• Welcome to the Cricket Web forums, one of the biggest forums in the world dedicated to cricket.

    You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join the Cricket Web community today!

    If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

Boxing thread

hendrix

Hall of Fame Member
Bivol v Beterbiev agreed for Saudi Arabia.

Mixed emotions really, even ignoring the sport washing a major issue with Saudi Arabia is how quiet the crowds can be which takes away from the spectacle, but obviously American promoters did not see money in the fight so it is what it is.

Then the other issue,,,,,,,I am slightly worried that Smith might take out Beterbiev who is now near 40. Its a small sample obviously but Smith looks violent in this weight category.

Nonetheless no matter the winner of Smith/Beterbiev. Bivol schools both. Elite.
Just to come back to this I have some more thoughts.

Callum Smith's best wins are John Ryder (a fight he actually lost), and a shot and injured George Groves. Dude was getting outboxed by Erik Skoglund ffs. He's barely a world level fighter and the fact that he was a world champion is due to his promoter and the UK money. He never fought any of the other champs at 168 and then lost every single round against Canelo and was not competitive. N

Artur Beterbiev - yes he is old and injury prone. But the guy has beat the **** out of literally every fighter he ever came across, including some elite names. Gvosdyk was a pound for pound level fighter who put Adonis Stevenson in hospital. Beterbiev retired him. Dude didn't want to fight again. Beterbiev has a win over Usyk in the amateurs. This guy lives boxing and is probably the most underrated fighter in the world right now.

Would Bivol have beaten Gvoskyk? That would be a 50/50 fight IMO.
 

Bahnz

Hall of Fame Member
Rumours of Parker vs Hrgovic on the AJ-Ngannou undercard.

A great fight for the heavyweight division, but feel that it's a bad match up for Parker as he will struggle to get past the jab just like the Joyce fight.
Would be better to get in with Zhang IMO.
Agree, though rumours are that Zhang is going to be match up against Wilder.
 

Niall

International Coach
Callum out of his depth here so far half way through to say the least.

Domination.

One good thing about the Saudi's is we will get the Bivol fight now, yeah it sucks in Saudi but without them it does not happen unfortunately.

Might have to rethink my call of Bivol winning !
 

hendrix

Hall of Fame Member
It's one of the best fights in boxing and I do not gaf where it happens, it just needs to happen this year.

Have been leaning towards Beterbiev for the last year or so.
 

hendrix

Hall of Fame Member
Parker Zhang is signed apparently.

Excellent, excellent fight.

This would never have been made without that Saudi money.
 

hendrix

Hall of Fame Member
Some value picks for Niall on upcoming fights:

Briedis is good value in the rematch. Yes, Opetaia has huge upside and won the first fight. Yes, Briedis has been mucking around over the last couple of years calling out Jake Paul. but it's still the most competitive fight at cruiserweight

John Ryder is good value vs Munguia. I think Munguia probably wins but he's frankly just not that good and has only one credible win on his resume.
 

hendrix

Hall of Fame Member
Some value picks for Niall on upcoming fights:

Briedis is good value in the rematch. Yes, Opetaia has huge upside and won the first fight. Yes, Briedis has been mucking around over the last couple of years calling out Jake Paul. but it's still the most competitive fight at cruiserweight

John Ryder is good value vs Munguia. I think Munguia probably wins but he's frankly just not that good and has only one credible win on his resume.
Well I got the Ryder one wrong, but even in retrospect i still think that was worth a punt. Still not sold on Munguia.

Briedis vs Opetaia rematch is so interesting.

It's bizarre how UK commentators had Jordan Thompson a favourite going into that fight and rated Okolie as the number one cruiserweight even after Opetaia had beat Briedis.

They have now swung the other way and are painting Opetaia as some type of Mike Tyson character.

The reality is that Briedis was the puncher in the first fight.

Inactivity might have killed him and he might be just wanting the Saudi payday but he's a proud man and I suspect he's going to come to win.
 

Niall

International Coach
I didn't actually know Parker v Zhang was official until not to long ago. Whoops.

Parker has a chance, but damn he has to avoid the bombs from Zhang , easier said than done.

Proper banger though.

Hopefully Hrgovic gets a proper opponent on an upcoming Saudi card, the last dude he "fought" LOL.
 

Bahnz

Hall of Fame Member
Tbh it does look like a pretty gnarly cut to get 2 weeks out from the biggest fight of his career - above the eye and deep.
1706901144346.png

The problem of course is that if the fight is delayed beyond the end of the Riyadh season we might not see it rescheduled until the end of the year. Who knows if the IBF is willing to wait that long.
 

Niall

International Coach
Tbh it does look like a pretty gnarly cut to get 2 weeks out from the biggest fight of his career - above the eye and deep.
View attachment 38980

The problem of course is that if the fight is delayed beyond the end of the Riyadh season we might not see it rescheduled until the end of the year. Who knows if the IBF is willing to wait that long.

I think with Riyadh they are working after it? beterbiev v Bivol possible for June supposedly.

Hrgovic been discussed as a replacement, he v Usyk is a fight I would watch.
 

hendrix

Hall of Fame Member
Tbh it does look like a pretty gnarly cut to get 2 weeks out from the biggest fight of his career - above the eye and deep.
View attachment 38980

The problem of course is that if the fight is delayed beyond the end of the Riyadh season we might not see it rescheduled until the end of the year. Who knows if the IBF is willing to wait that long.
Sorry but what professional boxer is not wearing full protective headgear two weeks before the biggest fight in boxing? It is very unlikely to get a cut wearing proper protective headgear when sparring.

Fury does not and has never wanted this fight.
 

Top