TWO OUT OF THREE
By Moncayo Blackbull     Photo: TOM CASINO/SHOWTIME (click picture for larger view)

INSIDEBOXING.com (July 8. 2007) - Entertaining and exciting fights: Wladimir Klitschko stopping Lamon Brewster in the sixth round and Nonito Donaire upsetting the IBF/IBO flyweight champion inside 5 rounds. The not so glamorous event: Travis Simms losing his WBA light middleweight title to Joachim Alcine.

Klitschko may very well be the paramount heavyweight of today’s active big boys. A new and improved Klitschko displayed a lot of what we were used to seeing in past greats.

Klitschko easily disposed of Brewster by utilizing a Larry Holmes super jab.

What was absent in Klitscho’s style was the backing and leaning back movement he once had a habit of doing when his opponent became aggressive. Now instead he kept the fight at his distance and moved forward, throwing a powerful right hand whenever Brewster would make an ill attempt at aggression.

Brewster traveled to Cologne, Germany in hopes of catapulting his career by defeating Klitschko for a second time. Unfortunately Brewster had no answer and could not get beyond the stiff and effective jab of Klitschko.

By the end of sixth round Klitschko had delivered much damage and the corner of Brewster concedes in defeat.

If you missed the contest between flyweights Vic Darchinyan and Nonito Donaire, you missed a good one.

Darchinyan lacks skills in the technique department of boxing but he makes up for it with power and his “bully” antics. He is known to walk at his opponents like a monster and unleash damaging blows. This style had faired well for Darchinyan earning him a championship and made him a favorite for nation television… but that was yesterday.

Donaire came into this fight with family revenge on his mind. Darchinyan had previous defeated Glenn Donaire, Nonito’s brother.

Donaire started and finished this fight with a no-respect approach, beating Darchinyan to the punch and landing power shots.

It was evident early in the 1st round that Donaire was in the ring to win, Darchinyan realizing he was in a fight tried the “bully” antics but when raised his arms and attempted to walk in like a monster, Donaire popped him with a hard solid shot to the forehead… so much for intimidation.
Darchinyan’s pride is bigger than the state of Texas and refused to be out hustled by Donaire as he continued to move in for the kill. Throwing a multitude of power shots kept you on the edge of your seat knowing a solid shot landed by Darchinyan could end the fight. If Darchinyan brings anything to the lighter weights of boxers, it’s devastating knockouts. Something that is uncommon with your smaller guys.

The 5th round was all she wrote for this contest, Darchinyan coming in for the kill, his eyes focused on the chin of Donaire, he starts to unleash a mad left hand, however the timing of Donaire was surperior as he throws a left hook that’s beats the power left hand shot of Darchinyan… Down goes Darchinyan.

Darchinyan attempts to get up but stumbles to the ropes and falls back to the canvass. The medics quickly enter the ring and give Darchinyan prompt attention.

Although the referee waves the fight off, the fact is Darchinyan could not beat the count.

For the record the contest ends in a TKO but in reality it was indeed a solid KO for Donaire.

A stinker of a fight… Simms defending his title against Alcine, this contest was preceded with a tremendous amount of hype with both fighters flappin’ their lips as to what they were going to do to each other in the fight. The pre-fight show delivered plenty of interest while the actual contest turned out to be a very disappointing fight to say the least.

In my opinion both fighters should be awarded losses and the title be declared vacant.

The contest started with excitement when Simms batted down Alcine’s glove instead of touching them up. And for about twenty seconds into the fight Simms went at Alcine with a strong aggressive posture, throwing punches and moving Alcine backward. However, that was the extent of entertainment for this fight.

For the remainder of this contest you would see gross holding from Simms and ill accuracy from Alcine’s punches. Most of your connected punches were to the back and back of the head while the two engaged in stand up grappling.

Nonetheless, Alcine traveled into the home town of Simms and did what he had to do in order to dethrone Simms and should be congratulated.