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Mchunu Wins On NBC/Main Events Show Saturday

Published

10 years ago

September 21, 2014

The Sweet Science

Final Results from Foxwoods:
Dargan & Mchunu Walk Away With NABF Titles

Thabiso Mchunu

Photo Credits: Daryl Bughman/Main Events

In the main event of the afternoonn cruiserweights Thabiso “The Rock” Mchunu (17-1, 11 KOs) and Garrett “The Ultimate Warrior” Wilson (13-8-1, 7 KOs) faced off for the NABF Cruiserweight Title. The ten-round cruiserweight match-up between Mchunu’s southpaw style and Wilson’s wild style made for an exciting fight. Thabiso landed some clean shots and Wilson countered to no avail. The fifth round was slow with Wilson chasing down Mchunu and Wilson finally landing some shots. The ninth round started off with a bang, both fighters were trading big punches. The crowd began chanting for Wilson and the action started to pick up in the final round with both fighters coming out swinging. In the tenth, the referee deducted a point from Mchunu for holding, but it did not matter as Mchunu retained his NABF Cruiserweight Title with a unanimous decision victory (96-93, 99-90 and 98-91).

After the fight Mchunu said, “First of all thank God. Thank you for supporting me to all my fans in South Africa. My trainer, Sean, and my corner for getting me this victory smooth and easy. I would like to thank all of you for coming to the fight. I had it in mind it was going to be tough, really tough. It was as tough as I expected. He is a strong guy. I knew after three rounds it was going to be tough but then I nearly knocked him out. I knew it was going to be tough and I just can’t go for the knockout. I knew it was going to go for the distance. I boxed him. I showed I can think in the ring. I’m smart. I’m fast and elusive.” He added, “I want the WBC belt, there is a guy from Poland [Krzysztof Wlodarczyk] who got it so I am going for him. After that I will fight the other guys like Marco Huck [current WBO champion] and [Yoan Pablo] Hernandez.”

Garrett Wilson

Photo Credits: Daryl Bughman/Main Events

“He’s fast. I didn’t quite listen to my corner like I was supposed to. I dropped the ball on this one but even if he wins that world title, I ain’t done,” explained Wilson. “I will be right back. It is just the beginning. I may not have gotten the NABF this time but I am going to be back as long as he is willing to rematch me. I wasn’t listening to my corner and I paid for it. His defense was pretty good. His defense was really good and I couldn’t figure it out the way I wanted to. He kept leaning down and I kept ending up over top of him. I have been making adjustments and hopefully we get a rematch going on. I am going at that belt. Let’s keep it going.”

Mchunu connected for for 54% (105 of 195) of his power punches whereas Wilson only connected for 23% (54 of 231). Also Mchunu (53 of 211 for 25%) threw more than two times as many jabs as Wilson (18 of 108 for 17%). The total punch comparison also favored Mchunu (158 of 406 for 39% compared to 72 of 339 for 21%).

Karl Dargan

Photo Credits: Daryl Bughman/Main Events

Starting off the live broadcast on NBC Fight Night was ten-round battle between undefeated lightweight Karl “Dynamite” Dargan (17-0, 9 KOs) and Angino “The Nightmare” Perez (16-6, 14 KOs). The bout started slow with both fighters feeling each other out. Dargan was knocked down in the second and got up with a couple of hard shots at Perez. Dargan knocked down Perez in the fifth but he managed to make it back to his feet. “Dynamite” made quick work of Perez after that and knocked him out with a face first fall a few seconds later to secure the Junior NABF Lightweight Title. Now the 29-year old Dargan has two belts (USBA Atlantic Coast Region Lightweight Title).

Perez & Dargan

Photo Credits: Daryl Bughman/Main Events

In the fight Dargan connected for 42& of his punches (71 of 170) whereas Perez only connected for 17% (38 of 230). Although both fighters threw nearly the same number of power punches (96 for Dargan and 87 for Perez) Dargan connected for almost twice as many of them (50 as compared to 27 for Perez) for 52% when compared to 31% for Perez.

Angino Perez

Photo Credits: Daryl Bughman/Main Events

“I knew he could punch and I knew he got power. He had about a 90% knockout ratio but I don’t care who it is. He caught me with a good shot but I wasn’t hurt. It was like a buzz. I got back up there. I guess he thought he could pressure me so I just basically lured him in,” explained Dargan. “Him coming forward and me being able to step in the middle of it put more power on me. After the first knockdown my corner said just don’t come straight for the head; go for the body because he doesn’t really expect it.” He added, “Of course I don’t see anyone in my division I don’t see why I can’t beat them. I have the dedication so that I can go up against any of them. I use my ability when it is needed.”

Everett & Wilson

Photo Credits: Daryl Bughman/Main Events

After the live NBC broadcast middleweights Anthony Everett (0-2) and David Wilson (4-0) met for four rounds. Wilson remained undefeated with all three judges scoring the bout 40-36. Everett is still looking for his first professional victory.

White & Apostol

Photo Credits: Daryl Bughman/Main Events

The final fight before the NBC broadcast featured Piotr Apostol (1-0) of Atlantic City, NJ and Tyrell White (0-2) of Queens, NY for four rounds of wild lightweight action. Apostol managed to squeak out the split decision victory. The fight was close with two judges scoring the bout 39-37 for Apostol and one judge scoring the bout 40-36 for White.

Perez & Mauras

Photo Credits: Daryl Bughman/Main Events

In a lightweight rematch Joseph “Chip” Perez (10-3-2, 3 KOs) and Agustine “The Dancing Jaguar” Mauras (6-0-3, 3 KOs) met for six rounds. Perez and Mauras’ previous fight, back in July of this year, ended in a draw. Both men started the fight aggressively. In this action-packed bout both fighters gave their all and the crowd was pumped to watch these two warriors battle it out for another brutal six rounds. Ultimately, the judges scored the bout 58-56 for Mauras, 58-56 for Perez and 57-57 for a split draw.”I thought I fought more aggressively this time, explained Perez. “I thought I got the win both times. I am not taking anything away from him and I have nothing against him but I thought I got the win.” Mauras added, “We need an eight-rounder to make the determination. He came to fight and I always come to fight. I will fight him again or anyone else.”

Barrera & Watkins

Photo Credits: Daryl Bughman/Main Events

Undefeated light heavyweight Sullivan Barrera (13-0, 8 KOs) of Miami, FL knocked out Eric Watkins (10-8-1, 5 KOs) of Harris, NY. Barrera was leading the entire bout but Watkins managed to hold his own. Sullivan managed to finally take down Watkins at 0:24 in the sixth round. After the fight Barrera said, “I feel great. I am very happy with the new team. I am very happy to be training in Big Bear Lake. I want to thank Main Events and NBC for putting this fight on.” Barrera remains undefeated after his first fight with his new trainer, Abel Sanchez.

Foster (top left), Jackson (bottom left) & Foster & Jackson (right)

Photo Credits: Daryl Bughman/Main Events

In the first fight of the afternoon super middleweight Charles “The Truth” Foster (6-0, 3 KOs) of New Haven, CT made quick work of Robert Jackson (0-2) of Hampton, VA stopping him at 1:51 in the first round.

*Note: All records have been updated to reflect today’s results.

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2015 Fight of the Year – Francisco Vargas vs Takashi Miura

Published

9 years ago

January 4, 2016

The Sweet Science

The WBC World Super Featherweight title bout between Francisco Vargas and Takashi Miura came on one of the biggest boxing stages of 2015, as the bout served as the HBO pay-per-view’s co-main event on November 21st, in support of Miguel Cotto vs Saul Alvarez.

Miura entered the fight with a (29-2-2) record and he was making the fifth defense of his world title, while Vargas entered the fight with an undefeated mark of (22-0-1) in what was his first world title fight. Both men had a reputation for all-out fighting, with Miura especially earning high praise for his title defense in Mexico where he defeated Sergio Thompson in a fiercely contested battle.

The fight started out hotly contested, and the intensity never let up. Vargas seemed to win the first two rounds, but by the fourth round, Miura seemed to pull ahead, scoring a knock-down and fighting with a lot of confidence. After brawling the first four rounds, Miura appeared to settle into a more technical approach. Rounds 5 and 6 saw the pendulum swing back towards Vargas, as he withstood Miura’s rush to open the fifth round and the sixth round saw both men exchanging hard punches.

The big swinging continued, and though Vargas likely edged Miura in rounds 5 and 6, Vargas’ face was cut in at least two spots and Miura started to assert himself again in rounds 7 and 8. Miura was beginning to grow in confidence while it appeared that Vargas was beginning to slow down, and Miura appeared to hurt Vargas at the end of the 8th round.

Vargas turned the tide again at the start of the ninth round, scoring a knock down with an uppercut and a straight right hand that took Miura’s legs and sent him to the canvas. Purely on instinct, Miura got back up and continued to fight, but Vargas was landing frequently and with force. Referee Tony Weeks stepped in to stop the fight at the halfway point of round 9 as Miura was sustaining a barrage of punches.

Miura still had a minute and a half to survive if he was going to get out of the round, and it was clear that he was not going to stop fighting.

A back and forth battle of wills between two world championship level fighters, Takashi Miura versus “El Bandido” Vargas wins the 2015 Fight of the Year.

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Jan 9 in Germany – Feigenbutz and De Carolis To Settle Score

Published

9 years ago

January 4, 2016

The Sweet Science

This coming Saturday, January 9th, the stage is set at the Baden Arena in Offenburg, Germany for a re-match between Vincent Feigenbutz and Giovanni De Carolis. The highly anticipated re-match is set to air on SAT.1 in Germany, and Feigenbutz will once again be defending his GBU and interim WBA World titles at Super Middleweight.

The first meeting between the two was less than three months ago, on October 17th and that meeting saw Feigenbutz controversially edge De Carolis on the judge’s cards by scores of (115-113, 114-113 and 115-113). De Carolis scored a flash knock down in the opening round, and he appeared to outbox Feigenbutz in the early going, but the 20 year old German champion came on in the later rounds.

The first bout is described as one of the most crowd-pleasing bouts of the year in Germany, and De Carolis and many observers felt that the Italian had done enough to win.

De Carolis told German language website RAN.DE that he was more prepared for the re-match, and that due to the arrogance Feigenbutz displayed in the aftermath of the first fight, he was confident that he had won over some of the audience. Though De Carolis fell short of predicting victory, he promised a re-vamped strategy tailored to what he has learned about Feigenbutz, whom he termed immature and inexperienced.

The stage is set for Feigenbutz vs De Carolis 2, this Saturday January 9th in Offenburg, Germany. If you can get to the live event do it, if not you have SAT.1 in Germany airing the fights, and The Boxing Channel right back here for full results.

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2015 Knock Out of the Year – Saul Alvarez KO’s James Kirkland

Published

9 years ago

December 29, 2015

The Sweet Science

On May 9th of 2015, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez delivered a resonant knock-out of James Kirkland on HBO that wins the 2015 KO of the Year.

The knock-out itself came in the third round, after slightly more than two minutes of action. The end came when Alvarez delivered a single, big right hand that caught Kirkland on the jaw and left him flat on his back after spinning to the canvas.Alvarez was clearly the big star heading into the fight. The fight was telecast by HBO for free just one week after the controversial and disappointing Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao fight, and Alvarez was under pressure to deliver the type of finish that people were going to talk about. Kirkland was happy to oblige Alvarez, taking it right to Alvarez from the start. Kirkland’s aggression saw him appear to land blows that troubled the young Mexican in the early going. Alvarez played good defense, and he floored Kirkland in the first round, displaying his power and his technique in knocking down an aggressive opponent.

However, Kirkland kept coming at Alvarez and the fight entered the third round with both men working hard and the feeling that the fight would not go the distance. Kirkland continued to move forward, keeping “Canelo” against the ropes and scoring points with a barrage of punches while looking for an opening.

At around the two minute mark, Alvarez landed an uppercut that sent Kirkland to the canvas again. Kirkland got up, but it was clear that he did not have his legs under him. Kirkland was going to try to survive the round, but Alvarez had an opportunity to close out the fight. The question was would he take it?

Alvarez closed in on Kirkland, putting his opponent’s back to the ropes. Kirkland was hurt, but he was still dangerous, pawing with punches and loading up for one big shot.

But it was the big shot “Canelo” threw that ended the night. Kirkland never saw it coming, as he was loading up with a huge right hand of his own. The right Alvarez threw cracked Kirkland in the jaw, and his eyes went blank. His big right hand whizzed harmlessly over the head of a ducking Alvarez, providing the momentum for the spin that left Kirkland prone on the canvas.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez went on to defeat Miguel Cotto in his second fight of 2015 and he is clearly one of boxing’s biggest stars heading into 2016. On May 9th Alvarez added another reel to his highlight film when he knocked out James Kirkland with the 2015 “Knock Out of the Year”.

Photo by naoki fukuda

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