In the early hours of Sunday morning we were treated to two nights of action from both coasts with no less than 5 world titles on the line. Here’s my review of the action.
Jermell Charlo V Erickson Lubin
Jermall Charlo retains his title with a stunning 1st round knockout.
The 1st round started slowly both men just feeling each other out. Then Charlo lands a hard right hand and Lubin hit the canvas and the referee waves it off.
Jarrett Hurd V Austin Trout
Jarrett Hurd retains his title after the doctor pulled Austin Trout out at the end of the 10th.
The 1st round was a bit of a feeling out round both men just trying to find their range it was a close round and I couldn’t split them. Hurd seemed to find his range in the 2nd and landed some nice shots. However Trout also landed some nice shots it was another close round. In the 3rd round Hurd started to land some quality and painful looking condonations. At the start of the 4th Hurd was doing a good job of staying on the front foot and pushing Trout back however Trout landed the better punches. In the 5th round Hurd landed some good shots but Trout came straight back. This is a good fight but it’s a difficult one to score.
Going into the second half of the fight I had it a draw but it will be interesting to see if Trout can keep this pace up as the fight goes on. In the 6th round Hurd did start to have more success off the jab, but the better punches were coming from Trout. Toward the end of the round Hurd rocked Trout. In the 7th round Trout was rocked again I wonder if he’s starting to feel the pace from earlier in the fight. In the 8th Hurd stepped on the gas and landed a number of big condonations and Trout is starting to look out of steam. In the 9th round Hurd was able to stay on the front foot and back Trout up, and was starting to work well off the jab
Going into the championship rounds I had Hurd 2 up. The 10th round was much like the rest of the fight close and hard to score, but I think Hurd might just have edged it by landing the better shots. At the end of the round Trout was rocked and he was saved by the bell. In the corner at the end of the round Trout’s corner pulled him out.
Erislandy Lara V Terrell Gausha
Erislandy Lara put on a boxing master class to retain his title by a wide unanimous decision.
Lara came out looking to get straight down to business but a lot of his punches missed. However the shots that did land looked painful. The 2nd round started much like the 1st with the better quality shots coming from Lara. At the start of the 3rd Lara landed a number of nice counter shots. However it seems like there styles are not going to gel. At the start of the 4th Gausha tried to land shots but they were block on the gloves of Lara. Lara started to land some nice shots then he landed a nicely timed left hand which sent Gausha to the canvas but he beat the count. In the 5th round Lara continued to land some nice shots and it seems like Gausha was struggling to land a meaningful punch on Lara.
Going into the second half of the fight I had Lara winning every round, but it’s not the most entertaining fight to watch and you can hear the fans getting restless. In the 6th round Lara just picked up were he left off only working when he needs to,it looks like Gausha is starting to get frustrated and reaching with his punches. In the 7th round Lara continued to work well off the jab, the way Lara fights reminds me of Mayweather he seems to have mastered the art of boxing hitting and not getting hit. In the 8th Lara worked well off the jab and landing good shots to head and body. If Gausha is going to do anything he needs to start now. The 9th was much the same as the rest of the fight with Lara doing just enough to win. I understand now why nobody wants to fight Lara because he’s so difficult to hit and look good against.
Into the championship rounds we go I had it very wide to Lara I’m struggling to give Gausha a round. In the 10th Gausha was trying to be more aggressive but Lara was able to block his shots and tie him up. In the 11th Gausha did try and let his hands go but Lara was able to counter him or just tie him up. In the final round Gausha came out looking to finish strong but for me it was still not enough to win the round. At the final bell I had it a shut out to Lara
Leo Santa Cruz V Chris Avalos
Leo Santa Cruz retains his title in controversial fashion with an 8th round stoppage.
In the 1st round both fighters tried to get off to a fast start, it was a close round but the better punches were coming from Santa Cruz. Towards the end of the round Santa Cruz rocked Avalos. At the start of the 2nd Santa Cruz came out looking to take Avalos out landing a number of big punches. Midd way through the round Avalos was rocked again. It’s early but it looks like Santa Cruz is looking to make a statement. In the 3rd round Avalos did have some success but it looked like Santa Cruz was planting his feet more and putting more power into his shots. Santa Cruz was doing a good job of cutting the ring off and landing nice shots to the body. In the 4th Santa Cruz continued to go to the body. Then he started to land big shots to the head this one is not going to last much longer, Avalos’s legs are all over the place. Santa Cruz started the 5th looking to get Avalos out of there, every time Santa Cruz lands Avalos’s legs go. Toward the end of the round Avalos did land some nice shots but it only looks like a matter of time before Santa Cruz ends it.
Going into the second half of the fight I had Santa Cruz winning every round. The 6th started slowly maybe both men are feeling the pace. Although the better punches were still coming from Santa Cruz Avalos was starting to have more success. In the 7th round it looked like Avalos was coming back into the fight and Santa Cruz is looking tired, however Santa Cruz won the round. In the 8th round it looked like Santa Cruz may have found a second wind. Santa Cruz was landing some nice shots to Avalos’s head then out of nowhere the referee stopped the fight that is going to be controversial.
Abner Mares V Andres Gutierrez
Abner Mares took Andres Gutierrez apart to win a unanimous decision after the doctor stopped the fight to retain his title.
The 1st round started slowly but then the punches started to flow. The better quality and more powerful punches were coming from Mares. Gutierrez needs to move more otherwise this is not going to last long. Mares started the 2nd in the same way as the 1st, Gutierrez is just walking forward and not throwing anything. Gutierrez was cut badly at the end of the round. If Gutierrez wants this fight to continue he’s going to have to find a way into this fight. At the start of the 3rd round Mares continued to box beautifully and Gutierrez still seemed to have no answer to in. Midd way through the round Mares rocked Gutierrez and he had to hold. Mares just continued to pick Gutierrez off, however toward the end of the round Gutierrez was trying to get into it. In the 4th round Mares jab was like a machine at he just kept landing quality shots, and it was starting to get hard to watch. At the start of the 5th Mares was landing some painful looking condonations. This fight needs to be stopped I know it’s for the world title but Gutierrez is just getting busted up in there.
Going into the second half of the fight Mares had won every round, if I was in Gutierrez’s corner I would pull him now so he can live to fight another day. At the start of the 6th it’s starting to look like a sparring session for Mares. Yes Gutierrez is still coming forward but he’s not landing anything of note. In the 7th Mares continued to land quality shots it looks like he can’t miss, if Mares carried the power up a featherweight he would have Gutierrez out of there. In the 8th Mares seemed to be planting his feet more and getting more power into the shots to the point were Gutierrez had started to take a step back. In the 9th Mares just continued to tee off, but you have to give Gutierrez credit he’s still coming forward but he can’t let his hands go.
Going into the championship rounds Mares has won every round and it just looks like Gutierrez just wants to make it to the end. In the 10th round it looks like Mares wants to get him out of there and his punches seem to have more power in them. At the end of the round the referee asked the doctor to look at Gutierrez’s eye and thankfully the doctor said enough was enough
Eddie Ramirez V Antonio DeMarco
Antonio DeMarco rolled back the years to score a 1st round stoppage.
In the 1st round Ramirez came out looking to be on the front foot landing nice shots to the head and body. Then out of nowhere DeMarco landed a nicely time left hand that rocked Ramirez and he looked ready to go. DeMarco continued to land big shots with Ramirez pinned on the ropes and the referee stepped in and stopped the fight.
Great review felt lick I was there really good read keep up the great work all the best billy.