May 19, 20194 min read

Sunday Thoughts…

Each Sunday I’ll be offering my selected thoughts on the best of the weekend’s action for SimBoxx, and what better weekend than this one to begin with, from the World Boxing Super Series to Deontay Wilder v Dominic Breazeale in the early hours of Sunday morning

Deontay Wilder KO’s Dominic Breazeale in Round 1

There’s no better place to start than the explosive, one round demolition job provided by the dynamite fisted WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (41-0-1) as he blasted out mandatory challenger Dominic Breazeale (20-2).

It really tells you all you need to know when the extravagant ring entrance of the ‘Bronze Bomber’ accumulated more time than it took for him to emphatically dispose of his bitter rival, just over two minutes into the opening stanza, a lazy left hook lead from Breazeale was ruthlessly countered by Wilder with a mammoth right hand that upon detonation removed Breazeale from his senses, why the ref chose to administer the 10 count rather than immediately waving the contest off only he’ll know.

Post fight the now near incessant outcry for an undisputed fight between Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua was quickly the hot topic amongst boxing fans and pundits alike, it simply has to be made next.

For now, Wilder can enjoy the adulation another highlight reel worthy stoppage will undoubtedly bring but eventually that will subside and the demand for a super fight for all the marbles will again be high on the agenda.

Gary Russell Jr TKO win against Kiko Martinez round 6

You’d be forgiven for allowing Gary Russell Jr (29-1)to slip from your recent boxing memory, the WBC featherweight kingpin has been notoriously inactive yet was still many levels above the experienced, yet over matched Kiko Martinez (39-9-2).

Martinez, the European champion, has been around the block, more than once but this very well could be the end of the road for him, Russell Jr didn’t ever get out of second gear en route to pummelling his foe into defeat, the ring doctor advising the ref to call a bolt to the contest in the sixth round due to a horror cut above the left eye of the Spanish challenger.

A message emblazoned on Russell Jr’s post fight attire called for a future bout with Leo Santa Cruz, whilst he also discussed plans to possibly move up in weight for a future grudge match with Gervonta Davis.

Naoya Inoue TKO win against Emanuel Rodriguez round 2

‘The Monster’ Naoya Inoue (18-0) had been instilled as the odds on favourite to win the Bantamweight version of the WBSS since he was announced as a participant, a one round blow out of Juan Carlos Payano in the quarter finals justified the hype surrounding the feared warrior, yet his semi final opponent, IBF Bantamweight Champion Emanuel Rodriguez (19-1) was expected to pose to more serious threat to the multi-weight ruling, Japanese superstar, that anticipated threat surmounted to less than two rounds, Inoue caught Rodriguez with a huge left hook counter that left the Colombian’s facial features a bloody mess, beating the count was admirable from the champ but it was ill advised somewhat as a sickening body shot dropped him heavily, once more he rose to beat the officials count but he would offer no more brave resistance to the cataclysmic power of Inoue, who landed more fierce shots to finally bring a merciful end to proceedings.

Nonito Donaire, the legendary Philippine boxing icon, awaits Inoue in the Super Series finale.

Josh Taylor wins UD against Ivan Baranchyk

The build up to Saturday’s colossal, World Boxing Super Series double header was one of sheer excitement and after Inoue’s formidable power punching ability earned him the IBF bantamweight, the latest darling of Scottish boxing, Josh Taylor attempted to write his own place in Scotlands boxing folklore as he fought the rugged, unbeaten Ivan Baranchyk for the Miami based, Belarusian’s IBF super lightweight title.

What followed was a gruelling twelve round brawl that allowed both combatants to display they’re impeccable conditioning throughout, an even beginning really caught fire in the sixth as the hometown favourite scored two pivotal knockdowns that swung the momentum of the bout in his favour and from there the ‘Tartan Tornado’ built an insurmountable lead that Baranchyk couldn’t claw back, whilst not completely outclassed Baranchyk was clearly behind on the cards and failed to land a much needed KO blow in the final round as he lost his ‘0’ and also his world title, in the end it was unanimous as Josh Taylor basked in the joy of hearing those three famous words ‘And The New’.

Taylor now progresses to the WBSS final to meet another world champion yet to taste in the form of American, Regis Prograis (24-0). It’s a highly anticipated match up between two young, hungry world champions looking to establish their dominance in the 140lbs division.