Its standard for the WBO. Terry Flanagan just did the same - dropped the WBO belt at 135lb and is then made number one contender for the vacated 140lb WBO title, and we had the same situation last year when Canelo was installed as the WBO number one middleweight contender after dropping their 154lb title.
Sticking my neck out here but I think Dorticos' style could be all wrong for Gassiev. Yes, he's very basic with his 1-2s, but when you have an 80" reach why would you throw anything other than straight punches? It's possible that Dorticos has just sailed through against poor opposition, but he does have a pretty extensive amateur career too. I do like Gassiev though.
FOTY candidate. Hope Dorticos chin hasn’t been permenantly cracked. How he got up from the first knockdown I have no idea. Be great if they could get Dorticos vs. Briedis as chief support for the final.
+10000
yup.
Agreed plus no straight right and couldn’t deal with the movement of a guy who’s hardly a defensive genius
The guy is a phenomenal athlete, it's bizarre that someone who grew up with a father in the sport has such a deficit in the fundamentals. It's like he's trying to be Roy Jones Jr without understanding range.
He looks the part aesthetically but he gassed in this fight and is so slow on his feet. Scorecards were very generous as well to him and at least two legit knockdowns were missed. I think Groves hurt him early on and could have taken him out but fancy he will knock Smith out as well.
There's method to his madness, but aside from that the dude is insanely fit. Quite a ridiculous feat for a heavyweight to be able to expend that much energy in the ring. Hats off to Ortiz too.Wilder is so ****ing raw its unreal, but yeah that power
Enjoyed that fight, Ortiz not exactly a gimme whatsoever. I do think Wilder wouldn't have enough to beat Joshua, but when you can produce magic like Wilder, always got a chance.
