A Look At Golovkin-Rubio

A story that has continued to garner significant interest in the sport of Boxing in recent years has been the emergence of undefeated unified WBA/IBO Middleweight world champion Gennady Golovkin. A fighter who has simply carved out a path of destruction in the Middleweight division since becoming world champion in 2010.

Golovkin, a native of Kazakhstan has scored seventeen consecutive knockouts and successfully defended his world title eleven times. What has made Gennady Golovkin such a devastating force has been his seek and destroy pressure style that few opponents have been able to withstand. In thirty professional fights Golovkin has scored twenty-seven knockouts registering a career knockout percentage of 90%. Most recently, a title defense this past July, Golovkin scored a third round knockout of former two-time Middleweight world champion Daniel Geale at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

In that fight not only was Golovkin’s power on full display, but he also showed the ability to take a punch. The champion would end the fight by dropping Geale with a right hand that sent the “Game” former champion down to the canvas. What stood out about this fight’s conclusion was not only the devastating manner in which it ended, but also the fact that it came in an exchange of right hands between the two fighters. Golovkin was not only able to knock out Geale, a fighter who had never been stopped previously in his career, but he did so as he absorbed a flush right hand from the challenger. Despite being struck by Geale’s right hand, Golovkin still maintained enough power in his own punch to end the fight.

In my post-fight coverage of Golovkin’s seventeenth consecutive knockout and eleventh successful title defense, I stated that I believe the time has come for Golovkin to face fighters who are considered top stars. Although my opinion remains the same, Golovkin will have one more test to pass before fights against fighters who are considered marquee attractions can be discussed. The test that awaits the champion could possibly be the most dangerous to date. The challenger? Marco Antonio Rubio.

Rubio, a veteran of sixty-six professional fights has been a long time contender in both the Jr. Middleweight and Middleweight divisions and has twice fought for a world title. Much like Golovkin, Rubio is a pressure fighter who is known for his punching power. Much like the champion, the challenger has in his own right shown an ability to compile knockout streaks and has himself registered an impressive career knockout percentage of nearly 78% having scored fifty-one knockouts in fifty-nine career wins.

Although Rubio has come up short in his previous two shots at a world title against Kelly Pavlik and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., he is definitely not someone to overlook and should be viewed as extremely dangerous. The question that I have as this fight approaches is what kind of fight could this look like? Conventional wisdom suggests based on not only each fighter’s style, but more importantly each fighter’s punching power that both fighters will be looking to trade punches right from the opening bell. Even though this fight has all the makings of a tailor-made shootout between two power punchers, it will be interesting to see if either fighter changes his approach and begins this fight at a tactical pace perhaps in thinking that the other is expecting his opponent to go toe to toe from the outset. 

It will be interesting to see how the champion will respond should he get hit flush by Rubio as he did in his last fight against Daniel Geale. Although no one can take anything away from the valiant effort Geale put forth against Golovkin, an argument can be made that Rubio hits harder than Geale, who is a highly skilled boxer, but is not known for his punching power.

It will however, be of equal interest to see how Rubio will respond to Golovkin’s power, particularly if Rubio were to get caught in exchanges with the champion. Rubio has been caught before while in an exchange and that ultimately led to his downfall.

Some may remember Rubio’s encounter with Kofi Jantuah in September 2004 on the undercard of Bernard Hopkins vs. Oscar De La Hoya in Las Vegas. A fight where Rubio entered having knocked out his previous fifteen opponents, this fight would end almost as suddenly as it began. In an exchange of left hooks between Rubio and Jantuah, it would be Jantuah’s that would land flush on Rubio’s chin knocking him down and out in just thirty-three seconds of the first round.

Although some may be tempted to view Rubio’s loss to Jantuah as a possible scenario of how this fight could play out, it is important to remember that the fight between Rubio and Jantuah occurred ten years ago and it was a scenario where two fighters each threw power punches, and Jantuah’s punch simply got to Rubio before Rubio’s punch could land. It was a case of a punch that landed right on the button, but a scenario that could have easily gone the other way. To his credit, Rubio did bounce back from what was a devastating knockout loss to challenge for a world title twice in his career after that fight and has remained a top contender in the years since.

Nevertheless it will be interesting to see if Rubio keeps in mind how Golovkin’s last fight ended in that although he was hit flush in an exchange, he was still able to land the knockout blow after absorbing that punch. Although there may be some who believe that this fight is destined to end in a knockout, it would not surprise me if a tactical fight takes place.

An interesting question that will emerge coming out of this fight will be what could be in store for the winner. With WBC Middleweight world champion Miguel Cotto not expected to fight until sometime in 2015, the newly crowned IBF world champion Jermain Taylor’s legal problems at least temporarily delaying what could be a fight between Taylor and IBF number one contender and former world champion Hassan N’Dam, and the recently vacated WBO world championship being vacated by the undefeated Peter Quillin, it will be interesting to see how the winner of this fight will factor into the equation.

The main storyline of this fight however, is an undefeated unified world champion’s ongoing path of destruction against a fighter who could well be looking at this fight as his last chance to win a world championship. No matter what happens when Golovkin and Rubio meet at the StubHub Center in Carson, California on Saturday night, whomever should emerge victorious, this observer believes that the ingredients are there for what just may be a great fight.

“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

Jermain Taylor Once Again A World Champion

On September 29th of 2007 undefeated world champion Jermain Taylor entered the ring at the historic Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey to defend his unified Middleweight world championship against hard-hitting undefeated contender Kelly Pavlik in a fight that many considered the fight of the year. A brutal back and forth war of wills that saw both men suffer knockdowns where Pavlik ultimately emerged victorious stopping Taylor in the seventh round.

Some might say that it was this loss, the first of Taylor’s career that began a gradual decline in a fighter once considered one of the best pound for pound in the world. Taylor would go on to lose a twelve round unanimous decision to Pavlik in their rematch in February 2008 in a bout that was fought above the 160lb. Middleweight limit. Taylor, who would leave the Middleweight division after his first fight with Pavlik would suffer further setbacks.

Many remember his exciting battle against then WBC Super-Middleweight champion Carl Froch in April 2009. Much like the first encounter with Kelly Pavlik, the fight between Froch and Taylor was an exciting back and forth battle where both fighters suffered knockdowns. After being knocked down in the third round of the fight and trailing on two of the official scorecards, Froch would score a come from behind knockout of Taylor in the twelfth and final round to retain his title. 

Some would say however, that the most brutal of the setbacks suffered by Taylor came at the hands of Arthur Abraham when a straight right hand from Abraham knocked Taylor out cold when the two met in the opening stage of the Super-Six World Boxing Classic Super-Middleweight tournament in October 2009. It was after this knockout loss in which Taylor suffered a severe concussion and bleeding on the brain and Taylor’s third knockout loss in five fights that many, including this observer believed that he should consider retirement.

It is important to remember that the knockouts Taylor suffered at the hands of Pavlik, Froch, and Abraham were devastating and were the kinds of knockouts that could take a toll on a fighter in the long-term. Although Taylor would not retire, it would be two years before Taylor would return to the ring. Taylor returned to the ring and the Middleweight division in December 2011 after being medically cleared to resume his career scoring an eighth round stoppage of Jessie Nicklow. 

Since his victory over Nicklow, Taylor would add three more wins to his resume over Caleb Truax, Raul Munoz, and former top contender J.C. Candelo.  With four wins since beginning his comeback, Taylor secured a world championship fight against IBF Middleweight world champion Sam Soliman. The fight would take place on Wednesday night at the Beau Rivage Hotel and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Soliman, a longtime contender in the Middleweight division was making the first defense of his world title, which he won in May of this year in his second fight against longtime Middleweight champion Felix Sturm. What interested me about this fight when it was announced was how Taylor would respond in his first real test since his return against a volume puncher like Soliman. Although Soliman is not known as a power puncher, he is known for his ability to be very active and throw punches at a high volume throughout the entire course of a fight. It interested me to see how Taylor, who has been known in the past to fight fatigue and fade during the course of a fight would look as this fight progressed.

The fight was fought at a tactical pace in the early rounds where there was a lot of clinching. This was due in large part to Soliman’s awkwardness and lateral movement in his ability to throw punches and approach his opponents at awkward angles. What is particularly frustrating about facing a fighter with a style such as Soliman is that it is very difficult to establish a consistent offensive output due to the difficulty that can occur in attempting to time that fighter’s offensive spurts. Taylor who has been known for having a great jab throughout his career had trouble establishing the jab in the early rounds. Although Soliman appeared to have a slight edge during this stage of the fight, neither fighter was really able to stand out from the other. When it comes to fights that are fought like this it can be extremely difficult to score. Even though I feel that Soliman was a little more effective in being able to execute his offense on the inside, I can easily see an argument being made for Taylor having won more rounds in the early part of the fight.

The close fight would begin to turn in Taylor’s favor in round six as he was able to land a little more frequently with his jab and mixed in some solid right hands. Taylor would score a knockdown of Soliman in round seven with a jab. It was clear after rounds six and seven that the momentum was in Taylor’s favor.  Soliman however, would suffer an injury to his left knee in round seven when he was knocked down and that seemed to compromise some of his movement as the fight progressed. Taylor would continue to build on his momentum as he scored a second knockdown of Soliman in round eight. 

Taylor would go on to score two more knockdowns of Soliman in rounds nine and eleven and would go on to earn a convincing twelve round unanimous decision to win his second world title.  A victory for Taylor that some would consider an upset based on Taylor’s knockout losses in years past.  

It was also based on those knockout losses as well as Taylor not facing opponents that most would consider contenders since his return in 2011 that there was some criticism of Taylor being given a shot at a world title by the International Boxing Federation (IBF). Although some may be of the opinion that Jermain Taylor was able to get an opportunity at a world championship based on his name recognition clout, he simply did what he had to do in this fight and earned the victory and his second world title.

There was also however, a different kind of criticism by some who did not believe that Taylor should have been allowed to fight for the world title. The basis of that criticism stems from Taylor’s arrest on charges of domestic battery and aggravated assault back in August in connection with the alleged shooting of Taylor’s cousin Tyrone Hinton at Taylor’s home in Little Rock, Arkansas. Taylor, who was later released on $25,000 bail requested and was granted permission to travel out of state and compete in the fight against Soliman. 

It is unclear at this time as to what Taylor’s legal problems might mean for the IBF Middleweight world championship. On October 1st an elimination bout was held to determine a mandatory challenger for the winner of the Soliman-Taylor championship fight. Former WBO Middleweight world champion Hassan N’Dam scored a twelve round unanimous decision over former world title challenger Curtis Stevens to earn the IBF’s number one ranking in the Middleweight division. Obviously before any talk of a potential fight between Taylor and N’Dam can take place there will likely be a waiting period to see how Taylor’s legal situation will play out.  As of this writing there is no word on what the IBF’s plan might be if Taylor will be unable to defend his title for a period of time.

Despite the criticism of Taylor and the circumstances that surrounded this fight it was a performance for Taylor that has reestablished him as a player in the Middleweight division. It will be interesting should Taylor be able to continue his career and assuming that Hassan N’Dam will be his next opponent if that is the case how Taylor begins his second reign as world champion in a talent deep Middleweight division.

As impressive as Taylor’s performance was in being able to regain a world championship after dealing with so much adversity throughout his career, so too was the “Game” performance of the former champion Sam Soliman. Soliman certainly showed his mettle in this fight by fighting through what likely was excruciating pain to go the distance. Even though Soliman will return to his native Melbourne, Australia without his world title, he deserves credit for fighting through an injury and going the distance.

Although some might choose to focus on the criticism of how and why this fight took place, this observer will not be one of them. Instead, I will remember this fight not for the criticism and circumstances of which it took place, but rather for one fighter’s reemergence at the top of the Middleweight division, one fighter’s courage in defending his title through injury, and ultimately both fighters ability to persevere.

“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 

What’s Next For Rances Barthelemy?

On January 3rd undefeated top Jr. Lightweight contender Rances Barthelemy challenging IBF world Jr. Lightweight champion Argenis Mendez for the championship in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Originally Barthelemy was declared the winner via second round knockout over Mendez. This result however, would be changed to a no decision as it was ruled that the combination landed by Barthelemy that resulted in the end of the fight landed after the bell rung to end the second round.

With the results of that fight changed and with the IBF title returned to Mendez per the bout being ruled a no decision, a rematch between the two would take place. In the rematch, which took place on July 10th in Miami, Florida, Barthelemy would score a convincing twelve round unanimous decision over Mendez to win the title.

Nearly three months to the day of his winning a world title, Barthelemy would make the first defense of his IBF crown against the International Boxing Federation’s (IBF) number three rated contender Fernando Saucedo on October 4th at the Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. For twelve rounds Barthelemy simply dominated the fight. Barthelemy’s well-balanced offense to the body and head, accuracy, and precision timing were the story of this fight. The “Game” challenger never stopped trying to turn the fight in his favor, but he was simply outclassed by the champion.

What impressed me about Barthelemy’s performance in this fight was how he paced himself throughout the contest. Barthelemy was clearly the more active and more accurate of the two fighters, but it was a fight where his elusiveness in being able to avoid much of Saucedo’s offense by using his lateral movement was as much a part of the story as his ability to be crisp and accurate with his offense.

Saucedo was aggressive throughout much of this fight, but he could not find a way to avoid Barthelemy’s hand speed and ability to counter punch. Although this fight did not provide much drama and excitement, it was still an impressive performance by a world champion in his first title defense. 

With his first title defense now in his rearview mirror, the question is what may be in store for Rances Barthelemy as 2015 approaches? Assuming that Barthelemy will not fight another opponent before the end of 2014, I believe that a logical opponent for him in the new year would be the winner of the upcoming IBF Jr. Lightweight elimination bout between current number two contender Michael Farenas and number six rated contender Jose Pedraza, which will take place on November 14th in Puerto Rico.

If a mandatory defense is not what is next for Barthelemy fighters such as former world champions Orlando Salido, Billy Dib, and top contenders Romain Jacob, Francisco Vargas, and Diego Magdaleno might all be considered as potential options. There is of course the possibility of potential unification fights that might interest Barthelemy with the other champions of the division like WBC champion Takashi Mira, WBO champion Mikey Garcia, and WBA champion Takashi Uchiyama.

For now this observer believes that it might be more likely that Barthelemy will take on a top contender before a potential unification bout could be discussed. It is clear however, with three impressive performances in world championship fights in 2014, Rances Barthelemy has established himself as a central figure in the 130lb. Jr. Lightweight division. It will be interesting to see where Barthelemy goes from here.

“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 

 

Mayorga, Peter, And Campas Victorious In Oklahoma City

An interesting card featuring three former world champions took place at the OKC Downtown Airpark in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on Saturday night. Ricardo Mayorga, Sam Peter, and Luis “Yory Boy” Campas entered the ring looking to take a step toward potential contention for a world title down the line. In the main event, a scheduled six round bout, former two-division world champion Ricardo Mayorga now fighting in the Middleweight division, in his first fight in Boxing in over three years after spending some time competing in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) took only sixty-three seconds to stop an overmatched Allen Medina.

Mayorga stunned Medina with a right hand that was followed by a barrage of unanswered punches, which forced Referee Gerald Ritter to stop the fight. Official time of the stoppage was 1:03 of round one. Ricardo Mayorga advances to 30-8-1, with 24 Knockouts. Allen Medina falls to 9-24-1, with 1 Knockout. There simply is not much to say about this fight. Mayorga simply saw an opening, took advantage, and closed the show.

In a scheduled eight round Heavyweight bout former WBC Heavyweight world champion Sam Peter, who himself was fighting for the first time in over three years scored a first round knockout of his own over forty-eight year old contender Ron Aubrey. Aubrey, who was announced at a weight of 301lbs. tried to use movement and make full use of the ring to make Peter who weighed 291lbs. miss and was somewhat successful in getting Peter to chase him. Peter however, would bring a quick end to the contest when he connected with a short right hand on the inside that sent Aubrey down to the canvas. Aubrey gamely made it to his feet, but the fight was stopped by Referee Gary Ritter. Official time of the stoppage was 2:34 of round one.

Much as was the case in the main event, Peter simply saw his opening and took advantage. The fight was Peter’s first since suffering a knockout loss at the hands of top Heavyweight contender Robert Helenius in 2011. Sam Peter advances to 35-5, with 28 Knockouts. Ron Aubrey falls to 12-4, with 12 Knockouts.

In a Middleweight bout former IBF Jr. Middleweight world champion Luis “Yory Boy” Campas scored a dominant six round unanimous decision over a very “Game” Julio Lanzas to earn the 103rd win of his career. Campas was in control of this bout from the outset as he consistently pushed Lanzas back with a pressuring body attack that Lanzas on the defensive. Lanzas showed his mettle in this fight, but he could not find a way to keep Campas off of him. I unofficially scored this fight for Campas giving him all six rounds or 60-54 in points. Official scores were 60-54, and 59-55 on two scorecards in favor of Campas.

With the win Campas, who began his professional career in 1987 advances to 103-17-3, with 79 Knockouts in one hundred twenty-three professional fights. Lanzas, who gave a good effort in defeat falls to 8-20-6, with 1 Knockout.

In what was the most competitive fight of the night former “Contender” tournament series winner Grady Brewer scored a six round unanimous decision over Said Ouali in a Jr. Middleweight bout. For six rounds the two fighters seemingly matched each other punch for punch and each had their moments in what was an extremely close fight. Despite the fight being close in the eyes of this observer however, two of the official judges scored the fight for Brewer by wider margins than the action in the ring suggested. Official scores were 60-54, 59-54, and 58-56 in favor of Brewer.  Unofficially I scored this fight even giving each fighter three rounds a piece or 57-57 in points. 

Despite my feeling that this fight was much closer than how the official judges saw it was still an extremely competitive fight and you could realistically make an argument for either fighter having won the fight.  It would not surprise me to see a rematch between the two at some point down the line.   Grady Brewer advances to 32-19, with 16 Knockouts.  Said Ouali falls to 29-5, with 21 Knockouts.

In a six round Middleweight bout Carson Jones scored a third round knockout of Shannon Miller. Jones used a systematic approach to get on the inside of the taller Miller using solid defense and lateral movement and mixed his offense led by his jab well to the body and head on the inside. This approach gradually broke Miller down and a combination from Jones brought an end to the fight in round three sending Miller down for the count. Miller was counted out by Referee Gerald Ritter. Official time of the stoppage was 2:34 of round three. Carson Jones advances to 36-10-3, with 25 Knockouts. Shannon Miller falls to 25-53-8, with 18 Knockouts. 

In a scheduled eight round Welterweight bout undefeated rising prospect Alex Saucedo scored an impressive second round knockout of Miguel Alvarez. Saucedo’s quickness and accuracy with his offense were the story of this fight as he consistently beat Alvarez to the punch kept him on the defensive.  A counter right hook from Saucedo dropped Alvarez early in the second round and he was counted out by Referee Gerald Ritter. Official time of the stoppage was :31 of round two. Alex Saucedo advances to 15-0, with 11 Knockouts. Miguel Alvarez falls to 8-13-1, with 7 Knockouts.

In a Jr. Middleweight bout Cody Crowley scored a convincing six round unanimous decision over Anthony Hill. Crowley was in control for most of the contest based on his effective aggression and accuracy with his offense. Crowley scored a knockdown of Hill in round three.  Unofficially I scored this fight five rounds to none with the first round even for Crowley or 60-54 in points with the third round scored 10-8 because of the knockdown.  Cody Crowley advances to 3-0, with 2 Knockouts. Anthony Hill falls to  1-1, with both fights having gone the distance.

 

The scheduled four round Jr. Middleweight bout between Martin Morales 2-1, 1 Knockout and Jeremiah Torres 8-26, 1 Knockout as well as the four round Jr. Middleweight bout between Rolando Garza 4-0, 2 Knockouts and Joseph Strong 3-2, 1 Knockout did not take place.  As of this writing there is no word on why those bouts were cancelled. 

 

The card titled “Rumble on the River” was promoted by Epic Sports and Entertainment and broadcast by GoFightLive (www.GFL.TV) 

Overall this card produced a healthy mix of prospects, contenders and former world champions.  In regard to Mayorga, Peter, and Campas this card served as both a platform for both Mayorga and Peter to begin their respective comebacks while also serving as a way for Campas, a veteran of now one hundred twenty-three professional fights to stay busy while hoping to get an opportunity for a lucrative fight down the line in the Middleweight division.

It will be interesting to see where all three go from here in their respective careers.

“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