FROM the bright lights of Las Vegas via Wembley Arena to the historic Ulster Hall and beyond. Boxing served up the usual dolly mixtures of the fun, the ferocious and the farcical.
Picking out those who made the cut and those who have been cut adrift is not an easy task but somebody has to do it. Let’s see who made the list this week.
Boxing winners of the week
David Benavidez –
A bit of an obvious one to kick us off, but Benavidez grabs a premium spot after defeating David Morrell over 12 rounds. Establishing himself as a Pay-Per-View attraction, polishing off an unbeaten foe after some intense pre-fight beef, David is riding high this week.
Angel Fierro –
Once touted as a bit of a contender, the losses and draws have gently slipped into Fierro’s record, indicating his levels. While Saturday evening’s 10-round loss to Isaac Cruz may not have changed many opinions it did highlight what the man from Tijuana has to offer the sport as he pushed ‘Pitbull’ all the way in a Mexican war befitting of the occasion.
Las Vegas fight fans –
Speaking of the occasion, anyone who travelled to Sin City to grab a piece of the live action was treated to a really solid fight card. The prelims were well matched, Jesus Ramos marched on, Cruz-Fierro produced a barnstormer (see above), Fulton got revenge over Figueroa (wasn’t a classic but the matchmaking intentions were honest) and the main event was great too. When Las Vegas gets boxing right there’s nothing quite like it. Thanks to Al Haymon, as the old saying goes.
Colm Murphy –
While the bright lights were sparkling on America’s West Coast, over in Belfast’s spit and sawdust arena, Colm ‘Posh Boy’ Murphy showed that he isn’t too toff to tangle, getting rid of his opponent in three rounds.
The featherweight defended his belt against a hapless Tanzanian foe but Murphy is the latest headliner being groomed for success by manager and promoter Mark Dunlop, who does a tireless job pushing his fighters into opportunities and maximising potential at their level, whatever that might be.
Boxing losers of the week
Brandon Figueroa –
For some reason the Texas ‘Heartbreaker’ is no longer employing the smothering style of old that garnered so much success, instead opting to stand off and use his jab while switch hitting.
Despite his dimensions, it doesn’t suit him at all. Figueroa was too passive and played into Stephen Fulton’s hands, allowing the smaller man to use his own jab and hand speed to perfection. Even Fulton was surprised at Brandon’s approach.
Sergey Lipinets –
It looks like the end is nigh for Sergey Lipinets, who marginally skipped weight but was second best in every department, as mean Adam Azim compounded the veteran’s misery by hitting him with a pile of low blows.
Lipinets was once a handful at world level. That version has now drifted away. He can provide excitement but mainly from being employed as a punching bag against guys he would’ve had a solid argument with in the past.
Alexander Povetkin –
The big Russian puncher has not been seen in a ring since his Covid-laced beating of 2021 at the fists of Dillian Whyte in Gibraltar, but he’s been dealt a blow by the lesser-known ITA (International Testing Agency).
They have annulled Povetkin’s results from 2014 to 2024, with a further four-year ban added on, taking his period of ineligibility to 2028. Quite how this will impact the 45-year-old, now working in local politics, remains to be seen.
Povetkin was due to fight Deontay Wilder in 2016, but the fight was cancelled and he ended up serving a one-year suspension after testing positive for ostarine and meldonium. BoxRec still recognises his record as 36-3-1 (25 KOs).
