- Joined
- Mar 7, 2016
- Messages
- 1,145
- Reaction score
- 94
In a pretty shocking way too. After six years as the undefeated champ and 12 title defenses, one of the better champs of the lower weight classes has finally lost, and wow, what a loss. Very shocking to me to say the least.
I had known he was slowing down now for at least a couple of years and felt this was on the horizon, but I didnt think it would happen this way, to this guy. I was at least expecting him to fight Walters or some other much younger, new champ and maybe lose to them.
Anyway, Jezreel Gonzalez was an unheralded Panamanian fighter, still young at 24, and didn't have any big wins. But he was very confident and from the opening bell you could sense something was going to happen. Uchiyama looked slow on his feet, slow to pull the trigger and was getting caught by big shots.
I must say Gonzalez/Corrales really impressed me. Looks to have more a lot power than his record would indicate and showed some excellent skill and counter punching, even if he did get too wild in some of the exchanges. His only loss was basically in his first fight, so...
Interesting to see what happens next though. Does Uchiyama have a rematch clause and would he be willing to make it anyway? It was a bad loss and his age showed. Frankly, it would be hard to see what he could do differently. Could still see him being a threat to others though, but I think he waited too long to really have a crack at the other current champs. An excellent, long run from a great champion has finally come to an end though.
I had known he was slowing down now for at least a couple of years and felt this was on the horizon, but I didnt think it would happen this way, to this guy. I was at least expecting him to fight Walters or some other much younger, new champ and maybe lose to them.
Anyway, Jezreel Gonzalez was an unheralded Panamanian fighter, still young at 24, and didn't have any big wins. But he was very confident and from the opening bell you could sense something was going to happen. Uchiyama looked slow on his feet, slow to pull the trigger and was getting caught by big shots.
I must say Gonzalez/Corrales really impressed me. Looks to have more a lot power than his record would indicate and showed some excellent skill and counter punching, even if he did get too wild in some of the exchanges. His only loss was basically in his first fight, so...
Interesting to see what happens next though. Does Uchiyama have a rematch clause and would he be willing to make it anyway? It was a bad loss and his age showed. Frankly, it would be hard to see what he could do differently. Could still see him being a threat to others though, but I think he waited too long to really have a crack at the other current champs. An excellent, long run from a great champion has finally come to an end though.
