The tragic news continues for the boxing community just as it was coming to grips with the death of Arturo Gatti. ESPN is reporting that Vernon Forrest is dead, shot multiple times by men attempting to steal his Jaguar at a gas station in Atlanta.
According to the report, Forrest had his own gun and attmepted to chase the would-be carjackers. However, he was struck by gunfire seven or eight times in the process, including once in the head.
It's a sad end to the story of The Viper, who appeared to still have some gas left in the tank even at age 38. Last September he easily avenged a loss to Sergio Mora to regain his WBC light middleweight title, and he was originally scheduled to fight Sergio Martinez in August before a training injury derailed those plans.
His height and the resulting awkward angles from which he punched gave opponents fits, most notably one of my favorite boxers, Shane Mosley. Forrest handed Sugar Shane his first ever loss in January 2002, then won a closer but still unanimous decision during their rematch six months later.
However The Viper had his own problems fighting a man with a style vastly different from his own just as HBO formed big plans for him. That man was brawler Ricardo Mayorga, who stunned Forrest with a third-round TKO in January 2003 then squeaked out a unanimous decision when they met again that July.
Though he suffered from various injuries and a lower profile after those losses, Forrest won five straight from 2005 to 2007 and won a title in a second weight class when he knocked out Michele Piccirillo in December 2007.
Posted by The Franchise
Showing posts with label vernon forrest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vernon forrest. Show all posts
13.4.09
20-20 Hindsight: After Watching Winky's Beatdown, Who Wants to Fight Paul Williams Now?
When Winky Wright actually admits he's been beaten, that's saying something.
I had to leave for work right after the tenth round of the Paul Williams-Winky Wright fight on Saturday, but I had seen enough by then. As I walked out the door, I told my brother Spartan117 that I already knew what was going to happen: Williams was going to win by decision and Wright was going to complain about it.
Turns out I only got the first part right. The man AP writer Greg Beachem correctly pegged as a "notoriously sore loser" wasn't sore at all (except in the face, probably), admitting that the lopsided scores turned in against him by the judges were correct.
Wright was flummoxed by punches thrown from impossible angles. At one point, Williams threw a left uppercut under his own right arm, which was being held by his foe. The ref was so taken aback that he instinctively issued a warning to Williams.
Winky also acknowledged that while he was ready to face a lot of punches, he didn't understand it was going to be quite that many. The volume that Williams delivers really needs to be seen to be believed.
Before we get too carried away, I should stop short of making it seem like Williams is invincible. I'd stop way short of saying what promoter Dan Goossen said when he called his fighter the best in the world, regardless of weight.
His defense is a little sloppy, for one thing. Though he's quite capable of enough head and leg movement to prove evasive at times, Williams got tagged a number of times by a fighter nearly ten years his senior. He seems to have a sturdy chin but hasn't exactly faced tons of noted one-punch KO artists.
That's nitpicking though. Williams' blend of activity, offensive variety and conditioning are tough enough, even without considering his freakishly long reach and the fact that he's a lefty.
He comes across as likable as well, so he should be on his way to becoming a true star. One problem: most boxing scribes agree (as do I) that his near blanking of Wright isn't likely to make other top boxers want to fight him - which was already difficult before Saturday.
One thing Williams does have going for him is that he seems like he will actually be able to pull off his team's plan to fight anywhere between 147 and 160. With that in mind, I've brainstormed some possible opponents at welterweight, junior middle and middleweight and separated them by likelihood:
147 pounds:
Intriguingly possible - Miguel Cotto - He seems like the kind of guy who would relish the challenge, and if he convincingly gets past Joshua Clottey, his stock will be back on the rise. Cotto is also a big enough star to sell tickets if the fight is held in the right place (say, NYC).
Doubtful - Shane Mosley - Sugar Shane supposedly already nixed fighting Williams in the past. He's close to the end of his career and wants to take only the biggest money fights, which probably rules out The Punisher.
No freaking way - Antonio Margarito - He's suspended, and he's already lost to Williams once.
154 pounds:
Intriguingly possible - James Kirkland - Perhaps enough of a badass to say to himself, "I don't give a f---" and just wade through punches to go after Williams. Hard-hitting Alfredo Angulo may fit that description too, but he's less likely to be ready for such a big step up.
Doubtful - Vernon Forrest - The Viper just pulled out of a fight due to injury and is even older than Wright. Plus even he is shorter than Williams.
No freaking way - Oscar De La Hoya - It's funny just to think about the Golden Boy facing down 100-plus punches a round.
160 pounds:
Intriguingly possible - No one comes to mind, unless Bernard Hopkins jumps in a time machine and rewinds the clock by about ten years.
Doubtful - Kelly Pavlik - Team Pavlik seems to be content with a safer path for Kelly for the time being. If he and Williams cross paths, I'm guessing it will be a couple years down the road.
No freaking way - Arthur Abraham - Right now it's tough to get him to come across the pond to fight the much more conventional Pavlik. Think he's going to do it to try to solve Williams? Me neither.
Posted by The Franchise
I had to leave for work right after the tenth round of the Paul Williams-Winky Wright fight on Saturday, but I had seen enough by then. As I walked out the door, I told my brother Spartan117 that I already knew what was going to happen: Williams was going to win by decision and Wright was going to complain about it.
Turns out I only got the first part right. The man AP writer Greg Beachem correctly pegged as a "notoriously sore loser" wasn't sore at all (except in the face, probably), admitting that the lopsided scores turned in against him by the judges were correct.
Wright was flummoxed by punches thrown from impossible angles. At one point, Williams threw a left uppercut under his own right arm, which was being held by his foe. The ref was so taken aback that he instinctively issued a warning to Williams.
Winky also acknowledged that while he was ready to face a lot of punches, he didn't understand it was going to be quite that many. The volume that Williams delivers really needs to be seen to be believed.
Before we get too carried away, I should stop short of making it seem like Williams is invincible. I'd stop way short of saying what promoter Dan Goossen said when he called his fighter the best in the world, regardless of weight.
His defense is a little sloppy, for one thing. Though he's quite capable of enough head and leg movement to prove evasive at times, Williams got tagged a number of times by a fighter nearly ten years his senior. He seems to have a sturdy chin but hasn't exactly faced tons of noted one-punch KO artists.
That's nitpicking though. Williams' blend of activity, offensive variety and conditioning are tough enough, even without considering his freakishly long reach and the fact that he's a lefty.
He comes across as likable as well, so he should be on his way to becoming a true star. One problem: most boxing scribes agree (as do I) that his near blanking of Wright isn't likely to make other top boxers want to fight him - which was already difficult before Saturday.
One thing Williams does have going for him is that he seems like he will actually be able to pull off his team's plan to fight anywhere between 147 and 160. With that in mind, I've brainstormed some possible opponents at welterweight, junior middle and middleweight and separated them by likelihood:
147 pounds:
Intriguingly possible - Miguel Cotto - He seems like the kind of guy who would relish the challenge, and if he convincingly gets past Joshua Clottey, his stock will be back on the rise. Cotto is also a big enough star to sell tickets if the fight is held in the right place (say, NYC).
Doubtful - Shane Mosley - Sugar Shane supposedly already nixed fighting Williams in the past. He's close to the end of his career and wants to take only the biggest money fights, which probably rules out The Punisher.
No freaking way - Antonio Margarito - He's suspended, and he's already lost to Williams once.
154 pounds:
Intriguingly possible - James Kirkland - Perhaps enough of a badass to say to himself, "I don't give a f---" and just wade through punches to go after Williams. Hard-hitting Alfredo Angulo may fit that description too, but he's less likely to be ready for such a big step up.
Doubtful - Vernon Forrest - The Viper just pulled out of a fight due to injury and is even older than Wright. Plus even he is shorter than Williams.
No freaking way - Oscar De La Hoya - It's funny just to think about the Golden Boy facing down 100-plus punches a round.
160 pounds:
Intriguingly possible - No one comes to mind, unless Bernard Hopkins jumps in a time machine and rewinds the clock by about ten years.
Doubtful - Kelly Pavlik - Team Pavlik seems to be content with a safer path for Kelly for the time being. If he and Williams cross paths, I'm guessing it will be a couple years down the road.
No freaking way - Arthur Abraham - Right now it's tough to get him to come across the pond to fight the much more conventional Pavlik. Think he's going to do it to try to solve Williams? Me neither.
Posted by The Franchise
19.9.08
Vernon Forrest Deserves Credit
Here are some brief words about Vernon Forrest.
When Vernon beat Shane Mosley the first time, it cemented his place among the elite in all of boxing. Forrest became a perfect 35-0, and had just beaten the 38-0 Sugar Shane, who was atop many pound for pound lists at the time.
Then he did it again. Sure he would go on to get knocked out by Mayorga in the first fight, but Uatu scored the second fight for Vernon. Going into his first fight with Mora, in Uatu's estimation, Forrest had only lost one fight - the loss to Mayorga - which in retrospect ended up looking more like a blip on Vernon's career than any kind of indictment of his ability to take a punch.
The only reason that Forrest dropped off the pound for pound lists going into the first Mora fight was injury, not by being beaten. Vernon had to work his way back into title conversation by taking fights that were lower profile when he should have gotten his chance at the top sooner.
Sergio Mora did beat Forrest "fair and square," but now it appears much more likely that Forrest was being honest when he said he lost because he had an off night, not that Mora had some superb abilities.
It should be remembered that when Vernon is at the peak of his powers, he is one of the best boxers in the world regardless of weight. His technique and ability have always been better than Mora's and just about everyone else's.
Uatu should have realized this and called for a Vernon Forrest victory. Next time, Vernon will get the credit he deserves.
When Vernon beat Shane Mosley the first time, it cemented his place among the elite in all of boxing. Forrest became a perfect 35-0, and had just beaten the 38-0 Sugar Shane, who was atop many pound for pound lists at the time.
Then he did it again. Sure he would go on to get knocked out by Mayorga in the first fight, but Uatu scored the second fight for Vernon. Going into his first fight with Mora, in Uatu's estimation, Forrest had only lost one fight - the loss to Mayorga - which in retrospect ended up looking more like a blip on Vernon's career than any kind of indictment of his ability to take a punch.
The only reason that Forrest dropped off the pound for pound lists going into the first Mora fight was injury, not by being beaten. Vernon had to work his way back into title conversation by taking fights that were lower profile when he should have gotten his chance at the top sooner.
Sergio Mora did beat Forrest "fair and square," but now it appears much more likely that Forrest was being honest when he said he lost because he had an off night, not that Mora had some superb abilities.
It should be remembered that when Vernon is at the peak of his powers, he is one of the best boxers in the world regardless of weight. His technique and ability have always been better than Mora's and just about everyone else's.
Uatu should have realized this and called for a Vernon Forrest victory. Next time, Vernon will get the credit he deserves.
13.9.08
Round by Round: Mora v. Forrest II
Tonight's first of two main events is a rematch between Sergio Mora and Vernon Forrest. As the challenger, Forrest enters first. He's 5-3 in title fights and the commentators are asking what he has left. They also comment on his age.
Mora now enters. The crowd sounds like they are leaning towards Mora.
Forrest is 40-3 and Mora is 21-0. His record shows that Mora won the first time these two fighters met.
Round 1:
Both fighters start off hesitant to throw a punch. Forrest throws first and Mora dodges and clinches. Both fighters are feeling each other out early on. Mora lands a jab to the head and a hook to the body. Forrest now lands a good left counter punch. The ref tells Mora to keep his punches up but no formal warning. Mora showing good upper body movement. Tough round to score since not much happened.
Spartan117: 10-9 Mora
Round 2:
Mora starts off the action in round 2. Forrest lands a stiff jab and knocks Mora off balance. Forrest lands a fast combination to the head. Both fighters are doing a good job getting the jab going to set up combos. The crowd starts to chant for Mora. There is a lot of clinching from both fighters but they are viciously fighting out of them.
Spartan117: 10-9 Mora
Round 3:
Mora starts off the round throwing fast combos. There's a clash of heads and Forrest backpedals holding his head, taking some punishment in the process. The ref apparently didn't see it. Forrest lands a great left hook and takes off the pressure from Mora. Forrest looks to be loading up his power right. The two slug it out at the end of the round.
Spartan117: 10-9 Forrest
Round 4:
Some swelling is starting to form above the left eye of Mora. Mora means business in the fourth, throwing power shots upstairs but mostly to the body. The fighters are separated and told to watch their heads. Both Forrest and Mora are keeping their hands a little low and good punches are landing from both fighters. Forrest lands a great straight right and Mora drops his hands to taunt Forrest. Forest is landing more as the fight continues and is landing good counter punches.
Spartan117: 10-9 Forrest
Round 5:
Now the fighters' roles are slightly reversed as Forrest is more the aggressor. Forrest is the busier fighter and landing at a higher percentage. Mora is holding Forrest's arm in clinches and hitting him in the process. He should be warned but it goes unnoticed by the ref. Now Forrest gets warned for holding and hitting. Forrest comes back and lands the best punch in the fight, a huge right cross that backs off Mora. A cut forms over the left eye of Mora. Forrest lands a ridiculous combo in the last 10 seconds of the round. It looked like Mora could go down but he makes it out of the round.
Spartan117: 10-9 Forrest
Round 6:
We are told that Mora's cut was opened by a punch and not by a headbutt. Forrest is doing a lot of damage and does have the power to knock Mora out. Mora continues to land more punches in the clinches. Forrest backs Mora against the ropes and unleashes the punches. Mora is landing good jabs but not a whole lot else. Forrest lands another serious right hand set up by a jab that bothers Mora. Forrest gets back in and lands another hard combo. Mora looks like he's in trouble. Mora clinches to hold on. Mora continues to throw but Forrest is doing a good job stopping the punches and coming back to land great combos.
Spartan117: 10-9 Forrest
Round 7:
Forrest's face looks like it's bruising, but he is clearly winning the rounds. Forrest isn't letting up in the seventh and comes in throwing his straight right that's set up by a jab. Mora hasn't stopping throwing either and keeps throwing his jab. Mora is breathing out of his mouth now, which can make Forrest's punches hurt even more. Forrest backs Mora against the ropes again, landing a great combo set up by the jab. Forrest lands a huge right hand right before the bell that buckles the knees of Mora and the ref calls it a knockdown. Mora says he didn't go down but it looked like he did.
Spartan117: 10-8 Forrest
Round 8:
Mora looked discouraged between rounds. Forrest smells blood at the start of the round and looks to be going for the knockout, but he's also keeping his composure and sticking to his technique. Forrest's confidence is growing. Mora gets backed into the ropes again and the trend of him taking punches while in that position continues. Mora clinches to hold on. Forrest gets more comfortable in the ring and starts bouncing on his toes towards the end of the round.
Spartan117: 10-9 Forrest
Round 9:
Mora looks slightly energized and comes out using good movement around the ring. Not much punching action from either fighter in the first minute. Mora is landing some good jabs but not following up with anything. Mora lands a very hard right hand and backs up Forrest. It looks like the hardest shot of the fight. Forrest stays up and continues to throw power shots. Forrest lands a great uppercut and backs up Mora. Mora is now back in the same position he was before landing his power shot. Mora takes a big combo in the last ten seconds and leans on the ropes to stay on his feet.
Spartan117: 10-9 Forrest
Round 10:
Mora seems to have a greater sense of urgency and comes out firing early in the round. Forrest stays on his game and lands some counter punches. Despite winning the rounds and landing more punches, Forrest's defense stays together. The crowd tries to energize Mora and it looks like it momentarily works. Mora throws some shots in the clinches that look dangerously low. Mora gets backed against the ropes again and gets punched in the process.
Spartan117: 10-9 Forrest
Round 11:
Mora comes out and lands some big right hands. Forrest gets himself together and gets back in the action. Forrest gets Mora in the ropes again and lands another solid combo. Mora lands a great right hand to get out that backed off Forrest. Forrest is still coming forward but both fighters look a little tired in this round.
Spartan117: 10-9 Forrest
Round 12:
In the final round Mora looks like he realizes that he's down on the points and needs to go for the knockout. He's really loading up his right hand. Both fighters are trading huge power shots at close quarters. Mora is getting sloppy and is taking more of the harder shots. Mora continues to fire back with power shots. Mora comes into a big left by Forrest. It looked like Mora was going to go down but he manages to stay up. Forrest lands another big combo that looks like a summation of the fight before the bell rings.
Spartan117: 10-9 Forrest
Spartan117 scores it 118-109 Forrest. The judges score it 118-109, 117-110 and 119-108, all for the winner... and new WBC light middleweight champion... Vernon "The Viper" Forrest.
Forrest says that anybody can have a bad night and that's what he had during his last fight. He says his jab set up everything. "It was boxing 101," Forrest said. He also adds that this fight was "the difference between a contender and a champion," jabbing Mora for coming up on the reality show "The Contender."
Mora now enters. The crowd sounds like they are leaning towards Mora.
Forrest is 40-3 and Mora is 21-0. His record shows that Mora won the first time these two fighters met.
Round 1:
Both fighters start off hesitant to throw a punch. Forrest throws first and Mora dodges and clinches. Both fighters are feeling each other out early on. Mora lands a jab to the head and a hook to the body. Forrest now lands a good left counter punch. The ref tells Mora to keep his punches up but no formal warning. Mora showing good upper body movement. Tough round to score since not much happened.
Spartan117: 10-9 Mora
Round 2:
Mora starts off the action in round 2. Forrest lands a stiff jab and knocks Mora off balance. Forrest lands a fast combination to the head. Both fighters are doing a good job getting the jab going to set up combos. The crowd starts to chant for Mora. There is a lot of clinching from both fighters but they are viciously fighting out of them.
Spartan117: 10-9 Mora
Round 3:
Mora starts off the round throwing fast combos. There's a clash of heads and Forrest backpedals holding his head, taking some punishment in the process. The ref apparently didn't see it. Forrest lands a great left hook and takes off the pressure from Mora. Forrest looks to be loading up his power right. The two slug it out at the end of the round.
Spartan117: 10-9 Forrest
Round 4:
Some swelling is starting to form above the left eye of Mora. Mora means business in the fourth, throwing power shots upstairs but mostly to the body. The fighters are separated and told to watch their heads. Both Forrest and Mora are keeping their hands a little low and good punches are landing from both fighters. Forrest lands a great straight right and Mora drops his hands to taunt Forrest. Forest is landing more as the fight continues and is landing good counter punches.
Spartan117: 10-9 Forrest
Round 5:
Now the fighters' roles are slightly reversed as Forrest is more the aggressor. Forrest is the busier fighter and landing at a higher percentage. Mora is holding Forrest's arm in clinches and hitting him in the process. He should be warned but it goes unnoticed by the ref. Now Forrest gets warned for holding and hitting. Forrest comes back and lands the best punch in the fight, a huge right cross that backs off Mora. A cut forms over the left eye of Mora. Forrest lands a ridiculous combo in the last 10 seconds of the round. It looked like Mora could go down but he makes it out of the round.
Spartan117: 10-9 Forrest
Round 6:
We are told that Mora's cut was opened by a punch and not by a headbutt. Forrest is doing a lot of damage and does have the power to knock Mora out. Mora continues to land more punches in the clinches. Forrest backs Mora against the ropes and unleashes the punches. Mora is landing good jabs but not a whole lot else. Forrest lands another serious right hand set up by a jab that bothers Mora. Forrest gets back in and lands another hard combo. Mora looks like he's in trouble. Mora clinches to hold on. Mora continues to throw but Forrest is doing a good job stopping the punches and coming back to land great combos.
Spartan117: 10-9 Forrest
Round 7:
Forrest's face looks like it's bruising, but he is clearly winning the rounds. Forrest isn't letting up in the seventh and comes in throwing his straight right that's set up by a jab. Mora hasn't stopping throwing either and keeps throwing his jab. Mora is breathing out of his mouth now, which can make Forrest's punches hurt even more. Forrest backs Mora against the ropes again, landing a great combo set up by the jab. Forrest lands a huge right hand right before the bell that buckles the knees of Mora and the ref calls it a knockdown. Mora says he didn't go down but it looked like he did.
Spartan117: 10-8 Forrest
Round 8:
Mora looked discouraged between rounds. Forrest smells blood at the start of the round and looks to be going for the knockout, but he's also keeping his composure and sticking to his technique. Forrest's confidence is growing. Mora gets backed into the ropes again and the trend of him taking punches while in that position continues. Mora clinches to hold on. Forrest gets more comfortable in the ring and starts bouncing on his toes towards the end of the round.
Spartan117: 10-9 Forrest
Round 9:
Mora looks slightly energized and comes out using good movement around the ring. Not much punching action from either fighter in the first minute. Mora is landing some good jabs but not following up with anything. Mora lands a very hard right hand and backs up Forrest. It looks like the hardest shot of the fight. Forrest stays up and continues to throw power shots. Forrest lands a great uppercut and backs up Mora. Mora is now back in the same position he was before landing his power shot. Mora takes a big combo in the last ten seconds and leans on the ropes to stay on his feet.
Spartan117: 10-9 Forrest
Round 10:
Mora seems to have a greater sense of urgency and comes out firing early in the round. Forrest stays on his game and lands some counter punches. Despite winning the rounds and landing more punches, Forrest's defense stays together. The crowd tries to energize Mora and it looks like it momentarily works. Mora throws some shots in the clinches that look dangerously low. Mora gets backed against the ropes again and gets punched in the process.
Spartan117: 10-9 Forrest
Round 11:
Mora comes out and lands some big right hands. Forrest gets himself together and gets back in the action. Forrest gets Mora in the ropes again and lands another solid combo. Mora lands a great right hand to get out that backed off Forrest. Forrest is still coming forward but both fighters look a little tired in this round.
Spartan117: 10-9 Forrest
Round 12:
In the final round Mora looks like he realizes that he's down on the points and needs to go for the knockout. He's really loading up his right hand. Both fighters are trading huge power shots at close quarters. Mora is getting sloppy and is taking more of the harder shots. Mora continues to fire back with power shots. Mora comes into a big left by Forrest. It looked like Mora was going to go down but he manages to stay up. Forrest lands another big combo that looks like a summation of the fight before the bell rings.
Spartan117: 10-9 Forrest
Spartan117 scores it 118-109 Forrest. The judges score it 118-109, 117-110 and 119-108, all for the winner... and new WBC light middleweight champion... Vernon "The Viper" Forrest.
Forrest says that anybody can have a bad night and that's what he had during his last fight. He says his jab set up everything. "It was boxing 101," Forrest said. He also adds that this fight was "the difference between a contender and a champion," jabbing Mora for coming up on the reality show "The Contender."
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.
7.6.08
Round By Round: Vernon Forrest vs. Sergio Mora
This one's starting a bit earlier than expected thanks to Paul Williams' quick KO win in the previous fight. The announcers mention that Vernon Forrest is giving away nine years in age but feel his two-year layoff a few years back due to injury have helped keep him in good shape.
It's a battle of serpents from the Mohegan Sun as The Viper and the Latin Snake are ready to go for the WBC super welterweight championship.
Round 1
Both men reaching with the jab in the early going. Mora digs with a right to the body. More jabs both ways. Vernon loads up a big right but misses. Now some grappling after Forrest misses coming in. No one throwing right now as they size each other up. The crowd is displeased. Good shots by Forrest coming out of the clinch. Thumping right down low by Forrest and another follows. Cautious first round and the two men exchange pleasantries going back to their corners.
Franchise: 10-9 Forrest
Round 2
Mora having trouble following with anything after the jab. Good feints by Forrest. Mora finally gets inside but can't land too much. Forrest tries to measure Mora for a right but it's mostly evaded. They tie up and Mora tries to throw body shots. Left hook by Mora. Quick shots countered by Forrest's right hands. Mora looks slippery but he hasn't found an effective offense yet.
Franchise: 10-9 Forrest
Round 3
Forrest trying his best to land big rights; Mora has so far been able to duck away. The Latin Snake bounces around, unable to engage. Short shots by Mora and they tie up. Nice left hook by Forrest in close. The announcers discuss how strange it was to hear Forrest trash talk before the fight. Good body work by Forrest along the ropes. Both men warned for holding and hitting, and a second warning to Mora for hitting behind the head.
Franchise: 10-9 Forrest
Round 4
Buddy McGirt told Forrest between rounds not to look for the home run shot. Mora jabbing to start this round. They trade inside and Mora gets the best of it. Two rights by Forrest and a left hook in response from Sergio. Another left hook and Sergio's found something that works. Forrest looking a little more cautious and not coming forward. They try to trade again in close as the round ends.
Franchise: 10-9 Mora
Round 5
Forrest using hooks and uppercuts to score inside. He's warned for roughhousing. Mora scores with a straight right. Mora taunts Forrest as The Viper lands some big shots along the ropes. Short lefts inside by Mora. Jabs landing both ways. One-two just misses for Forrest and Mora charges forward with left hooks. The crowd boos as the last 20 seconds wind down with no real punches thrown.
Franchise: 10-9 Forrest
Round 6
The announcers want more jabs from Forrest. Nice right hand upstairs by Mora. He backs up Forrest with another right but Forrest survives and ties him up. The ref warns both men for low shots. Good left by Forrest as they trade. Mora's left eye looking rough but nothing too bad yet. Forrest holding on as the announcers wonder if he's tiring. Both men land in close as they wrestle to the bell.
Franchise: 10-9 Mora
Round 7
McGirt told Forrest he's eating too many right hands. Jabs from Mora; Forrest responds in kind. Mora hooks his way inside with the left. He triples the jab and lands a right to the body. Mora warned one more time for hitting behind the head. Mora shakes off a right hand and they tie up. Peppering lefts from the Latin Snake. Mora switches southpaw but only for a second. Another nice round for the challenger.
Franchise: 10-9 Mora
Round 8
Forrest catches Mora with a jab and a big straight right. He looks for more but Mora is light on his feet. Nice left coming in by Mora. Forrest warned again for low shots. They try to fight their way out of the clinch but the ref has to step in. Mora landing more jabs in the final seconds but probably not enough to take this round.
Franchise: 10-9 Forrest
Round 9
Vernon looks like he has a little more spark now. Neither man can get the advantage in close. Mora has never been 12 rounds, so that may be a factor, though he's throwing and landing more shots right now. Sharp left upstairs for Mora. Forrest lands out of the break and that looked questionable. Stinging shots along the ropes by Mora and Forrest digs down to try to fight back. Best sequence of the fight with both men swinging away but Mora showed something there.
Franchise: 10-9 Mora
Round 10
Forrest looked gassed between rounds, but can Mora take advantage? Forrest trying to stalk without success. He looks frustrated as Mora lands multiple jabs and lefts. Right-left combo by Mora and one shot back by Forrest. Thumping left by Forrest and both guys land. Another flurry by Mora inside and all Forrest can do is swing wildly in response. Nice 1-2 combo at the bell punctuates a good round for the Latin Snake.
Franchise: 10-9 Mora
Round 11
Let's see if Mora can finish an impressive second half of the fight. The crowd is behind him. He's zipping jabs and trying to work the body inside. Forrest swinging and missing again. Now he lands a hook as Mora comes in. Good action with body shots flowing by both men. Big right upstairs by Mora. A second right crashes in but Forrest stands his ground. They wrestle to the ropes and Mora looks pretty pleased.
Franchise: 10-9 Mora
Round 12
This fight could very well be up for grabs. Mora dodges a big right. The fans spur him on as he scores to the body. Left to the Forrest's head and the ref has to break them up again. Mora landing lefts to the head and rights to the body. Both guys score as they battle along the ropes. Forrest trying to score as Mora dances around. Very close misses as Mora stays bus. The fight ends with nice action along the ropes and Mora's looking excited as the final bell rings.
Franchise: 10-9 Mora
Franchise scores it 115-113 for Mora. The judges score it 114-114, and 115-113 and 116-112 for Mora. The winner by majority decision, and new WBC super welterweight champion, Sergio Mora.
Mora said he worked hard for this moment, but that he had no set game plan coming into the fight. He's shown a big right hand from the sixth round but he says Forrest took it well. Mora says they treated this fight like a once in a lifetime opportunity and it paid off.
Forrest is asked about being winded, and he's gracious in defeat. He says Mora's style was tricky and that the Latin Snake was the better man tonight. Forrest won't make any excuses and also says he definitely wants to continue fighting.
The two men share a respectful handshake. Mora claims he has more to show and that this was just the tip of the iceberg. He gives a shout out to Oscar De La Hoya and says if he wants to do something in September or December, he's willing.
It's a battle of serpents from the Mohegan Sun as The Viper and the Latin Snake are ready to go for the WBC super welterweight championship.
Round 1
Both men reaching with the jab in the early going. Mora digs with a right to the body. More jabs both ways. Vernon loads up a big right but misses. Now some grappling after Forrest misses coming in. No one throwing right now as they size each other up. The crowd is displeased. Good shots by Forrest coming out of the clinch. Thumping right down low by Forrest and another follows. Cautious first round and the two men exchange pleasantries going back to their corners.
Franchise: 10-9 Forrest
Round 2
Mora having trouble following with anything after the jab. Good feints by Forrest. Mora finally gets inside but can't land too much. Forrest tries to measure Mora for a right but it's mostly evaded. They tie up and Mora tries to throw body shots. Left hook by Mora. Quick shots countered by Forrest's right hands. Mora looks slippery but he hasn't found an effective offense yet.
Franchise: 10-9 Forrest
Round 3
Forrest trying his best to land big rights; Mora has so far been able to duck away. The Latin Snake bounces around, unable to engage. Short shots by Mora and they tie up. Nice left hook by Forrest in close. The announcers discuss how strange it was to hear Forrest trash talk before the fight. Good body work by Forrest along the ropes. Both men warned for holding and hitting, and a second warning to Mora for hitting behind the head.
Franchise: 10-9 Forrest
Round 4
Buddy McGirt told Forrest between rounds not to look for the home run shot. Mora jabbing to start this round. They trade inside and Mora gets the best of it. Two rights by Forrest and a left hook in response from Sergio. Another left hook and Sergio's found something that works. Forrest looking a little more cautious and not coming forward. They try to trade again in close as the round ends.
Franchise: 10-9 Mora
Round 5
Forrest using hooks and uppercuts to score inside. He's warned for roughhousing. Mora scores with a straight right. Mora taunts Forrest as The Viper lands some big shots along the ropes. Short lefts inside by Mora. Jabs landing both ways. One-two just misses for Forrest and Mora charges forward with left hooks. The crowd boos as the last 20 seconds wind down with no real punches thrown.
Franchise: 10-9 Forrest
Round 6
The announcers want more jabs from Forrest. Nice right hand upstairs by Mora. He backs up Forrest with another right but Forrest survives and ties him up. The ref warns both men for low shots. Good left by Forrest as they trade. Mora's left eye looking rough but nothing too bad yet. Forrest holding on as the announcers wonder if he's tiring. Both men land in close as they wrestle to the bell.
Franchise: 10-9 Mora
Round 7
McGirt told Forrest he's eating too many right hands. Jabs from Mora; Forrest responds in kind. Mora hooks his way inside with the left. He triples the jab and lands a right to the body. Mora warned one more time for hitting behind the head. Mora shakes off a right hand and they tie up. Peppering lefts from the Latin Snake. Mora switches southpaw but only for a second. Another nice round for the challenger.
Franchise: 10-9 Mora
Round 8
Forrest catches Mora with a jab and a big straight right. He looks for more but Mora is light on his feet. Nice left coming in by Mora. Forrest warned again for low shots. They try to fight their way out of the clinch but the ref has to step in. Mora landing more jabs in the final seconds but probably not enough to take this round.
Franchise: 10-9 Forrest
Round 9
Vernon looks like he has a little more spark now. Neither man can get the advantage in close. Mora has never been 12 rounds, so that may be a factor, though he's throwing and landing more shots right now. Sharp left upstairs for Mora. Forrest lands out of the break and that looked questionable. Stinging shots along the ropes by Mora and Forrest digs down to try to fight back. Best sequence of the fight with both men swinging away but Mora showed something there.
Franchise: 10-9 Mora
Round 10
Forrest looked gassed between rounds, but can Mora take advantage? Forrest trying to stalk without success. He looks frustrated as Mora lands multiple jabs and lefts. Right-left combo by Mora and one shot back by Forrest. Thumping left by Forrest and both guys land. Another flurry by Mora inside and all Forrest can do is swing wildly in response. Nice 1-2 combo at the bell punctuates a good round for the Latin Snake.
Franchise: 10-9 Mora
Round 11
Let's see if Mora can finish an impressive second half of the fight. The crowd is behind him. He's zipping jabs and trying to work the body inside. Forrest swinging and missing again. Now he lands a hook as Mora comes in. Good action with body shots flowing by both men. Big right upstairs by Mora. A second right crashes in but Forrest stands his ground. They wrestle to the ropes and Mora looks pretty pleased.
Franchise: 10-9 Mora
Round 12
This fight could very well be up for grabs. Mora dodges a big right. The fans spur him on as he scores to the body. Left to the Forrest's head and the ref has to break them up again. Mora landing lefts to the head and rights to the body. Both guys score as they battle along the ropes. Forrest trying to score as Mora dances around. Very close misses as Mora stays bus. The fight ends with nice action along the ropes and Mora's looking excited as the final bell rings.
Franchise: 10-9 Mora
Franchise scores it 115-113 for Mora. The judges score it 114-114, and 115-113 and 116-112 for Mora. The winner by majority decision, and new WBC super welterweight champion, Sergio Mora.
Mora said he worked hard for this moment, but that he had no set game plan coming into the fight. He's shown a big right hand from the sixth round but he says Forrest took it well. Mora says they treated this fight like a once in a lifetime opportunity and it paid off.
Forrest is asked about being winded, and he's gracious in defeat. He says Mora's style was tricky and that the Latin Snake was the better man tonight. Forrest won't make any excuses and also says he definitely wants to continue fighting.
The two men share a respectful handshake. Mora claims he has more to show and that this was just the tip of the iceberg. He gives a shout out to Oscar De La Hoya and says if he wants to do something in September or December, he's willing.
6.6.08
Predictions: Pavlik-Lockett, Quintana-Williams, Forrest-Mora
The Franchise says...
When you've taken on Edison Miranda and Jermain Taylor - twice - in your last three fights, I suppose it's only fitting that you've earned yourself a little bit of a reprieve. That seems to be what middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik is getting himself this weekend when he faces Gary Lockett, who is making his first appearance in the United States to take on The Ghost.
Can't say I know too much about Lockett except that Pavlik himself says he has a good right hand. The champ's defense is adequate but not great, meaning he is there to be hit at times - one of the things that makes his style exciting. So I suppose at worst, Lockett has a puncher's chance of pulling off the upset.
Pavlik has advantages in height, reach and youth, so the only real worry would be if he is looking past this fight. Say, to a possible big money bout with Joe Calzaghe. But that doesn't seem to be very likely with the Pride of Youngstown, and our own Spartan117 has a source close to Pavlik who assures us that he is taking the fight "very seriously."
That all adds up to bad news for Lockett. Thanks for coming to Atlantic City, but I see The Ghost sending him back across the pond with a mid-round KO.
The most intriguing fight on Saturday is actually over on Showtime, as Paul Williams tries to avenge his lone defeat as a pro against Carlos Quintana. The first fight between these two men was extremely close: two of the three of us here at BoxingWatchers.com actually scored it a draw, though all three official judges liked Quintana.
Conventional wisdom was sort of turned on its ear in that one too, as the lanky Williams usually got the better of the action on the inside while Quintana boxed more effectively. It definitely seemed like Williams could not hurt his foe, and a lot of his punches were of the slappy variety.
In most of Williams' fights, opponents simply have no answer for his volume and the strange angles his height provides. Quintana did, and The Punisher didn't seem to have another plan of attack. Could he and his team have developed one in the last few months? That will be the question of the night.
I'm learning the hard way that you need more than a gut feeling to pick the losing fighter to win in a rematch (see Pavlik-Taylor II, Margarito-Cintron II). With that in mind, I'm taking Quintana by another close decision.
Also on Showtime is another intriguing fight that sees Vernon Forrest put his WBO junior middleweight belt up against former Contender winner Sergio Mora. Most experts aren't giving Mora much chance of pulling off the upset, but one of my favorite boxing scribes, Doug Fischer of Maxboxing.com, thinks the Latin Snake has a definite shot. And when Dougie talks, I listen.
After two losses to Ricardo Mayorga derailed his career back in 2003, Forrest has looked much better in recent times. He's been in against better competition than Mora, has an awkward style that is tough to deal with (just ask Shane Mosley) and is perceived to have a big edge in power - though to be fair, he's never been known as a devastating KO artist.
Mora is moving down one weight class after campaigning at 160 in his previous fights. As long as that doesn't drain him, I expect him to have a speed advantage, and he'll need it because nothing would shock me more than if he knocks The Viper out.
Forrest has been extremely confident during the build-up to the fight, but you have to wonder if he's privately a little concerned that Father Time is bearing down on him at age 37. I think he'll have a tougher time with this one than he or many others may suspect, though I like Forrest to pull out a unanimous decision.
Uatu says...
Uatu cannot honestly assess Lockett, other than by boxrec.com. Nonetheless, he's going to make a prediction anyway. Purely based on the fact that he thinks that Pavlik is the goods, and that Pavlik is too aggressive to let a lesser fighter steal a decision, and based on the fact that Bob Arum ok'd the matchup in the first place, Pavlik by KO early.
Quintana barely beat Williams. Quintana caught Paul at the right place, right time. This time, Williams gets it done. Williams convincing decision.
When you've taken on Edison Miranda and Jermain Taylor - twice - in your last three fights, I suppose it's only fitting that you've earned yourself a little bit of a reprieve. That seems to be what middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik is getting himself this weekend when he faces Gary Lockett, who is making his first appearance in the United States to take on The Ghost.
Can't say I know too much about Lockett except that Pavlik himself says he has a good right hand. The champ's defense is adequate but not great, meaning he is there to be hit at times - one of the things that makes his style exciting. So I suppose at worst, Lockett has a puncher's chance of pulling off the upset.
Pavlik has advantages in height, reach and youth, so the only real worry would be if he is looking past this fight. Say, to a possible big money bout with Joe Calzaghe. But that doesn't seem to be very likely with the Pride of Youngstown, and our own Spartan117 has a source close to Pavlik who assures us that he is taking the fight "very seriously."
That all adds up to bad news for Lockett. Thanks for coming to Atlantic City, but I see The Ghost sending him back across the pond with a mid-round KO.
The most intriguing fight on Saturday is actually over on Showtime, as Paul Williams tries to avenge his lone defeat as a pro against Carlos Quintana. The first fight between these two men was extremely close: two of the three of us here at BoxingWatchers.com actually scored it a draw, though all three official judges liked Quintana.
Conventional wisdom was sort of turned on its ear in that one too, as the lanky Williams usually got the better of the action on the inside while Quintana boxed more effectively. It definitely seemed like Williams could not hurt his foe, and a lot of his punches were of the slappy variety.
In most of Williams' fights, opponents simply have no answer for his volume and the strange angles his height provides. Quintana did, and The Punisher didn't seem to have another plan of attack. Could he and his team have developed one in the last few months? That will be the question of the night.
I'm learning the hard way that you need more than a gut feeling to pick the losing fighter to win in a rematch (see Pavlik-Taylor II, Margarito-Cintron II). With that in mind, I'm taking Quintana by another close decision.
Also on Showtime is another intriguing fight that sees Vernon Forrest put his WBO junior middleweight belt up against former Contender winner Sergio Mora. Most experts aren't giving Mora much chance of pulling off the upset, but one of my favorite boxing scribes, Doug Fischer of Maxboxing.com, thinks the Latin Snake has a definite shot. And when Dougie talks, I listen.
After two losses to Ricardo Mayorga derailed his career back in 2003, Forrest has looked much better in recent times. He's been in against better competition than Mora, has an awkward style that is tough to deal with (just ask Shane Mosley) and is perceived to have a big edge in power - though to be fair, he's never been known as a devastating KO artist.
Mora is moving down one weight class after campaigning at 160 in his previous fights. As long as that doesn't drain him, I expect him to have a speed advantage, and he'll need it because nothing would shock me more than if he knocks The Viper out.
Forrest has been extremely confident during the build-up to the fight, but you have to wonder if he's privately a little concerned that Father Time is bearing down on him at age 37. I think he'll have a tougher time with this one than he or many others may suspect, though I like Forrest to pull out a unanimous decision.
Uatu says...
Uatu cannot honestly assess Lockett, other than by boxrec.com. Nonetheless, he's going to make a prediction anyway. Purely based on the fact that he thinks that Pavlik is the goods, and that Pavlik is too aggressive to let a lesser fighter steal a decision, and based on the fact that Bob Arum ok'd the matchup in the first place, Pavlik by KO early.
Quintana barely beat Williams. Quintana caught Paul at the right place, right time. This time, Williams gets it done. Williams convincing decision.
Forrest is getting old. Mora has maybe gotten stale. Mora probably can't knock down or rattle Forrest, but, Uatu thinks he could take it by outworking Forrest. This is a tough call and an interesting fight. Forrest should be able to completely outclass him, but this a big chance for credibility for the Latin Snake. Uatu likes Mora by decision.
2.12.07
Quick Tarver, Forrest, and Chavez, Jr. Thoughts
Uatu is a huge Tarver fan, but he realizes that Tarver is an older fighter, at least in age. Tarver-Lacy though would be a fight worth watching, and Tarver would have the advantage. Tarver - Dawson is a very difficult fight for Tarver, and in fairness to the Magic Man, Dawson is not exactly a household name.
Believe it or not, Forrest-Mayorga III would actually be worth watching. It is conceivable that a network would be willing to show it as well. Forrest - Oscar will probably never happen, but Vernon would have a great chance of winning. Forrest - Cotto would also be worth watching too, since Cotto is never in bad fights. Also not likely to happen.
If Chavez, Jr. is going to fight Alfonso Gomez next, then no one can complain that he isn't taking incremental steps up the ladder. Off the top of the head, he looks to be the best of the sons of the famous (Camacho, Hearns, McGirt, Paez Jr. etc...) although some of those fighters haven't had near as many fights.
Believe it or not, Forrest-Mayorga III would actually be worth watching. It is conceivable that a network would be willing to show it as well. Forrest - Oscar will probably never happen, but Vernon would have a great chance of winning. Forrest - Cotto would also be worth watching too, since Cotto is never in bad fights. Also not likely to happen.
If Chavez, Jr. is going to fight Alfonso Gomez next, then no one can complain that he isn't taking incremental steps up the ladder. Off the top of the head, he looks to be the best of the sons of the famous (Camacho, Hearns, McGirt, Paez Jr. etc...) although some of those fighters haven't had near as many fights.
1.12.07
Showtime: Tarver, Forrest, Donaire
Favorites all win.
Mason "The Line" Dixon ud12
Vernon "Viper" Forrest ud 12
He's ready. He's ready. He's ready, for ya.
Donaire
ko
Mason "The Line" Dixon ud12
Vernon "Viper" Forrest ud 12
He's ready. He's ready. He's ready, for ya.
Donaire
ko
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