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Alex Hilton Vs Adam Green
In the co-feature to Alcine and Oulette ( Dec 17 / 05 ), Montreal’s own Alex Hilton (37-10) took on another local boy in Adam Green. Going into this fight Green was ranked #4 by the CBF and this up and coming welter / middleweight prospect sported a pro record of 8-1 with 3 KO’s. Of course none of his opponents thus far have had the credentials or reputation of Alex Hilton and as a result this fight presented an excellent opportunity for Green to showcase his talents before a large crowd and increase his fan base. The Fight Round One – Both men started cautiously and consequently the first round wasn’t particularly memorable as Green controlled much of the tempo with a quick pumping jab while Hilton sat back and took a good look at his younger opponent. The best punch of the opening stanza was a Hilton counter left hook over Green’s extended right. Hilton timed it perfectly simply leaning to his right and dragging the punch across in a sweeping fashion – the punch seemed to momentarily stun Green but did no serious damage. Round Two – Both men had their chances in this frame and although they began to throw some heavy leather, once again, no real damage was done. Round Three – The youngster Green slowly started to take control of the action coming in strong behind that same fast, pumping jab that served him so well in rounds 1 and 2, but now following it up with power shots. A little shorter than his opponent, Green spent much of the time dipping and slipping Hilton’s punches and throwing counter shots to the body and head. He (Green) worked his way in quite effectively and once inside was often hard to hit due to his upper body and head movement. Particularly impressive was the variety of head movement he presented for not only did he bob and weave in a traditional fashion ( Tyson, Fraser ) but at times he also bobbed without weaving thereby giving his opponent another look and even more to think about and adjust to. Arguably more susceptible to a well-timed uppercut, bobbing only can be a bit risky as it effectively eliminates lateral movement but against a left hooker like Hilton it proved effective. And while Green was for the most part unable to use this movement to set up or throw any serious punches it did enable him to make Hilton miss, thereby expending some of his oppponents precious energy while affording Green moments of active rest as well as giving him a good look at the rhythm and timing of his Hilton’s punches – Green would just stand in front of his foe at a slight angle and in a purely defensive posture simply bob as his opponent began to throw. This tactic takes good timing and reflexes but if you’ve got’em, it works – just ask Chris Byrd ... he’s been doing it for years. In fact, I’ve seen Byrd do this so successfully, at times, that after a few rounds and a lot of missed punches opponents seem almost reluctant to even try and throw anything when they see him setting up in this posture ... it’s like a game of now you see it, now you don’t, as he presents the target, challenges his opponent to try and hit it, then simply takes it away. Now Byrd also has the ability to fire and land sharp stinging punches from this posture while Green at this point in his career isn’t quite so adept, but this young man should keep working on that part of his game as it may pay dividends some day. Such creativity in the ring properly supported by good fundamentals can give a fighter an essential edge as he moves up in the rankings. Round Four – Fading slightly, Hilton began his version of the rope-a-dope inviting his less experienced opponent in with the hope of countering with something big. Once again, both men had their chances but the most memorable moment came when Green sprayed Hilton with a long fluid combination against the ropes and then stepped back momentarily to survey the damage. Hilton, obviously not hurt, waved his opponent back in, mouthing the words “come on”. Green immediately obliged and did a little dance on the way back in ... pure bravado but the crowd loved it. Anyway, when the smoke finally cleared we had been treated to yet another competitive round with both men scoring but the momentum belonged to Green. Round Five – After a brief time in the middle of the ring, Hilton went back to the ropes, this time inviting disaster as Green knocked him down in the corner with a 4-punch combination. Hilton, stunned but not seriously hurt got back up, took the count, came back strong and even wobbled his opponent with a solid shot to the chin late in what turned out to be the best round of the fight. Round Six – Once again, Hilton backed up and used the ropes for support while Green attacked furiously with both hands. The exchanges were still competitive but Hilton’s punches were getting wider and Green was dialing him in for the kill, eventually knocking his weary opponent down again with a right hand high on the head. Hilton staggered bravely to his feet but in the referee’s opinion couldn’t continue and the fight was stopped on a TKO. The final punch was arguably illegal as it may have landed towards the back of Hilton’s head, but no official protest was launched. Alex Hilton After the final bell Alex Hilton took the microphone
and announced his retirement in front of the home crowd, thanking his
loyal fans for all their support over the years. Adam Green As for young Adam Green, he definitely shows some promise
and while a little raw and undisciplined at times fought with a lot
of passion and thoroughly entertained the near capacity crowd. When
asked why he was so successful against a veteran such as Hilton, Green
was candid “I trained very hard and was in great shape. I knew
that this was a golden opportunity for me against a name like Alex”
he adds “So I took the fight very seriously. |