Friday, November 12, 2021

Boxing Challenge

   The boxing challenge isn't deep this weekend but does have three interesting fights on two different networks with a title defense from England and two intriguing young contenders each staying active in their divisions.

The biggest name is on Showtime where two-time WBC Super Middleweight champion and undefeated (you may never see statistics like that again) David Benavidez returns to action against late replacement Kyrone Davis in Phoenix.

Benavidez is usually thought of as the one 168 pounder that could have a chance of defeating Canelo Alvarez and I would agree with that as Benavidez has the size, strength, and most importantly has the type of punch output that could give Canelo problems.

Benavidez was scheduled to fight former IBF champion Jose Uzcategui, who is the only solid win on the resume' of Caleb Plant, but Benavidez was left without an opponent when Uzcategui failed a test for PED's and was removed from the fight.

Enter Kyrone Davis, who had a non-descript career until last February, when he filled in as a last-minute replacement against former WBC champion Anthony Dirrell and gave the veteran all that he wanted in a fight that ended in a draw.

The Dirrell draw looks even better after Dirrell's highlight film knockout of journeyman Marcos Hernandez on the Canelo-Plant but remember that Benavidez tore through Dirrell and stopped him in nine brutal rounds two years ago.

DAZN will have two cards, one in the afternoon from England and another in the evening from Anaheim, California.

From Birmingham, England, IBF featherweight champion Kid Galahad will make his first title defense against Spanish veteran Kiko Martinez.

Galahad won the vacant title in his last fight when he stopped James Dickens in nine rounds and this is a homecoming for the local hero against Martinez, who held the IBF junior featherweight title eight years ago but seems to be well past his prime and against top ten level fighters has been overmatched in recent years.

The biggest question here is whether Galahad wants to try to stop Martinez and give himself a boost with the fans or is content to dominate Martinez and win a wide decision while playing it safely.

In the evening, a middleweight eliminator should be a safe bet to feature many middle of the ring exchanges and should be a bombs away action fight as former WBO junior middleweight champion Jaime Munguia battles veteran Gabriel Rosado in a middleweight eliminator.

The unbeaten Munguia hasn't beaten any world-beaters at 160 but has knockout wins over veterans Tureano Johnson, Spike O'Sullivan, and Kamil Szeremeta in his last three fights and the rugged Rosado provides another gauge for Munguia at middleweight.

Rosado has been a gatekeeper for years and looked to be ready to be put out to pasture as recently as 2020 before a surprising performance last November against former WBO and IBF middleweight champion Daniel Jacobs.

The performance was surprising on two levels as Rosado lost a split decision that is most remembered for the terrible fight (Rosado win or lose almost always brings the wood ) and the mistake by ring announcer Jeremiah Gallegos calling the winner from Philadelphia (Rosado's residence) and then announcing the name of Jacobs as the winner.

Rosado then was expected to be the foil for  "Bek The Bully", Bektemir Melikuziev, a former Olympic silver medalist, who looked to be moving into title contention.

Melikuziev, dropped Rosado in round one, dominated the second round and most of the third when Melikuziev followed what he thought was a hurt Rosado into a corner only to be nailed with a Rosado right that sent the Bully face-first to the canvas for a stunning KO win for Rosado, who has now parlayed that win into a shot at Munguia.

Rosado is dropping back to middleweight from super middle for the fight and I wonder if that will take a lot out of the veteran, who turns 36 in January.

Munguia is bigger and taller and one would think that Munguia could batter and beat up the tender-skinned veteran as Rosado charges inside, as has been done to Rosado so many times against top fighters.

However, one thing to note is Rosado has added a little bit of boxing to his game and if Rosado is able to use that to trap Munguia into a dogfight, we still haven't seen Munguia in a close physical fight how he will respond as his controversial win over Dennis Hogan really wasn't that type of fight.

In the boxing challenge, I lead Ramon Malpica 144-125.

Super Middleweights. 10 Rds
David Benavidez vs Kyrone Davis
R.L: Benavidez KO 7
TRS: Benavidez KO 6

IBF Featherweight Title 12 Rds
Kid Galahad vs Kiko Martinez
R.L: Galahad Unanimous Decision
TRS: Galahad KO 9

Middleweights. 12 Rds
Jaime Munguia vs Gabriel Rosado
R.L: Munguia KO 9
TRS: Munguia KO 10

 



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