Uatu was watching ESPNNEWS when the ticker across the bottom said that Juan Manuel Marquez and Manny Pacquiao have agreed to a rematch for March 15 in Las Vegas.
The Franchise says...
This fight was highly rumored, and it sure seems like a people wanted it to get done. And why not? The first meeting between the two fighters settled nothing, though it wasn't without its excitement. Marquez weathered an early storm from Pacquiao, then proceeded to out-box him the rest of the way. Even though Pac-Man is a BoxingWatchers.com favorite (full disclosure: the entire staff here is part Filipino!), if pressed I'd even say JMM deserved the decision and Manny was lucky to come away with a draw.
That might suggest that Marquez would be favored in a rematch, but I'm not so sure. He won't be facing the same Pac-Man this time around - Manny is especially improved defensively, as last time out his entire defense centered around bobbing his head from side to side. He's also a little less likely to throw caution to the wind in the first round, knowing his power can break people down over time just as effectively as it can in a sudden burst. Erik Morales will certainly verify this.
In any case, we'll be waiting anxiously for this one. Now if we can just get out to Vegas to watch it live...
26.11.07
Weekend Wrap-Up, Nov. 26, 2007: Vargas-Mayorga, Cintron in a Tough One and More
I like to think I'm the first one to admit it when I'm wrong, so let me put this on the record: I was wrong about this weekend's pay-per-view.
Granted, I'd still be a much happier boxing fan if the powers that be would stop charging for fights between boxers who are past their primes, but I thought the Vargas-Mayorga bout would either be:
a) A complete waste of time
or
b) The sporting equivalent of a train wreck
Turns out it was neither. It won't be making Dan Rafael's list of ten must-watch fights, but it was unexpectedly well-fought and, dare I say it, entertaining. There was no knockout, a fact that surely would have lost me money had I been in Vegas for the fight and been able to bet on the fight ending with one.
Mayorga, especially, turned out to be a bit of a revelation, still showing some wild tendencies and doing some unnecessary showboating, but also somehow discovering the ability to pace himself. Unless my eyes deceived me, El Matador even blocked some punches with his gloves and dodged some others.
It's hard to imagine that a professional athlete could be washed up at age 29, but it sure looks like Vargas's decision to hang up the gloves - if he really does go through with it - is the proper one. Even in his new, relatively improved form, Mayorga provided Fernando with the best chance to go out on a winning note. He didn't look as overmatched as he did the last time he fought Shane Mosley, but he did get knocked down twice, and it appears his heart is the best thing he still has going for him. Let's applaud him for that and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.
And while we're on the subject of heart, a big BoxingWatchers.com shout out goes to Jesse Feliciano. He turned what was supposed to be a cakewalk for Kermit Cintron into a touch scrap fought primarily at close range. That neutralized The Killer's immense advantage's in hand speed and skill and made it a much longer night than anyone could have predicted. The sight of Feliciano out on his feet while TKO winner Cintron was writhing in pain on the mat - the result of an injury suffered during the fight - was a strange one, for sure.
Granted, I'd still be a much happier boxing fan if the powers that be would stop charging for fights between boxers who are past their primes, but I thought the Vargas-Mayorga bout would either be:
a) A complete waste of time
or
b) The sporting equivalent of a train wreck
Turns out it was neither. It won't be making Dan Rafael's list of ten must-watch fights, but it was unexpectedly well-fought and, dare I say it, entertaining. There was no knockout, a fact that surely would have lost me money had I been in Vegas for the fight and been able to bet on the fight ending with one.
Mayorga, especially, turned out to be a bit of a revelation, still showing some wild tendencies and doing some unnecessary showboating, but also somehow discovering the ability to pace himself. Unless my eyes deceived me, El Matador even blocked some punches with his gloves and dodged some others.
It's hard to imagine that a professional athlete could be washed up at age 29, but it sure looks like Vargas's decision to hang up the gloves - if he really does go through with it - is the proper one. Even in his new, relatively improved form, Mayorga provided Fernando with the best chance to go out on a winning note. He didn't look as overmatched as he did the last time he fought Shane Mosley, but he did get knocked down twice, and it appears his heart is the best thing he still has going for him. Let's applaud him for that and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.
And while we're on the subject of heart, a big BoxingWatchers.com shout out goes to Jesse Feliciano. He turned what was supposed to be a cakewalk for Kermit Cintron into a touch scrap fought primarily at close range. That neutralized The Killer's immense advantage's in hand speed and skill and made it a much longer night than anyone could have predicted. The sight of Feliciano out on his feet while TKO winner Cintron was writhing in pain on the mat - the result of an injury suffered during the fight - was a strange one, for sure.
24.11.07
Round By Round: Vargas vs. Mayorga
Hi fight fans, we're picking this one up in progress due to technical difficulties. Hit refresh often to get the latest.
I'm going it alone as the rest of the BoxingWatchers.com staff is in Michigan visiting family for the holidays. Uatu has indicated Mayorga by KO while Spartan117 is calling for a Mayorga KO in the eighth.
I can tell you that Mayorga scored a knockdown in the first round. I scored it:
Rd. 1: Mayorga 10-8
Rd. 2: Mayorga 10-9
Rd. 3 Vargas 10-9
Rd. 4
Wild left to the body by Mayorga. Big right by Vargas. More body work by Mayorga. Lots of standing right in front of each other. Vargas tries a right and they tie up. 1-2 by Mayorga. Vargas with a combo and an uppercut. Mayorga back to the body and misses upstairs. Good trading at the end of the round with Vargas getting the better of it.
The Franchise scores it: Vargas 10-9
Rd. 5
Vargas knocks Mayorga back with a right. He's scoring to the head while Mayorga concentrates on the body. Mayorga warned for hitting behind the head. He goes back to the body. Right knocks Vargas off-balance. They trade in the center but Vargas isn't as active this round. Mayorga with a good flurry at the bell and he may have won it on activity level alone.
The Franchise scores it: Mayorga: 10-9
Rd. 6
Vargas trying to box a little; Mayorga still going forward. Good jab by Vargas as Mayorga shrugs and nods. Both guys go to the body and Vargas lands upstairs. A lot of tie-ups this round. Vargas lands two rights as Mayorga tries to fire back. Two big rights by Mayorga, now Vargas lands a series of rights. Mayorga tries to steal it at the end but Vargas blocks most of it and throws his own cleaner shots back.
The Franchise scores it: Vargas 10-9
Rd. 7
Mayorga slow to leave his corner to start this round. Mayorga scores with a pair of rights. Vargas' D is improved but Mayorga hits another right. Left uppercut by Vargas. Mayorga really stepping into his rights and 1-2 combos this round. Left hook to the body by Mayorga. The announcers are impressed with Mayorga's discipline. More rights coming over the top of Vargas' guard. No stealing this round as they tie up.
The Franchise scores it: Mayorga 10-9
Rd. 8
It should be a Vargas round the way this has gone. He's more assertive early. Mayorga showboats and then lands. Vargas able to land a few jabs but not much else. Vargas having trouble with his left eye, perhaps. Combo lands from Mayorga. Jab by Mayorga and just misses with a right. Now Vargas lands some shots but he can't trap Mayorga against the ropes. Left by Vargas and Mayorga forced to hold on. Mayorga lands after the bell and the crowd doesn't like it. Toughest round to score so far.
The Franchise scores it: Mayorga 10-9
Rd. 9
Mayorga returns to his body attack. Vargas trying to come in behind his jab. Good combo and multiple jabs by Vargas. Good left hook by Vargas. Now they stand and trade a bit. Mayorga looks a little tires and/or hurt this round. Combo by Vargas. Mayorga digs with an uppercut. Vargas landing with both hands. Mayorga is game and now it is a brawl. Mayorga dances but he is losing this round.
The Franchise scores it: Vargas 10-9
Rd. 10
Vargas looking confident now. Not sure what the ref is warning about now. Mayorga flurry but not all land. Both men a little wilder right now. Mayorga gets the better of an exchange. Left by Vargas. Right by Mayorga. Double left by Vargas. Vargas stalks but Mayorga escapes. Very close round.
The Franchise scores it: Vargas 10-9
Rd. 11
Have to say this has been surprisingly entertaining. Right by El Matador. Vargas lands to the body. Jabs keeping Mayorga back. Mayorga multiple body shots. Vargas left hook and misses a right. Mayorga combo but misses the uppercut. Right and a left by Vargas. Left hook by Vargas. Big right by Mayorga. Wow! Knockdown right at the end of the round by Mayorga - right hand just caught Vargas backing up. Vargas was winning the round until that happened.
The Franchise scores it: Mayorga 10-8
Rd. 12
Is Vargas hurt? He didn't look good between rounds. Mayoga dancing a lot - his corner told him he has the fight. Vargas scoring with some jabs but not much else. Mayorga raising his hand a lot and Vargas not really making him pay. Vargas will need a KO now and it doesn't look like he will get it. He backs Mayorga up but El Matador escapes. Jabs both ways. Mayorga falls to his knees after one last exchange. Vargas probably won that round but he shouldn't win the fight.
The Franchise scores it: Vargas 10-9
The Franchise scores it 114-112 for Mayorga. The judges score it 113-113 and 114-112, 115-111 for Mayorga.
I'm going it alone as the rest of the BoxingWatchers.com staff is in Michigan visiting family for the holidays. Uatu has indicated Mayorga by KO while Spartan117 is calling for a Mayorga KO in the eighth.
I can tell you that Mayorga scored a knockdown in the first round. I scored it:
Rd. 1: Mayorga 10-8
Rd. 2: Mayorga 10-9
Rd. 3 Vargas 10-9
Rd. 4
Wild left to the body by Mayorga. Big right by Vargas. More body work by Mayorga. Lots of standing right in front of each other. Vargas tries a right and they tie up. 1-2 by Mayorga. Vargas with a combo and an uppercut. Mayorga back to the body and misses upstairs. Good trading at the end of the round with Vargas getting the better of it.
The Franchise scores it: Vargas 10-9
Rd. 5
Vargas knocks Mayorga back with a right. He's scoring to the head while Mayorga concentrates on the body. Mayorga warned for hitting behind the head. He goes back to the body. Right knocks Vargas off-balance. They trade in the center but Vargas isn't as active this round. Mayorga with a good flurry at the bell and he may have won it on activity level alone.
The Franchise scores it: Mayorga: 10-9
Rd. 6
Vargas trying to box a little; Mayorga still going forward. Good jab by Vargas as Mayorga shrugs and nods. Both guys go to the body and Vargas lands upstairs. A lot of tie-ups this round. Vargas lands two rights as Mayorga tries to fire back. Two big rights by Mayorga, now Vargas lands a series of rights. Mayorga tries to steal it at the end but Vargas blocks most of it and throws his own cleaner shots back.
The Franchise scores it: Vargas 10-9
Rd. 7
Mayorga slow to leave his corner to start this round. Mayorga scores with a pair of rights. Vargas' D is improved but Mayorga hits another right. Left uppercut by Vargas. Mayorga really stepping into his rights and 1-2 combos this round. Left hook to the body by Mayorga. The announcers are impressed with Mayorga's discipline. More rights coming over the top of Vargas' guard. No stealing this round as they tie up.
The Franchise scores it: Mayorga 10-9
Rd. 8
It should be a Vargas round the way this has gone. He's more assertive early. Mayorga showboats and then lands. Vargas able to land a few jabs but not much else. Vargas having trouble with his left eye, perhaps. Combo lands from Mayorga. Jab by Mayorga and just misses with a right. Now Vargas lands some shots but he can't trap Mayorga against the ropes. Left by Vargas and Mayorga forced to hold on. Mayorga lands after the bell and the crowd doesn't like it. Toughest round to score so far.
The Franchise scores it: Mayorga 10-9
Rd. 9
Mayorga returns to his body attack. Vargas trying to come in behind his jab. Good combo and multiple jabs by Vargas. Good left hook by Vargas. Now they stand and trade a bit. Mayorga looks a little tires and/or hurt this round. Combo by Vargas. Mayorga digs with an uppercut. Vargas landing with both hands. Mayorga is game and now it is a brawl. Mayorga dances but he is losing this round.
The Franchise scores it: Vargas 10-9
Rd. 10
Vargas looking confident now. Not sure what the ref is warning about now. Mayorga flurry but not all land. Both men a little wilder right now. Mayorga gets the better of an exchange. Left by Vargas. Right by Mayorga. Double left by Vargas. Vargas stalks but Mayorga escapes. Very close round.
The Franchise scores it: Vargas 10-9
Rd. 11
Have to say this has been surprisingly entertaining. Right by El Matador. Vargas lands to the body. Jabs keeping Mayorga back. Mayorga multiple body shots. Vargas left hook and misses a right. Mayorga combo but misses the uppercut. Right and a left by Vargas. Left hook by Vargas. Big right by Mayorga. Wow! Knockdown right at the end of the round by Mayorga - right hand just caught Vargas backing up. Vargas was winning the round until that happened.
The Franchise scores it: Mayorga 10-8
Rd. 12
Is Vargas hurt? He didn't look good between rounds. Mayoga dancing a lot - his corner told him he has the fight. Vargas scoring with some jabs but not much else. Mayorga raising his hand a lot and Vargas not really making him pay. Vargas will need a KO now and it doesn't look like he will get it. He backs Mayorga up but El Matador escapes. Jabs both ways. Mayorga falls to his knees after one last exchange. Vargas probably won that round but he shouldn't win the fight.
The Franchise scores it: Vargas 10-9
The Franchise scores it 114-112 for Mayorga. The judges score it 113-113 and 114-112, 115-111 for Mayorga.
19.11.07
Weekend Wrap-Up, Nov. 19, 2007: Guzman-Soto, Washed-Up Fighter-O-Rama and More
I have to say that I don't like picking against my brother and fellow BoxingWatchers.com staffer, Uatu. He's the one who got me into boxing, and aside from having seen a lot more fights than I have, he has a razor-sharp memory that serves him well when recalling how fighters have looked in their last few fights.
So when he picked Humberto Soto to beat Joan Guzman this past Saturday, I felt a little foolish. Even I remembered how unimpressive Guzman looked during his previous fight, and I was worried that the fact that Joan was one of my favorite fighters was clouding my prediction.
Having seen a replay of the fight, it appears I should have had a little more faith. Guzman boxed when he needed to, survived the times he stood and traded, and won fairly easily against a tough opponent. He's now 28-0 and seems to be ready for a big fight.
He also needs to do it soon. Despite his relatively small body of work, Guzman is already 31 years old, and fighters who rely on their speed and reflexes like Joan face a much sharper drop-off than sluggers - see Roy Jones Jr. Steve Kim of MaxBoxing.com doesn't think Bob Arum will put Guzman in against Manny Pacquiao, so it's hard to pick an obvious candidate to face him in a career-defining bout. Juan Manuel Marquez, maybe?
Speaking of Kim, his most recent article also talks about the upcoming Black Friday showdown between Fernando Vargas and Ricardo Mayorga, two fighters whose best days are behind them. The fascination with this fight reminds me of the proverbial train wreck in that while we don't really want to watch, we also can't look away. The early 2008 fight pitting Jones against Tito Trinidad falls into this category too.
Much as I'd like to ignore both of these fights, there's no denying they will sell some tickets and some PPV buys on name value alone. Perception really is more important than reality in the boxing world, and since the public sees them as big fights, that's exactly what they are. We've already agreed we'll be watching and covering them here, like it or not.
So when he picked Humberto Soto to beat Joan Guzman this past Saturday, I felt a little foolish. Even I remembered how unimpressive Guzman looked during his previous fight, and I was worried that the fact that Joan was one of my favorite fighters was clouding my prediction.
Having seen a replay of the fight, it appears I should have had a little more faith. Guzman boxed when he needed to, survived the times he stood and traded, and won fairly easily against a tough opponent. He's now 28-0 and seems to be ready for a big fight.
He also needs to do it soon. Despite his relatively small body of work, Guzman is already 31 years old, and fighters who rely on their speed and reflexes like Joan face a much sharper drop-off than sluggers - see Roy Jones Jr. Steve Kim of MaxBoxing.com doesn't think Bob Arum will put Guzman in against Manny Pacquiao, so it's hard to pick an obvious candidate to face him in a career-defining bout. Juan Manuel Marquez, maybe?
Speaking of Kim, his most recent article also talks about the upcoming Black Friday showdown between Fernando Vargas and Ricardo Mayorga, two fighters whose best days are behind them. The fascination with this fight reminds me of the proverbial train wreck in that while we don't really want to watch, we also can't look away. The early 2008 fight pitting Jones against Tito Trinidad falls into this category too.
Much as I'd like to ignore both of these fights, there's no denying they will sell some tickets and some PPV buys on name value alone. Perception really is more important than reality in the boxing world, and since the public sees them as big fights, that's exactly what they are. We've already agreed we'll be watching and covering them here, like it or not.
17.11.07
Round by Round: Guzman vs. Soto
Guzman vs. Soto
Guzman hydrated t0 148, Soto to 135
Round 1
Uatu - 10 - 9 Guzman
Spartan117 - 10 -9 Soto
Round 2
Uatu - 10 -9 Soto
Spartan117 - 10 -9 Soto
Round 3
Time out for a low blow delivered by Guzman
Uatu - Guzman 10 -9
Spartan117 - Guzman 10 -9
Round 4
Uatu - 10 -9 Guzman
Spartan117 - 10 -9 Soto
Round 5
Uatu - 10 -9 Guzman
Spartan117 - 10 -9 Guzman
Round 6
Uatu - 10 - 9 Guzman
Spartan117 - 10 -9 Guzman
Round 7
Uatu - 10 -9 Soto
Spartan117 - 10 -9 Guzman
Round 8
Uatu - Guzman 10 -9
Spartan117 - Guzman 10 -9
Round 9
Uatu - 10 - 9 Guzman
Spartan117 - 10 -9 Soto
Round 10
Lederman has Guzman winning all of the rounds between 4-9 and 7-2 total, Merchant 6-2-1
Guzman works wells off the ropes. Not surprisingly fights like the Mayweathers with the hand up and the shoulder roll.
Uatu - 10 -9 Guzman
Spartan117 - 10 -9 Guzman
Round 11
Guzman has a lot of skill and great defense and movement. He's not a volume, pressure fighter but he still throws punches.
Uatu - 10 -9 Guzman
Spartan117 - 10 -9 Guzman
Round 12
Uatu - 10 -9 Soto
Spartan117 - 10 -9 Soto
Uatu - 117 - 111 Guzman
Spartan117 - 115-113 Guzman
Lederman 115- 113 Guzman, with Soto winning the last three rounds
Judges 117-111, 117-111, 118-110 all for Guzman
Mares vs. Marchiano
Round 1
Uatu - Mares 10 -9
Spartan117 - Mares 10-9
Round 2
Marchiano looks game this round.
Uatu - Marchiano 10 - 9
Spartan117 - Marchiano 10-9
Round 3
Mares is bleeding from the nose a decent amount.
Uatu - Mares 10 - 9
Spartan117 - Mares 10 - 9
Round 4
Uatu - Mares 10 -9
Spartan117 - Mares 10 -9
Round 5
Uatu - Mares 10 -9
Spartan117 - Mares 10 -9
Round 6
Excellent action from both fighters.
Uatu - Mares 10 -9
Spartan117 - Mares 10 -9
Round 7
Uatu - Mares 10 -9
Spartan117 - Mares 10 -9
Round 8
Uatu - Mares 10 -9
Spartan117 - Mares 10-9
Round 9
Uatu - Mares 10 -9
Spartan117 - Mares 10-9
Round 10
Uatu - Mares 10 -9
Spartan117 - Mares 10 -9
Rock Allen won by UD
D Hopkins won by UD
Round 11
Point Deduction from Mares for a low blow
Uatu - 9-9
Spartan117 - 9-9
Round 12
Uatu - 10 -9
Spartan117 - 10 -9
Uatu - Mares 118 - 109
Spartan117 - 118 - 109
Lederman - 118 - 108
Judges - 118-109, 118-109, 117-109 all for Mares
First...BoxingRewatchers...
Cotto-Mosley
Merchant says that he had it a draw.
Guzman hydrated t0 148, Soto to 135
Round 1
Uatu - 10 - 9 Guzman
Spartan117 - 10 -9 Soto
Round 2
Uatu - 10 -9 Soto
Spartan117 - 10 -9 Soto
Round 3
Time out for a low blow delivered by Guzman
Uatu - Guzman 10 -9
Spartan117 - Guzman 10 -9
Round 4
Uatu - 10 -9 Guzman
Spartan117 - 10 -9 Soto
Round 5
Uatu - 10 -9 Guzman
Spartan117 - 10 -9 Guzman
Round 6
Uatu - 10 - 9 Guzman
Spartan117 - 10 -9 Guzman
Round 7
Uatu - 10 -9 Soto
Spartan117 - 10 -9 Guzman
Round 8
Uatu - Guzman 10 -9
Spartan117 - Guzman 10 -9
Round 9
Uatu - 10 - 9 Guzman
Spartan117 - 10 -9 Soto
Round 10
Lederman has Guzman winning all of the rounds between 4-9 and 7-2 total, Merchant 6-2-1
Guzman works wells off the ropes. Not surprisingly fights like the Mayweathers with the hand up and the shoulder roll.
Uatu - 10 -9 Guzman
Spartan117 - 10 -9 Guzman
Round 11
Guzman has a lot of skill and great defense and movement. He's not a volume, pressure fighter but he still throws punches.
Uatu - 10 -9 Guzman
Spartan117 - 10 -9 Guzman
Round 12
Uatu - 10 -9 Soto
Spartan117 - 10 -9 Soto
Uatu - 117 - 111 Guzman
Spartan117 - 115-113 Guzman
Lederman 115- 113 Guzman, with Soto winning the last three rounds
Judges 117-111, 117-111, 118-110 all for Guzman
Mares vs. Marchiano
Round 1
Uatu - Mares 10 -9
Spartan117 - Mares 10-9
Round 2
Marchiano looks game this round.
Uatu - Marchiano 10 - 9
Spartan117 - Marchiano 10-9
Round 3
Mares is bleeding from the nose a decent amount.
Uatu - Mares 10 - 9
Spartan117 - Mares 10 - 9
Round 4
Uatu - Mares 10 -9
Spartan117 - Mares 10 -9
Round 5
Uatu - Mares 10 -9
Spartan117 - Mares 10 -9
Round 6
Excellent action from both fighters.
Uatu - Mares 10 -9
Spartan117 - Mares 10 -9
Round 7
Uatu - Mares 10 -9
Spartan117 - Mares 10 -9
Round 8
Uatu - Mares 10 -9
Spartan117 - Mares 10-9
Round 9
Uatu - Mares 10 -9
Spartan117 - Mares 10-9
Round 10
Uatu - Mares 10 -9
Spartan117 - Mares 10 -9
Rock Allen won by UD
D Hopkins won by UD
Round 11
Point Deduction from Mares for a low blow
Uatu - 9-9
Spartan117 - 9-9
Round 12
Uatu - 10 -9
Spartan117 - 10 -9
Uatu - Mares 118 - 109
Spartan117 - 118 - 109
Lederman - 118 - 108
Judges - 118-109, 118-109, 117-109 all for Mares
First...BoxingRewatchers...
Cotto-Mosley
Merchant says that he had it a draw.
16.11.07
Guzman vs. Soto Predictions
Uatu always wishes to wait until after the weigh-in before analyzing a fight, just to wait and see if any additional insight can be gleaned from it. Unfortunately, in this case, it doesn't appear that any new info has emerged. They both came in slightly over and both made it after that with no problem. It is a good thing that this site is called BoxingWatchers and not BoxingWagerers as this is another tough one to predict. Guzman has a lot of skills and flash, but honestly the last time Uatu watched him, Guzman fought cautiously and somewhat boringly. He did not appear to have a ton of mustard on his punches either. Soto is most famous for being the first to beat Rocky Juarez and more recently dispatching Bobby Pacquiao. Can Guzman stay away from Soto the whole fight and still win? Hey, it worked for the brush, Casamayor. Can Soto land enough cleanly to win? Uatu indicates yes. Soto UD12
The Franchise says...
Just like last week, I'm forced to pick a fight featuring one of my personal favorites, in this case Guzman. In terms of raw skills, I don't think Soto - or most boxers for that matter - can match Guzman. If this one becomes a slugfest or a battle of wills in any way, though, the edge definitely goes to Soto. I'm going to go with my heart over my head a little bit and predict that Guzman is able to make the fight go his way, staying outside and preventing Soto from forcing the issue. No way Guzman scores the KO, so I'll say Guzman UD12.
The Franchise says...
Just like last week, I'm forced to pick a fight featuring one of my personal favorites, in this case Guzman. In terms of raw skills, I don't think Soto - or most boxers for that matter - can match Guzman. If this one becomes a slugfest or a battle of wills in any way, though, the edge definitely goes to Soto. I'm going to go with my heart over my head a little bit and predict that Guzman is able to make the fight go his way, staying outside and preventing Soto from forcing the issue. No way Guzman scores the KO, so I'll say Guzman UD12.
12.11.07
Weekend Wrap-Up, Nov. 12, 2007 - Cotto-Mosley, Margarito and More
Going into Saturday's fight against Sugar Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto still had some doubters. It's hard to believe those doubts are still there after his hard-fought victory.
We knew Cotto was a ferocious body puncher, we knew he had the heart to fight his way out of early trouble and we knew he could apply pressure. What we didn't know was whether he could make adjustments if he ran into a fighter good enough to spoil his Plan A.
Cotto answered that question definitively, fighting and winning rounds while backing up and counter-punching. His stiff jab came and went, but he was able to survive and even thrive despite the reversal of the boxers' expected roles.
Mosley made his own mid-match strategy changes, and he became the aggressor when it was clear he needed to do so. Sugar Shane probably didn't deserve the victory, but one more round in his favor and he gets the draw - in fact, all three staff members here at BoxingWatchers.com scored the fight a draw.
Even at age 36, Mosley was plenty good. Cotto was simply better. My brother Uatu summed it up pretty well when he sent me a text message that said, "Cotto is better than I thought." I imagine a lot of boxing fans are feeling the same way.
As for Saturday's undercard...
Antonio Margarito proved that his loss to Paul Williams was just a temporary setback, destroying Golden Johnson in less than a round. Since there won't be any opponents who present Tony with the same unique challenges as The Punisher, Margarito should be fine going forward.
And the less said about Joel Casamayor's "victory," the better. Jose Armando Santa Cruz got robbed by the judges, but he wasn't exactly impressive. That just made Casamayor's lackluster performance that much more depressing. Some really rugged fights over the past few years look like they've robbed him of most of his skills, and the right foe (sat, Juan Diaz) should be able to lift that Ring Magazine lightweight belt from him without too much trouble.
We knew Cotto was a ferocious body puncher, we knew he had the heart to fight his way out of early trouble and we knew he could apply pressure. What we didn't know was whether he could make adjustments if he ran into a fighter good enough to spoil his Plan A.
Cotto answered that question definitively, fighting and winning rounds while backing up and counter-punching. His stiff jab came and went, but he was able to survive and even thrive despite the reversal of the boxers' expected roles.
Mosley made his own mid-match strategy changes, and he became the aggressor when it was clear he needed to do so. Sugar Shane probably didn't deserve the victory, but one more round in his favor and he gets the draw - in fact, all three staff members here at BoxingWatchers.com scored the fight a draw.
Even at age 36, Mosley was plenty good. Cotto was simply better. My brother Uatu summed it up pretty well when he sent me a text message that said, "Cotto is better than I thought." I imagine a lot of boxing fans are feeling the same way.
As for Saturday's undercard...
Antonio Margarito proved that his loss to Paul Williams was just a temporary setback, destroying Golden Johnson in less than a round. Since there won't be any opponents who present Tony with the same unique challenges as The Punisher, Margarito should be fine going forward.
And the less said about Joel Casamayor's "victory," the better. Jose Armando Santa Cruz got robbed by the judges, but he wasn't exactly impressive. That just made Casamayor's lackluster performance that much more depressing. Some really rugged fights over the past few years look like they've robbed him of most of his skills, and the right foe (sat, Juan Diaz) should be able to lift that Ring Magazine lightweight belt from him without too much trouble.
10.11.07
Round by Round: Cotto v. Mosley
We're going round by round for the big fight between Miguel Cotto and Sugar Shane Mosley. Plenty of filler on the broadcast right now thanks to two quick fights on the undercard.
If everything goes correctly from a technical standpoint, we'll have three sets of scores for each round as we're happy to have the third Boxing Watcher, Spartan117, contributing for the first time. Hit refresh every few minutes for updated commentary and scores.
Sugar Shane has a tribute to Diego Corrales on the back of his robe. He gets a little love from the crowd, but nothing compared to what we hear for Cotto. I'm not familiar with referee Benjy Esteves, though I do like the little nod he gave for the camera.
Rd. 1
Shane goes to the body early. Both men landing jabs. Good left hook by Cotto moves Shane back. Now Cotto picks it up a bit. Mosley trying to rally but Cotto ties him up. Left inside by Cotto but Mosley ends with a left-right combo.
Uatu scores it: Cotto 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Cotto 10-9
Franchise scores it: Cotto 10-9
Rd. 2
Shane finds the body early but Cotto landing harder shots to the head. Dobule jab by Cotto. Hard right by Cotto. Cotto looks a little faster than Mosley expected. Triple jab by Shane. Good single shot both ways. Mosley right but Cotto fires back. Hard right hands by Mosley but Cotto able to respond with lefts most times.
Uatu scores it: Cotto 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Mosley 10-9
Franchise scores it: Cotto 10-9
Rd. 3
Mosley may have something to build on at the end of the 2nd. Slow start until a big right by Mosley and a body shot. Wild swing on a left hook by Shane. Cotto hasn't done much this round. Nice left-right by Mosley. Cotto lands an uppercut and the action heats up right before the bell.
Uatu scores it: Mosley 10-9
Spatan117 scores it: Mosley 10-9
Franchise scores it: Mosley 10-9
Rd. 4
Left hooks by Cotto. Long tie-up before the ref steps in. More wrestling. Shane to the body; Cotto to the head. Combo by Cotto. Miguel throws to the body. Double right hook by Shane. Both guys landing rights. Cotto tries to back Shane up but to no avail. Good left by Cotto but Shane steps right back up. Good comeback round for Cotto.
Uatu scores it: Mosley 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Cotto 10-9
Franchise scores it: Cotto 10-9
Rd. 5
Quiet start to this round. Cotto getting the better of it inside. Shane trying to jab and fire to the body. More wrestling, Shane fires a right. Body combo by Cotto. Right to the head by Mosley. Hard combo by Cotto. Mosley comes forward again. Shane gets the better of the last exchange. Close round.
Uatu scores it: Mosley 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Mosley 10-9
Franchise scores it: Mosley 10-9
Rd. 6
Mosley resumes jabbing. Cotto can land the left if he's patient. Right hook by Mosley. Nice lefts to body and head by Cotto. Good right by Miguel and they tie up. Cotto reaches a bit but he lands. Cotto scores with a hook. Flurry by Mosley but not much lands.
Uatu scores it: Cotto 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Cotto 10-9
Franchise scores it: Cotto 10-9
Rd. 7
What does Shane have left in the tank? Big right by Shane. Cotto comes right back behind a left. More wrestling inside. Shane staying outside a bit more. Tough round to score so far. Cotto really determined to back Shane up but Mosley too smart for that.
Uatu scores it: Mosley 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Mosley 10-9
Franchise scores it: Mosley 10-9
Rd. 8
Cotto with some more energy now. Combo by Cotto; rights by Shane. Left hook by Mosley. Double jab by Cotto. Crowd doesn't like Shane running. Cotto switching stances. Good exchange in the center. Cotto double jab again. Body shot by Shane. Cotto lands more shots toward the end of the round.
Uatu scores it: Cotto 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Cotto 10-9
Franchise scores it: Cotto 10-9
Rd. 9
Bernard Hopkins shouting instructions to Mosley! Shane tries to start fast, lands a couple shots. Cotto lands a head combo. Left hook by Cotto. Hard right by Shane. Nice left hook by Shane. Cotto backing up a lot this round. Mosley trying to capitalize here. Big right and left by Shane. Cotto fights back with a few lefts at the end of the round.
Uatu scores it: Mosley 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Mosley 10-9
Franchise scores it: Mosley 10-9
Rd. 10
Shane stalking Cotto and Miguel is backing up. Ref stops it for a slip! Cotto caught a break there. Hard rights by Shane but Cotto is game. Ugly fight right now. Right uppercut by Shane. Cotto big left backs Shane up. Mosley may have tired himself out chasing. Big exchange both ways as the round ends.
Uatu scores it: Cotto 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Mosley 10-9
Franchise scores it: Mosley 10-9
Rd. 11
Both guys trying to flurry. Left hook by Shane. Big right by Cotto. Right to the head by Shane. Body shots by Shane. Now Cotto is running. Shane digs to the body; Miguel still throwing back. Shane backs Miguel up again. Cotto big right and left to the body.
Uatu scores it: Cotto 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Cotto 10-9
Franchise scores it: Cotto 10-9
Rd. 12
This fight is there to be won in my opinion. Mosley right; Cotto with a left. Shane slips down in the corner. Not a thriller so far. Shane jabbing more. Right to the head by Cotto. Shane chasing. Not exactly the way you'd want it to end; Shane came forward more though.
Uatu scores it: Mosley 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Cotto 10-9
Franchise scores it: Mosley 10-9
Uatu scores it 114-114, Spartan117 scores it 114-114, Franchise scores it 114-114. Judges score it 115-113, 115-113, 116-113 all for Cotto.
If everything goes correctly from a technical standpoint, we'll have three sets of scores for each round as we're happy to have the third Boxing Watcher, Spartan117, contributing for the first time. Hit refresh every few minutes for updated commentary and scores.
Sugar Shane has a tribute to Diego Corrales on the back of his robe. He gets a little love from the crowd, but nothing compared to what we hear for Cotto. I'm not familiar with referee Benjy Esteves, though I do like the little nod he gave for the camera.
Rd. 1
Shane goes to the body early. Both men landing jabs. Good left hook by Cotto moves Shane back. Now Cotto picks it up a bit. Mosley trying to rally but Cotto ties him up. Left inside by Cotto but Mosley ends with a left-right combo.
Uatu scores it: Cotto 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Cotto 10-9
Franchise scores it: Cotto 10-9
Rd. 2
Shane finds the body early but Cotto landing harder shots to the head. Dobule jab by Cotto. Hard right by Cotto. Cotto looks a little faster than Mosley expected. Triple jab by Shane. Good single shot both ways. Mosley right but Cotto fires back. Hard right hands by Mosley but Cotto able to respond with lefts most times.
Uatu scores it: Cotto 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Mosley 10-9
Franchise scores it: Cotto 10-9
Rd. 3
Mosley may have something to build on at the end of the 2nd. Slow start until a big right by Mosley and a body shot. Wild swing on a left hook by Shane. Cotto hasn't done much this round. Nice left-right by Mosley. Cotto lands an uppercut and the action heats up right before the bell.
Uatu scores it: Mosley 10-9
Spatan117 scores it: Mosley 10-9
Franchise scores it: Mosley 10-9
Rd. 4
Left hooks by Cotto. Long tie-up before the ref steps in. More wrestling. Shane to the body; Cotto to the head. Combo by Cotto. Miguel throws to the body. Double right hook by Shane. Both guys landing rights. Cotto tries to back Shane up but to no avail. Good left by Cotto but Shane steps right back up. Good comeback round for Cotto.
Uatu scores it: Mosley 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Cotto 10-9
Franchise scores it: Cotto 10-9
Rd. 5
Quiet start to this round. Cotto getting the better of it inside. Shane trying to jab and fire to the body. More wrestling, Shane fires a right. Body combo by Cotto. Right to the head by Mosley. Hard combo by Cotto. Mosley comes forward again. Shane gets the better of the last exchange. Close round.
Uatu scores it: Mosley 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Mosley 10-9
Franchise scores it: Mosley 10-9
Rd. 6
Mosley resumes jabbing. Cotto can land the left if he's patient. Right hook by Mosley. Nice lefts to body and head by Cotto. Good right by Miguel and they tie up. Cotto reaches a bit but he lands. Cotto scores with a hook. Flurry by Mosley but not much lands.
Uatu scores it: Cotto 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Cotto 10-9
Franchise scores it: Cotto 10-9
Rd. 7
What does Shane have left in the tank? Big right by Shane. Cotto comes right back behind a left. More wrestling inside. Shane staying outside a bit more. Tough round to score so far. Cotto really determined to back Shane up but Mosley too smart for that.
Uatu scores it: Mosley 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Mosley 10-9
Franchise scores it: Mosley 10-9
Rd. 8
Cotto with some more energy now. Combo by Cotto; rights by Shane. Left hook by Mosley. Double jab by Cotto. Crowd doesn't like Shane running. Cotto switching stances. Good exchange in the center. Cotto double jab again. Body shot by Shane. Cotto lands more shots toward the end of the round.
Uatu scores it: Cotto 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Cotto 10-9
Franchise scores it: Cotto 10-9
Rd. 9
Bernard Hopkins shouting instructions to Mosley! Shane tries to start fast, lands a couple shots. Cotto lands a head combo. Left hook by Cotto. Hard right by Shane. Nice left hook by Shane. Cotto backing up a lot this round. Mosley trying to capitalize here. Big right and left by Shane. Cotto fights back with a few lefts at the end of the round.
Uatu scores it: Mosley 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Mosley 10-9
Franchise scores it: Mosley 10-9
Rd. 10
Shane stalking Cotto and Miguel is backing up. Ref stops it for a slip! Cotto caught a break there. Hard rights by Shane but Cotto is game. Ugly fight right now. Right uppercut by Shane. Cotto big left backs Shane up. Mosley may have tired himself out chasing. Big exchange both ways as the round ends.
Uatu scores it: Cotto 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Mosley 10-9
Franchise scores it: Mosley 10-9
Rd. 11
Both guys trying to flurry. Left hook by Shane. Big right by Cotto. Right to the head by Shane. Body shots by Shane. Now Cotto is running. Shane digs to the body; Miguel still throwing back. Shane backs Miguel up again. Cotto big right and left to the body.
Uatu scores it: Cotto 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Cotto 10-9
Franchise scores it: Cotto 10-9
Rd. 12
This fight is there to be won in my opinion. Mosley right; Cotto with a left. Shane slips down in the corner. Not a thriller so far. Shane jabbing more. Right to the head by Cotto. Shane chasing. Not exactly the way you'd want it to end; Shane came forward more though.
Uatu scores it: Mosley 10-9
Spartan117 scores it: Cotto 10-9
Franchise scores it: Mosley 10-9
Uatu scores it 114-114, Spartan117 scores it 114-114, Franchise scores it 114-114. Judges score it 115-113, 115-113, 116-113 all for Cotto.
Margarito v. Johnson - LiveBlog
Hope everyone is enjoying the pay-per-view so far. Things almost have to pick up after Joel Casamoyor's rather uninspired effort in his fight against Jose Armando Santa Cruz. Of course we all know that when the judges are involved, anything can happen. JASC was far from impressive, but he deserves to be The Ring Magazine World Lightweight Champion. Nothing more needs to be added to that.
We won't be doing a true round by round for the Margarito-Johnson fight, but I will be doing a LiveBlog with some commentary as the fight unfolds. I'll add comments from Uatu and Spartan117 as they come in. Hit refresh often to get our updated thoughts.
I'm very interested to see how Margarito looks coming off his loss to Paul Williams. He just wasn't able to do the things he wanted to against The Punisher.
This might not last long. Two knockdowns already. Let's see if Johnson can hold on...
Johnson down again with about 24 seconds left in the round and that's all she wrote. That was exactly the kind of show Margarito needed to put on, not just to get some momentum back toward some bigger fights, but to get some confidence back.
Watching the first knockdown again, Tony connected with two consecutive uppercuts and a straight right. The second knockdown came when Johnson took a knee after getting strafed against the ropes. The end came thanks to punishing lefts to the head and body.
I'm always skeptical of the CompuBox numbers, but I believe this stat: of 60 punches Margarito landed, only one was a jab. Looked like it from here.
We won't be doing a true round by round for the Margarito-Johnson fight, but I will be doing a LiveBlog with some commentary as the fight unfolds. I'll add comments from Uatu and Spartan117 as they come in. Hit refresh often to get our updated thoughts.
I'm very interested to see how Margarito looks coming off his loss to Paul Williams. He just wasn't able to do the things he wanted to against The Punisher.
This might not last long. Two knockdowns already. Let's see if Johnson can hold on...
Johnson down again with about 24 seconds left in the round and that's all she wrote. That was exactly the kind of show Margarito needed to put on, not just to get some momentum back toward some bigger fights, but to get some confidence back.
Watching the first knockdown again, Tony connected with two consecutive uppercuts and a straight right. The second knockdown came when Johnson took a knee after getting strafed against the ropes. The end came thanks to punishing lefts to the head and body.
I'm always skeptical of the CompuBox numbers, but I believe this stat: of 60 punches Margarito landed, only one was a jab. Looked like it from here.
9.11.07
Cotto vs. Mosley Predictions
Mosley vs. Cotto - Mosley is bigger and wins. Uatu remembers as Cotto was coming up that many writers believed he was in a bad position as far as body type and weight goes. The jump from 140 to 147 is a large jump. He can't make 140, he might be too short and stocky for the elite of 147. Mosley UD 12 if Cotto remains standing or TKO late. Does Cotto seem like the type to just try and survive? Probably not. Mosley TKO11
Margarito vs. Johnson - Margarito KO7
Casamayor vs. Armando Santa Cruz - The brush goes down. JASC UD 12
Ortiz vs. Maussa - Uatu is unsure. Boxing writers are huge on Ortiz. Ortiz UD 12
The Franchise says...
Mosley is a personal favorite of mine, so I wanted to make sure I was making my call with my head and not my heart. Sugar Shane seems pretty comfortable at 147, and even though Cotto is a big puncher - especially to the body - Mosley has been in with some heavy hitters before and come out OK. Even though Cotto is younger, it's quite possible that Shane will have better hand speed. Strength is probably a toss-up. It's hard to picture either man getting knocked out, so I'm going with Mosley in a close, possibly split decision.
The rest of the card...
Margarito KO Johnson
Casamayor UD Armando Santa Cruz
Maussa UD Ortiz
Margarito vs. Johnson - Margarito KO7
Casamayor vs. Armando Santa Cruz - The brush goes down. JASC UD 12
Ortiz vs. Maussa - Uatu is unsure. Boxing writers are huge on Ortiz. Ortiz UD 12
The Franchise says...
Mosley is a personal favorite of mine, so I wanted to make sure I was making my call with my head and not my heart. Sugar Shane seems pretty comfortable at 147, and even though Cotto is a big puncher - especially to the body - Mosley has been in with some heavy hitters before and come out OK. Even though Cotto is younger, it's quite possible that Shane will have better hand speed. Strength is probably a toss-up. It's hard to picture either man getting knocked out, so I'm going with Mosley in a close, possibly split decision.
The rest of the card...
Margarito KO Johnson
Casamayor UD Armando Santa Cruz
Maussa UD Ortiz
7.11.07
BoxingWatchers.com Boxing Power Rankings - November 2007
- Kelly Pavlik -23.90 - If knocking out an undefeated champion who had beaten some serious competition gets you to the top of this list, it's working the way we want it to. If The Ghost scores another KO in a rematch, he should stay up here.
- Miguel Cotto - 23.65 - He has his doubters, but you can't knock the results. A decisive victory over Shane Mosley could win over some more fans.
- Manny Pacquiao - 17.65 - His last fight against Marco Antonio Barrera lacked the usual Pac-Man thrills, but another showdown with Juan Manuel Marquez could bring them right back.
- Wladimir Klitschko - 17.17 - It took a few years, but it seems like Klitschko may have stabilized his place atop the heavyweight division. If only there was some more compelling competition waiting for him...
- Juan Diaz - 17.09 - So young, so good. Are there any challenges left for the Baby Bull at lightweight?
- Israel Vazquez - 16.30 - Avenged his loss to Rafael Marquez in impressive fashion.
- Paul Williams - 15.82 - The Punisher's height and activity level are entertaining as hell to watch. It should be a treat when he faces Kermit Cintron.
- Ricky Hatton - 15.10 - We'll be learning a lot more about Hatton very soon. A victory over Pretty Boy Floyd would catapult him up this list.
- Floyd Mayweather Jr. - 14.40 - Speaking of PBF, he'd also be moving up with a decisive win on December 8. I don't mind typing nice things about him if he deserves them.
- Joe Calzaghe - 14.17 - Showed a good chin and a lot of craftiness against Mikkel Kessler. But could he really beat Bernard Hopkins?
The Next 7: Chad Dawson, Shane Mosley, Chris John, Juan Manuel Marquez, Rafael Marquez, Kermit Cintron Jermain Taylor
How Our Rankings Work
In just a few minutes, I'll be posting the first monthly power rankings for BoxingWatchers.com. You can't have a boxing site without rankings, after all, and they're great for sparking debate, which is a nicer way to say arguments.
To help explain our rankings, it's easiest to start with what they are not. The power rankings are not an attempt to put together a pound-for-pound list of the best boxers in the world. A lot of people with a lot more experience watching boxing already do that, and "best" is so subjective in boxing that it's almost absurd.
Instead, think of these rankings as a pseudo-scientific way of measuring who's recently been performing the best against the best competition. For recently, I decided on the past three years, just because that seemed like a good period of time to define the state of a boxer's career right now.
The numbers that go into the rankings are a combination of math and arcane magic - like the BCS formula! - but they are designed to reward some things the Boxing Watchers like:
1) Activity - You can't score points if you don't fight. This hurts some boxers who are unquestionably fantastic, like Bernard Hopkins. Those are the breaks.
2) Winning decisively - Thus, a KO win is worth more points than a unanimous decision, which is worth more than a split decision. A loss gets you negative points.
3) Quality of competition - All wins aren't created equal. To account for this fact, the points a boxer gets for a win are adjusted based on the winning percentage his opponent had over the three years prior to that particular fight.
There are a couple more things that go into it, and the list of people to rank in the first place is subjective - there's no getting around that. Is it perfect? Probably not, but we're OK with that. Enjoy the rankings, or don't, and be sure to let us know what you think either way.
To help explain our rankings, it's easiest to start with what they are not. The power rankings are not an attempt to put together a pound-for-pound list of the best boxers in the world. A lot of people with a lot more experience watching boxing already do that, and "best" is so subjective in boxing that it's almost absurd.
Instead, think of these rankings as a pseudo-scientific way of measuring who's recently been performing the best against the best competition. For recently, I decided on the past three years, just because that seemed like a good period of time to define the state of a boxer's career right now.
The numbers that go into the rankings are a combination of math and arcane magic - like the BCS formula! - but they are designed to reward some things the Boxing Watchers like:
1) Activity - You can't score points if you don't fight. This hurts some boxers who are unquestionably fantastic, like Bernard Hopkins. Those are the breaks.
2) Winning decisively - Thus, a KO win is worth more points than a unanimous decision, which is worth more than a split decision. A loss gets you negative points.
3) Quality of competition - All wins aren't created equal. To account for this fact, the points a boxer gets for a win are adjusted based on the winning percentage his opponent had over the three years prior to that particular fight.
There are a couple more things that go into it, and the list of people to rank in the first place is subjective - there's no getting around that. Is it perfect? Probably not, but we're OK with that. Enjoy the rankings, or don't, and be sure to let us know what you think either way.
6.11.07
Contender Thoughts - Season 3 Finale - Codrington v. Bika
If you hadn't been following The Contender this season - and I'll admit I'd only been checking in on it sporadically - you probably weren't tuned in to ESPN for tonight's Season 3 finale featuring Jaidon Codrington and Sakio Bika. You may be surprised to hear you missed one heck of a fight.
"Fight" being the operative word. Neither finalist showed much in the way of defense or a willingness to box. That became apparent in the first half of the first round, as Bika dropped Codrington in 30 seconds, but The Don got up off the canvas to return the favor less than a minute later. After it looked like Bika might not make it out of the first, he took over about halfway through the second round and got the better of most of the middle rounds.
There was still plenty of drama thanks to Bika leaving himself wide open for return fire. In a reversal of the usual expectations, the younger Codrington had the better boxing skills, while the older Bika was sloppier but stronger. Both men ate a bunch of big shots, and when the sixth round ended with multiple wild haymakers thrown and landed, you just got the feeling the fight wasn't going the distance. There was still some doubt about which way it would go, but someone was getting knocked out.
The end came two rounds later. Codrington bravely tried to battle his way off the ropes as he had already done numerous times, but Bika landed a stiff upprcut and a series of hooks. Staggering into the corner, back completely turned to his opponent, Codrington was out on his feet.
Though it was a gutsy performance, Codrington failed to play to his strengths and clearly has more to learn in order to realize his full potential. At 23, he still has time to do it. Getting punched silly in Boston might not be the last memory we have of him.
Who knows what the future holds for the winner? Bika's already tangled with the likes of Joe Calzaghe, Lucian Bute and Markus Beyer, but the previous Contender finalists definitely enjoyed some new opportunities after the show, and Sakio's hit-and-be-hit style seems like it would lend itself to some exciting fights.
After last night's thriller, I'll be a little more willing to clear my TV viewing schedule the next time either man steps through the ropes.
"Fight" being the operative word. Neither finalist showed much in the way of defense or a willingness to box. That became apparent in the first half of the first round, as Bika dropped Codrington in 30 seconds, but The Don got up off the canvas to return the favor less than a minute later. After it looked like Bika might not make it out of the first, he took over about halfway through the second round and got the better of most of the middle rounds.
There was still plenty of drama thanks to Bika leaving himself wide open for return fire. In a reversal of the usual expectations, the younger Codrington had the better boxing skills, while the older Bika was sloppier but stronger. Both men ate a bunch of big shots, and when the sixth round ended with multiple wild haymakers thrown and landed, you just got the feeling the fight wasn't going the distance. There was still some doubt about which way it would go, but someone was getting knocked out.
The end came two rounds later. Codrington bravely tried to battle his way off the ropes as he had already done numerous times, but Bika landed a stiff upprcut and a series of hooks. Staggering into the corner, back completely turned to his opponent, Codrington was out on his feet.
Though it was a gutsy performance, Codrington failed to play to his strengths and clearly has more to learn in order to realize his full potential. At 23, he still has time to do it. Getting punched silly in Boston might not be the last memory we have of him.
Who knows what the future holds for the winner? Bika's already tangled with the likes of Joe Calzaghe, Lucian Bute and Markus Beyer, but the previous Contender finalists definitely enjoyed some new opportunities after the show, and Sakio's hit-and-be-hit style seems like it would lend itself to some exciting fights.
After last night's thriller, I'll be a little more willing to clear my TV viewing schedule the next time either man steps through the ropes.
5.11.07
Weekend Wrap-Up, Nov. 5, 2007
Impressive.
That's the first word that comes to mind when thinking back on the Joe Calzaghe experience. And that applies to everything, from the large crowd of loyal countrymen chanting his name to the way he took care of a younger, stronger opponent.
Mikkel Kessler hit harder, threw a sharper jab and fought with better technique. He was able to bounce back and win a round or two after losing one, and he was certainly game all the way until the end, looking for a knockout shot when he knew that was the only way he could win. I agree with the HBO announce team that the result wasn't so much a case of what Kessler did wrong, but what Calzaghe did right.
Kessler was also refreshingly honest in his post-match interview, admitting that Calzaghe hurt him with a few shots and that he'd have to go back to the drawing board a little bit if granted a rematch. He should have more big fights in his future.
Calzaghe certainly didn't put on the clinic he did in his beatdown of Jeff Lacy, but sometimes you learn more about a boxer when everything isn't going his way. The Pride of Wales made the better in-match adjustments and showed a strong chin that wasn't tested much against Lacy. He was also quicker to the punch for most of the fight, swinging a couple of close rounds simply because he was able to get off first.
Is a big money fight with Bernard Hopkins in his future? I'd certainly pay to see it, even though I'm not sure their styles would guarantee an aesthetically pleasing fight.
From a fan's perspective, you had to like the fact that there was no televised undercard for Calzaghe-Kessler, making it easy to switch over to Showtime in plenty of time for Marquez-Juarez. Unfortunately it wasn't much of a contest, with JMM pretty much cruising to victory. Juarez probably would have been better off if the nasty cut that opened over his left eye in the early going (due to an accidental head butt) had stopped the fight.
Many fans are thinking about a possible rematch between Marquez and Manny Pacquiao, and even though it pains me to say it (full disclosure: the staff of Boxing Watchers is part Filipino!), I thought JMM deserved the decision the first time around. He'd be facing a different, more defensively aware Pac-Man if they face off again, and my gut tells me it would be a toss-up.
That's the first word that comes to mind when thinking back on the Joe Calzaghe experience. And that applies to everything, from the large crowd of loyal countrymen chanting his name to the way he took care of a younger, stronger opponent.
Mikkel Kessler hit harder, threw a sharper jab and fought with better technique. He was able to bounce back and win a round or two after losing one, and he was certainly game all the way until the end, looking for a knockout shot when he knew that was the only way he could win. I agree with the HBO announce team that the result wasn't so much a case of what Kessler did wrong, but what Calzaghe did right.
Kessler was also refreshingly honest in his post-match interview, admitting that Calzaghe hurt him with a few shots and that he'd have to go back to the drawing board a little bit if granted a rematch. He should have more big fights in his future.
Calzaghe certainly didn't put on the clinic he did in his beatdown of Jeff Lacy, but sometimes you learn more about a boxer when everything isn't going his way. The Pride of Wales made the better in-match adjustments and showed a strong chin that wasn't tested much against Lacy. He was also quicker to the punch for most of the fight, swinging a couple of close rounds simply because he was able to get off first.
Is a big money fight with Bernard Hopkins in his future? I'd certainly pay to see it, even though I'm not sure their styles would guarantee an aesthetically pleasing fight.
From a fan's perspective, you had to like the fact that there was no televised undercard for Calzaghe-Kessler, making it easy to switch over to Showtime in plenty of time for Marquez-Juarez. Unfortunately it wasn't much of a contest, with JMM pretty much cruising to victory. Juarez probably would have been better off if the nasty cut that opened over his left eye in the early going (due to an accidental head butt) had stopped the fight.
Many fans are thinking about a possible rematch between Marquez and Manny Pacquiao, and even though it pains me to say it (full disclosure: the staff of Boxing Watchers is part Filipino!), I thought JMM deserved the decision the first time around. He'd be facing a different, more defensively aware Pac-Man if they face off again, and my gut tells me it would be a toss-up.
3.11.07
Round by Round: Calzaghe v. Kessler
BoxingWatchers.com is proud to bring you our first round by round post, the super middleweight unification bout between Joe Calzaghe and Mikkel Kessler. Hit refresh often to see more recent rounds.
Uatu comments that Europe blows the States away when it comes to boxing crowds, and I have to admit that it's pretty impressive seeing 50,000-plus for a boxing match, especially when there's no way some of those folks can see the action in the ring from where they're seated.
Kessler comes to the ring to some techno song; it's rap for Calzaghe. Joe also has a "Male Voice Choir" to sing the national anthem of Wales.
Here we go, 12 rounds for all the belts worth anything at 168 pounds.
Rd. 1
Calzaghe a little quicker to the punch early. Kessler trying to land the jab. Very tentative middle part of the round. Jab and right to the body by Kessler. Left to the body by Calzaghe. Both men land, Calzaghe backs Kessler up a little. Joe doing a lot by feinting, Kessler a little body shot. Nothing major by either man.
Uatu scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Franchise scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Rd. 2
Left by Calzaghe. 1-2 by Kessler, Joe some lunging punches in response. Ref warns Joe about hitting behind the head. Kessler landing jabs a little more easily. Joe lands a few light 1-2's. Kessler backs Calzaghe up with some right hands. Jabs and a quick right. A flurry at the end of the round.
Uatu scores it: 10-9 Kessler
Franchise scores it: 10-9 Kessler
Rd. 3
Calzaghe lands a left, Kessler goes down, but it's a slip. Roughhousing inside, Joe backs up the Viking Warrior with a wild flurry. Joe fighting wildly but it's working; Kessler looks like he's bleeding from the mouth. Left scores and another from Joe. More lefts by Joe; Mikkel lands a body shot in return. Both men land some left hands in the last 20 seconds.
Uatu scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Franchise scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Rd. 4
Joe tries wading in to some effect. Big exchange with Mikkel getting the better of it. Big uppercut by Kessler. Calzaghe holds and hits out of the break. Good left by Calzaghe. Another good uppercut by Kessler. Kessler landing his jab often and some second jabs to follow. Calzaghe finds the range on a few shots before the end of the round.
Uatu scores it: 10-9 Kessler
Franchise scores it: 10-9 Kessler
Rd. 5
Both men land a few shots but Kessler's uppercut is most impressive. Calzaghe a little more cautious in this round. Left by Kessler, then a combo. Joe landing a few jabs. Double jab and a left by Calzaghe. More blood from Kessler, hard punches by both men inside to end the round.
Uatu scores it: 10-9 Kessler
Franchise scores it: 10-9 Kessler
Rd. 6
Joe lands lefts, Kessler counter-punches. 1-2 by Joe. Good left knocks Kessler back a bit. Good jabs and follow-ups by Joe. More 1-2's by Joe. Kessler seems off-balance in this round. Joe to the body, Kessler misses an uppercut. Exchange of lefts. Great round for Calzaghe as Kessler seemed confused.
Uatu scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Franchise scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Rd. 7
Calzaghe jabs and follows up. Kessler trying to be more assertive but a combo comes from Joe. Kessler backing up and can't land the uppercut. Kessler starts to land but Calzaghe fires right back. Good body-head combo by Joe. Triple jab by Calzaghe. Blood from Joe's forehead. Right hands by Kessler and left to the body. Wild miss by Joe. Calzaghe lands some jabs but Kessler hit harder. Tough round to score.
Uatu scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Franchise scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Rd. 8
Kessler coming forward more with mixed success. Straight right by Kessler. Both men land; Kessler gets in an extra left hook. Big punches flying both ways. Kessler gets out of trouble along the ropes. Joe quicker to the punch. Ref warns Joe again. Calzaghe turns it into a brawl and Kessler is bleeding again.
Uatu scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Kessler scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Rd. 9
Joe letting his hands go right now. Kessler finds his range but Calzaghe ties him up. Joe jabbing more and generally more active. Joe backs Kessler up with a flurry. Good rights inside by Kessler. Good straight lefts both ways. Trading shots but Kessler not throwing enough. Crowd gets into it as Joe finds the target with both hands to end the round.
Uatu scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Franchise scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Rd. 10
Calzaghe content to tie it up early. Kessler gets back to his jab a bit. Big exchange but Joe gets the better of it. Body and head shots by Joe. Good punches and Joe ties up again. Big flurry by Kessler looking for the home run. Joe showing some heart, and Kessler can't quite figure his foe out. Max Kellerman thinks Kessler may be broken down mentally.
Uatu scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Franchise scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Rd. 11
Body right and left to the head by Joe. Kessler swinging hard but Joe too slick. Uppercut from Joe. Kessler can't get off combos before Joe ties him up. Calzaghe showboating a bit. Joe comes with a wild flurry. Two big lefts by Joe as Mikkel tries to respond. Kessler lands a left but Joe ties him up again. Joe lands some jabs and Kessler probably needs a KO to win now.
Uatu scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Franchise scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Rd. 12
Kessler lands a few lefts, Joe ties him up. Joe comes forward behind the jab. Kessler big right to the body, he's showing heart. Big right by Mikkel. Uppercut knocks Joe back. Joe dancing for his life. 1-2 from Joe. Kessler straight right. Left to the body by Mikkel. Right-left to the head by Kessler. The Viking keeps throwing all the way to the end, but too little too late I suspect.
Uatu scores it: 10-9 Kessler
Franchise scores it: 10-9 Kessler
Uatu and Franchise both score the fight 116-112 for Calzaghe. Judges score it 117-111, 116-112, 116-112, all for the winner and undisputed Super Middleweight Champion, Joe Calzaghe.
Uatu comments that Europe blows the States away when it comes to boxing crowds, and I have to admit that it's pretty impressive seeing 50,000-plus for a boxing match, especially when there's no way some of those folks can see the action in the ring from where they're seated.
Kessler comes to the ring to some techno song; it's rap for Calzaghe. Joe also has a "Male Voice Choir" to sing the national anthem of Wales.
Here we go, 12 rounds for all the belts worth anything at 168 pounds.
Rd. 1
Calzaghe a little quicker to the punch early. Kessler trying to land the jab. Very tentative middle part of the round. Jab and right to the body by Kessler. Left to the body by Calzaghe. Both men land, Calzaghe backs Kessler up a little. Joe doing a lot by feinting, Kessler a little body shot. Nothing major by either man.
Uatu scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Franchise scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Rd. 2
Left by Calzaghe. 1-2 by Kessler, Joe some lunging punches in response. Ref warns Joe about hitting behind the head. Kessler landing jabs a little more easily. Joe lands a few light 1-2's. Kessler backs Calzaghe up with some right hands. Jabs and a quick right. A flurry at the end of the round.
Uatu scores it: 10-9 Kessler
Franchise scores it: 10-9 Kessler
Rd. 3
Calzaghe lands a left, Kessler goes down, but it's a slip. Roughhousing inside, Joe backs up the Viking Warrior with a wild flurry. Joe fighting wildly but it's working; Kessler looks like he's bleeding from the mouth. Left scores and another from Joe. More lefts by Joe; Mikkel lands a body shot in return. Both men land some left hands in the last 20 seconds.
Uatu scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Franchise scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Rd. 4
Joe tries wading in to some effect. Big exchange with Mikkel getting the better of it. Big uppercut by Kessler. Calzaghe holds and hits out of the break. Good left by Calzaghe. Another good uppercut by Kessler. Kessler landing his jab often and some second jabs to follow. Calzaghe finds the range on a few shots before the end of the round.
Uatu scores it: 10-9 Kessler
Franchise scores it: 10-9 Kessler
Rd. 5
Both men land a few shots but Kessler's uppercut is most impressive. Calzaghe a little more cautious in this round. Left by Kessler, then a combo. Joe landing a few jabs. Double jab and a left by Calzaghe. More blood from Kessler, hard punches by both men inside to end the round.
Uatu scores it: 10-9 Kessler
Franchise scores it: 10-9 Kessler
Rd. 6
Joe lands lefts, Kessler counter-punches. 1-2 by Joe. Good left knocks Kessler back a bit. Good jabs and follow-ups by Joe. More 1-2's by Joe. Kessler seems off-balance in this round. Joe to the body, Kessler misses an uppercut. Exchange of lefts. Great round for Calzaghe as Kessler seemed confused.
Uatu scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Franchise scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Rd. 7
Calzaghe jabs and follows up. Kessler trying to be more assertive but a combo comes from Joe. Kessler backing up and can't land the uppercut. Kessler starts to land but Calzaghe fires right back. Good body-head combo by Joe. Triple jab by Calzaghe. Blood from Joe's forehead. Right hands by Kessler and left to the body. Wild miss by Joe. Calzaghe lands some jabs but Kessler hit harder. Tough round to score.
Uatu scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Franchise scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Rd. 8
Kessler coming forward more with mixed success. Straight right by Kessler. Both men land; Kessler gets in an extra left hook. Big punches flying both ways. Kessler gets out of trouble along the ropes. Joe quicker to the punch. Ref warns Joe again. Calzaghe turns it into a brawl and Kessler is bleeding again.
Uatu scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Kessler scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Rd. 9
Joe letting his hands go right now. Kessler finds his range but Calzaghe ties him up. Joe jabbing more and generally more active. Joe backs Kessler up with a flurry. Good rights inside by Kessler. Good straight lefts both ways. Trading shots but Kessler not throwing enough. Crowd gets into it as Joe finds the target with both hands to end the round.
Uatu scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Franchise scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Rd. 10
Calzaghe content to tie it up early. Kessler gets back to his jab a bit. Big exchange but Joe gets the better of it. Body and head shots by Joe. Good punches and Joe ties up again. Big flurry by Kessler looking for the home run. Joe showing some heart, and Kessler can't quite figure his foe out. Max Kellerman thinks Kessler may be broken down mentally.
Uatu scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Franchise scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Rd. 11
Body right and left to the head by Joe. Kessler swinging hard but Joe too slick. Uppercut from Joe. Kessler can't get off combos before Joe ties him up. Calzaghe showboating a bit. Joe comes with a wild flurry. Two big lefts by Joe as Mikkel tries to respond. Kessler lands a left but Joe ties him up again. Joe lands some jabs and Kessler probably needs a KO to win now.
Uatu scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Franchise scores it: 10-9 Calzaghe
Rd. 12
Kessler lands a few lefts, Joe ties him up. Joe comes forward behind the jab. Kessler big right to the body, he's showing heart. Big right by Mikkel. Uppercut knocks Joe back. Joe dancing for his life. 1-2 from Joe. Kessler straight right. Left to the body by Mikkel. Right-left to the head by Kessler. The Viking keeps throwing all the way to the end, but too little too late I suspect.
Uatu scores it: 10-9 Kessler
Franchise scores it: 10-9 Kessler
Uatu and Franchise both score the fight 116-112 for Calzaghe. Judges score it 117-111, 116-112, 116-112, all for the winner and undisputed Super Middleweight Champion, Joe Calzaghe.
Marquez vs. Juarez Predictions
Uatu has indicated Marquez UD12
The Franchise says...
Just a quick prediction on this one. JMM has championship fights under his belt and a better record in the ones he's fought. Juarez should be more than game but I expect the fight to go the distance and Marquez to come out on top.
The Franchise says...
Just a quick prediction on this one. JMM has championship fights under his belt and a better record in the ones he's fought. Juarez should be more than game but I expect the fight to go the distance and Marquez to come out on top.
2.11.07
Calzaghe v. Kessler predictions
Without speaking, Uatu has indicated - Kessler KO 11
The Franchise says...
This one is tough for me to call because I have never seen Kessler fight. The Viking Warrior is younger and bigger but it will be hard for me to believe that he is faster or will somehow out-work Calzaghe. If he does, maybe Kessler wears Calzaghe out late.
I don't think he will though. The Pride of Wales has the advantage of the home crowd and could also get some friendly scoring. I like Calzaghe to win a close, hard-fought decision.
The Franchise says...
This one is tough for me to call because I have never seen Kessler fight. The Viking Warrior is younger and bigger but it will be hard for me to believe that he is faster or will somehow out-work Calzaghe. If he does, maybe Kessler wears Calzaghe out late.
I don't think he will though. The Pride of Wales has the advantage of the home crowd and could also get some friendly scoring. I like Calzaghe to win a close, hard-fought decision.
1.11.07
BoxingWatchers.com: The Manifesto
Why BoxingWatchers.com? Why boxing at all, for that matter?
I can hear those questions in the voices of my friends. My closest friends are huge sports fans, but I can't talk to them about boxing. Some don't understand it, others are offended by the violence, and still others dismiss it as a dead sport. All of them have valid reasons.
Actually, scratch that last group. Boxing is not dead. You'd have to be pretty naive to think it's at its peak, or that it doesn't have problems. But it certainly still has life.
All you had to do was be present at the Jermain Taylor-Kelly Pavlik fight to get all the proof you'd need. If you walked the Atlantic City boardwalk and saw all the Team Pavlik t-shirts, if you stood outside the arena amidst all the anxious fans hours before the fight, if you watched one of your younger brothers - attending his first live fight - nearly scream himself hoarse, you'd certainly agree. I did all of those things, so I have to repeat: boxing is not dead.
The stick-and-ball sports produce plenty of drama, but they rarely match good boxing matches for tension. A fight can literally end at any moment, and it's difficult to find a parallel in any other sport. Overtime playoff hockey? Extra-inning baseball? Those probably come closest, but only after regulation play has come and gone. At its best, boxing can top any competitor for thrills.
Let's not kid ourselves, though. At it's worst, boxing can be boring. We're talking "early February NBA game, mid-second quarter" boring. Still, we watch, hoping for more of those Taylor-Pavlik moments. And I really mean it when we say "we," as you'd be hard pressed to find a more ethnically, socially and economically diverse group than boxing fans.
There are less of us today, no question. With MMA ascending to the pay-per-view throne, boxing is more of a niche sport now than it has been in years. That's a problem for the people who set up the fights, and some fans also fret about it. I say it doesn't matter how many of us there are, as long as long as we're enjoying and supporting the sweet science.
That brings us back to this site. I don't have any background writing about boxing, but I am a devoted fan. I also happen to have some experience writing about sports and entertainment, at least enough to record what I see with my own two eyes. Combining those two things just seemed natural.
There's another mind behind BoxingWatchers.com - the oldest of my younger siblings, who will post under the name Uatu (fanboys will get the reference). He's done a little bit of boxing training, actually been in the ring facing punches thrown in his direction. I have all kinds of respect for him for that. He's also a fountain of boxing facts - my friends call him Max Kellerman Jr. - and pretty opinionated. His contributions should be fun.
We don't have any insider access to the sport. You won't find sparring videos, exclusive interviews or press conference clips here. Those things are great, but others already have them covered.
What you will find here is observations and opinions on all the big fights, rankings, previews, predictions and anything else we might dream up. We may reference hip hop, comics and other pop culture, but for the most part, you'll find two passionate guys sharing the fan's-eye view of boxing.
And when I say share, we hope you'll throw your two cents in too. We just ask that you keep it somewhat clean and intelligent. Boxing fans sometimes have trouble with the former, but usually don't struggle with the latter, despite what some would have you think. If you just want to write "pbf is teh awesome," there are plenty of other places on the internet to do that.
If that sounds good to you, welcome to BoxingWatchers.com. We hope you'll keep visiting, and of course, keep watching too.
I can hear those questions in the voices of my friends. My closest friends are huge sports fans, but I can't talk to them about boxing. Some don't understand it, others are offended by the violence, and still others dismiss it as a dead sport. All of them have valid reasons.
Actually, scratch that last group. Boxing is not dead. You'd have to be pretty naive to think it's at its peak, or that it doesn't have problems. But it certainly still has life.
All you had to do was be present at the Jermain Taylor-Kelly Pavlik fight to get all the proof you'd need. If you walked the Atlantic City boardwalk and saw all the Team Pavlik t-shirts, if you stood outside the arena amidst all the anxious fans hours before the fight, if you watched one of your younger brothers - attending his first live fight - nearly scream himself hoarse, you'd certainly agree. I did all of those things, so I have to repeat: boxing is not dead.
The stick-and-ball sports produce plenty of drama, but they rarely match good boxing matches for tension. A fight can literally end at any moment, and it's difficult to find a parallel in any other sport. Overtime playoff hockey? Extra-inning baseball? Those probably come closest, but only after regulation play has come and gone. At its best, boxing can top any competitor for thrills.
Let's not kid ourselves, though. At it's worst, boxing can be boring. We're talking "early February NBA game, mid-second quarter" boring. Still, we watch, hoping for more of those Taylor-Pavlik moments. And I really mean it when we say "we," as you'd be hard pressed to find a more ethnically, socially and economically diverse group than boxing fans.
There are less of us today, no question. With MMA ascending to the pay-per-view throne, boxing is more of a niche sport now than it has been in years. That's a problem for the people who set up the fights, and some fans also fret about it. I say it doesn't matter how many of us there are, as long as long as we're enjoying and supporting the sweet science.
That brings us back to this site. I don't have any background writing about boxing, but I am a devoted fan. I also happen to have some experience writing about sports and entertainment, at least enough to record what I see with my own two eyes. Combining those two things just seemed natural.
There's another mind behind BoxingWatchers.com - the oldest of my younger siblings, who will post under the name Uatu (fanboys will get the reference). He's done a little bit of boxing training, actually been in the ring facing punches thrown in his direction. I have all kinds of respect for him for that. He's also a fountain of boxing facts - my friends call him Max Kellerman Jr. - and pretty opinionated. His contributions should be fun.
We don't have any insider access to the sport. You won't find sparring videos, exclusive interviews or press conference clips here. Those things are great, but others already have them covered.
What you will find here is observations and opinions on all the big fights, rankings, previews, predictions and anything else we might dream up. We may reference hip hop, comics and other pop culture, but for the most part, you'll find two passionate guys sharing the fan's-eye view of boxing.
And when I say share, we hope you'll throw your two cents in too. We just ask that you keep it somewhat clean and intelligent. Boxing fans sometimes have trouble with the former, but usually don't struggle with the latter, despite what some would have you think. If you just want to write "pbf is teh awesome," there are plenty of other places on the internet to do that.
If that sounds good to you, welcome to BoxingWatchers.com. We hope you'll keep visiting, and of course, keep watching too.
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