Boxing Challenge: Eubank finishes DeGale, Dirrell nips Yildirim

The boxing challenge weekend begins across the pond in London with what should be the end of the career for former champion James DeGale, who was dominated and outclassed by the often-crude bomber Chris Eubank Jr at the O2 Arena.

DeGale, who has not been remotely the same caliber of fighter since his draw in January 2017 against Badou Jack in a title unification fight, was driven into a turnbuckle in the second with only the corner holding him up, which was correctly called a knockdown by Eubank's left hook, which DeGale was seemingly unable to avoid throughout the fight.
Eubank rolled up round after round as he bulled DeGale around the ring and would score another knockdown in the tenth round with another left hook as he sent a sinking DeGale to his knees.
Eubank would run out of time in the tenth to finish DeGale and one would see the frustration in that in the eleventh as DeGale attempted to hold and Eubank responded with a spinebuster that would have made Arn Anderson proud that would cause a point deduction.

I had Eubank an easy 118-107 with DeGale winning just one round, but one of the three official scorecards was a shockingly awful 114-112, which would have been a draw without the two knockdowns.

While James DeGale really needs to get out of the game with his health intact, Chris Eubank suddenly has some options with a rematch with Billy Joe Saunders (Saunders won their fight by split decision) very possible with Saunders fighting for the vacant WBO title at the weight in his next fight, countryman Callum Smith for Smith's WBA title or as Eubank Sr offered at the post-fight press conference a move back down to middleweight.

In the other 168 pound fight of the day, Anthony Dirrell won the vacant WBC championship amid controversy via a split technical decision after ten rounds over Avni Yildirim in Minneapolis.
The WBC's open scoring was shown in its impish destruction as per organization rules, each corner was given the scores after the fourth and eighth rounds with two cards showing Dirrell leading.
Therefore, after an accidental headbutt in the ninth opened a nasty cut over Dirrell's left eye, his corner, knowing they were ahead, gambled that the cut was bad enough to get the fight stopped.
The cut was bad, but in my opinion, not bad enough to end the fight with just three rounds remaining.
The gamble paid off as the fight was stopped midway through the tenth and since it was caused by a headbutt, the decision went to the judges, and since the corner knew they were likely ahead on the cards, etc and why open scoring sucks.
The worst part of the decision was the card that had Yildirim winning 8-2!
I had it 5-5, so a close card that could be given, either way, wouldn't have bothered me, but that's a really bad scorecard.
The sad part of this is what will be remembered is the ending and not what was a better than expected fight in which Dirrell fought with determination (well, until the end) after a pre-fight buildup where he mused about retirement and Yildirim placed some bad memories of his KO loss to Chris Eubank away from some observers.
I would imagine the WBC would call for an immediate rematch, it seems to be in order.

In the other challenge bouts, Humberto Soto won a unanimous decision over Brandon Rios in Mexico on DAZN in what was a guilty pleasure of a fight.
It was fun to watch between two former world champions that saw each fighter hit and be hit and also shows the value of an unofficial "seniors tour" in boxing.
What I'm trying to say that if some of these fighters are matched properly (I.E. against each other), they can deliver some entertaining fights and hopefully not get hurt.
The guilty part is they are still getting hit with punches that they shouldn't be getting hit with and should be taking no punches at all at a certain stage.
Soto managed to fight hard in spots, countered well off the ropes, and even though he seemed like the smaller fighter going into the match, he looked bigger and blockier than Rios in the ring.
I had the fight closer than the judges at 116-112 for Soto, but the right fighter "got the duke".

In the Showtime co-feature from London, Olympic silver medalist Joe Joyce stopped former WBC champion Bermane Stiverne in six rounds to win a few trinkets and move up in the WBA rankings.
Give Stiverne credit, he did try to win in this one, especially early with some counter rights that found a home with Joyce that was just enough to keep things interesting.
Still, Stiverne ran out of gas quickly and those rights started to be thrown with less and less frequency as Joyce just kept throwing punches.

Stiverne was dropped in the third and might have been better suited to end his evening there, but rose to continue to take a beating until the end in round six.
Hopefully, this will be the last for Stiverne, who likely will soldier on as a trialhorse, but for Joyce-there is work to be done.
I like the punch output and he has more power than similar punchers of volume such as Jarrell Miller. but he was getting hit by the slower Stiverne and I'm looking forward to seeing what he does when the opponent is quicker and stronger.

In a non-televised bout, former IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby overcame a bad cut to decision America Omar Douglas in a lightweight bout.
I have not been able to watch this of this writing.

In the boxing challenge, I outscored Ramon Malpica 6-5 (the extra point coming from Chris Eubank) to cut his overall lead to 41-40.

Boxing Notes

Catching up on a few notes from the boxing world before the weekend's bouts and first, a big shout out to Vincent Samano, who I was fortunate enough (More on this during the road trip posts) to meet in Akron.
Vince made a special visit to meet me and I loved talking to him about the fight game.
What a great guy and I only wish I had more time to talk about the past greats in the game.

Ramon Malpica did send me his picks for the two fight card on ESPN from Top Rank before I left town and I ran out of time to post them for the boxing challenge.
Ramon (and I) each picked the winners correctly, but I'm not going to add them to the total for the challenge.
As boring as the main event was (Gilberto Ramirez winning a dull unanimous decision over Roamer Angulo to retain his WBO super middleweight belt), the co-feature was about as good as you are going to find as Alex Saucedo defeated Lenny Zappavigna in the sixth round when Zappavigna's corner tossed in the proverbial towel midway through the stanza.
The term "War" is somewhat overused in boxing, but it is accurate in this case with both fighters badly hurt during the fight and both fighters battling through awful cuts, the title eliminator to determine the mandatory contender for newly crowned WBO junior welterweight champion Maurice Hooker has a legitimate case for fight of the year- it was that good.

James DeGale decided to vacate his IBF super middleweight title rather than face the interim champion Jose Uzcategui in a mandated bout.
Uzcategui was elevated to the full titleist and mandated to fight Caleb Plant in his first defense.
The exciting Uzcategui won the interim strap with a pounding of Andre Dirrell, who retired in his corner in February and looks to me to be entering his prime.
Plant, on the other hand, has defeated just one top 30 fighter (a decision over Porky Medina), is one of the more boring fighters to see, in my opinion, is a creation of Al Haymon's PBC, where Plant dates PBC reporter Jordan Hardy and is a thoroughly undeserving challenger.
As for DeGale, as much as I'd like to hit him for ducking Uzcategui, I understand why he gave the title up as he has a possible bout with the winner of the WBSS super middleweight final between George Groves and Callum Smith for far more money than Uzcategui and roughly the same risk.

The second year of the World Boxing Super Series will have American television with Eddie Hearn's streaming service DAZN.
This year, the WBSS will feature three weight classes with bantamweights, junior welterweights, and another division to be determined.
I wonder about the long-term viability of DAZN as sooner or later there comes a breaking point for all consumers for extra channels etc and DAZN is expected to be in the range of 20-25 dollars a month, more than Showtime and far more than ESPN+.

I've been critical on occasion of Golden Boy Promotions, but give them credit for caring somewhat about boxing fans and their wallet with an agreement to show cards on Facebook.
Their first event looks to be a pretty decent one with WBA "regular" (Yuck) featherweight champion Jesus Rojas defending his minor trinket against Joseph Diaz, who recently lost a decision to WBC champion Gary Russell on Showtime.
I always like when quality shows are available for free as that is how the interest in the product grows.
To me, boxing lost its way in the 1990's when the sport went away from the networks and moved almost exclusively to premium cable and pay per view.
Returning and using various different avenues to have their products find their way to the eyes to any potential fans is always a great idea.

I'm going to try to return with a road trip post tonight...

Boxing Challenge: Hurd takes down Lara!!

Photo Credit;Stephanie Trapp-Showtime Sports

While I was off in the Blue Grass State (more on the first trip of the year over the next few days), Showtime held an interesting three-fight telecast from Las Vegas with the main event being a title unification fight that would have major repercussions in the junior middleweight division.
In an unrelated note-this is the 4,000th post on this blog.
I'm amazed sometimes with just how much I've written about here.

Editor's Note:It turns out this is 3,995-Five posts that I've been working on, but haven't published were counted by Blogger.
I'll make the 4,000th later this week.

In the main event, Jarrett Hurd knocked Erislandy Lara down with seconds remaining in the fight and that knockdown was the difference on the scorecards as Hurd retained his IBF junior middleweight title and took Lara's WBA title for his own via a split decision.
The three scorecards all read 114-113 (two for Hurd and one for Lara), so without that knockdown, as the sun went down in the bout, both men would have retained their titles, but the result would have been a majority decision draw.
One has to love Jarrett Hurd, who is always aggressive and outworks his opponent, but unlike many fighters who win fights by accumulation, but rarely sit down on their shots and as result often fail to hurt the opposing fighter, Hurd has good power and when you look at that with the number of punches that he throws, Hurd's style makes him a very tough fighter to win a decision against.
Hurd's style makes fighters have to stand and fight far more often than they would like to and it usually is to their detriment.
That was the case in this one as Jarrett Hurd simply did not allow Erislandy Lara to move away, he forced Lara to engage and deliver a fun fight from a fighter that is often dull to watch.
Give Lara credit for a fine effort that was not in his usual style and dealt with an almost closed right eye, but I thought Hurd won a clear 115-112 decision (7-5 and a Hurd knockdown).
Hurd will likely fight Jermell Charlo in another unification fight next, the winner will hold three of the four titles after that bout.
Lara will likely fight a stay-busy bout and await that winner as this fight likely enhanced Lara more than hurt him.

As far Jermell Charlo, for all the talent that he has, his spectacular KO of Erickson Lubin ( who came into the fight with a questionable chin, I did pick Lubin though) and punching power, I found it interesting that a fighter without a win against a top-five fighter (Lubin and Vanes Martirosyan are his best wins) commented that it was Hurd preferring Lara to Charlo as an opponent before this fight.
I'm dubious of that claim, I doubt Hurd has that kind of pull (at least not yet) and with Charlo's lack of an opponent for a scheduled defense in June (bet on either a soft touch or a shopworn veteran name), I really have my doubts.
The Charlo brothers really have made their names off one (each) spectacular knockout over a talented, but untested opponent (Julian Williams for Jermall, the aforementioned Erickson Lubin for Jermell) and a large amount of social media for their hype.
Both fighters hit hard and are talented, I'm anxious to see what happens when someone fights back.

The semi-final saw James DeGale win back the IBF super middleweight title that he lost to Caleb Truax via a close unanimous decision. DeGale was badly cut in the third round but showed toughness in fighting his way through the cut.
Truax was busted around the eyes as well and marched forward throughout in a fight that just seemed to be always awkward through 24 rounds with two styles that didn't mesh well with each other as far as action and clean punches go.
I scored DeGale a 114-113 winner (7-5 minus a point deduction on DeGale in the late rounds).
DeGale will likely wish for unification with the World Boxing Super Series winner and WBA champion of the George Groves-Callum Smith fight, but he should have to get by the IBF interim champion Jose Uzcategui next.
As impressive as Uzcategui was in pounding Andre Dirrell and with DeGale looking like a faded version of himself since his draw with Badou Jack, I would rate Uzcategui a solid favorite to derail DeGale before a unification fight.
Truax will more than likely go back to his previous role as a trialhorse for the PBC's prospects and up and coming contenders with a little more prestige now as a former champion.

In the opener, Julian Williams won a majority decision over Nathaniel Gallimore to earn the IBF's mandatory position for Jarrett Hurd.
I'm amazed that someone saw this even as I thought Williams won 117-111 and didn't lose a round over the second half of the fight.
I was a big advocate of Williams before his only loss to Jermall Charlo (I picked him to win), but he still doesn't seem to be completely back from that loss.
No knockdowns in this, although Williams had Gallimore badly hurt in the eleventh, but could not finish the game.
I'm still not quite ready to quit on Williams, but he still has plenty to prove after looking good, not great.

In the boxing challenge, Ramon Malpica each earned three points on the night-two from James DeGale and one from Julian Williams.
I lead the challenge 59-46.

Boxing Challenge:Horn stops Corcoran

Photo Credit: Getty Images

The Boxing Challenge continued from Australia as Jeff Horn defended his WBO welterweight title with an eleventh round stoppage of unheralded Gary Corcoran of England.
Horn was way ahead on my card and the win not only retained his title, but likely earned him a healthy purse in his next fight and the right and the right to try to take out one of the best fighters in the world in Terence Crawford.

In other weekend fights that I hadn't seen of last writing.

The upset of the weekend saw journeyman Caleb Truax upset IBF super middleweight champion James DeGale via majority decision in London.
DeGale dominated the first two rounds and looked like he thought he would blow through Truax early and gassed himself out.
I had Truax a 115-113 winner.

Lee Selby retained his IBF featherweight title on that card via a unanimous decision over Eduardo Ramirez in a workmanlike victory.
I scored Selby a 117-111 winner.
Selby will face mandatory countryman Josh Warrington in his next defense.

On the Salido-Roman undercard, Rene Alvarado scored a minor upset with a narrow split decision over Denis Shafikov.
I scored the fight a draw at 95-95.

Boxing Challenge points to:

Ramon Malpica:2 pts, 1 each for wins for Jeff Horn and Rene Alvarado
TRS: 4 pts, 2 pts for Jeff Horn win/KO and 2 pts for Lee Selby win/decision

Current Standings192-173

DeGale and Jack battle to Draw-Boxing Challenge

As bad as the PBC presentation on Spike was on Friday,that's how good the same promotion (with some help from "Mayweather Promotions") was on Showtime on Saturday as two title fights and a preliminary fight on Showtime Extreme produced excellent viewing for the boxing fan....

The main event saw an attempt to unify two of the super middleweight titles that failed as WBC champion Badou Jack and IBF beltholder James DeGale battled to a majority draw in an entertaining bout.
DeGale scored a flash knockdown of Jack in round one and dominated the early and middle rounds before ceding control to Jack,who won many of the late rounds and dropped DeGale in the final round,nearly stopping the Briton.
Had DeGale not been knocked down in the twelve,he would have won a unanimous decision.
I had DeGale a 114-112 winner,which agreed with one judge,but the other two scored the bout a draw.
One would think a rematch would be in order after such an exciting fight,but Floyd Mayweather,the promoter of Jack appears to want to move Jack to light heavyweight where the natural fight considering promotional issues would be against WBC champion Adonis Stevenson.

The co-feature saw the emergence of a possible future star as Gervonta Davis took the IBF junior lightweight title away from Jose Pedraza via a seventh round knockout.
Davis,another member of Floyd Mayweather's "Money Team" fights far differently than his mentor as Davis comes forward, makes exciting fights and is fun to watch-none of which could be said on a consistent basis of Floyd Mayweather.
Pedraza could have been more effective,if less exciting had he used his size to use the jab and see if Davis could find his way through it.
Instead,Pedraza stood his ground and attempted to back Davis up to his own detriment and fell far behind on the cards before the Davis stoppage.
PBC is stronger in some divisions than others and 130 pounds is not one of their stronger divisions as many of the bullies in the division including the boss of them all in Vasyl Lomachenko fight for other promoters and make fights vs those fighters difficult to make.
Davis strikes me as a talented fighter,who will make good fights,but will wind up being very good,but not elite....
Ramon Malpica and I each earned one point for the Davis win,so after the first weekend.I lead Ramon 4-3...

Normally,I don't mention undercard fights,but Showtime extreme shows a few undercard fights early in the evening at times and there was a middleweight fight between two undefeated prospects that both have been seen on Showtime's ShoBox series for prospects.
Immanuel Aleem was the underdog vs Ievgen Khytrov,but in the fight of the night (which does go a long way),Aleem dropped Khytrov in the first and then again in the third and looked to be ready to put Khytrov away.
That's when the fun really began as a stunned Khytrov turned the tide and began to send Aleem reeling around the ring and was out on his feet before being saved by the bell.
In round six,Aleem dropped a badly hurt Khytrov with a crunching left and an argument could have been made to end the fight right then,but Khytrov gamely rose before being driven into the ropes to be pounded before the referee stopped the fight.
Huge win for Immanuel Aleem,who is worth remembering after this fight and goes to show that there is more than just the main event when it's time for good action in the ring....

DeGale decisions Dirrell and Boxing Challenge

On another less than fun PBC card on NBC,the main event was at least interesting as Great Britain's James DeGale invaded both America and the PBC and claimed the vacant IBF Super Middleweight title with a unanimous decision over Andre Dirrell.

DeGale dropped Dirrell twice in the second round and built a commanding early lead on the scorecards before giving several round away on the scorecards before rallying to win the final two rounds of the fight to put things away.
The two knockdowns made the difference as two of the cards would have ended in a draw without them
I scored the bout 7-5 in rounds for DeGale,but 115-111 on points with the second round a 10-7 round for the winner.

The remainder of the fights were nothing worth mentioning-two one sided beatdowns and a premature referee stoppage,but the DeGale win saw a non-PBC fighter defeat one and another super middleweight title will be on the line soon in a similar manner as WBC champion (and PBC fighter) Badou Jack will defend against mandatory challenger (and non-PBC fighter) George Groves of Great Britain.
Some of you may remember Groves from his two losses to Carl Froch and Groves is the only fighter to defeat James DeGale,so I'd make Groves the favorite to hand the PBC another defeat.

Sometimes it might seem like I'm anti-PBC and I often root against their fighters in situations like this,but I'm really not.
There are lots of things that a league-like setup like PBC could do well and would be good for boxing.
The biggest problem that I see is that nothing has changed with Al Haymon from his days working with HBO and later Showtime to the current PBC-he protects his fighters so well that you never get the best fighting the best.
PBC promoted their upcoming cards and other than an interesting Adrien Broner vs Shawn Porter bout,the rest is pure crap.
Amir Khan vs Chris Algeri? Keith Thurman vs Luis Collazo?
Khan vs Thurman would be a fun and even fight,but instead you get the PBC version of "squash matches".
Al Haymon is missing the one thing that boxing needs most even with the best exposure-good fights from the best in the sport.

I took a one point lead at 54-53 over R.L.Malpica with the DeGale win.
I earned one point as I picked DeGale via a majority decision,while R.L. chose Dirrell to be a unanimous victor