Things settled down in boxing after weeks of high profile matches. Jimrex Jaca finally got into the ring with Juan Manuel Marquez after previously having visa problems. Former heavyweight contender Axel Schulz began his comeback attempt in Germany while relatives of boxing greats fought in the States.
Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Jimrex Jaca
This bout was originally scheduled to main event an October pay-per-view but it had to be canceled due to visa problems with Jaca. They were fighting over Marquez’s interim WBO Featherweight Title. Marquez has been a mainstay in the featherweight division for five years whereas Jaca is just 23-years-old and fighting in a world title match for the first time in his career.
Jaca came out firing early. He didn’t seem to show any respect for his opponent while Marquez may have been giving too much respect to his. Jaca seemed like he wanted to fight but didn’t keep his gloves up when he needed to, which is pretty much whenever you aren’t punching. It seemed like it was only matter of time before the veteran Marquez exploited that in the younger fighter. It was actually frustrating that it was going to be a matter of time because it should have been something that Marquez took advantage of immediately. That goes back to Marquez giving too much respect to his opponent.
After the first few rounds it appeared Jaca had a legitimate chance to knock Marquez out. Jaca’s punch output wasn’t diminishing as the rounds wore on and it was looking like this just wasn’t Marquez’s night. Marquez suffered a cut in the fifth round from an accidental headbutt and it left his face bloody. The cut seemed to propel Marquez into a busier fight and with Jaca’s aforementioned lack of defense it proved to be the spark Marquez needed. With the action intensified, Marquez put Jaca down in the ninth round and that was all she wrote. Jaca did not answer the ten count and Marquez turned out the victor in an exciting fight. Surprisingly, Marquez had won every round on the judges’ scorecards before the knockout.
Axel Schulz vs. Brian Minto
Schulz was a former heavyweight contender that lost a close decision to George Foreman during Foreman’s comeback in the 90’s. He went on to lose another close decision to Michael Moorer in his second attempt at a world title. Schulz’s final loss came to Wladimir Klitschko in 1999 and he decided to call it quits at that point. Brian Minto is nothing more than a staple on ESPN Friday Night Fights.
This fight was a big deal in Germany, Schulz’s home. A sellout crowd of 14,500 showed up to the fight and millions watched on from their homes in Germany. They would end up disappointed with the result. Minto posed a continuous attack upon the lackluster Schulz and the referee stopped the bout in the sixth round when Minto had Schulz pinned in the corner.
“This was definitely the end for me,” said Schulz. “I won’t be doing anymore boxing training. This is enough….I boxed shitty. As a boxer, I wasn’t so far [along]. I overestimated myself.”
That’s one heavyweight comeback stopped. Now if we can just get this Evander Holyfield thing to stop.
Other Results From The Week
– Paul Spadafora scored a technical knockout of Frankie Zepeda in the fifth round of their welterweight bout. Spadafora is former world lightweight champion that has spent the last two years in prison for the shooting of his girlfriend.
– British super middleweight Carl Froch remained undefeated with a third round knockout of Tony Dodson.
– Ronald Hearns, son of Tommy Hearns, had a first round TKO of Jeffrey Osborne Jr.
– Krzysztof Wlodarczyk captured the vacant IBF Cruiserweight Title with a split decision victory over Steve Cunningham.
– Demetrius Hopkins continues to rise up the light welterweight ranks with a unanimous decision over Rogelio Castaneda Jr.
