Firstly, happy Christmas, as this is a post that I’m writing on Christmas day, I shall now follow with my review for The Day of Reckoning.
I had not watched the entire card, the first fight I had watched was Jai Opetaia vs Elllis Zorro, Opetaia did not fail to impress here, delivering a first-round KO of his opponent.
I’ve included a list below of the fights that I will be including in this review:
- Jai Opetaia vs Ellis Zorro
- Arslanbek Makhmudov vs Agit Kabayel
- Daniel Dubois vs Jerrell Miller
- Dmitry Bivol vs Lyndon Arthur
- Deontay Wilder vs Joseph Parker
- Anthony Joshua vs Otto Wallin
In each review, I will also include the fight highlights from DAZN.
Arslanbek Makhmudov vs Agit Kabayel
Makhmudov vs Kabayel was a very fascinating fight, Kabayel had initially boxed on the outside, preferring to punish Makhmudov’s clumsy advances with clean counters.
Kabayel’s counters first was targeted to the head, but Kabayel had noticed that the body-punches were having a substantial effect on Makhmudov, and began to push offensively to the body.
Eager, but not efficient, Makhmudov marches towards Kayabel and engages his attacks; still, Kabayel was the sharper boxer, and avoided any onslaught from Makhmudov.
Kayabel had delivered a 4th-round TKO stoppage against Makhmudov, who wilted to the pressure, and fell to the canvas multiple times from the body-assault.
This was a very entertaining fight, and perhaps the most impressive performance of the night.
Daniel Dubois vs Jerrell Miller
A gruelling and a hard-fought contest between both men, with Dubois eventually getting a TKO win in the 10th-round, Dubois proved to be the sharper boxer.
Dubois’ jab was stronger, and his uppercuts were powerful against the plodding and heavy Miller, who was trying to walk Dubois down with his 330Ibs frame and a high-guard.
Miller had success in the early rounds, but just could not get into a rhythm and dictate the pace of the fight; instead, Dubois had controlled the pace, and delivered the power-punches.
Dubois was able to box on the outside and keep working the big-man, and didn’t show much signs of exhaustion; rather, Miller had shown signs of lassitude beyond the midway point.
I had sensed that the pressure from Miller would get to Miller, I was wrong in this assessment, Dubois’ superior boxing had took control of the fight.
Dmitry Bivol vs Lyndon Arthur
Bivol really had shown his class in this matchup, and won by a landslide, but couldn’t get get the stoppage in the end of the fight.
The left-hook to the body was a hurtful shot for Bivol, but Bivol had neglected to throw this punch more frequently.
Arthur looked nervous, and struggled to maintain a pace that could contest for a single round, staying on the outside, and throwing the occasional counter.
Bivol would frequently unleash savage combinations, gradually breaking down the defence of Arthur, but not dealing heavy damage.
In the last round, the ref looked like he was going to jump in to stop the fight, but Arthur managed to land an uppercut which disengaged the referee.
Deontay Wilder vs Joseph Parker
Now this was another prediction that I had got completely wrong, Parker had shown development, and was able to successfully outwork Wilder.
Wilder came in at a career lightest. at 214Ibs, compared to Parker, who came in at 250Ibs.
The timidity of Wilder was shocking, there was no urgency in his performance, and he was getting out-boxed in the majority, if not all the rounds.
Parker’s most successful punch was the overhand-right, and he landed some very good, flush overhand-rights that somehow, Wilder managed to resist.
Parker’s stalking, lateral-movement, and counter power-punches, are the defining factors that won him the fight.
Anthony Joshua vs Otto Wallin
Finally, this is the last fight to review on what was a fantastic night of boxing, and hope to see more cards like this one.
Anthony Joshua had comfortably beat Wallin, and proved me wrong in my assessment (my prediction was that he would win by points, and have some difficulty against Wallin).
Joshua had fought and sparred Wallin in the amateurs many years ago, and it looks like he had worked out a lot of how Wallin fights during that time, because he had an easy performance.
Going straight to the centre of the room and boxing at a suitable range, Joshua controlled the pace and dictated with the jab.
This fight was a return to form for Joshua, only more refined and more mature, this looks like a great direction for Joshua going forward.
Joshua also still looks powerful, breaking through the guard with 3-2 and 1-2 combos, breaking the nose of Wallin.
Wallin was forced to retire after the 5th-round.
image source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V502IkO5HU
