Fight missed this weekend: Bredis-Dorticos
One weekend has come and gone with no boxing and while we all sit and wait for COVID-19 and it’s effects on the world to take shape, it goes without mention that in these times we are reminded of what seems to be a part of our lives feels so different, when it’s taken away.
Like a fight this weekend that was to wrap up the cruiserweight division final between Martin Bredis and Yuniel Dorticos of the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) in Lativa. For the casual fan in boxing, those two names likely won’t ring a bell. For others, who have been following the much-maligned tournament for the Muhammad Ali trophy, they know that this fight had all the makings of stealing the boxing scene for the month.
Bredis (26-1, 19 KOs) was entering the final under a cloud of controversy as the former WBO champion was stripped of his title coming into the bout with Dorticos, because of not taking an immediate rematch against Krzysztof Głowacki for their match in the WBSS semi-final last June. That bout, referee Robert Byrd didn’t hear the bell at the end of the second round, which led to another knockdown well, and I mean WELL after it was supposed to be over.
The handling of this bout was simply one of the worst referee jobs in boxing not only in 2019, but would rival those of unsanctioned fights you’d see on WorldStar Hip Hop.
Dorticos (24-1, 22 KOs) was coming into this Cruiserweight final for the second time after coming up short in the previous tournament in 2018, dramatically losing to Murat Gassiev back in 2018 in Russia. His fight with Gassiev at the time was a 50-50 fight and played out as such. The current IBF and Ring Magazine champ was looking to come out on top in Bredis’ hometown in Riga, Latvia, and to cement his name on everyone’s pound-for-pound lists.
Such as the pandemic has scrapped this fight. It has been rescheduled for May 16, still in Lativa, pending all things clear up. The recent cases of this spreading, however, doesn’t make the May date any more likely, as well.
Marquis Johns is a unknown humorist and avid boxing fan. His love for the sweet science goes back to when matches were 15 rounds and has been covering fights since closed-circuit pay-per-views. Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth is not only a quote by Mike Tyson, it's also a pretty good reminder to keep your guard up.
