Exciting as he is, I don't see Kirkland cracing into the top escheleon of fighters. He's too flat-footed, and too open. He wings his punches wide. And he fights with little or no defence, banking on toughness and workrate to run through his opponents. There are two kinds of fighters who could beat James. 1) A taller, big puncher. Cortes rocked Kirkland twice before falling victim to some good Kirkland punches and an early, hometown stoppage. Imagine a real puncher with better fundamentals popping Kirkland as he windmills in. 2) A slick boxer. Think Calzaghe/Lacy. Kirkland is like a turbo-charged Lacy -- eager, agressive, intimidating, but also open.
i still see angulo beating him, kirkland focuses too much on the gladiator aspect and not enough on the fundamentals. that ann rice training makes for a great story but its going to hurt him down the road
It's Anne Wolfe. I think Ann Rice is the chick who wrote Interview With A Vampire. I agree that Kirkland needs work on the fundamentals, shortening up his punches and relying less on his offense to be his defense. But he's young and undefeated so I won't throw the dirt on his career the way some (not you, A Rock) have done.
All this can be corrected. ^ It might take a loss to truly provoke reform, but proper adjustments aren't past this kid, IMO.
Are u serious? Kirkland would KO that FRAUD Greene inside of 3! You all need to relax he won via 2nd rnd ko what else u want from the guy? He was in front of his hometown crowd and pressed a little and yeah he ain't perfect but what fighter is? ALOT of armchair Boxers in here
Just got back from the Kirkland fight. I work out at their gym so my opinion might be biased. This fight was more of a showcase / political fight for him. He did get hit a lot but he's always been a pressure fighter. As for his future, I guess we'll see but best of luck to him.
Kirkland just needs to settle down a little. He got over anxious trying for the KO. I actually agree with Teddy Atlas on this one, he needed to do some body work and let the fight happen over a couple of rounds, the KO would come. JK was just too excited in front of his home crowd. Ann Wolfe is good for him, because he listens to her and pays attention to what she is trying to tell him. He just needs to settle down a little and make some adjustments to his fight plan and the kid has a bright future.