Monday, November 3, 2014

What’s Next For Andrzej Fonfara Following Decision Win Over Ngumbu





The road back to a shot at a world title for Light-Heavyweight contender Andrzej Fonfara began against Doudou Ngumbu on November 1st at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois. Fonfara entered this fight looking to rebound after dropping a hard fought twelve round unanimous decision to current WBC Light-Heavyweight world champion Adonis Stevenson in May of this year. In facing Doudou Ngumbu Fonfara faced a fighter who was somewhat an enigma and was not well known in the United States, despite having fought thirty-eight professional fights prior to his encounter with Fonfara.


Although he was not well known prior to the fight Ngumbu, who was fighting for the first time in the United States showed that he came to fight. Ngumbu’s awkwardness in using his lateral movement and ability to throw and land punches at odd angles seemed to give Fonfara difficulty periodically throughout this fight. The first four rounds in particular were an example of “Swing Rounds” where there was likely a difference of opinion as to who won those rounds. Although Ngumbu was aggressive throughout much of this fight, Fonfara landed the cleaner more effective punches. Ngumbu’s activity however, made this fight very competitive.


What impressed me about Ngumbu was his ability to land consistently on Fonfara, despite throwing often wide punches and in particular how he was able to have success throughout this fight with his right hand. Even though Ngumbu was successful in landing looping punches and was able to periodically mix in combinations, the punches did not seem to have much an effect on Fonfara and it was clear as the fight progressed that Fonfara had the edge in punching power.


In the fifth round Fonfara connected with a left hook that staggered Ngumbu and sent him back to the ropes. Although Ngumbu appeared hurt he was able to survive the round. Fonfara’s ability to be patient and pick his spots as well as landing the cleaner, harder punches was the story of this fight as he would go on to win a hard fought ten round unanimous decision.


 Even though Ngumbu would remain aggressive throughout the contest and continue to land punches, he simply does not have the power in his punches that could have turned this fight in his favor and ultimately I believe that was what cost him the decision. It was however, an impressive performance by a fighter in Ngumbu who although not being well known prior to this fight gave a good account himself. Despite suffering a loss in this fight, the “Game” effort Ngumbu showed in defeat could lead to another opportunity for him against a top contender down the line.


As for Andrzej Fonfara, there might be some who may have believed that coming off an impressive performance against Adonis Stevenson earlier this year that he needed to look impressive in his first fight since that loss and might have needed to turn in the kind of performance that turns heads and generates interest if the goal could be a potential rematch with Stevenson down the line. This observer believes that Fonfara was impressive even though he was taken to the distance by a fighter who was not well known.


Fonfara was pushed in this fight by a fighter who was looking to establish himself and turned in a performance that was impressive. Fonfara faced a fighter  in Ngumbu who was awkward, threw punches at odd angles, and was consistently aggressive throughout. Fonfara showed his patience and was more effective with his offense, despite his opponent’s aggression. The win will certainly keep Fonfara in the discussion of the top Light-Heavyweight contenders who could be in line for a title shot in the near future.


As for what is next for Fonfara, all the attention with regard to the Light-Heavyweight division will now focus on the unification bout between IBF/WBA Light-Heavyweight world champion Bernard Hopkins and undefeated WBO champion Sergey Kovalev, which will take place on Saturday night in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It is unclear what could be in store for the winner of that fight as WBC champion Adonis Stevenson could potentially face the winner of that fight next year to determine an undisputed Light-Heavyweight world champion.


The Light-Heavyweight division however, will have a few interesting fights still to come this year in addition to the Hopkins-Kovalev unification bout. It was recently announced that former WBC Light-Heavyweight world champion Jean Pascal will face contender Donovan George on December 6th at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. On the same card, former IBF Super-Middleweight champion Lucian Bute will face former world title challenger Roberto Bolonti.
 

What makes this significant is both Bute and Pascal are ranked above Fonfara currently in the World Boxing Council (WBC) rankings. Bute is rated just above the number six rated Fonfara as the WBCs number five rated contender while Pascal is currently rated the WBC number one contender in the Light-Heavyweight division. It is also worth noting that before Adonis Stevenson can set his sights on a potential undisputed championship fight with the winner of this weekend’s Hopkins- Kovalev bout, he will defend his title on December 19th against current WBC number seven rated contender Dmitry Sukhotsky.


This would appear to leave Andrzej Fonfara out of the equation of potential title shots at least in terms of the immediate future, but depending on what happens in Montreal on December 6th when Bute faces Blonti and Pascal faces George, a potential opponent could emerge out of that card for Fonfara to face while the Light-Heavyweight division appears to be moving towards full unification. For now with a victory over Doudou Ngumbu added to his record, Andrzej Fonfara will simply have to wait and see what options could be available to him as 2015 approaches.


“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”


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


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Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Can Fonfara Put Himself Back In Line For A Title Shot?





When top Light-Heavyweight contender Andrzej Fonfara challenged WBC Light-Heavyweight world champion Adonis Stevenson in May of this year, there may have been some who were not expecting Fonfara to have much of a chance against one of Boxing’s hottest rising stars, who entered the fight having knocked out his previous ten opponents. Fonfara however, would provide the champion with a stern test in putting forth a “Game” effort in defeat.


Despite suffering knockdowns in rounds one and five, Fonfara consistently pressed forward and would score his own knockdown of the champion in round nine in losing a hard fought twelve round unanimous decision. Although Fonfara did not come out of the fight with Stevenson as a world champion his stock definitely went up in terms of his standing as a contender in the Light-Heavyweight division.


The first step toward another world title shot for Fonfara will come when he returns to the ring on Saturday night against veteran contender Doudou Ngumbu at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois. Ngumbu, a veteran of thirty-eight professional fights will be fighting for the first time in the United States.


Ngumbu will enter this fight having won four of his last five bouts. In his last fight in June Ngumbu scored a ten round unanimous decision over Johnny Muller. It will be interesting to see how Ngumbu will respond to not only fighting for the first time in the United States, but also fighting in Fonfara’s adopted hometown of Chicago where he has a sizable fan following. 


It will also be interesting to see if Fonfara will be able to let his hands go more regularly in this fight than he was able to in the first half of his fight with Stevenson. As I stated in covering that fight, Fonfara’s difficulty in letting his hands go in the first half of that fight could likely have been attributed to both a respect for Stevenson’s punching power as well as his elusiveness and ability to control distance.


Although Ngumbu is not well known in the United States, he does have an awkward style in which he uses lateral movement and will likely look to control distance and keep Fonfara from getting in close where he can do damage. Ngumbu however, has not fought fighters who most would consider top contenders and this should be viewed as a step up in class for him against a fighter who is coming off of challenging for a world title.


Whether or not Ngumbu can utilize some of the tactics that were successful for Adonis Stevenson in his fight with Fonfara remains to be seen. For Fonfara however, this could be a fight that could lead to another opportunity at a world championship down the line. Even though Ngumbu is somewhat an enigma as this fight approaches, if he should win this fight it could catapult him into world title contention.


With much of the attention in regard to the Light-Heavyweight division being firmly focused on both the upcoming unification bout between IBF/WBA champion Bernard Hopkins and undefeated WBO champion Sergey Kovalev on November 8th, as well as the announcement earlier this week that Adonis Stevenson will defend his WBC championship against top contender Dmitry Sukhotsky on December 19th, it will be interesting to see if the winner of Fonfara-Ngumbu will be in position for a potential challenge for the winner of either of those two upcoming championship fights. An important element to remember as well is Bernard Hopkins has set his sights on completely unifying the Light-Heavyweight division and become the undisputed champion.  It goes without saying however, that in Boxing one should expect the unexpected.

Although Andrzej Fonfara clearly established himself as a player in the Light-Heavyweight division with the spirited effort he put forth against Adonis Stevenson and might be expected by both fans and experts alike to win this fight against Ngumbu, anything can happen. If Andrzej Fonfara wins this fight it is logical to assume that he will be right back in line for a shot at a world title. It will be interesting however, to see if Doudou Ngumbu a fighter who is not well known can seize the opportunity to establish himself in his first fight in the United States. We will see who emerges victorious on Saturday night.


“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 
 

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

NYPD And FDNY Prepare To Fight!



Corporal Murphree, wife Ashley, and son Brody Photo Credit: FDNY
Press Release: October 23, 2014 By Tony Shultz- The NYPD and FDNY are going at it again, this time for bragging rights and a great
cause. Boxing teams for both of the city’s Elite First Responders are hard at work training
for their upcoming charity boxing rivalry, and stakes couldn’t be higher!



Proceeds from ticket sales to this years event are going to an incredibly heroic Army
Veteran who enlisted to serve because his family was affected by the September 11th
Terrorist Attacks. Corporal Jesse Murphree tragically lost both his legs and is dealing
with a traumatic brain injury, due to being hit by an anti-tank mine while on a mission in
the extremely dangerous Taliban stronghold of Korengal Valley, Afghanistan. This area

is notorious for being a key to breaking the Taliban and has been the site of numerous
fierce firefighters with enemy forces, so much so in fact, it’s been dubbed "The Valley
of
Death" by American Forces. Unfortunately Cpl Murpree was a victim of one of those

deadly missions.


The charity boxing event will help raise funds for Cpl Murphree, along with his wife and
son to build a mortgage free, handicap accessible home in their dream location of Tampa,
FL, through the charity “Building Homes for Hero’s” located on Long Island, NY.



Madison Square Garden, which is hosting the event, has named Tony Shultz's FightTown
Promotions as the “Official Marketing Partner” of The 32nd annual “NYC: Battle of the
Badges" Boxing Event at The Theatre at MSG on November 22nd.



“Being that American Forces have dedicated so much, for so long, and put themselves in
harms way to prevent another September 11th Attack” Shultz said when asked about
helping to promote the fight. “As a boxing promoter, this is the best way I felt I could
give back to all the Cpl. Murphree’s and their families, one fight at a time”.



Tickets can be purchased at: www.theateratmsg.com or by clicking the fight poster at
www.FightTown.net


About FightTown Promotions:


FightTown is a Boxing Promotions company that focuses on promoting Heavyweight
World Championship Fights. With an emphasis on promoting strong “Rivalry’s”
FightTown is constantly looking to create explosive matchups between Boxing’s Top
Contenders and current World Champions that decide once and for all who is the
Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World.



Material Courtesy of: Tony Shultz/FightTown Promotions, The New York City Police Department, The New York City Fire Department, and Madison Square Garden. Used with permission.  




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