Every Last Fucking Thing You Need To Know About Boxing Going Into This Weekend PLUS Some Scattered Ass (NSFW)
Happy Halloween, everyone.
Never too early for a little eye candy...
But it is a little early for a weekend boxing preview. However, I am still hitting PUBLISH on this one because the most talented active heavyweight in the world is actually "fighting" this afternoon.
Lineal champ, Tyson Fury, is set to take on Braun Strowman in WWE's Crown Jewel which will be televised LIVE from the King Fahd International Stadium in scenic Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. For those interested in watching this shitshow, it will be streaming live on WWE Network at 1 PM EST.
Trish Stratus will not be in attendance because the Saudis tend to stone women like her to death, and I believe she's pretty upset about it...
I have only one problem with Fury taking this fight and it has nothing to do with preserving the sanctity of a sport like boxing (which is destroying its sanctity all on its own). My bugaboo is the fact Fury had his eye split open only 6 weeks ago during his unanimous decision over Otto Wallin...
... and if anything happens to reopen that month'ish-old gash during the violent dance routine he is planning for the WWE faithful later today, then that jeopardizes the long-awaited rematch versus an actual boxer named Deontay Wilder which is loosely scheduled for February 2020 (assuming Wilder gets past Ortiz on November 23rd). A fight EVERYONE wants to see.
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So many other fighters in the past have taking silly "fights" like the one Fury is taking today, so it would be hypocritical for me to knock Fury for this Saudi money grab (it has been reported he's getting $15 million for this appearance).
It all started when Rocky Balboa agreed to fight Thunderlips for charity...
and slightly more recently when Tyson knocked out Shaun Michaels...
or when a brass-knuckled Floyd Mayweather KOd the Big Show...
So I wish Fury all the luck in the world against Strowman but would just like to urge the Gypsy King to PROTECT THAT FUCKING EYE!
Outside of that sideshow, there is an actual big fight this Saturday night involving the most marketable boxer on the planet.
Instead of fighting my good friend Gennady Glovkin for the third time, Canelo Alvarez is stupidly stepping up 2 weight classes to fight a still-formidable Sergey Kovalev for his light heavyweight world title.
I say "stupidly" because Alvarez is sticking his neck out here a tad, and all in the name of winning a belt in a fourth weight division... A feat that is impressive to some, but for me? Not so much.
Sugar Ray Robinson was considered one of the best pound-for-pound boxers in the history of the sport after winning straps at both welter and middleweight. But when this legend went up to challenge for the light heavyweight title in 1952 he got stopped by a guy named Joey Maxim. That shocking upset proved to me that weight classes are there for a reason.
The current p4p best, Vasily Lomachenko, got to 4 different weight class belts faster than any boxer in history and Manny is the only boxer to win twelve major world titles in eight different weight divisions, but they started much lighter than Canelo, and the jump between flyweight to middleweight oftentimes involves speed more than power, but the jump from welter to light heavyweight involves more power than speed.
The skinny on this fight is that Sergey "Crusher" Kovalev still has heavy hands and an effective jab, but has lost a step at 36-years-old. He also tends to leave himself open to body shots.
He is also open for business when it comes to dick shots if you ask Andre Ward...
Canelo, on the other hand, is a deadly 29-year-old who is just hitting his prime and is known to be one of the most devastating body punchers in recent memory.
It's a big name fight for sure as both fighters are heading towards the Hall Of Fame, but the only problem is Sergey will be inducted long before Canelo quits boxing.
I like to throw money down on fighters that have a puncher's chance, and at 175 pounds, Kovalev has just that. I mentioned before that he has an effective left jab. I'm assuming that jab could land with the force of a power punch to an opponent who comfortably fights 15 pounds lighter.
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Here's the big ending...
My money will be on Kovalev by decision on Saturday night... Even though I am treating him as a true longshot, Sergey still has some gas left in the tank. I will not be surprised if Alvarez eats a couple of jabs and effectively gets inside on the bigger opponent, but I am banking on the fact that Sergey can still lay the wood if this dangerous Mexican counter-puncher goes on the attack.
Canelo has only fought at a disadvantage once in his career, and that was when he was out-classed by Mayweather. Saturday night Alvarez won't be outclassed, but he might be outsized... VIVA LA BIG MAN!
Enjoy the fights and take a report.
-Large
Last one…
Good weekend.
-L