Boxing’s winners and losers in July 2024

By Eric Armit

July 15: Rosettes and Purple Playing cards

Rosette: Good to see Matchroom getting Ennis again combating in his house metropolis for the primary time since 2018.

Purple Card: To the referee of the Gonzalez vs. Barrera struggle. Barrera was completed after being floored within the eighth and knew it. When the referee indicated to him to carry his gloves, he left them hanging at his facet, so the referee grabbed them and swiped them in opposition to his shirt. A lot for safeguarding the fighter.

Any low blow goes?

After the Usyk vs. Dubois controversy, I assumed it was clear that something on or under the belt line was a foul, however even after dropping Avanesyan with a really low punch within the first, Ennis frequently landed on and under Avanesyan’s belt line, so now I do not know of what constitutes a low blow. Maybe they are going to undertake a knee line for future Ennis fights.

Modern-day tape is simply too free

Somebody is making a fortune out of supplying garbage glove wrappings. On the weekend, the fights involving Roman Gonzalez, Albert Batyrgaziev, Ruben Villa, and others noticed the motion stopped for the free tape to be minimize off and extra tape added. I assumed this had been solved, however whether it is even occurring in Nevada, then clearly not.

David Benavidez tapes his palms earlier than figuring out along with his brother Jose Benavidez Jr. (not pictured) throughout a media coaching session on November 9, 2023 in Burien, Washington. (Photograph by Steph Chambers/Getty Photos)

Shut shave for suspended contestant Ritter

Beards appear to be the in factor in sport as of late however there are limits. Gentle-heavyweight Kwame Ritter, who misplaced to Khalil Cole on the weekend, has a really substantial chin adornment. A lot so, that in opposition to his file of Fee suspensions is a word from the Californian Fee on Contest look stating: “All contestants shall be clear and tidy. Contestant’s facial [hair] is deemed an interference to the conduct of the bout. Contestant must trim or safe facial hair earlier than subsequent bout”. A Samson and Delilah for the 21st century!

July 22: Rosettes and Purple Playing cards

Rosette: To promoters Jorge Fernandez and Williams Perez for his or her huge present in Caracas. The largest in a few years in Venezuela. Even an honorary point out right here goes to the Frank Warren present in Birmingham that had so many good matches on it.

Purple Card: To Jonathan Rodriguez, an actual get together pooper. The three-title struggle present in Tokyo was an enormous occasion, however Rodriguez got here in 6.4lbs obese for his problem for the WBO tremendous fly title in opposition to Kosei Tanaka, so there have been solely two title fights.

Feminine recreation bettering, slowly

Male boxing has taken over 100 years to get the place it’s right now so it’s unreasonable to anticipate feminine boxing to be to the identical total normal. The WBA light-heavyweight title struggle in Queensland noticed the previous Australian heavyweight champion Che Kenneally ( she weighed 163 ¾ lbs when profitable that heavyweight title) going through a Colombian who began her profession weighing round 136lbs however was 174 ¼ for the struggle on the weekend.

Moving into, Kenneally’s 4 victims had mixed information of 2-7. No criticism is meant; that is simply an illustration of how various things nonetheless are relating to the depth and degree of competitors that exists between female and male boxing right now. Feminine boxing will get stronger yearly, and the Olympics may present extra function fashions for aspiring feminine boxers.

Jake Paul’s twisted values

What a twisted set of values in our sport. Jake Paul, a 9-0 novice with some reasonable abilities, fights a man who has had just one earlier struggle and misplaced it. However Paul is a celeb on social media. Therefore, he will get hundreds extra publicity and hundreds extra money than a 46-2-1, extraordinarily achieved professional with a number of title belts, corresponding to Amanda Serrano.

And we’ve the thrilling prospect of a now 10-1-0 Paul combating a 58-year-old Mike Tyson, recovering from ulcers, who has not fought since 2005 and has not received a struggle since 2003. It’s a twisted sport, certainly.