After the debacle in Las Vegas, Jowls's next bout was in the industrial town of Amiens in northern France. Al Botha, a Norwegian now boxing in France was his opponent. Botha had a good, impressive record with 37 wins and only 2 losses from 40 fights. However, he was a relative lightweight at just over 86 kilos. Botha did have good boxing ability and he'd be a difficult opponent for Jowls.
Round 1. A lot of nervous sparring and clinching, but Jowls did land a wonderful right cross when he'd broken away from Botha's spoiling. The Frenchman retaliated at the end of the round with a left swing that found it's way past JJ's guard, but the round was already Jowls's.
Round 2. Jowls connected with another left cross right at the beginning of the 2nd round but after that it was all Botha. Although he never really hurt jowls, Botha's workrate with his left probably won him this round.
Round 3. Again Jowls landed the first decent punch but then Botha threw a good left hook into the body and then a right uppercut also inside. Most of JJ's attacks were off the mark although he did land a straight left late on. Botha's round.
Round 4. Jowls was forcing the pace and got in a right cross but Botha connected with a left cross of his own. After that it was all Jowls going forward but Botha always managed to defend evade him. Fairly even round.
Round 5. Botha's turn to go onto the attack. Jowls threw a right hook but Botha withstood that and got in a right swing to Jowls's head. the Frenchman worked on the inside with a right hook and as jowls recoiled he followed with a left cross right on the chin. Jowls tried to turn things around but Botha countered with a left jab to JJ's body, and then a right swing followed straight on. This was becoming a big round for Botha but somehow Jowls did some crafty work inside, first getting through with a jab, then a right hook and a quick right and left combo into the chest of Botha. Botha countered near the end with a right and left of his own right in Jowls's face. Round to Botha. With three to go I had Botha a couple of rounds ahead. jowls had it all still to do.
Round 6. Another round to Botha. The first minute was all Jowls though but in the middle stages Botha went onto the attack first with a left hook, then a left cross and then another, both to JJ's head. A right jab also got through JJ's defences but then Jowls picked up his defence and kept out of trouble for the remainder of the round.
Round 7. All the hard work of Botha had taken its toll on jowls. The big Geordie did connect a couple of beautiful right swings up top, but Botha then wore him down still further and probably just shaded the round.
Round 8. Jowls now needed a knockout but he was a spent force. After a couple of minutes of trading punches Botha put him down with a right hook right on the money. jowls took an 8 count and then took more punishment as botha picked him off easily. Resounding last round by the Norwegian.
Decision time and the ref gave it 97-73 Botha. Judge 1 also 79-73 Botha. Judge 2 87-74 Botha. A comprehensive victory for the Norwegian. Jowls would have to go home and lick his wounds once again.
No comments:
Post a Comment