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Three Punch Combo: Tim Bradley’s IBHOF Credentials, Ryota Murata and More
THREE PUNCH COMBO — A seemingly innocuous tweet from ESPN’s Dan Rafael last week sparked quite a debate on social media. Rafael’s tweet read “Happy 36th birthday today to future Hall of Famer @Timbradleyjr!!!” Some fans voiced support in calling Bradley a future Hall of Famer and others strongly disagreed with Rafael’s assumption that Bradley is a lock for Canastota. So is Bradley in fact a Hall of Famer?
There is no disputing that Tim Bradley was a very accomplished fighter. He won world titles at 140 and 147. He scored wins against two legends in Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez and was the first man to defeat Lamont Peterson and Devon Alexander.
Bradley’s resume goes further than just those aforementioned wins. In 2013 he won a 12-round unanimous decision over Ruslan Provodnikov in one of the best action fights of the decade. Four years earlier, Bradley climbed off the deck twice to win a unanimous decision over power punching Kendall Holt in a 140-pound unification fight.
Critics of Bradley’s Hall of Fame credentials are quick to point out that most ring observers thought he was gifted a decision in his first fight against Manny Pacquiao. And they also point out that his split decision win over Marquez was a fight that could have gone either way. If those two wins are taken away, the critics argue, the quality of Bradley’s resume takes a major hit.
To add some clarification to the Bradley debate, I’d like to do a side by side comparison of his resume with that of a Hall of Famer. The Hall of Fame fighter needs to have fought around the same weight class as Bradley and generally around a similar era. And the best fit that I could find is Kostya Tszyu.
First the basic numbers. Tszyu finished with a record of 31-2, 25 KO’s. Bradley’s record was 33-2-1, 13 KO’s. Tszyu was a two-time champion in the 140-pound division. His record in world title fights was 15-2, 11 KO’s. As mentioned earlier, Bradley won world titles at 140 and 147. His record in title fights was 11-2, 2 KO’s. Both Tszyu and Bradley unified title belts in the 140-pound weight division.
As far as resume goes, both fought and defeated many world class opponents. There really isn’t much that separates the two except when looking at the top end. Bradley’s official record shows wins against surefire Hall of Famers Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez. Tszyu’s defining win was his 2001 second round stoppage of Jab Judah to unify titles at 140. And Tszyu does have one win against a Hall of Famer in Julio Cesar Chavez. But that win took place in 2000 when Chavez was clearly a shopworn fighter.
When I saw the social media debate on Bradley’s Hall of Fame candidacy this week, I started my own research with an open mind. The final results are crystal clear. In fact, in my opinion, Bradley’s overall accomplishments are not only on par with Tszyu, but may actually be slightly better.
There is no question Tim Bradley has Hall of Fame credentials and should go into the Hall the first year he is eligible.
Now What’s Next for Ryota Murata?
It was no secret in boxing circles that Ryota Murata (15-2, 12 KO’s) was set to defend his WBA middleweight title against Jeff Horn later this year. But those plans came crashing down when Michael Zerafa shockingly stopped Horn in the ninth round of their scheduled 12-round fight this past weekend in Australia. So now what are Murata’s options?
Michael Zerafa (27-3, 16 KO’s)
I will start with the obvious. The win over Horn vaulted Michael Zerafa to number six in the WBA rankings at middleweight and in line to fight for their title belt.
Prior to last year, Zerafa was best known for getting knocked out by Peter Quillin in 2015. In that fight, Zerafa was utterly outclassed.
But last year, Zerafa gave Kell Brook a much tougher than expected challenge in dropping a twelve-round decision to the former welterweight champion. That performance helped earn Zerafa the date with Horn and his upset of Horn surely puts him in line for something much bigger.
Zerafa is certainly a much better fighter than the one that fought Quillin in 2015, but he wouldn’t have anywhere near Horn’s box office drawing power. Zerafa will get a look but may be too risky for the potential reward for Murata.
Liam Smith (28-2-1, 16 KO’s)
Smith would need to first get ranked by the WBA at middleweight. But given the recent history of the WBA, if those involved want a Murata-Smith fight, then getting Smith into the rankings won’t be too big an issue.
Smith is a bigger name and bigger draw than Zerafa. He is well known in the UK and is also well-known to U.S. fight fans due to his admirable performances on U.S. soil in world title losses to Canelo Alvarez and Jaime Munguia. Add to it that Smith probably represents a little less risk to Murata than Zerafa. If I had to take a guess, I would venture to say that Smith probably gets the first call from Team Murata about making a fight later this year.
David Papot (22-0-1, 3 KO’s)
The idea behind a Horn-Murata fight was that Horn’s box office appeal would ultimately help boost Murata’s career. With that box office appeal off the table, Murata’s team may opt for more of a stay-busy type defense while waiting for another big opportunity to develop. And Papot, ranked 10th by the WBA at middleweight, would make sense.
Papot, who fought James McGirt to a 12-round draw in June, is a solid fighter, but he’s not a big puncher and has some noticeable holes in his defense. He probably wouldn’t pose much a threat to Murata. If Murata’s team opts for a stay-busy type fight, Papot is probably the most likely opponent.
Under The Radar Fight
The action will be light this week. In the U.S., the highlight is a Golden Boy card on Thursday from The Belasco Theater in Los Angeles that will be streamed live on Facebook Watch. The card is headlined by a crucial 122-pound crossroads fight between recent world title challengers Azat Hovhannisyan (17-3, 14 KO’s) and Franklin Manzanilla (18-5, 17 KO’s).
Both Hovhannisyan and Manzanilla recently fought WBC 122-pound champion Rey Vargas. Hovhannisyan lost a hard-fought decision to Vargas in May of 2018. Manzanilla gave Vargas a scare, dropping him in the second round of their fight this past February, before ultimately dropping the decision. Now Hovhannisyan and Manzanilla will square off with the winner poised to be right back in line for another title shot.
Hovhannisyan is a classic brawler. He knows only one way to fight and that is by coming forward, constantly applying pressure while throwing punches. He is the type of fighter who is willing to take a few shots just to create an opportunity to land one of his own. He may not be a big puncher but is heavy handed; his punches take a toll on his opponent as the fight progresses.
Manzanilla is more of a boxer-puncher. He likes to work behind the left jab and set up his power shots behind that punch. As his record indicates, Manzanilla is a big-time puncher. In particular, he possesses a thunderous left hook that can instantly change the course of a fight.
These two are evenly matched at this stage in their careers and stylistically mesh well for what should be a very entertaining scrap.
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The Ortiz-Bohachuk Thriller has been named the TSS 2024 Fight of The Year
The Aug. 10 match in Las Vegas between Knockout artists Vergil Ortiz Jr and Serhii Bohachuk seemingly had scant chance of lasting the 12-round distance. Ortiz, the pride of Grand Prairie, Texas, was undefeated in 21 fights with 20 KOs. Bohachuk, the LA-based Ukrainian, brought a 24-1 record with 23 knockouts.
In a surprise, the fight went the full 12. And it was a doozy.
The first round, conventionally a feeling-out round, but was anything but. “From the opening bell, [they] clobbered each other like those circus piledriver hammer displays,” wrote TSS ringside reporter David A. Avila.
In this opening frame, Bohachuk, the underdog in the betting, put Ortiz on the canvas with a counter left hook. Of the nature of a flash knockdown, it was initially ruled a slip by referee Harvey Dock. With the benefit of instant replay, the Nevada State Athletic Commission overruled Dock and after four rounds had elapsed, the round was retroactively scored 10-8.
Bohachuk had Ortiz on the canvas again in round eight, put there by another left hook. Ortiz was up in a jiff, but there was no arguing it was a legitimate knockdown and it was plain that Ortiz now trailed on the scorecards.
Aware of the situation, the Texan, a protégé of the noted trainer Robert Garcia, dug deep to sweep the last four rounds. But these rounds were fused with drama. “Every time it seemed the Ukrainian was about to fall,” wrote Avila, “Bohachuk would connect with one of those long right crosses.”
In the end, Ortiz eked out a majority decision. The scores were 114-112 x2 and 113-113.
Citing the constant adjustments and incredible recuperative powers of both contestants, CBS sports combat journalist Brian Campbell called the fight an instant classic. He might have also mentioned the unflagging vigor exhibited by both. According to CompuBox, Ortiz and Bohachuk threw 1579 punches combined, landing 490, numbers that were significantly higher than the early favorite for Fight of the Year, the March 2 rip-snorter at Verona, New York between featherweights Raymond Ford and Otabek Kholmatov (a win for Ford who pulled the fight out of the fire in the final minute).
Photo credit: Al Applerose
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Women’s Prizefighting Year End Review: The Best of the Best in 2024
Women’s Prizefighting Year End Review: The Best of the Best in 2024
It’s the end of the year.
Here are our awards for the best in women’s boxing. But first, a rundown on the state of the sport.
Maybe its my imagination but it seems that fewer female fights of magnitude took place in 2024 than in previous years.
A few promoters like 360 Promotions increased their involvement in women’s boxing while others such as Matchroom Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions seem stagnant. They are still staging female bouts but are not signing new additions.
American-based promotion company Top Rank, actually lost 50 percent of their female fighter roster when Seniesa Estrada, the undisputed minimumweight champion, retired recently. They still have Mikaela Mayer.
A promotion company making headlines and creating sparks in the boxing world is Most Valuable Promotions led by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian. They signed Amanda Serrano and have invested in staging other female fights
This year, the top streaming company Netflix gambled on sponsoring Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson, along with Amanda Serrano versus Katie Taylor and hit a monster home run. According to Netflix metrics an estimated 74 million viewers watched the event that took place on Nov. 16 at Arlington, Texas.
“Breaking records like this is exactly what MVP was built to do – bring the biggest, most electrifying events to fans worldwide,” said Nakisa Bidarian co-founder of MVP.
History was made in viewership and at the gate where more than 70,000 fans packed AT&T Stadium for a record-setting $17.8 million in ticket sales outside of Las Vegas. It was the grand finale moment of the year.
Here are the major contributors to women’s boxing in 2024.
Fighter of the Year: Amanda Serrano
Other candidates: Katie Taylor, Claressa Shields, Franchon Crews, Dina Thorslund, and Yesica Nery Plata.
Amanda Serrano was chosen for not only taking part in the most viewed female title fight in history, but also for willingly sacrificing the health of her eye after suffering a massive cut during her brutal war with Taylor. She could have quit, walked away with tons of money and be given the technical decision after four rounds. She was ahead on the scorecards at that moment.
Instead, Serrano took more punches, more head butts and slugged her way through 10 magnificent and brilliant rounds against the great Taylor. Fans worldwide were captivated by their performance. Many women who had never watched a female fight were mesmerized and inspired.
Serrano once again proved that she would die in the ring rather than quit. Women and men were awed by her performance and grit. It was a moment blazed in the memories of millions.
Amanda Serrano is the Fighter of the Year.
Best Fight of the Year – Amanda Serrano versus Katie Taylor 2
Their first fight that took place two years ago in Madison Square Garden was the greatest female fight I had ever witnessed. The second fight surpassed it.
When you have two of the best warriors in the world willing to showcase their talent for entertainment regardless of the outcome, it’s like rubbing two sticks of dynamite together.
Serrano jumped on Taylor immediately and for about 20 seconds it looked like the Irish fighter would not make the end of the first round. Not quite. Taylor rallied behind her stubborn determination and pulled out every tool in her possession: elbows, head butts, low blows, whatever was needed to survive, Taylor used.
It reminded me of an old world title fight in 2005 between Jose Luis Castillo a master of fighting dirty and Julio Diaz. I asked about the dirty tactics by Castillo and Diaz simply said, “It’s a fight. It’s not chess. You do what you have to do.”
Taylor did what she had to do to win and the world saw a magnificent fight.
Other candidates: Seniesa Estrada versus Yokasta Valle, Mikaela Mayer versus Sandy Ryan, and Ginny Fuchs vs Adelaida Ruiz.
KO of the Year – Lauren Price KO3 Bexcy Mateus.
Dec. 14, in Liverpool, England.
The IBO welterweight titlist lowered the boom on Bexcy Mateus sending her to the floor thrice. She ended the fight with a one-two combination that left Mateus frozen while standing along the ropes. Another left cross rocket blasted her to the ground. Devastating.
Other candidates: Claressa Shields KO of Vanessa LePage-Joanisse, Gabriela Fundora KO of Gabriela Alaniz, Dina Thorslund vs Mary Romero, Amanda Serrano KO of Stevie Morgan.
Pro’s Pro Award – Jessica Camara
Jessica Camara defeated Hyun Mi Choi in South Korea to win the WBA gold title on April 27, 2024. The match took place in Suwon where Canada’s Camara defeated Choi by split decision after 10 rounds.
Camara, who is managed by Brian Cohen, has fought numerous champions including Kali Reis, Heather Hardy and Melissa St. Vil. She has become a pro fighter that you know will be involved in a good and entertaining fight and is always in search of elite competition. She eagerly accepted the fight in South Korea against Choi. Few fighters are willing to do that.
Next up for Camara is WBC titlist Caroline Dubois set for Jan. 11, in Sheffield, England.
Electric Fighters Club
These are women who never fail to provide excitement and drama when they step in the prize ring. When you only have two-minute rounds there’s no time to run around the boxing ring.
Here are some of the fighters that take advantage of every second and they do it with skill:
Gabriela Fundora, Mizuki Hiruta, Ellie Scotney, Lauren Price, Clara Lescurat, Adelaida Ruiz, Ginny Fuchs, Mikaela Mayer, Yokasta Valle, Sandy Ryan, Chantelle Cameron, Ebanie Bridges, Tsunami Tenkai, Dina Thorslund, Evelin Bermudez, Gabriela Alaniz, Caroline Dubois, Beatriz Ferreira, and LeAnna Cruz.
Claressa Shields Movie and More
A motion picture based on Claressa Shields titled “The Fire Inside” debuts on Wednesday, Dec. 25, nationwide. Most boxing fans know that Shields has world titles in various weight divisions. But they don’t know about her childhood and how she rose to fame.
Also, Shields (15-0, 3 KOs) will be fighting Danielle Perkins (5-0, 2 KOs) for the undisputed heavyweight world championship on Sunday Feb. 2, at Dort Financial Center in Flint, Michigan. DAZN will stream the Salita Promotions fight card.
“Claressa Shields is shining a spotlight on Flint – first on the big screen and then in the ring on Sunday, February 2,” said event promoter Dmitriy Salita, president of Salita Promotions. “Claressa leads by example. She is a trailblazer and has been an advocate for equality since she was a young lady. This event promises to be one of the most significant sporting and cultural events of the year. You don’t want to miss it, either live, in person or live on DAZN.”
Shields is only 29 years old and turns 30 next March. What more can she accomplish?
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Lucas Bahdi Forged the TSS 2024 Knockout of the Year
A Knockout of the Year doesn’t have to be a one-punch knockout, but it must arrive with the suddenness of a thunderclap on a clear day and the punch or punches must be so harsh as to obviate the need for a “10-count.” And, if rendered by an underdog, that makes the KO resonate more loudly.
Within these parameters, Lucas Bahdi’s knockout of Ashton “H2O” Sylva still jumped off the page. The thunderclap happened on July 20 in Tampa, Florida, on a show promoted by Jake Paul with Paul and the great Amanda Serrano sharing the bill against soft opponents in the featured bouts.
The 30-year-old Bahdi (16-0, 14 KOs) and the 20-year-old Sylva (11-0, 9 KOs) were both undefeated, but Bahdi was accorded scant chance of defeating Jake Paul’s house fighter.
Sylva was 18 years old and had seven pro fights under his belt, winning all inside the distance, when he signed with Paul’s company, Most Valuable Promotions, in 2022. “We believe that Ashton has that talent, that flashiness, that style, that knockout power, that charisma to really be a massive, massive, superstar…” said the “Problem Child” when announcing that Sylva had signed with his company.
Jake Paul was so confident that his protege would accomplish big things that he matched Sylva with Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield. Currently 18-0 and ranked #2 by the WBA, Schofield was further along than Sylva in the pantheon of hot lightweight prospects. But Schofield backed out, alleging an injury, opening the door to a substitute.
Enter Lucas Bahdi who despite his eye-catching record was a virtual unknown. This would be his first outing on U.S. soil. All of his previous bouts were staged in Mexico or in Canada, mostly in his native Ontario province. “My opponent may have changed,” said Sylva who hails from Long Beach, California, “but the result will be the same, I will get the W and continue my path to greatness.”
The first five rounds were all Sylva. The Canadian had no antidote for Sylva’s speed and quickness. He was outclassed.
Then, in round six, it all came unglued for the precocious California. Out of the blue, Bahdi stiffened him with a hard right hand. Another right quickly followed, knocking Sylva unconscious. A third punch, a sweeping left, was superfluous. Jake Paul’s phenom was already out cold.
Sylva landed face-first on the canvas. He lay still as his handlers and medics rushed to his aid. It was scarifying. “May God restore him,” said ring announcer Joe Martinez as he was being stretchered out of the ring.
The good news is that Ashton “H2O” Silva will be able to resume his career. He is expected back in the ring as early as February. As for Lucas Bahdi, architect of the Knockout of the Year, he has added one more win to his ledger, winning a 10-round decision on the undercard of the Paul vs Tyson spectacle, and we will presumably be hearing a lot more about him.
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