“Of course, such matchmaking is typical of Fury, who by Sunday will have fought five times since returning from the three-year ring absence that comprised his run as heavyweight champion of the world. Wilder is the only noticeable name on the list. And if choosing that time frame strikes you as disingenuous considering the length of Fury’s layoff and his physical and mental state throughout it, feel free to go back further—back to Klitschko, yes, and Derrick Chisora. They’re there, just like Joey Abell, and Christian Hammer, and little Steve Cunningham.”

Read Lounge Act Theatrics: Tyson Fury Faces Otto Wallin on Hannibal Boxing.

“Yes, Kovalev is finished now. Sure, he successfully defended his light-heavyweight title against mandatory-challenger Anthony Yarde at the Traktor Sports Palace in Chelyabinsk, Russia, on Saturday, surviving a handful of scares to mow Yarde down in the eleventh. But such details are mostly immaterial because Kovalev—despite being finished for years—was supposed to win.”

Read The Next Next Time: Sergey Kovalev Stops Anthony Yarde on Hannibal Boxing.

“With respect to Darnell Boone, the 24-24-5 (13) fighter who, in the span of three fights in 2011, knocked out future light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson and dropped a split decision to light-heavyweight co-kingpin Sergey Kovalev, Augustus was the journeyman of his era. He owes much of that distinction to his style, the off-rhythm shrugs, shimmies, waves, and wobbles, that earned him the moniker “Drunken Master.” His style was one of showboating without insult, a sort of bewitching performance that transfixed opponents. There was playfulness there, in the smiles and theatrics, and frivolity too, if one considers how many narrow decisions Augustus coughed up. Still, Augustus hit opponents enough during his pantomimes to remind them that he was there to fight, and only a natural fighter could have employed that style with such unnerving effect.”

Read The Drunken Master: On Emanuel Augustus on Hannibal Boxing.