One of my recurring themes over the past few months has been repeatedly wishing that HBO and Showtime would stop counterprogramming each other with cards on the same nights, because it's not good for the health of the sport in the U.S.
I've been especially irritated about HBO insisting on putting fights on the same weekends as the second round robin fights of Showtime's Super Six World Boxing Classic. From a competitive standpoint, I understand why they're doing it, but I don't like it.
A few days ago, word came down that Andre Dirrell had a minor back injury, necessitating the move of his bout with Arthur Abraham from March 6 to March 27. Though that's never the kind of news you like to hear, the silver lining was that at least it got away from HBO's card on the 6th, a doubleheader featuring Devon Alexander-Juan Urango and Cory Spinks-Cornelius Bundrage.
I was happy for about five minutes. Then I remembered that HBO also has a broadcast all but set for the 27th, a card that looks even better than the previous one with Marcos Maidana facing Victor Cayo and Ali Funeka getting a well-deserved rematch with Joan Guzman. Crap.
I'm not blaming this one on HBO, as its plans for the 27th have been known for a little while (though as far as I can tell, there's no site finalized for that card - time to get cracking on that one, no?). And some of the congestion is due to HBO's ambitious boxing schedule for the next few months, something I wholeheartedly applaud.
Still, looking at the whole picture strictly from a fan's perspective, it stinks that none of these fights will get the spotlight they probably deserve, and that viewers will have to make choices multiple times this spring. I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that there's a little basketball tournament going on in late March too, which obviously will take some eyeballs away.
But it is what it is, I suppose. Let's move on to...
SHOE SHINING
As reported by various sources and confirmed by the Showtime Sports site, boxing is still on for March 6. Vic Darchinyan, who qualifies as must-see in my book, becomes the headliner as he steps in with Rodrigo Guerrero, and Lenny Zappavigna faces Fernando Angulo in a fight that was always on the card but wasn't originally going to be televised. Though the broadcast has been rebranded as a ShoBox show, props go to Showtime for keeping it at 9 pm Eastern instead of shoving it back to a later time...
Though it's been common knowledge for some time, it was only yesterday that Allan Green was confirmed as the next Super Six opponent for Andre Ward, making it "officially official," as I like to say. Green certainly isn't lacking for confidence, saying to the AP of his tournament foes, "I know I can beat any of them." That won't be ab easy task, but Green's power certainly makes him a livelier underdog than the man he replaced, Jermain Taylor...
In terms of "Stories I Wish Would Go Away," James Toney's continuing flirtation with MMA ranks right up near the top of the list. But I can't fault a guy for wanting to make a few extra bucks, especially these days, and The Ring's William Dettloff recently offered a well-written examination of why Lights Out shouldn't be blamed for that either.
Posted by The Franchise
Showing posts with label joan guzman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label joan guzman. Show all posts
30.11.09
20/20 Hindsight: How Lucian Bute Would Do in the Super Six, and Final Thoughts on the Guzman-Funeka Robbery
What a difference a year makes, eh?
I'm talking about the difference in Lucian Bute, who was fortunate to escape with a victory after getting knocked down late in the final round when he took on Librado Andrade last fall. He had no such drama this past Saturday, disposing of Andrade - a guy who says he actually enjoys taking punches - with a vicious body shot in the fourth round of their rematch.
There's much to like about Bute. He's got boxing skills, power and charisma, as evidenced by the fact that it reportedly took only an hour for folks in Quebec to gobble up all of the tickets to his most recent fight.
His performance also made me re-evaluate what a loss it is that he's not taking part in the Super Six World Boxing Classic against the rest of the world's top super middleweights. He supposedly was never asked, and though I didn't think it was a big deal a few months ago, perhaps it was a more glaring oversight than it first appeared.
Right now I'd like Bute to beat Jermain Taylor, Carl Froch and Andre Dirrell. Mikkel Kessler would be a stiffer test, but based on the form each man displayed this month, I'd lean toward Bute there too.
Would he beat Arthur Abraham or Andre Ward, each of whom looked sensational in his own way in the first stage of the Super Six? I don't know, but those would both be dynamite fights I'd gladly pay money to watch.
You could make a case that Bute is the top guy fighting at 168 pounds. BoxRec.com and Tim Starks at The Queensberry Rules already have.
I'm not sure I'd go that far just yet, but he's certainly in the discussion. Bute is definitely among the top six boxers in his weight class, so upon further review, it actually is a shame that he's not in the Super Six. Maybe he can take Taylor's place if/when he drops out...
My Final (And I Mean Final) Thoughts on Guzman-Funeka
I've already written extensively elsewhere on the decision handed down for the Guzman-Funeka fight. To sum up, I thought it was a horrible call to score only six rounds for the fighter that was coming forward, throwing and landing more punches, boxing at his preferred distance most of the time and, at least in the later rounds, displaying the more effective defense as well.
I don't often use the term robbery since scoring fights is so subjective (see: Froch-Dirrell), but it's fitting in this case. Several people hit me up on Twitter to point out that it was one Canadian and one American who turned in the 114-114 cards, while the second Canadian scored it 116-112 for Funeka.
Thanks for pointing that out, but it doesn't change the fact that even one 114-114 score was simply unacceptable. Nor does it change the perception that weird things seem to happen when championship fights are held in Canada. That might not be fair, but perception sometimes trumps reality, like it or not.
One additional observation: Funeka was very nearly the beneficiary of a bad call that would have won him the fight. Replays showed that the nasty cut near Guzman's right eye was opened by a clash of heads, not from a punch as the referee ruled. Had the cut stopped the fight, Funeka would have won because of that ruling.
Still, that was a judgment call that was easy to second-guess thanks to slow-motion replays. The judging was a lot harder to explain, and that's coming from someone who considers himself a Guzman fan and was rooting for him to return to top form.
He didn't deserve a draw. You have to feel bad for Funeka, who ventured to North America for the first time this year and fought his heart out twice, once making an argument that he should have won (against Nate Campbell) and once leaving no doubt he should have won.
Instead, he'll head back to South Africa with a 0-1-1 record in those fights and a bad taste in his mouth. I wouldn't blame him if he doesn't want to come back.
Posted by The Franchise
I'm talking about the difference in Lucian Bute, who was fortunate to escape with a victory after getting knocked down late in the final round when he took on Librado Andrade last fall. He had no such drama this past Saturday, disposing of Andrade - a guy who says he actually enjoys taking punches - with a vicious body shot in the fourth round of their rematch.
There's much to like about Bute. He's got boxing skills, power and charisma, as evidenced by the fact that it reportedly took only an hour for folks in Quebec to gobble up all of the tickets to his most recent fight.
His performance also made me re-evaluate what a loss it is that he's not taking part in the Super Six World Boxing Classic against the rest of the world's top super middleweights. He supposedly was never asked, and though I didn't think it was a big deal a few months ago, perhaps it was a more glaring oversight than it first appeared.
Right now I'd like Bute to beat Jermain Taylor, Carl Froch and Andre Dirrell. Mikkel Kessler would be a stiffer test, but based on the form each man displayed this month, I'd lean toward Bute there too.
Would he beat Arthur Abraham or Andre Ward, each of whom looked sensational in his own way in the first stage of the Super Six? I don't know, but those would both be dynamite fights I'd gladly pay money to watch.
You could make a case that Bute is the top guy fighting at 168 pounds. BoxRec.com and Tim Starks at The Queensberry Rules already have.
I'm not sure I'd go that far just yet, but he's certainly in the discussion. Bute is definitely among the top six boxers in his weight class, so upon further review, it actually is a shame that he's not in the Super Six. Maybe he can take Taylor's place if/when he drops out...
My Final (And I Mean Final) Thoughts on Guzman-Funeka
I've already written extensively elsewhere on the decision handed down for the Guzman-Funeka fight. To sum up, I thought it was a horrible call to score only six rounds for the fighter that was coming forward, throwing and landing more punches, boxing at his preferred distance most of the time and, at least in the later rounds, displaying the more effective defense as well.
I don't often use the term robbery since scoring fights is so subjective (see: Froch-Dirrell), but it's fitting in this case. Several people hit me up on Twitter to point out that it was one Canadian and one American who turned in the 114-114 cards, while the second Canadian scored it 116-112 for Funeka.
Thanks for pointing that out, but it doesn't change the fact that even one 114-114 score was simply unacceptable. Nor does it change the perception that weird things seem to happen when championship fights are held in Canada. That might not be fair, but perception sometimes trumps reality, like it or not.
One additional observation: Funeka was very nearly the beneficiary of a bad call that would have won him the fight. Replays showed that the nasty cut near Guzman's right eye was opened by a clash of heads, not from a punch as the referee ruled. Had the cut stopped the fight, Funeka would have won because of that ruling.
Still, that was a judgment call that was easy to second-guess thanks to slow-motion replays. The judging was a lot harder to explain, and that's coming from someone who considers himself a Guzman fan and was rooting for him to return to top form.
He didn't deserve a draw. You have to feel bad for Funeka, who ventured to North America for the first time this year and fought his heart out twice, once making an argument that he should have won (against Nate Campbell) and once leaving no doubt he should have won.
Instead, he'll head back to South Africa with a 0-1-1 record in those fights and a bad taste in his mouth. I wouldn't blame him if he doesn't want to come back.
Posted by The Franchise
28.11.09
Joan Guzman vs. Ali Funeka: Round By Round
HBO is on hand live from Canada for the first time in decades for Boxing After Dark. Bob Papa, Max Kellerman and Lennox Lewis are on hand to handle the commentary.
The big draw for this card from Quebec City is Lucian Bute, who takes on Librado Andrade for the second time in the main event. First up, though, is an intriguing lightweight bout between Joan Guzman and Ali Funeka.
The tale of the tape shows that Funeka is four inches taller but has just a slight reach advantage. He's also three pounds heavier after both fighters rehydrated overnight.
Guzman is 29-0 with 17 KOs, while Funeka is 30-2-2 with 25 KOs. This one is scheduled for 12 rounds for the vacant IBF lightweight title.
Michael Buffer handles the formal introductions and we're all set for action.
Round One
Funeka reaches with some jabs but Guzman backs him up. Ali covers up as Joan throws hooks and uppercuts. Jab by Funeka is answered by a Guzman hook. Guzman goes to the body and steps away from the counter. Funeka covers up to ride out another flurry and does land the counter this time. Guzman's movement has Funeka off balance and he lands a short left. He tries some clubbing shots in close as his foe tries more jabs.
Franchise: 10-9 Guzman
Uatu: 10-9 Guzman
Round Two
Guzman is dodging most of Funeka's jabs, and he answers with a body-head combo. Big swing with a right hook by Guzman, and it just misses. Funeka eats a left hook and both men try some feints. Ali can't get anything to land behind his jabs. Guzman crouches very low to avoid punches and connects with his own body shots. He lands two more to the body in the closing seconds.
Franchise: 10-9 Guzman
Uatu: 10-9 Guzman
Round Three
Lewis wants Funeka to throw multiple jabs, but I'm not sure that will work. More body work and a right hand upstairs from Guzman. Funeka is missing a very high percentage of his shots right now. Ali tries about four jabs in a row. Blood is coming from Guzman's nose as both men get their feet tangled and they tumble down. Right hand by Funeka and a double jab. Funeka reaches for a right hand late.
Franchise: 10-9 Funeka
Uatu: 10-9 Guzman
Round Four
Harold Lederman gave the last round to Funeka. Guzman tries to charge in behind his own jab. Guzman lands a right to the body and Funeka goes down, but it looked like and is ruled a slip. Guzman scores with a right and tries to get in close again. They trade and Guzman lands the harder punch. Quick one-two by Guzman and Funeka responds with a counter right. Blood is really streaming from near Guzman's right eye. Nice action in the corner right before the bell.
Franchise: 10-9 Guzman
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka
Round Five
Replays sure made it look like the cut was caused by a clash of heads, but the ref told the HBO crew it was caused by a punch. Guzman charges out of his corner quite aggressively, perhaps realizing the cut will be a factor. Funeka uses his jab to keep his man at a distance. Left hook by Funeka. Two big rights knock Guzman back a step. Funeka tries to close in and eats a pretty sharp right. Guzman steps into another right hand as the action heats up. Funeka jabs and they tie up. Left-right combo by Ali snaps his foe's head around.
Franchise: 10-9 Funeka
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka
Round Six
Funeka's accuracy is much better than it was at the start of the fight. Short left by Guzman but Funeka drives him back. Joan absorbs a left and tries to force a slugfest. Guzman throws body shots and gets tied up quickly. Nice right hand counter by Guzman. Double jab by Funeka. Four punches in a row come in with no answer from Guzman. They stand and trade and the fans enjoy it.
Franchise: 10-9 Funeka
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka
Round Seven
Guzman's trunks have turned very red thanks to all of his bleeding. Funeka keeps popping him with the jab. He's also more active than Guzman at this point. Funeka's footwork has improved as well. Guzman tries the body along the ropes and Funeka has to pivot his way out. Funeka lands a right hand and tries two left uppercuts. Guzman lands his own uppercut and Funeka responds with a hook.
Franchise: 10-9 Funeka
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka
Round Eight
Guzman bulls his way in and goes right to the body. Funeka steadies himself and goes back to his jab. The crowd responds as they exchange in the middle of the ring. Both men score with right hands as they lean on each other. The ref finally pulls them apart but they go right back to work. Funeka uses a right and some left uppercuts. Guzman is staggered by a rught with 20 seconds left in the round.
Franchise: 10-9 Funeka
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka
Round Nine
Guzman backs right to the ropes as Funeka comes forward. Multiple jabs from Funeka and a right to the body. Guzman dodges a bunch of shots as he tries to get off body shots. They bang away from super close range. The ref finally pulls them apart. Guzman does a lot of retreating without much punching. A final combination from Funeka should seal up the round.
Franchise: 10-9 Funeka
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka
Round 10
The blood looks like it may be a problem again for Joan. He barely avoids a big right as he backs away. A series of hooks crash into Guzman again. Funeka jabs and swipes with a left hook. Body and head work and not much coming back from Guzman. Funeka pops him a few more times as they rotate around the ring. Guzman looks like he may be out of answers.
Franchise: 10-9 Funeka
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka
Round 11
I'm thinking Guzman will need a knockout to win. He covers up as Funeka keeps up a steady output. Shoe shining by Funeka sets up a nice left. Guzman deserves credit for trying to swing for the fences. Funeka shoves him back with his left arm and goes back to work. Guzman eats a sharp right but throws his own power punches along the ropes. Funeka keeps tattooing him, giving him no room to breathe.
Franchise: 10-9 Funeka
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka
Round 12
The fighters touch gloves before the final round. Guzman tries rushing Funeka but to no avail. Funeka gets the better of an exchange, but Guzman comes back with a wide right hand. The ref is busy here. Good one-two combo upstairs by Joan. Funeka is getting hit but not flush. The fans respond as both men swing, and we'll go to the scorecards.
Franchise: 10-9 Guzman
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka
Franchise scores it 116-112 Funeka. Uatu scores it 117-111 Funeka. The judges score it 114-114 twice and 116-112 Funeka. The fight is a draw and the IBF lightweight title remains vacant.
Max Kellerman and Lennox Lewis are quite surprised, and Lederman says there is "no doubt this is a bad decision." Funeka's pormoter Gary Shaw is giving multiple people an earful as he's pretty upset. Papa questions the competency of the Canadian judges.
Max congratulates Funeka, who not surprisingly thinks he won the fight. The fans cheer in approval. Funeka says he doesn't even know what to say about the decision.
Posted by The Franchise
The big draw for this card from Quebec City is Lucian Bute, who takes on Librado Andrade for the second time in the main event. First up, though, is an intriguing lightweight bout between Joan Guzman and Ali Funeka.
The tale of the tape shows that Funeka is four inches taller but has just a slight reach advantage. He's also three pounds heavier after both fighters rehydrated overnight.
Guzman is 29-0 with 17 KOs, while Funeka is 30-2-2 with 25 KOs. This one is scheduled for 12 rounds for the vacant IBF lightweight title.
Michael Buffer handles the formal introductions and we're all set for action.
Round One
Funeka reaches with some jabs but Guzman backs him up. Ali covers up as Joan throws hooks and uppercuts. Jab by Funeka is answered by a Guzman hook. Guzman goes to the body and steps away from the counter. Funeka covers up to ride out another flurry and does land the counter this time. Guzman's movement has Funeka off balance and he lands a short left. He tries some clubbing shots in close as his foe tries more jabs.
Franchise: 10-9 Guzman
Uatu: 10-9 Guzman
Round Two
Guzman is dodging most of Funeka's jabs, and he answers with a body-head combo. Big swing with a right hook by Guzman, and it just misses. Funeka eats a left hook and both men try some feints. Ali can't get anything to land behind his jabs. Guzman crouches very low to avoid punches and connects with his own body shots. He lands two more to the body in the closing seconds.
Franchise: 10-9 Guzman
Uatu: 10-9 Guzman
Round Three
Lewis wants Funeka to throw multiple jabs, but I'm not sure that will work. More body work and a right hand upstairs from Guzman. Funeka is missing a very high percentage of his shots right now. Ali tries about four jabs in a row. Blood is coming from Guzman's nose as both men get their feet tangled and they tumble down. Right hand by Funeka and a double jab. Funeka reaches for a right hand late.
Franchise: 10-9 Funeka
Uatu: 10-9 Guzman
Round Four
Harold Lederman gave the last round to Funeka. Guzman tries to charge in behind his own jab. Guzman lands a right to the body and Funeka goes down, but it looked like and is ruled a slip. Guzman scores with a right and tries to get in close again. They trade and Guzman lands the harder punch. Quick one-two by Guzman and Funeka responds with a counter right. Blood is really streaming from near Guzman's right eye. Nice action in the corner right before the bell.
Franchise: 10-9 Guzman
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka
Round Five
Replays sure made it look like the cut was caused by a clash of heads, but the ref told the HBO crew it was caused by a punch. Guzman charges out of his corner quite aggressively, perhaps realizing the cut will be a factor. Funeka uses his jab to keep his man at a distance. Left hook by Funeka. Two big rights knock Guzman back a step. Funeka tries to close in and eats a pretty sharp right. Guzman steps into another right hand as the action heats up. Funeka jabs and they tie up. Left-right combo by Ali snaps his foe's head around.
Franchise: 10-9 Funeka
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka
Round Six
Funeka's accuracy is much better than it was at the start of the fight. Short left by Guzman but Funeka drives him back. Joan absorbs a left and tries to force a slugfest. Guzman throws body shots and gets tied up quickly. Nice right hand counter by Guzman. Double jab by Funeka. Four punches in a row come in with no answer from Guzman. They stand and trade and the fans enjoy it.
Franchise: 10-9 Funeka
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka
Round Seven
Guzman's trunks have turned very red thanks to all of his bleeding. Funeka keeps popping him with the jab. He's also more active than Guzman at this point. Funeka's footwork has improved as well. Guzman tries the body along the ropes and Funeka has to pivot his way out. Funeka lands a right hand and tries two left uppercuts. Guzman lands his own uppercut and Funeka responds with a hook.
Franchise: 10-9 Funeka
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka
Round Eight
Guzman bulls his way in and goes right to the body. Funeka steadies himself and goes back to his jab. The crowd responds as they exchange in the middle of the ring. Both men score with right hands as they lean on each other. The ref finally pulls them apart but they go right back to work. Funeka uses a right and some left uppercuts. Guzman is staggered by a rught with 20 seconds left in the round.
Franchise: 10-9 Funeka
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka
Round Nine
Guzman backs right to the ropes as Funeka comes forward. Multiple jabs from Funeka and a right to the body. Guzman dodges a bunch of shots as he tries to get off body shots. They bang away from super close range. The ref finally pulls them apart. Guzman does a lot of retreating without much punching. A final combination from Funeka should seal up the round.
Franchise: 10-9 Funeka
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka
Round 10
The blood looks like it may be a problem again for Joan. He barely avoids a big right as he backs away. A series of hooks crash into Guzman again. Funeka jabs and swipes with a left hook. Body and head work and not much coming back from Guzman. Funeka pops him a few more times as they rotate around the ring. Guzman looks like he may be out of answers.
Franchise: 10-9 Funeka
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka
Round 11
I'm thinking Guzman will need a knockout to win. He covers up as Funeka keeps up a steady output. Shoe shining by Funeka sets up a nice left. Guzman deserves credit for trying to swing for the fences. Funeka shoves him back with his left arm and goes back to work. Guzman eats a sharp right but throws his own power punches along the ropes. Funeka keeps tattooing him, giving him no room to breathe.
Franchise: 10-9 Funeka
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka
Round 12
The fighters touch gloves before the final round. Guzman tries rushing Funeka but to no avail. Funeka gets the better of an exchange, but Guzman comes back with a wide right hand. The ref is busy here. Good one-two combo upstairs by Joan. Funeka is getting hit but not flush. The fans respond as both men swing, and we'll go to the scorecards.
Franchise: 10-9 Guzman
Uatu: 10-9 Funeka
Franchise scores it 116-112 Funeka. Uatu scores it 117-111 Funeka. The judges score it 114-114 twice and 116-112 Funeka. The fight is a draw and the IBF lightweight title remains vacant.
Max Kellerman and Lennox Lewis are quite surprised, and Lederman says there is "no doubt this is a bad decision." Funeka's pormoter Gary Shaw is giving multiple people an earful as he's pretty upset. Papa questions the competency of the Canadian judges.
Max congratulates Funeka, who not surprisingly thinks he won the fight. The fans cheer in approval. Funeka says he doesn't even know what to say about the decision.
Posted by The Franchise
Live Bute-Andrade II and Guzman-Funeka Round By Round Updates Tonight
It's tough to squeeze in blogging about boxing during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. There are family obligations aplenty and much leftover turkey to be eaten.
Nevertheless, some combination of the BoxingWatchers will be doing our thing for HBO's Boxing After Dark broadcast tonight. If you can't watch Lucian Bute in his rematch with Librado Andrade or see Joan Guzman return to the ring to take on tough Ali Funeka, join us here for our take on the action as it happens.
Out on the home page we'll have separate posts for each fight. The televised portion of the card from Quebec City should get underway shortly after 10 pm Eastern, so bookmark us for later on tonight.
Posted by The Franchise
Nevertheless, some combination of the BoxingWatchers will be doing our thing for HBO's Boxing After Dark broadcast tonight. If you can't watch Lucian Bute in his rematch with Librado Andrade or see Joan Guzman return to the ring to take on tough Ali Funeka, join us here for our take on the action as it happens.
Out on the home page we'll have separate posts for each fight. The televised portion of the card from Quebec City should get underway shortly after 10 pm Eastern, so bookmark us for later on tonight.
Posted by The Franchise
27.11.09
Lucian Bute-Librado Andrade II and Joan Guzman-Ali Funeka: Predictions
The Franchise says...
Last time Lucian Bute and Librado Andrade met, things were going Bute's way for almost the entire fight. And by that I mean until the last few seconds of the 12th and final round.
After outboxing the more aggressive but less effective Andrade in almost every round, Bute got either a bit tired or a bit brave and ended up trading with his challenger. He came out on the wrong end of the exchange and needed what seemed like a lot more than ten seconds to "beat" the count and hold onto his super middleweight title.
Andrade's team must not have been too upset over the perception that Bute (who's originally from Romania but resides in Montreal) was bailed out by home cooking, because he's headed back to Quebec for Saturday's rematch. Quebec City will be the site this time, but the fans should still be solidly behind Bute.
There's really nothing to suggest this fight will go too much differently than the first one. Andrade needs to find a way to land more punches while he's pressuring Bute, but while the IBF titleholder is sometimes around to be hit, he's much faster and just slick enough not to lose too many rounds.
Expect the tough and persistent Andrade, who's never been knocked out, to be around until the end. But unless Bute experiences another late-fight case of fatigue or bravado (take your pick), he should retain his title by unanimous decision.
The co-feature on HBO's Boxing After Dark broadcast has the potential to outshine the main event. Joan Guzman and Ali Funeka will do battle for the vacant IBF lightweight title in a bout where both boxers likely feel they have something to prove.
Aside from Kelly Pavlik, there's probably no more star-crossed top contender in any weight class than Guzman. He was all set to take on Nate Campbell in August of 2008, but failed to make weight and ended up not fighting at all after doctors decided his efforts to cut would have endangered him.
Earlier this year Guzman's name was thrown around as a possible opponent for 140-pound champ Timothy Bradley, but that fight never materialized. Whether he's at fault or not, the former super bantamweight and super featherweight titleholder has fought just twice in the last 35 months.
Funeka, meanwhile, was pretty much an unknown quantity outside his native South Africa until this past February, when he gave Campbell all he could handle before dropping a majority decision. He's tall, strong and very active, and he's certainly capable of bringing it to Guzman for 12 rounds.
This is a tough call to make because of the uncertainty over what version of Guzman will enter the ring on Saturday. He's always had quick hands and slippery defense, but ring rust and stamina are concerns. It's also fair to wonder if he'll have enough pop to keep Funeka honest, as he's never been a huge puncher (his last eight wins all came on the scorecards) even in lower weight classes.
If Guzman looks anything like he has in his best form, his speed, accuracy and defense should be a package that is too much for Funeka. Anything less and the man known as Rush Hour wins. This pick is made without a ton of conviction, but this writer likes Guzman to take a narrow decision by rediscovering some of his old magic, leaving Funeka to once again agonize over how close he came to a big win.
Posted by The Franchise
Last time Lucian Bute and Librado Andrade met, things were going Bute's way for almost the entire fight. And by that I mean until the last few seconds of the 12th and final round.
After outboxing the more aggressive but less effective Andrade in almost every round, Bute got either a bit tired or a bit brave and ended up trading with his challenger. He came out on the wrong end of the exchange and needed what seemed like a lot more than ten seconds to "beat" the count and hold onto his super middleweight title.
Andrade's team must not have been too upset over the perception that Bute (who's originally from Romania but resides in Montreal) was bailed out by home cooking, because he's headed back to Quebec for Saturday's rematch. Quebec City will be the site this time, but the fans should still be solidly behind Bute.
There's really nothing to suggest this fight will go too much differently than the first one. Andrade needs to find a way to land more punches while he's pressuring Bute, but while the IBF titleholder is sometimes around to be hit, he's much faster and just slick enough not to lose too many rounds.
Expect the tough and persistent Andrade, who's never been knocked out, to be around until the end. But unless Bute experiences another late-fight case of fatigue or bravado (take your pick), he should retain his title by unanimous decision.
The co-feature on HBO's Boxing After Dark broadcast has the potential to outshine the main event. Joan Guzman and Ali Funeka will do battle for the vacant IBF lightweight title in a bout where both boxers likely feel they have something to prove.
Aside from Kelly Pavlik, there's probably no more star-crossed top contender in any weight class than Guzman. He was all set to take on Nate Campbell in August of 2008, but failed to make weight and ended up not fighting at all after doctors decided his efforts to cut would have endangered him.
Earlier this year Guzman's name was thrown around as a possible opponent for 140-pound champ Timothy Bradley, but that fight never materialized. Whether he's at fault or not, the former super bantamweight and super featherweight titleholder has fought just twice in the last 35 months.
Funeka, meanwhile, was pretty much an unknown quantity outside his native South Africa until this past February, when he gave Campbell all he could handle before dropping a majority decision. He's tall, strong and very active, and he's certainly capable of bringing it to Guzman for 12 rounds.
This is a tough call to make because of the uncertainty over what version of Guzman will enter the ring on Saturday. He's always had quick hands and slippery defense, but ring rust and stamina are concerns. It's also fair to wonder if he'll have enough pop to keep Funeka honest, as he's never been a huge puncher (his last eight wins all came on the scorecards) even in lower weight classes.
If Guzman looks anything like he has in his best form, his speed, accuracy and defense should be a package that is too much for Funeka. Anything less and the man known as Rush Hour wins. This pick is made without a ton of conviction, but this writer likes Guzman to take a narrow decision by rediscovering some of his old magic, leaving Funeka to once again agonize over how close he came to a big win.
Posted by The Franchise
26.5.09
20-20 Hindsight Holiday Edition: Thoughts on Upcoming Fights and the Riddle of Andre Berto
Hopefully all American BW readers are finishing up a pleasant Memorial Day weekend. I personally find it to be one of the more meaningful U.S. holidays, as it commemorates the sacrifices made by the men and women who died defending our country - and though neither died in action, both of my grandfathers served, and I think of them both on this day.
With no big fight to look back on, I'm looking ahead to several fights either recently announced or in the works, most of which come courtesy of ESPN's Dan Rafael and the holiday edition of his notebook:
Zab Judah vs. Matthew Hatton - July 18 (on Floyd Mayweather-Juan Manuel Marquez PPV undercard) - Though Zab (or whoever masquerades as Zab) Twittered not that long ago that he'd be facing Randall Bailey, he's ended up instead with Matthew Hatton, younger brother of Ricky Hatton.
Though no one will confuse Matt with his older sibling, he's fought more times in the U.S. than the Hitman had at a similar career point and has acquitted himself fairly well. He doesn't have a ton of power (just 14 KOs in 37 career wins), and one suspects he'll come up short in the hand speed department against Judah too.
The question with Zab, as always, is which version of him we'll get. If he's in good shape and his head is screwed on straight, he should win. Those are no guarantees, so this is a semi-intriguing undercard scrap.
Timothy Bradley vs. Joan Guzman - August or September - Bradley puts his 140-pound WBO belt on the line against Guzman, who's fought mostly at 130 pounds but has had trouble making weight even at 135 (as Nate Campbell can attest) and has been talking about continuing to move up.
Though Bradley keeps finding ways to win, this may be a tough defense as Guzman has a lot of skills. I'll even go out on a slight limb and say he may prove to have more power as he moves up a la JMM, as both guys now seem like they just killed themselves a little too long trying to make lower weights.
An interesting sidenote is that Rafael mentions that Bradley didn't want to face Devon Alexander, which is unfortunate as that had the makings of a good fight. The WBC title is now vacant as a result, and Alexander will take on Junior Witter for that one on July 11 as part of the Vic Darchinyan-Joseph Agbeko undercard.
Chad Dawson vs. Glen Johnson II - Fall - For the record, I scored the first fight between these two gentlemen one point closer than the official cards. But I still thought Dawson won, and I don't agree with Johnson or some fans I heard from who felt like he was robbed.
Close fight? Absolutely. Miscarriage of justice? Uh, no.
That being said, it's ironic that Dawson and his team weren't interested in a rematch until his two unexciting victories over Antonio Tarver suddenly made this into his most lucrative option. Boxing is funny that way sometimes.
There are easier ways to earn a living than going 12 rounds with Johnson, that's for sure.
Tomasz Adamek vs. Bernard Hopkins - Early 2010? - B-Hop continues to amaze, and Adamek is limited though definitely powerful and tough as nails. So perhaps this is right in Bernard's wheelhouse.
It's worth noting, though, that Hopkins will be 45 by the time this fight rolls around if it really is headed for the first part of 2010, and he'll have been off for over a year at that point (Adamek will fight someone this July 10). Not even the Executioner can fight off Father Time forever.
Ultimately, this quote from Rafael sums up the reason for this fight perfectly:
Switching gears to someone who is definitely fighting this coming Saturday, I wanted to recommend Eric Raskin's recent examination of Andre Berto on The Ring Blog. His main theme is that there are people who feel Berto is overrated and others who think he is underrated, and Raskin decides he leans toward the latter camp.
Andre certainly has become a polarizing figure among boxing fans, and his critics seem to have gathered renewed strength after he went life-and-death with Luis Collazo in January - as if that was something that should shame him somehow.
Berto tells Raskin that he is anxious to get back to knocking people out. And it is nice to hear boxers express a desire to entertain as well as win.
But I find myself agreeing most with the author when he asks exactly what Berto's detractors are expecting. Yes he hasn't fought tons of tough opponents, but he's young and has been a pro for less than five years.
His defense has holes, though as Manny Pacquiao has shown, those can be patched up even later in one's career. He might not be ready for the Shane Mosleys and the Miguel Cottos of the world right this second, but it's not hard to see him at that level by, say, 2011.
As a frame of reference, BoxRec.com has Berto ranked fourth among welterweights, behind Mosley, Antonio Margarito and Cotto but ahead of the likes of Joshua Clottey, Sebastian Lujuan, Alfonso Gomez, Isaac Hlatshwayo and Judah. With the exception of maybe Clottey, that seems about right to me.
Posted by The Franchise
With no big fight to look back on, I'm looking ahead to several fights either recently announced or in the works, most of which come courtesy of ESPN's Dan Rafael and the holiday edition of his notebook:
Zab Judah vs. Matthew Hatton - July 18 (on Floyd Mayweather-Juan Manuel Marquez PPV undercard) - Though Zab (or whoever masquerades as Zab) Twittered not that long ago that he'd be facing Randall Bailey, he's ended up instead with Matthew Hatton, younger brother of Ricky Hatton.
Though no one will confuse Matt with his older sibling, he's fought more times in the U.S. than the Hitman had at a similar career point and has acquitted himself fairly well. He doesn't have a ton of power (just 14 KOs in 37 career wins), and one suspects he'll come up short in the hand speed department against Judah too.
The question with Zab, as always, is which version of him we'll get. If he's in good shape and his head is screwed on straight, he should win. Those are no guarantees, so this is a semi-intriguing undercard scrap.
Timothy Bradley vs. Joan Guzman - August or September - Bradley puts his 140-pound WBO belt on the line against Guzman, who's fought mostly at 130 pounds but has had trouble making weight even at 135 (as Nate Campbell can attest) and has been talking about continuing to move up.
Though Bradley keeps finding ways to win, this may be a tough defense as Guzman has a lot of skills. I'll even go out on a slight limb and say he may prove to have more power as he moves up a la JMM, as both guys now seem like they just killed themselves a little too long trying to make lower weights.
An interesting sidenote is that Rafael mentions that Bradley didn't want to face Devon Alexander, which is unfortunate as that had the makings of a good fight. The WBC title is now vacant as a result, and Alexander will take on Junior Witter for that one on July 11 as part of the Vic Darchinyan-Joseph Agbeko undercard.
Chad Dawson vs. Glen Johnson II - Fall - For the record, I scored the first fight between these two gentlemen one point closer than the official cards. But I still thought Dawson won, and I don't agree with Johnson or some fans I heard from who felt like he was robbed.
Close fight? Absolutely. Miscarriage of justice? Uh, no.
That being said, it's ironic that Dawson and his team weren't interested in a rematch until his two unexciting victories over Antonio Tarver suddenly made this into his most lucrative option. Boxing is funny that way sometimes.
There are easier ways to earn a living than going 12 rounds with Johnson, that's for sure.
Tomasz Adamek vs. Bernard Hopkins - Early 2010? - B-Hop continues to amaze, and Adamek is limited though definitely powerful and tough as nails. So perhaps this is right in Bernard's wheelhouse.
It's worth noting, though, that Hopkins will be 45 by the time this fight rolls around if it really is headed for the first part of 2010, and he'll have been off for over a year at that point (Adamek will fight someone this July 10). Not even the Executioner can fight off Father Time forever.
Ultimately, this quote from Rafael sums up the reason for this fight perfectly:
"Adamek and Hopkins seem to need each other at this point to produce their biggest payday."
Switching gears to someone who is definitely fighting this coming Saturday, I wanted to recommend Eric Raskin's recent examination of Andre Berto on The Ring Blog. His main theme is that there are people who feel Berto is overrated and others who think he is underrated, and Raskin decides he leans toward the latter camp.
Andre certainly has become a polarizing figure among boxing fans, and his critics seem to have gathered renewed strength after he went life-and-death with Luis Collazo in January - as if that was something that should shame him somehow.
Berto tells Raskin that he is anxious to get back to knocking people out. And it is nice to hear boxers express a desire to entertain as well as win.
But I find myself agreeing most with the author when he asks exactly what Berto's detractors are expecting. Yes he hasn't fought tons of tough opponents, but he's young and has been a pro for less than five years.
His defense has holes, though as Manny Pacquiao has shown, those can be patched up even later in one's career. He might not be ready for the Shane Mosleys and the Miguel Cottos of the world right this second, but it's not hard to see him at that level by, say, 2011.
As a frame of reference, BoxRec.com has Berto ranked fourth among welterweights, behind Mosley, Antonio Margarito and Cotto but ahead of the likes of Joshua Clottey, Sebastian Lujuan, Alfonso Gomez, Isaac Hlatshwayo and Judah. With the exception of maybe Clottey, that seems about right to me.
Posted by The Franchise
14.2.09
Franchise Thoughts: Irony Abounds as Nate Campbell Loses Belts on the Scale
Nate Campbell had some harsh words for Joan Guzman after their scheduled fight last September fell apart because Guzman failed to make weight. Among other things, Campbell pointed out how unprofessional it was for a boxer to know what is expected of him and then fail to do it.
I thought Campbell was in the right to call out Guzman at the time, and you could hardly blame the guy for being a little bitter. The missed paycheck couldn't have come at a worse time for him personally, and he filed for bankruptcy shortly thereafter.
Campbell may have surrendered the moral high ground Friday, though, as he failed to make weight for his lightweight title defense against Ali Funeka. After first tipping the scales three pounds over the 135-pound limit, he tried again two hours later and had dropped only half a pound.
Unlike the Guzman fight, this one is still going forward. But it won't be a championship bout, and the Galaxxy Warrior won't even be able to call himself a champion now that the IBF and WBO have all stripped him of his titles. You have to wonder if the fight will even anchor HBO's tripleheader at this point.
It's hard to think of a boxer who's experienced a wilder range of highs and lows over the past 12 months than Campbell. He became the lightweight champion last March by earning a thrilling 12-round decision over Juan Diaz and got married later in the year. Those events were contrasted by the Guzman debacle, the bankruptcy, and now this.
Campbell has looked like his own worst enemy before, like during his 2004 loss to Robbie Peden when he was famously knocked out while showboating. He's made all the requisite comments about lessons learned in the years since then, which makes it all the more puzzling that he'd end up in a position like this just as his career finally seemed to have taken off.
Despite his missteps, Campbell has always been someone who was easy to get behind. He's been a straight shooter in interviews while coming across as a well-grounded regular guy. He's fought in a crowd-pleasing style and carried himself as someone with a strong work ethic and a real love for the game.
Those positives are now in real danger of being washed away. By failing to make weight, Campbell has not only endangered his prospects of big fights over the next year or two - no small deal since he turns 37 in a few weeks - but also made himself look unreliable and hypocritical after the way he dressed down Guzman. And to me, that's worse.
The book hasn't been closed yet on Campbell's career, but this latest turn of events sure has made it take on a gloomier tone as the pages wind down. By the looks of things, he's going to need to look in the mirror and decide for himself how badly he wants it to have a happy ending.
I thought Campbell was in the right to call out Guzman at the time, and you could hardly blame the guy for being a little bitter. The missed paycheck couldn't have come at a worse time for him personally, and he filed for bankruptcy shortly thereafter.
Campbell may have surrendered the moral high ground Friday, though, as he failed to make weight for his lightweight title defense against Ali Funeka. After first tipping the scales three pounds over the 135-pound limit, he tried again two hours later and had dropped only half a pound.
Unlike the Guzman fight, this one is still going forward. But it won't be a championship bout, and the Galaxxy Warrior won't even be able to call himself a champion now that the IBF and WBO have all stripped him of his titles. You have to wonder if the fight will even anchor HBO's tripleheader at this point.
It's hard to think of a boxer who's experienced a wilder range of highs and lows over the past 12 months than Campbell. He became the lightweight champion last March by earning a thrilling 12-round decision over Juan Diaz and got married later in the year. Those events were contrasted by the Guzman debacle, the bankruptcy, and now this.
Campbell has looked like his own worst enemy before, like during his 2004 loss to Robbie Peden when he was famously knocked out while showboating. He's made all the requisite comments about lessons learned in the years since then, which makes it all the more puzzling that he'd end up in a position like this just as his career finally seemed to have taken off.
Despite his missteps, Campbell has always been someone who was easy to get behind. He's been a straight shooter in interviews while coming across as a well-grounded regular guy. He's fought in a crowd-pleasing style and carried himself as someone with a strong work ethic and a real love for the game.
Those positives are now in real danger of being washed away. By failing to make weight, Campbell has not only endangered his prospects of big fights over the next year or two - no small deal since he turns 37 in a few weeks - but also made himself look unreliable and hypocritical after the way he dressed down Guzman. And to me, that's worse.
The book hasn't been closed yet on Campbell's career, but this latest turn of events sure has made it take on a gloomier tone as the pages wind down. By the looks of things, he's going to need to look in the mirror and decide for himself how badly he wants it to have a happy ending.
13.9.08
Campbell-Guzman Fight is Off
I was looking forward to doing round by round for the lightweight clash between Nate Campbell and Joan Guzman, but at the top of the Showtime telecast, it was announced that due to trouble making weight and "health issues" for Guzman, the fight has been canceled.
That leaves the Timothy Bradley-Edner Cherry fight as the centerpiece of tonight's show-not the best of circumstances for Showtime. We've been promised more details in the broadcast.
UPDATE:Guzman never made weight and did not return to the scale two hours after the initial weigh-in for a second attempt. He said through his translator last night that he's not sure how it happened-perhaps due to a supplement. Asked if it would be safe for him to fight, Guzman said he'd try to do it.
The Showtime crew repeats reports that Guzman came into camp over 30 pounds overweight, and it was decided that it wasn't safe for him to fight.
Campbell says he would have fought him overweight and he's very disappointed. He has an IBF mandatory, but he feels like he'll go back to the drawing board and doesn't care who he fights. Nate also says he doesn't have his check and he's sure that will be the next fight. He closes by saying he has nothing to say to Guzman, just that he fulfilled his end of the bargain and everyone can see what happened.
That leaves the Timothy Bradley-Edner Cherry fight as the centerpiece of tonight's show-not the best of circumstances for Showtime. We've been promised more details in the broadcast.
UPDATE:Guzman never made weight and did not return to the scale two hours after the initial weigh-in for a second attempt. He said through his translator last night that he's not sure how it happened-perhaps due to a supplement. Asked if it would be safe for him to fight, Guzman said he'd try to do it.
The Showtime crew repeats reports that Guzman came into camp over 30 pounds overweight, and it was decided that it wasn't safe for him to fight.
Campbell says he would have fought him overweight and he's very disappointed. He has an IBF mandatory, but he feels like he'll go back to the drawing board and doesn't care who he fights. Nate also says he doesn't have his check and he's sure that will be the next fight. He closes by saying he has nothing to say to Guzman, just that he fulfilled his end of the bargain and everyone can see what happened.
Live Round By Round Updates Tonight: Casamayor-Marquez, Mora-Forrest and Campbell-Guzman
With plenty of boxing on the air tonight, Spartan117 and I are pulling double duty to do live round by round updates. He'll handle the pay-per-view card that no one really wants to pay for, featuring Joel Casamayor and Juan Manuel Marquez battling for The Ring lightweight championship and Sergio Mora in a rematch with Vernon Forrest.
I'll be watching Nate Campbell and Joan Guzman attempt to untangle the other big part of the lightweight picture on Showtime. As always, if you aren't able to watch the fights on TV, bookmark BoxingWatchers.com to get fast, live updates as the action goes down.
I'll be watching Nate Campbell and Joan Guzman attempt to untangle the other big part of the lightweight picture on Showtime. As always, if you aren't able to watch the fights on TV, bookmark BoxingWatchers.com to get fast, live updates as the action goes down.
12.9.08
Predictions: Campbell-Guzman, Casamayor-Marquez, Mora-Forrest
The Franchise says...
It's a little bit of everything on the boxing schedule this Saturday with a championship bout on Showtime and a pay-per-view card - at least in the sense that viewers are being paid to watch - that kind of, sort of has two championships at stake.
In Mississippi, Nate Campbell defends his three lightweight titles against undefeated Joan Guzman, who follows in the footsteps of Manny Pacquiao by making the jump from 130 to 135. Campbell shouldn't be lacking for motivation after he won his belts in impressive fashion against Juan Diaz, who was also undefeated at the time. He's also miffed about:
1) The Ring magazine choosing to recognize the Joel Casamayor-Juan Manuel Marquez winner as the lightweight champ.
2) Getting mocked by Guzman and his people for supposedly ducking him - even though Guzman had yet to fight at lightweight - and even making fun of his recent wedding photos.
Guzman has a slick arsenal on offense and defense and comes into the bout off of two easy decision wins. He's not known for his power and Campbell proved in the Diaz fight he can take shots from anyone not named Robbie Peden, but it's possible Guzman may be able to consistently beat him to the punch.
Still, Campbell also showed adaptability during his fight with Diaz, a trait sometimes lacking in even top-notch fighters. The Galaxxy Warrior was able to get the better of the Baby Bull while standing and trading in the early rounds, then box judiciously in the second half of the fight. He's got the edge in experience and should have more power when he tracks Guzman down.
It's hard to pick against a talented undefeated fighter like Guzman, but my gut tells me Campbell will find a way to win. I'm taking Campbell to retain by decision.
As for that Casamayor-Marquez fight, it's going down at almost the same time in Las Vegas. While the card isn't too bad, the most intriguing angle may be seeing how many people actually shell out money to watch it. They're championship fighters, yes, but PPV draws? I think not.
Casamayor is especially lucky to be in this position. He deserves props for coming off the canvas to knock out Aussie slugger Michael Katsidis last time out, but many observers thought he was the beneficiary of a gift decision over Jose Armando Santa Cruz the fight before that. It's hard to count the veteran lefty out against anyone, but his record against top flight competition over the last five years or so is only about .500.
A frustrated Marquez makes his move to lightweight after his March loss to Pacquiao made him winless in two fights against Pacman, both of which were so close that he could legitimately feel he won them. He's got the edge in pure skill, so his biggest problems will be if the step up to 135 robs him of his pop or if those grueling rounds with Manny exacted a toll. Despite being Casamayor's junior by two years, he actually has a lot more miles on the odometer.
I'm not sure how many people will be watching, but this one could be interesting. The feeling here is that while you aren't exactly sure what you're going to get from Casamayor, you know JMM is going to be sharp. Joel will hang tough, but I like Marquez by late-round KO.
The co-feature in Vegas is a rematch between Sergio Mora and Vernon Forrest of a June fight that ended in a semi-surprising victory for the Latin Snake. Forrest had a hard time cornering the younger, quicker Mora for one of his trademark right hands that night, finally running into someone whose style was even trickier than his own.
Will The Viper have enough left in the tank to chase Mora around this time? He says yes, of course, but I'm not as confident. In the second battle of the snakes, I'm picking Mora to win on the scorecards again, possibly by a more comfortable margin.
Uatu says...
According to fightnews Guzman came in overweight. Much has been made of him blowing up in-between fights. He also has not fought since last November. He will not be able to knock Nate Campbell out, he will not be able to knock him down and he will not be able to hurt him. Chances are he will fight like Floyd Mayweather did in his second fight against Jose Luis Castillo. But his conditioning isn't on the same level as Floyd's, and he is not as talented as Floyd. Campbell presses the action effectively to win by decision.
Perhaps JMM has bitten off more than he can chew. Casamayor has fought much much larger opposition physically speaking. Casamayor by decision.
In a rematch of a close decision between a younger and older fighter, the move is to go with the younger guy, as he will win even more decisively. Mora by decision.
It's a little bit of everything on the boxing schedule this Saturday with a championship bout on Showtime and a pay-per-view card - at least in the sense that viewers are being paid to watch - that kind of, sort of has two championships at stake.
In Mississippi, Nate Campbell defends his three lightweight titles against undefeated Joan Guzman, who follows in the footsteps of Manny Pacquiao by making the jump from 130 to 135. Campbell shouldn't be lacking for motivation after he won his belts in impressive fashion against Juan Diaz, who was also undefeated at the time. He's also miffed about:
1) The Ring magazine choosing to recognize the Joel Casamayor-Juan Manuel Marquez winner as the lightweight champ.
2) Getting mocked by Guzman and his people for supposedly ducking him - even though Guzman had yet to fight at lightweight - and even making fun of his recent wedding photos.
Guzman has a slick arsenal on offense and defense and comes into the bout off of two easy decision wins. He's not known for his power and Campbell proved in the Diaz fight he can take shots from anyone not named Robbie Peden, but it's possible Guzman may be able to consistently beat him to the punch.
Still, Campbell also showed adaptability during his fight with Diaz, a trait sometimes lacking in even top-notch fighters. The Galaxxy Warrior was able to get the better of the Baby Bull while standing and trading in the early rounds, then box judiciously in the second half of the fight. He's got the edge in experience and should have more power when he tracks Guzman down.
It's hard to pick against a talented undefeated fighter like Guzman, but my gut tells me Campbell will find a way to win. I'm taking Campbell to retain by decision.
As for that Casamayor-Marquez fight, it's going down at almost the same time in Las Vegas. While the card isn't too bad, the most intriguing angle may be seeing how many people actually shell out money to watch it. They're championship fighters, yes, but PPV draws? I think not.
Casamayor is especially lucky to be in this position. He deserves props for coming off the canvas to knock out Aussie slugger Michael Katsidis last time out, but many observers thought he was the beneficiary of a gift decision over Jose Armando Santa Cruz the fight before that. It's hard to count the veteran lefty out against anyone, but his record against top flight competition over the last five years or so is only about .500.
A frustrated Marquez makes his move to lightweight after his March loss to Pacquiao made him winless in two fights against Pacman, both of which were so close that he could legitimately feel he won them. He's got the edge in pure skill, so his biggest problems will be if the step up to 135 robs him of his pop or if those grueling rounds with Manny exacted a toll. Despite being Casamayor's junior by two years, he actually has a lot more miles on the odometer.
I'm not sure how many people will be watching, but this one could be interesting. The feeling here is that while you aren't exactly sure what you're going to get from Casamayor, you know JMM is going to be sharp. Joel will hang tough, but I like Marquez by late-round KO.
The co-feature in Vegas is a rematch between Sergio Mora and Vernon Forrest of a June fight that ended in a semi-surprising victory for the Latin Snake. Forrest had a hard time cornering the younger, quicker Mora for one of his trademark right hands that night, finally running into someone whose style was even trickier than his own.
Will The Viper have enough left in the tank to chase Mora around this time? He says yes, of course, but I'm not as confident. In the second battle of the snakes, I'm picking Mora to win on the scorecards again, possibly by a more comfortable margin.
Uatu says...
According to fightnews Guzman came in overweight. Much has been made of him blowing up in-between fights. He also has not fought since last November. He will not be able to knock Nate Campbell out, he will not be able to knock him down and he will not be able to hurt him. Chances are he will fight like Floyd Mayweather did in his second fight against Jose Luis Castillo. But his conditioning isn't on the same level as Floyd's, and he is not as talented as Floyd. Campbell presses the action effectively to win by decision.
Perhaps JMM has bitten off more than he can chew. Casamayor has fought much much larger opposition physically speaking. Casamayor by decision.
In a rematch of a close decision between a younger and older fighter, the move is to go with the younger guy, as he will win even more decisively. Mora by decision.
14.5.08
Alex Arthur to Become WBO Champ... Without Fighting
Think it's crappy when the sanctioning organizations that award titles in boxing can't get their acts together and put on meaningful championship bouts? How about when they award belts without even having boxers, you know, box for them?
That looks like it's about to happen with the WBO junior lightweight belt. Joan Guzman, the former titlist at 130 pounds, announced yesterday that he was relinquishing his belt because he and his team were tired of waiting for a fight to be made with mandatory challenger Alex Arthur. Since Arthur was the WBO's interim titlist (and someone needs to explain to me exactly what that means), Dan Rafael of ESPN is reporting that the sanctioning body is expected to simply name him the champ.
What a novel concept: if you want to win a world title, simply become the mandatory opponent, then stall long enough for the champ to get tired of waiting for you. He leaves, you get the gold. Brilliant!
I don't feel too bad for personal favorite Guzman, who's on to bigger (for sure) and better (hopefully) things at 135. But this does underscore why I consider The Ring magazine champs to be the real deal. The "Bible of Boxing" only allows a belt to change hands when someone dethrones the man who holds it, declaring it vacant if the champ retires or changes weight classes. A vacant belt can only be won if the number one and two (or occasionally number three) men in the rankings fight each other. It's not a perfect system, but it adds a heck of a lot more legitimacy to the sport than whatever the WBO's of the world cook up.
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.
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