Boxing Overreactions: Usyk’s Future, Canelo’s Subsequent Foe, Shakur’s P4P Standing & Extra

Boxing has finished it once more.

The anticipated unification struggle for all 4 world heavyweight titles between champions Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk seems to be over for now after months of negotiations and simply when it appeared prefer it was going to occur.

Fury has choices. Deontay Wilder is the WBC obligatory challenger, however Fury has knocked him out twice and drawn as soon as) and there’s little curiosity in a fourth struggle. Usyk has three of the 4 belts, however his first obligatory challenger is WBA “common” champion Daniel Dubois. Will Usyk go after the most important prize struggle or will he face Dubois to get out of that title protection obligation?

let’s speak about fights are taking place. Can John Ryder final all 12 rounds towards undisputed tremendous middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez? Is David Benavidez subsequent for Álvarez? Can Canelo beat Dmitry Bivol if he strikes again up for a rematch in September?

What about Teofimo Lopez Jr.? Can he win a world title once more? Is Shakur Stevenson able to be a high 5 pound-for-pound fighter?

Our boxing panel places these points into perspective and tells us whether or not or not we’re overreacting.

Usyk will go forward and struggle Daniel Dubois subsequent

Usyk needs to carry on to the belts, so his subsequent opponents might be determined by his obligatory WBA, IBF and WBO obligations. Dubois owns the WBA secondary belt and is on the entrance of line for that governing physique, which has precedence in order that his obligatory protection goes first. The WBA says Usyk should start talks for a protection towards Dubois if he doesn’t signal for the Fury struggle by April 1.

Whereas Dubois (19-1, 18 KOs), of London, is the most certainly opponent for Usyk, it isn’t assured. The English boxer not too long ago returned to coaching after struggling an ACL tear in his final struggle in December. Dubois, 25, fell thrice within the first spherical towards Kevin Lerena earlier than rallying to cease the South African within the third spherical. Dubois is unlikely to struggle earlier than the top of Could.

But when Dubois can’t struggle Usyk subsequent as a result of he wants extra time to get better from the damage (Usyk gained’t wish to wait too lengthy), then the Ukrainian may goal Filip Hrgovic (15-0, 12 KOs), the 30-year-old Croatian. yr that’s the number one challenger of the IBF. Like Dubois, Hrgovic appeared weak in his final outing. He needed to come off the canvas within the first spherical to defeat China’s Zhilei Zhang by determination in a title eliminator final August.

Dubois was additionally stopped within the tenth spherical by Joe Joyce in 2020, which makes one marvel if he may trigger critical issues for a talented technician like Usyk. –Parkinson’s

Verdict: Not an overreaction

John Ryder will go all the way in which towards Canelo Alvarez

As a lot as Ryder has improved to develop into an elite fighter in current fights, he nonetheless shouldn’t be an element within the later rounds towards Alvarez. If the English challenger takes Alvarez to a choice, then there might be claims that the champion is on the decline, or not less than was demotivated and underestimated Ryder.

Does Alvarez have one megafight left if he stays at tremendous middleweight? Can he ever significantly threaten mild heavyweight champions Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev if he strikes up a division once more?

If Alvarez, 32, seems too far into the longer term or lacks motivation towards Ryder, it’s going to make the struggle extra aggressive than it must be. But it surely’s onerous to think about Álvarez missing the need to impress in his first struggle in his hometown of Guadalajara, Mexico, in 12 years.

Alvarez (58-2-2, 39 KOs) has spent his 18-year skilled profession working ranges above Ryder, who has risen to the highest admirably whereas overcoming early setbacks. Ryder (32-5, 18 KOs), of London, moved as much as tremendous middleweight 5 years in the past and bought his shot after a break up determination win over Daniel Jacobs final yr. He, too, suffered a controversial unanimous determination loss to Callum Smith in 2019. These two performances, arguably one of the best of Ryder’s profession, aren’t sufficient to recommend he takes Álvarez the space. Ryder, who has misplaced to a few fighters on Alvarez’s tempo, might be gritty till the stoppage, most certainly within the later rounds. –Parkinson’s

Verdict: Overreaction

Teófimo López Jr. won’t ever win a title once more

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Lopez seems to have some elementary points along with his profession since turning into the unified light-weight champion in 2020. Because the begin of 2021, he has one convincing win: a TKO victory over Pedro Campa in his first struggle after dropping to George Kambosos Jr… His most up-to-date victory was a controversial break up determination over Sandor Martin, who many believed ought to have been the victor.

The interactions between Lopez and his coach and father, Teofimo Sr., additionally don’t encourage a lot confidence on struggle evening. Teofimo’s breakthrough victory over Vasiliy Lomachenko in 2020 to win three titles confirmed that he has the expertise to be a two-time champion. Lopez additionally has the charisma to stay a star.

Nevertheless, there’s an excessive amount of expertise within the 140- and 147-pound divisions for Lopez to develop into champion. Possibly a change within the nook of him may push him again to the highest. — Child

Verdict: Not an overreaction

David Benavidez won’t ever face Canelo Álvarez

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Till now, Álvarez has by no means expressed his need to face Benavidez. He has instructed that Benavidez tackle different 168-pound contenders first earlier than participating within the matchup.

Nicely, Benavidez is doing simply that this weekend. He’ll face Caleb Plant for the interim WBC middleweight title. As of Wednesday, Benavidez is a heavy favourite (-360, in keeping with Caesars Sportsbook). A win places him in line to face Alvarez. It’s onerous to think about the WBC forcing Alvarez to vacate his title if he needs to problem Bivol once more, until Alvarez needs to voluntarily relinquish the belt. At this level in his profession, Álvarez is anxious with cementing his legacy. That may take a small dent if he by no means faces Benavidez. — Child

Verdict: Overreaction

Shakur Stevenson might be one of many high 5 pound-for-pound fighters this yr

Stevenson gained’t get there, however that’s right down to who’s forward of him and who he’ll be combating in a few weeks (the little-known Shuichiro Yoshino, who has by no means fought exterior of his house nation of Japan), plus who is likely to be subsequent. . For him to interrupt into the highest 5, a number of individuals must lose.

Sooner or later in Stevenson’s profession, he might be a high 5 pound-for-pound fighter, however the finish of 2023 might be too quickly. –Rothstein

Verdict: Overreaction

Canelo Alvarez to develop into mild heavyweight champion

The final time I spoke to Álvarez was throughout a press convention on the Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, the place he’ll struggle Ryder on Could 6. Alvarez emphasised that he’ll struggle WBA mild heavyweight champion Bivol in a rematch in September at 175 kilos.

For now, unified division champion Beterbiev isn’t on Alvarez’s radar. I don’t see Alvarez as a favourite within the rematch regardless that he handled a few accidents within the first struggle, one to his left hand and a rib damage that left him compromised. He already gained a 175-pound title towards Sergey Kovalev in 2019, so he has proven that he belongs within the division and might compete with greater fighters.

Now wholesome and motivated, I feel the Canelo-Bivol rematch might be a draw. However Alvarez positively has an opportunity to develop into mild heavyweight champion once more. — Rodriguez

Verdict: Not an overreaction