Tag: wbss

Ramirez wins WBC Title , Now 140lbs Need’s A WBSS

Over the past few weeks the super lightweight division has jumped into action and we are a step closer to having a bit of clarity . Three weeks ago Josh Taylor kept his star rising with the KO of Winston Campos to retain his WBC Silver Title and that followed by Regis Prograis Ko victory over Julius Indongo for the WBC Interim Tilte , followed by Mikey Garcia’s points win over Sergy Lipiniets to claim the IBF title at the weight in a great fight . On Saturday night we were treated to another great fight for the WBC Vavant Super Lightweight title between Jose Ramirez and Amir Imam . (YOU CAN WATCH RAMIREZ VS IMAM AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE

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There was a cry a few weeks ago that it should have been Indongo/Prograis that fought for the proper title but that fight turned out to be a damp squib which was over in two rounds , this fight on the other hand was packed with some superb action from both men . From the off Imam showed he was more than capable of making this a fight by working off his jab and using lateral movement to frustrate Ramirez but like all top class fighters Ramirez soon made the changes to take the initiative early on . After a fairly quiet  opening round Ramirez lifted the pace right from the start of the second round putting Imam under immense pressure .When Ramirez closes the gap he is superb to watch and no wonder he’s becoming a fan favourite with this high intensity style of his , which we can see over Ramirez last couple fights he is starting to look a bit more cultured throwing feints whilst inside to open up the body . Ramirez looked to be systematically breaking Imam down until about round eight when Imam made a change of his own when he decided to throw with Ramirez and had some success . In the end Ramirez survived the little comeback by Imam and ran out a deserved clear winner on the cards 117-111 , 115-113 and 120-108 in which was another brilliant performance by Ramirez , a man who impresses me everytime i watch him .Image result for jose ramirez title boxing

Ever since the undisputed champion Terrence Crawford vacated all the belts at 140lbs it has been a bit of a mess but now we are starting to see some clarity in the division . All of a sudden there seems to be so much talent in the 140lbs division with a top 5 all capable of being king of the division and a few more right on the fringes of top level and this has us fans now wanting a World Boxing Super Series format at the division to make all the best fight . Right now at 140lbs there is only one star which is Mikey Garcia (IBF Champion) so it should be within WBSS budget to get all the best in the division to sign , a lot more realistic than the idea of the Light Heavyweight tournament . The WBSS Cruiserweight Tournament has given fans a hunger and desire to see the best put it all on the line in a sink or swim format and if ever a division was ready for it , it is the super lightweight division .

Groves vs Eubank- Preview + Prediction

Every so often boxing throws up a match up that absolutely pickles your brain . You will  sway from side to side , change your pick about 20 times and even have sleepless nights arguing with yourself whether you are picking with your heart or your mind . This weekend the Super Middleweight side of the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS)  will kick off with the semi final between George Groves and Chris Eubank to see who will book there place in the WBSS final in what promises to be a cracker .

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WBSS Oficial Poster
George Groves 27-3-0 20ko’s

WBA Super World Champion George Groves is one of the most popular boxers the UK  . George shot onto the World stage when he fought Carl Froch back in 2013 for the IBF and WBA Middleweight Titles where he came agonisingly close to a shock stoppage against the Cobra before being stopped himself later in the fight . George Groves also fell just short of winning a world title against the very talented Badu Jack back in 2015 in a fight were Groves again had his moments in the fight but just couldn’t capitalise enough which cost him a split decision on the cards . For a while a lot of the boxing world thought that Groves might just be one of those talented fighters who just fall short of winning a world title , well that was until May last year . On Groves fourth attempt at winning a world title he stopped Fedor Chudinov in a career best win to claim the WBA Super World Title and finally get that monkey of his back . Groves biggest asset is his jab which is pretty much a power punch and better still Groves knows how to use it . Since George Groves teamed up with trainer Shane McGuigan he has became a much more complete boxer . George Groves of old was very excitable and boxed with emotion rather than his mind , but now we see Groves be composed and work at his own pace . Like all McGuigan’s fighter he works the body exceptionally well as Jamie Cox found out in his last fight when Groves nearly halved Cox in two with a body shot . There is no getting away from George Groves major flaw ….his gas tank . Every time i watch Groves i always get the feeling he is on the verge of fading and when you see what he has to do to make weight it really is something you must take into consideration when it comes to predicting this fight .

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Sky Sports Capture Both Cocky fighters at Weigh In
Chris Eubank Jnr 26-1-0 20Ko’s 

An accusation often threw at Chris Eubank Jnr is that he lives off daddy Chris Snr’s name , which isn’t strictly true . When Jnr decided he wanted to be a professional boxer he was shipped off to the US with his brother and lived life as a teenager away from his parents and family , going around some top gyms in the states learning his trade , now take what you want from that but i think that deserves a lot of credit . Yes the name Eubank might have opened some doors for Chris Jnr as a rookie bringing in sponsorship etc but Eubank Jnr has exploited those advantages to become one of the most complete athletes in boxing today . Eubank Jnr is also a very fan friendly fighter with his posturing in the ring mixed with his fantastic shot selection which is delivered with expert technique , he really can be a treat to watch . It has to be said that Chris Eubank Jnr is an untested fighter which has its pros and cons , as none of really know how he will handle the step up to to world class level . The one time Eubank Jnr did step up in class he took his first “L” against Billy Joe Saunders , but if i am being truly honest i don’t know how much we can take from that as that was along time ago and Eubank Jnr has improved since that fight . There is a few things that worry me about Chris Eubank Jnr apart from his inexperince , like his size . Eubank Jnr might have the body of a God but he is a very small Super Middleweight who for all his flash doesn’t pack to much bang in his shots . Eubank Jnr also has a tendency to get a bit wild and stand in the pocket looking to trade , leaving himself wide open at times .

Prediction

The reason it has took me so long to get this Preview and Prediction published was i just couldn’t separate the two of them . Even now as i am finally about to hang my hat on one of these guys i am second guessing myself …..and that is what boxing should be like . The way I’ve broke this fight down in my head is that it will be a game of two halves . George Groves has to be the massive favourite in the first half of the fight if there is to be an early stoppage due to his sheer size advantage , and when you factor in Groves really does hit hard there is a chance Eubank Jnr might fall apart early . If this fight is 60-40 in Groves favour in the first six rounds it really has to swing 60-40 in the second half of the fight . With Groves questionable gas tank and Eubank Jnr’s athleticism there is every chance the stoppage could come late for Eubank Jnr . So who’s my pick ? I am going to have to go with the more experienced Groves by Ko in round six . I think Groves would have started to tire by this point and the tide might be turning toward Eubank Jnr , when Eubank Jnr will stay in the pocket to long and get caught by Groves , i honestly think Eubank Jnr could be at most risk in this fight when he has Groves hurt .

This fight has really caught fire this week and has everyone buzzing so lets just enjoy it . For all you lucky people going to Manchester enjoy and stay safe .

Steven Donnell

Usyk vs Briedis – Preview + Prediction

Usyk vs Briedis – Preview + Prediction

Well Ladies and Gentlemen , boys and girls it is that time again ,a time that makes makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside which can only mean one thing …..It’s time for another round of the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) . On Saturday night WBO Cruiserweight World Champion Oleksandr Usyk will take on WBC World Champion Marius Breidis in Riga Latvia , the first of the Semi Final clashes and once again we will be there on the ground taking in this fantastic tourniment in a fantastic city . There has been a lot of talk of whether the WBSS will be back or not so my advice to any boxing fan out there is to embrace the WBSS whilst it’s here.

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Oleksandr Usyk 13-0-0 11ko’s

Right from the start i will admit i am a massive Usyk fan , but I’m sure any of our followers on twitter already know this . Usyk is another product of the Ukrainian Boxing Machine which also boasts the most talented fighter in the world today Vasyil Lomachenko , and when you watch Usyk there is definetly direct comparrisons to Lomachenko . In the last round of the WBSS Usyk made light work of the ageing but very awkward Marco Huck in Berlin . There is no doubt Usyk’s top attribute is his footwork and movement which Huck tried to counter by just storming toward the Ukrainian swinging from the heavens  , but after a couple of rounds Usyk had worked him out and really made the vetren Huck look foolish at times . Despite having a high KO ratio and looking like a man mountain Usyk doesn’t have that one punch KO power , his style is to beat you down mentally and physically , again very much like Lomachenko . There are some unanswered questions when talking about Usyk . In all his fights he has had it all his own way as a pro , we have never seen anyone land any big shots on him yet , how will he react ? What happens to Usyk if someone can negate his movement ? , both questions i hope to be answered this weekend .

Mairis Briedis 23-0-0 18Ko’s

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Mairis Briedis is coming off a win against Mike Perez in the last round of the WBSS , but as the fight was a snooze fest it wouldn’t have won him many more fans outside of Latvia   , but Briedis is a talented fighter though . Briedis is very light on his feet which usually see’s him get out of harms way before taking any unnecessary shots . The Latvian is also very smart with the clinch which he uses to control the tempo of a fight and frustrates oponents, even if it isn’t great for fans to watch . When watching Breidis he can look slow and plodding but then in the blink of an eye he will land something which brings him to life , just like that he will be on his toes and looking to land a left hook or one of his beautiful uppercuts . Breidis comes from a kickboxing background and sometimes it does show . With lapses in concentration he can be slow to bring his guard up and even misjudge distance leaving himself wide open .

Prediction : 

I am really looking forward to this fight as it is each mans biggest test to date . It will be interesting to see who will be able to implement there style on this fight , will it be Briedis with his punch and clinch or will Usyk be to elusive for him . I have seen a few people predict a snooze fest in this fight and i have to say i am not one of these people . I think Usyk will use his superior footwork to be able to side step any attempts by Briedis to clinch . I expect Usyk to rise up and really show he is a different level from Briedis . How will it end ? personally i think Usyk will get a late stoppage after a slow start . I think Usyk’s high output and constant movement will break Briedis mentally and physically which will show in the later rounds .

Round 10-12 stoppage

Steven Donnell

 

Groves vs Cox : Preview and Prediction (UNCENSORED)

This weekend we will see WBSS Super Middleweight No1 seed and WBA World Champion George Groves take on Jamie Cox to see who will go through to face Chris Eubank Jnr who is already through to the Semi Final .

George Groves (26- 3- 0)

George Groves will be going into the ring on Saturday as a defending World Champion after finally getting his hands on the WBA Strap on his fourth attempt at a World Tittle . Due to George Groves quick witted humour he is a massive fans favourite in the UK , but Groves is a lot more than that . Groves biggest asset is his jab and more specifically the power he generates from the jab and the way in which he works off it , makes him a fantastic offensive boxer . Although Groves has always had these offensive skills he has always struggled to keep calm in the ring , a flaw which probably cost him a win against Carl Froch , but since teaming up with trainer Shane McGuigan , Groves has looked a more mature and all round boxer . There has always been question marks over Groves gas tank which could cause him problems if not in this fight then maybe later on in the WBSS IF he gets through .

Jamie Cox  (24 -0 -0)

Boxing is often called a “Gentlemans Sport”…… well never when Jamie Cox is fighting . I think Cox is little more than a thug in the ring , using elbows, head butts and punches to the back of the head to make up fo his lack of skills . I have personally seen fights where Cox should have been disqualified on three occasions  , saved only by weak refs who after taking a point refused to acknowledge the countless other fouls that took place .Now these fights I’ve seen have not been against any great opposition  , but still we see Cox struggle to understand the meaning of controlled aggression  .  There is not one bit of Cox’s boxing ability that gives Groves any problems so i expect him to try and turn this fight into something you would see in Middlesbrough City Centre on a Saturday night , and if we don’t have a strong ref  this fight could become a farce .

Prediction

Well as you can probably tell i strongly fancy George Groves to win by stoppage around the fifth round , as long as he keeps his head doesn’t get drawn in with Cox’s anamlistic style . I’ve seen Cox be rocked by journeymen so I can’t see him standing up to the power of Groves , i think once he feels that power he will go to sleep …..and there’s nothing better than seeing a bully be put to sleep .

Steven Donnell

 

Preview + Prediction Huck/Usyk and Gonzalez/Rungvisai

What a way to get rid of the sour taste the McGregor/Mayweather fight left in our mouths  ,instead of having a freakshow forced down our throats , this Saturday night is a night all fight fans should be going crazy for . On both sides of the Atlantic boxing fans will be in for a night of action packed drama , and I’m even going to predict we will see “2017 Fight of The Year” .

Usyk vs Huck (WBSS Cruiserweight’s)

Lets start with the highly anticipated WBSS match up between Olaksander Usyk and Marco Huck in Berlin , a show which DJayBoxing will be attending. This tournament since it was announced had a special feel to it , and with some of the names on show i am confident we are going to have some special nights over the coming months .

Marco Huck is one of those boxers who doesn’t do any one thing brilliantly but does all things well , and when you team that with fact that he’s as hard as an old East German car ,the former world champion still has the ability to to cause anyone problems. His style of just walking opponents down, bullying them ,roughing them up and wearing them down has worked well for him over the years , making him very popular among fans as his fights are usually exciting .

What can be said about Usyk thats not already been said . Coming into the WBSS as favourite and No1 seed , Usyk has picked Huck for one reason ….to make a statement . Usyk has came to the pros from a very successful Ukrainian  team after being a top class amateur , a lot like Vayl Lomachenko , and like Lomachenko he has had no problem adapting to the pros . Although Usyk might not have that fearce one punch power, he has superb footwork and a work rate that Marco Huck will struggle to keep up with .

Prediction: I can only see one winner here and that is Oleksander Usyk, Usyk is getting Huck at the right time for me. Huck will no doubt have his successes in the fight early doors but he will fade fast. i think the safe money goes on Usyk by very wide UD , but to make that statement i spoke about we might see Usyk stop Huck late .

Roman Choclatito Gonzalez vsSor Rungvisai II

Back in March we seen the remarkable first instalment of this fight, a fight which seen P4P superstar Roman Choclatito Gonzalez 46 fight unbeaten run come to an end when he came up against this very tough Thai Sor Rungvisai . The fight itself was an amazing specticle which for me showed why Gonzalez really is elite level . Knocked down early and cut badly by repeated headbutts , Roman was really under the cosh but where so many would have struggled and failed ,Roman recomposed and really took the Rungvisai to skool at times in the second half of the fight , for me Gonzalez done enough to win but it really was to close call .

Now i have to admit Sor Rungvisai was totally unknown to me before this fight , but my god this guy can fight . Like most Thai’s this guy has heart with really heavy hands , early in the last fight i think Gonzalez was really shocked by his power . Rungvisai is also rough and proved in the last fight he is not shy useing his head , a tactic surly the ref will be looking to make sure is not a feature in this fight . Coming in as a deserved champion if Rungvisai can pull this off again, i dare anyone to leave him out there top 10 P4P list .

Prediction: My god this is a hard fight to pick, on one hand i think Roman had Rungvisi worked out in the second half of the first fight and will take that into this fight , on the other hand every fighters time comes to an end and Rungvasi might just be that bridge to far for Gonzalez……..On this occasion i am going to go with my heart and pick Roman Gonzalez , and although i can’t say that with to much confidence he will win , what i can say is that we are in for another classic battle .

Also watch out for Cudras/Estrada also on the Superfly Card , Which will be shown on Sky Sports 

Steven Donnell

“The World Boxing Super Series” Is Fantastic For Boxing

We are now a month away from the start of one of the most eagerly anticipated sporting events in recent memory, I am of course talking about The World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) .On the face of it this tournament has everything fight fans want to see spread across two weight divisions. The cruiserweight division has the best of the best including Olecsander Usyk and Mairis Bredis willing to put it all on the line, whilst the Super Middle Weight division might be missing some of the division’s champions but still throws together guys like George Groves and Callum Smith, among other top Brits,which must be exciting for fans in the UK with the potential of massive domestic match ups to see  who will take the Mohammed Ali Trophy home .

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This tournament comes at a time when boxing is on a high, but whilst fights like Floyd Mayweather vs Conner McGregor are looking to cash in on the sport ,the WBSS Is looking to promote boxing and take it to another level .I have big hopes for this tournament, this is a chance for us boxing fans to see the best fight the best ,and hopefully throw up a few battles in the process .The WBSS has the chance to raise the bar and expectations of boxing fans so no more will we just sit back and accept the fights that some promoters want to spoon feed us ,and with fights taking place all across Europe it will open more fans eyes to the world of boxing and not just events in our own backyard.

Even though the WBSS hasn’t kicked off yet it has already showed its trying to be different . At its launch event in Monte Carlo, it had the feel of an Oscar’s ceremony until the seeded contenders appeared on stage one at a time to select an unseeded contender then have a face off , it was superb TV ,especially when George Groves selected Jamie Cox ……I loved it

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So roll on September 9th when we can get this tournament started when Usyk takes on Huck in Berlin, a fight I will be attending . It is early days yet but I am predicting the WBSS to be a massive success .
Steven Donnell (@DJayBoxingblog)

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