After a short absence due to high school exams, Laying Down Leather is back for another issue. For those who are first-time readers, Laying Down Leather is a series where I discuss my opinions on the numerous topics I cover on many websites. Let’s get started.
MMA
This weekend UFC held an event in Greenville, South Carolina. Overall it was a fun show. Shows that have tons of decision finishes are sometimes boring, but I didn’t find much difficulty with watching this show. Besides the main event, my two favourite moments were the opening fight between Deron Winn and Eric Spicely, and Jairzinho Rozenstruik leaving no doubt in only nine seconds.
Chan Sung Jung AKA “Korean Zombie” had nothing short of an explosive victory of Renato Moicano in the main event. The overhand right he landed at the start was a thing of beauty, with the bout ending shortly after to nobodies surprise. I haven’t seen a ton of The Korean Zombie in my lifetime, but I haven’t ever not enjoyed a bout of his. Consider me a fan.
Boxing
While I didn’t cover it last week, I did cover Tyson Fury’s victory over Tom Schwartz. Not only was Fury’s in-ring skill showcased, with his finishing sequence being amazing along with the numerous punches he dodged when up against the ropes, but his personality was also put on display. His serious walk through the hall followed with the “Living In America” themed walkout made him look like a star. I know the heavyweight division is a whole mess right now, but I really want to see him versus Deontay Wilder next.
Speaking of the heavyweights, I had a thought about them this week. This is pure fantasy booking since Dillian Whyte is scheduled for a fight in a month, but if he wasn’t, I’d rather see Whyte versus Anthony Joshua 2 to decide who faces Andy Ruiz Jr. Whyte has had an amazing run since losing to Joshua back in 2015, picking up nine wins in a row. It would be a fun way to shoehorn Whyte into a scenario he deserves to be a part of but isn’t being included in.
Recently Showtime put their documentary on Mauro Ranallo titled “Bipolar Rock ‘N’ Roller” on Youtube for free. I watched it when it came out and I highly recommend it. It shows Ranallo’s struggle with mental health, more specifically bipolar disorder. The doc shows how mental health isn’t glamorous, but it’s important and affects everyone. He’s been a longtime mental health advocate throughout his career and this movie showed why it’s such an important issue to him.
Wrestling
I’m happy to announce I’ll be reviewing the G1 Climax 29 shows this summer. Starting on July 6th, I’ll be reviewing the shows as they come out. I’ve been very excited for this tournament and can’t wait to see how it plays out. The lineup is stacked, with the A block looking amazing. The additions of KENTA and Jon Moxley offer some fresh matchups.
This Week on The Site and Beyond!
I plan to put out a lot of music content this week, so keep your eyes peeled for that. Besides that, expect coverage of the Saturday UFC show in Minneapolis, maybe some boxing coverage and some different stuff. I have a lot of ideas I will be testing out in the summer. See ya around.
JackWannan.com 