End of year thrills for boxing fans

Boxing has risen from the dead.

Again.

Canelo Alvarez Throws Hands with Caleb Plant

In November, popular and controversial super-middleweight champion, Canelo Alvarez, faced undefeated upstart and IBF titleholder Caleb Plant. Alvarez was shooting to be the undisputed champion in the division. The fight was ridiculed by some. A mismatch they said, especially after Alvarez drew first blood during a spiteful press conference last September.

Regardless, the fight was intriguing on many fronts. Plant was motivated to win the belts for his beloved daughter Alia, who died a few years ago. He’d lost his mother as well. His title winning performance two years ago surprised many. Plant left the ring in tears but even more determined. He was extremely confident he could defeat Alvarez, even annoying the champion with his bravado.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez entered the fight with 60 professional fights under his belt. He’s lost once. Alvarez has defeated former champions Kermit Cintron, Shane Mosley, and edged Austin Trout. Alvarez has been the benefactor of some, shall we say, debatable decision. See the Erislandy Lara fight for reference. A few years ago, he fought Gennady Golovkin twice. I thought he lost the first fight (judged a draw) and won the second, barely. Getting busted for testing positive for Clenbuterol a few months before the Golovkin rematch was almost disastrous. For some, Alvarez will never live that down. Plant made a point of bringing up steroids during the press conference. Alvarez didn’t like it.

The fight had started, and it was a good one. As expected, plant boxed. Alvarez looked to counter. He worked the midsection, taking away Plant’s legs. Heading into round 11, Alvarez was leading on the cards. A big left hook, followed by an uppercut, floored Plant. He got up, only to collapse seconds later when Alvarez clubbed him with right hands. Plant might have been a loser for the first time as a professional fighter, but he’s a winner in life.

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Kiko Martinez vs. Kid Galahad

 A week later, veteran Kiki Martinez, met heavily favored IBF champion Kid Galahad in England. Martinez hasn’t held a belt in seven years. His record showed 10 losses. The shaper Galahad beat on him for most of the fight. Key word here being most. There’s never been any quit in Martinez. The guy can punch – as he showed in round five with a sweeping right hook. Down went Galahad. He got up, but was unsteady, like a guy who had one-to-many. The bell ending the round saved him. Martinez went right after Galahad in the opening seconds of round six. He let fly with another right, this one straight down the pike. Galahad collapsed on the mat, his expression unchanged but his eyes blank. The referee took one look and waved the fight off. Martinez was a champion again while Galahad looked for answers.

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Terence Crawford and Shawn Porter fight for respect

Talented welterweights and friends Terence Crawford and Shawn Porter fought for Crawford’s WBO welterweight title. No ridiculous trash-talking from these guys. Total professionals. Porter, a two-time world champion, always seemed underrated as if he hadn’t lived up to the hype. Being a two-time titleholder and loser only three times is a pretty good career to me although not a widely-held opinion.

Last year, promoter Bob Arum criticized Crawford last year.

“I could build a house in Beverly Hills on the money. I’ve lost on him in the last three fights. A beautiful home. “

I’m sure there’s some truth in what Arum said, but to criticize him in public? Not right in my view.

Crawford has fought 38 times without a loss. Eight years ago, he traveled to Glasgow and toppled defending lightweight champion Ricky Burns. Crawford made two defenses of his title, before moving up a division and stopping Thomas Dulorme to win his second world title. He unified the division a year later. In 2018, Crawford captured the WBO welterweight crown by beating Jeff Horn easily. Going into the fight, Crawford had defended his welterweight belt four times, the last being a knockout of former champion Kell Brook.

The fight was a see-saw battle. Porter got off to a lead, with Crawford pulling slightly ahead late in the match. Suddenly in round 10, Crawford, like a cobra, unleashed a quick uppercut that floored Porter. Porter got up but was down again seconds later, courtesy of a right hand. The fight was stopped soon after. Crawford had won. Porter announced his retirement. Did Crawford earn some respect? Perhaps, but more importantly, the man from Nebraska is now free of promoter Arum.

War in Las Vegas 

A week later in Sin City, super bantamweights Stephen Fulton and Brandon Figueroa, went to war for 12 give-and-take rounds. The fight had received barely any press. Why? Because Teofimo Lopez was fighting George Kambosos on the same night. Fulton and Figueroa were both undefeated. Their styles meshed. Fulton is the clever boxer -Figueroa, the relentless bull. The result was 36 minutes of intense action featuring skill and heart. Fulton got the nod by majority decision. Figueroa said he was robbed. A rematch is a no-brainer. These two need to fight again.  

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Shocker in the “Big Apple”

Heading into his fight with George Kambosos, Teofimo Lopez appeared shocked by his opponent’s supreme confidence. Lopez was last seen defeating pound-for-pound champion Vasiliy Lomachenko. The oddsmakers tagged him as a 13-1 favorite. A laugher, right?

The fight got serious immediately when Kambosos floored Lopez with an over hand right. Lopez went down. He got up and battled, and bled, and floored Kambosos in round 10, but didn’t have enough to finish him. Kambosos captured rounds 11 and 12, winning the fight. The entire lightweight division is anxious to fight Kambosos. Be careful what you wish for.

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December excitement

Lightweight champion Gervonta Davis expected Issac Cruz to give him a tough fight. The experts didn’t agree. So much for that. Cruz relentlessly pursued the heavy-handed Davis (24 knockouts in 26 fights) for 12 rounds, but it wasn’t enough. Davis landed some hellacious bombs. Cruz absorbed them and kept coming. Davis showed he’s not just a brawler while Cruz, with his performance, made himself a player in the talent laden lightweight division.

Flashy WBC (kinda) champion Devin Haney outboxed tough Joseph Diaz. The result was really never in doubt. Haney against Davis looks to be a natural. Haney showed superior foot and hand speed. Diaz was gritty.

Anthony Yarde picked up some sweet revenge by knocking out rival Lyndon Arthur in four rounds. Arthur won their first go around last year. He was expected to win again. Yarde, since being knocked out by Sergey Kovalev, didn’t look like the same guy. Looks can be deceiving. Yarde was a man on a mission from the opening bell. He cracked Arthur with right hands and heavy hooks. Arthur had a look on his face that seemed to be saying, “Who is this guy?” He soon found out. .

A week later in England, Conor Benn knocked out former welterweight champion Chris Algieri in round four. Benn, ever-improving, was sharp and powerful. He pounded on Algieri, and then ended the matters. A huge right crashed off Algieri’s chin, rendering him limp and unconscious as he crashed to the canvas. It was brutal, and thankfully, Algieri, a super nice guy, is ok.

A few days later, Vasiliy Lomachenko reminded everyone how skillful he still is, dominating former champion Richard Commey over 12 rounds. Losing to Lopez might have been the best thing that ever happened to Lomachenko, though he would doubtless disagree. He looks refreshed and recharged. His performances a masterclass of speed and angles. Ageless Nonito Donaire ended Reymart Gaballo’s dreams of a title with a thunderous body shot in round four. The classy Donaire would like to fight Noaya Inoue again. Their first fight was a barnburner. I understand his competitive spirit, but Inoue is in his prime.

And lastly, heavyweights Joseph Parker and Derek Chisora’s sequel was anything but boring. Their first fight had been controversial. It wasn’t a great fight. But pride was on the line. Parker said he had to win to continue his career. Chisora ​​was still angry over the first bout. Parker said he’d perform better. Chisora ​​talked about was. Both said they’d win.

Both brought it on fight night.

Parker backed up his words. He knocked Chisora ​​down three times, but couldn’t keep him there. Chisora ​​hung in like grim death, battling to the end of the 12 rounder as his fans roared their approval. Not a classic in skill, but a testimony to guts and never-say-die.

Boxing at its brutal best.

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