I watched it for the 1st time last night. I had Beyer winning by a point. After the first 4 rounds, let's face it, Lucas did nothing special. I felt that Beyer outmanoeuvered when he needed to and boxed nicely within himself. To me, it was vintage Beyer - he's good at winning the close competitive fights, taking the sting out of the opponent and racking up points on the counter.
It baffles me that this is classed as a robbery. Lucas did some good work but he gave Beyer to much space.
Also, strangely, Beyer-Sanavia I is classed as a robbery. Sanavia got the nod & many felt Beyer won.
I scored both figths pretty much the same way - Byer beating Lucas by 1 pt and beating Sanavia by 2.
In the UK, I think Steve Holdsworth goes way too far saying this fight and that fight were robberies. He gives German boxing a bad name with his commentating.
WHAT IS THE BIG DEAL WITH BEYER-LUCAS?
It was never an easy fight to score, with few moments of drama to really separate the pair. But Lucas seemed to control matters. He didn't play into the hands of the counterpunching Beyer by marching in but held the centre of the ring, dictated the pace and got off first. Beyer drew roars from the partisan crowd of 6,000 whenever his counters did land but boxed a negative, disappointing type of fight, given this was a world title challenge.
The old belief a challenger has to 'take' the title certainly didn't apply to Beyer.
It was difficult to see how the judges could give any of the the early rounds to Beyer, as a confident-looking Lucas threw plenty of punches and had his man on the pure defensive. In the third, a right hook just before the bell shook Beyer, who went back to his corner unsteadily.
Beyer came back in the middle rounds. He definitely won the seventh and eighth with single southpaw counters. Lucas, who needs constant medication to control a thyroid problem, was blowing heavily in between rounds. The ninth and 10th were close. Beyer's best round came in the eleventh when he finally stood his ground, whipped in the combinations, made the champion miss, and whipped in some more. It was his only convincing round in the fight. But fighters who feel they are behind often put in a big penultimate round in an attempt to catch out an opponent, expecting a big last round attack of course.
Beyer had nothing left in the last and did nothing. Incredibly, two of the judges scored the round even. Some have since counted the number of punches Beyer threw in the round. Estimates vary between eight and ten punches. Lucas seemed to want it more throughout the round. Throughout the fight.
At the bell, Beyer sportingly acknowledged Lucas. He had to be told to raise his arms by his cornerman. When the scores were being announced, Beyer shrugged at the first one in his favour. He then nodded at John Keane's 115-114 for Lucas. When the final score went Beyer's way, American referee Laurence Cole gave a knowing look to Lucas as if to say: 'Are they serious!'
The new champion refused the victor's wreath and shrugged several more times after the verdict. He clearly thought he'd lost.
The old belief a challenger has to 'take' the title certainly didn't apply to Beyer.
It was difficult to see how the judges could give any of the the early rounds to Beyer, as a confident-looking Lucas threw plenty of punches and had his man on the pure defensive. In the third, a right hook just before the bell shook Beyer, who went back to his corner unsteadily.
Beyer came back in the middle rounds. He definitely won the seventh and eighth with single southpaw counters. Lucas, who needs constant medication to control a thyroid problem, was blowing heavily in between rounds. The ninth and 10th were close. Beyer's best round came in the eleventh when he finally stood his ground, whipped in the combinations, made the champion miss, and whipped in some more. It was his only convincing round in the fight. But fighters who feel they are behind often put in a big penultimate round in an attempt to catch out an opponent, expecting a big last round attack of course.
Beyer had nothing left in the last and did nothing. Incredibly, two of the judges scored the round even. Some have since counted the number of punches Beyer threw in the round. Estimates vary between eight and ten punches. Lucas seemed to want it more throughout the round. Throughout the fight.
At the bell, Beyer sportingly acknowledged Lucas. He had to be told to raise his arms by his cornerman. When the scores were being announced, Beyer shrugged at the first one in his favour. He then nodded at John Keane's 115-114 for Lucas. When the final score went Beyer's way, American referee Laurence Cole gave a knowing look to Lucas as if to say: 'Are they serious!'
The new champion refused the victor's wreath and shrugged several more times after the verdict. He clearly thought he'd lost.