The Promise of Moses Itauma

Let's get a few things out of the way first. I'm not someone who often falls in love with prospects. I'm a skeptic who notices flaws, even in supposed "can't-miss" talents. I recognize that there's a long road between potential and actually achieving greatness in the ring. There are too many examples of phenoms flaming out or even achieving a certain level of success but falling short of the expectations placed upon them.  

Since I've been writing about boxing in 2011, there are two prospects who have stood out to me as being head and shoulders above everyone else in terms of young talent: Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez and Junto Nakatani. And I'm happy to report that both of these young fighters are now squarely in almost every credible pound-for-pound list in the sport; that's where they belong. 

So, on one hand I'll give myself credit for perceiving their elite talent level before many others did. But if we're keeping it real, in the decade prior, one of the absolute best prospects I saw was Juan Manuel Lopez. Now Lopez was in no way a bust. He was a long-time featherweight champion, but much more was expected of him. However good he may have looked at times in the ring, he couldn't outrun the damage that he was doing to his body outside of it, blowing up between fights sometimes 40 or 50 pounds. Hey, nobody bats 1,000. 

To reiterate, it's not good to fall in love with prospects. But we still have eyes. And it's hard, even as an experienced boxing enthusiast, to completely divorce emotion from observation. So, with this all said, I have realized, despite my better judgement, that it's time to make another bold declaration: 

Moses Itauma is the best heavyweight prospect I've seen in the past 20 years. 

Photo courtesy of Mikey Williams/Top Rank

As I'm typing this, Itauma, just 20 years old, is 12-0 with 10 knockouts. Later this month he faces his first real step up, against former title challenger Dillian Whyte. At 37, Whyte is certainly past his absolute best, but he still packs a heavy punch and despite Itauma's meteoric rise in the sport (this fight is headlining a Riyadh Season card with far more seasoned fighters lower on the bill), we still don't know if Itauma can take a good shot. So, it's certainly possible that within a month of my making such a pronouncement that I could wind up with egg on my face in short order. And I'm prepared for such a meal, as long as it's egg whites. 

In watching Itauma, I find myself in disbelief that he's only 20. He fights like he's 10 years older, not that he lacks a young man's athleticism but because he has a veteran's poise. He's not rushing his work. He doesn't lose his shape after he has a guy hurt. He takes it all in stride with a devastating destructiveness. 

A southpaw from Britain, he's already sparred with a who's who of heavyweights, including Daniel Dubois, Jospeh Parker, Joe Joyce and Lawrence Okolie. Now trained by Ben Davison, Itauma has also worked with Shane McGuigan and of course the vaunted Team GB amateur system, where he won world and European youth championships. 

At his tender age, he already possesses a variety of knockout weapons, including a straight left hand, a right hook and a left uppercut. As a well-rounded fighter, he goes to the body with regularity and can throw punches in combination. 

Another thing that really catches my eye is his movement. I wouldn't call him a speed demon by any means, but his footwork is terrific. It's purposeful. He gets in perfect position to throw or receive shots. He doesn't lean over his front foot when he punches. He's not swinging wildly. He isn't loading up on shots. He knows that if he hits a fighter squarely and with the right punches, that he has more than enough power to end things. 

Itauma making short order of another opponent
Photo courtesy of Mikey Williams/Top Rank

I also like his physical dimensions for the heavyweight division. At 6'4" and 240 or so lbs., he's big enough to compete with the giants in the division, but not too big to be at a disadvantage against the smaller guys who can really move. He seems to split the difference physically between a Fury and an Usyk. 

There is still a lot to learn about Itauma. I realize that greatness is not built on the backs of beating guys like Mike Balogun, Demsey McKean and Mariusz Wach. We need to see more. Maybe Whyte will provide some useful information about Itauma's defense or recuperative powers. But maybe he will also wind up as another inevitability on Itauma's march to the top. 

As we watch boxing week after week, year after year, we are always on the lookout for something different, something special, something that moves us. And I have seen such a fighter in Itauma. At 20 he already has so much figured out, and this is in a division where it's common for the top guy to be in his mid-30s. I'm along for the Moses Itauma ride. I'm a believer. I've gotten my first-class tickets. 

But ultimately, what matters is not about "thinking" something; it's about knowing it. It's about the whole boxing world knowing it. This is Moses Itauma's mission should he choose to accept it. Will he be the next great heavyweight? Will he be something even more than that? I'm riveted.  

Adam Abramowitz is the founder and head writer of saturdaynightboxing.com. 

He's a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Panel, the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and the Boxing Writers Association of America.

Email: saturdaynightboxing@hotmail.com

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Derek Chisora: The Gatekeeper's Toolbox

In Derek Chisora's 17-year professional career, he has amassed a 35-13 record, not the type of official tally that leads to Canastota. He has never won a world title and has been stopped four times. But Chisora has played an essential role in the heavyweight division: the ultimate gatekeeper.  

Consider this: Not one of the fighters that Chisora has beaten has won a legitimate world title. And it gets even more specific: In two fights that he could have and perhaps should have won (against Robert Helenius and the first match with Dillian Whyte), neither of those two opponents would go on to be successful at winning a world title either.  

He has his fair share of wins over fighters who have been top-20 heavyweights, including David Price, Artur Szpilka, Gerald Washington, Kubrat Pulev, Carlos Takam and Malik Scott. Ultimately, if Chisora beats you, you don't really have the goods.  

Last Saturday, Chisora had perhaps the best win of his career (at the age of 40!), against top-ten ranked Joe Joyce. Like many of Chisora's fights, the Joyce bout was an all-out war. A Chisora late surge, including a knockdown in the ninth round, helped secure the victory.  

Chisora after the Joyce victory
Photo courtesy of Queensberry Promotions

Now it's important not to oversell Chisora. He has always struggled against technicians and his defense has left a lot to be desired. He's had an inconsistent gas tank and he hasn't always taken his training camps seriously. As a shorter fighter in the heavyweight division (6'1"), he almost always has a height disadvantage and while he has a couple of tricks to help close that gap, he often does start out behind the eight ball in that an opponent who can use his reach will have an immediate advantage.  

However, Chisora has remained more than serviceable in the heavyweight division because of three main factors, two of which are unique in the weight class, and another one which is a skill that few in the entire sport have mastered.  

As far back as 2011, Chisora featured a unique weapon in the heavyweight division. Facing 6'6" undefeated uber-prospect Robert Helenius, Chisora landed a looping overhand right repeatedly. The whipping shot routinely caught Helenius unaware and hurt him multiple times throughout the fight. Chisora's looping right helped close the height and reach gap. Frankly, Chisora made Helenius look ordinary that night. 

But Helenius wound up winning the fight in one of the decade's worst robberies. However, Helenius' luster was never the same. Whatever aura or intimidation factor he had was now gone.   

Chisora's constant pressure was another attribute that caused Helenius significant problems. Like many heavyweights of that era, Helenius wanted space to land his power shots, and Chisora was most unobliging in that area. Chisora's pressure nuked Helenius' game plan and the Nordic Nightmare never looked comfortable in the fight.  

Flash forward to 2020 and Chisora was still having success as a pressure fighter, running Oleksandr Usyk very close in a fascinating 12-round fight. Usyk could do little more than cover up or be evasive in the first few rounds of their fight. And to this day, Chisora might be the only fighter to beat Usyk in the championship rounds. To be fair, the fight was scored correctly. Usyk deserved the win, but to my eyes, he has never had a closer fight in the heavyweight division, and that includes his battles with Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.  

There's also a third tool that Chisora possesses which makes him formidable: he knows how to fight off the ropes. In 2018, Chisora fought a ferocious war against Carlos Takam. It was my Fight of the Year. In that battle, Chisora and Takam took turns teeing off on the other against the ropes. And while Takam often was the one unloading volume with Chisora with his back on the ropes, it was Chisora's crafty counters off the ropes that continued to do the most damage. It was a nasty war of attrition that Chisora eventually won with a knockout in the eighth round.  

In the two fights with Whyte, Chisora again had lots of success with his back on the ropes. He knows how to absorb shorts, to deflect them and to find angles to land hard counters. He could have won the first Whyte fight and I had him up in the second before he was knocked out in the 11th. This is when many thought that Whyte was championship material. He was supposed to be levels about Chisora, but Chisora kept cracking him.  

Against Joyce on Saturday, Chisora showcased his three main attributes. Early in the fight, he consistently found holes in Joyce's defense with his looping counter right hand. He also scored with many impressive left hooks early in the fight. He had moments where he pressured effectively against Joyce. But ultimately, what won Chisora the fight was his work off the ropes late in the fight. With his back against the ropes in the ninth round, Chisora unfurled a perfect counter right hand that landed squarely on Joyce's chin, knocking him to the canvas. It was a huge momentum swing in the fight. And in the tenth round, Chisora again had glory with his back on the ropes, ultimately landing the more telling blows in the round. His work in the last few rounds was enough to earn the victory in a vicious battle.  

***

I'm sure that in the next 12-18 months Chisora will formally retire. He's been in all sorts of wars. He's taken ridiculous punishment, even in fights that he's won. He will be remembered as one of the best B-sides of his era and a fighter who helped pack arenas in London and Manchester. 

The fans have always loved him. Walking into "Hotel California," often hiding his face behind a bandana, giving his all in the ring, he has left a legacy. He was never a prized amateur. He was served up to lose against Helenius, Vitali Klitschko, Whyte, Parker, Fury, and Joyce, but he often over-performed. He literally has left it all in the ring.  

For the sake of the sport, I wish that Chisora would consider working with younger fighters after his retirement. He has a lot to offer. He could provide wonderful advice on how to deal with being the underdog, the B-side. But even more important, he has skills that need to be passed down to the next generation. Why does that looping right hand land on almost every opponent? He obviously throws the punch with a specific torque and deception that makes it hard to defend. I would hate it if that looping right hand went out of circulation. What a weapon against the right opponent!  

Chisora could also write a book on how to fight off the ropes, a skill that seems completely lost in modern boxing. I could probably count on one hand the number of boxers who are truly sufficient at this part of the sport. So many try; almost all fail. Clearly, Chisora has accumulated knowledge in this area that could be vital to anyone willing to listen, and this includes trainers as well.   

As for pressure fighting, it looks like that is finally coming back into vogue in the heavyweight division. There were generations of heavyweights infatuated with "fighting tall" and keeping distance. But the heavyweight division didn't use to be that way. Fighters like Frazier and Foreman and Tyson and Holyfield would come right at an opponent. It made for thrilling viewing, but even more importantly, those fighters all reached the mountaintop. There's no law that says fighting tall has to be the way to do it.  

Thankfully, youngsters like Richard Torrez and Moses Itauma understand that their pressure style mixed with hand speed and power can be a nightmare to deal with. Perhaps the best fighter on the planet, Usyk, had real trouble with Chisora's pressure. 

As Chisora gets closer to the sunset of his career, we should remember that fights are won in the ring. A motivated "opponent" with tools can cause all sorts of problems against supposedly better fighters. Chisora was so often brought in to play a role: sell tickets and lose heroically. And on a few occasions, he was able to tear up the script and end some dreams. Few gatekeepers ever achieve his level of prominence or popularity, but it has been well earned. On Saturday, after defeating Joyce, he took the microphone and asked his fans to cheer him on with one more song. It was the glory. And there was nothing that could take that away from him. 

Adam Abramowitz is the founder and head writer of saturdaynightboxing.com. 

He's a contributing writer for Ring Magazine, a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Panel, the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and the Boxing Writers Association of America.

Email: saturdaynightboxing@hotmail.com

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The Makings of the Juggernaut

It feels great to be wrong about Joe Joyce. He serves as an important reminder that first impressions aren't the be all and end all in the sport. Early in his professional career, his slow hand speed, ponderous feet and advanced age were significant knocks against his ability to be a legitimate contender in the heavyweight division. Yet Joyce has been able to stop one of the top heavyweight prospects in boxing (Daniel Dubois), a solid gatekeeper (Carlos Takam) and a top-ten fighter and former champion in the division (Joseph Parker). 

Many of his Joyce's best attributes are intangibles that provide him with significant advantages over supposedly more talented fighters. The first thing that jumps out to me in the ring is his calm. Whether pushing forward in attack or eating a hellacious uppercut, Joyce doesn't get rattled. He sticks with his plan and has an ability to moderate the enormity of a big moment. He doesn't punch himself out despite a high volume and he also doesn't go into a shell after absorbing a big blow. He plows forward regardless of circumstance. 

Joyce also strikes me as highly intelligent. In his bravura performance against Dubois, Joyce essentially won the fight with his left jab. And while that might sound simple, I believe that he did two different things than most fighters would have done in that match. He stuck with what was working instead of taking the opportunity to unload his holster with other weapons. Joyce understood that keeping it simple was getting the best of his opponent where many others would have overcomplicated the fight. In addition, Joyce ate some tremendous right hands from Dubois in that bout, the types of shots that would make many fighters reluctant to stay the course. Yet Joyce persevered and understood that to execute his game plan he needed to be in the line of fire. 

Photo courtesy of Queensbury Promotions

The Dubois and Parker victories also highlighted his self-confidence. The straight rights from Dubois and the right uppercuts from Parker were the types of shots that could have discouraged many fighters, but Joyce was convinced that his approach would lead him to victory. Despite enough evidence to switch tactics, Joyce ultimately believed that his game plan was the right one, and he was proven correct. 

Actually, the whole Joe Joyce story could fall under the self-confidence blanket. Fighters who turn pro at 32 aren't expected to have successful careers. I'm sure he was told by many that he was too slow, that he would never have enough seasoning and that he lacked the athleticism required to take on the top of the division. But he believed in himself when so much of boxing history was tilting in a direction away from his success. He refused to succumb to rules of thumb or the opinions of so-called experts.

A final intangible that has led to his success has been his coachability. Looking at his game plans against Dubois and Parker, he resembled two completely different fighters in the ring. Against Dubois, he kept the fight on the outside and used his jab to establish dominance. Parker presented different issues but the key that Joyce and trainer Ismael Salas discovered was that Parker only liked to fight in spurts. Whenever Parker connected with a serious punch or combination, Joyce would immediately return fire with hard power punches. When Parker would try to get out of the pocket Joyce would follow him with pressure and more punches. He wouldn't let Parker rest and did a magnificent job of depleting him before the conclusive left hook in the 11th round.

Joyce's intangibles elevate him beyond his skill set, but it would also be wrong to dismiss his skills, many of which are subtle. He can go to the head or body with all of his shots. He can apply pressure without smothering himself. He has a ramrod jab. He can throw his hook tight or wide. 

Joyce is also an underrated athlete. There aren't too many 260-pound fighters who can do flips in the ring after a victory. His work rate and motor are outstanding for a heavyweight. Although there is a crudeness to aspects of his game, he used several foot and shoulder feints to throw off Parker's rhythm. He also has the coordination and strength to avoid being clinched, which is vital in the heavyweight division for fighters who want to win with volume. 

In just 15 professional fights Joyce has improved in several significant aspects. He now understands distance, spacing and range very well. He's not jabbing from too close and he's also not smothering himself on the inside. Joyce knows which punches to throw at a particular range. He's also become adept at cutting off the ring. Parker was supposed to have advantages in foot speed over him, yet Joyce was able to keep the fight at his tempo and usually right in front of him. He knew where Parker wanted to be, but didn't just follow him without letting his hands go. He applied intelligent pressure, whether he needed to move laterally, diagonally or straight ahead.  

The Juggernaut continues to roll on, leaving a trail of heavyweight hopefuls in his wake. Does he have the attributes to get to the mountaintop in the heavyweight division? Let's wait and see, but he has put himself in the conversation, and to me that was an unthinkable proposition just a short time ago. 

Adam Abramowitz is the founder and head writer of saturdaynightboxing.com. He's a member of Ring Magazine's Ring Ratings Panel and a Board Member for the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board. 

Email: saturdaynightboxing@hotmail.com

snboxing on twitter. SN Boxing on Facebook. 

SNB Stock Report 7-30-20

It's time for another edition of the SNB Stock Report. July featured a number of prominent fighters in the ring and it's time to assess their performances. The (+) indicates fighters whose stock rose. The (-) denotes fighters whose stock fell and the (NC) is for fighters whose stock has remained unchanged after their most recent performance.  

Vergil Ortiz (+) 

Photo Courtesy of Stacey Verbeek

Ortiz returned to the ring with a fantastic power-punching display against Samuel Vargas, earning a seventh-round stoppage. Vargas put forth a game effort, but he was outgunned by Ortiz's blistering combination punching. Ortiz is now ready for contenders in the welterweight division. With his high Ring IQ and myriad offensive gifts, he's going to be a handful. At only 22, it's scary to think that he may have even more room for improvement.

Alex Saucedo (+) 

Saucedo performed solidly in his victory against Sonny Fredrickson, winning by a wide unanimous decision. He had Fredrickson hurt a couple of times early in the fight, but he didn't fully sell out for the knockout. Saucedo remains a tough and rugged customer at 140; however, his defense is still a problem. Even a trainer switch hasn't cleaned up that aspect of his game. But as long as his chin holds up, he'll be fun to watch.

Jose Pedraza (+) 

Pedraza has always run a little hot-and-cold. It was a pleasant surprise to see him dialed in and focused against the Mikkel LesPierre. Pedraza scored two knockdowns in the fight and was close to getting a stoppage; he won by a wide decision. However, there was a debatable call in the fifth round where he went down and it was subsequently ruled as a slip by the Nevada instant replay official. Still, it was an overall solid and confident performance.  

Albert Bell (NC) 

The Ohioan remains a frustrating figure in the ring. With tremendous boxing skills and fast feet, Bell boxed to a shutout points victory over Mark Bernaldez. However, it was disappointing to see Bell not attempt to inflict more damage. Bell will eventually become a top spoiler in the junior lightweight division. He possesses championship-level talent. But he's going to have to go through the sanctioning body game to get his chance. His style in the ring doesn't create much demand for his services. 

Jose Zepeda (+) 

Zepeda boxed his way to a comfortable victory over late replacement Kendo Castaneda. Zepeda has 25 KOs in his 32 victories, but it's clear that he's become much more comfortable as a boxer than a slugger. He still possesses excellent punch placement and a wide arsenal of punches, but his emphasis on defense in recent fights has led to less risk taking. He's one of the top fighters at 140 lbs. His well-rounded skill set should give him a good chance to win a title over the next 12-18 months.  

Joe Joyce (+) 

Photo Courtesy of Queensberry Promotions

"The Juggernaut" faced Michael Wallisch this month in a marking-time bout. He was supposed to face Daniel Dubois earlier this year before COVID scrapped those plans. Joyce wasted little time with Wallisch, scoring three knockdowns and earning a third-round stoppage. He still gets hit a lot, his punches can be timed with a sun dial, but he has heavy, heavy hands when he connects. Expect Joyce to face Dubois later this year. 

Carlos Takam (NC) 

Takam was in camp for another fight when he received the call to face Jerry Forrest on short notice. And he started off the fight excellently, displaying fine footwork and boxing skills to go along with his usual assortment of solid power punches. He did fade a bit as the fight progressed. Perhaps he wasn't in the best shape with a shortened camp. It's also worth considering that he's 39 and maybe he no longer has a full gas tank. He did win a decision, but didn't exactly put the division on notice. He remains a contender in the thin heavyweight division, but most likely his best days are behind him.  

Andy Vences (-) 

First things first, Vences deserved the decision against Luis Lopez. Lopez was effectively awkward at times and certainly landed his share of odd-angled punches, but over the course of the bout, Vences did the better work. Nevertheless, Lopez was awarded a split decision victory. Despite being hard done by the officials, it was not a strong performance by Vences. He displayed far too much caution at points in the fight and didn't seem to have a solid game plan as the match progressed. He was also badly hurt in the second half of the fight and a punch or two away from being knocked out. He's now lost two of his last three fights and any momentum that he once had in his career is now long gone.  

Felix Verdejo (+) 

Photo Courtesy of Mikey Williams

Verdejo made quick work of the capable Will Madera, stopping him in the first round with an impressive volley of power punches. Verdejo, once a prized prospect for Top Rank, had seen his shine diminish over the past few years. However, in teaming with noted trainer Ismael Salas, Verdejo seems to have regained his confidence. Still only 27, he remains an intriguing name in the deep lightweight division.  

Carlos Castro (+)

Castro made a strong statement by stopping former title contender Cesar Juarez after four rounds. Castro, at 26-0 and already 26 years of age, has yet to sniff a title shot, but it certainly looks as though he has the skills to compete at the top level of the junior featherweight division. Developed mostly around the Phoenix area, he's only been with Top Rank a couple of years. They might have found a diamond in the rough here.   

Oscar Valdez (NC) 

On the plus side, Valdez became the first fighter to stop Jayson Velez, a serviceable opponent who has given a number of solid boxers tough nights at the office. However, Valdez went through long periods of the fight where he seemed stuck between styles. He once had been an aggressive boxer-puncher, but under the tutelage of Eddy Reynoso, he has attempted to become more of a classic boxer. After a number of fights together, Valdez still doesn't look comfortable in the new style. Nevertheless, his left hook remains a real weapon. He scored two knockdowns in the fight and stopped Velez in the final round. 

Isaac Dogboe (+) 

After taking over a year off after his second defeat to Emanuel Navarrete, Dogboe returned to the ring with new trainer Barry Hunter. Immediately, one could observe the difference, as Dogboe was trying to fight with more defensive responsibility against Chris Avalos. Dogboe wasn't flying open with wide power shots as much and overall his performance was more contained. Avalos, a former title contender who has definitely seen better days in the ring, was in good shape and put forward a good effort, but Dogboe's power shots were the difference. That Dogboe stopped Avalos in the eighth round isn't particularly noteworthy, but the fact that he's listening to his new coach and trying to learn from his past mistakes certainly is. He wants to make another run at 122-lbs. He remains a fun TV fighter, but the junior featherweight division is filled with excellent talents. He will need the right type of opponents (shorter, not huge punchers) in order to win another belt. 

Adam Abramowitz is the founder and head writer of saturdaynightboxing.com. He's a member of Ring Magazine's Ring Ratings Panel and a Board Member for the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board.  

Email: saturdaynightboxing@hotmail.com.

snboxing on twitter. SN Boxing on Facebook.

SNB Stock Report 7-14-19

After a compelling weekend of boxing around the globe, it's time for another edition of the SNB Stock Report. See which fighters stock rose (+), dropped (-) or remained unchanged (NC). 

Ryota Murata (+) When Murata last stepped into the ring, he was comprehensibly beaten by Rob Brant in one of the major upsets of 2018. On Friday he rematched Brant, this time in his home country of Japan. The results couldn't have been more different. Landing an enormous right hand in the second, Murata dropped Brant and unlike the first fight, he kept his foot on the pedal. After Brant beat the count, Murata followed up with a series of pulverizing power shots, forcing referee Luis Pabon to wave the fight off. It was a stunning reversal for Murata and puts him back into the middleweight mix. 

Rob Brant (-) Brant started Friday's fight with the same type of high-volume approach that allowed him to beat Murata in last year's contest. However, instead of using his legs and angles like he did in 2018, he stood and traded more. Murata got the best of a particular exchange with a hard right hand in the second and Brant subsequently hit the canvas. After the action resumed, Brant failed to tie up Murata and he was unable to recover. It's now back to the drawing board for the American middleweight.  

Ken Shiro (+) Junior flyweight Ken Shiro demonstrated further proof on Friday why he is one of the best fighters in boxing. Dismantling the capable Jonathan Taconing in four rounds, Shiro displayed a master class in how to defeat a pressure fighter. Throwing cracking lead right uppercuts, using quick lateral movement, scoring with short counters, Shiro ended the fight by beautifully evading Taconing's pressure, creating an angle where Taconing was out of position and then landing a pulverizing straight right hand. It was expert stuff. Japan's Shiro fights in a fantastic division that deserves more fanfare. Make sure to keep him, and the 108-lb. division as a whole, on your radar. 

Photo Courtesy of Golden Boy Promotions

Rey Vargas (+) It wasn't necessarily pleasing to the eye, but Vargas boxed his way to a points victory over former bantamweight champion Tomoki Kameda. Vargas outworked Kameda throughout the fight, doubling up on his punch volume, and he used excellent footwork to evade trouble through most of the bout. Although Kameda landed the occasional flashy shot, Vargas did a good job of limiting Kameda's output. The California crowd wasn't enthralled with Vargas's work off the back foot, but it was effective. After the fight, Vargas called out fellow 122-lb. titleholder Daniel Roman for a unification match. 

Tomoki Kameda (NC) Kameda was a trendy upset pick prior to Saturday's fight. But the same issue that plagued him against Jamie McDonnell resurfaced against Vargas: he just doesn't let his hands go enough. On a punch-for-punch basis, perhaps Kameda was as good as Vargas on Saturday, maybe even better. However, as the B-side that gets out-worked two-to-one, Kameda didn't give the judges enough to consider. He remains a tough, capable contender, but until he lets his hands go more freely, expect more frustrating nights against top opposition. 

Diego de la Hoya (-) It was sink or swim time for de la Hoya, who was facing one of the toughest tests of his career in the rugged Ronny Rios. De la Hoya matched Rios's intensity during the first five rounds, but it was clear that Rios's punches were having more of an effect. In the sixth, Rios landed a beautiful right uppercut that sent Diego to the canvas. After making it to his feet de la Hoya wasn't able to continue. On paper this seemed to be a notable upset, but it really wasn't. De la Hoya had plateaued over the last 18 months. In addition, he had had weight issues outside of the ring. It wouldn't be surprising if Diego takes a lengthy break from the ring and moves up to featherweight upon his return. 

Ronny Rios (+) Rios has had a Jekyll and Hyde career. He's been stopped by Robinson Castellanos and Azat Hovhannisyan. His commitment to the sport has wavered over the years. He's had management problems. But he's also had impressive performances in beating Andrew Cancio, who's now a 130-lb. champion, former title contender Jayson Velez and Roy Tapia. On Saturday Rios was in great shape and there to win. He matched Diego de la Hoya punch-for-punch in the first five rounds, displaying considerable inside fighting skills. In the sixth he landed a blistering right uppercut, and that was all she wrote. It was a career-best performance from Rios. Here's hoping that he remains dedicated to the sport; when motivated he can be a formidable spoiler.  

Photo Courtesy of Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Shakur Stevenson (NC) Stevenson did what was expected on Saturday, knocking out late-replacement Alberto Guevara in the third round. Guevara, who was a capable contender two divisions south at 118 pounds, didn't possess the physical dimensions or, in truth, the desire to compete on Saturday. As for Stevenson, his next-level athleticism and technical skills are among the best in boxing. What he still needs are rounds and credible opponents. At just 22 and with 12 pro fights, he's already talking about a title shot. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt him to face another determined opponent before he competes for a belt. With that said, sometimes for the very best prospects normal rules don't and maybe shouldn't apply. 

Jamal James (NC) James had a tougher-than-expected fight against former lightweight champion Antonio DeMarco on Saturday. They went to war in the early rounds. As the fight progressed, James clearly was getting the better of the action. He won a wide decision (perhaps a little too wide), but DeMarco pushed him throughout the fight. James is clearly talented enough to defeat the trial horses and gatekeepers at 147, but it's hard to see him defeating any of the current titleholders. Eventually he will get a shot at a belt, but without a huge punch and with significant defensive deficiencies, it's hard to see him becoming a champion. 

Antonio DeMarco (NC) It's always enjoyable to see an old warhorse make one more run. DeMarco was one of the best lightweights in the world back in 2012. In the interim, he lost a bunch of fights, announced his retirement and even sprung an upset in 2017 against undefeated prospect Eddie Ramirez. On Saturday nobody told DeMarco that he was supposed to lose against Jamal James. He wound up giving James all he could handle in the early part of the fight, with fierce power shots and a frenetic pace. Over time DeMarco took too many big shots; he lost by decision. Despite the defeat, he gave a great account of himself. Maybe this will finally be the end of the line for him, but there's always a place in boxing for a durable vet who comes to fight. 

Daniel Dubois (+) In a highly anticipated matchup of undefeated British heavyweight prospects, DuBois knocked out Nathan Gorman in the fifth round with a fantastic double jab/straight right hand combination. It was a spectacular performance for Dubois, who showed not just impressive physical and technical dimensions, but also the ability to make adjustments and think his way through a fight. At first Gorman was countering every right hand with a left hook. But Dubois eventually neutralized that shot, by feinting the right and landing the left hook to the body, or by incorporating a double jab before throwing the right. At just 21 Dubois (12-0, 11 KOs) is already one of the top heavyweight prospects in the sport and Saturday's victory was a significant step in his development. 

Nathan Gorman (-) Gorman entered Saturday's fight against Daniel Dubois with a Plan A: Counter every straight right with a left hook. In the first few rounds he had intermittent success with this approach, but as Dubois started to make adjustments, Gorman was stuck doing the same thing time after time. Gorman can handle himself in the ring, but for now, he's going to have to add more dimensions to his offensive attack. It's fine to be a counterpuncher; however, the best counterpunchers can land with a variety of punches. That's Gorman's challenge. 

Joe Joyce (NC) On one hand Joyce outpointed Bryant Jennings to notch the most notable win of his career. But he didn't look all that impressive in doing so. Joyce essentially won the fight on punch volume and applying effective pressure. Although he's now working with the capable trainer Adam Booth, Joyce's problems remain: he has poor hand speed and he telegraphs his punches. At 33 there's not much time for Joyce to develop further. He does have power and knows how to fight, but his weaknesses in the ring are the types of physical attributes that aren't correctable. He's not suddenly going to get faster or become more of an athlete. In short, he is what he is. Joyce is somewhat of a draw at the box office and has an Olympic pedigree. His team might as well push him as fast as they can and hope that they can catch lightning in a bottle with a big right hand. 

Bryant Jennings (-) Jennings dropped a competitive fight against Joyce on Saturday. (Ignore two of the scorecards; there's a good case for Jennings winning five or so rounds in the bout.) But as the away fighter he didn't show the type of urgency needed to get the victory. Although he landed decent left hooks throughout the bout and mixed in combinations on occasion, there wasn't enough offense from him. There was a little too much safety-first in his performance. Now 24-4, coming off consecutive losses and at age 34, it's unclear where Jennings goes from here. He lost a winnable fight on Saturday and didn't display the type of consistent offensive effort needed to defeat top heavyweights. 

Sunny Edwards (+) Junior bantamweight Edwards easily defeated Hiram Gallardo on Saturday. Perhaps that was expected, but Edwards, in just his 12th professional fight, looked world-class in doing so. Expertly switch-hitting and fighting off the back foot, Edwards's movement, defense and punch variety consistently flummoxed Gallardo. Edwards fights in a division of killers, but expect him to challenge for a title belt in the next 12-15 months. Although he may lack pop, his considerable boxing skills and movement make him an interesting addition to the 115-lb. division.

Adam Abramowitz is the founder and head writer of saturdaynightboxing.com. He's a member of Ring Magazine's Ring Ratings Panel and a Board Member for the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board. 

Email: saturdaynightboxing@hotmail.com.

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