David Morrell vs Sena Agbeko ~ Farewell Showtime

Tonight, Morrell defends his 168 piece against #10 Sena Agbeko and Chris Colbert vs Jose Valenzuela in a 135 rematch after their controversial fight earlier this year. Morrell fight should be a dissection job on rugged Agbeko. And if you're really jonesing for an old school flash back...the Andre Berto vs Robert Guerrero long awaited (11 years :-X) rematch is on this card also.

The last official boxing card to be aired on Showtime a series that debuted back in 1986! In its peak it was the chief rival and competitor to the late HBO boxing and featured a who's who of hall of fame talent from Tyson, Hearns, Holyfield, Whitaker to Hagler, Finito Lopez, Chavez and Lewis. The list is as timeless as it is long with so many classics along the way. It truly was an historic fan friendly top value run that spanned into 5 decades.

Wow.

A sad goodbye from Showtime Boxing at the very beginning of the show. Damn. I for one am very saddened about the demise of HBO Boxing... and now Showtime following suit.

I'll continue catching whatever ESPN serves up, because to this point I've still resisted getting on board the DAZN bus.

Let's hope this boxing card tonight turns out to be a good one.

Shields and Charlo make the tribute but no Norris or Benn ???. One glimpse of Holyfield. That was PBC overload. Showtime production takes some flack but it looks fine. No frills just crisp and clean. Watching this rematch as background noise. Can easily go the way of a mutual spar.

Maybe it's because I know their ages... but they DO look their age.

Big turn out by the look of it. Berto in all kinds of trouble in 5th.

So Berto down 3 times so far and all ruled slips. Alright ref. These old men are trying to bang it out ;D

Looks like they're doing some social catching up in between. ;D

A lot of swinging for the fences here... but I think Berto got buzzed at the end of that last round.

This ref Hoyle should be holding Bertos hand by now. Berto tough but just a shell here. Tough watch. Haymon could have just passed him a gratitude envelope and saved him the damage.

Guerrero acting like a guy who knows he may get a big fight out of this :-X. Maybe it's just two happy warriors though.

Ok awesome. Knew they had a much fuller recap and tribute. Going to miss Lennon on the intro too. Literally a lifetime of boxing fandom here.

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

Ok awesome. Knew they had a much fuller recap and tribute. Going to miss Lennon on the intro too. Literally a lifetime of boxing fandom here.

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Neither HBO nor Showtime will be truly replaced in boxing. :(

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Originally Posted by TitoFan

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

Ok awesome. Knew they had a much fuller recap and tribute. Going to miss Lennon on the intro too. Literally a lifetime of boxing fandom here.

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Neither HBO nor Showtime will be truly replaced in boxing. :(

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Going to date myself by decades here. But fuck it dude we all get older :). I really do think boxing loses a sort of long-term investment with no premiere networks. Apps are the now and we're there. But the attention spans and "build" progression of both some fighters and big fights is not really there so much. The anticipation in real time. Often guys on the same feature card but deep down we knew they were looming around the corner. Now we spat back in forth as to why they will not happen. Fighters on keyboard tirades dropping N'ga this and N'ga that. Then they just sort of fall out of the sky one day. Or not at all ;D

Colbert having a repeat nightmare in 1st :o. Hurt badly and down.

Valenzuela jumped on Colbert like he was double-parked outside. :o

chris fighting back towards the end of the round but he was getting wrecked

Always wondered where Colbert would be if he owned a comsitent punch. Natural speed, fast hands, mobility and understated grit are there. But the man throws feather dusters.

Glad this one is set for 12. Colbert hung up in the corner again

3-1 Valenzuela and Colbert flirting with disaster trying to fight out of the corner. But let's see where the Valenzuela gas tank is in a few rounds.

I don't think Colbert has won a round yet.

Holy CRAP!!!

:angryxo4: Brutal ko by Valenzuela! Colbert face first and stiff as a board.

that was brutal

That's sportsmanship from both. May be it for Colbert. And a new page turned for Rayo Valenzuela. Very impressive

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

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Originally Posted by TitoFan

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

Ok awesome. Knew they had a much fuller recap and tribute. Going to miss Lennon on the intro too. Literally a lifetime of boxing fandom here.

---

Neither HBO nor Showtime will be truly replaced in boxing. :(

---

Going to date myself by decades here. But fuck it dude we all get older :). I really do think boxing loses a sort of long-term investment with no premiere networks. Apps are the now and we're there. But the attention spans and "build" progression of both some fighters and big fights is not really there so much. The anticipation in real time. Often guys on the same feature card but deep down we knew they were looming around the corner. Now we spat back in forth as to why they will not happen. Fighters on keyboard tirades dropping N'ga this and N'ga that. Then they just sort of fall out of the sky one day. Or not at all ;D

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Well, we can both date ourselves. ;D

My sadness from the demise of both HBO and Showtime boxing stems from the fact that these networks knew how to put on a good show. The buildup, the anticipation, the show itself, the production... all were unique to both these networks, and IMO cannot be equaled by any streaming service. Especially championship fights where country rivalries were involved. The atmosphere, skillfully picked up by the networks, was electric beyond belief. I'll always be a boxing fan. But saddened beyond measure by the changes that have occurred, including some that you mention above.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TitoFan

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

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Originally Posted by TitoFan

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

Ok awesome. Knew they had a much fuller recap and tribute. Going to miss Lennon on the intro too. Literally a lifetime of boxing fandom here.

---

Neither HBO nor Showtime will be truly replaced in boxing. :(

---

Going to date myself by decades here. But fuck it dude we all get older :). I really do think boxing loses a sort of long-term investment with no premiere networks. Apps are the now and we're there. But the attention spans and "build" progression of both some fighters and big fights is not really there so much. The anticipation in real time. Often guys on the same feature card but deep down we knew they were looming around the corner. Now we spat back in forth as to why they will not happen. Fighters on keyboard tirades dropping N'ga this and N'ga that. Then they just sort of fall out of the sky one day. Or not at all ;D

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Well, we can both date ourselves. ;D

My sadness from the demise of both HBO and Showtime boxing stems from the fact that these networks knew how to put on a good show. The buildup, the anticipation, the show itself, the production... all were unique to both these networks, and IMO cannot be equaled by any streaming service. Especially championship fights where country rivalries were involved. The atmosphere, skillfully picked up by the networks, was electric beyond belief. I'll always be a boxing fan. But saddened beyond measure by the changes that have occurred, including some that you mention above.

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Very well said Tito.

Sena looks like Ben Tackie. Hope he brought that beard! Honestly like-want to see Morrell in a lively long fight. All the top notch talent to be the future.

They're calling Agbeko a KO artist but looked like he only committed to 2 straight rights there. Maybe he's setting traps on Morrell :-X

Agbeko rocked off a right and uppercut then stumbles into corner for Morrell big follow up! Ref waves it Agbeko clearly hurt. Love the finishing instinct on Morrell.

Short night's work for Morrell. Agbeko had no chance.

Nothing but respect Morrell wanting 100 percent focus on Benavidez! Not like some undisputed champ is. 2024 has so much potential to be more massive.

Salute Jim Grey, probably most I've agreed with him in that close out piece. Very solid stuff.

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Originally Posted by Spicoli

Nothing but respect Morrell wanting 100 percent focus on Benavidez! Not like some undisputed champ is. 2024 has so much potential to be more massive.

Salute Jim Grey, probably most I've agreed with him in that close out piece. Very solid stuff.

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Yep. ;D :cool:

David Morrell Jr’s trainer Ronnie Shields, would like him to fight Canelo Alvarez for his undisputed super middleweight champion if he can’t get the David Benavidez match-up.

Shields feels that Morrell has earned his shots at a fight with Canelo by fulfilling two or three mandatories. Although he only has ten fights on his resume, the former Cuban amateur star Morrell has won in a way that has shown that he’s an exceptional talent. Morrell’s manager had hoped that Benavidez would face him on November 25th but chose Demetrius Andrade rather than facing him.

He feels that Benavidez lost his courage after watching Morrell demolish Yamaguchi Falcão. The energy that Morrell has put into fighting Benavidez has been wasted, and his trainer Shields views Canelo as the more appealing fight for next May. Canelo needs an opponent, and Morrell would be perfect.

Morrell hasn’t talked about wanting to fight Canelo. In the last year, the Cuban talent’s entire focus has been trying to lure Benavidez into the ring, as he wants to put the braggart in his place.

He’s had zero luck, however. Last Saturday night, Morrell showcased his talent, stopping Sena Agbeko (28-3, 22 KOs) in the second round of Showtime’s final broadcast for boxing after 37 years. Agbeko gave it his best shot but was little more than a speed bump for the 25-year-old Morrell.

“I know my guy. I know big and strong he is, and I know how hard he hits,” said trainer Ronnie Shields to Fighthype when asked if he was surprised at how easy WBA ‘regular’ super middleweight champion David Morrell Jr’s victory was over Sena Agbeko last Saturday night in Minneapolis.

“I figured if we could jump on him early and get three or four punches off on him, I figured we’d get a stoppage. I wanted him to have a great first round, but he didn’t, and I had to jump on him a little bit about that because that’s what we trained for,” Shields continued about his fighter, Morrell.

“He did it in the second round. He did in the second round what he was supposed to do in the first round. I didn’t like that people were hollering at him, and he was looking at the audience,” said Shields on what he didn’t like from Morrell in the first round.

“That’s a no-no. You don’t do that, but it was people that he respects that he was turning and listening to. I had to stop him right away. ‘Listen, man. You have to focus on what you’re doing.’ In this game, you can’t take chances.”

“Sena can punch, and he’s got the knockouts to prove it,” said Shields. “So, I didn’t want my guy to get caught with something. My guy has got good defense and all of that, but I wanted him to be focused and prove that he’s the best fighter.

“I want whatever he wants,” said Shields when asked if he wants David Benavidez next for Morrell. “As a trainer, my job, despite who he fights, I have to get him ready for whatever it is. I never get involved in who the fighter is going to fight next. That’s not my job. Other people have that job, not me.”

“My job is to prepare him for whoever they put in the ring with him. Not just Benavidez. What about Canelo? Canelo is there. David Morrell has done two or three mandatories for Canelo. Come on, man. When is he going to get his opportunity?” said Shields about his interest in Morrell fighting the ‘Face of Boxing,’ superstar Canelo, rather than Benavidez, who doesn’t seem to want to fight him.

“I don’t know. Styles make fights. Canelo has that style that is really difficult to penetrate sometimes, but Benavidez is a busy guy, and so is David [Morrell]. I don’t know. I really truly don’t know which fight would be the tougher fight,” said Shields on which of the two, Canelo or Benavidez, would be the harder fight for Morrell.

“Truthfully, both guys [Benavidez and Morrell] deserve to get all the hype, they really and truly do, because they’re making noise at 168 lbs. It’s a shame that neither one of them is a super champion. It’s a shame that neither one of them has gotten an opportunity to be a super champion.

“What David Benavidez did because he was WBC champion twice, but he lost because of certain things. I feel my guy [Morrell] can beat anybody in the world, anybody, no matter who it is, and everybody else feels the same way about their guy, but how you prove it in the ring,” said Shields.

https://www.boxingnews24.com/2023/12...ter-agbeko-ko/

Morrell is a serious threat to anyone at 168 :musle: