Boxing

[H2O Man]

Title fight: Artur Beterbiev vs. Anthony Yarde, 12 rounds, for Beterbiev's WBC, WBO and IBF light heavyweight titles.

This fight is being held in London, and can be viewed today (Jan 28) on ESPN+ at 3pm/est. The rest of the card includes some good fights, but the boxing community is focused on the main event. On paper, it is the type of fight that appeals to a wider group of sports fans, as it pits two very good boxer-punchers that will almost certainly end in a brutal knockout.

Now, let's take a look at both of these guys. If we again went by "on paper," both win almost all of their fights by knockout. Yet they are not just sluggers with limited boxing skills. Both men know how to set an opponent up to land hard punches. Both are patient, and wear the opponent down over a number of rounds. Both tend to set the pace in their fights.

Yarde, 31, is at 6 foot a half-inch taller. His record is 23 - 1, with 22 knockouts. He was stopped by light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev in 2019 in the tenth roundm and lost a split-decision to undefeated Lyndon Arthur. Two fights later, Yarde avenged that disputed loss by knocking Arthur out, thus winning two minor titles.

I think that Yarde will attempt to out-box Beterbiev, but it is his nature to try to inflict damage with combinations thrown with bursts of speed. It's interesting that Beterbiev fights a lot like Sergey Kovalev did. We see that Yarde learned from his first Arthur fight, raising the obvious question of what he learned in the Kovalev fight?

It's also fair to ask that, no matter how smart any current light heavyweight is, could it change the outcome of a fight against Beterbiev? The 38-year old champion's record is 18 - 0, with 18 knockouts. More, at 38, he appears to be in his prime. A growing number of members of the boxing community are comparing him to the great Rocky Marciano. The two are/were about the same size, and wear opponents down with their great physical strength. Both are the definition of relentless in the ring. Both overcame cuts that would normally end a fight, to score knockouts.

In my opinion, Beterbiev has better defensive skills than Rocky had. Both have shown they know how to set opponents with a variety of styles up for their most powerful punches. But the defensive skills that Beterbiev has shown result in his taking less punishment than Rocky. A huge factor will be how each responds to taking a punch that hurts them this afternoon.

Now, this fight could end in the first round. Or it could be similar to Foreman vs Lyle, one of the sport's greatest toe-to-toe fights. While it is possible that it goes to the decision, I don't think that is likely. If I were to speculate, I'd favor Beterbiev between rounds six to eight

[Ferrets are Cool]

1. Boxing...

is a barbaric "sport". Just wanted to finish your OP thought.

Sorry, me.

[H2O Man]

2. Oh, it often is!

One of my sons and one of my daughters keeps telling me they want to compete again. I'm 100% against it. One of my cousins, James, used to be the head of neurology at Temple. He and I discussed the severity of my late brother's brain injuries -- and he had won most of his fights.

On another internet forum, I posted three pictures of one of my boy's last fights. I felt bad for the guy he knocked out. It was a vicious fight. And I remember people in the crowd literally yelling, "Kill him!" But my son let the referee save his helpless opponent. Having had a friend die in the ring 50 years ago, I recognize that it can be a barbaric, unforgiving sport.

[Ferrets are Cool]

3. It is refreshing to hear that you acknowledge this.

[H2O Man]

4. My son frequently

invites me to go with him to the fights. I won't go, though it is largely because I am repulsed by the crowds that believe they are entitled to extreme violence because they bought a ticket. Also, a few years back, I watched a friend (and aging former three-time champion) get hurt by an opponent who then tested positive for three banned substances. My son & I could tell the guy was jacked on illegal substances by the third round. My friend ended up being taken out on a stretcher. My son and I left the arena at the same time as my friend's wife and little boys. That did it for me, pretty much.

My son has won three NYS Golden Gloves titles -- light heavyweight, cruiserweight, and heavyweight. I tell him to be satisfied with that. He & his lady have an infant son now, and he needs to focus on that. He still trains here -- during covid, he turned several rooms in my house into a gym -- and that gives me time with my grandson. But I'll never train another fighter.

I sometimes have mixed feelings about even watching the sport on television. My other brother refuses to any more. But I admit that I do watch, with interest.

[True Dough]

5. Agree with your pick

I am definitely favoring Beterbiev. He's more of a complete boxer, IMO. As you mentioned, his style could give Yarde problems, unless Yarde has made some major adjustments.

I don't know Beterbiev's history that well. I'm assuming he got into the game late because only 18 fights at age 38 is uncommon for a champion?

[H2O Man]

6. He was an outstanding amateur.

Top level of international fighters. I'll say I find that impressive -- competing in the Olympics, etc -- because he really doesn't have the style to reach that level in three 3-minute rounds. The guy is made for the professional fights. I haven't watched film of Betervies at the amateur level, but I'll speculate his punching power decided a lot of those fights!

Since turning pro, he has obviously been outstanding. Some people wonder if he showed that he is slowing down. I think that this was a tough fight against a serious opponent. In my opinion, it would have taken one of the great light heavyweights to beat him. There were greater champions at that weight, but he'd have presented problems for any of them.

Yarde actually fought one of his very best fights. He lost, but he fought well. It's just that Beterbiev set a fast pace, and landed some hard body shots. Yarde tired out, but was still fighting back.

[True Dough]

7. So this ought to

set up Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol, right? That's the biggest match-up left in the division, but those fights don't always get made for a variety of reasons. I hope this one does!

If so, who's your pick? It's a darn tough call. I think I'd lean toward Bivol prevailing.

[H2O Man]

8. It should get made.

There has been a serious build-up for this, definitely the two very best at that weight. And a classic difference in styles. Couldn't ask for a better fight at light heavyweight.

It could happen this year, if the various commissions don't throw in road blocks. Beterbiec's clear for the rest of this year, but it is possible Bivol has a mandatory defense in May, and if Canelo opts to enforce the return bout claus, that is possible in September. That would push it back to early 2024. I don't think Canelo would be wise to demand a rematch, but he is fighting for money.

In what would be the best light heavyweight fight in a while, I think a good case can be made for both men. I've read a few reporters saying Bivol would be favored. He's ranked just above ESPN's top ten P4P. And after today's fight ended, my son said he thinks Bivol will win.

Yarde was ahead on two of the three judges' cards when the fight ended. I have no problem with that. I thought it was close on the score cards, and respect Yarde's corner for signaling the referee to stop the fight. I can see how this fight would create a solid game plan for Bivol. But at the same time, I liked what Beterbiev was doing today. In my opinion, of the times he went backwards, there was only one where I thought he had gotten clipped. I've seen him do this to draw an opponent in, let them throw punches, then really open up.

For me to pick one at this point would require me to focus more attention on both of their jabs in the next few days. I think a fight like this could be decided by who is able to use their jab best.

Time for me to contact my brother out west. It was on this date that he & I sat ringside for Frazier vs Ali 2. We've talked about it every year on this date since.