Twas a boring Saturday evening and I was still feeling the affects of a rotten crab cake from Friday night. (Thanks for the late night "Vomi-tron" session go out to Chelsea Tavern in Wilm DE.....jackasses) Anyway, I was flipping through channels and came across the Dirrell vs Abraham pre fight nonsense on Showtime, a channel that I didn't even know I could get. Decided to stick with it and see how the fight went. Before it started, I decided to score the bout, I predicted an Abraham KO around Round 10. Andre Dirrell came out on fire. He was moving and circling the feared Armenian puncher, ducking and weaving like Cassius Clay.
Though Andre looked good through the early rounds, I still knew Abraham was a slow starter with tremendous power (nearly killed Jermain Taylor). Then in the 4th, something happened that shocked me, Abraham went down for the first time in his 32 professional fights. King Arthur was on his butt looking up at Dirrell in disbelief. To his credit though, Abraham was off balance when he was caught with the punch. Arthur was now in unfamiliar waters, he was heading into the 5th Round down on the cards 40-35, losing all the first 5 Rounds and being knocked down.
Dirrell kept circling his man, occasionally getting caught up on the ropes, dodging punches that Abraham was throwing with some bad intent. In the 10th Abraham caught Dirrell with a nice shot right on the chin that sent him to his keister, but was ruled a slip by the ref. This I disagreed with as well, though Abraham's foot was a tad behind Dirrell's, it was a solid punch that would have sent him down regardless.
The fight came to a sad conclusion. Dirrell was backed into Abraham's corner when his slipped(same spot for the second time in the fight) and went to a knee. While on his knee Abraham uncorked a shot right across the jaw of the "Matrix". Dirrell winced and then fell to his back and began to have tremors in his legs. It was very scary. Abraham was disqualified for the illegal hit. Once Dirrell woke up he was still in such a daze that he thought he had actually been knocked out and lost the fight, it was truly a scary thing to see. He was convinced that he had been beaten when he replied to a question with "He caught me man, I just got caught". Dirrell was taken for medical attention immediately.
Abraham didn't help himself in the post fight interview by vowing he did nothing wrong and that Dirrell is a "real good actor". It was an unsportsmanlike hit and he knows he was wrong.
Marcos Maidana continues to slowly make his way through the 140lb division by knocking people out. Maidana has become a very feared puncher in this talented division. I hope he can stay grounded and keep up the work, he is a treat to watch.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
I am Back
Ok, since my long extended lay-off after starting my new job, I have found some time to catch up with the boxing world. Where to start? Pac-Man drew 700,000 PPV views to fight what seemed to be a punching bag from Ghana. Eddie Chambers did what was expected of him...get knocked out by Wlad. So where are we now? Hopkins vs. Jones, Pavlik vs Martinez, Mayweather vs Mosley?
Hopkins vs Jones
Another battle of the Old Heads. Jones has been obviously slipping in recent years but continues to put himself up for punishment, and Hopkins has been doing a little cherry picking on the smaller guys for a few years. Who will come out on top in this fight of HOF'ers? To be honest, I think Hopkins will put on a clinic after Round 3. Jones still shows his hand speed and willingness not to block punches, but Hopkins can still dish it out like he could 8 years ago. I believe B-Hop will finally get his revenge on Roy for the decision loss he handed him in 1993.
This fight is an example of money being whats wrong in Boxing. When these 2 were prime fighters in the late 90's and early 00's they constantly bickered about another fight. All the bickering and calling out resulted in nothing. Jones never budged off of a 60-40 split of the purse while Hopkins requested 50-50. Jones at the time would have been the headliner in my opinion and deserved the extra 10%...BUT...this could have been contractually resolved with 45% to each and the extra 10% to the winner. We'll never know who would have won when both men were in the prime of each career, but at least they can bury the hatchet.
Prediction: Hopkins via KO 9-10
Pavlik vs Martinez
This in an intriguing fight pitting 2 different styles against each other. Pavlik is the straight forward type who works off of a double jab to set up him right. Martinez is more of a slickster, with more head movement and body movement, as he showed against Paul Williams. I think the Williams Martinez fight showed us a lot about both of them. First, Paul Williams is not as devastating as we think he is. With all the talk his people spew he certainly looked very human against the quick Argentinian, who many thought won the fight. Secondly, that Martinez is definitely a very talented boxer who would be a threat to anyone in the Light Middle and Middleweight ranks.
Pavlik had an abysmal 2009 that he would love to forget, between hand injuries and people calling him out he was under the gun. I believe he is back to the Pavlik from the Miranda and Taylor fights now. I think he has a lot to prove in the fight against Sergio. A lot of critics are saying, after the Williams fight, that Sergio is too quick for him and Pavlik is overrated and just a robot. I will have to disagree with them. I think The Ghost is back and will be in supreme shape and focus come April 17th. I will be attending this one in Boardwalk Hall and will be sure to post fight pics and such.
Prediction: Pavlik by KO 10-11
Mayweather vs Mosley
The fight we all want right now. This one isnt easy, unfortunately, Mayweather is gonna run. Floyd does not want to bang with a puncher like Shane Mosley. If he stood and traded with him, he would surely meet the same fate as Margarito. This is gonna be a tough on for Shane, hes looking at about a 15 month layoff to come back and fight arguably the best Pound for Pounder in the world. Hopefully training goes well for Sugar and Nazim Richardson can devise another masterful game plan. I feel like Shane Mosley can do this. I may be grasping a little bit on this one, and also may be thinking of a younger Shane, but hope I am right.
Prediction: Shane via Split Decision
In other news Heavyweights are sill boring but I'am very interested in the Arreola vs Adamek fight, should be a great one.
Hopkins vs Jones
Another battle of the Old Heads. Jones has been obviously slipping in recent years but continues to put himself up for punishment, and Hopkins has been doing a little cherry picking on the smaller guys for a few years. Who will come out on top in this fight of HOF'ers? To be honest, I think Hopkins will put on a clinic after Round 3. Jones still shows his hand speed and willingness not to block punches, but Hopkins can still dish it out like he could 8 years ago. I believe B-Hop will finally get his revenge on Roy for the decision loss he handed him in 1993.
This fight is an example of money being whats wrong in Boxing. When these 2 were prime fighters in the late 90's and early 00's they constantly bickered about another fight. All the bickering and calling out resulted in nothing. Jones never budged off of a 60-40 split of the purse while Hopkins requested 50-50. Jones at the time would have been the headliner in my opinion and deserved the extra 10%...BUT...this could have been contractually resolved with 45% to each and the extra 10% to the winner. We'll never know who would have won when both men were in the prime of each career, but at least they can bury the hatchet.
Prediction: Hopkins via KO 9-10
Pavlik vs Martinez
This in an intriguing fight pitting 2 different styles against each other. Pavlik is the straight forward type who works off of a double jab to set up him right. Martinez is more of a slickster, with more head movement and body movement, as he showed against Paul Williams. I think the Williams Martinez fight showed us a lot about both of them. First, Paul Williams is not as devastating as we think he is. With all the talk his people spew he certainly looked very human against the quick Argentinian, who many thought won the fight. Secondly, that Martinez is definitely a very talented boxer who would be a threat to anyone in the Light Middle and Middleweight ranks.
Pavlik had an abysmal 2009 that he would love to forget, between hand injuries and people calling him out he was under the gun. I believe he is back to the Pavlik from the Miranda and Taylor fights now. I think he has a lot to prove in the fight against Sergio. A lot of critics are saying, after the Williams fight, that Sergio is too quick for him and Pavlik is overrated and just a robot. I will have to disagree with them. I think The Ghost is back and will be in supreme shape and focus come April 17th. I will be attending this one in Boardwalk Hall and will be sure to post fight pics and such.
Prediction: Pavlik by KO 10-11
Mayweather vs Mosley
The fight we all want right now. This one isnt easy, unfortunately, Mayweather is gonna run. Floyd does not want to bang with a puncher like Shane Mosley. If he stood and traded with him, he would surely meet the same fate as Margarito. This is gonna be a tough on for Shane, hes looking at about a 15 month layoff to come back and fight arguably the best Pound for Pounder in the world. Hopefully training goes well for Sugar and Nazim Richardson can devise another masterful game plan. I feel like Shane Mosley can do this. I may be grasping a little bit on this one, and also may be thinking of a younger Shane, but hope I am right.
Prediction: Shane via Split Decision
In other news Heavyweights are sill boring but I'am very interested in the Arreola vs Adamek fight, should be a great one.
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