On one facet was Shakur Stevenson, the undefeated WBC light-weight champion and former Olympic medalist, combating in his hometown of Newark, New Jersey, dwell on ESPN, with Joe Tessitore available to offer the soundtrack to a spectacular knockout.
This was the way forward for boxing.
On the opposite coast had been a number of former blended martial artists, every pushing 40, making an attempt to rekindle (or not less than money a paycheck) a rivalry born within the UFC half a decade in the past. Besides now it was a boxing ring.
Nate Diaz entered the bout in Anaheim, Calif., and went into the pay-per-view with a Zero-1 report as an expert boxer, with the loss coming to former YouTube star Jake Paul. Jorge Masvidal was 1-Zero, however that win got here 19 years in the past. Was this actual?
This was boxing's upset.
One was boring, in entrance of a smaller sellout crowd, with followers booing and even strolling out within the last rounds because of the lack of motion.
The opposite was a loud and wild scene, with two fighters making an attempt to put on the opposite down, buying and selling multi-hit combos and leaving the sold-out crowd screaming.
Even should you haven't watched one or each, if you already know something concerning the present state of boxing, you possibly can in all probability inform which was which.
Look, this isn't a “boxing is useless” column. Boxing by no means dies. Silly and boring fights can occur to anybody at any time. There are many proficient and thrilling fighters on the market – together with the 27-year-old Stevenson. It's at all times only a huge rivalry or some huge charismatic stars from a revival.
That stated, Saturday was a troublesome night time in a string of robust nights.
Diaz and Masvidal proved as soon as once more why they had been even able to making an attempt to stage their very own – it was co-promoted by Diaz's Actual Combat Inc. and Masvidal's Gamebred Boxing – not to mention get 18,000-plus individuals contained in the Honda Middle. They fought. They took an opportunity. That they had enjoyable.
They mixed to throw 1,394 punches (720 from Diaz, who beat Masvidal on the judges' tables) in a frenzy of a back-and-forth struggle the place you couldn't dare look away. Stevenson and Artem Harutyunyan threw only a mixed 869 (446 from Stevenson, who additionally received by playing cards) as every nook requested their guys to drop their arms.
Stevenson is a far superior boxer to Diaz – he truly landed extra punches (170 to 151) simply by choosing his spots. This isn’t at all times the purpose.
Sooner or later, a struggle is a struggle, even when the talent degree and championship stakes aren't actually there.
Diaz and Masvidal know methods to ship. It's why they’ve enduring fan bases, why they appeal to celebrities to their occasions, why the entire night time on the fringes someway labored. They made it really works.
The 2 had been making an attempt to beat one another and had been keen to dare to strive. It didn't at all times look that approach with Stevenson.
In the long run, should you signed up for each, there was no debate about which was a greater watch, not to mention which one you'd be extra inclined to pay for sooner or later.
For Diaz, it was a revitalization of a profession that might have led to defeat. He stays in style, nevertheless, for a cause – the authenticity of the persona and the flexibility to trigger some enthusiasm (which appeared to be lacking when he stated that he had no motivation towards Paul).
Perhaps there’s a rematch with Paul. Or perhaps there’s nonetheless the Conor McGregor Trilogy within the UFC. Or perhaps one thing else.
For Stevenson, there can be many extra defenses and fights for the WBC light-weight title. It's not going wherever. However this was an actual alternative for him personally and for conventional boxing normally.
The sports activities calendar was sparse on Saturday night time and ESPN did every part they might in an try and construct the struggle and a possible star. This was an opportunity to promote Stevenson to a mainstream viewers with some outstanding stuff to bounce round social media.
As a substitute, the fighter was left making an attempt to shrug off the boos from the bored crowd, saying they had been for Harutyunyan, who he felt was too protecting.
“It's type of arduous to show [yourself] except you may have a fighter making an attempt to struggle again,” Stevenson stated. “He's simply making an attempt to outlive.”
Stevenson is philosophically proper, however how a lot ought to that matter to followers? Who precisely the followers' frustration was directed at is irrelevant. It was an inexpensive response to what was occurring, or extra importantly, not occurring.
For old-school boxing followers who deserve higher, the struggle in Newark was anticipated to indicate what the game is meant to be, removed from the supposed sideshow in California.
The factor is, sideshows might be loads of enjoyable, particularly when Nate Diaz is the ringleader once more.