Tag: Jessica McCaskill

Good, bad, worse: Dmitry Bivol, David Morrell give virtuoso performances

A critical look at the past week in boxing GOOD The fans were spoiled on Saturday night. They received not one, but two unusually fine performances in venues separated by around 7,000 miles, first by 175-pound titleholder Dmitry Bivol in the United …

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

The fans were spoiled on Saturday night.

They received not one, but two unusually fine performances in venues separated by around 7,000 miles, first by 175-pound titleholder Dmitry Bivol in the United Arab Emirates and then by 168-pound contender David Morrell in Minneapolis

Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) reminded us of how he was able to upset Canelo Alvarez in May, outclassing a good, previously unbeaten opponent in Gilberto Ramirez to win a wide decision and set up another big fight.

Ramirez (44-1, 30 KOs) was competitive for the first four rounds. Then, after Bivol settled into the fight, he toyed with the former 168-pound champion the rest of the way to win a wide unanimous decision and underscore the perception that he’s one of the best pure boxers on the planet.

Bivol’s defensive performance was particularly striking: Ramirez landed only 12.2% of his punches, according to CompuBox. No one is harder to hit.

What’s next?

He wants to fight countryman Artur Beterbiev for the undisputed light heavyweight championship. If that doesn’t happen – and it probably won’t because of a prior commitment – he’d happily settle for a rematch with Alvarez.

Neither of those fights is easy but I’d pick Bivol to win both. He’s the best among those three … maybe the best, period.

Morrell (8-0, 7 KOs) demonstrated in his 12th-round knockout of Aidos Yerbossynuly (16-1, 11 KOs) why he’s going to be a handful for the top super middleweights and eventually light heavyweights.

Find a weakness. The Cuban defector is naturally gifted, has polished skills, has punching power and appears to have a good chin. On Saturday, he outclassed a good, rugged opponent, beat him up and then brutally knocked him out.

The fans in his adopted hometown loved every minute of it. The rest of us just nodded in appreciation.

Morrell appears to be special.

 

BAD

Bivol suggested after his victory on Saturday that he’s open to moving down to 168 pounds to challenge for Alvarez’s undisputed championship after outpointing Alvarez at 175 in their first fight.

Let’s hope he doesn’t do it.

It’s one thing to move up a division, as Alvarez did in May. It’s another to shed weight, which can leave a fighter depleted and create a significant advantage for his opponent. And that’s the last thing you want if you’re facing a future Hall of Famer.

Bivol has fought as a light heavyweight his entire eight-year professional career. As he said, “I’m a light heavyweight. This is my weight.”

He needs to remember that. And so does Alvarez.

If the Mexican star wants to turn the tables on Bivol, he needs to do it against a Bivol who is at full strength. That would be at 175 pounds, not 168 or a catch weight. Otherwise a victory in the rematch wouldn’t mean nearly as much.

And Alvarez has had success at 175. He stopped a still-competent Sergey Kovalev to win a light heavyweight title in 2019. A size disadvantage wasn’t an insurmountable obstacle on that night. And there’s no reason it should be in a second fight with Bivol.

Indeed, the first meeting was more about ability than size. That would also be the case in a rematch.

It has to take place at 175 pounds.

 

WORSE

Bivol, Morrell and the fans will have to wait for the fights they want.

Bivol is choosing legacy over money when he says that he’d prefer to fight Beterbiev over a rematch with Alvarez in his next fight. You have to think Beterbiev also wants that fight. And, of course, the fans would love to see a matchup between the boxing wizard and the knockout artist.

Instead, it appears that Beterbiev will defend his three belts against mandatory challenger Anthony Yarde early next year.

That’s unfortunate for the fans. Beterbiev-Yarde is mismatch. Yarde has power but he doesn’t have the skill set to compete with a fighter with the ability and experience of Beterbiev, who almost certainly would dominate and ultimately stop Yarde. Knockouts are always fun to watch but I’d rather see a competitive fight.

Bivol will probably fight Beterbiev at some point. The question is when.

He could face Alvarez a second time in May, when the Mexican normally fights. Then, if things go well for Bivol and Beterbiev defeats Yarde, the Russians could meet in the fall.

That seems to be the best case scenario for Bivol.

Meanwhile, Morrell left little doubt on Saturday that he’s ready to challenge one of the top 168-pounders. He would like to face former two-time titleholder David Benavidez next.

However, Benavidez appears headed toward a long-awaited showdown with Caleb Plant. Benavidez-Plant is a much better matchup than Beterbiev-Yarde, particularly after Plant’s one-punch knockout of Anthony Dirrell last month.

It’s just not as good as Benavidez-Morrell, which now seems to be the ultimate 168-pound matchup not involving Alvarez. Why? Because Morrell is a bigger threat to Benavidez than Plant is.

Benavidez-Morrell also could happen next year if Benavidez defeats Plant and Morrell wins an interim fight, which will probably happen.

We just have to be patient.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

Jeison Rosario (23-4-1, 17 KOs) turned out to be a one-hit wonder. The Dominican made a big splash when he stopped talented Julian Williams to win two 154-pound belts in 2020. It has been down hill for him since. He was stopped by Jermell Charlo and Erickson Lubin in his next two fights, beat three journeymen in his native country and then was stopped by Brian Mendoza (21-2, 15 KOs) in five rounds on the Morrell-Yerbossynuly card. Rosario is only 27 but appears to be finished as an elite fighter. … Kudos to Mendoza, who ended the fight with a beautiful right uppercut and follow up left in the fifth round of his first fight at 160 pounds. The victory was a break through for the Albuquerque product, who lost a decision o Jesus Ramos only two fights ago. … Say hello to Fiodor Czerkaszyn. The talented Ukrainian middleweight could be around for a while. Czerkaszyn (21-0, 13 KOs) gave a strong performance on the Morrell-Yerbossynuly card, easily outpointing veteran Nathaniel Gallimore (22-6-1, 17 KOs) in a 10-round bout. The former Muay Thai fighter seems to be a slick, clever boxer with heavy hands and a ton of confidence. It will be interesting to see how he fares at the next level. … Undisputed 147-pound champion Jessica McCaskill (12-3, 5 KOs) looked awful for most of her fight against 140-pound titleholder Chantelle Cameron (17-0, 8 KOs) on the Bivol-Ramirez card, losing a wide decision. Maybe the two-timer conqueror of Cecilia Braekhus had trouble moving down in weight. Maybe a collision of heads early in the fight affected her. Maybe Cameron is just significantly better than she is. Whatever the reason, McCaskill had a bad night. She might have a chance to redeem herself. Cameron said afterward that she’d like to move up to 147 to challenge for McCaskill’s titles in that division.

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Good, bad, worse: Dmitry Bivol, David Morrell give virtuoso performances

A critical look at the past week in boxing GOOD The fans were spoiled on Saturday night. They received not one, but two unusually fine performances in venues separated by around 7,000 miles, first by 175-pound titleholder Dmitry Bivol in the United …

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

The fans were spoiled on Saturday night.

They received not one, but two unusually fine performances in venues separated by around 7,000 miles, first by 175-pound titleholder Dmitry Bivol in the United Arab Emirates and then by 168-pound contender David Morrell in Minneapolis

Bivol (21-0, 11 KOs) reminded us of how he was able to upset Canelo Alvarez in May, outclassing a good, previously unbeaten opponent in Gilberto Ramirez to win a wide decision and set up another big fight.

Ramirez (44-1, 30 KOs) was competitive for the first four rounds. Then, after Bivol settled into the fight, he toyed with the former 168-pound champion the rest of the way to win a wide unanimous decision and underscore the perception that he’s one of the best pure boxers on the planet.

Bivol’s defensive performance was particularly striking: Ramirez landed only 12.2% of his punches, according to CompuBox. No one is harder to hit.

What’s next?

He wants to fight countryman Artur Beterbiev for the undisputed light heavyweight championship. If that doesn’t happen – and it probably won’t because of a prior commitment – he’d happily settle for a rematch with Alvarez.

Neither of those fights is easy but I’d pick Bivol to win both. He’s the best among those three … maybe the best, period.

Morrell (8-0, 7 KOs) demonstrated in his 12th-round knockout of Aidos Yerbossynuly (16-1, 11 KOs) why he’s going to be a handful for the top super middleweights and eventually light heavyweights.

Find a weakness. The Cuban defector is naturally gifted, has polished skills, has punching power and appears to have a good chin. On Saturday, he outclassed a good, rugged opponent, beat him up and then brutally knocked him out.

The fans in his adopted hometown loved every minute of it. The rest of us just nodded in appreciation.

Morrell appears to be special.

 

BAD

Bivol suggested after his victory on Saturday that he’s open to moving down to 168 pounds to challenge for Alvarez’s undisputed championship after outpointing Alvarez at 175 in their first fight.

Let’s hope he doesn’t do it.

It’s one thing to move up a division, as Alvarez did in May. It’s another to shed weight, which can leave a fighter depleted and create a significant advantage for his opponent. And that’s the last thing you want if you’re facing a future Hall of Famer.

Bivol has fought as a light heavyweight his entire eight-year professional career. As he said, “I’m a light heavyweight. This is my weight.”

He needs to remember that. And so does Alvarez.

If the Mexican star wants to turn the tables on Bivol, he needs to do it against a Bivol who is at full strength. That would be at 175 pounds, not 168 or a catch weight. Otherwise a victory in the rematch wouldn’t mean nearly as much.

And Alvarez has had success at 175. He stopped a still-competent Sergey Kovalev to win a light heavyweight title in 2019. A size disadvantage wasn’t an insurmountable obstacle on that night. And there’s no reason it should be in a second fight with Bivol.

Indeed, the first meeting was more about ability than size. That would also be the case in a rematch.

It has to take place at 175 pounds.

 

WORSE

Bivol, Morrell and the fans will have to wait for the fights they want.

Bivol is choosing legacy over money when he says that he’d prefer to fight Beterbiev over a rematch with Alvarez in his next fight. You have to think Beterbiev also wants that fight. And, of course, the fans would love to see a matchup between the boxing wizard and the knockout artist.

Instead, it appears that Beterbiev will defend his three belts against mandatory challenger Anthony Yarde early next year.

That’s unfortunate for the fans. Beterbiev-Yarde is mismatch. Yarde has power but he doesn’t have the skill set to compete with a fighter with the ability and experience of Beterbiev, who almost certainly would dominate and ultimately stop Yarde. Knockouts are always fun to watch but I’d rather see a competitive fight.

Bivol will probably fight Beterbiev at some point. The question is when.

He could face Alvarez a second time in May, when the Mexican normally fights. Then, if things go well for Bivol and Beterbiev defeats Yarde, the Russians could meet in the fall.

That seems to be the best case scenario for Bivol.

Meanwhile, Morrell left little doubt on Saturday that he’s ready to challenge one of the top 168-pounders. He would like to face former two-time titleholder David Benavidez next.

However, Benavidez appears headed toward a long-awaited showdown with Caleb Plant. Benavidez-Plant is a much better matchup than Beterbiev-Yarde, particularly after Plant’s one-punch knockout of Anthony Dirrell last month.

It’s just not as good as Benavidez-Morrell, which now seems to be the ultimate 168-pound matchup not involving Alvarez. Why? Because Morrell is a bigger threat to Benavidez than Plant is.

Benavidez-Morrell also could happen next year if Benavidez defeats Plant and Morrell wins an interim fight, which will probably happen.

We just have to be patient.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

Jeison Rosario (23-4-1, 17 KOs) turned out to be a one-hit wonder. The Dominican made a big splash when he stopped talented Julian Williams to win two 154-pound belts in 2020. It has been down hill for him since. He was stopped by Jermell Charlo and Erickson Lubin in his next two fights, beat three journeymen in his native country and then was stopped by Brian Mendoza (21-2, 15 KOs) in five rounds on the Morrell-Yerbossynuly card. Rosario is only 27 but appears to be finished as an elite fighter. … Kudos to Mendoza, who ended the fight with a beautiful right uppercut and follow up left in the fifth round of his first fight at 160 pounds. The victory was a break through for the Albuquerque product, who lost a decision o Jesus Ramos only two fights ago. … Say hello to Fiodor Czerkaszyn. The talented Ukrainian middleweight could be around for a while. Czerkaszyn (21-0, 13 KOs) gave a strong performance on the Morrell-Yerbossynuly card, easily outpointing veteran Nathaniel Gallimore (22-6-1, 17 KOs) in a 10-round bout. The former Muay Thai fighter seems to be a slick, clever boxer with heavy hands and a ton of confidence. It will be interesting to see how he fares at the next level. … Undisputed 147-pound champion Jessica McCaskill (12-3, 5 KOs) looked awful for most of her fight against 140-pound titleholder Chantelle Cameron (17-0, 8 KOs) on the Bivol-Ramirez card, losing a wide decision. Maybe the two-timer conqueror of Cecilia Braekhus had trouble moving down in weight. Maybe a collision of heads early in the fight affected her. Maybe Cameron is just significantly better than she is. Whatever the reason, McCaskill had a bad night. She might have a chance to redeem herself. Cameron said afterward that she’d like to move up to 147 to challenge for McCaskill’s titles in that division.

[lawrence-related id=34067,34060,34013]

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Good, bad, worse: The remarkable emergence of Jesse Rodriguez, Canelo’s ire

Good, bad, worse: The remarkable emergence of Jesse Rodriguez and Canelo’s ire.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

Jesse Rodriquez has said repeatedly that his goal is to be a special fighter, not an average one. Well, there’s nothing average about this boxing savant.

The Texan has made the quantum leap from prospect to star as a result of two remarkable performances this year, a decision over Carlos Cuadras in February and a stunning knockout of Srisaket Sor Rungvisai on Saturday in San Antonio, Rodriguez’s hometown.

Cuadras and Sor Rungvisai have been 115-pound stalwarts for a decade. The naturally smaller Rodriguez not only beat them, he dominated them.

How did this unfold?

Luck played a key role. Rodriguez was scheduled to take part in a 108-pound fight on the Cuadras-Sor Rungvisai card on Feb. 5. When Sor Rungvisai pulled out because of illness, Rodriguez agreed to move up two divisions to 115 on five days’ notice and stunned everyone outside his own circle by winning a wide decision and the WBC’s secondary title.

Rodriguez would’ve have been justified had he moved back down weight. Instead, he made the decision to defend his belt against a powerful puncher who has victories over Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman Gonzalez (twice). The result? Rodriguez outclassed him, baffling the Thai star with his elite technical ability and then taking him out in the eighth round.

Sor Rungvisai hadn’t been stopped since his second pro fight, in 2009. Future Hall of Famers Estrada and  Gonzalez couldn’t do that.

I hesitate to anoint Rodriguez (16-0, 11 KOs) the next great thing because he’s had only 16 pro fights and both Cuadras (33) and Sor Rungvisai (35) are beyond their primes. At the same time, he has aced the eye test and won two important fights back to back.

One person who hasn’t been surprised by the events of the past four-plus months is Robert Garcia, Rodriguez’s veteran trainer.

“Look man, we know what Bam is all about, we know his talent,” Garcia said on a Little Giant Boxing video. “… So when they offered us a fight, I never even doubted that we’d be able to beat him. … At the end, everybody ended up seeing pound-for-pound one of the best in the world. And he’s only 22. He’s a baby.”

A bad ass baby.

 

BAD

Srisaket Sor Rungvisai couldn’t solve Jesse Rodriguez. Ed Mulholland / Matchroom Boxing

One had to feel for Sor Rungvisai (50-6-1, 43 KOs) when it became clear that his mission was impossible on Saturday.

He overcame a 1-3-1 start to his career to become a two-time junior bantamweight champion and a potential Hall of Famer. He lost a technical decision to Cuadras, split two fights with Estrada and has the two victories over “Chocolatito”, the second a brutal fourth-round knockout that lifted him to stardom.

I was at that fight, which took place in what is now Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. I left the arena in awe of Sor Rungvisai, who has rare punching power for a man his size. He, too, was special.

And he seemed to be on track to get a shot at the winner of an anticipated third fight between Estrada (the WBC’s “franchise” champion) and Gonzalez, which could happen later this year. All he had to do was beat Cuadras in February and then wait.

Well, we know what happened. He had to pull out of the Cuadras fight, which opened the door for Rodriguez’s emergence. And then he suffered his most thorough defeat since the early years of his career.

The look on his face between the seventh round, in which he was knocked down, and the eighth said a lot. He seemed to be thinking, “Oh man, what have I gotten myself into here? What do I do?” He was essentially helpless by that point, a beaten man.

That was difficult to see given his enduring place among the top 115-pounders and his pride.

If we’ve seen the last of him, he certainly should be pleased with his career. The two titles, the victories over his rivals, the fact he remained an elite 115-pounder for more than a decade. All that made him one of the greatest Thai fighters of all time, which is saying something given the boxing tradition in that country.

Sor Rungvisai simply ran into a juggernaut on Saturday. In the end, with all his accomplishments, he won’t be judged by this one setback.

 

WORSE

Canelo Alvarez is a sensitive guy.

He didn’t like the fact that Sept. 17 opponent Gennadiy Golovkin called him a drug chat after Alvarez failed a drug test before their second fight in 2018, which resulted in Alvarez’s suspension and delayed the bout.

Alvarez blamed the positive test on tainted meat but athletes are responsible for everything that goes into their bodies, which lends credence to Triple-G’s comments.

They seemed to settle their differences when they shook hands after their second fight but, obviously, that wasn’t the case.

Alvarez didn’t like the fact that Golovkin accused Alvarez of avoiding him after that second meeting, a close points victory for the Mexican that followed a draw the previous year. Golovkin arguably earned a third fight. And Alvarez did fight mostly lesser opponents between 2018 and his loss to Dmitry Bivol in May.

Still, Alvarez called Golovkin an “a—hole” at the kickoff news conference. And he vowed to retire the popular 40-year-old Kazakhstani star by knockout, which was a bit harsh given how competitive their first two fights were and Triple-G’s accomplishments over his decorated career.

Maybe Alvarez is just trying to sell the fight, which might need a nudge given the perception that Golovkin is in decline. Or maybe Alvarez is just revealing thin skin, as Golovkin suggested.

“If he says he still has something against me,” Golovkin said, “… that’s his problem, not mine.”

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

Unified junior featherweight champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev (11-0, 8 KOs) looked sharp in his defense against veteran Ronny Rios on the Rodriguez-Sor Rungvisai undercard, particularly given what he said was a lead-hand injury early in the fight. The southpaw from Uzbekistan outboxed and outworked a good fighter before finally stopping him in the 12th and final round. I don’t think he will beat Stephen Fulton if they meet for all the 122-pound titles but he’s good enough to push his rival. And kudos to Rios (33-4, 16 KOs) on a good career. The Southern California fighter performed on a high level for a long time. … Undisputed welterweight champ Jessica McCaskill (12-2, 5 KOs) isn’t much of a technician but she’s athletic and has good boxing instincts, which has been enough to make her a star in the women’s ranks. She blew out Alma Ibarra (10-2, 5 KOs) of Mexico on the Rodriguez-Sor Rungvisai card, stopping her after three one-sided rounds. McCaskill has come a long way since losing a wide decision to Katie Taylor in 2017. She has won seven in a row since, including two victories over future Hall of Famer Cecilia Braekhus. I hope McCaskill gets the fight she wants, a showdown with 140-pound titleholder Chantelle Cameron. … Skillful featherweight contender Raymond Ford (12-0-1, 6 KOs) easily outpointed Richard Medina (13-1, 7 KOs) in a 10-round bout on the Rodriguez-Sor Rungvisai card. Ford is going to be extremely difficult to beat if he stays focused and avoids firefights. He’s that good when he’s at his best.

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Good, bad, worse: The remarkable emergence of Jesse Rodriguez, Canelo’s ire

Good, bad, worse: The remarkable emergence of Jesse Rodriguez and Canelo’s ire.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

Jesse Rodriquez has said repeatedly that his goal is to be a special fighter, not an average one. Well, there’s nothing average about this boxing savant.

The Texan has made the quantum leap from prospect to star as a result of two remarkable performances this year, a decision over Carlos Cuadras in February and a stunning knockout of Srisaket Sor Rungvisai on Saturday in San Antonio, Rodriguez’s hometown.

Cuadras and Sor Rungvisai have been 115-pound stalwarts for a decade. The naturally smaller Rodriguez not only beat them, he dominated them.

How did this unfold?

Luck played a key role. Rodriguez was scheduled to take part in a 108-pound fight on the Cuadras-Sor Rungvisai card on Feb. 5. When Sor Rungvisai pulled out because of illness, Rodriguez agreed to move up two divisions to 115 on five days’ notice and stunned everyone outside his own circle by winning a wide decision and the WBC’s secondary title.

Rodriguez would’ve have been justified had he moved back down weight. Instead, he made the decision to defend his belt against a powerful puncher who has victories over Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman Gonzalez (twice). The result? Rodriguez outclassed him, baffling the Thai star with his elite technical ability and then taking him out in the eighth round.

Sor Rungvisai hadn’t been stopped since his second pro fight, in 2009. Future Hall of Famers Estrada and  Gonzalez couldn’t do that.

I hesitate to anoint Rodriguez (16-0, 11 KOs) the next great thing because he’s had only 16 pro fights and both Cuadras (33) and Sor Rungvisai (35) are beyond their primes. At the same time, he has aced the eye test and won two important fights back to back.

One person who hasn’t been surprised by the events of the past four-plus months is Robert Garcia, Rodriguez’s veteran trainer.

“Look man, we know what Bam is all about, we know his talent,” Garcia said on a Little Giant Boxing video. “… So when they offered us a fight, I never even doubted that we’d be able to beat him. … At the end, everybody ended up seeing pound-for-pound one of the best in the world. And he’s only 22. He’s a baby.”

A bad ass baby.

 

BAD

Srisaket Sor Rungvisai couldn’t solve Jesse Rodriguez. Ed Mulholland / Matchroom Boxing

One had to feel for Sor Rungvisai (50-6-1, 43 KOs) when it became clear that his mission was impossible on Saturday.

He overcame a 1-3-1 start to his career to become a two-time junior bantamweight champion and a potential Hall of Famer. He lost a technical decision to Cuadras, split two fights with Estrada and has the two victories over “Chocolatito”, the second a brutal fourth-round knockout that lifted him to stardom.

I was at that fight, which took place in what is now Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. I left the arena in awe of Sor Rungvisai, who has rare punching power for a man his size. He, too, was special.

And he seemed to be on track to get a shot at the winner of an anticipated third fight between Estrada (the WBC’s “franchise” champion) and Gonzalez, which could happen later this year. All he had to do was beat Cuadras in February and then wait.

Well, we know what happened. He had to pull out of the Cuadras fight, which opened the door for Rodriguez’s emergence. And then he suffered his most thorough defeat since the early years of his career.

The look on his face between the seventh round, in which he was knocked down, and the eighth said a lot. He seemed to be thinking, “Oh man, what have I gotten myself into here? What do I do?” He was essentially helpless by that point, a beaten man.

That was difficult to see given his enduring place among the top 115-pounders and his pride.

If we’ve seen the last of him, he certainly should be pleased with his career. The two titles, the victories over his rivals, the fact he remained an elite 115-pounder for more than a decade. All that made him one of the greatest Thai fighters of all time, which is saying something given the boxing tradition in that country.

Sor Rungvisai simply ran into a juggernaut on Saturday. In the end, with all his accomplishments, he won’t be judged by this one setback.

 

WORSE

Canelo Alvarez is a sensitive guy.

He didn’t like the fact that Sept. 17 opponent Gennadiy Golovkin called him a drug chat after Alvarez failed a drug test before their second fight in 2018, which resulted in Alvarez’s suspension and delayed the bout.

Alvarez blamed the positive test on tainted meat but athletes are responsible for everything that goes into their bodies, which lends credence to Triple-G’s comments.

They seemed to settle their differences when they shook hands after their second fight but, obviously, that wasn’t the case.

Alvarez didn’t like the fact that Golovkin accused Alvarez of avoiding him after that second meeting, a close points victory for the Mexican that followed a draw the previous year. Golovkin arguably earned a third fight. And Alvarez did fight mostly lesser opponents between 2018 and his loss to Dmitry Bivol in May.

Still, Alvarez called Golovkin an “a—hole” at the kickoff news conference. And he vowed to retire the popular 40-year-old Kazakhstani star by knockout, which was a bit harsh given how competitive their first two fights were and Triple-G’s accomplishments over his decorated career.

Maybe Alvarez is just trying to sell the fight, which might need a nudge given the perception that Golovkin is in decline. Or maybe Alvarez is just revealing thin skin, as Golovkin suggested.

“If he says he still has something against me,” Golovkin said, “… that’s his problem, not mine.”

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

Unified junior featherweight champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev (11-0, 8 KOs) looked sharp in his defense against veteran Ronny Rios on the Rodriguez-Sor Rungvisai undercard, particularly given what he said was a lead-hand injury early in the fight. The southpaw from Uzbekistan outboxed and outworked a good fighter before finally stopping him in the 12th and final round. I don’t think he will beat Stephen Fulton if they meet for all the 122-pound titles but he’s good enough to push his rival. And kudos to Rios (33-4, 16 KOs) on a good career. The Southern California fighter performed on a high level for a long time. … Undisputed welterweight champ Jessica McCaskill (12-2, 5 KOs) isn’t much of a technician but she’s athletic and has good boxing instincts, which has been enough to make her a star in the women’s ranks. She blew out Alma Ibarra (10-2, 5 KOs) of Mexico on the Rodriguez-Sor Rungvisai card, stopping her after three one-sided rounds. McCaskill has come a long way since losing a wide decision to Katie Taylor in 2017. She has won seven in a row since, including two victories over future Hall of Famer Cecilia Braekhus. I hope McCaskill gets the fight she wants, a showdown with 140-pound titleholder Chantelle Cameron. … Skillful featherweight contender Raymond Ford (12-0-1, 6 KOs) easily outpointed Richard Medina (13-1, 7 KOs) in a 10-round bout on the Rodriguez-Sor Rungvisai card. Ford is going to be extremely difficult to beat if he stays focused and avoids firefights. He’s that good when he’s at his best.

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Jessica McCaskill overwhelms Alma Ibarra to earn early stoppage

Welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill overwhelmed Alma Ibarra en route to a knockout after three rounds Saturday in San Antonio.

Jessica McCaskill never gave her challenger much of a chance.

The undisputed welterweight champion sought a knockout from the opening bell, winging hard, wild punches that repeatedly rocked Alma Ibarra and convinced the Mexican’s cornermen to stop the one-sided fight after three rounds.

McCaskill (12-2, 5 KOs) buckled the knees of Ibarra (10-2, 5 KOs) about a minute into the opening two-minute round, which convinced Ibarra it was best to hold the champion whenever she was inside.

The tactic didn’t help much, as McCaskill still managed to land more punishing right hands and a big left hook in Round 3 that might’ve convinced the challenger’s cornermen that enough was enough.

Her trainer stopped the fight over her objections before the start of the fourth round.

McCaskill has now won seven consecutive fights since her lone loss to Katie Taylor in 2017.

McCaskill said after the fight on Saturday that she wants to move down a  more natural 140 pounds to face unified titleholder Chantelle Cameron of England.

Jessica McCaskill overwhelms Alma Ibarra to earn early stoppage

Welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill overwhelmed Alma Ibarra en route to a knockout after three rounds Saturday in San Antonio.

Jessica McCaskill never gave her challenger much of a chance.

The undisputed welterweight champion sought a knockout from the opening bell, winging hard, wild punches that repeatedly rocked Alma Ibarra and convinced the Mexican’s cornermen to stop the one-sided fight after three rounds.

McCaskill (12-2, 5 KOs) buckled the knees of Ibarra (10-2, 5 KOs) about a minute into the opening two-minute round, which convinced Ibarra it was best to hold the champion whenever she was inside.

The tactic didn’t help much, as McCaskill still managed to land more punishing right hands and a big left hook in Round 3 that might’ve convinced the challenger’s cornermen that enough was enough.

Her trainer stopped the fight over her objections before the start of the fourth round.

McCaskill has now won seven consecutive fights since her lone loss to Katie Taylor in 2017.

McCaskill said after the fight on Saturday that she wants to move down a  more natural 140 pounds to face unified titleholder Chantelle Cameron of England.

Jesse Rodriguez vs. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai: date, time, how to watch, background

Jesse Rodriguez vs. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai: date, time, how to watch, background.

Secondary 115-pound titleholder Jesse Rodriguez will face veteran Srisaket Sor Rungvisai on Saturday in San Antonio.

JESSE RODRIGUEZ (15-0, 10 KOS) VS. SRISAKET SOR RUNGVISAI (50-5-1, 43 KOS)

  • Date: Saturday, June 25
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m.. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Tech Port Arena, San Antonio
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Cost: $19.99 per month, $149.99 annually
  • Division: Junior bantamweight (115 pounds)
  • Rounds: 12
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Julio Cesar Martinez vs. McWilliams Arroyo, flyweights (for Martinez’s WBC title); Murodjon Akhmadaliev vs. Ronny Rios, junior featherweights (for Akhmadaliev’s IBF and WBA titles); Jessica McCaskill vs. Alma Ibarra, welterweights (for McCaskill’s undisputed championship); Raymond Ford vs. Richard Medina, featherweights
  • Prediction: Sor Rungvisai KO 10
  • Background: “Bam” Rodriguez delivered a major upset when he easily outpointed 115-pound stalwart Carlos Cuadras to win a secondary WBC title (Juan Francisco Estrada is the “franchise champion”) in February, instantaneously making him a major player in the division. The 22-year-old southpaw will have the advantage of fighting in his hometown on Saturday. The big-punching Sor Rungvisai, 35, has been a dominating figure in the junior bantamweight division for a decade, with two reigns as a titleholder. He’s best known for defeating all-time great Roman Gonzalez twice in 2017, the second time by knockout. He has won three consecutive fights since he lost the WBC belt to Estrada in 2019. This card is stacked with important fights. Martinez (18-2, 14 KOs) will be fighting for the first time since he moved up in weight and lost a one-sided decision to Gonzalez in March. Akhmadaliev (10-0, 7 KOs) will be making the third defense of the titles the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist won by outpointing Daniel Roman in 2020. And the late-blooming McCaskill (11-2, 4 KOs) became a star when she outpointed Cecilia Braekhus to become undisputed welterweight champion in 2020 and then did it again in their rematch last year. The 37-year-old last fought in December, when she stopped Kandi Wyatt in seven rounds.

[lawrence-related id=31034,18585,18550,27996,27922]

Jesse Rodriguez vs. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai: date, time, how to watch, background

Jesse Rodriguez vs. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai: date, time, how to watch, background.

Secondary 115-pound titleholder Jesse Rodriguez will face veteran Srisaket Sor Rungvisai on Saturday in San Antonio.

JESSE RODRIGUEZ (15-0, 10 KOS) VS. SRISAKET SOR RUNGVISAI (50-5-1, 43 KOS)

  • Date: Saturday, June 25
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m.. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Tech Port Arena, San Antonio
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Cost: $19.99 per month, $149.99 annually
  • Division: Junior bantamweight (115 pounds)
  • Rounds: 12
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Julio Cesar Martinez vs. McWilliams Arroyo, flyweights (for Martinez’s WBC title); Murodjon Akhmadaliev vs. Ronny Rios, junior featherweights (for Akhmadaliev’s IBF and WBA titles); Jessica McCaskill vs. Alma Ibarra, welterweights (for McCaskill’s undisputed championship); Raymond Ford vs. Richard Medina, featherweights
  • Prediction: Sor Rungvisai KO 10
  • Background: “Bam” Rodriguez delivered a major upset when he easily outpointed 115-pound stalwart Carlos Cuadras to win a secondary WBC title (Juan Francisco Estrada is the “franchise champion”) in February, instantaneously making him a major player in the division. The 22-year-old southpaw will have the advantage of fighting in his hometown on Saturday. The big-punching Sor Rungvisai, 35, has been a dominating figure in the junior bantamweight division for a decade, with two reigns as a titleholder. He’s best known for defeating all-time great Roman Gonzalez twice in 2017, the second time by knockout. He has won three consecutive fights since he lost the WBC belt to Estrada in 2019. This card is stacked with important fights. Martinez (18-2, 14 KOs) will be fighting for the first time since he moved up in weight and lost a one-sided decision to Gonzalez in March. Akhmadaliev (10-0, 7 KOs) will be making the third defense of the titles the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist won by outpointing Daniel Roman in 2020. And the late-blooming McCaskill (11-2, 4 KOs) became a star when she outpointed Cecilia Braekhus to become undisputed welterweight champion in 2020 and then did it again in their rematch last year. The 37-year-old last fought in December, when she stopped Kandi Wyatt in seven rounds.

[lawrence-related id=31034,18585,18550,27996,27922]

Fight Week: Jesse Rodriguez, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai to do battle in San Antonio

Fight Week: Jesse Rodriguez and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai are set to do battle in a 115-poiund bout Saturday in San Antonio

FIGHT WEEK

Secondary 115-pound titleholder Jesse Rodriguez will face veteran Srisaket Sor Rungvisai on Saturday in San Antonio.

JESSE RODRIGUEZ (15-0, 10 KOS) VS. SRISAKET SOR RUNGVISAI (50-5-1, 43 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, June 25
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m.. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Tech Port Arena, San Antonio
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Junior bantamweight (115 pounds)
  • Rounds: 12
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Julio Cesar Martinez vs. McWilliams Arroyo, flyweights (for Martinez’s WBC title); Murodjon Akhmadaliev vs. Ronny Rios, junior featherweights (for Akhmadaliev’s IBF and WBA titles); Jessica McCaskill vs. Alma Ibarra, welterweights (for McCaskill’s undisputed championship); Raymond Ford vs. Richard Medina, featherweights
  • Prediction: Sor Rungvisai KO 10
  • Background: “Bam” Rodriguez delivered a major upset when he easily outpointed 115-pound stalwart Carlos Cuadras to win a secondary WBC title (Juan Francisco Estrada is the “franchise champion”) in February, instantaneously making him a major player in the division. The 22-year-old southpaw will have the advantage of fighting in his hometown on Saturday. The big-punching Sor Rungvisai, 35, has been a dominating figure in the junior bantamweight division for a decade, with two reigns as a titleholder. He’s best known for defeating all-time great Roman Gonzalez twice in 2017, the second time by knockout. He has won three consecutive fights since he lost the WBC belt to Estrada in 2019. This card is stacked with important fights. Martinez (18-2, 14 KOs) will be fighting for the first time since he moved up in weight and lost a one-sided decision to Gonzalez in March. Akhmadaliev (10-0, 7 KOs) will be making the third defense of the titles the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist won by outpointing Daniel Roman in 2020. And the late-blooming McCaskill (11-2, 4 KOs) became a star when she outpointed Cecilia Braekhus to become undisputed welterweight champion in 2020 and then did it again in their rematch last year. The 37-year-old last fought in December, when she stopped Kandi Wyatt in seven rounds.

 

ELWIN SOTO (19-2, 13 KOS) VS. HEKKIE BUDLER (33-4, 10 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, June 25
  • Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m.. PT on ESPN (main event later in show)
  • Where: Palenque Fex, Mexicali, Mexico
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+
  • Division: Junior flyweight (108 pounds)
  • Rounds: 12
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Jesus Riegos vs. Genaro Rodriguez, junior featherweights; Kenin Betancourt vs. Ivan Mercado, bantamweights
  • Prediction: Soto UD
  • Background: This fight is being billed as a WBC junior flyweight title eliminator. Soto lost his WBO belt to Jonathan Gonzalez by a split decision in October, the Mexican’s first setback since the third fight of his career. Budler, 34, might be in a must-win situation. The former two-division titleholder from South Africa is 2-2 in his last four fights and 4-3 in his last seven. He’s coming off a unanimous-decision victory over journeyman Jonathan Almacen on May 22 in Johannesburg, Budler’s hometown.

 

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

JUNE 24

  • Jonathan Gonzalez vs. Mark Anthony Barriga, junior flyweights (for Gonzalez’s WBO title), Kissimmee, Florida (ProBox.TV).
  • Leandro Jose Blanc vs. German Valenzuela, strawweights, Buenos Aires (Estrella TV).

JUNE 25

Denzel Whitley vs. Maycon Oller Da Silva, welterweights, Framingham, Massachusetts (Boxing TV).

Fight Week: Jesse Rodriguez, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai to do battle in San Antonio

Fight Week: Jesse Rodriguez and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai are set to do battle in a 115-poiund bout Saturday in San Antonio

FIGHT WEEK

Secondary 115-pound titleholder Jesse Rodriguez will face veteran Srisaket Sor Rungvisai on Saturday in San Antonio.

JESSE RODRIGUEZ (15-0, 10 KOS) VS. SRISAKET SOR RUNGVISAI (50-5-1, 43 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, June 25
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m.. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Tech Port Arena, San Antonio
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Division: Junior bantamweight (115 pounds)
  • Rounds: 12
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Julio Cesar Martinez vs. McWilliams Arroyo, flyweights (for Martinez’s WBC title); Murodjon Akhmadaliev vs. Ronny Rios, junior featherweights (for Akhmadaliev’s IBF and WBA titles); Jessica McCaskill vs. Alma Ibarra, welterweights (for McCaskill’s undisputed championship); Raymond Ford vs. Richard Medina, featherweights
  • Prediction: Sor Rungvisai KO 10
  • Background: “Bam” Rodriguez delivered a major upset when he easily outpointed 115-pound stalwart Carlos Cuadras to win a secondary WBC title (Juan Francisco Estrada is the “franchise champion”) in February, instantaneously making him a major player in the division. The 22-year-old southpaw will have the advantage of fighting in his hometown on Saturday. The big-punching Sor Rungvisai, 35, has been a dominating figure in the junior bantamweight division for a decade, with two reigns as a titleholder. He’s best known for defeating all-time great Roman Gonzalez twice in 2017, the second time by knockout. He has won three consecutive fights since he lost the WBC belt to Estrada in 2019. This card is stacked with important fights. Martinez (18-2, 14 KOs) will be fighting for the first time since he moved up in weight and lost a one-sided decision to Gonzalez in March. Akhmadaliev (10-0, 7 KOs) will be making the third defense of the titles the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist won by outpointing Daniel Roman in 2020. And the late-blooming McCaskill (11-2, 4 KOs) became a star when she outpointed Cecilia Braekhus to become undisputed welterweight champion in 2020 and then did it again in their rematch last year. The 37-year-old last fought in December, when she stopped Kandi Wyatt in seven rounds.

 

ELWIN SOTO (19-2, 13 KOS) VS. HEKKIE BUDLER (33-4, 10 KOS)

  • When: Saturday, June 25
  • Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m.. PT on ESPN (main event later in show)
  • Where: Palenque Fex, Mexicali, Mexico
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+
  • Division: Junior flyweight (108 pounds)
  • Rounds: 12
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Jesus Riegos vs. Genaro Rodriguez, junior featherweights; Kenin Betancourt vs. Ivan Mercado, bantamweights
  • Prediction: Soto UD
  • Background: This fight is being billed as a WBC junior flyweight title eliminator. Soto lost his WBO belt to Jonathan Gonzalez by a split decision in October, the Mexican’s first setback since the third fight of his career. Budler, 34, might be in a must-win situation. The former two-division titleholder from South Africa is 2-2 in his last four fights and 4-3 in his last seven. He’s coming off a unanimous-decision victory over journeyman Jonathan Almacen on May 22 in Johannesburg, Budler’s hometown.

 

ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK

JUNE 24

  • Jonathan Gonzalez vs. Mark Anthony Barriga, junior flyweights (for Gonzalez’s WBO title), Kissimmee, Florida (ProBox.TV).
  • Leandro Jose Blanc vs. German Valenzuela, strawweights, Buenos Aires (Estrella TV).

JUNE 25

Denzel Whitley vs. Maycon Oller Da Silva, welterweights, Framingham, Massachusetts (Boxing TV).