“The left hook Gassiev augered into Usyk’s body in the second, the right hook to the jaw he crashed home a few rounds later—these confirmed even for viewers that Gassiev would remain dangerous so long as he believed he was. Usyk would have to fight his fight for twelve rounds to win. And so he did. Gassiev’s left hook to the body? He struggled to land it ever after. His right hook? All it struck for the remainder of the fight was Usyk’s guard as the Ukrainian pivoted away. And thus, to the rhythm of Usyk’s tireless jab, went Gassiev’s belief in himself, taking with it his weapons, holstered, inert.”

Read Control Over Chaos: Oleksandr Usyk, King of the Cruiserweights on Hannibal Boxing.

“In a fight that some will lament mistakenly as coming years too late, Manny “Pac Man” Pacquiao faces Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse on Saturday, at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur. Because it is only now, in his thirty-ninth year, his sixty-ninth professional fight, in one of the last stops on an eleven-division ascent, that Pacquiao should concede Matthysse more than a puncher’s chance and the beating that is its usual price. Such is the abyss between good and great; an abyss that when finally traversed along the bridge left by the outlay of a historic career, can make for desperate action. Or so one hopes.”

Read The Realization of an Ideal: Manny Pacquiao Challenges Lucas Matthysse on Hannibal Boxing.

“Saturday night, at The Ford Center at The Star, in Frisco, Texas, Spence needed less than a round to sickle Carlos “Chema” Ocampo in two. A left to the belly and right hook to the body took Ocampo’s breath and emptied the lungs of the 14,000 people in the arena to see their native son incarnate his reputation. And while the matchmaking, forgettable, uninspiring, all-too-typical of a homecoming showcase or risible mandatory defense (and Ocampo represented both), was disappointing, Spence was not. Because that is what you do to an undeserving opponent you openly admit you would rather not have to fight: swiftly and spectacularly shatter him.”

Read Errol Spence Jr.: All the Right Moves on Hannibal Boxing.