Okay. Right here’s one other version of my (in)well-known Fast (S)hits, the place I provide you with a bit of little bit of every part on my boxing plate over the previous couple of days. Take pleasure in…or not:
– Teofimo Lopez was in a showcase Saturday night time in Miami and it performed out significantly better than the showcase High Rank tried to offer him 4 months in the past in opposition to Jamaine Ortiz. This time round, they gave him Canada’s Steve Claggett, who, in contrast to Ortiz, is genetically incapable of being a style-mucking spoiler. Claggett got here ahead, fought bravely, and was there to be hit, outworked, and, finally, overwhelmed. There was no thriller to the Canadian’s recreation and that was exactly the purpose. Lopez would’ve gained some good publicity factors for himself if he might’ve stopped Claggett. Let’s face it, Michael Jackson-dancing to the ring and again flips after the battle are good, however individuals wish to see knockouts and basic devastation. They’d additionally desire to not see showcases on prime ESPN air time with fighters who’re speculated to be stars. I’m questioning if Teofimo could be all that glad, too, working his manner by way of showcases whereas lots of his contemporaries have already headlined a number of big-buck pay-per-views.
– How will you say one thing salty and damaging about that Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez efficiency versus Juan Francisco “El Gallo” Estrada in Phoenix? Simple. Extra individuals ought to’ve been capable of see that battle reside on TV. Having a battle like this– that we ALL knew can be good– hitting the primary stage at practically 1 AM jap time was boxing stupidity and short-sightedness at its best. Yeah, I get that that is the “on demand” era, the place individuals can return and watch programming at their leisure and I additionally get that the organizers have been working to accommodate the reside gate viewers in Phoenix. However there’s nothing fairly as energizing and fan-building as watching en electrifying ring efficiency play out in precise time the place the ingredient of shock pushes “spectacular” to “holy shit, that is fucking wonderful!” The 1000’s in attendance at Footprint Middle would’ve nonetheless made the battle and would’ve nonetheless been simply as enthused for the primary occasion if it befell two hours earlier. Boxing does a shitty job of being accessible to new followers and this battle was simply one other instance of that. The bossmen ought to cease their single-minded deal with promoting to the already-sold and begin working at getting fan-friendly fighters like Bam into the road of sight of casual-curious followers, so we are able to truly construct a base for the long run.
– As for Bam’s precise ring efficiency? What can I say? Beautifully brutal, similar to battle followers like. Individuals will attempt to diminish the win by declaring Estrada’s age (34) and the truth that he was coming off about 19 months of inactivity, however that was an A+ displaying from Rodriguez. And even when “El Gallo” WAS diminished, Bam did precisely what you’re speculated to do in opposition to a man who ought to be taken out. No playing around and taking part in it protected, he went for the kill and saved coming for it. At 24, there’s loads of future forward of this child.
– Devin Haney has been named “Champion in Recess” by the WBC. For individuals who want a translation, this was Haney finessing his manner into an extended layoff whereas nonetheless having the ability to maintain on to a title as a result of: 1) He didn’t just like the monetary phrases of High Rank’s profitable bid for his 140 lb. protection in opposition to Sandor Martin (about $2.4 million complete, with about $1.5 million going to him) and a pair of) He’s nonetheless licking his wounds– psychological and psychological– from an embarrassing loss to Ryan Garcia and wishes an enormous break to get his shit again collectively.
– With this subsequent battle doubtlessly being Shakur Stevenson’s final underneath High Rank contract, it seem like it’s time for considered one of Bob Arum’s patented “let’s make the outgoing man look dangerous” fights. Neglect all the massive latest discuss from Arum about getting a blockbuster battle for Shakur. By all accounts, Shakur is leaving for a shot at greener pastures and both some precise huge fights as a free agent or a few of that ridiculous cash mark cash from DAZN/Matchroom, the place he’ll be preventing Euro-stiffs for the following couple years. Make no mistake about it, although, Arum is matching Shakur in opposition to Artem Harutyunyan to make him look dangerous and Artem’s simply the man to do it. The Armenia-born German resident is hard, tenacious, and simply savvy sufficient to nullify an opponent’s plans. He additionally doesn’t make loads of exploitable errors. In different phrases, he’s a spoiler. He’s not constructed to beat Shakur, however Artem is likely to be proper there in Shakur’s face, pushing ahead, making issues a bit sloppy and doggedly refusing to be discouraged. This was focused matchmaking with the intent of delivering a bitter farewell occasion.
– Effectively, all that NEW 4 Kings hype from a couple of years again seems type of ridiculous now. Who have been the NEW 4 Kings, anyway? Gervonta Davis, Teofimo Lopez, Devin Haney, and Ryan Garcia? Sooner or later, Shakur Stevenson was then wedged into the dialog. The one frequent reality by way of all of it, although, is that the decision again to Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, and Marvin Hagler was utter bullshit. The REAL 4 Kings fought one another 9 occasions (test my math, historians) over the span of 9 years. The NEW 4 Kings have fought one another a complete of twice in practically 4 years– and solely as a result of an overmatched Ryan Garcia fumbled his manner into that Tank Davis mugging after which hustled his manner into mugging Haney. And when/if there are different NEW 4 King fights, they’ll most likely be pretty underwhelming since, IMO, Haney is/was overrated and Teo and Ryan are wildly inconsistent head instances. In the meantime, Tank’s not preventing any of them, until Ryan volunteers to get beat up once more.
– Discover how not one of the traditional boxing media goons are screaming on social media about how that August 3 Saudi card in Los Angeles is an “HBO card, not PPV,” like they do earlier than each PBC card? Um, perhaps it might have one thing to do with a bias– a bias spurred on by the truth that most are taking pay checks from PBC’s direct competitors? Hmmmm…Pay attention, that August 3 card is first rate. However you can simply make the “That’s an HBO card” argument with that occasion. Crawford-Madrimov, Pitbull-Rayo, and Anderson-Bakole would truly be a sub-par HBO or Showtime triple-header. So, let’s be a bit of according to our outrage right here.
– Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois is formally set for September21 and Eddie Hearn’s Saudi overlords have been sort sufficient to permit him to stage it within the UK. Thanks, Your Excellency, sir. The bout will probably be for the trash bin IBF title not too long ago relinquished by Oleksandr Usyk. No matter. It ought to be alright as a battle between runners up, although.
Obtained one thing for Magno? Ship it right here: paulmagno@theboxingtribune.com
_1634460283.jpg "ESPN+ set for boxing marathon from France and Mexico")
