BoxRec

Anyone catch the Boxing last night on the BBC? Klitschko looked good in demolishing an unprofessionally overweight and disinterested challenger in Kirk Johnson. Johnson resembled James Gaines in the ring! However Vitali stood back and let the usually well schooled Johnson do all he could and throw wild haymakers before stepping in himself and using his good jab and surprising variety of shots, including decent body punches. The final combination to put Johnson down was very classy and Vitali got the job done well IMO.

On the undercard Joe Mesi fought "A guy called Monte Barrett" as John Inverdale put it, in his usual "I don't know who he is and you ignorant viewers won't either" style Mesi looked anything but the second coming of Rocky Marciano, in fact he looked a couple of notches up from Peter McNeeley at best! Clearly tired and worn out after 7 rounds Mesi touched down early in the 6th after having Barrett on his arse early in the 5th. Barrett seemed to be the stronger at the end and had it been a 12 rounder would surely have won on points if not stopped Mesi. I thought he was worth a draw, Mesi should go back to Buffalo and fight in front of his home town crowd cause he aint gonna cut it in the "real world". However he is game enough and has battling value to his game but that is all, one white hope did the job but the other was found wanting

Watching Mesi push out jabs whilst leaning in was painfull.
It is a sign that the division lacks genuine talent that he hasn't been exposed before.

Jerry Quarry woulda moiderd that bum!

TerribleTerry wrote:Watching Mesi push out jabs whilst leaning in was painfull.!

I'm sure at one time he was jabbing with both hands at the same time with that pushing style.... Similar to Rahman "defence" just prior to getting KFTO by Lewis.

I was actually more impressed with Mesi than I thought I would be, thats not saying a lot mind. Apparently, he's got a good amateur background - sometimes his movement wasn't terrible, but I think he tired very early. Also maybe shaky on the whiskers.

Bung him in with Lewis now, it would be a good pay day and a nice way for Lennox to end his distingushed career (with a first round KO). Mesi will probably lose to a top ten fighter, at least he could recover to earn a few more pay days after Lewis' deals with him.