Round 1: Start of the round both boys are feeling each other out. Hino uses his range firing out long jabs to the head and body while Darnell is sitting back waiting for Hino to come into range so he can unleash one of his bombs. Half way through the round Hino starts to pick up his work rate, firing out fast hands with three and four punches at a time. They are not hurting Darnell but Hino is earning important points on the score cards. As the round comes closer to the end both fighters stand and trade.  Hino lands some big punches with a perfect hook and the end hits Darnell right on the sweet spot putting him on the mat for a brief second. The ref applies an 8 count on Darnell who is not happy about it, but once the glove touches the canvas the referee has no choice. The fight continues and now Hino has the upper hand, he is no longer afraid of Darnell’s power and walks straight up landing some more right hands, trying to make it an early night. End of the round; an easy 10-8 round for Hino.

 

Round 2: Both fighters come out again just feeling one another, both are still pretty fresh and the power is still behind there punches, so it’s important not to make any mistakes. Hino steps in with a perfect jab knocking Darnell on to his backside, the referee calls it a slip saying Hino stepped on Darnell’s foot. Watching the punch again, both fighters didn’t come near each other, so a bad call on the referee’s part. Darnell is now pissed and unloading with some scary punches, his body weight is behind every shot and if they land on Hino I am afraid he might be decapitated. Hino is a smart fighter though, and sees everything coming, making Darnell miss. As a fighter this really takes away your energy fast, not just the fact that you’re using every ounce of energy to unload, but when you can’t hit your target makes you mentally frustrated. I give this round to Hino 10-9.

 

Round 3: Darnell comes out for round three firing; he is no longer waiting for Hino to attack first and for the first time in the fight is dictating the action. Darnell is finally starting to land some of those big bombs he has been looking for the whole fight. Hino takes the shots well and doesn’t look rocked, but if he gets hit in the right spot it could all be over. Hino knows he is losing the round and tries to come back but this round is all Darnell. He is making it an exciting fight. Darnell wins this one 10-9.

 

Round 4: Hino has gone back to what he was doing earlier in the fight, now he is up on his toes firing out long punches and not getting in Darnell’s firing range. Darnell might have spent all his pennies in round three and is back looking for that one punch. Hino lands some nice punches and does enough on my score card to take the round 10-9. Not as exciting as round three, but when it comes to winning the fight, it’s better not to take chances and stick to doing what works.

 

In the Gold team’s corner, Tommy is trying to give Hino advice telling him not to wing it and to listen, Hino disagrees, and Tommy tells Hino he has to throw straight right hands, Hino talks back to Tommy letting him know that Darnell’s hooks aren’t landing. Tommy is frustrated that Hino wont listen to him and gives up saying “ok fine, I haven’t got nothing else to say man”. As a trainer, all you can do is give the best advice to your fighter to help them win the fight without them getting hurt or beat and win the easiest way possible. When your fighter doesn’t want to listen and wants to do it their way then you may as well be watching the fight with the rest of the crowd.  Leave the water bottle on the side of the ring for them to help themselves.

 

 

Round 5:  Darnell knows he is down on points and steps up again like he did in round 3.   This time though, Hino is up on his toes and too fast moving away for Darnell to land. Every punch Darnell throws has bad intensions and just whistles past Hino’s face.  Hino takes advantage of Darnell’s misses and lands nice scoring punches of his own. Smart round from Hino, winning the last round 10-9 and taking the fight 49- 45 on my cards.

 

The Contender judges score the fight 50-44, 50-45, 50-44 all for the Gold Team Hino Ehikhamenor.

 

Hino could have taken the wounded man Ryan, but stepped up and fought the hardest man on the Blue team’s side. Brave move by Hino and much respect for stepping up to the plate. He put it all on the line believing in his own skills, taking on the knock out mater. Hino now is the man to beat.