A critical look at the past week in boxing
GOOD
Gervonta Davis and Isaac Cruz delivered an entertaining and competitive match on Sunday. That won’t be lost in any argument after arguing the decision or anything else. And both boxers should be proud of their efforts.
Davis was faced with a rough-and-tumble character, one who has been aptly portrayed as a mini Mike Tyson. The “tank” withstood Cruz’s relentless pressure, overcame the Mexicans, and appeared with a close, but unanimous decision at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
And nampaw apparently did it with an injured left hand, which he said started causing problems for him mid-match. His trainer said he was injured during training.
If that’s the case, if he’s been thwarted by a powerful hand that has compromised against a monster like Cruz, and still raises his hand in the end, congratulate him. He deserves credit for a hard-fought victory, allowing him to maintain his impeccable track record.
Cognitively, Davis was a victim of his own success, including knockouts in his previous 16 fights. Falling short of expectations – everyone expects another stop – can make you feel like a failure, but it shouldn’t be.
Davis (26-0, 24 KOs) told me a few days before the game that he knew he wouldn’t stop every opponent from going through. However, the goal is to win. That’s what he did on Sunday.
“I finished the job,” he said. “We will continue.”
What’s next for him? Davis fights in one of the most profound divisions in the sport, led by newly crowned undisputed champions George Kambosos, Devin Haney, Vasiliy Lomachenko, Ryan Garcia and others.
Indeed, Davis has many options. For now, he’ll allow his hands time to heal, commit to the handlers, and then take the next step. And you can bet he’ll be a better boxer after the tough test he endured on Sunday.
“I am very happy to be where I am now,” he said. “But I feel like I still have a lot of room for improvement. I feel as if if I keep doing that, there’s no limit. “
BAD
Isaac Cruz has reason to smile after Sunday’s loss. Ryan Hafey / Top Boxing Champion
Cruz thinks he’s done enough to get to the decision but he didn’t seem too disheartened after Sunday’s game.
He lacked the cards – 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113 – but scored in the hearts of fans, who were impressed by his ability to fight on par with a seemingly untouchable opponent. incident.
The 23-year-old Mexican fought in much the same way as Tyson, lunging forward and delivering massive punches to the head and body that caught the attention of Davis and his followers.
Plus, he’s also very hard to hit cleanly, which adds to the challenge Davis faces. And, when the Tank to be able to connect, Cruz was never injured. That says something for the fact that Davis is one of the greatest boxers in the sport.
In the end, Cruz went away with a second loss but the fans saw what they saw, a thrilling brawl that nearly knocked the light vampire on a big, pay-per-view stage. . As a result, he went from a fringe figure to a major league player overnight.
“The eyes of the world have been… on this war,” he said through a translator, “from Europe, to Latin America, to the United States. I showed that this Mexican warrior is here to stay. I showed what people love.
“And better yet, [big] what’s going to happen next. ”
Really they are.
WORSE
Doctors said Teofimo Lopez was lucky to die in the fight with George Kambosos. Ed Mulholland / Matchroom Boxing
Teofimo Lopez’s test results after losing to George Kambosos on November 27 in New York were just as worrisome.
Doctors told ESPN that the boxer was lucky enough to step out of the ring on the condition that he entered it. He was determined to have pleural effusion, a condition where air exists between his chest and lungs.
“He could have died for sure,” said Dr. Linda Dahl, who believes the air could have come from a small tear in his esophagus. “How he breathes, I can’t even explain to you. It was like someone tying a set of 300-pound weights around his chest… like his neck and chest were in a veil. That’s how he fought.”
Dr Peter Constantino said: “He’s lucky he’s not dead. I mean, really lucky.”
Lopez knew something was wrong the day before the game, when he felt short of breath and swollen in his neck. His father suggested he see a doctor but, concerned that the fight might be called off, he refused.
“I think it’s just my asthma,” said Lopez, who kept her mother during her pre-fight checkup on Friday. “I have battled asthma before. If I tell people, they will cancel the fight. But I chose not to do so, because I was under a lot of pressure. I don’t want to hear people say, “Oh, another postponement.”
I don’t know if the officials could do anything to stop Lopez from entering the ring based on what they know. And I believe Lopez when he says he thinks his asthma is causing him discomfort.
I just hope that the boxers will improve their situation before boxing. There will be other wars. I also hope that diligent officials around the world will take a close look at the events surrounding Lopez’s condition to determine if the situation could have been avoided.
BAGS DOLL
By Floyd Mayweather The slurs about bad judges and ignorant boxing writers after Davis’ win over Cruz just sound like a boxer promoter who likes to whine. However, he covered a lot of bases. That includes a shot at the pound king for a pound Canelo Alvarez, whom Mayweather defeated by majority decision in 2013. “I’ll tell you the truth about Canelo… that m —– f—– was easy, a walk. Easy. You all are praising this guy. This guy is nothing. I was almost 40 years old when I cooked that dish with ease. “Indeed he did. Judgment CJ Ross became one of the most shameful cards in boxing history, 114-114, but Craig Metcalfe and Dave Moretti had it 117-111 and 116-112 for Mayweather, which I think is generous for Alvarez. I had it 120-108, shutdown. To be fair to Alvarez, he’s only 23 years old and a much better boxer than he is today. … It seems Sergiy Derevyanchenko (13-4, 10 KOs) could end his career as a guy who couldn’t get over the hump. Talented, tough Ukrainians made a strong effort to resist Daniel Jacobs, Gennadiy Golovkin, Jermall Charlo and now Carlos Adames (21-1, 16 KOs) on the Davis-Cruz card but each time it was a very short loss. The 37-year-old Ukrainian is highly respected but he has won 1-4 in his last five matches and hasn’t raised his hand in two and a half years. Maybe he’ll fire another shot but the clock is ticking. Meanwhile, Adames’ breakthrough victory making him a mid-tier or maybe a young middle-tier player. The Dominicans see Sunday as a threat to anyone…
Sebastian Fundora (18-0-1, 12 KOs) continues to thrive even when it’s not pretty. The 6-foot-6-year-old middleweight contender had a tough time with aggression Sergio Garcia (33-1, 14 KOs) in their 12th round on the Davis-Cruz card but eventually overcame and beat the Spaniard to win unanimous decision. I’m not sure how far “The Towering Inferno” will go but he’s looking for ways to gain an advantage over his opponents. I wouldn’t be shocked if he creates a nasty thing or two in the near future. … I don’t have many good things to say about the Youtuber boxer Jake Paul beyond his undeniable ability to market himself. However, I have to admit his chutzpah for agreeing to face Tyron Woodley second time later Tommy Fury withdrew from their December 18 fight because of health problems. Paul almost lost to Woodley in the first match but is still open to a rematch. Good for him.
