This Thursday, like each Thursday, I ask you to drag up a seat alongside my bulging, bulbous sack and watch me shoot a load of gooey, salty reality proper into the faces of boxing’s purveyors of ignorance. This week, we’ve got questions/feedback relating to Tank Davis-Lamont Roach 2 and Constructing Jaron Ennis.
Tank-Roach 2
Hello Paul.
Simply needed to choose your mind concerning the Tank Davis Lamont Roach rematch. I used to be actually shocked that Roach did in addition to he did within the first struggle. I used to be a type of who thought it could be a mismatch and that Tank was selecting a straightforward struggle for himself. It turned out that I used to be incorrect about every little thing and Roach might’ve been on condition that struggle. I nonetheless had Tank profitable, even when that knockdown had been known as, nevertheless it was lots tougher than I assumed it could be. What do you see occurring within the rematch? Might this have been a case of Tank taking Roach too evenly? What can Roach do to place himself excessive this time?
– Luis
Hey Luis.
I had Roach profitable, if that knockdown had been known as (and it ought to’ve been known as). A-side money-makers get a certain quantity of boxing “Get out of jail free” playing cards and this was considered one of them for Gervonta Davis. In a simply boxing world, although, Tank ought to be coaching for the rematch and for an opportunity to regain his belt (he has a belt, proper?). However right here we’re and individuals are attempting to say that Roach ought to really feel lucky for getting one other Tank Davis cash struggle. Nope. Roach ought to’ve gained. Interval.
Anyway, I don’t know the way way more Roach can do or how in another way he might method issues. I believe he gave his all within the first struggle and had the very best night time he might’ve had towards Tank. That makes being screwed within the first struggle all of the extra tragic. That was a proper time, proper place efficiency for Roach and it didn’t stick. I don’t assume he will get the chance to place all of it collectively once more.
For my part, Tank WAS flat that night time and wasn’t working at 100%. I don’t assume he was taking Roach evenly, it’s simply that he appeared to be in a bizarre head house all all through that struggle and its leadup. Roach is an excellent fighter and presents a troublesome stylistic matchup, however Tank’s flatness allowed for alternatives that usually wouldn’t have been there. If something can encourage him again to peak Tank, it’s a struggle like this the place he heard quite a lot of shit being talked about him and took quite a lot of criticism that normally doesn’t attain his entrance door.
I’m predicting a Tank win, in all probability by factors and someplace within the 8-4 neighborhood, with Roach taking some heavy artillery alongside the way in which.
Constructing Boots
Paul.
Jaron “Boots” Ennis is probably the most electrifying fighter within the sport as we speak and a complete bundle with energy, velocity, and aptitude, however he isn’t nowhere close to the star he ought to be. What can he do to take the subsequent step up in recognition?
– PA Boots Fan
Hey Boots Fan.
We could should face the fact that there is no such thing as a longer a path to true stardom for American fighters nowadays. From right here on out, if American boxing continues on the trail its on and retains promoting itself out to forces actively attempting to shift focus away from the American scene, there shall be no such factor as a real boxing star. Probably the most we can hope for is area of interest recognition amongst a restricted viewers, which is just about what we’ve got as we speak. Proper now, except you carry your star energy from exterior of boxing, there’s a severe cap on how huge you may get. That’s going to be much more of a actuality within the coming months/years.
Having stated that, although, there ARE some issues Boots Ennis can do to spice up his profile. Unifying the welterweight division can be good and it could make him extra interesting among the many hardcore followers, though it in all probability wouldn’t do all that a lot to spice up his star energy. Transferring as much as 154 would even be good, particularly if he have been to satisfy and beat Vergil Ortiz Jr. in a slugfest conflict. Sadly, with Turki Alalshikh’s boot on Ortiz’s again and his hand in promoter Eddie Hearn’s pocket, such a bout would in all probability should happen in Saudi Arabia. And having Boots struggle on the opposite aspect of the planet, at an odd hour, and completely reduce off from precise boxing followers is most positively NOT the reply to boosting his profile.
If I have been his supervisor and received my arms on a time machine, I might return a yr and a half, keep away from signing with Eddie Hearn and align with PBC, which had featured him on a few of their exhibits as a non-PBC fighter and truly helped construct him to the purpose the place he might get a profitable promotional deal within the first place. The trail to next-level stardom would’ve then been much more navigatable (and fruitful)– Errol Spence, Eimantas Stanionis (when it mattered extra), Mario Barrios, Keith Thurman, Tim Tszyu, Sebastian Fundora. He even might’ve compelled a Terence Crawford struggle if he had crushed Spence. Hearn had nothing to supply and has principally delivered on that nothing.
I don’t know. Possibly Boots has gotten as huge as he’s going to get. That’s actually unhappy since I agree with you about his electrifying capability.
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