Cuauhtemoc1520's take on this weekend 5\24/14

Hope everyone had a great weekend, I spent it with the family. Drinking, eating and then feeling guilty and wanting to get to the gym today ASAP. Some really good fights to talk about so let's get right into them. Stevenson vs Fonfara When this fight was made, I saw a brutal knockout by Stevenson being set up. Anyone who's ever seen Fonfara knows even though he's tall and lanky, he's an aggressive fighter who does get hit. I figured they were trying to get Stevenson a prime time KO for everyone to see. Well Fonfara wasn't playing that game. Fonfara was dropped early and seemed the predictions were going to be on point, but then the fight shifted about the 6th round. Fonfara started to use the jab, doubling it up and then following it with the right hand. The right hand is always the punch to use vs a lefty, but I really liked the way Fonfara used the left hook to keep Stevenson honest. Catching him when Stevenson was moving to his right. I have to give Stevenson some credit here, really good body punching and he has a great boxing IQ. He just knows how to fight, and he moves really well with great instincts. He isn't the most technical guy, but there's things he does you cannot teach and I noticed them right away. He's definitely a fighter and with that power is a threat no matter what. Fonfara faded in the end, but a lot of it had to do with Stevenson pushing on despite being knocked down. Really good fight and I have to admit, I was surprised by it. I thought Fonfara would just be there for the highlight KO. Everyone is down on Stevenson now, saying he wouldn't have a chance vs Kovalev or Hopkins but I wouldn't be so sure. You have to give Fonfara a lot of props for his toughness and skill to really weather the storm and push on. I do believe Kovalev beats Stevenson because I think the Russians boxing is better than most think, the Hopkins fight would be interesting because we don't know how many great performances Hopkins has left in him. Stevenson would be the underdog in both fights, but he has a punchers chance. It's amazing to me how fickle boxing fans can be once a fighter doesn't put on a highlight reel performance we are all used to. Rocky Juarez vs Rene Alvarado Have to give a shout out to my boy Rocky for pulling the major upset last night. Alvarado was the bigger, younger, stronger man and yet Rocky held on after a rough start and really took it to the less experienced Alvarado. Rocky said he would retire if he lost this fight, and you could really see him come out for the last 3 rounds and give it his all. Alvarado dominated early, but then Rocky applied the pressure and like we say, pressure busts pipes. Rocky used the over hand right and jab to win exchanges on the inside and really took over in the later rounds. I'm listening to the broadcast and thinking, "I know this voice". Sure enough, the WWE commentator made it to boxing. I have to say I don't like it, he really didn't give much insight, and I understand he's there to be the color guy but still, it made the broadcast sound cheesy IMO.

Comments (16)

Stevenson ran into a little adversity but he dug down and managed to overcome it. That speaks well of him. I don't think he's getting enough credit for that so it's good to see Cuauhtemoc mentioning it. Yea it looked after he knocked down that he was done but he dug deep. I also thought that Fonfara's corner wasn't telling him what they should have. I understand they wanted him to throw combo's but IMO they should have just really simplified things and told him to just step outside of the lead foot and throw a hard right hand right down the middle at distance. He came out and fought head to head on the inside for some reason the round after he knocked Stevenson down. Was really puzzling to me. His left hook was nice but his money punch was the jab FIRST and the off angle right hand stepping to his left. I think he could have won the fight if he would have stuck to that.

12y ago

ShoulderRoll

12y ago

Cuauhtmoc1520

@TS, froch groves, degale Gonzalez, Sergio cotto, donaire vetyeka, loma Russell, Crawford gamboa, fury chisora, Canelo Lara Choose whichever you want. OK, I would like to see Groves win the rematch, since I thought he was cheated the first time in that stoppage. I like what I saw from him and how he was out workingFroch which isn't easy to do. I would pick him to win the rematch. I have Sergio beating Cotto mostly because of size. Cotto is best when he's coming forward and being the bully like we saw vs Rodriguez. I just don't think that will affect Sergio as much because of his awkward style and size. I'm glad the fight was made but Sergio might be too big too strong. Picking Sergio. Canelo vs Lara is probably the best fight on paper of this year. Everyone said Canelo would avoid Lara like the plague but that didn't happen. Even though Lara is slick and I would say the style match up favors Lara, I'm leaning Canelo slightly. Even though I wouldn't be surprised to see a Lara decision, I think the power of Canelo is going to turn this fight around. Canelo by stoppage. Loma vs Russel is really interesting and a pick em fight right now. This one is really hard because we don't know much about either fighter at the pro level. Is Loma the real deal? Is Russell going to step up finally and show us that he is a great fighter? I don't know man, this one is hard. I like Russells counter punching and speed vs Loma, but I like the way Loma started to walk down the tough Salido in the last few rounds. Right now this one is a toss up for me but if I had to pick one, I think I'm leaning Russell by decision. Crawford vs Gamboa is really interesting as well but I'm picking Crawford because boxing is not like riding a bicycle. If you are not active, it will hurt you. Gamboa has not been active, Crawford has been getting better and better and is a really good boxer. Of course the speed and explosiveness of Gamboa can turn the fight but I'm picking Crawford by Decision.

12y ago

jas

@TS, froch groves, degale Gonzalez, Sergio cotto, donaire vetyeka, loma Russell, Crawford gamboa, fury chisora, Canelo Lara Choose whichever you want.

12y ago

Dr_Rumack

Fonfara has a very nice left hook. Stevenson's lack of variety is what people are criticising him for. When faced with a guy who didn't evaporate when he got hit, that lack of variety was really apparent. Fonfara was tough as nails, but he was also right there all night for Stevenson to unload on him. Stevenson is really good at what he does, and he's a great athlete, but he doesn't have much else in his toolbox. Doesn't mean he's not a top LHW.

12y ago

Hougigo

Fonfara was crazy tough. Stevenson's struggles weren't about anything he wasn't doing, it was all that Fonfara was walking through hell and fighting. Stevenson actually showed a nice adjustment to take the fight inside, which allowed him to take the fight back after he was knocked down. Sometimes you fight a guy who just takes your punches and keeps coming, and the fight is hard. People weren't expecting crazy tough. I admit I questioned his chin too since Findley but admittedly it was when he was a lot younger and a MW. From the minutes I was allowed to see of the fight so far, he took the beatings well. He also wasn't as fearless. Bellew seemed legit scared the whole fight.

12y ago

Cuauhtmoc1520

What's your predictions for forthcoming big fights? Which fights specifically? Did not see the latter but spot on with the Stevenson vs Fonfara showing. Stevenson is far better than most are willing to admit. He is a lot craftier than given credit for. Fans are only willing to look at the negatives but there was a lot of positives in that fight and Stevenson once again proved he is a major threat to anybody at LHW! All this talk of him being one handed is utter sh*t. The guys right hook to head and body is a weapon! He is not a one handed southpaw and neither is he one dimensional. Once he got knocked down he made adjustments & fought and smothered Fonfara on the inside & relentlessly worked the body. Again proving critics wrong who say he can't fight inside. I agree man, I was also wrong in thinking that Stevenson was just going to walk through Fonfara. Anyone who's ever seen the Polish fighter knows how he does get hit. He showed tons of heart and weathered the storm. I also agree about Stevenson, everyone is down on him right now, but it had a lot to do with Fonfara. That cross to the body was brutal, you don't see that punch a lot/ It can be a great weapon if you have the power and speed to pull it off.

12y ago

Hougigo

Says the guy who thought Stevenson would ko fonfara inside 5 I thought Stevenson would too, but I thought Fonfara would go down swinging. Definitely a bigger challenge than a lot of people precieved him to be here. Like I said leading up to the fight, Fonfara could make things interesting and he has a chance. He's good when he pushes forward and most of the KO's he's got are from accumulation... at least against the better foes.

12y ago

jas

He was tougher than expected but wasn't you saying Fonfara by K.O? That didn't go too well either ;) I actually said Stevenson to win is most likely outcome in the thread you are referring to: @dan cov, only watched a couple rounds from the campillo fight . Fonfara counters. Has a right hand. Not good defense . Not iron chin but not packing glass like Stevenson is. Active. Good , active jab. Mentally tough. Won't run away from Stevenson which is important. Range and height. Stevenson is athletic. Power. Great foot movement. Packing a glass chin. Can't fight in the inside which won't be important in this fight but relevant if he wins and fights hopkins. Tenses up incredibly when he throws - a counter from opponent can have great effect. Telegraphs punches. I am trying to spread the love. Kuyukut was highly generous so I learnt that from him. I do think betting on fonfara at sports betting shops is profitable. They have it 9/1 and ko at 14/1 That is the most likely outcome but i think fonfara at 9/1 and 14/1 by ko are profitable bets. i just think fonfara can jab jab and time a right hand whilst stevenson throws. also, do you have a million trillion?

12y ago

bojangles1987

12y ago

dan_cov

Says the guy who thought Stevenson would ko fonfara inside 5 He was tougher than expected but wasn't you saying Fonfara by K.O? That didn't go too well either ;)

12y ago

jas

Did not see the latter but spot on with the Stevenson vs Fonfara showing. Stevenson is far better than most are willing to admit. He is a lot craftier than given credit for. Fans are only willing to look at the negatives but there was a lot of positives in that fight and Stevenson once again proved he is a major threat to anybody at LHW! All this talk of him being one handed is utter sh*t. The guys right hook to head and body is a weapon! He is not a one handed southpaw and neither is he one dimensional. Once he got knocked down he made adjustments & fought and smothered Fonfara on the inside & relentlessly worked the body. Again proving critics wrong who say he can't fight inside. Says the guy who thought Stevenson would ko fonfara inside 5

12y ago

dan_cov

12y ago

The_Big_Dunn

Stevenson showed he was very much 36 yrs old. Its clear after watching this he made a smart decision to go to SHowtime and get as much money as possible because he doesn't have much left. Best scenario for him is to fight Bhop and Pascal, get the paydays, create as much value as possible to get killed by Kovalev and then call it a career.

12y ago

Hougigo

I like these

12y ago

jas

What's your predictions for forthcoming big fights?

12y ago