Joshua, Groves, Selby and McDonnell shine on historical night
Sunday 10 April 2016 10:38, UK
Anthony Joshua is a world champion, so let's reflect on a special night of boxing as a whole while the dust - and the confetti - settles.
New world order
Some will say Anthony Joshua is simply an unstoppable force. Others will discredit Charles Martin as a 'paper' champion and claim the one-sided nature of the fight is the result of the IBF's policies and not the Londoner's talent. The reality is somewhere in the vast area in between.
Martin won the vacant world title in relatively unfulfilling circumstances (a third-round knee injury to fellow challenger Vyacheslav Glazkov) but while he appeared cumbersome and bereft of ideas compared to Joshua on Saturday night, he was an unbeaten world champion with an impressive knockout record.
Whether it was politically-motivated or not, David Haye was adamant afterwards that Joshua would dish out a similarly-painful serving of punishment to the current WBA Super and WBO champion Tyson Fury. WBC king Deontay Wilder remains untested by the world's best. So the question arises - is Anthony Joshua already the world's best heavyweight? Finding out will be entertaining.
Selby can mix it
When a fighter is blessed with natural hand speed, timing and footwork, they can make boxing look incredibly easy. IBF world featherweight champion Lee Selby is one of the sport's more gifted operators but against Eric Hunter, 'The Welsh Mayweather' was forced to tread a new path to victory.
In winning the title at the same venue almost a year ago, Selby looked imperious. He dominated then-champion Evgeny Gradovich from the opening bell and systematically broke his man down. Against the enigmatic Hunter, Selby was floored for the first time in his professional career in the second round and had to recover, regroup and reestablish himself quickly.
Hunter did himself no favours after that early success and was deducted a point for low blows, but the manner in which Selby shrugged off what seemed a heavy knockdown to secure a comfortable points win is testament to his chin and his ability to adapt immediately to unforeseen circumstances. The bout may well make him even better.
Groves is on the rise
There were rumours that George Groves struggled to make the weight limit ahead of taking on unbeaten Scot David Brophy. As the chief support act, the pressure was certainly on for the Hammersmith fighter as he looks to force his way to a fourth world title shot.
What followed laid to rest any suspicion that Groves is fading into the darkness having handed the torch of British super-middleweight hopes to his bitter rival James DeGale and the promising Callum Smith. The brave Brophy was hurt in the very first round and Groves' seemingly-endless jab looked back to its very best.
By his and his trainer's admissions, there is still work to be done, but the manner in which Groves blasted Brophy out with a body shot in the fourth suggested that Shane McGuigan is unlocking further power in the right hand. A significant step up from his 'comeback' victory over Andrea Di Luisa, Groves is much closer to the big fights he craves.
Way back Benn
What must have been going through the mind of the 19-year-old Conor Benn when he entered the packed O2 Arena? The debutant was higher on the bill than two world title fights and had his two-weight world champion father Nigel nervously patrolling ringside in an ambitious pinstripe suit.
The smile was beaming. Conor quickly decided it was exactly where he belonged as he sashayed to the stage like a seasoned champion confident of a routine defence. Admittedly, the man awaiting him - late replacement Ivailo Boyanov - wasn't going to put up the sternest resistance, but the crowd were quick to welcome son as they had welcomed father.
Some of the movements in the ring were straight off The Dark Destroyer's highlights reel - but this was simply 'The Destroyer' and Boyanov had no answer. A withering body blow sent the visitor trotting away in pain to what he thought was the safety of the corner, only for Benn to chase him down and belt in a head shot before the referee had a chance to step in. The ruthless apple does not fall far from the tree.
Mac in business
Jamie McDonnell is so often overlooked when discussing British world champions, but he was at his best in stopping a late-notice challenger to his WBA world bantamweight crown. Fernando Vargas arrived from Tijuana, Mexico, unfancied to cause any alarm bells but defied expectations with a spirited display.
What's impressive about McDonnell is his patience. Fears over Vargas' conditioning proved unfounded and his footwork was surprisingly nimble - but McDonnell refused to yield to frustration and went about his work methodically, knowing that his opponent wouldn't be able to maintain the evasive movements forever.
Sure enough, the challenger slowed after the halfway stage and McDonnell began to rain hurtfully accurate work on both body and head. The valiant Vargas could take no more and both referee and cornerman lunged to his aid in the corner as he began to unravel. Whether McDonnell takes a unification clash at bantamweight or steps up a division, he deserves more exposure.
