Boxing
Tim Bradley says Zayas-Ennis is unfair, 60-40 advantage
Discussing the fight, Bradley said on his channel that he sees a “60-40” split in Ennis’ favor, pointing out the difference in speed, athleticism and overall sharpness. He described both players as operating at a similar distance, working behind the shot and looking for opportunities between shots, but emphasized that Ennis had more influence in the same rallies.
“There’s too much similarity,” Bradley said, before adding that Ennis “can do it better.”
Bradley expects the fight to feature stages of technical boxing, particularly a back-and-forth jab fight, but believes the outcome will depend less on sheer skill and more on each fighter’s reaction under pressure. He pointed to Ennis’ tendency to react aggressively when hit, compared to Zayas, who took a more measured approach.
“You piss off Boots when you hit him and he gets it back,” Bradley said. “Zayas, he’s smarter than that.”
According to Bradley, this difference may prove decisive in the later rounds, where fitness and willingness to commit will prevail. He said the fight would come down to “who has more dog in them,” emphasizing stamina and intent as separating factors once changes are made.
Bradley also noted Zayas’ technical issues, noting his habit of moving away immediately after impact, which he believes directly impacts Ennis’ middle-range strengths.
“He will follow you,” Bradley said, warning that Ennis is well-positioned to take advantage of moments like these.
Despite leaning towards Ennis, Bradley admitted that Zayas took the fight, calling him the type of fighter who is often avoided early in his career. He added that Zayas will be competitive and “fighting himself,” but maintained that Ennis has the advantage going into the game.
This matchup represents a huge leap for Zayas. While Bradley is right about the technical similarities, it’s the “dog” factor that usually separates the champion from the challenger.
Zayas has the ring IQ to get closer to his target, but if he can’t kick the habit of moving backwards in a straight line, Ennis will find his beard sooner or later. Fitness will be the noiseless killer here; if Zayas can’t keep Ennis away from him in the final four rounds, the “60-40” lead Bradley sees could quickly turn into a late-round stoppage.
Nelson didn’t hesitate when asked about his comments. He said Hamed was “delusional” and said the criticism only confirmed how far their relationship had fallen apart.
“I thought this kid was delusional,” Nelson told Sport Boxing. “After Giant I thought this kid hadn’t changed, and when I saw the show I thought you’ve definitely gotten worse.”
Nelson said he recently ignored two messages from Hamed on WhatsApp and is not interested in renewing the friendship.
“I turned him off. I don’t associate with him,” Nelson said. “If you look like an idiot, you feed him.”
The former cruiserweight champion made it clear that while he still respects Hamed’s achievements in the ring, he no longer respects him as a person.
“Do I admire what he’s accomplished? A lot,” Nelson said. “But as a person, I lost complete and utter respect for him.”
Much of Nelson’s anger appears to have to do with Hamed’s criticism of overdue coach Brendan Ingle, to whom both players attribute their careers. Nelson said he couldn’t accept the way Hamed spoke about a man he believed gave everything to the gym.
The public feud has escalated into one of the ugliest old-fashioned feuds in British boxing, with two former world champions now trading personal shots instead of memories.
It’s challenging to watch because these two are icons of the golden age of English in Sheffield. When you see former stablemates exchanging shots this overdue in life, you usually get the impression that there’s a lot of unhealed history behind them.
Naz’s “snake” comment clearly hit a nerve, but Nelson’s reaction suggests his real problem is his perceived lack of respect for Brendan Ingle. For Nelson, Brendan was the man who kept him afloat when he was struggling. The sight of Naz attacking that legacy seems to be a deal-breaker.
Nelson willingly gives Naz flowers for what he did in the ring, but closes the door on him himself. It’s a shame to see them at odds, especially since they were once the face of the same team, but Nelson seems to have found a lot of peace by simply pressing “block” and moving on.
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