A essential have a look at the previous week in boxing
BIGGEST WINNER
O’Shaquie Foster – The brand new 130-pound beltholder was appropriate when he stated after his break-through victory on Saturday that his fashion might pose issues for anybody. His mixture of pure presents and well-honed skill – notably on protection – defused every little thing veteran Rey Vargas tried to do on the Alamodome in San Antonio, which resulted in a one-sided decision and the Texan’s first world title. And bear in mind: Vargas was no simple mark. The Mexican was unbeaten and a two-division titleholder going into the combat for the vacant WBC title, though he was shifting up in weight. And Foster (20-2, 12 KOs) made him look bizarre. And if he could make Vargas (36-1, 22 KOs) look bizarre … nicely, the others at or close to his weight have been placed on discover. I don’t know whether or not Foster goes to turn out to be a fan favourite as a result of he’s primarily a technician however he’s going to be awfully troublesome to beat.
BIGGEST LOSER
Rey Vargas – The 32-year-old from Mexico Metropolis is definitely in a great place. Sure, he suffered the primary loss in his 14-year profession, a destiny that’s troublesome for any fighter to swallow. And he failed in his bid to affix a choose fraternity by turning into a three-division champion. On the similar time, he can say, “Hey, it was a stretch for me to maneuver as much as 130 kilos.” He appeared to suggest after the combat he wasn’t snug on the weight, saying via a translator “The burden may need been somewhat troublesome, perhaps the facility’s somewhat totally different. However I stated from the start, it’s extra the legs and stuff.” Vargas stays the WBC 126-pound titleholder. He can merely return all the way down to featherweight, the place he gained’t hand over any benefits by way of dimension. And if he decides to offer 130 one other go, he’ll most likely have his hand raised the subsequent time. It’s not as if he was blown out by Foster; he was aggressive. Vargas has extra success forward him.
RABBIT PUNCHES
Foster stated after the combat that he expects to make two necessary defenses earlier than he can take into consideration unifying 130-pound titles, which is the results of profitable a vacant title. First is line is No. 2-ranked Eduardo Hernandez, a 25-year-old slugger from Mexico. Hernandez (33-1, 30 KOs) isn’t the boxer Vargas is however he’s naturally greater and a knockout artist. He must harm Foster to beat him, which is feasible if Foster isn’t cautious. Hernandez can discombobulate anybody. He additionally might be harm himself, as we noticed when Roger Gutierrez stopped him with a single proper hand within the first spherical in 2019. The second necessary? That can be sorted out over the subsequent a number of months. … Welterweight contender Mario Barrios (27-2, 18 KOs) stopped smallish Jovanie Santiago (14-3-1, 10 KOs) within the eighth spherical on the Foster-Vargas card, which retains him related. The San Antonio native had misplaced his two earlier fights, to Gervonta Davis (at 140) and Keith Thurman (147). Barrios landed increasingly punishing blows because the combat progressed and the stoppage was brutal, which was a robust assertion for him. Can he compete with the highest 147-pounders? That can be troublesome as a result of he’s a restricted boxer however he’ll at all times come to combat and has energy.
Information merchandise: Canelo Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs) and John Ryder reportedly are near a deal to fight on May 6 in Jalisco, Mexico, close to Alvarez’s hometown of Guadalajara. I get that Alvarez needs to combat at house for the primary time since he stopped Kermit Cintron in 2011. He needs to reward his followers. It’s simply troublesome to get enthusiastic about his opponent. Ryder (32-5, 18 KOs) is a stable fighter, because the Londoner has proved in opposition to high quality opposition the previous few years, however he’s not a severe menace to the pound-for-pounder. The matchup jogs my memory of the 1993 Julio Cesar Chavez–Greg Haugen combat that drew 136,000 to Estadio Azteca in Mexico Metropolis. Nice occasion, not aggressive. Alvarez’s deliberate subsequent combat would be a problem: He reportedly needs to face gentle heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol a second time in September. Bivol defeated Alvarez by a unanimous resolution final Might. … I used to be happy to listen to that Anthony Joshua says a gathering with Deontay Wilder is inevitable. Nobody cares whether or not a title could be at stake. That matchup could be a blast. I used to be much less happy to listen to that Wilder stated he’d wish to face combined martial artist Francis Ngannou. That’s not a combat; it’s an execution. Wilder reportedly is annoyed with negotiations with Andy Ruiz Jr.
