- It isn't even February yet and 2017 has already been very good to boxing fans. The biggest fight of the weekend was the rematch between Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz on Showtime on Saturday night. Frampton, who won the first fight, couldn't find the same sustained success in the rematch. Santa Cruz implemented an excellent strategy that saw him fight behind his jab and really use his height and reach to his advantage. While the fight was another close one the ring generalship of Santa Cruz could not be denied and he got the majority decision win. In their post-fight interviews both fighters showed a tremendous amount of class and it looks like a rubber match could be in the works, something boxing fans would certainly welcome. Also on that Showtime card was a bout between Mikey Garcia and Dejan Zlaticanin. For Garcia it was his first title fight since his return from a two year layoff and he could not have looked better. Garcia showed no signs of ring rust and ended the fight in the third round when he knocked Zlaticanin out cold. Garcia caught the champion with an uppercut that badly hurt him and followed it up with a perfect right hand. The win should help Garcia climb back into the top 10 pound-for-pound rankings and potentially sets up some very big fights at lightweight or junior welterweight and it is also an early contender for Knockout of the Year.
- Saturday night's other fight card aired on HBO and it was headlined by a bout between Francisco Vargas and Miguel Berchelt. Vargas, the champion was coming off back-to-back brutal fights where he only took seven months off following each bout. Some of that wear and tear really showed against the heavy hitting Berchelt, especially in the form of cuts around both eyes because of scar tissue. The fight started off brilliantly and the second round is an early contender for Round of the Year. However, as the rounds wore on it become clearer and clearer that Berchelt was really putting a hurting on Vargas. Vargas showed a tremendous amount of heart but Berchelt was relentless and eventually was able to stop Vargas standing in the 11th round. Hopefully after such a brutal fight Vargas takes a long time off and gets the scar tissue around his eyes fixed. The co-feature on Saturday's HBO card was a very exciting fight between Takashi Miura and Miguel "Mickey" Roman. Early in the fight Roman looked very good and at times appeared to be on the verge of stopping Miura. However, the Japanese fighter could not be deterred and he never stopped gunning for the knockout. Late in the fight Miura was able to turn things around and he dropped Roman in rounds 10, 11, and 12, the final time ending the fight. It was a great comeback win from Miura and a tremendous display of heart for Roman.
WEEKLY RECORD: 2-2
MONTHLY RECORD: 8-4-1
OVERALL RECORD: 819-235-34
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