Boxing
More assertive Justis Huni stops Troy Pilcher in two rounds
Published
6 months agoon
By
J. HumzaHeavyweight contender Justis Huni promised to show a up-to-date, aggressive side of his personality.
It paid immediate dividends as he stopped the hard-hitting Troy Pilcher in the second round on Thursday night at the Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane, Australia.
Critics of the 25-year-old former amateur star have often pointed to his lack of strength relative to his enormous frame. But with the speed and footwork of a middleweight, the 6-foot-3 Huni rarely had to sit on his punches or trade blow for blow.
In March, something changed. Boxing as part of the Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Huni was in complete control of his opponent, Kevin Lerena, until the 10th and final round. The experienced South African left-hander was urged by his corner to find something extra for his recently deceased mother, and he did exactly that, seriously unsettling the Australian with a left jab.
Huni took a rabbit step. He staggered around the ring. He came close and ultimately survived, winning a unanimous decision 96-94, 96-94, 98-92.
Something changed in him that night. And maybe for the better.
During the media tour ahead of the Pilcher fight, Huni (10-0, 5 knockouts) tried to explain that he had been working on his strength and technique to make the most of his precise punches.
This bore fruit in his fight against the 29-year-old Recent Zealander, who was submitted at 2:26 of the second round.
Pilcher’s plan was to ambush Huni from the opening bell. He loaded up with a right hook and threw Huni off balance in the clinch, driving him back to the ropes. But as is often the case in such scenes, the cream of the crop came out on top.
Huni absorbed the pressure and pushed away from the clinch, creating space for punches. When there was space, faster, sharper, more precise punches came from Huni.
Pilcher (9-1-1, 7 KOs) landed a good punch overdue in the round, but it was Huni who showed off a more classic performance, landing two powerful body shots just before the bell.
Huni settled into his rhythm early in the second round. A stiff left to the body followed by a right over the top set the tone for the whole affair. A left hook from the front reminded Pilcher that he would be punished for being too bold.
Pilcher tried his best, striking with force, but it had little effect on Huni, who looked placid in the eye of the storm.
Left hook, right hook Huni landed Pilcher in the middle of the round, but the underdog bit the mouthpiece and fought on, landing a quality right hook. Huni responded with a two-handed body attack that made Pilcher wince and catch his breath.
With less than 50 seconds left on the clock, Huni unleashed a long left hook that caught Pilcher in a nap. His head snapped back and he stumbled against the ropes. Huni, with his newfound confidence in his strength, wasn’t going to let him get away. A rigid right hook caught Pilcher in the chin, and as he swung his right hand to the top rope for support, Huni moved in to finish him off with a flurry of punches, finishing it off with a right hook that dropped to the mat in the blue corner just before the towel came in, ending the fight.
The fight was scheduled for 10 sessions, but it never looked like it would get to that point. Huni made sure of that.
“I knew he was going to come out sturdy and give it his all in the first round. I just had to find my distance and dial in my punches,” said Huni, who weighed 247½ pounds for the fight, his career-high.
“It’s just another drop. I’m one step closer to my dream. We’ll just keep going from here.
“It wasn’t filthy. He had to do what he had to do. He tried to frustrate me, but I had to pick my shots and get the job done.”
Huni wants to have two more fights this year, but has no specific preferences as to who they will fight.
“I’ll let the team decide,” he said. “I’m ready. I’ll try to be as busy as I can this year. Hopefully we’ll have two more fights this year and next year we’ll have another busy year.”
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Boxing
Ryan Rozicki is waiting for Badou Jack’s consent to mandatory cooperation with the WBC
Published
3 days agoon
January 13, 2025The World Boxing Council (WBC) ordered world cruiserweight champion Badou “The Ripper” Jack (20-1-1, 19 KO) to make a mandatory title defense against Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (20-1), number 1 in the WBC ranking – 1, 19 KOs).
If both camps fail to successfully negotiate an agreement, the WBC will organize a tender on February 4, followed by the Jack vs. Rozicki. Rozicki’s promoter, Three Lions Promotions, immediately sent Team Jacek an offer to promote the fight in Canada last week.
“We are waiting for their counteroffer,” explained promoter Dan Otter of Three Lions Promotions. “Boxing has had a huge resurgence in Canada and Ryan is leading the way. He is one of the most electrifying and hardest-hitting fighters in boxing, definitely in the cruiserweight division. He wants the WBC green belt and ultimately the unification of the division. Ryan will fight Jack anywhere for the belt.”
29-year-old Rozicki, born in Sydney (Nova Scotia) and living in Hamilton (Ontario), fought 22 professional fights against 21 different opponents (twice against Yamil Alberto Peralta), stopping 19 of the 20 opponents he defeated. an eye-opening 95-KO percentage.
Jack, 41, was a 2008 Olympian representing his native Sweden. He is a three-division world champion, as well as the WBC super middleweight and World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight heavyweight title holder. Jack has a record of 5-0-2 (2 KO) in world championship fights.
“We respect Jack and I don’t want to sound disrespectful,” Otter added, “but he’s over 40 years vintage and has been relatively inactive for two years (only one fight). He brings a lot of experience and respect to the ring, but he will fight a newborn defender with a lot of power. Jack is going to struggle and honestly, I don’t think he’ll make it past the first few rounds.”
Ryan Rozicki is on a mission to become the first Canadian cruiserweight world champion.
The next move is Badou Jack’s.
Boxing
Floyd Mayweather’s record is not normal, it can’t happen in 70 years
Published
4 days agoon
January 12, 2025Floyd Mayweather’s incredible 50-0 record is not normal and cannot be repeated in sports for another seventy years.
This is the view of Saudi Arabian president Turki Alalshikh, who wants to adopt the UFC model in which fighters lose many fights during their career.
In a speech as he hosted the Ring Magazine Awards after acquiring the long-running boxing publication from Oscar De La Hoya, Alalshikh was unequivocal in his opinion.
“Now losing some fights in boxing must be normal,” he explained. “All fighters want a career similar to Floyd Mayweather – no losses. This may happen once every 50, 60 or 70 years.
“We need it [to be] like currently in the UFC model, where champions lose and win,” added the matchmaker during the Riyad season.
Mayweather rose through the sport in the tardy 1990s to become one of its youngest superstars. Mayweather’s professional success came after winning a bronze medal at the Olympics after losing to Serafim Todorov.
Winning world titles in five weight classes, Mayweather was untouchable. The Grand Rapids native only came close to defeat a few times. He dominated Manny Pacquiao and overtook Canelo Alvarez and Oscar De La Hoya after heated debates, with decisions that should have been made unanimously.
Towards the end of his career, Mayweather chose to face Andre Berto and Conor McGregor, easily winning and ending his boxing career at the age of 50 without ever going out. Calling himself “the greatest of all time,” Mayweather earned first-ballot Hall of Fame honors and is widely considered one of, if not the greatest defensive fighter of all time.
However, Alalshikh says this type of career needs to end so that fans can get the most out of boxing, as is the case with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Boxing needs to become more attractive, and Alalshikh sees the failures of top stars as a way to keep interest at an all-time high.
In this sport, many boxers enjoy undefeated streaks, the most notable of which is Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian Pound for Pound King is 23-0 and has beaten the best he has to offer in his division and cruiserweight classification.
It remains a mystery how Alalshikh plans to make Usyk suffer while he dominates everyone else. By the time his grand plan goes into action, Usyk will be long gone, and Gervonta Davis, Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney may be more realistic targets.
Boxing
Manny Pacquiao remains the favorite to win the title against Mario Barrios
Published
1 week agoon
January 6, 2025WBN understands that despite alternative options emerging, it is more likely that Manny Pacquiao will face Mario Barrios next.
Bob Santos, coach of WBC welterweight champion Barrios, told World Boxing News that he is currently in contact with Pacquiao’s team. Asked by WBN if he had spoken to Pacquiao or representatives of any other challenger, Santos replied: “Yes, Pacquiao’s promoter, Sean Gibbons.” Pressed on whether Barrios vs Pacquiao might happen next, he added: “It’s challenging to say. We’ll have to see how this plays out.”
WBN contacted Santos after Conor Benn emerged as a potential alternative to Barrios. The British fighter, who recently returned from a suspension following two positive drug tests, is keen to return to competition.
Benn showed favor with the World Boxing Council at the recent WBC Convention, the WBC Evaluation Committee and during an interview with the sanctioning body over the weekend. “The Destroyer” is ranked second in the rankings at 147 pounds, despite less than solid opponents during his time in exile, during which Benn competed twice in the United States while his career in the United Kingdom was in doubt.
As he battled to clear his name and with the British Anti-Doping Authority finding no evidence that Benn had intentionally taken ostarine, the 28-year-old’s career took a pointed nosedive. Despite this, he remains highly rated and at least one step away from fighting for an eliminator or one of the remaining championship titles.
However, Pacquiao remains Barrios’ favorite. Now it’s up to the boxing legend and Hall of Famer who got the first votes to secure his shot. WBN believes a July date – most likely at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas – is the most realistic date for a Nevada swan song.
Pacquiao could extend his record as the oldest welterweight champion by six years if he can secure a huge victory over the 29-year-old world champion. At 46 years antique, such a scenario remains unlikely, but he can never be compared to one of the greatest players of this generation.
Unlike heavier boxers and his training regiment, Pacquiao looks in great shape despite his advanced age. Everything is set for a massive return to the boxing capital of the world, provided Pacquiao and his team can manage his political ambitions, which are expected to run from this month until May. After that time, Pacquiao could find himself in the summer finals and become the all-time champion, regardless of the result.
Barrios is based in the city, where he trained with Santos, and would be the perfect opponent to see out the career of one of the greatest fighters in history.
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