Weekend Review: Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, only 23, on path to greatness

Weekend Review: Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, only 23, appears to be on a path to greatness after his knockout of Sunny Edwads on Saturday.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez

Consider what Rodriguez has accomplished the past 22 months. He moved up from 112 pounds to 115 and took down mainstays Carlos Cuadras and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, easily outpointed Israel Gonzalez, fought through a broken jaw to outpoint Cristian Gonzalez back at 112 and obliterated a supposed boxing wizard – Sunny Edwards – to unify two titles in his final fight at the weight Saturday. And he’s only 23. This is crazy stuff. Rodriguez’s performance against Edwards was sensational. He patiently, methodically broke down the second best flyweight, beat him up, made his face look like a war zone, put him down and finally forced Edwards’ trainer to save him from further punishment after nine rounds. A compelling matchup on paper was a rout in the ring. Of course, Rodriguez’s biggest challenges could lie ahead. He called out future Hall of Famer Juan Francisco Estrada, a 115-pound titleholder. And the great Chocolatito Gonzalez lurks. If Rodriguez (19-0, 12 KOs) gets and wins those fights? We could be talking about a truly great fighter.

 

BIGGEST LOSER
Sunny Edwards

Sunny Edwards took a terrible beating in the end. Christian Petersen / Getty Images

Edwards (20-1, 4 KOs) had a chance to become a superstar in his country. Instead, he’ll have to begin a rebuilding process. The Londoner’s undeniable technical ability proved too much for his first 20 opponents, who had trouble winning a round against him. His problem was that those 20 couldn’t compare to Rodriguez, whose combination of skill and power presented a challenge he couldn’t overcome. Edwards did well for a few rounds but was worn down by Rodriguez’s relentless attack and heavy blows, which set up the ninth-round knockdown and the end of what became a brutal beat down. Edwards is known as a defensive wizard yet Rodriguez landed 62.1% of his power punches. It was that kind of night for Edwards. Of course, the 27-year-old remains an elite boxer. He’ll go back to beating good opponents not named “Bam” and probably win another world title or two. However, the opportunity to become the face of boxing south of the heavyweight division in the United Kingdom probably came and went on Saturday.

 

BIGGEST WINNER II
David Morrell

The 168-pound contender’s second-round knockout of Sena Agbeko in Minneapolis proved next to nothing because of Agbeko’s limitations but it still was a special night for the Cuban. He can always say he delivered a stoppage on the final fight on Showtime. His parents were able to travel from Cuba to see him fight in person for the first time, which obviously meant a great deal to him. And it gave him the platform to call out the man he has been chasing – David Benavidez – one more time, which is part of the process of making fights happen. I don’t know when – or even if – Morrell will lure Benavidez into the ring but I do believe the former amateur star would be handful for his young rival and undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez because of his all-around ability. Find me an obvious weakness. Agbeko isn’t an elite fighter but he’s a solid one. And Morrell toyed with him before deciding to lower the boom less than five minutes into the fight. This guy is a genuine beast. Maybe he’ll get his chance to prove that beyond doubt in the coming year.

 

BIGGEST WINNER III
Jake Paul

Say what you want about Paul – and you will – you have to acknowledge that he has a flair for the dramatic. The right uppercut that ended his fight against Andre August in the first round Friday night was another viral moment for him. His wave goodbye as August lay on his back was good theater. And so was the moment he looked directly into the TV camera and made a shushing gesture, his way of telling his critics to shut up. How could you not love a knockout artist with a big personality? Does that mean he’ll realize his stated goal of becoming a world champion? Nah. He can now say he took down an experienced boxer but the obscure August seemed to be overwhelmed by the moment, which made him a sitting duck. Paul seems to have legitimate power but his skill set is still raw. He lost a decision to Tommy Fury. It’s difficult to imagine him developing to a point where he could beat legitimate champions. To be fair, though, Paul’s story already is improbable. Who really knows what this guy will accomplish when all is said and done?

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IHv90bT4XCE

Former 122-pound unified titleholder Murodjon Akhmadaliev bounced back from his split decision loss to Marlon Tapales in impressive fashion, breaking down and knocking out previously unbeaten Kevin Gonzalez in the eighth round of a scheduled 12-rounder. Akhmadaliev (12-1 (9 KOs) put Gonzalez (26-1-1, 13 KOs) down three times, twice in Round 6 and once more in Round 8 before the referee finally stopped the slaughter. No one in the division is going to beat superstar Naoya Inoue, who is scheduled to face Tapales for the undisputed championship on Dec. 26. However, Akhmadaliev demonstrated that he might be a more legitimate threat than anyone else. …

Talented 112-pound contender Galal Yafai (6-0, 4 KOs) earned a one-sided decision over Rocco Santomauro (22-3, 6 KOs), also on the Rodriguez-Edwards card. The 2020 Olympic champion’s combination of boxing ability and high work rate is formidable. However, the 31-year-old from England would have to be more responsible defensively to beat the top fighters in and near his weight class. He’s easy to hit. I’m guessing that’s something he and his team will work on going forward. … One of the more unlikely knockouts of the year occurred directly before the Yafai-Santomauro fight. Talented 122-pound contender Peter McGrail (8-1, 5 KOs) was outclassing Ja’Rico O’Quinn (17-1-1, 9 KOs) – who went down twice – when the Briton got caught with a right hook that put him down and out in the fifth round. That’s how a break-out performance instantaneously turns into a disaster. …

Jose Valenzuela couldn’t have been more impressive in his rematch with Chris Colbert, who defeated him by a disputed decision in March. He put Colbert (17-2, 6 KOs) down in the first round – as he did in the first fight – but this time he didn’t allow his slick opponent to get into a rhythm afterward on the Morrell-Agbeko card. Valenzuela (13-2, 9 KOs) kept the pressure on Colbert, consistently landed hard shots and finally landed the game-ender, a huge right hand in the sixth round. I doubt Valenzuela could hang with the man he called out after his victory, Gervonta Davis, but he’s an improving boxer with legitimate power. Who knows? … The fight between Robert Guerrero (38-6-1, 20 KOs) and Andre Berto (32-6, 24 KOs) on the Morrell-Agbeko card had the feel of a baseball old-timers ago, which makes sense given the fact both men are 40 and hadn’t been active. I support anyone’s decision to fight if he or she passes rigorous physicals beforehand, including these two. At the same time a good-spirited, if dull scrap would be a good way for both men to say goodbye. Oh yeah, Guerrero won a decision. …

Franchon Crews-Dezurn (9-2, 2 KOs) deserves credit. She lost her undisputed 168-pound championship to Savannah Marshall by a majority decision in July but bounced back to easily outpoint previously unbeaten Shadasia Green (13-1, 11 KOs) on the Paul-August card, winning back a vacant belt in the process. That was made possible when the WBC designated the injured Marshall its “champion in recess.” I have a question, though: How does a fighter who loses what should’ve been a unanimous decision – against Marshall – get a title shot in her next fight? Is the talent pool that shallow? … First HBO, now Showtime. The latter premium network showcased many of the most important fights for almost four decades, making it difficult to believe it’s over. Sad day. HBO and Showtime were the windows to the boxing world for three generations of Americans, particularly before the emergence of internet streaming. Now they’re part of history. Of course, the fans think about the countless thrills and brilliant commentators when they think about Showtime. I also think about the talented people behind the scenes whose paths I’ve had the privilege to cross. Farewell. …

[lawrence-related id=40186,40149,40144,40137,40117,40111,40108,40098]

Weekend Review: Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, only 23, on path to greatness

Weekend Review: Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, only 23, appears to be on a path to greatness after his knockout of Sunny Edwads on Saturday.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez

Consider what Rodriguez has accomplished the past 22 months. He moved up from 112 pounds to 115 and took down mainstays Carlos Cuadras and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, easily outpointed Israel Gonzalez, fought through a broken jaw to outpoint Cristian Gonzalez back at 112 and obliterated a supposed boxing wizard – Sunny Edwards – to unify two titles in his final fight at the weight Saturday. And he’s only 23. This is crazy stuff. Rodriguez’s performance against Edwards was sensational. He patiently, methodically broke down the second best flyweight, beat him up, made his face look like a war zone, put him down and finally forced Edwards’ trainer to save him from further punishment after nine rounds. A compelling matchup on paper was a rout in the ring. Of course, Rodriguez’s biggest challenges could lie ahead. He called out future Hall of Famer Juan Francisco Estrada, a 115-pound titleholder. And the great Chocolatito Gonzalez lurks. If Rodriguez (19-0, 12 KOs) gets and wins those fights? We could be talking about a truly great fighter.

 

BIGGEST LOSER
Sunny Edwards

Sunny Edwards took a terrible beating in the end. Christian Petersen / Getty Images

Edwards (20-1, 4 KOs) had a chance to become a superstar in his country. Instead, he’ll have to begin a rebuilding process. The Londoner’s undeniable technical ability proved too much for his first 20 opponents, who had trouble winning a round against him. His problem was that those 20 couldn’t compare to Rodriguez, whose combination of skill and power presented a challenge he couldn’t overcome. Edwards did well for a few rounds but was worn down by Rodriguez’s relentless attack and heavy blows, which set up the ninth-round knockdown and the end of what became a brutal beat down. Edwards is known as a defensive wizard yet Rodriguez landed 62.1% of his power punches. It was that kind of night for Edwards. Of course, the 27-year-old remains an elite boxer. He’ll go back to beating good opponents not named “Bam” and probably win another world title or two. However, the opportunity to become the face of boxing south of the heavyweight division in the United Kingdom probably came and went on Saturday.

 

BIGGEST WINNER II
David Morrell

The 168-pound contender’s second-round knockout of Sena Agbeko in Minneapolis proved next to nothing because of Agbeko’s limitations but it still was a special night for the Cuban. He can always say he delivered a stoppage on the final fight on Showtime. His parents were able to travel from Cuba to see him fight in person for the first time, which obviously meant a great deal to him. And it gave him the platform to call out the man he has been chasing – David Benavidez – one more time, which is part of the process of making fights happen. I don’t know when – or even if – Morrell will lure Benavidez into the ring but I do believe the former amateur star would be handful for his young rival and undisputed champion Canelo Alvarez because of his all-around ability. Find me an obvious weakness. Agbeko isn’t an elite fighter but he’s a solid one. And Morrell toyed with him before deciding to lower the boom less than five minutes into the fight. This guy is a genuine beast. Maybe he’ll get his chance to prove that beyond doubt in the coming year.

 

BIGGEST WINNER III
Jake Paul

Say what you want about Paul – and you will – you have to acknowledge that he has a flair for the dramatic. The right uppercut that ended his fight against Andre August in the first round Friday night was another viral moment for him. His wave goodbye as August lay on his back was good theater. And so was the moment he looked directly into the TV camera and made a shushing gesture, his way of telling his critics to shut up. How could you not love a knockout artist with a big personality? Does that mean he’ll realize his stated goal of becoming a world champion? Nah. He can now say he took down an experienced boxer but the obscure August seemed to be overwhelmed by the moment, which made him a sitting duck. Paul seems to have legitimate power but his skill set is still raw. He lost a decision to Tommy Fury. It’s difficult to imagine him developing to a point where he could beat legitimate champions. To be fair, though, Paul’s story already is improbable. Who really knows what this guy will accomplish when all is said and done?

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IHv90bT4XCE

Former 122-pound unified titleholder Murodjon Akhmadaliev bounced back from his split decision loss to Marlon Tapales in impressive fashion, breaking down and knocking out previously unbeaten Kevin Gonzalez in the eighth round of a scheduled 12-rounder. Akhmadaliev (12-1 (9 KOs) put Gonzalez (26-1-1, 13 KOs) down three times, twice in Round 6 and once more in Round 8 before the referee finally stopped the slaughter. No one in the division is going to beat superstar Naoya Inoue, who is scheduled to face Tapales for the undisputed championship on Dec. 26. However, Akhmadaliev demonstrated that he might be a more legitimate threat than anyone else. …

Talented 112-pound contender Galal Yafai (6-0, 4 KOs) earned a one-sided decision over Rocco Santomauro (22-3, 6 KOs), also on the Rodriguez-Edwards card. The 2020 Olympic champion’s combination of boxing ability and high work rate is formidable. However, the 31-year-old from England would have to be more responsible defensively to beat the top fighters in and near his weight class. He’s easy to hit. I’m guessing that’s something he and his team will work on going forward. … One of the more unlikely knockouts of the year occurred directly before the Yafai-Santomauro fight. Talented 122-pound contender Peter McGrail (8-1, 5 KOs) was outclassing Ja’Rico O’Quinn (17-1-1, 9 KOs) – who went down twice – when the Briton got caught with a right hook that put him down and out in the fifth round. That’s how a break-out performance instantaneously turns into a disaster. …

Jose Valenzuela couldn’t have been more impressive in his rematch with Chris Colbert, who defeated him by a disputed decision in March. He put Colbert (17-2, 6 KOs) down in the first round – as he did in the first fight – but this time he didn’t allow his slick opponent to get into a rhythm afterward on the Morrell-Agbeko card. Valenzuela (13-2, 9 KOs) kept the pressure on Colbert, consistently landed hard shots and finally landed the game-ender, a huge right hand in the sixth round. I doubt Valenzuela could hang with the man he called out after his victory, Gervonta Davis, but he’s an improving boxer with legitimate power. Who knows? … The fight between Robert Guerrero (38-6-1, 20 KOs) and Andre Berto (32-6, 24 KOs) on the Morrell-Agbeko card had the feel of a baseball old-timers ago, which makes sense given the fact both men are 40 and hadn’t been active. I support anyone’s decision to fight if he or she passes rigorous physicals beforehand, including these two. At the same time a good-spirited, if dull scrap would be a good way for both men to say goodbye. Oh yeah, Guerrero won a decision. …

Franchon Crews-Dezurn (9-2, 2 KOs) deserves credit. She lost her undisputed 168-pound championship to Savannah Marshall by a majority decision in July but bounced back to easily outpoint previously unbeaten Shadasia Green (13-1, 11 KOs) on the Paul-August card, winning back a vacant belt in the process. That was made possible when the WBC designated the injured Marshall its “champion in recess.” I have a question, though: How does a fighter who loses what should’ve been a unanimous decision – against Marshall – get a title shot in her next fight? Is the talent pool that shallow? … First HBO, now Showtime. The latter premium network showcased many of the most important fights for almost four decades, making it difficult to believe it’s over. Sad day. HBO and Showtime were the windows to the boxing world for three generations of Americans, particularly before the emergence of internet streaming. Now they’re part of history. Of course, the fans think about the countless thrills and brilliant commentators when they think about Showtime. I also think about the talented people behind the scenes whose paths I’ve had the privilege to cross. Farewell. …

[lawrence-related id=40186,40149,40144,40137,40117,40111,40108,40098]

Jake Paul delivers dramatic one-punch, first-round knockout of Andre August

Jake Paul delivered a dramatic one-punch, first-round knockout of Andre August on Friday in Orlando, Florida.

Jake Paul didn’t have much time to demonstrate the improvements he has been talking about.

The YouTuber-turned-boxer knocked out Andre August with a single – and brutal – right uppercut late in the first round of a scheduled eight-round cruiserweight fight Friday night at Caribe Royale Orlando in Orlando, Florida.

Paul (8-1, 5 KOs) insisted he’d stop only the second genuine boxer he has faced. No one expected it to come so soon, no one but him, that is.

“I said first round knockout all week,” he said in the ring after his victory. “I manifested this. This is the power of manifestation. I said I needed to bring back the old problem child. I’ve been too nice with these people, letting them go into the later rounds.

“I set up my shot. And he went night night. I told him he gonna need a Celsius (supplement drink) to wake up.”

August (10-2-1, 5 KOs) was supposed to be at least somewhat different from Paul’s other opponents, mostly MMA fighters with limited boxing skills.

The Texan had some success as an amateur and was a winner as a professional, although he hadn’t faced anyone of note. Tommy Fury, who has a boxing background, handed Paul his only loss. Would August give him problems too?

Uh, no.

The opening few minutes were largely uneventful, although Paul was the much busier fighter and landed five power punches, according to CompuBox. The last one was as memorable as any in his career.

Paul poked out his jab and he followed with as beautiful an uppercut as you’re ever going to see, one that put August on his back and hurt him badly. He rolled to his side and attempted get up as referee Chris Young counted but he couldn’t get to his feet.

The official time of the stoppage was 2:32.

When Young waived off the fight, Paul looked directly into the television camera and made a shushing gesture.

“I was just silencing my critics,” he said, “everyone who has something to say about me. ‘Oh, he can’t do this, he can’t sell, he’s not big. What is he doing fighting this guy, fighting that guy.’ Shut the f— up.”

Paul has said repeatedly that he plans to become a world boxing champion, which is reaching for the stars given the 26-year-old’s lack of a technical foundation. He took up boxing only three years ago.

He said after his victory over August is a step in that unlikely direction.

“I’m focused on being the best in the world and creating one of the greatest sports stories in the history of sports,” he said, “being able to become champion from Disney Channel, three years ago not even knowing how to throw a jab or what an uppercut was, none of this. Tthat to me is incredible.

“[I want] to inspire these young kids or anyone out there to chase their dreams. And no matter where you start, if it’s late in your life, whatever it is you want to do, you can do it and rise to the top.”

What’s next for Paul?

He said an announcement would come next week but refused to divulge more than that, not even whether the fight would be under boxing or MMA rules. He is affiliated with Professional Fighters League, an MMA organization.

And he wouldn’t provide the names of fighters he might be interested in facing, saying, “I’m not going to give anyone the limelight right now who doesn’t want to fight me.”

All we know is that he’ll remain on his current path, one he is confident will bring him continued success no matter who he faces.

“A couple of years ago I didn’t really have any challenges,” he said. “I was just beating everybody, not really focused, doing stuff outside of the gym that I shouldn’t have been. Now I’m lasered in.

“I found my spirituality through guys like [health gurus] Aubrey Marcus and Lukis Mac and that has changed my whole entire life. Staying on the grind, in the gym, consistent, surrounding people like my girlfriend (speed skater) Jutta (Leerdam), who’s a world champion.

“Those are the people that push me to be the best on a day to day basis. That’s what it’s really all about.”

[lawrence-related id=40108,40098]

Jake Paul delivers dramatic one-punch, first-round knockout of Andre August

Jake Paul delivered a dramatic one-punch, first-round knockout of Andre August on Friday in Orlando, Florida.

Jake Paul didn’t have much time to demonstrate the improvements he has been talking about.

The YouTuber-turned-boxer knocked out Andre August with a single – and brutal – right uppercut late in the first round of a scheduled eight-round cruiserweight fight Friday night at Caribe Royale Orlando in Orlando, Florida.

Paul (8-1, 5 KOs) insisted he’d stop only the second genuine boxer he has faced. No one expected it to come so soon, no one but him, that is.

“I said first round knockout all week,” he said in the ring after his victory. “I manifested this. This is the power of manifestation. I said I needed to bring back the old problem child. I’ve been too nice with these people, letting them go into the later rounds.

“I set up my shot. And he went night night. I told him he gonna need a Celsius (supplement drink) to wake up.”

August (10-2-1, 5 KOs) was supposed to be at least somewhat different from Paul’s other opponents, mostly MMA fighters with limited boxing skills.

The Texan had some success as an amateur and was a winner as a professional, although he hadn’t faced anyone of note. Tommy Fury, who has a boxing background, handed Paul his only loss. Would August give him problems too?

Uh, no.

The opening few minutes were largely uneventful, although Paul was the much busier fighter and landed five power punches, according to CompuBox. The last one was as memorable as any in his career.

Paul poked out his jab and he followed with as beautiful an uppercut as you’re ever going to see, one that put August on his back and hurt him badly. He rolled to his side and attempted get up as referee Chris Young counted but he couldn’t get to his feet.

The official time of the stoppage was 2:32.

When Young waived off the fight, Paul looked directly into the television camera and made a shushing gesture.

“I was just silencing my critics,” he said, “everyone who has something to say about me. ‘Oh, he can’t do this, he can’t sell, he’s not big. What is he doing fighting this guy, fighting that guy.’ Shut the f— up.”

Paul has said repeatedly that he plans to become a world boxing champion, which is reaching for the stars given the 26-year-old’s lack of a technical foundation. He took up boxing only three years ago.

He said after his victory over August is a step in that unlikely direction.

“I’m focused on being the best in the world and creating one of the greatest sports stories in the history of sports,” he said, “being able to become champion from Disney Channel, three years ago not even knowing how to throw a jab or what an uppercut was, none of this. Tthat to me is incredible.

“[I want] to inspire these young kids or anyone out there to chase their dreams. And no matter where you start, if it’s late in your life, whatever it is you want to do, you can do it and rise to the top.”

What’s next for Paul?

He said an announcement would come next week but refused to divulge more than that, not even whether the fight would be under boxing or MMA rules. He is affiliated with Professional Fighters League, an MMA organization.

And he wouldn’t provide the names of fighters he might be interested in facing, saying, “I’m not going to give anyone the limelight right now who doesn’t want to fight me.”

All we know is that he’ll remain on his current path, one he is confident will bring him continued success no matter who he faces.

“A couple of years ago I didn’t really have any challenges,” he said. “I was just beating everybody, not really focused, doing stuff outside of the gym that I shouldn’t have been. Now I’m lasered in.

“I found my spirituality through guys like [health gurus] Aubrey Marcus and Lukis Mac and that has changed my whole entire life. Staying on the grind, in the gym, consistent, surrounding people like my girlfriend (speed skater) Jutta (Leerdam), who’s a world champion.

“Those are the people that push me to be the best on a day to day basis. That’s what it’s really all about.”

[lawrence-related id=40108,40098]

Watch it: Jake Paul’s brutal uppercut that ended his fight in first round

Watch it: Jake Paul’s brutal one-punch, first-round knockout of Andre August on Friday in Orlando, Florida.

Jake Paul knocked out Andre August with a single right uppercut in the first round of their scheduled eight-round cruiserweight fight Friday in Orlando, Florida.

Check out the punch below.

Watch it: Jake Paul’s brutal uppercut that ended his fight in first round

Watch it: Jake Paul’s brutal one-punch, first-round knockout of Andre August on Friday in Orlando, Florida.

Jake Paul knocked out Andre August with a single right uppercut in the first round of their scheduled eight-round cruiserweight fight Friday in Orlando, Florida.

Check out the punch below.

Jake Paul vs. Andre August: LIVE round-by-round updates, official results, full coverage

Jake Paul vs. Andre August: LIVE round-by-round updates, official results, full coverage.

Jake Paul knocked out Andre August with a single right uppercut in the first round of their scheduled eight-round cruiserweight fight.

The official time of the stoppage was 2:32.

The opening round had been uneventful, although Paul (8-1, 5 KOs) was busier than August and landed a few power punches.

The ending came suddenly. Paul threw a jab and followed with a perfect uppercut that seemed to render August (10-2-1, 5 KOs) unconscious upon contact.

August, obviously, tried but failed to get to his feet before the count of 10.

You can read a full report here.

Round 1

That didn’t last long. A right uppercut in the final minute put August on his back and he couldn’t beat the count. Paul predicted a knockout. And he delivered quickly.

***

Franchon Crews-Dezurn defeated Shadasia Green by a unanimous decision in what was billed as a fight for the vacant WBC 168-pound title.

Crews-Dezurn also earned the right to face Savannah Marshall, who took her undisputed championship by a majority decision in July but later was designated “Champion in Recess.”

Crews-Dezurn (9-2, 2 KOs) outworked the hard-punching Green (13-1, 11 KOs) to win over the judges. The official scores were 98-92, 97-93 and 97-93.

The winner outpunched the loser 382-240, according to CompuBox. Crews-Dezurn landed only one more shot (78-77), however.

Marshall retains the other three major titles.

***

Junior middleweight contender Yoenis Tellez (7-0, 5 KOs) knocked out fellow Cuban native Livan Navarro (15-2, 9 KOs) in the 10th and final round.

The official time of the stoppage was 1:21.

Tellez (7-0, 6 KOs) was well ahead on the cards when a left hook to the chin put Navarro (15-2, 9 KOs) flat on his back, where he stayed for several minutes.

***

YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul is scheduled to face boxer Andre August in an eight-round 200-pound fight Friday at Caribe Royale Orlando in Orlando, Florida (DAZN).

Paul (7-1, 4 KOs) and August (10-1-1, 5 KOs) on Thursday weighed in at 199.4 and 198.6, respectively.

The featured portion of the show is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.

Boxing Junkie will post round-by-round analysis and the result and a brief summary immediately after the fight ends. Simply return to this post and refresh when the time comes.

Full coverage – a detailed fight story, analysis and more – will follow on separate posts the night of the card and the following day.

Enjoy the fights!

[lawrence-related id=40088,40086,40077,40072,40068,40066]

Jake Paul vs. Andre August: LIVE round-by-round updates, official results, full coverage

Jake Paul vs. Andre August: LIVE round-by-round updates, official results, full coverage.

Jake Paul knocked out Andre August with a single right uppercut in the first round of their scheduled eight-round cruiserweight fight.

The official time of the stoppage was 2:32.

The opening round had been uneventful, although Paul (8-1, 5 KOs) was busier than August and landed a few power punches.

The ending came suddenly. Paul threw a jab and followed with a perfect uppercut that seemed to render August (10-2-1, 5 KOs) unconscious upon contact.

August, obviously, tried but failed to get to his feet before the count of 10.

You can read a full report here.

Round 1

That didn’t last long. A right uppercut in the final minute put August on his back and he couldn’t beat the count. Paul predicted a knockout. And he delivered quickly.

***

Franchon Crews-Dezurn defeated Shadasia Green by a unanimous decision in what was billed as a fight for the vacant WBC 168-pound title.

Crews-Dezurn also earned the right to face Savannah Marshall, who took her undisputed championship by a majority decision in July but later was designated “Champion in Recess.”

Crews-Dezurn (9-2, 2 KOs) outworked the hard-punching Green (13-1, 11 KOs) to win over the judges. The official scores were 98-92, 97-93 and 97-93.

The winner outpunched the loser 382-240, according to CompuBox. Crews-Dezurn landed only one more shot (78-77), however.

Marshall retains the other three major titles.

***

Junior middleweight contender Yoenis Tellez (7-0, 5 KOs) knocked out fellow Cuban native Livan Navarro (15-2, 9 KOs) in the 10th and final round.

The official time of the stoppage was 1:21.

Tellez (7-0, 6 KOs) was well ahead on the cards when a left hook to the chin put Navarro (15-2, 9 KOs) flat on his back, where he stayed for several minutes.

***

YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul is scheduled to face boxer Andre August in an eight-round 200-pound fight Friday at Caribe Royale Orlando in Orlando, Florida (DAZN).

Paul (7-1, 4 KOs) and August (10-1-1, 5 KOs) on Thursday weighed in at 199.4 and 198.6, respectively.

The featured portion of the show is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.

Boxing Junkie will post round-by-round analysis and the result and a brief summary immediately after the fight ends. Simply return to this post and refresh when the time comes.

Full coverage – a detailed fight story, analysis and more – will follow on separate posts the night of the card and the following day.

Enjoy the fights!

[lawrence-related id=40088,40086,40077,40072,40068,40066]

Video: Jake Paul brash with Andre August during final faceoff for boxing match

Watch the final face off for Jake Paul vs. Andre August.

[autotag]Jake Paul[/autotag] and [autotag]Andre August[/autotag] brought it up a notch in their final staredown.

The two had an intense face off at Thursday’s ceremonial weigh-ins for MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects IV, which goes down on Friday at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Fla. Paul was brash and had plenty to say to August, who stood his ground.

Paul (7-1) and August (10-1-1) meet in the main event of MVP’s Most Valuable Prospects IV. The two fight in a cruiserweight contest scheduled for eight rounds.

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Paul is coming off a unanimous decision win over Nate Diaz in a 10-round fight this past August, managing to drop the former UFC star in Round 5. The YouTube star-turned-boxer rebounded from his first professional loss earlier this year, a split decision to Tommy Fury last February in Saudi Arabia. Paul has built his resume by defeating ex-UFC stars Ben Askren, Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva and Diaz.

Currently riding a five-fight winning streak, August is coming off a unanimous decision win over unbeaten Brandon Martin. He has five knockout wins to his name and is expected to be Paul’s sternest test to date.

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