Karim Mayfield vs Steve Forbes

Welcome to our weekly coverage of Friday Night Fights on ESPN 2. First up is 30-year-old Karim Mayfield (13-0-1, 8 KOs) against former junior lightweight beltholder Steve Forbes (35-9, 11 KOs), wearing the yellow of Detroit’s legendary Kronk Gym.

The first round is setting the stage for an ugly fight. Both fighters are diving in headfirst and a serious clash of heads seems inevitable. Forbes was cut badly in his last appearance on ESPN from a headbutt and he doesn’t seem to have made the adjustment. Lots of grabbing and holding from both men, but Mayfield is trying to throw more punshes.

Boxing is one of the only English language TV shows I’ve seen that draws Spanish-language commercials. That’s either because the Spanish folks prize the boxing audience so much, or it’s so hard to find sponsors for boxing that ESPN just said fuck it.

Joe Tessitore is talking about how Mayfield has served as a sparring partner for the likes of Pacquiao and other world-class fighters. He still shows a little bit of that gym mentality because he’s too available to be hit. Every time these two come in close they tie up. Not a recipe for much action. Forbes looks a little beefy. He may get tired soon.

So in addition to Spanish beer ads we have Just for Men and erectile dysfunction medications. That pretty much tells you who they think is watching this show every week.

Mayfield is taking the action to Forbes to start the third. He’s able to land but he grabs too much, as Teddy Atlas just astutely pointed out. Forbes is slower to the punch and getting hit with some good shots. He keeps getting pushed back into the ropes and appears to be bleeding from his right eye. Mayfield catches Forbes with a right to the temple that wobbles him just before the bell.

Every time Forbes comes in to attack Mayfield starts grabbing. A habit he must have picked up to stay alive against big punchers like Pacman, but it makes him pretty unappealing as a pro prospect. Add the fact he’s not young and it may be difficult for him to get the fights he needs to advance his career. His hometown San Francisco is not exactly a great fight town these days either.

Forbes looks badly faded and seems uncomfortable at this weight, despite the fact he came in above the contracted 147 lbs. We’re in the fifth round at this point and Forbes looks to have lost them all though a couple of the early rounds were close. He has yet to land anything meaningful on Mayfield.

Tessitore just noted that Forbes is only four years older that Mayfield but their careers are at the opposite ends of their respective trajectories. Forbes is trying to fight on the inside more but his punches don’t have any snap. Still, he’s landing more right hands in the sixth and may have earned the round. Definitely his best so far.

In a fight that hasn’t featured much action there’s been barely any at all in the 7th round. Forbes looks a bit sharper but he’s behind on the cards and barely throwing, which makes you wonder whether he’s got a plan to secure the win. Mayfield looks to have this fight comfortably in hand barring some late heroics from Forbes.

Mayfield using his jab more to start the 8th and Forbes is trying to respond but having trouble closing the gap without getting caught in the clench. The younger man does his best work when bullies Forbes into the ropes and lands those wide right hands. Forbes may not have the legs or quickness he used to but the fighter from Motown is game and keeps coming forward. He’s getting caught by heavy shots from both hands and he looks hurt but manages to last until the bell.

Forbes has never been knocked out so a stoppage would be feather in the cap of Mayfield, who is doubtless hoping to impress enough to land another televised bout. We’re in the 9th and it’s officially the longest fight of Karim’s career but he looks to be in great shape. Mayfield looks comfortable and should cruise to a win.

Forbes weighed in at 148.5 lbs. for this welterweight fight and was forced to give up some cash to allow the bout to continue. So it’s hard to see him having enough left to pull the late miracle.

Mayfield catches Forbes with a one-two straight right that hurts Forbes. He pounces and drives Forbes back into the ropes, landing big rights both wide and overhand. Mayfield refuses to let up and Forbes can’t respond. The ref steps in with 1:58 left in the round and puts an end to it. Forbes loses by TKO for the first time in his career.

Forbes looks confused as to why the fight was stopped. It’s his first knockout loss in 45 career fights, but he doesn’t look that bad. Definitely a statement from Mayfield, who had failed to impress up to this point. His wack victory dance didn’t help.

But Mayfield was fit enough to seize a late opening and score the TKO and we can’t hate on that. This should get him a shot to move up the welterweight ladder, which is really all he can ask for.