WBA and IBF super bantamweight champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev defended his unified title Saturday night against Ronny Rios, but the fight many really wanted to see was MJ versus Stephen Fulton Jr.
Luke G. Williams previews a game already overshadowed by a competition that probably won’t take place…
With chaos and institutionalized dysfunction reigning in the boxing universe, it’s surprising – and fun – that in the past 13 months there have been three world championship-winning bouts’ indisputable’.
In May 2021, Josh Taylor beat Jose Ramirez world lightweight champion; Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez defeats Caleb Plant in November of the same year for the super-middleweight crown, and in May this year Jermell Charlo won over Brian Castano for all the middleweight marbles (itself a rematch of a non-medium title fight). controversial since last year ended in a draw).
While it’s too early to extrapolate whether this trend will become the norm or merely a fleeting burst of sanity in the craziest sports circus on the planet, it really makes one have to ask yourself.
I mean, watch this weekend’s bantam super fight between Murodjon Akhmadaliev (10-0, 7 KOs) and Ronny Rios.
The undefeated Uzbek holds the WBA and ‘super’ and IBF 122lbs crowns and has earned his fair share in glowing reviews since moving into 2019. He’s the world title holder. world united after just ten paid matches, but his latest bout is in serious jeopardy completely overshadowed by talk of an undisputed potential title rivalry with Stephen Philadelphia’s talented Fulton Jr (WBC and WBO champion, 21-0.8 KO).
If there’s a downside to a renewed focus on undisputed title fights, it’s perhaps the fact that decent matches without four fancy belts can be omitted or completely ignored. going unnoticed, which is what seems to be happening with the match between Akhmadaliev-Rios, which forms part of a trio of world titles on the DAZN card and Matchroom USA on Saturday night in San Antonio.
It’s true that Rios isn’t the best opponent right now for Akhmadaliev (the 32-year-old Californian doesn’t rank among Boxing Social’s top 10 superheroes, for example), but he’s not a fan. play. He gave Rey Vargas a decent argument in his WBC title fight back in 2017 and has won 5-1 since that night at StubHub Center, with his most impressive win being an unfortunate 2019 goal. his against Diego De La Hoya undefeated at the time.
Certainly Akhmadaliev does not underestimate Rios, who is his WBA mandatory opponent (the duo originally planned to fight last year, only for Akhmadaliev to sign Covid. Rios also contracted the virus later).
“Ronny is a good fighter;” MJ spoke to Phil Rogers about a Boxing News feature this week. “He was in the ring and fighting for the world title and he always showed. He always comes to fight.”
Interestingly, the somewhat modest Akhmadaliev also emphasized to Rogers that he is “still learning” as a pro despite already holding two world titles. “It’s learning on the job,” said the 27-year-old. “I’m young in my professional career but I’m being driven by all the sanctioning authorities and everyone.”
Akhmadaliev’s formidable technical background is likely to prove too much for Rios, with the confident pick here being mid-to-late stoppage time in favor of the Uzbek.
Once Rios has no way out, the conversation could once again turn to undisputed titles and potential super-fight dreams against Fulton Jr.
If Matchroom and PBC can come together – as they’ve been rare lately – to make that fight a reality, then perhaps true boxing will put longtime frustrations that seem to form part of the DNA. Its sport in the rearview mirror and a brave new world will indeed come upon us.
