Classic fights I've watched recently

[handsofstone]

Erik Morales vs Junior Jones



Morales stops Jones in the 4th to retain his World Super Bantamweight title, Jones started off quicker, shooting the right hand out as Morales tried to establish his jab, in the 3rd both men started to trade with some success, some good exchanges

In the 4th Morales stunned Jones with a right hand and a follow up barrage had him down, Jones was up quick enough but he looked tired and hurt, Morales waded in backed him on the ropes and was landing some clean rights when ref stepped in

[DrDuke]

David Haye vs John Ruiz

Haye whooped Ruiz confidently, sending him down several times. Ruiz was crying about Haye's rabbit punches, as if Ruiz himself wasn't a dirty mofo, who had been doing excessive holding for all his career. Anyway, Haye mostly hit the back of Ruiz' head after major damaging punches, when hurt Ruiz was bending his head down in order to avoid further punishment. Only that punch, for which Haye was deducted a point, was really intentional. Overall, Haye kept Ruiz outside, disallowing him to come inside and clinch. Haye was methodically battering Ruiz, until Ruz' corner threw the towel. Thus, he sent Ruiz to the retirement after doing it to Ruiz' buddy Valuev, with whom he had been paraziting the WBA strap for years.

[Bodyshot3]

David Haye vs John Ruiz

I was personally pleased to see the back of Ruiz but I did not think the fight did David any favours....even as a pay-cheque first defence of his HW title, which many other folk have also taken.

That lame opener followed by the Harrison "fight" did little to prepare David for WK.... and David was still a guy who needed a stiffer test at HW to get him prepped for Wlad in a German stadium fight.

[DrDuke]

David Haye vs John Ruiz

I was personally pleased to see the back of Ruiz but I did not think the fight did David any favours....even as a pay-cheque first defence of his HW title, which many other folk have also taken.

That lame opener followed by the Harrison "fight" did little to prepare David for WK.... and David was still a guy who needed a stiffer test at HW to get him prepped for Wlad in a German stadium fight.

Yeah, if Ruiz bout could be understood, cause Ruiz had always been floating around WBA, but the Harrison bout was an absolutely unnecessary mismatch.

And now I rewatched Haye-Chisora. I love this slugfest. Chisora was pushing forward, trying to make it a fight and he had his moments, but Haye was just superior in skills, too fast and slick, he was edging the fight and scored a spectacular KO. A one of the best HW fights in the previous decade.

[handsofstone]

Vitali Klitschko vs Julius Francis


Klitschko walks through Francis in 2 rounds of a non title Heavyweight fight, Francis just too small to handle the giant Klitschko, down twice in the 1st, a 1/2 had Francis falling before a left hook sent him on his way then a clubbing right had him down again

In the 2nd Klitschko kept walking forward spearing thr jab and crashing straight rights into the face of Francis before a right dropped him for thr finish, looked as if it landed behind the ear, Francis just about made count but was in no position to continue

[Bodyshot3]

Vitali Klitschko vs Julius Francis

Julius made the very best of what he had....and boxing was good for him in terms of finances and also straightening himself out after making some very wrong choices.

[AntonioMartin]

David Haye vs John Ruiz

Haye whooped Ruiz confidently, sending him down several times. Ruiz was crying about Haye's rabbit punches, as if Ruiz himself wasn't a dirty mofo, who had been doing excessive holding for all his career. Anyway, Haye mostly hit the back of Ruiz' head after major damaging punches, when hurt Ruiz was bending his head down in order to avoid further punishment. Only that punch, for which Haye was deducted a point, was really intentional. Overall, Haye kept Ruiz outside, disallowing him to come inside and clinch. Haye was methodically battering Ruiz, until Ruz' corner threw the towel. Thus, he sent Ruiz to the retirement after doing it to Ruiz' buddy Valuev, with whom he had been paraziting the WBA strap for years.

Wonder if Ruiz had any health issues stemming from this. I hope he doesnt!

[slappy]

Lennox Lewis V David Tua.

I am fairly sure that the late Glyn Leach called it all the way for Lewis in Boxing Monthly when everyone was going crazy for Tua and saying Lennox was in for a torrid evening or even a defeat.

By and large Lennox was at his best when in with a fancied guy (and Tua was fancied as was Grant) and at his worst when he took his eye-of-the-ball in what were supposed to be regulation defences, pay-cheque nights.

He certainly had a more tricky night against the little known Mavrovic than he ever did with Tua .

This is a good point. Lewis really did step up when he felt underestimated and his opponentwas hyped.

I also was disappointed that Tua didn't pressure more. But I also recall him backing off a bit after tasting a Lewis right hand.

[handsofstone]

Vitali Klitschko vs Herbie Hide



Klitschko KOs Hide in the 2nd to become World Heavyweight champion, Hide did look dangerous in the 1st, a couple haymakers sailed close but Klitschko kept him on the end of the stiff jab, in the 2nd Klitschko stiffened Hide with a right and followed up with another to send Hide down

The end was strange, Klitschko dropping Hide with what looked like another straight right, Hide got up but his legs were gone and it was rightly waved off, replays showed it might have been Klitschko's shoulder that dropped Hide and badly hurt him, I seem to remember Bowe finishing off Hide with a similar shot, no complaints though

[DrDuke]

Vitali Klitschko vs Herbie Hide



Klitschko KOs Hide in the 2nd to become World Heavyweight champion, Hide did look dangerous in the 1st, a couple haymakers sailed close but Klitschko kept him on the end of the stiff jab, in the 2nd Klitschko stiffened Hide with a right and followed up with another to send Hide down

The end was strange, Klitschko dropping Hide with what looked like another straight right, Hide got up but his legs were gone and it was rightly waved off, replays showed it might have been Klitschko's shoulder that dropped Hide and badly hurt him, I seem to remember Bowe finishing off Hide with a similar shot, no complaints though

In the Bowe fight it more looked liked Hide's head clashed with the opponent's shoulder or forearm, or something like that, but in the Klitschko fight it looked a bit different, I'd say. Probably Klitschko even passingly touched the area behind of Hide's ear. But Hide also stood up strange. At first, he was lying with the facial expression like he was dazed hard, but then he got up pretty quickly for being dazed that hard. Maybe it was pretending and he just took a dive after being knocked down for the first time and no more willing to be in.

[Bodyshot3]

Vitali Klitschko vs Herbie Hide

I felt it was a hugely frustrating fight in terms of the way Hide approached it.

Four years after having got too close, way too aggressive and far too early against Bowe.....he did much the same against Vitali and got the same kind of treatment from another leviathan heavyweight.

Hide had the speed, agility and also the hand-speed to take rounds against Vitali....skipping in and out of range, putting points in the bag and making Vitali chase and miss.

But he's largely right there - pressing the action against a huge man who does not even have to land clean shots to properly bang him up physically - and being too macho by far.

I suppose there is the case that Hide had to push the action against Bowe as the overseas fighter....but he had home advantage and the title against VK, so a different kettle of fish.

Chris Byrd - another small heavy - actually got the brief Hide should have followed right a year later in my opinion.

[hhaehre]

Vitali Klitschko vs Herbie Hide

I felt it was a hugely frustrating fight in terms of the way Hide approached it.

Four years after having got too close, way too aggressive and far too early against Bowe.....he did much the same against Vitali and got the same kind of treatment from another leviathan heavyweight.

Hide had the speed, agility and also the hand-speed to take rounds against Vitali....skipping in and out of range, putting points in the bag and making Vitali chase and miss.

Hide always looked way too tightly wound to carry out such a plan for any length of time.

[margaret thatcher]

Ya, no way Hide carries out any plan like that for long against Vit

[Bodyshot3]

Hide always looked way too tightly wound to carry out such a plan for any length of time.

Sadly I would agree and that is why "infuriating " and "Herbie Hide" so often tend to go together

If Hide actually listened and followed a game-plan once in a while he could have had a far better run at HW....but that was not in his DNA and he tried to bomb and bully guys like Bowe and VK as if they were the journeymen, Brit cruiserweights he had bashed-up for fun a few years earlier.

[handsofstone]

Chris Byrd vs Vitali Klitschko



Byrd becomes World Heavyweight champ after Klitschko retires on his stool after 9 rounds with an injured left arm, bizarre ending he was way ahead on the cards, still throwing the jab in the 9th and could've easily coasted for a points win but for whatever reason shat the bed

Byrd was too small to really trouble Klitschko, his southpaw style was elusive and Klitschko never hurt him but he couldn't overcome the sheer size of Vitali to overcome him, Klitschko just pawed the jab and came over with the right time and again occasionally working the body, Byrd had a great 9th and poured it on as Vitali who I imagine had already decided he was bailing, strange ending

[Bodyshot3]

Chris Byrd vs Vitali Klitschko

Definitely a real oddity.....especially as it was in Germany and the home fighter often got some outrageous/disgusting breaks if it went to the cards in those times. German title fights often stank like rotten herring.

I can only presume the big man had truly shanked something very badly (and was in pure agony) and Byrd had been smart enough to ensure he was still there (and in one piece) and able to make it suddenly very uncomfortable.

Little Chris Byrd beating Vitali still feels a strange one.....but credit to Byrd for being able to take advantage of things. He did what Hide should have done and then got a break into the bargain.

[handsofstone]

Vitali Klitschko vs Orlin Norris



Klitschko stops Norris in 1 round of a non title fight, looked a clear dive/quit job to me, seconds into the fight Klitschko had Norris down from a chopping right, Norris flat on his back looked unsure whether to get up or not, he did then a right sailed past the back of his head, he went down, just about made the knee but never looked like he wanted to get up and he was counted out, farcical

[Syntax Error]

Benn V Malinga 1.

Benn gets a gift to retain his title.

It was close, but I thought Sugar Boy was better and outscored Nigel.

[handsofstone]

Vitali Klitschko vs Corrie Sanders



Klitschko stops the brave but busted up Sanders in the 8th to win the vacant World Heavyweight title, fairly dominant win for Vitali who just kept Sanders at bay with the long jab and straight right, Sanders kept plodding forward but he was eating punches all night, he wasnt in best nick so had to rely on fighting in cameos, he did rock Vitali in the 1st with a big left, had him holding


After that Klitschko took over and just chipped away, 1/2s keeping it simple and breaking Sanders down, by the 5th Sanders was looking spent and was nearly stopped at the end of the 5th, bell saving him as he staggered back to his corner, he tried one last throw of thr dice with his southpaw 1/2s but by that time he was too ragged and Vitali easily avoided the wild swings, in the 8th Vitali kept drilling him with straight rights rocking his head back when the ref stepped in

[Counter-puncher]

here's a treat, a classic fight I never heard of and ran across randomly last night, sit back and enjoy this is a SUPERB war:



southpaw face-first brawler vs smooth boxer

[Bodyshot3]

Vitali Klitschko vs Corrie Sanders

I enjoyed this one....especially as Vitali arrived looking hell-bent on smacking a guy who'd busted his little brother.
Can recall seeing the public, open air weigh-in and Vitali was properly eyeballing Sanders; looked personal.

Sanders on the night showed a few early flourishes - those quick hands, hard shots right from the get-go - but he was not in the right kind of shape whatsoever and he absolutely needed to be when faced by Vitali.

[Woldemar]

Billy Schwer vs David Tetteh (Commonwealth lightweight title).First fight Tetteh what i watched

[handsofstone]

Vitali Klitschko vs Danny Williams



Klitschko stops Williams in the 8th to retain his World Heavyweight title, had him down 4 times and gave him an awful beating, nearly had Williams out of there in the 1st, he rocked him several times before a left finally put Williams down, he literally got up at 10 and could've been stopped, think Vitali emptied the tank a bit and fought a patient fight after


Williams was down again in the 3rd, walked into a peach of left hook counter, buckled his legs before he collapsed, Vitali was just battering him with the jab, nailing with with hard rights and some nice combinations, Williams was just target practice and couldn't get near him

Klitschko had Williams down for a third time in the 7th, harsh KD, he landed a hard jab and cuffed Williams down with the right, irrelevant though as in the 8th Klitschko got Williams out of there with a textbook 1/2, dropped him heavily, Williams got up but ref rightly waved it off

[DrDuke]

Vitali Klitschko vs Danny Williams

A one of the biggest mismatches in a HW title fight.

[scartissue]

here's a treat, a classic fight I never heard of and ran across randomly last night, sit back and enjoy this is a SUPERB war:



southpaw face-first brawler vs smooth boxer

Counter, I loved this fight. Thanks for the recommendation.