Boxing August 26

[H2O Man]

ESPN+ starting at 5 pm/est

(1) Title fight: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois, 12 rounds, for Usyk's WBO, IBF and WBA heavyweight titles

(2) Jared Anderson vs. Andriy Rudenko, 10 rounds, heavyweights


Two interesting heavyweight bouts on ESPN+ today. There could be a surprise, however unlikely.

[True Dough]

1. Didn't see Usyk/Dubois

but I caught a clip of the finish. I only read about the controversial low blow. What were your thoughts on that, H2O Man?

[H2O Man]

2. I think it

is a judgment call. I'd say low. But I blame the referee, who failed to point it out in the instructions. And belts were high. My son thinks the same way.

My late brother used to say it's "don't hit below the belt." But that wasn't intended to translate to hitting on the belt. The strap of the fould cup is under the belt, and a punch can lift the cup. I've experienced that in sparring ...... against who? Mt brother, of course! Ha!

One night discussing fighting, I said I never intentionally fouled a guy first, only in retaliation if the opponent was dirty and the ref didn't address it. My brother claimed he hadn't, eith -- with a straight face. I almost died laughing. He used every dirty tactic known when we sparred.

[True Dough]

3. 5th round TKO for Big Baby

A lot of effective body work done in that fight.

Continue the slow build for Anderson, ya figure?

[H2O Man]

4. I thought that

he looked very good tonight. And that his body attack was beautiful.

I do think that it has to be put in context. His opponent was at the end of a long career. He had some loses to mid-level guys who can fight, likely in the top 20 to 10, and one guy who was top five. The last loss was by TKO, instead of DQ, when he was just holding and refused to fight. Too many years of taking punches.

Still, a good guy for Anderson to fight. I was impressed. If he fights at the end of the year, I'd think an opponent who is a step up. But no need for a big step yet. Get that experience, and let the top guys age. He could win a title in 2 to 3 years, defend it a few times, and retire from the ring a rich, undefeated champion.