This was the first time a girls’s battle has been the precept event for a Top Rank card on ESPN.
Putting forth a sturdy and centered exhibition of boxing and combination punching, Mayer began the battle at a fast tempo, and not at all let up. After 10 rounds the scores study 99-91 and 100-90 (twice) for Mayer, who remained undefeated and on observe for a junior lightweight title shot.
Mayer (13-0, 5 KOs) who was stopping with out her lead coach Al Mitchell, obtained right here out of the gate throwing quick, quick hearth 1-2 mixtures down the middle. Joseph (17-5-2, 10 KOs) methodically stalked Mayer at a measured tempo, and likewise you questioned if her plan was to take over down the stretch.
[Mitchell] is my largest critic, so even if I gained every spherical, I most probably didn’t work the physique ample,” stated Mayer after the combat. “I deserted my jab at instances, however I feel, all in all, he’ll be joyful.”
Unfortunately for Joseph, Mayer by no means relented in her assault. In truth, within the later stage of the combat, as Mayer began to combine in left hooks and proper uppercuts to her mixtures, Joseph’s willingness to march ahead waned a bit.
From begin to end, this was Mayer’s evening.
“[Top Rank promoter Bob Arum] stated, ‘Great battle,’ and that the following one will probably be for the title,” stated Mayer. “We’ve been making an attempt to get a world title battle for some time now.”
Takeaway: Mikaela Mayer lastly obtained her likelihood to profit from a showcase occasion in 2020. Mayer defeated Helen Joseph and confirmed she could possibly be able to contend for a significant title in opposition to among the sport’s high names.
Mayer was in full management for almost all the combat and was so dominant that Joseph’s nook reportedly considered stopping the bout early. In arguably the hardest bout of her professional profession, Mayer cruised in a unanimous resolution over Joseph.
Aye, I’m joyful to see girls’s boxing getting it’s shine, no matter of my state of affairs. I instructed @MikaelaMayer1 that that’s HER second, and to profit from [email protected] @ESPNRingside #MayerJoseph
— Jamel Herring (@JamelHerring) July 15, 2020
Let’s put this in perspective for Mayer. Last November, Joseph misplaced to Delfine Persoon, one of many high tremendous featherweights on this planet, who’s scheduled to combat Katie Taylor for all 4 main light-weight belts in August. Mayer beat Joseph by a wider margin than Persoon. Frankly, there are quite a lot of fascinating names within the weight vary round Mayer — particularly Persoon, Taylor and Amanda Serrano. It’s not out of the realm of risk to counsel Mayer face a type of three earlier than the top of 2020.
Everyone is aware of I like boxing and @MikaelaMayer1 placed on a present tonight! She was dominant in her victory over Helen Joseph.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) July 15, 2020
Mayer was set to be one in every of Top Rank’s featured fighters in 2020, however Tuesday’s bout was Mayer’s first of the yr after two alternatives slipped away as a result of COVID-related issues.
Once Mayer lastly stepped into the ring, her dominant victory over Joseph confirmed why Top Rank has been selling Mayer so closely. It’s solely a matter of time earlier than she’s within the ring to check herself in opposition to among the high girls within the sport. — Ben Baby
Collard’s stake retains rising with one other TKO victory
1:03
Clay Collard punishes Lorawnt-T Nelson for 2 rounds, dropping him 3 times en path to a technical knockout victory.
In the unfamiliar position as a favourite, middleweight Clay Collard stopped the overmatched Lorawnt-T Nelson in two dominant rounds, scoring 4 knockdown within the course of, in the principle occasion of Tuesday’s Top Rank boxing card on the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas. This was Collard’s fourth victory of 2020.
Collard (8-2-3, 2 KOs) obtained issues began within the first spherical as he scored a knockdown of Nelson (5-4, Four KOs) with a straight proper hand. While each Collard and Nelson have backgrounds in MMA, the distinction in ability contained in the ring when it got here to boxing was very evident early on.
In the second spherical, one other straight proper cross despatched Nelson down. Nelson rose, however was rapidly despatched again to the canvas as he was struck by a counter left hook a bit later within the spherical. His nostril was bloodied and his face was displaying the injury of the two-fisted assault of Collard.
Finally, as Collard hit Nelson with one other 1-2 punch mixture, referee Celestino Ruiz waved off the combat at 1:57 of the second spherical.
“I fought him much more like a boxer,” stated Collard after the combat. “I used to be choosing my photographs a little bit higher, not crowding him a lot, protecting him on the finish of my punches and dealing my jab. I’ve simply been enhancing my boxing.”
Collard landed 61 of 137 complete punches, in comparison with Nelson who landed simply 12 of his 88 punches.
Collard has been a fan favourite and will return to “the bubble” rapidly.
Arum: “We’ll have you ever again in August!”
Multiple fights forthcoming for Clay Collard with @trboxing pic.twitter.com/0mxf91D60g
— Evan Korn (@KornerMan44) July 15, 2020
“As quickly as Top Rank wants me again, I’ll be prepared,” Collard stated. “Next month on ESPN, let’s go! This entire ‘A-side’ and ‘B-side’ factor does not matter to me. I’m a fighter. I’ll battle anyone.”
Takeaway: His approach isn’t essentially the most elegant, and he isn’t essentially the most sleek fighter you’ll ever see, however there’s a methodology to the insanity. Collard is greater than keen to combine it up, and his skill to throw punches no matter the place his toes are aligned troubles extra classically skilled boxers who should not used to that rhythm.
Collard obtained the form of layup he hasn’t loved for many of his profession in dealing with Lorawnt-T Nelson, and it seems Top Rank could also be attempting to construct Collard as much as money in on the momentum he’s constructed up. Sometimes you don’t must see a Terence Crawford or Vasily Lomachenko, however fairly simply an trustworthy to goodness brawler who offers everybody an trustworthy effort and by no means stops coming ahead.
Collard has additionally moved past merely being a novelty act who as soon as fought Max Holloway within the UFC. Prior to this victory, Collard’s final three wins got here in opposition to undefeated prospects with a mixed mark of 20-0. Name the final boxer to perform that. Outside of Bektemir Melikuziev (a real blue-chip prospect at mild heavyweight), no one has had a straightforward time with Collard.
After beating some robust undefeated prospects, Top Rank throws Clay Collard a bone with that final combat. That tells me Top Rank goes to begin constructing this man up. Smart transfer when you ask me. It’s cool to see one in every of our personal making some waves in boxing.
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) July 15, 2020
His ceiling could also be restricted due to his age and preventing background, and inside due time he could possibly be again within the extra acquainted environment of a cage, however on the very least Collard will proceed to make some cash as a tricky hard-nosed gatekeeper to younger prospects on the way in which up. — Steve Kim
Cervera selections Burns
0:24
Ruben Cervera connects with a left hook and drops Clay Burns within the first spherical.
Ruben Cervera defeated Clay Burns in what was a aggressive, six-round, light-weight contest. After scoring a knockdown within the opening seconds, it appeared as if this is perhaps a brief evening for Cervera, however Burns obtained up from the canvas and made a combat out of it.
Cervera (11-2, 10 KOs) got here out on high by the scores of 58-56, 59-54 and 59-54.
Burns hit the canvas early in Round 1 as he charged at Cervera, whose again was in opposition to the ropes after a left hook clipped Burns’ chin and despatched him down. Instead of being discouraged, Burns — who fought on June 25, dropping a detailed, six-round cut up resolution to Reymond Yanong — gained confidence because the combat went on. Burns started to stress Cervera, backing him up and making him uncomfortable.
The combat appeared nearer than the scorecards indicated, however on the finish, the judges favored the tougher punches of Cervera.
Takeaway: Nobody goes to confuse Ruben Cervera or Clay Burns as fighters of consequence within the long-term way forward for boxing. Before Tuesday evening, Burns had already misplaced as soon as within the MGM Bubble this summer time. He did so once more in opposition to Cervera, who had by no means received a combat within the United States and whose résumé features a stoppage loss to Miguel Marriaga (who fights on ESPN subsequent week).
Cervera picked up the unanimous resolution victory over Burns (9-9-2, Four KOs), and with all of that being stated, give Cervera (11-2, 10 KOs, 1 NC) and Burns credit score for the hassle they confirmed in a six-round combat. Burns wasn’t discouraged from being knocked down within the first 10 seconds and even confirmed a little bit of counterpunching and had success inside.
If Burns continues to evolve, he might doubtlessly carve out a profession as a viable membership fighter. Meanwhile, Cervera might want to add instruments to his sport so as to be extra aggressive in opposition to higher competitors. — Ben Baby
Martinez wins professional debut
It was a worthwhile skilled debut for middleweight Javier Martinez, who outpointed Ryan Burrs for a four-round, unanimous decision victory by scores of 40-36 on all three taking part in playing cards.
The 24-year-old Martinez, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, acquired off to a sluggish start, nonetheless inside the second spherical, he started hitting Burrs (2-2, Zero KOs) to the physique consistently, mixing in a correct hook to the highest. Martinez is called a pressure fighter who will come forward and break his opponents down steadily, and that was evident on this battle.
It was a steady, if not spectacular, effort from Martinez, who buzzed Burrs on the end of the third spherical with a correct hook to the highest merely sooner than the bell sounded. Burrs gave a sturdy effort and supplied Martinez with a steady Four rounds of labor in his maiden voyage as an skilled prizefighter.
Takeaway: Javier Martinez wasn’t spectacular in his skilled debut, nonetheless he was steady ample. He confronted a fairly sturdy man in Ryan Burrs, who supplied examine for Martinez, nonetheless I’d want to see additional from Martinez transferring forward.
The e guide on the 24-year-old Martinez is that he’s a pressure fighter who goes downstairs early and often. You seen a couple of of that after the second spherical in the direction of Burrs following a tentative first spherical. He mixes up his physique assault with every fingers, and he likes to punctuate points with a correct hook extreme.
It doesn’t look like he’s most likely essentially the most heavy-handed fighter, or a person with one-punch KO power, nonetheless Martinez may truly be anyone who stops guys by the use of attrition. You get the sense that as he’ll get additional comfortable inside the skilled sport, Martinez’s style will translate larger in longer fights. Like a snowball, it may well take time for him to roll downhill and truly assemble momentum, and you’ll not primarily see him shine as brightly in these four- and six-round bouts.
If I wanted to look at him to anyone, and enterprise ahead, I’d go along with WBO junior middleweight belt-holder Patrick Teixeira, who like Martinez is a amount punching southpaw that is dependent upon a delicate work cost and wears guys down. — Steve Kim
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