Jack Culcay ekes by Abass Baraou
In what turned out to be a barn-burner of a fight, German former junior middleweight world title challenger Jack Culcay (29-4, 13 KOs) eked out a split decision win over talented upstart Abass Baraou. The scorecards read 115-114, 116-113, and 113-115 at the Havelstudios in Berlin, Germany.
Baraou set the tone early on fighting on the front foot. He came forward with the intent of using his size and strength to gain an early advantage. Culcay tried to use his experience and guile in an attempt to outbox his foe.
What makes Baraou intriguing is his combination punching to go along with his excellent head and upper body movement. This appeared to make the difference in the middle rounds. The eighth was a particularly effective round for him. He found a home with a series of 1-2’s and the jab to the pit of Culcay’s gut.
This wasn’t due to case of Culcay getting overwhelmed, as he had his moments. The 34-year-old was just having some difficulty keeping up with the pace of the hungry 26-year-old. In the tenth, Culcay began to bite down. At this point, the action heated up as both men landed with heavy shots to the head and body in the center of the ring.
The final two rounds were engaged with equal vigor, as neither fighter gave an inch. While Culcay had his hand raised in victory, in the opinion of this reporter, Baraou did enough to earn the decision. It would be nice if Sauerland, who were the promoters of record for the entire card, can arrange a rematch between these two warriors.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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