Note: They’re Back!!! The Snippets used to be a weekly feature on Standing-8; however, have had a lengthy absence. That said, they are starting again…Protect Yourself At All Times!
Camel Day Fisticuffs
From Plant City Florida tonight, on ProBox TV (or ProBox TV via Amazon)……
Batyrzhan Jukembayev vs. Ivan Redkach, 10 rounds, junior welterweights
Charles Harris Jr. vs. Kyle Erwin, 6 rounds, junior welterweights
Jonhatan Cardoso vs. Adam Lopez, 10 rounds, junior lightweights
Adrian Tillman vs. Jayleen Bullock, 4 rounds, cruiserweights
I Fell Into A Burning Ring Of Fire, Part 1
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk undoubtedly produced the most dynamic ring walks in some time. I mean Fury dancing to Barry White’s My Everything, then Bonnie Tyler’s I Need A Hero, to Usyk’s stoic Cossack Warrior ice cold gait, it was magic from the start.
I Went Down, Down, Down And The Flames Went Higher, We (Standing-8) Were Wrong
In my pre-fight article titled, Fury v. Usyk, Six Degrees of Otto Wallin, And A Rope-A-Dope Alert (pinned to the site), I incorrectly picked Fury to win the fight. In my defense, several components of the article were close to what occurred in the ring; however, not what mattered most, the winner. This was the first time that I had picked against the Ukrainian Legend.
The Lessons Of Otto Wallin
In the aforementioned pre-fight article, I highlighted the significance of the Fury v. Wallin fight in shaping expectations. I drew parallels between Wallin and Usyk, emphasizing their similarity in terms of height, reach, southpaw stance, and physique, while noting the difference in their boxing abilities. I expressed confidence in Fury’s ability to leverage the valuable experience gained from the Wallin fight in the bout against Usyk. While acknowledging the challenges posed by Usyk, I conveyed an optimistic outlook, underlining Fury’s potential to navigate the fight successfully by applying the lessons learned from his previous experience. It should have been clear in review of the Fury v. Wallin tape, that if Wallin had such great success, then surely Usyk’s extreme will & skill would be the difference…..and it was.
Wasted Energy, Or Pounds, As You Will
The recent Usyk win not only marked a historic moment as our first UNDISPUTED champion in 25 years, but it has also added more fuel to the fiery debate of “who is the pound for pound best”. Now, let me step up to my soapbox for a moment. STOP IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sure, it’s fantastic to engage in discussions about who truly reigns as the pound for pound best, or to compile our top ten lists, as has been customary in the sport for decades. However, this has escalated beyond reason. The constant banter on social media is downright exhausting. Instead, why don’t we simply celebrate each and every pugilist for their unique talents and achievements? Engaging in a healthy debate is one thing, but nowadays it seems that feelings are getting hurt simply because someone has a dissenting opinion.
Nine Lives….Will The Cat Survive The Tornado This Time?
This Saturday’s upcoming rematch between Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall promises to reignite the intense excitement of their contentious bout in 2022. With Taylor’s disputed split decision victory over Catterall still fresh, this eagerly anticipated rematch will undoubtedly capture the attention of boxing enthusiasts across the globe. Taylor’s previously unblemished record was marred by a unanimous decision (UD) loss to Teofimo Lopez last June, marking his sole appearance in the ring since his clash with Catterall. Meanwhile, Catterall’s two victories by UD last year, most notably a win against Jorge Linares, showcased his resilience and determination. As we eagerly anticipate this upcoming bout, it’s must see TV.
What I’m Reading.…..”Dark Trade: Lost In Boxing,” Donald McRae’s acclaimed in-depth look at boxing in the 1990’s. I actually got a copy back when I met James Toney several years ago, but hadn’t read it. That said, I did, foolishly at the time, ask James for a shot at the title. Toney was like “You better back up fool”, I went for the stare-down, my man was having none of it :). Cool Dude, Lights Out was too much.
What I’ll Be Reading Next (Just Pre-Ordered On Amazon:)… “The Promise Of Women’s Boxing..A Momentous New Era For The Sweet Science” Malissa Smith‘s “timely exploration of modern women’s boxing”.
Recommended Podcasts-
Crime In Sports- The perfect duo of James Pietragallo, and Jimmie Whisman, put their comedic spin on the topic. These dudes have me cracking up. There are several episodes on boxing. I thoroughly enjoyed the Sonny Liston 3-Part Series. Also notable, Ricardo Mayorga, Tank Davis, Floyd Senior & Junior, Johnny Tapia. Good stuff.
Power- Don King- Even though I knew most of the content, there were a few surprises. A must listen.
Standing-8 