I'm expecting this fight is going to go the distance with Negron having won most of the rounds in most people's eyes. The judge's cards are another story - because Breazeale is an Al Haymon fighter. People are overlooking Negron's chances here because he got stopped by Epifanio Mendoza. I don't think they're realizing that Negron gassed in that fight because he'd stepped up in HW for that fight and wasn't used to the weight. And Mendoza at that point was still a fighter who get stop a gassed opponent! They ought to be looking at how Negron handled Rossy. Admittedly, Derric was at the end of the line (he retired right after the fight) - but Negron showed himself to be quick-handed, an accurate puncher, and one with decent power in that fight. Once you get past Breazeale's upsides (his power, his heart, and that strange "second-wind" he seems to catch in the mid or late rounds) - you are left with a slow-handed boxer, with a lame jab, a porous high-guard defense, and one who is determined to fight a style that is ridiculously-inappropriate for a guy his size. A typical Breazeale fight - double-up the jab for a round or two, get hit hard when your opponent splits the guard, start swarming, get hit hard repeatedly, and just hope your opponent gasses before you do. Well Molina did, but this Negron kid is levels above 2017-era Eric Molina.
I don't think I'd go that far, but I think people are really sleeping on Negron. He's a live dog. Great size and ko ratio. Decent resume as a prospect, apart from the early career ko blip. But alot of good fighters had early career losses like that. Strange fight for Dom to take. Alot of downside for not alot of upside. If he wins this, he should really push to fight Joyce as the chief undercard opponent for Fury Wilder II. That would be a TON of upsideufor very little downside. They could pay him as much or more as they would pay him on a general Showtime title bout against Wilder. Exciting, 50/50 fight. And if he wins, he had a great platform that could potentially make him ppv quality for the Fury Wilder winner.
Agreed. Negron is an unknown - nobody is going to be clamoring for "Wilder v. Breazeale" or a Joshua rematch if he beats him. I think it's indicative of the WBC starting to take a different direction and preparing for a "post-Don-King world". Heck, the WBC even dropped Stiverne from their top-40. Negron was being promoted by Holyfield when he fought Rossy. Not sure about now. Maybe this is an audition for a Haymon/Di Bella association. If it is - then maybe the judge's cards will tell the truth.
Negron isn't bad by current HW standards. Has amateur pedigree and is very likely the better boxer of the two but he's lacking in the chin department in a big way. Certainly more live that what the odds suggest though.
Negron is terrible. His resume is a mirror image of Trevor Bryans, full of push overs and penguins. If Domonic Breazeale doesnt put away a cream puff like Negron, hes probably on the downslide due to inactivity himself. Another "Haymon classic" this one.
Negron has what 20 fights in a 9 almost 10 year career, dont really like that kind of inactivity plus a loss to Mendoza Breazle is a late starter and has his issues but I expect him to win
Everyone gets credit until Breazeale defeats them, so no you cant sell this to me and Breazeale should win easily . Depending on fight weight which I don't Know ? Best Ex: Izu will destroy that fat slow plodder After the fight : what a hype a hype job that Izu was. Anyone know what time this is on ?
Well - I admit - Breazeale proved me wrong. Through four rounds - I had Negron up 3-1 and he was doing pretty much what I expected him to do. Credit to Breazeale - though. I had up him 5-3 at the time of the stop. He mostly fought the way a boxer with an 81.5 inch reach should fight. He seemed to be able to move Negron around the ring however he liked (even if he didn't always know what to do when he got him there). That disgraceful, pawing double-jab of fights-past was never seen and he actually got *more* accurate with his punching as the fight wore on. And...I never, ever, thought I'd say this about Breazeale. His setup of that finishing right hand was bloody brilliant. Two stiff jabs to shake up Negron, a hint of a feighn to get him to drop that left hand and he threw in that crushing right hand. Luis Ortiz couldn't have done that better.
As the original poster - my hat is off to Domenic. Not only did he stop Negron - but I had him up on the cards at the time of the stoppage. Negron is not a bum. He doesn't sport the most accomplished-looking record - but I'd take him any day of the week over, say, Gerald Washington. Good boxer-punchers are in short-supply in North America and Negron fits that style pretty well. It was a good win by Breazeale and not one that required a major failure by his opponent (e.g. Ugonoh gassing or Mansour biting halfway through his tongue).
Cool post. Credit when someone actually admits to being wrong about something, doesn't happen much. But you were right that Negron was good. He gave Dom a tough fight.
Mansours tongue wasn't the problem, a broken jaw was and it was from a punch obviously. Izu got the stamina knocked out of him going down first in that fight , in combination of over exertion of moving trying to push around an overweight 265 pound Breazeale. The only guy that truly out classed him was AJ , Negron was saved by the bell in round 4 and that's a rusty Breazeale, the excuses can actually be made for Breazeale who has only looked on point against AJ but that's just not the right guy if you can't strike fast. I don't think anyone can have an easy fight with Breazeale outside AJ , maybe Joyce because he's a competent boxer and hits just as hard as Breazeale at 6'6 270 he won't get pushed around ? Breazeale not the best but minor adjustments he's a legit threat at top level . Wilder isn't a pressure fighter , this could be a very tough fight for him if Breazeale works behind a jab.
