F that shit about Dirrell vs Curtis Stevens

It is his 11th pro fight, he's 23, and he's fighting a dangerous guy who he completely dominates, he uses intelligent footwork and far less than I've seen Leonard, Ali, Nunn use in many fights. His distance was a bit off which he has correct by getting just a little bit closer, but wow I've never seen HBO be so hating of such obvious talent. I'm not saying he will win for sure against Froch who is really underestimated, but I see Dirrell as a big favorite, and I believe he is unorthodox in a good way, like Whitaker or RJJ. Even though he doesn't follow the rules, the ground work has already been laid down, he isn't a Naseem Hamed, he has the technical skills, but his athleticism allows him step outside what is normally an intelligent way for slower guys to fight.

I agree Dirrell was young and deserves some slack. But as a Boxing fan that fight was a disgrace. It was more track-meet than fight

So how come Ali and Leonard are so revered? They ran way more than modern fighters, and get way less slack. Since when did using foot movement constitute as running, what Dirrell did in the last two rounds was running, the rest of it was good movement.

Everyone blames the smart boxer instead of the slugger that can't cut off the ring.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Majesty

Everyone blames the smart boxer instead of the slugger that can't cut off the ring.

---

Exactly!! I agree.

Boxing is a tough game and I do get piissed off with whiney boxers moaning about being fouled and what not.

If you are good enough surely you can prevent an opponent from holding, fouling or running away, they go biitching to the ref but what can the ref say, they are already in a sport that allows them to punch their opponent, its not the refs fault their too useless to;D

Everyone moans about Holyfield, even now but it took a little man like Toney to show him up for the slow old fool he is.

While im on the subject of Holyfield, there is no way he came close to beating Valuev, he landed bugger all, he showed good legs for a man his age and thats it, Valuev is too placid to be a fighter, hopefully Hhaye has royally piissed him off and he shows some aggression;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Majesty

Everyone blames the smart boxer instead of the slugger that can't cut off the ring.

---

Exactly. People appreciate the guy getting tagged 4 times just to get 1 punch in and hate on the guy dodging 4 punches then landing 1 or 2 punches.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Taeth

It is his 11th pro fight, he's 23, and he's fighting a dangerous guy who he completely dominates, he uses intelligent footwork and far less than I've seen Leonard, Ali, Nunn use in many fights. His distance was a bit off which he has correct by getting just a little bit closer, but wow I've never seen HBO be so hating of such obvious talent. I'm not saying he will win for sure against Froch who is really underestimated, but I see Dirrell as a big favorite, and I believe he is unorthodox in a good way, like Whitaker or RJJ. Even though he doesn't follow the rules, the ground work has already been laid down, he isn't a Naseem Hamed, he has the technical skills, but his athleticism allows him step outside what is normally an intelligent way for slower guys to fight.

---

You're right Taeth. Dirrell is much further along then he given credit for. Froch is one tough cookie but I will not be surprised if Dirrell outboxes him. Dirrell has some very freaky athleticism coupled with great speed.

Dirrell is a quality fighter but what he did vs Stevens makes me question how the guy handles pressure because let's say Froch DOES cut off the ring...what is going to happen?

I hope Andre wins, I have a feeling he will as Froch was easily outboxed by Taylor and Dirrell is #1 a natural super middleweight #2 he has great handspeed #3 he seems to have more power than Taylor or is more effective with it

havent seen the fight, judging by what you are all saying I will gladly pass on it;D I did see the Hanshaw fight and was amazed how cleanly he got clipped by Tony when pressured, he was hurt 2x in the 1st round. I'm not sold on Froch yet and unfortunately a win against Dirrell wont change my feeling, that being said Froch is a plodder and was being Clowned by Taylor until Jermain slowed down, Andre has incendiary handspeed and some pop, if he can move and not lose steam he should easily box circles around Froch.. if Carl catches him though Direll will be tits up counting ceiling tiles for a while...

Thats the beauty about Saturday, IMO there is no clear cut winner of either fight

On another note which of the two fights will be first on saturday??

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skel1983

On another note which of the two fights will be first on saturday??

---

Good Question... I believe its AA/JT

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JT Rock

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skel1983

On another note which of the two fights will be first on saturday??

---

Good Question... I believe its AA/JT

---

Yes

Froch-Dirrell is 2am Brit time

I am really excited for this weekend. I think Dirrell has not really shown how much punishment he can take. One the other hand I haven't seen him corral a bull like Froch. I don't think anyone outside of his trainers knows if he's going to have to dig deep or stay on his toes and outpoint the seemingly less talented Froch.

I am picking Froch TKO10. Dirrel crumbles like a cookie under the pressure after some shoe shine in the earlier rounds.

I have to disagree direll deserves absolutly no slack. Being young and a amature doesn't give you a reason in this sport to waste our time, stevens time, tv time, etc.....running like a damn 6th grade school girl after talking shit after shit about the guy and the other "chin checker" before the fight. Now if he wants respect back then the way to do is like he's been doing and doing now. But to be fair since the stevens fight he's been better but he's fought absolutly no one. I think he wins and probably pretty easy but from me no pass for the previous......earn it back. Ey his other brother aint to shabby himself.

Maintaining distance isn't running, maybe people need to brush up their videos of Ali and Leonard, because this wasn't even close to running, wasn't anything close to Leonard-Duran II. Sure Leonard proved he was tough in the first fight, but he used a tactical advantage against Duran in the second one, and htere is nothing wrong with that. It was Curtis Stevens who never even tried to speed up his footspeed or pressure. At least a guy like Hanshaw goes balls out against the faster man to try and pin him on the ropes, and thats what you have to do. Thats what Hatton did against Mayweather. It might not always work, but at least it will give you some modicum of a chance.

Nobody can tell me that you can't catch a guy in a boxing ring if you truly want to and are willing to get hit to do it.

People take credit away from Dirrell. Despite the fact Dirrell threw more and landed more against Stevens in not only punches but power punches too.　Defensively Dirrell was awesome that fight, may not have been crowd pleasing but you'd think　Ｓｔｅｖｅｎｓ　ｏｎｌｙ　ｌ ａｎｄｉｎｇ　２３　ｐｕｎｃｈｅ� �　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｉｒｓｔ　７　� ��ｏｕｎｄｓ　ｗｏｕｌｄ　ｂｅ　 ｌｏｏｋｅｄ　ａｔ．　

OK I am a Dirrell supporter for the most part but whoa! Maybe you guys didn't watch it live but I was psyched for that fight and it SUCKED. Mar is right, Dirrell was talking a whole lot of trash before that one and so was Stevens. Stevens was never given a chance. I mean that was honestly one of the worst fights I ever saw between two amateur superstars (Stevens might have had the better career then Dirrell even without the medal). I can see why he was cautious and I can see why Stevens was a bit reserved, but that fight sucked on both ends. Sure Dirrell did the smart thing and got the win the way he knew he could and yeah put it behind you but Dirrell deserves all the criticism he gets for that one. Yeah he got the win but if he wouldn't have learned from that and continued to fight that way he wouldn't be in the tournament. In retrospect, good for Dirrell he got a win versus a VERY dangerous opponent, but THANK GOD he didn't keep fighting that way.

I'm sorry it was a display of how fast Dirrell is with his feet but that is never how you want to see a fighter prove that. Come on now again looking back, not so bad considering where he's at now but that is one he's quick to put behind him. I was ready to switch to Anthony Dirrell.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by amat

OK I am a Dirrell supporter for the most part but whoa! Maybe you guys didn't watch it live but I was psyched for that fight and it SUCKED. Mar is right, Dirrell was talking a whole lot of trash before that one and so was Stevens. Stevens was never given a chance. I mean that was honestly one of the worst fights I ever saw between two amateur superstars (Stevens might have had the better career then Dirrell even without the medal). I can see why he was cautious and I can see why Stevens was a bit reserved, but that fight sucked on both ends. Sure Dirrell did the smart thing and got the win the way he knew he could and yeah put it behind you but Dirrell deserves all the criticism he gets for that one. Yeah he got the win but if he wouldn't have learned from that and continued to fight that way he wouldn't be in the tournament. In retrospect, good for Dirrell he got a win versus a VERY dangerous opponent, but THANK GOD he didn't keep fighting that way.

I'm sorry it was a display of how fast Dirrell is with his feet but that is never how you want to see a fighter prove that. Come on now again looking back, not so bad considering where he's at now but that is one he's quick to put behind him. I was ready to switch to Anthony Dirrell.

---

That's the whole point of fighting early on in your career, there are early fights in Roy Jones Jr's career where he does almost nothing against guys he could do anything he wanted to against, but its about getting comfortable in there. I'm sorry but Steven was the guy who pussied out against Dirrell, we knew going in how both of them were going to fight, and it was Stevens job to cut off the ring and to get inside, and he didn't want to do either, you can't criticize Dirrell for fighting an excellent fight.

Sorry dude but I have to disagree, first time I've seen this fight but for those who haven't check the following vid out.

Dirrell is clearly scared to engage, he continuinely pot shots from the outside with meaningless taps. Not watched the earlier rounds but the man is plain just running.

On a side note, he's gonna get caught one of these days with that leaning back bullshit a la Naz Hamed. Athletiscism or not, with question marks over his chin he really shouldn't be doing that..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFTYMloG5m0

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Conrad

Sorry dude but I have to disagree, first time I've seen this fight but for those who haven't check the following vid out.

Dirrell is clearly scared to engage, he continuinely pot shots from the outside with meaningless taps. Not watched the earlier rounds but the man is plain just running.

On a side note, he's gonna get caught one of these days with that leaning back bullshit a la Naz Hamed. Athletiscism or not, with question marks over his chin he really shouldn't be doing that..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFTYMloG5m0

---

There's a difference between scared to engage and not playing to your opponents strengths. Besides that was only his 11th fight. He has improved leaps from that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E3M4xCl1t0

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Conrad

Sorry dude but I have to disagree, first time I've seen this fight but for those who haven't check the following vid out.

Dirrell is clearly scared to engage, he continuinely pot shots from the outside with meaningless taps. Not watched the earlier rounds but the man is plain just running.

On a side note, he's gonna get caught one of these days with that leaning back bullshit a la Naz Hamed. Athletiscism or not, with question marks over his chin he really shouldn't be doing that..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFTYMloG5m0

---

I just told you he ran at the end, but not during most of the fight. Also there were question marks about Roy's chin and he got away with it. Dirrell would be exceptionally fast at any weight like Roy JOnes, while guys at 168 are much slower than him, tahts why guys with their level of athleticism can get away with leaning back because they have the ability to also move their feet while leaning away which most guys can't do.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Majesty

Everyone blames the smart boxer instead of the slugger that can't cut off the ring.

---

True. Curtis Stevens just came straight at him never taking a side step. Of course Dirrell is just gonna do it until stevens figures out how to corner him. He didnt do alot offensively is my gripe with that perfomance. He could have done alot more and not "cruised".

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Taeth

Maintaining distance isn't running, maybe people need to brush up their videos of Ali and Leonard, because this wasn't even close to running, wasn't anything close to Leonard-Duran II. Sure Leonard proved he was tough in the first fight, but he used a tactical advantage against Duran in the second one, and htere is nothing wrong with that. It was Curtis Stevens who never even tried to speed up his footspeed or pressure. At least a guy like Hanshaw goes balls out against the faster man to try and pin him on the ropes, and thats what you have to do. Thats what Hatton did against Mayweather. It might not always work, but at least it will give you some modicum of a chance.

Nobody can tell me that you can't catch a guy in a boxing ring if you truly want to and are willing to get hit to do it.

---

The problem was that Dirrell was clearly a class above Stevens, but he didn't try to finish him. He also looked awkward fighting that style. It was not pleasant to watch. He probably took too much crap for it, but he redeemed himself in my book in his performances since then. That was his first fight against a quality opponent, and since that point, he's taken care of business.

Froch is going to check Dirrell's chin at some point. If the chin holds, Dirrell wins. If I learned anything from the Taylor fight, it's that Froch has the heart of a lion and conditioning to match. I also agree with Froch and his supporters that he's superb finisher when he has his man hurt. That gives him great chance. We don't know if Dirrell is mentally tough, and if he's not, Froch will beat him.

That being said, I don't think Dirrell will let Froch off the hook like Taylor did if he gets Froch hurt, and I don't think Dirrell's condition will be an issue. I can't wait for it to start.