Boxing
Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez reveals his top three fighters without division by weight class
Published
4 months agoon
By
J. HumzaPerhaps the only thing more pointless than making a top 10 pound-for-pound list is arguing about a top 10 pound-for-pound list. Ultimately, doing so will produce no winner, will yield no reward, and will ultimately only serve to highlight the impossibility of understanding what exactly the pound-for-pound list represents.
As for what it supposedly represents, it means, like most things, different things to different people. Ultimately, however, a pound-for-pound list is only good for wasting time and generating debate. It serves no greater purpose than that, and certainly has no bearing on any particular fighter’s legacy or status in the sport.
That said, for those interested in such things, here are the top three without a pound-by-pound breakdown according to Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez: “For me, (Oleksandr) Usyk is number one, (Naoya) Inoue is number two, and (Terence) Crawford is number three. Usyk is the undisputed heavyweight champion; there’s nothing better”. As for the overall value of the list without a pound breakdown, Rodriguez, 19-0 (12), said: “At first, honestly, I never cared about it (the list). But once I was put on the list without a pound breakdown, it was more of a shock than anything else. From then on, I wanted to stay on that list and be listed among the best players in that top ten. Getting on the list is something I want, and this fight will move me even higher if I win.”
Already, having not defeated Juan Francisco Estrada, his opponent on Saturday (June 29), Jesse Rodriguez is considered one of the best fighters without division into weight classes in this sport. But with a victory on Saturday, the Texan will know that he will not only join the elite – that is, move up the list without division by weight class – but will achieve more at the age of 24 than most fighters can imagine. In fact, just being on a list like this at this age, whether he’s 10 or at the top, is a testament to both his talent and the rate at which he’s developing.
But in the end, it’s the wins that matter, not the fans’ opinions. That’s why it was witty to watch the passionate reaction of Turki Alalshikh, one of the most powerful men in the sport, after he came across a specific list without weight division last month. Alalshikh, recent to the game, posted this top 10 list on social media and wrote under it: “(Naoya) Inoue is a great boxer, but (Terence) Crawford is number one regardless of weight class. I don’t know how the rankings work or if there are clear criteria, but there seems to be some personal opinions and inconsistencies involved. I believe that boxing needs one entity that will judge with transparency and credibility. I will soon support a project on this matter.”
A post too good to ignore, it’s difficult to know exactly where to start. First, if there’s one place where personal opinions have no bearing on the pound-for-pound lists – or their rankings at all – it’s BoxRec.com, where, of course, everything is computer-generated and done on points. system. This doesn’t mean their rankings are perfect, quite the contrary, but any accusations of bias are basically moot when it comes to this site.
Secondly, the idea that BoxRec.com’s pound-for-pound list should be an impetus for change in an unruly sport like boxing is bizarre in the extreme. Moreover, the notion that sport needs a single “crystal clear and credible judging entity” becomes equally absurd when you consider the types of people involved in providing so-called ratings, transparency and credibility. Ideally, everything in the sport would be better regulated and streamlined, but to think that something like that is the future of boxing is a bit quixotic to say the least.
Moreover, despite talk of “personal opinions and inaccuracies”, Alalshikh’s response to BoxRec.com’s pound-for-pound list comes from exactly the same place, no doubt inspired by the fact that he is currently working with Terence Crawford, a man whom says. And by the way, that’s fine too, because Alalshikh’s view that Crawford is number one in terms of price to pound ratio is neither ridiculous nor his view alone. In fact, it’s a view shared by many, reinforced even more after Crawford’s stunning 2023 victory over welterweight rival and fellow pound-for-pound title challenger Errol Spence.
Maybe Alalshikh is just excited, that’s all. Maybe as a newcomer and shaker in the sport, he’s testing the limits of his power and seeing how far he can go. Maybe, with Naoya Inoue recently adding a great performance to his legacy against Luis Nery, and Oleksandr Usyk doing the same with a win over Tyson Fury, the pound-for-pound debate is becoming a worthy topic of conversation; or at least as worthy as it can be. Maybe next month, when Crawford fights Israil Madrimov, we’ll have an even clearer picture of where these three (Crawford, Inoue, and Usyk) fall on a list that really doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things.
Indeed, the best that can be said about it is this: the sport, in terms of top-level talent, is in good shape. That is to say, in Crawford, Inoue and Usyk we have three men whose skills would probably have allowed them to flourish in any previous era in boxing history. These are not simply three men who are world champions in their weight classes and are now enjoying long, unbeaten streaks. Rather, they are three of the most talented we have ever seen in the sport, and they just happen to have reached their peaks at roughly the same time.
This trio is so good that it’s difficult to guess which one will stumble first; that is, they will give way in a race in which they do not even realize they are competing. There have been almost no signs so far. Inoue, it’s true, was knocked down for the first time in his professional career against Nery, but the way he turned the tide in that fight only added credibility to his claim to be number one. Similarly, Usyk, despite being somewhat handicapped as a relatively miniature heavyweight, is now achieving feats that the likes of Inoue and Crawford are unable to achieve by virtue of fighting opponents who weigh as much as they do. In the fight for number one without a pound division, this is definitely a must-have.
Which of course it does. Like the list itself, being a heavyweight means both everything and nothing to Usyk. It means the Ukrainian’s accomplishments will always have an x-factor that those of Crawford and Inoue lack, and it also means that the pound-for-pound list becomes even more meaningless than it does when we only rank fighters whose legacies are built against opponents who weigh as much as they do.
Already, one could argue that these three – Usyk, Crawford and Inoue – are overreacting. Usyk, chasing the massive heavyweight dogs, overdoes it every time he competes, while Crawford and Inoue, whether for money or pound-for-pound supremacy, are forever associated with fights that are only realistic to a certain type of fan. In this case, that means Canelo Alvarez for Crawford and Gervonta Davis for Inoue, which on the one hand excites, but on the other hand makes you question not only the sanity of those involved in the sport, but from time to time the health of the sport itself.
You may like
Boxing
Deontay Wilder has only one option left or his career is over
Published
3 days agoon
November 1, 2024Deontay Wilder continues to deny that he has the only real chance to win another world title.
Wilder has a sedate chance of becoming a two-weight world champion after losing for the fourth time in his career.
The American was dominated by Joseph Parker in Saudi Arabia before being knocked out by Zhilei Zhang.
Wilder remains adamant that he can still become a two-time ruler of the weight class, despite the obvious possibility of being relegated to the bridge division.
“I need to get my killer instinct back. I’m too composed; I’m too joyful. When I had this dog inside me, no one had a chance. I will be a two-time heavyweight champion of the world,” Wilder told 78SPORTSTV.
At just Parker’s 213 pounds, Wilder was eleven pounds under the bridge weight benchmark. He could enter the rankings right away at 224 pounds and finish high in the rankings.
Due to his standing in the World Boxing Council, which means he is ranked in the top 15 despite one victory in five years, World Boxing News understands that Wilder could even be rated number one if he ever decides to cut weight.
He had previously ruled out fighting at super cruiserweight, but that was before he lost three times in his last four fights.
The “Brown Bomber” can’t cope with bigger heavyweights who operate the right tactics. Therefore, his fixation on the world champion may finally cause Wilder to swallow his pride and go down.
If he ever did, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman would undoubtedly rate the huge boxer as capable of immediately fighting for the belt.
For now, Wilder still believes he can compete in the top flight.
“I want to give the fans what they want to see,” Wilder added, before delving into Joshua’s career. “There is a difference between being born a champion and becoming one.
“Once you become one, you are very selective about who you choose. You move carefully through the jungle.
“When you are born a King, you don’t give because you are a King. I am a born king. He is [Joshua] became king, and if not, then [the fight] would happen.”
The current bridgeweight champion is Łukasz Różański. The undefeated Pole in his current form would still be a complex proposition for Wilder.
But Wilder will never lose his punching power. This means he will always have a chance to continue his legacy as the ruler of the two-weight boxing world.
It all comes down to pride.
Boxing
Canelo vs Chris Eubank Jr fight falls apart after ‘completely false’ claims
Published
4 days agoon
October 31, 2024Canelo Alvarez fighting Chris Eubank Jr. is out of the question as coach Eddy Reynoso claims the Briton missed his chance.
Reynoso was reacting to claims by Eubank and his team that the fight could take place at Wembley Stadium in England next May. According to Reynoso, who told former World Boxing News chief writer Dan Rafael, Canelo is looking in a different direction.
Eubank said before rejecting Reynoso Heavenly sports“This fight could happen within the next year. There is no available fighter pool and no more names that fight fans want to see.
“After [David] Benavidez, there are no other boys. Maybe [Artur] Beterbieva and [Dmitry] Bivol, but they’re not in his weight class and he probably wouldn’t defend these guys.
“Me and Canelo would be a damn good combination. Two very different personalities and very different backgrounds. That would be great fun. This will be great fun.”
. @Canelo he doesn’t talk @ChrisEubankJr According to Canelo’s manager, there are no plans to meet with him @CANELOTEAMwho spoke to Fight Freaks Unite and dismissed the comments made by @boxxerBen Shalom. Read my story and sign up for mine #box bulletin: https://t.co/5pBHOLKluW pic.twitter.com/7robTlh0y1
— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) October 30, 2024
In an interview with Rafael for his daily newsletter, Reynoso firmly stated that the fight would never happen and that Eubank would no longer be considered.
“It’s completely false. Eubank had his chance to fight Canelo in September. All he did was complicate the negotiations. We will not contact him again before a future fight.”
When asked if they had a successor in line, Reynoso replied, “Anyone but Eubank,” to make sure the son of a legend knew his place in line.
Eubank may turn to Conor Benn again after his recent clash with his nemesis in Saudi Arabia. Promoter Ben Shalom also spoke to Sky Sports about Canelo before Reynoso ended the fight.
“The two fights for me are Canelo and Conor Benn. We have already started brief talks about fighting Canelo,” Shalom told Sky Sports.
“Of course [Canelo] last time it was close. I believe this is a fight that interests Canelo. You can imagine a press conference in the UK and the US. It would be absolutely huge.
“I think Canelo needs dance partners, but he also needs stars. I don’t think his last few opponents were the biggest stars. Chris Eubank Jr. he is definitely a large star.
“If he ever fights in the UK it will be a sell-out fight at Wembley Stadium. For me, that’s number one on the list.”
Judging by Reynoso’s comments, Benn is taking the reins again as Eubank’s next opponent.
Boxing
Manny Flores scores a 110-second KO at Golden Boy Fight Night
Published
1 week agoon
October 26, 2024The final installment of Golden Boy Fight Night on DAZN in 2024 ended with absolute fireworks, with Coachella Valley hometown hero Manuel “Gucci Manny” Flores (19-1, 15 KO) ending the fight at 1:50 of the first round when he faced from Sonora, Mexican Victor Olivo (21-5-1, 9 KO).
The 10-round super bantamweight fight ended with a massive punch to the body from which Olivo was unable to recover. The event took place live at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino and was broadcast worldwide on DAZN.
“I feel good,” said Manuel Flores. “It was only one round, so I feel good, I can start again. Today I give myself a B. I should have stopped it sooner.
During the co-main gala organized in cooperation with Miguel Cotto Promotions, Tito Sanchez (14-0, 8 KO) from Cathedral City electrified the audience with a stunning knockout victory over the tough Edwin “Pupo” Palomares (18-5-3, 9 KO). The 10-round featherweight fight began with fierce action, with Palomares’ right eye being cut in the second round and Sanchez’s left eye being cut by an accidental headbutt in the third. It was at the end of the eighth round that Sanchez landed a series of punches with his right hand, ending the fight at 0:53, securing the victory by KO.
“I feel really great,” said Tito Sanchez. “My performance wasn’t great in the earlier rounds because I wasn’t letting go yet, but when I threw with my right hand it worked and that’s what we were waiting for, that moment. Palomares kept throwing; he wouldn’t let me put my foot down so I could catch him with my right. His condition was excellent. Today he was in the right place.”
Maintaining his undefeated record, Coachella Valley’s Grant Flores (7-0, 5 KO) defeated Karolina and Luis Ramos (7-5-1, 7 KO) in a six-round middleweight fight. The back and forth action kept fans on their feet; Flores received a warning in the third round for a low punch, and Ramos went to a knee in the fifth round. The judges scored the fight unanimously in Flores’ favor with scores of 60-53, 59-54 and 60-53. Also at the DAZN gala, in a super-lightweight fight scheduled for six rounds, Daniel “Junebug” Garcia (10-0, 8 KO) from Denver defeated Jorge Villegas from California (14-3, 13 KO) from Oxnard by knockout in the second round. Villegas succumbed twice to Garcia’s power and did not survive the 10-count.
Also representing Coachella Valley, Cayden Griffiths (2-0, 2 KO) dazzled the audience by knocking out Markus Bowes (3-7, 2 KO) of Roxboro, North Carolina, in the third round in a welterweight fight scheduled for four rounds. Opening the DAZN broadcast, Johnny “Sugarcane” Cañas (6-0, 2 KO) from Santa Ana defeated Pedro “Zurdo de Oro” Cruz (3-6, 2 KO) from San Jose. The six-round lightweight fight was controlled largely by Cañas, with Cruz suffering a cut to his right eye from an accidental headbutt and a cut to his left eye from a tough blow to the head. All three judges scored the fight 60-54 for Cañas.
In the preliminary fights, Daniel “Ikaika” Luna (5-1, 5 KO) of Victorville added another knockout to his resume, defeating Caracas, Giovanna Gonzalez (2-6, 2 KO) of Venezuela in the second round. Scheduled as a four-round lightweight match, Luna sent Gonzalez to the mat twice in the second round and the referee waved off the fight at 2:44. Kicking off the fight night with a four-round super bantamweight bout, Kevin Gudiño (1-0, 1 KO) of West Covina made a successful professional debut, defeating Bryan Cox (0-2) of Cedar Hill, Texas, by technical knockout. Cox was knocked to the mat in the first round, and his corner kick stopped the fight after the first round.
Fundora made history and is the youngest undisputed title holder – World Boxing Association
Claressa Shields vs Ivana Habazin – FULL FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE I Showtime Boxing
Exclusive: Regis Prograis Reacts To Catterall Loss & Retirement Next?
Trending
-
Interviews4 weeks ago
Carl Froch predicts that Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol
-
MMA6 months ago
Max Holloway is on a mission at UFC 212
-
Interviews3 weeks ago
Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol
-
MMA6 months ago
Cris Cyborg ready to add a UFC title to her collection
-
Boxing4 months ago
Lucas Bahdi ready to test his skills against Ashton Sylve
-
Interviews6 months ago
I fell in love with boxing again
-
MMA6 months ago
The Irish showed up in droves at the Mayweather-McGregor weigh-in
-
Opinions & Features4 weeks ago
Dmitry Bivol: The story so far