In December of last year, WBC super-middleweight champion Sakio Bika and challenger Anthony Dirrell fought to a disputed draw.
A sequel was inevitable.
Last Saturday night at the StubHub Center in Carson, CA, Bika and Dirrell met again, but this time it was Dirrell who proved to be the superior fighter by winning a wide unanimous decision victory.
The scores were 114-113, 116-111 and 117-110.
Maxboxing and Doghouseboxing scored the bout 116-111 for Dirrell.
The first few rounds were more about referee Jack Reiss. He warned both boxers about illegal activities.
When not grappling or being pushed, Dirrell worked his jab. Bika was able to land a few looping right hands.
Dirrell switched to southpaw with middling success in round three. His jab and ring cross connected. Bika attacked the body.
In the center of ring, Dirrell, the younger and quicker fighter, did well. When he languished on the ropes, Bika had the edge, but the action was limited to two or three punches.
Bika mounted a rally in round five. He used his jab and kept Dirrell off balance.
Dirrell was back in control in the next heat. A counter right-uppercut stunned Bika at the bell. He did even better in round six. Dirrell was able to land a variety of shots, including a perfect right hand lead.
The twenty-nine-year-old Dirrell, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2006, maintained his advantage in the next few rounds. Unlike their first battle, where Bika took over in the second half of the bout, it was the younger man who began to dominate.
Bika, 35, lost a point for low blows in round eight. He needed to do more, but looked gassed.
The point deduction seemed to depress him.
Bika, likely aware he was behind on points, found his second wind in round 11.
Dirrell landed a sharp uppercut in the last round. He fought like a guy who knew had the fight in the bag. Bika missed with a number of looping right hands.
“I knew I could box this guy,” said Dirrell in the ring after the fight. ”I did the job and got it done. I’m the WBC super-middleweight champion. I‘m happy.”
Check back with maxboxing.com and doghouseboxing.com for more articles on this fight and many more.
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