Chris Arreola Is A Pathetic Excuse For A Heavyweight!

Heavyweight contender, Chris Arreola will be facing Brian Minto Saturday night, where he looks to erase from the minds of boxing fans the beating he took from Vitali Klitschko.

"The Nightmare" is a perfect alias for Chris Arreola; he's a nightmare, but not in the sense that he's an unstoppable force inside the boxing ring. No, Chris Arreola is a heavyweight nightmare in that he's a pathetic excuse for a professional. He weighed in at 263 pounds! Pathetic!

You would think Chris Arreola would learn after his fight with Vitali Klitschko and the criticism he took in the lead-up to the bout, about not being in shape. Arreola is even heavier for this fight than he was against Klitschko. Chris Arreola likes to play up the blue collar image - the man who likes to have a beer every once in awhile. Bullshit. It's nothing more than an excuse on his part. He's a lazy fighter who does not want to apply himself. He's not serious about competing at the highest levels of the heavyweight division. Arreola wants to show up and earn a paycheck.

I'm an admitted armchair boxing general; I'm not the one out there putting it on the line like these fighters - but I'm a paying customer - and I'm damn sure that if I were boxing, I wouldn't have the nerve to show up overweight, looking like a slob in front of millions of people. Chris Arreola is a professional who claims he wants to be champion. Well, I got news for you Chris - you're NOT going to be champion, showing up 30 some-odd pounds overweight.

I thought Chris Arreola learned his lesson, and I was expecting him to weigh in way under what he weighed in for his fight with Vitali. Until Arreola learns his lesson and applies himself to the sport like a true professional - like Wlad, Vitali, Haye - I'll be rooting against him.

Chris Arreola is a poster child for the state of the heavyweight division today.

Pacquiao-Mayweather Set For March 13

Apparently the Pacquiao-Mayweather bout has been agreed upon to take place in March. This is a little surprising, considering Manny Pacquiao just got done going 12 hard rounds against Miguel Cotto only a few weeks ago. Manny's trainer, Freddy Roach has also expressed his desire to have the fight take place sometime in May, because he wanted Manny to get enough rest. Roach has also said in a few interviews last week, he wanted a 10 week training camp for Pacquiao, instead of an 8 week training camp.

Personally, I feel May would be the better date. Having the fight in May, instead of March, would allow an extra month and a half to build the hype to a boiling point. Not to mention, the March date would benefit Mayweather more than it would Manny. Mayweather had a glorified sparring session with Marquez and will be completely rested and ready to go in March, whereas for Manny, it would be cutting it close. May seems like a fair date for both fighters.

The date might be pushed back. It's too early to tell. But from all the reports that I'm reading, March 13 seems like the date the fight will take place on.

Full Fight - Bernard Hopkins Vs. Felix Trinidad

Full Fight - Roy Jones Jr. Vs. Bernard Hopkins

Full Fight - Bernard Hopkins Vs. Kelly Pavlik

Bernard Hopkins Wins - Who's Next?

The old man wins again. 44 year old ring legend, Bernard Hopkins defeated Enrique Ornelas by UD. Hopkins looked a little sloppy in the early rounds, probably due to ring rust (the last time he fought was last year against Kelly Pavlik). After a few rounds the cylinders began to move in the old engine, as Hopkins, the same as he always does, employed his usual defensive ring craft and sneaky punches to outpoint Enrique. Ornelas didn't bring anything to the ring to challenge Bernard Hopkins on the night. He was a student in there, and Hopkins, yet again was the teacher. . . maybe a mad scientist. Any win for Hopkins is a feat in itself, considering he's still in his prime at the age of 44! Amazingly, Hopkins' future is brighter now than it was 5-7 years ago.

Who's next for Hopkins? Anybody he wants. The ball is in Hopkins's court. He could probably secure a fight with any boxer on the planet - that is, if they are willing to fight him. Bernard Hopkins doesn't exactly make his opponents look good. Ask Jermain Taylor and Joe Calzaghe - hell, ask Pavlik while you're at it! I'm sure there are a few top fighters out there who would love to get the chance to fight Hopkins, and maybe get the opportunity to be able to say they beat Hopkins better and more convincingly than any of his other foes. Bernard Hopkins isn't exactly an easy puzzle; perhaps that fact will be enticing to Paul Williams or Chad Dawson.

Chad Dawson has already publicly stated he wants a crack at Bernard. That is the fight I want to see. There is also talk of Hopkins moving up to heavyweight to fight David Haye. That would be an interesting fight also.

I think Bernard Hopkins could make Chad Dawson look bad, like he has with all of his other opponents, but I give Chad Dawson a better chance of beating Hopkins than anyone else. Dawson has the speed and skill to overcome Hopkins's negativity and spoiling defense. It's hard for me to bet against Hopkins though; on his best night, even now, at his age, Hopkins can STILL decision Paul Williams, Chad Dawson or David Haye. He has the right style and game-plan to beat anyone put in front of him.

If Hopkins does go on to fight and defeat Chad Dawson, I wonder if that'll lull Calzaghe out of retirement? If, after Hopkins beat the talented young prospect that so many pestered Joe about before his retirement, you'd have to wonder. Regardless, Joe Calzaghe beat Bernard Hopkins when Hopkins was at his best - his last two fights against Pavlik and Ornelas have proven that - and any win from here on out for Hopkins, not only catapults his own legacy, but Calzaghe's too. It took Joe Calzaghe to beat Hopkins, and then Hopkins to beat Pavlik, for me to realize what a talent Joe Calzaghe was. Is Joe overrated by some die-hards? Absolutely. But he's also extremely underrated too. Calzaghe is overrated when it comes to accomplishments. He's underrated in terms of skill.

I'll be on the edge of my seat to find out who Bernard Hopkins will fight next. I'm hoping for Chad Dawson!

Roy Jones Jr. Lost To Danny Green - Rematch With Hopkins Doomed

Well, it looks like we can forget about seeing Roy Jones Jr. vs. Bernard Hopkins. Jones was stopped in the first round by Australian, Danny Green.

Green caught Jones with a right hand on Jone's left temple, which caused him to go down. Roy got up on shaky legs, covered up and let Green wail away. Jones didn't take a lot of punishment after the initial knockdown, but he wasn't firing back, which forced the referee to call a halt to the bout in the first round.

Am I shocked? Sort of. Danny Green is no world beater. I was expecting Jones to decision Green. Even at this stage of the game, despite the loss, I still consider Roy Jones Jr. a better boxer than Danny Green. Roy just got caught by a heavy handed fighter. It happens.

I'm definitely disappointed that Jones couldn't pull off the victory. That means we don't get to see the long awaited rematch Roy denied Hopkins all these years. I was looking forward to the confrontation between these two boxing legends. Now that Jones lost, it's very unlikely, barring some miracle, we'll see it happen.

Roy Jones Jr. will have to get back in the ring against some lesser opponent right away, if he wants to inch himself closer to a big fight with a big name. I'm a Roy fan, always have been, but I feel he should consider finally hanging them up. He's already secured himself as one of the greatest talents pound for pound to ever step inside the ring.

Lucian Bute Impressive In Win Over Librado Andrade

Lucian Bute looked great in his win over the steel-chin challenger, Librado Andrade. Andrade has never been stopped before; Lucian Bute managed to stop him in only 4 rounds.

Coming into this fight, I was expecting to see Andrade start where he left off in their last bout - and he did - pressuring Lucian Bute. Only I thought this time around, Librado would be more effective, seeing as how Bute couldn't dent his jaw in the first fight.

I was shocked to say the least, after Lucian Bute landed that beautiful counter-left off the ropes that dropped Andrade. We've seen Andrade absorb some monstrous shots in his fight against Kessler, and Lucian Bute was tagging him at will in the first fight without so much as a flinch from Librado - so I didn't expect to see Lucian drop him. That's not to say Andrade was seriously hurt though; the knockdown had more to do with him not seeing the punch. That just goes to show you how technique and speed trumps brute power most of the time (think Floyd Mayweather Jr.).

After Andrade got up from the punch to the head, Lucian soon thereafter finished the fight, erasing the memory of the first encounter, by hitting his opponent with a massive, well-placed left to the body. Librado could not beat the count.

Lucian Bute redeemed himself with this performance, and reacted to criticism the way true champions do. He was man enough to give Librado Andrade a much deserved rematch, and managed to erase any doubts I had before. I was seriously expecting some improvements out of Lucian Bute, and thought he would win - by UD - but not by stopping someone as tough as Andrade in 4 rounds.

Bute is ready for the elite in and around the super middleweight division. He's earned the right to fight the best. Word is, Lucian's camp wants Kelly Pavlik. I think that would be a good fight. Paul Williams is also a possibility.

Why the hell is Lucian Bute NOT in the super middleweight tournament? That's what I want to know!

The Mikkel Kessler Hype Train Derailed By Ward

Mikkel Kessler was favored to win the super middleweight super six tournament. Not anymore he isn't. Kessler's opponent, Andre Ward had something to say about Mikkel being the favorite in the tournament; in what was Andre Ward's biggest challenge to date since turning pro, he aced the test, pretty much dominating the highly touted Mikkel Kessler.

Andre Ward didn't just win, he outfought, outboxed and outsmarted Kessler in every round. I was extremely impressed by Ward. Quite frankly, I didn't think he had a chance against Kessler coming into this fight. Perhaps I got caught up in the Mikkel Kessler hype train:

Mikkel Kessler's claim to fame is losing against now retired, Joe Calzaghe. Given that Calzaghe was a special talent, and seeing Kessler put up a stiff challenge against Joe, most boxing fans thought Kessler would beat all challengers in the tournament; as did I.

Kessler is no joke. Although a little stiff and upright, he has beautiful boxing mechanics, decent power, and one of the best jabs in boxing. Before his fight with Joe Calzaghe, Kessler had hardly lost a round in his professional boxing career! He's no bum. He has legitimate talent.

So if we know how good Mikkel Kessler is, just how good is Andre Ward? After the performance Ward put on - if he can stay focused - I find it hard to believe he'll be beaten by Jermain Taylor, Arthur Abraham, Carl Froch, or even Dirrell. Dirrell will probably pose the toughest test for Ward because of his speed, and Abraham has the one punch power to end the fight quickly, but certainly, Ward has to be the favorite now. He has the style and talent to beat anyone in the super middleweight division.


Other than fans of Mikkel Kessler, you know who's really upset Kessler lost? Joe Calzaghe. Joe was banking on Kessler to further boost and cement his legacy. It looks like that wont happen now. No one had more invested in Kessler's performance than Joe Calzaghe did (and still does). Andre Ward beat Mikkel easier than Joe Calzaghe did.

The Danish fighter will look to get back on track against Carl Froch next. It's do or die time for Kessler.

The Miguel Cotto-Manny Pacquiao Fight Generated Roughly 1.25 Million PPV Buys

The numbers are finally out. After tons of speculation, the final Pay-per-view buy-rate for the Miguel Cotto-Manny Pacquiao fight was released Friday: 1.25 million buys. Not bad at all. Certainly not a disappointment, but below my personal expectations. I thought for sure Manny-Cotto, combining their star-power, would easily generate at least 1.5 million buys.

When the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight finally materializes, after all said is done, I expect that fight to break box office records. I can't imagine Pacquiao-Mayweather not besting De La Hoya-Mayweather (the total PPV buys settled in at 2.4 million). There is finally a fighter in Manny Pacquiao who has a GREAT shot of giving Floyd his first loss: Villain vs. hero, speed vs. speed, offense vs. defense; an immovable force in Mayweather vs. a destructive offensive moving machine in Manny Pacquiao. Oh yes, people will tune in - by the millions!

What does this matter to me? Well, I'm not financially invested in either fighter; but it is a sign that the sport is doing good - thriving even. 2010 looks to be an up-year for boxing.

Cotto-Pacquiao Fight Pictures

Miguel Cotto's Future And Excuses For His Loss

The type of beating that Miguel Cotto took from Antonio Margarito can ruin a fighter. The same type of beating pretty much happened to Cotto again by the hands of Manny Pacquiao. Cotto's already taken an extreme amount of punishment from both of those fights. But it doesn't mean he cannot make a successful comeback. And I doubt Miguel Cotto is done boxing.

What is next for Miguel Cotto? Well, the first thing probably on his mind is a long vacation; recuperating, meditating on his loss and contemplating his passion for the sport, etc. Once/if Cotto decides to come back, there are a lot of good match-ups for him out there.

Rematching Margarito is always a possibility. Although Cotto is adamant about not fighting him (because of the hand wrap controversy). There is the Shane Mosley rematch waiting to happen. Cotto could also face the winner of Ricky Hatton/Juan Manuel Marquez, if that fight comes to fruition. Miguel could fight Juan Diaz, if he'll move up to welterweight. There are a lot of routes open to Miguel Cotto if he decides to come back - which I'm sure he will.

The bottom line is that, just because Cotto lost, or just because he took another beating, doesn't mean that he has to retire. . . if he doesn't want to. That's for him to decide.

I'm seeing a lot of calls for Miguel Cotto to retire. It's nonsense. We see this type of hysteria after any big name boxer gets beat a second time, or takes quite a bit of punishment. The same calls for retirement happened to Ricky Hatton after he was effortlessly knocked out in the second round by Manny Pacquiao. It is true a beating like the one Miguel Cotto took can permanently effect a fighter's career. On the other hand, many fighters have took 10 times the punishment as Cotto did, on numerous different occasions and come back and not be effected. It depends on the fighter. Each case has to be handled independently. There isn't a one case fit all type of criteria for determining if a fighter has taken too much punishment. We wont know that answer until Miguel Cotto (if he does) gets back in the ring.

The Miguel Cotto excuses have already started: Miguel Cotto's corner gave him the wrong advice, to Cotto being weight drained, etc. Excuses are to be expected.

For one, Miguel Cotto wasn't weight drained; by his own admission he wasn't. Cotto himself offered no excuses after the fight. It is true Cotto's corner did not offer the best advice, and he could have followed a better game plan, but didn't. Could've, would've, should've. The real excuse for Cotto losing - the only excuse for Cotto losing, is Manny Pacquiao.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Says Manny Pacquiao Is 'One Dimensional.'

Floyd Mayweather Jr. has never shied away from speaking his mind. In his latest rant, Mayweather calls Manny Pacquiao 'one dimensional.' Floyd's full statement about matching up against Manny Pacquiao:

"The thing is with Pacquaio I don't see any versatility as a fighter; he's a good puncher but just one-dimensional.

"The world's going to go 'wow' if Floyd Mayweather gets beaten. That's what everyone is looking to see.

"If I beat Manny Pacquaio do you know what they are going to say? 'You are supposed to beat him, you are Floyd Mayweather, you are the bigger man'. If I knock him out they'll say 'you're supposed to knock him out he's been knocked out before'.

"I'm in a no-win situation and when I beat him no one is going to be surprised because he's been beaten before; whatever I do to Pacquaio has been done before - he's been beaten on three occasions. And if I knock him out I don't want the world shouting because he's been knocked out twice before."

My thoughts: What Floyd Mayweather says has some truth in it; mainly that he's in a lose-lose situation. He is the naturally bigger man, and has already taken on his fair share of smaller opponents -- without testing himself against good, solid, natural 147 pounders. But, Mayweather is off base when he calls Manny Pacquiao 'one dimensional.' Pacquiao wouldn't be where he is today -- running through all his competition, if he was one dimensional.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. should not be faulted for fighting Manny Pacquiao, even if Manny is the naturally smaller man; Pac has proven time and time again that he carries speed and power up with him from the smaller weight classes.

If Floyd Mayweather beats Manny Pacquiao, I'm one boxing fan who will not be making excuses. Manny is a legit threat. How can he not be, after dominating a much bigger Miguel Cotto?

On a side note, it's good to see that the hype has already started. The main stream sports media is definitely interested in Pacquiao-Mayweather.

David Haye Vs. John Ruiz - I Hope Not

John Ruiz vs. David Haye? I can't think of a more meaningless fight. The thought of David Haye fighting John Ruiz is not very appealing. Some would argue that Ruiz would pose as a test for Haye, but not I.

Ruiz is 37 years old. His better days inside the ring are behind him. He grapples more than an MMA fighter and has already lost to Valuev - a man David Haye just beat (a very close decision). The potential match-up between John Ruiz and David Haye makes no sense from David Haye's perspective, and quite frankly, the thought of it puts boxing fans to sleep.

Boxing fans, Klitschko fans, Haye fans want to see David Haye vs. either Klitschko brother in the spring or summer of 2010. That is a fight that makes sense!

If David Haye cannot secure a date with Wladimir, or Vitali for his next trip to the ring, then so be it . . . but under that scenario, I'd rather see him fight Adamek. The Polish heavyweight has already issued a challenge to David Haye; not only would that be an exciting fight to see, David Haye would be testing himself. If he fights and manages to get past Adamek - a fighter who is respected and highly ranked - David Haye Vs. Wladimir/Vitali becomes that much bigger.

More fighters should follow Manny Pacquiao's philosophy; that is, take the boxing path of most resistance.

If Anyone Can Beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. It's Manny Pacquiao

Out of all the fighters out there in and around Floyd Mayweather Jr's weight division, Manny Pacquiao has the best chance of beating him. Stylistically, Manny matches up good against Mayweather.

If you take a look at the Floyd Mayweather Jr./Zab Judah fight, you'll notice that Judah caught Mayweather with some good shots early on and in the middle stages of the fight. Zab Judah, like Manny Pacquiao is a south-paw with speed. But unlike Manny, Judah doesn't have the stamina, chin or discipline.

Judah's best weapon in that fight was the left hand - a punch Manny Pacquiao lands often against his opponents. There is no doubt that Manny would be landing a few of these powerful left hands on Mayweather's chin in the course of the fight; how many can Floyd Mayweather absorb before he falls? Or the better question probably is, can Mayweather avoid the left hand all night? Possible. But doubtful.

Mayweather has a great defense, but Pacquiao has the offensive firepower, speed, activity and stamina to capitalize. Even if Manny doesn't stop Mayweather, he certainly has the aggression and overall style to make it difficult for Mayweather -- possibly outpointing Floyd in a close fight. Remember, most judges will favor aggression and activity. There is no doubt in my mind Manny will be more active, the only question will be how effective he is.

It's certainly not a foregone conclusion that Manny Pacquiao WILL beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. if these two fight - this fight is 50/50 in my eyes with a slight edge in favor of Manny - and the reason this fight is so attractive - but if anyone can beat Mayweather, it's Manny Pacquiao!

All Time Great: Manny Pacquiao Highlight

Manny Pacquiao Gives Miguel Cotto A Beating!

Manny Pacquiao is now undoubtedly the number one pound for pound fighter in the world. Manny is simply awesome, and secured himself tonight as an all time great!

The fight turned out pretty much how I envisioned it -- Pacquiao having the speed advantage and his superior stamina/output being the key to victory. There were a few treats along the way:

Manny Pacquiao took some blistering shots from Miguel Cotto - a full fledged, hard hitting welterweight - and walked through them like they were nothing. It cannot be ignored; Manny has a strong chin at welterweight! He also carries his power extremely well. Pac put Cotto down twice and hurt him throughout the contest. Towards the latter half of the bout, Miguel Cotto was reduced to having to back up constantly, due to Pacquiao's relentlessness.

The fight was finally stopped by the referee in round 12, but truth be told, I thought the fight should have been stopped a couple of rounds earlier.

Kudos to Miguel Cotto for showing heart and taking the punishment he did. He has nothing to be ashamed of; he lost to the (as of right now) best boxer on the planet. Ricky Hatton can testify to that!

What have we learned? Well, for starters, Manny Pacquiao has welterweight power with speed to boot. He hasn't lost his speed. His stamina is still there. But the most surprising lesson learned from the fight has to be Manny's chin. Leading up to the fight, I never envisioned, that Pac would be able to walk through Cotto's shots. This is Miguel Cotto we're talking about - a big welterweight who's always packed a punch!

This fight lived up to expectation. It was action packed, exciting and kept you on the edge of your seat. Boxing won tonight.

Besides Manny Pacquiao being the pound for pound number one fighter on the planet, he's also the most exciting fighter on the planet - something Floyd Mayweather Jr. will never have the privilege of saying about himself.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. needs to happen in 2010. It would be a travesty to boxing if it didn't! This is a fight that could potentially put boxing back in the mainstream and possibly be the highest grossing fight in the history of the sport. The fight would be a gold-mine for promoters and the two boxers because of the hype leading up to the clash. In other words; I don't think you'll have to twist Mayweather's arm in order to see this fight. If he's the savvy business man he proclaims himself to be, he already sees the writing (money) on the wall.

Floyd Mayeather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao - 2010. Let's make it happen!

Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto Weigh in

Some observations about the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto weigh in: Surprisingly, Manny Pacquiao looked about the same size as Cotto. He wasn't dwarfed by any means. Perhaps the size difference will become more apparent when the two fighters step into the ring - but I was expecting more of a size difference than what I saw; considering Miguel Cotto is a full fledged welterweight.

Cotto is physically bigger than Manny, and will be heavier by the time the two fight. But height and reach-wise, they match up well and are quite equal.

Before I watched the weigh in, I was expecting to see Cotto somewhat drained, due to the extra two pounds he had to drop; if Cotto was drained, his body didn't show it. He looked great - as did Manny Pacquiao.

Both fighters looked in top shape (they always are), confident and ready to go. There should be no excuses from either fighter/camp, or from fans of either boxer after the fight.

After months of hype and excitement, they are ready to go. I just hope the action surpasses the pre-fight hoopla!

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Gets Into It With "Ra The Rugged Man."

Mike Tyson Arrested

Mike Tyson is back in the news. Apparently, Tyson got into a scuffle with a photographer at an LA airport. There are conflicting reports as to what really happened. It's possible the photographer provoked Tyson so he'd lose his cool, which would allow the photographer to sue. As we all know, the paparazzi are scum of the earth, so I wouldn't be surprised if the photographer did indeed provoke Tyson. And truthfully, I wouldn't be surprised if Mike Tyson was the one who overreacted and went overboard; lord knows he's went off the deep end before.

It's a shame, but Mike Tyson's latest run in with authority exemplifies his life outside the boxing ring and his career inside the boxing ring; that of hostility and instability.

Mike Tyson, a one time feared, exciting and gifted heavyweight boxer -- now a freak-show, even long after retirement. I don't say that out of disrespect, but pity. I can't recall there being as tragic a heavyweight life-story as Mike Tyson's is.

HBO 24/7

HBO's 24/7 series is probably the best thing to happen to boxing in the last 10 years. One thing boxing was lacking, and has been lacking for quite some time, is personalities. Every fighter can't be a Floyd Mayweather, so HBO's 24/7 is perfect; it allows the casual boxing fan a glimpse into what goes on behind the scene and a window into a boxer's life. And it obviously helps with garnering interest for fights.

HBO finally realized the potential of introducing the individual boxing personalities to the general public. Hopefully 24/7 is here to stay. Now if only HBO would broadcast more big fights on their regular cable station, and cut down on the pay-per-views. So many pay-per-views is one problem that is hampering the sport.

StrikeForce (an MMA organization) just put together a card and broadcasted it on CBS - network television - for free. Millions tuned in. Why can't the greedy promoters make some deals to get fights on network television? Even if only a few higher-end cards a year, it would do wonders for the state of boxing in America.

Final Prediction For Cotto-Pacquiao

After giving it a lot of thought, my prediction for the Cotto-Pacquiao fight hasn't changed much. I started off thinking Miguel Cotto might be too big of an opponent for Manny Pacquiao to overcome. But now I'm back to where I was in the beginning; thinking Manny will win by TKO in the latter half of the fight.

Miguel Cotto isn't like Ricky Hatton, and he isn't shot like Oscar De La Hoya, but I don't think he'll have the speed to be effective against Manny. Cotto's jab might be a neutralizer for the first half of the fight, but I expect Pacquiao's speed and stamina to overcome the odds.

I don't believe Manny will get Cotto out of there quick like he did Hatton, because Cotto is well rounded and much more versatile. But Cotto has always had stamina issues. That's where I see Manny drowning Cotto - later on in the fight.

Cotto of course has the power to gain Manny's respect, but I don't foresee his power bailing him out. Manny's footwork, in-and-out style and speed will best brawn.

Miguel Cotto will have to force the action and back Pacquiao up if he wants to be successful. IF he can constantly back Manny up he has a real shot. Cotto's most important tool in this fight will be his jab. Pacquiao's most effective tool will be his footwork.

It is going to be speed vs. power on November 14!

So here it is: Manny Pacquiao by TKO in round 9.

Chad Dawson Outpoints Glenn Johnson

Chad Dawson defeated Glenn Johnson more thoroughly than he did the first time around (many argue that Johnson beat Dawson in their first encounter). Dawson won a UD in the rematch.

It was business as usual for young Chad Dawson, who seem disinterested at times. He easily outboxed Johnson, using his superior speed and footwork to rack up points without putting himself in too much danger.

Chad Dawson has fought two rematches in a row, against over the hill fighters -- Antonio Tarver being the first of the old men, Glenn Johnson the most recent.

Dawson has a natural athletic gift and is a great fighter, with even greater potential, but leaves something to be desired. Last night he "did enough." Lately, it seems as though Chad Dawson only "does enough" to win.

Chad Dawson has some things working for him: He's young, in his prime, a southpaw, natural speed, able to put together combinations, great footwork and decent defense.

Dawson also has a few things going against him -- things that he needs to work on if he wants to make fans forget about Joe Calzaghe: He seems to have stamina issues for one; he lets off the gas and frequently takes breathers in the middle portion of a fight. He also has a lack of power. And Dawson's mentality seems to be lacking a killer instinct -- like I said before, "doing just enough to win."

Chad Dawson really shouldn't be labeled a prospect, but strangely, that's what he is. He's still growing as a fighter. He still has a lot of tricks to learn. Dawson has potential -- you can see flashes of brilliance when he fights -- but his true potential might not be fully realized by boxing fans until he fights someone in their prime, or a Bernard Hopkins (Yes, I know, Bernard Hopkins isn't technically in his prime, but he's an uncommon exception to the rule).

If Joe Calzaghe were still around - and based on Dawson's last two performances - I don't see anything from Dawson that makes me think that he could beat Joe.

Be that as it may, Chad Dawson needs to fight Cloud, Hopkins, or move up to the Cruiser weight division and take on the likes of Adamek and/or Cunningham (Dawson came into the ring last night weighing 191 pounds!).

David Haye Decisions The Giant

David Haye came away with the victory against Russian giant, Nikolay Valuev, tonight in Germany. David Haye was awarded a majority decision points victory.

I personally thought it was a lackluster performance by David Haye, who promised to 'slay' the giant. Truth be told, it was a boring fight.

The fight could have gone either way really, but I thought the judges got it right. I think Haye shaded it.

It can be argued the ancient Evander Holyfield defeated Valuev more clearly than Haye did. But whatever the case, Haye got the victory, and finally had a fight. It might be too soon to judge Haye at heavyweight or estimate his potential in the division by this performance, when he's up against a behemoth like Valuev.

David Haye says he hurt his hand early on in the fight. Is this injury wiggle room for Haye, to excuse himself for not doing the job he promised he'd do in the lead up to the fight, or is it a sincere injury? Sincere injury or not, I hope it's not a pretext to delayed and canceled fights. Fighting once a year and then living off his mouth doesn't hold any weight to the fans who want the heavyweight division spiced up.

I'm tired of the waiting. I'm tired of the scouting. I'd much rather see David Haye face either Klitschko brother next. Let's finally get it on!

Tomasz Adamek Looks Impressive Beating Andrew Golota

Tomasz Adamek looked impressive in beating Andrew Golota, stopping him in round 5. Adamek carried his speed and combination punching from cruiser weight to heavyweight quite well.

Granted, Andrew Golota isn't the fighter he once was, but there were a lot of skeptical boxing fans out there before the fight, who picked Golota to beat Adamek, mainly, because of the size advantage Golota has.

It remains to be seen what Tomasz Adamek can do in the heavyweight division. I personally feel he is a little too small in stature to mix it up with the Klitschko brothers.

Adamek has a cast iron chin, good speed, decent jab, but his lack of size and lack of head movement would see him getting bludgeoned to death by either Klitschko.

The Polish boxer could easily mix it up (and probably be successful) with the Eddie Chambers of the division.

In any case, Tomasz Adamek has made it clear he wants to stay in the heavyweight division. After all, that's where the big money fights are. . . he can add some much needed excitement to the division.

Super Middleweight Super Six

Carl Froch vs. Andre Dirrell: It was a boring, uneventful fight. Carl Froch practically did all the engaging, chasing Andre Dirrell from pillar to post, from the first round to the last. However hard Froch tried to make it an exciting boxing match, he didn't land all that much.

Dirrell was too fast for Froch; he landed more punches than Carl - and I fail to see how you can score the fight in Froch's favor when he was out landed by Dirrell. Just because a fighter forces the action (like Froch did), doesn't mean he should be awarded the victory. Not when the boxer's aggressiveness is ineffective.

Carl Froch is lucky the fight took place in England, otherwise, I don't think he would have gotten the nod. Andre Dirrell, in my opinion, was robbed. He clearly outpointed Froch.

Jermain Taylor vs. Arthur Abraham: Jermain Taylor might be damaged goods. Yet again, he gets knocked out in the final round. First against Carl Froch, and most recently against King Arthur.

The fight between Abraham and Taylor was much more exciting than Froch/Dirrell. Abraham continues to improve with every fight - and I think there is no question he has some serious power that the rest of the super middleweights should be weary of.

Arthur Abraham just might be the dark horse in the super middleweight tournament. If he can get to Dirrell within the course of a 12-round fight, I see Abraham knocking him out. The other possibility is Dirrell outboxing Abraham, which I can also see.

Abraham vs. Kessler would be a great fight to watch, although I favor Kessler to win. Kessler is a better all-around boxer than King Arthur. The only category in which Abraham is superior to Kessler is in the power department. Other than raw power, Kessler has the speed advantage and is fundamentally more sound.

Whatever the case, I'm enjoying this supper middleweight super six tournament. It's a win for boxing fans. I'm looking forward to the next round!

P.S. I firmly believe Jermain Taylor should hang up the gloves!

The Best Of Norman "Stoney" Stone

Miguel Cotto Highlight

Vitali Klitschko Is Underrated!

I feel Vitali Klitschko is extremely underrated by boxing fans and doesn't get the credit he is deserved. Yeah, Vitali Klitschko fights in a weak heavyweight era, but that's not his fault; Vitali takes care of business every time out and is always in shape. You cannot say that about any of the heavyweight pretenders on the scene. What other 6'7'' 250 pound behemoth heavyweight do you know who can fight moving backwards? I'll answer that for you: None.

Vitali Klitschko isn't the prettiest looking heavyweight, but he's effective; as you saw last weekend when he put on a clinic against Chris Arreola. Vitali boxed beautifully - fighting going backwards, while being pressured hard by Arreola - dodging punches and then countering. And not running out of steam. Klitschko was on pace to throw 1000 punches, had the fight went the full distance!

When you put Vitali Klitschko into proper perspective, you'll see that he would have been a decent challenge for any heavyweight in history. Vitali has the size, footwork, speed, chin, power and an unorthodox, yet effective boxing style to be a threat to any past all time great.

Vitali might not have the athleticism of his younger brother, but I feel his defense is superior to Wlad's.

Vitali has also never been behind in a fight - even the two fights that he lost. He was up on the judge's scorecards in the Chris Byrd fight, and against Lennox Lewis.

I think Vitali Klitschko has already secured himself as an ATG. Some will argue against that - but at the very least, he's a shoe in for the hall of fame.

You can best define Vitali Klitschko's greatness by the fact that he took 4 years off from boxing - comes back in his first fight to dominate a legit heavyweight belt holder - dominating where he left off. I don't care who you are; coming back to compete at the highest level of the sport, after being absent for close to 5 years, is amazing.

The older Klitschko brother is 38 years young and looks better than ever. I don't see anyone out there posing a threat to him, besides David Haye.

Vitali is a rare athlete, great fighter, and clearly underrated by boxing fans.

Vitali Klitschko Vs. Chris Arreola - Full Fight

Is Time Running Out For Manny Pacquiao?

Part of the problem boxing fans have, is constantly looking into the future, without living in and appreciating the now. The time has come for boxing fans to stop, and cherish what we have in fighters like Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto, Juan Manuel Marquez, the Klitschko brothers and especially Manny Pacquiao.

Even though Manny Pacquiao is in his prime, there is already talk by his trainer, Freddie Roach, that time is short for his fighter; Manny himself has discussed an interest in politics. Roach recently had this to say:

“If he retires after this (Cotto) fight I’ll be fine with that also,” Roach told the Inquirer over breakfast at the Manor Hotel in Baguio City Monday.

“If negotiations with Mayweather fail and Manny wins against Cotto, he’ll be having seven world titles. Nobody has done that before, so there’s nothing else to prove.”

http://sports.inquirer.net/professional/professional/view/20090929-227376/Roach-not-looking-past-Cotto-Mayweather

I think we're witnessing one ore two more big fights from Pacquiao, before he calls it quits. If Manny does get past Cotto, he'll likely face Floyd Mayweather Jr., and win or lose, that will probably be his last fight. And who can blame Manny? He's had a tremendous career and given boxing fans some great fights to watch.

The only troubling thing about the retirement talk now is, it's so close to the Pacquiao-Cotto fight. Hopefully it isn't a sign that Manny has lost his passion for the sport. He needs to bring the fire against Cotto. He needs to bring it all. Because if Manny has lost even an ounce of passion for the sport, Cotto will snuff out what's left of the flame.

Roy Jones Jr. And Bernard Hopkins To Fight In Early 2010

Roy Jones Jr. and Bernard Hopkins have signed a deal to face each other in early 2010, according to ESPN writer, Dan Rafael:

"Sixteen years ago they fought each other and went on and made history in their own way," said Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, Hopkins' promoter. "Each one is considered today as ring royalty. That's why I think when those two guys are going to fight it will be to determine who will be king of the ring. We went back and forth for so long, but we finally pulled it off. They both signed and they will fight. It will be a truly historic showdown. A lot of people didn't believe it would ever happen. But guess what? It's going to happen."

Dan Rafael's full column can be read here: http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=4504737

Roy Jones will first have to get past Australian, Danny Green. Roy said he thought about pulling out of the fight with Green, but decided against it, because he already gave his word and signed a contract. Roy will be facing Green in Australia, December 2.

It's good that Jones is keeping his word, but I still think he should cancel his fight with Green, in order to focus attention on Bernard Hopkins. And there is always the possibility that Green upsets Jones. If that happens the fight with Bernard Hopkins will be in jeopardy ; Hopkins wouldn't want to face a Roy Jones Jr. that was knocked out in a previous bout, and I'm sure fans wouldn't be hyped up enough to order the ppv.

Anyway, I'm ecstatic that this fight will finally be made. I feel Roy Jones' style will give Bernard Hopkins enough trouble, even now. I'm picking Jones by UD - if the fight really materializes. Crossing my fingers!

Max Kellerman Is Forgiven - Larry Merchant Needs To Go!

I can forgive Max Kellerman for the horrible interview he conducted after the Marquez-Mayweather fight. It's now more apparent than ever, after watching last night's fight on HBO, Larry Merchant is past his prime and over the hill. He needs to go!

Larry Merchant is an HBO boxing icon. He'll always be remembered for his funny (sometimes witty) remarks. But for the last couple of years, he's taken on the image of a drunken old man - and sounds like one too!

Last night was painful; usually I welcome Larry Merchant's wise remarks, but he's gotten to the point where he can't think on his feet like he used to. He rambles on, usually during the most exciting and important parts of a fight, where Jim Lampley is/should be explaining what the viewer is witnessing. For those of us who understand boxing, I guess it isn't a big deal, but there are a lot of casual boxing fans who do not have the hardcore fans' knowledge of boxing. And from listening to the HBO crew for years, it's apart of the routine as a viewer to hear good, flowing commentary. That isn't the case anymore, thanks to Larry Merchant.

There were parts in the fight where you could tell even Lampley was getting annoyed by Merchant's long, drawn-out rambling. At least Max Kellerman can speak fast enough and make his point without interrupting the flow of the commentary.

Larry, we love you, but you have overextended your stay.

Vitali Klitschko Dominates Chris Arreola

Vitali Klitschko successfully defended his WBC belt Saturday night, dominating and putting enough beating on Arreola that his corner eventually stopped the fight, before round 11.

Chris Arreola certainly made the fight interesting, even though it was one-sided in Vitali's favor. Chris made Vitali fight on the move for the majority of the fight, and didn't really let him relax. Arreola gave it his all, but it just wasn't enough to overcome Klitschko's size and boxing ability.

This fight was interesting in my eyes, because Chris seemed to push himself and try harder than previous Vitali challengers. So many times, after Vitali or his brother come away with the win, fans come with the ready made excuse of, "If only the challenger tried harder, or put some effort in." Well, Arreola did, and it wasn't enough - not by a long shot. This fight just reinforces my opinion that Vitali, not Wlad, is the best heavyweight in the world.

Vitali arm punches, and doesn't put his weight behind his shots, unlike his brother Wladimir, but Vitali, unlike Wlad, can improvise - and he's far better defensively. Not to mention, Vitali has the better chin between the two and is more game.

Even more impressive about this dominant win for Vitali, is the fact that he's 38 years old! In every round he was busier than Chris Arreola, the younger man, while constantly on the move.

I rate this win as one of Vitali's most impressive performances.

So what is next for Vitali Klitschko? Well, I would love to see him fight his brother; if that is not an option (and it's probably not), I'd like to see him face Eddie Chambers.

Mayweather-Marquez Generates A Million PPV Buys

So much for boxing being dead as a lot of UFC/MMA fanboys like to say. The Mayweather-Marquez bout did over a million ppv buys.

Mayweather-Marquez went up against UFC 103 on the night. It has been reported that UFC 103 did around 500,000 ppv buys.

Dana White was constantly saying, in the lead up to the fight, that no one was interested in the Marquez-Mayweather fight - and went on record saying that UFC 103 would generate more ppv buys. It looks like Dana White has to eat crow, along with the very vocal UFC fanboys. And this also proves, boxing is far from dead.

Max Kellerman Was Out Of Line

Max Kellerman did a poor job Saturday night on HBO pay-per-view, interviewing Floyd Mayweather Jr., after his dominant performance against Juan Manuel Marquez. Max Kellerman, for those of you who didn't see it yet, was basically an ass during his interview with Mayweather. Most people think Max is an ass regardless; but I'm talking, MAX KELLERMAN WAS AN ASS! He interrupted Floyd, tore the microphone away from him, AFTER Shane Mosley had originally taken the mic from Max, and just did a horrible job.

After such a hyped up fight that didn't really live up to peoples' expectation, the best thing that could have happened was some fireworks after the fight - some call outs - some more hype. Max Kellerman ruined that, when he killed the flow and didn't let Floyd Mayweather speak. On top of that mess, Max Kellerman belittled Floyd Mayweather Jr. by talking about the size disadvantage of Marquez, and wanting to know why Mayweather didn't drop weight to fight Marquez at a lower weight division.

To be quite honest, these are important questions that should be demanded of Mayweather; I agree with Max, but he went about it in the wrong way. He was an ass who pissed off a lot of boxing fans. Max Kellerman certainly didn't do himself any favors by trying to win over his critics. This interview with Mayweather will probably set him back.

Max Kellerman was critiqued obsessively about being such a suck-up in interviews after fights. Maybe Kellerman overcompensated and took it to an extreme in the other direction - a Larry Merchant on steroids.

Max Kellerman is good for HBO boxing, in my opinion, but he's no Larry Merchant. He needs to be himself. He can ask the tough questions we as boxing fans want the answers to, without cutting the fighters off and constantly interrupting.

The interview wouldn't be half as bad if it were on regular HBO - but it wasn't. What made the whole interview a disgrace, was the fact that it was on HBO pay-per-view. That is the reason so many boxing fans are pissed off. People do not pay money to hear the announcers ramble.

Better luck next time Max.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Outclassed Juan Manuel Marquez

I recently picked Juan Manuel Marquez to upset Floyd Mayweather Jr. I figured, because of Mayweather's long absence from the boxing ring, he would definitely have some rust to shake off. How wrong I was. As I've said before, every time I went against the grain and picked against Mayweather, he made me eat crow; no different this time!

Floyd Mayweather Jr. started off quickly and looked like he never went anywhere. He pretty much dominated from the opening bell to the last round.

It was a case of a great bigger man beating a good smaller man. We have to put Marquez's size into perspective; just 18 months ago, he was fighting at 130 pounds. Marquez fought Mayweather at the highest weight he's ever had to fight at. Juan's punches didn't have the same snap, and he obviously didn't carry all that extra weight as good as Manny has, for example.

But take nothing away from Mayweather's performance; regardless of his size advantage, I figured it would at least be a competitive fight, in large part because of Floyd's long lay-off. That certainly wasn't the case. I'm not shocked that Mayweather won, but I am surprised at how he dominated. He made it look like a walk in the park.

Even after such a brilliant display of boxing from Mayweather, he will still have his hard-core critics. They'll say he beat a smaller man yet again; his cherry picking continues. If that's the case, should Mayweather bypass a match-up with Manny Pacquiao, should he come away victorious against Miguel Cotto, and opt to fight the winner of the Mosley-Clottey fight? These are legit questions to ask yourself. If Mayweather fights AND BEATS Manny, his critics can still use the size advantage angle - but if he goes on to face Clottey or Mosley, he'll be belittled for ducking Manny. I guess some of these questions will be answered after we find out who wins between Mosley-Clottey/Cotto-Pac.

Whatever the case, I'd favor Mayweather against all 4 challengers. I know styles make fights, but Mayweather is on a whole different tier than the rest. After watching him fight Saturday, after going against Mayweather, and after eating crow AGAIN, I'm going to be hard pressed to ever pick against him again. That much I know.

Mikkel Kessler Successful In Tune Up

Mikkel Kessler was successful in his tune up fight against Perdomo. Kessler started slow and calculated behind his jab, until the action finally picked up in the 3rd round. Just as soon as the action picked up, it was over. Kessler ended up stopping his challenger in round 4.

The Viking Warrior had an easy night; he's now due to face Andre Ward next.

I thought Kessler looked as he usually does - calculated with great boxing technique. Mikkel does all the little things right. His jab is one of the best in the game. Although I thought Kessler looked a little slower than usual; you could attribute that to his long lay-off.

Mikkel Kessler will have to be at his best when he faces Andre Ward come November. In my opinion, Ward has the potential to beat Kessler. But if Mikkel is at his best and gets his jab going, he should come away with the victory.

There is an X-factor involved in the fight with Kessler/Ward, and that is, how well Kessler handles fighting away from Denmark. The fight is going to take place in Oakland, California. Kessler has fought outside his home country on a few different occasions, so he should respond okay, but Ward will definitely have the home town advantage.

Shane Mosley Will Face Joshua Clottey

It looks like Shane Mosley found an opponent finally. He will be taking on Joshua Clottey, December 26.

Once again, Shane Mosley showing he will fight anyone. And once again, Shane Mosley showing he's one of the most avoided fighters in boxing today. The same holds true for Joshua Clottey.

Joshua Clottey is no slouch. He will be an extremely tough opponent for Shane Mosley to win against. Many boxing fans thought Joshua Clottey should have got the decision in his fight with Miguel Cotto.

I'll be giving an in-depth analysis of the bout closer to the fight date, but I'm definitely leaning towards Joshua Clottey to come out the winner.

In reference to Shane Mosley being avoided. He just recently came off a spectacular victory over Antonio Margarito, and is arguably the number 1 welterweight in the world - yet has to face Miguel Cotto's leftover. Shane Mosley should be fighting Manny, Cotto or Floyd Mayweather Jr., NOT Joshua Clottey. The Mosley-Clottey fight is great for Clottey though, and will be great for fans.

What a fight this should be!

The State Of Boxing

Is the sport of boxing being 'swallowed' by MMA like UFC announcer, Joe Rogan argued in an ESPN debate with boxing promoter, Lou DiBella? Well, yes, in a way boxing IS being marginalized.

For years the sport of boxing was the ONE combat sport - mainstream combat sport - which the public turned to to relieve their day to day frustrations, and to get entertainment. Two guys fist fighting is universal; it transcends religion, race and language. Two guys fist fighting is a language in itself.

From the early 1900's, all the way up to Ali's time, boxing was the most popular sport in America, besides baseball. Then other sports, such as football started to gain in popularity and overtake baseball and boxing as America's favorite sport. But boxing never had a competitor. Baseball is totally different than boxing. It co-existed for years beside baseball as America's beloved fighting sport. And while football is a physical and oftentimes violent sport, it has no parallel with boxing. For years, boxing was the ONE true combat sport.

Boxing never had a competitor until the sport of MMA was created. It's a combat sport just like boxing is, but the difference is, MMA allows not only boxing, but other martial arts and wrestling. Today, MMA is seen as the pure combat sport, while boxing is seen as a limited form of fighting. And make no mistake about it, that is true; boxing IS a limited form of fighting compared to MMA. But, to me, boxing is more aesthetically pleasing to watch. Sadly the mainstream doesn't think so. Boxing today is very much a niche sport.

Can we blame MMA for the lack of interest in boxing today in America and in other parts of the world? Absolutely not! If you remember, boxing has been struggling since the late 1980's. Apart from Tyson, boxing wasn't seeing the success and popularity is seen in the 70's and earlier. The 90's were the same way. Oscar De La Hoya, Mike Tyson and a couple of other mainstream boxing stars were the exception, but beyond them, the state of boxing was hurting. It's been that way ever since! Boxing has been a niche sport for a very long time. We cannot blame MMA. We need to blame the greedy promoters and the way the sport is managed today.

The reality of the situation is this; MMA will always be more popular from here on out. In reality, boxing had to evolve, and it evolved into MMA. It was only a matter of time until someone took all the combat styles and mixed them into one sport. Boxing fans need to except that. But that doesn't mean boxing cannot co-exist with the sport of MMA! If anything, the boxing promoters should be learning from the UFC.

We probably have more talent today in boxing than in anytime in history. But it's the marketability that hurts the sport; no personalities, no big time stars, no advertising dollars from big companies so the sport can be broad casted on CBS, NBC or ABC - which means the sport will always have less exposure, etc.

The sport of boxing can grow! It will never be bigger than MMA, because of simple evolution, but it can learn from the UFC on how to conduct business and how to gain interest once again.

There needs to be more oversight in boxing. Bad decisions are hurting the sport. These alphabet soup organizations need to be a thing of the past; it causes too much politics and restricts the biggest fights from happening. Each weight division should have ONE champion! Less confusion is always a good thing. And these damn promoters. These greedy promoters have been sucking the blood from boxing for years. It starts and ends with the promoters!

Until some of the aforementioned points are addressed, the state of boxing will not change from where it stands now.

Classic Fight: Roberto Duran Vs. Sugar Ray Leonard

Shane Mosley Suggests Below Average Ticket Sales For Mayweather-Marquez

Floyd "Money" Mayweather doesn't seem to be the big draw he is always claiming himself to be. Shane Mosley, a partner of Golden Boy Promotions, has recently hinted that ticket sales for the Mayweather-Marquez bout are below average. You can read the full article about the ticket sale drama at the link below:

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=21946

Compare this to the Cotto-Pacquiao fight/ticket sales; only 24 hours after the fight was officially announced, the place where the fight is to be held was virtually sold out; only 1,000 or so tickets were available.

Floyd Mayweather's skills inside the boxing ring cannot be denied - but his drawing power needs to be questioned.

Whether you like, or dislike Floyd Mayweather Jr. shouldn't matter in this instance; this is a boxing problem. Bad ticket sales (if true) reflect on the popularity of the sport. Floyd Mayweather has been absent for nearly two years. He's making a comeback to fight one of the sport's best - so ticket sales shouldn't be as bad as rumored.

There are a lot of things wrong with the sport of boxing, which I'll expand on some other time. But let's just hope Mayweather and Marquez put on a memorable boxing show, for the sake of the sport.

Roy Jones Jr. Vs. Bernard Hopkins - Repeat Or Revenge

Bernard Hopkins hasn't fought since he beat Kelly Pavlik, and is looking for an opponent. Most boxing experts say he will either face Chad Dawson or Adamek. I think Bernard Hopkins against either Dawson or Adamek would be interesting, and great from a fan's perspective; but I'll tell you, I would really like to see Bernard Hopkins swallow his pride and face Roy Jones Jr.

Roy Jones Jr. isn't what he used to be, but isn't shot either; he still possesses speed and decent power. And since reformatting his boxing stance/style, and implementing basic boxing fundamentals into his game, he's a different Roy Jones Jr.

Jones has recently went on record and publicly stated he would be interested in facing Bernard Hopkins. This is a fight most boxing fans would like to see, and I feel Hopkins would garner more interest from the boxing world were he to sign a contract to face Roy Jones Jr. than he would taking on Dawson or Adamek.

Roy Jones Jr. Vs. Bernard Hopkins; repeat or revenge. After all these years, it has a certain ring to it.