Frampton returns with decision win
After the turbulence of the last few months, including a title loss to Leo Santa Cruz, and a split from the McGuigans, Carl Frampton needed a win upon his return. He got the win, taking a unanimous decision over Horacio Garcia (96-93, 97-93, 98-93), but showed ring rust and more alarmingly for his supporters, a lack of spark. Frampton looked as a good fighter should against a mediocre but game one, but he failed to remind us of why he?s considered a top talent in the featherweight division. Fighting at the level he showed yesterday, the best in the division will beat him.
Featherweight is busy at the moment however, and arguably Frampton could go a few different ways, but personally I see the Lee Selby fight as an all-British world title fight which could get his name back into the lights.
Anjacas is ready for stardom
In a division that has seen its king Roman ?Chocolatito? Gonzales toppled, a clutch of exciting fighters seem ready to make this a division to watch in 2018. Enter, Jerwin Anjacas.
Make no mistake, Anjacas tore apart a very solid fighter in Michael Conlan, knocking him down four times and got the knockout in the 6th round to retain his IBF super flyweight title. The maturity he showed to walk into Conlan?s hometown of Belfast, with a hostile crowd against him, and pull out that performance was beyond impressive.
The Filipino southpaw may not be Manny Pacquiao, but he?s a talented young fighter at 25 who could give the other champions in the division (Kal Yafai, Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, Naoya Inoue) an incredibly tough fight if he keeps improving.
Anthony Dirrell earns technical decision in his hometown
Back in his hometown of Flint, Michigan, Anthony Dirrell beat by technical decision Denis Douglin on Premier Boxing Champions. The fight was stopped because of a cut on Dirrell?s head, caused by a clash of heads. The scores were 48-47 x2, 49-46 to Dirrell at the time of stoppage. With Callum Smith and Chris Eubank Jr currently tied up in the WBSS tournament, Dirrell could get a shot at new WBC super middleweight champion David Benavidez. It would be his first major fight since he lost the title to Badou Jack in 2015, and he needs it quickly considering he is now 33.
Kovalev gears up for return
Sergey ?Krusher? Kovalev was one of the most feared men in boxing in 2016, but now makes his return to the ring after back-to-back losses to Andre Ward and major questions over his attitude after his split from trainer John David Jackson.
Vyacheslav Shabranskyy is the opponent he must beat on Saturday to win back his old WBO light heavyweight belt, and whilst he comes in as a heavy favourite, it will be interesting to see what level he?s at. The division is stacked with talents, and if Kovalev, age 34, is to regain his place at head of it, he?s going to need to do more than just beat Shabranskyy.
What did you think of the weekend?s action? Comment below!
