Anthony Dirrell vs. Badou Jack Results: Premier Boxing Champions on Spike Play-by-Play

Roberto Garcia vs. James Stevenson

Round 1

They meet in the center of the ring and Stevenson quickly pushes out his left jab to the body and head. Garcia is more compact and is coming forward, but as of yet isn’t landing anything. Short, perfect uppercut drops Garcia less than a minute in. He looks hurt but tells referee Geno Rodriguez that he’s fine. He’s up at five and is allowed to continue. His head looks clear and continues to press forward. Stevenson backs away, going back to the jab. Garcia plugs away, charging with his head down and digging to the body. A loopy right hand misses from Garcia, allowing Stevenson to easily counter him. Stevenson pops his foe with the jab and counters with the right.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-8 Stevenson
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-8 Stevenson
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-8 Stevenson

Round 2

Garcia rushes out of his corner and goes right after Stevenson. The Baltimore fighter easily jabs to safety and then nails him with a short right hand. Stevenson continues to keep a good distance for his punches, picking Garcia apart. However, Roberto continues to dig nasty shots to the body. Garcia is warned for a low blow at the midway point. Garcia has gotten into a decent rhythm late in the round and the pressure seems to be pestering Stevenson. Three-punch combo from Stevenson late makes Garcia stops for a second. Crushing body shot from the lankier Stevenson late makes Garcia cringe and then smile.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Stevenson
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Stevenson

Round 3

Stevenson is forced to back up immediately as Garcia is in his face as soon as the round starts. Double left hook by Stevenson is clean, but not hard. Garcia walks right through them both and digs the body. Garcia is forcing his foe into more of a brawl now, but Stevenson is still able to get his shots off. Stevenson is warned for shoving Garcia at the midway point. Stevenson has composed himself and stuffs a few solid jabs to the stomach. Garcia is undeterred and plugs away, trying to get inside and wreck shop. Garcia lands a few hard lefts to the ribs but misses a massive right hand to the jaw. Stevenson nails him with a right to the stomach and then a sharp left hook to the side of the head. Close round.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Stevenson
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Stevenson
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Stevenson

Round 4

Stevenson comes out strong with a series of jabs to the head and body. Stevenson is up on his toes now, bouncing and popping his rival with an assortment of punches. Garcia is unfazed, continuing to plaster his body. They trade rights and lefts, and then pound on each other’s bodies midway. Garcia buries his forehead in Stevenson’s chest, pounding away at the body. Hard right to the gut from Stevenson, forcing the Texas fighter to take a deep breath. Garcia lands two hard overhand rights late in the round, likely stealing the frame. Stevenson backs away for the last ten seconds, not throwing anything.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-10
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Garcia

Round 5

James moves well early, flicking out his jab and keeping Garcia at bay. Garcia crushes Stevenson’s ribs with a nasty left hook, but James takes it well. Stevenson is now on his bike while Garcia jogs after him. Garcia traps him along the ropes and lands a few more body shots before the Baltimore fighter escapes. Stevenson taps his foe with a few lefts and rights, but Garcia is throwing much harder punches to the body. Stevenson misses a wild overhand left but follows it up with a right cross. Garcia cracks him with a slick three-punch combo through the guard with a minute left. Stevenson is starting to fatigue late in the round while Garcia pours on the pressure, crushing his ribs. Stevenson ends the round with a nice two-punch combo at the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Mike Fridley scores the round:10-9 Garcia

Round 6

Garcia opens the round aggressively, per the norm. Stevenson again is forced to back up, trying to jab his way back into a rhythm. Nice right hand by James 45 seconds in, but Garcia walks right through it and goes back to the body. Stevenson is shying away from a brawl and jogs away from his pursuer. Garcia is applying a ton of pressure midway, digging nasty lefts to the body. Stevenson pops him with a few decent jabs. Stevenson is on wobbly legs with less than a minute left; he looks to be gassing out. He’s on his bike big time now, with Garcia chasing after him. Loopy overhand right lands well for Garcia late; he is in total control of the action.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Garcia

Round 7

Garcia storms right out to the center of the ring and picks up where he left off; going to the body. Nice right/left uppercut by Stevenson over a right to the body. Stevenson seems to have gotten a second wind as he is throwing – and landing – some quality punches upstairs. Garcia continues to plug away at the body. Loopy left hook lands behind Stevenson’s ear, forcing him to escape to his left. Garcia is all over him, forcing him into the ropes. Garcia backs his foe into the blue corner and wails away at the body. Stevenson looks gassed again late, but he’s tossing his jab out there for good measure. Nice left/right by Stevenson, followed by a right/left. Garcia nails him with a left hook at the bell and it shakes his foe. Very close round.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round : 10-9 Stevenson
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Garcia
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Garcia

Round 8

The fight likely depends on who wins this stanza. It’s up in the air; a knockdown will be critical. Both corners are yelling at their fighters to win this round. They meet in the center of the ring and plug away. Garcia lands some hard body shots and Stevenson’s knees buckle. He’s not hurt, but his exhaustion is taking its toll. Garcia is all over him while James jogs away to safety. Stevenson can’t get his punches off but Garcia, worn out in his own right, slams shots to the body again and again. Stevenson slaps with a few rights and lefts, but they don’t land. Garcia’s punches are faster and heavier, but he can’t catch his man cleanly. Garcia closes out the round chasing after him and lands a decent right to the face at the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Garcia (76-75 Stevenson)
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Garcia (77-75 Garcia)
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Garcia (76-75 Garcia)

The Official Result

Roberto Garcia def. James Stevenson via Unanimous Decision (77-74, 78-73, 78-73) 3:00, R8

Daniel Jacobs vs. Caleb Truax

Round 1

Jacobs stands in the center of the ring, taking his time with the jab. Truax is looking for an opening to get inside, but Jacobs keeps a safe distance. They trade jabs as they circle each other, looking to heat up. Midway through the round, Jacobs nails him with a hard jab, snapping his head back. Truax slowly presses forward as Jacobs backs away. Very little action for the first 2 ½ minutes, but Jacobs is landing some decent jabs. Jacobs lands a glancing right hand just before the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs

Round 2

Truax comes out, stalking Jacobs, who backs off with the jab. Truax still can’t get his punches off and he can’t get on the inside. Jacobs finally starts to open up a little, but nothing hard is landing. His jab is working well, though, and it’s preventing Truax from setting his feet to punch. Jacobs pops him with the jab a few times, making Truax miss with three punches midway through the frame. “Golden” misses with a powerful right hand; Jacobs counters him with a short right of his own. Jacobs’ jabs are starting to increase with power and number late in the round.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs

Round 3

Truax is in a more defensive shell early, blocking Jacobs’ shots. Jacobs jabs to the head and body, but misses a hard right over the top. Jacobs digs a nice left hook to the body, but misses with a follow-up right to the dome. Truax paws with a few rangy jabs but they fall way short of their target. Jacobs still can’t figure out Truax’s odd timing and isn’t letting his hands go as much as usual. Truax sticks him with a sharp jab with a minute left. They trade meager punches at the bell. Close round.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs

Round 4

Truax opens a little more aggressively, pinning the champ into the corner and pounding away at the body. Jacobs escape out to his right and regroups with the jab. Jacobs just misses with a powerful right uppercut as Truax comes in with his head too low. Jacobs pops him with the jab nicely, but he can’t follow it up with a right hand. Jacobs misses a double left hook but nails him with a nifty right hand with just over a minute remaining. Hard right cross from the champ late and it makes Truax backs up. Truax is a little gun shy late in the round, possibly shaken by that right hand.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs

Round 5

Jacobs snaps his foe’s head back with a jab as soon as they engage. Truax goes with a series of jabs but he’s tentative with them. Jacobs cracks him with a right hand over the left but it’s not flush. Jacobs lands a nice lead right but misses with a counter left hook. Two jabs by Jacobs, followed by a left/right, the latter of which is clean. Jacobs switches to the southpaw stance and leads with a series of right jabs. Truax uncorks a straight right, his best punch of the fight thus far. Jacobs quickly returns to conventional and opens up late with a flurry.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs

Round 6

Truax just misses with a right/left hook combo. Truax is much more assertive early with the jab, stalking the champ backward. Jacobs continues to reel off jab after jab in the meantime. Jacobs goes with a left to the head and body, but Truax backs away with them both, nullifying the power. Jacobs presses his challenger into the ropes and goes to the head and body. They separate and Jacobs goes back to the jab. Truax ceases his aggression but he is backing away now. Jacobs presses forward, throwing head shots from both sides. Hard overhand right hurts Truax late and he backs away. Jacobs goes after him and lands another. Truax is on shaky legs but he’s saved by the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs

Round 7

Jacobs backs off the pressure at the start of the frame and then goes back to southpaw for a few seconds. Back to the jab does the champion, thwarting Truax’s offense. Hard right hand by Jacobs along the ropes, which forces the challenger to clinch. Nice right hand by Truax after the separate, but Jacobs absorbs it. The brief action subsides as Jacobs resets the two with the jab and space. They trade hard shots late, but Jacobs gets the better of the two.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs

Round 8

Truax press forward early, but he can’t get his shots off due to Jacobs’ movement and jabs. The “Miracle Man” just misses with a powerful left/right combo to the skull. Truax lands a decent right hand as Jacobs backs away, but it does little damage. The champ goes back to the southpaw stance and pops him with a few lefts and rights. Truax is bleeding from the nose but lands a decent right hand after he’s tagged by a left. Jacobs remains in total control with the jab and movement.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs

Round 9

Truax with some right hands but Jacobs plays it safe and moves to his right. Caleb is more aggressive, coming right after the champ and throwing shots to the head and body. Jacobs moves perfectly away from the danger and, per the norm, pops him with the jab. Very little action late in the round but surprisingly the crowd isn’t showering them with boos. Jacobs opens up somewhat late and lands a few moderate right hands.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs

Round 10

They both paw with scattered jabs early, virtually unwilling to engage. Truax tries to get inside but Jacobs refuses to allow it. Jacobs isn’t as active with his jab but he’s moving just as much as he has been. Truax pins the champ along the ropes but walks into a left hook and then a shot to the body. He looks hurt but answers with a double right to the head. Jacobs backs up and they exchange briefly before Jacobs exits through the side door. The champ regroups and returns to the reliable jab. They trade left hooks but they both absorb them well.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs

Round 11

Truax comes right after the champ early but he can’t get his punches off. Jacobs clinches when Truax gets close and then pops him with the jab on the exit. Truax press him against the ropes and opens up, landing a nice right hand. Jacobs answers with a right before shuffling to his right. “Miracle Man” lands a decent left hook late but he eats a right in return. Right uppercut/right cross by Jacobs right before the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Jacobs

Round 12

Without question, the Minnesota fighter needs a knockout to win the battle. He has likely lost every single round and needs a miracle. Truax doesn’t storm out of his corner with any desperation, though, and eats a few jabs from the champ. Jacobs misses with a sweeping left hook and eats a right hand in return. Still, Truax is not gunning for the dramatic knockout and instead continues to follow Jacobs around, taking jabs to the puss from time to time. At the midway point, the fight is paused so Jacobs can get a new mouthpiece, though it definitely wasn’t from a punch. Once the fight resumes, Jacobs nails him with a huge right cross and Truax stumbles into the ropes. He’s ruled down when the ropes keep him up and is issued a standing eight count. He’s hurt badly but is allowed to continue. Jacobs is all over him, throwing bombs from every angle. A hard left and an even better right hand almost put Truax away, but he’s battered and stuck in the ropes again. Once another lethal right hand crashes home, referee David Smith stops it.

The Official Result

Daniel Jacobs def. Caleb Truax via TKO 2:12, R12 to retain his WBA middleweight title.

Anthony Dirrell vs. Badou Jack

Round 1

The two nemeses paw with their respective jabs to start the fight. The anticipated fireworks from their animosity and near-brawl at the weigh-in instantly flies right out the window as they posture and measure for the first 90 seconds. Jack throws a left hand but it’s blocked. Jack keeps a distance and jabs to the body. Dirrell comes over the top with the right and it’s clean, but Jack takes it well. They clinch and opt to brawl on the inside. Dirrell misses with a huge left hook and then clips his challenger with a right. Dirrell then goes to the body with a crushing hook. Jack counters with a right up top near the bell. The action is starting to pick up late.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Dirrell
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Dirrell
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Dirrell

Round 2

Loopy right hand by Dirrell to open the round and it seems to have gotten jack’s attention. He backs away as the champ charges after him, but he misses with a lethal left/right combo. Nice overhand right by Jack rocks Dirrell a minute in. He stumbles into the ropes but jack can’t follow it up with anything else before Dirrell quickly recovers. Dirrell clinches when he can and then separates with the jab. Dirrell misses with a right hand and then he is tossed to the canvas during a clinch. He is warned, obviously. Dirrell lands a nifty left uppercut on the inside late..

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Jack
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Jack
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Jack

Round 3

Jack comes out with the jab to the head and body. Dirrell isn’t as aggressive as he was; instead he is opting with the jab. Jack’s jab is better and more accurate, though, and the fight is slowly starting to turn in his favor. Dirrell bounces back with a left to the body and then a right to the head, though the more powerful head shot is blocked. Jack glances him with a left hook and then digs a right to the gut. Jack is slowly staking the champion backward across the ring and then pops him with a right. Dirrell jabs to the body at the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Jack
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-10
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Jack

Round 4

Jack “The Ripper” laces him with a nice left jab to start the frame. Dirrell clinches him twice, not willing to engage just yet. Dirrell switches to southpaw and nails his challenger with a moderate left hand. Jack jabs to the head and body. One thing to note is that Dirrell tends to drop both of his gloves simultaneously whenever Jack jabs to the body; Jack hasn’t tried following it up with a shot upstairs yet. Jack is pressing forward again and again; the champ appears to be reluctant to let his hands go with a minute left. Dirrell throws a hard right hand and his punches -- when he throws them -- are vicious, though they are single shots. They go forehead-to-forehead late, but neither lands anything worthwhile.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Jack
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Dirrell
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Dirrell

Round 5

Jack comes out with the jab again, but Dirrell is a bit more active early on. Dirrell lands a jab but misses the follow-up right. Very little action midway through the stanza, but jack is pressing the issue with the jab. Dirrell paws with his jab and continuously telegraphs his right hand. Dirrell misses with a right uppercut but is able to connect with a nice left hook late. They trade decent shots in the center of the ring at the bell; Dirrell got the better of the two.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Dirrell
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Dirrell
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Dirrell

Round 6

Dirrell starts the round with a series of stinging left jabs. Jack tries to fire with a pair of rights, but they miss. The Flint fighter pounds a right to the body but misses with a left to the head. Jack comes back with a right and then they clinch. Jack is all over him along the ropes, but Dirrell ties him up. Jack continues to clinch, trying to force an inside brawl. Double left jabs from Dirrell but he misses with the right. Jack comes inside but he walks into a somewhat solid right uppercut. The champ pops him with a nice right at the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Dirrell
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Jack
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Dirrell

Round 7

The Vegas fighter pops the champ with the jab a few times early. Dirrell comes back with a wild right that misses badly. Jack tags him again with the jab but can’t follow it up. Jack begins to increase his punch volume, jabbing to the head and body. Dirrell tries to counter Jack’s attacks, but can’t. Badou is much more aggressive but he can’t quite land anything hard. Dirrell backs away with a decent jab. Jack plunges forth and tries to force a brawl but Dirrell just clinches. There is some swelling under Dirrell’s right eye late.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Jack
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-10
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Jack

Round 8

Dirrell starts the round off with some jabs and a powerful right hand, though it’s blocked. Dirrell backs away from a punch, but he trips over Jack’s foot and falls onto his back. It’s correctly ruled a slip. Jack offers to help him up in a kind gesture. They continue and jack gets inside, landing some moderate shots to the body and head. Jack cracks him with a left and then a right to the head, his best punches in several rounds. Dirrell backs away with the jab, but Jack follows after him. Dirrell pops him with two good shots with a minute left, but Jack walks through them and presses the champ into a corner. Dirrell nails him with a sizzling right hand, but Jack is unfazed. Pretty good action at the close of the round.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Dirrell
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Jack
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Jack

Round 9

Dirrell digs a right to the stomach but has to take one to the face in return. Jack lands a shot to the body and then head, but Dirrell answers with a right. “The Dog” backs away and goes back to the jab while Badou stalks him. Hard right/left to the body from Jack. Jack misses badly with a murderous overhand right, but Dirrell is suffocated and can’t counter it. They exchange blows in the center of the ring with a minute left. The action picks up late with both men tearing into each other with lefts and right to the head. Jack with an uppercut and then a right. Dirrell’s eyes are both swelling now and Jack digs hooks to the body at the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Jack
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Jack
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Jack

Round 10

Jack storms after his foe immediately and shoves his jab down Dirrell’s throat a few times. The champ is backing away now, and is pressed into the ropes. Hard right hand to the mouth by Jack but Dirrell takes it. After almost a minute, Dirrell is off the ropes and jabs, but Jack is picking up the pace. Badou nails him with a right hand and Dirrell seems a bit rocked by it. The champ has his back to the ropes and Jack pounds away. Dirrell obliges and fires back, landing some decent retaliatory shots late.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Jack
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Jack
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Jack

Round 11

Jack, still the aggressor, chases Dirrell around the ring. Dirrell is more active this round, touching Jack up a little while moving backwards. Jack throws lefts and rights to the midsection, but Dirrell is doing his best work in several rounds. Jack digs to the body with 10 seconds left in the frame, and Dirrell answers with a flurry that found their mark in glancing fashion.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Dirrell
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Dirrell
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Dirrell

Round 12

With jack winning on all three unofficial Sherdog socrecards entering the final stanza, Jack needs a big round to stake his claim for victory. Both fighters seem to lack urgency despite the circumstances. They mainly jab and paw at each other until the midway point of the round when the referee separates and asks for action. Dirrell is warned for holding with 30 seconds remaining. Jack lands two clean and sharp right hands with 20 seconds remaining. That may have sealed the fight for Jack. Both fighters raise their arms at the bell.

Sherdog Scores

Mike Sloan scores the round: 10-9 Jack [115-113 Jack]
Gary Randall scores the round: 10-9 Jack [115-113 Jack]
Mike Fridley scores the round: 10-9 Jack [115-113 Jack]

The Official Result

Badou Jack def. Anthony Dirrell Decision (Majority) [114-114, 116-112, 115-113] R12