GOOD
Two things that boxing fans love are brutal knockouts and major upsets. They got both over an entertaining weekend.
Julian Williams seemed to stake his claim as one of the best fighters in the world when he defeated then-unbeaten Jarrett Hurd to win two 154-pound titles in May. On Saturday, a relative unknown named Jeison Rosario cut Williams, beat him up and knocked him out on national television.
In the process, Willliams, who was also stopped by Jermall Charlo, was forced to reevaluate once again. And Rosario, a strapping Dominican, emerged instantaneously as a world champion and major player.
The result was truly stunning. From the second round on, after Williams was cut above his left eye, Rosario dominated him to a greater degree than Williams handled Hurd. When it was over, after the referee jumped in to save Williams from further punishment, there were no complaints. Rosario did a job.
And Rosario’s reaction was a touching reminder of what that level of success – after so many sacrifices, so many years of toiling in the gym and ring – means to a fighter. He wept as the belts were placed on his shoulders.
The rematch should be fascinating.
Meanwhile, on a different network, Eleider Alvarez made it clear with a single punch that he remains an important 175-pounder in spite of a one-year layoff. His rocket-like right hand in the seventh round put Michael Seals down and out, thus setting Alvarez up for more big fights.
It was good weekend for Rosario, Alvarez and the fans.
BAD
Williams has the wherewithal to bounce back from his brutal knockout loss to Rosario.
J-Rock has the ability, the experience and the mind set. I was impressed by his demeanor and his words after the fight. He said, in so many words, that Rosario was simply the better man on this night and made it clear that he planned to exercise the rematch clause, his way of saying, “I’ll get it right next time.”
No excuses, plenty of confidence.
Why not? Williams has bounced back before. He was knocked down by a right uppercut and then stopped by Charlo in 2016 only to claw his way back to elite status and take down a feared fighter in Hurd.
And, if they have an immediate rematch, he won’t have to rebuild his reputation over a series of fights. All he has to do is beat Rosario – just as Anthony Joshua did against Andy Ruiz Jr. in their second fight – to make things right again.
That would be easier said than done, though. Rosario’s victory didn’t seem to be a fluke. He attacked Williams with skill and purpose from the second round on. And when he had him hurt, the beast inside him finished the job in devastating fashion.
Indeed, Rosario beat up Williams to a point where he seemed relieved that it was over. That’s not a good memory to take into a rematch.
Plus, it’s not unfair to wonder about Williams’ chin. He has suffered brutal knockout losses in two of his last seven fights. Maybe he simply got caught by the wrong punches each time, maybe it was more than that.
We’ll see if they fight again.
WORSE
I understand why MMA fighters want to face the top boxers. They know they can’t win – or should know – but can make a lot of money. Think Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather.
And I know the reason boxers are open to facing their cage-fighting counterparts: no risk, big reward. Mayweather took home a nine-figure payday even though there was virtually no chance he could lose to a boxing novice.
All that is what you call good business.
It’s just not boxing, which is the depressing part of all this. Fans might buy into this boxing vs. MMA garbage for whatever their reasons are but this fan wants nothing to do with encounters that are more akin to WWE events than competitive boxing matches.
I want to know that the challenger or underdog has a chance to actually win the fight. I remember watching the Mayweather-McGregor fight thinking, “OK, how and when is he going to win?” when I should’ve been thinking, “WILL he win?”
After all, sanctioned matches are supposed to be actual sporting events, not ridiculous exhibitions.
Alas, it’s also “prize fighting.” The fighters do this for a living. And if they can make a lot money — particularly with minimal risk – no one could blame them for seizing the opportunity. I’d probably do the same thing.
That doesn’t mean I have to like it, though. I don’t. I think it degrades the sport. And I wouldn’t watch it if I weren’t in this business.
