The month of January is not always thought of as an active month for the sport of Boxing in terms of competition. Of course, as is the case throughout a calendar year in the sport, there are notable things that do take place during the first month of the year both in and out of the ring. Before discussing what has gone on inside the ring, what has taken place outside the ring deserves equal attention as some developments did take shape over the last couple of weeks that will no doubt keep anticipation at a high among Boxing fans and experts as some intriguing bouts were announced that will take place in the coming months.
As readers might recall in this observer’s “Boxing Wishlist For 2018” that was published here on the website earlier in January, I discussed the possibility of further unification of the Heavyweight division during the year. While I still have doubts as to the chances of determining one Undisputed world champion in the division before the end of 2018, two World Heavyweight championship fights have been signed that will take place in the month of March, which could very well lead to a battle for the Undisputed World Heavyweight championship taking place in the not too distant future.
Undefeated WBC Heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder will make the seventh defense of his crown against undefeated WBC number three rated Heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz on March 3rd at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The second World Heavyweight championship bout to take place in the month of March will further unify the division as undefeated unified IBF/WBA/IBO world champion Anthony Joshua will face undefeated WBO champion Joseph Parker on March 31st at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
Although I look forward to providing further insight as these two World Heavyweight championship bouts draw closer, the Boxing world has not been as close to an undisputed world champion in the Heavyweight division as it is currently in many years. It is important to keep in mind that anything can happen, but it would be a shame if something that would be a mark of great progress for the sport overall such as one Heavyweight world champion being determined were stalled or ultimately done away with after so much progress toward a goal that will benefit Boxing in the long-term has been made.
In terms of action inside the ring, the month of January saw several key bouts in Boxing’s Welterweight and Lightweight divisions. In the 147lb. Welterweight division undefeated IBF Welterweight world champion Errol Spence scored an eighth round technical knockout over former Jr. Welterweight world champion Lamont Peterson on January 20th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. Spence controlled the action throughout scoring a knockdown of Peterson in the fifth round and ultimately was able to earn the stoppage win in the eighth round when Peterson’s trainer Barry Hunter stopped the bout to prevent his fighter from sustaining further punishment.
In a career that has thus far been highlighted by impressive performances, Spence’s victory in this fight over Lamont Peterson was certainly the type of performance that will give him a strong case in the eyes of some as being considered the top Welterweight currently in the division. As is almost always the case however, the 147lb. Welterweight division is traditionally a talent deep weight class and opinion as to who is the division’s top fighter is always a topic that is up for debate.
Two fighters who are attempting to work their way into the discussion/debates of the top Welterweights both returned to the ring on January 27th in separate venues. At The Forum in Inglewood, CA, longtime Jr. Welterweight and Welterweight contender Lucas Matthysse scored an impressive eighth round knockout over previously undefeated contender Tewa Kiram of Thailand. Mattysse overcame a cut over the left eye to score two knockdowns of Kiram in the eighth round to earn the victory.
The win for the popular Argentine contender Matthysse was his second victory as a Welterweight since returning to the ring in May of last year following a near two year layoff. Matthysse also earned interim/regular champion status in the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) Welterweight ratings with his victory over Kiram and would appear to be in a good position to challenge for a world championship possibly against undefeated WBA/WBC world champion Keith Thurman at some point in the future.
A fighter whom Matthysse gave all he could handle back in November 2010, who is also trying to work his way back into world championship contention is former two-division world champion Zab Judah. Judah, who is himself in the midst of a comeback saw action that evening at the Grey Eagle Resort and Casino in Calgary, Alberta, Canada as he faced veteran contender Noel Rincon.
For the forty-year old Judah the ten round bout with Rincon was his second bout following a four year layoff after losing a twelve round unanimous decision to two-division world champion Paul Malignaggi in December 2013. Judah returned to the ring in January 2017 scoring a second round knockout over Jorge Munguia in Trenton, NJ.
The former Jr. Welterweight and Welterweight world champion Judah out boxed Rincon over ten rounds to score a convincing ten round unanimous decision. Judah showed flashes of the hand speed and elusiveness that made him among the best pound for pound fighters in the world throughout his career in this fight. Although some may question what Judah has left at this stage in his career, this observer believes he needs to stay as active as possible and if he can continue to impress in subsequent fights Judah could find himself back in contention. A possible rematch between Matthysse and Judah could be a viable option for both men particularly if Matthysse will not be competing for a world championship in the near future and one could argue that both fighters are at a similar stage in their respective careers, despite Matthysse now holding what in reality is a number one contender’s position in the WBA’s Welterweight ratings.
Two World Lightweight championship bouts took place during the month of January. In the first bout, Which took place on January 20th at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY undefeated IBF Lightweight world champion Robert Easter Jr. successfully made the third defense of his crown by scoring a hard fought twelve round split decision over top contender Javier Fortuna. The main story of this bout in my eyes was the fact that Fortuna weighed in for the bout nearly two pounds over the 135lb. Lightweight limit. Despite this, Fortuna gave Easter all he could handle in what was a close and competitive fight.
Three-division world champion Jorge Linares meanwhile successfully made the third defense of his WBA Lightweight world championship on January 27th at The Forum in Inglewood, CA by scoring a lopsided twelve round unanimous decision over Mercito Gesta. Although I am not one who likes to necessarily compare performances of world champions in the same weight class who compete in separate bouts in a relatively short period of time, as I watched these two bouts thoughts of a potential showdown between Linares and Easter naturally came to mind.
Even though Robert Easter Jr. had a hard fought battle in his bout with Javier Fortuna, he has been a rising star in the sport over the last couple of years and as is often the case when a star is on the rise, an encounter with an established star/world champion seems like a natural. A bout between Linares and Easter would be a classic experience versus youth scenario and beyond it being an encounter between two world-class boxers it would be a step toward unification of the Lightweight division, which as unification has taken place in Boxing’s other weight classes it has proven to be beneficial for the sport in the long-term picture.
Whether or not the bouts that are scheduled to take place in the months ahead or the potential fights that I have mentioned in this column prove to be beneficial for Boxing on either a short or long-term basis remains to be seen. If the month of January has been an indication as to what is to come in 2018, it will surely be an entertaining and active year for both Boxing fans and experts alike.
“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”
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