A critical look at the past week in boxing
BIGGEST WINNER
Devin Haney
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Devin Haney drops, hurts and dominates Regis Prograis on his way to becoming the WBC super lightweight champion.#boxing pic.twitter.com/sgv0Agro0x
— Boxing SB (@BoxingSB22) December 10, 2023
You have to consider the facts going into Haneyās victory over Regis Prograis to appreciate what he did on Saturday in San Francisco. He was moving up in weight (from 135 pounds to 140) to face one of the most respected fighters in the division, which shouldāve been a significant challenge. It wasnāt. Haney gave the performance of his career, picking Prograis apart from a distance, dropping him and taking almost nothing in return in what amounted to a boxing clinic. Prograis landed a record-low 36 punches overall (compared to 129 for Haney), according to CompuBox. Thatās how Haney was able to win every round on all three cards, giving him a major title in a second division and bolstering the case that heās one of the best fighters in the world pound-for-pound. And remember: Heās only 25, an age when most elite fighters are only beginning to make an impact on the biggest stages. He probably hasnāt reached his peak, which might not be good news for the other top 140-pounders. Of course, not every fight will look like the one we saw on Saturday. Rivals like Teofimo Lopez, Gervonta Davis and Subriel Matias are tougher matchups for Haney than Prograis was. At the same time, it has never been more clear that the new champ is a genuine threat to anyone.
BIGGEST LOSER
Regis Prograis
How do you bounce back from that? Prograis (29-2, 24 KOs) was outclassed to the point of embarrassment, a fate that wouldāve been unthinkable for a two-time titleholder whose only loss was a close decision against Josh Taylor in 2019l. He simply couldnāt get anything done against a far superior fighter. Haney controlled the fight by controlling the distance with his jab, hard right hands and footwork, creating a defensive wall that Prograis was unable to penetrate. Thatās why the fight wasnāt competitive. The native of New Orleans was never a great technician but he was a solid one who excelled because of his fighting spirit and punching power. However, Haney laid bare Prograisā limitations for all the world to see, which will have changed the way the now-former champion is perceived by pundits and fans. Heās a good fighter, not one of the best. And, at 34, he might not get many (any?) more opportunities to take part in big events. We probably have seen the best of Regis Prograis. If so, he has nothing to be ashamed of. Two-time titleholder is a nice legacy.
BIGGEST WINNER II
Rafael Espinoza
Rafael who? Now we know. The 6-foot-1, 126-pound Mexican delivered a massive upset on Saturday night in Pembroke Pines, Florida, where he survived a brutal knockdown in the fifth round and other harrowing moments to defeat two-time Olympic champion Robeisy Ramirez and win his first major title by a well-earned majority decision. And Espinoza (24-0, 20 KOs) punctuated the performance in dramatic fashion, forcing Ramirez to the canvas with a barrage of hard, accurate power shots to seal his victory in an entertaining fight. Espinozaās physical dimensions, work rate and all-around ability ā including punching power ā will make him a handful for any opponent, but his grit stood out most in his break-through victory on Saturday. He refused to lose, a quality that could take him a long way. He now has one thing working against him, though: Heās not going to take anyone by surprise again.
RABBIT PUNCHES
Liam Paro (24-0, 15 KOs) has become the latest Australian to emerge as a major player in the sport. The native of Brisbane put capable Montana Love (18-2-2, 9 KOs) down twice and stopped him in six rounds on the Haney-Prograis card. Paro looked like he belongs among the Top 10 junior welterweights. ā¦ 2020 Olympic champion Andy Cruz (2-0, 1 KO) of Cuba stopped Jovanni Straffon (26-6-1, 19 KOs) in three rounds on the Haney-Prograis card. The 135-pounder, who beat Keyshawn Davis to win his gold medal, appears to have the kind of skill that will allow him to fight for a major title within a handful of fights. Heās special. ā¦ Chris Billiam-Smith (19-1, 13 KOs) retained his cruiserweight title against veteran Mateusz Masternak on Sunday in Bournemouth, England, forcing the Pole to quit on his stool with a rib injury after seven rounds of a brutal fight. The beltholder deserves credit for causing the damage with steady body work. However, the Bournemouth native took a great deal of punishment himself. He’s a capable, tough guy but he’s easy to hit, which could portend a short stint at the pinnacle of the sport. …
I’m happy with the recently announced International Boxing Hall of Fame Class of 2024. Michael Moorer was a dominating 175-pound champion who went on to become a three-time heavyweight titleholder, with a signature victory over Evander Holyfield. The late Diego Corrales is known for his epic come-from-behind knockout of Jose Luis Castillo but he was a two-division beltholder with a series of impressive victories, including back-to-back-to-back wins over Joel Casamayor, Acelino Freitas and Castillo. Ivan Calderon was a boxing wizard who ruled a division for most of a decade. And while Ricky Hatton might be best remembered for his knockout losses to Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, he had a number of impressive victories. That included a knockout that retired the greatĀ Kostya Tszyu. Also, it’s always gratifying to see an old-timer get recognition. Argentine heavyweight Luis Angel Firpo is a boxing legend. He deserved to have a plaque bearing his name at the Hall. Watch his epic clash with Jack Dempsey. You won’t regret it.
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