12 Rounds of Thoughts - Showtime Championship Boxing 6/21/2014

My thoughts on Devon Alexander’s unanimous decision victory over Jesus Soto-Karass, Vasyl Lomachenko’s majority decision victory over Gary Russell Jr. and Robert Guerrero’s thrilling unanimous decision victory over Yoshihiro Kamegai. 

Round 1 – Now that was an excellent card by Golden Boy Promotions! Had everything… boxer vs. a brawler / boxer vs. boxer / brawler vs. brawler. Big win for boxing!  

Round 2 – Devon Alexander came out and showed why he can be a top welterweight contender… then he faded.  Good comeback performance, but Soto-Karass looked like the walking dead. So slow.  Devon should’ve shut him out.

Round 3 – Regardless, Alexander-Soto-Karrass was a good fight, much better than I thought. 

Round 4 – Vasyl Lomachenko “V-LO” has the ABILITY to be a superstar in the sport.  Right now he’s a very good fighter with the skill set to be special.

Round 5 – Gary Russell Jr. will be a very good fighter despite his loss tonight.  He just fought a fighter on another level than him.  Showed a ton of heart tonight against the best competition he’s ever faced.  He was out-gunned, but not out-willed. 

Round 6 – The body work V-LO did in this was something to marvel.  Young fighters all over the planet need to take note.  It was a sight to behold. I hope he continues to lean on his body work as the fights pile up. 

Round 7 – On top of the incredible body work, V-LO’s combination punching was breathtaking at moments.  His hook to the body followed by the uppercut may be his signature.  I could watch that on loop.

Round 8 – The 5^th and 11^th round versions of Vasyl Lomachenko may be a foreshadowing of what’s to come.  It’s obvious that inexperience is still evident with V-LO.  As he continues to fight, you’ll see him get more aggressive… and that’s where a superstar will be birthed.  Incredible stuff. 

Round 9 – Oh… and judging keeps getting worse.. and worse.. and worse.  How a judge saw VLO-Russell Jr. as a draw is mind boggling. 

Round 10 – I lost all interest in Robert Guerrero after he quit after the 2^nd round against Floyd Mayweather Jr… Regardless, incredible fight tonight vs. Kamegai.  Possible fight of the year. Not close on the cards, but EVERY round was vicious!

Round 11 – Guerrero’s a one-dimensional fighter.  He comes forward and can bang with the best of them.  That’s it. Nothing else.  So don’t fall into the trap of believing he’s more than a brawler who can’t adjust. 

Round 12 – On the contrary, there’s a number of fighters I wouldn’t mind seeing him fight.  He’s another fighter in the mix of the HUGE stable of welterweights.  I’d love to see him fight Maidana.  That would be some great theater.