A crucial take a look at the previous week in boxing
BIGGEST LOSER?Teofimo Lopez
I don’t need to be too laborious on the 140-pound titleholder, who was lucky to emerge with a unanimous choice victory over Jamaime Ortiz on Thursday in Las Vegas. When an opponent as skillful and athletic as Ortiz doesn’t need to take punches, it’s troublesome to hit the bullseye. The good Vasiliy Lomachenko landed solely 21.9% of his punches in his victory over Ortiz in 2022, based on CompuBox. Lopez landed 21.4% of his pictures. That being mentioned, Lomachenko landed extra punches than Lopez did towards Ortiz – 125 to 78 – as a result of he did a greater job of creating changes. Lopez by no means found out nook Ortiz (17-2-1, 8 KOs), taking the ultimate three rounds on all three playing cards because of sheer aggression to tug 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 foul night time – however elite fighters discover a solution to neutralize something their opponents throw at them. Lopez didn’t do this, that means he nonetheless has work to do if he hopes to turn out to be the most effective of his era. 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 WINNERKeyshawn 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 previous two-division titleholder within the sixth spherical. Davis’ mixture of elementary abilities and God-given presents – notably his hand velocity – might make him a very particular fighter, as Pedraza discovered the laborious 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 Pedraza is 34 years outdated and now 0-3-1 in his final 4 fights, which should be thought-about Davis’ efficiency is assessed.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 mentioned he gave up the leisure drug to give attention to boxing, which paid dividends Thursday. He would possibly crack the Prime 5 of a number of sanctioning our bodies after his massive night time, that means he took one other step towards his first title shot. It appears to me that we should now point out his title once we talk about the highest 135-pounders.
BIGGEST WINNER IIHamzah 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 place Williams down twice and cease him inside of 1 full spherical, a sensational outcome 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 capable of do. The one time Williams (25-5-1, 20 KOs) didn’t go the gap was a technical knockout towards Liam Smith, which was the results of a reduce. Sheeraz (19-0, 15 KOs) had a particular night time. He has referred to as out Chris Eubank Jr., Smith and standard Nathan Heaney. I consider he has the flexibility and demeanor to compete on the identical degree as these potential opponents and probably anybody else in and round his division. He’s undoubtedly one to observe.
BEST MATCHUP?Haney vs. Garcia
Devin is getting pimped by his dad the pimp unhappy to see. 4-20 he will likely 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 combat makes good sense from a enterprise standpoint, primarily due to Haney’s success and Garcia’s huge following on social media. The combat will promote. However is it matchup from a boxing standpoint? I might somewhat see Haney combat 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 consider. Haney is without doubt one of the greatest technicians within the sport. He’ll in all probability outbox Garcia and win a transparent choice. Nonetheless, the champion is a greater matchup for Garcia than Davis was for no less than two causes: One, Garcia received’t should 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 cut up six fights with Haney as an newbie, additionally is an effective boxer, fast handed, an enormous puncher and now has expertise in a superfight. I’m choosing Haney to win however I wouldn’t rely out Garcia.
RABBIT PUNCHES
Information merchandise II: Lomachenko (17-3, 11 KOs) will combat fellow former titleholder George Kambosos Jr. (21-2, 10 KOs) for the vacant IBF 135-pound title on Could 12 in Australia. It’s laborious to consider 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 choice to then-undisputed champion Haney a 12 months in the past. I don’t assume Kambosos has the talent set to beat Lomachenko, even a 35-year-old model. Which means the longer term Corridor of Famer can have a belt round his waist another time, which appears acceptable. … Former newbie star Abdullah Mason (12-0, 10 KOs) from Cleveland resides as much as the hype up to now. 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 a large left hand within the second spherical of a scheduled eight-round 135-pound bout. Take a look at the punch right here. Mason appears to have elite instruments.
