Anthony Dirrell vs Avni Yildirim

[handsofstone]

For the vacant WBC Super Middleweight title live on ITV Box Office if you buy DeGale/Eubank Jr earlier in the night, not a great fight but watchable, I don't mind Dirrell I prefer him to his brother Andre, he still only has the 1 loss on his slate to Jack, he was lazy that night and that is a bit of a habit for him when he doesn't KO the guy early, since losing his title to Jack he's had half a dozen wins including a 1st round blow out of Truax and a points win over Rubio, those were immediately after the Jack loss and his last 3 wins have been modest

Ive only ever really seen Yildirim when he was stopped early from Eubank Jr in last years WBSS QF and although I did think the ref was quick to wave it off, there was no doubt those were big shots hurt then dropped him, he does have a couple of OK wins since then including last time against the in form Mock

Dirrell is quality when switched on though and can bang early, I just think if Eubank Jr can stop Yildirim early then so will Dirrell

[Gnome]

I hear Mock got robbed.

[Cyclops]

For the actual WBC?

Super middleweight for a brief while not so many years ago was one of the hottest divisions. Now it’s a wasteland.

[PredatorHayds]

I’m favouring Dirrell via KO.

But whoever wins has a target on their back as a ‘weak’ champion.

[stujones]

I think they are all quite weak champions - should Dirrell win and look okay.... I'd put him on a "par" with the other champions.... I honestly think people are just slightly overating Smith based on the Groves fight and Groves looked terrible in fight week. Smith didn't look great in his other WBSS fights. ... there were quite a few on here favouring Braehmer vs Smith.

Plant, Smith, Ramirez (I know he's moving up) are hard to call..... Saunders joining them as a champion, again I would say there'll be lots of questions of him..... I'd have Dirrell as no weaker than anyone of them. No shame losing to Jack as we later found out.

Nows Paul Smith's time (I'm joking!).

[handsofstone]

Dirrell wins a split TD after 10 rounds after getting cut from an accidental clash of heads, I had him winning 97-94 but it was a close fight with a few pick 'em rounds, a lot of nip/tuck action, Yildirim only knows how to fight one way and that's come forward in the pocket and let his hands go, Dirrell made things difficult for himself by trying to fight fire with fire, his corner was telling him to be more aggressive which I thought was pretty daft as he was playing into Yildirim's hands by staying in front of him, Dirrell would've been much better creating that distance and getting his longer shots off and moving to make Yildirim work for his openings

Dirrell still had success fighting on the inside and I did have him winning but it could've been easier for him, the csrd in Yildirim's favour was way off IMO, him winning wouldn't have been the worst result ive seen as it was closely fought but that card was too wide. 98-92 or something along those lines it was

[handsofstone]

Also on the subject of Technical Decisions, ive noticed a few times lately where the round it was stopped in has been tallied up on the score total, it used to be only completed rounds which were scored

There was a fight a few years ago, big fight but I cant remember who and fight was stopped in around the 8th as soon as both guys walked towards each other, a punch was neither thrown or landed by either man and yet all 3 judges gave it to the guy winning who was also the A side, how the fvck does that work out? It probably didn't register as the guy was dominating and deserved his win but still that's favouritism

If a round isn't completed then don't score it FFS

[PredatorHayds]

Horrible cut.

I had Yildirim 96-94 up at the time of the stoppage.

He boxed as well as I’ve seen him but I thought Dirrell was figuring him out and throwing more shots towards the end.

Dirrell has got a few options now. Yildirim rematch, Benavidez or Plant unification.

On a side note Ray Mancini is an awful commentator. Tries to steal the show by going completely over the top.
Like Atlas but without the humour and knowledge.

[stujones]

Horrible cut.

I had Yildirim 96-94 up at the time of the stoppage.

He boxed as well as I’ve seen him but I thought Dirrell was figuring him out and throwing more shots towards the end.

Dirrell has got a few options now. Yildirim rematch, Benavidez or Plant unification.

On a side note Ray Mancini is an awful commentator. Tries to steal the show by going completely over the top.
Like Atlas but without the humour and knowledge.

Eubank Jnr must be an option for Dirrell also given the PBC ties.