By: Hans Themistode
There is a certain art associated with the sport of boxing. Of course, one thing is obvious, the barbaric acts of two boxers entering the ring topless, fighting until someone says “no mask” shamelessly. But boxing is more than just blood, guts and pain.
There are a few boxers who taught us that. Step back in time and see how the likes of Pernell Whitaker, Sam Langford, Winky Wright, Gene Tunney, Wilfred Benitez and Willie Pep – made boxers miss again and again. While they usually win, in most cases they never attract fans. That never really mattered, though. They exit with unprecedented winnings, only a handful of losses, and a solid bank account.
Whenever a microphone is thrown in the face of Floyd Mayweather, arguably the greatest defensive boxer of all time, he usually begins by talking about his amazing investments, how he milk the sport with ease and chances are, whether he is asked about it or not, he will explain how easily he beat Canelo Alvarez. In addition to those sticking points, Mayweather prides himself on his pristine track record of 50 fights and the amount of money he’s earned as a result.
Rarely is a new Hall of Famer introduced in a 12-round back-and-forth fight. That’s not to say he doesn’t have his fair share of rough nights at the geek’s office. Miguel Cotto, Marcos Maidana and Jose Luis Castillo jostled Mayweather. But, despite those back-and-forth bouts, Mayweather has created an illusion about the sport.
Mayweather and Andre Ward for that matter, made it look super easy. Countless punches emanated from their unprotected chin, just inches away to hit them right on the button. Both men and many others know when to move, when to react, and how to avoid big punches.
However, while boxers like Mayweather, Pep and Ward perfect the art of hitting while staying unscathed, this past weekend, was a quick reminder of the brutality of the sport.
Erickson Lubin is determined to re-establish himself not only as the top name at 154 pounds but also as the top name in the weight class. After a stunning first-round knock-out loss at the hands of Jermell Charlo in 2017, Lubin picked himself up and returned to the title.
With six straight wins, Lubin is just one win away from being on the verge of becoming the division’s most worthy title challenger. That said, when Lubin walked through those doors to be considered the best of the best, his eyesight was impaired by Sebastian Fundora 6’6″.
Despite the lofty mission, both literally and figuratively, bettors still consider Lubin a light favorite. The 26-year-old will prove it early on when he unboxes the oddly tall Fundora in the opening round of their Las Vegas showdown this past weekend. But while Lubin continued to have his moments, Fundora beat every chance to win.
Round after round, Lubin tried to use his defenses to beat a boxer with a 6-inch reach and a staggering 8-inch height advantage. At times, Lubin unleashed his jab, deflecting his men’s oncoming attack and moving sideways, making it nearly impossible for Fundora to land.
But as the laps, minutes, and seconds began to pass, Fundora began to find the mark. In the second, the big opponent knocked out Lubin, sending him down to the deck. From there, Lubin began to sit down and exchange, something that seems to be working in season seven. During that time, Lubin flung Fundora’s gun halfway around the ring and battered him until he was forced to his knees.
While Lubin shouted and shouted at the crowd, he appeared disheartened when Fundora stood up. For the rest of their competition, Fundora beat Lubin. And, as he returned to his corner after completing each tough round, the swelling around his eyes worsened, the lumps on his nose became more prominent and the entire face face becomes more and more deformed.
As first reported by BoxingScene.com, after succumbing to Fundora’s power in season nine, Lubin suffered a broken nose and detached shoulder. Surprisingly, he did not suffer any more broken bones other than his nose.
In general, Lubin shows courage, determination and refuses quickly when things get difficult. While he has the support and a lot of respect from the boxing world for his efforts, Tony Harrison, a former junior middleweight belt holder who also advises Lubin, believes that right away. Even at 26, it might be time for him to hang them up.
“Hey man, listen to me – after this fight, if I were Lubin, I’d be thinking about retiring,” Harrison told BoxingScene.com. “You know what I mean? It’s a tough fight. It’s a tough one. You don’t even recognize him, it’s real. You know what I’m saying? He’ll be sore in the morning, and no one will sit with that man but his team.This sport doesn’t give you a lot of emotions.Lubin’s being so tough on me, man, he’s acting like a dog. I really didn’t see that from him. To push forward the way he is pushing forward after being knocked down, I salute the man. I greet him. It just tells you. Boxing is the most extreme sport in the world.”
Lubin is everything Harrison has to say and more. His bold attitude, in the face of countless adversities, has earned him all the respect in the world from his peers. But, it is also a reminder of the brutality of boxing.
