Opinions and Observations: Inoue-Donaire

Throughout Naoya Inoue's meteoric rise in boxing he had faced minimal resistance. He had won world titles at 108, 115 and 118 lbs., yet so few of his fights challenged him in the ring. Only two of his 18 bouts had even gone the distance. And this unprecedented run was not a mirage; he had defeated worthy opposition. He stopped Adrian Hernandez, who many ranked as the top guy at junior flyweight when they fought. Omar Narvaez was also ranked number one at junior bantamweight when they met in 2014. In addition Inoue beat credible contenders, titlists and future champs such as Ryoichi Taguchi, David Carmona, Kohei Kono, Jamie McDonnell, Juan Carlos Payano and Emmanuel Rodriguez. In fact, bettering this solid slate of opponents propelled Inoue's rise to the elite in the sport. But where were the tough fights?  

Perhaps then it may have been surprising that Nonito Donaire, the old war horse at 36, who had lost two of his last five fights coming into Thursday's bout, was the first one to draw blood on Inoue. After all, Donaire's place in the World Boxing Super Series bantamweight tournament seemed at first as nothing more than a cute publicity stunt, a nod to a former champ with name recognition whose best days were at least a half-decade behind him.  

Photo Courtesy of the World Boxing Super Series

Although some unforeseen circumstances (injuries and replacement fighters) led to Donaire reaching the tournament final, he quickly proved on Thursday that he wasn't there for a final career cash out; he was in Japan to win the whole damn thing. In the second round he detonated his patented counter left hook on Inoue's right eye. The shot immediately opened a cut and sent Inoue to the ropes in retreat. In an unfamiliar sight, Inoue was forced to clinch. I'm not sure that he had ever been hit with something so ferocious. Suddenly Inoue, The Monster, was human. 

Few fighters can force a Day of Reckoning like Donaire. He's been one of the elite power punchers in the sport over the last decade and will be able to roll out of bed when he's 80 years old and flatten someone with his left hook. 

And it wasn't just this one moment. In the eighth he landed a jarring counter right hand and Inoue was once again in trouble. His eye started bleeding all over the ring and Donaire was in the ascendancy.  

But in the 10th round Inoue demonstrated his championship mettle. With pulverizing right hands and left hooks, he turned the tables on Donaire, who needed the bell to save him from further damage. In the 11th Inoue cracked a left hook to the liver and as is often the case with that type of shot, the punch short-circuited Donaire. A delayed reaction occurred and Donaire was forced to take a knee. Somehow he was able to make it to his feet (some shoddy work from ref Ernie Sharif may have helped), but Donaire was in real trouble. The stoppage was close to arriving until he landed a left hook that made Inoue stop and recalibrate. It was that shot which enabled Donaire to see the end of the round, and subsequently make it to the final bell. 

In the end Inoue won by a unanimous decision, with scores of 117-109, 116-111 and 114-113 (I also had it 116-111). Ultimately, his more consistent work in the middle rounds of the fight and his strong close proved to be the difference. With the victory Inoue is now a unified titlist at bantamweight and the winner of the 2018-2019 World Boxing Super Series Tournament. 

Inoue faced his first real gut-check moment as a professional on Thursday. And despite experiencing the most extreme duress of his career, he was the one who swept the championship rounds, erasing any possible doubt as to who deserved to be the victor. This fight turned out to be the final test in his development. Sure, we knew about his blazing hand speed, crushing power and pinpoint accuracy, but could he catch? He has now answered that question in the affirmative.

Inoue-Donaire highlighted the best that boxing has to offer: world-class punching, elite-level skills, wonderful ebbs and flows, tactical adjustments, and respect being earned in the ring. Both fighters were hurt at multiple points in the fight – Donaire in the 5th, 10th and 11th and Inoue in the 2nd, 8th and 9th. Each took turns leading and countering. Both displayed menacing firepower. It was thrilling to watch, exhilarating, the type of fight that reaffirms boxing fans' love for the sport. 

In the aftermath of Thursday's result it's natural to ask questions of Inoue. Was he a tad overrated or did his performance highlight even additional dimensions to his all-around boxing ability? I fall in the latter camp. Inoue faced an excellent version of Donaire, the one who was once among the best in the sport.

Since aligning with trainer Kenny Adams, Donaire has rediscovered many of his former dimensions. He took his right hand out of storage, and with wonderful results. He looked comfortable leading. Donaire wasn't plodding along, waiting, waiting, and waiting for an opening to land his left hook. No, he was using all of his weapons, not only to capitalize on mistakes, but also to create his own openings. Overall it was his most well-rounded performance since his stoppage of Toshiaki Nishioka in 2012. 

Since that victory seven years ago Donaire would rise and fall. He had periods where he had lost his passion for the sport. He made several trainer switches. He developed some bad habits in the ring. But on Thursday it was like old times. Here, in the winter of his career, he had suddenly found himself, and he was going for broke against one of the best fighters in boxing.  

After the fight Inoue showered Donaire with praise and admitted that there were still areas to improve for future fights. To my eyes there are two places in particular where Inoue needs to focus: His head is a little still, which makes him able to be countered by a capable craftsman. In addition, he does spend an extra second or two in the pocket admiring his own work. He's used to seeing opponents crumble from his power shots. Yet some foes have the beard to take shots and throw some in return. Inoue wasn't expecting to get hit by some of Donaire's blows; he's going to have to learn to respect his opponents a little bit more in the ring. 

But all of that is fine for another day. Ultimately, Inoue demonstrated yet again that he is can't miss television. With guns blazing in his fists and possessing the heart and determination to overcome adversity, his total package has few rivals among active fighters. And with his new deal with Top Rank, expect American boxing audiences to fall for the Japanese dynamo. 

As for Donaire, whether he decides to call it quits after Thursday's fight or if he continues to soldier on, he has once again reminded boxing fans of his greatness. From 2007-2013 he truly was one of the elite in the sport. He certainly was a devastating puncher, but at his best he was much more than that. He had intelligence, ring savvy, a multiplicity of skills and a rock-solid chin. His record of 40-6 doesn't even begin to do him justice.  

At the age of 26 Inoue is squarely in his prime. He has the pedigree in the ring, the media platform and the potential opponents at 118 to 122 lbs. to become a commanding figure in the sport. But threats abound, from the technical savvy of Nordine Oubaali to the straight left of Zolani Tete to the crushing punching power of Luis Nery. Inoue is now in the thick of a great run of opponents and expect that trend to continue. He believes in the concept of risk. And while he may or may not emerge as the definitive fighter of this era, he certainly wants to find out in the ring. He demands challenges. He chases greatness. And that should make us all happy campers. 

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

This weekend featured three major fight cards with title bouts at middleweight, junior lightweight and bantamweight, and a high-profile World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) clash at cruiserweight. So after all the dust settled, whose stock went up (+), whose went down (-), or whose stayed the same (no change)? Find out in the SNB Stock Report. 

Demetrius Andrade (+) Andrade beat late replacement Walter Kautondokwa to earn a vacant middleweight belt. He scored four knockdowns and cruised to a wide decision victory. On the plus side of the ledger, he displayed sharp punching and his power looks like it will play at middleweight. On the other hand, he carried Kautondokwa in the latter rounds and didn't really try to finish him off when the opportunity was there for the taking. In addition, Andrade touched the canvas during a rare double knockdown. Fortunately for him, referee Steve Willis missed the call (more on him below) and Willis also failed to discipline Andrade for hitting Kautondokwa while he was already knocked down (Andrade could have been disqualified). Ultimately, Andrade's performance puts him in a position for a bigger fight, but there were a number of head-scratching moments as well. In short, Saturday was a microcosm of his career: loads of talent on display, and several confounding choices. 

Rob Brant (+) Not all that much was expected for Brant heading into Saturday's fight against Ryota Murata. Top Rank was already making plans for Murata to face Gennady Golovkin in a middleweight mega-fight in Tokyo next year. Furthermore, Brant looked completely overmatched last year in his super middleweight WBSS fight against Juergen Braehmer. Brant's team pointed out prior to Saturday's fight that he was undefeated at middleweight – to a collective yawn might I add. But they had the last laugh as Brant put together the performance of his career to upset Murata and win a wide unanimous decision. Brant, working with trainer Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, executed a brilliant game plan, using angles, volume and grit to get the better of Murata. In addition, Brant showed a solid beard. He took a number of big shots from Murata, but always came back swinging. Overall, it was a career-defining performance and he should be in line for a decent payday in 2019. 

Maxim Dadashev (no change) Dadashev, an Egis Klimas-managed junior welterweight, was seen by some as a serious prospect. Entering Saturday's fight against old war horse Antonio DeMarco, Dadashev featured a nifty record of 11-0 with ten knockouts. Yet, there Dadashev was in the second half of the fight eating right hooks and clinching to buy himself some time. The optimist would say that Dadashev got some needed rounds and seasoning. He's a good athlete and features excellent hand speed. But the pessimist might watch Dadashev's performance on Saturday and wonder what would have happened if someone fresher and more menacing than DeMarco was landing that cleanly on him. Ultimately, Dadashev won a competitive unanimous decision, but more was expected of him. 

Yuniel Dorticos (no change) When last we saw Dorticos in February, he lost a war to Murat Gassiev in the semifinals of the cruiserweight WBSS. The fight was clearly one of the best of 2018. Now entering a new WBSS tournament, Dorticos had a tougher-than-expected fight against Mateusz Masternak, winning a close unanimous decision. Dorticos looked a little sluggish and his vaunted power failed to materialize in the fight. Credit Masternak for beating expectations, but it's fair to ask just how much the Gassiev fight took out of Dorticos. 

Tevin Farmer (+) It's rare when Tevin Farmer scores a knockout; before Saturday his last one was eight fights ago against Daulis Prescott. Yet there Farmer was on Saturday, raising his hands in glory – in the fifth round! It was just Farmer's sixth knockout of his career. Farmer uncorked a beautiful rear hook to James Tennyson's liver in the fourth round and then finished him off with a lead right hook in the fifth. Overall, it was one of Farmer's most offensive-oriented performances on the world level. Farmer continues to improve and he would be a handful for any of the other junior lightweight titlists. 

Jason Moloney (+) Although Moloney lost to Emmanuel Rodriguez by a split decision, his performance should guarantee another big opportunity at bantamweight in 2019. Moloney was down early in Saturday's fight due to Rodriguez's accuracy, punch selection and athleticism. However, Moloney kept plugging away and in the championship rounds, he was the one getting the better of the action. His sharp counters and committed body attack gradually reduced Rodriguez's output and ambition. Nevertheless, the judges got it right. Moloney had several fine moments in the fight, but Rodriguez was the rightful winner. Still, if Moloney is matched right, he definitely could pick up a belt at 118 in the future. 

Ryota Murata (-) Murata fights as if he has A+ power. Patiently walking down his opponents, when he lets his hands go, almost all his shots are hard. His approach could work at the top level if he actually possessed such power; but he doesn't. Rob Brant consistently beat Murata to the punch on Saturday and used Murata's style against him. As Murata would contemplate whether to let a right hand go, Brant would paste him with a quick three-punch combination and then get out of range. This same exact scenario occurred dozens of times throughout the fight. Yes, Murata did land a few of his bombs, and perhaps the scores were a little too kind to Brant, but Murata didn't do enough to win the fight. Even the best knockout punchers have to know how to win fights on the cards; Brant made Murata look one-dimensional on Saturday. 

Emmanuel Rodriguez (+) Rodriguez is an excellent fighter and it's a shame that because of the bantamweight seeding in the WBSS that he'll have to face Naoya Inoue in the semifinals. In my opinion, those are the best two fighters at 118 at the moment. Rodriguez turned away a spirited effort from Jason Moloney on Saturday. Featuring a large arsenal of punches, excellent movement and imposing physical dimensions, Rodriguez did his best work in the first nine rounds of the fight. Perhaps he took his foot off the gas a little or was getting a bit winded by the end of the fight. Nevertheless, he put forward a commendable performance in the best fight of the weekend.   

Steve Willis (-) The rule for hot dogs is this: it only works when you back it up in the ring. Yes, referee Steve Willis is a showboat. He knows that eyes are watching him in the ring. He's aware of all of the .gifs and memes that are circulating on social media. He's a minor cult hero among the boxing hardcore. However, all of this ceases to be amusing when he misses a knockdown and fails to penalize a fighter for hitting an opponent who was already on the canvas. Willis was dreadful during the Andrade fight. Maybe a little less mugging and a little more humility is needed at this juncture. Willis has been a fine world-class referee for some time, but his work on Saturday was far from satisfactory. 

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.

Opinions and Observations: Groves-Eubank, Beltran-Moses

Unfortunately for Chris Eubank Jr., he walked into the Manchester Arena on Saturday not for a tough man competition or a street fight, but a boxing match, one with rules and conventionalities, where over a century of accumulated knowledge has been passed down from generation to generation. Ironically, Eubank is the son of former super middleweight champion Chris Eubank Sr., who was well schooled technically and one of the best in his weight class during his peak. Although Sr. was present in Eubank's corner on Saturday, Jr. had insisted on training himself, and that dysfunctional arrangement manifested itself throughout his match with George Groves. Eubank, clearly second best on the night, lost via unanimous decision. 

Courtesy of the World Boxing Super Series

As much as I hate boxing clichés, the hackneyed phrase "skills pay the bills" certainly could explain why Groves was the rightful victor on Saturday. Groves applied basic boxing fundamentals throughout the match. His punches were purposeful and effective. He expertly mixed the variety and tempo of his shots. Using angles on the way in and out, he made it very difficult for Eubank to throw combinations. His defense was sharp throughout the match. 

Perhaps most importantly, Groves, a holder of one of the major title belts at super middleweight, understood the concepts of range and ring geography. He'd fire off one-two's and get out of the pocket, which limited Eubank's opportunities for offense. When the action was along the ropes, an area where Eubank would seemingly have the advantage, Groves tied up expertly, neutralizing Eubank and ensuring that his right uppercut wouldn't become a major weapon in the fight. Under trainer Shane McGuigan's tutelage, Groves executed these skills with mastery on Saturday.

Furthermore, Groves bested Eubank throughout the match in terms of ring generalship. Groves, as best he could, kept the action in the center of the ring, where he could use movement and angles to control the action. He didn't participate in a machismo battle. When he was in an area of the ring that could lead to success for Eubank, he didn't let his ego get in the way; he tied up and reset the action. He was well prepared technically, physically and mentally for Saturday's fight. 

Groves won because he picked up small advantages throughout the match. And little by little he put enough rounds in the bank whereby Eubank's final-round charge would become academic. But make no mistake; Eubank landed some big shots in the match. Groves had to absorb those punches and continue with his game plan. That he did so with such aplomb speaks highly of his preparation and ring comportment. 

Groves had to eat a lot of humble pie to get to this point in his boxing career. He had dropped winnable matches to Carl Froch and Badou Jack. Against Froch, he lacked the discipline and conditioning to maintain favorable positions in those fights. In the Jack bout, he tried to win an inside battle where more cunning and clever displays of boxing were needed. 

In the aftermath of those losses, Groves selected McGuigan to coach him and to this point the trainer has helped supply the missing pieces for Groves on the world-level. No longer is Groves burning up useless energy. Instead of trying to win with just his power and hand speed, he has incorporated brainpower into his attack. McGuigan has helped Groves relax in the ring and has provided him with the strategic and tactical elements that had eluded him in his previous title bouts. The upshot is that Groves’s confidence in the ring has soared. 

Eubank, however, has never lacked confidence. And perhaps if he had a shade more humility and a desire to be taught by an actual adult, things would have worked out better for him on Saturday. He does have a number of raw tools. He strafed Groves with a handful of impressive left hooks. There were moments where he landed some punishing power shots against the ropes. Despite being down in the fight, he never yielded. 

But everything from Eubank was thrown with the intention of ending the fight. There was nothing short or soft from him. Feints were non-existent. His punches were often so telegraphed that he routinely swung at air or got himself tangled up in the ropes. Nothing was set up. A coherent game plan failed to congeal – just his misplaced belief that if he landed enough hard shots Groves would fold; it never came to pass. 

Eubank now faces a crossroads in his career similar to the one that Groves encountered. He has lost two winnable fights – to Billy Joe Saunders and Groves. At 28, he's still in his boxing prime but better results against top-level competition will only occur if he makes major changes with his career. He needs a real boxing trainer; he has to trust others and realize that he doesn't have all the answers. If he decides to make those changes, he could one day become a significant player at 160 or 168. If not, he'll just be another resident of the packed graveyard of fighters who never reached their true potential. 

In the final analysis, the smarter boxer prevailed. Groves sought help from an impressive boxing mind – and the fruits of that decision have led to the best run of his career. Eubank has tried it his way and has now come up short on multiple occasions. Time is ticking in his career and the next decision he makes regarding his boxing future will be his most important one. As Groves's career has illustrated, Eubank needn't be written off, but if he really wants to become a top fighter, the status quo will not suffice. 

***

Friday night featured a spirited lightweight title clash between two virtual senior citizens in boxing: Ray Beltran and Paulus Moses. At 36, Beltran has been a boxing vagabond, performing whatever action was needed to further his career. Famously, he was a sparring partner for Manny Pacquiao during Manny's shooting star ascent in the sport. Beltran has also plied his trade as an "opponent," a B-side, a late replacement and an unsuccessful title challenger. (In truth, he should've won a belt in 2013 against Ricky Burns; however, that fight was contested in Burns's hometown, and winning decisions on the road in boxing can be dicey.)

Moses, at 39, was once a lightweight titlist in 2009-2010. Fighting out of Namibia, where the money isn't big enough to lure notable opponents, Moses, like Beltran, often had to hit the road for his opportunities, in places like Ukraine, Scotland, Japan and now Reno, Nevada.

Courtesy of Mikey Williams/Top Rank

These two hardened pros delivered an excellent fight on Friday (the winner would pick up a vacant title belt). Whereas many of their boxing peers have already retired, transitioning to post-fight careers as trainers, commentators or (gasp!) civilians, Beltran and Moses demonstrated that they still have enough ammo in their holsters to perform at the top level of the sport. 

Over the years, Beltran has gradually incorporated a wide variety of punches in his arsenal. Always thought of as a meat-and-potatoes type of fighter, Beltran now features a huge helping of creativity to go along with his best tried-and-true dishes. On Friday he threw straight right hands, overhand rights, right and left straight shots to the body, jabs, left hooks to the liver and the head, uppercuts to the body and some flashy combinations. He boxed at points and also mixed it up well on the inside. In short, he demonstrated dimensions that had seldom been observed throughout his career. 

Moses didn't let his hands go as consistently or as successfully as Beltran did. But he landed a number of huge right crosses and may have connected with the most damaging blows in the fight. His straight rights cut Beltran up and like a seasoned pro, he targeted his foe's gashes without mercy. 

In the championship rounds, Beltran found another gear, whereas Moses had given it his best with some huge right hands in the 9th round; in the final three frames, his tank was close to empty. Ultimately, Beltran won a deserved unanimous decision. Although his title reign may not wind up a lengthy one, he can one day retire as a world champion. And in a 19-year professional career where little was given to him, that's what's it's all about. 

Credit Top Rank for sticking with Beltran after some losses and a failed PED test; they could have justifiably discarded him. Beltran wouldn't have received Friday's opportunity without their continued support. But credit Beltran as well. He never stopped trying to improve. And his self-belief has been impressive. There aren't too many 36-year-old, seven-loss fighters who become a champion for the first time. But, despite all the odds, one was crowned on Friday.

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. 

Groves-Eubank: Keys to the Fight

One of the most anticipated fights of the new year will unfold on Saturday at the Manchester Arena between super middleweight titlist George Groves (27-3, 20 KOs) and Chris Eubank Jr. (26-1, 20 KOs – he also holds a lesser title at 168 lbs.). An all-British battle, Groves, who previously lost two competitive mega-fights against Carl Froch, will look to punish Eubank with his power and guile. Eubank, the scion of Chris Eubank Sr., one of the most successful British champions of the 1990's, features a barrage of combinations. Among current fighters he might have the sport's best right uppercut. 

Groves-Eubank represents one of the semifinals of the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS). (The winner of Saturday's fight will face the victor of the Callum Smith-Juergen Braehmer matchup, which will take place later in February.) Groves, a familiar figure at the top level of super middleweight, finally won a world title in his fourth shot in 2017 by knocking out Fedor Chudinov. 

Eubank lost his biggest fight to date, dropping a close decision to future middleweight titlist Billy Joe Saunders in 2014. Since that defeat, however, he has continued to improve and has displayed myriad offensive weapons and an iron chin. Eubank has become one of the more polarizing boxers in England. He fights with considerable swagger but has faced a relatively poor slate of opponents. His supporters see great potential in him while his detractors believe that he's a fraud waiting to be exposed by a top-level boxer; there seems to be no middle ground regarding his future in the ring.

Needless to say, this fight has become one hot ticket in England. The Eubank clan is no stranger to generating media attention and Groves often displays his own sharp tongue. The promoters of the event are expecting a sell-out on Saturday. For both fighters, a win leads to a level of stardom that neither has yet to achieve. Below are the Keys to the Fight. My prediction will be at the end of the article. 

Courtesy of the World Boxing Super Series

1. Is all experience good experience?

Both Groves and Eubank have lost the biggest fights of their respective careers. Groves knocked down Froch in their first fight and had a big lead before Froch rallied. Eventually, Froch's savvy, Groves's flagging energy and Howard Foster's quick stoppage led to a ninth-round stoppage. In the rematch, Groves fought Froch essentially on even terms until Froch unleashed perhaps the best three-punch combination of his career in the eighth round; Groves didn't see the ninth. Groves also was knocked down in the first round against Badou Jack and didn't consistently get his tactics right in a competitive match; he would lose a split decision. 

Eubank was overmatched against Saunders. Prior to that bout, Eubank had fought woeful opposition while Saunders had faced solid young fighters such as John Ryder, Jarrod Fletcher, Spike O'Sullivan and Nick Blackwell. Eubank was a deer-in-headlights during the first half of the fight, lacking the confidence to let his hands go. Belatedly Eubank staged a rally in the second half of the bout but Saunders was correctly declared the victor of the match. 

In lower-profile settings, both Groves and Eubank have found success. Groves stopped Chudinov on an undercard last summer and had an impressive performance against longtime contender Martin Murray. Eubank cruised to an easy victory against former champion Arthur Abraham prior to the start of the WBSS and dominated O'Sullivan and Blackwell. 

It's certainly true that Groves has more experience in big fights than Eubank, but it's not necessarily the right kind of experience. Groves has made strategic and tactical errors in big fights. Although he has displayed a big heart and gobs of courage in his title shots, it's not clear if he has mastered the big moment. For Eubank, he won't be as raw as he was against Saunders but he's never encountered the type of atmosphere that he will experience on Saturday. Has he learned how to relax in a big fight or will a lack of conviction manifest itself again?

2. Groves's legs.

A long, long time ago – let’s call it 2011 – Groves boxed-and-moved his way to a majority decision victory over the favored James DeGale. Although not a masterful performance, Groves's shorter, more direct punches and considerable movement were enough to nick the decision in his favor. Now, two trainers and many ring wars later, Groves no longer resembles the cagey fighter of yesteryear. Groves’s most recent fights against Chudinov and Jamie Cox quickly turned into shootouts. In both bouts, he absorbed a series of hard shots before winning via stoppage. 

A sustained war of attrition against Eubank, who loves to fire off power shots from the center of the ring, probably doesn't suit Groves. Although only one year younger than Groves, Eubank has far less wear-and-tear in the ring and has also displayed excellent conditioning and a sturdy chin. Groves will need to pick appropriate spots for offense while limiting Eubank's opportunities for prolonged exchanges.

It will be fascinating to see what type of game plan Groves and trainer Shane McGuigan hatch for Saturday's fight. Will Groves try to win a firefight or will he engage in a more tactical affair? Can he still box-and-move? These factors could very well decide who winds up the victor on Saturday. 

3. Eubank's right uppercut.

Eubank's best punch is his right uppercut. Not only does he land it with stunning accuracy, but he'll also throw three, four or five in a row. Although the shot might not be a true one-punch eraser, it's an eye-catching offering that hurts opponents and appeals to judges. 

That single punch should be enough for Groves to adjust his tactics for the fight. He can't stay at close range and exchange bombs with Eubank over 12 rounds. He will need to move to his right (Eubank's left) to neutralize that shot. Although Eubank has a good jab and a solid hook, Groves should make Eubank try to beat him with his left hand. The more time that Groves is out of range of the uppercut, the better. 

4. Who has the edge in power? 

Both fighters’ ledgers display 20 knockouts, but not all KOs are created equally. Groves has essentially spent his entire career at super middleweight while Eubank only moved up to 168 last year. In addition, Groves has faced the much stronger slate of opponents. 

Groves's straight right hand is his best punch. It's quick, short and accurate. Often, his right cross startles opponents, who aren't expecting its precision and power. Eubank can hurt opponents with a number of shots, including his right uppercut, straight right and left hook to the body. However, his shots are longer and take more time to develop – that also helps explain why his picture-perfect punches don't always lead to knockouts; some of the steam is off his shots before they land. 

It's unclear who the true puncher is of the two. Eubank has complete confidence in his chin and relishes trading bombs. Groves, however, understands that he has the element of surprise. His perfectly placed right hand can damage any super middleweight – just ask granite-chinned Froch about that. Ultimately, both fighters will attempt to assert their power over the other. But which one will prevail in the power department and who will need to resort to Plan B once realizing that he can't take the other's best shot? 

5. The late rounds. 

Eubank is a superbly conditioned athlete. He maintains his power throughout fights and even in his lone loss to Saunders, he was the one coming on during the final rounds. Groves has a checkered career in the second-half of fights. Against Froch he was plagued by flagging energy, which led to defensive lapses. However, in other fights, especially against Jack and Murray, he competed well during the championship rounds. 

But does Groves have the stamina and mental fortitude to stave off Eubank in the final frames? Can he build up enough of a lead whereby all he needs to do is survive the final rounds to get the victory? Eubank seems to have the edge late in fights but can he get the knockout if he’s significantly behind on the scorecards? 

Prediction:

Groves's compact punching should give him the early edge in the fight as Eubank takes a few rounds to get the distance and incorporate his power shots. Groves will attempt to end the match early, understanding Eubank's athletic advantages and propensity to come on later in fights. But even if Eubank is hurt early in the fight, I think that his chin and upper body movement will be enough to help him survive the initial rounds. Eventually Eubank will find his way into the fight and he gradually will unleash his best power shots. Body work will play an important role and although both will take their shots downstairs, I think that Eubank's body shots will have more of an effect. 

As the match progresses, I expect Eubank to have sustained success with his power punches as Groves starts to tire. Expect to see a lot of right uppercuts in the second half of the fight with Groves's head snapping back repeatedly. In the bout's final third, I think that Eubank will start to batter Groves and he will sweep the championship rounds. Although Groves will have been competitive early in the fight, Eubank's power punching display will be enough to win a close but clear decision. 

Chris Eubank Jr. defeats George Groves by unanimous decision.

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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Showdown in the Light Heavyweight Division

Every now and then, a boxing division brims with a collection of impressive talents, featuring not just one or two potentially great fighters, but handfuls of hopefuls. This rare phenomenon is currently occurring in the 115-lb. division, where the likes of Inoue, Gonzalez, Srisaket, Estrada, Cuadras, Yafai, Ancajas and others are starting to battle for supremacy. 2018 promises to have a number of exciting fights within this grouping and boxing fans, and the industry as a whole, have started to take notice of a division usually reserved for deep undercard placements and off-TV fights in foreign lands. Suddenly, and almost without precedent, the boxing scene is looking forward with rapt attention to this assemblage of 115-lb. talents. 

Yes, the secret's out with the super flyweights, but perhaps by this time next year, the boxing world will feel similarly about another beleaguered weight class: the light heavyweight division. Unlike the super flyweights, the best at 175 lbs. have never had a problem gaining wide exposure in the sport, but there has been a generational issue with the lack of depth in the division. In the 20 years since Roy Jones won his first light heavyweight title, there have seldom been more than two top-tier talents fighting in the division at the same time. A quick glance at some of the names over the past two decades yields some impressive talents: Jones, Michalczewski (if you are so inclined) Tarver, Hopkins, Dawson, Kovalev and Ward. However, there's little depth behind that. I might like Montell Griffin or Glen Johnson as much as the next guy, but no one has ever confused either one with a great fighter. 

With Andre Ward's retirement earlier this year, the light heavyweight division (as well as his three title belts) has been opened up to an impressive collection of contenders. In similar scenarios – like what is happening in the junior welterweight division as a result of Terence Crawford moving up to welterweight – often the belts will wind up being disseminated to significantly lesser talents. But in the light heavyweight division, there are a number of intriguing candidates who could emerge as the alpha dog. Perhaps more importantly, the process of finding out who will be the number one guy will be loads of fun. In addition, these light heavyweights aren't just cuties; almost all are certified bangers. Boxing fans should be in for quite a treat if these talents meet in the ring. 

Before we fully start to salivate over the potentialities in the division, now should be the time for the obligatory reminder about the politics of boxing, promotional turfs, network difficulties and uncooperative fighters that often can deprive the sport of the best matches in a given weight class. (Adonis Stevenson somehow encapsulates or has represented all of these issues, what a guy.) But for now, let's speculate; let's dream. Let's discuss who could possibly emerge as the best light heavyweight.

It's July of 2018 and the World Boxing Super Series has just completed its successful inaugural set of tournaments, crowning Oleksandr Usyk and Chris Eubank Jr. as the winners of the Muhammad Ali Trophy. A newsflash comes across the boxing wires: the light heavyweight division will be selected for the 2017-2018 tournament; boxing fans rejoice and immediately start to speculate on whom will enter. 

What follows below are the eight fighters whom I would want in that tournament. Yes, it's certainly possible that not all will enter, so I'll include a couple of alternates. 

The Top Four Seeds: 

1. Sergey Kovalev

2. Adonis Stevenson

3. Dmitry Bivol

4. Artur Beterbiev

The Next Four 

Badou Jack

Oleksandr Gvozdyk

Sullivan Barrera

Eleider Alvarez

Alternates

Marcus Browne

Joe Smith Jr. 

Let me make a quick note on the seeding. It's clear from how the WBSS ranked the super middleweight division that current champions were seeded higher than non-title holders, regardless of potential or quality. Thus, Bivol and Beterbiev, who currently hold belts, will most likely be seeded in the top-four, irrespective of talent. 

As you can see, just the first round of this hypothetical tournament provides mouth-watering possibilities. Let's say the initial fights are as follows: Kovalev-Alvarez, Stevenson-Barrera, Bivol-Jack and Beterbiev-Gvozdyk (the top four seeds get to pick their opponents). Already, in just the opening matchups, we'll see fireworks a plenty. 

However, for the rest of this article, I'm not interested in predicting the outcomes of hypothetical matchups but I want to provide some additional depth on these fighters. A few in this group are household names to fight fans (Kovalev, Stevenson) while others are just starting to get known (Gvozdyk and Bivol). Below I'll list for each fighter some biographical information, descriptions of their style and strengths and weaknesses. 

Sergey Kovalev 

Record: 30-2-1 (26 KOs)

Age: 34

Country: Russia

Stance: Orthodox

Current Title: None

Next Fight: Nov. 25 against Vyacheslav Shabranskyy (for the vacant WBO title)

Style: A come-forward stalker with one of the best one-two's in the sport. 

Strengths: Straight right hand, jab.

Weaknesses: Mental temperament, out-of-the ring issues, conditioning.

Kovalev, a former unified champ in the division, lost his last two fights to Andre Ward; both featured their share of controversy. A clear majority of fight fans believed that Kovalev won their first fight. He earned a knockdown early in the match and controlled most of the bout's first half. The second fight was ruled a knockout for Ward despite Andre landing several low blows in the concluding salvo. With a more sympathetic ref, perhaps Kovalev gets time to recover in the ring and is allowed to keep fighting. Nevertheless, Kovalev was getting smacked around late in the fight and his conditioning was poor. 

Kovalev will have the opportunity to reclaim one of his former belts later this month against Shabranskyy, and he certainly should win that fight. Despite Kovalev's conditioning flaws and perhaps a lack of creativity, he is still one of the best knockout punchers in the sport and is capable of stopping anyone in the division. However, Kovalev hasn't lived a Spartan lifestyle out of the ring and he's in the middle of a trainer switch. If he's right, he's still a threat to anyone in the division and would probably be the favorite to win the tournament among this pool of fighters (keep in mind that bookies and gamblers often like known quantities). But can he recover from his losses? Will he acknowledge that he still has a lot to learn in the sport? Or will his arrogance and a desire to cut corners be his downfall?

Adonis Stevenson

Record: 29-1 (24 KOs)

Age: 40

Country: Canada by way of Haiti

Stance: Southpaw

Current Title: WBC, lineal king of the division

Next Fight: N/A

Style: An athletic, aggressive southpaw with one of the best left hands in boxing.  

Strengths: Straight left hand, left hook, jab, hand speed. 

Weaknesses: Chin, age, out-of-the-ring temperament.

Adonis Stevenson has been the WBC light heavyweight champion for over four years and has somehow found a way not to fight the two best talents in the division during that time frame, Kovalev and Ward. He's even avoided his mandatory challenger, Eleider Alvarez, for well over a year. Stevenson's victim list does include credible fighters like Andrzej Fonfara and Tony Bellew, but it's also composed of lesser talents like Dmitry Sukhotsky and Tommy Karpency. In truth, it would be a wild stretch to assume that Stevenson would enter a tournament like this one. He's already turned down significant offers and chances to prove his greatness. 

But let's say that Stevenson by some stroke of fancy decides to put it on the line. He's still a formidable fighter. His left hand can end anyone. In the ring, he appears to be a frontrunner. If one of the bangers from this group can survive the early rounds, Stevenson could be in real trouble. In addition, age has to catch up with Stevenson at some point. Very few fighters are major factors in their 40s. Can Stevenson put together three strong performances in a row at such an advanced age? 

Dmitry Bivol

Record: 12-0 (10 KOs)

Age: 26

Country: Russia by way Kyrgyzstan

Stance: Orthodox

Current Title: WBA

Next Fight: N/A

Style: Power puncher with excellent balance and punch technique.

Strengths: Multiple power punches, footwork, balance, punch placement. 

Weaknesses: Lack of professional rounds, weak competition.

A Russian amateur champion with an astounding record of 268-15 before turning pro, Bivol has recently emerged on the world level. He features ferocious punching power. His sterling boxing technique belies his 12 professional fights. With Bivol there's no wasted motion. Every punch has a purpose and he moves with a singular focus. He seemingly can knock people out without even landing his hardest shots. 

Despite Bivol's auspicious start in the pro ranks, there are still a number of unanswered questions regarding his ascension in light heavyweight division. What happens when someone can take his punch? Can he go 12 rounds? What is his defense like? As of now, much of this is speculation but Bivol certainly possesses the power and fundamentals to capture the imagination of the boxing public.

Artur Beterbiev

Record: 12-0 (12 KOs)

Age: 32

Country: Canada by way of Russia

Stance: Orthodox

Current Title: IBF

Next Fight: N/A

Style: A power puncher with a huge right hand. Not necessarily a top athlete but he is very good at applying pressure and cutting off the ring. 

Strengths: Punching power, right hand.

Weaknesses: Lack of professional rounds and experience, out-of-the-ring promotional problems.

Because of injuries and promotional issues, Beterbiev has only fought three times in the past 18 months. At 32, much of his prime has been wasted. Beterbiev turned in a listless performance against Enrico Koelling last Saturday. He threw very few combinations, didn't apply his customary pressure and displayed a curious lack of urgency. Although he won practically every round before stopping Koelling in the 12th, it was perhaps his worst outing as a professional. Beterbiev is embroiled in a lawsuit against his promoter, Yvon Michel. It's certainly possible that the out-of-the-ring drama played a role in his sub-optimal performance. There's also no sense of when he might fight next. We'll know more after his legal proceedings are complete. 

At his best, Beterbiev, a decorated amateur, obliterates opponents with his menacing right hand. However, like Bivol, he hasn't had the competition or experience with those at the top of the division. He's not the most athletic in this group and could struggle with boxers and movers. His punch will keep him in every fight but he doesn't seem to have the same fluidity of Bivol at this point in their respective careers. 

Badou Jack

Record: 22-1-2 (13 KOs)

Age: 34

Country: USA by way of Sweden

Stance: Orthodox

Current Title: None, although recently had a lesser WBA belt

Next Fight: N/A

Style: An aggressive banger who comes on later in fights. Jack applies tremendous pressure and wears down opponents in the second half.  

Strengths: Physicality, toughness, self-belief, inside fighting, body punching.

Weaknesses: Slow-starter, straight-line fighter, can be outworked early.

A little more than three years ago, Jack was an afterthought at the top levels of boxing. Having been iced be unheralded Derek Edwards in the first round, Jack was dismissed as a Mayweather Promotions hypejob. Well, Jack has proved his doubters wrong. He became a super middleweight champ and defeated George Groves in a notable fight. Earlier this year he fought to a spirited draw against fellow titleholder James DeGale. He subsequently moved up to light heavyweight and knocked out former champ Nathan Cleverly.

Jack appears to be at his ideal weight at light heavyweight. Although he's not the biggest puncher in this group, he certainly possesses the heavy artillery to threaten opponents. Jack's relentless dedication to body punching pays dividends as fights progress and few boxers are capable of mixing it up with him on the inside. Jack can be outworked on the outside and he can drop early rounds. Still, he's no one's idea of a picnic.

Oleksandr Gvozdyk

Record: 14-0 (12 KOs)

Age: 30

Country: Ukraine

Stance: Orthodox

Current Title: None

Next Fight: N/A

Style: An athletic boxer-puncher with great feet and rhythm in the ring. He's very tricky to time and throws unconventional combinations.  

Strengths: Athleticism, movement, punch variety, intelligence.

Weaknesses: Can be caught coming in and out. Takes a lot of risks in the ring. 

Gvozdyk announced himself on the world stage with impressive stoppages of Isaac Chilemba and Yunieski Gonzalez. A former Olympic medalist, Gvozdyk has a strong amateur pedigree and a unique pro-style. His legs make him very tricky to time and his ring generalship separates him from others in this pool of fighters. He can get a tad overconfident in the ring and he has learned to respect his opponents better. He moves so much in-and-out that he can leave himself vulnerable to long or sweeping shots. Still, his athleticism and unique ring style will present problems for the top fighters in the division. 

Sullivan Barrera

Record: 20-1 (14 KOs)

Age: 35

Country: USA by way of Cuba

Stance: Orthodox

Current Title: None

Next Fight: Nov. 25 against Felix Valera

Style: A boxer-puncher who is physical, crafty and also a little chinny. 

Strengths: Jab, right hand, physicality.

Weaknesses: Chin, defense during exchanges.

Barrera is an exciting fighter who has won a war against Shabranskyy (Kovalev's next opponent) and got off the canvas to defeat Joe Smith Jr. Last year he was overmatched against Andre Ward but against mere mortals, he has looked threatening. Barrera has good fundamentals. He features a nice double jab and a sneaky right hand. He can go to the body and he can display a good uppercut. Barrera likes to trade a little bit too much for his own good. Although he has the requisite toughness of a champion, his chin might not be at the same level. Expect him to engage in a few more shootouts against the better talent in the division. He could KO or get himself KO'ed against any top fighter. 

Eleider Alvarez

Record: 23-0 (11 KOs)

Age: 33

Country: Canada by way of Colombia

Stance: Orthodox

Current Title: None

Next Fight: N/A

Style: A boxer with tons of talent, athleticism and tools who can sleepwalk through portions of a fight.  

Strengths: Jab, left hook, combination punching, poise.

Weaknesses: Fights at one speed, can display a lack of urgency and focus. 

In any given round, Alvarez can look like an elite fighter. His jab can be a piston. He throws pinpoint combinations. His defense is sharp. He can hit opponents at will. However, keep watching. Suddenly, listlessness sets in. His punch volume drops. Guys he was comprehensively beating suddenly get off with their punches. He can be a maddening fighter. 

If you look at Alvarez's record, you'll already see two majority decisions that wound up going in his favor. Stuck in limbo as Adonis Stevenson's mandatory, Alvarez hasn't had many opportunities to face top fighters. There's a sense that he fights up or down to the level of his competition. If that's the case, then he can be a dark horse in this hypothetical tournament. But perhaps a more pressing problem for him is putting 12 consistent rounds together. 

Alternates:

Marcus Browne

Record: 20-0 (15 KOs)

Age: 27

Country: USA

Stance: Southpaw

Current Title: None

Next Fight: N/A

Style: An athletic, aggressive boxer-puncher who can be undisciplined in the ring, leaving himself open for counters 

Strengths: Straight left hand, hand speed, offensive temperament

Weaknesses: Defensive flaws, can be caught admiring his work, doesn't get out of the pocket fast enough. 

In Browne's most notable fight, he was lucky to score a victory against Radivoje Kalajdzic. In truth, he should've lost but sympathetic officials helped preserve his undefeated record. He rebounded nicely from that performance by knocking out Thomas Williams Jr. and Seanie Monaghan. Browne possesses the hand speed and power to trouble fighters in the upper echelon of the division. However, he also will give them opportunities. He tries to draw every fight into a shoot-out. He throws punches from wide angles and can be countered fairly easily. He also doesn't seem to have a high Ring IQ. When he needed a Plan B against Kalajdzic, one wasn't readily available. 

Joe Smith Jr.

Record: 23-2 (19 KOs)

Age: 28

Country: USA

Stance: Orthodox

Current Title: None

Next Fight: N/A

Style: A heavy-handed puncher who can be very basic in the ring.  

Strengths: Right hand, toughness, understands his strengths and weaknesses as a fighter.

Weaknesses: Athleticism, lack of creativity in the ring. 

Smith had memorable knockouts of Andrzej Fonfara and Bernard Hopkins in 2016. However, the party ended in 2017 against Sullivan Barrera. After knocking down Barrera in the first round, Smith struggled throughout the rest of the fight and wound up having his jaw broken. Smith possesses a strong right hand and he understands rudimentary boxing fundamentals. However, he's not a natural fighter. His hand speed is average and his offensive forays can be predictable. Still, his right hand is a real weapon. An opponent has to neutralize that punch to beat him. 

*

Ultimately, this light heavyweight tournament would bring excitement to the sport. Unlike the current WBSS contests, American TV networks most likely would jump to televise this pool of fighters. With the exception of Alvarez, all of the boxers mentioned have knockout ratios of over 50%. The tournament would promise ferocious power punching and memorable knockouts. In the real world, it's unlikely that all eight of the featured fighters would accept this invitation. But suppose all except Stevenson do? Even if only five or six of the top eight participate, that's still an exceptional tournament. 

It's possible that a full light heavyweight tournament fails to materialize. However, even if matches are kept in-house, that still could provide excitement. Imagine Kovalev-Bivol on HBO, Stevenson-Jack on Showtime or Beterbiev-Gvozdyk on ESPN. Those are all must-see fights. Essentially, even with minimal cooperation between networks and promoters, some great fights could happen with relative ease. 

But let's hope for the best. Here's wishing that the powers that be in boxing realize the depth and talent in the division. If everyone decided to play nice with each other, something truly special could happen. Yes, often we wear our skeptical hats as we follow the sport. It protects us from the cynicism and falsehoods which are all too common in boxing. But let's remove our caps for just a brief instance and imagine how exciting such a tournament could be. We're on the precipice of a golden age in the light heavyweight division. For today, let's luxuriate on those possibilities before the cold realities of the sport attempt to interfere.

Adam Abramowitz is the founder and head writer of saturdaynightboxing.com
He's a member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board.
Email: saturdaynightboxing@hotmail.com 
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