jab.
Van Hire feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Van Hire throws an uppercut from half a mile away. De Cremonesi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Van Hire slips under a jab from De Cremonesi.
De Cremonesi misses with a lunging right hand
and Van Hire counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
De Cremonesi throws a push kick but Van Hire slaps the foot to one side.
De Cremonesi avoids the body shot from Van Hire.
A punch lands to the side of De Cremonesi 's head but he takes it in his stride.
De Cremonesi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Van Hire swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Van Hire pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Cremonesi looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Van Hire throws a shot to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Hire connects with a solid leg kick.
Van Hire looks to score with a jab to the body but De Cremonesi is just out of range.
A little jabbing left from De Cremonesi on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
De Cremonesi feints and then cracks Van Hire's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Van Hire down.
De Cremonesi lands the left hand.
Van Hire showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from De Cremonesi.
De Cremonesi misses with a low kick.
Van Hire swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
De Cremonesi throws a body shot but no joy.
Van Hire misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from De Cremonesi.

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 Whealer Van Hire.
I think Van Hire 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Whealer Van Hire!
A relieved looking Whealer Van Hire thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.