Review: 2013-12-07, tough and brutal fight with both fighters exchanging shot for shot from the first bell, Kirkland and Tapia showed a lion’s heart and a stone chin but after watching this bout twice we think it is just “close to get four stars“. Our decision is likely to be unpopular since many labeled this bout as “Fight of the Year 2013” but there is something missing or maybe because the looser was too passive in the last two rounds and we want to see an exciting battle by both sides and not a drama. The undefeated Glen Tapia ranked as the No.23 light middleweight in the world, entered the fight with a record of 20-0-0 (12 knockouts) while James Kirkland had a record of 31-1-0 (27 K0s=87% – Kirkland is not ranked as he hasn’t fought since March 24, 2012 when he faced Carlos Molina). Kirkland vs Tapia is on the undercard of Guillermo Rigondeaux vs Joseph Agbeko. Watch the video!
Date: 2013-12-07
Where: Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
Division: light middleweight (154 lbs, 69.9 kg)
Kirkland’s previous fight: James Kirkland vs Carlos Molina
Kirkland’s next fight: Saul Canelo Alvarez vs James Kirkland
Video:
Official video hosted on Hbo.com (refresh/reload the page and wait some seconds if you don’t see the player)
Left uppercut left hook really nick Kirkland.
Left uppercut left hook really nick Kirkland.
I like war-fights but this one had to be stopped in the fourth…kirkland vs canelo vs lara…i would pay for this fights!
Steve Smoger is so slow to to stop a fight! He shouls have jumped in immediatly to stop it instead of glen taking those last 2 shots! unacceptable Steve.
I like war-fights but this one had to be stopped in the fourth…kirkland vs canelo vs lara…i would pay for this fights!
Steve Smoger is so slow to to stop a fight! He shouls have jumped in immediatly to stop it instead of glen taking those last 2 shots! unacceptable Steve.
Great fight but in hindsight, it was a bit of a mismatch.
Great fight but in hindsight, it was a bit of a mismatch.
Hindsight is great. I felt Tapia would take this by outboxing him. And he could’ve, but he let himself get dragged into a dogfight.
Kirkland has one hand. I will say that one hand is pretty good. It’s still one hand.
Kirkland has one hand. I will say that one hand is pretty good. It’s still one hand.