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Some fights that had great potential disappointed this weekend, let's go over a few.
Vargas vs Novikov
This was one of the grind it out fights, that was tough on both guys. I think Novikov was the more active fighter, but Vargas landed the cleaner, harder punches throughout the fight. I had Vargas ahead by one point going into the 12th round and gave the last round to Vargas to win a close decision.
The judges really blew this one, I mean the scores they gave make you wonder if the Russian fighter ever had a chance. Tough fight to score because again, the Russian seemed to land more, but Vargas landed the harder and cleaner shots. I thought the right man won, but the scores were absurd.
I like Vargas, he doesn't have great power, but I like his jab and he's a good boxer. I thought he looked a little off, but that also had a lot to do with the Russians activity throughout the fight. Vargas will be a tough fight for anyone at that weight IMO.
Kovalev vs Caparello
Most didn't think this would go far and it didn't. Caparello didn't really put up much of a fight, moved a lot and landed a punch after a trip they called a knockdown but it was a trip that caused Kovalev to fall.
Now we will see Kovalev vs Hopkins and I can't believe this fight is being made. I can't bet against the Alien, just can't do it. I believe that Kovalev is too up right and looks to land the big shot and only the big shot. It's a dangerous fight but I think B Hop wins another amazing fight at nearly 50 years old.
Rios vs Chaves
What a sloppy, dirty fight. I have to say first and foremost before you guys accuse me of being on the side of Rios, I think he's done as an elite fighter at 140 or 147. He looked lethargic, slow, and soft around the midsection. He can still fight inside, but he just can't defend anything.
On the other hand, I think Chaves was fighting dirty from the beginning. Every time Rios got close, he would hold, and he was doing it from round 1. It's frustrating, and even though that's what you are taught to do against a brawler, Chaves isn't Mayweather and they will not allow him to do that for 12 rounds.
On the other hand, Rios was coming in with the head, but Chaves was holding a lot. Now the poke in the eye thing, I couldn't see on the replay, but I know that's a tactic some fighters use and if Chaves was doing that, he deserved to get DQ'd. The ref either way did a horrible job because he didn't seem clear in his warnings and was losing control of the fight.
I think Draculich should have been clearer on his warnings, and then maybe taken another point from Chaves before the DQ. Either way, I had it a very close fight, with Rios winning inside, and Chaves winning from distance. I had Chaves up 1 pt on my score card, but Rios was coming on in the later rounds.
Rios didn't look like the same fighter we are used to seeing, and we know that brawling style takes it toll on you. I personally think he's done, he just didn't look good physically. Ariza may be an ass.hole but at least he had him in better shape. He looked very soft around the midsection.
Friday Night Fights
Thomas Willams Jr suffered a tough loss and setback against the vet Campillo. You know, sometimes it's about heart and nothing more. I was really big on Williams Jr but I think for the first time in his life, he wasn't the one doing the beating and was getting beat on and he didn't like it.
Like I have said before, talent only carries you so far in this sport. In the end, I will take heart and courage over talent any day of the week. Williams Jr just folded in the face of pressure, ran in the end, and you could see was mentally broken.
I hope this kid comes back, because I have seen many a fighter never recover from something like this. Boxing is a sport that will show you who you are, and sometimes it's not what you want to see. Most people lie to themselves every day, thinking they are something they are not, and until you face that adversity, that pressure and pain, you won't know who you are.
Vargas vs Novikov
This was one of the grind it out fights, that was tough on both guys. I think Novikov was the more active fighter, but Vargas landed the cleaner, harder punches throughout the fight. I had Vargas ahead by one point going into the 12th round and gave the last round to Vargas to win a close decision.
The judges really blew this one, I mean the scores they gave make you wonder if the Russian fighter ever had a chance. Tough fight to score because again, the Russian seemed to land more, but Vargas landed the harder and cleaner shots. I thought the right man won, but the scores were absurd.
I like Vargas, he doesn't have great power, but I like his jab and he's a good boxer. I thought he looked a little off, but that also had a lot to do with the Russians activity throughout the fight. Vargas will be a tough fight for anyone at that weight IMO.
Kovalev vs Caparello
Most didn't think this would go far and it didn't. Caparello didn't really put up much of a fight, moved a lot and landed a punch after a trip they called a knockdown but it was a trip that caused Kovalev to fall.
Now we will see Kovalev vs Hopkins and I can't believe this fight is being made. I can't bet against the Alien, just can't do it. I believe that Kovalev is too up right and looks to land the big shot and only the big shot. It's a dangerous fight but I think B Hop wins another amazing fight at nearly 50 years old.
Rios vs Chaves
What a sloppy, dirty fight. I have to say first and foremost before you guys accuse me of being on the side of Rios, I think he's done as an elite fighter at 140 or 147. He looked lethargic, slow, and soft around the midsection. He can still fight inside, but he just can't defend anything.
On the other hand, I think Chaves was fighting dirty from the beginning. Every time Rios got close, he would hold, and he was doing it from round 1. It's frustrating, and even though that's what you are taught to do against a brawler, Chaves isn't Mayweather and they will not allow him to do that for 12 rounds.
On the other hand, Rios was coming in with the head, but Chaves was holding a lot. Now the poke in the eye thing, I couldn't see on the replay, but I know that's a tactic some fighters use and if Chaves was doing that, he deserved to get DQ'd. The ref either way did a horrible job because he didn't seem clear in his warnings and was losing control of the fight.
I think Draculich should have been clearer on his warnings, and then maybe taken another point from Chaves before the DQ. Either way, I had it a very close fight, with Rios winning inside, and Chaves winning from distance. I had Chaves up 1 pt on my score card, but Rios was coming on in the later rounds.
Rios didn't look like the same fighter we are used to seeing, and we know that brawling style takes it toll on you. I personally think he's done, he just didn't look good physically. Ariza may be an ass.hole but at least he had him in better shape. He looked very soft around the midsection.
Friday Night Fights
Thomas Willams Jr suffered a tough loss and setback against the vet Campillo. You know, sometimes it's about heart and nothing more. I was really big on Williams Jr but I think for the first time in his life, he wasn't the one doing the beating and was getting beat on and he didn't like it.
Like I have said before, talent only carries you so far in this sport. In the end, I will take heart and courage over talent any day of the week. Williams Jr just folded in the face of pressure, ran in the end, and you could see was mentally broken.
I hope this kid comes back, because I have seen many a fighter never recover from something like this. Boxing is a sport that will show you who you are, and sometimes it's not what you want to see. Most people lie to themselves every day, thinking they are something they are not, and until you face that adversity, that pressure and pain, you won't know who you are.
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