Monday, December 4, 2023

Boxing Challenge: Garcia Stops Duarte

  The boxing weekend was a bit light but it did showcase the return of Ryan Garcia, who fought for the first time since his knockout loss to Gervonta Davis.

Oscar Duarte fought well at times and Garcia on occasion looked tentative but when Garcia finally hurt Duarte, he quickly ended the evening in the eighth round.

Garcia fought a bit like Floyd Mayweather with some attempts at using the shoulder roll and did enough to lead the fight on my card at 58-56 at the time of the stoppage and give him credit for finishing the fight as soon he had a good chance. Still, he didn't fight as aggressively as usual and it does seem that he has some residual damage from the Davis defeat as he didn't seem anxious to engage with Duarte as he did in the past.

There may have been some damage done to Ryan Garcia that we might only see once he fights someone better than Oscar Duarte but time will tell.

Earlier in the afternoon from Belfast Northern Ireland, two veterans with questions to answer about how well their chins would hold up battled in a featherweight scrap that answered the questions for one of those aging battlers as Jordan Gill knocked out Michael Conlain in the seventh round.

The fight was even after six rounds with both fighters having their share of advantages with the biggest coming in the second round when Gill knocked Conlan down which was the difference on my card after six rounds at 57-56 for Gill.

Gill badly hurt Conlan in the seventh and the referee ended the affair then and there.

Conlan still has his skills but the knockout loss to Leigh Wood damaged his ability to take a good blow and he should consider retirement at this stage of his career.

Gill will move on but with his own chin problems will likely be sacrificed to an up-and-coming prospect ready to make their next step.

Boxing Challenge

TRS: 179 Pts(2)
Ramon Malpica: 163 Pts (3)
Vince Samano: 118 Pts (3)

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