Ema Kozin – Syndication Server

Good, bad, worse: Welcome back Keith Thurman, welcome Jesse Rodriguez

A critical look at the past week in boxing GOOD Keith Thurman (right) made a strong statement against Mario Barrios on Saturday. Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions No one knows in the wake of Keith Thurman’s unanimous-decision victory over Mario …

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

Keith Thurman (right) made a strong statement against Mario Barrios on Saturday. Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions

No one knows in the wake of Keith Thurman’s unanimous-decision victory over Mario Barrios on Saturday how he might fare against welterweight titleholders Terence Crawford, Errol Spence Jr. and Yordenis Ugas.

For one night, though, the former unified champion – now 33 – looked like a fighter who could hold his own against anyone.

Thurman had taken a 2½-year break from the sport in part because he needed time to recover from nagging injuries. He looked as fit as ever against Barrios, although he said afterward that he bruised a knuckle.

Any questions about whether he had lost a step were quashed. He largely has retained the quickness and athleticism for which he had been known.

If there was any ring rust after the long hiatus, it wasn’t obvious. He evidently sharpened his timing during intense sparring sessions during his training camp, just as he had told us beforehand.

And what about his inability to take out an opponent who was taking part in his first fight as a full-fledged welterweight, one that had been stopped by the smaller Gervonta Davis last time out?

Maybe Thurman didn’t have the gear required to finish the job after hurting Barrios several times. Maybe the fact they wore 10-ounce, instead of 8-ounce gloves – which was Barrios’ prerogative – was all the former 140-pound contender needed to survive the power of a naturally stronger man.

Afterward, Thurman gave himself a “C+ or a B-” on his performance. I’ll give him a solid B. He wasn’t spectacular by any means but he demonstrated against a solid opponent that he’s a legitimate contender in one of boxing’s glamour divisions.

That was essentially his goal, to show the world that “One Time” is back.

BAD

Barrios lost a wide decision but didn’t get blown out. Ryan Hafey / Premier Boxing Champions

The bad news for Barrios is that he has lost consecutive fights against elite opponents, one by a late knockout and the other by a wide decision. Back-to-back losses are never a positive. The good news is that he acquitted himself reasonably well in each setback.

On Saturday, he couldn’t catch up to his quicker, more-athletic opponent or match his work rate enough to give him a serious test, which is why he lost 10 rounds on two cards and nine on the third.

At the same time, he was competitive.

Barrios landed clean shots here and there throughout the fight, whether they were jabs or a power shots. He got to Thurman’s body, which is perceived to be his weakness. He landed one shot to the stomach in Round 8 that was so punishing Thurman took out his mouthpiece so he could breathe more easily.

And he demonstrated both fitness and toughness by surviving 12 rounds against a hard puncher in his first fight as a full-fledged 147-pounder.

Barrios is a good all-around fighter who simply ran into opponents who are among the best of their generation. In other words, he took two big swings and missed both times. He should be applauded for stepping to the plate.

Now he’ll go back to the gym, work with respected trainer Virgil Hunter on areas in which he can improve and come back a better, wiser boxer.

Don’t be shocked if Barrios emerges victorious the next time he faces a significant challenge.

WORSE

Jesse Rodriguez changed his life by beating Carlos Cuadras. Ed Mulholland / Matchroom

Carlos Cuadras a few weeks ago was in position to underscore his place as one of the stars in a deep 115-pound division. Now, after a series of events, he’s on the outside looking in.

Cuadras (39-5-1, 27 KOs) had been scheduled to take on rival Srisaket Sor Rungvisai on Saturday in Phoenix, with the winner set to face the winner of a third fight between Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman Gonzalez for junior bantamweight supremacy.

Then everything fell apart. Estrada pulled out with COVID-19 and was replaced by Julio Cesar Martinez. They fight on March 5. Then Sor Rungvisai had to withdraw as a result of illness, leaving organizers to scramble for a replacement.

In stepped relative unknown Jesse Rodriguez, a junior flyweight contender from San Antonio who was scheduled to fight on the undercard and had never faced anyone near Cuadras’ status.

Cuadras wasn’t expected to have much trouble with the 22-year-old southpaw. And then he did – a heap of trouble. The veteran couldn’t cope with Rodriguez’s quickness and ability to use it, leaving the favorite on the wrong end of a stunning one-sided decision.

The loser is out of the title picture, at least for the time being. The winner? Rodriguez now holds a secondary WBC title, below “franchise” champion Estrada. More important, his victory over a proven commodity makes him a major player in the division.

There’s no reason he shouldn’t fight the winner of the Gonzalez-Martinez fight or face one of the two other beltholders, Jerwin Ancajas (IBF) or Kazuto Ioka (WBO).

Rodriguez is already a great story after his accomplishment on Saturday. Imagine if he beats one of the above.

RABBIT PUNCHES

Middleweight contender Chris Eubank Jr. (32-2, 23 KOs) deserves credit for putting Liam Williams (23-4-1, 18 KOs) down four times (one knockdown was a push) and winning a wide decision Saturday in Cardiff, Wales, Williams’ home country. He took another step toward a shot at a world title. At the same time, aside for the rounds in which Williams went down, the fight was fought on roughly even terms. And Eubank’s assertion that he carried Williams so he could punish him didn’t ring true and undoubtedly rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. He has more work to do. … Claressa Shields (12-0, 2 KOs) gave a strong performance against Ema Kozin (21-1-1, 11 KOs) in her return to boxing, winning a shutout decision on the Eubank-Williams card. She was disappointed that she was unable to stop Kozin but that means next to nothing. Domination is domination. Next up should be a showdown with the only fighter to beat her in a boxing ring, Savannah Marshall (11-0, 9 KOs). The Briton topped Shields in an amateur fight in 2012, which Shields was 17. Their back and forth at ringside after the Shields-Kozin fight was brilliant theater that will help sell the fight. However, I’m not sure Marshall can compete inside the ropes with the current version of Shields, who has evolved into arguably the best female fighter on the planet. … Twenty-year-old Jesus Ramos (18-0, 15 KOs) gave the strongest performance of his career against rugged Vladimir Hernandez (13-5, 6 KOs) on the Thurman-Barrios card, withstanding Hernandez’s incessant pressure like a more-experienced fighter and stopping him in six rounds. Ramos, already ranked by one sanctioning body, is almost ready for a title shot. … Leo Santa Cruz (38-2-1, 19 KOs) made a successful return after his knockout loss to Gervonta Davis, shutting out Keenan Carbajal (23-3-1, 15 KOs) in a 10-round 130-pound bout on the Thurman-Barrios card. Santa Cruz, 30, looks as if he hasn’t lost anything. He maintained a high work rate and was particularly effective to the body, which is his specialty. … Luis Nery (32-1, 24 KOs) also bounced back from a knockout loss, defeating Carlos Castro (27-1, 12 KOs) in a 10-round 122-pound bout on the Thurman-Barrios card. Nery fought with an effective combination of controlled aggression and elusiveness. The Mexican won a split decision but I thought he won seven rounds. Nery was stopped by Brandon Figueroa in his previous fight.

Good, bad, worse: Welcome back Keith Thurman, welcome Jesse Rodriguez

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

For one night, though, the former unified champion – now 33 – looked like a fighter who could hold his own against anyone.

Any questions about whether he had lost a step were quashed. He largely has retained the quickness and athleticism for which he had been known.

If there was any ring rust after the long hiatus, it wasn’t obvious. He evidently sharpened his timing during intense sparring sessions during his training camp, just as he had told us beforehand.

And what about his inability to take out an opponent who was taking part in his first fight as a full-fledged welterweight, one that had been stopped by the smaller Gervonta Davis last time out?

That was essentially his goal, to show the world that “One Time” is back.

BAD

On Saturday, he couldn’t catch up to his quicker, more-athletic opponent or match his work rate enough to give him a serious test, which is why he lost 10 rounds on two cards and nine on the third.

At the same time, he was competitive.

And he demonstrated both fitness and toughness by surviving 12 rounds against a hard puncher in his first fight as a full-fledged 147-pounder.

Now he’ll go back to the gym, work with respected trainer Virgil Hunter on areas in which he can improve and come back a better, wiser boxer.

Don’t be shocked if Barrios emerges victorious the next time he faces a significant challenge.

WORSE

Carlos Cuadras a few weeks ago was in position to underscore his place as one of the stars in a deep 115-pound division. Now, after a series of events, he’s on the outside looking in.

In stepped relative unknown Jesse Rodriguez, a junior flyweight contender from San Antonio who was scheduled to fight on the undercard and had never faced anyone near Cuadras’ status.

There’s no reason he shouldn’t fight the winner of the Gonzalez-Martinez fight or face one of the two other beltholders, Jerwin Ancajas (IBF) or Kazuto Ioka (WBO).

Rodriguez is already a great story after his accomplishment on Saturday. Imagine if he beats one of the above.

RABBIT PUNCHES

Claressa Shields outclasses Ema Kozin in return to boxing

Claressa Shields outclassed Ema Kozin en route to a shutout decision in her return to boxing on Saturday in Cardiff, Wales.

Claressa Shields looked at home in the boxing ring Saturday in Cardiff, Wales.

The two-time Olympic champion, who was away from the sport while she started a second career in mixed martial arts, outclassed Ema Kozin to win a shutout decision in defense of her middleweight titles on the Chris Eubank Jr.-Liam Williams card at Motorpoint Arena.

The plan for Shields (12-0, 2 KOs) is to face amateur rival Savannah Marshall next, assuming Marshall defeats Femke Hermans on March 12.

Shields outboxed and outworked her willing, but overmatched Slovenian opponent from the beginning of the 10-round bout on Saturday. And she was an elusive target, which made Kozin’s mission all but impossible.

Shields picked up her work rate in the middle rounds, when she began to land more and more power punches. Her body work was particularly impressive.

Claressa Shields celebrated her victory over Ema Kozin. Huw Fairclough / Getty Images

However, the tough Kozin (21-1-1, 11 KOs) was able to withstand the punishment and survive to hear the final bell, which was the 23-year-old’s only accomplishment.

The scoring reflected what happened in the ring: All three judges had the same score, 10-90 for Shields, 10 rounds to none. Boxing Junkie also gave Shields every round.

Shields’ only regret was her inability to get a knockout.

“I thought there were plenty of moments where the ref should’ve stopped it,” she said. “I hurt her a whole lot. She’s going to feel it when she goes home. And I won every single round. So that’s good for me.

“,.. I give myself an A-. The only thing I didn’t do was get the damn knockout.”

The victory is expected to set up a showdown with Marshall, the only fighter to defeat Shield’s in a boxing ring. The Briton outpointed Sheilds in the 2012 World Championships.

Marshall watched the Shields-Kozin fight from ringside, where both were interviewed after the fight.

The local woman was asked to assess Shields’ performance against Kozin and wasn’t diplomatic, saying, “If you fight like against me I’ll absolutely wipe the floor with you.”

Shields responded by putting down her collection of belts and getting into Marshall’s face.

“You couldn’t wipe my drawers,” she said. “You hear me? You can’t do s— with me. … I ain’t no punk. That’s why I’m here. You didn’t come to America, I came here.”

They then started to yell over one another before their teams led them away, presumably until they meet again at a news conference to kick off the Shields-Marshall promotion.

Claressa Shields outclasses Ema Kozin in return to boxing

Claressa Shields outclassed Ema Kozin en route to a shutout decision in her return to boxing on Saturday in Cardiff, Wales.

Claressa Shields looked at home in the boxing ring Saturday in Cardiff, Wales.

The plan for Shields (12-0, 2 KOs) is to face amateur rival Savannah Marshall next, assuming Marshall defeats Femke Hermans on March 12.

Shields picked up her work rate in the middle rounds, when she began to land more and more power punches. Her body work was particularly impressive.

However, the tough Kozin (21-1-1, 11 KOs) was able to withstand the punishment and survive to hear the final bell, which was the 23-year-old’s only accomplishment.

The scoring reflected what happened in the ring: All three judges had the same score, 10-90 for Shields, 10 rounds to none. Boxing Junkie also gave Shields every round.

Shields’ only regret was her inability to get a knockout.

“,.. I give myself an A-. The only thing I didn’t do was get the damn knockout.”

The victory is expected to set up a showdown with Marshall, the only fighter to defeat Shield’s in a boxing ring. The Briton outpointed Sheilds in the 2012 World Championships.

Marshall watched the Shields-Kozin fight from ringside, where both were interviewed after the fight.

The local woman was asked to assess Shields’ performance against Kozin and wasn’t diplomatic, saying, “If you fight like against me I’ll absolutely wipe the floor with you.”

Shields responded by putting down her collection of belts and getting into Marshall’s face.

“You couldn’t wipe my drawers,” she said. “You hear me? You can’t do s— with me. … I ain’t no punk. That’s why I’m here. You didn’t come to America, I came here.”

They then started to yell over one another before their teams led them away, presumably until they meet again at a news conference to kick off the Shields-Marshall promotion.

Claressa Shields: First Ema Kozin, then long-awaited showdown with Savannah Marshall

Claressa Shields: First Ema Kozin and then a long-awaited rematch with the only fighter to beat her in a boxing ring, Savannah Marshall.

Claressa Shields knows all the numbers surrounding her only loss in a boxing ring.

It came in her 26^th amateur fight, at the World Championships in Qinhuangdao, China when she was 17. She then went 52-0 to finish at 77-1 in her amateur career, during which she won two Olympic gold medals. The score of the fight was 14-8, although she thought it should’ve been closer.

And she knows one more thing about the setback: Her wait to avenge it might be ending soon.

Shields recently signed a two-fight contract with the promotional company Boxxer and Sky Sports in the United Kingdom for the sole purpose of fighting fellow unbeaten professional Savannah Marshall of England, her conqueror a decade ago.

If she defeats Ema Kozin on Feb. 5 in Cardiff, Wales, the plan is to face Marshall in one of the biggest-possible fights in women’s boxing this summer.

“It was never about revenge,” Shields told Boxing Junkie. “I just always wanted to prove the fact that I’m better and the only way to do that is beat the person. … I want to prove to the world once again that I’m the best even though I suffered that loss.

“She caught me a little inexperienced. If we would’ve fought three months later [in the London Olympics], I would’ve beaten her. If was in the [next] world championships, I would’ve beat her.”

Shields doesn’t remember much about the loss, which occurred in the second round of the tournament. She recalled that beforehand she and many of the other U.S. boxers refrained from eating meat because of a rumor that it might be tainted, which threw her off.

And she remembers a close, competitive fight against a more-experienced and taller 21-year-old, who went on to win the gold medal.

“I didn’t feel like she beat me,” Shields said. “That’s why I always wanted a rematch, to show I could beat her, but it never happened.”

So much else has happened since then.

Shields and Marshall could’ve fought again in the London Games but Marshall lost in the quarterfinals and Shields went on to win the middleweight gold medal. The same thing happened in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Marshall losing in the quarters and Shields taking home gold to establish herself as a major star.

Shields (11-0, 2 KOs) has gone on to win major titles in three divisions as a professional and become arguably the No. 1 female fighter in the world.

Marshall (11-0, 9 KOs) also has become a world champion as a professional, stopping Hannah Rankin in October 2020 to win the WBO middleweight title. Shields used to hold that belt, which would give her a little extra motivation going into the fight. She still has the other major belts.

“Professional boxing is considered – especially with a world title on the line – more prestigious than the amateurs,” Shields said. “I’m going to beat her when it really counts.”

Of course, they must win interim fights before it could happen. Shields has Kozin (21-0-1, 11 KOs) meet in a few weeks and Marshall is expected to fight soon.

Shields, who is juggling careers in boxing and mixed martial arts, hasn’t boxed since she shut out overmatched Marie Eve Dicaire 11 months ago. And that was her only boxing match in more than two years.

However, she believes the Dicarie fight and two MMA fights last year – including her second loss in combat sports, a decision against Abigail Montes in October – have helped her to stay fit and sharp.

She says that will be obvious come fight time against Kozin, on whom she insists she’s focused even with the showdown against Marshall looming.

“I’ve never been focused on Savannah Marshall,” she said. “I want the fight, I’ve always wanted the fight … but I barely even think about her. I’m always focused on what’s in front of me. I’m going to go in their focused on Ema Kozin, on making sure I defend my titles in the U.K.

“Then I’ll look forward to what’s next. And it’s not far off.”

Why is the No. 1 women’s boxer willing to fight Kozin in Wales and also likely face Marshall in the U.K.?

“The reason I’m going over to the U.K. is to show the world that I have been the one chasing Savannah Marshall, not Savannah Marshall chasing me,” he said. “… I’m willing to fight her in her home country and beat her in front of her family, her friends and her fans and bring all the titles back to the USA.”

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