Boxing please

[FoxForceFive]

Morrison proved that earlier. That was all preventable, Morrison should easily have enough to deal with that, but had zero experience dealing with an old head in the ring & had no plan b when he realised he couldn't put him down.

A conscientious promoter would have had him fight boxers who would have taken him the distance a few times so he knew how to deal with it before now.

 

[FoxForceFive]

Tony Bellew as a pundit. Fucking hell.

He does that typical scouse forced over pronunciation of words that Mcmanaman always does. Only worse.

I bet he's got an Everton top under that shirt. And a tattoo saying 'Dockside stadium'.

Still can't see past Linares tonight. He's sticking to his script perfectly & Crolla hasn't been able to budge him from it.

 

[MomoWASright]

There isn't many things more infuriating than listening to bellew.

Crolla needs do something special to win this.

 

[FoxForceFive]

Crolla is finally managing to effect Linares gameplan.

I'll take a KO for him to win it from here though.

 

[FoxForceFive]

There isn't many things more infuriating than listening to bellew.

Crolla needs do something special to win this.

I dunno, seeing the bitters celebrating a potential dockside stadium like they've won a trophy on social media rivals listening to Bellew!

 

[FoxForceFive]

That's definitely it.

Either Crolla manages to do something miraculous & land a KO or Linares wins this on points. He's only won maybe two rounds, no way.

 

[FoxForceFive]

118 to 109 for all three judges.

You can't get much more comprehensive that that!

Proper boxing performance from Linares.

Respect for Crolla for sticking it out & trying his bollocks off for so long though.

 

[MomoWASright]

I missed the break between rounds 11 and 12. What was the corner saying?

 

[FoxForceFive]

I missed the break between rounds 11 and 12. What was the corner saying?

They wanted to throw the towel in. Crolla wouldn't let them. Commentators we're saying they should cos he was taking too many shots. Personally I thought there was no point. Crolla was taking hits but nothing overly serious or concerning, & there was still a slim chance that Linares could get caught if Crolla pushed him. Linares was fighting to win on points, not damage his opponent.

Crolla told them no, tried his best but lost anyway.

 

[dmishra]

I agree that there should be a world class gym in Liverpool.

Gallaghers boxers never seem to make that extra step up. He's had a couple of world champions but they have rarely kept their titles.

It could also be down to Hearn and the cards he puts on. Most of those he promotes get hand picked opponents. Once they can't handpick them they get found out.

Isn't Callum Smith with Gallagher?


The 168 pound division isn't exactly littered with talent at the moment. Good chance that Callum Smith can become a dominant world champion in that division.

 

[MomoWASright]

He is but I've been far from impressed with him in his last few fights. He always seems to spend a spell in the first round leaning on the ropes. A decent fighter will blow him away if he did that.

 

[Judge Jules]

I not only dislike it, I actually hate it simply cos the pundits & commentators talk it up so much.

Watching US based fights you don't see any female boxers on the same cards, so it's clearly not a global viewing demand.

Being the cynical twat that I am, I think it's simply Eddie Hearn (being the slimy cunt that he is) saving cash. Female fighters are paid way less than male & he still gets a full undercard.

Could well be - either that or the excess of PCness which put women's football on our screens for a while, though that (thankfully) seems to have died a death. It works with some sports (for example I prefer watching women's tennis to watching men's, which is just a contest to see who has the heavier shots these days) but in the rougher sports it's a washout. The men's and women's versions are practically different sports.

 

[Mors]

Kovalev vs Ward rematch is booked for the day I leave Vegas ffs [emoji35]

 

[MomoWASright]

Smith v Williams now. Smith didn't make weight which is a major fuck up on his part so he can't win the title.

 

[binomial]

Tell you what, this smith williams fight is a goodun....the cut on williams eyelid is a shocker.

 

[binomial]

Kovalev vs Ward rematch is booked for the day I leave Vegas ffs [emoji35]

Did you watch the first fight? hardly a stormer.

 

[FoxForceFive]

Smith was pretty fucking lucky there. He was definitely the better fighter, but after not making weight he then managed to not impress for far too long before he got a break.

He would have won regardless imo, but that was far from convincing & he needs to do a lot more work before getting in the ring with anyone close to this standard again.

I daresay some vicious sparring with his brothers for a few weeks will do him the world of good.

 

[Mors]

Did you watch the first fight? hardly a stormer.

I liked it, and it was a bit of a robbery in my eyes so hopefully Kovalev gets his belts back.

 

[MomoWASright]

Cardle tight fight v Barrett. 2 knock downs for cardle and could go either way.

 

[MomoWASright]

Barrett win it. Draw on one card other 2 for Barrett.

 

[MomoWASright]

Josh Kelly from the Olympic team on now. Flashy cunt on his debut. In the 5th round won every round.

I want him to get banged out.

 

[Mors]

Well, for the big one the weekend I've gone for a win/win. I'm hoping Joshua wins, but I've taken Wlad at 2/1 to win, and 7/1 to win on points, so it's winner winner chicken dinner either way.
I've been watching some tape this week of Joshua, and I feel he punches a bit too robotic and tries to muscle all his power shots off, which is surely inefficient, especially against someone that is more than happy to box for 12 rounds, AJ will be exhausted if he's gotta try and muscle him into the later rounds, he's just way too big, regardless of how fit he is. If he gets Wlad out the way early doors, then happy days, but I can see him being knackered quite quickly if he's kept at range. I think AJ is likely to struggle against people with a good reach that can keep him at distance, for example Fury too. If AJ does catch him though, he's so fast and powerful that it's good night.

 

[Judge Jules]

Agree with all of that, but did the Fury fight show that Vlad is just a touch too far past his best now? I'm leading with my own chin here, but I just have a sneaky hunch that Joshua will indeed catch him in about round 3 (in which case, as you say, it'll be Goodnight Vienna).

 

[MomoWASright]

I am backing Joshua rounds 1-3 and 4-5 - 5/1 and 7/2 respectively.

If Klitschko was as static and unwilling to throw punches like he did against fury then Joshua will put him asleep early doors.

 

[Mors]

Although granted Wlad is getting older, so it's natural things will start to fade, I've never seen him as poor as he was in the Fury fight, but I think it was mainly down to the excellence of Fury that night being a really akward fucker and clowning him. With a more static target that relies on power not boxing, it 'might' be a different story.

 

[MomoWASright]

Half the professionals seem to be expecting Klitschko win late on or on points. The other half Joshua inside 4.

Klitschko has made a prediction and recorded it on a USB stick. The only person who will know what it is will be who wins the auction for his ring robe. I couldn't think of anything more cringe worthy.

 

[Judge Jules]

That more or less corresponds to my own experience as well, but I detect slightly more hesitation among those tipping Klitschko. The odds will certainly start to swing towards him if the bell goes for the start of round 4, so I guess it comes down to how likely one thinks it is that Joshua will catch him sooner. My hunch is he will.

 

[MomoWASright]

Joshua had warned Klitschko that he's going to hurt him. I expect him to unload as early as possible. Especially if his corner think if it goes on Klitschko will eventually outbox him.

 

[FoxForceFive]

Half the professionals seem to be expecting Klitschko win late on or on points. The other half Joshua inside 4.

That accurately reflects what I'm thinking tbh, it's rare you think a fight could definitely go either way at this level.

Also, although obv Klitschko will be favourite the longer it goes on, you'd still give Joshua a chance simply cos he could still hurt him.

Klitschko is always properly trim for a fight but in the weigh in he looked seriously ripped, simply staggering for a 41 year old, even a 41 year old professional boxer.

 

[Judge Jules]

Losing to Fury will have shaken him up big-style. Should Joshua go in there thinking it's in the bag he'll get a nasty surprise. Don't think he'll make that mistake though.