Friday Night Fights Round By Round: Gonzalez vs. Cloud

The Friday Night Fights main event for August 8 features an intriguing match-up between veteran Julio Gonzalez and undefeated youngster Tavoris Cloud. Gonzalez has fought against some of the best, including Roy Jones Jr., while Cloud has yet to take a significant step up in terms of level of competition.

Round 1

Cloud's first few jabs knock Gonzalez back a step. Now he throws some thumping left hooks against the ropes. Gonzalez throwing power shots back. Both men jab in the center of the ring. Another stiff left from Cloud and they both swing away. A right hand stuns Gonzalez and Cloud swings for the fences. Julio tries to hold on in the corner but he's got 30 more seconds to go. Right hand right down the pike but Gonzalez holds on.

Franchise: 10-9 Cloud

Round 2

Gonzalez looks like he's okay, relatively speaking. He's throwing and moving to start the second round. Right hook to the body by Cloud. The fight moves in close and the ref tells them to work. Gonzalez getting off better in tight. The ref warns Julio to keep them up. Cloud with a left hook and a right. Right to the body follows. Gonzalez tries to jab his way out of danger. Cloud lands another sharp right hook. They battle all the way to the bell.

Franchise: 10-9 Cloud

Round 3

Julio jabbing again to open the round. Nice left upstairs by Cloud but Gonzalez comes forward. Both men land to the body. Double jab by Cloud. Uppercuts by Gonzalez as he's backed into the corner. Left hook by Cloud finally backs up his foe. Cloud loads up some more big bombs but mostly misses in the closing seconds. Closest round so far.

Franchise: 10-9 Cloud

Round 4

Slower start to this one. The action moves in tight in the center of the ring. The announcers are wondering aloud if Cloud can keep up the pace. Julio coming in but Cloud landing shots with both hands. He really doesn't get cheated when he swings away. Big miss on an uppercut. Left and an uppercut but Gonzalez lands one of his own. Mean uppercut again by Cloud at the bell.

Franchise: 10-9 Cloud

Round 5

Jabs by Julio. Now a right hand upstairs. Sharp jab by Cloud. He really steps into them. Right to the body gets Julio another warning for low shots. More clinching in this round. Both guys swinging away in close. Double left to the body and one upstairs and Gonzalez looks hurt. Several big right hands land but Gonzalez shows tremendous heart by surviving that barrage and lasting through the round.

Franchise: 10-9 Cloud

Round 6

This is the first time Cloud has ever been past the fifth round. Julio still throwing - he's got some chin. Big right counter shot by Cloud. Rights to the body and head along the ropes. Thumping left hook by Cloud. Ninety seconds left and Gonzalez is in survival mode again. Cloud pouring it on with both hands but Julio refuses to go down. Impressive showing for both fighters, albeit for different reasons.

Franchise: 10-9 Cloud

Round 7

Jabs to start things out again. Double left by Cloud. It feels like the calm before the storm right now. Gonzalez lands a few shots as Cloud tries to work in. Big right hand by Cloud. Julio fights off the ropes back into the center. They clinch and the ref steps in. Both guys working but Cloud lands a few bigger punches in the last 15 seconds of the round.

Franchise: 10-9 Cloud

Round 8

Another slower start to the eighth. Gonzalez flicking out a lot of jabs. Julio comes forward and both men land short shots inside. Two punch combos both ways. Left to the body by Cloud and just misses upstairs. Now a right to the head. Cloud dances away and they end up clinched in the center. That was actually a pretty close round.

Franchise: 10-9 Cloud

Round 9

Julio lands the first punches of this round as he gamely comes forward. We'll see if Cloud is tiring. Gonzalez stays busy with the jab. Now a big right hand upstairs from Cloud. Cloud ties it up in the corner. Right hand by Julio but he eats one coming back. Decent shots by both men on the inside. Cloud takes a few punches as he comes in and can't seem to find the range for his bombs.

Franchise: 10-9 Gonzalez

Round 10

Cloud comes out with a bit more fire. Nice left hook to the head. Good exchange from very close range. Shannon Briggs thinks Cloud is wary about Gonzalez trying to get him to punch himself out. Triple jab by Cloud. Now a right knocks Julio back. Body shots with both hands by Cloud. Cloud might be feeling it again with 30 seconds left. Two chopping rights have Gonzalez dazed. A huge right hand lands square from Cloud and the ref calls a stop to it.

The winner by TKO at 2:50 of round 10... Tavoris Cloud.

No doubt Gonzalez would have kept fighting, but that looked like a good stoppage as he was absorbing the type of beating that could cause serious damage. It doesn't look like they will talk to Cloud, but he had to win some fans tonight with an eye-opening display of power punching.