Too Soon And Too Fast For David Price

The outcome of the first fight between then undefeated Heavyweight prospect David Price and longtime Heavyweight contender and former world title challenger Tony Thompson could be best summed up as sudden and yet inconclusive.  There was no disputing that Tony Thompson won the fight by knockout. The way the fight ended however actually provided more questions than it answered.

Questions regarding just how good David Price who entered the fight with a record of 15-0, with 13 Knockouts was. Obvious questions of whether he was ready for a significant step up in quality of opposition at that stage of his career and, some even questioned Price’s ability to take a punch. 

The sudden one punch second round knockout did indeed turn heads and has been a topic of discussion in the Boxing World amongst fans, fighters, and, experts alike.  Although the first two questions were valid in this observer’s eyes regarding just how good was Price and whether or not he was ready to face a fighter in Thompson who had just fought for the Heavyweight championship of the world, I wondered why some were quick to question Price’s ability to take a punch or, more specifically his chin.

The basis of my curiosity lies in how the fight ended. Although it is clear that there was an appropriate stoppage of that fight by Referee Steve Gray and that a legitimate knockout did indeed take place, it is important to remember exactly where the punch that derailed Price actually landed.

The right hand that dropped Price did not land on the chin but rather landed just below the ear of Price. As this observer stated following the first fight in February of this year http://theboxingtruth.blogspot.com/2013/02/thompson-derails-price-whats-next-for_27.html?view=flipcard  a punch absorbed in this area can affect a fighter’s equilibrium and could certainly explain the awkward way Price went down and subsequent getting up from the knockdown on very unsteady legs. 

This fact called for what amounted to an immediate rematch on July 6^th once again in Price’s hometown of Liverpool, England. Although it was logical of most experts, this one included to question the possibility of a rematch between Thompson and Price following the first fight, this observer was a bit surprised to see the rematch come only five months later.

After all there was no controversy attached to the first encounter and it could be argued that in some ways circumstances did not warrant an immediate rematch. By the same token it was understandable seeing as more questions than answers emerged following the first fight that everyone involved the fighters, the promoters, the fans and, those of us who cover the sport in varying capacities would want to see those questions answered in a reasonable period of time. 

Even though this was in essence  in some ways a “Do Over” of the first fight there was one question that I had been pondering in the weeks leading up to the rematch. Would David Price be gun shy and reluctant to let his hands go once the fight got underway?  It was also worth questioning whether or not Thompson’s gamesmanship prior to the fight would somehow influence how Price would fight.

When the fight got underway Thompson seemed to start a bit more quickly than in recent fights in what was a typical feeling out first round where neither fighter did much to stand out from the other.  In round two Price nearly brought the fight to a sudden conclusion when he dropped Thompson with a flush right hand in the final seconds of the round. Thompson gamely made it to his feet by the count of nine and the fight moved into round three. 

In round three Price staggered Thompson again with a right hand knocking the forty-one year old into the ropes. Price continued to follow up landing shots to the head and the body throughout the round but one thing that was noticeable as this fight progressed was the absence of a consistent jab from Price. The lack of use of the jab by Price allowed Thompson to get on the inside and have success landing to the body and the head in his own right.

After three rounds the seeds of an entertaining slugfest were firmly planted. It became a question of attrition as to who would walk away victorious,  Although Price got the better of the action in rounds two and three, an argument could be made that after the knockdown of Thompson in round two that Price threw everything he had in those two rounds and neglected to establish a more deliberate pace. One may argue that the quicker pace actually benefited the forty-one year old Thompson who is eleven years Price’s senior. 

Thompson took control of the fight late in the fourth round throwing punches in combinations and landing uppercuts to the head and hooks to the body. Price seemed to back up slightly and may have been a little wary at the end of the round.   It seemed clear in the eyes of this observer that fatigue was becoming an issue for Price as the fight entered the fifth round.  

In round five Thompson stepped it up and continued to be the aggressor as Price seemed to be in retreat.  A barrage of punches sent an exhausted Price back along the ropes and eventually in Thompson’s corner. Price being unable to throw anything back forced Referee Marcus McDonnell to step in and issue a standing eight count.  McDonnell determined that Price was in no condition to continue stopping the fight at 1:55 of round five.

Although it is rare to see a standing eight count issued in Professional Boxing today this observer’s applauds Marcus McDonnell’s decision to issue a standing eight count and thus allowing himself to give an adequate examination of Price and his condition. Prior to McDonnell stepping in Price was almost defenseless and could not throw anything back. No one wants to see a boxer get hurt and like Steve Gray’s stoppage of the first fight in February, McDonnell’s stoppage of this fight was appropriate. 

Although there is likely to be some criticism of Price’s stamina coming out of this fight it should be noted that this fight was fought at a considerably high pace. Rather than focusing on the issue of stamina and endurance, I believe if there is to be any criticism it should be in how Price fought this fight.

Price does have a good jab but the neglect to use it I believe played a factor not only in the fight becoming a brawl but more specifically in how Price was unable to dictate or control the pace of the fight.  There was seemingly nothing preventing Thompson from coming in on the inside and landing uppercuts to the head, and hooks to the body.  In the opinion of this observer Price needed to box more from the outside and be methodical in his attack on Thompson.  These factors I believe all contributed to Price’s exhaustion and eventual demise in this fight.

Although some may write David Price off after this fight however, this observer will not be one of them.  In reference to my comments both before and following the first fight in February I stated that David Price could be one of the fighters if not the fighter who may take over the Heavyweight division in the post-Klitschko era.  I did however also state that I did question whether it was too much, too soon for David Price to be facing a legitimate top contender. One should remember Price did only have fifteen professional fights prior to these two encounters with Tony Thompson. 

It can truly be a delicate task in determining when a fighter should step up in quality of opposition. One example that I have been thinking of in the days since the rematch was how Mike Tyson was brought up thru the Heavyweight ranks prior to winning the Heavyweight championship in November 1986 by knocking out Trevor Berbick. Tyson who turned pro in March of 1985 compiled a record of 27-0, with 25 Knockouts. An argument could be made however that despite criticism of Tyson’s managers Jim Jacobs and Bill Cayton in regard to how often Tyson was fighting, with twenty-seven fights over an eighteen month period, that it actually benefited Tyson in terms of actual experience. Tyson was able to gradually work his way up the Heavyweight division defeating fighters who ranged from overmatched, prospects, and, contenders. Although Tyson won the Heavyweight championship just a year a year and a half after turning professional, there was no doubt that when the time came to face the champions of the division he was ready.  Despite some criticism of Jacobs and Cayton their strategic management of Tyson was brilliant.

Although it is not my intention whatsoever to compare Price to Tyson, I believe that Price’s experiences against Tony Thompson could be called a misstep. Price tried to reach too far and too fast.  Despite suffering two losses to Tony Thompson, if he is given the proper time Price not only can rebound but could likely become one of the top fighters in the Heavyweight division. 

As for Tony Thompson he has now firmly reestablished himself as part of the Heavyweight championship mix by scoring two knockout victories over David Price.  Although it may not be viable for Thompson to seek a third fight with IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO Heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, Thompson could still position himself to face WBC Vitali Klitschko or could be in position to be part of some sort of elimination tournament to determine a new WBC world champion if and when Vitali Klitschko who has been nearing the end of his career decides to retire.

In the near future however the best option for Thompson may just be facing the winner of the recently signed clash between two-division world champion David Haye and undefeated contender Tyson Fury.  If a fight with the winner of that fight is not made then Thompson could opt to possibly fighting the other top contenders of the Heavyweight division. Contenders such as Bryant Jennings,  Bermane Stiverne, Tomasz Adamek, Fres Oquendo, and Chris Arreola all would pose an interesting fight for Thompson at this stage of his career and would keep him in the discussion of potential challengers should he continue to win.

One thing that is clear is that David Price was completely exhausted entering round five.  It is obvious that he needs more seasoning and training in stamina if he is to rise to the top of the Heavyweight division. 

Another comparison and similarity to David Price is current champion Wladimir Klitschko. Earlier in his career, Klitschko had problems with stamina as well did not make use of the jab to keep opponents at bay. The handlers of Price should take notes out of Emanuel Steward’s book. 

David Price is far from done as a fighter and he does have the talent to become a world champion in the future. It’s just time to go back to the drawing board.

“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

Gennady Golovkin's Path Of Destruction Continues

Undefeated unified WBA/IBO Middleweight world champion Gennady Golovkin’s emergence on Boxing’s center stage could be described in several ways.  By now many fans know that Golovkin a native of Kazakhstan burst on the American scene nearly one year ago scoring brutal knockout wins in title defenses over contenders Grzegorz Proksa and Gabriel Rosado.

 

Due to both his exciting pressure style and the devastating fashion in which Golovkin won those fights an argument could be made that he became an instant star here in the United States.  It would indeed be hard to dispute such an opinion because after all, the one thing in the sport of Boxing that will always garner significant attention of fans and experts alike is the ability to score knockouts.

Golovkin continued to turn heads when he scored a brutal one punch third round knockout over Japanese contender Nobuhiro Ishida in March of this year in Monte Carlo, Monaco.  Ishida who is best known to American fans for his first round upset knockout victory over a then undefeated rising prospect James Kirkland. Ishida was considered by some to be a step up for Golovkin due to his “Game” performances in losses to former Welterweight world champion Paul Williams and former WBO Middleweight world champion Dmitry Pirog. 

Ishida had also never been stopped prior to getting in the ring with Golovkin. Questions arose as to whether or not Ishida could extend the fight into the middle or late rounds against Golovkin who has a near 90% career knockout percentage and who had been stretched as far as ten rounds only once in his career. 

It was clear however once the fight began that Ishida not only had no way to nullify Golovkin’s power as he came forward but also could not avoid Golovkin’s offense.  The fight was immediately stopped after a beautifully timed overhand right landed flush on Ishida’s jaw knocking him out cold in what this observer considers to be the leading candidate for 2013 Knockout of the Year honors.

Off of yet another devastating performance, Golovkin would now make the eighth defense of his Middleweight world title against top contender and former world title challenger Matthew Macklin on June 29^th in Mashantucket, Connecticut. Much as the belief of many observers, this one included was before Golovkin’s fight with Nobuhiro Ishida in thinking that Ishida may have been capable of providing a significant test for Gennady Golovkin, Matthew Macklin was viewed as a step up in class of opposition for the champion.  

Macklin entered this bout having lost two of his last three fights however Macklin had endeared himself to fans and experts alike as someone who is very “Game” and who like Golovkin has an exciting come forward style. Macklin’s style gave Sergio Martinez, the man considered to be the number one fighter in the Middleweight division all he could handle for eleven rounds in their fight in March of last year.

Macklin retained his position as a top contender by rebounding from his loss to Martinez in scoring a first round knockout over former WBA Jr. Middleweight world champion Joachim Alcine in September of last year. Prior to Golovkin’s fight with Nobuhiro Ishida, I wondered whether or not Macklin could take this fight into the middle or late rounds and whether he would be able to survive the storm that is Gennady Golovkin.  Although I had no doubt that Macklin would give it everything he had for how ever long the fight would last, questions of whether or not he could withstand Golovkin’s power were legitimate.

When the fight got underway Macklin was able to establish his jab from the outset but what was noticeable was how Gennady Golovkin’s pressure was disrupting Macklin from getting into a rhythm. Golovkin’s ability to systematically cut the ring off and to gradually let his hands go set the tempo for this fight.

The difference in power was apparent as Golovkin rocked Macklin back into the ropes in the final seconds of the first round with a left hook.  The champion continued to pressure Macklin who seemed to be in survival mode in the second round.  Although Macklin continued to throw punches he was not able to land anything to stop Golovkin as he continued to stalk forward.  Macklin however gamely tried to press the action early in the third round but was unable keep the champion off of him. 

Golovkin brought the fight to it’s conclusion landing a brutal left hook to Macklin’s body sending him down for the count at 1:22 of round three.  Golovkin’s domination of a legitimate top ten Middleweight contender in Matthew Macklin continues to indicate that we may be seeing the dawning of a new era in the Middleweight division. 

Off of this latest performance it is difficult to say what may next be in store for Gennady Golovkin.  The current landscape of the Middleweight division suggests that it may take some time for Golovkin to secure a potential big money bout which would hopefully bring further unification to the World Middleweight championship.

Current International Boxing Federation (IBF) Middleweight world champion Daniel Geale is scheduled to make the fifth defense of his title against top contender Darren Barker on August 17^th. Depending on what happens in that fight and the possibility of the winner of that fight being mandated to fight another top contender, it seems that a potential unification would be out of the question at least in the near future. 

There are also other elements which may prevent Golovkin from securing big money fights with the other world champions of the division.  Current WBC champion Sergio Martinez is sidelined with a hand injury.  The World Boxing Council (WBC) announced last week that they will stage a four boxer elimination tournament to determine interim status in it’s Middleweight ratings. 

Obviously once Martinez is medically cleared to compete one would assume that he would be mandated by the WBC to defend his title against whomever emerges from this would be elimination tournament as the mandatory challenger.  This could pose a roadblock for a potential clash between the two world champions. 

There is a possibility that Golovkin could potentially secure a fight with undefeated WBO Middleweight world champion Peter Quillin, if a fight between the winner of Daniel Geale and Darren Barker is not made.  What may be an obstacle in that fight being made however are elements of the “Business” of Boxing with respected promoters having agreements with rival television networks.

  It would however benefit both world champions if circumstances allow a fight to be made. Not only would potential further unification of the Middleweight championship be at stake but a fight between two undefeated world champions, both in their primes, both with exciting styles, would likely present significant financial incentives for both fighters if a fight between the two could be made.

With the Middleweight championship picture pretty much set at least in the near future what about the respected top contenders of the division who would likely welcome the opportunity to fight Golovkin for his unified world title?  As of this writing the WBC has not formally announced which four top contenders will take part in their elimination tournament to determine a mandatory challenger for Sergio Martinez. 

From a speculation standpoint one could assume that a fighter such as former WBC world champion Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. would be likely to take part in such a tournament concept. Chavez not only is a former WBC champion in the Middleweight division but if he were to emerge with interim status out of an elimination tournament it would almost guarantee a rematch with Martinez, the man who beat Chavez for the WBC title in September of last year.

Although Chavez does not currently hold a world title there is no disputing Chavez’ economic value to potential opponents in or around the Middleweight division.  If Chavez were not involved in the WBC box off, it would present a potential big money opportunity for Golovkin to seek a fight with Chavez which would likely be a solid pay-per-view draw.

In the eyes of this observer however it would benefit Golovkin in the long term to continue to defend his title against all comers. Fighters such as Martin Murray, former longtime champion Felix Sturm, and Andy Lee are all potential options for Golovkin. 

All three are still very much in the mix and would each pose an interesting challenge for Golovkin. One would assume however that we will get a clearer picture as to what Gennady Golovkin’s potential options are once the Daniel Geale-Darren Barker fight takes place and furthermore once the WBC announces just who will participate in their box off.

The situation that Gennady Golovkin finds himself in sort of reminds the observer of the position the legendary former Middleweight champion of the world Marvelous Marvin Hagler once found himself in. An obvious similarity between the two champions is they both started their respected reigns at the top of the Middleweight division with devastating knockout streaks. 

After winning the Middleweight championship by knocking out Alan Minter in 1980, Hagler went on a tear through the Middleweight division scoring seven consecutive knockouts between 1981 and 1983. Only Roberto Duran was able to go the distance with Hagler in November 1983.  Hagler’s reign as Middleweight champion of the world became one of the more significant title reigns in the history of the Middleweight division compiling twelve successful title defenses  over the course of seven years between 1980-1987.

Currently Gennedy Golovkin has scored knockouts in his last fourteen fights with eight successful title defenses since beginning his reign in 2010. Perhaps one other similarity may exist between Hagler and Golovkin.  One could make a valid argument that Hagler literally had to destroy all comers in the Middleweight division before he was able to secure super fights with fellow superstars of his era, Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns, and Sugar Ray Leonard.

With the other champions of the current Middleweight division seemingly with other options one could say that Gennady Golovkin may be in the process of doing what Hagler was able to accomplish over three decades ago.  Will Gennady Golovkin’s reign atop the Middleweight division one day be compared to the reigns of Hagler, Carlos Monzon, and Bernard Hopkins?

Only time will tell but if Golovkin continues to run through the Middleweight division like a title wave it will become increasingly harder for fans and experts alike to not anoint Golovkin as the kingpin of the Middleweight division.  With the Middleweight division clearly heading toward a transitional period with Sergio Martinez possibly nearing the end of his career this observer believes that “The Gennady Golovkin Era” may indeed be quite near.

“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

Malignaggi vs. Broner: No Controversy

When former IBF World Jr. Welterweight champion Paul Malignaggi entered the ring to challenge previously undefeated WBA Welterweight champion Vyacheslav Senchenko in April of last year Malignaggi did so as an underdog.  Malignaggi was after all fighting against an undefeated world champion and was fighting him in his home country, certainly not an easy task for any fighter to attempt to overcome. 

Malignaggi responded by dominating the Ukrainian fighter landing crisp, quick combinations throughout the fight, causing a severe cut and eventually closing the left eye of Senchenko in route to a ninth round stoppage. Malignaggi had triumphed over the naysayers to win his second world title in as many weight classes. 

In some ways Malignaggi’s performance against Senchenko was poetic justice for a fighter who despite not being known for having power has never backed down from a challenge and has always given everything he had every time he enters the ring.  When it was announced that Malignaggi would make the first defense of his world title against undefeated two-division world champion and current WBC Lightweight world champion Adrien Broner  I was somewhat surprised to hear many fans and some observers alike not giving Malignaggi much of a chance in the fight. 

Broner after all does have a career knockout percentage of over 80% and was entering the fight with Malignaggi having scored knockouts in six of his last his last seven fights.  It was understandable to an extent to see some base their predictions on those statistics.  This observer however has often said that I do not make predictions but try as best as I possibly can to offer a well-educated guess as to what may happen prior to a Boxing match. 

Although it was clear that Broner had the advantage in terms of punching power I was not one who believed that this would necessarily be an “Easy” fight for Adrien Broner.  Malignaggi has after all faced several high profile names throughout his career and it was an arguable point that he was the toughest fighter that Broner would have faced in his career in terms of Boxing ability.  Despite being stopped twice in his career by former world champions Ricky Hatton and Amir Khan, Paul Malignaggi was not someone to overlook or underestimate.

When the two fighters got in the ring at the Barclays Center in Malignaggi’s hometown of Brooklyn, New York on June 22^nd  it didn’t surprise me to see Malignaggi start the fight at a fast pace.  The key to success for Malignaggi in this fight in my mind was to establish a high work rate and to be elusive.  It would not have been to the champion’s advantage to be a somewhat stationary target for the heavy handed Broner.  Malignaggi had to set the pace from the outset.  In contrast I expected Broner to attempt to cut the ring off and neutralize Malignaggi’s movement.  As the fight progressed an argument should be made that both fighters did exactly what they wanted to do in this fight.  It was a closely fought, highly competitive contest where both fighters were able to execute their respected fight plans with effectiveness.

As I have often said over the years when it comes to close fights it will often boil down to what a judge prefers in their own individual criteria in how they score a fight that will ultimately determine the winner.  This can and often has led to some questionable final scores at the end of a fight between three judges. Sometimes you will see two judges produce similar scores which may fall in line with a consensus opinion of observers as to how a fight was fought. Meanwhile a third judge may share the same opinion with another judge as to who won a fight but will however turn in scores of a significantly wider margin than his or her respected counterparts. 

The criteria of which all bouts in Professional Boxing should be scored is Clean punching, Ring generalship, Effective aggression, and Defense. Despite these guidelines some judges have preferences as to what they look for when scoring a fight.  Some judges will score based on effective aggression and or ring generalship.  What often gets overlooked by some casual observers is how fighters can win rounds by being defensive and landing clean punches in spurts.  In bouts where there are no knockdowns scored or point deductions all of this criteria must be considered when scoring a Boxing match. What can also be overlooked is that Boxing is scored round by round and this along with the recognized criteria can produce varying scores at the end of a fight that goes to a decision. 

In regard to this fight all of the facets which are involved in scoring a Boxing match were visible and are likely to make this fight a topic of debates for years to come.  Paul Malignaggi started this fight working at a high pace throwing jabs and mixing in quick combinations to the body.  This was complimented by good lateral movement by the champion.  Although not landing everything he threw, Malignaggi’s greater activity carried the action for the first two rounds. Broner seemed to be studying his opponent in the early rounds and had success landing periodic right hands and a flush left hook to the jaw of Malignaggi early in round three. As well Broner was able to follow up by landing more solid left hooks toward the end of the round.. 

It became clear that this would be a question of the fighter throwing in greater volume or the fighter who was more economical with his offensive output but landing the harder punches.  At the end of three rounds I had Malignaggi ahead two rounds to one. Although Malignaggi was the more active of the two, Broner was able to deflect a lot of Malignaggi’s offense by staying in a tight defensive shell. 

As the fight progressed I wondered whether Malignaggi would get the benefit of the doubt on the official scorecards due to his effective work to Adrien Broner’s body.  Although he never really seemed to hurt Broner, the body punches were landing. It was clear however in the eyes of this observer that Malignaggi had to continue to use his lateral movement and not allow Broner to get into position to let his hands go for a significant period of time in order to maintain an edge in this fight. 

In round five Broner began to open up more offensively landing his right hand and mixing in flush left hooks. Broner’s gradual pressure and ability to land clean power punches seemed to turn the momentum in his favor at this point in the contest.  Malignaggi however never stopped throwing punches and this made the fight very difficult to score as there were many “Swing rounds” where you could make an argument for either fighter having won a round.  An extremely difficult task for anyone scoring the fight whether they be an unofficial or an official judge. 

Through nine rounds the tempo of the fight had switched to Broner. Although many of the middle rounds were extremely close and hard to score, Broner was able to win those rounds in my estimation due in large part to his ability to consistently find a home for his right hand, mixing in some good body punches and uppercuts on the inside. Malignaggi just didn’t seem to have an answer to avoid Broner’s right hand and Broner’s ability to land the right both as a lead punch and as a precision counter punch proved to be troublesome for the champion. 

Malignaggi appeared to get a bit of a second wind in round ten as he brought the fight to the challenger landing combinations to the body and attempting to land to the head.  As the fight entered the championship rounds,  Malignaggi continued to throw at a high volume and won rounds ten and eleven on my scorecard based on his ability to get his punches off first and ability to bring the fight to Broner.  Broner however was still the fighter dictating the pace and continued to put pressure on Malignaggi. 

Broner seemed to get the better of what was an extremely close twelfth and final round of what ended up being a very competitive fight.  At the end of the twelve round championship bout I had Adrien Broner winning eight rounds to four in rounds or 116-112 in points. 

The basis of my scoring was Malignaggi got off to a really good start and carried the tempo in the first four rounds. From rounds five through ten however although extremely difficult to score Broner landed the harder blows and that turned out to be crucial in the outcome of this fight.

The official result of a split decision was not surprising.  Frankly although I feel Broner controlled the tempo of the fight from the fifth round on, it was still a very close fight and a split decision either way or a draw would not have surprised me.  Judges Glenn Feldman and Tom Miller turned in scores of 115-113 or seven rounds to five splitting for each fighter while Judge Tom Schreck turned in a score of 117-111 or nine rounds to three for Adrien Broner making him the new Welterweight world champion.

In all truth and honesty although there is likely some anger directed at Tom Schreck for turning in a final score that differed from the other two official judges it again boils down to what a judge looks for in their criteria in how they score.  In this fight although it goes without saying that Paul Malignaggi was the more active of the two fighters landing 214 of 843 punches thrown to Broner’s 246 of 524 punches thrown according to CompuBox it isn’t always about who is the more active fighter that determines who wins a decision. 

Adrien Broner’s defense was outstanding in this fight coupled with his ability to be accurate when he did throw landing 47% of his total punches to Malignaggi’s 25% according to CompuBox statistics. What won this fight for Adrien Broner was his defense and accuracy when he did let his hands go. The difference in power and how Broner’s punches affected Malignaggi throughout is also something that can play a factor in the scoring. It is important to note however that the official judges do not have access to CompuBox statistics while they are scoring a fight. 

Sometimes statistics don’t tell the whole story of what goes on during the course of a Boxing match. In this case when you view the fight round by round you can see both sides of an argument as to who won this fight. 

For his part Paul Malignaggi expressed his anger toward Judge Tom Schreck’s scorecard after the fight in a post-fight interview with Jim Gray stating quote “ Tom Schreck is a New York Judge that is in Al Haymon’s (Broner’s Manager) pocket. 117-111 is a disgrace. I'm not saying it was fixed but the politically more-connected fighter always gets the close decision." 

Although I have a much respect for Paul Malignaggi both as a fighter and as a Boxing analyst I can not say that I personally feel that the element of politics played a role in Tom Schreck’s scoring.  Obviously no one other than Judge Tom Schreck can explain his scoring of the fight however there were a lot of “Swing rounds” in this fight and a difference in scoring and of opinion as to who won is not far fetched. 

Malignaggi’s anger however is certainly understandable.  He believes that one judge got it entirely wrong, however once he watches the fight he may see what many saw that there were numerous “Swing rounds.” For example; the fourth round  Malignaggi came out and I believe won the first two minutes of the round however Broner finished the round landing the heavier punches and although he did not land as many punches as Malignaggi, he landed at a higher percentage.  This round easily could have been scored either way including even.

Many have already criticized Adrien Broner for not meeting expectations of success that he has had in lower weight classes.  Let’s not forget this was Broner’s first fight in the Welterweight division and he fought not only a champion in Paul Malignaggi but a crafty, ring savvy, veteran.  One may argue that Malignaggi should be considered as this generation’s “Willie Pep”, and this observer agrees.  Nevertheless  Adrien Broner deserved this victory and has established himself as a Welterweight champion.  Broner is only twenty-three years old and has already won three world titles in three different weight classes and is still undefeated at 27-0. 

As far as Paul Malignaggi, he has nothing to be ashamed of and fought a competitive tough fight.  He outworked Broner and if he had been able to land more effectively, the results of the fight may have been different. 

What’s in store for Malignaggi and Broner? These days no one can foresee what’s in either fighter’s future especially when “The Business” of Boxing is involved.  In my book, split decisions are as good a reason as any for a rematch.  The fans enjoyed this one, those of us who covered it enjoyed it, so why not? What do you say guys?

“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

Stevenson KO’s Dawson: A Star Is Born

Three-time Light-Heavyweight World champion Chad Dawson has been one of the cornerstones of the Light-Heavyweight division for much of the last decade.  Having engaged in battles with the likes of future Hall of Famers Tomasz Adamek, Glen Johnson, Antonio Tarver, and most recently Bernard Hopkins, Dawson has emerged as one of the elite fighters of the division and one might argue a player in the sport’s mythical pound for pound ratings.

After a grueling and rough fight in his rematch with Bernard Hopkins, Dawson made what some would say was a curious choice by electing to drop down from the 175lb. Light-Heavyweight division to the 168lb. Super-Middleweight division to challenge the undefeated Super-Middleweight champion and division kingpin Andre Ward for his title on September 8^th of last year. 

In that fight Ward dominated Dawson with crisp combinations, knocking the WBC Light-Heavyweight champion down three times in route to a tenth round technical knockout as Dawson informed Referee Steve Smoger that he did not want to continue.  Ward’s speed and skill were simply too much for Dawson on that evening. Some may speculate that Dawson’s performance in that fight could have been the result of over training and Dawson himself said that he struggled to make weight prior to the fight. This observer however believes that Dawson simply had a bad night at the office against a fighter in Andre Ward who was simply that good and too much for Dawson. 

Following nearly a year of inactivity Dawson returned to the ring on June 8^th to defend his WBC Light-Heavyweight world title against contender and knockout artist Adonis Stevenson. The fight took place in Stevenson’s hometown of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Stevenson who was previously ranked number one in the world by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) in the Super-Middleweight division entered the fight with Dawson with an impressive record of 20-1, with 17 Knockouts having a career knockout percentage of over 80%.  Stevenson’s lone defeat as a professional came in 2010 when he was stopped by veteran contender Darnell Boone.  Since that loss Stevenson was able to score seven consecutive knockouts including avenging his loss to Boone in his last fight prior to meeting Dawson. 

This was an intriguing fight because you had the aggressive come forward pressure style of Stevenson against Dawson who has hand speed and the ability to be elusive. Dawson however had shown a willingness to stand and trade with his opponents, most notably in his first fight with Glen Johnson in 2008.  It was interesting to see how Dawson, coming off a knockout loss, the first of his career would take on a fighter who can end it with one punch at any given time.  Stevenson also had been extended to a twelve round distance only once in his career when he scored a twelfth round stoppage of Super-Middleweight contender Don George in October of last year.   Despite his impressive and intimidating career Knockout percentage Stevenson was stepping up not only in weight class but also, in quality of opposition in this fight against Dawson.  Questions of “Is it too much, too soon? “ or, “Can he handle the magnitude of the event?” were only natural that a fighter challenging for a world title for the first time in his career would have to answer.  It was also interesting in the eyes of this observer to see if Dawson could use his experience to nullify Stevenson’s pressure and punching power to extend the fight into the later rounds.

Stevenson however had other plans…  The fight came to a sudden and dramatic conclusion before it could really get started. Stevenson landed a beautiful left cross on the side of Dawson’s head sending him down to the canvas.  Dawson gamely made it to his feet however was very wobbly and incoherent prompting Referee Michael Griffin to stop the fight just seventy-six seconds into the first round. 

Some may question the stoppage and will likely say that Chad Dawson deserved the benefit of the doubt and should have been allowed to continue.  For those who question the stoppage of this fight allow me to present a little historical perspective and a quite similar scenario that may clear up any confusion as to why Griffin ended the contest.

On July 21, 1989 Mike Tyson then the undisputed, undefeated and perceived as invincible Heavyweight champion of the world defended his crown against longtime top contender Carl “The Truth” Williams in Atlantic City, New Jersey.  Williams who had previously fought for a version of the Heavyweight title losing a highly disputed decision to Larry Holmes in 1985 was knocked down by Tyson with a perfectly timed counter left hook that landed flush on  the jaw midway through the first round. Williams arose from the knockdown on wobbly legs, incoherent and unable to respond to Referee Randy Neumann which forced Neumann to stop the contest just ninety-three seconds into the fight. Many questioned the decision of Referee Randy Neumann.  The basis of some of the criticism of the stoppage was that Williams had been knocked down seven times previously in his career before getting in the ring to challenge Mike Tyson. 

Williams was floored twice in his fight with James “Quick” Tillis in 1984, floored twice in his fight with Jesse Ferguson in 1986, and stopped after being knocked down three times by former Heavyweight champion Mike Weaver that same year.  Williams was able to recover in his fights with Tillis and Ferguson to win both bouts.  On this basis some including Williams himself believed that he should have been allowed to continue. 

Neumann however provided as legitimate an explanation as you could ask of a Referee following the stoppage. Neumann stated that Williams wasn’t standing upright and was leaning on the ropes, and he could not respond to Neumann when he asked Williams “How do you feel?” After getting up from the knockdown, Neumann also stated that Williams’ eyes were in his words “Blank.”  It was as good of an explanation and justification that anyone could ask for from one of the best referees in the sport. 

Twenty-four years later Dawson-Stevenson ended under near identical circumstances.  As Referee Randy Neumann provided a legitimate explanation twenty-four years ago, so too did Referee Michael Griffin after his stoppage of Dawson vs. Stevenson Griffin stated that he wanted to give Dawson every chance he could to continue but he did not respond and he did not have his legs.

Although some may be angry at the stoppage of this fight Michael Griffin’s explanation is really all you can ask for.  As I have said many times over the years, in Boxing anything can happen at any given time and that is what makes our sport so great. Simply put, one punch can end a fight at any time. 

With the win Adonis Stevenson has legitimately emerged as a new star in the sport of Boxing in winning the WBC World Light-Heavyweight championship in devastating fashion. Stevenson has several options on the table in both the Light-Heavyweight division and the Super-Middleweight division.  Stevenson for his part called out former Dawson opponents in  IBF Light-Heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins and Super-Middleweight champion Andre Ward for potential fights.  In the immediate future however it may be more likely that Stevenson will make the first defense of his world title against current World Boxing Council (WBC) number one Light-Heavyweight contender Tony Bellew of England.

As for Dawson although there is likely anger from fans, Dawson, and his camp over the stoppage one might argue that by stopping the fight when he did Referee Michael Griffin in all likelihood saved Chad Dawson from being seriously hurt.   It is an old saying that this observer firmly believes in “It is better to come back and fight another day than potentially risk permanent damage.”  Although some may say that Dawson should retire after suffering back to back knockout losses, this observer believes that Dawson after a long tenure at or near the top of the Light-Heavyweight division, having fought the best fighters in the division, that he has earned the chance to have a long rest to allow his body to recuperate. It is possible that the drop down in weight to fight Andre Ward as well as going back up in weight to fight Adonis Stevenson may have taken a lot out of Dawson. Let’s not forget twelve years of wear and tear totaling thirty-six professional fights including two no contests would be a lot for any athlete to overcome. Dawson is still a force to be reckoned with in Professional Boxing and he deserves this time to fully evaluate his options before making any decisions.

Although criticism of the stoppage will probably continue for a time in some circles this observer would like to simply say to Referee Michael Griffin “Job well done.”

“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 

Froch defeats Kessler in Rematch, Rematch with Ward Next?

Three-time Super-Middleweight world champion Carl Froch has fought many of the best fighters of his era.  After emerging on the world stage by scoring a thrilling come from behind victory in his fight with Jermain Taylor in 2009, it is hard to argue that Carl Froch has not become not only one of the stars of the sport of Boxing but also, one of the most exciting fighters to watch. 

Froch’s willingness to stand and engage with his opponents has resulted in some of the Super-Middleweight division’s more memorable recent battles.  Following his win over Jermain Taylor, Froch continued to impress, taking part in the Super-Six World Boxing Classic Super-Middleweight Tournament which saw the best of the Super-Middleweight division square off to determine supremacy at 168lbs.  After defeating previously unbeaten Super-Middleweight contender Andre Dirrell in his first fight in the competition, Froch faced former Super-Middleweight world champion Mikkel Kessler in 2010 in Herning, Denmark.

From a stylistic standpoint many observers, this one included felt that this could be one of the more exciting fights of the tournament due to both fighters being offensive minded and willingness to engage.  Froch and Kessler did not disappoint… For twelve rounds the two fighters engaged each other in the center of the ring in an exciting give and take battle where both fighters had their moments.  It was a closely fought contest where Kessler seemed to get the benefit of the doubt on the official scorecards due in large part to his ability to get off first with his punches to earn a unanimous decision.  Although official scores of 117-111, 116-112, and 115-113 may give the impression to some that the fight was lopsided in Kessler’s favor, the fight round by round was indeed close and sometimes it simply boils down to what fighter did more that determines who wins.

Sometimes it is as simple as who can get their punches off first.  Although he suffered the first loss of his career to Kessler there was no disputing Carl Froch stands among the elite of the Super-Middleweight division.  Froch rebounded from the loss to emerge as a tournament finalist after defeating former world champions Arthur Abraham and Glen Johnson.  Froch would lose to tournament winner Andre Ward in the finals.  With the win, Ward became the number one fighter in the Super-Middleweight division and one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world. 

As he did following his loss to Kessler, Froch was able to rebound again by dominating previously unbeaten longtime IBF Super-Middleweight world champion Lucian Bute.  Prior to that fight some underestimated Froch to the degree that he was labeled as an underdog.  Froch responded by knocking Bute out in brutal fashion in five rounds to win his third world title. 

Following a third round knockout of longtime contender Yusaf Mack last November in the first defense of his IBF world title, Froch was set to defend his crown against Mikkel Kessler in a highly anticipated rematch.  Going into this fight it was reasonable to assume that the action in the fight would closely resemble the combat Froch and Kessler were able to produce in their first encounter. 

The question going into this fight in my mind centered more on Kessler than it did on Froch.  After all Kessler was forced to withdraw from the Super-Six following his victory over Froch due to an eye injury. Although Kessler had looked impressive since his return to the ring in 2011, scoring three knockout wins over Mehdi Bouadia, Allan Green, and earning interim status in the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) Super-Middleweight ratings by stopping Brian Magee in his last fight, an argument could be made that Kessler had not faced a fighter of the caliber of Froch since his return. 

When the fight got underway one thing that stood out was Froch began the fight at a quicker pace than he did in the first bout working behind a steady jab that he would use as the focal point of his offense.   It was also noticeable that Kessler was a bit more defensive than he has been in previous fights.  Much like the first encounter both fighters were willing to stand in the center of the ring and engage. 

It was Froch however who was able to land combinations in spurts off his jab and although Kessler was effective periodically with his work to Forch’s body and was able to land flush left hooks and right hands to the head throughout the fight, Froch’s greater activity was the difference in this fight.  Much like the first fight, the rematch was an exciting give and take battle for all twelve rounds this time however Froch would emerge victorious by unanimous decision with the three judges rendering scores that looked almost identical to the scores of the first fight 116-112,115-113, and 118-110.

Although the scores may appear lopsided it in important to remember that Professional Boxing is scored round by round and as was the case in the first fight many of the rounds were close.  In fights where there is a lot of back and forth action round after round and there aren’t knockdowns to separate the two fighters it boils down to not only who gets their punches off first but also, who was the effective aggressor and who forced the action. 

In this fight Carl Froch threw his jab constantly and was able to win three out of the first four rounds in the eyes of this observer based on his ability to land combinations in small bursts off his jab but also controlling the distance and the tempo of the fight.  Although Mikkel Kessler had more than his share of moments in this fight he simply could not nullify Froch’s offensive output enough to turn the momentum in his favor.  This observer scored this fight 116-112 in favor of Froch based on his ring generalship and ability to be able to just do a little more in some very close rounds. 

When covering a fight I often try as best as I possibly can to give analysis by often going into detail about several rounds or some of the more significant moments throughout a fight.  Following this fight however I commented on social media that in some ways it seemed like the two fighters Froch and Kessler reversed roles from the first fight.  This fight impressed me as in some ways a continuation of the first fight with the only difference being that this time it was Froch who was the more active of the two.  A closely fought give and take battle, both fighters having their moments, one fighter just doing a little more than the other.

With the win Froch successfully defended his IBF Super-Middleweight world title for the second time but also earned a claim in the WBA’s Super-Middleweight ratings.  The current WBA champion Andre Ward was given “Super” status by the sanctioning body due to his holding both the WBA and WBC Super-Middleweight titles coming out of the Super-Six tournament.  Ward however was stripped of his WBC title due to being inactive due to a shoulder injury.  Although Ward still holds the WBA title, it now presents a situation in the Super-Middleweight division which is similar to that of a situation in the WBA’s Jr. Middleweight ratings at 154lbs. Saul Alvarez who currently holds the World Boxing Council (WBC) title also holds a claim to the WBA version of the World Jr. Middleweight championship due to defeating the previously undefeated Austin Trout who held Interim/Regular champion status in the WBA’s ratings. As well Floyd Mayweather holds “Super” status despite not being a unified champion in the Jr. Middleweight division. Curiously confusing, isn’t it?

Although some may feel tempted to criticize the WBA for at the minimum giving boxing fans a very difficult and confusing puzzle to solve in terms of who is world champion and who isn’t, for the purposes of this subject this observer will simply say that at the minimum the situation in the 168lb. Super-Middleweight division in regard to the World Boxing Association now presents a scenario of a potential rematch of the Super-Six finals between Andre Ward and Carl Froch.   Despite the opinion of some observers, this one included that Andre Ward won the fight decisively; it was still close and competitive when you view the fight round by round.  Even though some may not see the idea of a rematch between the two as a viable option, this observer respectfully disagrees.

Carl Froch has rebounded since he fought Ward in 2011 knocking out two of his three opponents since the loss to Ward, Simply put there is little disputing that Andre Ward is the number one fighter in the Super-Middleweight division however an argument should be made that if Ward is number one, Carl Froch is certainly 1-A after his knockout win of Lucian Bute and off of his latest performance against Mikkel Kessler.  In the opinion of this observer Carl Froch is deserving of another opportunity to face Andre Ward. 

There are however several possibilities in both the 168lb. Super-Middleweight division and the 175lb. Light-Heavyweight division that could be open to Froch if a rematch with Ward is not in his immediate future.  Potential fights with the likes of WBO Super-Middleweight champion Robert Stieglitz, WBO Light-Heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly, and IBF Light-Heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins each would garner significant attention and would each present an interesting challenge for Froch in addition to what would likely be big money purses for all involved. 

The best option however if a rematch with Andre Ward is not made in the immediate future just might be a third fight with Mikkel Kessler.  Although Kessler stated prior to his rematch with Froch that he would retire if he lost the fight, it is the opinion of this observer that Boxing fans worldwide would welcome a third fight between the two with open arms.  Two fighters who leave everything in the ring and have always been entertaining to watch, each with a win against each other in two similarly fought battles certainly deserves an encore. 

If a third fight between Froch and Kessler does take place it will certainly belong in the discussion of Boxing’s greatest trilogies along with the likes of Ali-Frazier, Zale-Graziano, Holyfield-Bowe, and, Gatti-Ward. The first two bouts between Froch and Kessler have lived up to every expectation.  This observer sees no reason why a third fight would be any different. 

“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

Dierry Jean Poised For World Title Shot

The Jr. Welterweight division has long been one of Boxing’s most talent rich divisions.  Such great fighters as Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. Pernell Whitaker, Oscar De La Hoya, Arturo Gatti, Micky Ward, Floyd Mayweather and many others at one time or another plied their craft in 140lb. weight class. 

Presently the division is dominated by two world champions the undefeated unified WBC/WBA World Jr. Welterweight champion Danny Garcia and the IBF world champion Lamont Peterson.  Although it is tempting to assume that it is only a matter of time before Garcia and Peterson square off to determine Jr. Welterweight supremacy, it is important to remember that the division is deep when it comes to top contenders each looking for their chance to knock either champion off his pedestal.

One such contender is the undefeated Dierry Jean.  Jean may be one of the division’s dark horses.  Despite compiling a record of 24-0, with 16 Knockouts, an argument of some could be made that Jean had not been put in with fighters who could give him a test.  In covering his last bout against Juan Jesus Rivera this observer stated that he respectfully disagreed.  Prior Jean’s fight with Rivera, he was tested by some grizzled veterans such as Francisco Lorenzo, Lanardo Tyner, and Ivan Cano all of whom were able to extend Jean into the late rounds where he had never previously been and in the case of Lorenzo and Tyner were able to go the distance. 

Of course it can be all too tempting sometimes when talking about an undefeated fighter on the cusp of a world title shot to say that he hasn’t faced top level opposition.  This observer believes that Jean is ready to face fighters who are considered to be the elite of the division. 

The final test for Jean who had previously captured both the North American Boxing Association (NABA) and the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) Jr. Welterweight titles and was ranked number three by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) came when he faced fellow contender Cleotis Pendarvis on May 10^th in Miami, Oklahoma.  Pendarvis, who entered the fight ranked number seven by the IBF was riding a six bout winning streak entering the fight with a record of 17-3-2, with 6 Knockouts. 

The fight began with a tactical feeling out process where both fighters were able to have their moments. Pendarvis seemed to be able to give Jean some difficulty in the early going by not being a stationary target with  his ability to give angles and turn Jean. Pendarvis was able to somewhat nullify Jean’s right hand which Jean was able to use so effectively in his second round knockout win over Juan Jesus Rivera in February of this year. 

Pendarvis was able to connect with a beautifully timed short right hand that briefly knocked Jean off balance midway through the second round however Jean was not hurt.  Pendarvis clearly showed that he was there to fight.  The first two rounds were very close and you could easily see an argument for either fighter having won those rounds but this observer scored it one round a piece. 

Despite suffering a nasty cut over the right eye as the result of an accidental clash of heads in round three, Jean was able to win that round in my opinion based on being slightly more active.  It was however in the fourth round where all questions as to who might be ahead in this fight became academic. 

Jean brought matters to a sudden and dramatic conclusion in the fourth round when he connected with a vicious overhand right that landed flush on Pendarvis’ face  sending him down to the canvas.  Pendarvis gamely staggered to his feet and nearly went through the ropes.  Although technically the fight was allowed to briefly continue which saw Jean unloading a barrage of offense on Pendarvis who was unable to fire back, for all intents and purposes this fight ended with a one punch knockout.

In some ways Jean’s knockout of Pendarvis reminded this observer of Iran Barkley’s World Middleweight championship winning knockout of the legendary Thomas Hearns in 1988.  Similar only because of the sudden and devastating way in which the fight was brought to an end after Barkley floored Hearns with two vicious right hands in a fight that was named the upset of the year by Ring Magazine.  It was also similar due to the fight being briefly allowed to continue as Hearns was able to beat the count before a brief barrage from Barkley sent Hearns through the ropes forcing Referee Richard Steele to stop the fight. 

Although I do not want to be too critical of the stoppage in this fight I do believe that Referee Gary Ritter should have stopped the fight when Pendarvis nearly stumbled through the ropes.  It is certainly understandable that a referee would want to give a fighter the benefit of doubt and give that fighter a chance to recover but it was all academic and Pendarvis simply could not defend himself after the knockdown.  

The bout which determined who would be the mandatory challenger for Lamont Peterson’s IBF Jr. Welterweight crown now moves Dierry Jean into position to fight for a world championship.  Jean however faces a bit of a wait as Lamont Peterson will face Lucas Matthysee on May 18^th in what is being billed as a bout fought at a catch weight of 141lbs.  where Peterson’s title will not be on the line. 

Although it is plausible to assume that Lamont Peterson will still be the IBF champion no matter the outcome of that fight, there is always the possibility of something delaying Jean’s title shot whether it be injuries or, elements of the “Business” of Boxing which may in one way or another delay things.

It is also worth noting that prior to his fight with Juan Luis Rivera that Jean was rated number one in the world by the World Boxing Council (WBC) Jean however instead of being rated as the would be top contender in two of the five recognized governing bodies at 140 lbs. mysteriously lost his number one rating by the WBC and in fact removed from their ratings in favor of their naming former Jr. Welterweight world champion Amir Khan as their top contender behind only Lucas Mattysee who holds interim status and of course the champion Danny Garcia.  Although it is questionable as to why Jean lost his number one rating seeing as he has not lost a fight and has remained active, the more relevant question might be should Dierry Jean take a fight while waiting for his title shot against Lamont Peterson and risk his number one ranking? 

Only Dierry Jean can answer that question but I think it is clear that off  his last two performances, two devastating knockouts, that we may be witnessing the emergence of what may be another superstar of the Jr. Welterweight division.  For now at least he has earned his opportunity to face the elite of the division. 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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

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

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