“Wilder himself also appeared to regress, as he had stretches of trouble against Eric Molina, Johann Duhaupas and Szpilka. But perhaps regression is a misdiagnosis. Easily the best fighter Wilder has faced, and the only one to extend him the distance, Stiverne turned in a strangely lethargic effort against Wilder and was both hospitalized with dehydration after the fight and diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis. Perhaps Wilder, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is not regressing at all, but since beating a sickly Stiverne, simply turning in performances that betray his flaws against opponents selected to mask them. The natural assumption that Wilder would improve, or had improved, or that he was particularly good to begin with because he beat Stiverne might have been wrong.”

Read A Strange Appeal: Deontay Wilder KO9 Artur Szpilka on The Cruelest Sport.

“For Jacobs, a win over “Kid Chocolate” would make him a fighter before all else, and relegate his short-circuiting at the hands of Pirog, to the past it had long resided in. For Quillin, 159, a win Saturday would confirm what had been evident despite the vitriol and ridicule: that for all his buffoonery, he remained one of the best fighters in his division. At 1:25 of the first round, Jacobs was validated. As for Quillin? Of what he has become more will be said later.”

Read Territorial Rights: Danny Jacobs TKO1 Peter Quillin on The Cruelest Sport.

“Wladimir Klitschko relinquished his grip on the heavyweights division at the ESPIRIT Arena in Dusseldorf, Germany, yesterday, dropping a unanimous decision to regicidal court jester Tyson Fury. After a decade of dominance rivalled only by that of his sibling, Klitschko finally turned in a performance that belied his years; his feeble showing against Fury reflecting more the weariness of an aging champion than the youthful belligerence of the challenger. And if that is giving short shrift to Fury, let his future prove as much.”

Read A Forgettable Defeat: Tyson Fury W12 Wladimir Klitschko on The Cruelest Sport.