Chicago’s Golden Gloves presents, in the red corner Henry Hernandez and in the blue corner, Mohammed Sharif. The bell rings and the first round begins. Both boxers come out swinging and the blows of fury begin.
Sharif landed a left jab to Hernandez’s face, then a right and two more left hits. Hernandez was quick but Sharif landed more punches. Hernandez was able to land punches to the body while his opponent continued to hit him in the face before the fighters were tied up in the ropes.
In the center of the ring, Sharif threw another left jab and connected with the side of Hernandez’s head at the same time Hernandez failed to connect with a left uppercut. The fighter backed up and took more punches but was able to land a few of his own. This fight was underway and both athletes came to win.
Sharif and Hernandez pummeled each other, one connecting with his opponent’s face and the other attacking his challenger’s body. Red and blue gloves swung continuously throughout the first round.
Hernandez tried to protect his face while landing body blows. Sharif continued to throw right and lefts to the face of his opponent relentlessly. This continued until Hernandez could get his back off the ropes. Immediately, Sharif backed his challenger into the corner with several blows.
Then, Sharif missed three shots in a row. Hernandez was able to throw some body shots while dodging the fists of the other fighter. The two exchanged blows, seemingly punch for punch, they both stood their ground. Hernandez connected two right jabs to the face. Sharif threw a left jab. Hernandez came back with a right, then his challenger landed another left to the chin. The fighters exchanged blow-for-blow into the ropes.
As they danced around the ring, Hernandez connected more shots than Sharif. Both fighters bobbed and weaved as they threw hands. Sharif would not back down as he returned Hernandez’s punches with body blows. Sharif missed a right hook, leaving a brief opening Hernandez took advantage of quickly. Both fighters failed to connect several hits, then Hernandez landed one. Sharif came back with another.
Sharif protected his face while taking multiple hits to the ribs. The bell rung and round one was over.
When round two began, Sharif came flying out of his corner and connected shot after shot. Hernandez backed up in an attempt to get away from his opponent but it was useless. Sharif had him on the ropes and he was not taking off the heat.
Hernandez fought back off the ropes landing punches as he pushed Sharif backward, however, Sharif landed blow after blow. Hernandez had to take cover as his opponent attacked his face and body. The two locked up, then the fighter with the red gloves threw a right and left hook and repeated the combo. Sharif was able to block the next set of headshots and land a few of his own. These fighters pummeled each other.
The opponents were equally matched. Hernandez seemed to have the upper hand, then Sharif came back hard until his challenger landed a hard right jab to his face and pushed him back to the corner. At this point, he could only block and protect himself.
Hernandez took a step back, that was the opening Sharif needed to get the upper hand. He took advantage and hit his opponent in the face repeatedly. The fighters ended up in the corner but Sharif was not going to stay there and punched his way out.
Both fighters were slowing down. The hits may have been less frequent but they landed hard. Hernandez connected a left jab and two more rights. Sharif landed a couple of left jabs. The corners instructed their fighters to “work the body,” but both fighters continued to throw blows to the head.
Hernandez seemed to connect more punches but Sharif showed a harder hand. The fighters were trying to catch their breath, but neither wanted to back down. Hernandez threw a hard right to the head and kept them coming. Both fighters quickly threw hands as they moved across the ring and back to the center. Hernandez was determined.
The red challenger was fierce forcing Sharif to take a defensive stance until the bell ended round two.
When round three began, Hernandez appeared to have the challenger. Sharif fought back, blocked, and danced around the ring until he saw an opening. After he landed a couple of punches, Hernandez landed hit after hit until Sharif was in the corner protecting his head. Sharif continued to take the blows and almost lost his balance.
Hernandez would not let up. The blue challenger protected himself and Hernandez pummeled him. Once Sharif saw an opening, he landed a hit, but his opponent came back with a right jab, then a left and another right. The blue opponent pushed back until he had Hernandez against the ropes.
The fighters met in the center of the ring and Hernandez returned with uncompromising blows to the face. until Sharif tapped him on the chin and he backed off. The fighters exchanged blows again showing they were evenly matched. Both bobbed and weaved as if they knew what type of punch their opponent would throw.
Hernandez and Sharif, though determined, were slowing. The round was nearing an end. Sharif took two rights and two lefts to the face.
Winner by unanimous decision: Henry Hernandez.
Written by Jeanette Vietti
Images Courtesy of Omari Jahi – Used With Permission
