Luke Rockhold Unimpressed by Andrew Tate’s Boxing Debut
Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold has spoken out about Andrew Tate’s recent boxing debut against Chase DeMoor, expressing his disappointment with Tate’s performance. In an interview with Submission Radio, Rockhold criticized Tate’s skills, stating that for a four-time world champion, he should have been able to box more effectively. Rockhold’s comments come after Tate suffered a majority decision defeat to DeMoor in Dubai on December 20.
Tate, a controversial influencer, returned to competitive fighting for the first time since December 2020, but his layoff of five years seemed to catch up with him during the six-round heavyweight title bout. Judges scored the fight 57-57, 58-56, 58-56 in favor of DeMoor, who retained his Misfits heavyweight title. Rockhold, who has held the UFC title and previously won the Strikeforce middleweight championship, believes that Tate’s performance was subpar, especially considering his claims of being a four-time world champion.
Rockhold’s Critique of Tate’s Performance
Rockhold’s critique of Tate’s performance is not unfounded, as the latter struggled to find his rhythm in the early rounds against DeMoor. Although Tate was initially favored to win due to his striking pedigree, DeMoor’s size and aggression proved to be the deciding factors. From round three onward, DeMoor began landing heavier shots, and by round five, a powerful uppercut hurt Tate significantly. Tate’s gas tank became a problem as the fight progressed, and he was largely in survival mode, absorbing shots and showing little offensive output.
Rockhold acknowledged that Tate showed courage in stepping into the ring, but ultimately, his performance was disappointing. The fight quality declined on both ends, with Rockhold stating that it was a “really bad fight” overall. This sentiment is shared by some observers, who have framed Tate’s loss as a “fraud check” for the influencer, whose credibility in combat sports was already questioned by sections of the MMA and boxing communities.
Reaction to the Fight
The reaction to the fight has been significant, with many taking to social media to express their opinions. KSI, the CEO of Misfits Boxing, posted a celebratory message on social media after DeMoor’s win. The fight has also sparked a wider debate about Tate’s credibility in combat sports, with some questioning his claims of being a four-time world champion. Rockhold’s comments have added fuel to the fire, and it remains to be seen how Tate will respond to the criticism.
In conclusion, Luke Rockhold’s critique of Andrew Tate’s boxing debut has sparked a wider debate about Tate’s credibility in combat sports. While Tate showed courage in stepping into the ring, his performance was ultimately disappointing, and his claims of being a four-time world champion have been questioned. The reaction to the fight has been significant, and it remains to be seen how Tate will respond to the criticism.
