Category Archives: Tom Donelson

Usyk “split decision” win over Fury – becomes Undisputed Champion

Heavyweights, Recent Fights, Tom Donelson

By Tom Donelson (BWAA) Member Boxing Writers Association of America

Tyson Fury faced off Oleksandr Usyk in a battle of undefeated fighters for the Heavyweight championship of the world.  Fury has proven to be a unique fighter, a big fighter who could box and punch and Usyk is a two division champion, former cruiserweight champions before he took the Heavyweight title when he defeated Anthony Joshua and Fury high point as a fighter was his trilogy with Wilder in which he survived a two knockdown to get a draw in their first fight and then winning the next two with stoppage.  The third fight of their trilogy was a brutal fight in which both men hit the canvas. 

The question that remains is what Fury or Usyk we will see. In his last fight, Fury barely escaped with a split decision over Francis Ngannou in Ngannou’s first boxing match after a great career in the MMA. Usyk won in a knockdown over the Daniel Dubois but before that final stoppage, he went down with a body shot deemed a low blow.   Usyk came in this fight as the smaller fighter and Fury had a higher knockout percentage. If one was a betting person, Fury was more likely to knock out Usyk than the reversed.    If Fury, who defeated Wilder in their last two fights, Fury would win or so I thought..  If the Fury that showed up in Ngannou’s fight then Usyk can win by decision, but I be honest, Fury came into shape and was lighter than his fight with Ngannou.  . 

In reviewing data before the fight, Usyk used his jab 54% during his fights, whereas Fury throws his power shots 56%. The average Heavyweight throw 44 punches per round and Fury is close to the average with 44.8  average punches whereas Usyk threw nearly 50 punches per round. Both men came into this fight with a reputation of being good defensively as Fury only allowed 6 punches to be connected against and Opponents only landed 19 percent against Usyk.

The opening round was close as Usyk landed lefts to the body, Fury jabbing and keeping distance.  Fury landed 9 punches while throwing 37 punches while Usyk landed 8 of 18 so Usyk was more accurate, close round I gave it Usyk, but others gave it to Fury.

In the second round, Usyk landed overhand left to start round with body shots, he looks aggressive whereas Fury is jabbing.  Fury landed a right to the body, but Usyk landed body shots.  The last seconds of the round say a Usyk combo landed but Fury landed an upper cut to the body. Usyk answered with body shots and Fury ends the round with an upper cut.  I had the round for Usyk, 20-18.  According to CompuBox, Usyk landed 50 percent of his power shots as he landed 14 power shots.

Usyk opened the third with body shots, but Fury pivoted with a nice right.  Usyk using head movement trying to avoid Fury’s jabs, but Fury landed solid jabs.  Usyk went to the body, to tire the bigger Fury as the round ended.  Again, another close round as Fury avoided being cornered but Usyk is not letting Fury circle without pressuring him.  Fury also landed his combinations.  I had the round for Usyk and had  Usyk up 30-27.   The round was close and could have gone for Fury.

Fury landed body shots and more active in the fourth round as Usyk looked for a combination but missed with a straight left.  Usyk landed a nice lead left and Fury nails with an upper cut that has Usyk off balance Fury landed body shots and forced Usyk to cover up.  Usyk closed the distance but got nailed from the long upper cut.  Fury did a little clowning, but Usyk kept his cool. Fury won this round and had it 39-37 for Usyk.

Fury caught Usyk with a jab as the fifth round opened and Usyk looked to find angles to land his right hook. Fury landed a good right and left hook to the body and Fury pressured Usyk.  Usyk 48-47 but this is close bout so the score could be reversed.

The sixth round began with Usyk back to pressure tactic and Fury landed four punch combinations and then tied up his opponent.  Fury takes the round and scores the fight 57-57 even as we go into the second half. Fury appeared to be prepared to impose his will on the smaller Usyk. Fury landed 20 punches in the sixth round and had a 58-35 edge in landed punches from the fourth to the sixth round.

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Lomachencko “Brilliant” Defeats Kambosos By 11th Round Knockout

Lightweights, Recent Fights, Tom Donelson

By Tom Donelson / Member Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA)

Vasiliy Lomachenko faced Australian George Kambosos, Jr. for the IBF lightweight title, and this promised to be an interesting fight as both fighters were looking not just for a title but also a loss could hurt the loser if not end his career as championship contenders.

Lomachenko won the first two rounds as Lomachenko landed Kambosos 18 punches to 5 and controlled the ring and I had Lomachenko ahead 20-18.  In the third round Kambosos landed 8 punches for his best round, but his opponent landed 14 punches and as ESPN announcers Tim Bradley noted as the fourth round progressed, Lomachenko has downloaded his opponent weakness and he simply avoided Kambosos punches while accurately landing 21 punches to only one for Kambosos and after the round, it was 40 to 36 for Lomachenko who is looking as sharp as I seen in a while.

The fifth round was the same as the other rounds as Lomachenko simply landed at will and Kambosos couldn’t even land a punch. Lomachenko landed 41 punches and Kambosos only three in the fourth and fifth round.

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Inoue, Survives Early Knockdown, Wins By Knockout Over Nery … UPDATE: Ryan Garcia

Recent Fights, Tom Donelson

By Tom Donelson (BWAA) Member of Boxing Writers Association of America

Naoya Inoue faced Luis Nery and there was feeling that this would be another easy Inoue win and the only question was when he would stop Nery.   In the opening moments in the first round, Inoue unleashed a left hook and as he dropped his right hand, Nery nailed Inoue with a counter left hook.   Down goes Inoue and this was the first time he was ever dropped in his professional career.    Inoue landed on all fours and quickly got up after listening to the referee count from one knee.  He looked dumbfounded and surprised being on the canvas as  44,000 fans looked on, wondering what just happened. For them, the mighty Inoue hit the canvas

This would be the first time since his fight with Nonito Donaire when he battled through a broken nose and broken orbital to win the fight that he faced a challenge.  He managed in the fight to floor Donaire in the eleventh round of that fight, and now he faced yet another challenge.

Inoue took over the second round as he dropped Nery with a vicious left hook.  He floored Nery twice more, including a nasty Inoue nasty hook that sent Nery down in round 5. The following round, Inoue ended the fight with a  right-hand sending Nery through the ropes.  The referee called the fight right here.   Inoue hit the canvas, the possibility of defeat staring him in the face but like many great fighters before him, he took back control of the fight. 

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Canelo “Unanimous” Decision Over Munguia

Middleweights, Recent Fights, Tom Donelson

By Tom Donelson / Member Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) and much respected contributor to www.dmboxing.com since 2008

Jamie Munguia faced his toughest fight in his 44th fight against one of the best fighters of this generation, Canelo Alvarez and Munguia would be part of an Alvarez tradition of the Cinco de Mayo weekend where Alvarez was 9-1 with his only loss to undefeated light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol.  This was the first time two Mexican fighters fought for an undisputed championship fight. And this was the first super Middleweight championship bout featuring two Mexican born fighters and in fact this was the first world title bout above 160 pounds featuring two Mexican fighters.  So, this weekend history was being made.

Munguia took the center as the crowd was excited.  Munguia jabs to set the range and starts aggressively. Canelo goes to the body with a glancing right while Munguia jab looks fast as he jabs to the body and ties up Alvarez as Alvarez comes forward. Alavarez lands left hooks to the body and then lands a right hand to the other side.  Munguia wants this to be a brawl.

Alvarez in the second round takes the middle of ring but Munguia is letting his punches earlier and landing jabs.  Munguia landing straight punches and forcing Canelo to lean back but Canelo work the body.  The score was 10-9 and 20-1 after two rounds.

Munguia pumping jab and following with right hand plus doubles up on left hook that cracked Canelo midsection.  Both men trade punches and Munguia throwing punches plenty of volume while cutting off the ring as he took the third round. Munguia using great head movement and throws punches in volume at the beginning of the fourth round but Canelo landed hooks to the body with upper cuts and sent Munguia down with a left hook and uppercut in the fourth round.  Alvarez won the fifth round with his body shots and cleaner punching After five rounds, I had it 49-44.

Canelo using left hook to counter Munguia jab and Canelo connected 1-2 and left hook along with body shot in the sixth round and at the halfway mark, Canelo landed 65 power shots and connecting at 47 percent  versus Munguia 42 power shots and only connecting at 30 percent.

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Ryan Garcia “Upset Win” Over Devin Haney

Recent Fights, Tom Donelson

By Tom Donelson / Member Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA)

Ryan Garcia took on Devin Haney for Haney’s 140  pound title and Garcia is one of those heavily promoted fighters who so far proved to be a a good fighter but not an elite fighter that promoters hope for. Garcia first attempt at elite status was his fight against Gervonta Davis who stopped him in the seventh round at the catch weight of 136 pounds.. 

Haney is a rather good fighter who has shown he is a champion, as he took the lightweight title against George Kambosas in Kambosas back yard Australia.  Haney not only traveled halfway round the world once to win the title but twice to defend the title.  He defeated Kambosas even easier the second time.  He won a close bout against Lomachenko and Lomachenko has been one of the best lightweights for the past decade. 

Haney entry into the junior welterweight saw him easily beat the once defeated Regis Prograsis including a third-round knockdown.  Haney proved himself the real thing at 140 pounds as he has now found and defeated championship caliber fighters.  Garcias last victory was a stoppage of Oscar Jurado, and now he was facing an important fight.

Garcia is one of those fighters who is loud and self-promoter, effectively using social media promoting himself and the sport.  He is definitely the A side of this fight despite not being the champion but beating Haney was not going to  be easy, who can match Garcia in boxing skills. On paper, Garcia is the stronger fighter with the higher knock out ratio but then Haney has fought quality opponents over his last four fights under championship pressure.  For Garcia, this fight is about justifying the publicity and showing he is the real thing. 

The weight in provided the first drama, when Garcia showed up over two pounds overweight and thus he automatically became ineligible for the title so a victory by Garcia merely vacates the title.

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Holly Holm / Combat Champion

Recent Fights, Tom Donelson

By Tom Donelson / Member Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA)

Holly Holm is the only fighter who has won championships as a boxer and a championship as a Mixed Martial Artist. Her most recent defeat at the hands of Kayla Harrison at the age of 42 showed maybe a fighter who no longer is the great fighter of the past.  Mother time always wins as she lost her recent bout but yet Holm has managed to put together a hall of fame career as a combat fighter.

Holly Holm is the daughter of a pastor and had the nickname, the Preacher Daughter, and her first fight was a knockout win in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2002, the beginning of a combat sport career that extended 22 years to her recent MMA fight, but also includes boxing and kick boxing.

Holm career began in aerobics class at the age of 16 including cardio-kickboxing and her instructor saw talent and began instructing her.  She did amateur kicking boxing before going into a professional boxing career.

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Fundora Defeats Tszyu – in Las Vegas – bloody Twelve Round Split Decision Win

Middleweights, Recent Fights, Tom Donelson

By Tom Donelson (BWAA) Member Boxing Writers Association of America and respected contributor to www.dmoxing.com since 2008

Tim Tszyu fight with Keith Thurman was canceled but Sebastian Fundora ended up  the new challenger for the 154 titles.  While Tszyu was already talking about an Errol Spence, Jr. fight, Fundora represents a significant challenge and may even been a tougher opponent than Thurman.  At 6’5”, he had the height advantage over Tsyzu which he used to his advantage in the fight.

Tsyzu, who is the son of Hall of Fame fighter Kostya Tszyu, headlined his first big PPV card on U.S. soils on Prime Video.  Fundora, who was scheduled to fight Serhii Bohachuk, moved up to replace Thruman and for the rest of the story, Brian Mendoza replaced Fundora in fighting Bohachuk.  Bohachuk did in fact do what Tsyzu did, beat Mendoza in a decision.  (Mendoza did stop Fundora in their fight but has now lost two in a row to Bohachuk and Tsyzu.)  Bohachuk dominated the fight and the scorecard reflected that as he won 117-111, 117-111 and 118-110.  He dominated the fight, out landing Mendoza 319-168 punches over the twelve rounds, double the jab and double the power shots and more accurate overall 38 percent to 33 percent. Bohachuk is now looking to fighting the winner of Fundora-Tsyzu. 

I was not aware ErisLandy Lara was still fighting. Just joking but he is the oldest champion as he defended his WBA middleweight champion with an easy two round stoppage of Michael Zerafa.  He has now recorded three straight knockouts.

Now for the main event as Tszyu tried to find the range against Fundora who established his jab.   Tszyu used his right to the body but shots a right to the head failed to connect. Finally, he connected with a right to snap Fundora head back. The second round saw a double jab from Fundora as Tszyu jab landed in the body and he managed to land a right hand to the Fundora head.  Fundora bleeding from Tszyu shot and after two rounds, Tszyu up 20-18.

Tszyu gets nailed by an accidental elbow, and blood flowing from his scalps blinded him throughout the rest of the fight. Fundora lands shots as blood stream into Tszyu’s eye. Near the end of the round, both fighters trade shots at center ring and Tszyu lands a straight right.  The bloodbath continued for both fighters as Tszyu was still wiping blood from his eyes and Fundora took advantage as after four rounds he was tied on my score card, but he is also a bloody mess.

Tszyu landed right hand to the body but got nailed by hard left from Fundora.  Tszyu partially landed left hand while Fundora lands his shot as Tszyu partial vision is making it difficult to see punches.  He does land a decent left hand and buckled Fundora.  Tszyu starts the six with right hand to the body and these body shots are hard shots, but Fundora is landing stiff jabs.  Tszyu lands body shots with right and left while Fundora used his height and Tszyu blood.  At the halfway mark, Tszyu is up by 58-56 but these are close rounds.

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Joshua Destroys Ngannou … 2nd Round Knockout

Heavyweights, Recent Fights, Tom Donelson

By Tom Donelson / Member Boxing Writers Association of America (BWWA)

Anthony Joshua scored a brutal KO Win Over Francis Ngannou in a fight that many thought would be competitive, but Ngannou was hoping to repeat the close fight against Fury, which included a Ngannou knockdown of Fury.  A few thought Ngannou should have been declared winner of his bout with Fury but not this fight.  Joshua dominated from the opening bell which included two knockdowns before the final knockout caused by a vicious right hand.  In two minutes, Joshua did to Ngannou what many thought Fury would do. This was a fight between one of the best heavyweights versus an MMA star fighter trying to adjust to boxing. 

Joshua spent the first half of the opening round avoiding Ngannou’s left hooks and then as Ngannou attempted to switch to a southpaw stance, Joshua nailed him with a right hand that sent Ngannou tumbling backward.  Ngannou got up at the count of eight but as the second round began, Joshua sent Ngannou down a second time and then finally a vicious right sent Ngannou down for good.  Three right hands and that dealt the end of Ngannou. 

Joshual came in this fight prepared and took his opponent seriously while Ngannou managed to get a big PPV payday financed by the Saudi’s based on his close fight with Fury.   Joshua treated Ngannou as a newcomer as he exploited his opponent sieve-like defense. 

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Foster Defeats Nova … Cortes By “KO” Over Chevalier / ESPN Results (2-16-24) From New York

Recent Fights, Tom Donelson

By Tom Donelson (BWAA) Member Boxing Writers Association of America

O’Shaquie Foster defended his WBC super-feather weight title with a tough win over Abraham Nova with a split decision win  It was a close fight, and the scores were 115-112 and 116-111 for Foster and 114-113 for Nova.    Foster victory was his 12th victory in a row and his successful defense of his title that he won from Rey Vegas.  The final round saw Foster knocking Nova down with twenty seconds down for a 10-8 to cement his victory. 

Nova, however, did give a good account of himself and put himself in a position of another championship shot. 

Foster began pushing the action during the first round, but the action was cautious through the first three rounds as neither fighter took many chances. 

Foster threw two effective combinations in the fourth round, but Nova out landed him twelve punches to four and was the most active over most of the fight but while Nova threw more punches, Foster was the more accurate punches.  This fight was close according to CompuBox numbers 139 punches landed for the champion and 122 for the challenger with several rounds either tied or decided by one or two punches but Nova needed 701 punches to get his 122 landed punches and had less than 20 percent accuracy whereas Foster landed nearly 33 percent of his punches including 40 percent of his power shots. 

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Buatis Defeats Azeez / London Fight (2-3-24) … Benn Defeats Dobson / Las Vegas Fight (2-3-24)

Middleweights, Recent Fights, Tom Donelson

By Ton Donelson / Member Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA)

Joshua Buatis defeated Dan Azeez in what was called a light heavyweight eliminator in a 12-round decision as judges scored it 116-100, 117-109 and 117-109.   Buatis is now 18-0 with thirteen stoppages and is in line with the winner of the Beterview vs Bivol. 

 

Buatis’ bodywork and quick left hand proved decisive in the fight and added two knock downs in round eleven.  This was a clear victory for Buatis as his power punching was the difference as he connected on 35 percent of them and landed 152 power shot to seventy-two for Azeez. 

Buatis’ power punching was the difference, as he out landed Azeez 152-72, hitting on 35% and throwing one hundred more. Buatis also landed fifty-two body shots whereas Azeez landed a few more jabs.   Overall, a good fight. 

Continue reading Buatis Defeats Azeez / London Fight (2-3-24) … Benn Defeats Dobson / Las Vegas Fight (2-3-24) →