Benjamin McClerklin vs Derek Brown

In the red corner stood Benjamin McClerklin with Chicago Heights Boxing and Fitness. In the blue corner was Derek Brown from Boxing Out Negativity. This was the fifth bout of the Chicago Golden Gloves Semi-Finals.

Round One

Both fighters were ready when the bell rang and came out swinging. Both McClerklin and Brown connected shots to the head. The fighters seemed equally matched connecting and taking blows to the head and face. Brown seemed to be the fan-favorite.

The fighters continued to box their way into the ropes and back to the center ring. Both McClerklin and Brown were connecting punches to the head. After a flurry of hits, the fighters separated sizing up their opponent, looking for the opportunity to strike.

There were a few punches thrown until McClerklin landed a left jab to Brown’s face. Then the two fought hard against the ropes in true boxing fashion. The opponent backed up, and Brown kept moving to the center of the ring. The opponents watched each other, looking for that perfect moment.

McClerklin threw a right and a quick left neither strike connected. Brown threw a right and a left, both missed. They backed up from each other again. The opponent landed a hard right to Brown’s face. The fighter locked up. Brown broke free and bounced across the ring. Brown landed some hard punches and McClerklin fought back once again on the ropes. The two got hung up on each other and the referee separated them and moved them back to center ring.

The fighters dodged each other’s punches, neither one connecting with their opponent. Brown landed a couple of hits, McClerklin came back with a right hook pushing Brown into the ropes before the bell rang, ending round one.

Round Two

At the sound of the bell, the opponents met in the center of the ring. They each tested a few punches. Brown landed a right to McClerklin’s face. The fighter grabbed his opponent’s arm. The two separated and Brown landed some left jabs. They circled each other and McClerklin landed a body hit. Brown threw a right jab to the face of his opponent, then a right jab and a left hook.

In the center ring, Brown squared off throwing punches until McClerklin was on the ropes. Before the referee could separate them, the fighters bounced back to the center of the ring. McClerklin put his body weight behind a right hook and landed on Brown’s head.

This was a high-energy fight. When they were not striking, the fighters were bouncing around the ring looking for an opening. McClerklin would swing and miss, then Brown. The two battled it out, then gave each other space until the right opportunity showed itself. Both fighters were dodging and swinging.

Brown landed a left to the body, then McClerklin threw a hit to the head, and they were up against the ropes. They moved away from the ropes and Brown connected some hard jabs. McClerklin backed Brown into the ropes. He used them to bounce back.

He continued to swing while McClerklin could not seem to connect. Brown just kept coming. The fighters were swinging it out in the corner and McClerklin fell to one knee. The referee stopped the fight to make sure he was okay. The match was immediately resumed.

McClerkin tried to connect a few strikes before the bell rang, ending the second round.

Round Three

The third round began and the two fighters sized each other up. McClerklin threw a punch but his arm was not quite long enough to connect. Brown connected a few hits until he was placed in a headlock position at the ropes. The boxer pulled out and pummeled his opponent up against the ropes. Brown attempted to dodge a punch, took a hit to the body, but was able to get off the ropes. The fighters rejoined in the center of the ring. Again, waiting for the right time to strike.

Brown found an opening and took it, pushing his opponent back into the ropes. They locked up and were separated. Both fighters looked like they still had plenty of energy and there were no signs of slowing down. McClerklin dodged a hit and used his head to push Brown across the ring into the ropes. He was warned.

Brown was determined and took every opportunity he could. He fought relentlessly. McClerklin connected a few times but Brown came back each time with a vengeance. McClerklin got him against the corner buckle but that did not stop Brown. He could not fight his way out of the corner. The referee brought the boxers back to the center of the ring.

The two dodged each other’s punches. The crowd was cheering their favorite fighter, which the boxers seemed to feed off. Brown saw an opportunity and took it. Once again, McClerklin used his head to back him into the ropes. The referee broke them up and they battled it out until the bell rang ending round three.

The winner of the match, by unanimous decision, out of the Boxing Out Negativity Boxing gym, Derek Brown.

Written by Jeanette Vietti

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Video Shot by Omari Jahi