Dublin, Ireland, hosted the only two fights in the boxing challenge last week, and both were dull and hard to get through.
In the main event, Aaron McKenna won a unanimous decision over Etinosa Olina to win the IBF middleweight title, which was stripped from Janibek Alimkhanuly for failing a drug test.
McKenna's win was dull, but Callum Walsh's unanimous decision over Tyler Denny was worse.
Boxing Challenge
Junior middleweight Callum Walsh outclassed former title challenger Carlos Ocampo in winning an easy unanimous decision. Still, for the second fight in a row, Walsh was given a prime stage to shine and instead proved to be simply workmanlike.
Walsh won by scores of 98-90 on two scorecards and 97-91 on the third (I scored Walsh the winner 97-91).
Ocampo was deducted one point while Walsh's glove touched the canvas in the sixth round, which gave Ocampo a knockdown, but Walsh wasn't hurt in the slightest.
Walsh appears to be a solid if unexciting fighter who could contend for a title in the right situation but is unlikely to develop into a star.
I did watch the broadcast with interest as Zuffa started its production.
The commentary was mixed as Joe Tessitore moved over from ESPN for blow-by-blow with Max Kellerman and Andre Ward providing the analysis.
Tessitore isn't a favorite of mine, but he's not terrible.
I've always liked Max Kellerman, but I'm not thrilled to see Andre Ward back.
Everything with Ward revolves around how great he was, and his analysts tend to fall into the trap of complementing him at the cost of the match in the ring.
I liked Tim Bradley's work at ESPN, and he improved a lot after Ward left, simply because he could call the fight rather than talk about Ward.
Kellerman was always a Ward admirer when Ward was active, and I fear he is falling into the same habits as Tim Bradley had when he worked with Ward.
I didn't see much of the pre-fight or desk portions of the broadcast, but I'll try to see those when Zuffa returns with what appears to be a much better slate of fights on February 1st.
Boxing Challenge
Terence Crawford shocked the world (although not me) in Las Vegas by winning a unanimous decision over Canelo Alvarez to take all four of the world's super middleweight titles.
Crawford won by scores of 116-112 and two scores of 115-113 (I scored 116-112 for Crawford), and Crawford needed to win the final two rounds to win on the scorecards, which I didn't think was needed, but it's Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas, funny scorecards seem to arrive in his fights.
Crawford outboxed Canelo, but he did so by fighting on his front foot and not by running, as recent Canelo victims Jermell Charlo and William Scull tried.
Canelo tried to stalk Crawford but wasn't quick enough or able to outmuscle Crawford in close.
Crawford is now the first fighter to be an undisputed champion in three divisions (Junior welter, welter, and super middleweight) and has won titles in five divisions (Lightweight and junior middle) after his victory that established him as the best of his generation.
Crawford mentioned an interest in winning a title at middleweight rather than defending his titles at 168 or a return to 154 to defend his WBA title or face other champions, Sebastian Fundora, Bakhram Murtazaliev, and Xander Zayas.
Alvarez might be a man without a fight, as a rematch appears to lack interest; the defeat may take away the prospects of a David Benavidez match, and the rest of the division doesn't have anyone with mass appeal to face a comebacking Canelo.
Bud Crawford cemented himself as the king of his generation, and I wouldn't be disappointed to see him call it a day.
He has nothing to prove, and by walking away, he will raise the question (which can never be answered): who was better- Crawford or Floyd Mayweather?
Crawford-Canelo may have brought the people, but the best fight of the night came on the undercard (and should have been the co-main) as Christian Mbilli retained his minor super middleweight title in an absolute thriller with a draw against Lester Martinez.
The fight was filled with tremendous action and a deserved draw that requires a rematch.
The judges' scores were 97-93 for Martinez, 96-94 for Mbilli, and 95-95, which was my score.
The actual co-feature was mildly disappointing as unbeaten junior middleweight Callum Walsh won a unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Fernando Vargas Jr.
The fight suffered from following Mbilli-Martinez but wasn't that bad, with Walsh winning by scores of 100-90 and 99-91 times two.
My score was closer for Walsh at 97-93.
The final fight of the challenge saw an upset as number one junior middleweight contender Serhii Bohachuk was upset for the second time by Brandon Adams.
Adams had knocked out Bohachuk in 2021, and Bohachuk had since become a contender with a near-win against Vergil Ortiz.
Styles make fights, and some fighters have their kryptonite, and Adams must be Bohachuk's.
Bohachuk tried, but Adams was consistently better throughout the fight and won a deserved unanimous decision by scores of 99-91 and two scores of 98-92, the same as mine.
I will be back tomorrow with the rest of the weekend in boxing
Boxing Challenge
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