Tag: Erickson Lubin

Weekend Review: Canelo Alvarez was as good as his word against Jermell Charlo

Weekend Review: Canelo Alvarez was as good as his word against Jermell Charlo on Saturday in Las Vegas.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
Canelo Alvarez

The super middleweight champion’s unanimous decision victory over Jermell Charlo on Saturday night in Las Vegas was far from the greatest of his decorated career given the fact the challenger moved up two divisions to face the future Hall of Famer. At the same time, Alvarez did exactly what he said he would do: He proved that he’s far from finished as one of the best fighters in the world. Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs) insisted that recent sub-par performances – which damaged his reputation – were the result of an injured left wrist and promised he would perform like the great fighter of old now that’s he’s 100% healthy. And he was good as his word. He fought with the passion and sharpness that was missing in recent fights, overwhelming a smaller, but excellent fighter in Charlo with relentless pressure to win round after round and ultimately the fight. The challenger never really had a chance. A giddy Alvarez brimmed with confidence afterward, bellowing during his post-fight interview that, “nobody can beat this Canelo.” He might be right, although Dmitry Bivol certainly will have found that statement interesting.

 

BIGGEST LOSER
Jermell Charlo

Jermell Charlo took a knee after taking a big right in Round 7. Sarah Stier / Getty Images

In terms of money, Charlo couldn’t have had a better night. His eight-figure payday will set him and his family up for life. In terms of his performance, well, the undisputed 154-pound champ would probably like to put it behind him as soon as possible. I won’t say that Charlo came merely to survive but he fought on his heels from beginning to end and didn’t take the risks necessary to make the fight competitive, which was disappointing given his dominance at 154 pounds and expectations going into the fight. He admitted afterward that he “should’ve come forward more.” The fact he didn’t do so produced a disappointing fight. Charlo will bounce back, although at his natural weight. He expects to face the winner of the Oct. 14 fight between newly appointed WBO 154-pound champ Tim Tszyu and Brian Mendoza, and he called out 147-pound king Terence Crawford. If he gets and wins those kind of fights, fans will come to realize that while he was horrible against a fighter he called “a beast” at 168 pounds, he remains the dominant figure at 154 and could have similar success at 160. As Charlo said, “I’m not going nowhere.”

 

WORST DECISION
Erickson Lubin UD Jesus Ramos

Jesus Ramos (right) seemed to do enough to get the victory.  Sarah Stier / Getty Images

I’m still scratching my head. Ramos controlled the first two thirds of his fight against the inactive Lubin, who averaged six punches landed in the first eight rounds (compared to 13 for Ramos), according to CompuBox. Ramos took his foot off the gas in the final four rounds, which opened the door for Lubin to make up some ground on the scorecards. However, it seemed to me – and a lot of others – that Ramos had built too big of a lead to be overtaken. That’s why the officials scoring was so shocking: 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113, all for Lubin. I had it 116-112 for Ramos, eight rounds to four. Lubin (26-2, 18 KOs) simply was too passive in too many rounds to have won a unanimous decision. Lubin’s inactivity also was stunning. I kept waiting for the fiery offensive fighter of the past to emerge. He never did, although he picked up his pace in Rounds 9-12. Lubin lucked out. Meanwhile, Ramos (20-1, 16 KOs) learned a painful, but valuable lesson: Never assume you can afford to lower your output down the stretch. You never know what the judges saw — or didn’t see — up to that point.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

What’s next for Alvarez? You can read about that here. In short, I have to think that the fight he really wants is a rematch with Dmitry Bivol, although they couldn’t come to terms during earlier negotiations. My first choice? David Benavidez. Maybe the fans can convince Alvarez that that’s the best fight for him. … Mario Barrios (28-2, 18 KOs) recorded the biggest victory of his career on the Alvarez-Charlo card, easily outpointing former 147-pound contender Yordenis Ugas (27-6, 12 KOs). Barrios, a former 140-pound beltholder, fought too carefully to my taste for much of the fight but he ended up closing Ugas’ right eye, putting him down twice and dominating the championship rounds. So, in the end, he had a terrific night. Ugas? The Cuban might not be able to overcome back-to-back losses and a vulnerable eye socket at 37 years old. … Twenty-year-old middleweight contender Elijah Garcia gave a strong performance on the Alvarez-Charlo undercard, stopping rugged Mexican Jose Armando Resendiz (14-2, 10 KOs) in eight rounds. Garcia (16-0, 13 KOs) needs to work on his defense but he’s impressive in all other respects. The southpaw from Phoenix is adept at setting up his shots, punches accurately, has world class power (the right hooks that finished Resendiz were vicious) and fights will poise beyond his years. He’s a threat to anyone now. If he continues to improve, he could become a star. …

News item: Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have signed to fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship sometime this winter in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, assuming Fury gets past MMA star Francis Ngannou on Oct. 28, also in Saudi Arabia. It’s about time. Boxing hasn’t had an undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis a generation ago. And the matchup is fascinating. I think Fury is too big and too good for Usyk but I wouldn’t put anything past the gifted Ukrainian, who has two victories over Anthony Joshua. … Boxing lost a legend when broadcaster Colonel Bob Sheridan died at 79 on Sept. 27. Sheridan reportedly broadcast more than 10,000 fights on radio and TV over the past half century, including some of the biggest events in history. He had a keen understanding of the sport and did an excellent job of projecting the drama of the fights he worked. More important to his colleagues, he was one of the most down to earth, friendly figures in the sport. Also, longtime Cincinnati-based trainer Mike Stafford recently died at 67. He worked with Adrien Broner, Robert Easter Jr. and Rau’shee Warron, among many others. He also worked with children in the community, which endeared him to residents and officials in his area.

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Weekend Review: Canelo Alvarez was as good as his word against Jermell Charlo

Weekend Review: Canelo Alvarez was as good as his word against Jermell Charlo on Saturday in Las Vegas.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
Canelo Alvarez

The super middleweight champion’s unanimous decision victory over Jermell Charlo on Saturday night in Las Vegas was far from the greatest of his decorated career given the fact the challenger moved up two divisions to face the future Hall of Famer. At the same time, Alvarez did exactly what he said he would do: He proved that he’s far from finished as one of the best fighters in the world. Alvarez (60-2-2, 39 KOs) insisted that recent sub-par performances – which damaged his reputation – were the result of an injured left wrist and promised he would perform like the great fighter of old now that’s he’s 100% healthy. And he was good as his word. He fought with the passion and sharpness that was missing in recent fights, overwhelming a smaller, but excellent fighter in Charlo with relentless pressure to win round after round and ultimately the fight. The challenger never really had a chance. A giddy Alvarez brimmed with confidence afterward, bellowing during his post-fight interview that, “nobody can beat this Canelo.” He might be right, although Dmitry Bivol certainly will have found that statement interesting.

 

BIGGEST LOSER
Jermell Charlo

Jermell Charlo took a knee after taking a big right in Round 7. Sarah Stier / Getty Images

In terms of money, Charlo couldn’t have had a better night. His eight-figure payday will set him and his family up for life. In terms of his performance, well, the undisputed 154-pound champ would probably like to put it behind him as soon as possible. I won’t say that Charlo came merely to survive but he fought on his heels from beginning to end and didn’t take the risks necessary to make the fight competitive, which was disappointing given his dominance at 154 pounds and expectations going into the fight. He admitted afterward that he “should’ve come forward more.” The fact he didn’t do so produced a disappointing fight. Charlo will bounce back, although at his natural weight. He expects to face the winner of the Oct. 14 fight between newly appointed WBO 154-pound champ Tim Tszyu and Brian Mendoza, and he called out 147-pound king Terence Crawford. If he gets and wins those kind of fights, fans will come to realize that while he was horrible against a fighter he called “a beast” at 168 pounds, he remains the dominant figure at 154 and could have similar success at 160. As Charlo said, “I’m not going nowhere.”

 

WORST DECISION
Erickson Lubin UD Jesus Ramos

Jesus Ramos (right) seemed to do enough to get the victory.  Sarah Stier / Getty Images

I’m still scratching my head. Ramos controlled the first two thirds of his fight against the inactive Lubin, who averaged six punches landed in the first eight rounds (compared to 13 for Ramos), according to CompuBox. Ramos took his foot off the gas in the final four rounds, which opened the door for Lubin to make up some ground on the scorecards. However, it seemed to me – and a lot of others – that Ramos had built too big of a lead to be overtaken. That’s why the officials scoring was so shocking: 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113, all for Lubin. I had it 116-112 for Ramos, eight rounds to four. Lubin (26-2, 18 KOs) simply was too passive in too many rounds to have won a unanimous decision. Lubin’s inactivity also was stunning. I kept waiting for the fiery offensive fighter of the past to emerge. He never did, although he picked up his pace in Rounds 9-12. Lubin lucked out. Meanwhile, Ramos (20-1, 16 KOs) learned a painful, but valuable lesson: Never assume you can afford to lower your output down the stretch. You never know what the judges saw — or didn’t see — up to that point.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

What’s next for Alvarez? You can read about that here. In short, I have to think that the fight he really wants is a rematch with Dmitry Bivol, although they couldn’t come to terms during earlier negotiations. My first choice? David Benavidez. Maybe the fans can convince Alvarez that that’s the best fight for him. … Mario Barrios (28-2, 18 KOs) recorded the biggest victory of his career on the Alvarez-Charlo card, easily outpointing former 147-pound contender Yordenis Ugas (27-6, 12 KOs). Barrios, a former 140-pound beltholder, fought too carefully to my taste for much of the fight but he ended up closing Ugas’ right eye, putting him down twice and dominating the championship rounds. So, in the end, he had a terrific night. Ugas? The Cuban might not be able to overcome back-to-back losses and a vulnerable eye socket at 37 years old. … Twenty-year-old middleweight contender Elijah Garcia gave a strong performance on the Alvarez-Charlo undercard, stopping rugged Mexican Jose Armando Resendiz (14-2, 10 KOs) in eight rounds. Garcia (16-0, 13 KOs) needs to work on his defense but he’s impressive in all other respects. The southpaw from Phoenix is adept at setting up his shots, punches accurately, has world class power (the right hooks that finished Resendiz were vicious) and fights will poise beyond his years. He’s a threat to anyone now. If he continues to improve, he could become a star. …

News item: Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk have signed to fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship sometime this winter in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, assuming Fury gets past MMA star Francis Ngannou on Oct. 28, also in Saudi Arabia. It’s about time. Boxing hasn’t had an undisputed champion since Lennox Lewis a generation ago. And the matchup is fascinating. I think Fury is too big and too good for Usyk but I wouldn’t put anything past the gifted Ukrainian, who has two victories over Anthony Joshua. … Boxing lost a legend when broadcaster Colonel Bob Sheridan died at 79 on Sept. 27. Sheridan reportedly broadcast more than 10,000 fights on radio and TV over the past half century, including some of the biggest events in history. He had a keen understanding of the sport and did an excellent job of projecting the drama of the fights he worked. More important to his colleagues, he was one of the most down to earth, friendly figures in the sport. Also, longtime Cincinnati-based trainer Mike Stafford recently died at 67. He worked with Adrien Broner, Robert Easter Jr. and Rau’shee Warron, among many others. He also worked with children in the community, which endeared him to residents and officials in his area.

[lawrence-related id=39233,39227,39198,39194,39162,39164]

Erickson Lubin defeats Jesus Ramos by controversial unanimous decision

Erickson Lubin defeated Jesus Ramos by a controversial unanimous decision on the Canelo Alvarez-Jermell Charlo card Saturday.

This one won’t sit well with a lot of fans.

Jesus Ramos seemed to control most of his fight against fellow 154-pound contender Erickson Lubin yet lost a unanimous decision on the Canelo Alvarez-Jermell Charlo card Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The official scores were 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113. Boxing Junkie had it 116-112 for Ramos, eight rounds to four.

Ramos (20-1, 16 KOs) dominated the first two thirds of the fight against his relatively passive opponent, most conspicuously landing hard, eye catching punches to the body consistently.

However, Lubin (26-2, 18 KOs), who had done little more than jab, picked up his pace beginning in Round 9 and began landing combinations as his opponent slowed down and the crowd began to boo.

That activity evidently allowed the Floridian to overtake his 22-year-old foe and win the fight.

The victory was significant for Lubin, who was trying to rebuild his reputation after he was stopped by Sebastian Fundora in April of last year, his second knockout loss.

The 28-year-old has rebounded by winning back-to-back fights, a fifth-round knockout of Luis Arias in June and now a decision over the previously unbeaten fighter from Arizona.

[lawrence-related id=39164]

Erickson Lubin defeats Jesus Ramos by controversial unanimous decision

Erickson Lubin defeated Jesus Ramos by a controversial unanimous decision on the Canelo Alvarez-Jermell Charlo card Saturday.

This one won’t sit well with a lot of fans.

Jesus Ramos seemed to control most of his fight against fellow 154-pound contender Erickson Lubin yet lost a unanimous decision on the Canelo Alvarez-Jermell Charlo card Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The official scores were 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113. Boxing Junkie had it 116-112 for Ramos, eight rounds to four.

Ramos (20-1, 16 KOs) dominated the first two thirds of the fight against his relatively passive opponent, most conspicuously landing hard, eye catching punches to the body consistently.

However, Lubin (26-2, 18 KOs), who had done little more than jab, picked up his pace beginning in Round 9 and began landing combinations as his opponent slowed down and the crowd began to boo.

That activity evidently allowed the Floridian to overtake his 22-year-old foe and win the fight.

The victory was significant for Lubin, who was trying to rebuild his reputation after he was stopped by Sebastian Fundora in April of last year, his second knockout loss.

The 28-year-old has rebounded by winning back-to-back fights, a fifth-round knockout of Luis Arias in June and now a decision over the previously unbeaten fighter from Arizona.

[lawrence-related id=39164]

Weekend Review: Edgar Berlanga unconvincing again, Carlos Adames impressive again

A critical look at the past week in boxing BIGGEST WINNER Edgar Berlanga I’m still not sure what to make of Berlanga. The 168-pounder from Brooklyn stopped his first 16 opponents in the first round only to go the distance in his next five, including …

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
Edgar Berlanga

I’m still not sure what to make of Berlanga. The 168-pounder from Brooklyn stopped his first 16 opponents in the first round only to go the distance in his next five, including a decision over solid, but limited veteran Jason Quigley on Saturday in New York. He hasn’t been the dominating fighter he appeared to be. At the same time he did manage to put Quigley down four times and won by lopsided scores even though the fleet Irishman’s stick-and-move tactics made him an elusive target. Berlanga deserves credit for that. Here’s the bottom line, though: We won’t know how good Berlanga is until he faces the top fighters at or near his weight. The name Jaime Munguia came up after his victory at The Armory. That could be the perfect opponent for him. Berlanga wouldn’t have to chase the aggressive Mexican as he did Quigley, which portends a compelling toe-to-toe battle between two high-profile sluggers. I would pick Munguia to win that fight but I wouldn’t be surprised if the style matchup brings out the best Berlanga, who is physically strong and punches at last as hard as Munguia does. That could be the ideal opportunity for Berlanga to realize the potential he has flashed.

 

BIGGEST WINNER II
Carlos Adames

Lost amid a controversial ending was a strong performance by the Dominican middleweight. Adames (23-1, 18 KOs) methodically broke down veteran Julian Williams (28-4-1, 16 KOs) with a high-powered attack – including relentless body work – before referee Mark Nelson became the story when he stopped the fight in the ninth round Saturday in Minneapolis. Nelson arguably jumped the gun but the truth is the surprisingly resilient Williams had taken a pounding and was hurt badly at the time of the stoppage, which should soften the criticism of Nelson at least to some degree. Adames controlled the fight almost from the outset, which was reflected in the official scoring after eight rounds: 80-72, 78-74 and 77-74 in his favor. And he battered a worn down Williams in the ninth even if you believe Nelson jumped the gun by stopping the fight when he did, with 15 seconds remaining. Adames might’ve finished the job in the next few rounds. If not, he probably would’ve won a clear decision. Either way, Adames’ performance was further evidence that he’s a threat to anyone at 160 pounds.

 

BIGGEST WINNER III
Canelo Alvarez

Canelo Alvarez opened the door to compelling fights by signing with PBC. Meg Oliphant / Matchroom Boxing

Alvarez probably didn’t need to sign a three-fight contract with Premier Boxing Champion to face the management company’s fighters. He took on PBC client Caleb Plant without one. The fact the 168-pound champion did put pen to paper simply makes negotiations easier and reveals Alvarez’s intention to face the best-possible opponents for him. I say, “It’s about time.” He reportedly will open the three-fight set against 160-pound titleholder Jermall Charlo in September, a matchup that fans will embrace more enthusiastically than he second fight with 175-pound champ Dmitry Bivol would have. And it presumably will get better from there. Next up could be unbeaten 168-pound contender David Benavidez, the opponent fans most want Alvarez to face. A few things must happen before we can begin celebrating that matchup. Alvarez and Benavidez have to beat their next opponents (Charlo and David Morrell), which isn’t a given in either case. And, of course, the parties still would have to come to terms. The point here is this: There is more hope than ever that we’ll see Alvarez vs. Benavidez after the future Hall of Famer decided to align himself with PBC.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

I hope that the matchup between Alvarez and Charlo is finalized. And then, if Alvarez wins that fight, I believe he should move directly into a showdown with Benavidez next May if Benavidez gets past Morrell. There are other viable options – Morrell if he beats Benavidez and Demetrius Andrade – but Alvarez-Benavidez is the fight the fans want at this moment. If Alvarez can beat both Charlo and Benavidez, he will regain much of the status he lost in the past year. If not, he will have gained respect for accepting the most difficult challenge in his division. … Did Nelson stop the Adames-Williams fight prematurely? One could make that argument. Williams was able to defend himself at the time of the stoppage. However, that’s not fair to Nelson, who has to make a real-time decision in an effort to protect the fighter. The fact is that Adames had been plastering Williams with one hard shot after another moments before the stoppage. The timing was strange but Nelson probably did save Williams from undue punishment. … Erickson Lubin (25-2, 18 KOs) evidently didn’t suffer any lingering effects from his knockout loss to Sebastian Fundora 14 months ago. The 154-pound contender dominated tough, but overmatched Luis Arias (20-4-1, 9 KOs) before stopping him in the fifth round on the Adames-Williams card. Lubin remains one of the best offensive fighters in the sport. I won’t be surprised if he wins a major world title sometime soon. …

Joshua Franco (18-2-3, 8 KOs) had a miserable weekend. The Texan lost his WBA 115-pound title on the scales when he came in an unfathomable six-plus pounds over the limit for his defense against Kazuto Ioka (30-2-1, 15 KOs) on Sunday in Japan. He then lost the fight by a unanimous decision, which gave Ioka the belt after he and Franco had fought to a draw in December. The 34-year-old Ioka demonstrated that he remains one of the best in the business. Meanwhile, Franco, citing “mental problems,” announced after the setback that he’s retiring at 27. We wish him the best no matter what he does. … IBF 115-pound titleholder Fernando Martinez (16-0, 9 KOs) successfully defended his belt against Jade Bornea (18-1, 12 KOs) by an 11th-round technical knockout on the Adames-Williams card. The ending was gruesome. Martinez landed a left to the side of Bronea’s head in Round 9 that split the Filipino’s right ear open, causing it to bleed profusely. He was allowed to continue but officials decided enough was enough two rounds later. Martinez gave another strong performance, underscoring the notion that he could compete against the other top 115-pounders. That includes Juan Francisco Estrada, Roman Gonzalez, Bam Rodriguez and Ioka. Bornea made a strong impression in defeat, earning himself another big opportunity. … Why doesn’t New York employ instant replay? The second knockdown in the Berlanga-Quigley fight was not a knockdown at all. Quigley slipped, as replays made clear. The mistake on the part of referee Harvey Dock didn’t play a role in the result but it could have. Instant replay isn’t complicated. An official determines a mistake was made based on replays and then simply informs the judges and corners without interrupting the flow of the fight.

[lawrence-related id=37924,37911,37905,37896,37894,37891]

Weekend Review: Edgar Berlanga unconvincing again, Carlos Adames impressive again

A critical look at the past week in boxing BIGGEST WINNER Edgar Berlanga I’m still not sure what to make of Berlanga. The 168-pounder from Brooklyn stopped his first 16 opponents in the first round only to go the distance in his next five, including …

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
Edgar Berlanga

I’m still not sure what to make of Berlanga. The 168-pounder from Brooklyn stopped his first 16 opponents in the first round only to go the distance in his next five, including a decision over solid, but limited veteran Jason Quigley on Saturday in New York. He hasn’t been the dominating fighter he appeared to be. At the same time he did manage to put Quigley down four times and won by lopsided scores even though the fleet Irishman’s stick-and-move tactics made him an elusive target. Berlanga deserves credit for that. Here’s the bottom line, though: We won’t know how good Berlanga is until he faces the top fighters at or near his weight. The name Jaime Munguia came up after his victory at The Armory. That could be the perfect opponent for him. Berlanga wouldn’t have to chase the aggressive Mexican as he did Quigley, which portends a compelling toe-to-toe battle between two high-profile sluggers. I would pick Munguia to win that fight but I wouldn’t be surprised if the style matchup brings out the best Berlanga, who is physically strong and punches at last as hard as Munguia does. That could be the ideal opportunity for Berlanga to realize the potential he has flashed.

 

BIGGEST WINNER II
Carlos Adames

Lost amid a controversial ending was a strong performance by the Dominican middleweight. Adames (23-1, 18 KOs) methodically broke down veteran Julian Williams (28-4-1, 16 KOs) with a high-powered attack – including relentless body work – before referee Mark Nelson became the story when he stopped the fight in the ninth round Saturday in Minneapolis. Nelson arguably jumped the gun but the truth is the surprisingly resilient Williams had taken a pounding and was hurt badly at the time of the stoppage, which should soften the criticism of Nelson at least to some degree. Adames controlled the fight almost from the outset, which was reflected in the official scoring after eight rounds: 80-72, 78-74 and 77-74 in his favor. And he battered a worn down Williams in the ninth even if you believe Nelson jumped the gun by stopping the fight when he did, with 15 seconds remaining. Adames might’ve finished the job in the next few rounds. If not, he probably would’ve won a clear decision. Either way, Adames’ performance was further evidence that he’s a threat to anyone at 160 pounds.

 

BIGGEST WINNER III
Canelo Alvarez

Canelo Alvarez opened the door to compelling fights by signing with PBC. Meg Oliphant / Matchroom Boxing

Alvarez probably didn’t need to sign a three-fight contract with Premier Boxing Champion to face the management company’s fighters. He took on PBC client Caleb Plant without one. The fact the 168-pound champion did put pen to paper simply makes negotiations easier and reveals Alvarez’s intention to face the best-possible opponents for him. I say, “It’s about time.” He reportedly will open the three-fight set against 160-pound titleholder Jermall Charlo in September, a matchup that fans will embrace more enthusiastically than he second fight with 175-pound champ Dmitry Bivol would have. And it presumably will get better from there. Next up could be unbeaten 168-pound contender David Benavidez, the opponent fans most want Alvarez to face. A few things must happen before we can begin celebrating that matchup. Alvarez and Benavidez have to beat their next opponents (Charlo and David Morrell), which isn’t a given in either case. And, of course, the parties still would have to come to terms. The point here is this: There is more hope than ever that we’ll see Alvarez vs. Benavidez after the future Hall of Famer decided to align himself with PBC.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

I hope that the matchup between Alvarez and Charlo is finalized. And then, if Alvarez wins that fight, I believe he should move directly into a showdown with Benavidez next May if Benavidez gets past Morrell. There are other viable options – Morrell if he beats Benavidez and Demetrius Andrade – but Alvarez-Benavidez is the fight the fans want at this moment. If Alvarez can beat both Charlo and Benavidez, he will regain much of the status he lost in the past year. If not, he will have gained respect for accepting the most difficult challenge in his division. … Did Nelson stop the Adames-Williams fight prematurely? One could make that argument. Williams was able to defend himself at the time of the stoppage. However, that’s not fair to Nelson, who has to make a real-time decision in an effort to protect the fighter. The fact is that Adames had been plastering Williams with one hard shot after another moments before the stoppage. The timing was strange but Nelson probably did save Williams from undue punishment. … Erickson Lubin (25-2, 18 KOs) evidently didn’t suffer any lingering effects from his knockout loss to Sebastian Fundora 14 months ago. The 154-pound contender dominated tough, but overmatched Luis Arias (20-4-1, 9 KOs) before stopping him in the fifth round on the Adames-Williams card. Lubin remains one of the best offensive fighters in the sport. I won’t be surprised if he wins a major world title sometime soon. …

Joshua Franco (18-2-3, 8 KOs) had a miserable weekend. The Texan lost his WBA 115-pound title on the scales when he came in an unfathomable six-plus pounds over the limit for his defense against Kazuto Ioka (30-2-1, 15 KOs) on Sunday in Japan. He then lost the fight by a unanimous decision, which gave Ioka the belt after he and Franco had fought to a draw in December. The 34-year-old Ioka demonstrated that he remains one of the best in the business. Meanwhile, Franco, citing “mental problems,” announced after the setback that he’s retiring at 27. We wish him the best no matter what he does. … IBF 115-pound titleholder Fernando Martinez (16-0, 9 KOs) successfully defended his belt against Jade Bornea (18-1, 12 KOs) by an 11th-round technical knockout on the Adames-Williams card. The ending was gruesome. Martinez landed a left to the side of Bronea’s head in Round 9 that split the Filipino’s right ear open, causing it to bleed profusely. He was allowed to continue but officials decided enough was enough two rounds later. Martinez gave another strong performance, underscoring the notion that he could compete against the other top 115-pounders. That includes Juan Francisco Estrada, Roman Gonzalez, Bam Rodriguez and Ioka. Bornea made a strong impression in defeat, earning himself another big opportunity. … Why doesn’t New York employ instant replay? The second knockdown in the Berlanga-Quigley fight was not a knockdown at all. Quigley slipped, as replays made clear. The mistake on the part of referee Harvey Dock didn’t play a role in the result but it could have. Instant replay isn’t complicated. An official determines a mistake was made based on replays and then simply informs the judges and corners without interrupting the flow of the fight.

[lawrence-related id=37924,37911,37905,37896,37894,37891]

Sebastian Fundora: ‘It’s good that people are finally noticing (my ability)’

Sebastian Fundora: “It’s good that people are finally noticing (my ability)”

Sebastian Fundora has officially transitioned from physical freak to legitimate title contender.

That became obvious in “The Towering Inferno’s” most recent fight, a sensational ninth-round knockout of respected Erickson Lubin that showcased both the 24-year-old’s ability and toughness this past April in Las Vegas.

Fundora (19-0-1, 13 KOs) put Lubin down in Round 2, took a knee under a barrage of punches himself in Round 7 and rebounded to record a knockout and career-defining victory two rounds later.

The WBC’s No. 1 contender is scheduled to fight Carlos Ocampo on Oct. 8 in Carson, California (Showtime).

“I just think it cemented me in the Top 10, Top 5 fighters [in the division],” Fundora told Boxing Junkie. “Was it a break through victory? Yes, yes. That makes sense. They put another elite fighter in front of us and we’re doing the same thing over and over again.

“I feel the fans are now looking at us like we have talent, that it’s not only our height we rely on. It’s good that people are finally noticing.”

The most telling moment might’ve come in Round 7, when a barrage of punches from Lubin forced Fundora to accept a knockdown.

Fundora acknowledged that he was in trouble, which is why he took matters into his own hands by taking a break. His ability to survive that test of his resilience and then turn the tables underscored his toughness and fighting spirit.

“I just used my mind to win the fight,” he said. “… I was hit with a punch that I didn’t like too much. All I could do was take a knee; you can always do that. … I just took it upon myself to get up and finish the fight.”

Ocampo (34-1, 22 KOs) is a solid opponent. The Mexican, ranked No. 13 by the WBC, lost his biggest fight when he was stopped in one round by welterweight titleholder Errol Spence Jr. in 2018 but he has won 12 in a row since.

Fundora considers him a threat, saying, “He’s a very dangerous fighter, another ranked fighter, with only one loss. And I’m pretty sure he’s very hungry.”

That said, Ocampo should be a mere stepping stone to Fundora’s ultimate goal: to fight for a world title. That means he has undisputed champion Jermell Charlo in his sights, although there’s no telling when he might get that fight or whether Charlo will stay at 154.

Fundora’s plan is to continue to win until he finally gets his opportunity, however that looks.

“I’m the WBC mandatory for a reason,” he said. “… When I get the chance, I’ll definitely take it. It feels great. It feels like all the hard work is paying, that I’ve been doing the right things. It’s a good feeling.”

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Sebastian Fundora: ‘It’s good that people are finally noticing (my ability)’

Sebastian Fundora: “It’s good that people are finally noticing (my ability)”

Sebastian Fundora has officially transitioned from physical freak to legitimate title contender.

That became obvious in “The Towering Inferno’s” most recent fight, a sensational ninth-round knockout of respected Erickson Lubin that showcased both the 24-year-old’s ability and toughness this past April in Las Vegas.

Fundora (19-0-1, 13 KOs) put Lubin down in Round 2, took a knee under a barrage of punches himself in Round 7 and rebounded to record a knockout and career-defining victory two rounds later.

The WBC’s No. 1 contender is scheduled to fight Carlos Ocampo on Oct. 8 in Carson, California (Showtime).

“I just think it cemented me in the Top 10, Top 5 fighters [in the division],” Fundora told Boxing Junkie. “Was it a break through victory? Yes, yes. That makes sense. They put another elite fighter in front of us and we’re doing the same thing over and over again.

“I feel the fans are now looking at us like we have talent, that it’s not only our height we rely on. It’s good that people are finally noticing.”

The most telling moment might’ve come in Round 7, when a barrage of punches from Lubin forced Fundora to accept a knockdown.

Fundora acknowledged that he was in trouble, which is why he took matters into his own hands by taking a break. His ability to survive that test of his resilience and then turn the tables underscored his toughness and fighting spirit.

“I just used my mind to win the fight,” he said. “… I was hit with a punch that I didn’t like too much. All I could do was take a knee; you can always do that. … I just took it upon myself to get up and finish the fight.”

Ocampo (34-1, 22 KOs) is a solid opponent. The Mexican, ranked No. 13 by the WBC, lost his biggest fight when he was stopped in one round by welterweight titleholder Errol Spence Jr. in 2018 but he has won 12 in a row since.

Fundora considers him a threat, saying, “He’s a very dangerous fighter, another ranked fighter, with only one loss. And I’m pretty sure he’s very hungry.”

That said, Ocampo should be a mere stepping stone to Fundora’s ultimate goal: to fight for a world title. That means he has undisputed champion Jermell Charlo in his sights, although there’s no telling when he might get that fight or whether Charlo will stay at 154.

Fundora’s plan is to continue to win until he finally gets his opportunity, however that looks.

“I’m the WBC mandatory for a reason,” he said. “… When I get the chance, I’ll definitely take it. It feels great. It feels like all the hard work is paying, that I’ve been doing the right things. It’s a good feeling.”

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10 best performances of 2022 … so far

Boxing fans have been blessed by a series of outstanding performances in the first half of 2022, which ends at midnight on Thursday. Boxing Junkie painstakingly went through results day by day since the start of the year to determine the best of the …

Boxing fans have been blessed by a series of outstanding performances in the first half of 2022, which ends at midnight on Thursday.

Boxing Junkie painstakingly went through results day by day since the start of the year to determine the best of the best. And we came up with what we feel are the 10 top performances so far.

Here they are, in reverse order.

10 best performances of 2022 … so far

Boxing fans have been blessed by a series of outstanding performances in the first half of 2022, which ends at midnight on Thursday. Boxing Junkie painstakingly went through results day by day since the start of the year to determine the best of the …

Boxing fans have been blessed by a series of outstanding performances in the first half of 2022, which ends at midnight on Thursday.

Boxing Junkie painstakingly went through results day by day since the start of the year to determine the best of the best. And we came up with what we feel are the 10 top performances so far.

Here they are, in reverse order.