Friday Night Fights Recap

image

Luis-Dargan

It’s refreshing in the sweet science when a twice beaten 7-1 underdog is able to execute their game plan flawlessly, dominate an undefeated prospect, and have the judge’s score cards reflects as much. We have seen too many times where the prospect is given a “gift” while the hardworking underdog is left to take another loss.

On ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights from the Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, Connecticut, Tony “The Lightning” Luis (19-2 7 KO) was that 7-1 dog against rising undefeated prospect Karl “The Dynamite” Dargan (17-1 9 KO). In the end, it was Luis with a unanimous decision win, 99-90, 97-92 X2 to win the WBC Continental America’s lightweight title.

From the opening bell, Luis was the aggressor stalking Dargan and moving him backwards. Luis would plant his head in Dargan’s chest and land quick combinations to the body and come up to the head.

Dargan had moments early in the fight as he was very calm and accurate while countering Luis and using quick lateral movement to avoid Luis’ onslaught.

Luis would back down Dargan to the ropes and work his body while coming up to the head and connecting at a high percentage. Dargan did some good work by slipping punches and countering Luis while on the ropes but Luis was relentless in his attack landing combinations with a great deal of energy.

In the third round, Luis caught Dargan with a left hook to the chin causing Dargan to try and clinch as Luis was swinging wildly causing Dargan to be pushed to the canvas. The referee ruled it a slip but that moment may have affected Dargan mentally more than it showed.

In the next round, Dargan utilized his jab and began to create distance from Luis allowing him to get back to scoring his own combinations but he couldn’t sustain it as Luis’ relentless attack again took the fight over.

Luis caught Dargan round after round with solid shots while turning him constantly. His hands were fast and he continued to force and smother Dargan to the ropes where he again would pound away to the body and head. Dargan’s activity was beginning to decrease. He would counter occasionally and have a few furries but Luis’ energy was more evident and his output nonstop.

In the tenth and final round, Luis knocked Dargan down with a left hook which actually landed on the back of Dargan’s head. Dargan was not overly hurt by the shot and was up on his feet quickly where Luis attacked him to the bell to end the fight and capture his victory.

Dargan had an almost five inch reach advantage and when he used it and created distance, he was setting up his punches and doing what he does best; however, he had no answer for the relentless attack of Luis and was handed his first loss.

Falowo-Lamour

You just knew that Thomas “The Souljah” Falowo (13-3 8 KO) couldn’t wait to fight Russell “The Haitian Sensation” Lamour (11-1 5 KO) in the pros to avenge his 1-4 record against Lamour in the amateurs. He got his chance on Friday night and took advantage of the opportunity by defeating Lamour by unanimous decision with scores of 78-74, 77-75 X2.

Lamour, advertised as the more technical of the fighters, failed to use his jab consistently and box Falowo which allowed Falowo to back him down throughout the fight. Lamour did good work to the body but fought most of the fight backing up. This was a good close tough fight; however, Falowo was able to impose his will on Lamour and capture most of the tightly contested rounds.

Falowo made the fight rough and baited Lamour into brawling a bit more than he probably preferred. Lamour was destroying Falowo’s body and countering nicely at times throughout the fight but when Falowo made it dirty, Lamour would abandon those tactics and do just enough to lose the close rounds. Falowo was landing the harder shots and was the aggressor as he stalked Lamour and forced Lamour to abandon his gameplan. 

Falowo vowed to settle the score saying that the judges in the amateurs gave Lamour credit for “pitty-pat” punches and no credit to him for his style. He got credit tonight as evident by his unanimous decision win.

Barrera-Lacy

Rising prospect Sullivan Barrera (15-0 10 KO) stopped former champion Jeff “Left Hook”Lacy (27-6 18 KO) by TKO at 2:05 of the fourth round.  

Barrera provided a message early that this would be a short night as he dropped Lacy with a huge right at 1:35 of the first round.  Lacy beat the count but was visibly unstable on his feet as Barrera attacked him with vicious body shots and more combinations to the head. The veteran Lacy was able to make it out of the first round.

Over the next two rounds Barrera attacked Lacy and hit him with multiple combinations while displaying an active jab that he worked behind to set up his power shots while wobbling Lacy several more times. Lacy is game and tried to land his own punches but is clearly overmatched.

In the fourth, Barrera is deducted a point by referee Mike Ortega for a low blow. This was odd as  this had not been an issue up to this point in the fight and although there may have been a slight warning to Barrera earlier, it surely didn’t warrant a point deduction.

Shortly after the break in the action, Barrera unloaded on Lacy and landed a series of right hands that rocked Lacy into the ropes. Barrera jumped on Lacy landing more big rights. Referee Ortega mercifully stoped the fight. Good stoppage, Lacy had not shown that he could land anything that would keep the larger Barrera honest while he was taking devastating punches.

Barrera did what a young prospect is supposed to do to an aging fighter. He displayed quick hands, a solid jab, good body work, and combination punching. Main Events had stated that they are looking for a big year from Barrera and his stoppage win has him down the envisioned path.

This article contributed to BTG.

Snippets On Arguably The Hottest Topics In The Sweet Science This Week

image

Trilogy, The Lord of The Ring

Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios (33-2-1 24 KOs)  dominated “Mile High” Mike Alvarado (34-4, 23 KOs) on Saturday night from the 1st Bank Center in Broomfield Colorado to win  the WBO International Welterweight Title. Rios looked beter than he has in some time controling the fight from the opening bell stalking Alvarado and landing strong combinations to the body and head. Alvarado began the fight with  a tight guard almost as if he didn’t know what to expect from the first punch.  We got our anwser as he seemed stunned by the first shot he took. Round One to Rios in a landslide. In the second,  Rios continued to attack and was only slowed by a low blow that made him take a knee momentarily.  Alvarado was landing a shot here and there but mostly only in a defensive and desperate effort to keep Rios off of him. In between rounds two and three, you could hear Alvarado tell his corner that he was having trouble seeing.

In the third, Rios was landing hooks to the body and following them with uppercuts.  The uppercut would be Rios’ weapon of choice as he dropped Alvarado with a right uppercut that was followed by a few glancing blows, but it was the uppercut that did the damage. As Alvarado got to his feet Rios continued his attack.In the corner between rounds, Alvarado was again complaining of vision problems. The ringside physician held up two fingers and asked Alvarado how many fingers he had up to which he replied “four”.  The ringside physician told Jay Nady, “I showed him two fingers, he answered four, fights over”.

CompuBox numbers showed that Rios landed 120 punches out of 290 to Alvarado’s 20 out of 87. Said Rios after the fight to HBO’s Jim Lampley, “I had to come prepared because this could have been the end of my career, I have a lot of gas in my tank still and I didn’t want that”. Rios did look good and better than he has for a while. Some have questioned if it was due to a lethargic opponent, I’d say somewhere in between, not Rios at his best and definitely not the version we saw against Manny Pacquiao.

As for Alvarado, when you get arrested three weeks before your fight at 4 AM in the morning, your dedication can be questioned on many levels especially after the effort that was put forth. Said Alvarado,  “It was all in the preparation, I wasn’t training like I should have been, this is what I get.”  You think?

Mike is a winner, he just needs to convince himself, deal with those demons outside of the ring and show the world.

So, the trilogy that was prematurely placed on the same level as Gatti Ward, fizzled as only one combatant showed up. That fighter, now the winner of two of the three and both by stoppage,  is The Lord Of The Ring.

Life Lessons

Gilberto “Zurdo” Ramirez (31-0 24 KOs) defeated Maxim Vlasov (30-2 15 KOs) by unanimous decision with scores of, 96-94 X2, 97-93. It was a workman like performance for the young kid. Ramirez destroyed Vlasov’s body but was unable to land a significant punch to put Vlasov in any serious trouble. As stated in Standing-8 after Ramirez’s last fight,  “If there was an area for critique, it would be in Ramirez’s tendency to fight “small” at times which has left him open for counter overhand rights which his opponents have been able to land from time to time. Although he has displayed a solid beard he would benefit by tightening up his defense a bit more.”  Again, Ramirez couldn’t protect from the right had as Vlasov landed them repeatedly.  This kid has the goods but he better guard against those right hands because as the competition gets stronger he may not be able to absorb the punches as easily.

There were a lot of close rounds in this fight but Vlasov slowed his activity in the middle of the fight, a product of the body shots no doubt, which allowed Ramirez to capture them. Vlasov did have a few strong rounds towards the end of the fight but it was a little too late. Ramirez is one of the rising stars in boxing but showed a bit of a porous defense not adjusting to being hit with repeated rights. His jab, usually a big weapon, was underutilized. The fight was there for Vlasov but he failed to sustain his attack. A tough test for the young undefeated Ramirez. He was pushed in this fight and while his string of four straight stoppages ended, what he learned here will be more valuable than a stoppage as he moves on in his career.

We Love The Commercials

It’s not a matter of if Pacquiao and Mayweather will fight it’s a matter of when. Pacquiao says he signed the contract,  Mayweather says there’s still more work to do because of the money. Maybe they’re going to announce it during a Super Bowl commercial, wouldn’t that be something? I can see it now, something out of Wayne’s World, “Game On”. In any event this site has had their hotel room booked since last August in anticipation of the May 2 date.

Junk Yard Dogs 

Picture a junk yard with two starving dogs, one named Cinnamon, one Mandingo. Now picture a steak being thrown in the middle of them, add a Wolfe and things may just get interesting. Coming May 2nd, or later if “The Fight” is made which will put the junkyard battle on hold for a moment.

I’D Like To Thank Al Haymon

image

In post fight interviews, you’re very likely to hear “I’d like to thank Al Haymon” uttered by one of the pugilists, assuming of course that they are promoted by Mr. Haymon, boxing advisor/manager extraordinaire. Rare is the individual in the boxing world who doesn’t covet the spotlight but that’s Haymon, most likely an introverted type who most likely gets his energy from being alone or with few, rather than in crowds. He does his work behind the scenes leaving the spotlight to his fighters. A servant leader who would flourish in any business.

In 2013, Sports Illustrated named him one of the top 50 most powerful people in sports, coming in at 42. This former concert promoter and Harvard grad, with a growing stable of 150+ fighters, sent a shock through the boxing world last Wednesday when the long rumored partnership between his company Haymon Boxing and NBC Sports came to fruition with the announcement of, “Premier Boxing Champions” or the PBC on NBC.

Haymon’s brainchild of putting boxing back on network television, an old school approach that is welcome in an age of ballooning pay per view prices and premium channel fees. In order to bring the sport back near the top, it has to go back to its roots.   

What took so long for this to happen? The root of all evil provides the answer.

The new series will televise twenty live cards in 2015, eleven on Saturday on NBC, six in the day and five at night in primetime, the balance being shown on NBC Sports Network, all in primetime.

Said Lamont Jones, Haymon’s vice president of operations,

“The way that I look at it is that if a customer goes to the grocery store and sees one steak that has USDA on it and one steak that doesn’t, they’re going to buy that USDA steak, so we want the fans to know that when they see a fight card and a series that has PBC on the telecast, that they’re going to know that can expect to see high quality and competitive matchups.”

True to their word, the inaugural card is explosive, Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero vs. Keith “One-Time” Thurman and Adrien “The Problem” Broner vs. John Molina. Also announced was Danny “Swift” Garcia vs. Lamont “Havoc” Peterson on April 11.

This is amazing for the sport. Boxing back in the homes of the general public on primetime and on network TV. This makes for a stronger fan base and turns the combatants into househould names as it did in yesteryear. As long as all matchups are on par with the March 7 and April 11 fights, we are in for a sustained run.

Yes, I’d like to thank Al Haymon too.

Roll Tide- Alabama’s Deontay Wilder Captures The WBC Heavyweight Championship

image

The questionable competition, the elephant in the room, is now gone, the resume strengthened. Deontay WIlder (33-0 32 KO) will no longer have to be questioned about the lack of a quality opponent on his dossier after a thoroughly convincing win over WBC heavyweight champion Bermane Stiverne (24-2-1 24 KO).

Executing trainer Mark Breland’s outstanding game plan, Wilder used a piston like jab to keep Stiverne off balance while landing timely right hands, uppercuts, and left hooks. Almost like watching a large version of Breland himself.

Stiverne did have a few moments landing his own right hand and left hook but they were few and far between. Additionally, his usually active jab was nonexistent and he failed to cut off the ring which allowed Wilder to control all aspects of the fight.

Each took solid shots from the other; however, Wilder’s did more damage as he stunned Stiverne several times but B. Ware’s beard was as advertised. On the contrary, Wilder was thought to have a questionable chin but he put those assumptions to rest as he took some heavy shots from Stiverne without issue.

Wilder dominated the judges scorecards, 118-109, 120-107, 119-108 and became the first American heavyweight champion since 2006 and fulfilled the promise he made to his daughter Naieya to become a world champion.

There were so many questions about Wilder coming in that were answered tonight,

Can he take a punch? CHECK

Can he adapt when his punches don’t stop his opponent-CHECK

Can he go the distance if needed after never having been past the fourth round? CHECK

Can he survive once he faces a quality opponent? CHECK

Can he do more than punch, like box? CHECK! CHECK!

“I don’t want anybody to doubt me no more, come with me, ride with me, slide with me, hide with me, whatever we got to do..lets go!” stated Wilder

On what is next for the new champion, Wilder stated, “I want to bring excitement to the heavyweight division, I don’t want to be a champion who sits around a year or two, I want to get three…if I’m lucky, four times a year, this is my nine to five, this is my burger flipping right here, so I’m ready whenever”

Wilder’s performance was of the highest caliber for someone who apparently couldn’t do the things that he did. It will be scary to see what he can accomplish as he continues to learn and develop. As a raw prospect just a few years ago to a world champion today, he has only just begun. The Bronze Bomber has awakened a dormant division with a single victory and ensured that the elephant never enters the room again.

Can I Get A What, What? A New Era Begins

old-school-ring.jpg

A new era in boxing begins on Friday night at “The World’s Most Famous Area” as Roc Nation Sports promotes their first ever card from Madison Square Garden in New York City. The newest promotional company to the game comes with big time credentials, global music and business icon, Jay-Z and a series of moves that lets you know they are here to stay.

Roc Nation, which represents athletes in other sports started a boxing division last August and sent a big message by immediately signing David Itskowitch, a respected and experienced executive who previously had held positions with DiBella Entertainment and Golden Boy Promotions.

Then, news today that Gary Shaw had sold and merged his company,  Gary Shaw Promotions with the boxing division of  Roc Nation Sports and will oversee the division with Itskowitch.

Their first card will be televised on  Fox Sports 1 Friday beginning at 10:00 p.m. EST, and will feature undefeated prospect Dusty Hernandez-Harrison (24-0, 13 knockouts), from Washington D.C. against New York’s Tommy Rainone (22-5-1, 4 KOs). The middleweight co-feature will feature Tureano Johnson  from Nassau, Bahamas (16-1, 11 KOs) vs. Colombian  Alex Theran (17-1, 9 KOs).

Said Itskowitch, “All of us at Roc Nation Sports are thrilled to announce our first boxing event along with our first series and television deal, an evening of exciting fights, great music and fantastic entertainment will be a fitting way to kick off ‘throne boxing,’ a series that will stand alone on the boxing landscape”

This is good for the game and don’t bet against this group, tomorrow is only the beginning for this future powerhouse.  Here’s hoping they bring an old school promoting mentality back to the game and make the best fights possible.

Rigon(deaux) In The New Year

image

Guillermo Rigondeaux (15-0 10 KO ) overcame his opponent’s height and reach advantage and a seventh round knockdown to stop Japan’s Hisashi Amagasa (28-5-1 19 KO) by  eleventh round TKO in route to retaining his WBO and WBA super bantamweight titles at the Bodymaker Colluseum in Osaka, Japan on the eve of the new year.

Amagasa jumped on Rigondeaux at the opening bell and threw a flurry of punches that were mostly blocked by Rigondeaux gloves. The round proceeded into a feeling out process as Rigondeaux tried to solve his opponent’s six and a half inch height and three inch reach advantage.  

In round two, Rigondeaux, a southpaw, started to find a home for the overhand left which was being set up nicely by his jab. Amagasa’s face was visibly starting to show the effects of The Jackal’s power as he started to swell around both eyes.  In the third round,  Rigondeaux started crouching and fighting low causing Amagasa to negate his own height advantage as he lowered himself to try and land his arsenal on Rigo. Due to Rigondeaux’s superior athleticism,  he parried most of Amagasa’s assault while countering him repeatedly. 

As he did in the first three rounds,  Rigondeaux strategically allowed Amagasa to be the aggressor and move forward as he countered the challenger with a stiff jab and power hooks. Rigondeaux picked up his speed and movement in round four and landed quick shots at his onrushing foe but Amagasa was able to land a few punches of his own and may have had his best round through four. 

To start the fifth,  Rigondeaux landed a stiff straight left that seemed to buckle Amagasa. Sensing he may have hurt his opponent,  Rigondeaux moved forward and went left hand crazy landing several overhand lefts as Amagasa reeled into the ropes.  Amagasa recovered and the action resumed as it had the previous four rounds, Amagasa moving forward and Rigondeaux picking him off with quick jabs and left crosses. 

Rigondeaux controlled the entire sixth round with his movement as he utilized some of the finest footwork you will ever see.

In the seventh, it all seemed to be going well for Rigondeaux until he spun around Amagasa and was caught by a quick right which dropped him with thirty seconds left in the round.  Rigondeaux was up quickly but Amagasa charged the champion and swung wildly landing a solid right that seemed to momentarily stun the champion. As Rigo tried his best to tie up Amagasa he was pushed down to the canvas and it was (incorrectly) ruled a knockdown by referee Mike Ortega. Rigondeaux was up quickly as the round ended. 

Said Rigondeaux, “The first punch which caused the knockdown was not a powerful blow. I was caught off balance and suffered a flash knockdown. I was not hurt, but I had to be on guard as my opponent gained confidence and threw everything at me in that round,”

Energized by his heroics in the seventh, Amagasa went on the attack in the eighth but Rigondeaux calmly countered him repeatedly with straight left crosses and was beginning to sit down on his punches. Again using beautiful lateral movement and parrying punches in the ninth, Rigondeaux controlled all aspects of the round. All of the damage done by his left hand was evident as Amagasa’s right eye was a protruding mass to close the round.

In the tenth, Rigondeaux moved forward as the aggressor and Amagasa was forced to fight going backwards which clearly took him out of his comfort zone.  Rigondeaux dropped Amagasa with a beautifully timed straight left half way through the round.  Amagasa got up but was a little wobbly on his feet. Rigondeaux took his time and walked down Amagasa landing multiple combinations to the bell.

Looking like a beaten fighter entering the eleventh with both eyes closing and the left side of his face swollen , Amagasa did very little as Rigondeaux continued to land just about anything that he threw.  At the close of the round, Amagasa went to his stool where the fight was stopped by his corner.

At the time of the stoppage, Rigondeaux was leading on all cards with scores of, 107-99 X2 and 105-101. This was Rigondeaux’s seventh defense of his WBA and fourth defense of his WBO 122 pound titles. 

Rigondeaux boxed beautifully throughout the fight and was intent on being more active. “The boxing public has been asking for more action, so I delivered” said Rigondeaux.

“I have a lot of skills. On Wednesday night, I showed I can mix it up and, more importantly, that I can close the show in devastating fashion.”

Manager Gary Hyde agreed, “The fans have hinted that they want blood and guts, and Rigo certainly showed he can massacre fighters if needs be.”

On what is next for Rigondeaux,  Hyde stated, “Rigo is looking at forcing the WBA to order the (Scott) Quigg fight. He would like the (Leo) Santa Cruz fight, also, but the guy wants no part of him”

“Santa Cruz is a joke. I will not attend the show,” said Rigondeaux referring to Santa Cruz’s Janury 17 date against Jesus Ruiz  “I have no interest in watching him fighting another soft opponent”

There is so much high level talent here and around this division with Rigondeaux, Carl Frampton, Leo Santa Cruz, Scott Quigg, Vasyl Lomachenko, Nicholas Walters, Abner Mares, that it would make sense to hold a tournament. That would be epic.

Monster Mashed, Inoue Destroys Narvaez In 2

image

Japan’s Naoyo “Monster” Inoue (8-0 7 KO) was spectacular on Tuesday disposing of previously once beaten Argentine and super flyweight titleholder Omar Narvaez (43-2-2 23 KO)  in Tokyo, Japan by second round knockout.

Inoue controlled from the opening bell utilizing his length and keeping Narvaez at distance with his jab.  Inoue landed an overhand right to Narvaez´s chin and dropped him 26 seconds into the fight. Narvaez got up and continued with Inoue on the attack. Inoue dropped  Narvaez for a second time at the two minute mark landing a left hook off the top of Narvaez´s head. Narvaez was up quickly as the “Monster” continued his attack walking down Narvaez for the reminder of the round, although Narvaez was game and continued to try and execute his game plan.

In round two, Inoue again controlled the action by keeping Narvaez at the end of his jab and landing straight rights. At the 1:28 mark, Inoue landed a text book left hook as Narvaez walked in dropping him for a third time. Narvaez rose quickly and the action resumed with Inoue on the attack.

Over the next minute, Inoue punished the Argentine to the body and with 22 seconds left in the round landed a straight right dropping Narvaez for the fourth and final time. As the referee’s count reached ten, Narvaez was still on his knees.

Inoue captured Narvaez’s WBO title with the win.

Prior to this fight, Narvaez’s only loss was back in 2011 to Nonito Donaire. Since that fight he captured the WBO world super flyweight title and made eight title defenses.

Inoue went 75-6 as an amateur and  now own adds the WBO strap to his resume. He had won the WBC light flyweight title back in March defeating Adrian Hernandez and became the first Japanese fighter to win a world title in only their sixth fight. Unable to make 108, Inoue relinquished the WBC title in November moving north to 115.

The WBO has a rising star on their hands. Inoue has the size and skills to give both boxer or puncher troubles.

Here’s hoping we get to see an Inoue v. Roman Gonzalez matchup in 2015!! Or how about Inoue vs. China’s Zou Shiming?

This is gonna be good!!

Snippets On Arguably The Hottest Topics In The Sweet Science This Week.

gossip

It was a huge past Saturday in the sport. Here are a few hi-lights in no particular order.

Like A Fine Wine

Amir Khan was masterful in his defeat of Devon Alexander on Saturday night.  Khan looked better than he has in the past few years. Using his long reach, excellent lateral movement, and blistering speed he absolutely dominated Alexander. Early in the first round,  Khan connected with a few solid power shots which in my observation, set the tone for the rest of the fight. Alexander was just not active enough and I think those early power shots and the speed in which they were delivered really put him on the defensive.  I don’t ever remember Alexander in a fight in which he was so inactive and tentative. Khan’s height and reach advantage were too much for Alexander.  Also impressive was that Khan appeared to be just as fast in the last round as he was in the first round.  It was all Khan with a  unanimous decision win and scores of  119-109, 118-110, and 120-108.

After the fight, Khan was pleased with his performance “I think this is one of my best performances.  I was under my feet,  I’m the best boxer with the quickest hands in the world.  Virgil Hunter has been teaching me what positions to be in.  I’m getting better as I’m getting older I just turned 28”

Yes, he appears to be a better version of the old Khan.  Even his beard held up well as Alexander landed some telling shots in the bout and Khan withstood them better than we have seen him do in the past.  Future opponents beware, at 28 and with Hunter guiding him, he may be just now reaching his peak and settling in for a sustained run. There’s talk of a Floyd Mayweather fight if the mega bout with Manny Pacquiao isn’t made but I’d love to see a match up with Kell Brook.

The Truth, The Whole Truth, Nothing But The Truth

Remember the name folks, Errol Spence Jr. If you follow the fight game, you are already aware of this up and coming prospect, if not, you will be in 2015. From the Lone Star State, D-Town more specifically, he appears to have the goods.

A fast, accurate, and powerful southpaw, he delivers snapping jabs, straight rights/lefts, commits to the body, has excellent footwork, a tight guard, and can fight from the outside or inside.

On Saturday night, he defeated Javier Castro by fifth round TKO and landed an amazing 71% of his power shots while exhibiting all of the aforementioned skills. His competition has not been a who’s who of the sport thus far but the talent is evident and this kid is a rising star.

Don’t mess with Tex…Uh, Errol

Always A Groomsman Never A Groom

Mauricio Herrera can’t catch a break. In a fight against Danny Garcia in March, he appeared to do better than two of the judges gave him credit for if not squeak out a victory but there he was a majority decision loser.

This past Saturday, he controlled the fight against Jose Benavidez and once again appeared to have done enough only to have the following scores tallied against him: 116-112 X2 and 117-111.

Benavidez is an up and coming prospect with a solid pedigree but school was in session as “El Maestro” controlled the majority of the rounds with excellent head movement,  constantly working Benavidez to the ropes working his body and landing power shots at opportunistic times.

This is not to suggest that the student didn’t have a few moments. It’s just that his performance didn’t justify the scores he received.

Herrera is what is right about the sport and he is wronged repeatedly.

A hard working blue collar fighter who gets better every outing. He defended his title, the kid surely didn’t beat the champ and take the title.

Desert Stormed

Timothy Bradley knows now how Manny Pacquiao felt after their first fight. Control a fight with speed and movement, land power shots, and do enough to win only to find out that you did not win. In this case, Bradley didn’t lose either but a draw after his performance against Diego Chaves was just like a loss.

Bradley won this fight. Chaves simply didn’t do enough and did a poor job cutting off the ring and allowed Bradley to move and score points all night. Chaves did do well early landing combinations behind an active jab but he stopped jabbing and was looking for one shot at a time for the majority of the fight.

He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Bro

The twin Charlo brothers were both in action this past weekend. Jermall knocked out Lenny Bottai in the third round while Jermell won by unanimous decision over Mario Lozano.

He’s Not Just An Actor, He’s Not Just A Dancer, He’s Also A Fighter 

Victor Ortiz returned to the ring with a 3rd round TKO win over Manuel Perez. Ortiz has apparently rededicated himself to the sport and has a new trainer, Joel Diaz. So far, so good. For some reason, I can never get the image out of my head of Ortiz saying “I’m young but I don’t deserve to get beat up like this” after his loss at the hands of Marcos Maidana.

A Blessing From Above   

Andy Lee vowed to win a title to honor his trainer, the late great Emanuel Steward. On Saturday night, he did just that stopping Matt Korobov in the sixth round. Lee landed a picture perfect right hook which rocked Korobov. Lee then jumped all over Korobov causing Kenny Bayless to stop the fight. Great win for Lee, one of the good guys in the game.

Even in heaven, Steward continues to be the trainer of champions.

Ooooh That Smell, Can’t You Smell That Smell?

When scorecards like the ones in the Tyson Cave fight, and the aforementioned Herrera and Bradley fights rear their ugly head, the stench in the sweet science is overbearing.

“The Smell Of Death Surrounds You.”

Lara Conducts Another Clinic

image

On Friday night in San Antonio, Texas, Erislandy Lara (20-2-2 12 KO) dominated Ishe Smith (26-7 12 KO) with scores of 119- 109 X 2 and 117-111  to retain his WBA super welterweight title.

Smith had a decent opening round but it may have been by Lara’s design as he stated after the fight “The first round, I wanted to see exactly how he fought, what his moments were, I’ve never seen him before, after that, I dominated every single round”

Dominate he did,  like a painter, the ring his canvas. He paints a masterpiece utilizing his southpaw stance.

Lara used the right jab as his measuring stick while landing beautifully timed straight lefts to the body and head. Lara frustrated Smith and forced him to adjust his game plan and second guess his next move.  He confused Smith utilizing angles and alternating his level from low to high. When Smith did cut the ring off he was able to land body shots but Lara would parry away leaving Smith swinging at air.

Hit and don’t get hit, it’s the sweetest of sciences and the ring is his lab.  There are some that don’t care for Lara’s style and that’s ok, his style is unique to him and he makes no apologies nor should he.

After the fight Lara spoke about who he would like to face next.

“I want to fight the best, I want to fight Floyd Mayweather, that’s one of the best fighters in the world, that’s who I want too fight, I want to test myself against the best. I already beat Canelo and we beat everybody else in the division”

No matter who it is, they will have their hands full with one of the best in the game.