Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
A Look Back: Joe Calzaghe vs. Roy Jones Jr.
November 2008: Two ring legends, Joe Calzaghe and Roy Jones Jr. gave boxing fans a memory they wont soon forget. Although half of the fight was more like an exhibition bout and the fight itself took place about 8 years too late, it still was exciting to see both men share the ring together. And the fight let us piece the puzzle together on what (most likely) would have happened had these two fighters met in November of 2000.
I was expecting Joe Calzaghe to come into the fight and dominate. He did dominate, but not in the way I expected; I was thinking more along the lines of him knocking Roy Jones Jr. out early, or in the mid-rounds.
The first round was full of drama with Roy Jones Jr. showing superior speed in the center of the ring - he also had more snap on his punches. He knocked Joe Calzaghe down towards the end of the first. Definitely a surprise to me.
The second round saw Calzaghe fully recuperated from the first round knock down, but Roy Jones Jr. was still landing clean, crisp punches. In my view, Jones took the first 2 rounds.
The tide turned in the third round as Joe Calzaghe dominated Roy Jones against the ropes and in the center of the ring.
Round four was more of the same; Calzaghe throwing and landing more punches.
Round 5 was a close round to score and could have gone either way. Both men had moments. I personally scored it for Roy Jones Jr. on his cleaner, harder punches.
Round 6 was clearly Joe Calzaghe's round, even though he got hit with a monstrous uppercut at the tail end of the round. If Calzaghe didn't have such a good chin, I doubt he would have been standing after that punch.
Round 7 was an interesting round; Roy Jones Jr. started to jab Calzaghe. And he was troubling Calzaghe as he tried to get inside. Jones mixed it up - you could almost see the wheels turning inside Calzaghe's head. After Jones landed effective jabs to keep Joe at bay, Calzaghe landed a couple of straight left hands which opened a cut above Jones' left eye. After suffering the cut, it was all down hill for Roy.
The remainder of the fight was all Joe Calzaghe, as he cruised to a UD.
I take nothing away from Calzaghe. It was an impressive win for him - after all, he was 36 years old himself. But let's not lose sight of the fact that Jones was not being blown out of the water until AFTER he sustained that cut. I doubt Roy would have won had he not suffered the cut, but I believe the fight would have been much more competitive.
Roy Jones Jr., even at age 39 had the quicker single shots and the crisper, harder, cleaner punches on the night. Calzaghe was faster with flurries and foot work.
Which leads me to my conclusion: Prime for prime, Roy Jones Jr. wins by a wide UD. Roy Jones Jr. was simply too fast for Joe Calzaghe, at any time in his career (watch the first 7 rounds of Calzaghe-Jones to see what I'm talking about).
Whatever the case, both fighters gave us an opportunity to see their styles clash. At least they fought; better late than never.
Both fighters will undoubtedly be inducted into the boxing hall of fame.
I was expecting Joe Calzaghe to come into the fight and dominate. He did dominate, but not in the way I expected; I was thinking more along the lines of him knocking Roy Jones Jr. out early, or in the mid-rounds.
The first round was full of drama with Roy Jones Jr. showing superior speed in the center of the ring - he also had more snap on his punches. He knocked Joe Calzaghe down towards the end of the first. Definitely a surprise to me.
The second round saw Calzaghe fully recuperated from the first round knock down, but Roy Jones Jr. was still landing clean, crisp punches. In my view, Jones took the first 2 rounds.
The tide turned in the third round as Joe Calzaghe dominated Roy Jones against the ropes and in the center of the ring.
Round four was more of the same; Calzaghe throwing and landing more punches.
Round 5 was a close round to score and could have gone either way. Both men had moments. I personally scored it for Roy Jones Jr. on his cleaner, harder punches.
Round 6 was clearly Joe Calzaghe's round, even though he got hit with a monstrous uppercut at the tail end of the round. If Calzaghe didn't have such a good chin, I doubt he would have been standing after that punch.
Round 7 was an interesting round; Roy Jones Jr. started to jab Calzaghe. And he was troubling Calzaghe as he tried to get inside. Jones mixed it up - you could almost see the wheels turning inside Calzaghe's head. After Jones landed effective jabs to keep Joe at bay, Calzaghe landed a couple of straight left hands which opened a cut above Jones' left eye. After suffering the cut, it was all down hill for Roy.
The remainder of the fight was all Joe Calzaghe, as he cruised to a UD.
I take nothing away from Calzaghe. It was an impressive win for him - after all, he was 36 years old himself. But let's not lose sight of the fact that Jones was not being blown out of the water until AFTER he sustained that cut. I doubt Roy would have won had he not suffered the cut, but I believe the fight would have been much more competitive.
Roy Jones Jr., even at age 39 had the quicker single shots and the crisper, harder, cleaner punches on the night. Calzaghe was faster with flurries and foot work.
Which leads me to my conclusion: Prime for prime, Roy Jones Jr. wins by a wide UD. Roy Jones Jr. was simply too fast for Joe Calzaghe, at any time in his career (watch the first 7 rounds of Calzaghe-Jones to see what I'm talking about).
Whatever the case, both fighters gave us an opportunity to see their styles clash. At least they fought; better late than never.
Both fighters will undoubtedly be inducted into the boxing hall of fame.
Arthur Abraham Wins Via 10-Round KO
Arthur Abraham defended his title for the 10th time, as he disposed of his challenger, Mahir Oral, knocking him down 5 times, ultimately getting the stoppage in round 10.
Arthur Abraham dominated throughout and looked as good as ever.
Abraham has a few options on the table for him; he can face Carl Froch, or Kelly Pavlik. I'd rather see Pavlik vs. Abraham at middleweight. This fight has been discussed quite a bit these last couple of years. I see Pavlik vs. Abraham as a 50/50 fight. Both have the power to hurt each other. My early prediction favors Kelly Pavlik though, as he has the better jab, longer reach and is the better technical boxer.
We'll see where the talks go in the next few weeks. If there is one downside to the sport of boxing, it is that negotiations for bouts between top fighters in each weight class can be painstakingly slow. . . as we have seen over the years.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Amazing, Memorable & Funny Boxing Moments
Don't forget to check out the youtube link I have posted below for some laughs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTHXIZzCKBc
Mayweather vs. Marquez Is Back On For September 19
Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs Juan Manuel Marquez is officially back on. The bout is rescheduled for September 19.
After being cleared to fight by his doctor, Mayweather said, "I am relieved to be cleared to fight as I was already looking forward to getting back into the ring.
"Trust me, 19 September is a great weekend for boxing, and all of my fans, of which there are many Mexicans too, can certainly hold on to their hats and sombreros when I get back into the ring and show them what they have been missing these past 18 months. I will destroy Marquez and reclaim my rightful place as boxing's pound-for-pound king all in one night."
I'm glad the fight is back on, although I must disagree with Mayweather on one point; if Floyd is to reclaim boxing's number one pound-for-pound spot, he must first beat Manny Pacquiao. Defeating Juan Manuel Marquez, on his first trip to the ring in over a year would be impressive for Mayweather - no doubt about it. But it wont put him above Manny Pacquiao.
Marquez had this to say about the rescheduled bout with Mayweather: "I am happy that Mayweather has been cleared to fight and we can get down to business. This weekend is not just an important weekend for boxing, but even more so for all of the Mexican and Mexican-American people I will be fighting for."
Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Juan Manuel Marquez - September 19 - let the hype resume!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Vitali Klitschko Has Three Options Open For Him
Vitali Klitschko recently told The Daily Star
that he is interested in fighting David Haye, Chris Arreola or Nikolay Valuev.
Personally, I would like to see Vitali Klitschko go the route of David Haye. If that fight does not materialize, then hopefully it's Chris Arreola.
Both David Haye and Chris Arreola would be interesting match-ups, more so than the lumbering Valuev. Haye and Arreola would also be better opposition for Vitali in my estimation. Although, it would be fun to watch the giant, Valuev get knocked out. I guess heavyweight boxing fans can't go wrong.
In other news, David Haye is okay to come back September or October.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Dana White Is Bad For The UFC (Thankfully)
Dana White, current President of the most successful MMA organization, UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship), has irreparably damaged the sport's credibility, with his greed and child-like behavior. Dana White is everything a President of any organization should not be - unprofessional, greedy and immature. He can be seen on a weekly basis via his video blog - or while doing an interview - continuously dropping the F-bomb, going off on tirades against ex-fighters, or discussing the inner-workings (intimate business details) of the UFC. The organization that his long time friends built, the Fertitta brothers, is managed more like the WWE than a professional sports league.
I first caught a glimpse of Dana White's antics a few years ago when he was publicly feuding with long time UFC fighter, and fan favorite, Tito Ortiz. Dana White would go on television and bad mouth Tito Ortiz. Admittedly, Tito didn't help squash the beef between the t
wo - but when you are the President of a multi-million dollar sports organization, it is very unbecoming to see someone who is supposed to set an example, stoop to the level of his employee.
Dana White's latest gaffe came on April 1, 2009, when he went off on a tirade against MMA sportswriter, Loretta Hunt. White's video blog which featured the rant against Hunt, was pulled shortly after from the UFC channel on YouTube, but can still be seen in all it's glory via other members' YouTube channels.
Mixed Martial Arts is a growing sport; it has grown quite significantly these last few years, here in America, and in the United Kingdom - but it's credibility has been damaged thanks to Dana White and his antics. If MMA is to become as big as most fans of the sport want it to become, the Fertitta brothers ought to replace Dana White with someone professional. They should replace White with someone who would not run the organization like a Jerry Springer show.
With all that said, MMA will always take a back seat to boxing; it simply cannot create the excitement that boxing creates. MMA can co-exist with boxing, but MMA will always be boxing's little brother.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
David Haye Still Running His Mouth
After Wladimir Klitschko's dominating win Saturday, David Haye had a few things to say about Wlad's performance. Namely, that it was boring and that he (Haye) is the cure for Klitschko's insomnia.
First of all, I agree with David Haye's assessment, that the fight was boring. He's correct. But Haye forgets, he is partly responsible for Wladimir's boring fight. If David Haye forgot, he pulled out of the proposed June 20 bout with Wlad. It could have been Haye in the ring opposite of Wladimir Klitschko, doing his part to make sure the fight wasn't boring.
After Wlad won the fight, he had this to say about David Haye: "I was really upset that David Haye wasn't able to fight because I wanted to punish him badly. Personally I'm very upset about David Haye. Because of him I didn't fight in March or April when he promised to deliver Stamford Bridge as a venue. But he didn't deliver. He then asked me to postpone this fight for two weeks because of his bad back and then changed it to four weeks. I cannot take this guy seriously. Now he has to get in line and earn his chance to fight for the world title. He has to do that with his hands and not his mouth. We'll get it on either way and I will knock him out in the 12th as I've said before."
I couldn't agree with Wlad more. David Haye is the one who talked a lot of trash for months, signed to fight Klitschko and then pulls out of the fight, supposedly because of injury, when there are reports, Haye pulled out of the fight due to other reasons:
http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=20398
And now Haye is back to his old self, talking, talking and talking some more. If David Haye forgets, he's in the boxing game, which requires participants to actually step inside the ring. For as boring as Wlad was, and is, he fights more than once a year.
Wladimir Klitschko says David Haye has to earn his shot at the title. He had his chance. I would concur with Wladimir.
Close your mouth Haye and finally impress us with your boxing ability, instead of your mouth.
First of all, I agree with David Haye's assessment, that the fight was boring. He's correct. But Haye forgets, he is partly responsible for Wladimir's boring fight. If David Haye forgot, he pulled out of the proposed June 20 bout with Wlad. It could have been Haye in the ring opposite of Wladimir Klitschko, doing his part to make sure the fight wasn't boring.
After Wlad won the fight, he had this to say about David Haye: "I was really upset that David Haye wasn't able to fight because I wanted to punish him badly. Personally I'm very upset about David Haye. Because of him I didn't fight in March or April when he promised to deliver Stamford Bridge as a venue. But he didn't deliver. He then asked me to postpone this fight for two weeks because of his bad back and then changed it to four weeks. I cannot take this guy seriously. Now he has to get in line and earn his chance to fight for the world title. He has to do that with his hands and not his mouth. We'll get it on either way and I will knock him out in the 12th as I've said before."
I couldn't agree with Wlad more. David Haye is the one who talked a lot of trash for months, signed to fight Klitschko and then pulls out of the fight, supposedly because of injury, when there are reports, Haye pulled out of the fight due to other reasons:
http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=20398
And now Haye is back to his old self, talking, talking and talking some more. If David Haye forgets, he's in the boxing game, which requires participants to actually step inside the ring. For as boring as Wlad was, and is, he fights more than once a year.
Wladimir Klitschko says David Haye has to earn his shot at the title. He had his chance. I would concur with Wladimir.
Close your mouth Haye and finally impress us with your boxing ability, instead of your mouth.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Jim Lampley Quotes
"You know, we - we start with a mentality that we'll take a sports project if its good. And we're certainly not on the lookout for them, because to be honest we don't have to. They walk in the door."
"We're way too much the same person, Larry. I mean, you know, way too much the same person. We have basically the same attitudes, desires, drives. And we see ourselves the same way."
"We're both accustomed to being the center of attention. We're both accustomed to being spoiled by the people around us. And we don't expect to have to compete with somebody for all of that."
"If he's chasing the full restoration of his legacy, he's chasing something that he really can't get."
"I've never seen a truly great fighter get knocked onto the ropes unconscious... knocked out cold before... and I saw Roy Jones get knocked out twice in a row."
"I'm actually the daytime host of the Olympics on NBC."
"I think there was a sense that the impact was being lost because the audience was so familiar with the form. You combine that with people's attention spans, which are clearly conditioned to be shorter now, and there's a need to vary the paradigm."
"I met Roy's father once... And I think that Roy's relationship with his father is still at the heart of what Roy does. But at the end of the day, he's trying to prove himself to a father he'll never really please."
"Do I fear for Roy's safety? Absolutely. How could you watch him lie still on the canvas for such a long time after getting knocked out by Glen Johnson, watch his feet quiver like that, and not be concerned? He couldn't be any worse than he was against Glen Johnson. I don't rule out that he could beat Antonio Tarver. I just don't think it's worth taking the risk. I would prefer not to see him get hit in the head again."
"Everybody in my generation loved Muhammad Ali. What a horrid task to have to take on."
Wladimir Klitschko Dominates Ruslan Chagaev
Wladimir Klitschko dominated Ruslan Chagaev, every minute of every round. Wlad's torpedo-like jab was on display again, as he hammered Chagaev throughout the bout. Ruslan's corner put an end to his misery and stopped the fight at the end of round 9.
It was another bore-fest of a fight hosted by Wlad. Wladimir Klitschko is probably too skilled for his own good; he dropped Ruslan early in the fight and it seemed he could have stopped Chagaev anytime he wanted, after round 4. But he didn't. In typical Wlad fashion, it was the jab, followed by the right hand, over and over again. Ruslan was a stand-still punching bag made for target practice, yet Wlad didn't seize the initiative.
I now know why HBO refused to put this fight on their network. If HBO had any sense, they would refuse to broadcast any fight that involves Wladimir, minus David Haye.
I am not saying Wladimir Klitschko is devoid of talent; he has a lot of talent. I am saying that he is God-awful boring to watch. Wladimir, with his size, speed and skill, should be destroying heavyweights; getting them out of there early, instead of torturing us with his monotinus one-twos and safety first approach.
If there was one thing I was impressed with tonight, it was Ruslan Chagaev's chin.
Wlad is now the ring champion.
I wonder if David Haye watched tonight's fight? I'm sure he did - and I hope he's feeling guilty and at least 50 percent responsible for subjecting us to the Klitschko-Chagaev fight.
It was another bore-fest of a fight hosted by Wlad. Wladimir Klitschko is probably too skilled for his own good; he dropped Ruslan early in the fight and it seemed he could have stopped Chagaev anytime he wanted, after round 4. But he didn't. In typical Wlad fashion, it was the jab, followed by the right hand, over and over again. Ruslan was a stand-still punching bag made for target practice, yet Wlad didn't seize the initiative.
I now know why HBO refused to put this fight on their network. If HBO had any sense, they would refuse to broadcast any fight that involves Wladimir, minus David Haye.
I am not saying Wladimir Klitschko is devoid of talent; he has a lot of talent. I am saying that he is God-awful boring to watch. Wladimir, with his size, speed and skill, should be destroying heavyweights; getting them out of there early, instead of torturing us with his monotinus one-twos and safety first approach.
If there was one thing I was impressed with tonight, it was Ruslan Chagaev's chin.
Wlad is now the ring champion.
I wonder if David Haye watched tonight's fight? I'm sure he did - and I hope he's feeling guilty and at least 50 percent responsible for subjecting us to the Klitschko-Chagaev fight.
Jean Pascal Beats Adrian Diaconu By UD
Jean Pascal, after having been beat by Carl Froch, goes on to decision Adrian Diaconu in an exciting 12-round bout. Pascal won by UD.
Adrian Diaconu got dropped in round 5; he would get up to finish the fight - and make it a good one at that. This fight saw decent back and forth action. No doubt that both men have been elevated by their gutsy performances.
This was the first loss of Adrian Diaconu's career. It's back to the drawing board for him
As for Jean Pascal; maybe a rematch with Carl Froch is in his future.
Adrian Diaconu got dropped in round 5; he would get up to finish the fight - and make it a good one at that. This fight saw decent back and forth action. No doubt that both men have been elevated by their gutsy performances.
This was the first loss of Adrian Diaconu's career. It's back to the drawing board for him
As for Jean Pascal; maybe a rematch with Carl Froch is in his future.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Rocky Marciano Quotes
"Why waltz with a guy for 10 rounds if you can knock him out in one?"
"In the ring, I never really knew fear."
"I was on my face. I heard the count from one to 10. I kept telling myself that I had to get up, but I couldn't move. I couldn't make myself move. It was the strangest feeling."
"I have always adhered to two principles. The first one is to train hard and get in the best possible physical condition. The second is to forget all about the other fellow until you face him in the ring and the bell sounds for the fight."
"I don't want to be remembered as a beaten champion."
"I believe, in my prime, I could have fought with anybody alive."
"In the ring, I never really knew fear."
"I was on my face. I heard the count from one to 10. I kept telling myself that I had to get up, but I couldn't move. I couldn't make myself move. It was the strangest feeling."
"I have always adhered to two principles. The first one is to train hard and get in the best possible physical condition. The second is to forget all about the other fellow until you face him in the ring and the bell sounds for the fight."
"I don't want to be remembered as a beaten champion."
"I believe, in my prime, I could have fought with anybody alive."
Wladimir Klitschko Needs To Win In Spectacular Fashion
I don't know about you but, Wladimir Klitschko has been putting me to sleep lately. His safety-first approach makes me want to watch him play chess instead. There is no reason a behemoth heavyweight (with lots of natural talent) like Wladimir Klitschko, should be fighting like John Ruiz. Klitschko has the speed and power to dominate this weak heavyweight division.
Wladimir Klitschko needs to come out and impress the skeptical fans tomorrow, when he takes on Ruslan Chagaev (25-0-1, 17 KOs).
With the current heavyweight division devoid of talent, this is Wladimir Klitschko's chance to make a statement; his last few outings have been snoozers.
Wladimir Klitschko needs to come out and impress the skeptical fans tomorrow, when he takes on Ruslan Chagaev (25-0-1, 17 KOs).
With the current heavyweight division devoid of talent, this is Wladimir Klitschko's chance to make a statement; his last few outings have been snoozers.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Muhammad Ali Quotes
"When you can whip any man in the world, you never know peace."
"When you are as great as I am it is hard to be humble."
"We have one life; it soon will be past; what we do for God is all that will last."
"Wars of nations are fought to change maps. But wars of poverty are fought to map change."
"To be able to give away riches is mandatory if you wish to possess them. This is the only way that you will be truly rich."
"The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life."
"The man who has no imagination has no wings."
"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses - behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth."
"Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even."
"It's lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself."
"It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up."
"It's hard to be humble, when you're as great as I am."
"If you even dream of beating me you'd better wake up and apologize."
"I'm the most recognized and loved man that ever lived cuz there weren't no satellites when Jesus and Moses were around, so people far away in the villages didn't know about them."
"I'm so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark."
"I'm not the greatest; I'm the double greatest. Not only do I knock 'em out, I pick the round."
"I'll beat him so bad he'll need a shoehorn to put his hat on."
"I never thought of losing, but now that it' s happened, the only thing is to do it right. That's my obligation to all the people who believe in me. We all have to take defeats in life."
"Boxing is a lot of white men watching two black men beat each other up."
"Frazier is so ugly that he should donate his face to the US Bureau of Wild Life."
"I am the astronaut of boxing. Joe Louis and Dempsey were just jet pilots. I'm in a world of my own."
"When you are as great as I am it is hard to be humble."
"We have one life; it soon will be past; what we do for God is all that will last."
"Wars of nations are fought to change maps. But wars of poverty are fought to map change."
"To be able to give away riches is mandatory if you wish to possess them. This is the only way that you will be truly rich."
"The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life."
"The man who has no imagination has no wings."
"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses - behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth."
"Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even."
"It's lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself."
"It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up."
"It's hard to be humble, when you're as great as I am."
"If you even dream of beating me you'd better wake up and apologize."
"I'm the most recognized and loved man that ever lived cuz there weren't no satellites when Jesus and Moses were around, so people far away in the villages didn't know about them."
"I'm so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark."
"I'm not the greatest; I'm the double greatest. Not only do I knock 'em out, I pick the round."
"I'll beat him so bad he'll need a shoehorn to put his hat on."
"I never thought of losing, but now that it' s happened, the only thing is to do it right. That's my obligation to all the people who believe in me. We all have to take defeats in life."
"Boxing is a lot of white men watching two black men beat each other up."
"Frazier is so ugly that he should donate his face to the US Bureau of Wild Life."
"I am the astronaut of boxing. Joe Louis and Dempsey were just jet pilots. I'm in a world of my own."
An Early Preview: Miguel Cotto vs. Manny Pacquiao
With the fight between Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao close to being signed, what can we expect?
All the talk recently has been about what weight the two fighters will agree to meet each other at. Early speculation is that the fight will be at a catch-weight - most likely 144 lbs. I feel, personally, Manny Pacquiao should meet Miguel Cotto at welterweight and forget the catch-weight; if Manny Pacquiao beats Miguel Cotto at a catch-weight lower than 147 lbs., excuses will start to creep up: Miguel Cotto was weight drained. He wasn't comfortable fighting lower than welterweight. Cotto's frame is too big. He was dehydrated . . . and so on. For such a mega-fight, boxing fans do not want excuses. May the best man win ( Let's not forget, Manny Pacquiao is perfectly capable of fighting at welterweight).
Regardless of what weight the fight takes place, Manny Pacquiao will have a significant speed advantage over Miguel Cotto. Cotto will have the power advantage - and will be bigger ( Ricky Hatton was bigger too and look how that worked out for him). Miguel Cotto is no Ricky Hatton, in that he's more of an operator inside the ring; Ricky Hatton was one dimensional, Cotto's not.
I think Manny Pacquiao's in and out south-paw style will give Cotto a lot of trouble. The outcome will be determined by how well Miguel Cotto can adapt to Manny Pacquiao's relentlessness and speed. We already know what to expect from Pacquiao - he brings it everytime he steps into the ring. The question mark remains on Cotto; will his confidence and self belief be where it was prior to his fight with Margarito? I don't think it will be. Not to say Miguel Cotto wont bring the house of cards on fight night, because he will. However, I don't think Miguel Cotto is where he was, say, two years ago.
I think the fight will be competitive until the very end. One reason I do not think Pacquiao will blow Cotto out of the water is for the simple fact that, Cotto has a good jab and underrated speed. The jab of Cotto will give Manny trouble - but in the end, someone is getting stopped and it'll most likely be Miguel Cotto. Manny Pacquiao has better stamina than Miguel Cotto. I think Manny's superior stamina will be the deciding factor in this bout.
My early prediction: Manny Pacquiao wins via 10 round TKO.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Mike Tyson Quotes
"I just want to conquer people and their souls."
"I have some pain I'm gonna have for the rest of my life. So every now and then I kick your f**king ass."
"I can sell out Madison Square Garden masturbating."
"I like the British bikes. I like British people. They're real mellow."
"I guess I'm gonna fade into Bolivian."
"I'm just a dark guy from a den of iniquity. A dark shadowy figure from the bowels of iniquity. I wish I could be Mike who gets an endorsement deal. But you can't make a lie and a truth go together. This country wasn't built on moral fiber. This country was built on rape, slavery, murder, degradation and affiliation with crime."
"The one thing I know, everyone respects the true person and everyone's not true with themselves. All of these people who are heroes, these guys who have been lily white and clean all their lives, if they went through what I went through, they would commit suicide. They don't have the heart that I have. I've lived places they can't defecate in."
"I'm not Mother Teresa. But I'm also not Charles Manson!"
"Fear is your best friend or your worst enemy. It's like fire. If you can control it, it can cook for you; it can heat your house. If you can't control it, it will burn everything around you and destroy you. If you can control your fear, it makes you more alert, like a deer coming across the lawn."
"At times, I come across as crude or crass, that irritates you when I come across like a Neanderthal or a babbling idiot at times. But I like to be that person. I like to show you all that person because that's who you come to see."
"All praise is to Allah, I'll fight any man, any animal, if Jesus were here I'd fight him too."
“I want to throw down your kid and stomp on his testicles, and then you will know what it is like to experience waking up everyday as me. And only then will you feel my pain.”
"You gentlemen have no idea what it's like to be myself, no idea what it's like. I'm not interested in being humiliated anymore."
"If I take this camera and put it in your face for 20 years, I don't know what you might be. You might be a homosexual if I put that camera on you since you were 13 years old. I've been on that camera since I was 13 years old."
"I never saw my mother happy with me and proud of me for doing something: She only knew me as being a wild kid running the streets, coming home with new clothes that she knew I didn't pay for. I never got a chance to talk to her or know about her. Professionally, it has no effect, but it's crushing emotionally and personally."
"How dare these boxers challenge me with their primitive skills? It makes me angry. They're just as good as dead."
"My power is discombobulatingly devastating I could feel is muscle tissues collapse under my force. It's ludicrous these mortals even attempt to enter my realm."
"Without discipline, no matter how good you are, you are nothing! One day, and I might not be around; you're going to meet a tough guy who takes your best shot. He'll keep coming because he's tough. Don't get discouraged. That's when the discipline comes in."
"You have to understand, Frank Bruno would not have been champion if I had not been in prison. Oliver McCall would not have been champion if I had not been in prison. A lot of these guys would not have been champion. Michael Moorer would not have been champion. Those guys would not have been champion if I had been around. They would have had no legacy. None of those guys would have had a legacy."
"I would have been in shape. I would have been active. Holyfield, those guys wouldn't have been champion when I was around, but I went away for four or five years inactive and that made them competitive for a time."
"There are nine million people who see me in the ring and hate my guts. Most of them are white. That's okay. Just spell my name right."
"One morning I woke up and found my favorite pigeon, Julius, had died I was devastated and was gonna use his crate as my stickball bat to honor him. I left the crate on my stoop and went in to get something and I returned to see the sanitation man put the crate into the crusher. I rushed him and caught him flush on the temple with a titanic right hand he was out cold, convulsing on the floor like a infantile retard."
"I paid a worker at New York's zoo to re-open it just for me and Robin. When we got to the gorilla cage there was 1 big silverback gorilla there just bullying all the other gorillas. They were so powerful but their eyes were like an innocent infant. I offered the attendant $10,000 to open the cage and let smash that silverback's snotbox! He declined."
"You're sweet. I'm going to make sure you kiss me good with those big lips. I'm gonna make you my girlfriend."
"Lennox Lewis, I'm coming for you man. My style is impetuous. My defense is impregnable, and I'm just ferocious. I want your heart. I want to eat his children. Praise be to Allah!"
"My main objective is to be professional but to kill him."
"I have some pain I'm gonna have for the rest of my life. So every now and then I kick your f**king ass."
"I can sell out Madison Square Garden masturbating."
"I like the British bikes. I like British people. They're real mellow."
"I guess I'm gonna fade into Bolivian."
"I'm just a dark guy from a den of iniquity. A dark shadowy figure from the bowels of iniquity. I wish I could be Mike who gets an endorsement deal. But you can't make a lie and a truth go together. This country wasn't built on moral fiber. This country was built on rape, slavery, murder, degradation and affiliation with crime."
"The one thing I know, everyone respects the true person and everyone's not true with themselves. All of these people who are heroes, these guys who have been lily white and clean all their lives, if they went through what I went through, they would commit suicide. They don't have the heart that I have. I've lived places they can't defecate in."
"I'm not Mother Teresa. But I'm also not Charles Manson!"
"Fear is your best friend or your worst enemy. It's like fire. If you can control it, it can cook for you; it can heat your house. If you can't control it, it will burn everything around you and destroy you. If you can control your fear, it makes you more alert, like a deer coming across the lawn."
"At times, I come across as crude or crass, that irritates you when I come across like a Neanderthal or a babbling idiot at times. But I like to be that person. I like to show you all that person because that's who you come to see."
"All praise is to Allah, I'll fight any man, any animal, if Jesus were here I'd fight him too."
“I want to throw down your kid and stomp on his testicles, and then you will know what it is like to experience waking up everyday as me. And only then will you feel my pain.”
"You gentlemen have no idea what it's like to be myself, no idea what it's like. I'm not interested in being humiliated anymore."
"If I take this camera and put it in your face for 20 years, I don't know what you might be. You might be a homosexual if I put that camera on you since you were 13 years old. I've been on that camera since I was 13 years old."
"I never saw my mother happy with me and proud of me for doing something: She only knew me as being a wild kid running the streets, coming home with new clothes that she knew I didn't pay for. I never got a chance to talk to her or know about her. Professionally, it has no effect, but it's crushing emotionally and personally."
"How dare these boxers challenge me with their primitive skills? It makes me angry. They're just as good as dead."
"My power is discombobulatingly devastating I could feel is muscle tissues collapse under my force. It's ludicrous these mortals even attempt to enter my realm."
"Without discipline, no matter how good you are, you are nothing! One day, and I might not be around; you're going to meet a tough guy who takes your best shot. He'll keep coming because he's tough. Don't get discouraged. That's when the discipline comes in."
"You have to understand, Frank Bruno would not have been champion if I had not been in prison. Oliver McCall would not have been champion if I had not been in prison. A lot of these guys would not have been champion. Michael Moorer would not have been champion. Those guys would not have been champion if I had been around. They would have had no legacy. None of those guys would have had a legacy."
"I would have been in shape. I would have been active. Holyfield, those guys wouldn't have been champion when I was around, but I went away for four or five years inactive and that made them competitive for a time."
"There are nine million people who see me in the ring and hate my guts. Most of them are white. That's okay. Just spell my name right."
"One morning I woke up and found my favorite pigeon, Julius, had died I was devastated and was gonna use his crate as my stickball bat to honor him. I left the crate on my stoop and went in to get something and I returned to see the sanitation man put the crate into the crusher. I rushed him and caught him flush on the temple with a titanic right hand he was out cold, convulsing on the floor like a infantile retard."
"I paid a worker at New York's zoo to re-open it just for me and Robin. When we got to the gorilla cage there was 1 big silverback gorilla there just bullying all the other gorillas. They were so powerful but their eyes were like an innocent infant. I offered the attendant $10,000 to open the cage and let smash that silverback's snotbox! He declined."
"You're sweet. I'm going to make sure you kiss me good with those big lips. I'm gonna make you my girlfriend."
"Lennox Lewis, I'm coming for you man. My style is impetuous. My defense is impregnable, and I'm just ferocious. I want your heart. I want to eat his children. Praise be to Allah!"
"My main objective is to be professional but to kill him."
Larry Merchant Quotes
“Only fighting each other could have brought that much effort out, at a time in their careers when fighters, given all the punches that had landed on them, generally don't want to go that far.”
“He had long ago established he wasn't just another pretty face, but it was a reminder of what was going on inside his body while he was entertaining us.”
“Everyone remembers Ali afterwards could hardly get off his stool because of the effort he gave.”
“It was the third fight. They had both been beaten. If the fight was as significant as it may seem in hindsight, it wouldn't have been held in Manila. It would have been the Thrilla in Chicago.”
“Frazier was never the same after his first fight with Ali. He fought the best fight of his career in that fight.”
“I don't think that boxing historians have been able to find a case in which a great fighter, or a fighter presumed to be a great fighter, came to such an ignominious end.”
“It's hard to break through the clutter of fighters out there trying to get attention.”
“I haven't seen Johnson enough in the past to know, but he's a guy who's fought all these years, 16 years, finally gets a title, he's fighting for his biggest payday, he's still fighting back in occasional flurries, just as Jimmy Garcia did when he fought Gabe Ruelas. So he was still fighting back, Every time he went back to the corner he seemed to be going slower and slower. In fact I did mention after the eighth, ninth round that he sorta wobbled onto his stool. So the signs were there and it's in the hands of the referee.”
“The thorough bred against a clamor, or rather the Porsche vs. the pickup truck.”
“There are too many governing bodies. They're all corrupt. I think they have replaced the old Mobsters with the kind of 'corporate rule' of boxing.”
“Follow the wisdom of the great actor, James Cagney, you hit your mark, you look the other guy in the eye, and you tell the truth.”
“I think it all depends on how good this fight is. I don't know how to rank it. If this turns out to be a dramatic fight and Roy wins, people will look back at all three (in a fond way). But he has to win in a theatrical way. That would make it a great trilogy, maybe.”
“He's so good, you wonder what's wrong with him.”
"Maybe he won't look like a guy who's been eating too many of those airplane cinnamon buns."
Lampley: "will the seething undercurrent of the buildup now be reflected in what we see in the ring?"
Merchant: "probably. sure. because mayorga is a rude, crude dude in the ring as well as outside. in a sense, what we have here is class warfare with boxing gloves....mayorga looks at him as a hated slumlord, and oscar is coming to collect the rent"
"Chris Byrd has two punches - pitty and pat."
"Peter comes from the old school of swing in case you hit something."
"Castillo used his hands more when he was making his way from Cuba to Florida."
"He had a Michael Richards kind of bad day."
"That whale was just harpooned."
"You can see the colors of Ghana on Jantuah's trunks and robe. Bright, vibrant colors. You can take the boy out of the tropics, but sometimes, you can't take the tropics out of the boy"
"Despite the reality of what goes on inside the ring, the business of boxing is based on illusion. And if you want an example, I'll give you an example. The last big fight that Mike Tyson won was against Michael Spinks fifteen years ago."
Floyd Mayweather Jr. Injured!
Floyd Mayweather Jr's July 18 bout with Juan Manuel Marquez is postponed. Mayweather injured his rib during training camp.
There have been rumors that Floyd didn't really injure himself and the cancellation of the fight is due to bad pre-fight ticket sales. But that's only speculation. No news yet on whether the fight will be rescheduled, or if it will be rescheduled at all.
This summer was shaping up to be a memorable time for boxing fans; first David Haye, now Mayweather Jr.
There have been rumors that Floyd didn't really injure himself and the cancellation of the fight is due to bad pre-fight ticket sales. But that's only speculation. No news yet on whether the fight will be rescheduled, or if it will be rescheduled at all.
This summer was shaping up to be a memorable time for boxing fans; first David Haye, now Mayweather Jr.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Miguel Cotto Gains Split Decision Victory Over Joshua Clottey
Going into the Cotto-Clottey fight, I knew it wouldn't be an easy night for Miguel Cotto. Joshua Clottey is extremely underrated and as tough as they come.
The first round saw Cotto knock Clottey down with a stiff jab. The knockdown had more to do with Clottey's balance than it did with Cotto's power. It was a good shot none-the-less - and I thought it was a sign of what was to come for the remainder of the bout. I was wrong.
Miguel Cotto suffered a cut in the 3rd round over his left eye by Joshua Clottey's head. The cut would bother Miguel Cotto for the whole bout and seriously impacted his performance on the night. Miguel Cotto had a perfectly good reason to quit after the 6th round, but he didn't. He kept on fighting, even changing tactics late in the championship rounds, from stationary target to boxer.
I thought it was a brave performance by Miguel Cotto, given the cut and who he was fighting. Champions find ways to win. Champions find ways to overcome adversity. That's exactly what Miguel Cotto did.
Realistically the fight could have gone either way, but the judges saw it for Cotto. As did I. I had the bout in favor of Cotto, 114-113. The knockdown in round one being the difference.
Joshua Clottey gave a spirited effort, but fell short again. Clottey could have taken the decision if he was busier in the final two rounds. He has no one to blame but himself.
There are serious talks of Miguel Cotto facing Manny Pacquiao, Nov. 14.
The first round saw Cotto knock Clottey down with a stiff jab. The knockdown had more to do with Clottey's balance than it did with Cotto's power. It was a good shot none-the-less - and I thought it was a sign of what was to come for the remainder of the bout. I was wrong.
Miguel Cotto suffered a cut in the 3rd round over his left eye by Joshua Clottey's head. The cut would bother Miguel Cotto for the whole bout and seriously impacted his performance on the night. Miguel Cotto had a perfectly good reason to quit after the 6th round, but he didn't. He kept on fighting, even changing tactics late in the championship rounds, from stationary target to boxer.
I thought it was a brave performance by Miguel Cotto, given the cut and who he was fighting. Champions find ways to win. Champions find ways to overcome adversity. That's exactly what Miguel Cotto did.
Realistically the fight could have gone either way, but the judges saw it for Cotto. As did I. I had the bout in favor of Cotto, 114-113. The knockdown in round one being the difference.
Joshua Clottey gave a spirited effort, but fell short again. Clottey could have taken the decision if he was busier in the final two rounds. He has no one to blame but himself.
There are serious talks of Miguel Cotto facing Manny Pacquiao, Nov. 14.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Wladimir Klitschko To Fight Ruslan Chagaev
It looks like Wladimir Klitschko will go ahead and fight undefeated, Ruslan Chagaev June 20, instead of waiting around for David Haye.
David Haye's manager has no qualms about Wladimir Klitschko's decision to not wait around for his fighter to get healthy.
David Haye is shooting for a match-up against Vitali Klitschko, in September.
David Haye's manager has no qualms about Wladimir Klitschko's decision to not wait around for his fighter to get healthy.
David Haye is shooting for a match-up against Vitali Klitschko, in September.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
David Haye Injury Update
Apparently David Haye's injury had nothing to do with his hand, but rather, his back.
Wladimir Klitschko does not want to wait around until David Haye is healthy enough to fight, according to Reuters. Instead, Klitschko wants Ruslan Chagaev.
If Klitschko does wait until David Haye is healthy, the proposed date for the bout would be July 11 - only three weeks later than the original date, June 20; this according to Haye's manager, Adam Booth.
Wladimir Klitschko does not want to wait around until David Haye is healthy enough to fight, according to Reuters. Instead, Klitschko wants Ruslan Chagaev.
If Klitschko does wait until David Haye is healthy, the proposed date for the bout would be July 11 - only three weeks later than the original date, June 20; this according to Haye's manager, Adam Booth.
What's Next For Sugar Shane Mosley?
At 37 years of age, time seems to be running out for Sugar Shane Mosley. There is no doubt Mosley will fight again; he just came off a spectacular performance against Antonio Margarito. Shane stopped Margarito in the 9th round, after dominating most of the fight. You would think fighters in and around Mosley's weight division would be lining up to fight him - but that's not the case. That has never been the case with Sugar Shane Mosley.
Shane Mosley, at 37 years of age seems to have caught a second wind in his career. Going into the Margarito fight, not many boxing fans gave him a chance. Who can blame them? Margarito is a huge welterweight, who could easily fight at middleweight if he wanted. Not only because of Margarito's size advantage which saw him as the heavy favorite going into the fight with Mosley, but his then seemingly undentable chin and his previous fight in which he wore down Miguel Cotto to win via 11th round TKO. Shane Mosley's age was said to be a factor leading up to the fight - another contributing factor which lead to the crow many of us had to eat after the bout.
Even after such a boxing performance as Mosley put on in January, it's good to keep grounded when it comes to the sport of boxing and put things into proper perspective: Sugar Shane Mosley will be 38 in a few months. He is human. Everyone can't be a Bernard Hopkins - a timeless machine.
While Mosley's victory against Margarito was great (given his age, it ranks up there with one of the best victories of his career) he is running out of time.
Sugar Shane Mosley has a few options left on the table before riding off into the sunset to end a brilliant boxing career. He can face Manny Pacquiao, the winner of the Mayweather-Marquez bout, or campaign to fight Paul Williams.
Right now, Shane Mosley is campaigning hard to fight Manny Pacquiao. There have been a few exchanges between the Pacquiao-Mosley camps, flirting with the idea. Mosley would prefer the fight take place at 147 lbs. and the Pacquiao camp would like a catch-weight of 144 lbs. Given Mosley's age, and the fact that he hasn't fought below 147 lbs. in years, you have to wonder if he can manage to squeeze his body down lower in weight without draining himself. Three or four pounds is huge in boxing at the smaller weights, even more so considering Mosley's age. I would favor Pacquiao by decision if Mosley agrees to fight at a catch-weight.
Everyone wants a piece of Pacquiao, including Miguel Cotto, who is fighting Joshua Clottey June 13. I suspect no announcements will be made regarding Pacquiao, Mosley or Cotto until after June 13.
Whatever the case, I have no doubt Sugar Shane Mosley will fight at least one more big fight before retiring. The key words are "at least." Knowing Mosley, he will fight a couple more times before hanging them up - win or lose.
Personally, I would like to see Mosley exit stage left at the height of his glory. Get out on top. Seldom does that happen in boxing.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
David Haye Injured - Bout To Be Rescheduled
Unfortunate news. David Haye reportedly hurt his hand, according to Setanta Sports. The bout, originally scheduled to take place in Germany, June 20 will have to be pushed back to a later date.
The bout hasn't been officially called off yet, as reports of Haye's hand injury are still sketchy. Depending on the severity of the injury would ultimately dictate whether or not Wladimir Klitschko will fight someone else before the match is rescheduled.
The bout hasn't been officially called off yet, as reports of Haye's hand injury are still sketchy. Depending on the severity of the injury would ultimately dictate whether or not Wladimir Klitschko will fight someone else before the match is rescheduled.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Mayweather VS. Maruqez Photos
One thing that stands out to me is Mayweather's size. He is noticeably bigger than Marquez, and will be on fight night too.
David Haye's Keys To Victory
David Haye, the charismatic 28 year old heavyweight that will be facing Wladimir Klitschko June 20, in Germany, will have to do more to be victorious than his previous performance.
Perhaps David Haye looked sloppy in his bout against Monte Barrett because it was his first fight at heavyweight. Haye did not use his jab all that much in the Monte Barrett fight, showed little head movement and jumped in range often without setting up his punches. With that being said, David Haye displayed good speed and decent power - something an opponent needs in order to beat Wladimir Klitschko.
Considering all the hype leading up to this fight, which the heavyweight division so desperately needs, I expect Wladimir Klistschko to be properly motivated. Isn't he always though? Yes, Wladimir is a consument professional, but a Wladimir Klitschko that is properly motived and who has a perceived legitimate threat, fights better; a lot better than the jab-n-grab safety first Wladimir Klitschko. David Haye seems to have lit a fire under Klitschko. David Haye's mouth has been good for publicity, good for hype, but could turn out to be bad in the end for him.
I expect Wladimir's trainer will have him go right after Haye. Klitschko cannot afford to be a safety first boxer in this fight, and Steward knows this; he will have Wlad fight more aggressively.
I also expect David Haye to fight aggressively as well, because that is what you need to do in order to prevail against Wladimir Klitschko.
Haye cannot win the fight on pure aggression alone - he will have to implement his jab, head movement and not stand still. If he stands still, Wladimir's jab will cause real problems.
I can't see this fight being fought at a slow and measured pace, because both heavyweights are fast and powerful. Haye and Klitschko will want to get each other out of there as quickly as possible. I'm expecting a heavyweight collision with the fight not going past 4 rounds. Someone is definitely getting knocked out and knocked out early. If Haye can do even half of what is expected of him, it might be Wladimir Klitscko on his back being counted out by the ref.
Stay tuned.
Joshua Clottey Is Not A Pushover
Fighting Joshua Clottey (35-20-2) is no easy task for anyone, and I expect that to be the case for Miguel Cotto, when he faces Clottey on June 13, at Madison Square Garden in a scheduled 12-round bout.
Joshua Clottey has never been stopped in his 35 trips to the ring and has only tasted defeat twice, both by unanimous decision; once by Carlos Baldomir and the other by Antonio Margarito.
Miguel Cotto possesses tremendous power in both fists, and is the better technician, but Clottey is a tough nut to crack. Clottey has an iron chin and a tank that seems to never run out of gas. If anyone is getting stopped in this bout it will be Cotto, not Clottey.
This is a dangerous fight for Miguel Cotto because of the aforementioned attributes Clottey brings to the table. Cotto should be able to (should is the key word here) effectively outbox Clottey to win by decision - and I expect that to happen - but not before Clottey makes things dicey for Cotto along the way. Clottey's pressure could crack Cotto before the final bell rings. I would not be surprised in the least if Clottey somehow manages to stop Cotto; he is a live underdog.
My final prediction for this bout: Close but clear unanimous decision for Miguel Cotto.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Carl Froch VS. Lucian Bute Seems Likely
According to boxingscene.com, Lucian Bute will face Carl Froch if Bute doesn't sign to rematch Andrade in the next few days. The rumor is that the fight will take place in September. Let's hope.
Lucian Bute needs to give a much deserved rematch to Andrande, but if that fight does not materialize these next few days, the next best option for fight fans is seeing Bute-Froch.
Bute, a southpaw, is a better technician than Froch. Froch is a bigger banger with a better chin. This match-up poses an interesting stylistic clash between the two boxers; classic boxer vs. puncher.
Although Froch is an awkward operator, there is no doubt he is the puncher between the two. Froch just came off a sensational victory over Jermain Taylor in which he forced a last minute stoppage.
I like Carl Froch by late TKO if these two get the contracts signed. I see Lucian out-slicking and out-boxing Froch early on in the fight, only to get worn down by Froch's constant pressure. The key in this fight will be pressure. Froch will bring a lot of it.
Lucian Bute needs to give a much deserved rematch to Andrande, but if that fight does not materialize these next few days, the next best option for fight fans is seeing Bute-Froch.
Bute, a southpaw, is a better technician than Froch. Froch is a bigger banger with a better chin. This match-up poses an interesting stylistic clash between the two boxers; classic boxer vs. puncher.
Although Froch is an awkward operator, there is no doubt he is the puncher between the two. Froch just came off a sensational victory over Jermain Taylor in which he forced a last minute stoppage.
I like Carl Froch by late TKO if these two get the contracts signed. I see Lucian out-slicking and out-boxing Froch early on in the fight, only to get worn down by Froch's constant pressure. The key in this fight will be pressure. Froch will bring a lot of it.
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