A critical look at the past week in boxing
BIGGEST WINNER
Naoya Inoue – “The Beast” will probably never match Manny Pacquiao as the greatest Asian boxer of all time but he is making a case that he can end up in No. 2. Inoue (24-0, 21 KOs) knocks out 118-pound opponent Paul Butler in 11order entered the third round in Tokyo to become the first boxer from his continent to become the undisputed champion of the four-belt era and strengthen the argument that he is the most active fighter. Butler (34-2, 15 KOs) was not easy for Inoue, more due to his reluctance than his ability. He held or fled rather than engage Inoue, who spent most of the war trying to lure the frightened British out of his protective shell. He eventually made it through in the penultimate round, knocking Butler out with a right header, a left header and finally a series of difficult shots. Butler’s worst fears have come true, providing the clearest evidence yet that Inoue is the most destructive force in the sport.
BIGGEST QUESTION
Who can compete with Inoue? The problem Inoue had from a competitive standpoint was that there was no one close to his weight in his class. Nonito Donaire pushed him in 2019 but that was due to a facial fracture, at least partially. He brutally stopped Donaire in a rematch this past June. Who else is there? Inoue has indicated that he plans to gain up to 122 pounds. That could set up a duel with talented master Stephen Fulton, the only boxer of Inoue’s size who can cause him serious problems. Fulton is quick and dexterous, though his lack of punching power can be a pity. Of course, there is no guarantee that the fight will happen next. Fulton could opt to fight fellow belt fighter Murodjon Akhmadaliev in an attempt to become the undisputed champion. Or he may gain weight. We can only hope that Inoue is a challenge the proud Fulton cannot resist.
BIGGEST WINNER II
Frank Martin – A star-studded light division becomes more flashy. Martin (17-0, 12 KOs) delivered one breakthrough victory Saturday in Las Vegas, edged out compatriot Michel Rivera (24-1, 14 KOs) to win a one-way decision. He was excellent. The match was supposed to be an even match for rising young talent but Martin made it clear from the start that he was too fast and too good for Rivera, both offensively and defensively. The Dominicans were almost completely disabled. As a result, Martin made the solid argument that he belongs in the conversation with the best boxers in and around the 135-pound division. He wants to challenge undisputed champion Devin Haney or front-runner Gervonta Davis, both of which plan to exclude Martin at the moment. In the end, however, he will get that chance. And based on what we saw on Saturday, no one would be surprised if he wins. He’s so good.
THE BIGGEST FAILERS
river – Rivera entered the ring on Saturday as an undefeated rising star. He leaves it a badly beaten man who will have to rebuild. The 24-year-old cannot match the physical gifts of Martin, who is too fast for him. That is surprising. And he wasn’t in a position to make significant adjustments as the war was moving away from him, which left him with no chance of turning things around. Also surprising. Can Rivera recover? That is difficult to say. On the one hand, he is a talented boxer who is still young. He can grow as a warrior through defeat. On the other hand, a total loss like this one would probably destroy Rivera’s confidence. We will see how strong he is mentally.
THE BEST
Butler’s performance – The 34-year-old from the Liverpool region has worked his entire career to get the same chance he got against Inoue on Tuesday. However, he basically did not try to win the fight. Perhaps he realized that he was exposed early in the match, which is understandable given Inoue’s ability and strength. However, many fighters in that position will risk their lives and limbs to try to score a magic knock because that’s what boxers do. Butler wasn’t willing to do that. It reminds me of Joshua Clottey’s pathetic effort against top Pacquiao in 2010, when Clottey’s only goal was survival. That stripped fans of the opportunity to see Pacquiao show off his best destructive power in a near margin of victory. Saturday’s fans got to witness a late knockout but they’ll probably also appreciate Butler’s honest effort. I know I will.
MOST SURPRISE II
Terence Crawford’s split gloves: At least one of the welterweight’s gloves ripped at the seams entering the sixth and final round of his bout against David Avanesyan on December 10 in Omaha, Nebraska. . Ringside officials decided to allow the game to continue, which seems questionable. Wouldn’t that increase the chances of a cut? A change of gloves could have been more appropriate. Then, a few days later, glove maker Everlast claimed responsibility for the incident by pointing out that defective leather had been used to manufacture the gloves despite the company claiming to use a control measure. Strict quality control. I hope they discover that bit of information after the battle. If company officials had known ahead of time, they would have had a lot of explaining to do. The timing of the discovery was not made clear in a statement from the company. I also hope that boxing officials and glove manufacturers everywhere are watching closely.
