The Boxing Truth®

Wednesday, August 14, 2024

Alex Winwood On The Brink Of Greatness With Key Bout In Perth

Press Release: August 14, 2024 By Dragon Fire Boxing and Jarred Cross-

When Noongar boxer Alex Winwood steps into the ring next month, one step away from the WBA Super World Minimum belt and Australian record as the fastest man to a world title, it's a chance for him to "make that little kid proud".

Credit: Dragon Fire Boxing

That's his teenage self - 15 years old and taking the plunge into what might prove a historic career after giving footy away.

"From a small gym in Mandurah in a tin shed…now I'm rubbing shoulders with the best of the athletes in the country and in the world," Winwood told National Indigenous Times on being named a finalists NAIDOC Sportsperson of the Year, which he went on to win, in June.

At Perth's HBF Stadium on September 7, Winwood will meet Thailand's 24-0, eight-year reigning champ Thammanoon Niyomtrong - also known by his ringname Knockout CP Freshmart.

On the fight announcement in July, Winwood said "life was a dream" just shy of two years from his professional debut.

Along the way to a 4-0 undefeated record against proven opponents has come Australian and the WBC International minimumweight title.

The former Olympian and Commonwealth Games representative made his title fight opponent's homelands the base of a training camp to prepare, joining Thai fighter OPBF light flyweight champ and WBO no.4-rated Thanongsak Simsri.

"(It was) pretty much the best sparring situation," Winwood told National Indigenous Times on Thursday.

"He was very similar to our opponent…invaluable for us to be there and work with him".

The coming weeks are all about mentality and approach.

Winwood said he's going "full-bore" at present with 12-round sparring, aerobic training and mental preparation ahead of a taper closer to go-time

"He's looking fantastic" Winwood's trainer Angelo Hyder said.

"I was extremely happy by the time we left (Thailand)", he said, ahead of a rotation of international training partners arriving.

"We're just going to sharpen him up. Each of those guys has a different skill set. We utilise some for the hardest sparring, for the more skilled sparring".

Hyder said they're "setting the traps" and "developing the tricks" to "lure this guy in and knock him out".

The tried and tested method of building a pedigree against "tomato cans" - that's journeyman with less glossy records, is worlds away from Winwood's approach to demanding attention taking on world-class fighters.

That's according to Brett Bonetti, who has been ringside on the microphone commentating Winwood's swift rise.

Bonetti sees a "generational talent" in the making, and one who's "made it look easy" so far.

"He's one of the best I've ever seen do it out of the blocks," he said.

"He's got the opportunity to create history and get to a world title, two fights faster than Jeff Fenech did it (in his seventh professional fight almost 40 years ago). I believe he's going to do it."

Despite the opportunity ahead of him, Winwood said he's not letting the occasion get the better of him.

From his debut fight in November 2022 to a world title shot, there's been no room for shying away from taking every chance at chasing the dream and getting to the brink of the journey he set out.

"I don't like losing," Winwood said.

"The risk (fighting high-rated opponents) for me has always been the same and the reward to get to this point has been the same.

"To fight for a world title as fast as we have (got here) - I'm just fully embracing it every day."

Winwood said after facing uncertainties front-on, overcoming hurdles and with the knowledge and experience he's got now, the message to his teenage self is "be fearless and challenge yourself at every point".

"I hope I make that little kid proud," he said.

Winwood will challenge Knockout CP Freshmart at Perth's HBF Stadium on September 7 - tickets available online.

Material Courtesy of Jarred Cross/Photo Courtesy of: Dragon Fire Boxing Used with permission.

Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Bohachuk-Ortiz Thoughts

The first two weeks of August in Professional Boxing have seen a focus on the 154lb. Jr. Middleweight division. First, it was Terence Crawford becoming a four-division world champion by scoring a close twelve round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten WBA world champion Israil Madrimov at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. A fight where for the first time in Crawford's career, he seemed to be pushed in what was a competitive bout from start to finish where there also seemed to be a little doubt under a scenario where Crawford was forced to go the twelve round world championship distance for the first time in eight years.

While this observer feels Israil Madrimov did enough to at least warrant a rematch with Crawford based on how competitive that fight was, the spotlight remained on the division on August 10th when another fight that could well have ramifications for Crawford's future took place. Yours truly is referring to the battle between top contenders Serhii Bohachuk and Vergil Ortiz, which took place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, NV.

The fight, where Interim/Regular champion status in the WBC’s Jr. Middleweight ratings, a designation held by Bohachuk, brought together two fighters who are known for their ability to score knockouts, and this fight at least in theory, would establish a mandatory challenger for current WBC world champion Sebastian Fundora. It would not disappoint.

In contrast to Madrimov-Crawford where the contest was fought at a highly technical and tactical pace, which one might say was similar in some ways to how numerous bouts in the amateur ranks are fought, this was a contest where the two fighters were willing to stand in close and engage with each other, throwing hard punches from the opening bell. Bohachuk scored a knockdown of Ortiz in the first round with an overhand right. While this was incorrectly ruled a slip upon it occuring, it would be corrected prior to the start of the fifth round due to the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) using video review of the knockdown, otherwise known as the instant replay rule, which is not the universal standard in the sport that it should be, but is legal and used when appropriate in the state of Nevada.

The blown call in the first round, corrected via review during the course of the fight notwithstanding, it did little to change the high pace in which the fight was fought in what quickly became a close battle of wills.

Vergil Ortiz seemed to be the more active of the two fighters in several rounds, but Serhii Bohachuk seemed to be landing the harder punches of the two when he did let his hands go. When such a conundrum presents itself, it can be difficult to distinguish who is getting the upper hand, but upon the ruling prior to the fifth round, I immediately questioned to myself as to whether or not the knockdown in the first round would end up being the deciding factor in determining the outcome. Neither fighter really gave up much ground to the other and a brief knockdown, what is often referred to as a “Flash Knockdown" could well determine who wins simply because more often than not, rounds where there is a single knockdown scored is scored 10-8 in favor of the fighter who dropped their opponent.

There seemed to be some clarity, at least in my eyes, when Bohachuk was able to score a second knockdown of Ortiz early in the eighth round.. Much like the knockdown in round one, the second knockdown was not one where Ortiz was in significant trouble and/or hurt, but was briefly knocked down to the canvas. With two knockdowns and thus two 10-8 rounds being scored in his favor, I felt Bohachuk was getting the edge in a close and competitive fight.

Following the second knockdown, Ortiz was invigorated and responded aggressively in trying to press Bohachuk landing hard, thudding punches. If it were not for the knockdown against him earlier in the round, Ortiz likely would have won it. Ortiz would continue his aggression from rounds nine through twelve in rallying to earn a hard fought twelve round majority decision.

Although there was not much to distinguish between the two fighters for the first six rounds of the fight, simply because when Ortiz would land something that appeared significant, Bohachuk would respond immediately or it would be the reverse scenario where Ortiz would respond quickly to what Bohachuk had landed, I felt some of the rounds, though very close, swayed towards Bohachuk. This in addition to the two knockdowns he scored in rounds one and eight, resulted in my unofficial scorecard being 116-110 in favor of Bohaychuk. While it was indisputable who got the upper hand from the time of the second knockdown in round eight, I felt Ortiz did not do enough to overcome those knockdowns and frankly felt that he ran out of time. If the fight had been scheduled for the classic world championship distance of fifteen rounds, something this observer has long advocated to see a return to, I may have arrived at a different scorecard at the end of the fight.

Nonetheless, Ortiz emerging victorious in this fight is not something I would call a bad decision or the often tiresome claim many fans use when an outcome does not go in favor of the fighter they support, “A Robbery." It comes down to what a judge favors based on clean punching, effective aggression, ring generalship, and defense. When there are several rounds that could be scored either way, as was the case in this fight, opinions can indeed differ. It just appeared difficult to ignore two knockdowns, which under many circumstances, would determine the outcome.

For the second week in a row, a fight occurred in the Jr. Middleweight division that was close, competitive, and not expected to be in the eyes of many. As was the case with Madrimov-Crawford, I find myself wanting to see more. Perhaps it might be a good idea to stage the respective rematches of these two fights on the same card in the near future.

“And That's The Boxing Truth."

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Tuesday, August 6, 2024

Madrimov-Crawford: Should There Be A Rematch?

The story going into undefeated three-division world champion Terence Crawford's challenge of undefeated WBA Jr. Middleweight world champion Israil Madrimov on August 3rd at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, CA largely centered on the dominant career Crawford had up to the point of this encounter and his attempt to join a select list of fighters, many of whom are Hall of Famers to have won world titles in four separate divisions. While that storyline was simple, perhaps what should have been discussed more was whether or not Crawford, who came into the fight having stopped his last eleven opponents inside the distance, would finally come across an opponent that would produce something we have not seen before in a Terence Crawford fight. An element of doubt.

Despite coming into the fight as the defending WBA world champion in the 154lb. Jr. Middleweight division, and having an extensive amateur background in which he scored three hundred-fifty wins, Israil Madrimov was seen as a significant underdog. This was due largely to his only having ten fights since turning professional as well as Crawford being his first title defense after winning the title earlier this year and Crawford's significant high profile at the top of the sport.

The champion, however, would show immediately that he belonged in the ring against someone of Crawford's caliber. What stood out was Madrimov’s approx. An approach that had an emphasis on movement both with his feet as well as with his upper body. From the opening bell, Madrimov used faints to disrupt Crawford and footwork to prevent Crawford from being able to find a consistent rhythm. This along with being able to land his right hand both as a lead and a counter punch seemed to keep Crawford

hesitant for a time to let his hands go.

In truth, what would follow would be the definition of a chess match. Two highly skilled world-class boxers attempting to outwit each other, but each showing a healthy respect for the other by not being aggressive and patiently looking for the right opportunities to throw and land punches. Although fights fought at such a pace are not always the most entertaining to watch, for Boxing purists, it was. It was also the first time that a fighter seemed to be able to compete with Crawford and not allow him to gradually take control of the fight as it progressed.

An interesting contrast between the two fighters also developed over time where for those scoring the bout produced a conundrum. The gradual m volume punching of Crawford, or the consistent accuracy of Madrimov. It was indeed hard to distinguish at times who was getting the upper hand because while Crawford was more active for significant stretches, some may feel Madrimov’s measured approach and accuracy with his offense could have been more effective. As it almost always is when it comes to close fights, it becomes a case of what one prefers, as I have said numerous times over the many years I have covered the sport, based on clean punching, effective aggression, ring generalship, and defense.

Only adding to the conundrum, Madrimov’s constant lateral and upper body movement, also allowed him to do something that we have not really seen done to Terence Crawford in his career, apply consistent pressure where it gave an appearance as though Crawford was having trouble, not being able to control the place, in addition to not being able to let his hands go as consistently as he normally does.

For a long stretch during this fight, I felt the story was not necessarily Madrimov’s measured approach in terms of offense, but more about what he did defensively and thus, what Crawford was not able to do as a result. More often than not, however, there are those whether scoring a fight officially or unofficially that will tend to give the nod to a fighter who is more active offensively. In this case, it is indisputable that over the second half of the scheduled twelve round world championship bout that Crawford was the more active of the two even though he was not always able to land on Madrimov.

From this observer’s perspective, at the end of the fight I had Crawford winning seven rounds to five or 115-113 in points, but it was a case where for the first time since covering him from the early stages of his career, where I did not feel confident in my scoring in the sense that it was not a case of clearly feeling that Crawford won seven rounds, but more of a scenario where at the conclusion of the fight, I had arrived at that scorecard under circumstances where many of the rounds could have been scored either way based again on what once prefers in their own criteria based on the aforementioned criteria in which Boxing is scored.

This certainly was not the first fight that I found myself under this scenario, but it was the first time in regard to one of Crawford's fights. Nevertheless, it would not have surprised me to see scores going the opposite way in favor of Madrimov, or to see the fight scored a draw. At the end of the evening, it would be Crawford who would win the fight via unanimous decision with two official judges scoring the fight the same as yours truly 115-113, while the third judge turned in a score of eight rounds to four or 116-112 in points, making Crawford a four-division world champion.

What is interesting coming out of this fight is the ramblings of a further significant leap up the weight scale for Crawford to possibly challenge unified Super-Middleweight world champion Saul “Canelo" Alvarez are likely to continue, but for the first time in his career, Terrence Crawford was pushed competitively to a point we have not seen before and thus, now the possibility of a rematch should be discussed. In this observer's eyes Israil Madrimov has earned it.