The Monday LunchBox

Five things we learned from the weekend

1. Daniel Dubois is the ‘real deal’ – The young British and Commonwealth Heavyweight champion showed again his immense promise with a devastating second round KO of Japanese heavyweight Kyotaro Fujimoto. This takes his record to 14-0 with 13 early wins. In doing so he captured the WBC Silver title to add to his WBO International title. He could arguably be the single-most one punch KO artist in the division outside of Deontay Wilder. Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren will draw on all his experience to carefully manoeuvre the Londoner over the next year into a major title contending position. Watch this space.

2. Liam Williams is back on track – After moving up from light-middleweight to the full 160lb (11st 6lb) middleweight division the Welshman is showing steady progress. He systematically broke down the tall American slickster Alantez Fox on Saturday to earn a crack at Demetrius Andrade’s WBO championship. Again, look for Frank Warren to move his charge into securing his shot. Williams come forward style is box office and this should enable him to nail a title fight early in the new decade.

3. Daniel Jacobs needs a new challenge – Following unsuccessful steps into the elite stratosphere of the middleweight division, losing narrowly to Gennadiy Golovkin and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, the Brooklynite needs to quickly secure another stellar name to add to his resume and seal a marquee victory. A Golovkin rematch will be his prime target, but securing that may be beyond him due to the closeness of the first fight and the Kazak’s advancing years. Jacobs win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr at the weekend, although adding another ‘name’ to his record, is not the challenge that he is seeking, that to regain a version of the world title either in the 160 or 168lb division.

4. Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr is finished at the elite level – Coming in significantly overweight against Jacobs and the nature of his defeat, will likely mean that no promoter will take a chance on the Mexican again. He may carry the name of his Hall of Fame father but indiscipline has plagued his career. The best part of his career is now behind him and he should consider hanging up his gloves.

5. Fury-Joshua entente-cordial – Anthony Joshua’s offer of helping Tyson Fury in his preparation for the Wilder rematch is an interesting one. There are past examples of elite heavyweights using each other to prepare for major fights – Ali and Holmes springs to mind in the early to mid 1970’s – but two ‘champions’, one the linear and other holding three of four major sanctioning belts is a new one, especially when they are destined to meet further down the line. Joshua needs to be commended for offering to help his fellow Brit and Fury equally so for taking up the offer. Maybe he called AJ’s bluff, but it will be interesting to see how this one develops.

Finally, may I wish all readers of The Undisputed a very happy festive season and great start to the new decade. Also, to those of other cultures and religious beliefs I wish an equally enjoyable time.

2020 promises to be an eventful boxing year. Enjoy all and see you again. Your editor Robert Harding.