Liveblog: Omar Sheika v. Adrian Diaconu
The two light heavyweights are entering the ring and preparing to fight on ESPN3. Should be an entertaining contest, Sheika in particular is known for putting on a good show.
Round 1: Tentative action as neither fighter really makes much of an attempt to connect. Sheika looks a little softer while Diaconu looks both more chiseled and harder all-around. I give him the first for one solid combination that jarred Sheika awake. Diaconu 10 Sheika 9
Round 2: Omar Sheika times a right perfectly and sends Diaconu to one knee. Adrian springs up quickly and unloads several combinations that connect before another shot from Sheika at the end of the round stuns the Romanian again briefly. Big round for Sheika. Diaconu 18 Sheika 19
Round 3: Despite being hurt twice Diaconu looks like the more aggressive of the two fighters. Quiet round but some nice exchanges in the final 20 seconds. I have to believe conditioning will become an issue for Sheika if this fight goes the distance. Diaconu 28 Sheika 28
Roud 4: Action picked up midway through the round, close call because Diaconu was more aggressive but Sheika landed some of the bigger blows. I’m inclined to give it to Sheika because he’s done more damage thus far despite a nasty cut above his right eye. Diaconu 37 Sheika 38
Round 5: The Shark showed more bite this round, moving around aggressively and landing several solid punches while warding off Sheika’s advances. With the score tied and bother fighters looking strong Diaconu seems like a solid bet to take the fight if he can avoid catching another big counter with his chin. Diaconu 47 Sheika 47
Round 6: Diaconu is doing real damage using a stiff jab much to this paper’s approval. He lands easily the two best shots of the fight aside from the right that forced him to the canvas in round two and leads heading into the last four rounds. Diaconu 57 Sheika 56
Round 7: Not much to this round, neither fighter looked to do much damage and Sheika’s technique appears to be breaking down along with the tissue above his right eye. If he doesn’t connect with one of those big hooks he looks to be headed for another loss. Diaconu 67 Sheika 65
Round 8: Sheika looks to be headhunting at this point but he does release his hands more and connects with a few, earning him this round. Close fight coming down to the wire, here’s hoping both have enough in them to make it a classic. Diaconu 76 Sheika 75
Round 9: The Shark finally smelled blood and punished Sheika over the final 40 seconds to win this round going away. As long as he can avoid hitting the canvas in the final round he has this fight sewn up. Diaconu 86 Sheika 84
Round 10: Sheika looked spent and unable to put up the fight needed to pull off the necessary miracle. Color man Sergio Mora called him a gatekeeper, which may be a bit harsh but also probably true. Diaconu rightly earns a feather for his cap but he will need to improve his approach if he hopes to challenge the likes of Tavoris Cloud or Chad Dawson. Diaconu 96 Sheika 93