Now Juergen Braehmer Needs to Step It Up
In Dresden, Germany, Juergen Braehmer Retired Konni Konrad in the 7th round to defend his WBA Light Heavyweight crown. It was hard to get too excited about this fight beforehand, and it turned out to be the perceived mismatch not long after the first bell rang. Konrad was outclassed, out-powered, and asked little of the vastly experienced champ.
Braehmer now moves to 47-2, 35 knockouts, while Konrad falls to 22-2, 11 knockouts.
Surprisingly, Braehmer was caught a few times in the fight, but never with anything troubling. The 36-year-old turned up the heat by landing a peach of a right-hook counter in the 6th, which dropped his opponent. Konrad managed to survive the round, plus another one-sided 7th, before calling it quits on his stool.
No one likes to see a fighter quit, but to be fair, what would have been the point in continuing? This comes as yet another pointless, forgettable defense for Braehmer. Whatever the reason for these lacklustre defences, be it ducking, ‘politics’, or simple money issues, Braehmer really needs to try and make a statement against a capable Top 10 175-pounder now. At 36, it wouldn’t be unwise to chase down a big money fight with Adonis Stevenson, or even someone like Brandon Gonzalez.
Diego De La Hoya Passes Acid Test
In Los Angeles, California, Diego De La Hoya put in a dominating performance against a very game Jesus Ruiz. The LA Fight Club headliner represented De La Hoya’s first significant test at Junior Featherweight, and the 21-year-old passed with flying colours.
Following scores of 100-90 (twice) and 99-91, De La Hoya jumps to 12-0, 7 knockouts, while Ruiz drops to 34-7-5, 23 knockouts.
De La Hoya, the cousin of Oscar De La Hoya, was simply the smarter, technically superior fighter. He showed eye-catching footwork and movement, and despite suffering an unfortunate cut (from a Ruiz accidental elbow) in the 7th, put his counters to very good use.
Ruiz didn’t hit the deck at any point of the 10-rounder, but did come close after receiving a crunching left-hook in the 9th. Ruiz’s response was to fire back until the final bell arrived, which is testament to his toughness.
This was a good acid test for De La Hoya, and it shouldn’t be too long before we see him featuring on some bigger cards, perhaps even headlining one in the latter part of next year.
Shannon Briggs Continues Slaughter Streak
Shannon Briggs may be 43-years-old and fighting a bunch of non-contenders, but he’s still doing a number on them. Since being battered by Vitali Klitschko in 2010, the former Heavyweight champ has knocked out 7 of his last 8 opponents, which actually makes him kinda notable on the glamour division scene.
In Hollywood, Briggs stopped Mike Marrone, 21-5, 15 knockouts, in the 2nd round of their scheduled 12-rounder. Marrone was out of shape, to say the least. The 29-year-old was knocked down in the 1st round, and again for the final time in the 2nd following a left-hook to the body. The referee, sensing Marrone’s agony, swiftly waved off the mismatch.
Briggs, 59-6-1, 52 knockouts, of course wasted no time in calling out multiple belt-holder, Wladimir Klitschko. It’s unlikely Briggs will ever land a fight with ‘Dr Steelhammer’ – no matter how much noise he makes – especially with fighters like Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder already in the queue. Plus the fact that Klitschko’s already pushing 40.
For what it’s worth, Shannon Briggs would be a good test for up-and-comers like Anthony Joshua. That fight would look rather tasty on paper given Briggs’ ferocious power.
What are your thoughts on Juergen Braehmer’s latest title defense, De La Hoya’s dominating performance, and Shannon Briggs’ early night’s work in Hollywood?
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