Fight Night Review 28th October 2017

On Saturday night we saw a packed night of world championship action, here’s my fight night review of all the action.

Anthony Joshua V Carlos Takam

Anthony Joshua scored a 10th round stoppage to retain his world titles and move to 20-0 with 20 knockouts. You had to give Carlos Takam credit.

In the 1st Joshua came out looking to work off the jab and use his boxing skills. Toward the end of the round Joshua started to let his right hand go but it was just falling short. In the 2nd Joshua was a bit cagey,but I think that’s because he’s not sure how Takam will fight. Midd way through the round Joshua buzzed Takam Joshua’s nose looks broken from a clash of heads. In the 3rd round Joshua was stalking Takam, at some point Joshua will land a big right hand. In the 4th Joshua continued to walk Takam down and then throw the right hand. Toward the end of the round Joshua rocked Takam and he went looking for the finish, and then Takem touched down,and beat the count. At the start of the 5th Joshua went looking for the finish and was landing big shots.

Going into the second half of the fight both men were hurt, but Joshua had won every round. In the 6th Joshua went back to his boxing skills, and was walking Takam down. With less than a minute to go Joshua rocked Takam with an uppercut. In the 7th Joshua continued to tee off on Takam. To be fair Takam did land some good shots,but Joshua kept firing back. In the 8th both had success but Joshua still looks fresh. At the end of the round Joshua rocked Takam again but he keeps coming forward. In the 9th Joshua continued to land shots, although Takam was fighting back there wasn’t much power in his punches. In the 10th Joshua rocked Takam yet again and this time the referee said enough is enough

Dillian Whyte V Robert Helenius

Dillian Whyte won a wide unanimous decision to become the WBC Sliver Champion.

In the 1st round both men came out looking to let their hands go, but it was still very much a feeling out round with not much to split them. At the start of the 2nd Helenus landed some good shots. Whyte still hasn’t settled into the fight. Toward the end of the round Helenus rocked Whyte and his legs looked wobbly. In the 3rd Whyte was trying to work off the jab, but they were falling shot and he was getting caught on the counter. Toward the end of the round Whyte started to come back into it and started having success. In the 4th Whyte was working well off the jab, and then started landing shots to the body. Although Whyte is starting to have more success but he’s still open to the counter. In the 5th it looked like Whyte was starting to load up more, and Helenus is starting to look tired.

Going into the second half of the fight I had Whyte 4 up. Not much happened it the 6th, maybe both men are feeling the pace. In the 7th Helenus was just walking back he looked like he didn’t want to be there. Whyte was still sticking to his boxing skills and picking his shots. In the 8th Helenus was quite happy to stay on his back foot and Whyte was starting to take him apart. In the 9th Whyte still kept boxing. It wasn’t the best fight to watch, but it’s difficult to fight a man who’s not fighting back. The 10th was much the same as the rest of the fight, Whyte keeps trying to fight and Helenus just keeps backing up. In the 11th Whyte tried to step up the pace looking for the stoppage but he couldn’t land clean. In The 12th Whyte went looking for the stoppage, but he couldn’t land clean because Helenus kept walking back.

Anahi Sanchez V Katie Taylor

Katie Taylor put in a punch perfect performance to win her first world title as a professional.

In the 1st round Taylor got off to a fast start, it doesn’t look like Sanchez could cope with her power and hand speed. In the 2nd Sanchez did try and land but she couldn’t cope with the hand speed of Taylor. With a minute to go in the round Sanchez hit the canvas off a body shot and Taylor went looking for the finish. At the start of the 3rd Taylor went back to her boxing knowing that the shot will come. Midd way through the round Taylor rocked Sanchez again, but she recovered well, toward the end of the round Sanchez rocked Taylor. In the 4th Taylor continued to land painful looking shots, but Sanchez keeps coming.

Going into the second half of the fight Taylor had won every round. In the 5th Taylor was boxing well looking to wear Sanchez down. Toward the end of the round Taylor landed some big combinations. In the 6th Taylor continued to land good shots it seems like a matter of time before Taylor gets her out of there but Sanchez won’t quit. At the start of the 7th it looked liked Taylor stepped on the gas, and with less than a minute to go in the round Taylor rocked her again. Surely it’s only a matter of time before Taylor gets her out of there. In the 8th Taylor just continued to land big shots, but once again Sanchez comes back. In the 9th Taylor continued to pound the body, although Sanchez is looking tired she keeps on going. In the 10th Taylor continued to box well, but I think she will have learnt a lot by doing the full 10 rounds.

Kal Yafi V Sho Ishida

Kal Yafi put In a good boxing performance to win by unanimous decision.

The 1st round was a feeling out round both men just looking to find their range, it was a close round with nothing to split them. At the start of the 2nd you could see Yafi was trying to work off the jab,but he couldn’t quite time it. In the 3rd round Yafi did start to let his hands go but he was getting caught on the counter. In the 4th Yafi was working well off the jab,but Ishida was landing some nice shots of his own. Toward the end of the round Yafi did land some nice body shots. In the 5th round Ishida came out looking to go to the body. He was only landing pot shots that are not hurting Yafi but there catching the eye of the judges.

Going into the second half of the fight it was a hard fight to score but I had Yafi 2 up. In the 6th the better work seemed to be coming from Ishida, but neither man landed clean. In the 7th the cleaner work seemed to be coming from Ishida. Toward the end of the round Yafi was going to the body well. In the 8th Yafi did start going to the body well. Midd way through the round Yafi rocked Ishida with a nice left hand, it looked like Yafi was starting to look for the finish. In the 9th Yafi continued to go to the body well, it looked like he was starting to load up more. In the 10th Yafi continued to land good shots and Ishida is starting to look out of ideas. In the 11th Yafi continued to be the boss in the fight, but he is leaving himself open to the counter.

Going into the 12th I had Yafi 7 up. The 12th was much like the rest of the second half of the fight with Yafi only fighting when he needs to. Ishida tried to finish strong, but Yafi has won this one clearly.

Frank Buglioni V Craig Richards

Frank Buglioni won a wide unanimous decision to retain his British title.

In the 1st Buglioni came out on the front foot and was landing nice shots to the head and body. Buglioni looks like he’s trying to make a statement. Toward the end of the round Richards started to come into the fight. In the 2nd Buglioni continued to work well of the jab, then throwing powerful body shots. Richards needs to throw something to get Buglioni’s attention. At the start of the 3rd Buglioni started to load up, but then Richards landed a few nice combinations this is probably Richards best round of the fight. In the 4th round Buglioni was able to back Richards up,but Richards was able to block a lot of he’s shots. In the 5th round Buglioni looks like he’s stepped on the gas but he’s not landing clean . I think if Buglioni could land clean he will get the knockout.

Going into the second half of the fight I had Buglioni 4 up, but this is a much better fight than I thought it would be. The 6th started a bit slower Buglioni was throwing more but Richards seemed to be landing more. In the 7th Buglioni was working will again off the jab, then started landing some powerful shots. In the 8th Richards was starting to look tired, and Buglioni looked like he could land at will. In the 9th Richards came out looking to land shots but you could see he’s got nothing left, Buglioni was just landing big shots. In the 10th Buglioni started to land some really powerful shots with less and less coming back from Richards. In the 11th Buglioni continued to land big power shots. Towards the end of the round both fighters where just posing and not throwing much.

Going into the 12th round I had it very wide to Buglioni, but this fight has done Richards reputation no harm. In the 12th Buglioni went looking for the finish but he just couldn’t land clean.