Boxing Thread 11/12 (Joshua-Pulev, McKenna Brothers, Top Rank/PBC Cards in US)

Morrison J

Few cards of interest this weekend.

Joshua-Pulev the standout. Think Pulev is made to order for Joshua tbh and should make Joshua look good. The Joshua of old would stop him early, will be interesting to see if the new safety first Joshua turns up instead. Think he needs a statement KO to get hype going for a Fury fight. Undercard is utter rubbish. Some neck from Hearn to put Hughie and Okolie on the one undercard.

Both McKenna brothers fighting tonight (Friday) on Channel 5. Think it's only delayed coverage unfortunately but good to see them get some terrestrial TV airtime. Eggington v Theopane main event should be watchable.

Rising names Shakur Stevenson, Chris Colbert and Edgar Berlanga all out in the States in what look like straightforward fights.

megadodge

What time is the Channel 5 programme starting?

Morrison J

Eggington - Theopane started now.

Morrison J

Eggington just way too big here. Theopane completely outgunned and the legs aren't what they once were.

simongurnick

Target practice

Morrison J

Aaron McKenna looked very good there. Granted against a punchbag but was impressed.

normanoffside

Morrison J wrote: »

Aaron McKenna looked very good there. Granted against a punchbag but was impressed.

Great punch variety, power and fluidity,

cj maxx

The fella Stephen was up against looked a wily well travelled character

megadodge

Very impressed by Aaron McKenna.

Irrespective of the opponent, it was the way he boxed. Everything off a fast, snappy, consistent jab, beautiful punch variety, fluid... just impressive all-round.

Can't say the same for Steven. Maybe he was just trying too hard to get an opponent who presented no threat out of there, but he struck me as a fella who could end up being in 'good fights' ie. lands and takes plenty of punches. I suppose he's only starting off yet, but he needs work.

Morrison J

This Marku fella they've been hyping up is bang average. Awful one paced.

Morrison J

Bakole v Kuzmin next. Probably the only undercard fight worth watching.

Big Ears

Morrison J wrote: »

Bakole v Kuzmin next. Probably the only undercard fight worth watching.

I'm quite unimpressed by it if I'm honest.
Based off of the fight a few weeks ago, I think Joyce would beat these two comfortably.

It's no wonder Hunter did so.
When you look at these two who Hunter beat with ease, and the fact Hunter drew with Povetkin before he starched Whyte, it makes you think how unlucky Hunter has been not to be in bigger fights since then.

squinn2912

Right Walshie here I am. What you make of this fight? Neither of these lads going to make many waves but they’re a decent match themselves. I think Kuzmin could do with an additional 2 rounds. Think Bakole will win on points.

squinn2912

I thought Kuzmin would come out in the 9th and throw everything at it. He was pedestrian there for a lot of that round. Needs the ko and I can’t see it.

Morrison J

Big Ears wrote: »

I'm quite unimpressed by it if I'm honest.
Based off of the fight a few weeks ago, I think Joyce would beat these two comfortably.

It's no wonder Hunter did so.
When you look at these two who Hunter beat with ease, and the fact Hunter drew with Povetkin before he starched Whyte, it makes you think how unlucky Hunter has been not to be in bigger fights since then.

Yeah neither are world beaters but it's a well matched fight. Joyce definitely beats both. Joyce would be too strong imo and get on Bakole's chest and stop him. He is pretty clueless protecting himself on the inside.

StringerBell

Bakole on points for me here - Kuzmin needs the KO.

walshb

Both looked too pedestrian for large parts the fight. More urgency needed!

squinn2912

Hard not to be delighted for Bakole when you see the reaction at the announcement. Looked like the kid who was picked last scoring the winner in the last minute. He did well tonight it was a fair decent fight.

Morrison J

Weekly reminder of how piss poor the heavyweight division is

squinn2912

Morrison J wrote: »

Weekly reminder of how piss poor the heavyweight division is

Can it is what it is not like these two are really challenging. It’s still probably the most exciting division.

Morrison J

squinn2912 wrote: »

Can it is what it is not like these two are really challenging. It’s still probably the most exciting division.

Only exciting because it's heavyweight boxing really. Serious lack of talent in the division at the moment and concerning lack of good fighters coming through.

squinn2912

Morrison J wrote: »

Only exciting because it's heavyweight boxing really. Serious lack of talent in the division at the moment and concerning lack of good fighters coming through.

Yea. Americans need to get back into it in order to bring back a golden era. Too many easier ways and MMA hurting boxing as well.

Wach had a fair opening round but he;s slow.

lawrencesummers

Morrison J wrote: »

Weekly reminder of how piss poor the heavyweight division is

Go back a few years and these two bums, fury and the elderly Eastern European wouldn’t even make the grade as sparring partners for a decent heavyweight.

It’s like a white collar charity boxing night between the local bouncers.

generalgerry

Shades of Ali here for sure.

That eye don't look good.

walshb

By the looks of both and pace of both this looks like it’s round 15!!

generalgerry

uh oh. And Fury just after saying that the bad luck was over. He better get Wach out of there quickly.

PEACEBROTHER

Stupid question

Does a cut stoppage go to the judges ?

Morrison J

PEACEBROTHER wrote: »

Stupid question

Does a cut stoppage go to the judges ?

Deemed a clash of heads by the ref so this would go to the judges yeah.

If the cut was caused by a punch it would be a TKO.

generalgerry

Anybody scoring this?

walshb

PEACEBROTHER wrote: »

Stupid question

Does a cut stoppage go to the judges ?

After 4 completed rounds it would if accidental clash..

Big Ears

lawrencesummers wrote: »

Go back a few years and these two bums, fury and the elderly Eastern European wouldn’t even make the grade as sparring partners for a decent heavyweight.

It’s like a white collar charity boxing night between the local bouncers.

20 years maybe.
I haven't forgotten the period where John Ruiz was a Heavyweight champion, a fat James Toney was a top contender, and a crude Samuel Peter was the next great contender.
I'll take this generation over them thanks !

generalgerry

Big of a sneaky tweet by Bellew saying that "one thing is for sure that the only thing that will stop Fury from fighting on is the doctor". To be fair to Dubois, his eye was far worse and there wasn't a violin from the doctor. Doctor should have stopped his fight when his eye ballooned up.

generalgerry

By the looks of the two of them I can't see this lasting long.

lawrencesummers

Nice one, main event coming shortly

generalgerry

God the American commentary on this is some joke. Fair play to the guy for fighting on in spite of his multiple cartoon falls.

lawrencesummers

It’s hard to listen to the hype that the UK commentators attach to UK fighters, and it’s generally best ignored but Okolie is living up to it here, must keep an eye on him, great to watch, nice style

generalgerry

lawrencesummers wrote: »

It’s hard to listen to the hype that the UK commentators attach to UK fighters, and it’s generally best ignored but Okolie is living up to it here, must keep an eye on him, great to watch, nice style

Watch his fight against Chamberlain, you wont come away with the same opinion. Usually his fights are similar to a Khabib UFC fight, lots and lots of embracing.

Hard to believe that Polish opponent was unbeaten. He was immensely brave though.

generalgerry

Come on Gabi, you're on ffs.

lawrencesummers

generalgerry wrote: »

Watch his fight against Chamberlain, you wont come away with the same opinion. Usually his fights are similar to a Khabib UFC fight, lots and lots of embracing.

Hard to believe that Polish opponent was unbeaten. He was immensely brave though.

A lot of credit given to Shane Mcguigan in the post fight interviews for changing his approach to striking without clinching, new approach for him apparently.

He seems to have a personality that could be difficult to stay focused, but he’s going in the right direction.

Big Ears

generalgerry wrote: »

Watch his fight against Chamberlain, you wont come away with the same opinion. Usually his fights are similar to a Khabib UFC fight, lots and lots of embracing.

Hard to believe that Polish opponent was unbeaten. He was immensely brave though.

He was stopped in a few rounds in a previous fight, however both him and his oppnent tested positive for performance enhancing drugs.

generalgerry

lawrencesummers wrote: »

A lot of credit given to Shane Mcguigan in the post fight interviews for changing his approach to striking without clinching,

Yeah no problem with his performance tonight, to be fair to the guy.

Big Ears wrote: »

both him and his oppnent tested positive for performance enhancing drugs.

Oh right, I was wondering about that D that I saw on boxrec :pac:

Brock Turnpike

Sorry for asking a question that has no doubt already been asked but what time is main event?

generalgerry

Brock Turnpike wrote: »

Sorry for asking a question that has no doubt already been asked but what time is main event?

penultimate fight just finished, main event about to start ring walks shortly.

lawrencesummers

Predictions?


I watched a bit of AJ’s training and he looks a lot more prepared than he did for the Ruiz fight, I think he has a lot more respect for Pulev and will be cagey and cautious for a few rounds hoping to avoid Pulev at his strongest, then from rounds 4/5 on he will take over for a stoppage inside 10.


But if pulev pulls a big upset out of the bag I hope the camera goes straight to Hearn crying

lawrencesummers

Floyd is above masks apparently.

Morrison J

Expecting a Joshua KO in the early to mid rounds. Pulev made to order for him. Tall, stiff and doesn't set a high pace. My only worry is Joshua still fighting spooked and jabbing his way to the latter rounds. Needs to make a statement tonight imo and get Pulev out of there as early as possible.

squinn2912

Morrison J wrote: »

Expecting a Joshua KO in the early to mid rounds. Pulev made to order for him. Tall, stiff and doesn't set a high pace. My only worry is Joshua still fighting spooked and jabbing his way to the latter rounds. Needs to make a statement tonight imo and get Pulev out of there as early as possible.

Exactly how I see it. Reckon round 4. Pulev is made to make AJ look good.

Big Ears

generalgerry wrote: »

Yeah no problem with his performance tonight, to be fair to the guy.

Oh right, I was wondering about that D that I saw on boxrec :pac:

He did look good tonight, albeit against limited opposition who was hurt very early.

Ya that was a draw against a 9-9 journeyman, the clue to what level he's really at !

Joshua should get this done within 6 unless he fights very conservatively.
Tbh it's been 6 or 7 years since I've been impressed by Pulev, now he's just an old man getting his last chance off some tame wins !

generalgerry

Be interesting to see how Joshua comes out. He looked scared in the rematch against Ruiz and tried to keep it at distance.

Are the fans not meant to be further apart? 2 metres like the soccer fans?

generalgerry

you would have thought that they would have done away with the Tale Of The Tape after the Ruiz fight.

Here we go, ring walks about to start. ding ding. Cue Diamante.

lawrencesummers

That’s some mane.