April 14th-15th Weekend Thoughts

The weekend of April 15^th featured some interesting bouts featuring rising prospects looking to advance to the next level of their respective careers as well as two world champions meeting in a highly anticipated Jr. Welterweight unification bout. One of the prospects who saw action was undefeated Light-Heavyweight contender Dmitry Bivol, who squared off with veteran Samuel Clarkson on April 14th in the main event of the latest edition of Showtime Sports’ popular ShoBox: The New Generation series at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, MD.

One of the questions that I always keep in mind when seeing a rising prospect is how that fighter will respond to the exposure that comes with being featured as a focal point on television. An obvious question that usually accompanies the question of how the fighter will deal with the exposure that comes with being featured on television is will the fighter be given a significant test as he looks to continue his progress toward contender status.

For Bivol, one could say he is a fighter who has already made the transition from prospect to Light-Heavyweight contender, despite only having nine professional fights prior to meeting Clarkson. Clarkson meanwhile entered the bout having won nineteen professional fights against three losses and came into the encounter riding a nine fight winning streak.

What appeared on paper as a fight that could present a test for Bivol simply did not prove to be the case as the undefeated Bivol quickly scored a knockdown of Clarkson in the first round with a right hand to the head. To his credit, Clarkson was able to get to his feet before being dropped for a second time with another right hand. At this stage in the fight, I thought it was only a matter of time before the bout would be stopped.

Although Clarkson showed his mettle by getting up from two knockdowns, it was apparent in this observer's eyes that he could not find a way to keep Bivol, who was very impressive in how he implemented a systematic attack, off of him. Clarkson however, was able to survive the round and the fight continued.

Bivol was able to keep Clarkson largely on the defensive and consistently backed him up due largely to the success he was able to have in placing his punches and using his right hand as the focal point of his offense. In round four it would be a counter right hand to the chin from Bivol that would drop Clarkson for a third and final time by Referee Harvey Dock who stopped the bout as a hurt Clarkson staggered to his feet. The victory for Bivol, his tenth career victory, also allowed him to maintain his position as one of two fighters with interim/regular champion status in the World Boxing Association (WBA) Light-Heavyweight ratings, a designation he earned in June of last year with a twelve round unanimous decision over Felix Valera in Moscow, Russia.

Even though some might argue that a fighter with only ten fights being in a position that Bivol currently finds himself in regard to the WBA’s Light-Heavyweight rankings might be an indication that a fighter is being moved along too quickly, it is important to note that Bivol was a decorated amateur with a 268-15 record. An argument could and perhaps should be made that much as was the case with two-division world champion Vasyl Lomachenko, who is 8-1, with 6 Knockouts as a professional, sometimes a fighter can be considerably more seasoned due to their amateur pedigree than the length of that fighter's professional record would suggest.

Although Lomachenko was able to win his first professional world championship in his third pro fight and was able to become a two-division world champion in under ten fights, Lomachenko has proven thus far to be a rarity in the sport . Bivol has shown thus far to be highly skilled and as a professional has successfully met and cleared every obstacle that has come his way. Even though, it is certainly not my intention to compare Bivol and Lomachenko, it is clear that Bivol is a force to be reckoned with in the Light-Heavyweight division. With a record of 10-0, with 8 Knockouts off of his stoppage of Samuel Clarkson, if Bivol continues to win, and more specifically turn in the kind of performances that he did against Clarkson, it will only a matter of when and not if Bivol will challenge for a world championship.

The undercard Bivol-Clarkson featured two encounters between undefeated fighters in Boxing's Jr. Featherweight and Welterweight divisions. In the 122lb. Jr. Featherweight division, undefeated  Glenn Dezurn scored a hard fought eight round unanimous decision over Leroy Davila to advance his record to  9-0, with. This was a competitive fight from start to finish where both fighters were able to have periods of effectiveness. Dezurn’s sharper offense and accuracy is what gave him the upper hand in this bout, in this observer's  opinion. Davila, who fell to a record of 5-1, with 3 Knockouts, was able to push Dezurn throughout the fight, but was ineffective in his aggression and that is what allowed Dezurn to get the better of the action in my eyes. The fight however, will likely benefit both fighters in terms of their overall development and it would not surprise me to see a return encounter between the two down the line.

In the Welterweight division, rising prospect Malik Hawkins scored second round knockout over Carlos Soto. Hawkins was credited with a knockdown in round one when Soto, who’s left eye was severely swollen from Hawkins’ right hands took a knee. After suffering significant punishment in round two, the condition of Soto’s eye prompted the fight to be stopped prior to the start of round three. Although Hawkins dominated this fight and did what he had to do in earning his eleventh career victory, he simply did not face much resistance from Soto who took the bout on short notice. It will be interesting to see who Hawkins fights next as he looks to continue his climb up the Welterweight division. The impressive performance by Hawkins will also likely open further opportunities for him to be showcased on television and it is possible that Hawkins progress will be seen on future ShoBox cards.

On April 15^th the Boxing world turned its attention to the Hydro Arena in Glasgow, Scotland as WBA Jr. Welterweight world champion Ricky Burns met undefeated unified International Boxing Federation (IBF) and International Boxing Organization (IBO) world champion Julius Indongo in a bout to further unify the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division in the main event of a card that was televised on AWE: A Wealth of Entertainment in the United States.

Despite being undefeated in twenty-one previous bouts heading into his encounter with Burns, Indongo was considered an underdog by some against the more experienced three-division world champion. It was Indongo however, who would validate his status as a unified world champion prior to the fight as he used his reach and combination punching to keeping Burns at distance.

What impressed me about Indongo’s performance was not only how well he was able to control the tempo of the fight, but specifically how he used angles with both his lateral movement  as well as in the way he threw and placed his punches. It was this approach that kept Burns from being able to execute his offense effectively and was made to miss frequently. What was perhaps the most impressive thing about Indongo's performance was he was able to gradually take the pro-Burns crowd, in Burns’s home country of Scotland out of the fight.

Burns’ inability to consistently close distance and only being able to land sporadically with his offense was simply the story of this fight. Although some might say that this bout lacked the excitement normally associated with a world championship unification fight at the highest level of the sport, a Boxing purist can appreciate the type of performance that Indongo put forth in this bout. A performance that allowed Indongo to earn a twelve round unanimous decision to add the WBA Jr. Welterweight world championship to his unified crown.

Even though some may question whether or not the loss to Indongo could signal the end of an illustrious career for the former three-division champion Ricky Burns, this observer believes that in this instance it was not eroding skills, which usually is a sign of a fighter on the decline, but rather the craftiness and speed of Indongo that was responsible for Burns’ ineffectiveness in this fight. Sometimes it is as simple as one fighter besting the other. Boxing history is full of stories of great fighters who at one time or another had a bad outing against a highly skilled fighter who might have been underestimated by some fans and experts before a fight takes place. It will be what Burns does coming out of this fight which may determine if this loss was a signal of a fighter in decline or a case of a great fighter having a bad night against a fighter who might also be regarded one day as a great fighter by fans and experts alike.

Although I look forward to sharing further thoughts regarding all of the fighters who fought on these two cards in the near future, the outcomes of these bouts, specifically the two main events have certainly created some interesting possibilities in regard to fights which could be made and will likely stir up discussion, opinions, and debate among Boxing fans as well as experts. Let the discussions begin.

“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

Update

We would like to let readers know that new material will be released on Tuesday, April 18th.Stay tuned.”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

ShoBox 4/14/2017 Weights

The official weigh-in for Friday’s edition of Showtime Sports’ ShoBox: The New Generation series took place on Thursday in Oxon Hill, MD. The official weights for the entire card are as follows.

Main Event: Light-Heavyweight – 12Rds.*

Dmitry Bivol 174 1/2lbs. vs. Samuel Clarkson 173lbs.

(*Bout will determine an interim championship designation in the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) Light-Heavyweight ratings.)

Jr. Featherweight – 8Rds.

Leroy Davila 119 3/4lbs. vs. Glenn Dezum 120 3/4lbs.

Heavyweight – 4Rds.*

Hasim Rahman Jr.  234 1/2lbs. vs. Ralph Alexander 239 1/2lbs.

(*Both fighters will be making their pro debuts on this card.)

Heavyweight – 8Rds.

Rodney Hernandez 262 1/2lbs. vs. Joey Dawejko 234 1/2lbs.

Jr. Lightweight – 6Rds.

Luis Torres 129lbs. vs. Ruben Villa 128lbs.

Heavyweight – 8Rds.

Sergey Kuzmin 246lbs. vs. Keenan Hickman 242 1/2lbs.

Welterweight – 8Rds,

Carlos Soto 148 1/2lbs. vs. Malik Hawkins 146lbs

(Bouts also scheduled to take place on this card. Weights for these bouts unavailable as of this writing.)

Jr. Middleweight – 4Rds.*

Justin Hurd vs. TBA

(Opponent for Justin Hurd has not been named as of this writing. Bout still scheduled to take place as of this writing.)

Jr. Lightweight – 6Rds.

Michael Dutchover vs. Eder Fajardo

Light-Heavyweight – 8Rds.

Taneal Goyco vs. Travis Reeves

ShoBox: Bivol vs. Clarkson takes place tonight (Friday, April 14th) at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, MD. The card can be seen in the United States on Showtime beginning at 10PM ET/PT. Check your cable/satellite provider for time and channel in your area. The card will also be streamed on the Showtime and Showtime Anytime apps. For more information about ShoBox, Showtime Sports, and the Showtime and Showtime Anytime apps please visit: www.sho.com. Check your 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.  

Is It Time For Lomachenko To Move Up In Weight?

Two-division world champion Vasyl Lomachenko has established himself as one of the most dominant fighters not just in the 130lb. Jr. Lightweight division, but one might argue in the entire sport. Of course, Lomachenko will go down in history as one of the greatest amateur boxers of all time compiling a mind boggling record of 396-1 during his amateur career.

It was as an amateur that Lomachenko became a two-time Olympic champion winning a gold medal in the 2008 Beijing games as a Featherweight and earning a second gold medal at the 2012 London games as a Lightweight. With such a decorated amateur career, it was certainly understandable how the mouths of both Boxing fans and experts alike could water over the thought of a fighter of Lomachenko’s pedigree setting his sights on the professional ranks.

In October 2013 Lomachenko made his professional debut by scoring a fourth round knockout over Jose Ramirez. Following his first pro fight, Lomachenko put forth a determined effort in losing a hard fought twelve round split decision to former world champion Orlando Salidio in March 2014 in what was Lomachenko's first attempt at a professional world championship. What is perhaps more incredible than the fact that Lomachenko fought for a world championship in only his second pro bout, despite being at a disadvantage in terms of professional experience as compared to the seasoned veteran Salidio was Lomachenko nearly pulled off a victory even though Salidio, who was stripped of the WBO Featherweight world championship on the day before the fight for being two pounds over the 126lb. Featherweight limit and had a significant weight advantage over Lomachenko by the time the two fighters squared off in the ring.

Despite the loss however, Lomachenko would bounce back three months later in his third pro fight to win the then vacated WBO Featherweight world championship with a twelve round majority decision over Gary Russell Jr. Following three successful defenses of his Featherweight world championship, Lomachenko successfully moved up to the Jr. Lightweight division to win the WBO Jr. Lightweight world championship with a knockout of Roman Martinez in June of last year.

The victory over Martinez in what was his seventh pro fight set up Lomachenko's encounter with former WBA Featherweight world champion Nicholas Walters last November where the Jr. Lightweight world champion Lomachenko frustrated Walters, a fighter known for his punching power into quitting after seven rounds. After what should be viewed as one of the most significant and impressive performances of his career, Lomachenko’s next title defense came on April 8^th in Oxon Hill, MD against WBO number two rated Jr. Lightweight contender Jason Sosa.

The bout followed what has become a familiar pattern for most of Vasyl Lomachenko's professional fights in his career thus far. The champion Lomachenko using his overall Boxing skill, lateral movement, and hand speed to control how the fight was fought. Lomachenko's systematic approach gradually took a toll on the “Game”, but over matched Sosa ultimately resulting in Sosa’s corner stopping the fight to prevent their fighter from further punishment after nine one-sided rounds.

The win for Lomachenko earned him his second successful defense of the WBO Jr. Lightweight world championship. In the days since Lomachenko's latest dominating victory, I have thought about what possible route Lomachenko might take for his next fight. Although Lomachenko is twenty-nine years old and per his amateur background is considerably more seasoned than a fighter with a pro record of 8-1, with 6 Knockouts would suggest, there are some who remain skeptical of Lomachenko's standing in the sport.

The source of the skepticism in this observer's eyes stems from the fact that Lomachenko was catapulted into a world championship bout in only his second professional fight, one where despite a valiant effort, he came out on the short end of what could be described as a controversial decision depending on one's perspective. If one is objective however, they would admit that despite the loss to Orlando Salido, Lomachenko has proven to be a fighter with exceptional skill who has made the most of the opportunities that have come his way even with one fight going against him. After all, not many fighters are in a position to challenge for a world championship within their first ten professional fights, let alone being able to become a world champion in two weight classes.

As far as potential options which may be available to Lomachenko in the near future, this observer has thought of two possibilities which I feel would be both logical and potentially lucrative. Option number one would be a potential rematch between Lomachenko and Orlando Salido, who coincidentally happens to be the current WBO Jr. Lightweight contender and would thus be in a position to be named as Lomachenko's next mandatory challenger by the World Boxing Organization (WBO). The obvious storyline of a rematch between the two would be the classic question of “Repeat Or Revenge?” Given the competitive nature of the fight between the two as well as the elements of controversy that emerged both before and during the bout, I believe both Boxing fans as well as Lomachenko himself would welcome a second encounter between the two.

The second option, which I believe may be more likely would be for Lomachenko to move up five pounds to the 135lb. Lightweight division. Although the possibility also exists that Lomachenko may look to unify the Jr. Lightweight division, one might argue beyond possible physical benefits that could be available to a fighter by moving up in weight without as much of a physical toll by trying to get down in weight to a weight limit that might have an adverse effect on a fighter physically is that there are theoretically more lucrative opportunities as a fighter moves up the weight scale.

The opportunity for Lomachenko to possibly challenge for a third world championship in as many weight classes is likely one that the two-division world champion would consider. After all, if one combines both his amateur and professional victories, Lomachenko has emerged victorious in over four hundred bouts against two defeats. Lomachenko has already made history in being able to win two world championships in two different weight classes in under ten fights as a professional. A chance to potentially make more history has to be appealing.

If Lomachenko continues to win and more specifically dominate the competition as he has been doing in recent times regardless of which weight class he chooses to compete in, he could very well have another title bestowed upon him. The mythical title of best pound for pound fighter in the world. Whether or not Lomachenko is eventually among the pound for pound elite is a question that will be answered in time, but one thing is certain, if his recent dominance continues as he moves up in weight, the skepticism that some have with regard to Lomachenko will gradually cease.

In this observer's eyes based not only on his amateur greatness, but also his dominance since embarking on a professional career, we just might be witnessing the genesis of the next all-time great fighter. As is the case with fighters who eventually go on to become legendary figures in the sport, part of the fun for Boxing fans as well as experts is to see how the careers/stories of those fighters evolve over time. Vasyl Lomachenko's story will likely be no exception.

“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

Brief Update

We would like to let our readers know that new material will be released on Tuesday, April 11th. Stay tuned. “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

Observations On Recent Events In Boxing March 2017

The year 2017 has already provided some interesting moments in the sport of Boxing. A consistent theme thus far has been competitive fights that end in closely scored decisions. This theme seemed to begin in this observer’s eyes with the February 18th Welterweight encounter between former multi-division world champion Adrien Broner and Adrian Granados.

A grueling encounter where two fighters simply put it on the line and left it all in the ring where there was not much to separate the two fighters at the conclusion of the bout. The end result, a ten round split decision in favor of Adrien Broner had the ingredients of what most associate with a close decision. More often than not, the main ingredient is an encounter that evolves into a great fight where there is a difference of opinion as to who got the upper hand.

The month of March featured a couple of notable encounters that one might argue belong in the same category as Broner-Granados in terms of being highly competitive with a healthy difference of opinion as to who won those battles. Of course, the most obvious of the encounters most would say was the March 18th world Middleweight championship fight between long-reigning unbeaten champion and knockout artist Gennady Golovkin and longtime top contender Daniel Jacobs. Before briefly sharing my thoughts as to what I feel might be in store for both Golovkin and Jacobs in a mini continuation of this observer’s coverage of that fight that was published on March 26th, there were other encounters that I feel deserve attention.

One such encounter took place on March 11th in Germany when former WBO Jr. Middleweight world champion Demetrius Andrade met WBA number one contender Jack Culcay in a bout to determine interim/regular championship status in the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) Jr. Middleweight ratings. This was a tactical chess match from start to finish. What made this fight difficult to score in my estimation was both fighters were able to have periods of effectiveness in several of the rounds and the ebb and flow of the fight seemed to change constantly. One fighter tended to get the upper hand in the first part of a round only for the other to take control during the latter stages of a round.  Of course, when it comes to the definition of “Swing Rounds” there often is a healthy difference of opinion as to who got the upper hand, but in my eyes this fight was extremely close and I ended up with a 115-113 or seven rounds to five scorecard in favor of Jack Culcay at the end of the twelve round bout.

It seemed to me that Andrade was able to get the better of the action in the first half of the fight even though many of the rounds throughout the entire bout were close and Andrade narrowly avoiding a knockdown in the fourth round after the legs of the two fighters became tangled resulting in the former WBO world champion going down to the canvas in what was correctly ruled a slip by Referee Luis Pabon. What made this fight challenging to score in my eyes was Andrade seemed to get the better of the action when he was able to control distance and keep Culcay on the outside. Culcay meanwhile seemed most effective when he was able to execute his offense in short spurts of combinations particularly when he was able to get on the inside and exchange with Andrade. Although the official verdict of this encounter was ultimately ruled a split decision in favor of Andrade with two official judges scoring the fight 116-112 in points or eight round to four in his favor, I do not feel that this decision was controversial and I would like to see a rematch between the two at some point in the future.

As for when the rematch might take place, with the win Andrade earned interim/regular champion status in the WBA’s Jr. Middleweight rankings which puts him in line to challenge unified WBA/IBO Jr. Middleweight world champion Erislandy Lara. Even though logic would suggest that Andrade would likely face Lara before a potential rematch with Culcay, one must remember that since the WBA instituted interim/regular champion designations in their respective rankings shortly after Bernard Hopkins successfully unified three Middleweight world championships in a unification tournament in 2001, fighters who hold such designations have not always faced the current WBA champion after becoming number one contenders and have in some cases had to fight on and maintain their position in the rankings for significant periods of time before getting their opportunity to face the champion.

If Andrade is not in the plans for Erislandy Lara for the remainder of 2017, the possibility certainly exists that Culcay could be an option for him, but I believe that Andrade might look to face another top contender in the event a fight with Lara cannot be made in the near future. Perhaps an opportunity to face current WBC world Jr. Middleweight champion Jermell Charlo or recently crowned IBF world champion Jarrett Hurd might also be available to Andrade if a fight with Lara is not in the immediate future.  Of course, one might argue that the best option in the Jr. Middleweight division both from a financial and exposure standpoint would be a fight against current WBO world champion Saul Alvarez, but Alvarez will face Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on May 6th at a catch-weight of 164lbs., ten pounds above the 154lb. Jr. Middleweight limit and four pounds above the 160lb. Middleweight limit. Obviously, with the Alvarez-Chavez fight looming and depending on the outcome of that fight, there are lucrative options available for Alvarez outside of the Jr. Middleweight division. At minimum, the status of the WBO Jr. Middleweight world championship should be viewed as in limbo until after Alvarez-Chavez takes place. We will simply have to wait and see what options will be available to Andrade going forward and how the landscape of the Jr. Middleweight division will change in time.

Perhaps the most competitive fight that took place during the month of March was an encounter that took place on the undercard of Golovkin-Jacobs on March 18th between WBC Jr. Bantamweight world champion Roman Gonzalez and Wisaksil Wangek. In what was a grueling back toe to toe  battle,  Wangek  emerged victorious earning a twelve round majority decision to win the championship from Gonzalez, the fighter considered by many to be the best pound for pound fighter in the world. Although this observer felt Gonzalez won the fight as I scored the bout eight rounds to four or 115-111 in his favor, there were several close rounds in this fight that saw plenty of back and forth action. Gonzalez suffered a knockdown in the first round from a body shot by Wangek. Wangek was also penalized a point in round six as a result of a clash of heads that was ruled to be intentional by Referee Steve Willis.

Even though there were several “Swing Rounds” in this fight the key in my eyes might have been how one chose to score round six. Keeping the point deduction in mind, if one felt Wangek were winning the round prior to the point deduction it is logical to assume that a round that would have otherwise been scored 10-9 in favor of Wangek would be scored even 9-9 because of the point deduction. If one felt that Gonzalez was winning round six before the deduction against Wangek however, that round would be scored 10-8, which would negate the 10-8 round Wangek earned in round one because of the knockdown.

From my perspective, I scored round six 10-8 in favor of Gonzalez as part of a stretch where he won rounds two through eight on my scorecard before also winning the twelfth and final round.  Wangek meanwhile won rounds one, nine, ten, and eleven with the two fighters earning a 10-8 round in rounds one and six resulting in the 115-111 score in favor of Gonzalez on my scorecard.

For Wangek, who also goes by the name Srisaket  Sor Rungvisai, the win over Gonzalez earned him his second reign as WBC Jr. Bantamweight world champion after previously holding the championship from May 2013 to May 2014. Although some may have questioned the decision which made Wangek a two-time world champion, it was a great fight that like the others being discussed in this column could have gone either way.

One prospect who one might argue was put to his first significant test during the month of March was undefeated rising Middleweight prospect Jason Quigley, who earned a hard fought ten round unanimous decision over veteran contender Glen Tapia on March 23rd in Indio, CA. Quigley, who entered the fight with a record of 12-0, with 10 Knockouts started the bout strong, but appeared to have difficulty in the middle rounds as Tapia gradually worked his way into the fight. Even though Tapia was able to make the fight close in this observer’s eyes as the bout progressed as I ended up scoring the fight 96-94 or six rounds to four in favor of Quigley, all three judges turned in wide scores in favor of Quigley earning him the decision victory.

Although the overriding theme of the recent history of the sport seems to be close and competitive fights, there have also been statement making performances. Rising Jr. Lightweight prospect Leduan Barthelemy established himself as a fighter to watch with his March 28th stoppage victory over Reynaldo Blanco in Nice, CA. Barthelemy, who is undefeated in thirteen professional fights is the younger brother of undefeated two-division world champion Rances Barthelemy and displayed some of the characteristics of his older brother who held the International Boxing Federation (IBF) Jr. Lightweight world championship from July 2014 to February 2015. Leduan displayed a good mix of hand speed and punching power as he dominated a “Game”, but over matched Blanco before Blanco’s corner stopped the fight in the ninth round. It will be interesting to see going forward if Leduan will be able to move himself into a position where he could challenge for a world championship in the near future. This performance will likely draw some to compare him with his older brother Rances, who won his first world championship in his twenty-first professional fight in his second encounter with Argenis Mendez,

It is important to remember that each fighter has their own path as they attempt to climb the ladder of contention and determining when a fighter is ready to challenge for a world championship can be a difficult task for a fighter’s handlers. For now, Leduan Barthelemy could be approaching the point where he might be ready to test the waters to see if he can make the transition from rising prospect to a world title contender.

This brings us back to what may be in store for Gennady Golovkin and Daniel Jacobs going forward. In the weeks since the bout took place, I have thought of a few scenarios that might be available to both fighters. One scenario for the champion Golovkin most would say would be to look to defend his world championship against Saul Alvarez assuming that Alvarez is successful in his bout against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on May 6th. Even though this option might be the most lucrative on the table for Golovkin, another possibility which could be option to him would be to fully unify the Middleweight division by looking to face Billy Joe Saunders, the undefeated WBO world champion who stands as the lone obstacle between Golovkin and the Undisputed Middleweight championship of the world. 

What might be interesting however, is if Jacobs might be a potential option for Saunders as it is not uncommon to see a fighter who loses a close decision in a challenge for a world championship receive another opportunity against another world champion in the division. Jacobs did put forth an impressive performance against Golovkin and did create an element of doubt in regard to the outcome of a Gennady Golovkin championship defense and should be considered a viable option for anyone in the Middleweight division.

Given the close decision that was rendered in the Golovkin-Jacobs bout, this observer feels the best option available to both fighter as could also be said for Broner-Granados, Culcay-Andrade, Gonzalez-Wangek, and Quigley-Tapia would be for a rematch between the two to take place. Although there was no rematch clause for the Golovkin-Jacobs bout, public interest could fuel demand for a rematch between the two with the storyline of whether or not Golovkin can validate what some might feel was a questionable decision that went in his favor in a would be second encounter with Jacobs, who is more than deserving of a second opportunity against a fighter who has carved out what this observer has called a path of destruction through the Middleweight division. Jacobs not only took Golovkin the full twelve round championship distance for the first time in his career, not only ended Golovkin’s twenty-three fight knockout streak, but also gave the champion what should be viewed as a legitimate scare. This warrants a rematch.

2017 has thus far proven to be an extremely competitive year for the sport of Boxing. We now will see what is in store in April. If the first three months of the year are any indication, April could continue to provide the type of competition and excitement that the sport thrives off of. It should be fun to watch.

“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

Schedule Update

We would like to let our readers know that the monthly feature Observations On Recent Events In Boxing, which discusses some of the highlights and notable stories from the previous month in the sport is currently in the works. The newest edition looking back at the month of March will be released on Thursday, April 5th. Stay tuned. “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

Premier Boxing Champions 3/28/2017 Weights

The official weigh-in for the latest edition of the Premier Boxing Champions series taking place on Tuesday night in Nice, CA took place earlier today. The official weights for the entire card are as follows.

Main Event: Jr. Lightweight – 10Rds.

Leduan Barthelemy 129lbs. vs. Reynaldo Blanco 130lbs.

Jr. Middleweight – 10Rds.

Kyrone Davis 153 1/2lbs. vs. Mark Hernandez 153 1/2lbs.

Jr. Featherweight – 4Rds.

Jose Naranjo 123 1/2lbs. vs. Anthony Chavez 123lbs.

Jr. Featherweight – 4Rds.*

Eros Correa 122lbs. vs. Damon Simon 121lbs.

(*Correa scheduled to make his pro debut in this bout.)

Middleweight – 8Rds.

Alejandro Torres 159 1/2lbs. vs. Malcolm McAllister 158 1/2lbs.

Jr. Middleweight – 4Rds.

Taif Harris 154lbs. vs. Brandyn Lynch 153 1/2lbs.

PBC: Barthelemy vs. Blanco takes place tomorrow night (Tuesday, March 28th) at the Robinson Rancheria Resort and Casino in Nice, CA. The card can be seen in the United States on Fox Sports 1 beginning at 9PM ET/6PM PT and will also be streamed on the Fox Sports Go app. For more information about the Premier Boxing Champions series please visit: www.premierboxingchampions.com. For more information about Fox Sports and Fox Sports Go please visit: www.foxsports.com. Check your local listings for time and channel in your area. Check your listings internationally.

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

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Reflecting On Golovkin-Jacobs

There was much anticipation for Gennady Golovkin’s eighteenth defense of his Middleweight world championship against WBA number one contender Daniel Jacobs on March 18^th at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY. This fight seemed to have all of the ingredients that make Boxing special. Two hard-hitting boxers looking to prove superiority over not just their opponent, but over the entire Middleweight division. For the champion Gennady Golovkin, the encounter with Jacobs represented not just the eighteenth title defense in a reign that has seen him gradually unify four of five Middleweight world championships, but it also represented the next step in what may ultimately become a historic reign as a World Middleweight champion.

With a victory over Jacobs, it would place Golovkin two successful title defenses shy of tying the all-time Middleweight record for successful title defenses, which was set by future Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins between 1995-2005. For Daniel Jacobs, the fight with Golovkin obviously represented the opportunity to become a world champion after previously coming up short in his previous world championship opportunity against Dmitry Pirog in July 2010. Jacobs also held interim/regular championship status in the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) Middleweight ratings for nearly three years and successfully retained his position as the WBA’s top Middleweight contender in four fights from 2014-2016, scoring knockouts in each of those bouts. Jacobs’ long standing as number one contender as well as a record of 32-1, with 29 Knockouts validated him as not only deserving of his opportunity against Golovkin, but one might argue one of the more dangerous opponents that the champion had faced in his career.

Despite the impression that statistics can sometimes give especially when discussing two fighters with career knockout percentages of 92% and 88% respectively, the battle between Golovkin and Jacobs was not the “Shootout” that some had anticipated. As is sometimes the case when two knockout punchers are pitted against each other, the fight between Gennady Golovkin, the long-reigning Middleweight kingpin and Daniel Jacobs was a tactical, but still exciting encounter.

It was clear from early on in the fight that the challenger Jacobs intended to box the champion rather than engaging in a toe to toe slugfest. What I liked about Jacobs’ approach in this fight was how he used his lateral movement and his jab to establish distance between himself and Golovkin. As has been the custom throughput his career, Golovkin looked to apply pressure from the outset, but unlike some of his previous opposition, Golovkin had trouble in this fight neutralizing Jacobs’ movement, despite being able to land his share of offense early on.

At the conclusion of three rounds, I had Jacobs winning two out of three rounds due largely to how well he was able to offset Golovkin’s pressure and his effectiveness in using his jab to dictate how the fight was being fought. In round four however, the champion would establish himself as he scored a knockdown of Jacobs with a short, but solid right hand. Under circumstances where some fighters have wilted once they felt Golovkin's power, Jacobs did not appear to be hurt or discouraged.

The knockdown Golovkin was able to score in round four as well as the gradual success he was able to have in not only backing Jacobs up, but executing his offense systematically allowed the champion to win rounds four and five on my scorecard and gave him a slight edge.  Although Golovkin won the fourth round by a 10-8 margin in points because of the knockdown, it is important to remember for those who saw this fight when it to place and to state for those who have yet to see this encounter that several of the rounds in this fight were extremely close and if one watches the fight round by round as the official judges score fights on a round by round basis, there is the element of interpretation when it comes to close fights. This fight was certainly no exception.

This observer has always said that 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 based on clean punching, effective aggression, ring generalship, and defense. Rather than go into a long detailed explanation of all the facets that go into scoring a fight, I will simply offer the reader my perspective in how I saw this bout play out.

From round five on, I felt the two fighters traded momentum in that determining who got the upper hand in a round could have been based on specific moments in rounds that would sway opinion in favor of one fighter, particularly in rounds that may have otherwise been scored even. Rounds six, seven, nine, ten, and eleven I felt were won by Jacobs based on his seeming to be the more effective fighter of the two even though Jacobs did not necessarily out land Golovkin in some of those rounds. Rounds one, four, five, eight, and twelve meanwhile I felt were won by the champion Golovkin. Although many of the rounds in this fight were very close, it seemed as though when Golovkin was able to be more effective and win rounds, it was due to his being able to land the harder punches, which in close rounds can leave a lasting impression. Jacobs meanwhile won rounds where he seemed to be more effective and made it difficult for Golovkin to get his punches off, despite being under consistent pressure throughout the fight.

With the two fighters splitting the final two rounds of the twelve round championship bout on my scorecard, I arrived with a score of 114-113 in favor of Jacobs at the end of the fight. Given how close this fight was and taking into consideration not only the 10-8 round in favor of Golovkin in round four, but how scores could vary depending on opinion of who got the upper hand in rounds where there was not much to separate the two fighters, it was understandable how Golovkin was ultimately declared the winner at the end of the fight earning the victory by the same 114-113 margin on one of three official scorecards. It is also understandable how some may take issue with the fact that Golovkin was the winner via unanimous decision as two of three official judges had him winning by three points 115-112.

Although some may be tempted to use the word “Controversial” with regard to the scoring of this fight, this observer does not feel there was ”Controversial” scoring in this fight, despite my opinion that Jacobs won the fight by a narrow margin. As for a reason why two of three official judges saw the fight in favor of Golovkin by a slightly wider margin than the third judge, who had the same man winning, but only by one point, it may come down to how those two judges scored some rounds, which frankly could have gone either way in addition to the knockdown against Jacobs in round four as to how each arrived at their respective 115-112 score at the bout’s conclusion.

Rather than dwelling too much on the subject of scoring, what one should have taken away from this fight is that not only was Gennady Golovkin’s incredible knockout streak of twenty-three halted by Daniel Jacobs, but Golovkin was also given a scare in what was his eighteenth successful title defense. All fighters eventually learn that the level competition only increases when competing at the highest level of the sport and this was another fight that ultimately put Golovkin to the test. Whether you the reader feel that he won or lost, at the end of the day, Golovkin found a way to win.

In the one week since this bout took place, my opinion as to who won it has not changed. After reviewing the fight several times however, it is my hope now that the fight, which was televised live on pay-per-view has begun being rebroadcast on several networks worldwide that fans whether watching the fight again or seeing it for the first time, sit back and appreciate what took place in Madison Square Garden on March 18th.

 It was after all a battle between two of the best fighters that the Middleweight division has to offer. Regardless of the outcome, it was one of the more interesting and entertaining fights in recent times. An encounter all Boxing fans and experts alike should take time to enjoy.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

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

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Update

We would like to let readers know that a column looking back at the recent Gennady Golovkin-Daniel Jacobs world Middleweight championship fight that was originally scheduled for Tuesday, March 21st will now be released on Sunday, March 26th. We apologize for the delay. Stay tuned. “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

Golovkin-Jacobs Preview

Boxing as a sport is one that is constantly searching for two components. The next rising star and the sport’s next big “Mega Event.” It should be no secret to longtime readers that one such fighter’s rise that has been chronicled in recent years here at The Boxing Truth® has been the rise of undefeated unified Middleweight world champion Gennady Golovkin. Golovkin has been on what some might call an unprecedented run for a fighter on the elite level of the sport. A run that this observer has called “A Path Of Destruction” through the Middleweight division.

Golovkin’s path has seen him compile seventeen successful title defense and twenty-three consecutive knockouts. Along the way, Golovkin has unified four of five world championships in the Middleweight division. In his last fight in September of last year, Golovkin scored a fifth round stoppage of previously undefeated IBF Welterweight world champion Kell Brook.  

In what could be described as not his most devastating performance, Golovkin was given some difficulty by Brook, who was able to have considerable success in being able to use his hand speed to outwork the champion early in the fight before Golovkin was able to catch up with him in the fifth round and get the victory by Book’s corner throwing in the towel to stop the fight.

In covering that fight, this observer stated that even though the fight was not as dramatic in terms of Gennady Golovkin’s ability to bring the fight to a conclusion, he was still able to get the job done and sometimes that is all you can ask of a fighter. It was clear however, that Kell Book was the first fighter to provide the champion with a significant test. Regardless of what one’s opinion might be with regard to Golokin's performance prior to getting the stoppage win over Brook, he was able to pass that test.

Now Golovkin prepares to defend his WBA/IBO/IBF/WBC crown for the eighteenth time when he takes on current WBA number one contender Daniel Jacobs on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY in a bout that will headline a pay-per-view card televised by HBO Pay-Per-View in the United States. Jacobs, a veteran of thirty-three professional fights will enter this fight having scored knockouts in twenty-nine of his thirty two career wins registering a career knockout percentage of 88%. Given Golovkin’s current knockout streak and his own career knockout percentage of 92% having scored knockouts in thirty-three of his thirty-six career wins, it suggests that there may be a likelihood of fireworks from the opening bell.

Jacobs, who currently holds interim/regular championship status in the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) Middleweight ratings will be making his second attempt at a world championship. In his first attempt at a world championship in July 2010, Jacobs was stopped in five rounds by Dmitry Pirog in what was at the time a battle for the vacant WBO Middleweight world championship.

Jacobs however, has not lost a fight since the encounter with Pirog. The native of Brooklyn, NY known as “The Miracle Man” also overcame a life-threatening illness in 2012 after being diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Given his crowd pleasing style, but more importantly his victory over cancer, Jacobs is likely not to be in awe and/or intimidated by Golovkin.

In his last fight, Jacobs scored a dominating seventh round knockout stoppage in his second encounter with former WBC Jr. Middleweight world champion Sergio Mora on September 9th of last year, one day before Golovkin’s successful title defense against Kell Brook. Jacobs has held interim/regular status in the WBA’s Middleweight ratings for over three years and frankly is more than deserving of this title shot having fought and maintained his number one ranking four times since earning the designation with a knockout win over Jarrod Fletcher in August 2014.

Although statistics would indicate what some might feel is a strong likelihood of a “Shootout” between Golovkin and Jacobs, it would not surprise this observer if a more tactical battle took place at least early in the fight. Both men know what each other can do and that alone can at times lead to a more cautious approach by both fighters.

At the official weigh-in early today in New York City, NY both fighters came in under the 160lb. Middleweight limit. The champion Golovkin came in at 159 1/2lbs. The challenger Jacobs weighed-in at 159 3/4lbs.

For Gennady Golovkin, if he is successful in this fight against Jacobs, it will put him two successful title defenses away from tying the all-time Middleweight record for successful title defenses currently held by Bernard Hopkins. It will be interesting to see if Golovkin feels pressure not only based on his last performance against Kell Brook, but also the fact that he is gradually inching his way toward Middleweight history to perform well in this fight.

For Daniel Jacobs, I feel he must get Gennady Golovkin’s respect from the outset. Golovkin is not only known as a fighter with devastating power, but also as a fighter who relentlessly pressures his opponents and looks to gradually break them down. It will be of equal interest to see if Jacobs perhaps saw something in some of Golovkin’s most recent fights, specifically against Kell Brook that he might be looking to implement into his own fight plan.

This fight has all the ingredients of a fight fan’s kind of fight. Two fighters with exciting action-first styles, each fighter with the ability to end the fight with one punch with either hand. When one throws in what is likely to be an electric crowd at Madison Square Garden, this observer believes all the ingredients are present for what may very well be the next “Garden Classic.” A fight that I have very much been looking forward to. We will see who emerges with his hand raised in victory on Saturday night.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

Golovkin vs. Jacobs takes place tomorrow night (Saturday, March 18th) at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY. The fight will be broadcast in the United States  and Canada on a cable/satellite pay-per-view basis by HBO Pay-Per-View beginning at 9PM ET/6PM PT for $64.95. Contact your cable/satellite provider for ordering information. For more information on HBO Sports and HBO Pay-Per-View please visit: www.hbo.com/boxing. In the United Kingdom and Ireland the bout can be seen on BoxNation beginning at 1AM (Sunday, March 19th, Local UK Time.) For more information about BoxNation please visit: www.boxnation.com.  Check your listings internationally.

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

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The Options For David Lemieux Following KO Of Stevens

In October 2015 two of Boxing's most feared “Knockout Artists “ Gennady Golovkin and David Lemieux squared off in Madison Square Garden in New York City to further unify the Middleweight division. Golovkin, who entered as the undefeated WBA/IBO world champion facing the IBF world champion Lemieux in what had all the ingredients of a “Shootout!” With both fighters having knockout power in either hand and with each entertaining the fight with career knockout percentages of 91% and 86% respectively, it was certainly not hard to understand how Boxing fans anticipated an all out war between the two.

What happened instead however, was more of a demonstration of a fighter showcasing his overall skill set and proving not only superiority of his opponent, but in the process showing the Boxing world that fighters who have carved a reputation as a “Knockout Artist “ can be much more as a fighter than simply one who has devastating punching power. For eight  rounds, Gennady Golovkin systematically implemented a strategy using lateral movement, a consistent jab, and effective combination punching to dominate Lemieux. Golovkin scored what some felt was a controversial knockdown of Lemieux in the sixth round of the fight when after nailing Lemieux with a flush left hook to the body, which caused a delayed reaction, Golovkin struck Lemieux, who had taken a knee with a right hand to the head while Lemieux was on the canvas.

Although some felt there were grounds for a disqualification against Golovkin, this observer maintains his opinion that the right hand that Golovkin landed was one that was not thrown with the intent of hitting a downed opponent, but was likely caused by the delayed reaction from Lemieux after the previous left hook to the body, which was what caused the knockdown and the decision to not disqualify, penalize, or at minimum warn Golovkin for what should be viewed as an unintentional foul boils down to a referee’s discretion. Despite the element of controversy that arose, Golovkin did not relent in his approach and ultimately was able to stop Lemieux in the eighth round.

What should not be overlooked despite the fact that Lemieux came up against a fighter, who on that night proved to have a complete package of skills, was the valiant effort he put forth in defeat. One might argue that Lemieux was also able to provide Golovkin with more resistance than most of his previous opponents up to that point in Golokin’s career. It should also not be overlooked that despite the fight being lopsided in Golokin's favor, Lemieux did have periodic success and landed some flush offense of his own throughput the bout.

The logical question that is usually asked of a fighter who suffers the kind of loss Lemieux suffered at the hands of Golovkin is can that fighter bounce back? For Lemieux, the rebuilding process began in May of last year when he scored a fourth round knockout of Glen Tapia. Lemieux followed that victory by scoring a ten round unanimous decision over Cristian Rios in the former world champion’s hometown of Montreal, Canada last October.

This led to the third fight on Lemieux’s comeback trail on March 11^th against former world title challenger Curtis Stevens at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY. Much like Lemieux's encounter with Golovkin, this fight pitted two “Knockout Artists” against each other as Stevens entered the bout having scored knockouts in twenty-one of his twenty-nine career wins registering a career knockout percentage of 60%. A commonality that Lemieux and Stevens also shared in addition to their styles in being offense-first fighters was that Stevens also suffered a loss at the hands of Gennady Golovkin, who stopped Stevens in eight rounds in November 2013.

Unlike when Lemieux fought Golovkin however, the encounter between Lemieux and Stevens was what most had anticipated, a “Shootout!” For three rounds Lemieux and Stevens engaged in a battle that was fought at a quick pace from the opening bell. It was clear immediately that neither fighter was intimidated and showed no fear for each other’s punching power. With the two fighters exchanging punches and each seemingly looking for the knockout blow, it did not take long for this encounter to live up to its billing. This battle between hard-hitting Middleweights would have an exciting, but brutal conclusion as Lemieux would knock Stevens out cold with a straight right hand to the head followed by a flush left hook to the jaw that sent Stevens down and out for several minutes on the canvas. Stevens left the ring on a stretcher and was taken to a local medical facility for observation. It was reported the day following the fight by several media outlets including Fightnews.com that Stevens was okay and did not suffer a more severe injury due to the knockout he suffered at the hands of Lemieux.

This victory for the former world champion Lemieux, the third thus far in his comeback was the type of statement making performance that a rising contender or former world champion seeks as they vie for an opportunity at a world championship. The obvious question coming out of this fight is what are the potential options for Lemieux after scoring what should be considered a Knockout of the Year candidate?

Of course, all the attention at least with regard to the immediate future of the 160lb. Middleweight division will be focused on unified WBA/IBO/IBF/WBC Middleweight world champion Gennady Golovkin as he attempts to make the eighteenth defense of his Middleweight crown against current WBA number one contender Daniel Jacobs on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. It is logical to assume that if the opportunity were to present itself for Lemieux to face the winner that fight that he would certainly consider it. Although Lemieux was bested by Golovkin when they met in the same building where Golovkin and Jacobs will do battle, there have been many times throughout the course of Boxing history where former world champions are open to potential rematches with fighters who defeated them regardless of the competitive nature of those fights.

It is important to remember that Lemieux like all of us is human and it is certainly understandable how one might look at his fight with Golovkin as simply a bad night at the office for him. As Lemieux proved in his battle with Curtis Stevens, sometimes all a fighter really needs is one punch.

Even though this observer believes that Lemieux could be a viable option for either Golovkin or Jacobs depending on what happens when they meet this weekend, there are other options that could be considered. Options such as a potential challenge of WBO Middleweight world champion Billy Joe Saunders, the only champion in the division that is not named Golovkin. Saunders as some may recall scored a razor thin twelve round majority decision over Andy Lee to win his world championship in December 2015. For the undefeated WBO champion, who scored a twelve round unanimous decision over Artur Akavov in December of last year in his one title defense since his defeat of Lee, could see Lemieux as a potential option to springboard himself into a unification bout with the winner of Golovkin-Jacobs, which would once again fully unify the Middleweight division.

If a world championship fight is not in the immediate future however, one potential option that this observer has thought of that I feel could make an interesting fight for Lemieux would be for him to face undefeated contender Rob Brant. Brant, who currently holds the North American Boxing Association (NABA) Middleweight title is unbeaten in twenty-two professional fights and has scored knockouts in fifteen of those twenty-two wins. For Brant a fight with Lemieux would represent an opportunity to climb further up the rankings and if he were to defeat Lemieux, one might assume that Brant, who is currently rated in the top ten of both the World Boxing Association (WBA) as well as the World Boxing Organization (WBO) could himself be in line for a world championship fight.

This is of course only three potential scenarios for Lemieux going forward. Although the possibility does exist that Lemieux could take an entirely different route for his next fight, this observer believes one of these three options may indeed be the most logical at this stage of his career. Logic may also suggest that Lemieux’s next course of action would probably be decided after the Golovkin-Jacobs clash takes place on Saturday night. No matter what Lemieux decides to do, he has made a strong case for himself as still being one of the most dangerous fighters in the Middleweight division. Something that any rising contender, world champion, or former world champion should keep in mind as they too discuss their potential options in the future.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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

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