A essential take a look at the previous week in boxing
BIGGEST LOSER?Teofimo Lopez
I don’t need to be too exhausting on the 140-pound titleholder, who was lucky to emerge with a unanimous determination 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 nice Vasiliy Lomachenko landed solely 21.9% of his punches in his victory over Ortiz in 2022, in keeping with CompuBox. Lopez landed 21.4% of his photographs. That being mentioned, Lomachenko landed extra punches than Lopez did in opposition to Ortiz – 125 to 78 – as a result of he did a greater job of creating changes. Lopez by no means found out tips on how to nook Ortiz (17-2-1, 8 KOs), taking the ultimate three rounds on all three playing cards because of sheer aggression to drag out the victory. I received’t say that Lopez (20-1, 13 KOs) squandered the momentum he constructed along with his sensational victory over Josh Taylor final June – everybody has a foul evening – however elite fighters discover a strategy to neutralize something their opponents throw at them. Lopez didn’t do this, which means he nonetheless has work to do if he hopes to turn into among the best of his era. For the file: 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.
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BIGGEST WINNERKeyshawn Davis
Giving up marijuana evidently has executed Davis good. The 2021 Olympic silver medalist and 135-pound contender couldn’t have appeared significantly better than he did in opposition to veteran Jose Pedraza on the Lopez-Ortiz card, stopping the previous two-division titleholder within the sixth spherical. Davis’ mixture of basic abilities and God-given presents – significantly his hand velocity – might make him a really particular fighter, as Pedraza realized the exhausting method. 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 Pedraza is 34 years outdated and now 0-3-1 in his final 4 fights, which should be thought-about Davis’ efficiency is assessed.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 in opposition to Nahir Albright in October, the results of testing constructive for marijuana. Davis mentioned he gave up the leisure drug to concentrate on boxing, which paid dividends Thursday. He may crack the High 5 of a number of sanctioning our bodies after his huge evening, which means he took one other step towards his first title shot. It appears to me that we should now point out his identify once we talk about the highest 135-pounders.
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BIGGEST WINNER IIHamzah Sheeraz
The 6-foot-3 middleweight contender from England additionally confronted the most important check of his profession, a scheduled 12-rounder in opposition to veteran Liam Williams on Saturday evening 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 along 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 in opposition to Liam Smith, which was the results of a reduce. Sheeraz (19-0, 15 KOs) had a particular evening. He has referred to as out Chris Eubank Jr., Smith and widespread Nathan Heaney. I consider he has the flexibility and demeanor to compete on the identical degree as these potential opponents and probably anyone else in and round his division. He’s positively one to observe.
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BEST MATCHUP?Haney vs. Garcia
Devin is getting pimped by his dad the pimp unhappy to see. 4-20 he can 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 fulfill 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 large following on social media. The combat will promote. However is it a superb matchup from a boxing standpoint? I’d fairly see Haney combat Gervonta Davis or Shakur Stevenson, each of whom are as gifted as he’s, however Haney-Garcia could possibly be extra aggressive than some may consider. Haney is likely one of the greatest technicians within the sport. He’ll most likely outbox Garcia and win a transparent determination. Nonetheless, the champion is a greater matchup for Garcia than Davis was for at the very least two causes: One, Garcia received’t must 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 novice, additionally is an effective boxer, fast handed, an enormous puncher and now has expertise in a superfight. I’m selecting Haney to win however I wouldn’t depend out Garcia.
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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 Might 12 in Australia. It’s exhausting 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 determination to then-undisputed champion Haney a 12 months in the past. I don’t suppose Kambosos has the talent set to beat Lomachenko, even a 35-year-old model. Which means the long run Corridor of Famer can have a belt round his waist yet another time, which appears acceptable. … Former novice 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.
