TESS VALMORE


The August PPV featured 37 conventional bouts with all four titles being up for grabs. I must admit that our record in predicted fights was the worst in my career coming in at 20-13. Actually, that is encouraging, as it becomes less obvious who is going to win. Face it, everybody loses and the higher ranked boxer often loses. The previous commissioner chalked it up to having a bad night or a difference in styles. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the winner is going anywhere. I will remind readers that the GOAT lost 114 fights. Certainly, she was not favored in all the fights, but most of those who beat her, outside of Hall Of Fame members are now in the category of “who?”

In title bouts, Amanda Righetti won her nineteenth straight fight and her eighth title defense. In has to come to an end sooner or later (nothing like stating the obvious) but who is going to do it? The last fighter to beat her was Tahnee Atkinson, who has already lost a title challenge. In the lightweights Taylor Swift retained her crown by beating Ren. The only title change occurred in the bantams where Bella Thorne relieved Lovato of the belts. I had favored Lovato, but Thorne’s win did not come as a shock. In the flyweights, Kristen Stewart retained her title in her fifth title defense.

In welter action Mandy Moore probably derailed Prinsloo’s chances of a title fight by handing her second straight defeat. Pickings for the next title fight seem slim. Upton, from whom Amanda took the title, is a possibility. Outside of that bout there was only three other welter bouts, none of which had a result that would change the rankings.

In the lightweights, Mary Elizabeth Winstead probably put a stop to Kendall Jenner’s title shot chances with a minor upset win. Jenner still has a chance as does Sagra. In another bout with ranking implications Gonzales pulled an upset beating Strahovski Management proclaimed this result was the “frontrunner for the upset of the year” Well it’s not. That belongs to the result of the Megan Fox/Alice Eve bout on a recent ViX stable war. In fact, this wasn’t even the biggest upset on this card. That belongs to a totally unimportant fight between Scherzinger and Frege. Scherzinger’s upset loss was so bad that it cost her job in LCA In other lightweight action Cerny’s win over Lima gave her a big boost and I think it signaled that Lima’s glory days are over.

In the bantams, The big fight was between Kosarin and Lilly which resulted in a surprise (to me) win for Kosarin. That win should boost her into a title fight with the new champ. Scodelario kept right in there for a title shot by beating Olsen. One of the two should get the next title bout with the Bella Thorne. Either would be a dangerous choice for the new champ. PLP had a good card with Mitchell and Bellisario beating favored opponents.

In the flyweights, the big bout was the Hall OF Fame bout between Vanessa Hudgens and Michelle Williams. Williams has been around for twenty years and has had 220 fights. She proved she can still handle comparative youngsters like Hudgens. Olivia Holt should get a boost after her win over Megan Fox. Other than that I don’t see any other flyweight bouts of ranking significance.

As a aside, oddman seems to want a war with Tractorpull. I would remind the gentleman, he had already made on big mistake, he need not make another. Fortunately for him, Tractorpull tries not engage in wars. We rarely respond to attacks or criticism, so post away Oddman if it makes you feel better.