Welcome to another installment of UndercarDVR, where we review what you need to see from this week in combat sports. We go fight by fight to see whether it needs to be watched, deleted, or put in fast forward.
Showtime dominated the day and the night on Saturday with a late afternoon showing on the home network and a primetime CBS slot. Early in the day, British sensation and IBF Heavyweight Champion Anthony Joshua looked to defend the strap against Dominic Breazeale. Over on CBS later, Shawn Porter and Keith Thurman squared off for the WBA World Welterweight Championship in a match everyone anticipated would be a surefire contender for “Fight of the Year.” Did both live up to expectations?
Get your remotes ready!
Anthony Joshua defeated Dominic Breazeale by seventh-round TKO in a heavyweight bout to retain the IBF World Heavyweight Championship.
- Anthony Joshua styled on Dominic Breazeale in front of a great British crowd to retain the title after a barrage forced a referee stoppage. Joshua looked impressive and slick as he jabbed over and over to open up Breazeale. Breazeale had no answer for the jab or anything else, really, but he showed incredible durability and proved to be a game opponent for the cream of the crop at heavyweight. Joshua now sits and waits for any of the big three in Klitschko, Fury, or Wilder.
- If you are looking for competitive action, you’re going to want to delte this right now. Joshua is must-see for boxing fans though and Breazeale was able to absorb an awful lot if nothing else. Get your notepad for this one and pay attention to what could be the world’s premier heavyweight that could breathe some life back into the weight class. Verdict: Watch.
Keith Thurman defeated Shawn Porter by unanimous decision in a welterweight bout to retain the WBA World Welterweight Championship.
- Keith Thurman and Shawn Porter made good on the hype in a fight where both traded some incredible power punches and exchanged winning rounds. Porter looked incredibly savvy out there and will be a challenge for anyone with his physicality inside and willingness to test the boundaries of the referee. Thurman looked excellent once he got off the ropes and hit Porter with some shots that would fell a mammoth. Fight of the year? You betcha.
- This was a tale of two styles along with the amazing combinations exchanged by both. Porter made it ugly rushing in and clinching while chipping away at any part of the body he could find on Thurman, while Thurman aimed to control the center and crack Porter coming in on his charge to initiate the holding. This is can’t miss and words can’t do it justice. Verdict: Watch.
Jarrett Hurd defeated Oscar Molina by tenth-round TKO in a super welterweight bout.
- A cracking fight here with Hurd spamming the uppercut with much success that was marred by an unnecessary stoppage. Hurd continues to impress at super welterweight while Molina will likely stay where he is, testing guys like Hurd on their way up the ladder.
- Worth your while to see an impressive victory Hurd here, but won’t hold it against you if you stick to some important moments in the fight that catch your eye. Verdict: Fast Forward.
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