The Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles is the setting for a significant heavyweight bout between former champion Samuel Peter and Philadelphia's Eddie Chambers. It's a ten-round contest that could be a big boost to the winner as far as positioning for shots at the titles held by the Klitschko brothers.
Peter is coming off a somewhat lackluster loss to Vitali Klitschko last October. He is 30-2 and has dangerous knockout power, but he enters the ring at the heaviest weight of his career tonight: 265 pounds. Chambers is 33-1 and has won three straight since dropping a decision to Alexander Povetkin in January 2008.
Dr. James Jen Kim is the referee in charge of the action. Jimmy Lennon Jr. does the fighter introductions and we are all set to go.
Round 1
Chambers bounces around as both men test some jabs. Teddy Atlas points out that Chambers isn't exactly looking trim himself. Neither man landing much of note, but Peter has been busier. Nice right hand upstairs by Chambers. Peter still stalks and looks for an opening. Peter backs up Chambers with a three-punch combo. Chambers is blocking a lot of punches with his arms. Short right by Chambers in close.
Franchise: 10-9 Peter
Uatu: 10-9 Chambers
Round 2
Chambers lands a few jabs, but Peter's jab snaps his foe's head back. Peter is still the aggressor and you wonder if and when he will tire. Peter is warned for a low left to the body. Chambers searches with multiple jabs. Eddie snaps off a right hand and several lefts to the face. Peter just misses a loaded right hand. Chambers peppers in some quick shots right before the bell.
Franchise: 10-9 Chambers
Uatu: 10-9 Chambers
Round 3
Peter backs Chambers into the corner but can't pin him down. Chambers has the faster hands but is still staying pretty cautious. He lands a few left hands and backs away. Good one-two upstairs by Eddie. Peter tries to rally with body shots. Peter attempts to cut off the ring but still can't land any flush shots.
Franchise: 10-9 Chambers
Uatu: 10-9 Chambers
Round 4
Chambers smiles as he gets whacked by a right hand. Peter comes charging forward and almost connects with a combo. Atlas would like Eddie to be busier. Both men connect in an exchange in the center of the ring. Peter is eating jabs in an attempt to close the distance. Chambers lands with both hands to the body. Eddie scores with a right and Sam tries to fire right back.
Franchise: 10-9 Chambers
Uatu: 10-9 Chambers
Round 5
Peter's corner was telling him to walk his man down. He's doing his best, but Chambers gets his legs under him and starts throwing back. Sam lands a right; Eddie throws counter lefts. Peter gets the best of a brief exchange. Peter partially lands a right hand before the bell. Have to give him that round.
Franchise: 10-9 Peter
Uatu: 10-9 Peter
Round 6
Incredibly, Atlas gave that last round to Chambers. He absolutely needs to throw more punches. Peter comes forward behind his jab. Chambers is winning a jabbing contest in this round. Peter goes to the body and is met with more jabs. Chambers switches southpaw for a minute and lands some quick shots. Peter attempts to lure his foe into a firefight in the closing seconds.
Franchise: 10-9 Chambers
Uatu: 10-9 Peter
Round 7
Chambers continues to land some potshots as he circles. Both men are jabbing but can't consistently get anything to go with them. Left uppercut by Peter. Eddie scores with a three-shot combo and picks off the return fire. Peter goes to the body. Chambers does nice work in close and dances away. Eddie snaps off a double jab with a right hand behind it.
Franchise: 10-9 Chambers
Uatu: 10-9 Chambers
Round 8
I think Chambers is winning on points but he can't feel too comfortable about it. Peter deserves credit for continuing to press the issue. Chambers lands about five jabs in a row. Both men try to get something done in the middle of the ring. Peter bulls forward but gets whacked with counter shots. Sam tries to load up the right hand. Atlas thinks Eddie may have blown that round, but I don't see it.
Franchise: 10-9 Chambers
Uatu: 10-9 Chambers
Round 9
Chambers' corner was imploring him to win the final two rounds. Peter is still throwing but he's backing up now. Chambers starts to pick up the pace as he lands with both hands. Peter goes to the body; Eddie counters with two jabs upstairs. Left-right combination by Eddie. And here comes another. Chambers has a little swelling around his left eye.
Franchise: 10-9 Chambers
Uatu: 10-9 Chambers
Round 10
We'll see who has anything left down the stretch. Peter opens up aggressively. Both men are swinging away but neither is landing flush. Chambers has found a home for the right hand off the jab, but Peter can shake them off. Wild swings along the ropes. One minute to go. Peter unleashes a combo that is mostly blocked. He backs Chambers against the topes and they tie up. Peter may have won the round on pure aggression, but it's probably too little, too late.
Franchise: 10-9 Peter
Uatu: 10-9 Peter
Franchise and Uatu score it 97-93 for Chambers. The judges score it 95-95, and 96-94 and 99-91 for Chambers. The winner by majority decision... "Fast" Eddie Chambers.
Posted by The Franchise
Showing posts with label samuel peter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label samuel peter. Show all posts
13.10.08
20-20 Hindsight: Chad is Indeed Bad, Tarver and Peter Done as Title Contenders and More
Sometimes the intrigue in boxing is all in the build-up to the fights and not so apparent in the fights themselves. That was definitely true this past weekend, when two championship bouts with interesting storylines produced little in-ring suspense.
In the case of heavyweights Samuel Peter and Vitali Klitschko, make that zero in-ring suspense. Klitschko quickly answered any questions about how he'd bounce back from nearly four years of inactivity due to injury, looking sharp but employing a pretty conservative style - taking notes from brother Wladimir, perhaps. Peter posed zero problems, losing every round (though one official judge somehow gave him one) and stinking up the joint so badly that you were actually happy that he decided not to come out for the ninth round.
Things were slightly different in Vegas, where at least both Antonio Tarver and Chad Dawson came to fight. Tarver simply found himself outgunned, and though he had his moments, many of them were created by Dawson's inconsistency. The outcome was never really in doubt, producing what my stepfather and many other observers called an exciting but not competitive fight.
Dawson emerged as the night's big winner, and his future looks very bright. His accuracy and hand speed make for a fan-friendly style, and his multi-punch combinations are reminiscent of a prime Shane Mosley. Though he had to respect Tarver's power somewhat, he could show more of a killer instinct. I definitely don't want to watch him do what he did in Saturday's sixth round, which he basically took off to prove Tarver couldn't hurt him.
It's rumored that he wants the winner of the upcoming Joe Calzaghe-Roy Jones Jr. fight, and that would get him either his stiffest test (if it's Calzaghe) or his most lucrative possible fight (if it's Jones). Floyd Mayweather called him the top pound-for-pound boxer in the world, and while Money knows a lot more about boxing than me, I wouldn't go there just yet. He definitely put himself in everybody's top 10, that's for sure.
In contrast, Klitschko's win, while a nice comeback story, doesn't do much for the heavyweight division. As long as the Brothers Klitschko refuse to fight each other, fans of the big guys are deprived of the best match that can be made. Unless Alexander Povetkin can dethrone Wladimir and set up a revenge angle for Vitali, we may have to wait and see if David Haye can inject some excitement into the proceedings.
Meanwhile, the losers of Saturday's fights have something in common: they're both pretty much done as legitimate title contenders. Tarver looks a step slow (at least), and though he's always good for entertainment value, retirement seems to be calling his name. There's absolutely no point in putting Peter back in against either Klitschko, and even if one of the brothers loses soon, he didn't show anything Saturday that's going to make him a hot commodity for any other champ. He seems destined to become a gatekeeper sooner rather than later.
One final note: getting psyched up for last weekend's fights, I almost missed the story that Evander Holyfield may be in line for a fight with Nikolai Valuev. That subject is enough to deserve a column of its own, but I can summarize my feelings in two words: Please. No.
In the case of heavyweights Samuel Peter and Vitali Klitschko, make that zero in-ring suspense. Klitschko quickly answered any questions about how he'd bounce back from nearly four years of inactivity due to injury, looking sharp but employing a pretty conservative style - taking notes from brother Wladimir, perhaps. Peter posed zero problems, losing every round (though one official judge somehow gave him one) and stinking up the joint so badly that you were actually happy that he decided not to come out for the ninth round.
Things were slightly different in Vegas, where at least both Antonio Tarver and Chad Dawson came to fight. Tarver simply found himself outgunned, and though he had his moments, many of them were created by Dawson's inconsistency. The outcome was never really in doubt, producing what my stepfather and many other observers called an exciting but not competitive fight.
Dawson emerged as the night's big winner, and his future looks very bright. His accuracy and hand speed make for a fan-friendly style, and his multi-punch combinations are reminiscent of a prime Shane Mosley. Though he had to respect Tarver's power somewhat, he could show more of a killer instinct. I definitely don't want to watch him do what he did in Saturday's sixth round, which he basically took off to prove Tarver couldn't hurt him.
It's rumored that he wants the winner of the upcoming Joe Calzaghe-Roy Jones Jr. fight, and that would get him either his stiffest test (if it's Calzaghe) or his most lucrative possible fight (if it's Jones). Floyd Mayweather called him the top pound-for-pound boxer in the world, and while Money knows a lot more about boxing than me, I wouldn't go there just yet. He definitely put himself in everybody's top 10, that's for sure.
In contrast, Klitschko's win, while a nice comeback story, doesn't do much for the heavyweight division. As long as the Brothers Klitschko refuse to fight each other, fans of the big guys are deprived of the best match that can be made. Unless Alexander Povetkin can dethrone Wladimir and set up a revenge angle for Vitali, we may have to wait and see if David Haye can inject some excitement into the proceedings.
Meanwhile, the losers of Saturday's fights have something in common: they're both pretty much done as legitimate title contenders. Tarver looks a step slow (at least), and though he's always good for entertainment value, retirement seems to be calling his name. There's absolutely no point in putting Peter back in against either Klitschko, and even if one of the brothers loses soon, he didn't show anything Saturday that's going to make him a hot commodity for any other champ. He seems destined to become a gatekeeper sooner rather than later.
One final note: getting psyched up for last weekend's fights, I almost missed the story that Evander Holyfield may be in line for a fight with Nikolai Valuev. That subject is enough to deserve a column of its own, but I can summarize my feelings in two words: Please. No.
11.10.08
Round By Round: Samuel Peter vs. Vitali Klitschko
The O2 World Arena in Berlin, Germany is home to the WBC heavyweight title fight between Samuel Peter and Vitali Klitschko. We're watching this one several hours after the fact in the United States on Showtime.
This is basically a home fight for Klitschko, the former WBC and WBO heavyweight champion who is returning to action after nearly four years off. Dr. Ironfist and his brother are very popular in Germany, and the crowd is very much in his corner.
Michael Buffer handles the introductions and we're all set to go.
Round 1
Both men working short hooks in the early going. Peter trying to duck his way inside. Jab by Peter and another. Left hook and a right hand crash home for Vitali. Klitschko can't miss with either hand. Another left hook has Peter off balance. Klitschko backing and circling but still throwing as he does. Peter finally scores to the body but it's clearly Klitschko's round.
Franchise: 10-9 Klitschko
Spartan117: 10-9 Klitschko
Uatu: 10-9 Klitschko
Round 2
Klitschko couldn't have started this fight any better. Peter is coming forward but he's getting whacked on the way in. Klitschko jabs, Peter ducks in and ties up. Now a right hand upstairs gets Vitali's attention. Left hooks land both ways. Vitali scores repeatedly with his left hand, both jabs and hooks. Klitschko almost can't miss - the left hand especially is there any time he wants it.
Franchise: 10-9 Klitschko
Spartan117: 10-9 Klitschko
Uatu: 10-9 Klitschko
Round 3
The crowd claps as Klitschko evades Peter's attack. Vitali lands with both hands to the head and backs away. He sneaks in three jabs in a row and Peter can't muster much coming back. He does load up a big right but Vitali responds immediately. Right hook by Klitschko in the middle of the ring. Peter scores to the body in the losing seconds.
Franchise: 10-9 Klitschko
Spartan117: 10-9 Klitschko
Uatu: 10-9 Klitschko
Round 4
Klitschko is holding his hands low but Peter hasn't been able to make him pay. Lefts set up a right hand to Peter's head. Two more rights land fairly clean. Peter is coming forward but isn't busy, and he gets smacked with another right. Peter lands a few jabs to the body with nothing behind them. The announcers think he feels a one-punch KO may be his only way to win.
Franchise: 10-9 Klitschko
Spartan117: 10-9 Klitschko
Uatu: 10-9 Klitschko
Round 5
Just found out there is open scoring for this one, and to little surprise, Klitschko has won every round on the official cards. Nice straight right by Klitschko and he goes back to the jab. A combo lands punctuated by another right, and Peter's left eye is swelling. Vitali circles and scores with left hooks. Peter is trying more jabs but getting hit in return almost every time. Peter tries to turn it into a brawl before the bell and Klitschko isn't having it.
Franchise: 10-9 Klitschko
Spartan117: 10-9 Klitschko
Uatu: 10-9 Klitschko
Round 6
Vitali goes right back to work; Peter hasn't found anything that's worked so far. A long sequence with very little happening ends with a left hand by Vitali. Klitschko sneaking in lefts and backing out; Peter trying to set up the right hand and still finding it hard. That may have been the closest round so far but it still easily went to Vitali.
Franchise: 10-9 Klitschko
Spartan117: 10-9 Klitschko
Uatu: 10-9 Klitschko
Round 7
Peter's corner told him to go to the body to set up head shots, but that's been easier said than done. Klitschko pours it on with a combo and works more left hands. The jab keeps Peter at bay again, and a right hand hits Peter in the face. Another one is on target and Peter's eye isn't looking any better.
Franchise: 10-9 Klitschko
Spartan117: 10-9 Klitschko
Uatu: 10-9 Klitschko
Round 8
The only drama left in this one is seeing whether Peter will lay it all out to get the KO or be KO'ed. He's finally trying to stand and trade but Klitschko is just too cagey. Repeated jabs smack Peter with an occasional right hand for good measure. It's hard to write anything different - it's just very accurate punching by Klitschko combined with enough movement to keep his foe from scoring in response.
Franchise: 10-9 Klitschko
Spartan117: 10-9 Klitschko
Uatu: 10-9 Klitschko
Peter hears the scores after the eighth round and decides he's had enough. He quits on his stool, giving the win to Klitschko. Brother Wladimir is extremely excited as the brothers Klitschko reign as heavyweight champions together.
The winner by TKO at the end of Round Eight... and new WBC heavyweight champion of the world... Vitali Klitschko.
This is basically a home fight for Klitschko, the former WBC and WBO heavyweight champion who is returning to action after nearly four years off. Dr. Ironfist and his brother are very popular in Germany, and the crowd is very much in his corner.
Michael Buffer handles the introductions and we're all set to go.
Round 1
Both men working short hooks in the early going. Peter trying to duck his way inside. Jab by Peter and another. Left hook and a right hand crash home for Vitali. Klitschko can't miss with either hand. Another left hook has Peter off balance. Klitschko backing and circling but still throwing as he does. Peter finally scores to the body but it's clearly Klitschko's round.
Franchise: 10-9 Klitschko
Spartan117: 10-9 Klitschko
Uatu: 10-9 Klitschko
Round 2
Klitschko couldn't have started this fight any better. Peter is coming forward but he's getting whacked on the way in. Klitschko jabs, Peter ducks in and ties up. Now a right hand upstairs gets Vitali's attention. Left hooks land both ways. Vitali scores repeatedly with his left hand, both jabs and hooks. Klitschko almost can't miss - the left hand especially is there any time he wants it.
Franchise: 10-9 Klitschko
Spartan117: 10-9 Klitschko
Uatu: 10-9 Klitschko
Round 3
The crowd claps as Klitschko evades Peter's attack. Vitali lands with both hands to the head and backs away. He sneaks in three jabs in a row and Peter can't muster much coming back. He does load up a big right but Vitali responds immediately. Right hook by Klitschko in the middle of the ring. Peter scores to the body in the losing seconds.
Franchise: 10-9 Klitschko
Spartan117: 10-9 Klitschko
Uatu: 10-9 Klitschko
Round 4
Klitschko is holding his hands low but Peter hasn't been able to make him pay. Lefts set up a right hand to Peter's head. Two more rights land fairly clean. Peter is coming forward but isn't busy, and he gets smacked with another right. Peter lands a few jabs to the body with nothing behind them. The announcers think he feels a one-punch KO may be his only way to win.
Franchise: 10-9 Klitschko
Spartan117: 10-9 Klitschko
Uatu: 10-9 Klitschko
Round 5
Just found out there is open scoring for this one, and to little surprise, Klitschko has won every round on the official cards. Nice straight right by Klitschko and he goes back to the jab. A combo lands punctuated by another right, and Peter's left eye is swelling. Vitali circles and scores with left hooks. Peter is trying more jabs but getting hit in return almost every time. Peter tries to turn it into a brawl before the bell and Klitschko isn't having it.
Franchise: 10-9 Klitschko
Spartan117: 10-9 Klitschko
Uatu: 10-9 Klitschko
Round 6
Vitali goes right back to work; Peter hasn't found anything that's worked so far. A long sequence with very little happening ends with a left hand by Vitali. Klitschko sneaking in lefts and backing out; Peter trying to set up the right hand and still finding it hard. That may have been the closest round so far but it still easily went to Vitali.
Franchise: 10-9 Klitschko
Spartan117: 10-9 Klitschko
Uatu: 10-9 Klitschko
Round 7
Peter's corner told him to go to the body to set up head shots, but that's been easier said than done. Klitschko pours it on with a combo and works more left hands. The jab keeps Peter at bay again, and a right hand hits Peter in the face. Another one is on target and Peter's eye isn't looking any better.
Franchise: 10-9 Klitschko
Spartan117: 10-9 Klitschko
Uatu: 10-9 Klitschko
Round 8
The only drama left in this one is seeing whether Peter will lay it all out to get the KO or be KO'ed. He's finally trying to stand and trade but Klitschko is just too cagey. Repeated jabs smack Peter with an occasional right hand for good measure. It's hard to write anything different - it's just very accurate punching by Klitschko combined with enough movement to keep his foe from scoring in response.
Franchise: 10-9 Klitschko
Spartan117: 10-9 Klitschko
Uatu: 10-9 Klitschko
Peter hears the scores after the eighth round and decides he's had enough. He quits on his stool, giving the win to Klitschko. Brother Wladimir is extremely excited as the brothers Klitschko reign as heavyweight champions together.
The winner by TKO at the end of Round Eight... and new WBC heavyweight champion of the world... Vitali Klitschko.
Live Tarver-Dawson Updates Tonight; Delayed Peter-Klitschko Updates Too
Showtime offers up a pair of championship outs tonight, with one live and the other tape-delayed. Since the BoxingWatchers don't have access to a live feed of the Samuel Peter-Vitali Klitschko fight we'll be seeing that several hours after the fact just like other viewers.
So here's the deal: if you don't have Showtime, bookmark us here for live round by round updates when Chad Dawson versus Antonio Tarver. And we'll do the Peter-Klitschko fight "virtually live,' meaning we'll cover it the same way we would a live fight, just to stay sharp.
Join me, Spartan117 and perhaps the mysterious Uatu tonight - the third best thing to seeing the fights live or watching them on TV!
So here's the deal: if you don't have Showtime, bookmark us here for live round by round updates when Chad Dawson versus Antonio Tarver. And we'll do the Peter-Klitschko fight "virtually live,' meaning we'll cover it the same way we would a live fight, just to stay sharp.
Join me, Spartan117 and perhaps the mysterious Uatu tonight - the third best thing to seeing the fights live or watching them on TV!
8.10.08
Predictions: Tarver-Dawson, Peter-V. Klitschko
The Franchise says...
Showtime serves up a twin bill of championship fights this Saturday with light heavyweights Antonio Tarver and Chad Dawson fighting live in Las Vegas while heavyweights Samuel Peter and Vital Klitschko collide in tape-delayed coverage from Berlin.
Tarver (27-4, 19 KOs) is experiencing a bit of a career resurgence after he was taken part by Bernard Hopkins back in 2006. He enters as the IBF and IBO champion at 175 pounds on a three-fight winning streak, most recently taking a fairly easy decision over Clinton Woods in April. That same April night almost derailed the rise of the undefeated Dawson (26-0, 17 KOs), as he battled his way to a unanimous decision over Glen Johnson that many observers thought he was lucky to win.
It's easy to look at the fighters' respective ages - Tarver is 39 and Dawson is 26 - and see a mismatch. But Tarver is a young 39 if there is such a thing, having taken up pro boxing relatively late. He's also fought the much tougher competition, including Hopkins, three fights with Roy Jones Jr. and two fights of his own with Johnson.
While he once overwhelmed opponents with volume, Tarver now is a bit craftier about picking his spots. He takes great pride in being "dressed down in defense," and though he's been easier to hit in recent years, he should have an edge there. Tarver definitely knows how to play to the crowd and the judges, and he can still throw flashy combos that may not do much damage but look good. His southpaw style has been tricky for some foes, but Dawson is also left-handed, so that's a wash this time out.
Dawson seems like the kind of boxer who is above average in all areas but not really special in any one. He'll enjoy slight height and reach advantages but actually may be better served to get inside, as he's likely to have more power - Tarver's famous one-punch KO of Jones not withstanding. Though he had to hold on to beat Johnson, if his conditioning is good, he may be able to own the second half of the fight as Tarver has been known to fade late.
Adding to the intrigue is the fact that these guys really don't seem to like each other. Anyone who's followed Tarver's career knows that his brashness is part of his act, but he's been especially vocal in the weeks leading up to this fight and looks like he's effectively burrowed under his opponent's skin. Dawson has been visibly steaming during some of their verbal exchanges, and it will be interesting to see if that motivates him more or throws him off his game.
This should be a competitive bout, and even Tarver has acknowledged that Dawson is the future of the division. Picking a winner boils down to whether or not one thinks the Magic Man can reach down deep and summon up one more (possibly final) top-notch performance. I think he can, so I'm going with Tarver in a close but unanimous decision.
The heavyweight fight shapes up as a real question mark thanks to one inconsistent performer and another who hasn't fought in almost four years. Both Peter (30-1, 23 KOs) and Klitschko (35-2, 34 KOs) have plenty of power, so the biggest surprise would be seeing this one go the distance.
Klitschko has a massive height advantage and enough skill to pick off Peter coming in - or at least he did four or five years ago when he looked like the best heavyweight in the world. Reports have him looking good in training, but we just won't know where he stands until he's in the ring throwing and taking punches.
He could have picked an easier first fight back than Peter, who hasn't lost since a September 2005 decision to Vitali's brother Wladimir. He looked very good in dispatching Oleg Maskaev in March, and there's little question he can end the fight quickly if Klitschko is too rusty.
If a prime Klitschko shows up Saturday, he wins, pure and simple. I just can't stake my pick on that happening, so I'm playing it safe and taking Peter to win by mid-round KO.
Uatu says...
Dawson by decision. Activity and speed rule the day.
Klitschko by decision. Klitscho has always been the better fighter, and Peter may have regressed.
Showtime serves up a twin bill of championship fights this Saturday with light heavyweights Antonio Tarver and Chad Dawson fighting live in Las Vegas while heavyweights Samuel Peter and Vital Klitschko collide in tape-delayed coverage from Berlin.
Tarver (27-4, 19 KOs) is experiencing a bit of a career resurgence after he was taken part by Bernard Hopkins back in 2006. He enters as the IBF and IBO champion at 175 pounds on a three-fight winning streak, most recently taking a fairly easy decision over Clinton Woods in April. That same April night almost derailed the rise of the undefeated Dawson (26-0, 17 KOs), as he battled his way to a unanimous decision over Glen Johnson that many observers thought he was lucky to win.
It's easy to look at the fighters' respective ages - Tarver is 39 and Dawson is 26 - and see a mismatch. But Tarver is a young 39 if there is such a thing, having taken up pro boxing relatively late. He's also fought the much tougher competition, including Hopkins, three fights with Roy Jones Jr. and two fights of his own with Johnson.
While he once overwhelmed opponents with volume, Tarver now is a bit craftier about picking his spots. He takes great pride in being "dressed down in defense," and though he's been easier to hit in recent years, he should have an edge there. Tarver definitely knows how to play to the crowd and the judges, and he can still throw flashy combos that may not do much damage but look good. His southpaw style has been tricky for some foes, but Dawson is also left-handed, so that's a wash this time out.
Dawson seems like the kind of boxer who is above average in all areas but not really special in any one. He'll enjoy slight height and reach advantages but actually may be better served to get inside, as he's likely to have more power - Tarver's famous one-punch KO of Jones not withstanding. Though he had to hold on to beat Johnson, if his conditioning is good, he may be able to own the second half of the fight as Tarver has been known to fade late.
Adding to the intrigue is the fact that these guys really don't seem to like each other. Anyone who's followed Tarver's career knows that his brashness is part of his act, but he's been especially vocal in the weeks leading up to this fight and looks like he's effectively burrowed under his opponent's skin. Dawson has been visibly steaming during some of their verbal exchanges, and it will be interesting to see if that motivates him more or throws him off his game.
This should be a competitive bout, and even Tarver has acknowledged that Dawson is the future of the division. Picking a winner boils down to whether or not one thinks the Magic Man can reach down deep and summon up one more (possibly final) top-notch performance. I think he can, so I'm going with Tarver in a close but unanimous decision.
The heavyweight fight shapes up as a real question mark thanks to one inconsistent performer and another who hasn't fought in almost four years. Both Peter (30-1, 23 KOs) and Klitschko (35-2, 34 KOs) have plenty of power, so the biggest surprise would be seeing this one go the distance.
Klitschko has a massive height advantage and enough skill to pick off Peter coming in - or at least he did four or five years ago when he looked like the best heavyweight in the world. Reports have him looking good in training, but we just won't know where he stands until he's in the ring throwing and taking punches.
He could have picked an easier first fight back than Peter, who hasn't lost since a September 2005 decision to Vitali's brother Wladimir. He looked very good in dispatching Oleg Maskaev in March, and there's little question he can end the fight quickly if Klitschko is too rusty.
If a prime Klitschko shows up Saturday, he wins, pure and simple. I just can't stake my pick on that happening, so I'm playing it safe and taking Peter to win by mid-round KO.
Uatu says...
Dawson by decision. Activity and speed rule the day.
Klitschko by decision. Klitscho has always been the better fighter, and Peter may have regressed.
7.10.08
Odds on this Weekend's Showtime Fights
Just for the heck of it Uatu thought he would check out the odds for Saturday's fights because they are both intriguing match-ups.
from sportsbook.com
Dawson -265
Tarver +225
Vitali -170
Peter +140
Uatu likes a bet on Tarver in the first fight and an abstain in the second fight.
from sportsbook.com
Dawson -265
Tarver +225
Vitali -170
Peter +140
Uatu likes a bet on Tarver in the first fight and an abstain in the second fight.
29.5.08
BoxingWatchers.com Boxing Power Rankings - May 2008
With no big fights set for the last weekend of May thanks to Zab Judah's arm injury, it's safe to go ahead and do the latest installment of our boxing power rankings. Some of my friends have asked why we don't just do a pound for pound list, and it's quite simple: there's already plenty of them out there, some of which are done by people who know a lot more about boxing than we do.
Our rankings reflect who's done well recently (defined as three years back from today) against opponents with good records. For more, read this.
On to the May rankings...
1. Miguel Cotto - 25.50 - If you read a site like this, you're definitely looking forward to seeing Cotto fight Antonio Margarito in July. You are excited, right?
2. David Haye - 24.15 - Now that he's signed to Golden Boy, he should be able to get the fights he wants at heavyweight. Wladimir Klitschko is one of them, no doubt.
3. Kelly Pavlik - 19.03 - There don't seem to be too many challenges left for him at middleweight (Arthur Abraham, maybe?). But how about moving up to face Joe Calzaghe?
4. Wladimir Klitschko - 19.00 - Hasn't captured the hearts of American fans. But they love him back home.
5. Manny Pacquiao - 16.61 - It almost seems sacrilegious to say it, but Pacman doesn't seem like the force of nature he once was. That may be even more apparent as he moves up to lightweight.
6. Floyd Mayweather Jr. - 15.60 - Oscar De La Hoya says he's got the strategy to beat Floyd when they face off again this fall. I'm not so sure.
7. Israel Vazquez - 15.30 - Hopefully this guy is enjoying some well-deserved down time. He had one of the ugliest faces I've ever seen on a winning boxer after his third fight with Rafael Marquez.
8. Chris John - 15.05 - He's staying active, though it's against boxers I don't know. Or anyone knows, for that matter.
9. Ricky Hatton - 14.76 - Give his team credit for understanding that his style doesn't lend itself to longevity. Hopefully the Hitman gives us a few more fights worth of thrills and then walks away.
10. Samuel Peter - 13.10 - Through no fault of his own, has little chance to get a shot at unifying the heavyweight titles. He can thank Vitali Klitschko for that.
The next 7: Nate Campbell, Juan Diaz, Antonio Margarito, Joe Calzaghe, Arthur Abraham, Cristian Mijares, Lucian Bute
Our rankings reflect who's done well recently (defined as three years back from today) against opponents with good records. For more, read this.
On to the May rankings...
1. Miguel Cotto - 25.50 - If you read a site like this, you're definitely looking forward to seeing Cotto fight Antonio Margarito in July. You are excited, right?
2. David Haye - 24.15 - Now that he's signed to Golden Boy, he should be able to get the fights he wants at heavyweight. Wladimir Klitschko is one of them, no doubt.
3. Kelly Pavlik - 19.03 - There don't seem to be too many challenges left for him at middleweight (Arthur Abraham, maybe?). But how about moving up to face Joe Calzaghe?
4. Wladimir Klitschko - 19.00 - Hasn't captured the hearts of American fans. But they love him back home.
5. Manny Pacquiao - 16.61 - It almost seems sacrilegious to say it, but Pacman doesn't seem like the force of nature he once was. That may be even more apparent as he moves up to lightweight.
6. Floyd Mayweather Jr. - 15.60 - Oscar De La Hoya says he's got the strategy to beat Floyd when they face off again this fall. I'm not so sure.
7. Israel Vazquez - 15.30 - Hopefully this guy is enjoying some well-deserved down time. He had one of the ugliest faces I've ever seen on a winning boxer after his third fight with Rafael Marquez.
8. Chris John - 15.05 - He's staying active, though it's against boxers I don't know. Or anyone knows, for that matter.
9. Ricky Hatton - 14.76 - Give his team credit for understanding that his style doesn't lend itself to longevity. Hopefully the Hitman gives us a few more fights worth of thrills and then walks away.
10. Samuel Peter - 13.10 - Through no fault of his own, has little chance to get a shot at unifying the heavyweight titles. He can thank Vitali Klitschko for that.
The next 7: Nate Campbell, Juan Diaz, Antonio Margarito, Joe Calzaghe, Arthur Abraham, Cristian Mijares, Lucian Bute
29.4.08
BoxingWatchers.com Boxing Power Rankings - April 2008
We've been doing these rankings for a minute now, but for those new to the party, here's the disclaimer: this is not a pound-for-pound list. Instead, it's a pseudo-scientific measure of who's hot right now, with points earned for activity, winning decisively and facing opponents with good records. For another view, read one of our first posts: How Our Rankings Work.
Now that we've got that out of the way, here's a fresh batch of power rankings that's been shaken up a bit from all of the big fights over the past two months. Even so, there's a familiar name on top...
1. Miguel Cotto - 24.74 - He's probably not the best boxer in the world, but he does put in consistently excellent performances against tough competition. He'll have to do that again to get past Antonio Margarito in July.
2. David Haye - 24.15 - The Hayemaker has knocked out his last four foes and currently rules the cruiserweight division with two iron fists. Time will tell if he's biting off more than he can chew by moving up to heavyweight.
3. Kelly Pavlik - 19.51 - The Ghost should only increase his score in June when he steps in against Gary Lockett. Who? Exactly.
4. Wladimir Klitschko - 19.00 - Tony Thompson is up next for the heavyweight champ. It can't possibly be as dull as the Ibragimov fight... can it?
5. Manny Pacquiao - 16.61 - He got past Juan Manuel Marquez, but just barely. Pacman could flash his KO power of old against David Diaz in June.
6. Joe Calzaghe - 16.00 - A victory over Bernard Hopkins is impressive, no matter how razor-thin the margin. Calzaghe's immediate future seems to hold several lucrative possibilities.
7. Floyd Mayweather - 15.60 - What's the world's best boxer doing all the way down here? Not enough boxing, that's what.
8. Samuel Peter - 15.27 - The Nigerian Nightmare slugged his way past Oleg Maskaev and is all of a sudden looking scary good.
9. Israel Vazquez - 15.16 - This guy really needs to think about fighting someone other than Rafael Marquez. Not because we wouldn't love to see them go for four - we would - but because doing that on a regular basis can't be good for his health.
10. Chris John - 15.05 - Perhaps someday this guy will fight here in the U.S. so we can see if he's really as good as his record makes him appear.
The next 7: Arthur Abraham, Ricky Hatton, Juan Diaz, Nate Campbell, Antonio Margarito, Junior Witter, Shane Mosley
Now that we've got that out of the way, here's a fresh batch of power rankings that's been shaken up a bit from all of the big fights over the past two months. Even so, there's a familiar name on top...
1. Miguel Cotto - 24.74 - He's probably not the best boxer in the world, but he does put in consistently excellent performances against tough competition. He'll have to do that again to get past Antonio Margarito in July.
2. David Haye - 24.15 - The Hayemaker has knocked out his last four foes and currently rules the cruiserweight division with two iron fists. Time will tell if he's biting off more than he can chew by moving up to heavyweight.
3. Kelly Pavlik - 19.51 - The Ghost should only increase his score in June when he steps in against Gary Lockett. Who? Exactly.
4. Wladimir Klitschko - 19.00 - Tony Thompson is up next for the heavyweight champ. It can't possibly be as dull as the Ibragimov fight... can it?
5. Manny Pacquiao - 16.61 - He got past Juan Manuel Marquez, but just barely. Pacman could flash his KO power of old against David Diaz in June.
6. Joe Calzaghe - 16.00 - A victory over Bernard Hopkins is impressive, no matter how razor-thin the margin. Calzaghe's immediate future seems to hold several lucrative possibilities.
7. Floyd Mayweather - 15.60 - What's the world's best boxer doing all the way down here? Not enough boxing, that's what.
8. Samuel Peter - 15.27 - The Nigerian Nightmare slugged his way past Oleg Maskaev and is all of a sudden looking scary good.
9. Israel Vazquez - 15.16 - This guy really needs to think about fighting someone other than Rafael Marquez. Not because we wouldn't love to see them go for four - we would - but because doing that on a regular basis can't be good for his health.
10. Chris John - 15.05 - Perhaps someday this guy will fight here in the U.S. so we can see if he's really as good as his record makes him appear.
The next 7: Arthur Abraham, Ricky Hatton, Juan Diaz, Nate Campbell, Antonio Margarito, Junior Witter, Shane Mosley
8.3.08
Round by Round: Maskaev v. Peter
The last fight of the night is the heavyweight fight between Oleg Maskaev v. Samuel Peter. The commentators believe that these fighters will swing hard and often to make an exciting fight. Maskaev is the title holder. The winner of this fight will be the fighter that Wladimir Klitschko must fight and defeat to become the undisputed heavyweight champ.
Maskaev is 39 years old while Peter is only 27. As the last fight demonstrated, age doesn't always matter.
Maskaev comes out to "Another one Bites the Dust" and in a sombrero. Very similar to an entrance we've seen before. Floyd Mayweather perhaps?
Both fighters look big, mean and ready to fight.
Round 1: They walk to the center of the ring and touch gloves. Both fighters are feeling each other out and don't throw anything for the first 30 seconds. Peter throws the first punch but it does not connect. Maskaev looks cautious. Peter lands a left hook and a jab. The pace is slow. Peter lands the first forceful blow and its a right to Maskaev's head.
Spartan: 10-9 Peter
Uatu: 10-9 Peter
Round 2: This fight looks like it's in slow motion when it is shown after the last fight we just saw. Peter gets backed into the ropes but counter's his way out. Peter throws jabs to the head and body. Maskaev now getting busier. Peter usually throws the first punch in a sequence of traded punches. Maskaev throws a hard right that misses and causes him to loose his balance. Peter does not capitalize.
Spartan: 10-9 Peter
Uatu: 10-9 Peter
Round 3: Peter works the jab which is the first punch to land in the round. The commentators have been scolding Peter about his punches landing in the back of the head. Apparently Peter has a history of hitting behind the head. Peter lands a massive power punch and unloads on a hurt Maskaev against the ropes. Maskaev makes it out of the ropes and lands a hard right hand of his own and staggers Peter. Both fighters are lucky to make it out of the round.
Spartan: 10-9 Peter
Uatu: 10-9 Maskaev
Round 4: Both fighters are very cautious for the first minute of the round. Peter lands a perfect jab that hits hard. Peter's body movement dodges three hooks delivered by Maskaev. Maskaev lands a hard left hook which backs Peter.
Spartan: 10-9 Maskaev
Uatu: 10-9 Peter
Round 5: The open scoring of this fight lets us know that Peter is winning on all 3 judges score cards. Maskaev now throws more jabs. Jim Lamply now shows his hatred for open scoring as he has done numerous times in the past. Both fighters now taking their time before throwing their punches. Maskaev lands a hard right hand and the crowd erupts.
Spartan: 10-9 Maskaev
Uatu: 10-9 Peter
Round 6: Peter is the more aggressive fighter in this round. Peter lands a shot to the back of the head. Maskaev holds his head and takes two more hard shots. The ref warns Peter. Maskaev lands left that knocks Peter off balance. Maskaev gets clocked with a vicious right and staggers back. He is practically out on his feet. Peter follows the stumbling Maskaev around the ring landing at will. He also lands two punches to the back of the head which goes unnoticed by the ref but most of the barrage lands cleanly. The ref finally steps in and stops the fight.
The winner by TKO, and new WBC heavyweight champion, Samuel Peter.
Peter shouts into the microphone for his post fight interview. "UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD. WHO NEXT?" He says he can beat any boxer in the world and says he can do it tomorrow.
Maskaev is 39 years old while Peter is only 27. As the last fight demonstrated, age doesn't always matter.
Maskaev comes out to "Another one Bites the Dust" and in a sombrero. Very similar to an entrance we've seen before. Floyd Mayweather perhaps?
Both fighters look big, mean and ready to fight.
Round 1: They walk to the center of the ring and touch gloves. Both fighters are feeling each other out and don't throw anything for the first 30 seconds. Peter throws the first punch but it does not connect. Maskaev looks cautious. Peter lands a left hook and a jab. The pace is slow. Peter lands the first forceful blow and its a right to Maskaev's head.
Spartan: 10-9 Peter
Uatu: 10-9 Peter
Round 2: This fight looks like it's in slow motion when it is shown after the last fight we just saw. Peter gets backed into the ropes but counter's his way out. Peter throws jabs to the head and body. Maskaev now getting busier. Peter usually throws the first punch in a sequence of traded punches. Maskaev throws a hard right that misses and causes him to loose his balance. Peter does not capitalize.
Spartan: 10-9 Peter
Uatu: 10-9 Peter
Round 3: Peter works the jab which is the first punch to land in the round. The commentators have been scolding Peter about his punches landing in the back of the head. Apparently Peter has a history of hitting behind the head. Peter lands a massive power punch and unloads on a hurt Maskaev against the ropes. Maskaev makes it out of the ropes and lands a hard right hand of his own and staggers Peter. Both fighters are lucky to make it out of the round.
Spartan: 10-9 Peter
Uatu: 10-9 Maskaev
Round 4: Both fighters are very cautious for the first minute of the round. Peter lands a perfect jab that hits hard. Peter's body movement dodges three hooks delivered by Maskaev. Maskaev lands a hard left hook which backs Peter.
Spartan: 10-9 Maskaev
Uatu: 10-9 Peter
Round 5: The open scoring of this fight lets us know that Peter is winning on all 3 judges score cards. Maskaev now throws more jabs. Jim Lamply now shows his hatred for open scoring as he has done numerous times in the past. Both fighters now taking their time before throwing their punches. Maskaev lands a hard right hand and the crowd erupts.
Spartan: 10-9 Maskaev
Uatu: 10-9 Peter
Round 6: Peter is the more aggressive fighter in this round. Peter lands a shot to the back of the head. Maskaev holds his head and takes two more hard shots. The ref warns Peter. Maskaev lands left that knocks Peter off balance. Maskaev gets clocked with a vicious right and staggers back. He is practically out on his feet. Peter follows the stumbling Maskaev around the ring landing at will. He also lands two punches to the back of the head which goes unnoticed by the ref but most of the barrage lands cleanly. The ref finally steps in and stops the fight.
The winner by TKO, and new WBC heavyweight champion, Samuel Peter.
Peter shouts into the microphone for his post fight interview. "UNDISPUTED HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD. WHO NEXT?" He says he can beat any boxer in the world and says he can do it tomorrow.
Live Round By Round Recaps of Diaz-Campbell, Maskaev-Peter and Haye-Maccarinelli (Maybe!) Tonight
It's a big night of boxing as both HBO and Showtime put on some interesting bouts. We're going to try something for the first time here at BoxingWatchers.com. For those of you who can't see the fights, we're going to try to do live round by round recaps of Diaz-Campbell and Maskaev-Peter AND the Haye-Maccarinelli fight.
Will it work? Who knows? It's going to involve multiple writers, multiple televisions and all the magic that the internets can handle. We'll have the HBO fights for sure, and we'll do our best to get the European clash up as well. Since they're fighting at 2 am local time for our benefit in the U.S., it's the least we can do.
Bookmark us here and check back later for all the boxing (hopefully) you can handle.
Will it work? Who knows? It's going to involve multiple writers, multiple televisions and all the magic that the internets can handle. We'll have the HBO fights for sure, and we'll do our best to get the European clash up as well. Since they're fighting at 2 am local time for our benefit in the U.S., it's the least we can do.
Bookmark us here and check back later for all the boxing (hopefully) you can handle.
7.3.08
Predictions: Maskaev vs. Peter, Campbell vs. Diaz
Uatu says...
Peter over Maskaev. Uatu is thinking a mid to late TKO. Peter is younger and stronger and Maskaev won't be able to withstand him for the whole fight.
Uatu is actually much more interested in Campbell vs. Diaz. These are two fighters, that despite the fact that they aren't at the top of the boxing fame ladder, have actually both been in televised fights a large number of times.
Uatu really wants to pick the Galaxy Warrior. He has impressed in fights against Casamayor and Kid Diamond. However, the boxing press has really warmed up to Diaz, despite many at the beginning of his career thinking he was a limited pressure fighter. If Uatu was betting on the fight, he would absolutely bet on Campbell and take the underdog odds.
Diaz has youth on his side, as Campbell is in his mid 30's, but Nate only started boxing in his mid 20's and professionally in his late 20's, so he's a fresh fighter.
Oh boy, tough call. But if they were easy calls the fights wouldn't be worth watching.
Diaz UD 12, too much activity. The 'Baby Bull' wins on sheer volume.
The Franchise says...
I'll take on the lighter fight first. If you haven't already done so, read Dan Rafael's excellent piece on Nate Campbell and find out why he's a guy worth cheering on. Then read Steve Kim's article suggesting Juan Diaz may be distracted by his divorce with Don King.
Now forget it all. Though Campbell has the power and experience to prove a huge threat, the Galaxxy Warrior can't match the Baby Bull's hand speed and pressure. And boxing and promoter problems go hand in hand, so I don't think Diaz will be sweating his situation too much once he steps inside the ring.
Expect Campbell to be exceedingly game and probably hang in there for all 12 rounds. Just don't expect him to get his hand raised at the end, because I feel like Diaz will see the fight go his way.
As for the heavyweight bout, here's the "glass is half-full" point of view: it can't possibly be as uninspiring as the slap-fest that Wladimir Klitschko and Sultan Ibragimov put on a few weeks ago.
I agree with my brother here. Peter seems like he'll just prove to be too much to handle for Maskaev, who I think may be the worst of the current heavyweight belt-holders. It may not be a knockout - quite a few of Peter's recent fights have gone the distance, but I'm picking the Nigerian Nightmare to get the job done.
Peter over Maskaev. Uatu is thinking a mid to late TKO. Peter is younger and stronger and Maskaev won't be able to withstand him for the whole fight.
Uatu is actually much more interested in Campbell vs. Diaz. These are two fighters, that despite the fact that they aren't at the top of the boxing fame ladder, have actually both been in televised fights a large number of times.
Uatu really wants to pick the Galaxy Warrior. He has impressed in fights against Casamayor and Kid Diamond. However, the boxing press has really warmed up to Diaz, despite many at the beginning of his career thinking he was a limited pressure fighter. If Uatu was betting on the fight, he would absolutely bet on Campbell and take the underdog odds.
Diaz has youth on his side, as Campbell is in his mid 30's, but Nate only started boxing in his mid 20's and professionally in his late 20's, so he's a fresh fighter.
Oh boy, tough call. But if they were easy calls the fights wouldn't be worth watching.
Diaz UD 12, too much activity. The 'Baby Bull' wins on sheer volume.
The Franchise says...
I'll take on the lighter fight first. If you haven't already done so, read Dan Rafael's excellent piece on Nate Campbell and find out why he's a guy worth cheering on. Then read Steve Kim's article suggesting Juan Diaz may be distracted by his divorce with Don King.
Now forget it all. Though Campbell has the power and experience to prove a huge threat, the Galaxxy Warrior can't match the Baby Bull's hand speed and pressure. And boxing and promoter problems go hand in hand, so I don't think Diaz will be sweating his situation too much once he steps inside the ring.
Expect Campbell to be exceedingly game and probably hang in there for all 12 rounds. Just don't expect him to get his hand raised at the end, because I feel like Diaz will see the fight go his way.
As for the heavyweight bout, here's the "glass is half-full" point of view: it can't possibly be as uninspiring as the slap-fest that Wladimir Klitschko and Sultan Ibragimov put on a few weeks ago.
I agree with my brother here. Peter seems like he'll just prove to be too much to handle for Maskaev, who I think may be the worst of the current heavyweight belt-holders. It may not be a knockout - quite a few of Peter's recent fights have gone the distance, but I'm picking the Nigerian Nightmare to get the job done.
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