A small step or a giant leap for Oleksandr Usyk?
A team of experts join Elliot Worsell to examine Oleksandr Usyk’s chances of ruling the world at heavyweight
NOT long after cruiserweight king Oleksandr Usyk decided to head to a division only the biggest and bravest cruiserweights dare visit, the WBC decided to create another division to highlight just how difficult it is jumping from cruiserweight to heavyweight and leaving a mark.
In creating bridgerweight (200lbs to 224lbs), the WBC not only offer boxers another weight class in which to win a (for now) meaningless title but also remind us all it will probably take something special for Usyk to become as dominant at heavyweight as he was as the world cruiserweight champion.
EXCLUSIVE: Lerrone Richards: Moving up the levels
Lerrone Richards discusses why he has taken the traditional route through the titles on his way to world level.
Lerrone Richards was the British, Commonwealth and WBO European and International champion. Photo Credit: Frank Warren
Britain has emerged as a hotbed for young boxing talent coming through the ranks at amateur and professional levels and Lerrone Richards, who has been flying under the radar, challenges for the European title this weekend.
“It’s the biggest step up of my career!” Richards told proboxing-fans.com ahead of his clash with Giovanni De Carolis.
“It’s going to be a very, very tough fight and I’ve trained very hard. I’m not going to say I’ve trained even harder for this fight because I train hard for every fight, even if it’s a six or eight rounder, I’m always in great condition.
Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images
The fight Frampton goes out on was an ambitious bid to win a world title in a third weight class, to add something more to his legacy in the ring, to put something more on his résumé. He was fighting small at 130 lbs; Carl frankly fought small even at 126, as he was a thickly-built but not tall guy at 122, where he was at his very best.
He was beaten soundly by a better fighter on the night against Herring, and he made no bones and no excuses about that.
“I just got beat by the better man. I really struggled to get inside him. He was sharpshooting from a distance, perfect game plan,” he said. “Zero excuses, I had an amazing camp, I was coming into this fight to win it. I was just beaten by the better man.”
WOW!!!
That was legendary!
Great fight from both boxers Saul Sanchez (@saul80sanchez) March 14, 2021
The reactions to Sucre’s scoring were a lot less kind:
Estrada had momentum that he lost in the last 3-4rds. Chocolatito showed more than I thought he would. Thought Chocolatito edged it. But there were at least 3-4 swing rds that could have gone either way. Can’t argue with 115-113 for Estrada, but the 117-111 was way off. Andre S.O.G. Ward (@andreward) March 14, 2021
117-111 Estrada is one of the WORST FUCKING SCORECARDS I VE EVER SEEN caleb truax (@GoldenCalebT) March 14, 2021
Naa I haven’t that. 117-111? GTFOH!!! Kal Yafai (@iam yafai) March 14, 2021
Hagler held the undisputed middleweight championship between 1980 and 1987, finishing his glittering career with a record of 62 wins, two draws and three defeats from 67 contests. The hard-hitting American made 12 successful title defences in that time, reigning as the middleweight king for six years and seven months. He was twice named Fighter of the Year by
The Ring magazine, in 1983 and 1985. Hagler was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1954 and moved with his family to Brockton, Massachusetts, in the late 1960s. Quiet with a brooding public persona, he was involved in some legendary battles with fellow middleweights Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard during his storied career.