With a record of 14-0, there was no doubt that former WBO lightweight champion Keyshawn Davis was a fighter to watch. Davis, however, was a man who had a tendency to get into trouble. Whether he appeared overweight during a fight, was caught with marijuana in his system, or was accused of fighting outside the ring, an air of irresponsibility hung over the man’s reputation. But on Saturday night in Virginia, Davis tried to repair his career by coming face to face with Nahir Albright, whom he had previously fought several years ago. The question was, could Davis fully assert himself and focus enough to become the fighter he probably should have been all along?
The fight was portrayed as a grudge match and there is no doubt that both men had a history of personal hostility. After all, this marijuana test occurred after Davis made his decision in the Albright case. The fight ended in a no-contest result, but there’s no doubt the damage was done. Then there was a backstage fight/intense argument that broke out between the two men after Albright beat up Davis’ older brother. To his credit, David admitted that he acted inappropriately in this situation.
At Friday’s weigh-in, Davis had some trouble making the weight, but was able to get on the scale correctly the second time. When Saturday night came, all that was left was to fight. If Davis could prove his worth with impressive results, it would certainly aid his career at this stage. Despite everything, he would still be an undefeated former world champion. On the other hand, failure would cause stern damage not only to Davis’s reputation, but also to his career prospects. It was a very essential fight. The home run in Norfolk, Virginia undoubtedly gave Davis the edge, but was it enough?
Unfortunately, the first half of the match was not electrifying. That being said, Davis looked good. He was faster than his man and controlled the pace of the fight. He also landed well. While Albright certainly had a chance to win, there was a stark difference in skill that was painfully obvious almost immediately after the opening buzzer. Whatever may be said about the first battle between these two men, the second battle – at least the first half of the second battle – belonged to Davis.
For reasons few will ever understand, Davis decided to literally pick Albright up about halfway through the 7th and throw him to the canvas. Suffice it to say that the player lost two points as a result. Fortunately, Albright was able to get up in not too bad shape. In the next round, he hit Davis at the finish… or maybe he dropped him, that’s a better word. Because his indiscretion wasn’t as brutal as Davis’s. With this in mind, Davis was able to land Albright demanding and effectively slow in the round.
Davis continued to dominate throughout the final quarter of the fight. He actually wounded his man around the 11th. The question wasn’t who would win, but could Albright survive until the final bell? Davis, on the other hand, looked almost relaxed in his wildness. He even started showing off towards the end of the round. Davis went all out in the final round, really trying to knock his fighter out. Thanks to him. Albright was able to stay standing until the final bell, but there was no doubt that he had to rise to the occasion.
Suffice it to say, no one was surprised when, courtesy of the judges, Davis received a unanimous decision. If Davis stays edged and focused, great things could be in store for him. There is even talk of a possible fight with Devin Haney… an essential event for every fighter. Also profitable.
Mike Tyson looks explosive again. The combinations are keen, the body shots are breathtaking, and social media does exactly what it always does when a heavyweight legend posts training videos.
A few days before his 60th birthday, Tyson is once again receiving praise from fans who are convinced that the former undisputed champion still has something in him.
Mike is a beast at 60, but that’s not the point.
Mike Tyson illusion
The thing is, fans have seen this before.
Before Tyson fought Jake Paul, the internet was flooded with clips of him turning back time. The swift hands, vicious combinations and flashes of ancient Iron Mike convinced many people that when the bell rang, something special could happen.
There was no avoiding the hype as the footage stood out and people wanted to believe it.
Those waiting for the promise of another night featuring the ancient Iron Mike were largely disappointed with Jake Paul, and even those who craved nostalgia would be hard-pressed to get anything out of that night in Texas.
Tyson struggled to pull the trigger, landed very little, and weakened as the fight went on. He later admitted that he barely remembered the competition and had effectively erased most of the experience.
The Mike Tyson seen in these training clips never actually showed up when the fight started.
What we have already seen
Paul later admitted that he chose to leave Tyson alone rather than pursue a knockout, leading to calls for the knockout bets to be refunded. The YouTuber also admitted that as the rounds went on, Tyson’s age became more and more obvious, something boxing people had been saying long before the fight.
Tyson looks good. Nobody can deny that. For a man approaching 60, he is absolutely remarkable, just like Jake Paul before him.
The problem arises when these clips stop being training material and start being evidence that Tyson intends to turn back time.
A few seconds of pad work and massive bag work suddenly becomes evidence that another vintage Tyson performance is just around the corner, even though boxing saw the same story play out before the Paul fight and saw how it ended.
MVP / Netflix
Floyd Mayweather
Now the conversation turned to Floyd Mayweather, another all-time great fighter, but one who can still move and box much better and faster than Tyson’s ancient YouTuber foe.
If this fight does happen, Tyson will struggle to fight from the opening bell and will likely fade even further as the fall passes a few months from his 60th birthday, leaving fans once again wondering how these video clips generated such high expectations.
We watched the movies and then the fight. Tyson later admitted he barely remembered it, and Paul admitted he let it go rather than push for a break.
Therefore, the latest footage should be viewed as is.
The danger comes when people start to believe that these clips are the same Mike Tyson they remember from the 1980s.
A few days before his milestone birthday, Tyson is once again an energetic participant in training.
The difference is that we’ve seen it all before.
About the author
Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.
Jose Benavidez senior has been critical of Canelo Alvarez’s future in the sport, believing WBC champion Christian Mbilli could send him into retirement.
The two pairs will fight for Mbilli’s super middleweight world title on September 12, giving Canelo a chance to regain one of his belts in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.
At this stage, many suspect that the 35-year-old is past his prime and may be just one or two fights away from ending his decorated career.
Most, however, would still consider him the clear favorite against Mbilli, who was promoted from “interim” to full WBC champion following Crawford’s retirement last year.
The Frenchman defended his “interim” title after a 10-round draw with Lester Martinez, who was on the Canelo-Crawford card in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, Canelo has long been competing at the highest level, having been somewhat blamed for dodging three-division world champion David Benavidez.
I’m talking to Fighting Hub TVBenavidez’s father and coach Jose has shared his thoughts on the four-division world champion’s upcoming assignment against Mbilla.
“I think his era is over – reflexes, speed, power [and his] he has no legs, so we see Canelo gradually decline.
“This could be another loss for him [against Mbilli]. Mbilli is a little fresher, but I don’t think he’s an elite player.
“At the end of the day, they’re trying to place it [Canelo in with] players he can beat.”
While Benavidez gives Mbilli the appearance of a chance, he seems more confident that the 31-year-old has been handpicked as a beatable opponent for Canelo.
It’s part of up-to-date boxing. Competitors watch videos of other competitors they are about to face as often as possible. Watching what a player has done before can logically be an indication of what he will do again. Watching film of future opponents makes a lot of sense, and many, if not most, fighters do it whenever they have the opportunity. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez, however, is a different story. The undefeated 23-0 fighter made it clear that watching the tape can be misleading. And indeed, this man is right because he points out that a player can easily change his strategy.
“I like to just go out for the first few rounds and see what they bring to the table,” Rodriguez told Boxing Scene. “You can go out and watch all the movies in the world and he can change his style on fight night.” So what does this man make of strategy? “Just go there and see what they bring.” There is no doubt that Rodriguez’s next opponent will be more than ecstatic to show Rodriguez what he can bring to the fight. On the 13th of this month, Rodriguez will face Antonio Vargas.
At stake will be the WBA bantamweight belt. If he wins, Rodriguez will be a three-time world champion. Suffice it to say, the scheduled 12-rounder against Vargas is a match Rodriguez is expected to win. But strange things happen in boxing, and Vargas is not a man to be taken lightly. This is especially true when you consider that Naoya Inoue could be on the horizon if Rodriguez wins. Regardless of whether he watches the video or not, Rodriguez will certainly want to step into the ring on January 13 in the best shape of his life
But the ever-confident Rodriguez doesn’t seem overwhelmed by where he’s at in his career. “A lot of people may not know who Antonio Vargas is,” Rodriguez said (via Boxing Scene ), “but me and my team do.” He may not be watching the film, but it’s clear that Rodriguez is getting to know his opponent next week. “We don’t take this lightly at all,” he said. “We are in the gym every day giving 100 percent.” Without a doubt, Vargas is training like never before. After all, he has plenty on the line on the 13th.
However, there is a reason why Rodriguez is the favorite. He is only 26 years senior, but he has already achieved many achievements in the ring. He is as talented and agile as he is tough and hazardous. Some might even argue that Rodriguez is the entire package one could want in a player. Rodriguez no doubt hopes that’s the case… or maybe he already believes it. Once again, this is not a man who probably lacks self-confidence. He’s proven a lot so far, and if he performs well against Vargas, he could start to prove a lot more.
However, it is worth noting that Vargas is also a confident person. And unlike Rodriguez, he may be watching his opponent’s video. “We focused on every detail,” he told British Boxing News. “Condition, strategy, sparring, everything was done at a masterful level.” Vargas added that: “I feel like I’ve reached another level during this camp. I’m hungry to show the boxing world this version of myself.”
Sounds like something completely novel. Perhaps Rodriguez is absolutely right that he doesn’t study the tape after all. In fact, the men’s approach to preparation has certainly proven effective so far.
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