David Benavidez vs. Kyrone Davis: date, time, how to watch, background.
FORMER TWO-TIME SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLEHOLDER dAVID BENAVIDEZ RETURNS TO THE RING AGAINST KYRONE DAVIS SATURDAY ON SHOWTIME.
***
DAVID BENAVIDEZ (24-0, 21 KOs) VS. KYRONE DAVIS (16-2-1, 6 KOs)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 13
Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix
TV/Stream: Showtime
Division: Super middleweight
At stake: No titles
Pound-for-pound ranking: None
Odds: NA
Also on the card: Jose Benavidez Jr. vs. Francisco Emanuel Torres, junior middleweights
Prediction: Benavidez KO 7
Background: Benavidez was supposed to have fought rugged Jose Uzcategui in front of his hometown fans but the Venezuelan was pulled from the card after allegedly testing positive for a banned substance. Davis stepped in two weeks before the fight. Benavidez saw his second reign as a 168-pound titleholder end on the scale before his meeting with Roamer Alexis Angulo in August of last year, a fight he won by 10th-round stoppage. He followed that with an 11th-round knockout of Ronald Ellis in March, his fourth consecutive stoppage. He is a candidate to challenge Canelo Alvarez for the undisputed championship next May if he can win on Saturday. Davis, once an amateur standout, is a good boxer with limited punching power. The Delawarean enhanced his reputation by drawing with former two-time super middleweight titleholder Anthony Dirrell this past February, which made him a credible potential opponent for the top 168-pounders. He followed up with a unanimous eight-round decision over Martez McGregor in September, a fight in which Davis struggled.
Gabriel Rosado said during a media workout that he’s having a blast. And why not? The Philadelphian, known primarily as a willing, but limited foil for elite opponents, stunned the boxing world by rising from a knockdown to stop hot prospect …
Gabriel Rosado said during a media workout that he’s having a blast.
And why not? The Philadelphian, known primarily as a willing, but limited foil for elite opponents, stunned the boxing world by rising from a knockdown to stop hot prospect Bektemir Melikuziev in the third round this past June.
As a result, he earned added respect and a fight with unbeaten middleweight contender Jaime Munguia on Saturday in Anaheim, California (DAZN).
“I feel like, right now, it’s the most fun I have ever had in my career,” he said. “On Saturday, November 13th, the people will see the best Gabe Rosado and I am excited to display my skills to the world.”
Of course, Rosado faces a significant challenge in Munguia (37-0, 30 KOs). The 25-year-old Mexican is a former junior middleweight titleholder with skill and the punching power to stop anyone, as his 30 knockouts indicate.
Can Rosado stand up to what Munguia will throw at him?
Of his 13 losses, four have come by stoppage against big punchers Alfredo Angulo, Gennadiy Golovkin, Peter Quillin and David Lemieux. And he hasn’t been knocked out since 2014, seven years ago.
If nothing else, Rosado has been in the position many times in the past.
“I think Munguia is going to bring it,” he said. “I am more focused on the job that I have to do. This is not an unfamiliar situation for me. I think this is where experience comes into play for me. My experience tells me that fighters like Munguia will come to me. I will not need to chase him.
“He will be right there, and I have to make my shots count.”
Meanwhile, Munguia, coming off a sixth-round knockout of Kamil Szeremeta on the same card Rosado stopped Melikuziev, is taking nothing for granted. He knows he’ll be in the ring with a rough character.
“I know that Rosado is coming off a great fight, a great knockout and has a lot of experience,” he said. “I know I have to be careful but I have faith in my training and I am confident that I will be victorious on Saturday.
“… “I know on Saturday I have to keep my distance and apply pressure where I need to. I need to make sure I dominate the action in the ring.”
Gabriel Rosado said during a media workout that he’s having a blast. And why not? The Philadelphian, known primarily as a willing, but limited foil for elite opponents, stunned the boxing world by rising from a knockdown to stop hot prospect …
Gabriel Rosado said during a media workout that he’s having a blast.
And why not? The Philadelphian, known primarily as a willing, but limited foil for elite opponents, stunned the boxing world by rising from a knockdown to stop hot prospect Bektemir Melikuziev in the third round this past June.
As a result, he earned added respect and a fight with unbeaten middleweight contender Jaime Munguia on Saturday in Anaheim, California (DAZN).
“I feel like, right now, it’s the most fun I have ever had in my career,” he said. “On Saturday, November 13th, the people will see the best Gabe Rosado and I am excited to display my skills to the world.”
Of course, Rosado faces a significant challenge in Munguia (37-0, 30 KOs). The 25-year-old Mexican is a former junior middleweight titleholder with skill and the punching power to stop anyone, as his 30 knockouts indicate.
Can Rosado stand up to what Munguia will throw at him?
Of his 13 losses, four have come by stoppage against big punchers Alfredo Angulo, Gennadiy Golovkin, Peter Quillin and David Lemieux. And he hasn’t been knocked out since 2014, seven years ago.
If nothing else, Rosado has been in the position many times in the past.
“I think Munguia is going to bring it,” he said. “I am more focused on the job that I have to do. This is not an unfamiliar situation for me. I think this is where experience comes into play for me. My experience tells me that fighters like Munguia will come to me. I will not need to chase him.
“He will be right there, and I have to make my shots count.”
Meanwhile, Munguia, coming off a sixth-round knockout of Kamil Szeremeta on the same card Rosado stopped Melikuziev, is taking nothing for granted. He knows he’ll be in the ring with a rough character.
“I know that Rosado is coming off a great fight, a great knockout and has a lot of experience,” he said. “I know I have to be careful but I have faith in my training and I am confident that I will be victorious on Saturday.
“… “I know on Saturday I have to keep my distance and apply pressure where I need to. I need to make sure I dominate the action in the ring.”
Fight Week: Jaime Munguia and David Benavidez are scheduled to make their returns on Saturday.
FIGHT WEEK
JAIME MUNGUIA WILL FACE GABRIEL ROSADO SATURDAY AS HE CONTINUES HIS PURSUIT OF A MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE SHOT. ON THE SAME NIGHT, DAVID BENAVIDEZ RETURNS AGAINST KYRONE DAVIS.
***
JAIME MUNGUIA (37-0, 30 KOs) VS. GABRIEL ROSADO (26-13-1, 15 KOs)
Odds: Munguia 7½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Alexis Rocha vs. Jeovanis Barraza, welterweights; D’Mitrus Ballard vs. Paul Valenzuela Jr., middleweights; William Zepeda vs. John Moralde, lightweights; Arley Muncino vs. Jackie Calvo, flyweights
Prediction: Munguia KO 10
Background: Munguia, a former 154-pound titleholder, will be fighting at 160 for the fourth time as the slugging Mexican pursues a shot at another major belt. He has stopped four consecutive opponents since a majority decision over Dennis Hogan in April 2019, including a sixth-round stoppage of Kamil Szeremeta this past June. Munguia is ranked No. 1 by both the WBC (Jermall Charlo is champion) and WBO (Demetrius Andrade), which means an opportunity to become a two-division beltholder should be on the horizon if he continues to win. Rosado, a tough, but limited boxer-puncher, has fallen short against his best opponents but he stunned the boxing world by rising from a knockdown to stop unbeaten prospect Bektemir Melikuziev in three rounds on the Munguia-Szeremeta card. That victory helped him land in the main event on a significant card. Rosado is a significant underdog for a reason – Munguia is a better all-around fighter – but the Philadelphian always comes to fight, which gives him a chance to have his hand raised. He’s coming back down to 160 after three fights at 168,
DAVID BENAVIDEZ (24-0, 21 KOs) VS. KYRONE DAVIS (16-2-1, 6 KOs)
When: Saturday, Nov. 13
Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix
TV/Stream: Showtime
Division: Super middleweight
At stake: No titles
Pound-for-pound ranking: None
Odds: NA
Also on the card: Jose Benavidez Jr. vs. Francisco Emanuel Torres, junior middleweights
Prediction: Benavidez KO 7
Background: Benavidez was supposed to have fought rugged Jose Uzcategui in front of his hometown fans but the Venezuelan was pulled from the card after allegedly testing positive for a banned substance. Davis stepped in two weeks before the fight. Benavidez saw his second reign as a 168-pound titleholder end on the scale before his meeting with Roamer Alexis Angulo in August of last year, a fight he won by 10th-round stoppage. He followed that with an 11th-round knockout of Ronald Ellis in March, his fourth consecutive stoppage. He is a candidate to challenge Canelo Alvarez for the undisputed championship next May if he can win on Saturday. Davis, once an amateur standout, is a good boxer with limited punching power. The Delawarean enhanced his reputation by drawing with former two-time super middleweight titleholder Anthony Dirrell this past February, which made him a credible potential opponent for the top 168-pounders. He followed up with a unanimous eight-round decision over Martez McGregor in September, a fight in which Davis struggled.
Odds: Galahad 10-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Terri Harper vs. Alycia Baumgardner, junior lightweights (for Harper’s WBC title); Chris Billam-Smith vs. Dylan Bregeon, cruiserweights; James Flint vs. Dom Hunt, junior welterweights
Prediction: Galahad UD
Background: Galahad came close to winning his first world title when he lost a split decision to then-IBF 126-pound titleholder Josh Warrington in June 2019. Two years later, this past August, he stopped Jazza Dickens in 11 rounds to capture the same title (which Warrington had vacated). Galahad, whose real name is Abdul Bari Awad, was born in Qatar but grew up in Sheffield. The 31-year-old was out of boxing for about a year and half, between 2014 and 2016, as the result of a doping suspension. Martinez has remarkable staying power. The 35-year-old Spaniard, a 122-pound beltholder in 2013-14, has been fighting on an elite level for more than a decade. He received this title shot in part because of his strong performance against 130-pound contender Zelfa Barrett in February. Barrett was awarded a unanimous decision but many believe Martinez deserved the nod. He followed that disappointment with a wide decision over Jayro Duran in September. Martinez is 3-4 in world title fights.
Also fighting this weekend: Thomas Patrick Ward (30-0-1, 4 KOs) of England faces fellow featherweight contender Leonardo Padilla (20-3, 14 KOs) of Venezuela in a scheduled 10-rounder in Houghton-le-Spring, England (ESPN+).
Fight Week: Jaime Munguia and David Benavidez are scheduled to make their returns on Saturday.
FIGHT WEEK
JAIME MUNGUIA WILL FACE GABRIEL ROSADO SATURDAY AS HE CONTINUES HIS PURSUIT OF A MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE SHOT. ON THE SAME NIGHT, DAVID BENAVIDEZ RETURNS AGAINST KYRONE DAVIS.
***
JAIME MUNGUIA (37-0, 30 KOs) VS. GABRIEL ROSADO (26-13-1, 15 KOs)
Odds: Munguia 7½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Alexis Rocha vs. Jeovanis Barraza, welterweights; D’Mitrus Ballard vs. Paul Valenzuela Jr., middleweights; William Zepeda vs. John Moralde, lightweights; Arley Muncino vs. Jackie Calvo, flyweights
Prediction: Munguia KO 10
Background: Munguia, a former 154-pound titleholder, will be fighting at 160 for the fourth time as the slugging Mexican pursues a shot at another major belt. He has stopped four consecutive opponents since a majority decision over Dennis Hogan in April 2019, including a sixth-round stoppage of Kamil Szeremeta this past June. Munguia is ranked No. 1 by both the WBC (Jermall Charlo is champion) and WBO (Demetrius Andrade), which means an opportunity to become a two-division beltholder should be on the horizon if he continues to win. Rosado, a tough, but limited boxer-puncher, has fallen short against his best opponents but he stunned the boxing world by rising from a knockdown to stop unbeaten prospect Bektemir Melikuziev in three rounds on the Munguia-Szeremeta card. That victory helped him land in the main event on a significant card. Rosado is a significant underdog for a reason – Munguia is a better all-around fighter – but the Philadelphian always comes to fight, which gives him a chance to have his hand raised. He’s coming back down to 160 after three fights at 168,
DAVID BENAVIDEZ (24-0, 21 KOs) VS. KYRONE DAVIS (16-2-1, 6 KOs)
When: Saturday, Nov. 13
Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix
TV/Stream: Showtime
Division: Super middleweight
At stake: No titles
Pound-for-pound ranking: None
Odds: NA
Also on the card: Jose Benavidez Jr. vs. Francisco Emanuel Torres, junior middleweights
Prediction: Benavidez KO 7
Background: Benavidez was supposed to have fought rugged Jose Uzcategui in front of his hometown fans but the Venezuelan was pulled from the card after allegedly testing positive for a banned substance. Davis stepped in two weeks before the fight. Benavidez saw his second reign as a 168-pound titleholder end on the scale before his meeting with Roamer Alexis Angulo in August of last year, a fight he won by 10th-round stoppage. He followed that with an 11th-round knockout of Ronald Ellis in March, his fourth consecutive stoppage. He is a candidate to challenge Canelo Alvarez for the undisputed championship next May if he can win on Saturday. Davis, once an amateur standout, is a good boxer with limited punching power. The Delawarean enhanced his reputation by drawing with former two-time super middleweight titleholder Anthony Dirrell this past February, which made him a credible potential opponent for the top 168-pounders. He followed up with a unanimous eight-round decision over Martez McGregor in September, a fight in which Davis struggled.
Odds: Galahad 10-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Terri Harper vs. Alycia Baumgardner, junior lightweights (for Harper’s WBC title); Chris Billam-Smith vs. Dylan Bregeon, cruiserweights; James Flint vs. Dom Hunt, junior welterweights
Prediction: Galahad UD
Background: Galahad came close to winning his first world title when he lost a split decision to then-IBF 126-pound titleholder Josh Warrington in June 2019. Two years later, this past August, he stopped Jazza Dickens in 11 rounds to capture the same title (which Warrington had vacated). Galahad, whose real name is Abdul Bari Awad, was born in Qatar but grew up in Sheffield. The 31-year-old was out of boxing for about a year and half, between 2014 and 2016, as the result of a doping suspension. Martinez has remarkable staying power. The 35-year-old Spaniard, a 122-pound beltholder in 2013-14, has been fighting on an elite level for more than a decade. He received this title shot in part because of his strong performance against 130-pound contender Zelfa Barrett in February. Barrett was awarded a unanimous decision but many believe Martinez deserved the nod. He followed that disappointment with a wide decision over Jayro Duran in September. Martinez is 3-4 in world title fights.
Also fighting this weekend: Thomas Patrick Ward (30-0-1, 4 KOs) of England faces fellow featherweight contender Leonardo Padilla (20-3, 14 KOs) of Venezuela in a scheduled 10-rounder in Houghton-le-Spring, England (ESPN+).
Middleweight contender Jaime Munguia knocked out overmatched Kamil Szeremeta in six rounds Saturday in El Paso, Texas.
Jaime Munguia committed legal assault on Saturday afternoon in El Paso, Texas.
The 24-year-old Mexican pounded game, but overmatched Kamil Szeremeta for almost all of six rounds of a scheduled 12-round middleweight bout, after which the Polish fighter made it clear to the referee that he could take no more.
Szeremeta (21-2, 5 KOs) took the fight on late notice after Maciej Sulecki pulled out and gave a courageous effort. He just didn’t have the tools — the ability, the power and ultimately the durability — to cope with Munguia’s impressive offensive arsenal.
Munguia (37-0, 30 KOs) threw and landed almost every punch ever invented, including many particularly hard ones to the body. Szeremeta, who guarded his face with his hands the entire fight, blocked some and landed his own punches here and there.
However, Munguia landed more and more punishing blows as the fight progressed, which wore Szeremeta down.
By the sixth and final round, referee Rafael Ramos obviously was watching Szeremeta closely and considered stepping in but he waited until the end of the round. Ramos approached Szeremeta as he sat on his stool, asked if he was OK, got his answer and waved off the fight.
Munguia can say he stopped Szeremeta one round earlier than 160-pound titleholder Gennadiy Golovkin did, although Triple-G put the Pole down four times.
The former 154-pound titleholder from Tijuana, trained by Erik Morales, said afterward that he hopes to get a shot at a middleweight title before the end of the year or face Gabriel Rosado, who stopped Bektemir Melikuziev earlier on the card.
He definitely took a step in that direction on Saturday.
Middleweight contender Jaime Munguia knocked out overmatched Kamil Szeremeta in six rounds Saturday in El Paso, Texas.
Jaime Munguia committed legal assault on Saturday afternoon in El Paso, Texas.
The 24-year-old Mexican pounded game, but overmatched Kamil Szeremeta for almost all of six rounds of a scheduled 12-round middleweight bout, after which the Polish fighter made it clear to the referee that he could take no more.
Szeremeta (21-2, 5 KOs) took the fight on late notice after Maciej Sulecki pulled out and gave a courageous effort. He just didn’t have the tools — the ability, the power and ultimately the durability — to cope with Munguia’s impressive offensive arsenal.
Munguia (37-0, 30 KOs) threw and landed almost every punch ever invented, including many particularly hard ones to the body. Szeremeta, who guarded his face with his hands the entire fight, blocked some and landed his own punches here and there.
However, Munguia landed more and more punishing blows as the fight progressed, which wore Szeremeta down.
By the sixth and final round, referee Rafael Ramos obviously was watching Szeremeta closely and considered stepping in but he waited until the end of the round. Ramos approached Szeremeta as he sat on his stool, asked if he was OK, got his answer and waved off the fight.
Munguia can say he stopped Szeremeta one round earlier than 160-pound titleholder Gennadiy Golovkin did, although Triple-G put the Pole down four times.
The former 154-pound titleholder from Tijuana, trained by Erik Morales, said afterward that he hopes to get a shot at a middleweight title before the end of the year or face Gabriel Rosado, who stopped Bektemir Melikuziev earlier on the card.
He definitely took a step in that direction on Saturday.
Gabriel Rosado scored a stunning third-round knockout of Bektemir Melikuziev on Saturday in El Paso, Texas.
Gabriel Rosado finally had his big moment on the Jaime Munguia-Kamil Szeremeta card Saturday in El Paso, Texas.
The 35-year-old veteran, known primarily as a tough, but hard-luck opponent, knocked out former amateur star Bektemir Melikuziev with a single right hand in the third round and he couldn’t recover.
Melikuziev, in control from the outset, had put Rosado down in Round 1 and battered his veteran foe to the body much of two-plus rounds. It seemed as if Rosado couldn’t handle his power.
Then, in an instant, the opposite turned out to be the case. Melikuziev (7-1, 6 KOs) walked into an overhand counter that put him flat on his face and hurt him badly.
The 25-year-old made an effort to get up but had no chance of doing so successfully and the referee stopped the fight.
The official time of the stoppage was 1:21 of Round 3.
Rosado (26-13-1, 15 KOs) figured to be a stepping stone for Melikuziev, who had been a fast-rising young star. After all, Rosado had come up short in his big fights and was only 2-1-4 in his last seven outings.
No one ever questioned Rosado’s resilience and determination, though. And it paid off on Saturday.
Now, with a victory over a hot prospect, Rosado is in position to get yet another big fight. He called out Munguia after the fight, assuming that the Mexican would emerge victorious.
Evidently, anything is possible when it comes to Rosado.
Gabriel Rosado scored a stunning third-round knockout of Bektemir Melikuziev on Saturday in El Paso, Texas.
Gabriel Rosado finally had his big moment on the Jaime Munguia-Kamil Szeremeta card Saturday in El Paso, Texas.
The 35-year-old veteran, known primarily as a tough, but hard-luck opponent, knocked out former amateur star Bektemir Melikuziev with a single right hand in the third round and he couldn’t recover.
Melikuziev, in control from the outset, had put Rosado down in Round 1 and battered his veteran foe to the body much of two-plus rounds. It seemed as if Rosado couldn’t handle his power.
Then, in an instant, the opposite turned out to be the case. Melikuziev (7-1, 6 KOs) walked into an overhand counter that put him flat on his face and hurt him badly.
The 25-year-old made an effort to get up but had no chance of doing so successfully and the referee stopped the fight.
The official time of the stoppage was 1:21 of Round 3.
Rosado (26-13-1, 15 KOs) figured to be a stepping stone for Melikuziev, who had been a fast-rising young star. After all, Rosado had come up short in his big fights and was only 2-1-4 in his last seven outings.
No one ever questioned Rosado’s resilience and determination, though. And it paid off on Saturday.
Now, with a victory over a hot prospect, Rosado is in position to get yet another big fight. He called out Munguia after the fight, assuming that the Mexican would emerge victorious.
Evidently, anything is possible when it comes to Rosado.
The Mike Tyson-Roy Jones Jr. exhibition was mildly entertaining, which was a pleasant surprise.
A critical look at the past week in boxing
GOOD
Snoop Dogg was refreshing and entertaining as a guest commentator. Joe Scarnici / Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports
No one got hurt. And it was mildly entertaining. Not a bad night for Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr., as well as those who paid to watch them.
I wasn’t looking forward to the exhibition even a little bit but I had to watch it because I do this. I was around when Tyson regained the heavyweight championship and Jones was the best fighter on the planet, which were special times. The geezers we saw on Saturday in Los Angeles were different people.
Tyson, 54, looked a little like the Tyson of old, physically imposing, kind of quick for an old guy. Jones, 51, was less the fighter of old, although he showed flashes of the sublime athlete he once was.
In the end, it was the equivalent of a baseball old-timers game, a unusual opportunity to watch one-time heroes do their thing just one more time, which isn’t so bad.
Tyson says he plans to do it again. That’s fine if he and his dance partner fight as he and Jones fought on Saturday, throwing a few punches, holding more than would normally be tolerated, not trying to kill each other and generally having a little fun over eight two-minute rounds.
And we won’t have to endure the same level of pre-fight hype, as the novelty of Tyson returning to the ring will have worn off. That’s a good thing.
Honestly, I dread the thought of having to watch another old-boxers game — if any sport is for the young, it’s this one — but, hey, to be honest, I’ve seen worse fights.
A few more observations …
I was a little disappointed at Jones’ conditioning. He was gassed before the first round was over, which told me that he put in the bare-minimum effort in the months leading up to the fight. If you’re going to do this, do it right.
I also have to applaud the production, which was avant-garde (swearing? pot smoking?) but entertaining. The marriage of hip-hop and boxing worked well. And guest commentator Snoop Dogg was brilliant, serving up some legitimate observations but mostly refreshing comedy.
I rarely laugh at the corny jokes of boxing broadcasters but I LOL’d when Snoop said as the main event got underway, “This s— is like two of my uncles fighting at the barbeque.” And his singing when Robinson went down the second time was hilarious.
Someone needs to hire that guy to do more work as a boxing commentator.
All it all, Tyson-Jones was fun.
***
BAD
Daniel Jacobs (left) simply didn’t bring any passion into the ring. Ed Mulholland / Matchroom Boxing
Daniel Jacobs on Friday gave one of the more curious efforts in recent memory.
On paper, his super middleweight fight against Gabriel Rosado was a mismatch. Jacobs is seen as a refined, experienced former middleweight champion with power while Rosado is known more for his toughness than his ability.
That’s not how it played out. Jacobs, as flat as he has ever looked, sleepwalked his way to a split-decision victory that easily could’ve gone the other way behind closed doors at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
What the hell happened?
Jacobs provided a hint in his post-fight interview, saying the fight felt like a sparring session. And it’s hard to get up for a sparring session, especially against an opponent you know isn’t in your league.
Jacobs evidently felt that all he had to do was show up and he’d win. He turned out to be right – barely. Rosado isn’t a star but he’s a solid, durable fighter who can cause trouble if given the opportunity, as we saw on Friday.
I was surprised by Jacobs’ performance. One, I thought of him as a disciplined professional who would never give less than his best. And, two, there was a lot at stake for him. He had to win to set up big-money fights next year.
Everyone has off nights. And the fact it happened during these strange times makes it somewhat more understandable. Still, I thought it was appropriate that Jacobs apologized after the fight.
“I apologize to all the fans who expected a more [entertaining] fight,” he said.
Apology accepted. Don’t let it happen again.
***
WORSE
Nate Robinson might want to rethink his foray into boxing. Joe Scarnici / Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports
It’s easy to joke about the fate of Nate Robinson on the Tyson-Jones card.
The former NBA player talked a good game before his celebrity fight against YouTube personality Jake Paul but fell flat on his face – literally – after the bell rang to start their amateurish cruiserweight fight.
Paul is a crude boxer who had fought only once before Saturday but he has spent quite a bit of time in the gym. He’s gaining an idea of how things work in this sport. Robinson? Clueless.
The one-time slam dunk contest champion, who supposedly has learned the basics, seemed to be overwhelmed by the moment. He swung wildly and then rushing toward Paul, holding on to him for dear life. Paul was poised and savvy enough to wait for opportunities and thenpounced when they presented themselves.
He put Robinson down three times with right hands, the last of which knocked him flat on his face and ended the fight in the second round.
For Paul, it was a great night. He seems to be serious about boxing and made a strong impression. For Robinson, a once-elite athlete, it was nothing short of an embarrassment.
I don’t want to criticize California officials for licensing Robinson or sanctioning the fight. Many athletes from other sports have given boxing a try, usually with little to no success. Robinson won’t be the last, unfortunately.
That said, if Robinson had been seriously injured – and he could’ve been – you could be sure that authorities would rethink their approach to celebrity matchups. Maybe they should count their blessings and do so anyway.
