Fighters’ grades: Inoue, Canelo, Lopez pass; one boxer gets an F-

The recent boxing weekend was packed with significant events held across New York`s Times Square, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Las Vegas. These cards featured six title fights, including two for undisputed championships. However, the performances delivered by the competing fighters were quite varied, and not all lived up to expectations.

Ryan Garcia (24-2-1 NC, 20 KOs), making his return after a year-long suspension following a positive drug test last April, suffered a unanimous decision loss to Rolando `Rolly` Romero in the main event on Friday. Competing for the vacant WBA `regular` welterweight title, Garcia landed a low number of punches throughout the 12 rounds, failing to exceed nine connections in any single round.

Earlier on the same Friday card, Teofimo Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs) successfully defended his WBO junior welterweight title with a dominant performance against Arnold Barboza Jr. (32-1, 11 KOs). Lopez displayed his characteristic speed and excellent footwork, looking sharp and proving too difficult for the previously undefeated Barboza to handle.

Former undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney (32-0-1 NC, 15 KOs) also secured a unanimous decision, defeating former junior welterweight titleholder Jose Ramirez (29-3, 18 KOs). While Haney landed only 70 punches over 12 rounds, Ramirez landed even fewer, connecting with just 40 total punches, and only two in six of the rounds.

Saturday`s action in Riyadh saw Canelo Alvarez (63-2-2, 39 KOs) face William Scull (23-1, 9 KOs) for the undisputed super middleweight championship. Canelo won by unanimous decision. The fight was marked by an exceptionally low punch count from both fighters, combining for only 111 total punches thrown and landed, setting a record for the fewest attempted in a 12-round fight since CompuBox began tracking statistics 40 years ago.

Sunday brought a much more action-packed event in Las Vegas. Undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue (30-0, 27 KOs) and challenger Ramon Cardenas (26-2, 14 KOs) delivered a highly entertaining fight, considered one of the year`s best so far. Inoue was dropped in the second round, creating a moment of high drama, but he recovered swiftly and stopped Cardenas in the eighth round. Inoue`s offensive output was impressive, landing 176 punches in the fight, nearly matching the combined total of Canelo, Garcia, and Haney in their respective 12-round bouts over the weekend.

In the Sunday co-main event, Rafael Espinoza (27-0, 23 KOs) defended his WBO featherweight title by stopping Edward Vazquez (17-3, 4 KOs) in the seventh round. Espinoza, the tallest featherweight champion in boxing history at 6-foot-1, delivered another strong performance.

Here are performance grades for the featured fighters from this busy weekend in boxing.

Friday Report Card

Teofimo Lopez: B

In the first of the Times Square tripleheader fights, a highly focused Lopez clearly outclassed the previously undefeated Barboza. `The Takeover` demonstrated superiority in all aspects of the game and was the only fighter on the New York card who successfully balanced winning with providing entertainment. While he didn`t come close to stopping Barboza, he made an effort to deliver a show. When he is sharp, Lopez is undeniably one of the most complete fighters globally. Could he have taken more risks against the light-hitting Barboza? Perhaps. But securing the win against a top opponent was crucial, and he accomplished that effectively.

Devin Haney: D+

Haney won his fight against Ramirez, but his performance did little to reassure fans who recalled his struggles against Garcia last year. His cautious fighting style, characterized by constant circling and a low output of 229 total punches, suggested lingering effects from his previous bout. Despite his talent, this was a forgettable performance for Haney. If he doesn`t regain his confidence and fighting spirit, his future performances may continue to disappoint and face public criticism.

Rolando `Rolly` Romero: C

The main event fight, which many predicted wouldn`t go the distance, ended up requiring the judges` scorecards. Romero, not typically known for his defensive skills, deserves credit for effectively neutralizing Garcia`s dangerous left hook. He also significantly impacted the fight by knocking Garcia down in the second round. While the fight wasn`t thrilling, Romero pulled off a major upset, disrupted plans for a Garcia-Haney rematch, and positioned himself for a potentially big fight next.

Ryan Garcia: F

Simply put, Garcia failed to perform. Following significant questions after his positive drug test turned his win over Haney into a no-contest, Garcia had a crucial opportunity to redeem himself and demonstrate his capabilities without performance-enhancing substances. Instead, he appeared flat, lethargic, and allowed Romero to knock him down and outbox him. With all due respect to Romero, Garcia had the perfect opponent for an explosive performance but instead fizzled out under the spotlight. This showing did nothing to support a case for a Haney rematch, and his future as a major star is now questionable unless he can make a significant turnaround.

Saturday Report Card

Canelo Alvarez: D

Canelo avoids an `F` largely because his opponent showed zero interest in attempting to win. However, his own performance, throwing a remarkably low 152 punches in a 12-round fight, is inexcusable. While he can justifiably blame Scull for his inactivity, Canelo must also accept responsibility for doing very little with his opportunities, especially when it was clear Scull posed no threat. We haven`t seen a classic Canelo performance in some time, and hopefully, this changes with his potential September fight against Terence Crawford.

William Scull: F-

This was an absolutely dreadful performance from Scull in the biggest fight of his career. Few people knew who he was before the fight with Canelo, and now, after a performance defined by his complete unwillingness to engage, everyone will likely want to forget his name. Between constantly moving without attacking and frequently complaining about low blows that clearly landed above the belt, Scull created a negative impression. With any luck, we won`t have to see him in a major fight again.

Sunday Report Card

Rafael Espinoza: B+

Espinoza did his part to ensure Sunday in Las Vegas offered a different, more exciting experience than the Friday and Saturday cards. He maintained a relentless pace against the tough Vazquez, effectively using his significant height and reach advantage to score points. By the third round, he had already thrown more punches than Canelo, Haney, and Garcia combined in their respective 12-round fights. While Espinoza sometimes chooses to fight on the inside despite his physical advantages, he is undoubtedly an exciting champion to watch.

Naoya Inoue: A

Inoue potentially saved the weekend for many boxing fans by delivering a memorable fight filled with drama and excitement against Ramon Cardenas. His unexpected knockdown in the second round added a layer of tension, but he quickly recovered and escalated the pressure, leading to a powerful eighth-round stoppage. Inoue reaffirmed his status not only as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in boxing but also as one of the sport`s most consistently thrilling performers.

Ramon Cardenas: B

It`s often said that a fighter can win even in defeat, and Ramon Cardenas did just that in his thrilling encounter with Inoue. Unlike some of the other challengers this weekend, Cardenas came with a clear intent to win. Although ultimately overwhelmed by Inoue`s power and combinations, he made history by becoming only the second fighter to knock down the Japanese superstar and, for a brief moment, created genuine suspense about a potential upset. Even when it seemed he might succumb, Cardenas continued to fight bravely. He undoubtedly gained many new fans this weekend.