A critical look at the past week in boxing
GOOD
The lightweights could learn from the junior bantamweights.
While the top 135-pounders talk incessantly about fighting one another, the 115-pounders are actually doing so, which isn’t lost on devoted fans.
Titleholder Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez this week finalized the third fight in their classic rivalry, which will take place March 5 in Temecula, California. Meanwhile, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai and Carlos Cuadras will meet for a second time on Feb. 5 in Glendale, Arizona. The winners of those fights are expected to face one another in one more can’t-miss showdown of elite warriors.
And get this: Estrada, Gonzalez, Sor Rungvisai and Cuadras have already fought one another a total of 10 times. How many elite fighters in any other division face each other that often?
I hope the lightweight stars – and anyone else reluctant to face best possible opposition – are paying attention.
Of course, the junior bantamweights are handled by people who are willing to work with one another. The top lightweights are more divided by promotional and managerial rivalries, which makes is difficult to make fights. That’s an ongoing problem in boxing, with no end in sight.
I also have a hunch the 135-pounders and their handlers are more concerned about the impact a loss might have on their earning power. Guess what? Fans have never cared about losses as long as they get competitive, entertaining fights.
Estrada, Gonzalez, Sor Rungvisai and Cuadras have a combined 15 losses and the coming fights will still do good business because fans know what they will get, great wars.
Give the fans what they want. It’ll pay off.
BAD
Luis Nunez prevented what would’ve been a miserable night for Dominican prospects Friday on Showtime.
Nunez (16-0, 12 KOs) knocked out Carlos Arrieta (14-1, 8 KOs) of Puerto Rico in the 10th and final round of their 130-pound bout, his second consecutive victory over a previously unbeaten opponent on national TV in the U.S.
He appears to have the ability and power to become a major player between 126 and 130 pounds.
That can’t necessarily be said for his countrymen Edwin De Los Santos and Starling Castillo, who also were unbeaten going into Friday’s card in Orlando, Florida.
De Los Santos (13-1, 12 KOs) looked like a beast in the opening round but soon faded when it became clear he couldn’t take out William Foster III as he had overmatched opponents in the Dominican Republic.
Foster withstood the early pressure and outworked De Los Santos the rest of the way to win a split decision that should’ve been unanimous.
Finally, short, stocky Otar Eranosyan (11-0, 6 KOs) stole the show by overwhelming Starling Castillo (16-1, 12 KOs) with relentless pressure, which made it difficult for the Dominican to do anything. The Georgian won a unanimous decision in the eight-round lightweight bout.
Those who watched “ShoBox: The New Generation” on Friday will want to see Eranosyan fight again. And he could become a player at 135 pounds. How does a showdown of “Pitbulls” – Eranosyan vs. Isaac Cruz – sound?
BAD
Some people are asking about my 2022 goals
Here they are
1. Buy Mayweather Promotions and save them from bankruptcy
2. Hire stylist for Floyd Mayweather
3. Take selfie with Oprah
4. Go 2 chiropractor 2 heal back from carrying the sport of boxing
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) December 31, 2021
Jake Paul was just talking … er, posting. That’s what he does.
Tony Bellew blasted the YouTuber-turned-boxer after Paul declared on social media that he carries the sport of boxing. “You couldn’t carry the jockstrap of a proper BOXER son,” Bellew, the former cruiserweight champ, responded on Twitter.
I had the same reaction initially. I wanted to say to Paul, “A Canelo Alvarez workout would generate bigger pay-per-view numbers than your fights,” even if that’s not true. I thought better of it, though.
Paul’s shtick is pushing people’s buttons, that and doing outrageous things. That’s how he gets attention. And the attention translates to money, of which he has a great deal.
He’s smart. And, yes, he’s bringing news eyes to boxing. That can’t be bad.
Also, he has never claimed to be an elite boxer, only a beginner who works hard and is learning quickly. That’s true. He knows after a few years in the gym that he’ll lose if he faces a more-advanced boxer.
I’m impressed with Paul’s savvy. And I’m mildly amused by him, both out of the ring and in it. He definitely deserves some props for the viral shot that ended Tyron Woodley’s night last month.
My advice to Bellew and others who think (with only minimal justification) that Paul is hijacking boxing: Don’t take him too seriously. He’s not hurting anyone except the non-boxers he faces.