A COUPLE of big rematches dominated the boxing weekend. We got a conclusive second serving in Las Vegas and a less-than-convincing display in Cancun.
Regardless, it’s unlikely we’ll be seeing a trilogy in either case. There was a big punching debut, a couple of veteran campaigners trying to turn back the clock and much more. Let’s have a look at who won and lost the week.
Boxing winners of the week
Mark Dickinson –
The Durham mover shed the skin of disappointment that had followed him since his defeat in Japan last July to comprehensively outpoint Reece Farnhill in Altrincham.
Dickinson emulated his uncles, Travis and Jon Lewis, by winning the English title. His slick boxing moves and built-in toughness busted up the champion Farnhill for a unanimous win.
Mikaela Mayer –
Any beef was put to bed between Mikaela and Sandy Ryan as the Californian set a stern early pace and landed all the right shots at all the correct times to outlast the English woman for a second time.
Manchester fight fans –
Pat Brown headlined with an entertaining stoppage win over Federico Grandone on Friday night and the crowd responded in kind to the action. Following in the fight steps of crowd pleasers like Ricky Hatton, Martin Murray, Anthony Farnell, Stephen Foster and more, Brown just needs to keep winning and the crowds will follow him along the journey.
Masamichi Yabuki –
Ageless Japanese puncher Yabuki scored another thrilling knockout win over a champion as he dropped Angel Ayala multiple times to pick up the IBF flyweight crown. Yabuki battled through a terrible cut cheek to add to his IBF light-flyweight success over Sivenathi Nontshinga last year.
Boxing losers of the week
William Zepeda –
The Mexican southpaw may have got the win on paper, but savvy southpaw Tevin Farmer has become a kryptonite figure for the WBC Interim lightweight champion. Farmer pushed him all the way for the second time in a row. That is not a good portent if Zepeda gets his wish of boxing the full WBC champion Shakur Stevenson.
Sandy Ryan –
Lacking energy or caught between styles? Derby’s Ryan could not get anything going as Mayer dominated proceedings behind the jab. The rebuild will be complicated for Sandy, who may have to ask herself a few hard questions before any potential ring return.
Jordan Flynn –
In a battle of chatterboxes, somebody was bound to be left with egg on their face after Friday night’s grudge match. Cameron Vuong said he’d walk away from the sport if he lost to Jordan Flynn. Luckily for the North East boxer he got the job done, stopping his rival, leaving Flynn in the dust.
