Boxing News Thread
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Floyd Jr’s Signs of Insecurities: Believe it or Not
By Frank Livingstone: I just find it amusing that after the historic luncheon meeting between Manny Pacquiao and President Obama, Floyd Mayweather Jr posted a photo of him with President Bush and Jerry Jones at the Super Bowl. When the promotional tour for the Pacquiao/Mosley fight started in Beverly Hills, Floyd Jr was on the news again with his twitter research on Pacquiao’s three losses against his unblemished “0” record. Don’t forget that when he announced his comeback fight against Juan Manuel Marquez after a short break in boxing, he decided to make it at the eve of the Pacquiao/Hatton fight.
Floyd Mayweather Jr has his ways of reminding the boxing fans that he is still around. But surely this can’t go on forever with him just standing on the sidelines and let Manny Pacquiao dominate the headlines in the ring with him carrying a placard of his “0” record plus his drug crusade against the Pacman.
Shane Mosley made his feeling known that he is doing the dirty works for Floyd Jr. Some say the Floyd Jr is suffering a case of Pacphobia or he is just being smart of not fight a prime Pacquiao at this stage.
For now, Floyd Jr is financially secured and may not even have to fight again as he pursues his other business ventures. However this might change depending on the results of his upcoming court appearances. Manny Pacquiao wants to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr and even wish for his problems to be resolved so he can fight again. There is no question that the dream fight would break the record in financial terms but it could remain a dream fight that never happened. We all have insecurities and how we deal with them is what set as apart from others. Don’t get me wrong, Floyd Jr is not scared of fighting Pacquiao and a number of experts believe that Floyd Jr will win the fight. We could only hope that Floyd Jr believes it as well.
By Frank Livingstone: I just find it amusing that after the historic luncheon meeting between Manny Pacquiao and President Obama, Floyd Mayweather Jr posted a photo of him with President Bush and Jerry Jones at the Super Bowl. When the promotional tour for the Pacquiao/Mosley fight started in Beverly Hills, Floyd Jr was on the news again with his twitter research on Pacquiao’s three losses against his unblemished “0” record. Don’t forget that when he announced his comeback fight against Juan Manuel Marquez after a short break in boxing, he decided to make it at the eve of the Pacquiao/Hatton fight.
Floyd Mayweather Jr has his ways of reminding the boxing fans that he is still around. But surely this can’t go on forever with him just standing on the sidelines and let Manny Pacquiao dominate the headlines in the ring with him carrying a placard of his “0” record plus his drug crusade against the Pacman.
Shane Mosley made his feeling known that he is doing the dirty works for Floyd Jr. Some say the Floyd Jr is suffering a case of Pacphobia or he is just being smart of not fight a prime Pacquiao at this stage.
For now, Floyd Jr is financially secured and may not even have to fight again as he pursues his other business ventures. However this might change depending on the results of his upcoming court appearances. Manny Pacquiao wants to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr and even wish for his problems to be resolved so he can fight again. There is no question that the dream fight would break the record in financial terms but it could remain a dream fight that never happened. We all have insecurities and how we deal with them is what set as apart from others. Don’t get me wrong, Floyd Jr is not scared of fighting Pacquiao and a number of experts believe that Floyd Jr will win the fight. We could only hope that Floyd Jr believes it as well.
Depends on who's standing across from him. After you get flattened it's always better to go in against a light puncher, no matter the record type of a guy just to get the blood flowing again. I think Williams is gonna have trouble adjusting period, either his chin has been softened up enough to where it's easier to hurt him or he's gun shy and tries to fight completely different than how he fought before.
His advantage would be that if he started fighting more calculated and actually used his height as best as he possibly can (which I don't think he was doing before) he'd be a dangerous opponent for anyone.
His advantage would be that if he started fighting more calculated and actually used his height as best as he possibly can (which I don't think he was doing before) he'd be a dangerous opponent for anyone.
I think Williams is a natural welter weight so this is a smart move for him to move back down for his up coming fight I would like to see him fight some body like Rafal Jackiewicz, rafal is a soild opponent just otside of the top 10 in the welterweight rankings and does not pose a ko threat for williams
Searching for the Next Great American Heavyweight: Ten Fighters to Keep an Eye on
10 Best American Heavyweight Prospects: Who Has a Chance to Climb to the Top?
What in the world happened to heavyweight boxing in the USA? Certainly we’ve had time to become acclimated to the diminished presence of big men from the states. A look at the ratings now, however, reveals a situation that is as dire as it has ever been. While U.S. boxing has shown it can sustain without a top heavyweight attraction to speak of, it is clearly not beneficial to the sport domestically.
There are a myriad of reasons for this phenomenon. And make no mistake—it is a phenomenon. Consider the fact that Americans dominated top-ten heavyweight lists during the entire 20th century. Throughout the history of boxing over the past 100 years, every time you looked at the heavyweight rankings, you would see Americans, with maybe one or two fighters from somewhere else. [The current ProBoxing-Fans.com heavyweight division rankings has three Americans out of 10 spots - and they are the final three, numbers 8-10].
Economics probably plays into it. There may be a recession in the states now, but 1990-2005 (the formative years of most contemporary pros) were boon times in the USA. As African-Americans continued to zoom up the social ladder, we started seeing less great heavyweights. When economic conditions are better, people feel the need to fight on a much lesser scale. It is no coincidence that virtually all the top heavyweights are now from the Eastern-Bloc or former Soviet republics, where life is generally not as easy.
In addition, top athletes big enough to become heavyweight champions have moved to other sports. Boxing is not as appealing of an option for an athletic kid who could make millions playing basketball or football. It doesn’t help when most of the great American heavyweights from the modern era ended up in bad shape. Parents of prodigious athletes have probably taken notice that just about every other heavyweight champion ended up paying a steep price for choosing this sport. It doesn’t resonate well.
Today, the top 3 American heavyweights—Chris Arreola, Eddie Chambers, and Tony Thompson—can be found on the bottom of some top-ten lists, as mentioned above. At the same time, it is highly unlikely that this trio will produce a truly great heavyweight. All 3 have already lost to a Klitschko. Other American heavyweights found in the top 50 are even more retrograde, with aging former contenders and champions whose limitations have already been roundly exposed.
In the not too distant future, the Klitschko brothers will fade into the sunset. The division should be wide open at that point. Perhaps some heavyweights from the U.S. can manage to position themselves well to vie for the top spot. To do so, they will need to compete with a plethora of rising European talent. The success of the Klitschkos and others has surely motivated countless big men from that part of the world to pursue their dreams. So even when the Klitschko brothers fade away, there will still be another wave of European heavyweights looking to fill the void. American heavyweights will have their work cut out for them.
To find the next great American heavyweight, we have to dig a little deeper. Perhaps among developing pros and hotshot amateurs lies a great fighter. But after watching fights on TV, attending live cards, and scouring the Internet in search of a great big man, the verdict is already partially formed: there are no Mike Tysons on this list. All of these fighters show potential, which could flower into something special down the line. It’s going to take a lot of work, though. Here are some fighters who could represent the next wave of American heavyweight talent.
Top 10 American Heavyweights to Keep an Eye on:
Seth Mitchell, 20-0-1 (14 KOs)
Pros: Professionally, the most advanced fighter on the list in terms of number of wins and backing. Being a part of the Golden Boy stable at least ensures he will be given an opportunity to prove himself. “Mayhem” is not terribly tall at 6’2,” but has good size and bulk—coming in at 240-245. You have to love that big thudding jab and good bodywork. His jab has potential and could develop into a dominant weapon. Is sneaky quick for his size and his shots are thrown with a lot of power. An edgy and mean fighter with a good fighting spirit. Should be a handful.
Cons: Despite a 20-0-1 record, is probably the least-developed boxer on the list. As is the case with any football convert, you wonder if he can actually fight. It’s one thing to be a frontrunner and bowl over a bunch of lower-echelon journeymen with superior physicality, but what happens when he faces someone capable? It’s hard to name a great heavyweight who began boxing in his mid-20’s because they usually lack the innate fighting aptitude of more seasoned fighters. Can be hit, as his chin dangerously hangs in the air during heated exchanges. His noggin is simply too available. Average foot speed and not always very sharp with his shots.
Watch Mitchell Here>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ObJSHXhX5w
Credit: Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing
Deontay Wilder, 14-0 (14 KOs)
Pros: First became worth keeping an eye on in 2008, winning a bronze medal after only 21 amateur fights. Beat some pretty good fighters along the way, showing great aptitude for his newly-chosen sport. Has a big right hand that is developing nicely. When you can sling that missile down the middle on the drop of a dime, you’re always going to be in good stead. His jab is also coming around well. Has decent instincts, as shown by his movement and anticipation for openings. A hard worker, Wilder has shown the willingness to learn and improve. Adheres to a very active fighting schedule.
Cons: While less than 3 years into a pro career, his opposition has been mostly horrific. I would probably be about 7-7 against these guys. While a brief amateur career and a late start makes this practice understandable; it is iffy whether this is the best way to develop Wilder. His handlers could be wise in this case, since Wilder has proven to be somewhat easy to reach. Despite advantages in height (6’7”) and reach (84”), opponents have managed to tag him as he falls in, including journeyman Harold Sconiers, who dropped Wilder before falling in the 4th . Could also develop his hooks more so everything isn’t coming up the middle. In addition, the nickname “Bronze Bomber” isn’t really working for me.
Watch Wilder Here>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6epKuRJJpHI
Joe Hanks, 15-0 (10 KOs)
Pros: A guy with obvious talent and size who could blossom into quite a fighter. Built ideally at 6’4” and about 240. Basically is a big, cat-quick, tough, and loose-limbed fighter who can move his hands in combination. Fought in prison and has a decidedly hardened edge. Has a big right hand and throws hooks well for a guy his size.
Cons: You can only decipher so much when a prospect fights lower-level competition. Will be interesting to see how his skills translate against a more capable pro. Needs to slap a bit less with his punches and remember to keep his hands up.
Watch Hanks Here>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVXCwbLoCqw
Garret Simon, 4-0 (3 KOs)
Pros: At 6’5” Simon has good size and also shows a diverse arsenal of punches. Started boxing at 6, which is always good. His shots are thrown with a nice velocity when he opens up and he has fluidity, which belies his age of 19. Not difficult to imagine him blossoming into a full-fledged 230-240 lb. heavyweight as he fills out in the coming years.
Cons: Currently fighting as a cruiserweight. Built somewhat flimsily, but should fill out into a more robust figure in the future. Is still a kid for crying out loud. As evidenced by the clip below, could probably be matched a bit less safely in his formative pro outings.
Watch Simon Here>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzLEDB98E3s
Jeremiah Graziano, 13-0 (12 KOs)
Pros: A very offensive boxer with aggression to spare. Should become a popular fighter in the near future. He hits exceedingly hard and throws his punches in combination. A reasonable facsimile to Mike Tyson. The fact that he won the 2008 National Golden Gloves at heavyweight despite limited experience speaks volumes about his mental toughness and overall potential.
Cons: With all due respect, the nickname “Wyson,” a combination of “white” and “Tyson,” has got to go. With a name like Graziano, you don’t need that. Needs to move away from the Tyson vibe in terms of style and identity and forge his own path. At an even six-feet, seems like the least likely guy on this list to blossom physically, which could affect his heavyweight future—not that I’m sure he’s even looking for one. At 23, he can still mature, but might be a better fit at cruiserweight. Still a bit green with a lot to learn. Needs to not load up so much.
Watch Graziano Here>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YynZ_7WPweo
Joey Dawejko, 4-0 (1 KOs)
Pros: A young guy with fast hands, Dawejko is definitely more of a down-the-road darkhorse. “The Polish Tank” should have no trouble building a following in the Philadelphia/Atlantic City area. Only 20, he has a lot of upside. Moves well and is fairly tricky and sneaky for such a young kid. Seems to have good fighting instincts, especially when to throw punches.
Cons: Doesn’t exactly have a physique you associate with world-class athletes. In addition, his weight ballooned over 20 pounds in his 4th pro fight. Regardless, will always be a smallish heavyweight. Without knowing much about his backing, 4 fights in his first 18 months as a pro is not inspiring. This seems like a talent who needs to be brought along thoughtfully, so why leave the amateur ranks to pursue a pro career with such a lack of gusto? At least he has time on his side.
Watch Dawejko Here>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-gMBLPmcMY
Nathaniel James, 3-0 (1 KO)
Pros: A big southpaw who can punch with the straight left, James is a physically imposing heavyweight with amateur credentials to boot, including a 2007 National Golden Gloves Championship at super heavyweight. Nice jab, something that isn’t always seen from the southpaw stance, especially at this weight. Showed a lot of willpower by dropping a ton of weight to even be in this position. Deceivingly quick for such a big man.
Cons: Fighting sparingly and sometimes not impressively is no way for a 29-year old to get his career moving. Currently a free agent after his handlers only managed to get him one fight a year for 3 straight years. James and his entire camp need to get to work. Should be deserving of an opportunity to develop and make a little run.
Watch James Here>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5ouOxdollg
Michael Hunter, Amateur
Pros: One always feels geared to watch amateur hotshots whose fathers were fringe contenders. His dad, Mike “The Bounty” Hunter was a successful 80’s-90’s cruiserweight/heavyweight. Hunter is similar to his father in terms of quickness and craftiness. Has good head movement, control of distance, and is poised during heated exchanges. Has a lot of guile like his pops and lashes out with fast, suddenly-thrown shots. Does good work going up and down to the head and body.
Cons: Is not a big man or a very hard puncher, making one think maybe that his ceiling is somewhere near the Eddie Chambers level. Can be tagged and might be vulnerable in the future to the more hurtful bodypunchers in the business. Sometimes gets winded during fights, another trademark of his old man.
Watch Hunter Here>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xKxq26fd8Y
Steve Geffrard, Amateur
Pros: Seems to have a certain indescribable star quality. A very mature young man, whose advanced self-awareness and intelligence could help him in his future boxing endeavors. Very fleet of hand and foot, while showing excellent form. Manages to be flashy while not eschewing any of the sport’s fundamentals. Possesses an underlying toughness and ability to battle it out in a war if necessary. One of the better conditioned athletes in the amateur ranks. Geffrard is humble, a hard worker, and a great athlete.
Cons: Will need to blossom physically to be a true heavyweight. Looks more like a small cruiserweight at the moment, but is still quite young. Seems to fight at different speeds, which is fine, but sometimes doesn’t consistently flex his true powers.
Watch Geffrard Here>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnkYAYuqrWM&feature=related
David Imoesiri, Amateur
Pros: For an aggressive fighter, shows a lot of guile and slickness—somewhat unusual for a young heavyweight. He thinks on his feet very well and has good awareness of what is going on in the ring. Has good defense and fluidity. Moves in very slickly and has a good disposition for a fighter. An improving young boxer.
Cons: 22-year old has time on his side, but will probably never be a big heavyweight. Hopefully, Imoesiri and others on this list will be facing fighters closer to their size once the Klitschko brothers fade away from the scene. Despite being tough, his chin can be reached with alarming regularity—which will need to be addressed as he continues to develop.
Watch Imoesiri Here>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP7e9HaTvow
10 Best American Heavyweight Prospects: Who Has a Chance to Climb to the Top?
What in the world happened to heavyweight boxing in the USA? Certainly we’ve had time to become acclimated to the diminished presence of big men from the states. A look at the ratings now, however, reveals a situation that is as dire as it has ever been. While U.S. boxing has shown it can sustain without a top heavyweight attraction to speak of, it is clearly not beneficial to the sport domestically.
There are a myriad of reasons for this phenomenon. And make no mistake—it is a phenomenon. Consider the fact that Americans dominated top-ten heavyweight lists during the entire 20th century. Throughout the history of boxing over the past 100 years, every time you looked at the heavyweight rankings, you would see Americans, with maybe one or two fighters from somewhere else. [The current ProBoxing-Fans.com heavyweight division rankings has three Americans out of 10 spots - and they are the final three, numbers 8-10].
Economics probably plays into it. There may be a recession in the states now, but 1990-2005 (the formative years of most contemporary pros) were boon times in the USA. As African-Americans continued to zoom up the social ladder, we started seeing less great heavyweights. When economic conditions are better, people feel the need to fight on a much lesser scale. It is no coincidence that virtually all the top heavyweights are now from the Eastern-Bloc or former Soviet republics, where life is generally not as easy.
In addition, top athletes big enough to become heavyweight champions have moved to other sports. Boxing is not as appealing of an option for an athletic kid who could make millions playing basketball or football. It doesn’t help when most of the great American heavyweights from the modern era ended up in bad shape. Parents of prodigious athletes have probably taken notice that just about every other heavyweight champion ended up paying a steep price for choosing this sport. It doesn’t resonate well.
Today, the top 3 American heavyweights—Chris Arreola, Eddie Chambers, and Tony Thompson—can be found on the bottom of some top-ten lists, as mentioned above. At the same time, it is highly unlikely that this trio will produce a truly great heavyweight. All 3 have already lost to a Klitschko. Other American heavyweights found in the top 50 are even more retrograde, with aging former contenders and champions whose limitations have already been roundly exposed.
In the not too distant future, the Klitschko brothers will fade into the sunset. The division should be wide open at that point. Perhaps some heavyweights from the U.S. can manage to position themselves well to vie for the top spot. To do so, they will need to compete with a plethora of rising European talent. The success of the Klitschkos and others has surely motivated countless big men from that part of the world to pursue their dreams. So even when the Klitschko brothers fade away, there will still be another wave of European heavyweights looking to fill the void. American heavyweights will have their work cut out for them.
To find the next great American heavyweight, we have to dig a little deeper. Perhaps among developing pros and hotshot amateurs lies a great fighter. But after watching fights on TV, attending live cards, and scouring the Internet in search of a great big man, the verdict is already partially formed: there are no Mike Tysons on this list. All of these fighters show potential, which could flower into something special down the line. It’s going to take a lot of work, though. Here are some fighters who could represent the next wave of American heavyweight talent.
Top 10 American Heavyweights to Keep an Eye on:
Seth Mitchell, 20-0-1 (14 KOs)
Pros: Professionally, the most advanced fighter on the list in terms of number of wins and backing. Being a part of the Golden Boy stable at least ensures he will be given an opportunity to prove himself. “Mayhem” is not terribly tall at 6’2,” but has good size and bulk—coming in at 240-245. You have to love that big thudding jab and good bodywork. His jab has potential and could develop into a dominant weapon. Is sneaky quick for his size and his shots are thrown with a lot of power. An edgy and mean fighter with a good fighting spirit. Should be a handful.
Cons: Despite a 20-0-1 record, is probably the least-developed boxer on the list. As is the case with any football convert, you wonder if he can actually fight. It’s one thing to be a frontrunner and bowl over a bunch of lower-echelon journeymen with superior physicality, but what happens when he faces someone capable? It’s hard to name a great heavyweight who began boxing in his mid-20’s because they usually lack the innate fighting aptitude of more seasoned fighters. Can be hit, as his chin dangerously hangs in the air during heated exchanges. His noggin is simply too available. Average foot speed and not always very sharp with his shots.
Watch Mitchell Here>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ObJSHXhX5w
Credit: Jim Everett / Saddo Boxing
Deontay Wilder, 14-0 (14 KOs)
Pros: First became worth keeping an eye on in 2008, winning a bronze medal after only 21 amateur fights. Beat some pretty good fighters along the way, showing great aptitude for his newly-chosen sport. Has a big right hand that is developing nicely. When you can sling that missile down the middle on the drop of a dime, you’re always going to be in good stead. His jab is also coming around well. Has decent instincts, as shown by his movement and anticipation for openings. A hard worker, Wilder has shown the willingness to learn and improve. Adheres to a very active fighting schedule.
Cons: While less than 3 years into a pro career, his opposition has been mostly horrific. I would probably be about 7-7 against these guys. While a brief amateur career and a late start makes this practice understandable; it is iffy whether this is the best way to develop Wilder. His handlers could be wise in this case, since Wilder has proven to be somewhat easy to reach. Despite advantages in height (6’7”) and reach (84”), opponents have managed to tag him as he falls in, including journeyman Harold Sconiers, who dropped Wilder before falling in the 4th . Could also develop his hooks more so everything isn’t coming up the middle. In addition, the nickname “Bronze Bomber” isn’t really working for me.
Watch Wilder Here>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6epKuRJJpHI
Joe Hanks, 15-0 (10 KOs)
Pros: A guy with obvious talent and size who could blossom into quite a fighter. Built ideally at 6’4” and about 240. Basically is a big, cat-quick, tough, and loose-limbed fighter who can move his hands in combination. Fought in prison and has a decidedly hardened edge. Has a big right hand and throws hooks well for a guy his size.
Cons: You can only decipher so much when a prospect fights lower-level competition. Will be interesting to see how his skills translate against a more capable pro. Needs to slap a bit less with his punches and remember to keep his hands up.
Watch Hanks Here>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVXCwbLoCqw
Garret Simon, 4-0 (3 KOs)
Pros: At 6’5” Simon has good size and also shows a diverse arsenal of punches. Started boxing at 6, which is always good. His shots are thrown with a nice velocity when he opens up and he has fluidity, which belies his age of 19. Not difficult to imagine him blossoming into a full-fledged 230-240 lb. heavyweight as he fills out in the coming years.
Cons: Currently fighting as a cruiserweight. Built somewhat flimsily, but should fill out into a more robust figure in the future. Is still a kid for crying out loud. As evidenced by the clip below, could probably be matched a bit less safely in his formative pro outings.
Watch Simon Here>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzLEDB98E3s
Jeremiah Graziano, 13-0 (12 KOs)
Pros: A very offensive boxer with aggression to spare. Should become a popular fighter in the near future. He hits exceedingly hard and throws his punches in combination. A reasonable facsimile to Mike Tyson. The fact that he won the 2008 National Golden Gloves at heavyweight despite limited experience speaks volumes about his mental toughness and overall potential.
Cons: With all due respect, the nickname “Wyson,” a combination of “white” and “Tyson,” has got to go. With a name like Graziano, you don’t need that. Needs to move away from the Tyson vibe in terms of style and identity and forge his own path. At an even six-feet, seems like the least likely guy on this list to blossom physically, which could affect his heavyweight future—not that I’m sure he’s even looking for one. At 23, he can still mature, but might be a better fit at cruiserweight. Still a bit green with a lot to learn. Needs to not load up so much.
Watch Graziano Here>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YynZ_7WPweo
Joey Dawejko, 4-0 (1 KOs)
Pros: A young guy with fast hands, Dawejko is definitely more of a down-the-road darkhorse. “The Polish Tank” should have no trouble building a following in the Philadelphia/Atlantic City area. Only 20, he has a lot of upside. Moves well and is fairly tricky and sneaky for such a young kid. Seems to have good fighting instincts, especially when to throw punches.
Cons: Doesn’t exactly have a physique you associate with world-class athletes. In addition, his weight ballooned over 20 pounds in his 4th pro fight. Regardless, will always be a smallish heavyweight. Without knowing much about his backing, 4 fights in his first 18 months as a pro is not inspiring. This seems like a talent who needs to be brought along thoughtfully, so why leave the amateur ranks to pursue a pro career with such a lack of gusto? At least he has time on his side.
Watch Dawejko Here>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-gMBLPmcMY
Nathaniel James, 3-0 (1 KO)
Pros: A big southpaw who can punch with the straight left, James is a physically imposing heavyweight with amateur credentials to boot, including a 2007 National Golden Gloves Championship at super heavyweight. Nice jab, something that isn’t always seen from the southpaw stance, especially at this weight. Showed a lot of willpower by dropping a ton of weight to even be in this position. Deceivingly quick for such a big man.
Cons: Fighting sparingly and sometimes not impressively is no way for a 29-year old to get his career moving. Currently a free agent after his handlers only managed to get him one fight a year for 3 straight years. James and his entire camp need to get to work. Should be deserving of an opportunity to develop and make a little run.
Watch James Here>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5ouOxdollg
Michael Hunter, Amateur
Pros: One always feels geared to watch amateur hotshots whose fathers were fringe contenders. His dad, Mike “The Bounty” Hunter was a successful 80’s-90’s cruiserweight/heavyweight. Hunter is similar to his father in terms of quickness and craftiness. Has good head movement, control of distance, and is poised during heated exchanges. Has a lot of guile like his pops and lashes out with fast, suddenly-thrown shots. Does good work going up and down to the head and body.
Cons: Is not a big man or a very hard puncher, making one think maybe that his ceiling is somewhere near the Eddie Chambers level. Can be tagged and might be vulnerable in the future to the more hurtful bodypunchers in the business. Sometimes gets winded during fights, another trademark of his old man.
Watch Hunter Here>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xKxq26fd8Y
Steve Geffrard, Amateur
Pros: Seems to have a certain indescribable star quality. A very mature young man, whose advanced self-awareness and intelligence could help him in his future boxing endeavors. Very fleet of hand and foot, while showing excellent form. Manages to be flashy while not eschewing any of the sport’s fundamentals. Possesses an underlying toughness and ability to battle it out in a war if necessary. One of the better conditioned athletes in the amateur ranks. Geffrard is humble, a hard worker, and a great athlete.
Cons: Will need to blossom physically to be a true heavyweight. Looks more like a small cruiserweight at the moment, but is still quite young. Seems to fight at different speeds, which is fine, but sometimes doesn’t consistently flex his true powers.
Watch Geffrard Here>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnkYAYuqrWM&feature=related
David Imoesiri, Amateur
Pros: For an aggressive fighter, shows a lot of guile and slickness—somewhat unusual for a young heavyweight. He thinks on his feet very well and has good awareness of what is going on in the ring. Has good defense and fluidity. Moves in very slickly and has a good disposition for a fighter. An improving young boxer.
Cons: 22-year old has time on his side, but will probably never be a big heavyweight. Hopefully, Imoesiri and others on this list will be facing fighters closer to their size once the Klitschko brothers fade away from the scene. Despite being tough, his chin can be reached with alarming regularity—which will need to be addressed as he continues to develop.
Watch Imoesiri Here>>>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP7e9HaTvow
Khan-Bradley unfication bout pegged for 7/23
By William Mackay: The summer unification bout between WBA Super World light welterweight champion Amir Khan (24-1, 17 KO’s) and WBC/WBO light welterweight title holder Timothy Bradley (27-0, 11 KO’s) will be taking place on July 23rd instead of July 30th, according to Dan Rafael of ESPN. It hardly matters the week change in time. Khan, 24, has to win his next fight against his hand-picked opponent Paul McCloskey (22-0, 12 KO’s), whom he faces on April 16th in the UK.
If Khan doesn’t win that fight, he can forget about the Bradley-Khan fight in the summer. However, Khan and his promoters obviously know what they’re doing by picking out the weak-punching and slow-handed McCloskey because this is a guy that is very similar to Dmitriy Salita, the fighter that the WBA ranked at number #1 shortly before Khan destroyed him in a 1st round TKO in December 2009. This should be an easy fight and people will wonder why the WBA had McCloskey ranked at number #5 afterwards given his complete lack of experience against upper tier fighters.
Bradley, 27, is coming off a 10th round technical decision win over WBC light welterweight champion Devon Alexander in January. This was a fight in which Bradley tagged Alexander with accidental headbutts on several occasions and had Alexander cut up badly because of them. Although Bradley won the fight, his stock really plummeted in that fight due to the lack of punching power that he showed in the fight. The Bradley-Alexander fight paled in comparison to the skills that were shown by Khan and Marcos Maidana in December 2010.
Bradley doesn’t have a fight scheduled and it’s unclear whether he’ll sit and wait until July for the Khan unification bout. The way that Bradley fought against Alexander, he may want to forget about taking any fights in between because if he fights anyone decent, he might very well lose. I consider Lucas Matthysse, Khan, Maidana and Kaizer Mabuza as better fighters than Bradley. I also think Zab Judah would give Bradley a lot of problems with his speed and power.
By William Mackay: The summer unification bout between WBA Super World light welterweight champion Amir Khan (24-1, 17 KO’s) and WBC/WBO light welterweight title holder Timothy Bradley (27-0, 11 KO’s) will be taking place on July 23rd instead of July 30th, according to Dan Rafael of ESPN. It hardly matters the week change in time. Khan, 24, has to win his next fight against his hand-picked opponent Paul McCloskey (22-0, 12 KO’s), whom he faces on April 16th in the UK.
If Khan doesn’t win that fight, he can forget about the Bradley-Khan fight in the summer. However, Khan and his promoters obviously know what they’re doing by picking out the weak-punching and slow-handed McCloskey because this is a guy that is very similar to Dmitriy Salita, the fighter that the WBA ranked at number #1 shortly before Khan destroyed him in a 1st round TKO in December 2009. This should be an easy fight and people will wonder why the WBA had McCloskey ranked at number #5 afterwards given his complete lack of experience against upper tier fighters.
Bradley, 27, is coming off a 10th round technical decision win over WBC light welterweight champion Devon Alexander in January. This was a fight in which Bradley tagged Alexander with accidental headbutts on several occasions and had Alexander cut up badly because of them. Although Bradley won the fight, his stock really plummeted in that fight due to the lack of punching power that he showed in the fight. The Bradley-Alexander fight paled in comparison to the skills that were shown by Khan and Marcos Maidana in December 2010.
Bradley doesn’t have a fight scheduled and it’s unclear whether he’ll sit and wait until July for the Khan unification bout. The way that Bradley fought against Alexander, he may want to forget about taking any fights in between because if he fights anyone decent, he might very well lose. I consider Lucas Matthysse, Khan, Maidana and Kaizer Mabuza as better fighters than Bradley. I also think Zab Judah would give Bradley a lot of problems with his speed and power.
Fernando Vargas' fight on hold
Dan Rafael
ESPN.com
Archive
The comeback of former two-time junior middleweight titleholder Fernando Vargas has been postponed because of illness.
Vargas, one of boxing's most popular fighters during his heyday, was slated to fight for the first time in more than three years against super middleweight Henry Buchanan (20-2, 13 KO) on April 16 at Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas.
Rafael's Boxing Blog
Get the latest scoop and analysis on the world of boxing from ESPN.com's Dan Rafael in his blog.
However, according to promoter Roy Englebrecht, who was assisting Vargas' promotional company in putting on the card, Vargas came down with pneumonia and bronchitis about 10 days ago and was forced to postpone the fight.
"A decision on a new date and venue will be addressed on March 1," Englebrecht said.
Vargas, 33, has not fought since losing a 12-round majority decision to former welterweight and junior middleweight titlist Ricardo Mayorga in a super middleweight fight in November 2007.
Vargas has lost his past three fights, including back-to-back knockout losses to Shane Mosley. After losing to Mayorga, Vargas retired.
Just a few days after turning 21, Vargas (26-5, 22 KOs) became the youngest 154-pound world champion when he knocked out Yory Boy Campas in December 1998.
Vargas made five defenses before facing Felix Trinidad in a title unification bout in December 2000. Vargas took tremendous punishment before being knocked out in the 12th round.
Although Vargas eventually claimed another version of the title, he was never the same after losing to Trinidad. In 2002, Vargas lost his second belt when Oscar De La Hoya knocked him out in the 11th round of their unification match, after which Vargas tested positive for steroids.
Dan Rafael
ESPN.com
Archive
The comeback of former two-time junior middleweight titleholder Fernando Vargas has been postponed because of illness.
Vargas, one of boxing's most popular fighters during his heyday, was slated to fight for the first time in more than three years against super middleweight Henry Buchanan (20-2, 13 KO) on April 16 at Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas.
Rafael's Boxing Blog
Get the latest scoop and analysis on the world of boxing from ESPN.com's Dan Rafael in his blog.
However, according to promoter Roy Englebrecht, who was assisting Vargas' promotional company in putting on the card, Vargas came down with pneumonia and bronchitis about 10 days ago and was forced to postpone the fight.
"A decision on a new date and venue will be addressed on March 1," Englebrecht said.
Vargas, 33, has not fought since losing a 12-round majority decision to former welterweight and junior middleweight titlist Ricardo Mayorga in a super middleweight fight in November 2007.
Vargas has lost his past three fights, including back-to-back knockout losses to Shane Mosley. After losing to Mayorga, Vargas retired.
Just a few days after turning 21, Vargas (26-5, 22 KOs) became the youngest 154-pound world champion when he knocked out Yory Boy Campas in December 1998.
Vargas made five defenses before facing Felix Trinidad in a title unification bout in December 2000. Vargas took tremendous punishment before being knocked out in the 12th round.
Although Vargas eventually claimed another version of the title, he was never the same after losing to Trinidad. In 2002, Vargas lost his second belt when Oscar De La Hoya knocked him out in the 11th round of their unification match, after which Vargas tested positive for steroids.
it depends on who williams fights. i don't think he should face a punchers. they say he'll be back at 147 in april against a top guy. who is available? clottey maybe? i don't know. regardless i don't like how he and his trainer blame the loss on a lucky punch and think moving to 147 will solve his problems. it wasn't a lucky punch williams has terrible flaws and it doesn't seem they are going to try to improve his game at all
all his trainer does is focus 95% on insane workouts and conditioning. You can look up on youtube he has these incredible work out video's. Yeah, that's great Williams is in great shape. Fix his fucking flaws, like sticking out his long ass neck and face when he throws his right hand.
Williams needs a new trainer. I knew he was going to get KO'd eventually and unless he improves his game and/or adapts his style of fighting it's going to happen again.
Williams needs a new trainer. I knew he was going to get KO'd eventually and unless he improves his game and/or adapts his style of fighting it's going to happen again.
Martinez is fighting undefeated Serhiy Dzinziruk (37-0) of Germany on March 13th on HBO. It should be a pretty good fight. Dzinziruk has been the WBO light middleweight champion since 2005 but he's only fought outside of germany once (in his last fight).
Bute is still undefeated. I think he's going to continue fighting bums until the Super Six is finished and he'll fight the winner, likely either Andre Ward or Carl Froch, so I seriously doubt Bute will risk fighting anyone with a chance of beating him like Martinez or bernard hopkins or someone like that for the time being.
Maybe sometime in the future though and yeah it'd be a good fight.
Bute is still undefeated. I think he's going to continue fighting bums until the Super Six is finished and he'll fight the winner, likely either Andre Ward or Carl Froch, so I seriously doubt Bute will risk fighting anyone with a chance of beating him like Martinez or bernard hopkins or someone like that for the time being.
Maybe sometime in the future though and yeah it'd be a good fight.
HBO Boxing: Fernando Montiel vs. Nonito Donaire - Showdown Preview (HBO)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XbyTN5pq3k
HBO Boxing: Mike Jones - Workout (HBO)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tnCo3lEaV4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XbyTN5pq3k
HBO Boxing: Mike Jones - Workout (HBO)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tnCo3lEaV4
Arum explains why Mosley looked so horrible against Mayweather and Mora
Williams: Photo credit Tom Casino/Showtime – It’s always nice to see a promoter hard at work trying to build up a fight between one of his champions and mismatched challenger. In this case, Arum did his best to explain why 39-year-old Shane Mosley looked so wretched in his loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. and his gift 12 round draw against Sergio Mora. It wasn’t that Mosley was completely 100% shot, but rather Mosley fought a “stinking fighter” in the case of Mora, Arum says.
Arum says Mosley doesn’t do well against defensive fighters, and presumably he’ll do better against Manny Pacquiao on May 7th because the Flipino puts less concentration on his defense compared to Mayweather and Mora. That doesn’t explain why Mosley went into vapor luck against Mayweather after the 3rd round, and why he looked so dog tired in that fight and the Mora fight. Was that because they were so defensive that it affected his stamina.
Here’s what Arum had to say about Mosley in an interview at USA Today: “Mosley, at his age, has difficulty fighting defensive fighters because he has to spend so much energy looking for them. So when he fights Mayweather, it’s very difficult for him. He clocked Mayweather pretty good but wasn’t able to catch up with Mayweather. And then in his next fight they put him in with Mora, who’s a stinking fighter, just you know, who stinks you put, as they say, and it was very difficult for Mosley to cope with that.”
If I didn’t know already, I’d swear it seems like Arum is working for Mosley as his PR agent because he’s really building the guy up. It doesn’t work for me because I saw the Mora and Mayweather fight and Mosley just looked tired and old. Didn’t matter if those guys were standing right in front of him or moving, Mosley was just too tired to do much about it. I had him losing the Mora fight by four rounds. That sealed it for me.
I can’t see Mosley being anything more than a punching bag for Pacquiao to pound on all night long on May 7th. I think Mosley is going to make Joshua Clottey, one of Pacquiao’s worst opponents in recent years, look good in comparison on May 7th. It wouldn’t have a problem with Pacquiao pounding on another mismatched opponent if the fight weren’t going for $54.99 on Showtime pay-per-view. That’s way too high for me for this kind of fight. When I watch mismatches, I’d prefer to see them for free on cable, and not have to pay to see it.
Williams: Photo credit Tom Casino/Showtime – It’s always nice to see a promoter hard at work trying to build up a fight between one of his champions and mismatched challenger. In this case, Arum did his best to explain why 39-year-old Shane Mosley looked so wretched in his loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. and his gift 12 round draw against Sergio Mora. It wasn’t that Mosley was completely 100% shot, but rather Mosley fought a “stinking fighter” in the case of Mora, Arum says.
Arum says Mosley doesn’t do well against defensive fighters, and presumably he’ll do better against Manny Pacquiao on May 7th because the Flipino puts less concentration on his defense compared to Mayweather and Mora. That doesn’t explain why Mosley went into vapor luck against Mayweather after the 3rd round, and why he looked so dog tired in that fight and the Mora fight. Was that because they were so defensive that it affected his stamina.
Here’s what Arum had to say about Mosley in an interview at USA Today: “Mosley, at his age, has difficulty fighting defensive fighters because he has to spend so much energy looking for them. So when he fights Mayweather, it’s very difficult for him. He clocked Mayweather pretty good but wasn’t able to catch up with Mayweather. And then in his next fight they put him in with Mora, who’s a stinking fighter, just you know, who stinks you put, as they say, and it was very difficult for Mosley to cope with that.”
If I didn’t know already, I’d swear it seems like Arum is working for Mosley as his PR agent because he’s really building the guy up. It doesn’t work for me because I saw the Mora and Mayweather fight and Mosley just looked tired and old. Didn’t matter if those guys were standing right in front of him or moving, Mosley was just too tired to do much about it. I had him losing the Mora fight by four rounds. That sealed it for me.
I can’t see Mosley being anything more than a punching bag for Pacquiao to pound on all night long on May 7th. I think Mosley is going to make Joshua Clottey, one of Pacquiao’s worst opponents in recent years, look good in comparison on May 7th. It wouldn’t have a problem with Pacquiao pounding on another mismatched opponent if the fight weren’t going for $54.99 on Showtime pay-per-view. That’s way too high for me for this kind of fight. When I watch mismatches, I’d prefer to see them for free on cable, and not have to pay to see it.
Tough Times for Francois Botha: After Fury Fight Called Off, What is in the White Buf
By Darren S. Barcomb: Heavyweight Boxer Francois Botha (47-5-3, 28 KO’s), was all set to step into the ring with English Heavyweight Tyson Fury (13-0, 9KO’s) on February 19th, 2011 at the Wembley Arena in London. The South African born Botha had been intended to provide a much needed test for the up- and- coming 22 year old Fury. Unfortunately for Botha, the British Boxing Board of Control refused to allow the fight, leaving Marcelo Luiz Nascimento (13-0, 11 KO’s) as the replacement.
The 42 year old Botha last fought in April of 2010, dropping the WBF Heavyweight Championship to Evander Holyfield at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. In that fight, Botha suffered a TKO by the “Real Deal” in the 8th Round in a battle that had him leading on two of the judge’s scorecards entering the round.
Since 2007, Botha is 3-1-1 in a span that saw him claim the lightly regarded WBF Heavyweight Belt. Botha’s other career losses came at the hands of marquee heavyweight’s Wladimir Klitschko, Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson, and Michael Moorer.
Botha, who has also competed in several kickboxing and one MMA match, is left to ponder his next move. The best bet though is that the White Buffalo is not yet ready to be sent to pasture. As was the case with Fury, promoters know that Botha can give big-name experience to unproven fighters and will most likely serve as a test for another top prospect in the near future.
At 250 pounds for the Holyfield fight, Botha was slightly slimmed down from his three fights in 2009. If he continues to keep that weight under control, he should be able to keep fighting competitively for the next few years. As shown by his willingness to step up to Fury, Botha showed that he backs down from no one and will take any fight, anywhere. Although his days of being a contender may be long gone, he can still serve as a hefty roadblock for the Tyson Fury’s of the World. Maybe the British Boxing Board didn’t want to see their new sensation dropped just yet, especially by a 42 year old-past his prime-journeyman. Although I personally believe Botha would lose a matchup with Fury, I believe it would go to the judge’s score cards. As Fury continues to be hyped, perhaps a savvy veteran like Botha presented too many unknown variables and was not the wise fight.
By Darren S. Barcomb: Heavyweight Boxer Francois Botha (47-5-3, 28 KO’s), was all set to step into the ring with English Heavyweight Tyson Fury (13-0, 9KO’s) on February 19th, 2011 at the Wembley Arena in London. The South African born Botha had been intended to provide a much needed test for the up- and- coming 22 year old Fury. Unfortunately for Botha, the British Boxing Board of Control refused to allow the fight, leaving Marcelo Luiz Nascimento (13-0, 11 KO’s) as the replacement.
The 42 year old Botha last fought in April of 2010, dropping the WBF Heavyweight Championship to Evander Holyfield at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. In that fight, Botha suffered a TKO by the “Real Deal” in the 8th Round in a battle that had him leading on two of the judge’s scorecards entering the round.
Since 2007, Botha is 3-1-1 in a span that saw him claim the lightly regarded WBF Heavyweight Belt. Botha’s other career losses came at the hands of marquee heavyweight’s Wladimir Klitschko, Lennox Lewis, Mike Tyson, and Michael Moorer.
Botha, who has also competed in several kickboxing and one MMA match, is left to ponder his next move. The best bet though is that the White Buffalo is not yet ready to be sent to pasture. As was the case with Fury, promoters know that Botha can give big-name experience to unproven fighters and will most likely serve as a test for another top prospect in the near future.
At 250 pounds for the Holyfield fight, Botha was slightly slimmed down from his three fights in 2009. If he continues to keep that weight under control, he should be able to keep fighting competitively for the next few years. As shown by his willingness to step up to Fury, Botha showed that he backs down from no one and will take any fight, anywhere. Although his days of being a contender may be long gone, he can still serve as a hefty roadblock for the Tyson Fury’s of the World. Maybe the British Boxing Board didn’t want to see their new sensation dropped just yet, especially by a 42 year old-past his prime-journeyman. Although I personally believe Botha would lose a matchup with Fury, I believe it would go to the judge’s score cards. As Fury continues to be hyped, perhaps a savvy veteran like Botha presented too many unknown variables and was not the wise fight.
Haye says he wants to knock Wladimir out, take his belts and then give them back
By William Mackay: In perhaps an odd way of trying to get IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (55-3, 49 KO’s) to fight him, WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (25-1, 23 KO’s) came out with an interview today on Sky Sports, saying he wants to fight a couple more times before retiring from the sport at the end of the year. Haye only has time enough to fight his mandatory challenger and then he hopes will be a fight against Wladimir in September or October.
Haye said “It will be me knocking him out and taking his belts and then giving them back.” Haye would then move into
retirement and be finished with boxing permanently. There’s a problem with Haye’s vision. Wladimir has a fight in September against Tomasz Adamek, and he surely won’t be able to fight in that month or in October, even if he flattens Adamek in the 1st round. If Haye wants to fight Wladimir, he’s going to have to delay his retirement until 2012. If not, Haye needs to try and fight Vitali Klitschko, Wladimir’s older brother.
Vitali really wants the fight and is sticking around hoping to get a shot at Haye. That might be a fight that Haye can still get in September or October, because Vitali’s schedule is wide open after his title defense next month against Odlanier Solis on March 12th. If Haye doesn’t want that fight, he needs to forget about retiring and keep fighting into 2012. It’s worth it because of the money he’d get in a fight with Wladimir. It’s going to be huge money, but he’s going to have to work for it by staying around longer
By William Mackay: In perhaps an odd way of trying to get IBF/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (55-3, 49 KO’s) to fight him, WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (25-1, 23 KO’s) came out with an interview today on Sky Sports, saying he wants to fight a couple more times before retiring from the sport at the end of the year. Haye only has time enough to fight his mandatory challenger and then he hopes will be a fight against Wladimir in September or October.
Haye said “It will be me knocking him out and taking his belts and then giving them back.” Haye would then move into
retirement and be finished with boxing permanently. There’s a problem with Haye’s vision. Wladimir has a fight in September against Tomasz Adamek, and he surely won’t be able to fight in that month or in October, even if he flattens Adamek in the 1st round. If Haye wants to fight Wladimir, he’s going to have to delay his retirement until 2012. If not, Haye needs to try and fight Vitali Klitschko, Wladimir’s older brother.
Vitali really wants the fight and is sticking around hoping to get a shot at Haye. That might be a fight that Haye can still get in September or October, because Vitali’s schedule is wide open after his title defense next month against Odlanier Solis on March 12th. If Haye doesn’t want that fight, he needs to forget about retiring and keep fighting into 2012. It’s worth it because of the money he’d get in a fight with Wladimir. It’s going to be huge money, but he’s going to have to work for it by staying around longer
Abraham vs. Ward: Andre ready to eliminate Arthur from the Super Six tourney on 5/14
By Scott Gilfoid: On May 14th, boxing fans will likely be seeing the last of former Super Six tournament lead Arthur Abraham (32-2, 26 KO’s) when he faces the talented WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward (23-0, 13 KO’s) in the semifinals of Showtime’s Super Six tourney at a still to be determined venue inside the United States. The fight won’t likely take place in Ward’s home city of Oakland, California, if that matters to anyone.
It won’t make a bit of difference to Abraham, because he stands no chance in this fight no matter where it takes place. They could fight in Germany or even in England, and Abraham wills still end up getting beaten so soundly that there isn’t a judge that would even consider giving him the win over the American Ward. We’re talking different levels of talent here. Ward is up on a perch a couple rungs above Abraham and looking to be the eventual winner of the Super Six, while Abraham is going to have to settle for getting beaten and hope that he doesn’t lose every round.
The best that Abraham can hope for is that he gives a good account of himself and doesn’t resort to fouling when things get really out of hand as they did when he fought media darling Andre Dirrell last year in March. Abraham was getting spanked in that fight and in the 11th when he let loose with a right hand after Dirrell has slipped and fallen on the canvas. It was the worst possible time to foul someone and it cost Abraham the fight, as he was immediately disqualified. Abraham doesn’t have the work rate to compete with Ward, not the hand speed or the inside fighting ability.
The only thing Abraham can do is try to load up with shots like he did in his fight with Carl Froch and his recent fight against Stjepan Bozic last weekend. Abraham looked terrible in that fight and was getting punches around by Bozic until he hurt his left hand in the 2nd. Had that injury not occurred, Abraham might have had three consecutive losses going into the Ward fight. Two was bad enough, but three would be terrible. I don’t count the Bozic fight as a win for Abraham because of how it ended. If anything, it was more of a no-contest fight without a real victor. Abraham wasted his time in that fight and came out looking even worse than he was going in
By Scott Gilfoid: On May 14th, boxing fans will likely be seeing the last of former Super Six tournament lead Arthur Abraham (32-2, 26 KO’s) when he faces the talented WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward (23-0, 13 KO’s) in the semifinals of Showtime’s Super Six tourney at a still to be determined venue inside the United States. The fight won’t likely take place in Ward’s home city of Oakland, California, if that matters to anyone.
It won’t make a bit of difference to Abraham, because he stands no chance in this fight no matter where it takes place. They could fight in Germany or even in England, and Abraham wills still end up getting beaten so soundly that there isn’t a judge that would even consider giving him the win over the American Ward. We’re talking different levels of talent here. Ward is up on a perch a couple rungs above Abraham and looking to be the eventual winner of the Super Six, while Abraham is going to have to settle for getting beaten and hope that he doesn’t lose every round.
The best that Abraham can hope for is that he gives a good account of himself and doesn’t resort to fouling when things get really out of hand as they did when he fought media darling Andre Dirrell last year in March. Abraham was getting spanked in that fight and in the 11th when he let loose with a right hand after Dirrell has slipped and fallen on the canvas. It was the worst possible time to foul someone and it cost Abraham the fight, as he was immediately disqualified. Abraham doesn’t have the work rate to compete with Ward, not the hand speed or the inside fighting ability.
The only thing Abraham can do is try to load up with shots like he did in his fight with Carl Froch and his recent fight against Stjepan Bozic last weekend. Abraham looked terrible in that fight and was getting punches around by Bozic until he hurt his left hand in the 2nd. Had that injury not occurred, Abraham might have had three consecutive losses going into the Ward fight. Two was bad enough, but three would be terrible. I don’t count the Bozic fight as a win for Abraham because of how it ended. If anything, it was more of a no-contest fight without a real victor. Abraham wasted his time in that fight and came out looking even worse than he was going in
Arum Shreds The Berto vs Ortiz Welterweight Bout
By Rick Reeno
Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas - During the final press conference for Saturday's clash between Fernando Montiel and Nonito Donaire, Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum ripped into the upcoming welterweight fight between WBC champion Andre Berto and junior welterweight contender Victor Ortiz, which is scheduled to take place on April 16.
Arum questioned why Berto is fighting Ortiz, who is coming off a draw with Lamont Peterson, and not facing the winner of Saturday's welterweight rematch between unbeaten Mike Jones and Jesus Soto Karass.
"Why is Andre Berto fighting a 140-pound fighter, who had a draw with another 140-pound fighter? There is one thing that I'm sure of, that these two fighters, these two welterweights [Jones and Karass], if they fought Victor Ortiz, they would destroy him," Arum said. "Why is Andre Berto fighting Victor Ortiz and not fighting the winner of this fight? That's a question that we all should be asking. What the hell is going on here?
By Rick Reeno
Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas - During the final press conference for Saturday's clash between Fernando Montiel and Nonito Donaire, Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum ripped into the upcoming welterweight fight between WBC champion Andre Berto and junior welterweight contender Victor Ortiz, which is scheduled to take place on April 16.
Arum questioned why Berto is fighting Ortiz, who is coming off a draw with Lamont Peterson, and not facing the winner of Saturday's welterweight rematch between unbeaten Mike Jones and Jesus Soto Karass.
"Why is Andre Berto fighting a 140-pound fighter, who had a draw with another 140-pound fighter? There is one thing that I'm sure of, that these two fighters, these two welterweights [Jones and Karass], if they fought Victor Ortiz, they would destroy him," Arum said. "Why is Andre Berto fighting Victor Ortiz and not fighting the winner of this fight? That's a question that we all should be asking. What the hell is going on here?
Judah-Mabuza: Zab hoping for unification bout against Khan or Bradley if he beats Kai
By Eric Thomas:Former two division world champion Zab Judah (40-6, 27 KO’s) has big hopes in the near future if he can get by South African Kaizer Mabuza (23-6-3, 14 KO’s) in their fight for the vacant IBF light welterweight title on March 5th at the Prudential Center, in Newark, New Jersey. The 33-year-old Judah has decided to skip fighting as a challenger to one of the champions Amir Khan or Timothy Bradley.
Instead, Judah is looking for parity in a future fight with the winner of their unification fight in the summer by having the IBF title in his possession, which will allow Judah to negotiate on equal footing, more or less, with either Khan or Bradley. Judah mentions Khan as someone he would like to fight in the near future, but that’s only if Khan beats his next opponent Paul McCloskey and then Bradley in their fight during the summer.
Khan may not be interested in that fight, though, because he’s already talking about bailing from the light welterweight division after the Bradley unfication fight and moving up to welterweight to chase Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Shane Mosley. Judah might not be a big enough lure for Khan to want to take a time-up from his goal of facing Mayweather.
Speaking with Eastsideboxings’ On the Ropes Boxing Radio program, Judah said “It doesn’t matter if it’s Amir Khan or Timothy Bradley. Those are the two guys that are on the radar, but right now Kaizer Mabuza is number one and there is no looking past nothing.”
Judah can ill afford to look past Mabuza, because Judah looked bad in his last fight against Lucas Matthysse last November, and struggled to win a controversial 12 round split decision while fighting at home in New Jersey. Had the fight been in another location, Judah would have likely lost because he didn’t look like the winner in that fight after getting dropped in the 10th and running for the entire second half of the fight.
Mabuza looked impressive in destroying Kendall Holt in the 6th round last February. If Mabuza fights like that, Judah is going to be in deep trouble because Mabuza was a punching machine and Holt simply couldn’t keep up with him on that night. Judah needs to take Mabuza very seriously because the way he fights is the opposite of the slow pace that Matthysse fought at against Judah last time out. Matthysse allowed Judah to survive by fighting slowly at a measured pace. Mabuza is a fighter that is like a big wave that keeps coming. Judah might be too old to contend against a fighter with that kind of pressure and work rate.
By Eric Thomas:Former two division world champion Zab Judah (40-6, 27 KO’s) has big hopes in the near future if he can get by South African Kaizer Mabuza (23-6-3, 14 KO’s) in their fight for the vacant IBF light welterweight title on March 5th at the Prudential Center, in Newark, New Jersey. The 33-year-old Judah has decided to skip fighting as a challenger to one of the champions Amir Khan or Timothy Bradley.
Instead, Judah is looking for parity in a future fight with the winner of their unification fight in the summer by having the IBF title in his possession, which will allow Judah to negotiate on equal footing, more or less, with either Khan or Bradley. Judah mentions Khan as someone he would like to fight in the near future, but that’s only if Khan beats his next opponent Paul McCloskey and then Bradley in their fight during the summer.
Khan may not be interested in that fight, though, because he’s already talking about bailing from the light welterweight division after the Bradley unfication fight and moving up to welterweight to chase Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Shane Mosley. Judah might not be a big enough lure for Khan to want to take a time-up from his goal of facing Mayweather.
Speaking with Eastsideboxings’ On the Ropes Boxing Radio program, Judah said “It doesn’t matter if it’s Amir Khan or Timothy Bradley. Those are the two guys that are on the radar, but right now Kaizer Mabuza is number one and there is no looking past nothing.”
Judah can ill afford to look past Mabuza, because Judah looked bad in his last fight against Lucas Matthysse last November, and struggled to win a controversial 12 round split decision while fighting at home in New Jersey. Had the fight been in another location, Judah would have likely lost because he didn’t look like the winner in that fight after getting dropped in the 10th and running for the entire second half of the fight.
Mabuza looked impressive in destroying Kendall Holt in the 6th round last February. If Mabuza fights like that, Judah is going to be in deep trouble because Mabuza was a punching machine and Holt simply couldn’t keep up with him on that night. Judah needs to take Mabuza very seriously because the way he fights is the opposite of the slow pace that Matthysse fought at against Judah last time out. Matthysse allowed Judah to survive by fighting slowly at a measured pace. Mabuza is a fighter that is like a big wave that keeps coming. Judah might be too old to contend against a fighter with that kind of pressure and work rate.