Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Sergio Martinez, Paul Williams, and Bernard Hopkins comments.

Well I knew Sergio Martinez was going to win, but I had no idea he would win like that! The straight left hand he landed on Paul Williams chin was vicious! Sending "The Punisher" to the canvas out cold and totally limp! Martinez has continued to impress and improve over the past 3 years, he is hitting his stride right now, and no one is going to want to fight this man. He is fast, he is powerful, he can box, he can slug it out, I was sold on him after I saw him tear apart Pavlik in person. If Pac vs Mayweather can not happen, I'd pay good money to see Marivilla take on Money May.


What next for Paul Williams? Well if you ask me, and I am sure no one will, the best fight possible is Kelly Pavlik. Think about it, Williams is coming of a 2nd round KO to Martinez, Pavlik a UD loss, AND they were supposed to fight each other multiple times before. I think this is perfect for both fighters. Career defining match up for both of them, and still could draw good attendance and PPV numbers. I'd probably go to this one.


Bernard Hopkins, never at a loss for words, decided to stir the old racial pot last week saying that Manny Pacqiuao would lose to a black American fighter from the inner city (i.e. Floyd Mayweather) because the black style of fighting is a bad match up for him. Also went on to say that Manny has never fought and top black American fighters. I read it, digested it, and researched for about 5 minutes to find the truth to it and the why?

Here is the breakdown. Of the 9 possible weight classes for Manny to have fought in (he skipped 1 of the 9), when you take the top 10 fighters from Flyweight to Light Middleweight(9 weight classes) there are a total of 5 black American fighters in the top 10 combined, 4 being in Light Middleweight (1 being Mayweather) and 1 Nate Campbell (over the hill, not an option). Manny has fought at those 2 weight classes for 3 fights.

Now someone will throw in that he only fights at catchweights and drains his opponents, Sugar Ray Leonard did the same thing and no one is calling him out, so zip it!

Also something else to consider is that there aren't too many black Americans living in Asia, that's where the first 34 fights of Manny's 55 were held. That's like saying Floyd is scared of Filipino fighters...well there aren't too many of those in Detroit is there? Lastly, there is only one black American worth Pacquiao's time and effort, Floyd Mayweather. Why on earth would Manny Pacquiao fight Devon Alexander? Timothy Bradley? or Andre Berto? Neither bring big crowds, neither is proven enough against top competition to earn a fight against PacMan.


All of that brings me to why Bernard Hopkins said this stuff. He may come off as some delusional old man from Philly, but, with everything he does he has a purpose. Bernard Hopkins is partner in Golden Boy Promotions, which is handling Mayweather now. So basically what he is doing is calling Floyd out to be the "Great Black Hope", so he can sit back and watch the millions of dollars pour in for, what is guaranteed to be, the highest grossing fight in the history of Boxing.
He's smarter than he looks.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Sergio Martinez vs Paul Williams 2. The War Wages On

Saturday night there will be another "War on the Shore" at historical Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Myself, and fans alike, are expecting them to pick right up where they left off from the first battle. Williams has been a little more inactive than Martinez, last action was a match with Kermit Cintron that ended in Cintron "falling" out of the ring. Martinez on the other hand went a full 12 with Kelly Pavlik, winning the Middleweight Championship of the World. In the second fight I like Martinez to take the W. If his weight is under control, was 175 only 2.5 weeks ago for a fight to be held at 156lbs, then I think with his skill and confidence from the Pavlik win, he will be hard to stop. Williams would be better severed to use his jab and reach and drop the overhand right when the timing is right, and not make it a brawl.

"His power can't hurt me"-Antonio Margarito after the 2nd round.



You sure about that?

Monday, November 15, 2010

Good Lord

I should be punched for even letting doubt creep in my skull for this one. After the 2nd round, barring a huge lucky punch, I knew this one was over. The second was the only round I gave to Margo on my scorecard, 119-109. Pacquiao's blinding speed was on full display as he picked apart the lumbering slugger. Margarito looked "ok" in the first 2 rounds, jabbing with great accuracy, but the "in and out" style and "angle punching" was too much. He just did not have the tools.
Pacquiao further cements himself as an ATG, conquering larger opponents in dominating fashion. He even broke into a rendition of the "Ali Shuffle" in Round 7, which I found to be awesome. The Filipino brawler even showed his human side in the ring, looking to Referee Laurence Cole in the 11th round to stop the beating he was putting on Tony. Pacquiao though, in good form, carried Marg for the last round and a half, and allowed him to finish on his feet. Margarito deserved everyone of the 401 punches that landed on his face. He cheated, he was caught, he lied, he made fun of a man with a disease beyond his control, and in general showed his true colors.

The question and answer that we all have after a Manny Pacquiao fight is "if and when will he fight Mayweather?" At this point I would not hold my breath, there is about 30,000,000 on the table for each guy to get in the ring, it will break PPV records, attendance records (if held at Cowboys Stadium, gate receipts, etc. It's Hagler/Hearns, Ali/Frazier of the new century. It will be a great shame for the fighters, and for the fans if this fight never happens. For the fighters because it will always be the missing link in their resumes, and for the fans because, in a dying sport, we deserve something for loyalty.

Will the 2 best P4P of the same generation ever mix it up? I have no idea. But for now we can only hope.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Weigh In Numbers

Manny Pacquiao weighed in at, what I would call dangerous, a low 144.5lbs. While Antonio Margarito weighed in at the limit of 150lbs. The height advantage was very clear during the staredown, a good 5 inches in Marg's favor. The thing that struck me as odd was Manny not looking as "shredded" as normal in the stomach. Have a weird feeling about this one, but am going to hold to my original prediction. Manny with a decision victory.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Right When You Think You Know Someone...

Antonio Margarito is still hated by most in the boxing community, but was doing his best to revive his image lately. Welp The Tijuana Tornado just undid all of that image building by mocking Freddie Roach's battle with Parkinson's disease. As if Camp Pacquiao needed anymore motivation, Margarito and his little buddy, Brandon Rios, did this (just before the 2 min mark) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPNkNHo7OwM&feature=player_embedded . Totally uncalled for and classless on their part. I know Roach runs his mouth about the fights, BUT has he been wrong lately? No. Either way what is he supposed to say? His fighter will lose? He gave his opinion on the handwraps, something Margarito can control, Freddie cannot control Parkinson's. Prediction now changes to a Manny KO Rounds 9-10.

Rios should keep in mind also that he is still a nobody in Boxing and with one loss could wipe away any sort of relevance he created for himself.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

The Hour is Upon Us

Well, it is fight week in Dallas, both Margarito and Pacquiao have arrived. The fight is doing an excellent job of promoting itself, especially with the always fun HBO 24/7. HBO is trying extra hard to sell this one as well, with the show having Margarito training and chopping wood, and showing Pac-Man at different parties and whatnot.

Nice try.

This guy is not buying it. You don't get to where Manny has gotten to by not being prepared. It is ludicrous for us to even think he won't be 100% for this fight and take care of business per usual. Margarito will be a very game fighter, always has been, but his poor footwork and lack of movement will eventually do him in. His heart will never be in question though. The only logical chance I see of Margarito beating Pacquiao is if he gets Manny to play his game. What is that game? A brawl, a fight in a phone booth, a real slobber-knocker(Jim Ross). Between 147-157lbs. you will be hard pressed to find anyone on the planet who likes to just flat out fight like Antonio Margarito. No dancing, feints, slipping, parrying, just old fashioned punching. If Manny decides he wants to be a real tough guy and show he can brawl with the big boys, he'd better be careful, trapped in a corner looking at The Tijuana Tornado is a bad place for any man.

All in all I see Pac coming out in the first 3 rounds with his blistering speed and frustrating the slower, bigger man. Rounds 4-7, the fight will become more competitive and Margo will begin to establish some sort of range with his jab, popping a few body shots in when he can. 8-12 Pac-Man regains total control and takes his hand speed to a new level, torturing Margo to a lopsided decision or TKO based on accumulation of punches.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Gotta Love This Guy

Attached is a video of Manny Pacquiao from the Jimmy Kimmel Show last night, gotta love him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY06iVBGKOk&feature=player_embedded


In other news Kelly Pavlik has broken my heart again and pulled out of his Nov. 13th fight against Brian Vera, on the Pac vs. Margarito undercard, citing a rib injury.