IBR on The Cruelest Sport

“Perhaps the lights at The Theater in Madison Square Garden should have been killed and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” pumped over the PA system for a moment before it too vanished in the split-second that turns an anxious arena to endless black. Like the conclusion of The Sopranos, the scene that brought an end to the featherweight tilt between Mikey Garcia and Orlando Salido left more than a few viewers feeling dissatisfied. But however one feels about the technical decision Garcia was awarded after an accidental headbutt broke his nose near the end of the eighth round, that he dominated the action up to that point is indisputable.”

Read DIMMING LIGHTS: Mikey Garcia TD8 Orlando Salido on The Cruelest Sport.

IBR on The Cruelest Sport

“Last seen bludgeoning Grzegorz Proksa over five rounds last September, middleweight Gennady Golovkin returns to action on Saturday night at The Theater in Madison Square Garden. Setting hearts aflutter in confirming his reputation for rough treatment, Golovkin has become one of a handful of fighters whose fights generate enthusiasm regardless of the opposition. He has yet to fully profit from his burgeoning popularity, as the Proksa fight has discouraged a number of familiar middleweights from risking exposure to Golovkin’s brand of hurt.”

Read “Rough Treatment: Gennady Golovkin-Gabriel Rosado Preview” on The Cruelest Sport.

IBR on The Cruelest Sport

“The first round set the pattern for the remainder of the fight. Khan, 139 3/4, piled on punches at a rate nearing the Fibonacci sequence. No more running from aggression like he was looking for shelter during an air raid, or clinging to his opponent like a life ring in a shipwreck; Khan stepped just out of Molina’s range after unloading, and in the rare moments when he was pressed against the ropes, he landed quick combinations before sliding away.”

Read Reclamation Station: Amir Khan TKO10 Carlos Molina on The Cruelest Sport.