Filipino sensation Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is riding higher than ever after his brutally magnificent 12^th round stoppage of 3 time world champion Miguel Cotto Saturday night at the MGM Grand Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao, a former flyweight, is bringing a huge boost to the game of boxing along with laying the foundation for himself as a legitimate all time great in the sport.

 

This win is Pacquiao’s biggest of his career so far. He beat a guy that was considered a killer at 140 and the very best at 147. His lone loss came on a hot night in Las Vegas last year to brutal Antonio Margarito, who may have had loaded gloves at the time. He has turned back capable champions like Carlos Quintana, Shane Mosley, Zab Judah and slew of other title holders. When Cotto was cutting a swath thought the 140 pound division early in this decade, Pacquiao fought at under 120 pounds. That makes it all the more amazing that Pacquiao was able to dominate Cotto at every turn of the fight. If Cotto had a fleeting moment of success, Pacquiao would take that back- with interest.

 

After scoring 2 knockdowns against Cotto in the 3^rd and 4^th rounds, target practice really begun for Pacquiao. It was a slow torture, like tearing the wings of a fly but taking nearly 36 minutes to do it. Cotto was really done after 8 or 9 rounds but his corner men wouldn’t give him the logical out. They pushed him out for those last painful rounds as Pacquiao did as he pleased, opening up combinations at his pleasure. Finally, referee Kenny Bayless rescued Cotto early in the 12 the round. Opinions varied on the outcome of this bout but even if you picked Pacquiao to win, which I did by stoppage, it was almost surreal to see it actually play out before my eyes. It was amazing to see a guy that was fighting at 130 pounds less than 2 years ago, thoroughly dominate one of the most dangerous and respected 140-147 pound fighters of the past decade.

 

Cotto was legitimate, long standing champion and one of the best for many years but Pacquiao is one of those special fighters that come along once a generation. No one in the sport has ever won as many titles or climbed from flyweight, practically minimumweight (105) to win a title at 147. It’s unprecedented and completely boggles the mind if one is to really contemplate what he’s done.

 

Who would have imagined Pacquiao’s future success back in 1995 when a poor, skinny 106 pound flyweight turned pro in the Philippines.But he was fighting men out of necessity at that time, to make a buck, probably without many lofty expectations. But he had inherent speed and ability and simply kept taking fights. He won his first of 7 world titles as a flyweight when he was still only 19 years old. He was won belts or linear titles at 112, 122, 126, 130, 135, 140 and 147. And I have no doubt that if he made stops at 115 and 118 he could have scored titles there, too.  And not only is he superb boxer, he has a certain appeal that resonates to the masses. He’s likeable, funny, self deprecating and interesting. He makes movies and has aspirations to become President of the Philippines one day. He is a demigod in his home land and seems to have real love and concern for his countrymen. He’s comfortable in his own skin but not arrogant in the least.

Pacquiao was one the worlds best pound for pound fighters when he won titles at 126 and 130 but when he moved up in weight he has looked better than ever. Usually when fighters climb in weight this much they often lose speed and effectiveness. Why was Pacquiao different? There are several reasons. His union with Freddie Roach has paid enormous dividends for Pacquiao. He is now a complete fighter, adding a brutal right hook to his arsenal along with great movement, timing and ring acumen. And he is now physically very strong and tough as nickel steak. It’s almost unfair that someone with such natural ability has become so well skilled – it should be illegal. Pacquiao is an amazing gym worker and seems to have unlimited energy reserves. He brought in a strength coach, Alex Arriza, which I believe has been very important.  

And I think that in spite of him starting so light in boxing, he was very young and his body was still growing. Making weight became harder and harder until finally he slid up 5 pounds and took a lightweight belt from David Diaz. This was in June of 2008. At that point rumors were abounding that Oscar de la Hoya was going to fight Pacquiao later in the year. People derided Oscar for his choice in picking the diminutive former 130 pound fighter, especially when rugged Antonio Margarito had just beaten Cotto. People knew de la Hoya was looking for a name guy that brought a small amount of risk.

 

The de la Hoya fight, however, turned out to be the greatest thing that could have happened to Pacquiao. He beat him up and made him look bad in front of a world audience while putting himself on the world map. Then Pacquiao took on another big name in popular long standing champion Ricky Hatton. Hatton had only lost once and gave a good account of himself while moving up in weight against Floyd Mayweather. Hatton was stopped late but fought hard. But he had never lost at 140. Pacquiao knocked him unconscious with one punch in the 2^nd round. That win brought him to this challenge of Cotto.

 

Pacquiao was already a hero in the Philippines but now the whole world seems to be interested in this almost shy and unassuming ring assassin. He has been a huge boon to boxing and has created a buzz in the sport that was missing for quite some time. And now boxing seems to be doing better than the burgeoning UFC which hasn’t put together very compelling cards as of late. The logical fight that the world wants to see would be against the verbose Floyd Mayweather Jr. who sat a top the pound for pound list for many years until he took a 18 month hiatus after his victory over Oscar de la Hoya in 2007. He recently came back against Pacquiao nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez, who has a draw and loss to Pacquiao at 126 and 130.

 

But Mayweather easily turned back Marquez for a wide decision win. Marquez is a marvelous fighter but he is a bit long in the tooth at 36 and simply couldn’t carry the heavier weight well at all – unlike Pacquiao. He was chunky and slow and was out sped the whole night. But he had enough savvy and toughness to easily make it the route with Mayweather.

 

Mayweather, in spite of a good showing against Marquez, seems to have lost his mantle of the world’s best to Pacquiao. And now he is being met with some contempt for taking what is viewed as safety first opponents since his tough battle with Jose Luis Castillo 7 years ago. And I have to go along with that. Mayweather has been taking the path of least resistance for quite some time.

 

But a match between Pacquiao and Mayweather couldn’t be hotter. Mayweather is undefeated and in spite of his choice of opponents, he is a real talent and boxing prodigy. And he’s still undefeated. And Pacquiao is riding a wave so high that if they sign to fight it will break all existing PPV records without a doubt. These men can easily make large 8 figure purses each for this fight and it seems like the fans and boxing insiders alike are demanding that this fight happen.

 

There couldn’t be a greater contrast between the fighters in and out of the ring. Mayweather comes off as an arrogant, disrespectful, braggadocio and has the likability factor of a porcupine while Pacquiao is humble, self deprecating and respectful. He almost seems to have a bit of embarrassment of how good he his. He doesn’t trash talk and accords his opponents proper reverence.

 

Yet, in the ring they seem to fight the opposite of their personalities. Mayweather, while brash and abrasive out of ring, is a boxing tactician in the ring that often fights off the back foot. He’s content to score dreary decisions and avoid protracted action, which he is able to do with his skills. Now Pacquiao, shy and unassuming, is a cold blooded assassin in the ring. He doesn’t fight with anger but he fights with an unparalleled ferocity. He wants to put his opponent on the floor and win emphatically. And he is as serious as a heart attack once the bell rings and simply will not stop coming.

 

It appears that these men will meet but I do get a sense Mayweather will come up with some excuse to not make the fight and then will try to lay blame at the feet of Pacquiao and Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter. Mayweather, in my view is a cagey and disingenuous sort and is deathly afraid to fight an opponent that can challenge him. If the Pacquiao fight doesn’t happen, I can guarantee you that it will be Mayweather’s doing. But the money and interest in the fight is so high, I know great efforts will be made to make this fight happen.

If they do fight and Pacquiao wins, I believe his name should be mentioned in the same breath with the all time greats like Sugar Ray Robinson et al. I know Pacquiao has expressed a desire to move on from boxing after a few more fights and return to the Philippines which is his right but I hope he doesn’t cut it too short, before he really hits his apex. Then again, I’d really like to see him go out on top and not become a stepping stone if he sticks a round too long. Anyway, right now he’s the best in the world and I still think he can get better. That’s a scary thought. Early pick against Mayweather - Pacquiao by KO, what else.

 

 

Antwone Smith scored a 9^th round stoppage over previously undefeated Henry Crawford on Showtime Friday night at the First Council Casino, Newkirk, Oklahoma.  Smith was only a slight favorite to win and I know many thought Crawford had a very good chance. I picked Smith, believing he’d he too busy and consistent for Crawford.

 

However, early in the fight it was easy to see why many liked Crawford to prevail. He has very quick hands and can throw punches in bunches. And in the first two rounds Smith, who isn’t slow, looked like he was mired in quicksand as Crawford let his speedy mitts go.

 

Although it was clear Smith was in the a guy with better hand speed  he didn’t seem overly troubled by that. Smith stayed within himself, adjusting to what he had in front of him by keeping a stout defense while attempting to keep the pressure on his speedball opponent.

 

Like in a horse race, when the front runner grabs an early lead, they very often don’t stay that way. Smith understood that Crawford would have his moments early on but he was able to bide his time and adjust for the long haul.  And by the 3^rd round Smith was able to land the jab and bang the body which set the early stages of walking Crawford down.

 

Crawford was game but just couldn’t do anything to give Smith pause not to go forward and get his pound of flesh. By the 5^th round Crawford was breathing heavily and the stoic and seemingly unaffected Smith was doing the better work.

 

Smith hit pay dirt in the 6^th when a right handled badly wobbled Crawford. Smith jumped on Crawford scoring a knockdown. Smith knew he had wounded pray in front of him  and  continued to pounce. Smith was wild with some shots but with a minute left in the round, Crawford was getting nailed with power shots and could barely stand up. Crawford wisely lost his gumshield which I think allowed him to recover a bit and get through the round as the ref had to stop the action while it was replaced

 

Crawford looked all done but surprisingly survived the 7^th and 8^th rounds and performed fairly well. He showed courage and determination but it wasn’t going to be enough. Smith was coming forward and was the stronger man.

 

And by the 9^th round Crawford seemed badly fatigued while Smith was in cruise control. Finally, late in the round as both were throwing right hands, Smith landed while Crawford missed his own. Crawford dropped slowly but hard to floor, draped over the lower rope. Crawford rose just as the round was ending but he was gone and smartly his trainer retired him in the corner before the 10^th round.

 

 

OBSERVATIONS ON SMITH

 

I’ve been watching him for several fights and can’t help being impressed by Smith in many ways.  He’s only 22 but he’s amassed excellent pro experience for his age and behaves like a veteran professional fighter in and out of the ring. By that I mean he seems to be clearly focused on the task at hand and doesn’t allow any distraction to come his way. Before the fight he has a placid, relaxed look about him. He doesn’t play to the camera or the crowd.

 

Smith is there to do just one thing and that’s box. And during the fight, Smith is very relaxed and makes adjustments on the fly. In his last fight a bad cut didn’t bother him and in this fight he had a very speedy guy in front of him that he had to figure out, which he did. And after Smith was awarded the stoppage, there wasn’t an excessive celebration. He acts like he’s been there before and seems to understand that the win is merely a step on the path he is on as a successful professional fighter, hence,  just another day at the office for Smith. I just happen to appreciate that type of humility when coupled with tough minded, consistent effort in the ring.

 

While Smith obviously has good natural ability and reflexes, he’s not someone that was gifted at birth with crushing power or blazing hand speed  But he does appear to be someone that works very hard on improving himself in the nuances of the sweet science as he is a much better technician than you might think judging by his forward moving style. He blocks and slips shots very well and fortunately appears to be a guy with a solid chin which is often important for fighters that don’t rely on pure natural ability.

 

And he is physically strong with a sturdy set of legs coupled with a deep reserve of stamina. It’s amazing to watch Smith work very hard in his fights and return to corner with his mouth closed while breathing in a relaxed manner through his nose. He comes back to the corner like he just jogged a quarter mile at 4 miles per hour.  And if you watched Crawford as he was heaving in his corner, you might think that just finished sprinting 400 meters in 50 seconds.

 

Many might not understand my praise for Smith because he’s not a speed demon or flamboyant  in the manner of a Floyd Mayweather nor is he a devastating KO artist. But sometimes guys not born with those obvious, conspicuous gifts are sometimes very special in the less celebrated aspects of the game and often times go on to have long, impressive careers. Some guys like that that come to mind are Marvin Hagler and Bernard Hopkins who were not naturally gifted athletically but turned into consummate professional fighters. Smith obviously has a way to go to reach the heights of those men but so far he does appear to be following their pattern.

 

WHERE DOES HE GO FROM HERE

 

I see Smith as a legitimate top 12 welterweight right now. And the division is replete with some young and interesting talent. Of course, we have the old and established guard of Floyd Mayweather, Shane Mosley, Antonio Margarito (If he returns to this division after his suspension) Miguel Cotto and now Manny Pacquiao. We have young champs like Isaac Hlatshwayo, and Andre Berto  along with former champs Luis Collazo, Carlos Quintana and Joshua Clottey. Vyacheslav Senchenko, Selcuk Aydin Saul Alvarez are solid foreign prospects and  we have competent gatekeepers like Alfonso Gomez, Jesus Soto Karass and Carlos Molina.

 

I wouldn’t mind seeing Smith in two or three more bouts before he challenged guys like Hlatshwayo and Berto. I do think in two or three years he’ll be ready for anyone in the division and don’t see anyone running over him. Smith is a guy most have barely heard of or took seriously only a couple of years ago but I think he has a chance to go much further than anyone could have imagined. And Smith, who is a throwback fighter, will continue to act like a consummate professional by staying busy and learning his craft. I don’t think he’d have it any other way.

 

 

 

“FAST EDDIE” GOT IT RIGHT THIS TIME

 

Heavy underdog, American “Fast Eddie” Chambers traveled to Hamburg, Germany to administer  a 12 round boxing clinic against highly regarded Alexander Dimitrenko. Many thought Dimitrenko was being groomed as the heir apparent to the ageing Klitschko brothers but he was in for a shock as he simply had no answer for the well schooled Chambers. Chambers was quicker man and the much better technician in this match as he was easily able to time Dimitrenko with pinpoint combinations. Chambers usually enters the ring in the 220 pound range and has appeared a bit chunky. And Chambers came up short in a close bout against Alexander Povetkin last year but he left no stone unturned in his preparation for this fight as he got himself in excellent condition coming in at a lean and ready 208 pounds.

 

CHAMBERS SHATTERS BIG HEAVYWEIGHT MYTH

 

It’s no secret that many of today’s heavyweights are massive men. For example, the heavyweight champions ,the Klitschko brothers Wladimir and Vitali are 6’6 and 6’8 and 240 and 250 pounds, respectively. Dimitrenko is 6’7, 255. and there are many behemoths roaming the division. Some have even stated that there should be a new division between 200 and heavyweight, perhaps 220 pounds. But Eddie Chambers debunked the myth in this contest that bigger is better. Wasn’t it amazing that the presumed light hitting Chambers scored 2 official knockdowns and basically walked the Ivan Drago look alike down for most of the fight. Chambers took the fight to Dimitrenko, backing him up and landed at will. I like the sobriquet “Fast Eddie” and I say another appropriate moniker would be “Smooth Operator.” Chambers is smooth, relaxed and very comfortable in the ring. I think he presents a tough night for ANYBODY.

 

 

CHAMBERS ONE JUDGE AWAY FROM GETTING THE SHAFT

 

Judge Paul Thomas come up with the outrageous score of 113-113 for this bout. Chambers not only scored 2 knockdowns but won at least 8 rounds. That is an obscene card and I believe some investigation and ultimately a permanent suspension for Mr. Thomas is in order. He’s either corrupt or incompetent so either way he shouldn’t judge again. Can you imagine if another judge rendered a score like that?

 

GOOSSEN HAS 2 BEST AMERICAN HEAVYWEIGHTS

 

Promoter Don King has for many years had a virtual monopoly on the best American heavyweights. I wouldn’t say Dan Goossen has a monopoly but he does happen to promote two of America’s best heavyweight hopefuls. Goossen currently calls the shots for Chris “the Nightmare” Arreola and Chambers. Both of these men are targeting the Klitschko’s so a match between them will not happen in the near future. I think many people thought Arreola was the best we had to offer but we may have to rethink that supposition. Chambers has been telling everyone that he was America’s best hope without much agreement but it’s reasonable that more people are now going to believe him. I’ve been one of Arreola’s biggest supporters but based on recent form I’d tip Chambers.  But the good thing is that they can raise the bar for the other and it is my understanding that Arreola has done a revamping with his training regimen. So we’ll see how he looks next time out. Perhaps he’ll look the better guy in his next fight.

 

 

IS CHAMBERS THIS DECADE’S CHRIS BYRD?

 

There are some legitimate comparisons between Chambers and Chris Byrd in his prime. They are both small heavyweights with top shelf skills and superior defense. Chambers still has a way to go but I think he has a better upside than Byrd. I think he’s a sharper puncher and I believe he’s further along than Byrd was when he was 27. Byrd did seem to struggle more against the real monsters of the division but I don’t think Chambers will have those same type of troubles.  Chambers has a certain sturdiness about him that I don’t think Byrd had.

 

“FAST EDDIE” IS THE GOODS

 

I picked Chambers to win this fight because I recognize his ability and knew Dimitrenko wasn’t the type of workhorse of a Povetkin and that Chambers would be able to work at his pleasure.  I’m often a fan of the rugged, grinding type of fighter (like a Librado Andrade) but I can appreciate different styles and I hold Chamber’s in very high regard. He’s hard to hit and hurt and he has legitimate speed. And I think he’s a bit better puncher than some believe. He’s not a Tysonesque puncher but he’s no Buster Mathis Jr. either. He has pinpoint accuracy along with speed and leverage. And the shots that people don’t see will have an effect.  Ask Dimitrenko.

 

 

CHAMBERS GETS NEXT?

 

With this win Chamber’s has become a mandatory challenger for Wladimir Klitschko’s WBO heavyweight crown. And Chambers deserves the shot. He worked his way up fighting progressively better people. He lost a fight to Povetkin for the right to fight for the title but he got right back in the ring and earned his way back. He beat dangerous former champion Sam Peter in his penultimate fight and with the win over Dimitrenko, Chambers is poised for his challenge of another giant.  Can Chambers topple another giant Ukrainian?  Hopefully, we'll find out later this year.

 

 

 

 

Jean Pascal was able to successfully  mix smart boxing and roughhouse fighting to annex the WBC light heavyweight crown from Adrian Diaconu at the Bell Centre, Montreal, Canada on Friday night.

 

The two Montreal residents waged an exciting and fierce battle that so far, deserves mention as a fight of the year candidate. Diaconu was a slight favorite entering the bout probably because Pascal was moving up a weight division and Pascal had lost in a recent title shot at 168 to Carl Froch.

 

But Pascal was valiant in defeat in that bout and probably gained the requisite experience that prepared Pascal, mentally and physically, for the task at hand.

 

Pascal looked to exploit his speed advantage early in the fight by creating distance between himself and Diaconu while using a jab. And the plan, for the most part, was working. But Diaconu is a strong and rugged man that was going to be in hot pursuit all night long.

 

As I watched, I wondered how long Pascal would be able to play keep away from the pursuing Diaconu. But Pascal had a surprise for Diaconu – he was willing to stand and trade at many different junctures of nearly every round.

 

And Pascal not only was able to out maneuver Diaconu, he was able to outfight him on many occasions, too. Pascal, who many saw as a Roy Jones light type fighter, proved that while he may not be quite the supernatural talent Jones once was, he is clearly a tougher, stronger and more durable boxer than Jones could have ever have hoped to be.

 

And Pascal’s considerable talent coupled with his underrated toughness and tenacity make for a very formidable and exciting fighter. It was great to see Pascal push the bull (Diaconu) back while punching hard and landing well with his free hand.

 

Pascal built up and early lead in the fight and was really pouring it on when he dropped Diaconu in the 5th pound. Pascal went after his prey with a vengeance but got clipped high on the head that put him in instant trouble. But the round was nearly over and Pascal was able to clinch and punch for the remainder of the round.

 

Pascal seemed to suffer from a little fatigue in the 7^th and 8^th rounds and probably lost those rounds. This is where Diaconu was going to have to make his move. But Pascal got a second wind and was able to keep pace with the ever charging Diaconu in the last 3^rd of their fight. And while Diaconu did provide some effective pressure, Pascal landed the better overall punches and was really punishing Diaconu in the last 2 rounds.

 

Pascal appeared like he might be able to score another knockdown in the last round as he battered Diaconu around the ring but Diaconu wouldn’t fold and made one last charge. But it was too late, he lost the round and it was obvious that reasonable judges would cause the title to change hands. They did via unanimous decision.

 

 

This really was a marvelous fight with a forward moving guy Diaconu against the boxer Pascal. But there was much hard fighting  going on.  And a man with less fortitude than Pascal would have surely crumbled under Diaconu’s exhausting pressure.

 

After this win, I see Pascal as a big player in this division with a mix of old lions like Bernard Hopkins and Glen Johnson coupled with some talented young fighters like IBF champ Chad Dawson,  top contender Tavoris Cloud and resurgent Shaun George et al.

 

And I think Pascal can give a good account of himself against any of the aforementioned fighters. I sense many thought Pascal was more sizzle than steak prior to this fight but I think he’s proved in his loss against Froch and this coming out win over Diaconu that he indeed, has plenty of substance to go along with hip rapier reflexes.

 

Diaconu can still make for some excellent fights in the division and can’t be counted out. Even a rematch would be worthy down the road. Of course, Diaconu will need a rest and time to heal as his face took a substantial battering in this rough fight. Pascal was surprisingly, unmarked.

 

I picked Pascal to win because I felt he had the tools to handle Diaconu. I knew Diaconu is tough and provides steady pressure but he sometimes seems to fight in one gear when he should ratchet things up a notch. And I believed that Pascal showed enough grit with a tough guy like Froch that he should be able to expound on that performance in this fight. Further,  I felt that the weight gain would benefit Pascal who wouldn’t have to shave himself down to 168. And the weight gain did seem to help as Pascal was still lean and ripped, carrying the weight very well.

 

At only 26 years old Pascal’s future is indeed very bright. He can fight and he’s exciting. The more exposure he gets, the better.

 

Wladimir Klitschko successfully defended his WBO and IBF heavyweight titles with a slow paced but dominant 9^th round stoppage win over WBA champion in recess Ruslan Chagaev in Germany on Saturday night.

 

This fight was put together less than a month ago when David Haye fell out as Klitschko opponent claiming injury and Chagaev had his rematch with Nicolay Valuev scratched when he tested positive for remnants of hepatitis B in a blood test.

 

Chagaev claimed to be in shape and ready to fight and Klitschko desired to keep his June 20 fight date. So those fallouts allowed this potentially intriguing bout to happen.

 

But it didn’t turn out to be much of a fight as Klitschko was able keep Chagaev completely at bay with a rapier left jab and an occasional hammer of a right cross.

 

Over the past few years Klitschko has managed to learn to fine art of dominating his opposition while keeping his risk to a minimum. I’d have to attest this to trainer Emanuel Steward as well as some earlier career losses where he learned who he was.

 

Now, Klitschko is able to use his vast physical advantages, he’s 6’6, athletic with great punching technique and power, and keep opponents away from his weaknesses – questionable stamina, chin and psychological trauma in the ring.

 

In the past he’s always been a physical marvel but he fought like he wanted to be out of the ring practically before the fight started. He would use his vast offensive tools to run opponents right out of the ring.  This approach first worked against him when he was dominating absorbent journeyman Ross Purity for 10 rounds – problem was it was a 12 round fight. And Klitschko fatigued so badly trying to rid himself of Purity that his corner pulled him out of the fight in round 11.

 

Then he was dropped to canvas like a sack of potatoes several times en route to a 2^nd round demolition by left handed puncher Corrie Sanders. And his last taste of defeat was in 2004 when he beat tough as nails Lamon Brewster from pillar to post for 4 rounds. But the problem was Brewster didn’t go anywhere and Brewster nailed a fatigued Klischko in the 5^th round to gain the stoppage win.

 

It wasn’t that Klitschko was in poor condition. It was just that he fought ins such a “tight’ manner that he would fatigue. He just couldn’t seem to relax in the ring.

 

But since that loss to Brewster, Klitschko has become much more stress-free and patient in the ring. He knows now he can keep a stiff jab in an opponents face and there is not much they can do about it. He has learned pacing and picks his spots when he’s comfortable. Steward has done a masterful job with Klitschko – perhaps his best success in my view.

 

And it’s very hard for opponents to get to him because there is always the danger of walking into a fight ending blow. So now that Klitschko isn’t fighting to get out of the ring as fast as he can, he is calm, collected and more effective than he has ever been in his career.

 

There have been loud complaints regarding Klitschko’s safety first but effective style of fighting. But Klitschko is too smart to give the naysayers any credence. He knows what works and I don’t ever expect him to deviate from that again.

 

It will take  a very tough pressure fighter with some skill to beat Klitschko at this point. Chagaev is known as a solid technician and boxer but that was part of the problem for him in this fight. He held no physical advantages over Klitschko and while a good boxer, he’s somewhat slow, predictable and methodical. He’s not one to bring unbridled pressure and recklessness that can sometimes make Klitschko uncomfortable. He comes forward, hands high, looking to slip his way in. But Klitschko was simply too sharp, too fast and too precise for Chagaev to get anything going.

 

Chagaev ate many heavy jabs and when Klitschko felt like it, he would slam a clean right hand home for good measure. Klitschko scored a knockdown in round two and simply won every round with the jab. Chagaev tried to make a run in the 6^th and 7^th rounds and Klitschko appeared to be slowing down ever so slightly. At the end of the 7^th, off of a clinch, Chagaev slammed home his best punch, and practically only shot of the night – a crackling left cross. It certainly rattled Klitschko but the round ended and Klitschko caused a cut that seemed to derail Chagaev’s modest progress.

 

Klitschko was taking target practice late in the 9^th round and Chagaev was not coming forward anymore. He took some tough shots right at bell and while on his stool, his corner smartly pulled the plug on his night.

 

Chagaev is a tough guy and may have even made it the route but it was fruitless and he most likely would have taken more punishment than was necessary. I was upset with Chagaev’s exit because I thought the fight would go over 9.5 rounds. And while it probably could have, I understand why Chagaev’s team opted out.

 

So where does Klitschko go from here. He can still take on formerly scheduled David Haye. Haye is moving up from cruiserweight but that fight does have some appeal because Haye is a legitimate KO puncher with lightning fast hands. And he seems like he’d be willing to take chances against the robotic, yet athletic, Klitschko.

 

While Haye has only beaten one heavyweight, Monte Barrett, I’d have to say he’d probably be Klitschko’s fastest opponent to date and perhaps the most explosive with the possible exception of Sanders.

 

It’s so hard to land on Klitschko these days for the rudimentary heavyweight but I have no doubt that if a puncher could land a clean blow, they could do major damage.  That’s the intrigue with this fight. It seems with Haye’s style one of them will leave the ring on their shield.

 

Another potential opponent is Alexander Povetkin. Povetkin is young, tough and busy. He was an Olympic gold medalist in 2004 (Klitschko won Gold at the 1996 Games) and is undefeated. He eats a lot of punches but he has a rock head and may be able to bring the type of pressure that could get Klitschko off his game and perhaps find his weaknesses which are very hard to bring out.

 

The best American hope in my view is Mexican-American Chris Arreola from Southern California. Arreola is a heavyweight that fights like a featherweight. And that’s a  good thing. He brings punches in bunches and has deceiving reflexes and skills. He’s more than a crude brawler. Arreola seems to have a solid chin and excellent stamina in spite of a non-bodybuilder physique. He has good vision in the ring and if he comes in great shape, he’s had struggles with the scales, he may just be the guy to break Klitschko’s heart.

 

I look forward to Klitschko’s future challenges. I don’t begrudge him for finding a style and attitude that works for him. He has to do what keeps him winning and a champion. I still find it dramatic when he fights and to beat him an opponent is simply going to have to force Klitschko’s weaknesses out of him because he just doesn’t give them away anymore.

 

 

Carlos Molina scored a comprehensive unanimous decision over Danny Perez at the Mahi Shrine Temple, Miami, Florida on ESPN2 last Friday night. Molina came in as a late replacement for the slick former champion Carlos Quintana, who had to pull out with an injury.  It seemed like Perez was going to be playing the B side against Quintana but once Quintana was scratched, Perez quickly became the A side of this fight. Once Molina was named as the opponent stories surfaced on Perez and that he was now in prime form and is ready to realize the potential that was anointed on him early in this decade.

 

But Molina, who was nearly non-existent prior to fight, in his mind wasn’t coming to Miami to take a loss. Perez, who is a tough fighter, simply was not nearly as good a boxer as Molina, but not many knew that, including Perez’s people, prior to the opening bell.

 

But it was apparent right from the beginning that Molina knew how to handle Perez. Molina isn’t a guy you would look at and see a dangerous fighter. He only has 5 stoppages in his 17 wins and isn’t what you would call a natural talent.

 

But Molina, plain and simple, knows how to fight.  First of all, he is an extremely relaxed fighter and he can capitalize on mistakes in an instant. He doesn’t seem to have natural speed but he has good fighting reflexes. He couples that with good vision and is not easy to hit with more than a punch at a time. Molina is an excellent inside fighter and can also fight from a distance. He can cover up and then transition into offense on his whim. And while he’s not a KO artist, his shots do gain respect from opponents as he will land head snapping shots that have foes looking like their faces were rubbed with sand paper for about an hour.

 

Poor Perez just couldn’t do anything with Molina. But Perez is a game guy and when Molina took a breather in the 9^th and 10^th, Perez had his best moments. But I’m not sure he even won those rounds. And in the final 2 rounds, Molina was up to his old tricks, hitting and not getting hit and stealing another win that he wasn’t supposed to get.

 

I’ve been watching Molina since he fought a draw with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in early 2006. He lost a close call to top contender Mike Alvarado by a narrow decision shortly after that and has now pocketed 9 wins in a row against a good combination of prospects and veterans.

 

As a fighter, there is a lot to like. He’s only 26 years old and he keeps a very busy schedule. He’s always in the gym and treats the sweet science like the craft that it is. And Molina can obviously fight at 147 and 154.

 

With a few more wins, I think he’s knocking on the door of a title shot.

 

Molina is not flamboyant and at first glance doesn’t do anything that one would naturally take notice of – except win. But he is fun to watch because he’s fights fast paced, offensive fights. He’s always looking to make something happen and really tries to dominate complete rounds. And he’s quite a crafty guy in his own way. I happen to think he can compete and beat top 20 welterweights right now.

 

A few match-ups come to mind that I would like to see this young man in – make it happen ESPN. How about guys like Jesus Soto Karass, Alfonso Gomez, Delvin Rodriguez or even a faded Zab Judah. They would all make great TV fights and would advance Molina, with a win, to the next level.

 

Molina has already fought 4 times this year and I wouldn’t mind seeing him another 4 times before 2010. Oh, I did happen to pick Molina in this one, I’ve been a fan for a while and knew what he could do. With the win over Perez on national TV, many more now know the same.

The super middleweight division, once a place for chunky middleweights to hide from the dangerous middleweights and huge light heavyweights, is now loaded with excellent talent and many outstanding potential match-ups for years to come.  Even with the retirement of all time great Joe Calzaghe there are no shortage of boxers  looking to carry the torch.   Here is a brief analysis of my top 12 super middleweights in the world:

 

 

Mikkel Kessler

 

Strengths – Kessler is a tall, strong boxer with solid power. He can punch, box and is in great condition. While Bute was nearly forced out by Andrade, Kessler was able to administer a paint job for the full 12 rounds and wasn’t hurt in that fight.

 

Weaknesses- he doesn’t have many but if anything can be stated it’s a lack of originality in his attack. When he fought the great Calzaghe, he was somewhat predictable and Calzaghe was able to change things up in the bout and score a hard fought and deserved decision win. Has had some inactivity issues. It’s hard to understand why he doesn’t have a match scheduled.

 

Lucien Bute

 

Strengths – tall southpaw with excellent speed, skills and movement. He is very hard to pin down and usually has a speed and skill advantage over opposition.  He’s a good counter puncher and can make an opponent look amateurish.  He has excellent pro experience and knows his way around the ring.

 

Weaknesses – perhaps stamina and chin can be called into question based in his fight with ultra rugged Librado Andrade.  Bute tired badly late in that fight and was practically KO’d late in the 12^th round and was fortunate not to been a ruled a KO victim in that bout.

 

Carl Froch

 

Strengths – stamina, physical strength and good power. Also, he’s a tall, awkward fighter that can punch from all angles. Has great determination and self belief. He chased Jermain Taylor down until he caught his prey with 14 seconds left in the fight.

 

Weaknesses – He can be wide with his punches and he tends to get hit a lot. He keeps his left hand very low and doesn’t move his head enough.  In his bout with Taylor he was often beaten to the punch and out speeded but his fortitude, strength and conditioning earned himself a KO win late in the 12^th round.

 

Karoly Balzsay

 

Strengths – another excellent southpaw with world calls skills. He had a strong amateur base and is solid in every department. He stepped up in class and beat Denis Inkin in an excellent, hard fought contest.

 

Weaknesses – perhaps it’s his professional experience. He hasn’t fought many top fighter but he showed his class when he stepped up against Inkin. He defends against former champ Robert Stieglitz in August

 

Librado Andrade

 

Strengths – iron chin, physically strong, camel like stamina, seemingly impervious to pain and punishment. He has an excellent work rate and heavy hands.

 

Weaknesses – he is methodical and somewhat slow compared to some of the thoroughbreds in the division. It will take him a while to catch up to the speedy boxers with movement. I’m not sure anyone could beat Andrade if championship fights were still 15 rounds and if you go back 100 + years when fights could go100 rounds, I’d never pick against him against any of the men on this list.

 

Andre Dirrell

 

Strengths – he’s an Olympian Bronze medalist with excellent natural talent. I do tend to confuse Ward and Dirrell in my head but he is different. He has faced better overall fighters than Ward and I think he’s a better puncher. He holds impressive wins over fringe contenders Anthony Hanshaw and Victor Oganov

 

Weaknesses – basically experience and a tendency to lose focus against inferior opposition.

 

Andre Ward

 

Strengths – he has superior talent and speed. He was a Gold Medalist in the 2004 Olympic games and is definitely a young wunderkind.  He stepped up against grizzled vet Edison Miranda in his last fight and passed that test with flying colors.

 

Weaknesses – he has been a safety first fighter on some occasions and in spite of fast hands, he’s not a natural puncher. As a gifted youngest, he can get sloppy and tends to keep his hands too low.

 

Denis Inkin

 

Strengths – he’s a solid, well rounded practitioner that does everything well but nothing extraordinary. That’s actually a compliment because he is proficient all the way around.

 

Weaknesses – he sometimes seems like he fights in one gear. He can be methodical and in his bout against Balszay he was outworked in the later stages of the fight and was hurt in late in the bout. Balzsay just seemed more inspired and was the slightly better man.

 

Allen Green

 

Strengths – he’s a tall, talented fighter coupled with excellent power. He’s had some medical issues and setbacks but he may have the best one punch KO power in the division. When he gets leverage on his power shots he is extremely dangerous – and they come fast.

 

Weakness – he seemed psyched out against Edison Miranda 2 years ago and put forth a pedestrian performance against used up Rubin Williams. He was dropped by journeyman Donny McCrory several years ago (Green won by 6^th round KO) and that’s not supposed to happen to prospects.  He needs more seasoning and needs to keep his hands up. But Green seems to be on track mentally and physically and he’s found a home at 168. He could be a dark horse in the division.

 

Jermain Taylor

 

Strengths – World class amateur and professional experience. He dethroned the great Bernard Hopkins for the middleweight title. He has fast hands, athleticism and solid power.

 

Weakness – His stamina has been a  thorn in his side most notably against Froch and Kelly Pavlik. He simply doesn’t fight as smart as he should with his experience. He boxes when he should fight and fights when he should box. He seems like he thinks way too much and never appears relaxed in the ring like an old pro should.

 

Sakio Bika

 

Strengths – physical strength and stamina. He has a great chin and will keep coming all night long. He lost a fairly wide decision to Joe Calzaghe but Calzaghe had to work very hard for it and was clearly troubled by Bika’s awkwardness and strength.

 

Weakness – he has a lack of boxing technique and he’s not he fastest guy in the world. And despite his body strength he’s not a great puncher. He also has a loss to Lucien Bute on his ledger.

 

Jean Pascal

 

Strengths – he has fast hands and good skills. He kind of reminds me of Roy Jones light with the way he uses speed against inferior opponents and lands pot shots. He fought well in a decision loss to Carl Froch where they both traded shots late in the fight.

 

Weaknesses – he had put forth some uninspiring efforts against some lesser opposition and he may have less power than some thought early on. To his credit, he seemed committed to the Froch fight and can build on that loss. He’s moving up a division to take on Adrian Diaconu in a title fight.

 

Antwone Smith added another scalp to his rising ledger last Friday night as he impressively handled perennial contender Richard Gutierrez by 10 round decision at the recently renovated Fontainbleau Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida.

 

Smith is a kid out of the Miami area that has suffered a few early blemishes as a  pro but has kept up very busy schedule that is now beginning to pay dividends. Smith, now 22, turned pro at the tender age of 19 and is quickly turning into a guy that fights like a grizzled veteran yet with the benefits of youth, speed and enthusiasm. He was pretty much under most people’s radar but since a draw with Nassar Athumani in 2008, Smith has reeled off 7 straight wins against some serviceable opposition.

 

This fight against Gutierrez, who has mixed some excellent competition, represented a big step up in class for Smith. And I’d have to agree with that. After all, Gutierrez gave current title holder Joshua Clottey a very close and tough fight.  And he gave rising junior middleweight contender Alfredo Angulo a scare before succumbing under pressure the 5^th round. Gutierrez has always been a guy that could easily handle second tier opposition and was just on a the precipice of making it into the upper echelon of contenders. But after a disappointing draw with veteran spoiler Jerome Ellis, Gutierrez chose Smith to begin to get his career back on track.

 

But Smith had other ideas and was ready for Gutierrez. Smith was a slight underdog in his fight but many figured Gutierrez to be a bit too strong and battle tested for the youngster. Many viewed Smith as a guy with some talent and ability but someone that really hasn’t developed his man strength yet and would likely be roughed up by the rugged Gutierrez.

 

But after a close two rounds, Smith began to separate himself from Gutierrez.  And he seemed to dominate in every way. He was the busier and sharper guy and he was often able to push Gutierrez back and unload with fast combinations. Smith also displayed a better defense and despite suffering a nasty cut about his left eye, he merely swiped away the blood and kept working. 

 

There was one point late in the fight when the ref called a  time out for the doctor to look at the cut. Smith knew that he was ahead and that the cut was ruled to be caused by a head butt. Smith could have gone for the easy way out and said ‘I can’t see’ and walked out with an 8^th round technical decision. But he calmly said he was fine and that he wanted to continue. And he thanked the doctor for letting him carry on by giving a him a playful tap on the head with his glove. Well, Smith proceeded to dominate the final two rounds of the fight and seemed to take nearly all the fight out Gutierrez.

 

Smith, in my view displayed a professionalism and steadiness that belied his age.  Not only during the fight but before and after the contest. I was struck how Smith looked very business like during his ring introductions. He didn’t mug for the camera. Instead he remained focused, understanding the task that lay ahead of him.  And after he won, while very pleased, he remained collected and professional, understanding that this win is just another rung up the ladder with much more to accomplish down the road.

 

Smith seems to have good natural abilities that he is expounding on by staying very busy and keeping himself in the gym.  He seems very solid in all aspects of boxing; he’s got skills, speed and some respectable power. He doesn’t really have one trait that stands out as they seem to flow well together.

 

But if there was one thing special about him, it was his poise. He was fighting in his biggest fight, with quite a handicap with his continually bleeding cut. But Smith remained unflappable and every round was the same as the previous round. And that was good, because Smith mostly outfought and out worked Gutierrez throughout. Lastly, I was impressed with Smith’s conditioning. He never seemed to labor or get tired. He was breathing in a relaxed manner though his noise which indicates excellent fitness.

 

I backed Smith in this fight based on the abilities and coupled with the fact that I viewed Gutierrez as a declining fighter while I knew Smith’s stock was, and still is, on the rise. I’m looking for forward to Smith’s next outing. And I say he’s worth a look to those that haven’t seen him yet.

Manny Pacquiao didn’t waste any time scoring a clean 2^nd round knockout over long time 140 pound king Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand Casino, Las Vegas last Saturday night.

 

Hatton opened up in his usual aggressive style looking to make the ring very small  for Pacquiao. And while Hatton succeeded in getting close, he couldn’t land anything of consequence and found himself getting clipped in the opening seconds of the fight. Pacquiao’s shots already began marking up Hatton only a minute into the first round.

 

About halfway through the opening round Pacquiao landed a right hook just as he slipped under a Hatton left hand, dropping the Hitman on his hands and knees in the center of the ring. Hatton took an eight count and rose. He had some fight left in him - but not much.

 

The Pacman express was in full force as he began banging Hatton around the ring at will. Hatton had no answers to deal with the fierce Filipino and was pounded to the floor for a another knockdown seconds before the end of the round.

 

Hatton made it out for  the next round but his body language said it all in the corner as his previous confidence was now gone and he seemed visibly  distracted in the corner, barely taking in any words of wisdom from his trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr.

 

Hatton resumed the 2^nd round coming forward – what else was he going to do? Pacquiao didn’t appear too urgent considering that Hatton was ready to go at the end of round one.  But it didn’t matter. Pacquiao owned every part of what was happening in the ring and was beginning to ratchet things up by the second half of the round.

 

Pacquiao was like the tide, coming and going as he pleased while spearing Hatton with stinging combinations. With about 30 seconds left in round two Pacquiao slammed home a brutal right hook to Hatton’s body. Ricky felt that one and Pacquiao kept up the pressure. Then with about 5 seconds left in the round Pacquiao released a savage left cross that caught Hatton on the sweet spot of his chin. Lights out, game over. Hatton was out cold before he crashed to the floor. And crash he did as his head body and head bounced off the hard canvas with a thud.

 

This was as impressive a performance that Pacquiao has ever put together. Gone are the days of the whirlwind Filipino who was spectacularly talented but often off balance and wide open for counter punches.

 

Now he seems to instinctually know exactly what he should be doing in the ring. He knows when to slide in, when to turn and when to punch. And his balance is now excellent and as soon as his opponents leave any tiny opening, Pacquiao will reign in nasty combinations that leave his opponents grasping for answers.

 

It’s obvious to me that Pacquiao has done himself a great service by moving up in weight. Everything about him has improved with the weight gain. He’s not only fast but he’s extremely strong.  But he’s so quick and talented that he doesn’t have to grind much and makes things look so effortless and natural.

 

It’s incredible when you think back to when before Pacquiao fought de la Hoya and how most dismissed that as a ridiculous mismatch. But that turned out to be the best career move Pacquiao could make. Not only did that win set him up as being boxing’s cash cow but it’s allowed him to prove that he is indeed boxing’s best pound for pound fighter.

 

Many thought the de la Hoya win was a fluke and wanted to see how he’d fare against a very hard man like Hatton that had never come close to losing as a light welterweight. But I think this fight makes the de la Hoya win look more legitimate as Pacquiao handled a highly regarded Hatton even easier than Oscar.

 

De la Hoya said he was in good shape and felt good for the fight but Pacquiao has a way making his opponents feel as if they did everything wrong once they have spent a few minutes alone with him.

 

And fighting him now will be a tall order for anyone.  He’s hard to hit, he has blazing hand speed, he can move, he takes a good shot, he’s very strong and he always seems to have a great game plan.

 

He and trainer Freddy Roach go together like bread and butter. There is a mutual respect there and Roach has to be considered the top trainer in the game – he certainly is with Pacquiao.

 

So what does Pacquiao do next? Whatever he wants. He is the money man now so it shouldn’t be too hard getting opponents in the ring with him. And it’s an exciting time because there is some excellent young blood ( see Tim Bradley and Victor Ortiz) in the 140 pound division.

 

But while Pacquiao seems to be just peaking now, he has been a pro for 15 years.  I imagine his team will  probably be looking for mega fights although I’m certain Pacquiao would be willing to face anyone in the ring. We’ll see what happens. There is already talks of Pacquiao getting together with Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto and of course returning Floyd Mayweather Jr.

 

I say bring them on.  They are all compelling fights and I’m not sure he’d be favored against any of these fighters. But I can tell you this, I have NEVER picked against Manny Pacquiao and I don’t see that changing in the foreseeable future.

 

As for Hatton, he’s been a terrific warrior and has had a hugely successful career. I wish him the best and think it’s time for him to move on from the ring. He was a great character  in the game and brought much to the sport and always gave it everything he had. He got everything, and then some, he could hope to get from his body over the years. Just a suggestion for Hatton in retirement – eat well and continue to work out or he’ll soon resemble a Ricky Hatton parade float.

If you were looking for a high magnitude fight that illustrates the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat then this fight was for you as Carl Froch snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in a scintillating KO in the final seconds of their pitched battle for Froch’s WBC super middleweight crown at the Foxwoods Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut on Saturday night.

 

Former undisputed middleweight champion Jermain Taylor was looking to make a brutal KO loss to Kelly Pavlik two years ago a distant memory but this fight ended up like déjà vous all over again.

 

Taylor started off the match in fine fashion as he was able to beat Froch to the punch. Taylor looked speedy and strong. His recent reluctance to let his hands go was gone. He dropped Froch with a solid overhand right high on the head in the 3^rd round and was enjoying a big early lead on the cards.

 

Taylor continued to mostly get the better of things in the early and middle rounds but Froch wasn’t about to abandon the fight. Froch did seem confounded by Taylor’s natural speed but he kept up a slow, steady pressure that subtly began to sap Taylor’s energy and perhaps his will.

 

Taylor would often answer effectively to anything Froch did but he simply wasn’t able to discourage Froch too much. While Taylor landed a clean uppercut to end the eight round, Froch still seemed the fresher man as the boxers returned to their corners.

 

In the last third of the fight Froch began to take command but Taylor being the warrior that he is would always answer with something hard. Taylor had a somewhat ragged 11^th round but still landed some heavy leather late in the round.

 

It was apparent to me that Taylor was tired but I certain didn’t see it as a sure thing that the wheels were going to completely fall off the bus in the next round.  Even as much as halfway through the final round, Taylor appeared like he was going to see the final bell.  But Taylor’s fatigue met a perfectly timed right hand by Froch that was the beginning of the end.

 

Once Taylor’s legs badly buckled that was all Frock had to see. He went after Taylor like he has committed a crime against a loved one. He kept pounding the brave but dimming Taylor until a right hand left Taylor supine in a corner, with an arm draped over a rope. It was eerily similar to Taylors’ collapse against Pavlik.

 

Taylor had a glazed, stunned look but rose to his feet to receive his final dose of punishment. And Froch doled that out with abandon until Taylor was out on his feet and helpless forcing the ref to intercede with just 14 seconds left.

 

The stoppage was correct because he was completely defenseless and would have taken savage, possibly life changing  punches.I picked Froch to win and was pleased in that regard but I couldn’t help but feel horribly for Taylor. His disappointment was apparent and watching someone put it all that out there to come up short in that way tugged at my heartstrings. Even though I handicap fights devoid of emotion, Taylor’s visage at the and was hard to watch.  What can I say, I’m a softie.

 

Taylor wanted to get back to top so badly and to have it snatched away so late in the fight was painful to watch. It probably would have been much easier for him to accept if he was blown away early in the fight. But momentum shifts and instant changes of fortune are what make boxing the great sport it is. All sports have that ingredient but with boxing it is much more personal and heartfelt as only the boxer himself is actually involved in the experience. And they are all alone and on display for the world to see.

 

Still, Taylor made great money and was a world champion so that, hopefully, will sooth the pain of this very tough loss. Taylor does seem like one of the good guys in the sport and in my view it’s time for him to let it go. I thought he was slightly slurred in his interview after that fight and I don’t think that will get better if he soldiers on. I hope he retires.

 

Froch put on an excellent display of his grit and character as he just wasn’t going to be denied. He is a very strong super middleweight and will be a tough night for anybody. He’s unorthodox but he has a unique skill set, is super tough and well conditioned to go along with his strength.

 

Froch called out Calzaghe after the fight but I have a feeling Joe won’t bite on that. But that’s ok.  This division is replete with compelling opponents for Mr. Froch. And good fights could be made with Allen Green, who scored a brutal KO on this card, Andre Dirrell and Andre Ward et al. But the fight I would love to see is Froch against the La Habra tough guy Librado Andrade.  

 

I think they would make for compelling fight between two very tough, offensive minded fighters. My pick in that one; Andrade – I think he’s simply too rugged even for the steely Froch.

Filipino dynamo Manny Pacquiao faces another big name opponent in Mancunian fireplug Ricky Hatton on May 2 at the MGM Grand Hotel, Las Vegas, televised on HBO-PPV. Hatton will have thousands of his countrymen in for the fight and they will probably be drunk from the moment they arrive right up to until their flights cross the pond again.. Pacquiao is also known for having legions of rabid fans affectionately known as Pacmaniacs.  So an electric atmosphere is guaranteed for Vegas that week. And, of course, this is a must see fight for any boxing fan and because of it’s magnitude may even draw in some of the more casual type of fan or even the non fan.

 

Pacquiao, after all, is coming off a one sided thrashing of the once vaunted Golden Boy, Oscar de la Hoya and has become quite well known because of that win. Both fighters are immensely popular and the winner of this contest will have a chance at an eight figure payday in a subsequent bout.

 

After the one sided 8 round beating Pacquiao dished out to the Golden Boy  he apologized to Oscar and said he (Oscar) was still his idol. I’d hate to imagine if he had little regard for him? But that’s Pacquiao, he is a little buzzsaw of a warrior in the ring but he is a humble and gracious sort when the fight is over.

 

And Hatton is also an ebullient, likeable chap. He’s a regular bloke that pounds the suds and loves the practical joke. But in the ring, he is also as serious as a heart attack. And his opponent’s better be as well or they will surely suffer through a brutal and painful night.

 

But there is a lot on the line in this bout as Pacquiao brings his status as the world’s pound for pound best fighter into the ring against Hatton, who has never lost at 140 pounds and is still the king of the hill in that division.

 

And keep in mind that this will only be Pacquiao’s 2^nd fought at 140 or above, he turned pro at 106 pounds, and that Hatton has been at 140 for nearly a dozen years.

 

Based on the boxing forums and articles I’ve read on many boxing sites it seems both fighters have many supporters. Many people see Hatton as the naturally bigger and stronger man and believe that he will be able to impose his will on Pacquiao. It goes to reason that many of those folks are looking at Pacquiao’s win over de la Hoya as somewhat of a mirage as the Golden Boy sizzled himself by cutting weight improperly, thus entering that fight as a shell. And aficionados know that with the exception of Pacquiao’s last fight and a fight at 135 with David Diaz, Manny has been doing most of his recent work in the 130 pound range.

 

Hatton has had 2 forays at 147 where he eked out a debatable decision over capable lefty Luis Collazo and was game but outgunned in a bout with former number one, Floyd Mayweather Jr. In a strange twist Hatton joined forces with trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. for his last bout against Paulie Malignaggi and performed very well. His speed surprised the slick Malignaggi and coupled with Hatton’s strength and intensity it was simply too much for the Brooklyn native and he was stopped in the 11^th round. Hatton has retained Mayweather as his trainer.

 

And, naturally,  some people are on Pacquiao’s bandwagon, believing he is too fast and good for Hatton. But the things is, both are quality fighters. Hatton fights like a brawler but he’s very fleet of foot, has a good jab  and can cut off a ring on a boxer type and while Pacquiao is super quick, he’s also physically strong and will stand and brawl when the mood suits him.

 

My point is that these are quality fighters that share some qualities or at least can perform proficiently what the other is known for. Still, they do have their own styles unique to themselves. And  we all want to know who’s brand of mayhem will carry the day.

 

There are many questions surrounding this fight. Will Hatton’s natural size and aggression be poison to Pacquiao’s lefty style?  Is Pacquiao’s destruction of De la hoya given too much weight? Consider that Hatton will be the physically strongest opponent Pacquiao has ever seen and should put up much more resistance than the feeble de la Hoya did. Will Hatton simply be much stronger than Pacquiao and run him over? How will Pacquiao deal with the clinching, mauling and grappling that Hatton will bring into this bout? Will it wear him down? Will idiot savant trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr. devise a plan for Hatton to cut down Pacquiao?

 

Will Hatton be troubled by Pacquiao’s recently found boxing ability and southpaw stance? Has Hatton been going to well for too long?  He has had a long and grinding career and the possibility exists that the poundings and making 140 have taken a toll. Is diminutive Manny Pacquiao actually the physically stronger man? Will trainer Freddie Roach have a plan to play matador to Hatton’s bull like rushes?  Which guy will have a better plan B if it becomes necessary in a crisis situation? What will this fight come down to? Strategy, will, skill or a combination of all.

 

I expect both men to be at their absolute best and as for height and weight they are almost like bookends, each about 5’6, 140 chiseled pounds with a similar reach. All these questions will be answered on May 2 and I can’t wait to find out. This is a compelling fight because of the magnitude of the bout and it should be a blazing fight fought with great pride, intensity and skill.

 

I will have a pick and a wager recommendation on this compelling fight within a week or two of the opening bell.

 

Riverside, California resident Chris Arreola dismantled Jameel McCline in 4 rounds at the Mandalay Bay Casino, Las Vegas on Saturday night in a HBO televised bout. Many people were looking forward to this fight as young hopeful Arreola was taking his toughest fight to date, at least on paper. But despite Arreola coming in overweight at 255 pounds and taking a few flush shots from the beefy 271 McCline. Arreola had things mostly his own way until he lowered the boom in the 4^th round.

 

While Arreola was overweight, I felt McCline was out of shape. And there is a difference. Areola should weigh less for his fights and I think he would benefit with increased sharpness if he did but he had plenty of sparring and was fitter than his physique would indicate. McCline, on the other hand, weighed in at a familiar poundage but his usually lean physique was flabby and soft. In fact, I’ve never seen McCline’s appearance look that shabby.

 

McCline said he had a short camp, about 6 weeks, and it showed. I don’t think he pulled out all the stops for this fight like he has for matches in the past. And while I believe McCline knew where he stood, he was going to take a shot at a win. McCline was mostly beaten to the punch and looked uncomfortable against Arreola but the veteran has experience and in the 3^rd round, he unloaded and landed a few bombs on Arreola. McCline knew that his window to win was shrinking but gave himself that chance when he unloaded.

 

The problem for  McCline was he was already badly gassed and the clean punches he landed didn’t have much of an effect on Arreola. Arreola shrugged them off and continued to land. Arreola landed some sizzling body shots through out the fight but he began to find some success with the uppercut and a follow-up right hand in the 3^rd round.

 

And after tenderizing McCline early in the 4^th round, Arreola landed a lovely uppercut that began a 4 punch salvo that culminated with an overhand right that dropped the big man in a heap on his side. McCline wasn’t mentally gone or near a loss of consciousness but he was gasping for breath and knew it would not  be worth it to beat the 10 count.

 

So McCline did the smart thing and ceded to Arreola by missing the 10 count by a second or so. The beating just would have become more savage and one sided and at nearly 39 years old and with a lot of ring mileage, McCline didn’t need that in his life at that time.

 

Do I think Arreola would have beaten a better prepared McCline? Yes. And it believe it would have been inside the distance but probably several rounds longer. Do I think it was a meaningful win? Yes, because even though McCline was out shape he’s never really been that easy an out. Arreola mopped the floor with a perennial contender that had been reasonably active.

 

I understand Arreola has flaws which I think are mainly his unwillingness to condition himself 100%. But he get’s away with it, so far, because while he may be a lazy athlete, he’s a real fighter with talent and ability. He’s got heart, desire and the will to win even though it doesn’t manifest itself when he’s jogging in the desert.

 

In spite of being dropped in his previous fight and slightly buzzed in this one, I think Arreola can take a good shot. McCline had major leverage and had all of his 271 pounds on a few of the bombs he planted on Arreola but they didn’t have a big effect. And McCline has hurt and dropped many quality guys in his career with his thudding shots.

 

And Arreola brings a unique type of pressure that makes dealing with him a very difficult proposition. If he’s overweight, he may look somewhat sluggish and awkward but he still manages to get to point where he’s lining up an opponent for damaging power shots and all they are able to do is try to cover up. Once he’s inside, his eyes are wide open and he sees what to do. And before you know it he’s slinging punches from all angles that have just been taking guys apart.

 

The big question remains is can he be an elite heavyweight and further, can he compete win the Klitschko brothers. I think he can. But I do think if he fights the Klitschko’s or Alexander Povetkin, Eddie Chambers and even the lighting quick and explosive David Haye, he will have to cross the t’s and dot the i’s on his preparation.

 

Arreola is an extremely colorful and likeable fighter. He’s all tatted up and scary as hell to look at but he is a family man that comes across as a humble and approachable gentleman when not doing battle in the ring. In other words, he doesn’t have a chip on his shoulder – except perhaps inside the ring, and even then he’s respectful to the sport and his opponent. Although, that doesn’t mean he isn’t trying to take his opponent’s head off.

 

He just comes off as honest, real and refreshing. What you see is what you get. There is nothing phony or pretentious about him and the fact that he’s even honest about his shortcomings when it comes to training and getting prepared make him seem all the more human. And if he can simply get it all together in the gym, we just may have the first Mexican/American heavyweight champion the sport has ever had. And I’d be okay with that.

Former champion Jeff Lacy takes on Otis Griffin in a 10 round bout contracted for 173 pounds. Can Lacy make his way back to the top or does Griffin have something for him?

 

Lacy was once a highly regarded young champion but that now seems like a distant memory since he was white washed by Joe Calzaghe in 2006. Lacy has struggled since then in and out of the ring. He labored through wins over Vitali Tsypko, Peter Manfredo and Epifanio Mendoza. And in his last fight he was out boxed by former middleweight champ Jermain Taylor.

 

Griffin came to be known for winning a lower tiered version of the Contender series several years back. But in spite of that nice purse that came with winning that series, he is simply not a quality fighter. He has had struggles with a very ordinary lot of fighters and any time he stepped up in class, he has lost. But that’s not surprising because of the  way he’s been matched. It could be akin at to a baseball player having modest success in high school or on a lower level college team and then suddenly being brought up to the major leagues to face real pro’s. When he stepped up against Danny Green and Enad Licina, he was easily dismissed in 3 rounds. And the one time he took an moderate step up, he was turned back by Jesse Brinkley in 11 rounds.

 

I do think Lacy suffered a major blow to his confidence with the Calzaghe loss but I also think he was a bit over rated before that fight. I think he always would have struggled  very slick boxers like Calzaghe and Taylor but he was so dominating in some previous  bouts that many believed he could steamroll nearly anyone. But while Lacy may never sniff a title again, I think he is probably physically recovered from the Calzaghe fight and could  still probably be considered a top 15 type of guy. Lacy is physically strong, game, hits hard and takes a decent shot. He has been wobbled by some clean shots but he does know how to survive sketchy moments and he never stops trying.

 

Griffin is a guy that doesn’t bring much punching power to this fight and he’s not slick nor very quick. I see this fight as a Lacy showcase (Lacy is actually the promoter of the show) and he probably hasn’t had this soft an opponent in over 5 years. Of course the Lacy of 2004 dismisses Griffin within a few rounds. But the questions is can the 2009 Lacy do the same.

 

I think he can. This is an easier opponent than he’s seen in a while. And I think Lacy is still the same strong, physical fighter that he always was. And even though he lost widely to Taylor, he scored a knockdown (not called) in that fight and had some good moments in the match. He always came forward and Taylor seemed to fight a “scared” fight, meaning he held a lot and wasn’t too willing to mix it up with Lacy. Lacy came out it unscathed, unlike the Calzaghe debacle, and he still believes he has some business to do in boxing.

 

Lacy claims he injuries and losses are behind him and if so, should be able to roll through a guy like Griffin. Griffin seems to crumble when caught by a “real” guy and I believe when Lacy starts banging Griffins chrome dome, he’ll hit the floor. I’m looking for a Lacy win inside the distance, probably somewhere around the 5^th round.

Lucian Bute defends his IBF super middleweight title against tough Fulgencia Zuniga in Montreal, Canada on Friday night, televised on Showtime. 

 

Bute finds himself in with another hard headed forward moving slugger with Zuniga. You see, Bute is coming off a controversial win over Librado Andrade where Bute was outpointing Andrade for most of the fight but the determined Andrade kept fighting and nearly scored a last second KO over the exhausted Bute. Bute was dropped and nearly out but with a little help from his friends, ref Marlon B. (Wrong) Wright, was saved by the bell and retained the title.

 

And for Zuniga to win he will have to apply pressure all night and hope he can wear down Bute late in the fight. But Bute, a tall southpaw, is a difficult opponent because he of his excellent skills, movement and speed. Bute has the advantage of better hand speed than most opponents he fights and he is difficult to target because he does have good movement. And he will make lunging opponents pay with fast accurate combinations.

 

Zuniga is cast out of the same mold of Andrade. He’s not a naturally talented fighter but he has an anvil for a chin and applies constant pressure. But I do think Andrade is a better all around fighter than Zuniga and has a more diversified attack.  Zuniga was once a Jr. middleweight but seems to be in the proper weight class as a super middleweight. He’s been fighting well in this division and gave former champion Denis Inkin a very good test for the vacant WBO crown. But Zuniga came up short fighting on the road and lost the decision. Zuniga is strong, has a great chin, keeps a good pace but is a bit slower than the best guys in the division.

 

Zuniga wasn’t  mandatory defense so he was chosen for a reason by Bute. He’s solid enough to be considered credible but he probably isn’t talented enough to get the job done against  Bute. I expect Zuniga to give it all he has but I just don’t think it will be enough. I think he will be out boxed and will have trouble landing flush on the moving Bute. Bute does seem to tire late in some of his fights and that will be Zuniga’s best chance to make something happen. But I think Bute will stink things out when he has to by holding and sliding away.

 

Bute has a lot of stoppages because early on he fought inferior opposition. But when he stepped up in class his fights began to go many rounds. And Bute is content to box intelligently use the whole ring. And against Zuniga, that would be the right way to do it. He has gone to at least the 10^th round in 7 of his last 8 fights, including five12 round decisions. He even let badly faded former champ William Joppy hang around until the 10^th round. Conventional wisdom says teak tough Zuniga goes rounds. As such, I’m looking for a Bute win, probably by decision.

 

Note: Win or lose, I won’t apply this to the Track Record as I ‘m not going to recommend laying better than 2-1 on this over/under.

Bright prospect Victor Ortiz passed an important test by stopping seasoned contender Mike Arnaoutis in the 2^nd round at The Tank, San Jose, California, televised on HBO.  Besides a disqualification and a no contest on his record Victor Ortiz has been perfect.  And those blemishes would have been sure KO’s for Ortiz so in essence, he’s undefeated. Some people weren’t on the Ortiz bandwagon before this fight and thought Arnaoutis would provide a stern test or perhaps even beat the young Oxnard via Kansas prospect.(I picked Ortiz to win by KO but didn’t think it would be this easy)

 

But the wagon is quickly filling up as Ortiz had no trouble with the former title challenger Arnaoutis. And that is impressive considering Arnaoutis was still (supposedly) in his physical prime and came within an eye lash of winning the vacant WBO title against puncher Ricardo Torrez in late 2006. Arnaoutis held current IBF title holder Juan Urango to a draw a few years ago and went the distance with dangerous and ultra quick Kendall Holt.

 

The first round was sort of a feeling out process but Ortiz was able find the target while Arnaoutis barely threw a punch. In the 2^nd round, Ortiz was suddenly walking Arnaoutis down and Mighty Mike looked somewhat lost. Then in the blink of an eye, Ortiz slipped an Arnaoutis jab and countered with a sharp left cross high on the head. Arnaoutis was hurt and pitched sideways towards the ropes doing the best he could to survive.

 

But Ortiz pounced instantly with a fusillade of punches. One particular uppercut in that flurry caught Arnaoutis cleanly and he began to sag and drop his hands. The ref saw the body language of Arnaoutis and wisely halted the action.  I don’t think Arnaoutis would have lasted much longer if the fight were to continue.

 

This was an excellent win for the youngster Ortiz. He has settled in nicely with Golden Boy Promotions and is now on a clear path to a title and perhaps superstardom. Not only does Ortiz have great talent and power but he has a compelling background and comes off as a bright, engaging personality. Ortiz was abandoned by his parents (I bet they wish they hung in there now) and had to take care of his siblings while forging his boxing career.

 

But he seems unaffected by his past and does his best to be humble and self deprecating, which isn’t easy due to his age and amazing ability-  but he pulls it off.  The 140 pound division is another very deep division in the sport and Ortiz will have plenty to keep him busy for many years to come. In this division Ricky Hatton takes on Manny Pacquiao in May but those guys are getting close to retirement and Ortiz may not be in a position to fight them in time. We’ll see. But there are other guys like Tim Bradley, Kendall Holt, Juan Urango, hard nosed fellow prospect Mike Alvarado and many other possibilities. The sky is the limit for Ortiz.

 

All he has to do is stay in the gym and continue to make the right choices in his life.  Any boxing fan will want to see more of this guy.  He’s got the good looks and has a media friendly style that you’d expect from lesser guy but he is a very real fighter that seems to have it all – ability, talent, speed and power to go along with his potential star power. He hasn’t had a brutal test yet to determine his mettle but that’s not his fault as he has simply been too good for everyone on his path thus far . We’ll learn  a lot more about Ortiz in the next 2 years but I believe he will pass many subsequent tests and have great success.

In a battle of young contenders, James Kirkland scored an impressive 6^th round stoppage win over Joel Julio at The Tank, San Jose, California on Saturday night, televised on HBO. Many people were looking forward to this fight because of the potential fireworks this match-up provided. Julio and Kirkland have scored nearly all of their wins via the KO route so this fight was sure to be a thrilling battle between dangerous gun slingers.  

 

And although it was one sided in Kirkland’s favor, it was exciting because Julio landed heavy bombs in between Kirkland’s brutal pressure.  Kirkland promised he was going to come out and bang right from the get go and he certainly delivered. Kirkland opened the first round as if Julio wasn’t even there and just stepped to him with his hands in motion. The difference in strength was evident in the bouts opening moments and it appeared that Julio’s only shot was to catch Kirkland perfectly with one of his right hand missiles.

 

But Kirkland’s brutal pressure and solid beard basically defused Julio of any chance to win. Julio landed plenty of heavy shots that would have rendered lesser men horizontal but Kirkland merely shrugged everything off that Julio threw and kept applying that energy sapping pressure. Julio figured out early that he couldn’t stand and fight with Kirkland so in between his own punches, he was in retreat. Julio basically back pedaled and tried to walk Kirkland into a bomb.

 

And he was able to do that more than several times in the fight but it didn’t matter. Julio’s legs were fading fast as Kirkland sunk heavy leather into Julio’s body. Julio tried to hold every time they got close but Kirkland would punish him with short hooks and then walk him to the ropes they were separated. It was shocking to see stalking bomber Julio being manhandled with such aplomb by Kirkland.  

 

It was as if Julio couldn’t believe it himself. I think he thought that all he had to do was land a bomb on the hittable Kirkland and then he could get him out of there. But he was in for rude awakening as he was thoroughly tenderized in the fight.  Every round was nearly the same with Kirkland landing a heavy jab and relentlessly pounding Julio any where he could.

 

Julio had flashes of success in several of the rounds but he couldn’t land anything that changed the tide of the fight. It seemed like every time Julio landed some good right hands, he appeared more fatigued. And Kirkland would take his turn and continue to brutally break Julio down.

 

Finally at the end of the 6^th round Kirkland landed a combination that culminated with a left cross that had Julio wavering in the wind. The bell rang and Julio walked back to his corner seemingly on a potholed road – translation, he was all done, put a fork in him. Julio ceded in his corner giving Kirkland the biggest win of his career. It was the right move because I believe he would have ended up on his back in the next round.

 

For Kirkland, this was a huge win. Even though he was a 3-1 favorite, many insiders believed Julio to be the more seasoned guy and that his power would seal Kirkland’s fate because he does get caught while coming in. ( I had Kirkland by KO winner) But Kirkland is far from the limited brawler that many had tagged on him.

 

In fact, he’s got a solid skill set and his punches are technically sound. And I think his defense looked good at times in the fight. Many times Kirkland saw what Julio was going to do and ducked or slipped many power punches from the Colombian. Yes, he got caught with some but he has good reflexes and used them a lot in the fight.

 

But what makes Kirkland such a beast is his physical strength, conditioning and amazing sense of purpose he has in his fights. He is prepared to go to hell in every fight but usually just makes his opponents feel like they are in hell. And Kirkland seems to be gelling very well with his chief second Anne Wolfe.

 

Wolfe is a former female world champion and she is as hard core as they come. She puts Kirkland through brutal training regimens for his fights with the attitude that ‘if it doesn’t kill you it will make you stronger.’  And it seems to be working. I have no doubt that compared to what Kirkland does in training, his fights are a breeze. I guarantee Julio, although probably well trained, didn’t go through as nearly a grueling training camp as Kirkland did.

 

And Kirkland’s training shows in his physical appearance and his attitude in the ring. Kirkland’s head looks like a pit bull’s, too big for his body, nestled on neck of thick muscle that meets a set a traps carved out of marble. In Kirkland’s post fight interview I noticed that his chest was vascular almost like a thoroughbred race horse and when he raised his arms overhead, the inside of his arms were loaded with tributaries of squiggly veins. In other words, he looked like he was in ultimate physical condition. But his skin looked healthy and he clearly wasn’t drawn.

 

With this win, Kirkland is right in the mix with the top Jr. Middleweights in the world. And the division is stacked with very good talent. You have much avoided 6’3 ostrich Paul Williams, classy southpaws Daniel Santos,Sergio Martinez and Sergiy Dzinziruk, aged but still useful title holder Vernon Forrest and fellow bruiser and heart taker Alfredo Angulo. All these matches would be excellent for Kirkland but the one everyone would love to see is against Angulo.

 

But I think it would better if they can each gain a title before they mix it up and should also make it as good a payday as they can be because it is the type of match-up that one or both men may never be the same after it’s over. I’ve gone back and forth on who I think will win that potentially amazing fight and it’s still a tough call for me.

 

Anyway, Kirkland is a guy that can be a major boost to boxing because of his pure gladiator style. Kirkland is reminiscent to the 19 and 20 year old Mike Tyson in his method of mayhem and the effectiveness he has shown. But I do think Kirkland is mentally stronger than Tyson and I don’t anticipate him looking for shortcuts in his training or running out of gas late in a fight.  

 

The difference between  Tyson and Kirkland is that Kirkland relishes the war while Tyson wanted to score the quick KO to get out of the ring as fast as he could.  In other words, Kirkland fights with a fury while Tyson fought in fear. And Kirkland doesn’t have the one punch power Tyson had so he is usually forced to fight hard for as may rounds as it takes to get it done  – and he’s more than OK with that.

Juan Manuel Marquez overcame the hellish fury of Juan Diaz to score a 9^th round stoppage win at the Toyota Center, Houston, Texas on Saturday night.  Diaz came out and was intent on neutralizing the expert precision of Marquez with unbridled pressure and offensive output.  And the plan seemed to be working.

 

Marquez was forced to work at a pace he clearly was not comfortable with and while he landing plenty on Diaz, Diaz was pushing him back and seemingly winning most of the battles. Marquez would go back to his corner and just seem baffled as to what to do to turn the tide. The fight seemed to heading in a similar direction of many Diaz fights where his opponents simply lose the will to go on. It happened notably with Acelino Freitas and Julio Diaz, where they just couldn’t take it anymore and were forced out after 8 rounds.

 

And Marquez seemed stressed as he asked his corner what round it was after the 7^th round, appearing to be weary of the battle ahead. But Marquez kept looking for something and in the 8^th round he hurt Diaz for the first time with a left hook and then opened up a cut on Diaz’s right eye which seemed to deflate Diaz and buoy Marquez. In the 9^th round Diaz tried his best to ignore his wound and charge ahead but this time Marquez was ready for him.  Marquez unloaded a fusillade of shots that hurt Diaz badly. Marquez wouldn’t let up and landed a high right hand that dropped Diaz hard. Diaz got up but it was obvious that his night was nearly over. Marquez dropped him with a whistling uppercut and ref immediately stopped the bout.

 

The fight was a draw on the judges scorecard after 8 rounds but in boxing, things can change in a heartbeat and to Marquez’s credit he hung in there looking for the changing moment – and he found it and pounced on it, which is what great champions do.  Marquez has proven over and over against what a great champion he is by overcoming adversity. And he is a very hot fighter right now because most people understand that but for several knockdowns against Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao, Marquez has out boxed the living legend in more than 12 rounds out of the 24 they have shared the ring together.

 

A third fight with many Pacquiao would be an amazing event because both fighters are riding so high right now. Of course, Pacquiao will have to take care of business against Ricky Hatton in May to keep that fight must see TV.  Marquez actually called out retired Floyd Mayweather in his post fight interview.  Marquez is clearly looking for big money, and he should get it.

 

I must point out how good physically Marquez looks at 135. It seems to moving up in weight was the right move. He looks strong, healthy and I believe he could push the envelope and fight at 140 as well.  A this point and argument can be made that Pacquiao and Marquez are #1 and 1A in the pound for pound best fighters in the world and a growing group are tabbing Marquez and numero uno.

 

As for Diaz, he fought a great fight and can still come back. Under different circumstances in this fight, he may have gotten his hand raised. He was giving one of boxing’s best pure hell but he got caught and stopped. But that’s boxing. He’s still a young man with lots more to offer the sport if he desires. But I get a sense Diaz may want to move on from the sport sooner rather than later.  He has law school ahead of him and didn’t seem that disappointed in getting stopped. He almost seemed relieved.  He’s made excellent money in the sport and has had great success. But despite Diaz’s bruising style and obvious dedication to the sport, he seems like the type of guy that thinks of boxing as a means to an end to boost his interests outside of the sport. But he’s still a big player and lore of the dollar may keep him around.  We’ll see what happens.

Chris John and Rocky Juarez battled to a 12 round draw on Saturday night at the Toyota Center, Houston, Texas.  The fight presented an interesting contrast in styles. John is a speedy boxer with considerable skills while Juarez is a forward moving puncher with heavy hands. I thought both guys fought well and had their moments in the fight. John was the busier fighter and landed more punches but Juarez clearly landed the harder punches and pressed forward, making the fight. It seems like many are griping about the decision believing John had done enough to get his hand raised.

 

I disagree with that premise.  It seems viewers of HBO tend to lean the way of buffoonish judge Harold Lederman and the general feeling of the commentators. But I thought Juarez was nearly chasing John out of the ring for the last 3 rounds of the fight and John did so much gratuitous holding as he had no answer for Juarez’s inside game. John may have landed more punches according to the punch count but they were kind of like “stay away from me’ punches and for the most part were not purposeful. That all said, I could see how either guy could have been awarded 6 rounds apiece. But I thought Juarez was more dominant in the rounds he won and landed the harder punches throughout. And I don’t think it would have been a bad call if Juarez was awarded the decision.

 

That was Juarez’s 5^th crack at a major title and was the closest he’s come to winning the brass ring. But hard luck Juarez was denied again. I can’t help but feel badly for the guy. I though Juarez gave a solid effort against a slippery and highly competent opponent. He increased the intensity of his attack in this fight against a very difficult opponent and repeatedly landed thudding jabs and brutal body punches through out the fight. But in spite of the disappointing ending for Juarez, he proved he’s still a world class fighter and will more than likely get a rematch with John or a title shot at someone else. And I do think he will eventually become a champion.

 

Juarez is a guy I really like and deserves respect. For one thing, he’s fought all the top iron in the world and I’ve never seen him hurt in a fight. He is as tough as they come. Juarez has mixed with killers like Humberto Soto, Juan Manual Marquez and Barrera twice and has never been close to going down or being hurt. And with the exception of Marquez, Juarez has always fought well in the late rounds and seems to be the stronger man at the end of the fight.

 

I expect Juarez to dust himself off and continue to fight. In spite of the draw, I think he’s fighting better than he ever has and seems to be still improving. He’s never going to change completely what he is and become a 100 punch a round fighter, but with his chin, power and underrated skills, I think if he hangs in there he will realize his dream and become a champion.

Some of these guys are the best in their respective divisions while others are exciting young contenders on the precipice of great things.  Be that as it may, these are my favorite guys based on fighting style, unique abilities and personality. I expect all of these fighters to engage in important and exciting fights in 2009. These guys are all good for the sport and have what it takes to make 2009 an excellent year in boxing. And if each guy can have 2 or 3 outings in the new year it will be a good year indeed. Anyway, here is the list in no particular order.

 

 

Glen Johnson – This guy is 3 days shy of his 40^th birthday and is fighting better than he ever has. Johnson is a gentleman outside of the ring and a tough, brutal and skilled pressure fighter inside the ropes. He has a legitimate gripe that he manhandled ultra talented Chad Dawson earlier this year only to be given the shaft. Johnson is deserving of fights with the very best but he is avoided like a bad disease. Will Hopkins, Calzaghe and Dawson step up and give this guy a fight? I have a feeling they won’t.  Instead Johnson has to keep plying his craft against anyone he can find because that’s what he does – he fights. Up next is Daniel Judah in February.  And I don’t think Johnson will let this guy survive in this unnecessary rematch. 

 

Antonio Margarito – He has a chin of concrete and brings unrelenting pressure that breaks the wills of great fighters. Margarito’s coming out party came last summer in his thrilling win over excellent Miguel Cotto. Margarito toiled for years as a pro in and Southern California and has paid his dues. He engages in thrilling contests and is now in a position to get the best fights.  He is the best welterweight in the world and I think he’ll remain that way throughout 2009. However, I do expect Margarito to jump a weight class or 2 in the near future. Up next is Shane Mosley on January 24.

 

Librado Andrade – He’s not the most naturally talented fighter but he may be baddest man on two legs. Andrade seems impervious to punishment, has great stamina and can out-will anyone he fights. I felt he was robbed of a KO win over talented boxer Lucien Bute several moths ago when Andrade, who was behind on points, nailed Bute with seconds remaining in the 12^th round. But bad officiating allowed Bute to gain a decision win and retain his IBF super middleweight crown when he should have been deemed unfit to continue. This guy may have been born 30 years too late when 15 rounds was the championship distance.  Better yet, 100 years when men fought 100 round fights. No one could beat this guy at that distance. Also, Andrade has a terrific attitude and philosophy on life. And that counts for something in my book.

 

Manny Pacquiao – The humble Filipino warrior has beaten some of the best Mexican fighters of this generation and he capped things off in 2008 by embarrassing the much larger Golden Boy, Oscar de la Hoya, as a handpicked opponent in a brutal eight round drubbing. The talented southpaw buzzsaw has flourished under trainer Freddie Roach’s tutelage and he now sits alone atop the boxing world as boxing’s mythical pound for pound best fighter. Massive fights with Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather Jr. await.

 

Urbano Antillon – This unassuming almost shy lightweight is simply tearing up whoever is in front of him. He has looked excellent in the past year and I believe 2009 will be a breakout year for Antillon. He is an extremely brutal fighter that imposes his will on his opponents and breaks guys down with a  fury. He does catch a little a but he has a chin and deceptive reflexes – oh, and he’s deadly to the body. He’s ready for the best right now.

 

Chris Arreola – He’s a truly exciting Mexican American heavyweight that breathes several breaths of fresh air into the division. He brings an aggression and intensity that you just don’t see in with the heavyweights. Every fight Arreola has is a shootout and someone will be going down – and so far it’s been his opponents. Conditioning and work ethic remain a question but there is no question - he is a real fighter. I can’t see this guy enough. Is Wlad Klitschko next?

 

Alfredo Angulo – Cut from the mold of Margarito and Antillon, he has  excellent potential showdowns in the very near future as a Jr. Middleweight.  He takes on former champ Ricardo Mayorga in February. He’ll fight for a title before the end of 2009. Fellow contender James Kirkland will be in his future. That fight has to marinate just a little longer.

 

James Kirkland – He’s an undefeated Jr. Middleweight KO artist with fast hands a big punch and an unquenchable thirst for combat. He’s talented and has a fighters spirit. A match with fellow badass Alfredo Angulo in inevitable.

 

Chad Dawson - He’s a terrific talent with blazing hand speed. He’s young at 25 and has a bright future. I think he’ll fight anyone and wants to test himself. That said, I’m disappointed he’s taking on Tarver  again in a rematch of a fight that he won widely. But a contract is a contract – I believe there was a rematch clause. He does have unfinished business with Glen Johnson and Tavoris Cloud is a worthy challenger. I wouldn’t mind seeing him in with Hopkins or Calzaghe but that seems highly unlikely.

 

Mike Alvarado – This late bloomer with the wrestling background has proved to be a quick study. He’s been banging out some very tough vets and former champs in his last several fights and is already a force to be reckoned with at 140. He’s a dangerous cat that can make some noise in 2009. He brings, power, pressure and underrated skills. He’s ready.

 

Ricky Hatton – He’s getting towards the end of his career but anyone that wants to gain 140 pound preeminence all roads still go through Hatton, at least for now – although when he leaves there are many worthy fighters to fill the void.. He’s a superstar in the sport because of his complexion and affable attitude. But he can fight, too, make no mistake about that. He can call his own shots and fight the biggest fights. He will probably take on Pacquiao in the spring.  After that, who knows?

 

Sergio Martinez – He’s a very classy southpaw boxer with excellent speed.  He looks like a guy that’s a super athlete and is able to apply that athleticism in his fights. But he’s busy and aggressive and will make for some excellent match-ups at Jr. middleweight with his more brawling rivals Angulo and Kirkland. He has a tough task ahead when he takes on talented youngster Joe Greene in his first title defense.

 

Tim Bradley – He has speed, talent and a great work ethic. He’s articulate and a student of the game – what’s not to like.  He upset Junior Witter in to win a portion of the 140 pound title. He’s s a top player in the division. And he’s very young.

 

Nate Campbell  - He’s the people’s lightweight champ with his stirring winning over Juan Diaz earlier this year.  Campbell talks smack but he walks the walk and is extremely dangerous to anyone – ask Joan Guzman who got out of fighting him because of weight shenanigans. He’s older at 36 but he is on top of his game and has to be considered the top 135 pounder right now. He can do it all, box, punch and brawl. He’s fast, tough and grizzled. I hope he stays at a high level and fights guys like Antillon, Juan Manuel Marquez and Edwin Valero.

 

Honorable Mention

 

Juan Manuel Marquez – May be the best boxer/puncher in the world.

 

Edwin Valero – 24 KO’s in 24 wins. May be the most dangerous fighter in the world.

 

Bernard Hopkins – Not always thrilling but at nearly 44, he’s a special fighter.

 

Joe Calzaghe – Underappreciated for years, he’s finally found respect as a supreme fighter and very tough guy.

 

Kelly Pavlik – Hopkins loss stings but he’s still young, exciting and dangerous.

 

Vic Darchinyan – He can punch, box and he’s nasty.