2019 Fight of the Year
An edited version of this article was originally published on TheFightCity.com on January 7th, 2020: https://www.thefightcity.com/fight-of-the-year-inoue-donaire-boxing/
Well before the final bell had sounded, it was clear the bantamweight World Boxing Super Series finale would be one to add to the “Classic Fights” collection. It had all the right ingredients: a timeless “old legend vs. young Monster” storyline, two endearing characters, twists and turns in the plot, elite skills, and true grit – all fired up in a 12-round pressure cooker to produce 2019’s Fight of the Year. Read more
Post-Fight Report: Prograis vs. Taylor
An edited version of this article was originally published on TheFightCity.com on October 27th, 2019: https://www.thefightcity.com/prograis-vs-taylor-report-scotland-boxing/
In a gruelling twelve-round finale to the World Boxing Super Series, Josh Taylor emerged a deserved majority decision winner over a game Regis Prograis. Tactically absorbing yet action-packed, the contest lived up to everything boxing fans were hoping for, with both men having moments of ascendency and pushing each other to the last bell. Read more
Sergey Kovalev TKO11 Anthony Yarde: Vindication
An edited version of this article was originally published on TheFightCity.com on August 27th, 2019: https://www.thefightcity.com/kovalev-vs-yarde-double-vindication/
Sergey Kovalev, defending in his hometown against undefeated English upstart Anthony Yarde, was an intriguing match-up on paper and one that brought out the full spectrum of predictions. Some asserted assuredly that Yarde, at 18-0 but with few recognizable names on his record, had no business in the ring with the seasoned Russian and would be badly exposed. Others, swayed perhaps by a mixture of Yarde’s obvious athletic potential, his team’s immense confidence, and various personal and pugilistic chinks apparent in the Russian’s armour, insisted the Englishman would pull off one of the great British upsets on away soil.
The Monster Makes Mincemeat of McDonnell
This report was originally published on TheFightCity.com, on May 25th 2018: https://www.thefightcity.com/fight-report-inoue-vs-mcdonnell/
The bantamweight division is on notice: there is a Monster in town, and he is not taking any prisoners.
It was always going to be a tall order for Britain’s Jamie McDonnell. Defending away from home and competing against one of the most highly regarded fighters in world boxing; very few people were backing him to come away with his WBA “regular” world title belt. But no one foresaw the one-sided drubbing that Inoue dished out. Read more
The Troubles with CompuBox
This article was published by Boxinginsider.com on July 8th, 2017: http://www.boxinginsider.com/columns/the-troubles-with-compubox/
Boxing is a notoriously difficult sport to score. Although the brief a fighter must follow is simple enough – hit and hurt your opponent more than he does you – deciding who completes this task more successfully can be a complicated affair. Witness the myriad of disputed decisions that litter boxing history as evidence of the above. In the wake of Manny Pacquiao’s defeat to unfavoured Australian Jeff Horn last weekend, another contentious result can be added to that list. Read more
Matt O'Brien