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HITS and MISSES: Post-Thanksgiving Weekend Edition
It was another massive weekend in boxing. There were big fights on pay-per-view that maybe shouldn’t have been so big, and fights surrounded by lesser fanfare that will probably be looked back at as the more meaningful action by future historians.
Here are the biggest HITS and MISSES from another week on the boxing beat.
HIT: Mike Tyson, Roy Jones and the Unifying Power of Boxing
Whatever you think about the boxing exhibition bout between Mike Tyson and Roy Jones, Jr. on Saturday night, the most important aspect of the whole night (to this writer at least) was seeing how easily a big fight in boxing could still unify our culture.
No, it wasn’t a legitimate prizefight, but people still wanted to see the 54-year-old Tyson go a few rounds with the 51-year-old Jones, and that’s exactly what they got. It was a ride built mostly around the power of nostalgia, and it featured all sorts of present-day celebrities, too.
By the end of things, it seemed the general reaction to the event on social media was positive.
Tyson vs. Jones showed how big a reach boxing still has. Tyson retired over 15 years ago, but people from all over the planet were still willing to pay $50 to watch him climb inside the ropes for a sparring session.
Seeing that left me with two exciting questions.
What awesome power will boxing’s next superstar have?
More importantly, where is he (or she) anyway?
MISS: Ring Announcer’s Steve Harvey MomentÂ
In 2015, comedian Steve Harvey accidentally announced the wrong winner of the Miss Universe pageant. As humiliating as that event was for Harvey, just imagine how the two women felt after having their hearts filled and slashed by his error.
That same thing sort of happened on Friday night when Danny Jacobs beat Gabriel Rosado via split decision in a 168-pound stay-busy fight streamed by DAZN.
Ring announcer Jeremiah Gallegos accidentally said the winner hailed from Philadelphia (where Rosado is from) before quickly changing it back to Brooklyn (where Jacobs is from).
So momentarily, the hard-luck Rosado, who never has been the beneficiary of a close decision in any important fight, thought he had just pulled off the upset of the year.
Instead, Jacobs was corrected as the winner and that had to be an awful experience for both fighters, one that was completely avoidable.
HIT: Joe Joyce: An Actual Juggernaut?
Heavyweight prospect Joe Joyce is a popular fighter on the other side of the ocean because of his long and successful campaign as an amateur boxing star which culminated with Joyce winning the silver medal for Great Britain in the super heavyweight division at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Still, as a professional prospect, there are lots of things not to like about Joyce. First, Joyce didn’t start boxing until he was 22. Late bloomers come around now and then, but they’re still a rarity in the sport. Second, Joyce is already 35, which means he’s already just outside the confines of his theoretical physical prime, something that ends around 33 years old and only gets worse. Finally, Joyce is just plain slow as molasses.
Regardless, Joyce stopped fellow Brit Daniel Dubois on Saturday in London.
Unlike Joyce, Dubois, 23, possesses plenty of attributes one looks for in a future world champion. But none of those things helped Dubois win the fight.
All this to say Joyce just keeps winning fights. Sure, he might appear to be a boulder tumbling slowly down a hill when he fights, but that rock is starting to gain some real momentum.
HIT: 54-1
Thailand’s Wanheng Menayothin finally lost a fight over the weekend, but it should be noted that at least the fighter finally knows his limits.
Menayothin (aka Chayaphon Moonsri) entered his fight against Petchmanee CP Freshmart (aka Panya Pradabsri) with a sterling record of 54-0. He left the contest 54-1 after judges rendered their verdict for the challenger.
Much was made of Menayothin’s glossy win streak last year when he surpassed retired boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather’s 50-0 mark. But a combat sports culture obsessed with suffering no blemishes on a record is only a relatively new phenomenon. Moreover, the very nature of that path through the sport never reveals the true limits of a fighter.
All this to say that Menayothin now gets a better sense of his limits, and the boxing world as a whole gets to know that same thing about him, too. That’s wildly better than the alternative.
MISS: Nate Robinson Challenge
If you missed the Tyson vs. Jones pay-per-view event on Triller over the weekend, you didn’t see social media star Jake Paul’s viral knockout of ex-NBA star Nate Robinson.
It was clear from the start of the fight that Paul and Robinson weren’t evenly matched. That kind of thing happens all the time in boxing, of course, but here was a case of a person (Robinson) who maybe had been so mismatched against Paul that it was too dangerous to have happened at all.
Regardless, Robinson did have the courage to train for the fight and step inside the ropes on fight night.
After he was knocked out, something called the “Nate Robinson Challenge” started trending on Twitter, and it was basically people from all over the world trolling the 3-time NBA dunking champ for getting knocked out in the fight.
Look, Robinson made his own bed by calling for the fight in the first place. But the Internet trolls that rag people for stepping outside their comfort zones probably would never dare to attempt that accomplishment themselves.
Robinson tried and failed. That’s the real challenge.
Check out more boxing news on video at the Boxing ChannelÂ
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The Sweet Science Rankings: Week of May 29th, 2023
In this week’s TSS Rankings, it’s all change at the top of the 126lbs division with Luis Alberto Lopez rocketing to the #1 spot after a brutal dispatch of Michael Conlan; Leigh Wood is right behind him after making it 1-1 with a miserable Mauricio Lara (Mexico) who is likely about to depart for 130lbs after failing to make weight by 4lbs. For the moment he languishes at #5.  Chris Billam-Smith makes #3 at 200lbs after ripping victory from fellow Englishman Lawrence Okolie. The hapless Okolie drops to #8. The best performance this weekend though was turned in by New Yorker Oscar Collazo who brutalised the favoured Melvin Jerusalem (Philippines). Collazo rises to three, Jerusalem drops to #8.
Pound-for-Pound
01 â Naoya Inoue
02 â Oleksandr Usyk
03 â Juan Francisco Estrada
04 â Dmitry Bivol
05 â Terence Crawford
06 â Errol Spence Jnr.
07 â Tyson Fury
08 â Saul Alvarez
09 â Artur Beterbiev
10 – Shakur Stevenson
105lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Knockout CP Freshmart (Thailand)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Petchmanee CP Freshmart (Thailand)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Oscar Collazo (USA)*
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ginjiro Shigeoka (Japan)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Wanheng Menayothin (Thailand)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Daniel Valladares (Mexico)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yudai Shigeoka (Japan)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Melvin Jerusalem (Philippines)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Masataka Taniguchi (Japan)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Rene Mark Cuarto (Philippines)
108lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kenshiro Teraji (Japan)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jonathan Gonzalez (Puerto Rico)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Masamichi Yabuki (Japan)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hekkie Budler (South Africa)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sivenathi Nontshinga (South Africa)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Elwin Soto (Mexico)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Daniel Matellon (Cuba)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Reggie Suganob (Philippines)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Shokichi Iwata (Japan)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Esteban Bermudez (Mexico)
112lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sunny Edwards (England)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Artem Dalakian (Ukraine)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Julio Cesar Martinez (Mexico)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Angel Ayala Lardizabal (Mexico)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â David Jimenez (Costa Rica)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jesse Rodriguez (USA)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ricardo Sandoval (USA)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Felix Alvarado (Nicaragua)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Seigo Yuri Akui (Japan)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Cristofer Rosales (Nicaragua)
115lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Juan Francisco Estrada (Mexico)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Roman Gonzalez (Nicaragua)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jesse Rodriguez (USA)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kazuto Ioka (Japan)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Joshua Franco (USA)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Junto Nakatani (Japan)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Fernando Martinez (Argentina)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (Thailand)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kosei Tanaka (Japan)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Andrew Moloney (Australia)
118lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Emmanuel Rodriguez (Puerto Rico)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jason Moloney (Australia)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Nonito Donaire (Philippines)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Vincent Astrolabio (Philippines)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gary Antonio Russell (USA)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Takuma Inoue (Japan)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Alexandro Santiago (Mexico)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ryosuke Nishida (Japan)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Keita Kurihara (Japan)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Paul Butler (England)
122lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Stephen Fulton (USA)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Marlo Tapales (Philippines)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Luis Nery (Mexico)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Murodjon Akhmadaliev (Uzbekistan)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Raâeese Aleem (USA)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Azat Hovhannisyan (Armenia)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kevin Gonzalez (Mexico)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Takuma Inoue (Japan)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â John Riel Casimero (Philippines)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Fillipus Nghitumbwa (Namibia)
Â
126lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Luis Alberto Lopez (Mexico)*
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Leigh Wood (England)*
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brandon Figueroa (USA)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Rey Vargas (Mexico)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Mauricio Lara (Mexico)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Mark Magsayo (Philippines)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Josh Warrington (England)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Robeisy Ramirez (Cuba)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Reiya Abe (Japan)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Otabek Kholmatov (Uzbekistan)
Â
130lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Joe Cordina (Wales)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Oscar Valdez (Mexico)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hector Garcia (Dominican Republic)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â O’Shaquie Foster (USA)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov (Tajikistan)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Roger Gutierrez (Venezuela)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Lamont Roach (USA)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Eduardo Ramirez (Mexico)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kenichi Ogawa (Japan)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Robson Conceicao (Brazil)
135lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Devin Haney (USA)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gervonta Davis (USA)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Vasily Lomachenko (Ukraine)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Isaac Cruz (Mexico)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â William Zepeda Segura (Mexico)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Frank Martin (USA)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â George Kambosos Jnr (Australia)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Shakur Stevenson (USA)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Raymond Muratalla (USA)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Keyshawn Davis (USA)
140lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Josh Taylor (Scotland)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Regis Prograis (USA)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jose Ramirez (USA)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jose Zepeda (USA)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jack Catterall (England)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Subriel Matias (Puerto Rico)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Arnold Barboza Jr. (USA)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gary Antuanne Russell (USA)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Zhankosh Turarov (Kazakhstan)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Shohjahon Ergashev (Uzbekistan)
Â
147lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Errol Spence (USA)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Terence Crawford (USA)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yordenis Ugas (Cuba)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Vergil Ortiz Jr. (USA)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jaron Ennis (USA)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Eimantas Stanionis (Lithuania)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â David Avanesyan (Russia)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Cody Crowley (Canada)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Roiman Villa (Columbia)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Alexis Rocha (USA)
Â
154lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jermell Charlo (USA)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Tim Tszyu (Australia)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brian Castano (Argentina)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brian Mendoza (USA)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Liam Smith (England)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jesus Alejandro Ramos (USA)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sebastian Fundora (USA)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Michel Soro (Ivory Coast)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Erickson Lubin (USA)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Magomed Kurbanov (Russia)
Â
160lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gennady Golovkin (Kazakhstan)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jaime Munguia (Mexico)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Carlos Adames (Dominican Republic)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Janibek Alimkhanuly (Kazakhstan)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Liam Smith (England)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Erislandy Lara (USA)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sergiy Derevyanchenko (Ukraine)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Felix Cash (England)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Esquiva Falcao (Brazil)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Chris Eubank Jnr. (Poland)
168lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Canelo Alvarez (Mexico)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â David Benavidez (USA)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Caleb Plant (USA)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Christian Mbilli (France)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â David Morrell (Cuba)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â John Ryder (England)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Pavel Silyagin (Russia)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Vladimir Shishkin (Russia)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Carlos Gongora (Ecuador)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Demetrius Andrade (USA)
175lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dmitry Bivol (Russia)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Artur Beterbiev (Canada)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Joshua Buatsi (England)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Callum Smith (England)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Joe Smith Jr. (USA)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gilberto Ramirez (Mexico)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Anthony Yarde (England)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dan Azeez (England)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Craig Richards (England)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Michael Eifert (Germany)
200lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jai Opetaia (Australia)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Mairis Breidis (Latvia)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Chris Billam-Smith (England)*
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Richard Riakporhe (England)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Aleksei Papin (Russia)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Badou Jack (Sweden)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Arsen Goulamirian (France)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Lawrence Okolie (England)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yuniel Dorticos (Cuba)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Mateusz Masternak (Poland)
Unlimited
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Tyson Fury (England)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Oleksandr Usyk (Ukraine)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Zhilei Zhang (China)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Deontay Wilder (USA)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Anthony Joshua (England)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Andy Ruiz (USA)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Filip Hrgovic (Croatia)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Joe Joyce (England)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dillian Whyte (England)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Frank Sanchez (Cuba)
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British fight fabs had plenty of options last night. Important events were staged in Manchester, in Bournemouth, and in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The locals were delighted in Manchester and Bournemouth, but fans in Belfast were left crestfallen when their hometown hero Michael Conlan, the former two-time Olympian, was on the wrong end of a vicious KO.
Conlan, who was 18-1 heading in, had a four-inch height advantage and three-inch reach advantage over Mexican spoiler Luis Alberto Lopez. The Irishman attracted late money and went to post a small favorite. But Lopez (28-2, 16 KOs) emerged victorious, successfully defending his IBF world featherweight title which he won in British soil over Josh Warrington.
Although Conlan had a rough patch in the second round, he was seemingly in a good position heading into round five when the Mexican invader brought a swift conclusion to the contest, discombobulating Conlan (pictured) with a right uppercut that prompted his trainer Adam Booth to throw in the towel. It was the second time that Conlan came up short in a bid for a world title. He challenged for the WBA version of this belt in March of last year, losing on a spectacular last round knockout to Leigh Wood in a fight that he was winning until the final 90 seconds.
AlsoâŠ
In a scheduled 12-rounder for a WBC featherweight trinket, five-foot-three Liverpool buzzsaw Nick âWreckingâ Ball advanced to 18-0, (11 KOs) with a 12th-round stoppage of South Africaâs previously undefeated Ludumo Lamati (21-1-1, 11 KOs). Lamatiâs corner tossed in the towel after Ball landed a series of hard punches in the final frame.
Lamati was on his feet when the bout was stopped but was in dire straits and was removed from the ring on a stretcher. There was no update on his condition as this story was going to press.
In a companion 12-rounder, Belfastâs Anthony âApacheâ Cacace (21-1, 7 KOs) successfully defended his fringe 130-pound title with a wide decision over Damian Wrzesinski (26-3-2). The judges had 118-111, 117-111, and 116-112.
Wrzesinski, a 38-year-old Pole, fought with a brace on his right knee. This was the first fight for âApacheâ in his hometown in eight years. The win may have set him up for a match with Welshman Joe Cordina, the IBF junior lightweight title-holder, or Shavkat Rakhimov who lost a close decision to Cordina in a bruising tiff last month.
Manchester
Mauricio Lara didnât bring his âAâ game to England. That became apparent at the weigh-in when he failed to make weight, losing his WBA world featherweight title on the scales. By rule, only Leigh Wood could win it or it would become vacant.
This was a rematch. Fourteen weeks ago, Lara went into Woodâs backyard in Nottingham and stopped him in the seventh round. Lara was behind on the cards when he felled Wood with a crunching left hook. Wood beat the count but his trainer Ben Davison tossed in the towel which struck many, especially Wood, as premature as less than 10 seconds remained in the round.
In a previous trip to England, Lara had broken hearts in Leeds, stopping native son Josh Warrington. The Mexican invader, younger than Leigh Wood by 10 years, was expected to win again, but Wood, 34, simply out-worked him. He knocked Lara down in the second round with an uppercut and methodically kept him at bay, winning by scores of 116-111 and 118-109 twice.
Co-Feature
In his first appearance since his controversial defeat to Josh Taylor in Glasgow in February of last year, Jack Catterall improved to 27-1 (15) with a wide decision over Irish-Australian southpaw Darragh Foley (22-5-1).
The Sportsman called the Catterall-Taylor fight, a split decision win for Taylor, the most controversial fight in British boxing history and Catterall became a more sympathetic figure when Taylor, after several postponements, reneged on his promise to give Catterall a rematch, opting instead for a date with Teofimo Lopez.
Although Foley was in action 10 weeks ago, scoring his signature win with a third-round stoppage of favored Robbie Davies Jr., and Catterall was making his first start in 15 months, this was a one-sided fray in Catterallâs favor. He had Foley on the canvas twice en route to winning by scores of 99-88, 98-89, and 97-90.
Eddie Hearn has expressed an interest in matching Catterall with Regis Prograis assuming that Prograis gets past Arnold Barboza on June 17.
Also
Englandâs Terri Harper (14-1-1), who jumped up three weight classes last year, successfully defended her WBA 154-pound diadem with a unanimous but unimpressive 10-round decision over perennial title challenger Ivana Habazin. The judges had it 98-92 and 99-93 twice.
Harper was slated to fight former pound-for-pound queen Cecilia Braekhus last Saturday in the co-feature to Taylor vs. Cameron in Dublin, but hat match fell out when Braekhus came down with a bad cold following the weight-in.
Harper is seeking a unification fight with countrywoman Natasha Jonas. Habazin, a 33-year-old Croat, fell to 21-5.
Bournemouth
In his fourth defense of his WBO world cruiserweight title, previously undefeated Lawrence Okolie was soundly defeated by former sparring partner Chris Billam.-Smith The match was contested in Billam-Smith’s hometown before a raucous crowd at sold-out Vitality Stadium.
A 3/1 underdog, Billam-Smith, who was 17-1 heading in, proved clearly superior He knocked Okolie down in the fourth round and again in rounds 10 and 11 en route to winning by scores of 116-107, 115-108, and 112-112.
About that curious 112-112 card. It was turned in by U.S. judge Benjamin Rodriguez who had been working the Illinois-Wisconsin circuit. On social media, his tally is being called the worst scorecard of all time.
Did Billam-Smith’s fans leave happy? The correspondent for British Boxing News called the event âa night of breathtaking boxing action that will never be forgotten.â
The six-foot-five Okolie may have made his last start as a cruiserweight. He aspires to fight Oleksandr Usyk.
The Sweet Science Rankings: Week of May 22nd, 2023
Hiroto Kyoguchi departs 108lbs for 112lbs so there’s a reorganisation at the bottom of the 108lbs division. Fellow Japanese Junto Nakatani’s breathtaking destruction of Andrew Maloney sees him rise to #6 at 115lbs with Maloney dropping to #10; Kosei Tanaki who was also out at the weekend climbs to #9.  Raymond Muratalla is the last mover this week, eliminating Jamaine Ortiz and debuting at #9 at 135lbs. There are no further changes at lightweight where Lomachenko maintains his ranking at #3.
*Please note that when the fighterâs name appears with an asterisk it represents a movement in ranking from the previous week.
Pound-for-Pound
01 â Naoya Inoue
02 â Oleksandr Usyk
03 â Juan Francisco Estrada
04 â Dmitry Bivol
05 â Terence Crawford
06 â Errol Spence Jnr.
07 â Tyson Fury
08 â Saul Alvarez
09 â Artur Beterbiev
10 – Shakur Stevenson
105lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Knockout CP Freshmart (Thailand)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Petchmanee CP Freshmart (Thailand)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Melvin Jerusalem (Philippines)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ginjiro Shigeoka (Japan)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Wanheng Menayothin (Thailand)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Daniel Valladares (Mexico)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yudai Shigeoka (Japan)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Oscar Collazo (USA)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Masataka Taniguchi (Japan)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Rene Mark Cuarto (Philippines)
108lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kenshiro Teraji (Japan)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jonathan Gonzalez (Puerto Rico)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Masamichi Yabuki (Japan)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hekkie Budler (South Africa)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sivenathi Nontshinga (South Africa)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Elwin Soto (Mexico)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Daniel Matellon (Cuba)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Reggie Suganob (Philippines)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Shokichi Iwata (Japan)*
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Esteban Bermudez (Mexico)*
112lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sunny Edwards (England)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Artem Dalakian (Ukraine)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Julio Cesar Martinez (Mexico)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Angel Ayala Lardizabal (Mexico)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â David Jimenez (Costa Rica)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jesse Rodriguez (USA)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ricardo Sandoval (USA)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Felix Alvarado (Nicaragua)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Seigo Yuri Akui (Japan)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Cristofer Rosales (Nicaragua)
115lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Juan Francisco Estrada (Mexico)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Roman Gonzalez (Nicaragua)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jesse Rodriguez (USA)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kazuto Ioka (Japan)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Joshua Franco (USA)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Junto Nakatani (Japan)*
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Fernando Martinez (Argentina)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (Thailand)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kosei Tanaka (Japan)*
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Andrew Moloney (Australia)
118lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Emmanuel Rodriguez (Puerto Rico)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jason Moloney (Australia)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Nonito Donaire (Philippines)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Vincent Astrolabio (Philippines)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gary Antonio Russell (USA)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Takuma Inoue (Japan)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Alexandro Santiago (Mexico)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ryosuke Nishida (Japan)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Keita Kurihara (Japan)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Paul Butler (England)
122lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Stephen Fulton (USA)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Marlo Tapales (Philippines)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Luis Nery (Mexico)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Murodjon Akhmadaliev (Uzbekistan)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Raâeese Aleem (USA)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Azat Hovhannisyan (Armenia)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kevin Gonzalez (Mexico)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Takuma Inoue (Japan)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â John Riel Casimero (Philippines)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Fillipus Nghitumbwa (Namibia)
126lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Mauricio Lara (Mexico)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brandon Figueroa (USA)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Rey Vargas (Mexico)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Luis Alberto Lopez (Mexico)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Mark Magsayo (Philippines)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Leigh Wood (England)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Josh Warrington (England)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Robeisy Ramirez (Cuba)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Reiya Abe (Japan)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Otabek Kholmatov (Uzbekistan)
130lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Joe Cordina (Wales)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Oscar Valdez (Mexico)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Hector Garcia (Dominican Republic)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â O’Shaquie Foster (USA)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov (Tajikistan)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Roger Gutierrez (Venezuela)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Lamont Roach (USA)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Eduardo Ramirez (Mexico)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kenichi Ogawa (Japan)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Robson Conceicao (Brazil)
135lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Devin Haney (USA)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gervonta Davis (USA)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Vasily Lomachenko (Ukraine)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Isaac Cruz (Mexico)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â William Zepeda Segura (Mexico)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Frank Martin (USA)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â George Kambosos Jnr (Australia)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Shakur Stevenson (USA)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Raymond Muratalla (USA)*
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Keyshawn Davis (USA)
140lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Josh Taylor (Scotland)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Regis Prograis (USA)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jose Ramirez (USA)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jose Zepeda (USA)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jack Catterall (England)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Subriel Matias (Puerto Rico)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Arnold Barboza Jr. (USA)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gary Antuanne Russell (USA)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Zhankosh Turarov (Kazakhstan)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Shohjahon Ergashev (Uzbekistan)
147lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Errol Spence (USA)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Terence Crawford (USA)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yordenis Ugas (Cuba)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Vergil Ortiz Jr. (USA)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jaron Ennis (USA)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Eimantas Stanionis (Lithuania)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â David Avanesyan (Russia)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Cody Crowley (Canada)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Roiman Villa (Columbia)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Alexis Rocha (USA)
154lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jermell Charlo (USA)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Tim Tszyu (Australia)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brian Castano (Argentina)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Brian Mendoza (USA)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Liam Smith (England)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jesus Alejandro Ramos (USA)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sebastian Fundora (USA)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Michel Soro (Ivory Coast)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Erickson Lubin (USA)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Magomed Kurbanov (Russia)
160lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gennady Golovkin (Kazakhstan)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jaime Munguia (Mexico)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Carlos Adames (Dominican Republic)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Janibek Alimkhanuly (Kazakhstan)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Liam Smith (England)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Erislandy Lara (USA)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Sergiy Derevyanchenko (Ukraine)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Felix Cash (England)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Esquiva Falcao (Brazil)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Chris Eubank Jnr. (Poland)
168lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Canelo Alvarez (Mexico)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â David Benavidez (USA)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Caleb Plant (USA)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Christian Mbilli (France)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â David Morrell (Cuba)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â John Ryder (England)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Pavel Silyagin (Russia)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Vladimir Shishkin (Russia)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Carlos Gongora (Ecuador)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Demetrius Andrade (USA)
175lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dmitry Bivol (Russia)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Artur Beterbiev (Canada)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Joshua Buatsi (England)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Callum Smith (England)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Joe Smith Jr. (USA)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Gilberto Ramirez (Mexico)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Anthony Yarde (England)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dan Azeez (England)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Craig Richards (England)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Michael Eifert (Germany)
200lbs
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jai Opetaia (Australia)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Mairis Breidis (Latvia)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Lawrence Okolie (England)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Richard Riakporhe (England)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Aleksei Papin (Russia)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Badou Jack (Sweden)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Chris Billam-Smith (England)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Arsen Goulamirian (France)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Yuniel Dorticos (Cuba)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Mateusz Masternak (Poland)
Unlimited
1Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Tyson Fury (England)
2Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Oleksandr Usyk (Ukraine)
3Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Zhilei Zhang (China)
4Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Deontay Wilder (USA)
5Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Anthony Joshua (England)
6Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Andy Ruiz (USA)
7Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Filip Hrgovic (Croatia)
8Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Joe Joyce (England)
9Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Dillian Whyte (England)
10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Frank Sanchez (Cuba)
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