The Boxing thread

[bluemc1]

Holyfield was never awarded the win...

Yep it was draw, still a robbery, Holyfield actually did much better in rematch

 

[Gundog’s Gundog]

Unless he changes his trainer he's finished.

McCracken has a good resume but was hailed as some kind of tactical guru when AJ moved around the fat party animal version of Ruiz for 12 rounds. I’m not even sure that “plan” came from Rob - I think AJ having taken his first proper beating from Ruiz (and let’s be honest he quit that night) didn’t want to engage in the rematch or in any subsequent fight it now seems.

He needs a fresh start, new trainer, get rid of all the “stay humble” hangers on, no more camps with the ams in Sheffield. Go to the States, get a new trainer - Robert Garcia maybe ? - get some proper sparring, see if he’s still got the fire in him that Ruiz seemingly bludgeoned out.

Pass on the Usyk rematch, have a comeback fight knock over job then fight Whyte. That would be a decent litmus test of where he’s at

 

[Barcon]

Holyfield was never awarded the win...

Wrong term from me. I should have said when Hollyfield was allowed to regain the belt.

 

[johnnytapia]

Yep it was draw, still a robbery, Holyfield actually did much better in rematch

I flew to New York to watch that draw at MSG. Superb trip and got to see the full 12 rounds but it was never a draw. On a side note, favourite heavyweight fight I’ve ever attended was Tyson at the nynex. Way past his best but just to see the lights switched off and him walk out to the sound of an air raid siren, was the bollocks.

 

[Paul1970]

I watched the fight on DAZN with Spanish commentary. After two rounds I thought Joshua was doing all right - won the second and might have nicked the first although on replay I gave it to Usyk. Looked on Twitter and everyone was saying he was getting destroyed?!

After 6 rounds it was 3-3 and after 8 it was 4-4. I thought after round 2 the fight was really easy to score.

There’s the obvious overreaction to an AJ loss but he can beat Usyk. Considering how few times he caught him Usyk’s face was a mess and he was really hurt by every body shot. AJ’s issue is durability. I don’t think he was fighting scared or he even thought he could out box him I just think the whole night was about not gassing because he knew as soon as he was gassed Usyk would annihilate him. The lack of commitment in his punches was a real concern. The only way he can win the rematch is with a much higher output, more grappling, stiffer jabs and attacking the body. That can only be done by making it a 6 round fight and accepting if he can’t get him out he’ll either have to quit or get sparked out himself.

Got to agree to disagree with your scoring mate as usyk in my eyes clearly won the first round and although Joshua did a bit more second round usyk did him again . In the third usyk hurt him and this is when Joshua thought “if I got toe to toe this guy can knock me out ‘ and he carried on dancing and jabbing . I gave Joshua 3 rounds and maybe a fourth but after that he was outboxed very easily . As for the renatch he has a punchers chance like everybody but he will have to really change his game plan to prevail. You have levels in boxing and Joshua is levels below usyk I’m afraid .

 

[Paul1970]

He doesn’t deserve a rematch and the fact he will get one is the epitome of why boxing has become a joke of a sport. It’s more of a popularity contest that sporting contest.

Twice in world title fights Joshua has been well beaten, and twice he will get an immediate rematch. It’s the same with Wilder and Fury. The first fight was close enough to warrant the rematch. But Fury utterly destroyed Wilder in the second match. There is zero need for the trilogy.

There was a time where champions who lost their belt had to work their way back to the top. Now it’s a money making scam which holds up the division due to undeserved rematches.

How many top ranked opponents has Dillion White fought whilst being the number 1 contender? He’s still waiting for his title shot whilst Wilder and Joshua seem to stay at the top despite being well beaten in title fights.

100 percent Correct mate . Joshua is Eddie Hearns golden goose so he will want the renatch and in the uk so he can get the judges behind him because even on Saturday night after 8 rounds it’s was even on scorecards it was gearing towards a fix .

 

[Paul1970]

Tyson still had a puncher’s chance, right up to his final denouement. Rust never sleeps

Love to have see. The Tyson Lewis fight when it should have happened years before but politics again fucked it up

 

[bluemc1]

I flew to New York to watch that draw at MSG. Superb trip and got to see the full 12 rounds but it was never a draw. On a side note, favourite heavyweight fight I’ve ever attended was Tyson at the nynex. Way past his best but just to see the lights switched off and him walk out to the sound of an air raid siren, was the bollocks.

yes I also went to that fight, Francis threw himself on the floor after getting grazed a few times, took the money and ran lol

remember Calzaghes awful fight with Starie on the undercard and me and Being impressed with a young City fan called Hatton,

 

[SWPISHOME]

Got to agree to disagree with your scoring mate as usyk in my eyes clearly won the first round and although Joshua did a bit more second round usyk did him again . In the third usyk hurt him and this is when Joshua thought “if I got toe to toe this guy can knock me out ‘ and he carried on dancing and jabbing . I gave Joshua 3 rounds and maybe a fourth but after that he was outboxed very easily . As for the renatch he has a punchers chance like everybody but he will have to really change his game plan to prevail. You have levels in boxing and Joshua is levels below usyk I’m afraid .

Agreed. Usyk won the first 4 rounds comfortably. In my eyes rounds 5 and 6 are the only two rounds in the entire fight Joshua probably won.
Every other round was Usyk.
Complete dominance. The rematch their is only one winner and this time it's going to be a stoppage.

 

[Kippax77]

Agreed. Usyk won the first 4 rounds comfortably. In my eyes rounds 5 and 6 are the only two rounds in the entire fight Joshua probably won.
Every other round was Usyk.
Complete dominance. The rematch their is only one winner and this time it's going to be a stoppage.

Bang on mate.
"Super heavyweights should stick to fighting and earning as Super heavyweights"

The heavy weight championship of the world is open to smaller solider men as in the past marciano tyson holyfield usyk.

Too busy looking at their bulk in a mirror these days to even think like a fighter

 

[johnnytapia]

yes I also went to that fight, Francis threw himself on the floor after getting grazed a few times, took the money and ran lol

remember Calzaghes awful fight with Starie on the undercard and me and Being impressed with a young City fan called Hatton,

The Daily Mirror sponsored the soles of Francis’ boots IIRC. And Ricky had to sit on the floor next to the ring to watch the Tyson fight as he didn’t have a seat!
Hatton at the velodrome v Thaxton with Gomez and Farnell on the undercard is my all time favourite night of the sweet science. With the eamonn Magee fight a close second.

 

[johnnytapia]

Bang on mate.
"Super heavyweights should stick to fighting and earning as Super heavyweights"

The heavy weight championship of the world is open to smaller solider men as in the past marciano tyson holyfield usyk.

Too busy looking at their bulk in a mirror these days to even think like a fighter

True but “man” as a species is naturally bigger now, so we’re likely to see the boxers get bigger as a result. Even Ali was around the 14/15 stone weight. Usyk is, as you say, a real soldier

 

[bluemc1]

The Daily Mirror sponsored the soles of Francis’ boots IIRC. And Ricky had to sit on the floor next to the ring to watch the Tyson fight as he didn’t have a seat!
Hatton at the velodrome v Thaxton with Gomez and Farnell on the undercard is my all time favourite night of the sweet science. With the eamonn Magee fight a close second.

lol yeah they did, those MEN nights with the Manchester lads you mention were amazing
Did Vince Phillips fight and Tzyu I’m Manchester and Massua in Sheffield, great times

my best night was MSG to watch Felix Trinidad v Mayorga, what a fight and atmosphere, those Puerto Rico fans were the loudest I’ve heard
If you’ve not seen that fight I’d recommend watching it, Mayorga drops his hands to give Tito free shots at the end of the first, big mistake lol

 

[Bill the Blue]

Watched 'Lennox Lewis, the untold story' this morning.

Worth a watch if you like your boxing..

Reminded me what a fantastic boxer this guy was.

Beat everyone he faced in the ring, didn't duck anyone and never trash talked any of his opponents..

He is one of the greatest heavyweights of all time in my opinion..

 

[johnnytapia]

Watched 'Lennox Lewis, the untold story' this morning.

Worth a watch if you like your boxing..

Reminded me what a fantastic boxer this guy was.

Beat everyone he faced in the ring, didn't duck anyone and never trash talked any of his opponents..

He is one of the greatest heavyweights of all time in my opinion..

Just couldn't take to him, no real reason, as you say, ducked nobody and (eventually) beat everyone he faced. Did lose to Ruddock and Biggs as an amateur and not sure he avenged either as a pro. Lacked a bit of explosiveness for me; but when you've fists the size of a small wardrobe, guess you can do a lot of damage without being super fast.

 

[johnnytapia]

lol yeah they did, those MEN nights with the Manchester lads you mention were amazing
Did Vince Phillips fight and Tzyu I’m Manchester and Massua in Sheffield, great times

my best night was MSG to watch Felix Trinidad v Mayorga, what a fight and atmosphere, those Puerto Rico fans were the loudest I’ve heard
If you’ve not seen that fight I’d recommend watching it, Mayorga drops his hands to give Tito free shots at the end of the first, big mistake lol

Loved watching Mayorga and fair fucks to anyone getting in the ring with Trinidad. He was one murderous bastard. Remember Trinidad losing to Winky Wright and that Steve Foster managed to go 6 rounds with Wright, and Bingham the full 12. Bingham was stood next to me at Stoke on that fateful day - remember thinking I'll stay near him if it comes on top!

 

[mexico1970]

Just couldn't take to him, no real reason, as you say, ducked nobody and (eventually) beat everyone he faced. Did lose to Ruddock and Biggs as an amateur and not sure he avenged either as a pro. Lacked a bit of explosiveness for me; but when you've fists the size of a small wardrobe, guess you can do a lot of damage without being super fast.

 

[bluemc1]

Loved watching Mayorga and fair fucks to anyone getting in the ring with Trinidad. He was one murderous bastard. Remember Trinidad losing to Winky Wright and that Steve Foster managed to go 6 rounds with Wright, and Bingham the full 12. Bingham was stood next to me at Stoke on that fateful day - remember thinking I'll stay near him if it comes on top!

Wright was a class operator

 

[Corky]

Eubank Jr fight off - he was talking it up "I won't get knocked out" whilst 1/100 to beat the little known German who couldn't get medical clearance.

Sky's start after Matchroom a bit of a farce.

 

[Bill the Blue]

Just couldn't take to him, no real reason, as you say, ducked nobody and (eventually) beat everyone he faced. Did lose to Ruddock and Biggs as an amateur and not sure he avenged either as a pro. Lacked a bit of explosiveness for me; but when you've fists the size of a small wardrobe, guess you can do a lot of damage without being super fast.

Lewis knocked both Ruddock and Biggs out when he fought them professionally.

He lost to Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman and was robbed by the judges when he drew with Evander Holyfield.

He beat them all when he faced them again.

He beat Bowe by stoppage to win his Olympic gold medal and Bowe then swerved fighting him when they both turned professional, so much so that he gave up the WBC belt by famously dropping it in a bin.

Lewis was crowned WBC champ on the back of that and went on to beat Bruno to 'win it in the ring'

One story I liked was at the opening ceremony at the Seoul Olympics, apparently Lewis broke away from the Canadian contingent, went over to the American athletes and said "where's Riddick Bowe?'

When he was pointed out, Lewis went over to him and said 'I'm going to knock you out!'

I enjoyed the film this morning, Lewis has some back story and comes across as a very inspirational man..