Tonight at the StubHub Center, Carson, Timothy Bradley won a Unanimous Decision over Jessie Vargas. BoxingBase.com had it 116-112, and the officials 116-112, 117-111, and 115-112. Despite Bradley’s dominating performance which seemed to befuddle Vargas at times, the bout ended somewhat controversially. Most bouts that consist of 11 rounds, 2 minutes and 50 seconds have that effect…
In the 12th round, Vargas caught Bradley with a peach of a right-hand that staggered him across the ring. But then, with 10 seconds remaining till the bell, the referee stopped the action. It was unclear why at the time. Pandemonium was in the ring, and the audience, and even officials, didn’t seem to know what was going on.
It turns out the referee thought he heard the bell ring, supposedly mistaking the clapper for a ‘chimer’. So now comes the question that will divide Bradley, Vargas and neutral fans: would Vargas (26-1, 9 KO) have been able to finish off Bradley in those final 10 seconds? To have done that, he would of course have had to force the referee to step in. Mind if we point out the blindingly obvious, much…?
Whatever your opinion, this was a fantastic fight, and both Bradley (32-1-1, 12 KO) and Vargas deserve a big hand for delivering a truly memorable affair. You can hear how the action played out below, and also the undercard here.
Bradley vs Vargas Round by Round
Join us as we bring you live round by round updates of Bradley vs Vargas as their Welterweight clash unfolds.
Round 1: Bradley looking very energetic in opener. Both men demonstrating fast jabs. Bradley very busy, but composed. Vargas answering with counter-hooks. Bradley looking to take the fight straight to his opponent here. Bradley jab. Close round, but Bradley edges. Bradley, 10-9
Round 2: Vargas lands registering shot to Bradley’s body following heated exchange. Bradley gets off two good jabs. This is going to be a tasty fight, indeed. Both men loading up in close-quarter exchange. Stiff jab from Bradley. Asserting himself. Upstairs, downstairs attack from Bradley. Bossing the round. Bradley, 10-9 (20-18)
Round 3: Both men throwing a lot of leather, but Bradley coming off better. One-two from Vargas. Bradley is some kind of outside-inside hybrid! Vargas lands counter right-hand that makes Bradley hang on! Bradley comes back and launches right-hand over the top! Vargas not deterred in the slightest. Vargas, 10-9 (29-28)
Round 4: Bradley goes straight to work, catches Vargas hard. These rounds are going to be hard for the judges to score, one feels. Bradley has come off balance a few times in this fight from missing with wild shots. Inside work from Bradley. Bradley right-hand over the top! And another! And yet another right on the bell! Bradley, 10-9 (39-37)
Round 5: Both men trading, Bradley throwing tasty downstairs, upstairs combination. Vargas has a bloody nose now it looks like? Outside work from Bradley now, but finds the right-hand once more. Left-hook from Bradley, and Vargas trying to figure out the unorthodox style of Bradley. Vargas catches Bradley during heated exchange. Bradley, 10-9 (49-46)
Round 6: Bradley finds right-hand over top. His money-maker in this fight. Vargas’s face starting to swell a little. Battle of the jabs. Pace slowing marginally. Vargas clips Bradley leaving a clinch. Bradley extremely aggressive, prepared to take a few shots to chop away at Vargas on ropes. Bradley, 10-9 (59-55)
Round 7: Bradley still coming forward, lands three right-hands. Bradley jab. Vargas may be coming unstuck here against a very busy foe. Bradley right-hand again. Impressive stuff. Constant pressure from Bradley. Left-hook from Bradley. Close-quarter exchange. Bradley, 10-9 (69-64)
Round 8: Bradley still looking to make a statement here. Now Vargas comes forward, Bradley covers up. Bradley right-hand connects. Right-hand from Bradley grazes. Vargas having a better round. Picking shots well. Such a close round to score. Vargas by a whisker. Vargas, 10-9 (78-74)
Round 9: Bradley picking some good shots, slowing ever-so-slightly now. Uppercut. Right-hand. Vargas grins, but looking puffy around the eyes. Vargas seems to be running out of answers. Bradley is energetic and awkward. Bradley counters to the body. Vargas on the jab. One-two. Bradley, 10-9 (88-83)
Round 10: Vargas needs a knockout. Or three big, big rounds to stand a chance of winning this thing. Both men trading, but Bradley again connecting with the cleaner blows. This pace is all wrong for Vargas. Right-hook from Bradley. Another Bradley round. Bradley, 10-9 (98-92)
Round 11: Vargas clips Bradley with right-hand counter coming in. Action slowing now – in all fairness, who can blame them given the pace of this bout? Vargas lands right-hand in closing seconds. Vargas, 10-9 (107-102)
Round 12: Bradley boxing from the outside, playing it safe, and quite likely tiring now. Vargas coming forward, but can’t find a mobile Bradley. Bradley content to ride out the remaining final 30 seconds. Vargas rocks Bradley with huge right-hand! Referee stops the fight? What is going on? Referee thinks he heard the bell? Is this a stoppage or has it gone to the cards? What the… OK, it’s official: the fight will go to the cards.
Result: 116-112, 117-111, 115-112
BoxingBase.com Scorecard: 116-112
What a fan-friendly fight, it has to be said. Fight fans, unload your thoughts on the Top Rank headliner in the comments…
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