Heavyweight Division

[diehard]

Yeah, a close fight. Would love Chisora to retire on that fight but he won't.

[diehard]

Think JJ is a gatekeeper for guys looking to be in the top 5 or competing for a belt. He's still good, just not good enough to contend for a belt:

https://www.boxing247.com/boxing-news/jo...ora/280837

[diehard]

https://www.boxingscene.com/joe-joyce-it...ra--185064

[diehard]

By Tom Ivers
Published Mon Jul 29, 2024, 09:56 AM EDT

Zhilei Zhang is interested in a fight with Derek Chisora after watching the heavyweight defeat Joe Joyce.
Chisora earned a unanimous decision over Joyce, on Saturday at London's O2 Arena, to potentially revive his career.
He attempted to taunt Joyce at their weigh-in by wearing a mask depicting his former opponent Zhang’s face. Joyce had been stopped by Zhang twice, and appeared angered by the mask. Zhang, however, saw the funny side, and after Chisora's victory said that he would be open to a clash between the two.

“I thought it was funny [Chisora’s mask], I had a good laugh,” the Chinese heavyweight told Razed. “I received so many messages on Friday morning here in the States because of it.
"Derek Chisora has expressed interest in fighting me in China in the past. Now that he is coming off of an impressive win, maybe it’s a possibility. My main focus is making sure I fight before the end of the year.”
The 40-year-old Chisora revealed, after defeating Joyce, that he intends to fight on and have two final contests before retiring.

His former promoter Eddie Hearn recently named Johnny Fisher as another potential opponent. The veteran again has options, unlike Joyce.
After three defeats in his past four fights it is increasingly unlikely that the 38 year old will achieve his ambitions of winning a world title. There have been calls for Joyce to retire; however, Zhang disagrees, and thinks that that decision should be Joyce's.

“I thought it was a tough and entertaining fight, it was a great fight for the London boxing fans,” the 41-year-old added. “I don’t know what’s next for Joe Joyce.
"He and his team need to strategize about what to do next. I don’t think anyone should say when a fighter should retire. That’s up to them and their families.”

[diehard]

https://www.boxingscene.com/martin-bakol...up--185108

[diehard]

Bakole stops Anderson in five

WBA #1, WBC #6, WBO #11, IBF #14 heavyweight Martin Bakole (21-1, 16 KOs) ended the unbeaten reign of WBO #4, WBC #5, IBF #5, WBA #13 Jared “Real Big Baby” Anderson (17-1, 15 KOs) with an impressive fifth round stoppage on Saturday night at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. Bakole dropped Anderson in round one, then floored him twice in round five en route to a referee’s stoppage at 2:07.

[diehard]

Heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz Jr. (35-2-1, 22 KOs) looked like a shell of his former self, fighting to a questionable twelve-round majority draw against Jarrell Miller (26-1-2, 22 KOs). Ruiz faded after three rounds, and they may have only won one round, the referee of the way, but the two judges that scored it a draw saw it differently. The judges’ scores were 116-112 for Miller, 114-114, and 114-114. Miller, 34, wore down Ruiz with pressure, landing punches to the body and shoe-shining in the final 10 seconds of each round to steal them. He looked like the better fighter during the contest, as Ruiz was exhausted in the eight rounds.

Source: Boxing Tonight: Crawford Vs. Madrimov Live Results - Latest Boxing News (https://www.boxing247.com/boxing-news/bo...lts/281072)

[Steven]

That article has got to be written by AI diehard xD

Ruiz did fade off pretty early, but he also busted his hand round 4 or 5, when the gloves came off his hand was visibly deformed, bones sticking up. Not going to be back in the ring anytime soon.

[diehard]

Why was it written by AI? I followed the fight, and what you say is true. Ruiz won the first three rounds and then faded. Yeah, his hand was in bad shape, but Miller won that fight. Ruiz is a disgrace, coming in that heavy, first with AJ and now Miller.

[bart]

Entertaining fights though both of them- I was impressed by Anderson even in losing as I didn't rate him before but thought he showed kahunas.
Bakole is a nightmare to anyone below top 3-5. Hard head like JJ but quicker harder puncher
It was there for Miller just needed to land more - was concerned with Ruiz counters - probably thought he had timed his run but miscalculated