Bradley-Marquez Could Be The Start Of An Unofficial Round Robin Tournament

When the subject of a controversial decision comes up in the sport of Boxing, you will often hear opinions among fans and experts alike on how a decision sheds light on the ills that plague the sport. Oftentimes when events like this occur it is all too easy sometimes to point the finger of blame in several different directions. Whether pointed in the direction of a promoter, official judges, athletic commissions, or what have you it seems that there is always someone or some entity to blame when the element of controversy rears it’s head.

When such circumstances arise however, it is rare to see the finger of blame pointed in the direction of a fighter. In the wake of the controversial decision in the Welterweight championship fight between Manny Pacquiao and undefeated Jr. Welterweight champion Timothy Bradley last year, much of the anger was pointed in the direction of Bradley.

In the days following that fight I along with many other members of media expressed opinion and analysis with regard to the decision rendered in that contest. Despite the outrage caused by the decision, what was overlooked was the courage that Timothy Bradley showed that night. Although most observers, this one included felt that Bradley was bested by Manny Pacquiao, Bradley fought the majority of the fight having suffered ligament damage to both of his feet. The fact that Bradley was able to fight through what had to be excruciating pain to make the final bell in that fight is a testament to the warrior Timothy Bradley is. It is unfortunate that because of the controversial scoring in that fight that Bradley received much of the blame.

Even though damage is done to the sport as a whole when controversial circumstances arise such as a controversial decision, what can often be overlooked is the damage it can do to the fighters involved. Obviously most will say that the fighter who benefits least when a controversial decision is rendered would be the fighter that does not get the verdict of the judges. In the case of the Pacquiao-Bradley fight however, it should be argued that the fighter who was hurt the most was Timothy Bradley.

Although Bradley was the benefactor of the decision rendered in that fight, the fact that some pointed the finger of blame in his direction quite frankly did more damage to his career then a loss would have. To his credit, Bradley handled the situation as well as anyone could in the position he was in.

When Bradley returned to the ring earlier this year to make the first defense of his WBO world Welterweight championship against contender Ruslan Provodnikov, one of the questions that went through my mind prior to the fight was whether or not the controversy Bradley had gone through would have any effect in the way he would fight? Although most believed that it would have been to Bradley’s benefit to box against the power punching Provodnikov, Bradley elected to go toe to toe. Several back and forth exchanges highlighted this bout however, the thing that sticks out most in my mind was when Provodnikov staggered Bradley in round six. By all accounts, Bradley was badly hurt and was out on his feet yet the champion was able to survive by gamely fighting off the ropes. This exemplifies Timothy Bradley’s warrior mentality. Bradley was able to adjust in the middle rounds and won those rounds by out boxing Provodnikov and was able to win the fight by outworking Provodnikov down the stretch in a bout that should be under serious consideration for Fight of the year honors at the end of 2013.

It was not surprising to this observer when it was announced that Bradley’s next title defense would come against future Hall of Famer Juan Manuel Marquez. Marquez, who has been one of the sport’s pound for pound elite fighters for many years last fought in December of last year in his fourth fight with Manny Pacquiao.

As has been the custom throughout the series of fights between the two legends, the fourth fight produced plenty of back and forth action. A fight that saw both fighters suffering  knockdowns, culminating in a thrilling one punch knockout in the sixth round for Marquez. After suffering two extremely close decision losses to Pacquiao in fights two, and three in the series; the dramatic knockout victory for Marquez was a career defining moment.

An obvious question that should be asked as a fight approaches is how much has been taken out of Juan Manuel Marquez, not just in those four fights, but throughout his career? At this stage of his career after being in many grueling battles, another appropriate question could be how much does Juan Manuel Marquez have left to give as a fighter?

Although some have criticized this fight being made and the fact that it is being televised on pay-per-view, the fight between Bradley and Marquez makes sense. The obvious storyline of Bradley getting the decision against Manny Pacquiao in a fight where most believe Pacquiao should have been the victor against a fighter in Marquez, who is Manny Pacquiao’s greatest rival, who scored a knockout of Pacquiao in devastating fashion is certainly intriguing.

From a business standpoint, in the current landscape of Boxing where two of the sport’s prominent promoters Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions along with two of Boxing’s top television networks HBO and Showtime are competing to put on the best fights possible, this fight was logical and based on both Bradley and Marquez’ recent fights, should have been made.

Stylistically, both Bradley and Marquez have great boxing ability. It could be likely however, to see this fight at some point develop into a war. Both fighters have shown their mettle and even though anything can happen at any given time, one could be justified in thinking that this fight could eventually become a toe to toe give and take battle. An argument could be made that Marquez could have a slight advantage in this fight. Although Timothy Bradley is a world-class boxer and is a good combination puncher who has hand speed, some may say that Marquez has the edge due to his ability to counter punch with precision accuracy. It will be interesting to see who makes the first move in this fight. It is not out of the realm of possibility that we might see a tactical fight early on where both fighters could be looking to make the other initiate aggression and look to counter.

The fight between Bradley and Marquez could also conceivably be an unofficial start of a round robin tournament of sorts. Ruslan Provodnikov is scheduled to face top Jr. Welterweight contender Mike Alvarado on October 19^th meanwhile, Manny Pacquiao is scheduled to face Brandon Rios on November 23^rd.  What may result out of these three fights could end up being very lucrative for all involved. For fighters like Rios, who held interim/regular status in the WBA’s Lightweight ratings, Alvarado who currently holds interim status in the WBO’s Jr. Welterweight ratings, and for Provodnikov who some feel deserved the decision in his fight with Timothy Bradley, this round robin scenario should it happen could be vindication for them as three of Boxing’s rising stars.

For Timothy Bradley a win over Marquez, and subsequent fights with any of those fighters offers a chance for validation after being blamed for a controversy that he truly did not deserve. A win for Juan Manuel Marquez, would seem to clear the way for a fifth fight with Manny Pacquiao should Pacquiao be successful in November against Brandon Rios. In what has been a stellar year for the sport of Boxing, 2014 looks to be in good position to continue the momentum the sport has built in 2013.

As the Boxing world prepares for yet another “Mega Fight” it is my hope as it was last month prior to the Floyd Mayweather-Saul Alvarez fight that the sport will be spared from any controversy. Unfortunately, there was an element of controversy that did cast a shadow over what was otherwise a great night for the sport on September 14^th in regard to one judge’s scorecard at the end of Mayweather-Alvarez. 

It is my hope that with the pledge of more scrutiny by the Nevada State Athletic Commission of officials assigned to “high profile fights” in the wake of Judge C.J. Ross’ controversial scorecard in the Mayweather-Alvarez fight that if Bradley-Marquez does go to the scorecards, we will get an adequately scored and just decision. The fans both those who will be in attendance to see the fight in person at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas and those who will pay to see this fight and card via pay-per-view deserve it and most of all the fighters deserve it.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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

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Why Alexander Povetkin gained more in defeat in loss to Klitschko

The journey to a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship has been a long one for Heavyweight contender Alexander Povetkin. Povetkin, who was unbeaten in twenty-six professional fights leading up to his fight with unified Heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko had held interim/regular status in the WBA’s Heavyweight ratings for more than two years. Povetkin earned that status with a hard-fought victory over former WBA Heavyweight champion Ruslan Chagaev in August 2011.

Since his win over Chagaev, Povetkin has faced stern tests over opponents such as longtime contender Cedric Boswell and WBO Cruiserweight champion Marco Huck. Povetkin has also at times shown he can be dominant as he was in his fights against former two-time Heavyweight world champion Hasim Rahman and previously undefeated contender Andrzej Wawrzyk in bouts where Povetkin scored quick knockouts.

The run of twenty-six straight wins put Povetkin in position to challenge Wladimir Klitschko for the unified IBF/WBA/WBO/IBO crown. One may argue that this fight was one that had been several years in the making. Most boxing fans will remember that Povetkin was in line to challenge Klitschko in 2009 as a mandatory challenger. It was Povetkin’s then trainer Teddy Atlas however, who would not put Povetkin in the ring with Klitschko. Atlas’ reasoning for pulling Povetkin out of the fight was his belief that Povetkin was not ready to challenge Klitschko.

Although some may have criticized Atlas for his decision, it was the right decision in the eyes of this observer. In the years since Povetkin continued to improve and despite splitting from Atlas following his fight with Cedric Boswell, an argument could easily be made that Atlas’ decision allowed Povetkin to have a much better chance to be prepared for his challenge against Klitschko.

It goes without saying however, that no matter who challenges either of the Klitschko brothers, the odds are not necessarily in their favor. Despite being labeled as boring to watch by some; both Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko could make a very justifiable argument as two of the most dominant champions not just in their era, but rather in the history of the Heavyweight division.

Both have won versions of the Heavyweight title on more than one occasion and since Vitali came out of retirement and regained a piece of the Heavyweight title in 2008, the brothers have become what this observer likes to refer to as the “Two-Headed Heavyweight Championship Monster” due to both ruling over the division with two iron fists. Several fighters have tried to derail both, but no one has been able to stop either of them and end their current reigns atop the “Heavyweight Mountain.” In my opinion the Klitschko brothers do not nearly get the credit that they truly deserve for their dominance. What makes both Vitali and Wladimir so difficult to fight is both are very fundamentally sound and are tacticians. In regard to Wladimir Klitschko he has developed into one of the most difficult Heavyweights to hit. Earlier in his career, Wladimir was more susceptible to being hit and suffered two knockout losses to Corrie Sanders and Lamon Brewster. Wladimir was also floored in his first fight with Sam Peter and also in his fight with DaVarryl Williamson.

This has led to the belief of some that Wladimir does have a suspect chin. To Klitschko’s credit however, while under the guidance of the late great legendary trainer Emanuel Steward he was able to develop a style that allowed him to fully take advantage of his 6’ 6 frame and eighty-one inch reach. By putting an emphasis on his jab followed by his straight right hand, Klitschko has thoroughly dominated almost all challengers that have been placed before him.

The obvious question coming into this fight was whether the 6’2 Povetkin could bring the fight to Klitschko and if he could, would he be able to fight effectively on the inside without being tied up by the taller and heavier champion.  When the two fighters got in the ring on October 5^th in Moscow, Russia, Povetkin made it immediately clear that his strategy was to be aggressive from the outset and look to get on the inside.  This was the only way realistically that I could see Povetkin having a chance in this fight.  In his current reign as champion, Wladimir Klitschko has been able to pick his opponents apart utilizing his reach to keep fighters at distance.  Most recent opponents have not been able to get past Klitschko’s offensive arsenal highlighted by his jab followed by his straight right hand.  

Povetkin needed to find a way to make the champion uncomfortable. It seemed in the early going that Povetkin’s strategy was having success as Klitschko was forced to fight at a higher pace than his norm. 

It was Klitschko however, who was able to neutralize Povetkin on the inside by tying him up and utilizing his weight advantage. In microcosm this is how the fight was fought. Povetkin coming forward looking to bring the fight to Klitschko by throwing power punches, then being neutralized and overpowered in close by the bigger fighter. Klitschko scored a knockdown of Povetkin in the second round with a jab. To Povetkin’s credit, the challenger did not go into survival mode and continued to attempt to bring the fight to Klitschko. Povetkin had established that he had come to fight and would be there for however long the fight would last.

Klitschko’s physicality allowed him to win rounds simply by neutralizing Povetkin’s aggression on the inside. It was that physicality however, that would also work to the champion’s benefit in the seventh round as he was able to floor Povetkin three times. Questions however, arose as to the validity of those knockdowns. Klitschko was able to stagger Povetkin with combinations in this round, after hurting the challenger however, it appeared that Klitschko would either lean or throw Povetkin to the canvas. Although there is no question that Alexander Povetkin was hit by clean punches and hurt before going down, Klitschko appearing to use his strength to put Povetkin down may have some questioning why Referee Luis Pabon would call those knockdowns.

The questions of the legitimacy of the knockdowns in round seven put the fight out of reach for Povetkin on the scorecards. There was probably not many however, who really believed that Povetkin would have much of a chance on the scorecards going into the fight. Despite being in his home country and his undefeated record, Povetkin was the underdog and some fans and observers alike did not give Povetkin much chance of winning the fight let alone going the distance with Wladimir Klitschko.

Although there is likely some criticism that will be pointed in the direction of Wladimir Klitschko for using his size and natural physical advantages to his advantage in this fight, it is important to remember that Klitschko was allowed to lean and use his body weight on Povetkin for the majority of the fight. Although it may not be entertaining, if a referee will allow you to fight your fight and allow you to make full use of your physical advantages and size, why not use it to your advantage?

Despite being allowed to lean on Povetkin for the majority of fight, Klitschko would be penalized a point in round eleven for pushing Povetkin down to the canvas. Even though there will be some who will question the performance of Referee Luis Pabon and although the ultimate result of this fight, a one-sided unanimous decision for Wladimir Klitschko ultimately became a formality as the fight went on. What should not be overlooked is how “Game” Alexander Povetkin was in this fight. Povetkin did have the right idea of how to to fight Klitschko. Povetkin was just not able to keep the bigger Klitschko off of him and was not able to land effectively on the inside.

Despite suffering the first loss of his career Alexander Povetkin proved that he is for real and still remains a top Heavyweight contender. It is not out of the realm of possibility that Povetkin could end up back in line for another shot at Wladimir Klitschko. Perhaps the WBA may offer Povetkin another chance to earn interim/regular status in it’s Heavyweight ratings in the not too distant future.

Although many will continue to question who may be able to derail either of the Klitschko brothers, Alexander Povetkin earned much more respect coming out of this fight with Wladimir Klitschko that he was given by some going in. Will Povetkin be the fighter who may take over the Heavyweight division in the post-Klitschko era? No one really knows, but after the valiant effort he put forth in this fight Alexander Povetkin has established himself as a legitimate player in the division.

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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

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Stevenson Dominates Cloud In First Title Defense

When top Super-Middleweight contender Adonis Stevenson moved up in weight to the Light-Heavyweight division and dethroned WBC champion and longtime division cornerstone Chad Dawson in just seventy-six seconds in June of this year, it was clear that a new star had emerged in the sport of Boxing. Despite the devastating manner in which Stevenson became in some observers eyes the Light-Heavyweight champion of the world, questions remained.

After all, when someone who is of the caliber of a Chad Dawson not only gets knocked out, but is knocked out as quickly and decisively as Stevenson was able to end that fight; it is only natural to question how good the fighter who scored the knockout really is. An obvious basis some might use could be to suggest that Dawson was somewhat diminished following his loss to Super-Middleweight world champion Andre Ward.  Stevenson however, did enter into the fight with Dawson having compiled a career knockout percentage of over 80%. Although some may have been tempted to question how good Adonis Stevenson is, no one should have questioned his punching power.

An argument could be made that a more appropriate question that Stevenson would have to answer is how his punching power would fair against the elite level of the Light-Heavyweight division? It was not very surprising to this observer to hear that Stevenson’s first title defense would come against former IBF Light-Heavyweight world champion Tavoris Cloud on September 28^th at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada.

Cloud, who reigned as champion for nearly five years came into the fight with Stevenson after losing his world title to future Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins in March of this year. Stylistically, this seemed to be a good match up for both fighters. Much like Stevenson, Cloud has an exciting style, is not afraid to mix it up, and in his own right has a career knockout percentage of over 70%.

What seemed to be a probable collision between two power punchers was the latest in a series of extremely well-matched bouts that taken place in the sport in 2013. When it comes to Boxing however, always expect the unexpected. 

The brawl between these two punchers that some had expected going into the fight never materialized. What did materialize was frankly a demonstration of one fighter’s vast skill in showing that he had a lot more in his arsenal then just punching power. For seven rounds Adonis Stevenson controlled the fight using his hand speed and lateral movement to pick his shots and gradually break Cloud down. Stevenson was effective in using his jab to set up quick combinations, mixing his attack to the body and the head, all while keeping Cloud at distance. Cloud did not seem to have an answer to neutralize Stevenson’s movement and nullify his offense.

One of the things that Stevenson used to control this fight from start to finish was excellent lateral movement. This allowed him to get off first, keep Cloud on the defensive, and minimize Cloud’s offense by being an elusive target. Although being seemingly outgunned, Cloud was quite “Game” and continued looking for a way to turn the momentum in his favor. As the rounds went on however, the effects of the punishment Cloud had sustained gradually began to show as he suffered cuts over both eyes. This led to the eventual stoppage of this bout by Cloud’s trainer Al Bonanni at the end of the seventh round.

Some might argue that this latest loss for Cloud may set him back in terms of being in the Light-Heavyweight championship picture. A questionable decision win over Gabriel Campillo in a fight that most observers, this one included, felt Campillo won was followed by his lopsided decision loss to Bernard Hopkins earlier this year. One should not however, write Tavoris Cloud off following his loss to Adonis Stevenson. The toughness he showed in this fight with Stevenson along with his style makes him a dangerous fighter and someone who should not be taken lightly. We will have to wait and see what happens for Cloud heading into 2014. 

For Adonis Stevenson although some questions may still remain, his dominant performance in this fight has certainly solidified his status at the top of the Light-Heavyweight division. In the immediate future, Stevenson’s next title defense should come against WBC mandatory challenger and former world title challenger Tony Bellew. Bellew, a winner of twenty out of twenty-two professional fights is a former British Light-Heavyweight champion who has only been defeated by former WBO champion Nathan Cleverly in a narrow decision that could have gone either way. Although some may be envisioning potential fights between Stevenson and the other champions of the Light-Heavyweight division Bernard Hopkins, Beibut Shumenov, and Sergey Kovalev, Bellew is a fighter who could give Stevenson difficulty. Based on how effective Adonis Stevenson was able to out box Tavoris Cloud, it would be interesting to see if Stevenson elects to box with Bellew or if he will look to be the power puncher.

 The potential fight with Bellew could take place before the end of 2013. If Stevenson is successful against Bellew, one might argue that his next fight following his fight with Bellew could be a potential pay-per-view draw with either Bernard Hopkins or Sergey Kovalev. Hopkins is scheduled to defend the IBF Light- Heavyweight championship against mandatory challenger Karo Murat on October 26th.

If Hopkins is successful in defending his title later this month, it could present an interesting dilemma as to who Adonis Stevenson would choose to face in a potential unification bout if those options are indeed available to him. One should also not overlook the possibility of Stevenson facing the winner of the upcoming bout between former Light-Heavyweight champion Jean Pascal and former longtime IBF Super-Middleweight champion Lucian Bute, which is scheduled to take place in January 2014. Although Stevenson seemingly has business to attend to with Tony Bellew before any of those potential fights can be considered, from an economic and business standpoint; the winner of this Light-Heavyweight championship picture just may be the city of Montreal which has become a hotbed of Boxing in recent years.

Whichever way the Light-Heavyweight championship picture plays out it should be entertaining to watch. The Light-Heavyweight division could be another boost for the sport of Boxing heading into 2014.

“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

A Call For Action Poll:

The Boxing Truth® is currently in the process of formulating a feature entitled “A Call For Action.” As a writer, controversy always is something to live by. As a true fan of the sport of Boxing I have had just about enough of incompetence, rumors, and many controversial atrocities merely swept under the rug. 

I am asking for feedback regarding the avid Boxing fans view and insight on the sport of Boxing.  I am proposing the need for an “Independent Boxing Association” on a national level which much like Baseball, and Football would govern all facets of the sport in the United States. 

Please submit feedback either on this blog or, by contacting me via Twitter at: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison

I thank you for reading and look forward to every response.  Stay tuned “And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

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