It occurred. An undisputed heavyweight champion of the world has been topped. Oleksandr Usyk (22-0) has made historical past, like these earlier than him. An entertaining, back-and-forth bout resulted in a split-decision victory for the Ukrainian.
However, other than the exceptional most important occasion, the ‘Ring of Fireplace’ produced upsets, standouts and spectacles at each flip.
The Upsets: Anthony Cacace and Robin Sirwin Safar
The duty of being an opponent to Sergey ‘Krusher’ Kovalev (35-5-1) isn’t any straightforward one. In Saudi Arabia, this process was given to Swedish-born, Vegas-based fighter Robin Sirwin Safar (17-0).
Regardless of being 41-years-of-age and having had an enormous lay-off, it was steered by many who the Russian ‘Krusher’ would have considerably of a profession resurgence within the cruiserweight division, particularly towards such an unknown amount as Safar.
Nonetheless, the younger Swede noticed it as an opportunity; an opportunity that he took in type. It was an ideal overlap as Kovalev was a spectre of his former self. Sustaining a strong chin, Kovalev couldn’t carry his energy by means of the divisions and his motion was lacklustre, having to make use of clinches to stall the pressure-punching teen.
In fact, it may very well be steered that Safar didn’t improve the tempo till too late within the bout, though his work-rate commanded respect all through. Actually, this was the case with the judges, who scored the bout 95-94, 99-90 and 97-92.
Now, the place do the 2 males go from right here?
Properly, Kovalev, who has had an extended and lofty profession, ought to actually retire; he has given a lot to the game and to see somebody just like the ‘Krusher’ get crushed as soon as extra can be distressing for combat followers, to say the least.
Safar, then again, is in considerably of a bind. With a reputation like Kovalev’s on his file, this may actually be opening up the eyes of the cruiserweight division to the Swedish Safar, whether or not he likes it or not. It was not a pitch-perfect efficiency from the younger fighter and it might be clever for Safar to realize extra expertise towards European stage competitors first; maybe the winner of Issac Chamberlain (16-2) and Jack Massey (21-2).
Both method, with such a press release efficiency on such an enormous stage, given the knockdown on the finish of the combat, it can solely be a matter of time earlier than Safar will get alternatives galore.
The main upset of the night time, nonetheless, got here by means of Irish power-puncher Anthony Cacace (22-1) who channelled the tough and soiled spirit of prizefighting to render ‘The Welsh Wizard’ Joe Cordina (17-1) weak on the knees.
A controversial bout, because of the languid inactivity of referee Bob Williams, Cordina would proceed to be caught within the maddening flurries of the livid ‘Apache’, flailing up and down from the canvas with every successive assault.
Whether or not one is to consider that the combat ought to’ve been known as off or Cacace ought to’ve been penalised, it doesn’t change the truth that Cacace will return to Eire with the IBF and IBO straps round his waist.
It’s extremely seemingly that Cordina, in addition to manager-promoter Eddie Hearn, will push for a rematch and, be it in Eire or Wales, this may be a large home present that’s assured to generate numbers.
Alternatively, Cordina might make the transfer again as much as light-weight and attempt to discover success in that division, and even push for a combat with one other well-established tremendous featherweight; maybe one other all-British showdown towards somebody like Zelfa Barrett (31-2).
For Cacace, as a belt holder, it can solely be a matter of time earlier than a large alternative comes the best way of the Belfast native. One can solely marvel how Cacace would fare in brawls towards the likes of WBC champion O’Shaquie Foster (22-2) or Lamont Roach (24-1-1).
The Standouts: Mark Chamberlain and Mairis Briedis
His Excellency’s favorite fighter took to the Kingdom as soon as once more to ship a efficiency that was much more devastating than his final. Mark Chamberlain (16-0), the builder-turned-boxer from Portsmouth placed on a demolition job worthy of the nickname ‘Thunder’, felling the ‘The Wealth Machine’ Joshua Wahab (23-2) inside the first spherical.
Incomes the WBC Silver belt within the course of, Chamberlain displayed power and self-discipline in equal measure, eliminating any risk the Ghana-native might hope to pose from the opening bell.
If the phrase assertion is for use in regard to performances, this was a press release from Chamberlain, who has now positioned himself inside the WBC, with its present light-weight champion being the wonderful by inactive Shakur Stevenson (21-0).
Wahab, then again, can be rather more snug in his pure weight class of tremendous featherweight; maybe he might place himself to as soon as once more combat for the distinguished Commonwealth title.
One other shocking standout can be that of Mairis Briedis (28-3). Going into the bout, it was perceived by pundits that inactivity and age would plague the Latvian former champion. Since his 2022 loss to Jai Opetaia (25-0), his antics exterior of the ring have additionally positioned him as lower than beneficial, chasing Jake Paul for a money-fight and embarrassing himself with a tattoo that did not get the eye of the Los Angeles primarily based influencer-boxer.
But, getting into the ‘Ring of Fireplace’, Briedis seemed as if he had turned again the clock. Struggling by means of 9 rounds of ring-rust, by which his opponent did little or no to press the motion, Briedis would wipe his bloodied nostril clear and start to convey the motion, pushing Opetaia from his place of consolation with intense power-punches that left the Aussie clinching for security.
The championship rounds had been all Briedis’ to take, regardless of Opetaia’s early dominance. This dominance, nonetheless, would give Opetaia the rightful win – and his IBF strap as soon as once more. Regardless of this, many praised Briedis for his seeming return to kind and, not like Kovalev, Briedis proved that he nonetheless had combat and coronary heart left inside him.
The Latvian could by no means once more get a belt round his waist, however he actually proved that he deserves to combat on the highest stage for a short time longer.
The Firestarters: Moses Itauma and Agit Kabayel
Within the two different heavyweight bouts on the undercard, the 2 winners have highlighted themselves as potential firestarters in the way forward for the division.
The older of the 2, 31-year-old Agit Kabayel (25-0) carried with him the power of the ‘Day of Reckoning’, by which he dismantled Russian prospect Arslanbek Makhmudov (18-1). Once more, the Saudi’s pit the German underdog towards one other harmful prospect in ‘Cuban Flash’ Frank Sanchez (24-1).
Holding the WBC Continental Americas and WBO NABO Heavyweight titles and undefeated towards such future hopefuls as Efe Ajagba (20-1), Sanchez was seen to be a quiet however highly effective killer within the ring, somebody with too many attributes past Kabayel.
Nonetheless, Kabayel had already upset the chances. With blistering physique assaults and fixed, belligerent strain, he would do it once more. Seemingly easy, Kabayel would expend little-to-no power in sporting out the ‘Flash’ in a formidable show of heavyweight stamina.
Given the character of the bout as a WBC eliminator, it might solely take a yr or two for Kabayel to have the ability to problem on the highest stage of the game. Alternatively, he might put all of it on the road towards somebody like Joseph Parker (35-3), who holds the WBO Interim title and who commentated on the combat.
As for Frank Sanchez, the Reynoso-trained fighter is bound to make a return, maybe towards somebody like Makhmudov.
Though, a good youthful heavyweight prospect could have completely different concepts, after his destruction of Kazakh fighter Ilja Mezencev (25-4).
Moses Itauma (9-0), heralded as a future key participant on boxing’s premier division by the likes of Joseph Parker and Tyson Fury (34-1-1), placed on a devastating, decided and devoted efficiency towards the Germany-based Mezencev.
Itauma seemed snug and picked up as Ben Davidson ready him for a lightning fast combat on the largest night time of his profession up to now. Mezencev, then again, seemed nervous – extra nervous than his seemingly nice file would recommend.
To his credit score, Mezencev began nicely, with an unorthodox, bouncy type that made Itauma wait. Late within the first spherical, nonetheless, the 19-year-old would pounce. Within the warmth of the alternate, Itauma would push Mezencev to the canvas, which offered the fighter with a possibility to flee into the following spherical. Itauma, nonetheless, might scent blood.
Within the second, he would totally get rid of his opposition in an effort to declare the primary of many belts in his profession; the WBO Inter-Continental Heavyweight strap. With this, the younger Itauma has positioned himself completely to make strikes inside the heavyweight division. It’s the hope of Frank Warren that Itauma quickly challenges for the British, Commonwealth and European titles, way more prestigious than the WBO Inter-Continental trinket.
And so, finally, the ‘Ring of Fireplace’ proved to be as incendiary because the title would recommend; from begin to end, answering questions and offering new ones in its wake.
