Many are called… Few are elected.
But the dream remains.
For Arslanbek Makhmudov, David Lemieux, Erik Bazinyan, Christian Mbilli, Steven Butler, Patrice Volny, Mikael Zewski, Custio Clayton, Yves Ulysse and Steve Claggett, to name a few, there is always the possibility that one day. ..
All are on or near the world rankings.
However, the weekend promises to be difficult for two boxers who will be at work. The first in Trois-Rivières, the second at the Casino de Montréal. Both will have to compete against good hitters.
In Trois-Rivières, Friday night, Mikael Zewski will face a 26-year-old rival named Carlos Ocampo Manriquez (32-1-0, 20 KOs), a boxer who has won his last ten fights including seven by K.-O.
This time, Zewski will appear in front of his family, at his home in Trois Rivières. It will be his first experience since becoming a professional.
The next day at the Casino de Montreal, Mbilli will face a 52-fight veteran named Nadjib Mohammedi, 36.
Zewski and Mbilli cherish the same dream. That of becoming a champion in the not so distant future.
Which is more likely to achieve its goal?
Mbilli is 26 years old and Zewski 33 years old. It is therefore necessary to do more quickly for the Trifluvien, except that his rival could easily confuse the cards. Manriquez has only lost once in his career. It was in June 2018 in a world title match.
He had then surrendered in the first round against Erroll Spence Hr. Since then, he has stuck ten straight wins.
Zewski has lost two career fights. The first time in 2015 and the last time in 2020. Each time he had lost in front of class boxers. Only Egidijus Kavaliauskas managed to make him retire before the time.
Mbilli seems a bit luckier at first sight. His rival, Mohamamedi despite his 52 fights, has kissed the carpet on five occasions against boxers of the caliber of Dmitry Sukhotskiy, Sergey Kovalev, Oleksandr Gvozdyk and Vladimir Shishkin.
Friday night will mark, among other things, the return of Sébastien Bouchard, who has been absent from the ring for a year. For her part, Marie Pier Houle will try to win a sixth straight victory while the heavyweight Alexis Barrière will be in his first match of six assaults.
Prediction: Zewski wins by decision
At the Casino on Saturday, Mbilli will try to climb the rankings at the expense of Mohammedi. He has the talent and the power to succeed.
Mary Spencer will be making her first appearance in a ring in Quebec and Leila Beaudoin will want to keep her clean sheet with a fifth victory in a row. In short, a thunder weekend in Quebec in the world of local boxing.
Prediction: Mbilli by K.-O. before the 6th round
Edgar Berlinga, from Diamond to Zircon
Inactive for five months, Edgar Berlanga, (19-0-0, 16 K.-O.) the one the Americans nicknamed “The chosen one” had to settle for a third victory in a row by decision, this time at the expense of Canadian Steve Rolls (21-2-0, 12 K.-O.) a 37-year-old veteran.
The 24-year-old Berlanga had knocked down all his rivals in the first round during his surge in the professional world.
He suddenly lost his magic touch on April 24, 2021, when he had to settle for a draw at the expense of a certain Demond Nicholson (23-3-1).
It is therefore 38 rounds of boxing in a row for the one who had only taken 16 attacks to win his first sixteen fights.
In his defence, Berlanga said Rolls ran for the duration of the match. If that was the case why did the judges award Rolls three and four round votes.
The judges’ scores were 97/93 x 2 and 96/94 for Berlanga.
Note that GGG had done better than Berlanga against the Canadian boxer by knocking him out. in the fourth round in June 2019.
The child prodigy is only 24 years old but it is better to show that he has the class of champion, as we once believed. He did well early in his career against class “C” boxers, but now against more experienced pugilists, he is slow to come out of his torpor.
The gala managed to attract a packed house of 5,158 fans to the Hulu Theater in Madison Square Garden, New York.
Another Canadian, Tony Luis (28-5-0, 10 K.-O.) also admitted defeat in eight bouts, against the “Terrible” John Bauza (17-0-0, 7 K.-O. ).
According to Nielsen, the Top Rank gala on ESPN drew 490,000 viewers.
Quick quick quick…
Canadian Ryan Rozicki, (14-1-0, 14 KOs), who did so well in his decision loss to Oscar Rivas in Montreal last October, is back on the winning streak in Hamilton last Saturday night. He passed the K.-O. in the second round to the Mexican German Garcia Montes (7-3-0, 7 K.-O.).
A prediction
Jaron “Boots” Ennis (28-0-0, 26 KOs) predicted he would take the knockout. to Custio Clayton (19-0-1, 12 KOs), in their IBF welterweight playoff match on May 14 in Los Angeles.
Ennis is a knockout artist. Only two boxers have lasted him in 4 and 6 round matches, and Clayton has never lost by knockout in his career.
Will Clayton’s chin be able to withstand the force of Ennis’ blows?
Threats… threats…
The WBA intends to force Gervonta Davis to face lightweight champion Geore Kambosos in a unification match this year. The problem is, it’s still not officially known if Davis will fight at 135 or 140 pounds. It is to be continued.
Over 600 pounds in the ring
A solid left hook from the giant Thorr Bjornsson laid down Eddie Hall for the account on Saturday in Dubai. The two strongmen on the World Tour drew very few people to the Duty Free Tennis Stadium.
Bjornsson was the more experienced of the two with three fights behind him while Hall was in his early days.
Another strongman, five-time world champion Marius Pudzianowski, challenged Bjornsson. The latter has a record of 16-7-0, 11 KOs. in MMA and he won his last four fights by knockout.
More than hockey
A poll by Harris has proven that the sport of boxing is far from being in decline in the United States.
Boxing is the fourth most popular sport behind football, baseball and basketball and ahead of martial arts fighting, hockey, soccer, tennis and golf.
Asleep in one round
European welterweight champion David Avanesyan retained his crown on Saturday in Wembley, England by passing the K.-O. from the first round to his rival Oskari Metz (15-1-0, 5 K.-O.). It was the first career loss for Metz but the 6th successful defense for Avanesyan. The latter is ranked in the four major associations.
1st loss in 63 fights
Little information for the older ones. On March 19, 1943 at Madison Square Garden in New York, Sammy Angott (69-17-5) became the first boxer to defeat ex-featherweight champion Willie Pepp (62-0-0)
Pepp’s career spanned 26 years, from 1940 to 1966. When he retired, he had a record of (229-11-1, 65 KOs).
I don’t see anyone these days approaching that mark of 241 career fights.
Watch out for Jalolov
Tokyo 2021 Olympics gold medalist at super heavyweight Baklhodir Jalolov (10-0-0, 10 KOs) is coming off his 10th straight win in Dubai with a knockout . in the fifth round to Kamil Sokolowski (11-25-2)
Jalolov is a 6’7″ giant from Uzbekistan who now resides in Brooklyn.
The family is fine
Estelle Mossely, wife of heavyweight Tony Yoka successfully defended her IBO lightweight crown last weekend in Dubai, winning the split decision over Yanina Carmen Lescano.
It was the first time that two women had faced each other in a title match in the Middle East.
Like father, like son…
Tim Tszyu (20-0-0, 15 KOs), the son of famous ex-welterweight champion Kostya Tszyu (31-2-0, 25 KOs) will participate in his first match on American soil, next Saturday night, facing veteran Terrell Gausha (22-2-1, 11 KOs), in Minneapolis.
According to BoxRec, Tszyu is ranked 3rd among the best super welterweight in the world behind Jermell Charlo and Bryan’s Carlos Castano.
Another son at work
Another Mayweather will launch his professional career on July 6. This is Justin Jones, who took the name of his father whom he knew only at 19 years old. Now his name is Justin Mayweather Jones and he will be boxing at 147 pounds.
He is said to have very fast hands, like his illustrious father.
Graduation at 112 pounds
Felix Alvarado (37-2-0, 32 KOs) has decided to give up his IBF world super minimumweight title to move up to flyweight at 112 pounds.
Alvarado had held his title for over three years.
43 years old and fit
Despite his 43 years, the former five-time world middleweight and super middleweight champion Felix Sturm (42-5-3, 18 K.-O.) will fight Istvan Szili 25-2-2, 14 K.- O.) , Saturday, in Germany.
Happy Boxing.
