He looked very bad. I don't think his form is even top 15 right now. I still don't understand why his hands were down all the time.
That's great, have you seen what Derek Edwards did to Badou Jack? Who went on to share the ring with some monsters punchers, and has avoided being KTFO since. Why didn't Zhang or Takam brutally KO this version of Forrest if the Washington KO is the standard?
Zhang's collapse looked like a health issue to me. He's a lot slower than Washington but had blasted Forrest onto the deck three times in the first three rounds before he collapsed in a manner reminiscent of Wlad-Brewster. Takam is a non-puncher whose career best win is a UD over 2014 Tony Thompson and Takam was well past his best when he fought Forrest. It wasn't like Forrest was a completely cr*p fighter when he fought Washington because in his very next fight he went the 8 round distance with...Michael Hunter. Hunter was meant to stop this guy without much trouble in order to show how much he'd progressed since 2014, not get lit up and need to be bailed out by the judges. There isn't any way to spin Hunter getting a draw on a Triller card as a 1/33 favourite as anything other than a disastrous result.
No, Zhang's crap and has always looked like crap. He gets blown out of the ring against the first real live opponent he faces. Washington is hit or miss, he KO'd Helenius brutally, when Whyte couldn't. Boxing is crazy like that. As far as Forrest goes, clearly his chin isn't horrid, and clearly he has gotten better, hence why he's been being able to hang with guys who most predicted would blow him out of the ring. I think Hunter clearly didn't take his match seriously and I also think he's got issues fighting southpaws. It's not the first time someone who is overall fairly good, struggles with someone repeatedly, based on styles, that others wouldn't. Hunter went to war with Povetkin, and should've won, then Povetkin after he beat Hughie went on to spark Whyte. Clearly this wasn't the best Michael Hunter we've seen, everyone has an off night, especially against styles that give them issues.
If Zhang is that crap (and it was reported that he had some kind of kidney failure) then Forrest much be even crapper for not managing to KO him while having a static, gassed out Zhang to punch up for 6-7 rounds, which makes Hunter even crapper for needing a gift decision against Forrest in the next fight. Hunter was lighter here than he was than when he faced Povetkin so he can't have been too lazy with diet and preparation. Being beaten by a master in Usyk and then struggling with Jerry Forrest isn't strong evidence that Hunter especially struggles with southpaws, just that Hunter has regressed for whatever reason since his draw with 40 year old Povetkin.
Yeah, after the match, due to Forrest beating his ass to the point of sheer dehydration and exhaustion. Watch the match. Regardless, this is the first time in some time that Hunter has looked off. Oh well, bad night. But to imply that Hunter looking good up until now is some kind of fluke as opposed to tonight being the fluke, is the definition of reaching.
I agree that Hunter normally isn’t bad, but on the other point Zhang had a medical disorder and was severely dehydrated, he normally gasses, but not that badly. He could barely throw a punch. Forrest looked good and Hunter looked mediocre this fight, Hunter should have taken Forrest more seriously.
Zhang started gassing in the 4th round before he had taken any serious damage. It was bizarre. His tank looked immeasurably better against Rudenko. Hunter has probably lost motivation at 33.5 knowing that his career was on the rocks having alienated the industry with the Hrgovic pull out. He also may have been demoralised by his battering at the hands of Usyk and his draw to 40 year old Povetkin, who he should have beaten comfortably if he was to be a serious contender. Like Parker, he found his level and is now going through the motions. At the same time, Jerry Forrest is a reasonably tough journeyman who comes to win.
Hunter is decent enough but he is not a real HW, that’s his problem. He should have stayed at CW. Lose weight and go back to CW would be the best option from a ‘sports’-perspective. But maybe it isn’t the best option moneywise
Based on that performance vs Forrest a fighter he should of beaten easily, no he's not top 10, maybe not even top 15. He looked absolutely dreadful last night. We only saw the real Hunter for 2 rounds from round 3 on wards he looked poor. He stopped throwing in combination, started throwing single shots and those shots were missing often by a wide margin as he loaded up trying to take Forrest out of there because he knew his gas tank was already close to empty and he'd be in trouble later on in the fight. By round 8 he was running on fumes. He's only fought 3 times in 2 years and all against journeymen. To keep a blade sharp you need to hone it and his blade has been blunted feasting on nobodies. I hope Triller are paying him good money because signing with them he's basically thrown his career away. Nobody will see him as much of a threat, anyone beating him now may not get the credit as he might already be past his best as he might have completely mentally checked out of being a top heavyweight let alone champion material. He's got a lot to prove in his next fight if people are going to take him seriously again.
I'd call Forrest more of a gatekeeper or even fringe contender at this point. He lost to a few people, but was straight robbed against Franklin, drew against Zhang, and got a sketchy draw against Hunter. (I actually don't think a draw is a total robbery, but if anybody won it was Forrest)
Washington also KOd Helenius in just 2019, and Forrest had only been boxing for like three years when he fought Washington, he had just turned pro.