My Completely Left-Of-Center Top Ten List For 2017 - #1

Strike up the band - we're here! It's time to announce the number one ranking on this year's Completely Left Of Center Top Ten List. I'll be honest, this wasn't an easy choice. The number 2 and number 3 fighters this year, Vasyl Lomachenko and Terence Crawford respectively, had an argument to make as to why they could be named the year's best. Still, the fighter who ultimately took the top spot shook the sport of boxing with his talent, his wide ranging appeal, and his achievements.

And so, with no further verbosity, your #1 pound for pound boxer of 2017...Mr. Anthony Joshua.

Yes, Joshua earned his ranking on this spot because he stands poised to become the first truly engaging heavyweight champion since the Holyfield-Tyson-Lewis era. Make no mistake about it, Wladimir Klitschko was a great champion. For whatever reason, though, he was never able to thrill. Frankly, I think this may have had more to do with Klitschko's available competition than his skill set, which is a shame. No matter, the statuesque Joshua is a knockout machine who arguably puts more butts in seats than most NFL teams. What's more, he's existing in an interesting era, where the competition might well be impressive.

For not only did Joshua best a truly impressive Klitschko last spring, he now has names like Parker, Wilder, and even Fury to contend with. That sort of list makes for a colorful resume. Will Joshua be able to take out, or at least best, all competitors? That remains to be seen. What's obvious, though, is that Joshua is leading a revival of the long dormant heavyweight division. I mean, the man's helping make the big guys exciting again.
If that's not enough to earn the top spot on this list, I don't know what is.

Hope you enjoyed the list. Feel free to let me know what you think of any of my choices.

Now, onto 2018!

My Completely Left-Of-Center Top Ten List For 2017 - #2

As tempted as I was to give Vasyl Lomachenko the number one spot on this year's list, I was even more tempted to give the honors to the man at the number two spot. For today, the spotlight will be on an individual who has proven to be as accomplished as he has been dominant. What I mean is that this fighter unified an entire division - in an era as politically dysfunctional as the one we're living in now. That, my friends, is quite an achievement. I'm referring, of course, to Terence Crawford, who sits high at #2 on this year's pound-for-pound list.

Crawford unified the junior welterweight division this year - which is stunning in and of itself, but he's proven so completely unstoppable in fight after fight that he's actually become a frightening presence. The man hits like thunder, can switch stances, adapts to tough situations, and has ambition (he's reportedly moving up to welterweight, in case you haven't heard). The fact of the matter is 2017 merely topped up an explosive years-long run for the Omaha native, as Crawford has schooled one top name after another. The only thing that truly awaits, it seems, is a legitimate superfight.

So, who will it be - Errol Spence, Jr? Keith Thurman? Manny Pacqauio? Who will rise to the occasion, and throw down in a mega battle with the terror from Nebraska? Or will title holder Jeff Horn, perhaps with the help of some Australian home cooking, stop Crawford in his tracks? In boxing, one never knows. One thing is certain, though, even in the world of the sweet science - it might be unwise to bet against the man they call Bud anytime in the near future.

My Completely Left-Of-Center Top Ten List For 2017 - #3

I can't begin to tell you how tempting it is to place this next fighter's name on the top of the entire list. For here is a man the likes of which we've never seen, someone who literally appears to be bringing boxing to the next level. And yet this fighter has yet to accomplish what the two men above him on the list have. That day, however, might well be right around the corner. And that's why Vasyl Lomachenko sits at #3 on the list this year.

Did you catch that fight with Rigo earlier this month? I did - and was flabbergasted. Honestly, I knew it would be tough going for the Cuban, but I honestly believed Rigo, cool customer that he was, would somehow pull it off by frustrating his Ukrainian foil. Wow, was I mistaken. Loma made the man quit on his stool. On his stool! And, no, the size difference isn't an effective excuse. Unless, of  course, you believe Rigo would have somehow pulled off the win at a lower weight. Which, I don't.

Loma is the real thing. He's made opponent after opponent quit. Forgive me for not buying the argument that he hasn't beaten anyone of note "his own size", either. Or that the single loss to Salido - in Loma's second fight - show's the man is a hype job. That's like saying Gene Tunney wasn't a great heavyweight champ because he lost a lone bout to Harry Greb at light heavyweight. I know a lot of people think along those lines today, but, not to be mean, such thinking is ridiculous.

With all that in mind, Loma has convinced me that only a very special fighter can beat him. It's worth noting, however, that there are indeed special fighters out there right now, and that they may have a natural size advantage on the man. The future should prove interesting.

My Completely Left-Of-Center Top Ten List For 2017 - #4

You knew you'd see this next fighter's name up here on this list. Sure, this list may be of the left-of-center variety, but it's not an incompetent one. Alcoholics Anonymous has a great saying, which goes that it's okay to be crazy, but not okay to be insane. I'd like to see this list as crazy, perhaps, but certainly not insane. You'd have to be completely nuts, though, not to place Gennady Golovkin on any serious rundown of top fighters. That's why he holds this year's #4 spot.

Golovkin faced the high end variety of opposition this year. Some are saying his skills have waned or that he's getting old. Those two things may be true - but I tend to think one isn't apt to look so good facing Daniel Jacobs as one is facing Sean from the internet. Funny thing about Jacobs, I felt he actually beat Golovkin. GGG, however, went on to face Canelo Alvarez and look great in doing so. Had Jacobs moved on to equally impressive competition, he too might be on his list (though I think Jacobs may well be avoided by big names and up and comers at this point).

So yes, the power punching skill set from Kazakhstan sits comfortably close to the top of this year's list. One step above Canelo, in fact, whose only other opponent in 2017 was a way over his head Julio Caesar Chavez Jr. GGG and Canelo should meet again 2018, but I worry it will be more of the same - boxing's powers that be sticking with their meal ticket Canelo no-matter what.That's too bad for Golovkin, and for Canelo, as well, as he's earning the reputation of being a member of a protected class of superstar athlete.

Ultimately, however, close or unfair loses don't matter. Just Google the names Jack Dempsey, Muhammad Ali, Marvin Hagler, and Manny Pacquiao if you don't believe me. Sometimes hard work well done manages to ride above the moment. Just ask Golovin,

A quick aside: The middleweight division is in such an interesting place right now, that there's numerous fighters not mentioned on this list who might ultimately emerge as king, Jacobs and Billy Joe Saunders being only two.

My Completely Left-Of-Center Top Ten List For 2017 - #5

Well, here we are - the top five. We're getting into rarefied air here, folks. And that means the remaining fighters who will be ranked have really - in my opinion - made their mark in 2017. My #5 pick is a man who has brought about a bit of derision over the last several years, but is still someone who I think firmly belongs in this position. And that's why Saul Canelo Alvarez holds this year's #5 ranking. Is he the most talented fighter in the world? No. But he's damn good, and has only gotten better over time.

Canelo only fought twice this year (notice a trend here among these high level boxers?). What's more, one of those two fights was a total blowout - against Julio Caesar Chavez Jr. Still, Canelo risked it all by facing middleweight terror Gennady Golovkin. Sure, you could say his back was against the wall with the public, but the man's popularity has assured him that he could pretty much fight anyone and get the love from his enormous fan base. Simply put - he did the right thing by facing GGG.

There's more to credit than just getting into the ring with a frightening opponent, though. For Canelo did GOOD against Golovkin. Sure, many, if not most, thought he should have lost the fight and that the official decision of a draw was nonsense, but no one can deny Canelo didn't put on a good show. For those who said he'd be flattened, there wasn't a whole lot to criticize when the final bell of the Golovkin fight rang. Canelo was still standing after having faced one of the best in the world - and, at the very least, the man had kept it competitive.

Such things, in my humble opinion, are noteworthy.

My Completely Left-Of-Center Top Ten List For 2017 - #6

Chances are, you may not like my #6 pick for this list. In fact, you may well hate it. I've made it clear, however, that this list is indeed left-of-center, so here it goes. Remember the good times. My #6 spot for 2017 is filled by none other than Mr. Andre Ward. I know, I know. Everyone hates Ward. He's a diva who should have lost to Kovalev the first time around and who lost his second battle with the Krusher via a series of dastardly low blows. Here's the thing, though:

That's not the way I see it. At least not all of it. Sure, Ward can be accused of being a diva, but I'm puzzled why he gets more derision than, say, Adrien Broner and Tyson Fury combined. Seriously people, the man rarely acts like an asshole in public, appears to be a good family man and doesn't look to spend his time out of the ring raising hell. What, exactly, I sometimes ask myself, is the problem? Anyway, I'm sure those smarter than myself might be able to explain it all to me. Until then, however, Ward sits comfortably at #6.

Why? Well, because he came back and beat Kovalev in convincing fashion, AFTER fighting a total war with the guy a few months earlier. I've watched Ward-Kovalev II on several occasions and still aren't buying that he cheated like an all around dirty fighter. In my humble opinion, he beat his Russian counterpart up - and in grueling fashion, no less. And so, since I consider Kovalev FAR from a hype job, I feel that's a pretty impressive achievement. Plus, Ward retired afterwards  - so I can't call him out for being lazy.

Going from arguably the best fighter on the planet to undefeated retirement - that's something worth noting...at least I think so.

My Completely Left-Of-Center Top Ten List For 2017 - #7

Someone has reason to celebrate

Modern boxing is strange in that it seems to finally be moving on from an era of easy fights and easy money. Indeed, I felt in 2016 that the sport might truly be dying in that it appeared on it's way to becoming a one-off. In other words, I suspected professional boxing was on the road to dissolving into something similar to a series of small time wrestling leagues which operated only randomly. Scary thought, I know - but not an unreasonable one at the time, I'd argue. Fortunately, 2017 knocked those fears away with the fury of a Shavers' shot.

Make no mistake about it, this has been a massive year for the sweet science. Never mind Floyd and Conor. GGG faced Canelo, Ward and Kovalev met again, AJ dethroned the old Lion, Klitschko, Loma dominated Rigo, ESPN got seriously into the boxing business and there were more good matchups than you could shake an eight ounce glove at. Still, though, there's residual effects from the era that was. And one of those effects is fighters who don't fight a whole lot. Keith Thurman definitely fits that bill. Still, he's earned the #7 spot on this year's list due to the fact that he bested the undefeated Danny Garcia and, after getting injured, appears to plan on making a solid return in 2018.

Now, although many people felt Garcia was over-rated and pampered when he faced Thurman (Garcia was most certainly a child of the easy fight/easy money era), he was still a quality boxer who was a challenge for anyone (just ask Amir Khan and Lucas Matthysse). By beating his fellow undefeated welterweight, Thurman started bringing order to a post-Floyd welterweight division, just as he had in previous years by besting Robert Guerrero and Shawn Porter (though, honestly, I think Porter may have won that one). So long as he continues to challenge himself, and to look impressive doing so, Thurman may continue to remain a top ten pound-for-pound fighter for quite some time.

Just how interested is he in the fight game these days, however?

My Completely Left-Of-Center Top Ten List For 2017 - #8

Who else has his name up in lights?

Moving right along. We've already given two men spots of honor here on the top ten list. Now we're moving into territory occupied by those who are considered dominant - or at least on their way to being dominant. This year's number 8 spot is occupied by a young Texan who almost seems like a throwback, the kind of all-American type the mainstream would - and still might - rally around. In this sense, the gentleman reminds me of Ray Leonard, though perhaps a quieter, more aggressive version. Yet there's no mistaking this fighter is also his own man.

And that's why Errol Spence Jr. occupies this year's number 8 position. Perhaps the man would rank higher if he would fight more, but Spence is still deserving for going to England to fight a war with Kell Brook before bringing home his share of the welterweight title pie.Granted, Spence was Brook's mandatory, but he didn't play the role of diva, either. Spence appeared to happily go across the sea with the mantle of challenger in order to come home a champion. That's right, we have a highly skilled talent on our hands who isn't a megalomaniac...something that's harder and harder to find these days.

There's a lot of talk now of Spence going on to eventually face the likes of Keith Thurman and Bud Crawford. First, though, Spence has to take on impressive challenger Lamont Peterson early in 2018. That fight's no gimme, folks. I felt Peterson bested favored child Danny Garcia a few years back and it wouldn't stun me if he shocked the world against Spence. For Spence is willing to go up against legitimate challenges. If only he'd do it more frequently. 

My Completely Left-Of-Center Top Ten List For 2017 - # 9

Okay, now it's time to get into the fighters who have had some serious accomplishments over the past year. Shawn Porter deserved the number 10 spot on this list for embodying everything a modern boxer should be...at least attitude-wise. From here on in, though, the fighters on this list will be gauged not only by attitude, but by skill and accomplishment, as well. Which brings us to the number 9 spot....awarded to Srisaket Sor Rungvisai.

Just who is this Thai fighter who even hard core fans hadn't heard of a mere year ago? Oh, just a vet of over forty fights - with just four losses - and a mutli-time world titlist, is all. Don't be discouraged for not being overly aware of Rungvisai until last winter, though. Smaller weight fighters have only recently started getting the kind of attention they deserve. And besides, a lot of Rungvisai's wins were against less than stellar talent. According to BoxRec, after all, three of the man's last four opponents have been fighters making their ring debut.

Strange at that may seem, though, Rungvisai shocked the world last March when he went up against the legendary Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez. That moment of shock didn't arrive when Rungvisai was awarded a controversial decision win against an all time great, however. It happened a half an hour or so earlier, when the rugged hitter put the great Chocolatito on the mat. If memory serves me correctly, those of us on press row at Madison Square Garden that night were hit by quite the thunderbolt when that unexpected moment arrived.

In fairness, though, Rungvisai's decision victory that night understandably struck people as a bit unfair. Early knockdown or not, fans curled their brows at the judges' decision. Chocolatito sure hadn't checked out after that knockdown. He had come back and, according to many, gave at least as good as he got.  There was no such controversy to be found after the rematch between Rungvisai and Chocolatito, however. Rungvisai beat the hell out his man this past September, thoroughly besting Chocolatito and earning his spot on this list in the process.

Knocking out a legend has a way of leaving it's mark.

My Completely Left-Of-Center Top Ten List For 2017 - #10

A true cause for celebration. 

So yeah, it's the time of the year for lists. It doesn't matter whether yer old Saint Nick or just some boxing writer, there's a strange compulsion to just sit down and put things into some kind of order. So, with that mind, I'm spending the next ten days talking about ten fighters, from lowest to highest in rank, who I think deserved accolades in 2017. Prepare to be surprised. Or shocked. Or disappointed. Or all of those things at once. That sort of thing is what makes these lists fun.

And so, with no further ado (or is it adieu?), my number 10 pick for 2017...Mr Shawn Porter. Go on, laugh. I know the guy hasn't done a whole lot, only fighting twice and all - and against less than stellar competition at that. But, in my opinion, the guy wanted more. A lot more. And that (coupled with a warrior's heart and an under-rated skill set) is why he's on this list. How's Keith Thurman been lately? How about Errol Spence? Yeah, those guys have solid matches coming up (and are both ranked higher on this list, by the way), but neither looks to be the eager beaver Porter is.

So, yeah, Mr. Porter deserves a lot of credit. Alexander. Malignaggi. Brook. Thurman. Berto. The guy's always up for a challenge, and is one of the only fighters I know of who gives the impression that he wishes he could engage in more real challenges than he actually does. Who else at welterweight, I ask, gives that impression? Who else in the entire upper levels of boxing?

When it comes to good, old fashioned ambition, Porter is in rare company with (perhaps) a handful of others. In my humble opinion, his ranking on this list is well deserved. As always, though, feel free to disagree.

Why Danny Garcia-Brandon Rios Isn't a Bad Fight

This isn't a match to turn your back on.

I know, I know - Danny Garcia is being Danny Garcia again. Here's the thing, though - I don't think it's the case this time. Sure, Garcia has earned his reputation as an unambitious cherry picker (and judges favorite), but on this occasion, I'm going to cut the Philadelphia native some slack.

For those who don't know what I'm talking about here: Garcia is returning from a sound besting by Keith Thurman earlier this year to face to Brandon Rios in 2018. Yes, the same Brandon Rios who Pacquiao used as target practice and who seemed to forget to show up for his battle with Tim Bradley. But Rios is nothing if not a fighter. He's also been out of the spotlight for a while now and will most likely be hungry.

Let's also keep in mind that Garcia suffered his first defeat at the gloved hands of Thurman. In this day and age, where zeroes on a record have arguably replaced genuine achievement for fandom, that's a very, very big thing (though it obviously shouldn't be). Garcia will have also spent a long time out of the ring since the Thurman fight (I'm no Al Haymon hater but what's with his top guys being part time boxers?).

So no, I'm not going to fault Garcia for taking this match. And, if I'm being completely honest, I'm not even sure it's a gimme for the fighter known as Swift. A Rios victory, although an upset, wouldn't stun me. A Garcia win, though,  would do Garcia much good - that is, if he'd actually like to build on it. Attaining glory doesn't seem to be Garcia's big thing, after all.

Is Gervonta Davis Avoiding Vasyl Lomachenko?

First things first - there's a lot not to like right now about Gervonta Davis. His Twitter account, his inability to make weight for his last fight and myriad other matters are cause for serious fan displeasure. Now there's something else for fans to criticize Davis for - the fact that either he, his mentor Floyd Mayweather, or both, don't appear much interested in facing wunderkid Vasyl Lomachenko. Is that a fair criticism, though - even for a guy as poorly behaved as Davis?

For starters, Loma's been calling the man out lately. Davis has responded, maybe, by tweeting: "Can't rush greatness baby." Let's face it, that sort of thing makes for terrible PR. The truth, though, is that I'd almost feel sorry for Davis, if he would only act like a gentleman, which is something he seemingly isn't interested in doing. Loma is one hell of a challenge, after all. Even someone of Davis' ability - and the man has plenty - will probably have a hard time with the Ukrainian, even on his very best day. 

Still, as has been pointed out, Davis is already a decorated athlete. That makes him open game. Saying Lomachenko is a bully who should move up in weight isn't going to wash, not when we're talking about a former world champion with an 19-0 record, eighteen of those wins being by knockout. Davis is well known, has a good boxing pedigree and is in the same weight class as Loma. That makes the lad a reasonable opponent - whether he wants to be or not.

People have a right to defend Davis all they want, but the fact remains, like it or not, the man is stuck in between a rock and a hard place right now. If he takes the fight, he risks being humiliated in his prime. Yet if he doesn't take the fight, then Davis is apt to be charged with cowardice. It's not a fun situation to be going through. And some might say it all couldn't be happening to a nicer guy. 

Adrien Broner: Proof That Personality (Unfortunately) Trumps Performance

Adrien Broner looks like he'll be fighting again - and people seem excited. It doesn't matter who he'll be fighting, or how much his star has dimmed, or if he's even particularly relevant to the fight game anymore, people are excited. Broner, after all, is a character - perhaps not a great character, but a character nonetheless. And people love characters. In fact, it's pretty clear people put personality over performance, not just in the boxing world, but universally.

This, however, is a boxing site, so let's stick to the sweet science. We're told over and over again that boxing is more entertainment than sport. If that's the case, then, yes, may the most popular or notorious man win. Let's just make Broner our pound for pound king, followed by Tyson Fury and up and comer Conor McGregor (hey, he IS officially a boxer now) and call it a day. What boxing ultimately comes down to, though, is what happens in the ring. You can run on personality for a while, but it's going to catch up with you - even if your name is Adrien Broner.

Say, for instance, that Broner loses his next outing - or perhaps the one after that - to a second tier opponent. You'll begin to see the ratings and guffaws start to fade away, just like the love for Julio Caesar Chavez is finally diminishing (for the record, JCC Jr was loved for his family connections, not his personality, but you get the point). Personality, no matter how engaging, ultimately fades in the face of chronic failure. People  simply move on to the next  popular person.

At least this is true for boxers, but what about boxing's journalists? Many boxing scribes/video personalities, even ones I like and admire, ride on their personalities. And guess what? People like them for it. We're told that making yourself the story isn't something a journalist is supposed to do - but many today want self-promoting journalists at least as much, if not more, than they want quality journalism. And it's understandable why. As with boxers, boxing journalists who are characters are fun to watch.

At what point, however, should objectivity come into play? In the case of Broner and some noted journalists, probably sooner rather than later. 

All Eyes Are Now On Billy Joe Saunders

Saunder's days on the margins are over. 

Billy Joe Saunders, who holds one piece of the middleweight title pie, was seen as a marginalized nuisance. Sure, he was undefeated, but he won his WBO championship against Andy Lee in 2015 and had only defended it twice, once in far from impressive fashion. To make matters worse, it appeared the man had little interest in facing middleweight kingpin Gennady Golovkin unless some kind of massive payday was involved. Yeah, publicly at least, Saunders didn't seem like much of a sportsman. And people, they piled on - myself included.

This past Saturday, however, a new Saunders - or perhaps the Saunders none of us knew existed - showed up in Canada to take the popular and hard hitting David Lemieux to school. In a performance that can almost be described as Lomachenkoesque, the slick Saunders made the former GGG foil looks almost amateurish. And, after completely shutting his man down, the Englishman made it clear he was ready for all comers. Saunders also, in the process of a Max Kellerman interview, made it clear he hadn't been too keen on himself until fairly recently.

Needless to say, Saunders should be impressed with himself now. The rest of us certainly are after Saturday night. Going into a high ranking slugger's backyard and pitching a shutout? Impressive stuff. The question now is just how good is this man? He certainly looked high end against Lemiuex, but no one knows how Saunders will look against the likes of Golovkin, Canelo or Jacobs until he actually faces those men. Here's where the situations is now, though:

People are suddenly eager to see Saunders take on the big names, not as a belt holder, but as a real challenge. Talk about upping one's image.

Guillermo Rigondeaux Stuns The World Against Vasyl Lomachenko...By Quitting On His Stool

Let's put this in perspective. Guillermo Rigondeaux escaped a brutal Cuban regime, then got dissed unfairly by boxing's powers that be...all while being ducked by pretty much everyone. Then, when this supremely talented man finally had the chance to prove himself...he quit on his stool. He's going to take a lot of heat for that. But, let's face it, there's probably one reason and one reason only why Rigo dropped out of this much hyped bout against Vasyl Lomachenko this weekend. And that reason was his opponent...Lomachenko himself.

Yes, my friends, Loma is that good. He's now the number one pound for pound fighter in the world...hands down. Is he the greatest ever? Well, I'm sure we'll be hearing that he is a lot in the insanely near future. And maybe (maybe) it's true. But, really, let's not even think about that right now. Let's just call it like it is - Loma is the king of boxing. No. he's the king of combat sports. Hell, he might be the king of all sports at the moment. Again, he's that good.

For those who didn't watch, Loma was beating Rigo through the first half of Saturday's bout at Madison Square Garden. I didn't think it was the blowout others seemed to, but it appears I was wrong. For Rigo, the Cuban great, didn't get off his stool for the sixth. Oh man. Man, oh man. Rigo blamed it on a hand injury. Maybe he was right to - but I blame it all on Loma. Why?

Because the guy's a once in a generation talent.

Hoping For Fireworks - Why Lomachenko-Rigondeaux Is A Big Deal

You may be wondering, if you're not much into boxing, why tonight's Vasyl Lomachenko - Guillermo Rigondeaux fight, which will be aired live on ESPN from Madison Square Garden, is such a big deal. And the answer, really, is pretty simple.

These are two of the best boxers in the world. Indeed, they may be the two very best. That's a big deal, no matter which way you slice it. What's more, these were two of the best amateur fighters in the world back in the day. Indeed, they may have been the two very best. Again, that's a big deal, no matter which way you slice it.

Now, with such a high level event going down, you may wonder why it's not on pay per view. The truth is that neither of these two combatants have huge fan bases, and popularity dictates who doesn't and doesn't fight in the pay per view market. That's why the insanely popular Conor McGregor got on pay per view to face Floyd Mayweather without a single professional boxing match to his name.

Speaking of popularity, the business of boxing is so cruel that it has iced out Rigondeaux up until this point at least partially because the man has been so good top level fighters haven't wanted to face him. Indeed, he's had to go up in weight to face Lomachenko - though to call Lomachenko afraid of Rigondeaux would be ridiculous. Here, for once, is a man who isn't afraid to face the Cuban whiz.

Of course, it has to be noted that Rigondeaux can indeed be a boring fighter to watch. Sometimes - not all the time, as his powerful detractors would have you believe - but sometimes,  he's all skill and no thrill. That, friends, doesn't make for good television. Tonight, though, Rigondeaux is taking on a fighter who isn't afraid to bring it. And who seems to be as talented as he is.

Lomachenko is the favorite walking into the fight tonight, and that's completely understandable. Don't be surprised, though, if Rigondeaux walks away with the upset win.

Kovalev Returns In Destructive Fashion

Sergey Kovalev returned to the light heavyweight division this evening in absolutely destructive fashion, as he demolished Vyacheslav Shabranskyy to pick up the WBO title he had once held. It was quite the impressive return for Kovalev after his brutal loss at the gloves of Andre Ward earlier this year (his second loss to Ward in a row). With a new trainer and a reported new attitude, Kovalev attacked his foe with hard straight rights and piercing lefts. Shabaanskyy never had a chance. Referee Harvey Dock wisely stopped the proceedings (which went down at the Theater in Madison Square Garden) in the second round after Shabranskyy had hit the deck numerous times.

Does Joshua-Wilder Really Need To Marinate?

There's only two heavyweights people would really like to see in this ring

Deontay Wilder really, really wants to fight Anthony Joshua. And, despite what some may think, Joshua is okay with fighting Wilder. He may not be as eager as Wilder is for the fight, but it's hard for me to believe AJ isn't interested in a Wilder sized challenge. Still, there's concern the anticipated heavyweight superbout may not happen right away. If that indeed ends up being the case - and there's no legitimate indication it may be - it will end up being an essentially pointless one. Okay, pointless may be a harsh word. Perhaps unnecessary is more fitting.

Look, buildup can be essential. That's understandable. Take Errol Spence and Bud Crawford - a superfight waiting to happen. No one feels it needs to be made right away, because there's still other fish out there to fry. Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia, Shawn Porter and, yes, even Jeff Horn, are all legitimately in the queue. No one is at the point of complaining that Spence and Crawford are the only gunslingers left in town. The same clearly isn't true with Joshua and Wilder, however.

Tyson Fury.

That's the only other major player at heavyweight right now - and he's not even playing at the moment. So, since the big man is out of the picture, there's really no other opponent people are dying to see either Wilder or Joshua fight besides each other. Parker? Cousin Fury? Miller? Sure, these guys are interesting but no one feels compelled to see them face Wilder or Joshua.

Something to think about.

Perhaps Joshua-Wilder should be put off for a while. I simply can't think of a good reason for it to be, however. Maybe I'm wrong. 

Like Him Or Not - Deontay Wilder Delivers Fireworks

Wilder delivers fireworks

Those who accuse Deontay Wilder of not throwing straight punches are absolutely correct in their criticism. I myself noticed the same thing Saturday night, as did a ton of other boxing fans. Here's the thing, though - when watching old footage of Jack Dempsey beating Jess Willard senseless back in 1919, viewers aren't as blown away by Dempsey's crude form as they are by the sheer destructive violence of his punches. The same goes for Wilder. It's not that he demolished a hapless Bermane Stiverne on Saturday night in Brooklyn. It's the way in which he did it.

By the way, what the hell was with Stiverne? The guy looked scared walking into the ring. It's been a while since I saw a boxer with THAT look just before a fight. Then again, the guy had good reason to be afraid.  No matter. Wilder was winning this weekend and that was all there was to it. The man was pissed - good and pissed - about the way these co-called top level opponents keep getting busted for drug use. And he was right to be. With that being said, I think Luis Ortiz may have caught a break by not facing Wilder on Saturday. At least his jaw did. I know, I know, Ortiz is supposed to be a talented monster. Wilder, though, was guided missile last night. Someone was going down - and it wasn't going to be him.

While there's no doubt Wilder needs to work on his game some more, there's also no doubt that the guy is scary when he decides to be. So long as he continues to develop and keeps that wild personality from getting the best of him, heavyweights had better watch out. And yes, I mean guys like Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, or anyone else people may want to throw against him. Wilder ain't perfect, but he can take out a wall. And, scariest of all, he believes in himself.

Can Big Tyson Fury Actually Make A Big Comeback?

The man needs some serious time in the gym

Seriously people, the guy is huge. In case you haven't seen recent pictures, supersized heavyweight - or is it former heavyweight? - Tyson Fury has got himself looking like the Good Year Blimp. That's (hopefully) not me being mean spirited, it just is what it is. Still, the Englishman is telling people he's coming back. Not only that, he plans on reestablishing himself as king of the heavyweight division. That's all well and good, of course, but the guy hasn't fought since he stunned Wladimir Klitshcko almost two years ago. What's more, Fury has had his share of troubles since that time.

Look, I like Fury. I admit it. No, I don't like everything he says and does. I don't care for it when he showcases a bullying attitude. In fact, I think Klitschko might have actually beaten the man had he not let Fury get inside his head. Still, Fury is a colorful dude and there's a lot to admire about the guy. He's come up from nothing and became the big man among big men - albeit for a short time. He also possess a vastly underrated skill set. If he were to somehow return to the form he was in the night he bested Klitschko, I think he would offer all sorts of trouble for Anthony Joshua.

Yet it's hard to take Fury at his word these days. He sounds serious, true, but will he stick to his guns? Here's hoping so. Things are damn exciting right now at heavyweight and the edition of Fury will only make them more so. Besides, I want to see who ends up being king of the mountain when the dust settles. And if Fury isn't a part of the equation, questions of what might have been will float around indefinitely.

 

Can Rigondeaux Beat Lomachenko?

Untold numbers of pages can be penned about Rigo and Loma

For me, this is the top fight in boxing right now. Hands down. Sure, it may not end up being an insanely violent blood bath, but hey, boxing is a sport. Not a fight. A sport. An exceedingly violent sport, to be sure (just ask Conor McGregor, who learned the hard way), but a sport nonetheless. And that's why this Vasyl Lomachenko-Guillermo Rigondeaux throwdown is as intriguing as it comes to me. I know it's for the purists, but this, in my opinion, will be the highest level sporting event since Houston beat Las Angeles for the series. Believe it. Now that Andre Ward has called it a career, the winner of this fight may well be the best boxer in the entire sport.

Does Rigondeaux have a chance, though? As brilliant as these two men are in the ring, the thinking from the smartest people in the room seems to be that Lomachenko is too big. I'm guessing people are thinking he'll be too overwhelming for the smaller Rigondeaux, as well. And while all that may be true, I'm here to tell you that this entire contest will come down to one simple thing - whether or not Loma can turn Rigo. If the Ukrainian work those amazing angles of his, it's going to be a long - or short - night for the former Cuban star indeed.

Should, however, Rigo keep Loma from spinning him, should the Miami native keep Loma from dominating...well, then it will be anyone's fight. At that point, though, I'll be favoring Rigo, for he will have already won the all important psychological chess match.  Can Rigo beat Loma? Yes. Will he? That remains to be seen. It all depends on whether or not Lomachenko can be thrown off his game.

Demetrius Andrade Presents Some Questions

The long walk to middleweight stardom can be dauning

Demetrius Andrade made his middleweight debut this evening at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, New York. Right from the word go, the Rhode Island native looked impressive. For he rocked his very tall opponent, Alantez Fox, within seconds, and then wisely took to breaking his man down throughout the rest of the first round. Here's the thing, though - Andrade never finished his man off. This in and of itself might not have been a bad thing. Fox looked to simply be wanting to survive, after all. Not only that, Andrade looked as if he wasn't at his best. In fact, my father - a master fight fan if ever there was one - felt Andrade's leg was cramping.

Still, Andrade brings with him a high set of expectations due to his superior skill set and impressive background. In other words, he's expected to mow through unknowns. And, even though he clearly dominated Fox for an easy 12 round decision win, Andrade didn't look like a man who could make the likes of Gennady Golovkin or Canelo Alvarez shake in their boots. Andrade may still be able to be a major player, perhaps even the dominant player, at middleweight, but he left the fight world with some questions on Saturday. Perhaps more questions than were floating around when he first entered the ring at the Turning Stone.

SEAN CROSE'S PAGE IS BACK

Looking ahead to some great boxing.