the what fights did you watch today\scorecard thread.

Thank my You Tube quota ol.

 

Watched a few domestic fights today, involving a few fighters who had impressed me with stand out performances/results.

Started with Nathaniel Collins, there was the YouTube marathon on Frank Warrens channel so did 2 of the 4 (do like that concept, building into fights -Collins has a European title fight this weekend).
A 1st round blowout vs Raza Hamza, within the first 20 seconds, basically the first meaningful punch. Reminded me of a Zolani Tete title defence and I believe it was a Eubank Sr defence too.

Next a more substantial fight vs Zak Miller, a very good opener to one of Frank Warren’s Magnificent 7s which tend to have good match ups. Miller impressed me early landing some sharp counters and was competitive despite being a bit overwhelmed at times with pressure and the sheer level of the fight. I was pleased and not too surprised to see that he has picked up a belt since then, I think there’s more competitive and very watchable fights to come involving him. This was a fight fought in good spirit, which is a contrast to the next one.

I’ll try and summarise quicker, boxrec led me to Tete vs Cunningham, the import of Tete onto UK soil was an interesting patch which ended on a sour note. A brutal knockout of Cunningham, the thud of his head off the floor was vicious. Then there was the Peds situation, I don’t remember the details but I’m sure it was one of the most alarming of recent times.
Rounded off with Liam Davies vs Cunningham, the young exciting fighter beat up Cunningham in the 1st for a statement victory. Cunningham has had a very respected career with good victories, unfortunate that it was concluded in this manner alongside the Tete controversy.

 

Carr Trinidad
1. Carr close
2 Carr 10-8 beauty of a straight right
3 Carr
4 Carr, Trinidad getting closer
5 Trinidad, right hand finding a home, hurt Carr a couple or times
6 Trinidad, Carr wilting and Trinidad really dialed in now on offense and defense
7 Trinidad, felix mauled him that round
8 Trinidad drops Carr twice, Carr gets up and ref waves it after some shots


Trinidad KO8, I had it 67-65 Carr but it was going one way, the Trinidad way from round 5

Sucks Carr had to go through a very very strong 147 division and never get a world title. Today he would beat probably all the titlists save maybe Norman.

Trinidad would terrorize 147 if he was around today and mop up everyone

 

Sugar Ray Leonard v Kevin Howard

Round 1: 10-9 Leonard
Round 2: 10-9 Leonard
Round 3: 10-9 Leonard
Round 4: 10-8 Howard (scores a knockdown)
Round 5: 10-10 Even
Round 6: 10-9 Howard
Round 7: 10-9 Leonard
Round 8: 10-9 Leonard
Round 9: Leonard stops Howard

Total through 8 completed rounds: 77-75 Leonard (actual scores: 77-76, 78-74 and 79-74 all for Leonard)

Despite being a hand-picked opponent, Howard put up a damn good scrap, showing no apprehension on duking it out in close with Ray. He was completely unintimidated and grew in confidence after scoring his knockdown. Although Leonard was well on his way to victory, I do agree with the announcers that it was stopped a tad too soon.

 

interesting, this was a fight I always saw get mentioned but never actually watched. Sounds like it was entertaining and worth a watch

 

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It’s competitive — Howard fought well and was ready for his big moment within the limits of him being a good but not great fighter — but it’s not exactly exciting. Sort of like Ray’s wins over Larry Bonds and Bruce Finch (but add ring rust for Leonard), he had reached a point where he just wasn’t a guy that brought the same spark for lesser fights.

Compare this to the hungry Ray who destroyed Pete Ranzany and Andy Price and Dave Boy Green — guys I think were a level above Howard and Finch and Bonds — he showed up in shape, he did his job but he didn’t blow them out of the water.

But thinking of this in terms of this is Ray’s only fight between initial retirement and Marvin Hagler … when Leonard sensed a challenge he had a capacity to elevate himself to the stars.

 

I felt like we watched Oba grow up before our eyes on USA Network. Really rooted for that guy all the way.

 

Very quick work:

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Sebastian Fundora vs Brian Mendoza

This has been a long overdue watch, I always knew about the knockout which came as a shock at the time, I managed to avoid seeing it until getting to the full fight upload. A quiet first 3 or 4 rounds, Fundora kept in control through the range with more pawing jabs, then took over the next couple, looked to have Mendoza where he wanted landing uppercuts, but as Al Bernstein said, something along the lines of, ‘It’s where Mendoza wants the fight’ but it’s dangerous and where Fundora likes it’. It felt like he was wearing Mendoza down with his inside work. The occasional right hands come through from Mendoza and then that huge left hook on the chin, then quickly followed up to completely take Fundora out. Fundora took the defeat with class and it’s nice to see him rebound from this crushing loss.

Matias vs Ergashev
I can see why he was a perceived boogeyman at this time, Ergashev was built like a tank and put on a clinic in the first round, very much fitting of the Uzbek style. First two rounds it was just straight down the pipe for Ergashev, Matias was so square on. The pressure and the combinations hold, Ergashev basically quietly quit in the 4th, when he started to hunch over, which continued through the rest of the fight. He looked like he could be a major problem but the pressure told very quickly.

 

Squeezed one more in that I had previously seen, then took above fights commentary sold me to rewatch Matias vs Ponce and particularly compare the first round.

In a different way Matias was dominated in the first round, this time with hooks and shots around the target. I enjoyed this fight a little more, as ever with Matias it turned into an attritional fight, Ponce got too engaged with ‘hooking with a hooker’ which slowed him a little, before Matias relentless inside fighting forced another ‘No Mas’.

 

I flicked on Tim Bradley vs Ruslan Provodnikov the other day while waiting to go out

Watched rounds 1-6 then skipped to the 12th

This was a great fight that was all action from the opening round. The HBO commentary team was on point too which was nice. Bradley arguably suffered a knockdown, he got hit by a big punch there was a delay then he fell. Bradley kept getting caught by the overhand right. For six minutes it looked like Bradley was going to get knocked out. Even Max Kellerman pointed out that the ref stopped Mike Alvarado against Brandon Rios for being less hurt than Bradley was.

Provodnikov gassed badly and threw 15 punches in the third round and let Bradley off the hook. In either the 4th or 5th round Bradley threw something like 107 punches, many were pit pat shots just to keep Provodnikov at bay. Bradley moved well and sometimes went southpaw but from round 3 to the mid point of round 6 he was in total control. Provodnikov landed a big overhand right in the 4th but it did not have the same effect. Bradley went to the body well and landed a nice uppercut that snapped Provodnikov's head back.

Bradley's trainer was very good, he got Bradley to settle down from his brawling start and got him to box. He specifically told Bradley to get inside in a way to smother Provdonikov who needed more room to generate his power. Roach was pointing out how Bradley was open to the big right hand and kept telling him to loop it. In the 6th Provodnikov finally got to Bradley again and rocked him. Stuck on the ropes with his head straight in the air Bradley threw with Provodnikov and managed to survive.

I skipped ahead to the end but recall Bradley dominating 7-10 and Roach threatening to stop it. Bradley got caught and wisely moved and held until he could not stay up. He then intelligently took a knee and waited out thee bell. I always felt Bradley won this fight, if the first round call is changed or there is a 10-8 in round 2 maybe you can justify Bradley losing or getting a draw

Provodnikov was a gifted puncher but came up short as a finisher. He had Bradley and Chris Algieri in all kinds of trouble and could not close the show. Obviously their heart and grit saw them out of danger but I cant help but scratch my head as to how he let both guys off the hook when they were in so much trouble. Bradley is also such a good versatile boxer, it is a shame he did not have much punching power