| 15 October 2011
It's co-feature time on the Hopkins-Dawson card at the Staples Center. Antonio DeMarco and Jorge Linares will battle for the vacant WBC lightweight title in a lefty-righty match-up between two fighter in their mid-20s.
The tale of the tape shows that DeMarco is slightly taller but has no reach advantage. Linares re-hydrated to 145 pounds, while DeMarco is three pounds lighter tonight. DeMarco is 25-2-1 with 18 KOs in his pro career, while Linares is 31-1 with 20 stoppages. Michael Buffer does his thing, getting everyone ready for a scheduled 12 rounds.
Round 1
DeMarco has to reach to land his punches while Linares stays compact. Jorge is wearing pinck gloves for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. One-two by Linares right down the middle. DeMarco tries to regain the range, as he seems much more comfortable from range. Both men land as Linares advances. Straight left and a right hook by Linares. He seems quicker to the punch and very accurate as well.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Linares
Round 2
Emanuel Steward is very taken by Linares' speed, coordination and positioning. Linares is able to counter with the left, while DeMarco is finding some success reaching with both hands. Linares flashes quick left hooks as they circle. Two one-two combos by Linares force DeMarco back. Linares snaps the jab as DeMarco tries some of his own. Right hand by DeMarco, who tries to flurry as well. Left hands by both fighters end a close round.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Linares
Round 3
DeMarco has to stay on his toes to back up when Linares works off his jab. Tony tries to advance but is chased back by a counter to the head. Right-left by DeMarco, answered by a similar one by Linares. Left from DeMarco scores. Quick jabs and occasional right hands are landing for Linares. Sharp left uppercut almost out of nowhere by Jorge. DeMarco connects with a left-right combo, but Linares stays busy. DeMarco tries to psyche himself up and force an exchange.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Linares
Round 4
Harold Lederman also has it 3-0 Linares, pointing out that he has consistently been able to get off first. Linares trades two-for-one with DeMarco until he gets turned away by a left hand. Double jabs by Linares as he keeps bouncing on his toes. Left hand by DeMarco has been his best weapon. He's just slightly off, but Linares is having no such problems with his straight right. The crowd likes his showy flurry with 15 seconds left in the frame.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Linares
Round 5
DeMarco advances but still has to be wary. Linares fires the left-right combo again. He looks equally dangerous taking the lead or countering. DeMarco tries reaching for the body, but Linares stays compact so he can counter and move away. Sharp right hand right on the button for Jorge. They scramble along the ropes with DeMarco using a hook to set up a solid uppercut. Left hand on the inside by Linares, who takes the round despite more moments for DeMarco.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Linares
Round 6
Linares takes a solid right hand from DeMarco. He slips some punches and pivots around. Tony uses double hooks to the body and head, and Linares responds in the middle of the ring. Right-left from DeMarco, then another one. He's enjoying his most continued success, and the crowd reacts as Linares stands and trades. Linares is bleeding, perhaps from the nose. Two to the body by Linares; DeMarco smokes an uppercut in return. Left by DeMarco while Linares tries to answer.
Tylwalk: 10-9 DeMarco
Round 7
Cautious first 30 seconds as Linares definitely had his eyes opened last round. DeMarco tries the uppercut again while Linares is trying to flurry. Right hook by DeMarco and he swings away with both hands. Linares is trying to heed Freddie Roach's advice and resume his jabbing. One-two by Linares upstairs. Uppercuts again from DeMarco and a nice exchange with both men doing work. Hooks land both ways, including one to the body be Tony.
Tylwalk: 10-9 DeMarco
Round 8
The cut on the bridge of Linares' nose needed a lot of attention between rounds. Both men land single shots while circling in the middle of the ring. DeMarco is stalking, and Freddie Roach wants more advancing from his own man. DeMarco scores with hooks while covering up as Linares flurries. Two-punch combos resume from Linares. Flashy shoe shining sequence by Linares, not sure if it really did much damage. Double lefts from Linares while still on the move. Big left from DeMarco as he tries to batter his way back. Linare is bleeding from another place too, but he smashes home a solid right hand at the bell.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Linares
Round 9
Thirty seconds in and both men are swinging away. Left hand snaps Linares' head around. Tony loves that uppercut, forcing Linares to hook and move to aboid more punishment. Linares lands a big combo and DeMarco bangs his gloves off his hips to show he's not hurt. Double left hook by Linares, followed by two jabs. Linares fires off about seven punches but DeMarco comes right back through them. Fun round.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Linares
Round 10
DeMarco's trunks are stained from Linares' blood. Jorge jabs and moves away while DeMarco tries to pressure him. Linares has the quicker hands, but DeMarco is able to time him better now than he was before. Linares pops the quick lefts and mixes in a right hand when he can. Still walking forward, DeMarco attempts to line up something big.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Linares
Round 11
DeMarco's corner told him he needs a KO to win. CompuBox agrees, racking up more connects for Linares in every round of the fight. DeMarco is stepping up the pace, but Linares stays moving. A left hand changes that for a moment, possibly stunning Linares. Jorge has to cover up as he is getting clocked. Linares fires his own shots back, showing incredible guts. Big right hand by DeMarco but Linares stands his ground. Great two-way action with Linares gutting it out despite his face becoming a bloody mess. Two huge right hands by DeMarco and the ref stops it! Unbelievable ending!
The winner by TKO at 2:32 of Round 11... and new WBC lightweight titleholder... Antonio DeMarco.
