Regis Prograis vs. Jose Zepeda

Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, CA, Nov. 26

TV: FIte TV Pay-Per-View

By Peter Lim

Prograis versus Zepeda not only lives up to but exceeds its hype and expectations. All the thrills, spills, action and drama from Prograis-Taylor and Zepeda-Baranchyk are reproduced in this encounter.

Dispensing with any form of feeling-out process, both southpaws tear into each other from the opening bell. The better technician of the two, Prograis is usually the first to connect in the exchanges but Zepeda returns fire with a vengeance to drive Prograis back and force him to reset.

Both men score multiple knockdowns throughout the fight but both have the punch resistance and durability to recover and battle on. Getting dropped only seems to strengthen Zepeda's resolve as he comes storming back after rising to his feet each time. When hurt, Prograis has the poise and wherewithal to stick, move and stay out of trouble long enough to shake off the buzz.  

While Zepeda spends most of the night headhunting, Prograis mixes his attacks upstairs and down. The body shots prove significant down the stretch as Zepeda begins to lose some steam in the later rounds, allowing Prograis to pull ahead. Prograis sends Zepeda to the canvas in the final round but, as usual, Zepeda makes it to his feet and finishes the fight in attack mode.

The final knockdown proves decisive as Prograis wins by close but unanimous decision to begin his second reign as a 140-pound titleholder.   

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin III

T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV, Sept. 17

TV: DAZN Pay-Per-View

By Peter Lim

Golovkin quickly establishes his jab allowing him to dictate the tempo and action in the early rounds. When Canelo closes the distance, Golovkin steals a page from Dimitri Bivol's playbook, keeps his gloves high, chin tucked and waits for Canelo to open fire before counter punching the vaunted counter puncher.

But as Golovkin picks up forward momentum, his jab output decreases in lieu of more power punches some of which are met with accurate counters from Canelo. While Golovkin appears to be the harder puncher, Canelo is landing the cleaner blows in the exchanges.

Somewhere around the midway point of the fight, Golovkin misses a right hand and Canelo immediately responds by sinking a left hook into Golovkin's flank while Golovkin is overextended. The well-placed, perfectly-timed body shot folds Golovkin at the waist but he manages to stay on his feet and force a prolonged clinch, denying Canelo a follow-up assault. He makes it to the end of the round on survival mode.

It is the wake-up call Golovkin needs to return to his original game plan. He reestablishes his jab to keep Canelo at bay for the next couple of rounds as he shakes of the debilitating effects of the liver shot. Canelo presses the action and finds a measure of success with his own jab but is kept out of range for another devastating body punch.

Golovkin gradually finds his second wind, keeps the jab in Canelo's face and forces Canelo to fight on his terms. This time around, he remains disciplined and refrains from any reckless attacks. For the first time in three fights, Golovkin goes to the body with regularity and steps aside before Canelo can return fire. Canelo doggedly presses forward with sporadic success but Golovkin stubbornly refuses to fight his fight and continues to jolt Canelo with his stiff jab until the final bell is rung.

But once again, at the end of 12 rounds Golovkin is denied the victory he deserves by the cinnamon-centric judges who inexplicable score the fight for Canelo by split decision.

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez vs. Dmitry Bivol

 T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV, May 9 2022

TV: DAZN Pay-per-view

By Peter Lim

In a stunning shoo-in for Upset of the Year and leading candidate for Fight of the Year, Bivol wins a close but unanimous decision over Alvarez in a back-and-forth contest that alternates between strategic chess match and scintillating brawl. Both fighters are forced to dig deep into their brain and brawn to produce a pugilistic classic reminiscent of Duran-Leonard I in 1980.

Utilizing his size and speed, Bivol dictates the distance and tempo in the early stages with his signature fluid combinations of jabs and straight rights while bouncing in and out of range with springy footwork. But Alvarez gradually figures out his rhythm and timing and begins setting traps in which he walks the bigger man into vicious volleys of counter punches upstairs and down.

Just when it appears Alvarez has seized the momentum, it is Bivol's turn to make mid-fight adjustments to his game plan throwing Alvarez off by feinting before punching, allowing him to resume his early success from long range. More significantly, the Russian introduces the clean-up left hook to punctuate each combination, again forcing Alvarez to reconfigure his strategy. 

Alvarez shifts into overdrive in the final quarter of the bout, applying suffocating pressure, taking the fight into the phone booth and relentlessly ripping away to the head and body with both fists. But he soon discovers that, at light heavyweight, his punches don't pack the same devastating effect against his previous smaller-framed opponents. Bivol proves sufficiently sturdy and competent in the trenches as he holds his ground, doggedly returns fire and refuses to let Alvarez impose his will.

As spirited as Alvarez's late surge is, it falls a tad short of overcoming the early deficit and Bivol is declared the victor by scores of 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113.

Jermall Charlo vs. Juan Macias Montiel

Toyota Center, Houston, TX, July 19

TV: Showtime

By Peter Lim 

Charlo Trainer Ronnie Shields devises a game plan that ensures Charlo does not take any unnecessary risks against a dangerous puncher like Montiel. After a round or two of feeling out the Mexican, the home-grown fighter begins methodically and surgically breaking Montiel down by sharpshooting jabs followed by combinations and stepping away before Montiel can return fire. 

Try as he might, Montiel is consistently beaten to the punch and is simply unable to unleash his fearsome arsenal against the slicker and better-educated Charlo. Flustered and desperate, he becomes an increasingly easier target for Charlo's shots. Midway through the fifth round, Charlo unleashes a double jab followed by a fight uppercut that sends Montiel to the canvass for the full count. 

Leo Santa Cruz vs. Gervonta Davis

 The Alamodome, San Antonio, TX, Oct. 31

TV: Showtime PPV

By Peter Lim

Even more intriguing than a title unification bout is a contest for two separate titles in two separate weight divisions. In this case, it is for Santa Cruz's 130-pound and Davis' 135-pound belt, both from the same alphabet organization.

Santa Cruz and Davis are relatively evenly-matched in hand-and-foot speed, ring generalship, defense and punch resistance. Santa Cruz's longer reach is significant on paper but he typically does not exploit that advantage with his in-your-face style. "El Terremoto" also has a slight edge in big-fight experience and versatility, and more than a slight edge in machine gun-like volume punching.

But Davis has a huge edge in punching power and that will ultimately tip the balance in this showdown. As his nickname suggests, he is built like a tank and is as explosively as one. Freakishly compact and strong, the Baltimore southpaw possesses a cannon in his left and a bazooka in his right.    

Santa Cruz has success in the early rounds with his signature rapid-fire flurries upstairs and down that force Davis to continually reset while shielding himself effectively from anything Davis can muster in return. But Davis gets in a direct hit with one of his left-handed bombs in the fifth round that rocks Santa Cruz's world like never before. The writing is on the wall.

Santa Cruz's Mexican DNA will not allow him to step back to re-strategize and re-energize and he persists in pressing the action. Davis willingly engages Santa Cruz up close and personal knowing he can hurt Santa Cruz with one well-placed shot more than Santa Cruz can hurt him with three. Timing Santa Cruz's charges with equal parts precision and power, Davis drops the outgunned but doggedly determined Californian in the eighth, tenth and eleventh rounds to win a unanimous decision in the 117-108 to 115-110 range.  

Vasyl Lomachencko vs. Teofimo Lopez

 MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV, Oct. 17

TV: ESPN

By Peter Lim

The outcome of this showdown ultimately boils down to which fighter can make the better adaptions and adjustments as the fight progresses. The obvious answer to that is Lomachencko. But he has to do it to perfection since Lopez has the propensity to end the fight with a single punch - one bad mistake and it might be lights out for the Ukrainian. Lopez, on the other hand, can afford to take bigger risks to test the waters since Lomachenko doesn't pack the knockout power he possessed at leaner territories. The Brooklynite has more room to explore and experiment to find that one fight-changing or fight-ending opening, even if it means of taking a bunch of punches and giving away rounds in the process.

The fight starts off predictably with Lomachenko deploying his superior speed and skill set to  dictate the action and land the higher volume of punches. With deft footwork, he fluidly glides in and out, peppering Lopez with combinations from every angle upstairs and down while sneaking out the side door before the bigger man can return fire. 

But Lopez gradually figures out that if he simply keeps his feet firmly planted and doesn't back off, he can inflict more hurt on Lomachencko with a single well-placed counter than Lomachencko can inflict on him with a multitude of rapid-fire shots. Midway through the sixth round, Lopez deliberately absorbs a flurry before exploding with a right cross-left hook combination that sends Lomachencko crashing heavily to the canvass. Lomachenko beats the count on spaghetti legs and survives the round by strategically circling and clinching.

Shaking off the cobwebs from his head, Lomachenko gives away the middle rounds by fighting on survival mode while, at the same time, re-sizing up his longer, stronger opponent. It is his turn to adapt and adjust and he does just that. Instead of shoe-shining Lopez with pity-patty shots, he begins sitting down on his punches, concentrating on quality rather than quantity. He potshots Lopez with right jabs and lead lefts from the outside and limits his combinations to two or three solid punches to stop the bigger man in his tracks and force him to continually reset.

Befuddled by Lomachenko's change of strategy, the inexperienced Lopez becomes increasingly frustrated and desperate. Aware that he is down on the scorecards, he taunts and challenges Lomachenko to engage in a shootout the championship rounds. But Lomachenko refuses to take the bait and cruises to a close but unanimous decision in the 115-112 range. A unified and undisputed 135-pound champion is crowned for the first time since the late great Pernell Whitaker consolidated all the belts 30 years ago.

Charlo vs. Derevyanchenko, Charlo vs. Rosario

Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, CT, Sept. 26

TV: Showtime PPV

By Peter Lim 

Jermall Charlo vs. Sergei Derevyanchenko

Derevyanchenko is once again struck by the first-round-knockdown curse that likely cost him dearly against Danny Jacobs and Gennady Golovkin. This time, it comes courtesy of Charlo's jolting jab that catches him flush as he tries to press the action in the opening round. It is a flash knockdown that he is able to shake off without much ado, but a legitimate knockdown nonetheless.

The tough and crafty Ukrainian comes back robustly, as he did against Jacobs and Golovkin, and forces Charlo to dig deep into his skill set and mettle for the remainder of the fight. He boxes Charlo on even terms on the outside and viciously works the body when the action gets up close and personal. Following the instructions of trainer Ronnie Shields, Charlo reestablishes his stiff jab he fires in doubles and triples which allows him to control the action in the championship rounds.   

At the end of the fight, Charlo is declared the winner by three identical scores of 114-113. Had Derevyanchenko remained on his feet in the opening stanza, the fight would've been a unanimous draw.

Jermell Charlo vs. Jeison Rosario

After a round or two of feeling each other out, the disparity in experience and skill set between the two becomes painfully obvious. Charlo dominates the action behind an accurate jab he deploys to set up fluid textbook combinations with both fists. The writing is on the wall and a stoppage appears imminent.

But Charlo, still stung by the robbery he suffered against Tony Harrison, becomes overly eager to moot the judges' scorecards and begins loading up on his punches in the middle rounds. This allows Rosario to counter punch his way back into the fight.

It takes a few rounds for trainer Derrick James to calm Charlo down and reroute him back onto the path of brain rather than bravado and the strategy quickly begins to pay dividends. Charlo's superior ring education takes over and he lands a left hook-straight right combo that drops Rosario in the eighth round. Rosario beats the count on spaghetti legs but Charlo's follow-up assault leads to two subsequent knockdowns prompting the referee to intervene, making Charlo a triple belt-holder at 154. 

Jermell Charlo vs. Tony Harrison II

Toyota Arena, Ontario, CA, Dec. 21
TV: Fox Sports
By Peter Lim

Charlo won the first encounter in most observers' eyes but was robbed by the judges. Still, he allowed Harrison to have sufficient success to leave enough room for doubt to mute the public outrage. The main adjustment Charlo makes in the rematch is letting his punches go in fluid combinations instead of loading up on power punches as he did in the first fight.

But Harrison too will come in with a markedly different game plan. At the back of his mind he probably knows he was lucky to get away with the win in the first fight so he has reinvented himself for the rematch. Expect him to try and frustrate Charlo by moving, counter punching and clinching when the going gets tough.

Punch resistance will ultimately determine the outcome of the fight. In his two losses, Harrison crumpled the minute he got nailed by a direct hit. It might take Charlo a while to get there but he eventually does. A left-right-left hook combo drops Harrison to the canvass in the eighth round. He beats the count on spaghetti legs and Charlo’s follow-up assault sends him careening around the ring prompting his corner to intervene with the towel toss.

Andy Ruiz Jr. vs. Anthony Joshua II

Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 7
TV: DAZN
By Peter Lim

Ruiz tipped the scales at a whopping 283 pounds, 15 pounds heavier than he did in the the first encounter six months ago. It's safe to say Ruiz did not put on muscle. Joshua, on the other hand, came in at 237, 10 pounds lighter than he was in the first fight.

Granted, boxing is not a body building contest and the more sculpted fighter does not always come out on top. But this is the heaviest Ruiz has weighed in over eight years and a good 20-30 pounds over what he has weighed in his best outings. It is a patent giveaway that he under-trained and over-ate in the weeks leading up to the rematch.

The fight unfolds the way most people predicted for the first encounter. Joshua beats Ruiz to the punch with his long thudding jab and gradually finds the range for his power punches. The flabbier, slower Ruiz is a split second off the trigger to do what worked for him in the first fight - counter punch in bunches.

A sense of deja vu fills the air when Joshua drops Ruiz heavily in the fourth round. But instead of going in for the kill with reckless abandon, Joshua remains guarded and tactically measures Ruiz with jabs before unloading the heavier artillery. The gambit works to perfection as he drops Ruiz twice more prompting the referee to step in and call a halt to the one-sided affair.

Jermall Charlo vs. Dennis Hogan

Barclay's Center, Brookly, NY, Dec. 7
TV: Showtime
By Peter Lim

Hogan earned this title shot with a spirited effort against Jaime Munguia at 154 pounds in April in Mexico. Hogan appeared to do enough to win the fight but the decision went Munguia's way via majority decision. Against Charlo, he faces a full-fledged middleweight with better defense, possesses a more multi-dimensional skill set and has equal if not more punching power than Munguia.

While Munguia's brawling style negates his height and reach advantage, Charlo fully utilizes his 6-foot-1 frame. With Hogan standing at just 5-foot-8, Charlo will have an ample size advantage.

Charlo seizes control of the fight as soon as he establishes his long, piston-like jab. Controlling distance and tempo, Charlo gradually breaks down the determined but outgunned Irishman with his arsenal of artillery. A one-two drops Hogan at the end of the seventh round and his corner refuses to let him answer the bell for the eighth.

Regis Prograis vs. Josh Taylor

02 Arena, London England, Oct. 26
TV: DAZN
By Peter Lim

This highly-anticipated showdown between two undefeated world titleholders, both southpaws, quickly erupts into an action-packed, see-saw firefight that lives up to its expectations.

Prograis opts to skip any semblance of a feeling out process and aggressively tears into Taylor from the opening bell forcing the Scotsman into defensive mode. But Taylor soon settles down and begins utilizing his superior reach finding a home for his signature right hooks to the head and body. It is Prograis’ turn to adapt and adjust, and he does so by activating his underrated boxing skill set. Most significantly, he neutralizes Taylor’s right hook by dipping and countering with hooks of his own.

The fight quickly evolves into a suspenseful and scintillating shootout with both fighters trading on relatively even terms from range and up close and personal. But Prograis’ edge in power takes more of a cumulative toll on Taylor as the fight progresses. Taylor begins to fade in the later rounds while Prograis remains as fresh and energetic as he was in the early goings.

Aware he is behind on the scorecards, Taylor courageously attempts to rally in the final round and lets his fists fly with reckless abandon. But Prograis remains composed, meets the assault head on and drops Taylor with a well-timed left cross to seal a close but clear cut decision victory in the 115-112 to 116-111 range.

Errol Spence Jr. vs. Shawn Porter

Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA, 

TV: Fox PPV

By Peter Lim

The vast disparity in finesse between Spence and Porter will be glaringly exposed as soon as Spence establishes his versatile southpaw jab. He utilizes it defensively to keep Porter at bay and offensively to set up powerful left crosses and body shots.

Dictating the tempo of the fight, Spence dominates the action from a distance and, when it pleases him, he engages his shorter, stockier opponent up close and personal. Porter manages to find sporadic moments of success when he forces Spence into the trenches and bullies him with short punches and roughhouse tactics. But those moments become fewer and further between as the fight progresses. Spence simply refuses to let Porter turn the fight into a prolonged prison brawl and continues spearing Porter with the jab while delivering calculated punishment upstairs and down.

By the sixth round, Porter’s face begins to show the effects of the brutal bludgeoning he has absorbed all night. He valiantly continues to try and turn the tide but the writing’s on the wall. Busted up, bruised and bloodied, Porter bravely and adamantly wants to fight on but his corner mercifully pulls the plug at the end of the ninth round.

What was anticipated to be an elite encounter between two elite fighters in arguably the most elite division in the sport today turns out to be a style mismatch.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Keith Thurman

MGM Casino, Las Vegas, NV, July 20
TV: Fox PPV
By Peter Lim

It becomes abundantly clear early in the fight that Thurman has shaken off the 22-months of ring rust that impeded him in his last fight. He takes the fight to Pacquiao from the outset forcing the older man to engage in some action-packed exchanges. Pacquiao holds his own as Thurman brings on the heat but is visibly uncomfortable fighting on Thurman’s terms.

Pacquiao makes the right adjustment in the middle rounds by going after Thurman’s Achilles Heel by zeroing in on Thurman’s liver and it quickly begins to pay dividends. He blasts his southpaw left into the right side of Thurman’s ribcage every chance he gets, sometimes at the cost of absorbing vicious punches to do so. The body shots have taken its toll by the eighth round and Thurman begins to lose the spring in his step and the pop in his punch. 

Another left to the body sinks Thurman to a knee in the tenth round, and a stoppage seems imminent. But Pacquiao cannot finish off his injured opponent, just as he was unable to close the show against Adrien Bronner and Jeff Horn after he hurt them. He wins the championship rounds comfortably but doesn’t come close to stopping Thurman.

With Thurman winning most of the early rounds and Pacquiao most of the later rounds, the knockdown proves crucial in the verdict. Pacquiao is declared the winner in the 114-113 to 115-112 range.    

Jermall Charlo vs. Brandon Adams

NRG Arena, Houston, TX, June 29
TV: Showtime
By Peter Lim

Facing a much bigger man, Adams (21-2, 13 KOs) deploys a circle and ambush game plan, making Charlo stalk him across the ring, pouncing at opportune moments and moving out of punching range before Charlo can return fire. The strategy is moderately successful until Charlo finds the range and timing for his jab, arguable one of the best in the sport today, midway through the second round.

Charlo jolts and stops Adams in his tracks with the mule kick of a jab, effectively nullifying any offense Adams tries to mount. Charlo quickly finds openings for straight rights and left hooks for which Adams has no answer. In the third round Charlo steps in with a double jab followed by a straight right that drops Adams for the full count.

Jermell Charlo vs. Jorge Cota

Mandalay Bay Casino, Las Vegas, NV, June 23

TV: Fox

By Peter Lim

In the first round, Charlo demonstrates that he has the speed and ring IQ to box Cota's ears off all night. He snaps his jab, sidesteps Cota's charges and befuddles the Mexican with accurate counter punches.

But Charlo unexpectedly switches from boxer to brawler in the second and meets Cota head on. He beats the Mexican at his own game savagely ripping in punches to the head and body, like he's taking out his frustrations of missing the rematch with Tony Harrison on Cota.

Despite being outgunned, Cota remains in the pocket and trades with Charlo, knowing that his only chance of pulling off an upset is to land a lucky punch. Midway through the third, both fighters unleash left hooks simultaneously. Charlo's is shorter, sharper and more compact and it gets to Cota's jaw first, sending him crashing face first to the canvass for the full count.

Anthony Joshua vs. Andy Ruiz Jr.

Madison Square Garden, New York, June 1
TV: DAZN
By Peter Lim

Strange as it may seem, fat and chubby has the edge in hand speed over sculpted and muscular in this heavyweight match up. But that's just about the only advantage that Ruiz has against Joshua who is superior in size, power, skill set, defense and big fight experience.

After a shaky first round, Joshua establishes a rhythm to control the action from the second round onwards. Utilizing his bigger frame and longer reach, Joshua easily beats Ruiz to the punch as the Californian comes chugging forward aggressively but ineffectively. Joshua methodically shoots straight punches to the head before digging hooks to Ruiz's ample belly.

The accumulation of blows visibly takes its toll on Ruiz who begins fighting in retreat in the fourth allowing Joshua to turn up the heat and mercilessly pummel him upstairs and down from corner to corner. Desperate and depleted, Ruiz decides to go for broke and attacks with reckless abandon in the fifth round only to walk into a decapitating right uppercut that drops him for the full count.

Josh Taylor vs. Ivan Baranchyk

SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland, May 18
TV: DAZN
By Peter Lim

On paper, Taylor vs. Baranchyk looks to be a 50/50 matchup; Taylor has a slight edge in speed and Baranchyk a slight edge in power. But Taylor’s style will be more of a mystery to Baranchyk than vice versa and that will tip the balance of the fight.

Baranchyk's hard-charging right handed style is something Taylor has dealt with all his life. Taylor on the other hand, is not only a southpaw, but a southpaw who fires the right hook in doubles and triples upstairs and down. It will throw Baranchyk off and deny him the opportunity to establish any kind of momentum all night.

Taylor is faster on the trigger with his right jab, which sets up sharp combinations to the head and body from the outset. Baranchyk is befuddled by the incoming fire coming at him from angles and sequences he has never seen before, rendering him unable to connect with more than one punch at a time.

Baranchyk finds a measure of success in the middle rounds by fighting from a shell, catching Taylor's punches on his gloves and arms before returning fire. But Taylor quickly makes the right adjustments to avoid Baranchyk's most damaging shots, resumes dominating the exchanges and cruises to a clear-cut victory in the 117-111 to 118-110 range.   

Naoya Inoue vs. Emmanuel Rodriguez

SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland, May 18
TV: DAZN
By Peter Lim

The suspense and intrigue in this fight stems not from who will win but from how fast and how brutally the fight will conclude. Rodriguez might be a rugged talented and cagey fighter but Inoue’s devastating one-punch knockout power will negate anything Rodriguez brings to the table. The Japanese phenom has the capacity to end a fight with either hand from any angle to the head or body.

Rodriguez finds a measure of success by crowding and bullying Inoue with his superior size in the first two rounds. But that success is short lived. In the third round, Inoue delivers a crackling left hook to the liver that folds Rodriguez and sinks him to his knees. Rodriguez survives the round but never completely recovers from the debilitating body blow.

Rodriguez is reduced to fighting on survival mode with his elbows glued to his rib cage as Inoue continues to zero in on the torso in the fourth round. But just when it seems Inoue will stop his opponent with an accumulation of punches downstairs, he explodes with a one-two to the chin that sends Rodriguez down and out for the full count.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs. Danny Jacobs

T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV, May 4
TV: DAZN
By Peter Lim

Many fans and pundits have pegged Jacobs as past his prime based on his recent track record - two close struggles against obscure and unheralded fighters with difficult-to-pronounce names. But few realize that Sergiy Derevyanchenko and Maciej Sulecki are two talented and tough world-class fighters who have gone under the radar. Going 24 rounds with these two underratedEast European fighters has only sharpened Jacobs‘ skills and upped his game.

Still, Canelo is a notch above Derevyanchenko and Sulecki and leaps and bounds ahead in terms of championship-level experience. Arguably among the top-notch fighters in the world today, Canelo has faced a parade of fellow pound-for-pounders in his career, losing just once to a boxer named Mayweather. Love him or hate him, it’s undeniable that, at age 28, Canelo has already accomplished hall-of-fame credentials. Guess what? The guy might not have reached his peak yet.

Canelo and Jacobs engage in an evenly-contested chess match in the early rounds with both fighters trying to figure each other out. But Canelo begins putting his foot on the accelerometer in the fourth round and gradually gains control. Forcing Jacobs into retreat mode, Canelo mixes his attack to the head and body with equal ferocity. Jacobs manages to catch Canelo coming in with sharp one-twos but they ar too few and far between to stymie Canelo’s momentum.

Aware that he is behind on the scorecards, Jacobs ups his punch volume in the ninth and tenth rounds, finding a measure of success by beating Canelo to the draw with double jab-straight right combinations. But just as he seems to be getting back into the fight, he is dropped by an overhand right-left hook combo in the eleventh round.

Canelo refuses to allow Jacobs to shake it off by going after him with a reinvigorated intensity but Jacobs survives the round by covering, clinching and switching to southpaw. Canelo continues to apply controlled pressure in the final round and Jacobs seems content to just survive the fight rather than go for broke. The judges award the fight to Canelo in the 117-110 to 116-111 range.

Regis Prograis vs. Kiryl Relikh

Cajundome, Lafayette, LA, April 27
TV: DAZN
By Peter Lim

Both Prograis and Relikh have beaten 23 opponents, stopping 19 of them. Relikh has lost twice, both by decision, while Prograis is undefeated. But throw in the fact that Relikh captured a world title while avenging one of his losses and what we have here are two evenly matched well-rounded fighters with formidable punching power. Prograis is a southpaw and Relikh’s right-handed.

The evenness of this matchup will be reflected during the first half of the bout as both fighters trade  punches on  relatively equal terms. But while Relikh is mostly headhunting, Prograis mixes his attack upstairs and down with similar ferocity.

Prograis’ body work makes the difference. By the sixth round Relikh’s movement is visibly slowed and his punches lack the pop they had in the early rounds. Prograis, though, inexplicably abandons his body attack and begins zeroing exclusively to the head in the seventh and eighth rounds, allowing Relikh to regain some momentum and resume his offensive surges.

But it turns out to be a trap. In the ninth round, as Relikh is getting back his confidence and unleashing punches with more gusto, Prograis freezes him in his tracks with a southpaw right hook to the ribcage. It sets up a pinpoint left to the liver that folds Relikh and renders him incapacitated on his hands and knees for the full count.