2016 Heavyweight Closer – This past weekend saw heavyweight boxing take center stage as two world title fights were contested.
England saw IBF world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua make short work of American Eric Molina in the headline fight of Eddie Hearn’s big boxing card at the Manchester Arena. Joshua moved to 18-0 with an easy third round TKO of Molina who was hapless and prone on the ropes when the referee stepped in to save him. Molina had a reputation as a crafty veteran who had gone 9 decent rounds with WBC champion Deontay Wilder last year, but he was able to do absolutely nothing with Joshua in a performance that can only be labelled embarassing. Joshua was joined by Wladimir Klitschko in the post fight celebrations and Joshua versus Klitschko was announced for April 29 of next year.
In New Zealand, the vacant WBO world heavyweight belt is going home with Joseph Parker as he won a tight majority decision victory over American Andy Ruiz Jr. Both men were undefeated fighters heading in and the result has sparked some controversy as a member of New Zealand’s Boxing Association publically stated that he though Ruiz Jr was robbed and that Parker’s win was a farce.
The 2016 NFL Season is coming to a close. See more here.
Two other notable heavyweight contests went down in Manchester as Dereck Chisora and Dillian Whyte went twelve hotly contested rounds in a WBC world title eliminator. On a card that in general had suspect matchmaking, Chisora and Whyte put on the fight of the night. There was a lot of anger in the pre-fight build-up, with the loose cannon Chisora throwing a table at opponent Whyte at one of the pre-fight pressers. The performance by both men was easily the biggest crowd pleaser on the card.
Also on the card was undefeated Luis Ortiz, who ran his record to 27-0 with a seventh round stoppage of David Allen. Ortiz recently signed with British promoter Eddie Hearn and this is his second fight since November. In contrast to Whyte and Chisora, who left everything in the ring, this performance by Ortiz showed the big Cuban simply going through the motions against the outlcassed Allen.
The Heavyweights will be back center stage in Russia on December 17th as Alexander Povetkin and Bermane Stiverne fight for an interim version of the WBC world heavyweight championship. The winner would be in line for a shot at Deontay Wilder or he could be challenged by Dillian Whyte.
The boxing world is awaiting the return of Deontay Wilder, the WBC champion who tore his bicep in his last win this past July. It will likely be sometime in the March or April timeframe that we see Wilder return to the ring, but he will certainly be returning to a heavyweight dibvision that is getting very interesting.
2016 Heavyweight Closer
It has been a long time since TnS has had a guest on , but this latest Talk’n’Shoot Boxing Podcast calls on the talents of special guest and boxing pundit Frank Lotierzo of The Sweet Science. Frank brings 30 years of experience in the boxing game to the table and his knowledge and insight take TnS to a whole new level.
2016 Heavyweight Closer / Check out more of Frank Lotierzo’s work at The Sweet Science.
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