FROM BLOODY BATTLES TO BOXING BLUNDERS: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY FROM THE WEEKEND
What a weekend of boxing we’ve just had! To sum it up, it was very much a case of the good, the bad, and the ugly across two massive cards in Texas and Riyadh.
It’s Monday, and with weekend blues in full effect, the last thing anyone needs is more negativity—so let’s kick off with the positives.
The Good:
The word good is probably an understatement for what went down on Friday night between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano.
After an incredible first fight, expectations for the rematch were sky-high—and my word, did it deliver!
A relatively cagey opening 90 seconds gave way to explosive action as Serrano rocked Taylor at the end of the first round. From that point on, it was back-and-forth artistic violence.
Beautiful brutality.
Serrano sustained a gruesome cut above her right eye at the end of the fourth round from an accidental clash of heads, but it only seemed to ignite an even bigger fire in her. The Puerto Rican warrior pressed the pace, while Taylor remained calm and exceptionally efficient.
When the final bell rang, neither fighter could be entirely confident about who had won. In the end, it was Taylor who came out on top once again. Social media buzzed with fans debating the decision, but as with the first fight, it truly could have gone either way.
Also in the Good column: Zurdo Ramirez vs Chris Billam-Smith.
Reigning WBA World Cruiserweight champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez added the WBO World Cruiserweight Title to his collection with a convincing win over Britain’s Chris Billam-Smith.
It was a career-best performance from the Mexican, setting him up for a tantalizing showdown with Jai Opetaia.
The Bad:
Now onto the Bad—and you probably already know where this is heading: Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson.
When this fight was announced, it angered many fans. Still, the sheer what if? factor was enough to intrigue even the most pessimistic observers.
But from the first bell, it became clear that this was even more of a mismatch than anticipated.
The legendary Mike Tyson looked every bit of his 58 years (and then some), while Jake Paul, with just 10 professional fights under his belt, looked fresh and youthful. Tyson’s legs simply weren’t what they used to be, and the bout quickly devolved into what felt like an extended eight-round sparring session.
Paul held back, clearly aware he could have ended the fight at any moment. For Tyson fans, it was heartbreaking to watch a legend struggle against a fighter who wouldn’t have lasted a second against him in his prime.
Thankfully, the match was limited to eight two-minute rounds. Here’s hoping that Tyson now decides to sail off into the sunset with the big cheque he received on Friday night.
The Ugly:
Look no further than the horrifying cut Amanda Serrano sustained during her bout with Katie Taylor.
The sight was unsettling—eerily unsettling. Fights have been stopped for far less, but Serrano, a true champion and warrior, showed no signs of letting it affect her. She pressed on, continuing to win rounds even after suffering the brutal injury.
