August 26, 2023: A Big Day For The Heavyweight Division

August 2023 in the sport of Boxing will come to a close on Saturday, August 26th with the spotlight firmly focused on the Heavyweight division. In some ways, this day will look at both the present and what could well be the future, which can all be seen here in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+.

The marquee attraction of the day will take place in Wroclaw, Poland as undefeated unified WBO/IBF/IBO/WBA Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk will make the second defense of his crown against WBA number one Heavyweight contender Daniel Dubois in Wrocław Stadium. This fight is the first for Usyk following two decision wins over Anthony Joshua in 2021 and 2022 where he won and then successfully retained the unified Heavyweight crown. While many had expected that Usyk's next fight following his rematch against Joshua in August of last year would be a unification bout with undefeated WBC world champion Tyson Fury for what would be the Undisputed Heavyweight championship of the world, unfortunately due to elements involving the business of Boxing, that fight did not materialize.

Instead, Usyk will be turning his attention to fulfilling one of his mandatory defense obligations of one of the four world championships he currently holds by facing the WBA's mandatory challenger Daniel Dubois. Although some may dismiss this fight as a mere mandatory, in that sometimes those who earn opportunities to fight for a world championship by being mandated by a sanctioning organization as it's top contender in a given weight class, does not always have significant public interest, this could be a dangerous fight for the undefeated champion.

It was not long ago when Daniel Dubois was considered one of the sport's feared rising "Knockout Artists." Dubois carried a record of 15-0, with 14 Knockouts into what was a highly anticipated clash with then fellow undefeated "Knockout Artist" and former Olympic Silver medalist Joe Joyce in November of 2020. Dubois would suffer the lone defeat of his career by being knocked out by Joyce in the tenth round in a fight where he suffered a broken left eye socket. Since that setback, Dubois has won four straight fights, all by knockout including a fourth round knockout of previously unbeaten Trevor Bryan in June of last year where he earned Interim/Regular champion status in the WBA's Heavyweight ratings, which in short made him the number one contender.

The question going into this fight will be whether Dubois will be able to deal with the angles and overall skill of Usyk. While Oleksandr Usyk is the favorite going into this title defense, he has had some difficulty in some bouts since moving to Heavyweight after becoming undisputed champion as a Cruiserweight. Usyk's fight with longtime Heavyweight contender Dereck Chisora in October 2020 can serve as an example of Usyk having trouble against a Heavyweight that was able to apply consistent pressure on him, which is something that Anthony Joshua was not able to do in two fights and given Dubois' punching power, it will be interesting to see if he has studied Usyk's fight against Chisora that he could try to implement a similar strategy. It is also important to keep in mind that Usyk has not scored a knockout since moving to Heavyweight and, despite remaining unbeaten and becoming unified world champion in the division, questions do remain in regard to his punching power as a Heavyweight.

With a possible unification bout to become Undisputed Heavyweight champion of the world still no closer to becoming a reality, Usyk must remain focused on the task at hand even if some are dismissing this fight as a mere mandatory or "Stay Busy" fight. If he is not focused, Daniel Dubois does have the power to pull off what would be considered an upset, despite being the natural Heavyweight and bigger fighter.

As Usyk-Dubois will focus on the current landscape of the Heavyweight division in terms of the world championship picture, August 26th will also provide a look at a Heavyweight contender that could well be the future of the division. This observer is referring to the undefeated "Knockout Artist" Jared Anderson.

Anderson, who is coming off of the first decision win in his career in July where he was forced to go ten full rounds in his fifthteenth professional fight against former IBF Heavyweight world champion Charles Martin, who had taken the fight on short notice. A fight that ended Anderson's fourteen fight knockout streak, which began his career, he was still impressive in scoring a convincing ten round unanimous decision in his hometown of Toledo, OH.

Now, a little more than one month after that fight, Anderson is getting back in the ring to face veteran Andrii Rudenko in a scheduled ten round bout at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa, OK. Although some may view a fighter competing so soon after a fight in which they had to go ten competitive rounds as too soon to be back in the ring, in actuality, it is a method that many fighters used to do on a regular basis from rising contenders as Anderson is to even world champions in decades past. 

The biggest detriment to any fighter in any combat sport on any level is inactivity and while a fighter will obviously risk their standing every other they compete, there is an old adage that yours truly believes in that the more active a fighter is, the more theoretically they will be prepared and in condition when all significant fight such as one for a world championship does come along. In this case, Anderson is trying to continue his progression as well as stay active. 

Currently rated number seven in the world in the World Boxing Council (WBC) Heavyweight ratings, Anderson while now risking a top ten ranking with each subsequent time that he competes, in addition to being active, it will also increase his name recognition value towards a potential world championship bout should he continue to win.  In Andrii Rudenko, Anderson will face a veteran of forty-two professional fights, who has a respectable record of 35-6, with 21 Knockouts. A possible red flag that some might point to however, is all of Rudenko's six defeats came when he has stepped up in the caliber of his competition having lost to several top contenders in his career, most notably among them, former world title challenger Alexander Povetkin in July of 2017.

The one bright spot for Rudenko is he has only been stopped once in his career and it will obviously be interesting to see if he will be able to stand up to the power of Anderson. Although this has the appearance of a "Stay Busy" fight for Anderson, his position in the WBC ratings likely means that he potentially could be on a short list of possible contenders who might get an opportunity to either fight in a world championship elimination bout, if not potentially an opportunity to face Tyson Fury sometime within the next year. Thus, it is an important fight for the young undefeated American contender as he continues his rise up the ranks.

While this day spotlighting the Heavyweight division offers a look at two different levels of the division, one should not dismiss the possibility of Anderson potentially being in line to face the winner of Usyk-Dubois down the line as well, especially if no further progress is made towards further unification of the division going into 2024. Stranger things have happened in the sport before and if Anderson beats Rudenko, the idea of him facing either Usyk or Dubois is something to discuss. We will see who emerges victorious in these two Heavyweight bouts on Saturday, August 26th.

"And That's The Boxing Truth."

Usyk vs Dubois takes place on Saturday, August 26 at Wrocław Stadium in Wrocław, Poland. The fight can be seen in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+ beginning at 5PM ET/2PM PT.

Anderson vs. Rudenko takes place on Saturday, August 26 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa, OK. The fight as well as it's full undercard can be seen in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+ beginning at 6:45PM ET/3:45PM PT.

ESPN+ is available through the ESPN app on mobile, tablet, and connected streaming devices/Smart TVs. For more information about ESPN+ including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, and to subscribe please visit: www.ESPNPlus.com. 

(*Card and Start Times Subject to Change.*)

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The Redemption Of Daniel Dubois

A fighter’s career can at times resemble the twists and turns of a good book. With any good story, the normal process at least in the context of a book, is normally chronicled through various chapters. One could say that a fighter’s career should be thought of in a similar way.

It was not long ago that Heavyweight contender  Daniel Dubois was one of the division’s hottest rising stars. By quickly establishing himself as a “Knockout Artist,” it seemed as though Dubois may have been on a relatively quick path towards a shot at a version of the World Heavyweight championship.

An issue that fighters that were in Dubois’ position typically face as they continue to score quick knockouts is skeptics that all too often express both opinions and doubts as to how good a fighter might be. Although there is usually a point where a fighter is tested and are able to quell those skeptics, there are times when either criticisms remain and/or a fighter comes up short when tested.

For Dubois, he would come up short in November 2020 when he was stopped by fellow unbeaten Heavyweight Joe Joyce in a bout for the British, Commonwealth, and European Heavyweight championships. Although the end for Dubois in that fight came as a result of being dropped by a hard jqb and suffering a broken eye socket, which resulted in the fight being stopped, it is at times difficult for a fighter to shake off a label that can be placed on them as a result of a loss.

In this case, it was the opinion of some that Dubois could have continued in that fight. It should be no secret to longtime readrrs that this observer has at times called out such comments, which are often made by fans. The primary reason why I have done this on occasion though everyone is entitled to their own point of view is because more often than not, such opinions are rooted in bias and often tend to ignore facts as a means of justifying the narrative. The obvious fact that was ignored by those who felt that Dubois quit in the fight against Joyce was that he had suffered a severe injury to his left eye and was not able to continue.

While yours truly does not intend to criticize a point of view that a fan might have, which in an era of ever advancing technology and social media there is no shortage of opinions on just about any subject one might think of, I do feel that there are times when folks allow their bias to influence their comments and in the case of a fighter like Daniel Dubois, it was not exactly justified for him to have a label placed on him even though he did come up short in suffering the first loss of his career to Joe Joyce by knockout.

A saying that this observer has come to believe in and appreciate that can be applied to a fighter that suffered a setback like Dubois did is, it is often how a fighter deals with setbacks/defeats that will truly determine what they are made of.

After compiling two knockout wins following the loss to Joyce, Dubois found himself in a position to face a top contender in the division in the form of undefeated Trevor Bryan. While the fight against Bryan had an interim/regular championship designation attached to it as far as the World Boxing Association (WBA) Heavyweight ratings were concerned, this fight represented something more valuable for Dubois. An opportunity.

For all it’s flaws, Boxing is after all a sport of opportunity. In this case, this fight not only presented Dubois with the opportunity to move himself closer to a potential world title shot, but more specifically, it offered the opportunity of redemption for him in a fight that would have significant attention. When the two met on June 11th at the Miami Jai Alai Casino in Miami, FL it was simply time to see whether Dubois was ready for this opportunity. Although I stated in previewing this bout that Daniel Dubois’ biggest asset was his punching power, he showed something that was a bit surprising in this fight even for a seasoned Boxing lifer like yours truly. Despite his earned reputation as a power puncher, Dubois implemented a measured tactical approach in this fight from the opening bell. Now, the reason why I was surprised was not so much the choice of tactics Dubois used, but more specifically the patience he showed.

A misconception that some can have about fighters that are able to garner a reputation as a “Knockout Artist” is that the fighter simply has one objective, to seek and destroy. What can be overlooked however, is the tactics that can be used to set up a fight ending by knockout. Patience was the key for Dubois as he quickly established a hard right hand as the focal point of his offense, but also worked off his jab. The patience he had was displayed by the way he controlled distance not allowing Bryan the opportunity to get close where he may have been able to land something that may have turned the ebb and flow in his favor in an exchange of offense. This along with periodic offense to Bryan’s body prevented him from getting into any sort of rhythm.

It also did not take long to see the effects of Dubois’ right hand on Bryan as he frequently was stunned and hurt by the Dubois right hand. Despite the one-sided tempo of the combat, the thought did cross my mind that perhaps Bryan’s strategy was to weather whatever Dubois had in the early rounds and gradually step up his output as the fight progressed with the thinking that stamina could be an issue for Dubois. While this is usually a wise approach against a power puncher, the flaw with the strategy at least in regard to this fight was Bryan was not active enough in the early going and the fight was fought at such a pace that the issue of stamina was not likely to become an issue for Dubois as at no point was he over aggressive and seemed as though there was a possibility of punching himself out. This can be directly attributed to his patience in waiting for the opportunity for a knockout to come to him as opposed to trying to force it and in doing so, potentially put himself at risk and give Bryan the chance to turn the momentum in his favor.

The opportunity for Dubois to end the fight came in round four. As he had done in previous rounds, Dubois staggered Bryan with a right hand and this sent Bryan almost scrambling in an attempt to get his feet under him. The effects of the punishment however, were all too evident and Dubois sensing that the end was near pounced with a short flurry of punches that ended with a flush left hook to the jaw sending Bryan down hard on the canvas. The fight was over as Bryan failed to beat the count.

While obviously this victory should be viewed as the best of his career to date, Daniel Dubois executed a near perfect fight plan that one might say will be implemented by other fighters throughout the sport in terms of how to pace themselves and use patience. Now as the WBA’s top contender, Daniel Dubois will likely wait for the outcome of the upcoming rematch between undefeated IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO world champion Oleksandr Usyk and former champion Anthony Joshua before deciding his next move.

No matter what is next for Daniel Dubois, his setback against Joe Joyce should be viewed as just that a setback. Simply put, Dubois has shown in now three fights since that loss that he can bounce back and if one is objective, he has redeemed himself by winning a significant fight that may indeed lead to an even bigger opportunity. 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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Bryan-Dubois Preview

With the apparent retirement of undefeated two-time Heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury, the current holder of the WBC Heavyweight world championship, as well as undefeated unified WBA/IBF/WBO/IBO world champion Oleksandr Usyk heading towards a rematch with former two-time Heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua later this year,  the Heavyweight division could be heading towards a period of transition or at least a period of time that may allow some of the top contenders an opportunity to maneuver up towards a potential world title shot.  In the case of undefeated Heavyweight contender Trevor Bryan,  he for the moment is in a position of being on the outside, looking in. Despite his status as a mandatory challenger per his holding an interim/regular championship designation in the WBA’s Heavyweight ratings, Bryan is unfortunately in a position where he has to wait for either a winner to emerge from the Usyk-Joshua rematch or perhaps wait for an opportunity to open to fight for the WBC championship if one were to become available to him.

 

Under such circumstances,  a fighter in his position faces a dilemma that can be viewed as both simple and complex depending on one’s perspective. The dilemma of whether to sit and wait for his shot,  which he has earned and the lucrative payday that is likely to come with it or to try and remain as active as possible by fighting other’s top contenders,  but risk his mandatory challenger status by doing so. What also should be taken into consideration are the circumstances of the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic, which as we have seen continues and varies depending on the circumstances of the virus depending on a given location.

 

Fortunately for Bryan, he has been able to make his decision and not as of now had that decision affected by the circumstances of the epidemic. The decision to fight on and take on all comers.

 

In his last two fights, Bryan scored a stoppage of former WBC Heavyweight world champion Bermane Stiverine and most recently scored a twelve round split decision over previously unbeaten Jonathan Guidry in January. Although Bryan had difficulty in that bout with Guidry, he did what he had to do to maintain his number one ranking and was able to continue building momentum.

 

Now, Bryan looks to continue the momentum building process when he faces top contender Daniel Dubois on Saturday, June 11^th at the Miami Jai Alai Casino in Miami, FL in a fight that can be seen in the United States on FITE Pay-Per-View. This figures to be an interesting fight that one could perhaps argue is a crossroads battle.

 

Daniel Dubois is a power puncher who has scored knockouts in sixteen of his seventeen career wins. The one blemish kn Dubois’ record came when he was knocked out in  ten rounds by undefeated contender Joe Joyce in a fight where Dubois suffered a broken eye socket.

 

Although Dubois has scored two knockout wins since suffering the lone defeat in his career in November 2020, some may question whether Dubois is ready to step up again. The story of this fight is a relatively  easy one to describe. While Trevor Bryan is the fighter with the most of the momentum going into this fight, one might argue he also has the most to lose in this fight per his current position in the division

 

Dubois ' biggest asset is his punching power and more specifically, when he is able to jump on opponents early in fights. Bryan meanwhile seems to perform best when he is able to make fights be fought at a methodical pace.

 

With this in mind, this observer feels it is crucial that Dubois force the fight on Bryan early, but je must not be reckless in doing so. It is important to remember in his loss to Joe Joyce, Dubois was extended into the tenth round in that fight amd as it progressed, his offense gradually decreased. Dubois must pace himself in anticipation of being extended into the middle and late rounds of this fight.

 

Although the two fighters are similar with regard to height and reach at 6’4 and 6’5 and 78” and 79” respectively, Bryan’s last fight against Jonathan Guidry was one where the shorter Guidry was able to keep the fight competitive and was able to do so by periodically having success in getting on the inside of Bryan’s reach.

 

While a similar situation may not exist in this fight due to the similar height and reach between the two fighters, Bryan must try to control the tempo of the fight, but must he wary of both Dubois’ power and must avoid falling into lulls over the course of the fight, which allowed Guidry to make up some ground during the fight. Even though the possibility of this fight ending suddenly in favor of either fighter is very real, conventional wisdom would suggest that Bryan will likely try to extend Dubois into the middle and late rounds as Joe Joyce was able to accomplish.

 

 

 

Regardless of the label that the WBA has on this fight, what is really at stake for both men is the chance to move up the list of potential challengers either for the winner of the Usyk-Joshua rematch or if the WBC championship does indeed become vacant,  a way to possibly maneuver themselves into a fight for a vacated world championship. This observer should not have to explain the obvious. Tgere could be significant opportunities for the winner of this fight and along with them plenty of money to be made.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

Bryan vs. Dubois takes place on Saturday, June 11^th at Miami Jai Alai Casino in Miami, FL. The bout can be seen on a pay-per-view basis in the United States on digital combat sports streaming network and pay-per-view platform FITE beginning at 4PM ET/1PM PT. For more information about FITE including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices/platforms/Smart TVs, local start times in your area, event availability, to order,  and for instructions on how to download the FITE app, please visit: www.FITE.TV.

 

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King And Arum Bring Boxing Back To An Unappreciated Era With A Head To Head Night Of Boxing

 

January 29, 2022 in the sport of Boxing was one where two interesting cards took place courtesy of two Hall of Fame promoters and longtime rivals Don King and Bob Arum, who inadvertently took the sport back in time in producing two Boxing cards that would go head to head against each other on competing platforms. Unlike decades ago when King and Arum would rival each other on competing premium cable networks and pay-per-view distributed through cable and satellite providers, this head to head encounter of competing Boxing cards would take place in the streaming realm with Arum staging a card in Tulsa, OK that was broadcast on digital subscription-based sports streaming network ESPN+ and King staging a digital pay-per-view card that was broadcast on FITE from Warren, OH.

 

Beyond the throwback scenario of the two ninety year old promoters competing one more time against each other for the Boxing audience, each card had intrigue for different reasons. As readers may recall, this observer previewed these two cards here on The Boxing Truth® and days prior to the events taking place. While that column began focusing on Don King’s event, this column will begin with Bob Arum’s card, which took place at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa, OK.

 

The main event of that card was billed as an elimination bout in the World Boxing Council’s (WBC) Jr. Lightweight division between top contenders Robson Conceicao and Xavier Martinez. In previewing this bout, yours truly stated that it was one that arguably pitted two fighters at very similar stages in their careers against each other. An encounter between two boxer/punchers that appeared to be well- matched. In the early rounds, it appeared as though the well matched encounter this bout appeared to be on paper would materialize. There are times when a fight seems to develop a pattern.

 

This fight was one where a pattern emerged rather quickly in the early rounds. Conceicao usually coming forward and throwing punches in varying numbers of combinations and for a time Martinez throwing back offense. It created an impression at least for this observer that the early rounds were closely fought and that there could have been a difference of opinion as to who was getting the upper hand. While Conceicao was clearly the more active of the two fighters, Martinez seemed to land the harder punches of the two, particularly when he was able to get on the inside where he was able to land hooks to the head of Conceicao that momentarily stunned him.

 

As the fight progressed into the middle and late rounds however, Martinez’ ability to immediately answer with offense began to decrease. This was due to Conceicao's lateral movement and ability to keep Martinez at distance and largely unable to get his punches off. Beyond sporadic success in the middle and late rounds during moments where he was able to get on the inside, Martinez was unable to turn the ebb and flow of the combat in his favor as Conceicao would go on to earn a convincing ten round unanimous decision in a fight where I unofficially scored it seven rounds to three in his favor. With the win, Conceicao appears as though he may be headed towards a rematch with current unified world champion Oscar Valdez, who is the only fighter to hold a victory over him as a professional. Obviously, a rematch with Valdez will depend on whether or not Valdez, the current WBC Jr. Lightweight world champion is successful in his unification bout against current WBO world champion Shakur Stevenson, which is scheduled to take place in April.

 

This brings us to the pay-per-view card promoted by Don King, which took place at the Packard Music Hall in Warren, OH. Two bouts in Boxing’s Cruiserweight and Heavyweight divisions co-headlined this event. First, a battle of undefeated Heavyweights saw top WBA contender Trevor Bryan engage in a twelve round slugfest with undefeated, but largely unknown Jonathan Guidry.  The taller and heavier Bryan tried to use his 268lbs. and long jab to keep the shorter Guidry at distance where he could not get his punches off. For a period of time this strategy was proving to be successful for Bryan who holds an interim/regular champion designation in the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) Heavyweight ratings, but Guidry was able to force exchanges of offense throughout the twelve round bout.

 

It was in these exchanges that Guidry had the most success as he was able to connect with hard hooks with both hands to the head of Bryan. Despite being a relative unknown going into this bout, Guidry also showed that he could take Bryan’s punches as there were several instances throughout where the two Heavyweights traded punch for punch with each other with neither fighter really backing down.

 

Although this continued in the later rounds, fatigue on both fighters began to slow the pace, which was reasonably quick for a Heavyweight bout, down and it was Bryan who seemed to have a bit more left in him. A knockdown in the closing seconds of the twelfth round sealed a twelve round split decision for Bryan to remain unbeaten in now twenty-two professional bouts with Guidry suffering his first loss in twenty professional fights. Bryan is in a unique position currently in the Heavyweight division as he holds an interim/regular designation in the WBA’s Heavyweight rankings. While the WBA in it’s wisdom has created confusion amongst Boxing fans with such a structure because they do not acknowledge that it is a designation and promote fighters who hold such designations as “World Champions,” in reality, Bryan is the WBA’s number one contender and should be viewed as it’s mandatory challenger to current undefeated unified IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk.

 

The problem Bryan and all would be contenders in the division currently face is both fighters who hold the respective portions of the World Heavyweight Championship are currently tied up. Undefeated two-time Heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury, who currently holds the WBC world championship in the division will be making the second defense of that world title in April against current WBC number one mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte. Usyk meanwhile is heading towards a contractually-obligated rematch against the man he took the unified portion of the Heavyweight championship from last year, Anthony Joshua.  While certainly things are rarely “Set In Stone” in Boxing for a variety of reasons, the belief at least among some is that the two winners of those bouts, which are both being targeted for April, will lead to an encounter for the Undisputed world championship later this year if circumstances including, but not limited to the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic allow for such a plan to occur. What this means for a fighter in Trevor Bryan’s position is that for the immediate future, he is essentially the odd man out of this equation and will likely have to wait until at least 2023 before he might get an opportunity to fight for potentially the Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship. Another potential issue Bryan might have is the question of whether or not he will want to be active in that time and thus risk his mandatory challenger status. There also is a potential issue in that Bryan’s promoter Don King has promoted Boxing cards sporadically over the last several years and while some of that could be attributed to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis at least in regard to the last two years, a question that should be asked if Bryan wants to remain active during that time is whether or not King will be promoting cards more frequently if circumstances allow him to do so.

 

The main event of this card was a battle for the WBC Cruiserweight world championship between champion Ilunga Makabu defending his title against WBC number one contender Thabiso Mchunu. This was a rematch from a fight in May 2015 in which Makabu scored an eleventh round knockout of Mchunu.

 

In previewing this bout, this observer stated that this rematch had generated significantly more interest in the weeks leading up to it due to what could loom ahead for the winner. I am speaking of course of a possible encounter with current Undisputed Super-Middleweight world champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, who has expressed interest in moving up two weight classes to test the waters in the Cruiserweight division.

 

For those who might wonder why a potential encounter with Alvarez would spark increased interest in a world championship fight that would not have otherwise been able to benefit from such publicity, it is important to keep in mind that despite the accomplishments of fighters like Evander Holyfield and most recently Oleksandr Usyk, who both started their careers as Cruiserweights and both went on to become undisputed world champions of the division, the Cruiserweight division has never been viewed as a career destination for most fighters and thus has never been viewed as the most lucrative option available as most fighters use the division as a way to test the waters before moving up to Heavyweight as both Holyfield and Usyk did or as a fallback option for fighters who are unable to effectively compete as a Heavyweight. In this case, the interest lies in the fact that Saul Alvarez has won world titles from the 154lb. Jr. Middleweight division to the 175lb. Light-Heavyweight division after starting his career as a 140lb. Jr. Welterweight. Much like the late great Henry Armstrong and Manny Pacquiao, Alvarez has made a career out of fighting and defeating fighters that are theoretically bigger and stronger than him. With his sights set on trying to continue to make history, Alvarez is looking to add becoming a world champion in the Cruiserweight division to the list of his accomplishments in what is turning out to be a Hall of Fame career.

 

What this means for a fighter in Ilunga Makabu’s position is, despite not being particularly well-known here in the United States, he has something that is on Alvarez’ radar, a world championship in a division that Alvarez is eyeing. This essentially gives a fighter in Makabu’s position essentially a lottery ticket to fight the current biggest marquee draw the sport has to offer. With this in mind, in the days prior to this rematch, I found myself wondering aloud as to whether or not this fight would be more about the potential business aspect of a possible fight with Alvarez more so than what takes place inside the ring. If the reader is confused, allow me to elaborate.

 

It goes without saying that there is an overabundance of hype that often accompanies Boxing for better or worse. In this case, and in the spirit of truth and honesty with the reader, this was as much about whether or not Alvarez could see something in either Makabu or Mchunu that might discourage him from testing the waters of the Cruiserweight division or seeing conditions and styles that might make a challenge for a Cruiserweight world championship ideal, as much as it was to see who would get the upper hand in a rematch between two of the best fighters in the division. As is often the case whenever there is a fight taking place that has a storyline of what might follow that frankly overshadows what will occur inside the ring, I approached this bout with the mindset of no expectations. My reasoning was simple, the business of the sport of Boxing has many twists and turns that can be akin to a soap opera or more bluntly a primetime television drama. In simple terms, unless it was “Set In Stone” that the winner of the Makabu-Mchunu rematch was signed to fight Alvarez next, I just viewed it as a world championship bout between a champion and a number one contender.

 

What occurred in the fight itself was underwhelming if one prefers toe to toe battles, but was entertaining for those who appreciate Boxing skill, timing and tactical fights. An encounter that largely consisted of the two fighters standing in close and looking to counter each other, both fighters were able to have periods of effectiveness, but from my perspective despite the champion Makabu applying consistent pressure throughout and being the fighter coming forward, it was Mchunu that seemed to land the cleaner, more effective punches particularly when he was able to land his right hook. It was also noticeable the occasional stagger of the champion when he would get hit with those shots. The fight was however, extremely close due to both fighters being able to have success in many of the same rounds as well as the measured pace in which the bout was fought. At the conclusion of the twelve round world championship bout, I felt that it was a draw, but was certainly not surprised to see a split decision rendered. Although Makabu would retain his world championship via twelve round split decision, likely based on the consistent pressure he was able to apply throughout as well as his own counter punches, it was as close a fight as one could call where a winner was declared.

 

As for what this could mean for Makabu moving forward, obviously, he is still a potential opponent for Alvarez until otherwise announced. How successful would the champion be against a fighter of Alvarez’ standing in the sport, it is important to remember that if that fight were to happen, Makabu would be the naturally bigger man fighting at his natural weight between 190lbs. and 200lbs. What may end up making this fight a reality however, is the fact that Mchunu was able to hit the champion cleanly with hard shots and do so more than occasionally. While it is indeed true that styles make fights, if one views a possible Makabu-Alvarez bout objectively, it is not hard to envision Saul Alvarez watching Makabu’s rematch with Mchunu and feeling encouraged as opposed to discouraged in the potential openings that he might have seen, which if he does move up to fight Makabu, he could very well exploit with his skillset.

 

For now, the important thing to keep in mind if you are Ilunga Makabu is he retained his world championship and whether or not some may feel that he lost his rematch with Thabiso Mchunu, he was able to hold onto the one thing that is of interest to Saul Alvarez even though from Alvarez’ position he could likely make more financially by not moving up to Cruiserweight, a world championship in what would be a fifth weight division for him. Whether or not Alvarez still sees Makabu as the best option to try and accomplish that goal after the champion’s second victory over Thabiso Mchunu remains to be seen.

 

As for this the latest chapter in the decades long rivalry between Don King and Bob Arum, who knows whether the two will continue to stage cards coincidentally or not against each other as 2022 progresses. It is however, refreshing, despite what one might think of either King or Arum, who each have their respective share of critics, to see two cornerstones of the sport of Boxing continuing to promote cards at the age of ninety. Regardless of one’s opinion of Don King and Bob Arum, both men have played a major role in the sport over the last fifty years and are both responsible for some of the most historical events and bouts in Boxing history. With the sport heading ever more in the direction of streaming in terms of how Boxing is broadcast, it is only right that two of the major players in Boxing promotion who were pioneers in terms of first staging major Boxing events via closed-circuit distribution, to premium cable/satellite networks, to pay-per-view, be involved in the next innovation of bringing Boxing to the ultimate authority in the sport, the consumer. 

 

Although no one can say if Arum and King will continue to go head to head in the streaming realm, they each provided what turned out to be a memorable night of Boxing to close out January 2022 featuring a combination of a world championship fight on one card, along with a mix of rising prospects and contenders that were featured on both of their events. It goes without saying that those prospects in theory will go on to become the future stars in the sport and if Arum and King can each continue to develop those fighters and it leads to further opportunities throughout the entire sport, Boxing will ultimately benefit from it. Why criticize what would be a good thing for Boxing?

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

 

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday 1/29/2022 Weights And Information

 Two Boxing cards pitting Hall of Fame Boxing promoters Don King and Bob Arum against each other on competing streaming networks will take place on Saturday night in Warren, OH and Tulsa, OK respectively. Below are official weights and legal broadcast information for both cards.

 

Don King Productions: Ilunga Makabu vs. Thabiso Mchunu 2: Packard Music Hall Warren, OH FITE Pay-Per-View

 

Main Event: WBC Cruiserweight world championship – 12Rds.

 

Ilunga Makabu (Champion) 197lbs. vs. Thabiso Mchunu (Challenger) 198 1/2lbs.

 

*Heavyweight – 12Rds.

 

Trevor Bryan 268lbs. vs. Jonathan Guidry 246 1/2lbs.

 

(*Fight is for Interim/Regular status in the WBA’s Heavyweight ratings. A designation currently held by Bryan.)

 

Vacant North American Boxing Association (NABA) Cruiserweight championship – 10Rds.

 

Johnnie Langston 199 1/2lbs. vs. Nick Kisner 198 1/2lbs.

 

Heavyweight – 10Rds.

 

Ahmed Hefny 216lbs. vs. Dacarree Scott 276 1/2lbs.

 

Vacant North American Boxing Association (NABA) Middleweight championship – 10Rds.

 

Michael Moore 164lbs. vs. Anthony Lenk 159lbs.

 

Vacant North American Boxing Association (NABA) Welterweight championship – 10Rds.

 

Cody Wilson 145lbs. vs. Tre'Sean Wiggins 145 1/2lbs.

 

Makabu vs. Mchunu takes place on Saturday, January 29^th at Packard Music Hall in Warren, OH. The card can be seen globally on FITE Pay-Per-View beginning at 8PM ET/5PM PT for $49.99. The FITE app is available on mobile, tablet, connected streaming devices, and Smart TVs. For more information about FITE please visit: www.FITE.TV. To order Makabu vs. Mchunu download the FITE app or Click Here.

 

 

 

Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc.: Robson Conceicao vs. Xavier Martinez: Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Tulsa, OK ESPN+ *Weights for this card unavailable as of this writing. Full list of bouts scheduled to take place on this card are below.

 

Main Event: Jr. Lightweight – 10Rds.

 

Robson Conceicao vs. Xavier Martinez

 

Heavyweight – 8Rds.

 

Stephan Shaw vs. Joey Dawejko

 

Women’s Jr. Lightweight – 8Rds.

 

Kalliopi Kourouni vs. Carla Torres

 

Featherweight – 6Rds.

 

Haven Brady Jr. vs. Diuhl Olguin

 

Middleweight – 4Rds.

 

Nico Ali Walsh vs. Jeremiah Yeager

 

Featherweight – 4Rds.

 

Bruce Carrington vs. Steven Brown

 

Light-Heavyweight – 4Rds.

 

Dante Benjamin vs. Herman Rendon

 

Heavyweight – 4Rds.

 

Jeremiah Milton vs. Dell Long

 

Welterweight – 4Rds.

 

Delante Johnson vs. Xavier Madrid

 

Lightweight – 8Rds.

 

 Juan Tellez vs. Giovanni Cabrera

 

Conceicao vs. Martinez takes place on Saturday, January 29^th at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa, OK. The fight as well as it’s full undercard can be seen in the United States on digital subscription-based sports streaming network ESPN+ beginning at 6:55PM ET/3:55PM PT. ESPN+ is available through the ESPN app on mobile, tablet, connected streaming devices and Smart TVs. For more information about ESPN+ including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices/platforms/Smart TVs, and to subscribe please visit: www.ESPNPlus.com. Check your local listings internationally.

 

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

 

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison

The Conclusion Of January 2022 In Boxing

 Although the Boxing schedule since the beginning of 2022 has been sporadic due in part to the ongoing global COVID-19 epidemic and several postponements of several Boxing cards outside of the United States due to several countries issuing restrictions in an effort to combat the latest surge of the virus and it’s latest Omnicon variant. The end of January 2022 however, will be highlighted by two separate cards on Saturday, January29th promoted by rival Hall of Fame promoters Don King and Bob Arum.

 

In some ways, this is a scenario that brings Boxing back to a previous era where Arum and King would go head to head on competing platforms as each at one time or another held claim as the top promoter in the sport. Now, in 2022, both Arum and King, each at the age of ninety are each still going strong and will be promoting two interesting cards that are each compelling for their own reasons.

 

First, Don King will present a seven bout card that can be seen on FITE Pay-Per-View from the Packard Music Hall in Warren, OH. In the main event WBC Cruiserweight world champion Ilunga Makabu will make the second defense of his world title against WBC number one rated Cruiserweight contender Thabiso Mchunu. A rematch from a bout in May 2015 when the then contender Makabu knocked out Mchunu in eleven rounds. Beyond this fight being a case that can be simply defined as a world champion facing the mandatory number one contender in the organization in which they hold a world title, for Makabu, this fight has added significance as he has been named as a potential opponent for current Undisputed Super-Middleweight world champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. While obviously a fight with Alvarez, who would move up two weight classes from the 168lb. Super-Middleweight division to the 190lb. Cruiserweight division to challenge Makabu, would garner significant attention due to Alvarez’ standing as arguably the number one marquee draw in the sport, obviously, the current WBC Cruiserweight champion will need to take care of matters against Mchunu before any potential bout with Alvarez could be negotiated.

 

Although this is a fight between two of the top Cruiserweights in the world, it is also arguable that this bout between Makabu and Mchunu has gained considerable attention due to the possibility of a fight with Alvarez looming ahead for Makabu, should he successfully defend his championship.  In terms of what to expect when Makabu and Mchunu face off, Makabu is an offensive-minded fighter who has scored twenty-five knockouts in his twenty eight career wins. The champion has shown in his career that he has a good power, particularly in his left hook as well as a willingness to engage in exchanges of offense with his opponents. While this indicates the possibility for an entertaining bout for the Boxing fan, it can also leave the champion vulnerable and he was stopped in his two career losses, which is something to keep in mind. Makabu has been undefeated since losing in his first world title shot when he lost to Tony Bellew in 2016 for what was then the vacant WBC championship in the Cruiserweight division. Since that bout, Makabu has been unbeaten in nine bouts in which he has scored knockouts in seven of those bouts. 

 

Standing across the ring from Makabu will be Thabiso Mchunu. Mchunu, a fighter with twenty-eight career bouts to his credit will enter the bout with a record of 23-5, with 13 Knockouts. The challenger  is a boxer/puncher, who one might assume will be looking to extend Makabu into the middle and late rounds of this fight if he can. Mchunu has won four straight bouts coming into this bout in what will be his second attempt at a world championship after previously being stopped by undefeated former Undisputed Cruiserweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk in December 2016, when the current unified Heavyweight world champion made a successful defense of his WBO Cruiserweight crown in stopping Mchunu in nine rounds. Although both Makabu and Mchunu are not particularly well-known here in the United States, they are two world-class fighters and it will be interesting to see if they will be able to take advantage of the increased exposure here and also if the winner of this bout will be able to secure what will likely be the most lucrative payday of their career by potentially fighting Alvarez.

 

The co-main event of this card will see undefeated top Heavyweight contender Trevor Bryan face undefeated contender Jonathan Guidry in a bout scheduled for twelve rounds. Bryan, who currently holds interim/regular champion status in the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) Heavyweight ratings, has had several on again, off again agreements to fight longtime contender Manuel Charr, who at one point also held an interim/regular designation in the WBA ratings. While that fight for whatever reason has not materialized, Bryan will be returning to the ring for the first time in exactly one year to face the unbeaten Guidry. In his last bout, Bryan stopped former WBC Heavyweight world champion Bermane Stiverne in eleven rounds in Hollywood, FL.  Bryan will enter this bout unbeaten with a record of 21-0, with 15 Knockouts.  

 

While this in reality is a fight where Bryan will look to make a strong argument for himself as a potential opponent for the winner of the upcoming rematch between undefeated unified IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO Heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk and former two-time champion Anthony Joshua, he faces a bit of the unknown against Guidry, who is currently rated number thirteen in the world by the WBA in the Heavyweight division.

 

Like Bryan, Guidry is unbeaten in his career and will enter the bout with a record of 17-0-2, with 10 Knockouts. Guidry has yet to face a notable opponent in his career and therein lies the element of the unknown as a big question that surrounds this fight will be what Guidry will have to offer. Although Bryan is likely to be viewed as a favorite going into this encounter, it will be interesting to see how Guidry responds to this, his first notable fight against a top contender and if he does perform well win or lose if his current standing in the top fifteen of the WBA’s Heavyweight contenders will be elevated after this fight.

 

While the Makabu-Mchunu rematch and Bryan-Guidry bouts will co-headline a pay-per-view card, Bob Arum will stage a Boxing card at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa, OK. In the main event of this card, which can be seen here in the United States on digital subscription-based sports streaming network ESPN+, a battle of top Jr. Lightweight contenders current WBC number four rated contender Robson Conceicao will face undefeated WBA number four rated contender Xavier Martinez in a bout scheduled for ten rounds. This arguably pits two fighters at very similar stages in their respective careers against each other and is a bout between two boxer/punchers who can do a bit of everything. Conceicao will be looking to rebound in this fight after suffering his only career defeat in his last bout in a failed challenge of WBC Jr. Lightweight world champion Oscar Valdez in September of last year in which he lost a twelve round unanimous decision.

 

Conceicao, who will enter this bout with a record of 16-1, with 8 Knockouts may have come out on the short end that evening against one of the best fighters in the world in Valdez, but he did give a good account of himself in defeat. Although this may have an appearance to some as what is sometimes referred to within the sport as a “Comeback Fight” fight Conceicao, he will be facing another top contender in his first bout coming off that loss in Xavier Martinez.

 

Some might say that Martinez, who will enter this bout unbeaten with a record of 17-0, with 11 Knockouts, is in a similar position as Conceicao was before he faced Valdez in that though he is highly ranked, there is still somewhat of the unknown as far as how good Martinez might be. In fairness, in his last two bouts, Martinez did score victories over notable contenders and former world title challengers  Claudio Marrero and Juan Carlos Burgos. One might argue by now facing a third consecutive former world title challenger in Conceicao, that if Martinez were to win this fight that his next bout might be a challenge of one of the world champions in the 130lb. Jr. Lightweight division. While there are similarities between the two fighters in terms of their records, respective rankings, as well as their Boxing styles, this fight may come down to who is able to get an advantage on the other and whether or not they will be able to maintain that advantage for the duration of the fight.  An interesting battle between one fighter looking for his opportunity at a world championship going against another fighter looking for a second chance.

 

While January 29^th will be a throwback evening of Boxing for many as two legendary promoters pit their respective cards against each other on competing streaming platforms in a scenario that is not unlike how things were for decades between Bob Arum and Don King on across cable/satellite networks and pay-per-view, the rivalry between the two continues and though the landscape of both technology as well as the sport of Boxing as a whole has definitely changed, we will see what this next chapter in that promotional rivalry has to offer.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

Makabu vs. Mchunu takes place on Saturday, January 29^th at Packard Music Hall in Warren, OH. The card can be seen globally on FITE Pay-Per-View beginning at 8PM ET/5PM PT for $49.99. The FITE app is available on mobile, tablet, connected streaming devices, and Smart TVs. For more information about FITE please visit: www.FITE.TV. To order Makabu vs. Mchunu download the FITE app or Click Here.

 

Conceicao vs. Martinez takes place on Saturday, January 29^th at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tulsa, OK. The fight as well as it’s full undercard can be seen in the United States on digital subscription-based sports streaming network ESPN+ beginning at 5:55PM ET/2:55PM PT. ESPN+ is available through the ESPN app on mobile, tablet, connected streaming devices and Smart TVs. For more information about ESPN+ including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices/platforms/Smart TVs, and to subscribe please visit: www.ESPNPlus.com. Check your local listings internationally.

 

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

 

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison