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Some excellent fights this past weekend, I will cover only a few.
Nicholas Walters vs Vic Darchinyan
Tough night for Vic, I just think he was too small. Walters looks huge at that weight and really dominated the seldom dominated Darchinyan. Could this be it for Vic? I don't know but Walters has a bright future at that weight an is someone we need to keep an eye on. So many good fights at that division, so many big names.
Would love to see Walters vs Donaire, Gonzales, Mares or how about Gradovich? Man that would be a barn burner.
Chris Avalos vs Yasutaka Ishimoto
Just wanted to mention Avalos for a second. I have watched this kid for a few years and I thought this was a very impressive performance. We know how tough Ishimoto is, never being stopped and Avalos stopped him and dominated him the entire fight. Avalos has a great mix of boxing and brawling. He has great timing, especially on the inside as he throws his shots, takes a little step out and comes back with accuracy and power. I was really impressed with this kid.
How about Avalos vs Leo Santa Cruz? Style wise this would be amazing.
Donaire vs Vetyeka
It was a shame about the cut because I do think this was turning into a good fight. Donaire was really throwing some hard shots, and obviously knocked down the South African and hurt him, but he was there for some more rounds IMO and the cut really robbed us of seeing a good fight.
I think Donaire was looking different, sitting more on his shots and trying to get Vetyeka out of there. I don't know if that's the style that best fits him, he can maybe do that against smaller opponents but moving up I'm not so sure. I understand he's being trained by his father now, and in all reality Robert Garcia wasn't ever really training him full time so I don't know if it will make that much of a difference.
Froch vs Groves
Going into this one I had it 50/50. I know Groves really performed well in the first fight but I knew Froch would adjust in the second fight and try to do something different.
Going into the fight, Groves jab was there all over again. He was landing it when he wanted, but made the mistake of letting Froch be first some times and take that away from himself. I personally thought Groves was really tentative in the fight. The right hand behind that jab was there all night, but was reluctant to throw it.
He also threw his combo's and then failed to finish with defense. He would stand there, pose and get hit with shots in return. Froch is very crafty in there, very few can pull off his style as well as he does. Lead hand down, flicking the jab and countering. Froch has a great chin, and that plays a big part in it.
Beautiful shot when Froch turned the jab into a throw away hook and followed with a pin point right hand that ended the fight. Amazing shot, and it was a good stoppage. Now there's talk of Froch vs Chavez Jr and this one is really intriguing. At 168 I think Jr will be much stronger, but how will he deal with another awkward guy in Froch? I believe if Jr gets into shape, he can walk down Froch eventually, but I think this fight sets up some great exchanges.
Nicholas Walters vs Vic Darchinyan
Tough night for Vic, I just think he was too small. Walters looks huge at that weight and really dominated the seldom dominated Darchinyan. Could this be it for Vic? I don't know but Walters has a bright future at that weight an is someone we need to keep an eye on. So many good fights at that division, so many big names.
Would love to see Walters vs Donaire, Gonzales, Mares or how about Gradovich? Man that would be a barn burner.
Chris Avalos vs Yasutaka Ishimoto
Just wanted to mention Avalos for a second. I have watched this kid for a few years and I thought this was a very impressive performance. We know how tough Ishimoto is, never being stopped and Avalos stopped him and dominated him the entire fight. Avalos has a great mix of boxing and brawling. He has great timing, especially on the inside as he throws his shots, takes a little step out and comes back with accuracy and power. I was really impressed with this kid.
How about Avalos vs Leo Santa Cruz? Style wise this would be amazing.
Donaire vs Vetyeka
It was a shame about the cut because I do think this was turning into a good fight. Donaire was really throwing some hard shots, and obviously knocked down the South African and hurt him, but he was there for some more rounds IMO and the cut really robbed us of seeing a good fight.
I think Donaire was looking different, sitting more on his shots and trying to get Vetyeka out of there. I don't know if that's the style that best fits him, he can maybe do that against smaller opponents but moving up I'm not so sure. I understand he's being trained by his father now, and in all reality Robert Garcia wasn't ever really training him full time so I don't know if it will make that much of a difference.
Froch vs Groves
Going into this one I had it 50/50. I know Groves really performed well in the first fight but I knew Froch would adjust in the second fight and try to do something different.
Going into the fight, Groves jab was there all over again. He was landing it when he wanted, but made the mistake of letting Froch be first some times and take that away from himself. I personally thought Groves was really tentative in the fight. The right hand behind that jab was there all night, but was reluctant to throw it.
He also threw his combo's and then failed to finish with defense. He would stand there, pose and get hit with shots in return. Froch is very crafty in there, very few can pull off his style as well as he does. Lead hand down, flicking the jab and countering. Froch has a great chin, and that plays a big part in it.
Beautiful shot when Froch turned the jab into a throw away hook and followed with a pin point right hand that ended the fight. Amazing shot, and it was a good stoppage. Now there's talk of Froch vs Chavez Jr and this one is really intriguing. At 168 I think Jr will be much stronger, but how will he deal with another awkward guy in Froch? I believe if Jr gets into shape, he can walk down Froch eventually, but I think this fight sets up some great exchanges.
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