LAST night’s boxing was set up to hype a rematch between Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia. Moments after Rolando Romero had upset ‘King Ry, ’ interviewer Mike Coppinger asked Romero what was next, alluding to the possibility of him stepping into Garcia’s shoes as a replacement opponent for Haney.
Romero’s surprisingly humble answer was to let Devin and Ryan have their rematch moment, regardless. As gracious as that suggestion was from Romero, it’s unlikely anyone will be queuing up to witness it after the combined 24 rounds they served up between them in Times Square.
Not only was it unpleasing on the eye, but, for two boxers who provided such an apparently entertaining fight last April (more on that shortly), their respective displays were dull as dishwater. It seems the statisticians agreed, as the fighters continued to try and one-up each other, this time in terms of ridiculously low output.
Their first bout at least contained exciting moments, yet it still appears in the top five. Having two fights on the combined low numbers list, from the same celebrated card, makes it even more reprehensible. Lumbering heavyweights take the other two slots.
Joseph Parker’s Riyadh neutering of Deontay Wilder shows that while Turki Alalshikh’s money might be in the right place, it doesn’t statistically result in the best fights. In fact, some of the most tentative affairs have come under his watch.
Of course, there have been a fair few hits as well and he’ll keep on matching them up. Number two in the list, Sultan Ibragimov’s 2007 WBO heavyweight title win over Shannon Briggs was a woeful spectacle, backed up by the low combined punch numbers.
While activity in the ring is now needed from both Haney and Garcia as they seek to repair their damaged reputations, getting in the ring more often is also part of the battle. Rather than dwelling on these performances, hopping straight back into action would be the best medicine.
