Comments Thread For: Focal Point: Lebedev Rises To Top Of Red-Hot Cruiserweight Division

[ShoulderRoll]

It's a deep division right now with a lot of good matchups.

However, historically people have not cared much for it because they wonder why the fighters don't just gain a few pounds and fight for the big prize at heavyweight.

[Mikhnienko]

Although a great war, the Breidis/Durodola fight was marred once again by dodgy, corrupt hometown reffing. Even though Breidis was well on his way to winning, and probably would have stopped Durodola, it was a ridiculous stoppage. That doesn't even go into the point deduction earlier in the fight, which came out of the blue for seemingly nothing.

Great fight, but these commissions have to understand that if they want to get on the map, they have to show some integrity and keep their officiating clean and free of the promoters and managers meddling.

The Browne/Chagaev fight was another disgrace. They did everything they could during the fight, and before from what Browne has said, to make sure the title didnt leave and when Browne still won, suddenly up pops a nonsensical positive drug test, the type typically taken to make weight (except heavyweights dont have to make weight), after he'd tested clean right before the fight already.

No Benny that's just your bias causing you to see things that didn't happen. The ref wasn't great but he was sub par all around.

1) Durodula's mouthpiece came out in the 3rd IIRC and the ref stopped the action at an inopportune time for Briedis who was on the verge of finishing him. When Ola spat his mouthpiece out again when hurt later on he took a point.

Ref also took a point from Briedis (but you discard anything that doesn't fit your imagined narrative) in the 6th for holding which one could argue was slightly premature but i suspect it was to even the deductions up, not bias.

2) If that was an early stoppage that so was Kovalev vs Pascal I it was the same thing. Durodula did almost nothing for 2 or 3 rounds, had zero legs and was just taking a horrid beating but possesses a crazy chin and wouldn't go down. It was a good stoppage in my opinion and certainly not premature.

One could argue that the Kalenga stoppage was more premature. He has no legs and was taking alot of shots during the 10th but had looked similarly and kept battling back in the previous couple rounds unlike Durodula.

[Mikhnienko]

Great article. Anyone who doesn't follow the division could get caught up just from that.

Alexey any idea how often Lebedev is willing to fight or able to based on how often Ryabinskiy can put cards together?

Could we see Shumenov in Aug or Sept then Dorticos or Gassiev in December or should we only expect one every 6 months or so? It would be nice to have a consolidated WBA Champion before 2016 is over.

Although a great war, the Breidis/Durodola fight was marred once again by dodgy, corrupt hometown reffing. Even though Breidis was well on his way to winning, and probably would have stopped Durodola, it was a ridiculous stoppage. That doesn't even go into the point deduction earlier in the fight, which came out of the blue for seemingly nothing.

Great fight, but these commissions have to understand that if they want to get on the map, they have to show some integrity and keep their officiating clean and free of the promoters and managers meddling.

The Browne/Chagaev fight was another disgrace. They did everything they could during the fight, and before from what Browne has said, to make sure the title didnt leave and when Browne still won, suddenly up pops a nonsensical positive drug test, the type typically taken to make weight (except heavyweights dont have to make weight), after he'd tested clean right before the fight already.

No Benny that's just your bias causing you to see things that didn't happen. The ref wasn't great but he was sub par all around.

1) Durodula's mouthpiece came out in the 3rd IIRC and the ref stopped the action at an inopportune time for Briedis who was on the verge of finishing him. When Ola spat his mouthpiece out again when hurt later on he took a point.

Ref also took a point from Briedis (but you discard anything that doesn't fit your imagined narrative) in the 6th for holding which one could argue was slightly premature but i suspect it was to even the deductions up, not bias.

2) If that was an early stoppage that so was Kovalev vs Pascal I it was the same thing. Durodula did almost nothing for 2 or 3 rounds, had zero legs and was just taking a horrid beating but possesses a crazy chin and wouldn't go down. It was a good stoppage in my opinion and certainly not premature.

One could argue that the Kalenga stoppage was more premature. He has no legs and was taking alot of shots during the 10th but had looked similarly and kept battling back in the previous couple rounds unlike Durodula.

[techdude69]

Lebedev is one ugly man! He chose the right profession. At least his looks won't change that much by being a boxer.