The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas, NV, May 21
TV: Showtime
By Peter Lim
In this intriguing matchup, the still peaking Charlo (23-0, 18 KOs) is the unknown entity while we have already seen the best of Trout (30-2, 17 KOs), what he can and cannot do. Nevertheless, Trout represents the stiffest test to date of Charlo's career and the first southpaw he will face as a professional.
Each fighter has attributes that play well against the other. Charlo, 25, is taller and broader framed and knows how to use his
size while Trout, 30, is a slick stylist adept at utilizing the every square inch of the ring. Trout might have a slight edge in speed but Charlo has superior power and punches with pinpoint accuracy. Trout has fought a better caliber of opponents by far but Charlo has, as his stablemate and confidante, Erislandy Lara, who dropped and soundly defeated Trout in 2013.
Trout's stick-and-move strategy proves problematic for Charlo in the early rounds, but Charlo gradually gets his timing down and neutralizes Trout's speed and rhythm with jolting straight punches from long range. By the midway point in the fight, Charlo is in full control of the action and never let's Trout back into the fight. A straight right-left hook combo drops Trout in the ninth round and Charlo subsequently unloads his entire arsenal on Trout, prompting either the referee or Trout's corner to intervene and spare him from further punishment.
Afterthoughts:
A good litmus test for Charlo against his first southpaw who fought his heart out. Trout's style will always be a troublesome albeit unexciting regardless of who he faces.
Saturday, May 14, 2016
Jermell Charlo vs. John Jackson
The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas, NV, May 21
TV: Showtime
By Peter Lim
The only way Jackson (20-2, 15 KOs) wins this fight is if he manages to catch Charlo napping. Charlo (27-0, 12 KOs) has the superior skill set and has been consistent throughout his career, defeating quality opponents the likes of Vanes Martirosyan and Demitrius Hopkins. Jackson, as his 75 percent knockout rate suggests, packs some pop in his punch but he has faltered against B-minus and above opponents. Jackson also appears to have become a tad gun shy since he was knocked unconscious by Andy Lee in 2014.
Charlo, 25, masterfully outboxes Jackson, 27, from the outset working behind his stinging jab to set up fluid combinations upstairs and down. By the middle rounds, a visibly frustrated Jackson begins loading up on Hail Marys but Charlo denies him the openings while sidestepping and countering his charges. Charlo's steady connect rate eventually takes a cumulative toll on Jackson, causing him to retire on his stool after the tenth round.
With the victory, Charlo makes boxing history, alongside his brother Jermall, by becoming the first twins to hold world titles concurrently in the same division.
Afterthoughts:
Nobody in their wildest dreams would have expected Jackson to get on his bicycle and box. But he was winning the fight doing it until he got caught. He might have inherited his dad's iron fist but he also inherited his glass chin.
TV: Showtime
By Peter Lim
The only way Jackson (20-2, 15 KOs) wins this fight is if he manages to catch Charlo napping. Charlo (27-0, 12 KOs) has the superior skill set and has been consistent throughout his career, defeating quality opponents the likes of Vanes Martirosyan and Demitrius Hopkins. Jackson, as his 75 percent knockout rate suggests, packs some pop in his punch but he has faltered against B-minus and above opponents. Jackson also appears to have become a tad gun shy since he was knocked unconscious by Andy Lee in 2014.
Charlo, 25, masterfully outboxes Jackson, 27, from the outset working behind his stinging jab to set up fluid combinations upstairs and down. By the middle rounds, a visibly frustrated Jackson begins loading up on Hail Marys but Charlo denies him the openings while sidestepping and countering his charges. Charlo's steady connect rate eventually takes a cumulative toll on Jackson, causing him to retire on his stool after the tenth round.
With the victory, Charlo makes boxing history, alongside his brother Jermall, by becoming the first twins to hold world titles concurrently in the same division.
Afterthoughts:
Nobody in their wildest dreams would have expected Jackson to get on his bicycle and box. But he was winning the fight doing it until he got caught. He might have inherited his dad's iron fist but he also inherited his glass chin.
Erislandy Lara vs. Vanes Martirosyan
The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas, May 21
TV: Showtime
By Peter Lim
Lara (22-2-2, 13 KOs) and Martirosyan (36-2-1, 21 KOs) engaged in a seesaw battle in 2012 which ended in a ninth-round technical draw after Martirosyan was cut by an unintentional headbutt. Lara had the edge when it was a chess match but Martirosyan got the better of the exchanges when he turned up the pressure.
Four years after their initial encounter, both fighters are still dead-evenly matched, and the rematch will play out much like the first fight. At different stages of the fight, Lara, 33, out-maneuvers Martirosyan but Martirosyan, 30, delivers the harder shots, particularly with the straight right to the body, when he presses the action.
After the final bell, sportscasters, press row and fans alike are divided 50/50 as to who is the victor. The scorecards are announced as 115-113, 115-113 and 113-115, a split decision win for ...
Lara.
Afterthoughts:
I thought Martirosyan deserved a draw at the very least. Were the judges not scoring his body punches?
TV: Showtime
By Peter Lim
Lara (22-2-2, 13 KOs) and Martirosyan (36-2-1, 21 KOs) engaged in a seesaw battle in 2012 which ended in a ninth-round technical draw after Martirosyan was cut by an unintentional headbutt. Lara had the edge when it was a chess match but Martirosyan got the better of the exchanges when he turned up the pressure.
Four years after their initial encounter, both fighters are still dead-evenly matched, and the rematch will play out much like the first fight. At different stages of the fight, Lara, 33, out-maneuvers Martirosyan but Martirosyan, 30, delivers the harder shots, particularly with the straight right to the body, when he presses the action.
After the final bell, sportscasters, press row and fans alike are divided 50/50 as to who is the victor. The scorecards are announced as 115-113, 115-113 and 113-115, a split decision win for ...
Lara.
Afterthoughts:
I thought Martirosyan deserved a draw at the very least. Were the judges not scoring his body punches?
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Saul "Canelo" Alvarez vs. Amir Khan
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, May 7
TV: HBO Pay-Per-View
By Peter Lim
Size will be the key determining factor in this bout. If Danny Garcia could get past Khan's speed and impose his will on him at 140, imagine what Alvarez, a bigger, slicker version of Garcia, can do to him at 155.
In their heydays, defensively flawed fighters like Mohammad Ali and Roy Jones Jr. got away with their imperfections thanks to their blinding speed and exceptional talent. Khan might be speedy, talented and defensively flawed but he lacks Ali's chin and Jones' reflexes to repeat their success.
Khan (31-3, 19 KOs) dominates the first couple of rounds with his fast hands but lacks the punching power to discourage Alvarez from pressing the action. Alvarez (46-1, 32 KOs) finds openings for sharp counters as he gradually begins to figure Khan out and rattles him each time he lands a clean shot. By the middle rounds, Alvarez's consistent body punches diminishes enough of Khan's movement for Alvarez to effortlessly close the distance and drop Khan several times en route to a sixth round TKO.
Afterthoughts:
Both guys were class acts in victory and defeat.
Canelo showed such poise in and out of the ring that he looked like a product of a bunch of evil genius scientists getting together one day to genetically engineer the quintessential complete fighter mentally and physically.
TV: HBO Pay-Per-View
By Peter Lim
Size will be the key determining factor in this bout. If Danny Garcia could get past Khan's speed and impose his will on him at 140, imagine what Alvarez, a bigger, slicker version of Garcia, can do to him at 155.
In their heydays, defensively flawed fighters like Mohammad Ali and Roy Jones Jr. got away with their imperfections thanks to their blinding speed and exceptional talent. Khan might be speedy, talented and defensively flawed but he lacks Ali's chin and Jones' reflexes to repeat their success.
Khan (31-3, 19 KOs) dominates the first couple of rounds with his fast hands but lacks the punching power to discourage Alvarez from pressing the action. Alvarez (46-1, 32 KOs) finds openings for sharp counters as he gradually begins to figure Khan out and rattles him each time he lands a clean shot. By the middle rounds, Alvarez's consistent body punches diminishes enough of Khan's movement for Alvarez to effortlessly close the distance and drop Khan several times en route to a sixth round TKO.
Afterthoughts:
Both guys were class acts in victory and defeat.
Canelo showed such poise in and out of the ring that he looked like a product of a bunch of evil genius scientists getting together one day to genetically engineer the quintessential complete fighter mentally and physically.
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