Post-Fight Analysis On Wins By Lipinets and Wlodarczyk

A last boxing Epilogue for March 23^rd-24^th from Jab Hook

March 23, 2019: Hala Sportowa, Lomza, Poland:

Krzysztof Wlodarczyk boxed well against Alexandru Jur, who fought at his best in a bout that turned out closer than Jab Hook had envisioned.

The former two-time cruiserweight world champion was cautiously testing his foe in the early rounds as the 37yo Polish hero was clearly less aggressive and energetic than back in the day.

Nearly six years ago “El Diablo’s” career peaked against unbeaten Rakhim Chakhkiev, as he got up off the floor in the 3^rd round to knock the Russian down three times in the 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th. Winning by TKO at 2:03 of the 8^th round, Wlodarczyk became the WBC Cruiserweight World Titlist.

But this 2019 “Diablo” had clearly lost some devilish powers as he fought a game Alexandru Jur. The Romanian club fight rose to the occasion and fought well for his standards. He even managed to win a few rounds as he got his licks in here and there on his Polish protagonist. But Wlodarczyk was punching more accurately, dictating much of the bout, and fighting at home. All of which allowed him to take a unanimous decision, and his 4^th victory in a streak since Murat Gassiev KO’d him in October 2017.

Jab must have been thinking of the younger “Diablo” when he picked him to win by TKO over Jur.

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March 24, 2019; MGM National Harbor, Oxen Hill, Maryland:

Sergey Lipinets vs Lamont Peterson unfortunately unfolded as expected. It was a war of attrition that pitted the wily veteran with better boxing skills and superior physical gifts against the bulldog, head down, pressure fighter, with a chin backed up by a deep gas tank.

Fighting only his 2^nd time at welterweight, “Samurai” Lipinets was measurably smaller and shorter of limb than Lamont Peterson, who opened the bout nicely. Peterson often used his reach and fought best at mid-distance. But Lipinets sucked him into the in-fighting already in the 1^st round, which Lamont took. Lipinets showed more in the 2^nd and almost stole the round. The most cute inside game followed the leader into the 3^rd and 4^th rounds, as things shifted slightly toward the younger, more robust man out of Kazakhstan. The 5^th round was marred by a time-keeping error, and had to be restarted.

“Samurai” Lipinets upped the pressure and took the middle rounds with punishing hooks inside as the two-in-a-phone-booth arrangement got even more serious. By round 8 they were even on Jab’s scorecard as Lipinets had caught up, which was only an academic observation. The picture in the ring was more apparent and unambiguous, and painful for Jab to witness. Peterson had been slowly taken apart. The telltale, big shot came in the 8^th as Lipinets’ right hook shook Peterson’s brain and took his balance. Sergey was not ready to close the show, yet.

Though Lamont fared a little better in the 9^th round, he had lost at least 5 rounds in a row. Peterson’s face was very swollen, and Sergey’s was puffed up, too. The former two weight-division champion was fading fast and everyone could see it and feel it, particularly Lipinets. In the 10^th Lamont began bravely and threw punches trying to hold Lipinets off, working effectively for most of the round but he tired in the last 30 seconds as “Samurai” went offensive. Lipinets hurt him with a hard left hand, followed up by a sweeping right hook that scraped across the top of Lamont’s skull. Stumbling and half out on his feet, Sergey pounced on Peterson,  it was soon over with. Barry Hunter had seen enough and tossed in the towel as his “son” fell helplessly to the canvas.

Jab was cringing as the wonderful boxer, and kind gentleman named Lamont Peterson met his end. A sad lump formed in his throat as he realized that he’d just seen the end of an amazing boxing career. Bittersweet the memories of a survivor from the mean streets of DC who entertained millions and became a champion.

Jab Hook’s prediction was precisely fulfilled when Peterson’s corner threw in the towel with 1 second left in the 10^th round. Jab sincerely wishes he had been wrong. Picking 2 for 2 here, 6 for 6 on two earlier event cards, Jab Hook was 8 for 8 on the weekend.

Jab Hook’s 2019 predictions: 41 of 49 correct on March 25th = 83.7%

(2018: 92 of 112 correct = 82.1%, to date 133 of 161 correct = 82.6%)

Please check back on NYFights later this week for more boxing thoughts from Jab Hook.