Tag: Thomas Dulorme

Good, bad, worse: KOs courtesy of Jose Zepeda, Jaron Ennis, Radzhab Butaev

Good, bad, worse: KOs courtesy Jose Zepeda, Jaron Ennis and Radzhab Butaev.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

If you like knockouts, you had a good Saturday night.

Three fighters delivered brutal stoppages in high-profile events, two inside two minutes of the first round and one in the ninth. All of them left a strong impression.

Jose Zepeda and Jaron Ennis did the quick, breathtaking work.

The oddsmakers thought that Zepeda vs. Josue Vargas was a 50-50 fight but a chilling left hand to the jaw that put Vargas on his face in the first round initiated a wipe out. Vargas got up but couldn’t survive a subsequent series of shots, which ended the fight after only 1 minute, 45 seconds.

It was a strong statement from Zepeda, who was only two fights removed from his Fight of the Year against Ivan Baranchyk. If anyone forgot that Zepeda (35-2, 27 KOs) has big-time power, he provided a reminder in New York.

Ennis (28-0, 26 KOs) has otherworldly power, as he demonstrated again on the Radzhab Butaev-Jamal James card in Las Vegas. A right to the head and moments later a straight left hand left veteran Thomas Dulorme wondering what hit him and ended their fight only 1:49 into the action.

I’ll say it again: Ennis reminds me of Roy Jones Jr., whose speed, athleticism and punching power made him an all time great. We’ll see how this plays out.

And Radzhab Buteav took a more circuitous route to stopping Jamal James in the main event in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas-based Russian broke down a respected, but physically overmatched opponent to win by a ninth-round stoppage and possibly earn a welterweight title shot. Big night for Butaev.

Three fights, three knockouts. That’s entertainment.

***

BAD

Thomas Dulorme undergoes a post-fight exam. AP Photo / David Becker

Knockouts come with knockout victims.

One must feel for Vargas, Dulorme and James, although their setbacks won’t necessarily have the same impacts on their careers.

Vargas (19-2, 9 KOs) might be in the best position to bounce back. The talented Puerto Rican is only 23. He can say legitimately, “Hey, I got caught with a big shot. I’ll learn from it.” He probably has many more victories in his future.

Dulorme (25-6-1, 16 KOs) might be in trouble. On one hand, he’s only 31 and gave a solid performance against Eimantas Stanionis in his previous fight. On the other hand, he has now lost three consecutive fights to elite opponents.

And the loss on Saturday was his worst since he was stopped in six rounds by Terence Crawford in 2015. He didn’t even know what hit him.

The good news for Dulorme is that he didn’t take a prolonged beating, which normally means a relatively quick recovery. However, we’ll see whether he can get another big fight after three consecutive disappointments.

James (27-2, 12 KOs) absorbed a lot of punishment against Butaev and is 33, which might not bode well for his future. And while James’ heart can’t be questioned, Butaev might’ve exposed his physical limitations.

That said, James had been on a nice run going into the fight. And maybe a 14-month layoff worked against him.

I suspect James will get another opportunity or two on a big stage before he’s finished.

***

WORSE

The name Cuthbert Taylor is lost to history for all but the most thorough historians, which is a heartbreaking injustice.

Taylor, a Welshman, was a 1928 Olympian and one of the better pros in Europe in the 1930s and ’40s but was denied a chance to fight for a British championship because of a color line that existed until 1948, which was similar to barriers faced by black fighters in the United States.

The British Boxing Board of Control actually enforced a rule that stated only fighters “with two white parents” could compete for titles, according to The Guardian. Taylor’s father was Caribbean, his mother white.

Thus, the slick lightweight with more than 200 pro fights was never allowed to fulfil what might’ve been his destiny.

Well, family members of Taylor, who died in 1977, and a member of the British Parliament are doing what they can to right the wrong: They’re demanding an apology from the BBBofC, which continues to oversee the sport in the U.K.

“Due simply to the fact that his parents were of different ethnic backgrounds, Cuthbert Taylor would never have the recognition and success at professional level that his remarkable talent deserved,” said Gerald Jones, the politician.

“That was all because of a rule that left a stain on the history of one of our country’s most popular and traditional sports, one that has otherwise been known for bringing people from many different backgrounds and communities together.”

He added in an address to Parliament: “This blatantly racist, discriminatory and shameful policy prevented many people from achieving their potential and, unbelievably, the British Boxing Board of Control has yet to apologize.”

That’s the least the BBBofC could do for Taylor.

***

RABBIT PUNCHES

One criticism of Ennis’ performance: He was reckless when he went in for the kill after hurting Dulorme. As a result, he took a hard right that might’ve stopped some fighters. The fact he absorbed the punch without blinking says something about his chin. At the same time, a bigger puncher than Dulorme might’ve seriously hurt Ennis with that shot. … Zepeda seems to be in a good position to challenge undisputed 140-pound champion Josh Taylor, assuming Taylor defeats Jack Catterall on Feb. 26. That would be Zepeda’s third shot at a title, after losing to Terry Flanagan (as the result of an injury) and Jose Ramirez (by majority decision). “I won’t accept anything else. It’s been promised to me too many times. We’re ready,” Zepeda said of another title shot. … I don’t have a problem with the Butaev-James stoppage by referee Celestino Ruiz. James was still competitive only moments earlier, which made the stoppage seem abrupt. However, he had no answer to a series of hard shots in the final seconds and had taken a great deal of punishment over eight-plus rounds. Ruiz did James a favor. … James was losing on two cards (77-74 and 77-74) and winning on the third (76-75) after eight rounds. And he probably would’ve lost Round 9, which would’ve made it difficult for him to win a decision had he survived. Patricia Morse Jarman gave each fighter four rounds, which gave James a one-point lead as the result of a point deducted from Butaev. I think she was too generous to James but her card wasn’t outrageous. …

Lightweight contender Michel Rivera (22-0, 14 KOs) defeated Jose Matias Romero (24-2, 8 KOs) by a shutout decision in a 10-round junior welterweight bout on the Butaev-James card. The talented Dominican outboxed and outworked Romero from beginning to end, which led to the conclusive decision. However, he couldn’t hurt a naturally smaller opponent who stood toe-to-toe with him much of the fight. Was that because Romero is particularly tough? Or was there some deficiency on Rivera’s part? It was probably a combination of both factors. … Rolando Romero is almost certainly out as Gervonta Davis’ opponent on Dec. 5 in Los Angeles because of a sexual assault allegation against Romero, according to multiple reports. Issac Cruz reportedly is a leading candidate to step in as Davis’ opponent. Also, 140-pounder Regis Prograis threw his hat into the ring. I love a Davis-Prograis matchup but the matchup seems to be too big to put together on short notice.

Good, bad, worse: KOs courtesy of Jose Zepeda, Jaron Ennis, Radzhab Butaev

Good, bad, worse: KOs courtesy Jose Zepeda, Jaron Ennis and Radzhab Butaev.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

If you like knockouts, you had a good Saturday night.

Three fighters delivered brutal stoppages in high-profile events, two inside two minutes of the first round and one in the ninth. All of them left a strong impression.

Jose Zepeda and Jaron Ennis did the quick, breathtaking work.

The oddsmakers thought that Zepeda vs. Josue Vargas was a 50-50 fight but a chilling left hand to the jaw that put Vargas on his face in the first round initiated a wipe out. Vargas got up but couldn’t survive a subsequent series of shots, which ended the fight after only 1 minute, 45 seconds.

It was a strong statement from Zepeda, who was only two fights removed from his Fight of the Year against Ivan Baranchyk. If anyone forgot that Zepeda (35-2, 27 KOs) has big-time power, he provided a reminder in New York.

Ennis (28-0, 26 KOs) has otherworldly power, as he demonstrated again on the Radzhab Butaev-Jamal James card in Las Vegas. A right to the head and moments later a straight left hand left veteran Thomas Dulorme wondering what hit him and ended their fight only 1:49 into the action.

I’ll say it again: Ennis reminds me of Roy Jones Jr., whose speed, athleticism and punching power made him an all time great. We’ll see how this plays out.

And Radzhab Buteav took a more circuitous route to stopping Jamal James in the main event in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas-based Russian broke down a respected, but physically overmatched opponent to win by a ninth-round stoppage and possibly earn a welterweight title shot. Big night for Butaev.

Three fights, three knockouts. That’s entertainment.

***

BAD

Thomas Dulorme undergoes a post-fight exam. AP Photo / David Becker

Knockouts come with knockout victims.

One must feel for Vargas, Dulorme and James, although their setbacks won’t necessarily have the same impacts on their careers.

Vargas (19-2, 9 KOs) might be in the best position to bounce back. The talented Puerto Rican is only 23. He can say legitimately, “Hey, I got caught with a big shot. I’ll learn from it.” He probably has many more victories in his future.

Dulorme (25-6-1, 16 KOs) might be in trouble. On one hand, he’s only 31 and gave a solid performance against Eimantas Stanionis in his previous fight. On the other hand, he has now lost three consecutive fights to elite opponents.

And the loss on Saturday was his worst since he was stopped in six rounds by Terence Crawford in 2015. He didn’t even know what hit him.

The good news for Dulorme is that he didn’t take a prolonged beating, which normally means a relatively quick recovery. However, we’ll see whether he can get another big fight after three consecutive disappointments.

James (27-2, 12 KOs) absorbed a lot of punishment against Butaev and is 33, which might not bode well for his future. And while James’ heart can’t be questioned, Butaev might’ve exposed his physical limitations.

That said, James had been on a nice run going into the fight. And maybe a 14-month layoff worked against him.

I suspect James will get another opportunity or two on a big stage before he’s finished.

***

WORSE

The name Cuthbert Taylor is lost to history for all but the most thorough historians, which is a heartbreaking injustice.

Taylor, a Welshman, was a 1928 Olympian and one of the better pros in Europe in the 1930s and ’40s but was denied a chance to fight for a British championship because of a color line that existed until 1948, which was similar to barriers faced by black fighters in the United States.

The British Boxing Board of Control actually enforced a rule that stated only fighters “with two white parents” could compete for titles, according to The Guardian. Taylor’s father was Caribbean, his mother white.

Thus, the slick lightweight with more than 200 pro fights was never allowed to fulfil what might’ve been his destiny.

Well, family members of Taylor, who died in 1977, and a member of the British Parliament are doing what they can to right the wrong: They’re demanding an apology from the BBBofC, which continues to oversee the sport in the U.K.

“Due simply to the fact that his parents were of different ethnic backgrounds, Cuthbert Taylor would never have the recognition and success at professional level that his remarkable talent deserved,” said Gerald Jones, the politician.

“That was all because of a rule that left a stain on the history of one of our country’s most popular and traditional sports, one that has otherwise been known for bringing people from many different backgrounds and communities together.”

He added in an address to Parliament: “This blatantly racist, discriminatory and shameful policy prevented many people from achieving their potential and, unbelievably, the British Boxing Board of Control has yet to apologize.”

That’s the least the BBBofC could do for Taylor.

***

RABBIT PUNCHES

One criticism of Ennis’ performance: He was reckless when he went in for the kill after hurting Dulorme. As a result, he took a hard right that might’ve stopped some fighters. The fact he absorbed the punch without blinking says something about his chin. At the same time, a bigger puncher than Dulorme might’ve seriously hurt Ennis with that shot. … Zepeda seems to be in a good position to challenge undisputed 140-pound champion Josh Taylor, assuming Taylor defeats Jack Catterall on Feb. 26. That would be Zepeda’s third shot at a title, after losing to Terry Flanagan (as the result of an injury) and Jose Ramirez (by majority decision). “I won’t accept anything else. It’s been promised to me too many times. We’re ready,” Zepeda said of another title shot. … I don’t have a problem with the Butaev-James stoppage by referee Celestino Ruiz. James was still competitive only moments earlier, which made the stoppage seem abrupt. However, he had no answer to a series of hard shots in the final seconds and had taken a great deal of punishment over eight-plus rounds. Ruiz did James a favor. … James was losing on two cards (77-74 and 77-74) and winning on the third (76-75) after eight rounds. And he probably would’ve lost Round 9, which would’ve made it difficult for him to win a decision had he survived. Patricia Morse Jarman gave each fighter four rounds, which gave James a one-point lead as the result of a point deducted from Butaev. I think she was too generous to James but her card wasn’t outrageous. …

Lightweight contender Michel Rivera (22-0, 14 KOs) defeated Jose Matias Romero (24-2, 8 KOs) by a shutout decision in a 10-round junior welterweight bout on the Butaev-James card. The talented Dominican outboxed and outworked Romero from beginning to end, which led to the conclusive decision. However, he couldn’t hurt a naturally smaller opponent who stood toe-to-toe with him much of the fight. Was that because Romero is particularly tough? Or was there some deficiency on Rivera’s part? It was probably a combination of both factors. … Rolando Romero is almost certainly out as Gervonta Davis’ opponent on Dec. 5 in Los Angeles because of a sexual assault allegation against Romero, according to multiple reports. Issac Cruz reportedly is a leading candidate to step in as Davis’ opponent. Also, 140-pounder Regis Prograis threw his hat into the ring. I love a Davis-Prograis matchup but the matchup seems to be too big to put together on short notice.

Watch it: Jaron Ennis’ awesome display of power

Watch it: Jaron Ennis’ awesome display of power against Thomas Dulorme on Saturday in Las Vegas.

Jaron Ennis has many gifts but his power stands out most.

The Philadelphian demonstrated that once again on Saturday, when he stopped veteran Thomas Dulorme only 1 minute, 49 seconds into their fight Saturday in Las Vegas.

The beginning of the end was an overhand right above Dulorme’s left ear that put him down. He got up but was then met by an enormous straight left that deposited him on his back.

Fight over.

Here’s a look at the knockdowns.

Watch it: Jaron Ennis’ awesome display of power

Watch it: Jaron Ennis’ awesome display of power against Thomas Dulorme on Saturday in Las Vegas.

Jaron Ennis has many gifts but his power stands out most.

The Philadelphian demonstrated that once again on Saturday, when he stopped veteran Thomas Dulorme only 1 minute, 49 seconds into their fight Saturday in Las Vegas.

The beginning of the end was an overhand right above Dulorme’s left ear that put him down. He got up but was then met by an enormous straight left that deposited him on his back.

Fight over.

Here’s a look at the knockdowns.

Jaron Ennis takes out Thomas Dulorme in less than two minutes

Jaron Ennis took out Thomas Dulorme in less than two minutes Saturday in Las Vegas.

Jaron Ennis didn’t need long to make a lasting impression.

The welter contender knocked out veteran Thomas Dulorme only 1 minute, 49 seconds into their scheduled 10-round bout on the Jamal James-Radzhab Butaev card Saturday in Las Vegas.

Ennis (28-0, 26 KOs) now has 18 consecutive stoppages, not counting one no-decision.

The Philadelphian started the fight by jabbing to find his range against Dulorme (25-6-1, 16 KOs), who was aggressive from the opening bell.

Then, only a minute into the fight, Ennis landed an overhand right above Dulorme’s left ear that hurt him and sent him to his hands and knees.

Dulorme was able to get up and actually landed one good right hand, However, moments later, Ennis connected with a straight left that put the Puerto Rican on his back. He tried to beat the count but failed to do so.

No one is surprised that the gifted Ennis had his hand raised. However, the swift manner by which he dispatched of a tough veteran was particularly impressive.

Ennis might’ve liked more time show off his ability but he’ll take the quick stoppage.

“I wanted to show my skills and my ability but I couldn’t. I got knockout,” he said. “I just thank Thomas Dulorme for the opportunity and it’s on to the next.

“Let’s get the big names. Let’s go.”

Ennis reeled off the big names, 147-pounders like Errol Spence Jr., Terence Crawford, Shawn Porter, Keith Thurman. He really doesn’t care which one it is. He simply wants to chance to face a next-level foe.

“We’re taking over the welterweight division,” he said. “Let’s get it.”

Also on the card, Dominican lightweight prospect Michel Rivera (22-0, 14 KOs) defeated Jose Matias Romero (24-2, 8 KOs) of Argentina in a 10-round junior welterweight bout.

All three judges had the same score, 100-90.

Jaron Ennis takes out Thomas Dulorme in less than two minutes

Jaron Ennis took out Thomas Dulorme in less than two minutes Saturday in Las Vegas.

Jaron Ennis didn’t need long to make a lasting impression.

The welter contender knocked out veteran Thomas Dulorme only 1 minute, 49 seconds into their scheduled 10-round bout on the Jamal James-Radzhab Butaev card Saturday in Las Vegas.

Ennis (28-0, 26 KOs) now has 18 consecutive stoppages, not counting one no-decision.

The Philadelphian started the fight by jabbing to find his range against Dulorme (25-6-1, 16 KOs), who was aggressive from the opening bell.

Then, only a minute into the fight, Ennis landed an overhand right above Dulorme’s left ear that hurt him and sent him to his hands and knees.

Dulorme was able to get up and actually landed one good right hand, However, moments later, Ennis connected with a straight left that put the Puerto Rican on his back. He tried to beat the count but failed to do so.

No one is surprised that the gifted Ennis had his hand raised. However, the swift manner by which he dispatched of a tough veteran was particularly impressive.

Ennis might’ve liked more time show off his ability but he’ll take the quick stoppage.

“I wanted to show my skills and my ability but I couldn’t. I got knockout,” he said. “I just thank Thomas Dulorme for the opportunity and it’s on to the next.

“Let’s get the big names. Let’s go.”

Ennis reeled off the big names, 147-pounders like Errol Spence Jr., Terence Crawford, Shawn Porter, Keith Thurman. He really doesn’t care which one it is. He simply wants to chance to face a next-level foe.

“We’re taking over the welterweight division,” he said. “Let’s get it.”

Also on the card, Dominican lightweight prospect Michel Rivera (22-0, 14 KOs) defeated Jose Matias Romero (24-2, 8 KOs) of Argentina in a 10-round junior welterweight bout.

All three judges had the same score, 100-90.

Jaron Ennis: ‘I’m going to be on top for a very long time’

Young welterweight contender Jaron Ennis said, “I’m going to be on top for a very long time.”

Welterweight contender Jaron Ennis comes across as soft spoken and humble, a man of few words. Then the opening bell rings.

“That’s how I am in real life,” the gifted 24-year-old from Philadelphia told Boxing Junkie on Wednesday. “I’m just chill, laid back. I don’t say too much. Once I get in the ring, though, I’m dangerous.”

To say the least.

Ennis (27-0, 25 KOs) is one of the most skillful young boxers in the world, on par with the likes of Olympic silver medalist Shakur Stevenson. On top of that, he’s a 147-pound version of Deontay Wilder in terms of his ability to turn anyone’s lights out: He’s riding a streak of 17 consecutive knockouts at the moment.

That combination of ability and power might be unrivaled in the sport. The only thing left to do? Prove it on the highest level.

Ennis has recorded some significant victories, including a brutal sixth-round knockout of highly regarded Sergey Lipinets in April. And he’ll face another test on the Jamal James-Radzhab Butaev Showtime card on Oct. 30, when he’ll tangle with veteran Thomas Dulorme.

However, “Boots” has set his sights much higher than that. He envisions himself as a world titleholder next year and ultimately as an undisputed champion in multiple divisions.

All he needs is a chance.

“I’m just sitting here, getting better and better,” he said. “Then, when my time comes, I’ll be on point. I’ll be ready to rock and roll. Once I get my foot in the door I’ll have one of those belts and everyone’s attention.

“… I know once I get my opportunity, it’s over. I’m going to be on top for a very long time.”

Ennis said he isn’t looking past Dulorme (25-5-1, 16 KOs), a former title challenger who was competitive in a loss to hot prospect Eimantas Stanionis in his most recent fight. He simply believes he’s a level above the 31-year-old Puerto Rican and “locked in, super hungry,” he said.

If things go well in the fight, he hopes his opportunity to fight for a major title will come next.

On one hand, that makes sense. He’s ranked in the Top 6 by all four major sanctioning bodies. He can smell a title shot. On the other hand, the beltholders probably view him as a big risk with too little to gain given his relative lack of star power.

Thus, he might have to patiently continue to win, move up the rankings toward mandatory status and build his name to a point where the Errol Spences and Terence Crawfords and Yordenis Ugases have no choice but to fight him.

Ennis was asked whether the waiting process is difficult for him and said it wasn’t, although he does seem antsy. Imagine having rare ability but not the platform to show it to the world.

Another young star, Teofimo Lopez, was fortunate. He received the opportunity to fight former pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko at 23 years old and beat him to become undisputed lightweight champion. A star was born that night.

That’s OK with Ennis. He knows that type of opportunity will come.

“I feel like everybody has a different route to winning a world championship,” he said. “Mine might take longer because I’m going to be on top forever.”

[lawrence-related id=19369,19336,19311]

Jaron Ennis: ‘I’m going to be on top for a very long time’

Young welterweight contender Jaron Ennis said, “I’m going to be on top for a very long time.”

Welterweight contender Jaron Ennis comes across as soft spoken and humble, a man of few words. Then the opening bell rings.

“That’s how I am in real life,” the gifted 24-year-old from Philadelphia told Boxing Junkie on Wednesday. “I’m just chill, laid back. I don’t say too much. Once I get in the ring, though, I’m dangerous.”

To say the least.

Ennis (27-0, 25 KOs) is one of the most skillful young boxers in the world, on par with the likes of Olympic silver medalist Shakur Stevenson. On top of that, he’s a 147-pound version of Deontay Wilder in terms of his ability to turn anyone’s lights out: He’s riding a streak of 17 consecutive knockouts at the moment.

That combination of ability and power might be unrivaled in the sport. The only thing left to do? Prove it on the highest level.

Ennis has recorded some significant victories, including a brutal sixth-round knockout of highly regarded Sergey Lipinets in April. And he’ll face another test on the Jamal James-Radzhab Butaev Showtime card on Oct. 30, when he’ll tangle with veteran Thomas Dulorme.

However, “Boots” has set his sights much higher than that. He envisions himself as a world titleholder next year and ultimately as an undisputed champion in multiple divisions.

All he needs is a chance.

“I’m just sitting here, getting better and better,” he said. “Then, when my time comes, I’ll be on point. I’ll be ready to rock and roll. Once I get my foot in the door I’ll have one of those belts and everyone’s attention.

“… I know once I get my opportunity, it’s over. I’m going to be on top for a very long time.”

Ennis said he isn’t looking past Dulorme (25-5-1, 16 KOs), a former title challenger who was competitive in a loss to hot prospect Eimantas Stanionis in his most recent fight. He simply believes he’s a level above the 31-year-old Puerto Rican and “locked in, super hungry,” he said.

If things go well in the fight, he hopes his opportunity to fight for a major title will come next.

On one hand, that makes sense. He’s ranked in the Top 6 by all four major sanctioning bodies. He can smell a title shot. On the other hand, the beltholders probably view him as a big risk with too little to gain given his relative lack of star power.

Thus, he might have to patiently continue to win, move up the rankings toward mandatory status and build his name to a point where the Errol Spences and Terence Crawfords and Yordenis Ugases have no choice but to fight him.

Ennis was asked whether the waiting process is difficult for him and said it wasn’t, although he does seem antsy. Imagine having rare ability but not the platform to show it to the world.

Another young star, Teofimo Lopez, was fortunate. He received the opportunity to fight former pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko at 23 years old and beat him to become undisputed lightweight champion. A star was born that night.

That’s OK with Ennis. He knows that type of opportunity will come.

“I feel like everybody has a different route to winning a world championship,” he said. “Mine might take longer because I’m going to be on top forever.”

[lawrence-related id=19369,19336,19311]

Good, bad, worse: Jaron Ennis dazzling, gutsy Joe Smith Jr. fortunate

Good, bad, worse: Jaron Ennis was dazzling and gutsy Joe Smith Jr. was fortunate on separate cards Saturday.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

No one is surprised that Jaron Ennis defeated Sergey Lipinets on Saturday night in Uncasville, Conn. It was the way he did it that left us agog.

Ennis needed less than half a fight to beat up and break down a good, durable opponent before finishing the job with a brutal right-left combination in Round 6, the Philadelphian’s 17th consecutive knockout in completed fights.

“Boots” obviously is a gifted, polished technician. He frustrated Lipinets with his long jab and quick feet early in the fight — an example of his ability — before lowering the boom soon afterward. He’s an excellent boxer.

That alone isn’t what makes him special, though. It’s the combination of his skill set and punching power that makes the 23-year-old a candidate to become a superstar one day.

Ennis’ punches destroyed a man who went the distance with Mikey Garcia and had been down only once before in his professional career. Lipinets’ bruised, swollen face was a testament to the impact of Ennis’ punching power.

And he’s remarkably accurate given that impact: He connected on 52.9% of his power shots, an unusually high number.

Who else in boxing can do what he Ennis does? Who has that blend of boxing skills, natural gifts (speed, reflexes, athleticism) and debilitating power?

I’m not sure anyone does. Maybe Gervonta Davis? Terence Crawford? Bud has stopped his last eight opponents. Canelo Alvarez? Nah. He doesn’t have the natural gifts of Ennis, as great as the Mexican is.

It’s too early to say that Ennis is in the class of boxing’s best. The dominating victory over Lipinets was a nice step for him but he’s just beginning to build an impressive resume, which is required to reach the pinnacle of the sport.

I’m comfortable saying this, though: He has better tools than anyone else in boxing. And I think he will prove it over time. I predict he’ll end up No. 1 in the world pound for pound.

[lawrence-related id=19311]

***

BAD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC5avCdOXdQ

Everyone is happy for Joe Smith Jr., a hard-working, blue-collar guy from Long Island, N.Y., who defeated Maxim Vlasov by a majority decision to win the vacant WBO light heavyweight title on Saturday in Tulsa, Okla.

Everyone must also acknowledge that he was fortunate to emerge victorious.

Vlasov, a clever veteran with an awkward style, outworked Smith and stayed in his face for most of the fight, which made it difficult for the big puncher to get extension on his power shots. Smith did land some and rallied down the stretch. However, in the eyes of many, the Russian did enough for the majority of the fight to earn the nod.

Boxing Junkie scored it 115-113, seven rounds to five for Vlasov. And 116-112 in his favor also would’ve been reasonable.

Alas, the official judges didn’t see it that way. David Sutherland scored it a 114-114 draw while Gerald Ritter and Pat Russell had it 115-112 and 115-113 in Smith’s favor, which gave him the coveted championship.

Smith said afterward that he deserved the decision because he landed the bigger shots. Meanwhile, Vlasov said he was in control throughout the fight and deserved to go home with the belt. He presumably felt he was the victim of a home-country decision.

“This was my opportunity to show the world I was a world champion. … I did that, and Joe Smith knows I did that,” Vlasov said.

Smith deserves credit. He fought his heart out from beginning to end in spite of a bad cut to realize his dream and set up an even bigger fight. The problem is that Vlasov might’ve deserved the decision.

[lawrence-related id=19315]

***

WORSE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6pIbW53C2w

Smith appears to be on a collision course with Artur Beterbiev in a title-unification fight before the end of the year, although nothing has been settled.

And that’s clearly the fight Smith wants. He dreams of holding more than one belt simultaneously, as many of the top fighters do. I admire his confidence and the fact he’s thinking big.

I also fear for him if he ends up tangling with the beast-like Russian.

Smith’s limitations were on full display against Vlasov, just as they were when he lost a wide decision against titleholder Dmitry Bivol. He has courage, he can crack but he’s crude boxer, which could set him up for disaster against Beterbiev.

The two-time Olympian is a well-schooled, experienced boxer who has stopped all 16 of his opponents, evidence of the damage his punches do. He probably doesn’t have one-punch knockout power like Smith. He merely chops you down like an ill-fated tree.

Of course, Smith has a puncher’s chance because of his power but it’s a small chance. A more likely scenario is that Beterbiev pulverizes him for seven or eight rounds, at which time a sympathetic soul will step in and end the slaughter.

Again, if Smith wants Beterbiev, he has earned the right to face him. I just think it could end up being hard to watch.

***

RABBIT PUNCHES

Eimantas Stanionis (13-0, 9 KOs) turned in a nice performance against an inspired Thomas Dulorme (25-5-1, 16 KOs) on the Ennis-Lipinets fight, winning a unanimous decision. Dulorme, under the tutelage of trainer Ismael Salas, boxed beautifully but the relentless Lithuanian ultimately wore him down to take control of the fight. Stanionis passed an important test. Dulorme did, too. I think the Puerto Rican demonstrated that he can still fight at an elite level. I hope he gets more opportunities. … Junior bantamweight titleholder Jerwin Ancajas (33-1-2, 22 KOs) and Jonathan Rodriguez (22-2, 16 KOs) gave fans an entertaining back-and-forth battle on the Ennis-Lipinets card. Ancajas retained his title for a ninth time by winning a unanimous decision but Rodriguez was also a winner. The relatively unknown Mexican, who had never fought outside his country, announced with his performance that he is a top-tier 115-pounder. Ancajas wants to fight the likes of Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman Gonzalez. Rodriguez might be ready for them, too. … Conor Benn (18-0, 12 KOs) looked like a legitimate title contender against Samuel Vargas (31-7-2, 14 KOs) on Saturday in London, putting a solid opponent away in one round. That was quicker than Errol Spence Jr., Danny Garcia and Vergil Ortiz were able to do it. He called for a true test afterward, mentioning Amir Khan among others. I hope he gets that kind of fight. And I won’t be surprised if he succeeds.

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Good, bad, worse: Jaron Ennis dazzling, gutsy Joe Smith Jr. fortunate

Good, bad, worse: Jaron Ennis was dazzling and gutsy Joe Smith Jr. was fortunate on separate cards Saturday.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

No one is surprised that Jaron Ennis defeated Sergey Lipinets on Saturday night in Uncasville, Conn. It was the way he did it that left us agog.

Ennis needed less than half a fight to beat up and break down a good, durable opponent before finishing the job with a brutal right-left combination in Round 6, the Philadelphian’s 17th consecutive knockout in completed fights.

“Boots” obviously is a gifted, polished technician. He frustrated Lipinets with his long jab and quick feet early in the fight — an example of his ability — before lowering the boom soon afterward. He’s an excellent boxer.

That alone isn’t what makes him special, though. It’s the combination of his skill set and punching power that makes the 23-year-old a candidate to become a superstar one day.

Ennis’ punches destroyed a man who went the distance with Mikey Garcia and had been down only once before in his professional career. Lipinets’ bruised, swollen face was a testament to the impact of Ennis’ punching power.

And he’s remarkably accurate given that impact: He connected on 52.9% of his power shots, an unusually high number.

Who else in boxing can do what he Ennis does? Who has that blend of boxing skills, natural gifts (speed, reflexes, athleticism) and debilitating power?

I’m not sure anyone does. Maybe Gervonta Davis? Terence Crawford? Bud has stopped his last eight opponents. Canelo Alvarez? Nah. He doesn’t have the natural gifts of Ennis, as great as the Mexican is.

It’s too early to say that Ennis is in the class of boxing’s best. The dominating victory over Lipinets was a nice step for him but he’s just beginning to build an impressive resume, which is required to reach the pinnacle of the sport.

I’m comfortable saying this, though: He has better tools than anyone else in boxing. And I think he will prove it over time. I predict he’ll end up No. 1 in the world pound for pound.

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***

BAD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC5avCdOXdQ

Everyone is happy for Joe Smith Jr., a hard-working, blue-collar guy from Long Island, N.Y., who defeated Maxim Vlasov by a majority decision to win the vacant WBO light heavyweight title on Saturday in Tulsa, Okla.

Everyone must also acknowledge that he was fortunate to emerge victorious.

Vlasov, a clever veteran with an awkward style, outworked Smith and stayed in his face for most of the fight, which made it difficult for the big puncher to get extension on his power shots. Smith did land some and rallied down the stretch. However, in the eyes of many, the Russian did enough for the majority of the fight to earn the nod.

Boxing Junkie scored it 115-113, seven rounds to five for Vlasov. And 116-112 in his favor also would’ve been reasonable.

Alas, the official judges didn’t see it that way. David Sutherland scored it a 114-114 draw while Gerald Ritter and Pat Russell had it 115-112 and 115-113 in Smith’s favor, which gave him the coveted championship.

Smith said afterward that he deserved the decision because he landed the bigger shots. Meanwhile, Vlasov said he was in control throughout the fight and deserved to go home with the belt. He presumably felt he was the victim of a home-country decision.

“This was my opportunity to show the world I was a world champion. … I did that, and Joe Smith knows I did that,” Vlasov said.

Smith deserves credit. He fought his heart out from beginning to end in spite of a bad cut to realize his dream and set up an even bigger fight. The problem is that Vlasov might’ve deserved the decision.

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***

WORSE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6pIbW53C2w

Smith appears to be on a collision course with Artur Beterbiev in a title-unification fight before the end of the year, although nothing has been settled.

And that’s clearly the fight Smith wants. He dreams of holding more than one belt simultaneously, as many of the top fighters do. I admire his confidence and the fact he’s thinking big.

I also fear for him if he ends up tangling with the beast-like Russian.

Smith’s limitations were on full display against Vlasov, just as they were when he lost a wide decision against titleholder Dmitry Bivol. He has courage, he can crack but he’s crude boxer, which could set him up for disaster against Beterbiev.

The two-time Olympian is a well-schooled, experienced boxer who has stopped all 16 of his opponents, evidence of the damage his punches do. He probably doesn’t have one-punch knockout power like Smith. He merely chops you down like an ill-fated tree.

Of course, Smith has a puncher’s chance because of his power but it’s a small chance. A more likely scenario is that Beterbiev pulverizes him for seven or eight rounds, at which time a sympathetic soul will step in and end the slaughter.

Again, if Smith wants Beterbiev, he has earned the right to face him. I just think it could end up being hard to watch.

***

RABBIT PUNCHES

Eimantas Stanionis (13-0, 9 KOs) turned in a nice performance against an inspired Thomas Dulorme (25-5-1, 16 KOs) on the Ennis-Lipinets fight, winning a unanimous decision. Dulorme, under the tutelage of trainer Ismael Salas, boxed beautifully but the relentless Lithuanian ultimately wore him down to take control of the fight. Stanionis passed an important test. Dulorme did, too. I think the Puerto Rican demonstrated that he can still fight at an elite level. I hope he gets more opportunities. … Junior bantamweight titleholder Jerwin Ancajas (33-1-2, 22 KOs) and Jonathan Rodriguez (22-2, 16 KOs) gave fans an entertaining back-and-forth battle on the Ennis-Lipinets card. Ancajas retained his title for a ninth time by winning a unanimous decision but Rodriguez was also a winner. The relatively unknown Mexican, who had never fought outside his country, announced with his performance that he is a top-tier 115-pounder. Ancajas wants to fight the likes of Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman Gonzalez. Rodriguez might be ready for them, too. … Conor Benn (18-0, 12 KOs) looked like a legitimate title contender against Samuel Vargas (31-7-2, 14 KOs) on Saturday in London, putting a solid opponent away in one round. That was quicker than Errol Spence Jr., Danny Garcia and Vergil Ortiz were able to do it. He called for a true test afterward, mentioning Amir Khan among others. I hope he gets that kind of fight. And I won’t be surprised if he succeeds.

[lawrence-related id=19306,19303]