Light Heavyweight

Juergen Braehmer puts the WBA light heavyweight title on the line when he takes on fellow German Robin Krasniqi in Rostock on Saturday.

Braehmer (45-2, 33 KOs) will be looking to extend a long unbeaten run that stretches back to November of 2008.

His most recent defence, against Pawel Glazewski last December, saw him win inside a round, though he shouldn’t expect such an easy night against Krasniqi.

The challenger boasts a 43-3 (16 KOs) professional record and has won four in a row since failing in his bid to take the WBO title from Nathan Cleverly nearly two years ago.

When: Saturday, March 21 at 10 p.m. GMT

Where: Rostock, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany

TV: Sat.1 (Germany) Sky Sports (UK)

Live Stream: Sky Sports (subscription required and region restricted)

Champion spirit

Braehmer v Krasniqi: Tale of the Tape ahead of #TheMomentofTruth. Live on SAT.1 in Germany and Sky Sports in the UK. pic.twitter.com/14Lix6zPJs

— World Boxing News (@WorldBoxingNews) March 19, 2015

Despite being 36, Braehmer’s hunger for success is still as strong as ever.

His last bout was over in a hurry, though he is not expecting things to be so straightforward against the latest challenger to be put in front of him.

Asked about Krasniqi at the pre-fight press conference, the southpaw said, per fightnews.com: “Krasniqi is a young ambitious fighter who wants to take my title away from me. But that’s not going to happen. As always, I will defeat my opponent and retain my title.”

Braehmer knows that holding onto the gold is crucial at this stage of his career.

The light heavyweight division includes two big names in Sergey Kovalev and Adonis Stevenson, and a unification fight against either man would be a major money-spinner.

Perfect timing

Krasniqi will be eager to make the most of his second chance at becoming a world champion.

His first attempt came back in April of 2013 when he travelled to England to face Cleverly, a fighter who was unbeaten at the time.

The Welshman came out on top at Wembley, winning on points to retain the WBO belt. Only one judge gave Krasniqi a round, the other two scoring it as a shut-out success for the reigning champion.

However, the 27-year-old now believes that defeat was down to timing, per Sky Sports: “That opportunity may have come to soon for me. But now, I’m ready for the perfect match.”

Prediction

It is hard to look past Braehmer. He is in excellent shape and has never been afraid to go the distance, though his 33 career knockouts show he packs a punch.

Krasniqi—who was born in Kosovo but is now based in Munich—will be eager to perform better than he did against Cleverly.

However, the champion will keep hold of his belt. A stoppage could happen, but a points win looks the most likely outcome.

WBA, WBO and IBF light heavyweight champion Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev (26-0-1, 23 KO) wants one man in the ring most of all, and that's WBC champion Adonis Stevenson. On Saturday, he will have to settle for former WBC titleholder Jean Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KO).

Stevenson and Kovalev are still separated by networks, but recent agreements between Kovalev and Bernard Hopkins as well as Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao gives boxing fans hope that Krusher and Stevenson will one day share a ring.

Per Joseph Santoliquito of Sherdog, Kovalev said this of a potential fight with Stevenson:

I don’t know if Stevenson is afraid or me or not. I really don’t think that much about him. But I would like to fight him and unify the titles. Every fighter wants to add more titles, and that’s what I want to do. That’s my goal. I know beating Pascal is the next step toward a unification fight with [Stevenson].

Some believe Stevenson fled his HBO deal for an agreement with Showtime and Al Haymon to avoid facing Kovalev. In any case, it seems clear Kovalev wants to be known as the only champion at 175 pounds.

While most are enamored with the thought of a Stevenson-Kovalev bout, Pascal hopes to catch his opponent looking past him. Here is the viewing information.

When: Saturday, March 14 at 9:45 p.m. ET

Where: Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

TV: HBO

Kovalev is taking the show on the road to his opponent's hometown. Will the hostile crowd drive the champion or inspire the challenger?

The Book on Kovalev

The 31-year-old champion is in a precarious position. He's dominated everyone placed in front of him, but he has yet to receive the type of attention and respect one might expect from such a dominating champion.

In Kovalev's last fight, he easily defeated Bernard Hopkins and took the WBA and IBF titles from the ageless wonder. However, Kovalev didn't earn a stoppage against the rugged and elusive Hopkins. As is always the case with anyone who has fought Hopkins in the last 10 years, Kovalev was in a no-win situation.

If he blew through Hopkins and stopped him, critics would have said it was expected. Meanwhile, winning by decision wasn't quite as impressive. Just imagine what would have happened if Kovalev had lost.

Pascal is a much more cut-and-dry opponent. In fact, it wouldn't be a surprise if Kovalev felt less pressure in this fight than he did against Hopkins. It's easy to see how this could be a trap fight for Kovalev. The question is can Pascal take advantage of Kovalev if the champion is indeed overlooking him?

The Book on Pascal

Hopefully this fight will end more decisively than Pascal's last bout. His match with Roberto Feliciano Bolonti ended in a no-contest. Pascal fouled Bolonti when he landed an illegal punch on the referee's break. Usually something like that results in a more severe punishment, but Pascal escaped with the no-contest.

The Haitian-born Canadian resident Pascal has faced the best the light heavyweight division has to offer. He fought Hopkins twice, losing once and drawing with the future Hall of Famer in the other bout. Pascal also won a decision over Chad Dawson back when that accomplishment actually meant something.

This fight with Kovalev represents a huge opportunity. Obviously, Pascal wants to be a world champion again, but he also needs to show the world he can still compete with the elite fighters in the weight class. A strong showing could plant the seeds for other exciting bouts in the future.

 

Prediction

Pascal is going to be the most naturally athletic opponent Kovalev has faced. The challenger is also a bit awkward. In some ways he's like a larger version of Shawn "Showtime" Porter, only he doesn't punch as hard as Porter proportionately.

Pascal's awkwardness could present an issue for Kovalev early, but by the fourth or fifth round, the champion's power, jab and pursuit will begin to cause Pascal to cave.

Kovalev is too strong and skilled for Pascal. Look for the champion to retain his title by fifth-round TKO.

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter. I dig boxing and MMA.

Clinton Woods has never been afraid of hard work.

It took the Sheffield fighter four attempts to become a world champion. After each failed challenge, he had to pick himself up and earn another opportunity.

However, working, or grafting as Woods likes to call it, is something he was used to doing long before he made a career for himself in the ring.

By the time he turned professional in 1994, Woods was already a father. He had left school to work on a construction site to support his young family. Plastering was his trade, not boxing.

Given a bag and gloves one Christmas (“I had four brothers, and they all got football boots”), he started boxing at a young age but quit the sport in his mid-teens.

Woods admitted, “I didn’t think about boxing. It was the last thing on my mind. Then, when I was 20 or 21, I walked back into the gym.

“But boxing wasn’t the biggest love for me. It was a job, and I earned money from it.

“I’m not a big lover of it now either. If there’s boxing on the television I won’t be too bothered about watching it. I may eventually watch it, but not when it is on live.”

Whether he loves boxing or not, Woods was good at it. In fact, he was very good at it.

He claimed the British, Commonwealth and European light heavyweight titles, and by September 2002 he had compiled a 32-1 record, earning a shot at world champion Roy Jones Jr.

Yet despite the opportunity that came his way, Woods was not taking it too seriously: “When I fought Jones, even though I was still European champion, I was still playing at it. I was still a baby in boxing.”

Things changed for Woods after he lost to Glen Johnson in February 2004.

Their first meeting had ended in a draw, but Johnson got the nod from the judges in the rematch to walk away with the vacant IBF belt.

Woods regrouped again, earning another crack at the same strap 13 months later. 

Standing in his way was Rico Hoye, an unbeaten American who had recorded 18 straight victories, most of them well inside the distance.

Even Woods was impressed by what he saw of his opponent: “I remember watching a couple of videos (of Hoye) a few days before the fight. He was beating good guys, good boxers in America.

"He wasn’t just beating them either—he was knocking them out. He was a tall boxer, had a good reach and could whack.

"But I got myself into the best shape of my life.

“I also knew that if I lost to him, that was it. Boxing would be over for me. That wasn’t a big worry for me, because I’d have just gone back to work.”

The difference for Woods in his fourth crack at becoming world champion was the preparation that had gone in beforehand.

10 years since one of my proudest days pic.twitter.com/Q4EAwfzteJ

— CLINTON WOODS (@teamwoods101) March 4, 2015

Hoye was his opponent on March 3, 2005. For Woods, though, it did not matter who stepped between the ropes to take him on that night in Rotherham, England.

“I knew that anybody they put in front of me that night I would have beaten,” he said when recalling the Hoye fight 10 years after the occasion.

“We had changed a few things (before facing Hoye). I’d never bothered with a nutritionist or a strength and conditioning trainer. We got both on board for that fight. We had a good team around me and got everything right. Because of that, I wasn’t really nervous before that fight.

“I remember in the first round he threw a shot and it didn’t fully catch me, hitting my gloves and then my face. He had tremendous power, and I thought then that it would be a long night.

“But he couldn’t cope with my jab. It took everything away from him. I was really surprised with how easy the fight was.”

The hard work, the grafting, had paid off for Woods.

He successfully defended the belt four times despite elbow issues, including gaining revenge over Johnson in a clash the Englishman describes as “a great fight to watch.”

His reign eventually came to an end when he lost on points to Antonio Tarver in April 2008. It was a fight Woods now confesses should never have happened.

While his elbows had bothered Woods for some time, forcing him to have surgery on both, it was a back injury just prior to leaving England that ruined his preparations for the clash in Tampa, Florida.

“People ask me about my regrets in boxing, and the only one I ever have had is not pulling out of the Tarver fight," he said when discussing the defeat he suffered at the St. Pete Times Forum.

“It’s the only fight I ever went into a fight knowing I was going to lose. I’ve never watched it since, and I never will. It was the lowest point of my career.

“My trainer and I have never spoken since. It was a disaster.”

There was one last attempt to reclaim the title after it had been vacated. However, a defeat to Tavoris Cloud in 2009 proved to be the end of the line for Woods.

With his heart no longer in it, he hung up the gloves. It was time to find another job.

The Yorkshireman tried his hand at landscaping and also went back to plastering for a while. In the end, though, the boxing business lured him back in.

He purchased a building in his home city and opened a gym, running boxing fitness classes for people of all ages.

Professional fighters also came along to be trained by the former world champion, something he quickly stopped doing because he “hated every minute of it.”

Now, though, Woods finds himself working with Jos Paul, a local cruiserweight who entered the pro ranks at the age of 24. “He (Paul) has had two fights and won both, though I told him that when it comes to fight night, I’d do his corner and then leave.

“He works full time, so I told him not to pack his job in. He goes jogging before work and then comes to my gym after he’s finished (at work). He is a grafter.”

They seem the perfect pair: Paul, a young fighter who willing to graft, and Woods, the reluctant trainer who is still working hard a decade on from the night he finally became a world champion.

Rob Lancaster is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. Unless otherwise noted, all quotations in this article were obtained firsthand.

Boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. will step into the ring again at age 46 in 2015, agreeing to a bout with Willie Williams slated for March 6.

ESPN.com's Dan Rafael revealed the details Tuesday, noting that the fight will take place in Concord, North Carolina, at the Cabarrus Arena and Events Center.

The report featured what Jones had to say about his next competitive clash against his 36-year-old opponent:

What I am doing is staying busy because Marco Huck said he will fight me in the fall. I ain't no spring chicken and I need to be properly prepared to fight Huck. If I get that fight it will probably be my last stab at (a world title) and then I'd call it a day. But I want to make sure I am ready as can be.

After a run of three consecutive losses, Jones has rebounded in recent years. He has rattled off five consecutive victories, capturing and twice successfully retaining the German World Boxing Union Cruiserweight title belt.

Jones' comments imply that Williams (14-8-2) is a bridge bout so that he can stay sharp and in shape ahead of a prospective fight with Marco Huck, the 13-time defender of the WBO Cruiserweight title.

Despite already establishing an extraordinary legacy as a four-class champion, Jones still has the desire to prove himself even at this late stage in his career. He may be trying his luck in longevity, but at least Jones is still fit enough to go out on his own terms.

Note: Stats courtesy of BoxRec.com unless otherwise noted.

Adonis Stevenson cruised to an easy victory on Friday night in Quebec City, knocking out Dmitry Sukhotsky in the fifth round.

Stevenson entered as the heavy favorite, and the gulf in class was evident once the opening bell rang. The reigning champion easily gained the upper hand in the early rounds and never let up.

The fans in Quebec City were restless, letting Stevenson and Sukhotsky know early that they wouldn't put up with a long, drawn-out fight. CBSSports.com's Josh Katzowitz tweeted that his interest level was quickly waning:

https://twitter.com/joshkatzowitz/status/546168302113128449

Perhaps conscious of losing the crowd, Stevenson came alive in the second round, scoring a knockdown. He connected with a short left and then looked to have helped Sukhotsky down with a little push. To be fair, the challenger didn't offer much objection.

Francisco A. Salazar of BoxingScene.com wondered if the jeers affected Stevenson at all and led to the knockdown:

Left hand drops Sukhotsky in round 2. Maybe the boos from the crowd got to Adonis Stevenson. #boxing #StevensonSukhotsky

— Francisco A. Salazar (@FSalazarBoxing) December 20, 2014

Sukhotsky quickly got back to his feet none the worse for wear. In Rounds 3 and 4, he was clearly the weaker of the two boxers but managed to get in a little more offense.

However, things completely unraveled for Sukhotsky in the fifth. Stevenson knocked him down three times, the last of which kept Sukhotsky on the mat for some time. Showtime Sports provided a highlight of Stevenson's devastating short left that ended the fight:

Adonis Stevenson ends the show with a bang! WATCH his massive KO - http://t.co/sCmjv16uvP

— All the Smoke Fight (@ats_fight) December 20, 2014

In the post-fight interview, Stevenson discussed how he knew the KO would come sooner or later:

. @AdonisSuperman - "I know with my power, I don't need to force it. The knockout will come. I waited and bang, I caught him."

— All the Smoke Fight (@ats_fight) December 20, 2014

Boxing historian Patrick Connor felt the knockout blow couldn't have been much worse for Sukhotsky:

https://twitter.com/VoiceOfBeard/status/546171744248414208

Both sportscaster Rich Marotta and ESPN.com's Dan Rafael felt that Sukhotsky was clearly overmatched, which left Stevenson with a bit of a hollow victory:

Sukhotsky has a terrible stance, no style, an awful jab, no head movement, and no power. Other than that, he's terrific

— Rich Marotta (@boxingrich) December 20, 2014

Sukhotsky down for third time in rd 5 and it's over. Total mismatch. Waste of time fight. #boxing

— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) December 20, 2014

Many boxing fans were upset when Stevenson announced that he'd be fighting Sukhotsky. They felt he should have aimed a bit higher, with Sergey Kovalev, Jean Pascal and Bernard Hopkins among the more heavily discussed names.

Fighting Kovalev could mean unifying the light heavyweight world titles and a rich purse for both boxers. Stevenson acknowledged before taking on Sukhotsky that he was eyeing the unbeaten Russian for next year.

"My plan is to face Kovalev in 2015," he said, per Rafael. "But first we need to focus and win this fight. Then we can talk 2015."

Now that his schedule is open, Stevenson will have a chance to put his money where his mouth is and silence the numerous detractors who feel he's ducked his toughest potential opponents in the past.

WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis "Superman" Stevenson (24-1, 20 KO) is fighting the wrong Russian opponent on Saturday. Most in the boxing community would prefer to see Superman in the ring with WBA, WBO and IBF champion Sergey "Krusher" Kovalev, but that's not what's on tap.

On Friday, Stevenson will defend his WBC title against 33-year-old Dmitry Sukhotsky (22-2, 16 KO) of Pavlovsk, Russia, at Colisee de Quebec in Canada.

The bout will be the third defense of the title Stevenson took from Chad Dawson in June 2013. Sukhotsky's resume won't floor anyone, but somehow this will be his second shot at a world title. He lost a unanimous decision to Juergen Braehmer in 2009.

In the main event of a lackluster Showtime card, Sukhotsky will try to be competitive in what looks like a lopsided matchup on paper in favor of the champion. 

https://twitter.com/AdonisSuperman/status/545022410794500096

Here's how you can watch.

When: Friday, Dec. 19 at 9 p.m. ET

Where: Colisee de Quebec in Canada

TV: Showtime

Live Stream: Box Nation (subscription required and region restricted)

Empty Feeling

Aside from the payday, the 37-year-old Stevenson has little to nothing to gain from his fight with Sukhotsky. Even a first-round KO win would only cause the boxing community to collectively say: "That's what he was supposed to do."

If this fight was against Kovalev to unify titles at 175 pounds, or even fellow Canadian Jean Pascal, there would be no complaints about Stevenson's opponent. Stevenson and Kovalev were seemingly on a collision course as both fighters were signed with HBO.

However, just before a deal could be struck to put the two light heavyweight champions in the ring, Stevenson left HBO and signed with Showtime. In the current climate of the boxing world, that looks a lot like ducking and running.

When Stevenson discusses Kovalev, he still speaks as if he believes he is the best light heavyweight in the world. Per Lem Satterfield of The Ring Magazine, Stevenson said: “Nothing is easy, but I know that I’m the only guy that can beat Sergey Kovalev. I will fight him in 2015.”

If the boxing world gets three-quarters of the great matchups we've been promised, 2015 is going to be one heck of a year. 

There's no doubting Stevenson's ability to put on electrifying performances. In fact, it's been a while since Stevenson wasn't in an entertaining fight. Looking back at his most recent fights, 14 of his last 15 bouts have ended by TKO/KO or with an opponent retiring between rounds.

Stevenson was knocked out by Darnell Boone—the same man who once floored Andre Ward—back in 2010. Superman would avenge that loss with his own sixth-round KO win in March 2013. Even the one fight during this span that did go to judges was filled with excitement.

Stevenson gutted out an unanimous decision over Andrzej Fonfara in May. Fonfara knocked Stevenson down in the ninth round, but the champion responded with heart to close out the bout impressively.

Based on Stevenson's attacking style and Sukhotsky's willingness to stand and trade, there shouldn't be a shortage of action.

However, this one might not last long.

Is Second Time the Charm?

When you look at Sukhotsky in the ring, nothing specifically jumps out at you. He is a grinder who is tough and aggressive, but he looks to have below-average hand speed and footwork with only decent power.

Based on that brief scouting report and a less-than-impressive resume, it's a wonder he's been able to secure a second shot at the title. The bout with Braehmer wasn't exactly a close fight. According to BoxRec, Sukhotsky trailed by four points on two judges' scorecards and eight on another.

Sukhotsky also lost a lopsided decision to journeyman Cornelius White in July 2012. 

In his most recent bout, Sukhotsky won a narrow decision over Joey Vegas. Boxing can be a crazy and unpredictable sport, but there's nothing that leads me to believe that Sukhotsky has much of a chance against Stevenson.

Prediction

With a speed, dexterity, skill and power advantage, Stevenson is going to knock Sukhotsky out as early as he wants to. The Russian has never been stopped before, but he's also not faced a puncher on Stevenson's level.

According to Michael Woods of The Sweet Science, Stevenson says he'll be looking to produce a performance that his former trainer, the late Emanuel Steward, would have been proud of.

.@AdonisSuperman today, at presser: “I’m going to win by knockout. Emmanuel (Steward) always told me that knockouts sell, so..."

— Michael Woods (@Woodsy1069) December 16, 2014

I'm betting he comes through with a stoppage of Sukhotsky in the fifth round.

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter. I dig boxing and MMA.

A battle between a 49-year-old legendary champion and a virtually untested 31-year-old titleholder will be the featured attraction for boxing fans on Saturday night. I'm not sure that's a good or bad thing. The ageless wonder Bernard "The Alien" Hopkins (55-6-2, 32 KO) will put his WBA and IBF light heavyweight titles on the line in a unification bout with WBO champion Sergey "The Krusher" Kovalev (25-0-1, 23 KO). 

There's something to be said for Hopkins' longevity and for Kovalev's power, but The Alien's presence at the top of the light heavyweight division is proof of how soft the competition is at 175 pounds.

That's not meant as disrespect to Hopkins. What he has accomplished is magnificent. But I'm not sure it would be possible in an era with better light heavyweights.

Very insightful. @THEREALBHOP is a legend & making history before our eyes. I know I'll be watching this Saturday…http://t.co/enQEv2HD2w

— Sugar Ray Leonard (@SugarRayLeonard) November 4, 2014

For all of Kovalev's devastating knockouts, he still hasn't beaten anyone who would certify him as one of the sport's best. That said, it's not Kovalev's fault he hasn't faced top-notch competition.

There aren't a lot of good fighters in his weight region, and the one who looked to pose the biggest threat seemed to want no part of him. A bout between Kovalev and WBC champion Adonis Stevenson seemed to be on the horizon, but Stevenson bolted HBO for Showtime, which complicated the deal in today's boxing climate.

Hopkins is also affiliated with Golden Boy and Showtime, but he is crossing the invisible lines that divide GBP and HBO/Top Rank Boxing to further cement his place in the sport's history.

For that reason, if for no other, this bout is majorly significant. We can only hope this is the first step toward bringing cross-promotional battles that will deliver the best fights.

Here's how you can watch, a closer look at both fighters and my prediction for the bout.

When: Saturday, Nov. 8 at 10:45 p.m. ET

Where: Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City

TV: HBO

Live Stream: Box Nation (region restricted and subscription required)

Increasing the Legacy

Hopkins won the first of his seven world titles in 1995. He was the undisputed middleweight king from 2001 to 2005, and he had an unbeaten streak of 26 consecutive fights that spanned 12 years.

He's beaten Roy Jones Jr., Oscar De La Hoya, Felix Trinidad, Kelly Pavlik, Winky Wright, Antonio Tarver, Glen Johnson and a host of others in his eventual Hall of Fame career. Yet, he wants more.

In January, Hopkins will be 50 years old, and if events transpire the way he hopes, he will hold three of the four world championships in the light heavyweight division.

The fact that he owns two of the belts is astonishing in itself. Many critics would have suspected one of the many young contenders Hopkins has faced over the last five years would have sent him into retirement, but it hasn't happened.

Facing such a powerful and hungry opponent has to make even the most ardent supporter of Hopkins nervous. Kovalev possesses what none of the other light heavyweights Hopkins has faced had: destructive power.

Hopkins is known for his defense and guile. He'll need plenty of both if he is to pull off what some might call the most improbable win of his historic career. Hopkins has overcome a troubled past that saw him do five years in prison and fail at his first two attempts to capture a world title.

https://twitter.com/THEREALBHOP/status/527839292237053952

But he has succeeded at the sport of boxing. Win or lose, he has made his mark in a major way. If we know Hopkins, he isn't focused on the latter.

Looking for the Signature Win

Kovalev is undefeated in 26 bouts. The only blemish on his record is a technical draw in which his opponent was unable to continue after an accidental foul.

The Krusher has stopped 25 of his opponents and won a world title, but he still isn't respected as much as one might expect from a champion with a virtually spotless record. That's because he hasn't scored a victory over anyone that the boxing community cares about.

As of now, Kovalev's biggest win came against Nathan Cleverly when the former won the WBO title in Aug. 2013. Cleverly is a skilled fighter with little power, but he was clearly in over his head against Kovalev. Cleverly had also fought predominantly in the United Kingdom, thus he hadn't established any significant popularity in the United States.

In order for Kovalev to establish himself as a household name to casual fans, he needs to beat a big name.

Names don't come much bigger than Hopkins.

This is an oddly large opportunity for Kovalev. Winning won't automatically deliver him to the masses as a pound-for-pound contender; it will simply allow him to take one small step in that direction.

If Kovalev wins, many will simply say: "Someone finally beat the old man in the division." That take will detract from Kovalev's accomplishment. If Kovalev loses, he'll look like a joke as fans will say: "He couldn't even beat a dude that's almost 50."

Both are partially unfair, but such is life.

Because of these dynamics, this is a must-win for Kovalev. He won't be placed on the fast track to boxing glory with a win, but he'll be significantly detoured by a loss.

Prediction

As usual, Hopkins needs to muck up the action in an effort to drain the youth and exuberance from his younger opponent. There's no question Hopkins can't match power with Kovalev. Even in The Alien's prime, he was never a devastating puncher.

Kovalev hasn't faced great fighters, but one look at the physical reaction from the fighters he hits lets you know the man can really punch.

Believe it or not, Kovalev's work rate is a major part of his success. Per boxing analytics on Boxing.com, Kovalev throws 62 punches per round, which bests his opponents by a 2-1 margin. 

Part of the reason for this is that Kovalev's pressure and power force fighters into a defensive posture. Opening up to throw power shots means making themselves vulnerable to take one of The Krusher's punches. That's ill advised.

Will Hopkins have an answer for that? I believe he will...partially.

Hopkins sees something in Kovalev that he believes he can exploit. Seeing and making a 49-year-old body execute are two different things. By using clinches, roughhousing tactics and his remarkable instincts, Hopkins will avoid taking the shots that put the lights out.

However, he won't mount enough offense to win the rounds necessary to beat Kovalev. His work rate and Hopkins' need to protect himself make up the recipe for a unanimous-decision victory for The Krusher.

Kovalev will hold three titles, which should make Stevenson feel compelled to push for a fight with his contemporary. In all honesty, that's about as likely as there being another fighter like Hopkins in the sport.

This loss may not end Hopkins' career, but maybe it sets up a fight between him and Stevenson. Somehow, Kovalev would still wind up the loser in that scenario. This is boxing.

Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter. I dig boxing and MMA.

The Windy City's adopted son, Andrzej Fonfara, found his way back into the win column Saturday night. Fonfara (26-3) rebounded from the third loss of his career and outfought the game and unheralded Doudou Ngumbu to a unanimous-decision victory in front of a partisan crowd at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois.

The winner via unanimous decision (98-92, 97-93 x 2) ... "The Polish Prince" @andrzej_fonfara. #boxing

— All the Smoke Fight (@ats_fight) November 2, 2014

Dubbed "The Polish Prince," Fonfara teamed up with the awkward stylist Ngumbu (33-6) to make up the main event of the Showtime Championship Boxing tripleheader that featured standout bantamweight Tomoki Kameda defend his WBO title and newly signed Al Haymon product Javier Fortuna put his unbeaten record on the line.

The event proved to be equal parts competitive and off-the-wall bizarre. 

Fonfara Still a Light Heavyweight Contender

An interesting set of skills for each man made this one a decent scrap.

Just one fight removed from a surprisingly competitive bout with light heavyweight kingpin Adonis Stevenson, Fonfara proved himself a more complete fighter than his Congolese adversary. The Polish-born boxer ultimately walked away a unanimous-decision winner on scores of 97-93, 97-93 and 98-92 but not before Ngumbu took it to him in the first couple of rounds and looked apt to pull of the upset.

Ngumbu utilized his herky-jerky movement and chopping overhand rights and lefts to brush back the 5-1 favorite Fonfora. He attacked from an almost crouching position and deflected most of his taller opponent’s offense with a stiff guard.

But it would not last.

Action PHOTOS from #Fonfara vs. #Ngumbu via @allelbows pic.twitter.com/OLFmTyi9jA

— All the Smoke Fight (@ats_fight) November 2, 2014

Fonfara’s long jabs and right crosses started finding their marks. In Round 5, he rattled Ngumbu with a big right hand and tattooed him on the face and body with punishing left hooks.

Thenceforth, the former IBO light heavyweight titlist pulled away while his opponent wilted, culminating in a gripping final round that saw Ngumbu shaken to the core by a violent series of right and left crosses and uppercuts.

Fonfara is a slow starter, but he trades off of attrition. He fights at a fixed pace that was capable enough to extend “Superman” Stevenson the distance in May for the first time in six years in addition to dropping the cataclysmic puncher late in their fight.

Keeping up with Fonfara’s grind for upwards of 30 minutes isn’t easy. Ngumbu—who has been stopped just once in 39 fights—barely did. It’s the 26-year-old’s grinding mentality that has helped him rank among very best 175-pounders in the world, according to The Ring magazine and the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board (in which he currently sits at No. 4).

Fonfara has made it very clear he wishes to avenge his loss to the WBO champ earlier this year. He told The Ring's Lem Satterfield before his fight with Ngumbu: "My next step is the rematch with Stevenson, because I feel I can beat him." He didn't hurt his chances with a win this weekend.

But if he's truly hellbent on facing off with Stevenson again, the latest light heavyweight powerhouse, Artur Beterbiev, needs a dance partner for his scheduled bout on Dec. 19 on the undercard of Stevenson's title defense against Dmitry Sukhotsky at the Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City. A win then against Beterbiev—fresh off of knocking out the durable Tavoris Cloud like no one ever had before—gives Fonfara his best chance at securing a possible rematch with Superman. 

It is unlikely, as it would be the light heavyweight contender's quickest turnaround since his first full year as a professional in 2007. But opportunity is rarely dressed up nice and pretty in this line of work.

Kameda Win Sets Up Unification Bout with McDonnell

Twenty-three-year-old Kameda defended his WBO bantamweight strap for the third time against former training partner Alejandro “Little Clown” Hernandez (28-11-2) via a split decision. The verdict was controversial and, given his reputation as one of the world’s brightest, most exciting young stars, “El Mexicanito” (31-0) was a bit underwhelming. 

Bantamweights always bring action! @TomokiKameda vs. Alejandro Hernandez tomorrow at 9p ET/PT. pic.twitter.com/TGVqg7SVzh

— All the Smoke Fight (@ats_fight) October 31, 2014

Tomoki Kameda dominates Alejandro Hernandez, though judges say SD http://t.co/aAHTCmF8p3 http://t.co/xroRIuFnJ8

— TheSweetScience (@TSSboxingnews) November 2, 2014

He never exhibited the body-punching savagery that fans in the U.S. likely expected from him following his lethal liver-shot knockout of Pungluang Sor Singyu in July, but he did land on an impressive 155 of his 320 power punches for a connection rate of 48 percent. Hernandez only managed to connect on 22 percent of his power punches (111-505), most of which came late. 

Kameda pitched a shutout for the first eight rounds. His left hand was blistering, and Hernandez had nothing for his piston-like jabs and sweeping hooks. “Payasito, ” 28, tried to apply pressure on his younger opponent but was physically overwhelmed in close quarters. Still, Kameda almost seemed too content at times, never really finding his way through Hernandez’s guard. Instead, he punched at his raised gloves with straight rights and lefts—delivering little damage.

In Round 9, Hernandez finally broke out of his stagnancy and employed a high output to swell and open up a cut above Kameda’s left eye. This only made the Japanese champion move his feet even more in the final three rounds and continue to pick Hernandez apart from long range. 

Save for the 12th round, this was a tame affair. The final round did see Hernandez begin to find success stalking and swarming Kameda, making for the most exciting round of the fight and the only other stanza to belong solely to the Mexican-born fighter. 

Judge Dennis Nelson saw the fight 115-113 for Hernandez, giving him seven rounds, while the other two turned in far more reasonable 115-113 scores the other way. Kamada’s older brother Koki also picked up a win Saturday night on the same card against former title challenger Omar Salado.

On Friday, ESPN's Dan Rafael wrote that Tomoki and WBA bantamweight champion Jamie McDonnell have agreed to a unification bout in early 2015 provided that each man win their next fight.

Kamada has done his part. Now it's up to McDonnell (24-2-1) to get past Walberto Ramos on Nov. 22 at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England. 

Fortuna Remains Undefeated

A day after Halloween, the bizarre and the wacky found their way into the squared circle.

Incompetent refereeing and foul play ran amok in what turned out to be a real farce of a prizefight between Javier Fortuna and Abner Cotto. Despite another a knockout victory for the heavy-handed Fortuna (26-0-1) in the fifth, the finish is marred with low blows, bewildering point deductions and the worst dive in recent memory.

Anyone for a #knockout? http://t.co/8aOtF1qQdQ

— All the Smoke Fight (@ats_fight) November 2, 2014

In Round 2, Cotto (18-3), cousin to one middleweight champion Miguel, cocked back and threw two blatant punches to the back of Fortuna’s head, sending him to the canvas. It was an obvious foul and worthy of a penalty.

It was. And it wasn’t.

Referee Lou Hall, who began refereeing professionally just 15 months ago, deducted a point from Cotto but also ruled a knockdown. It doesn’t work that way.

If a punch is a foul, a 10-count should not be initiated. It was an inexplicable call. After this, spectators and viewers at home were lucky enough to see Cotto’s head smack into a Showtime camera man’s rig while backing up into the ropes from a stalking Fortuna. Boxing is dangerous as it is—the last thing these men need is some amateur with a camera making things worse from outside the ropes. 

But as it was, things only got worse from there.

Towards the end of Round 4, Cotto struck Fortuna with what was one of multiple low blows, sparking Fortuna to retaliate after the bell for the second time. The punch completely whiffed, but after some coaxing from his trainer Cotto took a trip to the canvas anyway. 

LOL Cotto flopped at the end of the round like his name was LeBron James.

— Ryan Bivins (@RyanBivins) November 2, 2014

Hall, eager to outdo even himself, took a point from Fortuna.

Thankfully, everything came to an end in the fifth by way of a stiff left hand that crashed into the chin of Cotto, who was unable to beat the 10-count. 

It was the 19th knockout victory of Fortuna’s career. Hopefully he doesn't ever have another one amid a fight nearly as bizarre as he did this weekend.