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KHAN IS KING, Downs Devon Alexander Easily
On Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, former two division champion at light and super light welterweight, Amir Khan (29-3, 19 KOs) and former light and welterweight champion, Devon Alexander (26-2, 14 KOs) met at welterweight in the main event. While you might not say the two fighters are at a crossroads, both were at a bit of a fork in the road in terms of big fight marketability. Khan showcased his superior length and hand speed in taking a lopsided unanimous decision (120-108, 119-109, 118-110).
Khan outlanded Alexander by a 152 margin (243-91) and his power shots found a home 54% of the time. Alexander was never hurt, but he was not able to take advantage of any of Khanâs perceived weaknesses (chin and stamina). You could argue this was Khanâs best night as a âboxer.â
On to the rounds.
Round One: Khan starts out throwing the harder punches. Khanâs speed and range are already causing Alexander trouble. Amir looks very quick tonight. Alexander lands a wicked combination, but Alexander comes back with fire of his own and seemed to unsteady Khan near the end of the round with a hard right behind Khanâs ear. Khan landed more punches and should have taken the round, but the final moments found Alexander making an impression of his own.
Round Two: Both fighters are active from the start. Khanâs hands are clearly faster than Alexanderâs. Alexander keeps moving into Khanâs left, making it easier for the Brit to score. Alexander begins to come forward more, but it isnât very effective. Khan, who is 6-0 against southpaws, repeatedly steps on Alexanderâs foot when coming forward.
Round Three: Khanâs reach and speed are making Alexander uncomfortable. Being the natural counter puncher, Alexander is having difficulty finding punching range with regularity. Khan lands a strong counter left hook, but Alexander takes it pretty well. The superior punch output by Amir Khan is carrying the fight. Alexander appeared stung by a flurry at the end of the round.
Round Four: Khan lands three quick blows, but Alexander responds with two solid blows of his own. The 3:2 ratio is emblematic of the fight and increasingly problematic for Alexander though. Khan scores a sharp left to the body. A straight right by Khan down the middle punctuates another strong round for Amir.
Round Five: Another right behind the ear knocks Khan off balance, but doesnât hurt him. I knew Khan would have the hand speed advantage, but itâs almost glaring at this point. Strong overhand left by Alexander as Devon forces the action, but still canât match the punch output of Khan. Khanâs jab is starting to find a home with regularity. Alexander heads to his corner looking a bit dispirited.
Round Six: Alexander needs Khan to either tire or get careless. Both of those things are possible, but thus far not in evidence. Alexander is starting to come forward more, which is not his game. Heâs losing the fight moving in both directions. Another round for Khan.
Round Seven: Alexander comes out firing, then settles back as a boxer. Alexander is landing a little more in this round, but still not catching up to Khan. At this point, Devon has to know the score cards require more aggressiveness and heâs trying, but Khan just keeps landing more. Khan wobbles Alexander momentarily at the end of the round with a left hook.
Round Eight: Khan lands a straight right and a left hook. You would be hard pressed to justify a single round for Alexander at this point, although you could call it a competitive shutout. Alexander lands a solid left and a strong right hook. A hard left to the body lands for Khan. This might have been Alexanderâs best round. Still not sure if he won it.
Round Nine: Both fighters came out with a little bit of hesitancy then Khan lands a superb combination. Alexander takes it well, but simply isnât coming back with enough. Khanâs hand speed is carrying into the later rounds. Once again, Alexander heads to his corner looking dejected. Very little fire in his corner either. Trainer Kevin Cunningham tells Alexander âall these rounds are starting to look the same.â
Round Ten: Khan is firing off combinations throughout the round. Alexanderâs head snaps back twice due to consecutive straight right hands. Khan is fighting a very disciplined fight.
Round Eleven: Paulie Malinaggi points out this is âa terrible match up for Alexander.â Itâs hard to argue. Khanâs superior hand speed maintains a tempo that Alexander just canât match. Alexander needs to land something huge and thatâs not his game. Alexander hits Khan with a few solid punches, but he needs a game changer and Khan is not allowing it. Heâs both getting off and countering better.
Round Twelve: Khan starts fast as if to let Alexander know itâs not going to happen tonight. Khan lands a sharp combo that blisters Alexander mid-round. Khan has controlled this fight from stem to stern. Alexander hasnât been embarrassed, but he has been schooled. The round ends and both fighters raise their arms, which is curious.
This was a very good night for Amir Khan. If a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight canât be made (and well, you knowâŠ) then Khan has put himself in an excellent fallback position. Heâs skilled, marketable, and has won four fights in a row since losing to Danny Garcia. The future for Alexander is much less certain. Heâs going to need to regroup with his team and get a good win on his ledger before he will be considered for a big fight any time soon.
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Luis Nery is Devoured by a Monster in Tokyo: Naoya Inoue KO 6
In March of 1988, three days after the official opening of the Tokyo Dome, Mike Tyson christened the arena for boxing with a second-round stoppage of Tony Tubbs. The announced attendance, 51,000, was a record for a boxing match in Japan that would stand for 36 years. A multitude somewhat larger (the exact tally isnât yet official) was on hand today to witness their hero Naoya âMonsterâ Inoue get off the deck to humble Tijuana import Luis Nery.
A former two-division world title-holder, Nery stunned the faithful in the second minute of the opening round when he put Inoue on the canvas with a sweeping left hook. It was the first time that the âMonsterâ had ever been knocked down and (shades of Tyson-Douglas!) it appeared for a moment that another monster upset was brewing in the building that locals fondly call the Big Egg. But Inoue returned the favor in round two when he caught the lunging Nery off-balance and put him down with a sharp left hook and was in control of the fight from that point on.
Inoue produced a second knockdown in round five with a short left hook and closed the show in the following round with a vicious right hand that snapped Neryâs head back and splattered him against the ropes. Referee Michael Griffin waived it off without a count. The official time was 1:22.
Inoue, who won his first pro title in his sixth pro fight, improved to 27-0 (24 KOs) while successfully defending his unified 122-pound title. It was his eighth straight win inside the distance, a run that began with a seventh-round stoppage of Jason Moloney at the MGM Bubble in Las Vegas. Luis Nery, who lost for only the second time in 37 fights, was 2-0 in previous visits to Japan, stopping Shinsuke Yamanaka twice, the second KO of which rucked Yamanaka off into retirement and established Neryâs reputation as a bully.
There were three other world title fights on the card, all of which went the full 12 rounds.
In a mild upset, Yokohama southpaw Yoshiki Takao won a world title in his ninth pro fight, overcoming Australiaâs Jason Moloney (27-3) to capture the WBA bantamweight belt. Moloney mustered a big rally in the final round but couldnât seal the deal. There were no knockdowns but Takao had a point deducted in round two for low blows. The scores were 117-110 and 116-111 twice.
Takuma Inoue, Naoyaâs younger brother, successfully defended his WBA world bantamweight title in his second title defense with a unanimous decision over Osakaâs Sho Ishida (34-4). Takuma, who improved to 20-1, is a good technician but with only five stoppages to his credit, lacks the firepower of his celebrated brother.
In a rematch, WBA super flyweight title-holder Seigo Yuri Akui scored a unanimous decision over countryman Taku Kuwahara. The scores were 118-110 and 117-111 twice.
Akui (20-2-1) was making the first defense of the title he won in January with an upset of long-reigning title-holder Artem Dalakian. In their previous meeting at adjacent Korakuen Hall, Akui saddled Kuwahara (13-2) with his first defeat, scoring a 10th-round stoppage.
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Canelo Alvarez Turns Away Jaime Munguia to Remain Undisputed King at 168
Saul âCaneloâ Alvarez remains Mexicoâs top fighter and the undisputed super middleweight world champion with a resounding victory by unanimous decision over the hard-charging Jaime Munguia on Saturday.
If Mexico had a monarchy Alvarez would be king.
âI am the best Mexican fighter,â said Alvarez.
An announced crowd of 17,492 saw Guadalajaraâs Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) patiently analyze the battle plan of Tijuanaâs Munguiaâs (43-1, 34 KOs) and then unravel it methodically every round at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
It was a battle for Mexico that pitted two dangerous fighters with Munguia entering the prize ring undefeated and hungry to establish himself as Mexicoâs new power. He just wasnât ready.
After Munguia opened up quickly behind a solid jab and combinations, Alvarez calmly blocked and parried the Tijuana fighterâs attacks for three rounds and then it happened.
After success in the first three rounds Munguia opened up with another attack in the fourth that Alvarez calmly timed and snapped a right uppercut to the chin that floored the Tijuana fighter for the first time in his career. He got up from the knockdown and was able to stave off a further Canelo attack.
The momentum suddenly changed and for good.
Alvarez stalked Munguia every round with a more aggressive approach and sometimes set traps for counters. Though the Mexican redhead found success he was unable to floor the taller Munguia again. But he did come close including the seventh when a left hook to the body visibly hurt Munguia. He survived.
It must have been frustrating for Munguia whose improvement in his boxing skills have been noticeable in his last three fights. Even in this fight his ability to defend and return fire against Caneloâs clever moves was a vast improvement over his career three years ago. But its not enough when battling one of the best fighters pound-for- pound in the world.
Four-division world champion Alvarez strategically proved his skills are another level that only a few today possess. It was a valuable lesson for Munguia to learn the same lesson Canelo received against Floyd Mayweather a decade ago.
Experience counts.
âHeâs a fighter with a lot of experience,â said Munguia who had hoped his youth and stamina would help against the 33-year-old Alvarez.
Canelo said Munguia was a great fighter and very strong.
âI take my time,â said Alvarez âHeâs strong but a little slow I saw every punch.â
Though it was the fifth consecutive fight without a knockout, Alvarez was satisfied with the unanimous decision to keep the WBO, WBA, WBC and IBF super middleweight titles. It was the first time two Mexican super middleweights fought for all the titles.
Alvarez said this win again proves he can fight whoever he chooses after fighting boxing greats like Miguel Cotto, Mayweather and other champions.
âI can do whatever I want to do,â said Alvarez.
Other Bouts
Mario Barrios (29-2, 18 KOs) floored Fabian Maidana (22-3, 16 KOs) in the third round but found the hard-punching Argentine too tough to finish off. Instead, he used a steady stream of jabs to win by unanimous decision after 12 rounds.
A touch left followed by a rifle right cross dropped Maidana. Instead of giving up, the younger brother of the great Marcos Maidana unleashed his own big blows to force Barrios into a more careful strategic fight mode. Especially after one or two blows caused a swelling on his right eye.
But Maidana never could find the antidote for Barriosâs jab that won the majority of the rounds for the San Antonio, Texas fighter. After 12 rounds all three judges scored it 116-111 for Barrios who keeps the interim welterweight title.
After a sluggish start, Brandon Figueroa (25-1-1, 19 KOs) found his footing midway through the super bantamweight match against Jesse Magdaleno (29-3, 18 KOs) and ended the match with a one-punch belt to the body to win the battle of former champions.
Magdaleno took the lead in the fight with clever boxing but slowly Figueroa cranked up his punch out-put and while during a furious exchange the fighter from Weslaco, Texas connected with a left to the body. Magdaleno could not beat the count at 2:59 of the ninth round.
Figueroa retains the interim super bantamweight title.
Eimantas Stanionis (15-0, 9 KOs) used a power jab to separate from Venezuelaâs Gabriel Maestre (6-1-1, 5 KOs) to retain the WBA welterweight world title by unanimous decision.
Despite two years from a ring appearance, Stanionis was able to out-work Maestre, a 37-year-old who was fighting for his first world title. Both had faced each other years ago as amateurs.
No knockdowns were scored but the fast-paced fight was won by the busier Stanionis whose jab was his primary weapon. All three scores favored the Lithuanian fighter 117-111, 118-110, 119-109.
Photo credit: Al Applerose
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Mielnicki, Ramos and Scull Victorious on Cinco de Mayo Weekend in Las Vegas
Two 10-round junior middleweight prelims aired as teasers for tonightâs four-fight pay-per-view at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. In the opener; New Jerseyâs Vito Mielnicki Jr (pictured) scored his tenth straight win, advancing to 18-1 (12) with a wide decision over SoCalâs Ronald Cruz. Mielnicki, 21, put Cruz on the canvas in round three and again in round four, but So Calâs Cruz (19-4-1) stayed the course and maintained his distinction of never being stopped. The judges had it 99-89, 98-90, and 96-92 for âWhite Magicâ who had the noted trainer Ronnie Shields in his corner.
In the second bout â the main go of the prelims, so to speak â 23-year-old Arizona southpaw Jesus Ramos rebounded from his first loss (a narrow defeat to Erickson Lubin in this same ring) with a ninth-round stoppage of Johan Gonzalez who was making his third start in the U.S., having fought mostly in Venezuela and Panama.
Gonzalez was rugged, but his record heading in (34-2 with 33 KOs) was deceptive as he was out-classed by Ramos (21-1, 17 KOs) who was credited with landing roughly twice as many punches before he brought the bout to a conclusion. A counter left hook put Gonzalez down hard. He beat the count, but Ramos swarmed after him, rocking him with punches. There were only 5 seconds remining in the ninth frame when referee Harvey Dock waived it off. Gonzalez protested, but it was the right call.
Also
Super middleweight William Scull made his U.S. debut in an 8-round fight. A native of Cuba who had been living in Germany and now hangs his hat in Argentina, Scull, 31, scored a knockdown in the fifth round en route to winning a unanimous decision over New Orleansâ Sean Hemphill (16-2).
Scull is ranked #1 by the IBF, but you wonât find his name in the Top 15 of the other three major sanctioning bodies. Does the obscure William Scull have Canelo Alvarez in his future?
In another undercard bout of note, Mexico City super bantamweight Alan Picasso improved to 28-0-1 (16 KOs) with a fifth-round stoppage of Coloradoâs Damien Vazquez (17-4-1). Picasso, 23, is ranked #2 at 122 by the WBC.
Check back later as TSS West Coast bureau chief David Avila weighs in with a recap of the Canelo-Munguia fight and the three fights preceding it. The bouts are available for purchase on multiple pay-per-view platforms: e.g. Prime, DAZN, and PPV.com.
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