Thurman-Guerrero/Ruenroeng-Shiming - Report Cards

by Cliff Rold

This weekend’s two big main events on US television spotlighted men intended by their handlers for stardom.  One came through well.

The other is back to the drawing board.

So it goes in boxing.

Welterweight Keith Thurman was matched with his toughest foe to date in Robert Guerrero.  Winning at least ten rounds, with a knockdown, Thurman showed he’s ready for the stiffer tests in his division. China’s Zou Shiming didn’t look awful at Flyweight. He just looked outclassed and ill-prepared.  He went from prelims to one of the cagiest guys around. 

On the plus side, Amnat Ruenroeng didn’t do to Shiming what a Roman Gonzalez or Juan Francisco Estrada would so Shiming can hope to improve.

Let’s go the report cards.

Grades

Pre-Fight: Intangibles – Thurman B+; Guerrero B+/Post: A; B+

The most memorable moments of this solid encounter came in rounds nine and ten. Thurman showed off his power in the former, scoring a rare knockdown of Guerrero. The Gilroy native has a proven beard and putting him down is no easy feat.

Then Guerrero showed the heart underneath it all.

Well out of the fight, he went fro broke in the tenth and did his best to save himself from defeat. Thurman took what got through his defense well and battled back. It was an exciting three minutes.

Despite ringside announcer hyperbole, it wasn’t a great fight. It was good though and that is good enough. Boxing’s return to network isn’t going to change the sport overnight. Boxing has a massive credibility issue outside its passionate fan base. Good fights, with honest scoring, are more important than getting absolute war every time out.

If the casual audience is to come back, boxing has to erase its stigma as a too-dishonest venture. Far worse than a dull opener, which Adrien Broner-John Molina turned out to be, would have been if Thurman left with a draw to the bigger name in Guerrero. The winners won, and with room to spare.

The winners won and viewers saw a Welterweight in Thurman that anyone who tuned in would be happy to see again. It’s a good start for the PBC endeavor. 

Grades

Pre-Fight: Intangibles – Ruenroeng A; Shiming B/Post: A; C+

Those who tuned into HBO2 waiting to see what the fuss is at Flyweight probably still wonder. The last few years have been a genuine golden era at 112 lbs. Saturday would make one who doesn’t follow the lower weight classes scoff at the notion.

No one who read the pre-fight report card could have been surprised.

In a field with action battlers like Gonzalez, Estrada, Brian Viloria, and Juan Carlos Reveco, Ruenroeng is the sore thumb. He’s a smart, skilled, win and the fans be damned type. He’s very good.

He’s not much fun to watch.

Shiming didn’t help. Outside of a sketchy knockdown in his favor in round two, he didn’t do anything to win. He was content to box with Ruenroeng as they smiled at each other like old buddies. Ruenroeng proved the quicker man, beating Shiming to the punch easily all night. He established his jab, countered when he needed to, and showed just enough of his willingness to mug a foe to remind everyone of the ugly second half of the McWilliams Arroyo fight.

Shiming simply wasn’t ready for this level of professional. The calculated gamble failed and he never fought with any fire to change his fate. Maybe he was just an amateur for too long. Maybe this will give him some motivation to finish rounding his game. He boxed well in spots, but beyond the basics he didn’t have answers.

At 33, he may be too old to find them.

Ruenroeng is an intriguing figure at Flyweight. With his style, calm demeanor in the ring, and win now approach, he could be havoc for anyone at Flyweight. After Saturday, would anyone really be upset if they never found out how he’d do against the division’s presumed top two?

Roman Gonzalez may make his HBO debut in May. That’s when fans will see what the fuss has been about at 112 lbs. on a grander scale. For now, they saw that even Flyweight can produce a master of efficiency.

Report Card and Staff Picks 2015: 10-2 (Including Pick in Tete-Butler)

Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel, the Yahoo Pound for Pound voting panel, and the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com