Tag: Tony Harrison

Pound for pound: Did Shakur Stevenson’s brilliant performance boost him up the list?

We had a dilemma. We normally don’t like to elevate pound-for-pound fighters unless they defeat an opponent who is also on our Boxing Junkie list, which is the best way to prove you belong. There are exceptions, though. Sometimes a boxer gives such …

We had a dilemma.

We normally don’t like to elevate pound-for-pound fighters unless they defeat an opponent who is also on our Boxing Junkie list, which is the best way to prove you belong.

There are exceptions, though. Sometimes a boxer gives such a sublime performance that he simply has to be rewarded.

That’s the case with No. 13-ranked Shakur Stevenson, who was nearly flawless in his sixth-round knockout of previously unbeaten Shuichiro Yoshino in Stevenson’s 135-pound debut Saturday in Newark New, Jersey.

Stevenson gave a hit-and-not be-hit clinic, picking a pitiful Yoshino apart from a perfect distance and taking almost nothing in return.

And he showed us something for which he’s not known, punching power. He put Yoshino down twice and ultimately landed so many hard, damaging blows that referee Allen Huggins had no choice but to stop the fight.

OK, Yoshino isn’t on the level of Gervonta Davis (No. 10), Vasiliy Lomachenko (No. 11), Devin Haney (No. 15) or the like. He’s a good, proven fighter, though. And he was overwhelmed.

Where does that leave Stevenson?

We feel he earned the right to leap frog Lomachenko and No. 12 Artur Beterbiev, lifting him to No. 11 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list.

A bonus to our decision is that Lomachenko’s fate is in his own hands. If the former three-division champion defeats undisputed 135-pound champ Haney on May 20, he likely would jump back into the Top 10.

And remember: Stevenson’s biggest fights lie ahead of him, which means he’ll have opportunities to demonstrate that he is truly what he believes he is — the best fighter in the world.

Next pound-for-pounder up: No. 13 Shakur Stevenson is scheduled to Shuichiro Yoshino in a 135-pound bout on Apri 8 in Newark, New Jersey.

Here’s what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – Reportedly has re-entered talks to face No. 4 Errol Spence Jr. for the undisputed 147-pound championship but deal has been reached.
  2. Naoya Inoue – Scheduled to challenge 122-pound titleholder and Honorable Mention Stephen Fulton Jr. on July 25 in Tokyo.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – No fight scheduled.
  4. Errol Spence Jr. – Reportedly has re-entered talks to face No. 1 Terence Crawford for the undisputed 147-pound championship but deal has been reached..
  5. Dmitry Bivol – Expected to defend his 175-title against Canelo Alvarez in a rematch in September but no agreement has been reached..
  6. Tyson Fury – Reportedly considering a title defense against former beltholder Andy Ruiz Jr. in the summer but that seems to be only one option.
  7. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  8. Canelo Alvarez– Scheduled to defend his undisputed 168-pound championship against John Ryder on May 6 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
  9. Jermell Charlo – Expected to defend his undisputed 154-pound championship against top contender Tim Tszyu this summer but no agreement is in place.
  10. Gervonta Davis – Scheduled to face Ryan Garcia in a 136-pound bout on April 15 in Las Vegas.
  11. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Scheduled to challenge undisputed 135-pound champion Devin Haney on May 20 in Las Vegas.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – No fight scheduled.
  13. Shakur Stevenson – No fight scheduled.
  14. Roman Gonzalez – No fight scheduled.
  15. Devin Haney – Scheduled to defend his undisputed 135-pound championship against Vasiliy Lomachenko on May 20 in Las Vegas..

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): David Benavidez (no fight scheduled); Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled); Stephen Fulton Jr. (scheduled to defend his 122-pound title against No. 2 Naoya Inoue on July 25 in Tokyo); Kazuto Ioka (reportedly scheduled to challenge 115-pound titleholder Joshua Franco in June in Japan but no announcement has been made); Josh Taylor (scheduled to defend his WBO 140-pound title against Teofimo Lopez on June 10 in New York).

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Pound for pound: Did Shakur Stevenson’s brilliant performance boost him up the list?

We had a dilemma. We normally don’t like to elevate pound-for-pound fighters unless they defeat an opponent who is also on our Boxing Junkie list, which is the best way to prove you belong. There are exceptions, though. Sometimes a boxer gives such …

We had a dilemma.

We normally don’t like to elevate pound-for-pound fighters unless they defeat an opponent who is also on our Boxing Junkie list, which is the best way to prove you belong.

There are exceptions, though. Sometimes a boxer gives such a sublime performance that he simply has to be rewarded.

That’s the case with No. 13-ranked Shakur Stevenson, who was nearly flawless in his sixth-round knockout of previously unbeaten Shuichiro Yoshino in Stevenson’s 135-pound debut Saturday in Newark New, Jersey.

Stevenson gave a hit-and-not be-hit clinic, picking a pitiful Yoshino apart from a perfect distance and taking almost nothing in return.

And he showed us something for which he’s not known, punching power. He put Yoshino down twice and ultimately landed so many hard, damaging blows that referee Allen Huggins had no choice but to stop the fight.

OK, Yoshino isn’t on the level of Gervonta Davis (No. 10), Vasiliy Lomachenko (No. 11), Devin Haney (No. 15) or the like. He’s a good, proven fighter, though. And he was overwhelmed.

Where does that leave Stevenson?

We feel he earned the right to leap frog Lomachenko and No. 12 Artur Beterbiev, lifting him to No. 11 on Boxing Junkie’s pound-for-pound list.

A bonus to our decision is that Lomachenko’s fate is in his own hands. If the former three-division champion defeats undisputed 135-pound champ Haney on May 20, he likely would jump back into the Top 10.

And remember: Stevenson’s biggest fights lie ahead of him, which means he’ll have opportunities to demonstrate that he is truly what he believes he is — the best fighter in the world.

Next pound-for-pounder up: No. 13 Shakur Stevenson is scheduled to Shuichiro Yoshino in a 135-pound bout on Apri 8 in Newark, New Jersey.

Here’s what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – Reportedly has re-entered talks to face No. 4 Errol Spence Jr. for the undisputed 147-pound championship but deal has been reached.
  2. Naoya Inoue – Scheduled to challenge 122-pound titleholder and Honorable Mention Stephen Fulton Jr. on July 25 in Tokyo.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – No fight scheduled.
  4. Errol Spence Jr. – Reportedly has re-entered talks to face No. 1 Terence Crawford for the undisputed 147-pound championship but deal has been reached..
  5. Dmitry Bivol – Expected to defend his 175-title against Canelo Alvarez in a rematch in September but no agreement has been reached..
  6. Tyson Fury – Reportedly considering a title defense against former beltholder Andy Ruiz Jr. in the summer but that seems to be only one option.
  7. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  8. Canelo Alvarez– Scheduled to defend his undisputed 168-pound championship against John Ryder on May 6 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
  9. Jermell Charlo – Expected to defend his undisputed 154-pound championship against top contender Tim Tszyu this summer but no agreement is in place.
  10. Gervonta Davis – Scheduled to face Ryan Garcia in a 136-pound bout on April 15 in Las Vegas.
  11. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Scheduled to challenge undisputed 135-pound champion Devin Haney on May 20 in Las Vegas.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – No fight scheduled.
  13. Shakur Stevenson – No fight scheduled.
  14. Roman Gonzalez – No fight scheduled.
  15. Devin Haney – Scheduled to defend his undisputed 135-pound championship against Vasiliy Lomachenko on May 20 in Las Vegas..

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): David Benavidez (no fight scheduled); Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled); Stephen Fulton Jr. (scheduled to defend his 122-pound title against No. 2 Naoya Inoue on July 25 in Tokyo); Kazuto Ioka (reportedly scheduled to challenge 115-pound titleholder Joshua Franco in June in Japan but no announcement has been made); Josh Taylor (scheduled to defend his WBO 140-pound title against Teofimo Lopez on June 10 in New York).

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Pound for pound: Was David Benavidez’s victory over Caleb Plant enough to elevate him?

Pound for pound: Was David Benavidez’s victory over Caleb Plant enough to elevate him higher on the list?

David Benavidez demonstrated in his one-sided victory over Caleb Plant on Saturday that he’s the best 168-pounder in the world not named Canelo Alvarez.

But was that accomplishment enough to lift the Honorable Mention pound-for-pounder higher on the list?

No. Here’s why.

Plant, an excellent boxer, arguably was the toughest opponent of Benavidez’s career even though the Phoenix native is a two-time world titleholder. And while it took time for Benavidez to close the distance on his fleet opponent, he ultimately delivered a beat down.

That’s why Benavidez was named Boxing Junkie Fighter of the Month for March.

However, Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs) probably will have to take down an opponent on the pound-for-pound list or possibly someone on the cusp in order to climb into the Top 15.

Of course, he’ll eventually get that opportunity if he continues to win. And based on what we saw this past weekend, it’s a good bet he’ll do so.

Next pound-for-pounder up: No. 13 Shakur Stevenson is scheduled to Shuichiro Yoshino in a 135-pound bout on Apri 8 in Newark, New Jersey.

Here’s what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – Ordered by the WBO to defend his 147-pound title against Alexis Rocha but no agreement is in place.
  2. Naoya Inoue – Scheduled to challenge 122-pound titleholder and Honorable Mention Stephen Fulton Jr. on July 25 in Tokyo.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – Talks with No. 6 Tyson Fury for a heavyweight title-unification bout fell apart, leaving Usyk with no opponent for the time being.
  4. Errol Spence Jr. – Unified 147-pound titleholder reportedly set to face Keith Thurman at 154 pounds in April but no official announcement has been made.
  5. Dmitry Bivol – Reportedly in talks to face No. 12 Artur Beterbiev in a 175-pound title-unification fight but no agreement is in place.
  6. Tyson Fury – Talks with No. 3 Oleksandr Usyk for a heavyweight title-unification bout fell apart, leaving Fury with no opponent for the time being.
  7. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  8. Canelo Alvarez– Scheduled to defend his undisputed 168-pound championship against John Ryder on May 6 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
  9. Jermell Charlo – Expected to defend his undisputed 154-pound championship against top contender Tim Tszyu this summer but no agreement is in place.
  10. Gervonta Davis – Scheduled to face Ryan Garcia in a 136-pound bout on April 15 in Las Vegas.
  11. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Scheduled to challenge undisputed 135-pound champion Devin Haney on May 20 in Las Vegas.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – Reportedly in talks to face No. 5 Dmitry Bivol in a 175-pound title-unification fight as early but no agreement is in place.
  13. Shakur Stevenson – Scheduled to face Shuichiro Yoshino in a 135-pound bout on April 8 in Newark, New Jersey.
  14. Roman Gonzalez – No fight scheduled.
  15. Devin Haney – Scheduled to defend his undisputed 135-pound championship against Vasiliy Lomachenko on May 20 in Las Vegas..

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): David Benavidez (no fight scheduled); Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled); Stephen Fulton Jr. (scheduled to defend his 122-pound title against No. 2 Naoya Inoue on July 25 in Tokyo); Kazuto Ioka (reportedly scheduled to challenge 115-pound titleholder Joshua Franco in June in Japan but no announcement has been made); Josh Taylor (reportedly will defend his WBO 140-pound title against Teofimo Lopez on June 10 in New York but no announcement has been made).

Pound for pound: Was David Benavidez’s victory over Caleb Plant enough to elevate him?

Pound for pound: Was David Benavidez’s victory over Caleb Plant enough to elevate him higher on the list?

David Benavidez demonstrated in his one-sided victory over Caleb Plant on Saturday that he’s the best 168-pounder in the world not named Canelo Alvarez.

But was that accomplishment enough to lift the Honorable Mention pound-for-pounder higher on the list?

No. Here’s why.

Plant, an excellent boxer, arguably was the toughest opponent of Benavidez’s career even though the Phoenix native is a two-time world titleholder. And while it took time for Benavidez to close the distance on his fleet opponent, he ultimately delivered a beat down.

That’s why Benavidez was named Boxing Junkie Fighter of the Month for March.

However, Benavidez (27-0, 23 KOs) probably will have to take down an opponent on the pound-for-pound list or possibly someone on the cusp in order to climb into the Top 15.

Of course, he’ll eventually get that opportunity if he continues to win. And based on what we saw this past weekend, it’s a good bet he’ll do so.

Next pound-for-pounder up: No. 13 Shakur Stevenson is scheduled to Shuichiro Yoshino in a 135-pound bout on Apri 8 in Newark, New Jersey.

Here’s what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – Ordered by the WBO to defend his 147-pound title against Alexis Rocha but no agreement is in place.
  2. Naoya Inoue – Scheduled to challenge 122-pound titleholder and Honorable Mention Stephen Fulton Jr. on July 25 in Tokyo.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – Talks with No. 6 Tyson Fury for a heavyweight title-unification bout fell apart, leaving Usyk with no opponent for the time being.
  4. Errol Spence Jr. – Unified 147-pound titleholder reportedly set to face Keith Thurman at 154 pounds in April but no official announcement has been made.
  5. Dmitry Bivol – Reportedly in talks to face No. 12 Artur Beterbiev in a 175-pound title-unification fight but no agreement is in place.
  6. Tyson Fury – Talks with No. 3 Oleksandr Usyk for a heavyweight title-unification bout fell apart, leaving Fury with no opponent for the time being.
  7. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  8. Canelo Alvarez– Scheduled to defend his undisputed 168-pound championship against John Ryder on May 6 in Guadalajara, Mexico.
  9. Jermell Charlo – Expected to defend his undisputed 154-pound championship against top contender Tim Tszyu this summer but no agreement is in place.
  10. Gervonta Davis – Scheduled to face Ryan Garcia in a 136-pound bout on April 15 in Las Vegas.
  11. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Scheduled to challenge undisputed 135-pound champion Devin Haney on May 20 in Las Vegas.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – Reportedly in talks to face No. 5 Dmitry Bivol in a 175-pound title-unification fight as early but no agreement is in place.
  13. Shakur Stevenson – Scheduled to face Shuichiro Yoshino in a 135-pound bout on April 8 in Newark, New Jersey.
  14. Roman Gonzalez – No fight scheduled.
  15. Devin Haney – Scheduled to defend his undisputed 135-pound championship against Vasiliy Lomachenko on May 20 in Las Vegas..

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): David Benavidez (no fight scheduled); Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled); Stephen Fulton Jr. (scheduled to defend his 122-pound title against No. 2 Naoya Inoue on July 25 in Tokyo); Kazuto Ioka (reportedly scheduled to challenge 115-pound titleholder Joshua Franco in June in Japan but no announcement has been made); Josh Taylor (reportedly will defend his WBO 140-pound title against Teofimo Lopez on June 10 in New York but no announcement has been made).

Pound for pound: Tim Tszyu one victory away from joining best in business

It’s not quite time to give Tim Tszyu pound-for-pound consideration but that could come the next time he fights. Tszyu (22-0, 16 KOs) delivered an attention-grabbing ninth-round knockout of veteran Tony Harrison in a scheduled 12-round 154-pound …

It’s not quite time to give Tim Tszyu pound-for-pound consideration but that could come the next time he fights.

Tszyu (22-0, 16 KOs) delivered an attention-grabbing ninth-round knockout of veteran Tony Harrison in a scheduled 12-round 154-pound bout over the weekend in Sydney, Australia, Tszyu’s hometown.

That sets up the opportunity of his career, a shot at No. 9-ranked Jermell Charlo’s undisputed championship in the next fight for both men, as early as summertime.

Tszyu has already knocked out former 147-pound titleholder Jeff Horn, outpointed capable Terrell Gausha and stopped another former beltholder in Harrison.

However, a victory over a pound-for-pounder on the rise like Charlo would allow Tszyu to follow in the footsteps of his famous father — Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu — and claim a place among the best handful of boxers on the planet.

Of course, defeating Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) would be no easy task, but most would give Tszyu a better chance after watching him disassemble Harrison (the only man to beat Charlo) than they would’ve beforehand.

Let’s hope negotiations go smoothly.

Next pound-for-pounder up: Honorable Mention David Benavidez, who fights Caleb Plant on March 25 in Las Vegas.

Here’s what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – Ordered by the WBO to defend his 147-pound title against Alexis Rocha but no agreement is in place. Also reportedly talking to No. 4 Errol Spence Jr. about a title-unification showdown.
  2. Naoya Inoue – Scheduled to challenge 122-pound titleholder and Honorable Mention Stephen Fulton Jr. on May 7 in Japan.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – Reportedly near a deal to face No. 6 Tyson Fury in a heavyweight title-unification bout but no agreement is in place.
  4. Errol Spence Jr. – Unified 147-pound titleholder reportedly set to face Keith Thurman at 154 pounds in April but no official announcement has been made. Also reportedly talking to No. 1 Terence Crawford about a title-unification showdown.
  5. Dmitry Bivol – Reportedly in talks to face No. 12 Artur Beterbiev in a 175-pound title-unification fight as early as June but no agreement is in place.
  6. Tyson Fury – Reportedly is near a deal to face No. 3 Oleksandr Usyk in a heavyweight title-unification bout but no agreement is in place.
  7. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  8. Canelo Alvarez– Reportedly has agreed to defend his undisputed 168-pound championship against John Ryder on May 6 in Mexico but no announcement has been made.
  9. Jermell Charlo – No fight scheduled.
  10. Gervonta Davis – Scheduled to face Ryan Garcia in a 136-pound bout on April 15 in Las Vegas.
  11. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Reportedly in talks to challenge undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney but no official announcement has been made.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – Reportedly in talks to face No. 5 Dmitry Bivol in a 175-pound title-unification fight as early as June but no agreement is in place.
  13. Shakur Stevenson – Scheduled to face Shuichiro Yoshino in a 135-pound bout on April 8 in Newark, New Jersey.
  14. Roman Gonzalez – No fight scheduled.
  15. Devin Haney – Reportedly has agreed to defend his undisputed lightweight championship against Vasiliy Lomachenko on May 20 but no official announcement has been made..

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): David Benavidez (scheduled to fight Caleb Plant on March 25); Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled); Stephen Fulton Jr. (scheduled to defend his 122-pound title against No. 2 Naoya Inoue on May 7 in Japan.); Kazuto Ioka (reportedly scheduled to challenge 115-pound titleholder Joshua Franco in June in Japan but no announcement has been made); Josh Taylor (reportedly will defend his WBO 140-pound title against Teofimo Lopez on June 10 in New York but no announcement has been made).

Pound for pound: Tim Tszyu one victory away from joining best in business

It’s not quite time to give Tim Tszyu pound-for-pound consideration but that could come the next time he fights. Tszyu (22-0, 16 KOs) delivered an attention-grabbing ninth-round knockout of veteran Tony Harrison in a scheduled 12-round 154-pound …

It’s not quite time to give Tim Tszyu pound-for-pound consideration but that could come the next time he fights.

Tszyu (22-0, 16 KOs) delivered an attention-grabbing ninth-round knockout of veteran Tony Harrison in a scheduled 12-round 154-pound bout over the weekend in Sydney, Australia, Tszyu’s hometown.

That sets up the opportunity of his career, a shot at No. 9-ranked Jermell Charlo’s undisputed championship in the next fight for both men, as early as summertime.

Tszyu has already knocked out former 147-pound titleholder Jeff Horn, outpointed capable Terrell Gausha and stopped another former beltholder in Harrison.

However, a victory over a pound-for-pounder on the rise like Charlo would allow Tszyu to follow in the footsteps of his famous father — Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu — and claim a place among the best handful of boxers on the planet.

Of course, defeating Charlo (35-1-1, 19 KOs) would be no easy task, but most would give Tszyu a better chance after watching him disassemble Harrison (the only man to beat Charlo) than they would’ve beforehand.

Let’s hope negotiations go smoothly.

Next pound-for-pounder up: Honorable Mention David Benavidez, who fights Caleb Plant on March 25 in Las Vegas.

Here’s what the list looks like at the moment:

BOXING JUNKIE
POUND-FOR-POUND

  1. Terence Crawford – Ordered by the WBO to defend his 147-pound title against Alexis Rocha but no agreement is in place. Also reportedly talking to No. 4 Errol Spence Jr. about a title-unification showdown.
  2. Naoya Inoue – Scheduled to challenge 122-pound titleholder and Honorable Mention Stephen Fulton Jr. on May 7 in Japan.
  3. Oleksandr Usyk – Reportedly near a deal to face No. 6 Tyson Fury in a heavyweight title-unification bout but no agreement is in place.
  4. Errol Spence Jr. – Unified 147-pound titleholder reportedly set to face Keith Thurman at 154 pounds in April but no official announcement has been made. Also reportedly talking to No. 1 Terence Crawford about a title-unification showdown.
  5. Dmitry Bivol – Reportedly in talks to face No. 12 Artur Beterbiev in a 175-pound title-unification fight as early as June but no agreement is in place.
  6. Tyson Fury – Reportedly is near a deal to face No. 3 Oleksandr Usyk in a heavyweight title-unification bout but no agreement is in place.
  7. Juan Francisco Estrada – No fight scheduled.
  8. Canelo Alvarez– Reportedly has agreed to defend his undisputed 168-pound championship against John Ryder on May 6 in Mexico but no announcement has been made.
  9. Jermell Charlo – No fight scheduled.
  10. Gervonta Davis – Scheduled to face Ryan Garcia in a 136-pound bout on April 15 in Las Vegas.
  11. Vasiliy Lomachenko – Reportedly in talks to challenge undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney but no official announcement has been made.
  12. Artur Beterbiev – Reportedly in talks to face No. 5 Dmitry Bivol in a 175-pound title-unification fight as early as June but no agreement is in place.
  13. Shakur Stevenson – Scheduled to face Shuichiro Yoshino in a 135-pound bout on April 8 in Newark, New Jersey.
  14. Roman Gonzalez – No fight scheduled.
  15. Devin Haney – Reportedly has agreed to defend his undisputed lightweight championship against Vasiliy Lomachenko on May 20 but no official announcement has been made..

Honorable mention (alphabetical order): David Benavidez (scheduled to fight Caleb Plant on March 25); Jermall Charlo (no fight scheduled); Stephen Fulton Jr. (scheduled to defend his 122-pound title against No. 2 Naoya Inoue on May 7 in Japan.); Kazuto Ioka (reportedly scheduled to challenge 115-pound titleholder Joshua Franco in June in Japan but no announcement has been made); Josh Taylor (reportedly will defend his WBO 140-pound title against Teofimo Lopez on June 10 in New York but no announcement has been made).

Weekend Review: Tim Tszyu takes another step forward but danger lurks

Weekend Review: Tim Tszyu took another step forward by stopping Tony Harrison but danger lurks on the horizon.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER

TIM TSZYU

It pays to believe in yourself. Tszyu was all but guaranteed the opportunity of a lifetime, a shot a Jermell Charlo’s undisputed 154-pound championship if he waited for Charlo’s broken hand to heal. Instead, because he would rather fight than sit idly, he took the significant risk of taking on former beltholder Tony Harrison in the meantime. A victory would keep him busy and set up the fight with Charlo. A loss would torpedo his plans altogether. Well, Tszyu took the gamble. And to say it paid off is an understatement. The Aussie patiently, methodically broke down one of the best technicians in the world before delivering a spectacular ninth-round knockout in front of his giddy hometown fans Saturday (Sunday in Australia) in Sydney. As a result, the fight with Charlo is even more compelling now, as Tszyu will be seen as a more significant threat. And he will have eight-plus rounds of experience against a crafty veteran, which will help him against Charlo and going forward. Yes, in retrospect, the son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu made a brilliant move.

 

BEST FATHER-SON BOXERS?

Kostya (right) and Tim Tszyu could end up as a legendary father-son combination. Mark Evans / Getty Images)

TSZYU

Who is boxing’s best father and son or daughter combination? Tszyu (22-0, 16 KOs) is entering the conversation. No father-son combination is an obvious choice for “best” at the moment, which leaves the door open for the Tszyus. One could argue it’s Muhammad and Laila Ali, both of whom are in the Hall of Fame. Leon and Cory Spinks are near the top of my list. And there are others in the mix: Floyd and Tracy Harris Patterson, Lenny and Ray Mancini, Wilfredo Vazquez Sr. and Jr., Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. and Jr., Guty Espadas Sr. and Jr., and Floyd Mayweather Sr. and Jr. However, in my opinion, there are no father-son/daughter combinations in which both of them were truly great. Kostya Tszyu was a great fighter. And while Tim is still far from that classification, he has a chance to get there. He can box, he can punch, he’s durable and he’s unflappable, ingredients that can take a fighter a long way. And he has a tremendous opportunity on the horizon: If he fights and beats Charlo – which is realistic – he will have the distinction of being an undisputed world champion. That wouldn’t necessarily lift him to “greatness” but it’s a giant step in that direction. We’ll see how this plays out.

 

BIGGEST LOSER

Tony Harrison gave a gallant effort but was overwhelmed. Mark Kolbe / Getty Images

TONY HARRISON

Harrison (29-4-1, 21 KOs) seemed to imply during a post-fight interview that he might be finished with boxing. “I train extremely hard to fight. I don’t need no more victories,” he said but wasn’t pressed on what he meant. If that was his last fight, he should be proud that he gave a gutsy, honest effort. He fought hard and had good moments, particularly when he fired off his long, quick jab. He simply didn’t have the wherewithal to cope with the relentless of pressure of Tszyu, who seems to both indefatigable and unusually strong. Harrison tried and failed, which is part of boxing. No shame in that. And, of course, there is no shame in a splendid career. The 32-year-old from Detroit is still the only man to beat the future Hall of Famer Charlo, from whom he took a world title in 2018 And he did it while Charlo was in his prime. Is it time for him to walk away? That would make sense. He’s now 1-2-1 in his last four fights, which obviously is a bad sign. And he had no answers whatsoever for Tszyu. Enough is enough.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

How would Tszyu fare against Charlo? Charlo was correct when he said after the fight that he is different from Harrison. Obviously, he’s better. He might not be quite as good a technician as Harrison but he’s superior in every other way, including his formidable punching power. Charlo probably has too much firepower for Tszyu. That said, I like the all-around ability Tszyu has demonstrated. And I love his grit. He’s a tough, tough guy. Charlo should be favored but the matchup isn’t as one-sided as some might think. . The CompuBox statistic that best told the story of the Tszyu-Harrison fight was the number of power punches thrown (and landed), 41.2 per round (16.6) for Tszyu and 17.4 (7.2) for Harrison. It’s difficult to win a fight with just a jab. … The scoring wasn’t outrageous – all three judges had it 77-75 for Tszyu after eight rounds, five rounds to three – but that seemed too tight given the winner’s effective pressure and huge advantage in power punches. I had it 78-74 for Tszyu. …

News item: Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk reportedly have agreed to terms on a fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship in late spring or early summer, probably in London. Usyk evidently accepted the short end of a 70-30 split of revenue, which makes sense to me because Fury is a much bigger figure than his Ukrainian counterpart. Usyk stipulated that he agreed to the financial terms with one caveat: Fury must donate £1 million to Ukraine’s war effort against Russia. I hope Fury accepts that condition. And I certainly hope that boxing doesn’t get in its own way once again. No deal is complete until there are signatures on contracts. Fingers crossed. … Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia is being billed as the biggest fight of the year. And it might end up being so if pay-per-view buys in the U.S. are the gauge. However, Fury-Usyk might be bigger internationally. And Terence Crawford–Errol Spence Jr. and Canelo Alvarez–David Benavidez might rival Davis-Garcia if those compelling fights are made. …

The hype for the Davis-Garcia fight, on April 22 in Las Vegas, kicked off last week. The matchup should resonate because of the fighters’ abilities – and knockout power – as well as their massive social media followings. Is any other matchup in history quite like it? I don’t think so. Who wins? You have to favor Davis. They both are quick handed and have one-punch knockout power but Davis is a better boxer and has more experience in big fights. Garcia might have a size advantage, although he had to agree to a 10-pound rehydration clause between the weigh-in on Friday and the day of fight to get the opportunity. I give Garcia a decent shot at victory, though. He’s a good, well-schooled boxer, might have the fastest hands in the sport and can knockout anyone with the right punch. Should be fun to watch.

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Weekend Review: Tim Tszyu takes another step forward but danger lurks

Weekend Review: Tim Tszyu took another step forward by stopping Tony Harrison but danger lurks on the horizon.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER

TIM TSZYU

It pays to believe in yourself. Tszyu was all but guaranteed the opportunity of a lifetime, a shot a Jermell Charlo’s undisputed 154-pound championship if he waited for Charlo’s broken hand to heal. Instead, because he would rather fight than sit idly, he took the significant risk of taking on former beltholder Tony Harrison in the meantime. A victory would keep him busy and set up the fight with Charlo. A loss would torpedo his plans altogether. Well, Tszyu took the gamble. And to say it paid off is an understatement. The Aussie patiently, methodically broke down one of the best technicians in the world before delivering a spectacular ninth-round knockout in front of his giddy hometown fans Saturday (Sunday in Australia) in Sydney. As a result, the fight with Charlo is even more compelling now, as Tszyu will be seen as a more significant threat. And he will have eight-plus rounds of experience against a crafty veteran, which will help him against Charlo and going forward. Yes, in retrospect, the son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu made a brilliant move.

 

BEST FATHER-SON BOXERS?

Kostya (right) and Tim Tszyu could end up as a legendary father-son combination. Mark Evans / Getty Images)

TSZYU

Who is boxing’s best father and son or daughter combination? Tszyu (22-0, 16 KOs) is entering the conversation. No father-son combination is an obvious choice for “best” at the moment, which leaves the door open for the Tszyus. One could argue it’s Muhammad and Laila Ali, both of whom are in the Hall of Fame. Leon and Cory Spinks are near the top of my list. And there are others in the mix: Floyd and Tracy Harris Patterson, Lenny and Ray Mancini, Wilfredo Vazquez Sr. and Jr., Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. and Jr., Guty Espadas Sr. and Jr., and Floyd Mayweather Sr. and Jr. However, in my opinion, there are no father-son/daughter combinations in which both of them were truly great. Kostya Tszyu was a great fighter. And while Tim is still far from that classification, he has a chance to get there. He can box, he can punch, he’s durable and he’s unflappable, ingredients that can take a fighter a long way. And he has a tremendous opportunity on the horizon: If he fights and beats Charlo – which is realistic – he will have the distinction of being an undisputed world champion. That wouldn’t necessarily lift him to “greatness” but it’s a giant step in that direction. We’ll see how this plays out.

 

BIGGEST LOSER

Tony Harrison gave a gallant effort but was overwhelmed. Mark Kolbe / Getty Images

TONY HARRISON

Harrison (29-4-1, 21 KOs) seemed to imply during a post-fight interview that he might be finished with boxing. “I train extremely hard to fight. I don’t need no more victories,” he said but wasn’t pressed on what he meant. If that was his last fight, he should be proud that he gave a gutsy, honest effort. He fought hard and had good moments, particularly when he fired off his long, quick jab. He simply didn’t have the wherewithal to cope with the relentless of pressure of Tszyu, who seems to both indefatigable and unusually strong. Harrison tried and failed, which is part of boxing. No shame in that. And, of course, there is no shame in a splendid career. The 32-year-old from Detroit is still the only man to beat the future Hall of Famer Charlo, from whom he took a world title in 2018 And he did it while Charlo was in his prime. Is it time for him to walk away? That would make sense. He’s now 1-2-1 in his last four fights, which obviously is a bad sign. And he had no answers whatsoever for Tszyu. Enough is enough.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

How would Tszyu fare against Charlo? Charlo was correct when he said after the fight that he is different from Harrison. Obviously, he’s better. He might not be quite as good a technician as Harrison but he’s superior in every other way, including his formidable punching power. Charlo probably has too much firepower for Tszyu. That said, I like the all-around ability Tszyu has demonstrated. And I love his grit. He’s a tough, tough guy. Charlo should be favored but the matchup isn’t as one-sided as some might think. . The CompuBox statistic that best told the story of the Tszyu-Harrison fight was the number of power punches thrown (and landed), 41.2 per round (16.6) for Tszyu and 17.4 (7.2) for Harrison. It’s difficult to win a fight with just a jab. … The scoring wasn’t outrageous – all three judges had it 77-75 for Tszyu after eight rounds, five rounds to three – but that seemed too tight given the winner’s effective pressure and huge advantage in power punches. I had it 78-74 for Tszyu. …

News item: Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk reportedly have agreed to terms on a fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship in late spring or early summer, probably in London. Usyk evidently accepted the short end of a 70-30 split of revenue, which makes sense to me because Fury is a much bigger figure than his Ukrainian counterpart. Usyk stipulated that he agreed to the financial terms with one caveat: Fury must donate £1 million to Ukraine’s war effort against Russia. I hope Fury accepts that condition. And I certainly hope that boxing doesn’t get in its own way once again. No deal is complete until there are signatures on contracts. Fingers crossed. … Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia is being billed as the biggest fight of the year. And it might end up being so if pay-per-view buys in the U.S. are the gauge. However, Fury-Usyk might be bigger internationally. And Terence Crawford–Errol Spence Jr. and Canelo Alvarez–David Benavidez might rival Davis-Garcia if those compelling fights are made. …

The hype for the Davis-Garcia fight, on April 22 in Las Vegas, kicked off last week. The matchup should resonate because of the fighters’ abilities – and knockout power – as well as their massive social media followings. Is any other matchup in history quite like it? I don’t think so. Who wins? You have to favor Davis. They both are quick handed and have one-punch knockout power but Davis is a better boxer and has more experience in big fights. Garcia might have a size advantage, although he had to agree to a 10-pound rehydration clause between the weigh-in on Friday and the day of fight to get the opportunity. I give Garcia a decent shot at victory, though. He’s a good, well-schooled boxer, might have the fastest hands in the sport and can knockout anyone with the right punch. Should be fun to watch.

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Photos: Tim Tszyu’s brutal stoppage of Tony Harrison

Photos: Tim Tszyu’s brutal stoppage of Tony Harrison.

Tim Tszyu knocked out Tony Harrison in the ninth round of a scheduled 12-round 154-pound bout Saturday (Sunday in Australia) in Sydney to set up a fight with undisputed champion Jermell Charlo.

Here are images from the fight. All photos by Mark Kolbe and Saeed Khan of Getty Images.

 

Photos: Tim Tszyu’s brutal stoppage of Tony Harrison

Photos: Tim Tszyu’s brutal stoppage of Tony Harrison.

Tim Tszyu knocked out Tony Harrison in the ninth round of a scheduled 12-round 154-pound bout Saturday (Sunday in Australia) in Sydney to set up a fight with undisputed champion Jermell Charlo.

Here are images from the fight. All photos by Mark Kolbe and Saeed Khan of Getty Images.