Cruiserweight and Heavyweight thread.

Flanagan just tried to make it scrappy. Light looked like a proper big cruiser and mostly outboxed him every round. Maybe Light should have been able to do more? I dunno I’m no expert, but I had it 100-90

 

I'll be interested to watch this full fight. Rice is a good win at this stage ... he wasn't an opponent to take lightly by any means.

 

Just watched it. Rice made Makhmudov chase him down showed to slippery defense while trying to keep his jab in Makhmudov’s face. Makhmudov did a decent job cutting off the ring and actually showed some solid head movement as he stalked Rice. The fight was basically Makhmudov following Rice around and launching a right hand or uppercut every thirty seconds or so, finally landed a clean one and that was pretty much it. I think Makhmudov could be made to struggle against guys with really good reflexes and movement who prioritize defense, but against anyone else idk what they can really do. Rice normally stands his ground and counters- I’ve never seen him get backed up, and that’s all he was doing last night. He’s also never looked even remotely hurt up until now.

 

That was exactly my reading as well. I liked that he was a bit more measured and showed more head movement here. Would like to see him develop the jab more as he progresses. As it stands a master boxer with good footspeed and reflexes will cause him problems but there aren't a lot of those at HW. Safe to say this guy will eventually end up as very solid contender at the very least.

 

Rice is the definition of a "good pro" man he was making Arslanbek just miss with most of those nuclear right hands. Good defense. Rice is better than his record would suggest. Think he could expose a few prospects still and beat guys like Price and Allen. Tough journeyman who's been facing prospects for pretty much his entire career. He hurt Yoka if I remember correctly?

 

Arslanbeks English is coming along too. Awesome. This guy will be an easy sell as he moves up in class.

 

Thanks. As I remember the amateur fights of his I've watched, there wasn't a lot of head movement outside of that twitching thing he does ... so it looks like his trainer is generating some improvements.

Kevin Johnson or even better Malik Scott would be interesting propositions.

 

The really sadistic side of me wants to see Arslanbek in there with Price lol.

 

That head twitch is interesting, I wonder if he’s got a mild case of Tourettes, it picked up dramatically once he’s had Rice hurt.

 

That's what I think. It's some kind of Tick. Cro Cop has one too.

 

I had the score 98-92 to Light. Flanagan got tired as the fight went on with Light landing his jab and punching through his guard at will. Flanagan had success hooking with his left to the body but Light's conditioning and his ability to take Flanagan's shots early on got him through.

 

Good summary. Arslanbek is a powerhouse. Dude must have a 20 " neck. Rice at 6'5" tall is good mover, most heavies aren't.

The stoppage came, but the real story of the fight is Makhmudov went 7 rounds for the first time. Defense looked a bit better. Still needs a jab to set up his offense.

 

Izu Ugonoh will fight Lukasz Rozanski (10-0, 9 KO) on July 6th. I think I've seen Rozanski once and he's probably going to get brutally knocked out.

 

Good to see Ugonoh finally back in action.