A prime example is the card last week in Philadelphia as Jaron Ennis beat Karen Chukhadzhian for the second time in a little under two years.
The first fight was pretty poor and, while the second was better, there was very little clamour to see Boots go in with this opponent again. Unfortunately it was a mandatory defence of the IBF World Title he holds and it was a fight forced upon him as Ennis continues to tempt the other Champions or a big name in either the Welterweight or Light-Middleweight Division in with him.
Boots faced some criticism for the performance last week as he settled for another win on the cards, but you cannot underestimate the importance of motivation. The fans were barely interested in the rematch so it is no surprise that Ennis was a little flat, especially after putting Chukhadzhian down relatively early, and so the overall performance has to be set in that light.
There is little doubt that plenty more is to come from Boots and the rumoured fight with Vergil Ortiz Jr will really earn the interest of all who love the sport.
On the same card, Bam Rodriguez certainly did give the fans something to talk about and he continues to pursue a big fight with Roman Gonzalez. Clearing out the last generation of stars in the weight class would be a huge point on his resume and Bam may then think about whether it is worth putting on some more weight to take on The Monster, Naoya Inoue.
The lower weight classes have long brought together some special nights and both of those events would be special for Rodriguez and his growing reputation.
Riyadh Season are promoting a pretty big fight card this weekend with the top of the bill featuring a Cruiserweight World Title that could see the winner move onto a massive Unification with Jai Opetaia next year.
'Latino Night' sees Golden Boy join the mix as promoters happy to work with the Saudi authorities to put the big cards together and there are some good looking fights to take place.
Of course we cannot speak about Boxing without addressing the elephant in the room with Netflix streaming a live event on Friday evening that features Iron Mike Tyson, albeit an almost 60 year old 'Baddest Man on the Planet'.
The reality is that the casuals will lap that up, which in turn is hugely positive news for the promoters and broadcasters, but it is the undercard that appeals most with the standout being the rematch between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano.
Gilberto Ramirez vs Chris Billam-Smith
There will be a few thoughts on the Tyson-Paul card below, but it is this Cruiserweight World Title fight that tops 'Latino Night' that should be the real focus for fight fans.
It is a Unification with both the WBO and WBA World Titles up for grabs.
Chris Billam-Smith, the WBO Champion, won the Title from former stable-mate Lawrence Okolie in a scrappy fight, and has defended it two times including redeeming the one loss that has been on his record.
He is the naturally bigger man and the British fighter is someone who does everything pretty well, but perhaps nothing at a special level. It is perhaps why he is regularly under-rated and why the team have taken some offence to the talk being whipped up by the other side.
There have been a couple of performances where Chris Billam-Smith has not been at his best, his first defence of the WBO World Title was one when he turned things around with big shots in the second half of that win over Mateusz Masternak, but in the main Billam-Smith does exactly what it says on the tin.
He will be fundamentally strong, will pick his shots and execute the game-plan of the corner and Chris Billam-Smith will want to impose himself on a fighter that began his career at Middleweight.
Gilberto Ramirez has long been one of the leading names in and around the Middleweight and Super-Middleweight Divisions, but the resume is perhaps a tad disappointing.
Wins over Arthur Abraham and Jesse Hart, twice, are decent, but there isn't a lot more before he made his move up into the Cruiserweight Division. Zurdo was beaten pretty comfortably by Dmitri Bivol at Light-Heavyweight, which is no disgrace, but has bounced back with Decision wins over Joe Smith Jr and an unbeaten Arsen Goulamirian to take the WBA World Title.
He was largely untroubled in both wins, but Smith Jr was coming up in weight having been out of the ring since being crushed by Artur Beterbiev, while Goulamirian had been inactive with the fight with Zurdo being his first in eighteen months.
It feels much different when facing someone like Chris Billam-Smith who was out in June and is a natural at this weight class.
Maybe the weight class suits Ramirez that much better too, but he was pretty listless in the defeat to Dmitry Bivol, although it has to be repeated that it is a defeat to a truly elite World Class fighter.
He will not be given a lot of room to breathe by Chris Billam-Smith and the heavier hands should be with the British fighter, although Ramirez is capable of out-boxing him at times. However, there is a feeling that Billam-Smith is perhaps a touch underrated here and he looks a big price to upset the Mexican WBA World Champion.
Close Rounds are likely going to edge in favour of Gilberto Ramirez as the 'A' side of the card, but Chris Billam-Smith is capable of hurting him if Zurdo is not moving as much at this weight as he has previously.
In saying that, Zurdo will be dangerous when he sits down on his punches and we have seen Chris Billam-Smith hurt before, although the recovery has also been impressive.
It looks a really good fight on paper and a solid Unification ahead of a potentially massive night against Jai Opetaia.
Gilberto Ramirez is someone that deserves a lot of respect, but Chris Billam-Smith might just have the tools to derail the Mexican standing in front of him and looks worthy of a small interest to become the next Unified World Champion representing Great Britain.
The undercard looks a solid one as some of the fighters under the Golden Boy Promotional banner are given an opportunity to impress.
We should see Oscar Collazo find a way to break down his unbeaten opponent, Thammanoon Niyomtrong in this Unification bout and the former can secure that through another Stoppage.
He is bidding to steal some of the limelight from those fighting higher up on the card, and Oscar Collazo can certainly provide a big statement in a weight class that is not one that will always capture the attention of the fight fans.
The expectation is that William Zepeda is going to move onto some huge fights over the next several months, but he will want to avoid slipping up against a veteran.
Tevin Farmer made things awkward for another fringe World Title contender, Raymond Muratalla in July, but the latter was perhaps not as active as he should have been to break down the former World Champion.
Activity is not going to be an issue for Zepeda and he can invest in early body work to slow down and break down Tevin Farmer and go a little better than one of his rivals in the weight class by ending this fight before the judges are needed.
The chief support on the card looks a really good one when Jose Ramirez faces Arnold Barboza Jr- these two fighters have had 60 fights combined and the only loss is the Ramirez razor-thin defeat to Josh Taylor with all of the marbles up for grabs in the Light Welterweight Division.
Inactivity has been an issue for Jose Ramirez, but he was out earlier this year and is fighting twice in a calendar year for the first time since 2019. The rust should have been shook off in his win over Rances Barthelemy and Jose Ramirez is a considerable step up for Arnold Barboza Jr who is perhaps a touch fortunate to still hold an unbeaten record.
The winner will be in line for some big nights ahead, but the feeling is that Arnold Barboza Jr has not really been developed in the manner that he and his handlers might have hoped. He is a quality fighter, but Jose Ramirez is very good and the latter can come away with a win on the cards after Twelve tough Rounds are in the books.
On Friday night, Netflix will get involved in the Boxing world with the main event featuring Jake Paul and Mike Tyson.
It is completely understandable that so many have become invested in the fight, even if Iron Mike was far from his best when he sat down and decided to end his career against Kevin McBride.
At 58 years old, it is only really nostalgia that perhaps has prickled the interest of fans who will be tuning in- can Mike Tyson turn back the clock and Knock Out Jake Paul?
The reality feels much more simple with Paul pursuing a Boxing career by beating up faded UFC fighters in an unfamiliar sport. His sole fight against another 'boxer' was the defeat to Tommy Fury, so there is that feeling that he is finally taking on a 'live' opponent at a higher weight class than he has been operating.
You have to be careful when it comes to discussing Mike Tyson- he is a former Heavyweight Champion and a legendary, iconic name, but there is no doubt that he hasn't been the Tyson people talk about for over thirty years. The huge age gap and the medical issues that Mike Tyson has been dealing with makes it very, very unlikely that this is anything more than an opportunity for Jake Paul to pay the former 'Baddest Man on the Planet' enough money to have his name plastered on Paul's resume.
It is a hard fight to judge as to how it will end mainly because of the two minute Rounds and the gloves being used being heavier than you would have for a truly professional contest. The fight is going on the records, which is fair enough, but it feels like there could be some 'deal' in place that allows Jake Paul to come away with a victory, but Mike Tyson's reputation avoiding any unnecessary dent.
IF there was a play, Jake Paul to win on the cards might be the one, but there are too many uncertainties and doubts about the competitiveness to warrant that.
Jake Paul may not be everyone's cup of tea, but he has tried his best as a Promoter for Amanda Serrano and his charge will be the chief support to the main event when she finally rematches Katie Taylor.
Both fighters may be passed their best and two and a half years have been and gone since these two shared a ring for a very good contest.
Katie Taylor earned the nod on the night, but she is clearly not the same fighter as she once was even if she was able to beat Chantelle Cameron in a rematch in November 2023. She outworked her rival that day, but Taylor is slowing and another twelve months has passed through without the Irishwoman being back in the ring.
Amanda Serrano is not much younger than Katie Taylor, but she has won five straight since the loss to this rival and has been much more active. This is going to be the fifth fight Serrano has had since February 2023 and that should mean she can get into a rhythm pretty quickly, while also having the power edge.
In reality she will need to be a bit more active in the closer Rounds to turn the cards back round in her favour, while Amanda Serrano may be able to put Taylor down this time having hurt her terribly in the first meeting. That Knock Down could be all it takes to turn the tide and perhaps set up a trilogy and Amanda Serrano looks the play.
The money has seemingly poured in on Amanda Serrano who is now the strong favourite to win- the most likely method will be on the cards, although Serrano has shown she has the power to hurt Katie Taylor and a Stoppage cannot be completely ruled out at this stage of their respective careers.
Another undercard bout features a legit World Title when Mario Barrios faces Abel Ramos and it is a chance for the Champion to just show why he deserves to be in with some of the other Champions and big names in the Welterweight Division.
It is a fight where neither will want to take a backward step, but Barrios has momentum behind him and may just find the finishing punches against the veteran.
MY PICKS: Chris Billam-Smith @ 3.20 William Hill (1 Unit)
Oscar Collazo to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.30 Paddy Power (1 Unit
William Zepeda to Win Between 6-10 @ 2.37 Sky Bet (1 Unit)
Jose Ramirez to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.25 Ladbrokes (1 Unit)
Amanda Serrano to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.50 Sky Bet (1 Unit)
Mario Barrios to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.75 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Boxing 2024: 30-53, + 9.44 Units (109 Units Staked, + 8.66% Yield)
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