Fight Night Review 31st March 2018

On Saturday night the Principality Stadium hosted a night of boxing action at will go down in boxing history. Here’s my fight night review of all the action

Anthony Joshua V Joseph Parker

Anthony Joshua goes the distance for the 1st time and wins a wide unanimous decision

In the 1st round both men came out looking to be on the front foot and work off the jab, this is very much a feeling out round with not much to split them. In the 2nd Joshua continued to work off the jab and walk Parker down. It’s only the 2nd round and it already looks like Parker is struggling to get to Joshua. In the 3rd Joshua just continued to walk Parker down and put all the pressure on Parker. Midway through the round Joshua started to let his combinations go. At the start of the 4th Parker doesn’t look happy in there it looks like he doesn’t know what to do. It seems like only a matter of time before Joshua lands that big right hand. In the 5th Joshua just looks happy in there like he knows what he’s doing and he’s just able to control the fight. Toward the end of the round Parker did seem to be getting into the fight.

Going into the second half of the fight Joshua has won every round but Parker seems to be getting into the fight. In the 6th the leather started to fly and this was the fight we wanted to see with both men having success. In the 7th Joshua continued to try and walk Parker down, however this is becoming a much better fight now that Parker has come into it. In the 8th it was a fairly even round but this referee is killing a good fight. At the start of the 9th it looked like Joshua was looking for the right hand but every time they get close the referee breaks them up. In the 10th Parker started well but Joshua was in control from behind the jab. In the 11th Joshua just continued to work behind the jab and walk Parker down. However although he’s not winning the rounds he’s showed that he can take Joshua’s power.

This is the first time Joshua has been into the 12th round and I have Joshua 7 rounds up, will Joshua go for the knockout or will he box his way home. In the 12th Joshua still continued to box well. At the final bell I had it 118-108

David Price V Alexander Povetkin

This must be the end for David Price as he is knocked out in the 5th round

In the 1st round both men came out looking to work off the jab but Povetkin seems to be having the better of it. Price was doing a good job of covering up so nothing could land clean. Then at the end of the round Price caught Povetkin with a nice right hand and he look ready to go. In the 2nd Price was working off the jab but Povetkin’s legs seem to be back under him. Although Povetkin is having success to the body the better quality work is coming from Price. In the 3rd both landed big shots and Price hit the canvas he beat the count and now Povetkin is looking for the finish. Price got his legs back under him and landed some good shots of his own. Then at the end of the round Price landed a big shot and only the ropes kept Povetkin up he beat the count and was save by the bell. At the start of the 4th Povetkin’s legs were still wobbly one more big shot and that will be the end of the fight. In the 5th it looked like Price was looking for the finish. Then out of nowhere Povetkin landed clean on Price’s chin and the fight is over.

Ryan Burnett V Yonfrez Parejo

Ryan Burnett puts in a very good performance to retain his title by unanimous decision, over a game opponent.

In the 1st Burnett gets off to a fast start working off the jab then following it up with the right hand. In the whole of the round I can’t remember Perejo landing a meaningful shot. In the 2nd Burnett continued to work off the jab but you can see that Parejo is getting into the fight. At the start of the 3rd Burnett came out landing power shots and then combinations to the head and body. He is also moving well and making Parejo miss. In the 4th it looked like Burnett was putting more power on his punches if he keeps boxing like this I can see him getting the stoppage. In the 5th more and more work was coming from Burnett and less was coming back from Parejo he doesn’t seem to know how to stop Burnett.

Going into the second half of the fight Burnett was boxing really well winning every round. In the 6th Burnett just picked up were he left off. It looks to me like Parejo has still got plenty of energy but he seems to be running out of ideas. In the 7th Burnett was moving and making Parejo miss and then coming back with shots of his own. In the 8th Burnett continued to move well round the ring and only working when he needs to. In the 9th Burnett just continued to box well and Parejo couldn’t get near him. In the 10th Burnett continued to box really well at this stage I don’t think he’s going to get the stoppage but it’s all about the win. The 11th was much the same as the rest of the fight but I think Burnett is happy just to see this one out.

Going into the final round Burnett has won everything. In the 12th Burnett just boxed his way home and he was picking Parejo off. It’s been a very good performance but it would have been good to see Burnett go for the finish.

Joe Cordina V Hakim Ben Ali

Joe Cordina puts in an impressive performance to stop Hakim Ben Ali in the 3rd round.

In the 1st round Cordina was working well off the jab but you can see that Ali hasn’t just come over for a pay day he just can’t cope with the hand speed of Cordina. In the 2nd Ali started the round nice and bright but nothing was landing clean. Midway through the round Cordina started to land more power shots. At the start of the 3rd Cordina started to land more and more shots to the body and Ali hit the canvas he beat the count but now Cordina is going for the finish and again Ali hit the canvas and again he beat the count. Cordina continued to land power shots to the body and this time the referee said enough was enough and stopped the fight.

Josh Kelly V Carlos Molina

Josh Kelly put in a punch perfect performance to out point Carlos Molina.

The 1st round started slowly both men trying to find their range and distance. Midway through the round Kelly started to land shots to the body and head. At the start of the 2nd Kelly was working off the jab then following it up with the right hand. Kelly was moving well making him hard to hit. Toward the end of the round Kelly was starting to put more power behind his punches. In the 3rd Kelly was throwing more punches but there wasn’t much coming back from Molina, it looks like his plan is to get Kelly into the second half of the fight then go to work, however Kelly has upped his work rate. In the 4th Kelly continued to work well off the jab, Kelly seems happy to just move round the ring and only work when he needs to.

Going into the second half of the fight Kelly has won every round and is in full control. In the 5th Kelly was just picking Molina off with the jab and then moving round the ring. However it did look like Molina was trying to work more but he doesn’t seem to have the power to hurt Kelly. In the 6th all Kelly’s work was coming off the jab and he was boxing really well. However Molina is starting to have more success but all the quality was coming from Kelly. Kelly is dominating this fight and the 7th was know different although Molina was throwing a lot more punches. In the 8th Molina was trying to get on the front foot but Kelly just keeps pushing him back with the jab. Then midway through the round he rocked Molina and he looked ready to go. In the 9th Molina tried to get to work but it was too little to late Kelly just stuck to his boxing.

Going into the final round Kelly has won every round and was boxing beautifully. In the 10th it looked like Kelly was going for the finish but he just didn’t have the power.

Anthony Crolla V Edson Ramirez

Anthony Crolla puts in a good performance to out point Edson Ramirez but was it good enough to put him back in the world title picture.

The 1st round started a bit slowly both just feeling each other out it was a close round but I think Crolla just edged it with the better quality work. In the 2nd Crolla came out working well off the jab then following it with the right hand. Toward the end of the round he did start landing some body shots. In the 3rd it looked like Ramirez was trying to get on the front foot but Crolla was able to keep him off with the jab. In the 4th it looked like Crolla was upping the pace maybe because of the cut in the last round, Crolla continued to work off the jab but he needs to be careful that this fight doesn’t get stop because of the cut. In the 5th Crolla continued to move in and out boxing well but Ramirez is starting to edge forward

Going into the second half of the fight Crolla has won every round it would be nice to see him step it up and get the stoppage. In the 6th Ramirez did seem to be having more success, but Crolla is still boxing well and winning the round. In the 7th Crolla was still boxing well but Ramirez was having more success to the body. In the 8th it looked like Ramirez has up the pace but Crolla was able to keep moving so nothing could land clean. In the 9th Crolla was still boxing well but was landing some nice shots to the body

Going into the final round I still had Crolla winning ever round but Ramirez has made a good fight of it. In the 10th Ramirez had probably his best round of the fight but not enough for him to win the round.

Hope you enjoyed the night comment below and let me know your thoughts on this great night of boxing.