PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between John Hoop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franco Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Franco Williams will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Hoop
vs
Williams

180 cm
22
200 lbs
8 - 4 - 1

197 cm
24
190 lbs
8 - 7 - 2

Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent MT
Granite chin

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Hoop!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Franco Williams!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hoop takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Williams walks into a straight right hand from Hoop.
Williams drops his hands momentarily and Hoop takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Williams takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Hoop misses with a wild body shot.
Williams uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hoop.
Williams uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hoop.
Williams throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hoop ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hoop throws a big shot that misses.
Hoop goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Williams looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Williams is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hoop uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Williams.
Hoop ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Williams moves away.
Hoop looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Williams chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hoop can pounce on him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Williams throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hoop dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hoop scores with a jab.
Hoop scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hoop's jab looks to have found its range, popping Williams under the eye.
Williams takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Hoop misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Williams.
Williams keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hoop is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Williams throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hoop counters with a nice uppercut.
Williams swings for the body but Hoop moves out of range.
Hoop throws a jab but it's blocked by Williams.
Williams lands a really nice looking cross but Hoop seems unphased.
Williams misses with a wild body shot.
Hoop misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hoop lands a leg kick that knocks Williams off balance momentarily.
Hoop throws a jab but it's blocked by Williams.
Some wild striking there from Williams.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hoop throws a leg kick but Williams sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Hoop lands a jab to Williams's midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams misses the shot to the body.
John Hoop seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Williams bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hoop lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

It looks like Franco Williams has been cut.
Some bone on bone action there as Hoop checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Hoop clobbers Williams with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Hoop misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Williams counters with a thumping low kick.
Williams ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hoop tries a head kick but it misses.
Williams fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Williams takes a swing at Hoop's ribcage but misses.
Hoop uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Williams.
Jab by Hoop.
Williams is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Williams walks into a left hand.
Hoop throws a big shot that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoop scores with a shot to the body.
Williams uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hoop.
Hoop lands an overhand right.
A swing and a miss from Hoop.
A slapping leg kick lands for Williams.
Williams misses with a straight left.
Williams moves out of range of the strikes.
The crowd cheers as Hoop lands an impressive looking overhand right. Williams doesn't seem phased though.
Hoop fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Williams on the side of the head.
Hoop fails to land with a series of punches.
Williams looks to score with a jab to the body but Hoop is just out of range.
Williams misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hoop.
Hoop jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Williams thumps Hoop with a low kick.
Hoop throws out a leg kick but Williams moves out of range and Hoop only half commits.
Williams takes a jab right on the kisser.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Williams attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoop swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hoop, right into the meat.
The fighters circle momentarily. Hoop darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Hoop fakes the leg kick and cracks Williams in the body.
Hoop lands a jab to the nose.
An inside leg kick from Williams misses.
Hoop tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Williams was well out of range. Poor timing from Hoop.
Williams uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hoop.
Hoop sizes up Williams with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Hoop scores with a leg kick.
Hoop misses with a looping right.
Nice uppercut lands for Hoop. That snapped Williams's head back.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hoop misses with a body shot.
Williams throws a solid leg kick but Hoop takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Williams.
Hoop stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Williams.
Williams takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Hoop dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Franco Williams's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Williams throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hoop lands with a kick to the temple. Williams shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Williams works Hoop's body with a nice hook.
Hoop looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Williams moves out of range of the strikes.
Hoop connects with a looping right hand.
Hoop takes a swing at Williams's ribcage but misses.
Williams throws a body shot but no joy.
Hoop throws a head kick that Williams semi-blocks.
Williams walks into a jab.
Hoop throws a nice looking combination but Williams bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Williams wants to clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Williams's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Hoop connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Williams scrambles back to his feet.
Hoop is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Williams can do to turn this around?
Hoop misses with an uppercut
and Williams counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Hoop misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Williams needs to keep his hands up - Hoop had a free shot at his head there.
John Hoop is winning the standup battle so far.
Williams attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Williams displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hoop throws out the jab.
Williams lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hoop fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Williams manages to avoid it.
Williams avoids the body shot from Hoop.
Hoop throws a body shot but no joy.
Hoop swings for the body but Williams moves out of range.
Williams has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Williams staying out of range there.
Hoop comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hoop misses with a right hand
and Williams counters with a good low kick that Hoop was not able to check.
Hoop fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Williams manages to avoid it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hoop.
Williams lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hoop at a distance.
Williams fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hoop on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Williams. Williams obviously looking to wear him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Williams needs to keep his hands up - Hoop had a free shot at his head there.
Hoop is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Hoop throws a front kick aimed at Williams's knee but Williams avoids it well.
Hoop blocks a jab.
Hoop misses with a body shot.
Nice defenses there by Williams.
Williams misses with a wild body shot.
Hoop lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hoop misses with a hook to the body
and Williams counters with a head kick.
Hoop tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Williams was well out of range. Poor timing from Hoop.
Hoop connects with the punch.
Hoop misses with a looping right.
Williams takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Hoop scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A head kick by Hoop misses
and Williams makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Hoop checks a leg kick.
Williams throws a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams throws a head kick but Hoop moves out of range.
Hoop swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hoop on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Hoop throws a hook but Williams blocks it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hoop tries a low kick but Williams avoids it.
Hoop with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hoop lands an overhand right.
Williams throws a front kick aimed at Hoop's knee but Hoop avoids it well.
Hoop looks to score with a jab to the body but Williams is just out of range.
Hoop throws a right hand that Williams ducks under and follows up with a left that Williams also avoids with ease.
Williams tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hoop throws a leg kick but Williams sees it coming and moves out of range.
Williams keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hoop throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hoop scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hoop lands a jab to Williams's midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams misses the shot to the body.
Williams throws a head kick but Hoop moves out of range.
Williams is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Hoop rather than just go for the knockout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hoop lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Williams steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hoop.
Hoop misses with a body shot
and Williams makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Williams gets a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Hoop lands a right hand.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hoop.

Williams breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hoop lands with a cross.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Williams throws a leg kick which misses Hoop's front leg but catches the back leg as Hoop tries to avoid it.
Hoop fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Hoop scores with a nice head shot.
Hoop throws a low kick, looking for Williams's leg but Williams calmly moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Hoop dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Franco Williams's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hoop on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Hoop misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Williams counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hoop throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hoop throws out a powerful jab.
Williams takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Williams throws a solid leg kick but Hoop takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Williams.
Williams is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hoop swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Williams scores with a shot to the body.
Williams throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hoop takes a swing at Williams's ribcage but misses.
Williams fails with an attempt to clinch.
A shot to the body from Hoop misses
and Williams counters with a leg kick.
Hoop thumps Williams with a low kick.
Williams uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hoop.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Williams scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Williams misses.
Hoop pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hoop throws a right and a left that Williams avoids nicely.
Williams fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Williams throws a body punch but Hoop moves out of range.
Hoop moves out of range of the strikes.
Williams lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Nice body punch from Hoop.
Williams blocks a jab.
Williams blocks a jab.
Nice shot by Hoop.
Hoop connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hoop throws an overhand right that lands on Williams's shoulder, as Williams tries to avoid the shot.
Hoop thuds a left hand into Williams's body.
Williams slips a jab from Hoop.
Williams keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hoop throws a leg kick
and Williams counters with a low kick, right behind Hoop 's knee.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hoop throws a leg kick
and Williams counters with a good low kick that Hoop was not able to check.
Hoop dodges the punch combination from Williams.
Hoop cracks Williams with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Williams lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hoop ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hoop misses the jab.
Hoop lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Hoop misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Williams.
Williams gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
A nice inside leg kick there by Williams. That's going to slow Hoop down.
Hoop bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Williams's head backwards.
Williams takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoop misses with a right hand
and Williams counters with a leg kick.
Hoop throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Hoop throws a body shot but no joy.
Williams defending well as Hoop loads up on a big left hand.
Hoop smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Hoop lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Williams throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Williams avoids a kick to the body.
Williams has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Hoop looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A good leg kick by Williams.
Hoop tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A big left from Williams misses.
Williams takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Williams ducks under a wild hook from Hoop.
Williams misses with a straight right.
Williams throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoop fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Williams manages to avoid it.
Williams ducks under a wild hook from Hoop.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Williams uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hoop.
Hoop misses with a straight left.
Williams throws a body shot but no joy.
Hoop throws the left hand but Williams avoids the punch easily.
Hoop throws a good cross that connects.
Hoop throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Williams stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Hoop throws a body punch but Williams moves out of range.
Hoop checks a leg kick.
Hoop throws a body shot but no joy.
Hoop throws a leg kick but Williams checks it.
Williams tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hoop was well out of range. Poor timing from Williams.

Williams closes the distance and pushes Hoop back into the ropes.
Williams blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Hoop clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Franco Williams's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hoop fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Williams uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hoop.
Williams avoids the body shot from Hoop.
Hoop takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Williams blocks a head kick by Hoop.
Williams throws a poor cross that misses
and Hoop counters with a stiff right hand.
Williams dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hoop. That did some damage!
Hoop scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A nice leg kick lands there from Williams.
Williams is looking to clinch.
Hoop scores with a shot to the body.
Williams ducks under a wild hook from Hoop.
Williams walks into a straight right hand from Hoop.
A chopping leg kick lands by Williams.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hoop pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Good work by Williams as he checks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoop tries a head kick but it misses.
Hoop looks to score with a jab to the body but Williams is just out of range.
Williams tries to clinch there but Hoop circles away.
Hoop throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Hoop throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Williams fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hoop manages to avoid it.
Hoop throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hoop waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Williams.
Williams works Hoop's body with a nice hook.
Williams fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hoop manages to avoid it.
Hoop throws a big shot that misses.
Hoop lands with a shot to the body.
Williams comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hoop swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Williams throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams defending well as Hoop loads up on a big left hand.
Hoop lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hoop throws a shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Williams lands a nice shot to the body.
Hoop loads up on a big right hand but Williams slips the punch.
Hoop walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Williams checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Hoop fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Williams on the side of the head.
Williams misses with a hook. Hoop ducked under it nicely.
Hoop throws out a powerful jab.
Williams throws a nice head kick!
Williams stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hoop.
Williams avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nice shot lands for Hoop.
Hoop avoids the body shot from Williams.
Hoop takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoop lands a glancing blow to the side of Williams's head.
Hoop throws a hook but Williams avoids it easily.
Hoop bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Williams's head backwards.
Hoop misses with a hook.
Williams tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Hoop manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hoop thuds a left hand into Williams's body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hoop lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Williams has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Williams and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Hoop scores with a shot to the body.
Williams motions for Hoop to come forward. Williams throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Williams displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hoop throws out the jab.
Hoop looks to land a left hand but Williams moved out of range nicely.
Williams fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hoop manages to avoid it.
Hoop fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Williams.
Williams looks to clinch
and Hoop counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Hoop uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Williams.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams moves out of range of the strikes.
Hoop throws the kick towards the body but Williams avoids it.
Williams slips a jab from Hoop.
Hoop throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
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!
Hoop fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Williams manages to avoid it.
Hoop fakes the leg kick and cracks Williams in the body.
Williams with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hoop misses the shot to the body.
Hoop throws a sloppy body shot
and Williams counters with an outside leg kick.
Williams tries to land a leg kick but Hoop saw it coming and moves away.
Hoop throws a nice inside leg kick.
Hoop misses with a straight left.

Williams clinches with his opponent.
Williams looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Hoop had his way with Franco Williams in that round.
The cut man is working on Franco Williams's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Williams blocks a head kick by Hoop.
Hoop fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Williams looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Williams cracks the inside of Hoop's front leg.
Hoop throws a looping overhand right but Williams ducks down to avoid it.
Williams blocks a low kick nicely.
Hoop with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hoop throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hoop dips to his left and cracks Williams with an uppercut!
Hoop throws out a loose jab but Williams uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hoop scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Williams takes a swing at Hoop's ribcage but misses.
Hoop throws an overhand right that lands on Williams's shoulder, as Williams tries to avoid the shot.
Hoop uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Williams.
Hoop tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Williams was well out of range. Poor timing from Hoop.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoop throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A jab from Williams misses.
Hoop fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Williams on the side of the head.
Hoop uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Williams.
Hoop looks to throw the jab but Williams is out of range.
A clash of legs there as Williams blocks the low kick.
Hoop throws a body punch but Williams moves out of range.
Hoop has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Hoop there as he acknowledges the shot.
Williams loads up on a big right hand but Hoop slips the punch.
Hoop misses with an uppercut
letting Williams counter with a right hand.
Williams walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Williams ducks under a wild hook from Hoop.
Hoop throws out a powerful jab.
Hoop blocks a head kick by Williams.
Hoop misses with a straight left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoop throws a sloppy head kick and Williams moves out of range easily.
Hoop scores with a punch to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hoop throws a big shot that misses.
Williams missing with a left hand there. Hoop was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hoop swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Williams counters with a low kick, right behind Hoop 's knee.
Hoop fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Williams manages to avoid it.
Williams ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Williams cracks Hoop with an open hand slap.
Hoop swings for the body but Williams moves out of range.
Williams misses the body punch
and Hoop connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Williams throws the left hand but Hoop avoids the punch easily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Williams, right into the meat.
The fighters circling - Hoop throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hoop misses with a wild body shot.
Nice shot lands for Hoop.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoop tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Williams was well out of range. Poor timing from Hoop.
A jab from Hoop misses.
Williams tries to score with a low kick but Hoop moves his leg out of the way.
Hoop keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hoop fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hoop waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Williams.
Williams scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Hoop comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hoop misses with a jab, cross combination.
Williams bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hoop misses the shot to the body.
Hoop misses with a right hand

and Williams counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Hoop lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Williams breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hoop misses with a straight left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams avoids the body shot from Hoop.
Hoop dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A shot to the body from Hoop misses
and Williams makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hoop with a nice cross.
Hoop swings away with a body shot that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Williams moves into range and connects with a jab.
Williams swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Williams tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice uppercut lands for Hoop. That snapped Williams's head back.
Hoop throws a body punch but Williams moves out of range.
Williams throws a leg kick which misses Hoop's front leg but catches the back leg as Hoop tries to avoid it.
Hoop throws the left hand but Williams avoids the punch easily.
A jab from Hoop misses.
Franco Williams has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Hoop is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hoop swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Hoop showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hoop, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 50:45
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 50:45
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Hoop!
John Hoop retains his middleweight title!
An out of breath John Hoop thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.