By Lee Payton
Photo © Marty Rosengarten / Ringsidephotos.com
I've become slightly obsessed with this fight. For the past month or so all of the irresistible ingredients have darted through my mind in search of the one detail that triggers a eureka moment. After many hours of deliberation I've come up with what I think will be a very close contest, but finding the winner's edge is proving to be an extremely difficult task.
As of August 31st, the underdog is looking pretty good. Considering that I flip-flop almost daily, I'm not exactly sure how much that's worth, but I would like to present my case for Juan Manuel Marquez defeating Floyd Mayweather anyway.
In Part One we'll have a look at the numbers.
Marquez is 36 years old. He has won 50 fights, 37 by KO, with 4 defeats and a draw. You wouldn't be out of line if you said that he won all of the 5 fights that didn't go his way. There is concern that the two wars with Manny Pacquiao, and taxing scraps with Barrera, Casamayor and Diaz have diminished the proud Mexican physically. Probably so, but we've been hearing about how he's lost his legs for awhile now. When do we stop waiting on him to get old and just appreciate the genius? You can always count on Marquez to show up 100% ready to fight, no matter what.
Mayweather is 32 years old. He is undefeated in 39 fights, with 25 wins coming inside the distance. His path to greatness has been decidedly easier than the man who will be standing across the ring from him. Partly because he hasn't fought the same type of opposition, but mostly because no one has been able to find him with their best stuff. He's just been too good.
Is he still that good though?
We haven't seen him in the ring since December of 2007 and for any athlete, that's a long time to go without competing.
What effect will the time off have on his reflexes? I expect that his performance will suffer less than most other fighters have just because of his work ethic and natural ability. However, I gotta think that his boots will feel just a tiny bit heavier than usual. The reaction time that used to be split second will be off by a fraction. Maybe the target is slightly bigger than usual for the sharpshooter.
Floyd has a handful of inches. The extra height and reach equates to a small bit of added safety to one of the best defenders of all time. The longer arms should give him the option to keep things at a comfortable range if he's getting touched up some. The small dimensional advantages he enjoys can be the difference between a landed punch and one that whizzes by.
There is also a well-documented weight issue. The negotiated limit of 144 is 9 lbs heavier than Marquez has ever been at a weigh-in. It doesn't mean that he has to be that heavy, but I think he will be anyway.
The more meaningful numbers are from their "unofficial" weights, which are collected the night of the fight. In the recent past, Marquez has been at 140 with spectacular results. I don't see how eating a little more and putting on a little muscle is going to make any drastic change.
Before his retirement, Mayweather was entering the ring on fight nights at around 147-149. While it's been almost 2 years since Floyd has stepped on a scale for a professional prize fight, we know that he is also an obsessive worker, and I think that we can expect him to step into the ring on September 18 somewhere around 150.
We're really only talking about a 5-7 pound difference between the two men. If you think about it, there is more of a gap in weight between Mayweather and Mosley, even though both are considered welterweights.
You cannot truly get a handle on this particular fight with any measuring device. While the numbers always have some say in the outcome of a fight, in my opinion, styles and intangibles will have much more influence on the result than the tale of the tape.
How will Floyd react to a great counter puncher with a boxing IQ that matches his? Can Marquez' intelligent aggression thwart many of PBF's opportunities to counter? What are their best punches going into the fight? What role will the crowd play? How will Mayweather handle the best fighter he's ever been in with?
We'll go over all that good stuff and more tomorrow... Read Part Two.
email Lee Payton
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Monday, August 31, 2009
The Case for Juan Manuel Marquez Beating Floyd Mayweather - Part One
The Boxing Bulletin Pick'em Game - Week 1
Our game is a little different than most of the variations we've seen online, as it's a combination of picking the winners straight-up and beating the odds. If you're ready to match your prognostication skills against other boxing fans, then let's get started...
How to play:
The game is strictly for fun, and entry is free. The deadline to enter this week is Thursday night at 11 PM EST. We'll post the pick breakdown on Friday, and have the results tabulated and online by Sunday night.
Pick The Winners
This part's easy - 2 points for each correct answer.
Beat The Odds
This is where it gets a little more involved. You will have the option of choosing 1 fight to risk double points, and 1 fight to risk triple points. Points gained (and lost) will be multiplied by two and three times respectively for these fights.
You do not need to risk points on every fight. If you wish to skip a fight, just check "pass" for both fighters.
Standings
We will keep standings for the full year, although each game will only last for 1 month. At the end of the month standings will be reset and a new game will begin.
We've got a few details below on the fights in play this week, but if you're ready to get started, here's the Week 1 game sheet.
This Week's Line-up - clicking on the fighter's name will open up their boxrec page
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If you're ready to play, click here for the week 1 game sheet.
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Sunday, August 30, 2009
British Scene Prospect Watch: Tyson Fury
Dave Oakes concludes his look at the top prospects in the UK, with a profile of young Manchester heavyweight, Tyson Fury.
Tyson Fury
6ft 7ins behemoth fighting out of Manchester. He’s attracting a lot of attention around the world just because of his name; he’s currently 7-0 with all seven wins coming by way of knockout.
The Positives:
He’s obviously got height and reach advantages over most other heavyweights, can hit hard and is technically pretty good for a heavyweight. His fitness is improving with every fight and it won’t be too long before he’s fighting for domestic honours.
The Negatives:
No one knows how he’ll react when he gets caught by a big shot and he keeps his left hand dangerously low for a heavyweight. He’s also got to be careful not to believe his own hype, he must remember he hasn’t achieved anything yet and there’s still a lot of work to be done before he does.
The Future:
He fights John McDermott in early September in what should be a good test for him. If he comes through that fight, which he should, then he can start to target fights against the likes of Derek Chisora, Danny Williams, Matt Skelton and the winner of Martin Rogan v Sam Sexton.
| For more on the big youngster from Manchester, check out Dave's story from earlier this year: Introducing Tyson Fury: Story & Photo Gallery |
e-mail Dave Oakes
| Previous Prospect Profiles Don Broadhurst Stephen Smith Ryan Walsh Jamie Cox George Groves Kenny Anderson Ricky Owen Tony Bellew In case you are wondering where the 2008 Olympians are, Dave decided not to include them in order to highlight some of the other young fighters that haven't yet received the same kind of attention. |
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Saturday, August 29, 2009
Tavoris Cloud Brings the Thunder, Juan Urango Brings the Pain
Michael Nelson gives his thoughts on last night's FNF show.
Tavoris Cloud and Juan Urango delivered career performances against game opposition last night in a very solid Friday Night Fights doubleheader. Cloud captured his first world title at 27 years old while Urango retained his IBF strap in the gripping main event.
Cloud's opponent didn't come from the UK to lay down. The grizzled Clinton Woods fought the Tallahassee, Florida native on even terms through the early going, which included a second round that had Woods snapping off a variety of hard uppercuts and straight right hands. It looked like the beginnings of a long night for young Tavoris.
But Cloud found a groove in the middle rounds, being more selective with his punches while landing sharp counters against his taller foe. His James Toneyesque shoulder-roll-right-hand was especially effective in snapping Clinton's head back. Once he began digging in with beautiful triple left hooks - one to the head, one to the midsection, and another one up top as Woods would pull back - he started doing damage. A series of hooks left Woods in serious trouble in the ninth round.
The heart and resiliency he displayed in his trilogy against Glen Johnson though was still evident at 37 years old. Woods refused to go down as Cloud rained blows on him, and came back to hold his own during the championship rounds. Surprisingly, all three scorecards at the end read 116-112, which meant the judges in Cloud's hometown gave Woods most, if not all, of the close rounds. After last week, it was nice to be reminded that hometown bias isn't a guarantee in boxing.
What is guaranteed is action whenever Tavoris steps inside the ring. A showdown with Glen Johnson would be breathtaking. Fights with Jean Pascal or Chad Dawson wouldn't be short of thrills either. Let's just hope he's more active as a titlist than he was as a contender.
Juan Urango had his own set of problems as a belt holder in the main event, getting put on his back for the first time in his career.
The fight went as expected through five rounds. The brute southpaw stalked Randall Bailey and tore into his body while mixing in clubbing right hooks and left hands. Randall tried to maintain distance, paw with his jab, and drop in the occasional right hand.
The script was flipped in the sixth. One of those right hands deposited Urango on the canvas, and for a moment it looked as if he wasn't going to get up. Using the same recovery skills he showed when Nasser Athumani badly staggered him two years ago, he managed to beat the count and make it out of the round without further issue. But he was now sporting a nasty cut and lump under his right eye.
Juan went back to work immediately. He continued chopping Bailey down, taking his older opponent's legs piece by piece with every thudding body punch landed. In the ninth round, Bailey's legs were completely gone as a left hand took him off his feet. He struggled up at the count of nine and suffered a sustained beating until trainer John David Jackson rightly called an end to the proceedings in the 11th.
Urango's flaws are what they are; he has cement feet, and even after seven years of fighters tying him up on the inside, he still refuses to work inside a clinch. He may always struggle against a quick, durable opponent. But match him correctly, and blood and drama will not be far behind.
A dry FNF season ended with a monsoon thanks to all four combatants. Hopefully, it sets the pace for the remainder of 2009.
e-mail Michael Nelson
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British Scene Prospect Watch: Tony Bellew
Dave Oakes continues his look at the top young fighters in Britain, with a profile of Liverpool's Tony Bellew.
Tony Bellew
A likeable Scouser who’s boxing at light-heavyweight despite winning three ABA titles at heavyweight. He’s currently 9-0 with 6 stoppages.
The Positives:
He’s been busy thus far in his career, fighting nine times in under two years. He’s fought against, and knocked out, heavier fighters and looks like he’s got the punch power to take out anyone in the light-heavyweight division. He’s training at a great gym under the tuition of Anthony Farnell and isn’t too far away from a title shot.
The Negatives:
He’s yet to weigh in at 175lbs and it’ll be interesting to see how easy he can make weight. There are also question marks about his chin after he was dropped against Jevgenijs Andrejevs late last year.
The Future:
He’s targeting a fight with Commonwealth champion, Nathan Cleverly. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him fighting for the vacant title if Cleverly vacates next year. Fights against Tony Oakey, Darren Stubbs and Courtney Fry would all be good step-ups for him at this stage of his development.
e-mail Dave Oakes
| Previous Prospect Profiles Don Broadhurst Stephen Smith Ryan Walsh Jamie Cox George Groves Kenny Anderson Ricky Owen |
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Friday, August 28, 2009
Juan Urango vs Randall Bailey Preview
Lee Payton breaks down tonights FNF junior-welterweight match-up between Juan Urango and Randall Bailey.
On tonight's edition of Friday Night Fights, 140 lb brute, Juan Urango defends his title belt against KO artist, Randall Bailey in what should be a hard-hitting affair. This is a must win fight for both men. As silly as the sanctioning organizations are these days, this fight is an example of their rare usefulness. You have two hungry veterans swapping heavy leather for a title that actually means something. Even if it's not for the real title, that strap is the world to these guys right now. I think they'll fight like never before.
Urango is solid. Solid in build, chin and punch. It's been enough to get him love from those who hand out these belts, but he has not get it done in the big show. Andre Berto and Ricky Hatton did enough to keep him out of the fight for the majority of 12 rounds, but it says something about the man's quality as a fighter that those are the only two losses in 24 fights.
At his best, the Colombian rolls forward like a tank. Steadily coming behind thick armor with blasts to the opponents heart, lungs and liver. No one has managed to tear through his own defenses so far, he has basically just run out of time. Does Bailey have enough ammunition left to shock Urango?
Well, he did score a devastating knockout over another left hander in his last fight. In fact, this will be his third consecutive contest against a southpaw, so his hands and feet should be ready for the looks coming his way. He knows what he has to do in there. Can he do it for 36 minutes at 34 years old, against a guy who doesn't take backwards steps? He may have to.
Many would argue that Bailey has improved in the last few years and I think there is something to that. The loss he suffered to Ngoudjo last year could have gone either way in the eyes of many fans, and he showed that he could operate some by using his legs to stay on the outside.
I think this one has the potential to be a lot of fun. The two fighters aren't exactly there to protect their hands...
In trying to pin down a winner, I recalled Diosbelys Hurtado chopping Bailey down with nasty body shots. Urango has big time power downstairs. I'll take those loud whacks to the ribs to decide this one.
Email Lee Payton
Check out Michael Nelson's Tavaris Cloud vs Clinton Woods Preview
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Tavoris Cloud vs Clinton Woods Preview
Michael Nelson previews tonight's FNF light-heavyweight clash between Tavoris Cloud and Clinton Woods.
Tavoris Cloud took the Light Heavyweight scene by storm last August when he demolished Julio Gonzales in an IBF title eliminator. But instead of staying busy, he chose to sit on his position as Chad Dawson's mandatory as Dawson fought Tarver twice, and then dropped the belt to rematch nemesis Glen Johnson. The winner of tonight's bout will be rewarded with the vacant strap.
Needless to say, Cloud is looking to be more Cumulonimbus than calm against rugged Englishman Clinton Woods. Having grown up in desolate conditions, Tavoris fights as if he's been famished all his life. He's unlikely to take this opportunity lightly.
Clinton isn't either. This will be his final chance at regaining a stronghold in the division. The last time Woods was seen on American television, he allowed Antonio Tarver to camp in the middle of the ring and move his hands without consequence. If the 37 year old doesn't show more Grizzly against Cloud, it may be a short night in Hollywood, Florida.
Woods will hold a four inch height advantage over Cloud, but his fight is not one of maintaining distance. Expect Teddy Atlas' dialog throughout the bout to revolve around the real estate battle and how Woods is losing it. He's not comfortable moving for long stretches of a bout. Being one of the bigger and stronger men at Light Heavyweight though, he generally accustoms himself well in close.
How well he expects to do banging with the explosive 27 year old Floridian is a question that might not take long to answer. Cloud in many ways is reminiscent of Andre Berto, except he loves to fight on the inside rather than clinch. He loads up on powerful right hands and lead left hooks while mixing in violent uppercuts to keep a ducking opponent honest. And when he remembers to go to the body, he's cruelly effective. A normally sturdy Gonzales winced every time Cloud landed a hook underneath the rib cage.
As evident in his trilogy with Glen Johnson, Clinton is worryingly open for a right hand, Cloud's bread-and-butter. Johnson chopped him down with straight rights to the point where he was nearly out on his feet in the 9th round of their rubber match. To Woods' credit, he survived and won a split decision.
But that was on his home turf in the UK when he was three years younger. Now fighting on Cloud's stomping grounds, the odds are against him. If he gets slammed with as many right hands tonight as he did against Johnson, it's unlikely he sees the final bell, much less win a decision. He'll have to rely on his experience, stamina, and guile to blunt Cloud's charges and outwork his untested opponent.
While most indicators point to it being the younger man's time to shine, the steely veteran can't be counted out. He has defied the critics more than once in his 15 year career. The Friday Night Fights finale shouldn't disappoint.
e-mail Michael Nelson
Check out Lee Payton's Juan Urango vs Randall Bailey Preview
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Thursday, August 27, 2009
British Scene Prospect Watch: Ricky Owen
Dave Oakes continues his look at the top young fighters in Britain, with a profile of slick Swansea southpaw Ricky Owen.
Ricky Owen
24 year old stylist from Swansea. He fights in the featherweight division and is currently 11-0 with 4 stoppages.
The Positives:
He’s a fast, slippery southpaw who looks to hit and move. He can be very hard for an opponent to pin down and even harder to catch with a clean punch.
The Negatives:
Has only had 11 fights in over four and a half years as a pro and is still relatively unknown apart from in his hometown. He lacks power, can be guilty of switching off when he’s outclassing his opponent and hasn’t fought anyone of any note yet.
The Future:
He needs to get his career going. Having been a pro for nearly five years, it’s time he took a step up in competition. He should be looking for fights against the likes of Akaash Bhatia, Derry Matthews and Welsh rival, Jamie Arthur.
e-mail Dave Oakes
| Previous Prospect Profiles Don Broadhurst Stephen Smith Ryan Walsh Jamie Cox George Groves Kenny Anderson |
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British Scene Prospect Watch: Kenny Anderson
Dave Oakes continues his look at the top young fighters in Britain, with a profile of Edinburgh's Kenny Anderson.
Kenny Anderson
A hard punching Scottish super-middleweight who’s currently 10-0 with 7 stoppages.
The Positives:
Boxes in a classic style, he works off the jab very well and throws a beautiful straight right whilst keeping his chin tucked down to his chest. He carries respectable power, looks to have a solid chin and is another fighter with good amateur pedigree.
The Negatives:
Is known to be lackadaisical when it comes to training and has had problems outside the ring, including being charged with attempted murder a couple of months ago. The charges were dropped due to lack of evidence but you have to question him as to why he allowed himself to be put into that position.
The Future:
With the attempted murder charges dropped, he should be looking to keep himself out of trouble and concentrate fully on his career. At 26, he should be trying to manoeuvre himself into a position to challenge for the British title in the next twelve to eighteen months. Fights against Paul David, Tony Salem and Tony Dodson would all be beneficial to him at this stage of his career. A potential meeting with fellow Scot Stevie McGuire is already being talked about with great excitement north of the border.
e-mail Dave Oakes
| Previous Prospect Profiles Don Broadhurst Stephen Smith Ryan Walsh Jamie Cox George Groves |
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Wednesday, August 26, 2009
British Scene Prospect Watch: George Groves
Dave Oakes continues his look at the top young fighters in Britain, with a profile of 21 year old George Groves.
George Groves
One of the most hyped prospects in Britain. He fights in the super-middleweight division and is currently 4-0 with 3 stoppages.
The Positives:
A good all-round boxer with knockout power, especially with the overhand right. He can box off the back foot, counter-punch or lead; he looks at home in the ring and has bags of natural talent. He’s a two time ABA middleweight champion and beat Olympic gold medallist James DeGale on his way to the title in 2006.
The Negatives:
Is guilty of holding his hands too low and getting caught with silly shots, hopefully this will be something he eradicates as he progresses. He’s under contract with David Haye’s Hayemaker Promotions, who’ve not got a television contract now that Setanta have gone bankrupt.
The Future:
Having already demolished former British title challenger Paul Samuels in just his third fight, he seems like the kind of fighter who thrives on a challenge. With this in mind, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him being moved more quickly than most prospects. I could see him challenging for the British title within the next two years.
e-mail Dave Oakes
| Previous Prospect Profiles Don Broadhurst Stephen Smith Ryan Walsh Jamie Cox |
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British Scence Prospect Watch: Jamie Cox
Dave Oakes continues his look at the top young fighters in Britain, with a profile of Swindon southpaw, Jamie Cox.
Jamie Cox
Swindon born welterweight who looks to have plenty of raw talent. At 22, he’s got time on his side to develop into a real star. He’s currently 12-0 with 7 stoppages.
The Positives:
Another of our prospects with a good amateur background having won gold at the 2006 Commonwealth games, he decided to turn pro in 2007 rather than aiming for the 2008 Olympics. He’s an aggressive fighter whose best punches are the left hook and straight right, both of which have accounted for most of his knockouts.
The Negatives:
He tends to rush his boxing too much and is far too eager to trade punches rather than letting everything flow naturally. He’s very impatient and has been calling out Kell Brook for the past twelve months, you can’t fault him for confidence but he needs to keep his feet on the ground and learn how to pace a fight properly before stepping in with someone of Brook’s undoubted talent.
The Future:
He needs to face boxers who can stand up to his aggressive style and throw enough punches back to make him think about his own boxing. His fight against Mark Lloyd was a great learning fight for him and he would benefit from a few more like it. I’d love to see him in with the likes of a Kevin McIntyre or Michael Lomax in twelve months time.
e-mail Dave Oakes
| Previous Prospect Profiles Don Broadhurst Stephen Smith Ryan Walsh |
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Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Chris Arreola Has The Tools To Rise Above Expectations
Michael Nelson takes a look at Chris Arreola's chances of toppling Vitali Klitschko in next month's heavyweight showdown.
Photos © Ray Kasprowicz
The critics of the upcoming Arreola-Klitschko bout are many. The consensus of the hardcore boxing fan base seems to be that Chris will get blown out in the early rounds, or gas midway through the bout and get blown out then. Either way, the contest won't be very competitive, they say.
Much of the venom spewed comes from resentment towards the notion of yet another fighter allowed to walk down an HBO crafted red carpet without paying dues. That this particular fighter balloons between showcases and doesn't show up to the ring in optimal shape is insult to injury. Meanwhile, HBO ignores whole divisions full of dedicated men who live the boxing lifestyle 24/7, not just when convenient (when's the last time they aired a bout between Cruiserweights?). If it doesn't seem fair, it's because it isn't.
The reason for HBO's push is clear though: Arreola is the rare Mexican-American heavyweight. Any measure of success he has at the championship level is huge. And if he becomes the man to uproot the Klitschko brothers' hold on the division, we're talking about one of the biggest boxing stories in recent memory. The reawakening of the heavies would be Adderal to the casual fan's attention span.
The question remains, does he have a real shot at defeating Vitali Klitschko? Or is this the '09 redux of Michael Grant vs. Lennox Lewis? The lack of tough fights on Arreola's resume makes it hard to come up with a definitive answer, but I'd argue that Chris has better tools than anyone the Ukranian has fought since Lewis in 2002.
Most discredit Arreola's chances because of how his weight has skyrocketed within the past year and some change. Undoubtedly, he should be in better shape, and he'll need to have more discipline between training camps to remain near the top of the division for long. But his current condition doesn't necessarily doom him against Vitali for a couple of reasons. One, he's shown himself to be well-conditioned in his longer fights - going seven rounds twice and eight rounds once - maintaining a work rate that's closer to the average middleweight than the average heavyweight. While it's true that the last time he's gone more than four rounds was two years and 10-20 pounds ago (depending on how much he weighs on September 26), it's a mistake to assume that he'll be out of gas by the middle of the fight when he hasn't had stamina issues in the past.
Secondly, he will have worked with strength and conditioning specialist Darryl Hudson for over two months come fight night. Having a proven track record with Shane Mosley, Chad Dawson, Winky Wright, and others, if anyone can get Arreola into championship level condition, it's Hudson.
He should have the best camp of his career. What happens in rounds nine, ten, and beyond still remains a mystery, but Arreola's pressure and work rate suggests he has the ability to set a pace that can take Klitschko out of his comfort zone... at least for two-thirds of the bout.
The man Chris is trying to yank the title from has been dominant since his TKO loss to Lennox Lewis six years ago. But the 37 year old Klitschko has also been injury prone and inactive. Moreover, the opponents he has dominated are a who's who of fat fighters with careers plagued by stamina issues, coming in grossly overweight for their title shot. Kirk Johnson showed up nearly 20 pounds above his career high weight and summarily got harpooned; Corrie Sanders, Danny Williams, Sam Peter, and Juan Gomez came in at or near their career highs, were on E by the 7th round, and got beaten into submission shortly after. I'd honestly be shocked if Arreola isn't in much better shape than all of those guys.
Lennox Lewis was at his career high weight as well when he gave Klitschko his second loss. His first loss came at the hands of Chris Byrd, one of the few talented opponents Vitali has faced that managed to come in shape. While Klitschko fans will argue that both losses resulted from injuries, it's no fluke that they came against men athletic enough to push him.
Nevertheless, the odds are no doubt against 28 year old from Riverside, CA. Ironfist has the better footwork and defense. He has the quicker, straighter punches. He has a painful jab. And his whiskers appear to be sturdier. At first glance, the gulf in technical acumen appears insurmountable, but peer beyond the surface and you'll see Arreola's advantages; a far better inside game, body attack, and variance of shots that start to level the playing field. Add in Vitali's age and friable frame, and the sweet scent of a brewing upset might float into your nostrils.
Fact is, Arreola has a potent mix of attributes that Mexican fighters are known to possess: combination punching, body punching, and a nefarious left hook along with a healthy dose of heart and balls. Barring an early knockout, Vitali will have to deal with several rounds of the rare big man who throws more than one or two punches at a time. He'll have to deal with a man pounding him to the ribs, arms, and shoulders whenever his chin can't be reached.
The aging champ faces something he hasn't seen in several years. Far from the sideshow many bill it as, this is a real fight with real ramifications. Understandably, low expectations are born out of cynicism of groomed careers and manufactured saviors. Just prepare to be shocked next month if you choose to keep them low.
e-mail Michael Nelson
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British Scene Prospect Watch: Ryan Walsh
Dave Oakes continues his look at the top young fighters in the UK. On Monday, Dave profiled Don Broadhurst and Stephen Smith, and today starts us off with 23 year old featherweight, Ryan Walsh
Ryan Walsh
One of three fighting brothers from Cromer, Norfolk, the others are Michael (5-0 5KO’s) and Luke (5-0 4KO’s). The three brothers are talented, brash and confident, but Ryan stands out as the best. He boxes in the featherweight division and is currently 7-0 with 2 stoppages.
The Positives:
He’s got quick hands, great movement and is full of self-confidence. He beat former British title challenger Marc Callaghan in his last outing, stopping him in the third round. The stoppage came as result of an arm injury to Callaghan but Walsh was picking him apart and was well on his way to victory anyway. He’s also got decent amateur pedigree having won the Junior ABA’s in 2004.
The Negatives:
His confidence is often construed as arrogance. This, along with his flashy style, could make him unpopular with the fans. He often boxes with a hands down style and at times seems to be more interested in posturing and looking the part rather than getting on with the job at hand. He’s also been getting away with hanging his chin in the air against low level opposition; he might be in for a shock when he steps up a level.
The Future:
It’s a case of keeping him busy and gradually increasing the standard of opposition. I do feel he’s got to be more aware defensively if he’s to progress to domestic honours, he’s got the ability to do that and hopefully his brothers will learn that from him as well.
e-mail Dave Oakes
| Previous Prospect Profiles Don Broadhurst Stephen Smith |
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Monday, August 24, 2009
British Scene Prospect Watch: Stephen Smith
Dave Oakes continues his look at the top young fighters in the UK.
Stephen Smith
‘Swifty’ Smith is still at the beginner stage of his career but has looked exceptional so far. He’s following in the footsteps of his big brother, Contender star, Paul. He boxes in the featherweight division and is currently 7-0 with 5 stoppages.
The Positives:
He’s the kind of boxer that’s never out of the gym; he loves the sport and is a crowd pleaser. He’s already established a good following, which isn’t surprising considering his all action style; he loves to tear into his opponents from the first bell and throws every punch with serious intent. He’s already shown in his short career that he carries knockout power in both hands.
The Negatives:
He doesn’t use his skills as much as he should; he was a very good amateur but has developed a much more aggressive style in the pro ranks. I like that in a boxer but he shouldn’t forget that he can use his jab as a way of setting up the big attacks. The lack of a jab sometimes results in him smothering his work and he can be caught coming in at times when he shouldn’t be.
The Future:
He should just continue learning; he’s probably two years off being ready for a British title fight and should concentrate on working his way up the rankings.
e-mail Dave Oakes
| Previous Prospect Profiles Don Broadhurst |
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British Scene Prospect Watch: Don Broadhurst
Over the next week, Dave Oakes will be taking a look at some of the top young talent in the UK. Dave starts things off today with 25 year old Birmingham super-flyweight, Don Broadhurst.
With the new season upon us, I thought now was as good a time as any to have a look at the top prospects of British boxing. I’ve decided that the prospects must have fought less than a dozen times to be considered. I’ve also excluded all of the 2008 Olympians as they’re too obvious to pick and have all received plenty of exposure as it is.
Don Broadhurst
A small man with a big talent. The diminutive Brummie became the Commonwealth super-flyweight champion in only his 9th outing and is currently 11-0 with 3 stoppages.
The Positives:
He’s fast, skilful, has a decent chin and has shown improved punch power in his recent fights. Trained by one of the best up-and-coming trainers in Richie Woodhall, he’s got everything needed to go all the way.
The Negatives:
He’s not yet faced anyone with a high win percentage on their record and needs to start stepping up the quality of opposition to avoid becoming stale. Despite sitting down on his punches more recently, he’ll still lack knockout power when he steps up to world level.
He’s also at a disadvantage boxing in a division that’s relatively low on decent opponents. There seems to be a big gulf in class between domestic level and world level, with not many boxers inbetween the two. It might be that he’ll need to take a big gamble at some stage by taking on a fringe world level fighter without having the necessary experience needed for such a step up in class.
The Future:
I’d like to see him take on British champion Lee Haskins in the next twelve months, along with fights against Andy Bell and maybe Ian Napa, if he can tempt Napa back down to flyweight.
After that, it might be that he needs to target someone around the top 30 in the world. The likes of Zolile Mbityi, Luis Maldonado and Gerson Guerrero should all be within Broadhurst’s reach in around eighteen months to two years time.
e-mail Dave Oakes
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Sunday, August 23, 2009
My Thoughts On Last Night's BAD Card
By Lee Payton
I wish I could say that last night's Boxing After Dark, which featured Juan Diaz and Paulie Malignaggi in a 12 round fight, was a hit. Many fans, myself included, had very low expectations for the 3 fights on tap, and while the ring action did surprise a little bit, 2 scorecards delivered by veteran judges Gale Van Hoy and David Sutherland ruined the evening for me.
I'll get the bitching and moaning out of the way quickly...
In my opinion, those gentlemen should be required to go back to school. Van Hoy scored the main event an inexcusable 10-2 for Diaz, and Sutherland scored a 10-0 shutout for Daniel Jacobs. Utter nonsense. I'm not going to sit here and say that both men are corrupt, but I will say that they are completely untrustworthy and therefore, essentially useless. This kind of thing happens far too often in boxing. It seems like there's at least one totally whacky card every week, doesn't it? That should not be happening.
Now for what went down in the ring...
First of all, I have to give props to Paulie Malignaggi for proving me wrong. He handled himseld like a real pro to give Diaz all he could handle. I was very impressed with his punch output, conditioning and discipline in particular. He came into the ring with a realistic plan and was physically prepared to make it happen for 12 rounds.
The brash New Yorker used his superior quickness to get off first with nice jabs and 1-2-3's that he sort of flicked out there. Turning to his left all night after doing his thing was an effective tactic that held Diaz' hands back for the most part. I find the fact that he threw about 200 more punches in the end to be astounding. Who saw that coming?
I don't think this was necessarily bad Juan Diaz, just that quick movers make his own lack of foot speed stand out. When he could get Paulie to sit still for a second he did some of the solid work to the body we're used to, but he just couldn't pin his man down with much consistency.
Another problem I saw from the get go was how left hand happy he was in this fight. It's true that his left is dominant, but when you have a guy moving to your right all night long... throw it!
There has been some passionate discussion over the somewhat wide verdict that went Diaz' way. From what I have read, most fans seem to think he got a hometown gift. I didn't score it on paper, but I didn't really have a problem with the winner. I could see it 7-5 either way. A draw would have been a fair call.
However, I think it's safe to say that there was no way Malignaggi was getting a decision in Houston, based on the official cards. That's wrong.
This is why I don't put a whole lot into decisions when assessing a fighter's career. Wins and losses are ink on paper. The fights tell the real story.
As of right now, perhaps Diaz walks away having lost a little bit more than the man he officially beat.
Quickly...
Guerrero's wind was impressive. The man obviously worked his ass of in training and it showed. He's got a brand new world title because of his commitment to the sport. Congratulations to "The Ghost".
Malcolm Klassen can fight. I think he'd be more fun against a guy who will stand a trade more.
Ishe Smith is easier on the eyes now that he's a seasoned vet. Coming right at a guy like Jacobs took guts. If he had just a little more pop...
I love listening to Eddie Mustapha Muhammad work a corner.
Even though things didn't exactly go the way Daniel Jacobs planned, I came away impressed. He's in damn good shape and seems to have a fighters brain. Looked very natural in there.
Email Lee Payton
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Saturday, August 22, 2009
Guerrero Beats Klassen to Win Belt
By Lee Payton
Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero threw 100 punches a round on his way to a 12 round unanimous decision win over Malcolm Klassen. While he only landed about 1 in 5 all night long, the constant activity kept the former title holder's hands busy on defense most of the time.
Check out our live round by round blog coverage of the show, including the Jacobs/Smith and Malignaggi/Diaz bouts.
It was the best performance of Guerrero's career. He took advantage of his overall edge in quickness by getting off first with the most all night long. Once he was finished letting loose with a speedy combination, he turned to his right, making Klassen pick up his feet and start all over again.
It looked like things might get dicey in the middle rounds as the South African came on strong, but Guerrero was able to take back control late. His energy level was extremely impressive tonight. The time he spent in Big Bear obviously did him a lot of good. He owes his new belt to the thin air up there.
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Daniel Jacobs-Ishe Smith Results
By Lee Payton
Check out our live round by round blog coverage of the show, including the Klassen/Guerrero and Malignaggi/Diaz bouts.
Daniel Jacobs and Ishe Smith gave it what they had for 10 rounds, and while there wasn't much in the way of clean punching, the fight was a little better than many fans expected. Jacobs did most of the work, while Smith came forward, finding the mark with the occasional power shot. This was the pattern for about 90% of the fight, until the final round when both men dug their heels in and went for it.
Smith's high guard, quickness and reluctance to let his hands fly seemed to give his opponent trouble throughout. While he was mostly unable to land his big stuff, Jacobs did succeed in throwing many more punches, which was enough to get the unanimous decision.
Smith seemed comfortable giving chase, he just didn't have the offensive tools to be all that dangerous. Still, he may have spoiled some other young fighters tonight. I give the younger man credit for showing a willingness to do what it takes.
With the win Jacobs goes to 18-0 (15), and Smith falls to 21-4 (9).
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Live Round by Round Blog: Juan Diaz vs Paul Malignaggi, Robert Guerrero vs Malcolm Klassen, Daniel Jacobs vs Ishe Smith
Welcome to The Boxing Bulletin's live blog coverage of tonight's HBO Boxing After Dark triple-header. The show starts at 9:45 EST and we'll be providing round by round updates of all 3 bouts on the card.
If you've been with us before for our live blog round by round coverage, welcome back. If this is your first time, thanks for checking us out. Feel free to participate by giving your scores and comments.
Tonight's line-up:
Juan Diaz 34-2 (137.7) vs Paul Malignaggi 26-2 (138.2) - scheduled for 12
Robert Guerrero 24-1-1 (130) vs Malcolm Klassen 24-4-2 (129.5) - scheduled for 12
Daniel Jacobs 17-0 (159.7) vs Ishe Smith (159) 21-3 - scheduled for 10
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