Yuri Foreman's Track Record Against 5 Heavy Hitters in Boxing
The general belief among boxing experts is that Miguel Cotto will be too strong and too powerful for Yuri Foreman to handle in their clash for the WBA light middleweight title on June 5 at Yankee Stadium in New York. Sports odds makers seem to agree with this assessment, as Cotto has been installed as a healthy 5-to-2 favorite against the champion heading into the fight.
However, Foreman’s slick, defensive style has a way of neutralizing the power of his opponents. Foreman has yet to be knocked down in any of his 28 career fights - all wins. In fact, he’s rarely been hit hard and almost never appeared to be dazed or hurt. He’s walking proof that the sports axiom that a good defense will beat a good offense can also apply to boxing.
While Cotto might be the most accomplished fighter that Foreman has faced in his young career, he certainly isn’t the first opponent to carry the reputation for being a power puncher. Foreman has faced several fighters with impressive KO records in the past, and each time he has left his opponent swinging wildly and missing or punching arms and gloves.
Here is a look at some of Foreman’s past fights against knockout artists:
Daniel Santos: Foreman claimed the WBA light middleweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Santos this past November. Santos came into the fight with 23 knockouts in 32 career fights, including knockouts in his last three fights. However, Foreman was able to use his fleet footwork and sharp jab to frustrate Santos, actually knocking him down twice with short punches that caught Santos off-balance. Santos was partially undone by gaining a reported 19 pounds after the weigh-in, leaving him unable to chase down and attack the lighter, more agile Foreman.
Cornelius Bundrage: The IBF title eliminator between Foreman and Bundrage was stopped in the third round and declared a no-contest after the ringside doctor ruled that a cut from an accidental head butt left Bundrage unable to continue. Foreman had taken control and won at least two of the three rounds on all three judges’ scorecards before the fight was stopped. It appeared that Bundrage was going to have trouble finding his range against Foreman. He came into the bout off of a fifth-round stoppage of Zaurbek Baysangurov.
Saul Roman: Foreman claimed the NABF light middleweight title in April 2008 with a unanimous decision victory over Roman in Brooklyn. Four of Roman’s previous five victories coming into the fight against Foreman had been knockouts, including wins over Rogelio Sanchez, Juan Soberanes and Nelson Estupinan. Much like Foreman’s bout against Bundrage, head butts played a role in the fight with Roman. There were several accidental clashes of heads during the fight, which left Roman with bad cuts around both eyes.
Andrey Tsurkan: Heading into his fight against Foreman in December 2007, Tsurkan was on a hot streak. The Ukranian fighter had won his last six fights, including the previous four by knockout after stopping Sammy Sparkman, Hector Camacho Jr., Julian Buford and Joshua Smith. In this fight, it would be Foreman who would have to deal with the consequences of a head butt, as he would be cut and lose several of the early rounds. However, he was able to regain his composure and claim a split decision victory over Tsurkan, claiming the last five rounds while landing almost 40 percent of his punches during the fight versus just 25 percent for Tsurkan.
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