Frank Martin ghosts past spirited challenger
Plus, Elvis shakes up Postol, Tank Davis freed and AJ-Whyte 2
Keep an eye out tomorrow as I will be dropping a special preview of Inoue vs. Fulton, including picks from the Boxing Nutters Messenger Group.
Accepting his BWAA award for 2022, boxing trainer Derrick James explained how he prefers to label himself as a teacher rather than a coach. After last Saturday’s main event in the Chelsea Ballroom, James will need to implement a little more teaching to his hottest upcoming commodity.
The statistics will show us that Frank Martin recorded a 12-round decision win over Artem Harutyunyan. A closer inspection of the scores, however, reveal the difficulty involved in achieving win number 18. Two cards of 115-112 and a 114-113 sealed the deal. Billed as a coming out party on this Showtime headline opportunity, ‘The Ghost’ was close to being exorcised by an unexpectedly game and skilled opponent.
In the post-fight interview Martin attempted to subtly shift any of the reasons for his troubles back on to his own timing and sharpness rather than anything to do with Harutyunyan’s abilities. Fights of this nature are inevitable and necessary as young prospects move up the ladder to world title level. Frank showed that his coach Derrick James still has plenty to refine.
Happy to push the early pace, Harutyunyan showcased good movement and a furtively effective left hook. Martin has a low punch output, accurate and economical with the snappy left hand to head and body. Looking to time Harutyunyan’s aggression and consequently lessen his workrate.
Martin is very patient and composed, always thinking, setting traps. Whether this toolkit works at the very highest level remains to be seen. Frank’s counter shots reddened the Armenian native’s face. Although not quite as damaged as Yordenis Ugas’ face against Errol Spence.
Both of those men were seated at ringside soaking up the action. The action which ramped up a couple of levels in the sixth round as Martin cut off the escape exits and let his powerful combinations flow. Martin then took the seventh off as Harutyunyan bounced back with a very solid round’s work.
The German-based import had a responsible defence and was able to slide away from Martin’s fast shots. Artem attempted to be as elusive as possible but he was tagged with blows again as Martin turned up the volume in round 10. Under intense pressure in the final round, the gutsy visitor took a strategic knee to enable him to get through the fight and give his damaged left eye a break.
ELVIS LEAVES POSTOL ALL SHOOK UP
In the chief supporting contest to Martin-Harutyunyan, two talented fighters seemingly moving in different directions clashed over 10 rounds. Looking to rebound from the first stoppage loss of his career (controversially to Gary Antuanne Russell), former world title holder Viktor Postol was unable to turn the tide. Elvis Rodriguez improved his record to 15-1-1 by inflicting another knockout loss on Viktor, forcing a TKO in round seven.
Photo Credit: PBC
12 years older at 39, Postol attempted to get his spidery tactics going in this battle of tall, lanky super-lightweights. Hired hand Freddie Roach, for so long Postol’s main trainer, had since moved into the Dominican’s corner and the pugilistic pair had sparred numerous rounds in the Wild Card gym over the years. Postol made use of that familiarity by prodding home his strong jab, one-two and step back.
Showtime had 14-year pro and fluent Ukrainian speaker Ivan Redkach moonlighting as an interpreter in Postol’s corner. Boxing with a bloodied nose, possibly fractured, Postol was dropped from a heavy right hook in the sixth round. The veteran was starting to unravel and did not complain when referee Celestino Ruiz jumped in, as Rodriguez continued to rough him up in the seventh session.
TANKS ROLLS OUT OF PRISON
It’s a good job CompuBox doesn’t count brain cells because Gervonta Davis would be in a negative percentile. Violating terms of home detention meant a short-term sentence for the lightweight star. After doing a minuscule 44 days of ‘shovel’ Davis can resume his career, comforted by the knowledge that he now holds the respect of boxing’s hardcore prison community. Feasting on the notoriously scant prison menu, Davis may have dropped a bit of timber during his incarceration.
Photo Credit: Baltimore Sun
Regarded by some as the new face of boxing, that face looked unshaven and hair unkempt as he marched back into the real world. Swapping his orange jumpsuit for gloves and shorts, Davis can now sit down with his team and look at the next batch of potential opponents after a resounding smashing of Ryan Garcia in April.
Isaac Cruz is still calling for a rematch with Davis. The Mexican must first get past Giovanni Cabrera on the Spence-Crawford undercard, July 29. If Cruz wins and looks impressive in the process, he could become a viable opponent. As could George Kambosos if he defeats Maxi Hughes this weekend. The Aussie is a good fighter but would likely be too brave for his own good, walking on to something big against Gervonta.
AJ AND DILLIAN WHYTE SIGN FOR REMATCH
Eddie Hearn is doing the video interview rounds telling anyone who’ll listen that the August 12 rematch between Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte will sell anything from 500,000 to 800,000 pay-per-views. DAZN don’t reveal their numbers (unless they’re worth revealing) so we’ll never know how many are actually sold.
At least this is a proper boxing match, unlike the Misfits dross they’ve been putting on recently. It appeals to the yoof apparently. These influencers are busy influencing youngsters to badger their parents into investing in a long-term DAZN subscription.
While there are more pressing heavyweight issues to be resolved, the fight probably just about makes commercial sense for those involved. Especially for Whyte who must be commended for the amount of cash he’s extracted from the fight game given his lack of actual ability. Selling contests with the gift of the gab, Dillian’s amateur beef with Joshua has been milked to perfection.
Danny Young recently covered the fight in a Nutters podcast special (see link above). As outlined, this should make decent money by enticing the casuals in for another cheeky pay-per-view. The return fixture has been carefully set up by taking a look at what both men still have left. Common opponent Jermaine Franklin pushed Whyte close in late 2022. Despite some positive early moments, Jermaine was effectively nullified by AJ some five months later.
Whyte stayed silent during the entire build-up with Tyson Fury, refusing to engage the Gypsy King in any form of banter or animosity. He will definitely end that vow of silence here, taking every opportunity to wind up the mentally fragile Joshua.
NUTHOUSE NOTES
Oleksandr Usyk’s defence of the WBA, IBF and WBO titles against Daniel Dubois has been officially confirmed for August 26 in Wroclaw, Poland. Staying active is the key, but the fact that Usyk and Fury cannot come to an agreement to unify the heavyweight division is a huge blow for the history books.
Speaking of which, Tyson Fury will face Francis Ngannou from the…UFC? MMA? Who knows. The one where they roll about on top of each other, causing damage. My view on the whole charade is that these type of freak show matchups are not uncommon in boxing and I don’t begrudge anybody making a few pound for their efforts.
However, fighters are so inactive these days that this might take up the requisite (just about) one fight per year. Also, the biggest contest in boxing hangs by a thread in the background, looming over every move like Nosferatu creeping through the shadows.
Frank Warren seems happy with the Fury-Ngannou fight. As well he might. It’s easy to tell everyone how good these events are whenever you’re financially benefiting. Turn it around and Warren would be shellacking the spectacle as bad for the sport.
And finally…Rolando Romero has been talking smack ahead of a possible first defence of his ill-gotten WBA crown, against Ohara Davies. Many believe Rolly should be offering Ismael Barroso a rematch given the controversial nature of the finish. Romero wants to smash through ‘ugly’ Ohara and move on to Ryan Garcia. I’m not convinced he even beats Davies in all honesty.
Thanks for reading! Drop a little heart or even a comment if you get a minute. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Speak to you all next week…
About Steve: Experienced boxing writer, author of 8 books and podcaster of over 400 eps. 20 years in the sport. Covered hundreds of shows for newspapers and Boxing News magazine. Chief video script writer for Motivedia channel and BN+. For enquiries: stevenwellings1982@gmail.com.
Enjoyed that Steve. Becoming a weekly staple.
What a week we’ve got. When boxing gets it right there’s nothing like it. Inoue & Bud for me in two close, Intriguing fights.
Great article Steve!
I think the Fulton/Inoue fight will be very close, but I'll give Inoue the lean for crowd and home bias. However a draw or Fulton close win wouldn't shock me either. In particular Fulton's ability to mix it up and fight inside and at distance will cause Inoue problems initially, but can see the Monster finding his range and beating Fulton down the stretch. That's what I've gone with in the prediction league anyway.