A important have a look at the previous week in boxing
BIGGEST LOSER?
Teofimo Lopez
I don’t wish to be too arduous on the 140-pound titleholder, who was lucky to emerge with a unanimous decision victory over Jamaime Ortiz on Thursday in Las Vegas. When an opponent as skillful and athletic as Ortiz doesn’t wish to take punches, it’s troublesome to hit the bullseye. The nice Vasiliy Lomachenko landed solely 21.9% of his punches in his victory over Ortiz in 2022, in line with CompuBox. Lopez landed 21.4% of his pictures. That being stated, Lomachenko landed extra punches than Lopez did towards Ortiz – 125 to 78 – as a result of he did a greater job of constructing changes. Lopez by no means discovered learn how to nook Ortiz (17-2-1, 8 KOs), taking the ultimate three rounds on all three playing cards on account of sheer aggression to drag out the victory. I received’t say that Lopez (20-1, 13 KOs) squandered the momentum he constructed together with his sensational victory over Josh Taylor final June – everybody has a nasty night time – however elite fighters discover a option to neutralize something their opponents throw at them. Lopez didn’t try this, which means he nonetheless has work to do if he hopes to turn into the most effective of his technology. For the report: Sure, Lopez outpointed Lomachenko in 2020 – and he deserved the choice – however Lomachenko fought with an injured shoulder, on which he had surgical procedure days later.
BIGGEST WINNER
Keyshawn Davis
Giving up marijuana evidently has performed Davis good. The 2021 Olympic silver medalist and 135-pound contender couldn’t have regarded a lot better than he did towards veteran Jose Pedraza on the Lopez-Ortiz card, stopping the former two-division titleholder within the sixth spherical. Davis’ mixture of elementary expertise and God-given presents – notably his hand pace – may make him a really particular fighter, as Pedraza realized the arduous manner. The Puerto Rican was overwhelmed from the outset. Pedraza is 34 years outdated and now 0-3-1 in his final 4 fights, which have to be thought of Davis’ efficiency is assessed. Nonetheless, Pedraza (29-6-1, 14 KOs) is a succesful, seasoned opponent. And Davis (10-0, 7 KOs) blew him away. The victory adopted a no-contest towards Nahir Albright in October, the results of testing constructive for marijuana. Davis stated he gave up the leisure drug to deal with boxing, which paid dividends Thursday. He would possibly crack the High 5 of a number of sanctioning our bodies after his huge night time, which means he took one other step towards his first title shot. It appears to me that we should now point out his identify after we talk about the highest 135-pounders.
BIGGEST WINNER II
Hamzah Sheeraz
The 6-foot-3 middleweight contender from England additionally confronted the most important take a look at of his profession, a scheduled 12-rounder towards veteran Liam Williams on Saturday night time in London. And Sheeraz earned an “A” grade. He fought behind his lengthy, punishing left jab to put Williams down twice and stop him inside of 1 full spherical, a sensational end result that stamps him a real 160-pound title contender. I used to be impressed together with his skillset and poise at 24, in addition to his punching energy. He attacked his extra skilled opponent in an clever, methodical but vicious method and easily destroyed him, which nobody else has been in a position to do. The one time Williams (25-5-1, 20 KOs) did not go the space was a technical knockout towards Liam Smith, which was the results of a minimize. Sheeraz (19-0, 15 KOs) had a particular night time. He has referred to as out Chris Eubank Jr., Smith and widespread Nathan Heaney. I imagine he has the power and demeanor to compete on the identical stage as these potential opponents and presumably anybody else in and round his division. He’s positively one to observe.
BEST MATCHUP?
Haney vs. Garcia
Devin is getting pimped by his dad the pimp unhappy to see. 4-20 he might be crying begging please have mercy. Save your son invoice. pic.twitter.com/BnUMhORclP
— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) February 10, 2024
Information merchandise: 140-pound titleholder Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KOs) and contender Ryan Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) have agreed to satisfy on pay-per-view April 20. No website has been introduced. The battle makes excellent sense from a enterprise standpoint, primarily due to Haney’s success and Garcia’s large following on social media. The battle will promote. However is it a very good matchup from a boxing standpoint? I’d moderately see Haney battle Gervonta Davis or Shakur Stevenson, each of whom are as gifted as he’s, however Haney-Garcia may very well be extra aggressive than some would possibly imagine. Haney is without doubt one of the greatest technicians within the sport. He’ll most likely outbox Garcia and win a transparent resolution. Nonetheless, the champion is a greater matchup for Garcia than Davis was for not less than two causes: One, Garcia received’t need to endure to make weight, as he reportedly did when he fought Davis at 136 kilos. And, two, Haney doesn’t have the punching energy of Davis, who stopped Garcia with a physique shot. Garcia, who break up six fights with Haney as an newbie, additionally is an efficient boxer, fast handed, an enormous puncher and now has expertise in a superfight. I’m selecting Haney to win however I wouldn’t rely out Garcia.
RABBIT PUNCHES
Information merchandise II: Lomachenko (17-3, 11 KOs) will battle fellow former titleholder George Kambosos Jr. (21-2, 10 KOs) for the vacant IBF 135-pound title on Might 12 in Australia. It’s arduous to imagine however the boxing wizard hasn’t held a serious title since October 2020, when he misplaced his light-weight titles to Lopez. He received his subsequent three fights however then misplaced a disputed resolution to then-undisputed champion Haney a 12 months in the past. I don’t suppose Kambosos has the ability set to beat Lomachenko, even a 35-year-old model. Which means the long run Corridor of Famer could have a belt round his waist yet one more time, which appears acceptable. … Former newbie star Abdullah Mason (12-0, 10 KOs) from Cleveland resides as much as the hype to date. The 19-year-old southpaw was at it once more on the Lopez-Ortiz card, stopping beforehand unbeaten Benjamin Gurment (8-1-3, 5 KOs) with an enormous left hand within the second spherical of a scheduled eight-round 135-pound bout. Try the punch here. Mason appears to have elite instruments.
