Two notable world title fights this week.
On Friday night, the first over WBC bridgerweight world title clash will take place as Oscar “Kaboom” Rivas (27-1, 19 KOs) meets undefeated Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki (13-0, 13 KOs) at the Montreal Olympia. The weight limit is 224 lbs. ESPN+ will air the fight.
On Saturday night is the grudge match between WBO junior lightweight world champion Jamel Herring (23-2, 11 KOs) and undefeated former featherweight champion Shakur Stevenson (16-0, 8 KOs) at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. ESPN/ESPN+ will deliver the action.
SUPER CRUISERWEIGHT.
Stop with this “Bridgerweight” stupidity.
I disagree. Today’s heavyweights are getting too big. This is for everyone’s protection.
Plus, it opens doors for many fights. I love the idea of The Bridgerweight division, and believe it will benefit boxing.
Lighten Up, Francis.
Speaketh … FJB.
Fredrick J. Brandon III.
@Fredrick J. Brandon III: Agree. Just do wonder about 224 though. Will a HW of 234 not just come in at 224 and then rehydrate back up to 234 type of weight?
Super Cruiserweight almost as bad. They are all heavyweights.
@Truth: Super Cruiserweight for sure sounds better than Bridgerweight.
Oscar will lose his title in 4 defenses or less.
Shakur will crush his friend (who he is trying to sell as an enemy #SCAM).
I am not watching this fight. I would rather look at my watch, eating ice cream, in the middle of a train wreck, than watch this fight.
Speaketh … FJB.
Fredrick J. Brandon III.
If by crush you mean pot shot him and win a boring decision I agree
No, neophyte. The word “crush” means to destroy. Get blown away. Obliterate.
Translations … Herring is getting KTFO.
Speaketh … FJB.
Fredrick J. Brandon III.
Yaaaaaaa another gimmick poster here.
Speaketh
Yeah it’s probably that same goon from before.
For those of you saying “today’s heavyweights are too big,” how do you explain the normal-looking, blown-up cruiserweight Usyk easily beating the giant Anthony Joshua? Or the short, fat doughboy Andy Ruiz doing the same?
True-there have always been big heavyweights beaten by much smaller men when heavyweight was 175+
@Cubanitovich: Usyk must surely be seen as a serious exception to the rule? Boxers like e.g. Hunter are just too small and won’t ever make it as a proper heavyweight, as much as I enjoy his fights and skill and determination.
Ruiz is over big enough (not tall, but big).
Yes, Hunter could never beat really large HWs like 250lb Bakole or 250lb Kuzmin. In particular, Bakole is a very good and powerful 250+ fighter.
Hunter is probably the LAST guy these 250+ pound sloths want to fight. He’s not only a lot faster, but throws excellent combos with some pop.
I seem to recall the 200lb Steve Cunningham beat the piss out of Fury for 3 1/2 rounds until Fury gave up trying to outfight and started clinching and leaning on him to wear him out. And Cunningham was considered a pretty light hitting CW.
MMA goes from 205 to 265 and LH move up to HW and do well all the time against guys much larger. And I’m sure that anyone who has watched MMA would agree that weight is a more significant factor than in boxing.
How about Wilder at 212 twice flooring the biggest of the big. Even in the 3rd fight, my thought was he was too bulked up and that more than Fury wore him down, but he still nearly ended the night after he himself had been down.
I liked when they moved the limit of Cruiserweight up to 200 lbs. That move was enough in my opinion. This extra class is completely unnecessary. The best Heavyweights of all time (excepting Lewis and Wlad depending on where you tank them) all could have made the Bridgerweight limit. How do you think they’d do against today’s Heavyweights? Seriously, do you think Fury beats Ali, Holmes, Foreman, Tyson or Holyfield? AJ lost to Ruiz and now Usyk and while Wilder always has a puncher’s chance it’s worth noting he was at his best under 225, so he doesn’t count (nor does Usyk).
Shukurstevenson all day let’s go champ
Shakur Stevenson is the most boring fighter in the world. He sure makes me miss Rocky Lockridge!
Lockridge was tough not so sure Tiny Tears is.
In 1984 I saw how Rocky Lockridge punished Wilfredo Gomez in San Juan Puerto Rico. Rocky damaged Gomez’s throat pretty bad, that’s why Gomez can barely speak today. BTW Gomez won via robbery.
Nordic, he seems to get this and actually seems to be evolving into a more watchable guy. I think getting his “man strength” is also building his confidence. He will never be a Tyson seek and destroy guy, but I think he’ll continue to grow on the entertainment value. Give him a few rounds and I think he might go after a defining moment against a solid fighter in Herring. Herring IS solid, but Shakur just might be the best talent out there. I’m just hoping he becomes more of a finisher.
Lockridge lost a majority decision to JC Chavez and I wonder if Lockridge had won that decision would he have gone on with the HOF type career and maybe Chavez does not go on and become what he did.
Dang, I hate to go against my U.S. Marine (Herring), but Stevenson is too much of a handful. My biggest fear is this fight may involve too much waiting and too much thinking in the ring; and the fans will end up shouting their dislikes and cuss words (hope I am wrong).