Saturday, November 25, 2017

Boxing Challenge

The boxing challenge is back with a three fight card from HBO as the challenge prepares to enter the final month of the 2017 version.
I lead Ramon Malpica 179-163.

The main event is the return of the supposedly rejuvenated Sergey Kovalev, who has supposedly turned his personal life around (more on this in the next Cleaning out the inbox) in his return to the ring from his controversial two fight series with the now-retired Andre Ward.
Kovalev's losses may have been controversial, but even Kovalev's fans cannot deny that Kovalev's performance declined by the round in those fights and we'll see how much of that was Ward and how much was it Kovalev's intimidated veneer being stripped away.
Kovalev gets a chance to get one of his old belts back after Andre Ward vacated them as the WBO sanctioned Kovalev's bout against Vyacheslav Shabranskyy for their title.
Shabranskyy looked to be a promising future contender after beating top ten contender Yuneski Gonzalez in December 2015, but a year ago was dropped three times by Sullivan Barrera and looked overmatched.
Shabranskyy will come forward and try to fight Kovalev, but seems to me to have the perfect style to make Kovalev look stronger than ever in his comeback.

The aforementioned Sullivan Barrera is mentioned as Kovalev's next opponent as they are both promoted by Main Events, but Barrera will have to get by Felix Valera to get to that match.
Valera has just one loss, a very respectable decision loss to now WBA champ Dmitry Bivol in his only fight against world class opposition.
Valera must be able to take a shot, as going the distance over twelve rounds against the rock-fisted Bivol is a fine notch to have, but Barrera is more of a boxer/puncher and brings different problems than Bivol...

The opening bout might be better suited to be one of those old pro wrestling "loser leaves town" matches as Jason Sosa, who was dominated by Vasyl Lomachenko last time out, takes on the faded Yuriorkis Gamboa.
The once excellent Gamboa was pounded and stopped after round seven against Robinson Castellanos but will get this opportunity after Castellanos had to drop out of this fight with a back injury.
This might be a very entertaining fight though and could see both men hit the deck a time or two in this junior lightweight ten rounder.

Vacant WBO Light Heavyweight Title.12 rds
Sergey Kovalev vs Vyacheslav Shabranskyy
R.L: Kovalev KO 8
TRS: Kovalev KO 5

Light Heavyweights, 10 Rds.
Sullivan Barrera vs Felix Valera
Both:Barrera Unanimous Decision

Jr.Lightweights.10 Rds
Yuriorkis Gamboa vs Jason Sosa
Both: Sosa Unanimous Decision

No comments: