It’s a lightweight week once more for boxing, however the final of these for a bit right here, as the game’s about to rev up the engines and shut out summer season robust*.
*Knock on wooden
This week, we’ve bought George Kambosos Jr returning in an ESPN most important occasion from Oklahoma, as he faces Maxi Hughes in a 12-round light-weight bout.
Who wins?
Scott Christ (61-29)
Kambosos will win, but it surely’s not going to be straightforward; stylistically, Hughes may give him much more hassle than you’d anticipate him to have contemplating George Jr as soon as beat Teofimo Lopez clear and clear. Maxi’s on an excellent run, a great deal of confidence, and he’s bought some actual craft to his recreation, he’s a man who’s peaking.
Kambosos additionally received’t have fought in 9 months by the point he will get in there, and he’s coming off of back-to-back losses to Devin Haney. Hughes ain’t Haney, however Kambosos nearly misplaced fights to Lee Selby and Mickey Bey again in 2019-20. I’m not even saying these guys deserved wins over Kambosos, however they nearly pulled it off on the three playing cards that matter, as a result of Kambosos doesn’t all the time shine, doesn’t all the time actually separate himself from his opposition.
I actually wouldn’t be shocked to see certainly one of three judges favor Hughes right here, both. However I’m considering Kambosos will get some 8-4, 7-5 kind playing cards, and I’ll roughly agree with these scores. Kambosos UD-12
Wil Esco (70-20)
Admittedly, I discover George Kambosos much more palatable now that he’s needed to drop the entire ‘emperor’ shtick. I nonetheless assume he’s clearly under the elite stage of world boxing, however right here he’ll be in in opposition to somebody in Maxi Hughes who I believe is correct across the similar stage as I believe this struggle is fairly effectively matched.
Kambosos had a actuality verify (twice) in opposition to Devin Haney, however these weren’t actually the type of fights that bodily destroy a fighter, so whereas I think Hughes shall be artful sufficient to provide Kambosos some issue, I don’t assume he’ll do fairly sufficient to get the nod on the playing cards. I’ll take Kambosos by choice. Kambosos UD-12
Patrick Stumberg (70-20)
Kambosos’ victory over Teofimo Lopez wasn’t a fluke in any sense of the time period, however he positively benefitted from a good type matchup. Kambosos has essentially the most success when he can management the gap along with his jab, then punish opponents’ entries and exits as soon as they get pissed off. He’s constructed to take out aggressive swarmers, so when coping with a technician or a spoiler, the gears don’t fairly mesh. There’s a cause his final three wins got here by break up choice.
Whereas none of Hughes’ latest victims measure as much as Kambosos, he’s crushed such a motley array of types that I belief him to determine “Ferocious’” method and make use of his traditional mix of slick head motion, good footwork, and clear potshots to take over down the stretch. Hughes SD-12
John Hansen (62-28)
I’ll say one factor upfront to any of my hater-ass colleagues who can’t see the large strategic image: Paying sanctioning charges on 4 belts is for suckers and chumps. Getting life altering cash for a pair of title fights, then setting the stage for the remainder of your division to someway underestimate you DESPITE HAVING DEFINITIVELY PROVEN YOURSELF AS THE GREATEST LIGHTWEIGHT OF THIS OR ANY OTHER ERA? That’s genius. If any of the semi-literate numbskulls alongside me on the masthead of this web site had ever learn a lot as a single web page of Solar Tzu, they could simply perceive that.
With that out of the way in which, let me introduce you to Ευτύχης Μπλέτσας (Eftihis Bletsas), higher recognized to viewers of SKAI TV as “The Pleased Traveler.”
Eftihis has a journey present the place he’s mainly a one-man band, spotlighting locations all throughout the peninsula and islands of Greece, and later all throughout the planet. Consider him as Rick Steves, however swarthier and far much less dorky. He bought a Greek TV channel to pay him (and his spouse, who will get a smooch on the 1:20 mark in that music video) for over 250 episodes of touring round to among the most lovely locations on the earth.
Shawnee, Okla., just isn’t one of the vital lovely locations on the earth. No disrespect to the locals, or to inland waterway fanatics and Wikipedia skimmers, who clearly understand it for being a mere 112 miles away from the McClellan–Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System of locks and dams that present transport barge entry to the Gulf of Mexico. It has extra casinos (5) than elementary colleges (4). And the ferrite magnet factory shut down last year.
If the complete planet had been consumed by hellfire in some type of reverse-Waterworld state of affairs, and the one liveable place remaining on the floor of this Earth was Shawnee, Oklahoma, I’d nonetheless need to completely contemplate my choices earlier than agreeing to go there.
However this week and this week solely, Shawnee is the middle of the sports activities universe, and a must-visit vacation spot. The Emperor is again, and his new reign begins in humble little Shawnee. If the Tourism Division of the Metropolis of Shawnee (sure, there is one) is wise, they’ll reduce a deal for George Kambosos to Pleased Traveler his method round their city and actually put it on the map.
Give Kambosos a GoPro and a selfie stick, and switch him free. Present us the painted horses, George! Go to the gravesite and memorial plaque of Dr. Brewster Higley VI, author of Franklin Roosevelt’s favourite tune, “Dwelling on the Vary.” Present us the largest pair of overalls on the earth, and don’t take heed to any horseshit from lying, jealous Nebraskans. Present the world why Shawnee was ranked the 19th best disc golf destination in Oklahoma, and go “frolfing” in any respect 4 programs!
And, clearly, additionally go win the fifth and most prestigious title, the IBO light-weight belt. Frankly, this struggle was over as quickly because it was signed and Kambosos turned his mighty gaze in the direction of Maxi Hughes. Hughes is a pleasant sufficient fellow, and I want him all the perfect dealing with home enterprise in his beltless future. He’ll go down in historical past because the closest eyewitness to the beginning of the second nice reign of George Kambosos, and that’s one thing his grandkids won’t ever tire of listening to. And Shawnee is the place the place it occurs. Fortunate for them! Measure him whereas he’s there, Shawnee, so you may construct a colossus in his picture. Kambosos KO-1
