Cung Le Reflects On Franklin Bout: It Wasn’t A Lucky Punch

“I just didn’t know what to say at the moment. I really like Rich as a person, and I was happy and sad at the same time during those moments immediately following the fight. I was also very concerned for him. I didn’t know what to say, so that’s what came out.

If you watch the fight carefully, I threw that same counter hook two times before the third one finally landed. The gameplan that Scott Sheeley and I put together, we simulated all kinds of different patterns that Rich has. I thought Rich was going to come out and try to take me down to try and tire me out, but I was prepared to go five rounds. That was the biggest goal that we focused on. I wasn’t going to give up any real estate just because Rich had the reach Every time he would either establish his jab or throw his left lead, I would either have to take the punch or be in the pocket, and that was our gameplan, to stay right in his face. If he was in the punching range, I would punch, and if he was in the kicking range, I would kick. We studied a lot of his film, and every time he backs out, his hands were down. Our whole goal was to stand in the pocket with him, and catch him on the way out.”

– Cung Le talks to Bloodyelbow.com’s Steph Daniels