Comments Thread For: Arnold Barboza Jnr edges past Jack Catterall to earn shot at Teofimo Lopez?s title

[STREET CLEANER]

Teo will take a Barboza fight. No power and doesn't have fast legs.

[Tibburon245]

Who knows if Teofimo is still at the top level? Long stretches between fights, problems, etc. He & his people need to get it together.

[landotter]

Have to admit... not sure if Barboza-Lopez is a fight I am all that excited to see.

[Liondw]

A close fight, and honestly hard to watch at times, considerably dull.

Not so sweet science, but understandably they're careful, cagey fighters, safety first. Well done to Barboza Jr.

[M312]

I had it 7-5 Catterall, but Barbosa did get his tactics right and led with his right hand. Southpaws hate that. That's why Jack didn't counter the way he normally would, he was looking to counter off the jab which Barbosa didn't commit on.

Made it a terribly boring fight where Barbosa feared over committing, so he would rightly potshotted with a lead right, sometimes followed by a left. And Jack had to more patient than usual because he wanted to counter off the jab.

In hindsight, a draw was probably the best result, but we wouldn't want to see that fight again.

Good news is Jack was the true Undisputed champion, but we can finally put that to rest!

[champion4ever]

No chance in hell. Americans don't like fighters who run backwards all night. Come to think of it, nobody likes fighters like that.

I agree. I don't have a problem with the decision either. Since both guys were reluctant in exchanging and trading punches with each other. My only problem is with the criteria.

What is the difference between effective aggressiveness, ring generalship and clean punching? I thought Catterall landed the cleaner punches throughout the fight.

However, he fought almost exclusively on the back foot; Which is something that judges absolutely detest nowadays. It doesn't matter how many more punches are thrown or clean punches that are landed by the backfoot fighter either.

It was also the reason why Bivol lost to Beterbiev. Sure, down the stretch; Artur did have his moments later in the fight. However, It just wasn't enough to overcome Bivol's strong start, clean punching and overall ring generalship.

Hands down Dmitry threw and landed the cleaner punches of the two but Artur was the one fighting off the front foot; So they awarded him the decision no matter how ineffective his aggression was. Not once did he ever cut off the ring.

Judges tend to favor the pressure fighter and the aggressor; No matter how ineffective the pressure or aggression is. Today the sweet science has become all but obsolete. Whatever happened to hit and to not get hit?

[champion4ever]

Right man won. Caterall never attack and was waiting to counter most of the night.

Personally, I had Jack Catterall winning the fight. I thought he landed the more effective and cleaner shots. In addition, both guys never attack and was waiting to counter for much of the fight.

Both guys were very reluctant in taking any risks in the fight. Even though I thought Jack won. They both fought a safety first fight.

Neither man was willing to engage or take chances in the ring; For fear of getting hit and getting caught flush with punches they didn't see.

Which is the reason why it was a such a boring fight. However, the pace favored Catterall since that is his natural fighting style.

[champion4ever]

That is a very good description. Going forward and throwing punches and he wins even if he misses most of them.

We might as well get used to it because it is the way of the world. It's just the way it is.

[champion4ever]

Catteral is far too lazy in output and tbh-very boring.

He has always fought like that. It's just simply his style.

[champion4ever]

I was thinking the same thing. I think even Hearn found Catteral boring, so he said Fack it! I'm giving it to Barboza.

Barboza hardly threw or landed any clean punches himself. I thought Jack even hurt him a few times in that fight. This guy would be a cakewalk in the park against Teo. He can't hit and doesn't throw a lot of punches.