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.

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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

If you are here early, check out our previews for tonight's fights: News & Notes: Roy Jones Reps Captain Hook, Nonito Donaire Reps Pinoy Power, and Chris Arreola Reps Free Willy --- by Carlos Acevedo Robert Guerrero vs Malcolm Klassen --- by Michael Nelson We've also got a two-part preview of the new British boxing season: British Scene Season Preview Part One; Simpson vs Truscott, O'Donnell vs Glover, Davis vs Napa, Fury vs McDermott & Olusegun vs Daws --- by Dave Oakes British Scene Season Preview Part Two: Macklin vs Asikainen, Thaxton vs Murray, Sexton vs Rogan & Booth vs Hunter --- by Dave Oakes

Refresh this page often as updates will be frequent 7:15 PM... Check back in with us in 2 1/2 hours for the start of the show. 9:15... 30 minutes until we are underway. 9:47... HBO's on the air. First up will be Daniel Jacobs vs Ishe Smith. 9:48... Bob Papa is the host. He'll be joined by Max Kellerman and Lennox Lewis. 9:50... Jacobs and Smith are in the ring. Looks like we'll be getting underway very soon. Jacobs has re-hydrated to 175. Ishe's at 166. 9:51... Michael Buffer with the formal introductions. 9:53... Laurence Cole is the third man in the ring. Buffer tells us this is in the middleweight division. It was yesterday. Today we've got a light-heavy vs a super-middle. I know, that's the way it is with just about everyone these days. 9:57... We're underway. Jacobs firing off some jabs into Ishe's guard. Smith has the mitts up, now he edges forward while Jacobs flicks out the jab and circles to his left. Jacobs now fires off a 1-2. Jacobs jabbing, and moving, while Ishe following, but not letting his hands go just yet. Ishe now fires off a hook that is short. He misses with another hook. 1:30 to go. Jacobs firing off a couple jabs, and then pops home an uppercut. He then slides away and Ishe follows. Ishe misses with a hook. Jacobs moving to his left. Lennox comments that Ishe hasn't done anything except follow Jacobs around the ring. Now Ishe tries to bang the body with Jacobs along the ropes. Ishe digs to the body with Jacobs along the ropes and Cole warns him to keep his shots up. The action moves to the center of the ring with both men flicking out jabs from a distance. There's the bell. 10:01... Harold has it 1-0 for Jacobs. No surprise there, as that was an easy round to score. Jacobs won it with his jab. Ishe now edges forward as Jacobs backs into the ropes, and fires off a 1-2, but doesn't connect. He's going to have some chances if Jacobs back straight up like that. Ishe landed a decent left hook. Kellerman comments that's the first real punch he's landed tonight. Ishe edging forward, and fires a 1-2 and Jacobs ties him up. Ishe just misses with a right hand. Action is in the middle of the ring. Ishe bangs the body with a right/left. Jacobs with a jab. Ishe fires off a solid hook. Ishe now planting his feet and ripping shots. He got another hook home. Jacobs took it well though. Jacobs jabbing the body, and now it's Jacobs coming forward and Smith backing into the ropes. ACtion moves back to the center of the ring. Jacobs now digs a left hook to the body. Jacobs flicking out his jab. Ishe now edging forward, with Jacobs circling again. Interesting round. Ishe had some good moments and has established himself in the fight after a slow opener. 10:01... Ishe's corner - "You got to go to work. Let your hands go!" 10:05... Harold has it 1-1 now. Ishe coming forward, Jacobs moving to his left. Jacobs with a flurry and then slips away. Ishe now comes forward and digs with a couple hooks and they exchange power shots in the corner. Jacobs quickly slips away. There's a nice exchange in the middle of the ring with both guys throwing power shots and landing. Jacobs not sticking around though, he's quickly on the move. Lennox comments that Jacobs should be holding his ground a little more, that he doesn't need to be walking back so much. He's moving to his left, and trying to work the jab and counter. Ishe's edging forward, trying to bang hooks home. Now Jacobs turns Ishe around and lands a couple decent shots upstairs. Jacobs again gets on the move and Ishe follows. Ishe gets Jacobs on the ropes and bangs home a left hook. Jacobs took it well though and slips away. Jacobs has been the busier man, but Ishe is throwing the punches with bad intentions. He's just not throwing enough of them. BIG exchange at the bell. Cole jumps in there, as there was some action a little late. 10:05... In Ishe's corner, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad really is letting his fighter have it, telling him to get busy. 10:08... Harold is giving his score 2-1 for Jacobs. Meanwhile some good action going on with both guys letting their hands go. Ishe landed a nice little left hook, and then came home and banged the body, before Jacobs responded. Ishe with a nice hook again. Lennox likes what he's seeing from Jacobs standing his ground, although he's the one getting tagged. Jacobs with a nice right hand to the body. Jacobs is now the one moving forward, firing his jab, and then working off it with an uppercut. Ishe fires back though with his hook. Lennox comments that Ishe's hook is more of a slapping hook and not all that effective. Jacobs sticks home a couple jabs. 1:00 to go in the round. Jacobs now edging forward. He flurries with Ishe on the ropes, but I don't think too much got home. Ishe with a right hand. A good exchange in the middle of the round, with both men landing shots. Jacobs might have got the better of that one. Jacobs fires off a right hand that just misses. 10 seconds left in the round. Ishe now coming forward and Jacobs jabbing and moving to close the round. 10:10... I just corrected our listing at the top of the page that had this as a 12 rounder. It's scheduled for 10. 10:12... Ishe comes out in the 5th putting the pressure on. Jacobs back into the ropes, which is where Lennox points out he shouldn't be. Ishe didn't get too much done though on the ropes before Jacobs slipped away. Jacobs with a left. Jacobs now fires off a combo. Ishe responds by coming forward and Jacobs slips away to his right. Bob Papa mentions that Ishe has a cut around his eye. He's following Jacobs around again, with Jacobs flicking off jabs and moving to his left. A solid exchange in the middle of the right, with Jacobs looking like he got the better of it. Jacobs now the man moving forward. He throws a 3 punch combo, although all looked like they were caught on the gloves. Jacobs working the jab again. That's been the big difference in the fight. The busy jab of Jacobs. Ishe lands a big combo, and Jacobs is buzzed. That happened with around 15 seconds left in the round. Jacobs quickly started moving, and got to the bell at which point there were several late shots thrown. 10:13... It was a big right hand that hurt Jacobs. 10:13... At the end of the round, Jacobs had thrown a shot a little bit late, prompting Smith to retaliated with several late shots. Cole warned him in the corner that he'd take a point if that happened again. He warns both fighters to keep it clean to start the round. 10:18... Ishe comes out moving forward. Jacobs using the jab, and then throws a right that is short, before he moves. Now Jacobs fires off a combo. Ishe with a jab. Some bad luck (or good luck from the perspective of Jacobs) that Ishe landed that hard right so late in the round. Ishe looking to land the big right again, but just misses. Jacobs jabbing and moving. Jacobs throwing double and triple jabs here. 1:30 to go in the round. Ishe now catches Jacobs along the ropes and lands a hard left hand. Lennox again comments that Jacobs shouldn't be hanging out on the ropes. Jacobs outworking Ishe this round for the most part with the jab, but Ishe comes forward and throws a flurry with Jacobs' back to the ropes. Big exchange with about 10 seconds to go in the round. I think Ishe may have got the better of it, with a solid hook. 10:21... Harold has it 4-2 for Jacobs. Cole is giving Ishe a warning for going low. Cole tells him that the last time he'll warn before taking a point. Kellerman comments that Ishe has succeeded in turning this fight into a bit of a sloppy brawl that Jacobs wasn't looking for. Ishe edges forward and Jacobs with a flurry into the gloves. Jacobs keeping the jab busy so Ishe can't really get set and try and rip. Ishe coming forward, Jacobs now slips to his right. Ishe with a couple jabs. ACtion in the center of the ring. Jacobs with a couple of jabs. Jacobs now moves forward and backs Ishe into the ropes and fires off a combo. Ishe trying to slip and look to counter, but Jacobs having much of the best of it. Jacobs letting his hands go here with combos. Now he backs off, and Ishe follows Jacobs to the other side of the ring. Ishe misses with a right. Jacobs flicks out a couple jabs. Jacobs with a few more jabs. 10:25... Harold has it 5-2 now. Ishe moving forward, Jacobs dancing to his left and now he backs into a corner, but slips out to his left and then moves to the other corner. Lennox comments how some fighters like to fight with their back to the ropes. Ishe coming forward, but getting outworked. Jacobs with a jab and a right, and then gets on the move again before Ishe can respond. Jacobs with a right hand and then slips away. Ishe pushes forward though, trying to jab his way in. Jacobs backing into the ropes. Ishe fires a hook that misses and then misses with a right and Jacobs ties him up. Ishe with a hook. Jacobs fires back. Ishe with a solid left hand. Jacobs flicks out the jabs and moves. Ishe pressing forward, and ripping his left. He's the smaller man tonight, but he's fighting like the bigger one. Ishe in pursuit, with Jacobs stopping and flurrying. 10:26... Jacobs' corner is telling him to say off the ropes. 10:29... 6-2 on Harold's card. These rounds are competitive though. Jacobs doing a little more, but he's not having an easy night and it's not really looking that much like a 6-2 fight. Ishe moving forward, but Jacobs letting his hands go, backing Ishe off. Ishe though fires off a combo that landed. Jacobs with a jab/right. Jacobs again on the move. Ishe trying to dig hard with a hook as Jacobs backs into the corner. Jacob with a little flurry. Kellerman comments that Ishe is trying to catch Jacobs in between punches with a big left hook. Jacobs with a nice flurry. Jacobs now digs downstairs. Jacobs planting his feet and bit and ripping shots. Now he gets back on the move and Ishe resumes his pursuit. Ishe landed a decent left hand with about 30 seconds left in the round. Jacobs responded though with his own right hand and pushes Ishe into the ropes. Kellerman comments that Jacobs might have been stunned a bit by the shot Ishe landed. As the round ended, Ishe fires off a shot... and he's going to lose a point for it. 10:30... You know what - that wasn't a great call. It looked like Ishe was in the middle of throwing a shot right at the bell. He's done worse tonight then that, but perhaps that was the final straw. 10:33... Harold has Jacobs up 7-2. Ishe comes forward hard to start the round, trying to dig home hooks. Jacobs on the move, jabs, flurries and movement from Jacobs. Jacobs with a hook downstairs. Jacobs now with a flurry downstairs before he slips away again. Ishe presses forward and tries to land a right, but no luck. Ishe is short with another right. Jacobs with the jab. Jacobs backs into the corner again and Ishe tries to unload but smothers himself. Jacobs flicking off jabs and moving. He's also mixing in the occasional right hand. 1:00 to go. Ishe now backs Jacobs onto the ropes and tries to dig home some hooks to the body. He fires upstairs, but can't catch Jacobs clean. Jacobs now gets out of there and the actions moves back to the middle of the ring. Now Jacobs letting his hands go. Firing off 1-2s. Ishe tries to bang home a right, but can't connect. Ishe fights hard until the final bell, but can't land anything of note. There's the bell. 10:35... Just waiting for the decision now. 10:36... 96-93, 96-93 and 100-89 for Daniel Jacobs. 10:37... Ishe gave a very game effort. Outweighed by 9 pounds, he took the fight to Jacobs all night. Maybe could have left his hands go a little more, but Jacobs was making it tough with a steady jab and a lot of movement. 10:38... Up next is Robert Guerrero vs Malcolm Klassen. 10:40... Right now, HBO is airing a tribute to Alexis Arguello, Arturo Gatti and Vernon Forrest. 10:45... This tribute is breaking me up a little. Hopefully someone will upload it to youtube later for those that aren't getting a chance to watch right now. 10:51... Michael Buffer asks the crowd for a moment of silence for the memorial 10 count to say farewell to the 3 fighters. 10:53... Guerrero is 144 tonight, while Klassen is at 142. 10:56... Klassen just popped through the ropes. Guerrero is already in the ring. Looks like we're almost ready to start. 10:57... The ref is John Shorle. 10:58... Michael Buffer with the intros. 10:58... Guerrero got a bit of applause. None for Klassen. They must be saving it for the Baby Bull. 11:02... We're underway. Guerrero fighting out of the southpaw stance. Both men firing jabs from long range. Klassen tries to fire a right to the body but is short. Guerrero working the jab. Both men just let their hands go, but neither landed. Kellerman comments on Guerrero's nice snappy jab. Klassen edges forward and fires a right hand. Guerrero responds by digging the body. Guerrero with a solid 1-2. Guerrero with a nice combo. Klassen has the guard up, and takes it all, but a couple shots definitely got through. Now Klassen comes forward, but misses with a right. Guerrero with a jab, and a right hand. 1:00 to go. Klassen with a jab. Action in the middle of the ring. NOw Guerrero edges forward, and fires off a 1-2. Klassen coming forward, but not really letting his hands go, while Guerrero firing off 1-2, and working the hook. Klassen now with a sright right. Klassen trying to turn it up as the round comes to a close, but it's a good one for Guerrero. 11:06... Guerrero edging forward behind the jab. Klassen with his gloves up. Now Klassen tries to flurry, but is short. Guerero presses forward, looking sharp, he bangs home a 1-2. Guerrero with a hook that is blocked. Klassen looking very cautious so far. Gloves up, and not really letting his hands go. Now he comes forward, and fires off his right hand. Guerrero responds with hiw own right. Klassen pressing a little now. He sticks the jab and fires a right. Guerrero responds with a flurry though, and they clinch. 1:20 to go. Guerrero with a 1-2 into the guard. Klassen witha big right hand. That landed flush, and he tried to jump on Guerrero, but Guerrero fires back. He took the show well and responded immediately. Klassen edging forward, but Guerrero sticking home the jab. Lennox comments that the fighters are stepping on each other's front foot. 11:06... We just a replay of the right hand Klassen landed. Bob Papa points out that Guerrero just got his glove up to cushion the blow a little. 11:09... Harold has it 2-0 for Guerrero. Guerrero coming forward behind the jab. Klassen responds with a right hand. Guerrero with a left, and Klassen responds with his own right. Guerrero witha flurry. Glassen gloves up trying to block and respond. Guerrero slips away though before Klassen can. Now Klassen comes forward and Guerrero slips away to the right, and then fires off a right hand. Now they clinch. 1:30 to go. Klassen bangs a right hand to the body. Guerrero is doing a nice job of turning out of trouble. He's throwing his jab, and his left, and then pivoting. Klassen is pushing forward, but having a hard time getting Guerrero where he wants him. Guerrero meanwhile picking his spots nicely. Using his jab well. We just had a clash of heads, and Klassen then landed a right. Now they clinch. Lennox comments that Klassen is getting a little anxious and jumping in with his shots. 11:13... Guerrero comes forward behind the jab to the start the round. 3-0 on Harold's card. Klassen trying to land his right hand, but Guerrero is managing to avoid it. Guerrero with a 1-2 into the guard, and Klassen comes back with a right. Now Klassen tries to flurry, and follows up with a right as Guerrero backs away. Klassen with a right to the body, and Guerrero responds with a left ot the body. Klassen looks a bit bothered by the body shot, and Guerrero tries to take advantage of it. Now Klassen looks to be okay again. Guerrero just ate a counter right, but no damage. Klassen pushing forward, just missing with a right. Now Guerrero with a 1-2. Klassen is having a tricky time getting into position to nail that right hand home. Guerrero flurries, and Klassen tries to dig to the body. Klassen with a right hand upstairs. Guerero with a 1-2. Klassen pushes forward and fires just after the bell with a combo. 11:18... Lennox comments on how nicely Guerrero is mixing it up tonight. He's 4-0 up on Harold's card. He starts the round working the jab. Now he fires a straight left. Klassen edging forward, but Guerrero turning away from that right hand. Klassen momentarily switched to southpaw, but he's back to conventional. Klassen with a jab. Guerrero lands a nice uppercut though. Guerrero staying the busier of the two fighters, even when Klassen is moving forward. Klassen tries to rip a couple hooks downstairs. Now he catches Guerrero with a couple rights, but Guerrero was moving away from both shots. 1:00 to go. Klassen having his best round and his best moments of the fight. He's pushing forward. Guerrero with a 1-2 and turns away. Guerrero digs to the body. Klassen edging forward, and and bangs the body. Klassen fires a right as Guerrero dances away. Klassen slips a left, and tries to land a right that misses. Lennox says that Guerrero needs to maintain his focus as he looked like he was falling apart a little that round. I wouldn't go that far, but it was certainly the South African's round. 11:22... Klassen has a rep of tiring late. Perhaps tonight he decided to take it easy early and conserve his energy. It's 4-1 now on Harold's card. Guerrero sticking the jab. Klassen firing a right. Guerrero with a 1-2 into the guard. Klassen edging forward, but misses a right. Klassen with a combo that's blocked. Guerrero with a left in the guard. Guerrero again moving nicely and avoiding getting tagged with the right. Klasen digs to the body though, and then lands a decent right hand over the top. Guerrero flurries into the gloves as Klassen puts his head down and tries to work forward. Klassen digs a shot to the body. Guerrero short with a left. Now Klassen backing up for a moment, but then goes on the attack again. Guerrero letting his hands go, keeping Klassen off him. But Klassen fires back with a flurry. Guerrero with a shot that knocks Klassen's mouth piece out. After 10 seconds or so, there's a break and the mouth piece is going back in. 10 seconds left in the round. Guerrero very busy that round, and flurries at the bell. Klassen's left eye is said to be bothering him. 11:23... Guerrero's corner, "He's getting frustrated, keeping turning him, keep jabbing." The shot that knocked Klassen's mouth guard out was an uppercut. 11:26... 5-1 on Harold's card. Klassen coming forward, but Guerrero sticking the jab in there to keep him from getting set. Harold comments on what a good job Guerrero's doing keeping Klassen on the end of the jab and moving. Guerrero with a 1-2 upstairs. Klassen fires off a right hand. Klassen again with a right hand. Now Klassen presses Guerrero up against the ropes, and fires off with a flurry. Guerrero gets out of trouble though. There's a convo going on with the crew about Guerrero using his elbow on the inside. Harold commented that it was illegal, but Max doesn't mind since he's using it to make space to punch. Guerrero staying busy. He's not really planting his feet, but he's putting punches together. Now Klassen digs downstairs hard with a body combo. Another nice shot downstairs from Klassen. Guerrero was just cut on the left eye from a butt. Max thinks Klassen's using his head intentionally the way he's jumping in. There's the bell. 11:27... It looks like a bad cut, but it's on the outside of the eye so it shouldn't bother Guerrero's vision or put the fight in jeopardy of being stopped. 11:31... 5-2 now on Harold's card. Kellerman again comments that Klassen jumps in dangerously with his head. I don't know if I agree that he's intentionally trying to use his head, but rather get himself within range of the longer armed Guerrero. "The use of his head would make Evander proud." - Max. One of Klassen's kids is named Evander, but they are talking about Holyfield. "My good buddy" Lennox says. Klassen just landed a decent right hand, and Guerrero ties him up. The blood is dripping down the side of Guerrero's face. Guerrero with a 1-2 in the gloves. The action is a little slower this round. Klassen trying to dig with downstairs with some heavy body shots. Guerrero not letting his hands go the way he has in previous rounds. Klassen though hasn't stepped it up too much, and you would think he has a real chance to now. Klassen with a right hand that partially gets through. The bell rings with Klassen the aggressor, but not really doing a whole lot of damage. 11:34... 6-2 on Harold's card. Guerrero comes out using the jab. Klassen fires off a right, but doesn't catch Guerrero clean with it. Now he lands a decent right with Guerrero's back to the ropes. Klassen trying to flurry here as Guerrero moves to his right and then gets a clinch. Guerrero trying to dig to the body. Klassen responds with a right hand. Both men now leaning forwared almost shoulder to shoulder on the inside. Klassen with a nice combo and presses Guerrero against the ropes. Klassen letting his hands go, with Guerrero on the ropes. Guerrero dipping and ducking, but some shots got through. Now Guerrero moves out of trouble, and Klassen a little arm weary backs into the ropes on the other side of the ring. Guerrero puts his head down and pushing forward with a hold of Klassen's arm. Klassen now coming forward and digs with a right hand downstairs. Guerrero looking a little ragged here. Klassen trying to flurry, and Guerrero fires back. There's the bell, and they touch gloves out of respect. 11:36... There's a delay to start the 10th as the ring is wet. Our ref grabs a towel to wipe down the logo in the center of the ring. 11:39... Klassen comes forward and fires a right hand. Guerrero with a 1-2 upstairs while backing away. 6-3 on Harold's card. Klassen edging inside, and Guerrero ties him up and slips away. Klassen with a right hand that is partially blocked. Now Klassenw itha flurry, and Guerrero responds with his own flurry. Klassen trying to step up the intensity a little now and fires off another flurry in close. Guerrero though staying busy, as he flurries and backs off before grabbing a hold of Klassen. Now Klassen presses forward and digs a right hand to the body. Guerrero is looking a little tired here. Not much steam on his shots and he's backing up. Klassen trying to press, and lands a right, and then gets tied up again. Klassen forces Guerrero into the ropes, but Guerrero slipping and ducking and then moves. Klassen now is the busier fighter. Klassen digs hard to the body, and Guerrero respons with a hard left that backs Klassen up. There's the bell. 11:40... In the corner, Guerrero says he thinks he hurt Klassen with the left. It definitely backed Klassen up, which is something we haven't seen tonight. 11:41... Guerrero has thrown 1000 punches through 10. 11:44... Harold has it 7-3. Klassen pushes forward to start the round. Klassen lands a decent left hook, but Guerrero fires back. Guerrero is in retreat, but jabbing and throwing 1-2s. Klassen meanwhile is moving forward trying to get in close and loading up. Lennox comments that Klassen is getting a bit frustrated. Klassen throws a left right combo, but doesn't connect. Guerrero with a flurry into the gloves and moves. Klassen fires to the body. Klasen trying to slip the jab and launches a hook that misses. Guerrero with an uppercut. Lennox comments that Guerrero's still doing a great job turning Klassen. Guerrero with a flurry and Klassen throws a counter right, but is a little late with it. Guerrrero now pushes forward and flurries with Klassen along the ropes. Lennox comments that Klassen has really slowed down. He's not having a good round. Getting outworked. There's the bell. 11:48... They touch gloves for the final round. 8-3 on Harold's card. Klassen comes out hard and manages to bull Guerrero into the ropes. Guerrero throwing back though. Guerrero now forces a clinch, and now walks Klassen back into the ropes. Klassen trying to fire the right hand, but he's just missing with it. 2:00 to go. Guerrero ont he move here, and holding when Klassen gets close. Klassen trying to let his hands go, but he's not really landing much of note, and then Guerrero flurries back. 1:30 to go. "We've seen guys running, this isn't exactly running, it's smart." Papa on Guerrero. Klassen now slips to the canvas. He's up, no knockdown there. 1:00 to go. Klassen suddenly looking a little tired. Guerrero flurries and Klassen now presses forward, but gets tagged. Klassen with his head down trying to work, but he's a very tired fighter. Both men look tired. Klassen trying to put some shots together, but it's Guerrero who's letting his hands go as he moves backwards. 10 seconds to go. Guerrero is going to win this one. There's the bell. A very happy Robert Guerrero jumps on the ropes in the corner with his hands up. 11:49... That was a really good performance from Guerrero. Klassen fought hard until the final bell, but he was just outboxed. 11:50... Harold has it 117-111. 11:50... The official cards are 117-111, 116-112 and 116-112 for Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero. 11:56... Floyd/Marquez preview on right now. I'll post an update when we have a sighting of Diaz and Malignaggi. 11:57... Diaz is 145 tonight and Malignaggi is 149. 11:59... Malignaggi is about to make his entrance. 12:02... Diaz is heading in. Crowd is making noise (about time). 12:05... Michael Buffer with the intros. 12:06... Max just mentioned before the intros started about some of what Malignaggi is up against including the small ring. The same problem faced Robert Guerrero, but he did a very good job of keeping Malcolm Klassen from getting inside. Of course, Diaz has quicker feet than Klassen, so Paulie's definitely got a much bigger challenge keeping the busy Diaz at a comfortable range. 12:07... Our ref is Laurence Cole. 12:08... We're ready to go. 12:11... Paulie shooting the stick out there, as Diaz moves forward. Paulie is moving to his left as he jabs. "he looks lightning fast right now." Max on Paulie. Diaz trying to bob and weave his way in under the jabs. Now Paulie ties him up. Diaz trying to jab as he comes forward. He's getting a couple home. Paulie tries to respond with a right. Diaz with the guard up high, pushing forward. He fires a combo in the gloves. Paulie backing up, circling, now stops and throws a 1-2. Paulie has the left hand hanging low. He throws a combo into the gloves. Diaz trying to jab his way in. Paulie's doing a very nice job though. Diaz with a nice jab. Paulie flicking out jabs and moving. Diaz just countered one of Paulie's jabs with a right hand that landed, but not with full force. Paulie jabbing and turning, and then ties Diaz up. Paulie on the move again. 12:12... Paule has a little cut over his left eye that was opened up by a punch. 12:12... Juan's corner telling him to keep punching when Paulie holds him. 12:15... 1-0 to Malignaggi on Harold's card. Diaz pressing forward, but Paulie keeping his hands busy. Flurrying and then moving. But Diaz with a nice combo, and lands a flush left hand. Action now in the center of the ring. Diaz having some good moments, but Paulie sticks his chin out at Juan to let him know he's not getting to him. Paulie still working with the jab. He's backing up, circling to his left. Now he flurries. Diaz flurries back. Diaz with a little hook on the inside. Action in the middle of the ring now. Diaz with another hook. Diaz with some good moments here, and backs Paulie up. Diaz with a right. Paulie sticks the jab and keeps moving. He goes left, now right. He's got the left hand dangling low, as he sticks it out into Juan's face as he comes forward. Diaz though landing his jab as he comes forward. Paulie with a combo, and then eats a counter right. The crowd roars when the Baby Bull does anything. Diaz comes forward, pressing Malignaggi on the ropes and digs to the body, but eats a left hand. Malignaggi with a jab. Now Diaz has a cut over his left eye. Both men cut and we're only through 2. 12:20... Diaz pressing forward and just landed a nice right hand. Paulie fires back though. Now he gets a hold of Diaz and turns him around. Diaz getting closer, and Paulie holding a little more on the inside. He fires a jab though and slips away to his left. Diaz on the march coming forward. "Real good fight so far." - Max. Paulie flicking the jab home. Diaz with a nice little hook in close. Paulie with a 1-2 upstairs. Diaz keeps coming through. He lands another little hook. Paulie seems able to take Juan's best though. He sticks home a jab and slips away. Juan bangs home a jab, and Paulie has hold of him in close. Juan trying to work with his free hand. Diaz pressing forward, landing the jab and gets tied up again. Paulie sticking the jab out, and Diaz tries to press forward and gets tied up again in close. There's the bell. This has been entertaining. 12:23... Harold has it 2-1 for Paulie. Diaz edging forward behind the jab. Paulie flurrying with jab, right and another jab. Diaz with his guard up, banging away. Paulie has a hold of Diaz' left in close. Paulie with a jab and then moves. Diaz just misses with a right hand. Diaz just misses with a left. Now Diaz lands a left. Diaz with a flurry in close that seemed to buzz Paulie for a sec. Action in the middle of the round. Diaz trying to bang home his hook in close. Paulie sticks him with a jab though and then turns away from trouble. 1:00 to go. Paulie sticking the jab home and moving. Diaz with the jab, and trying to follow it with hooks. Paulie now gets a hold of Juan in close. Paulie with a jab, and then moves... then holds and pushes Diaz back into the ropes which the crowd doesn't like. Paulie on the move to his right, now to his left. Diaz tries to chase him down as the bell rings. 12:24... We just a replay of a really nice left hook that Diaz landed. 12:27... Harold has it 2-2. Diaz trying to jab his way in. Paulie with a 1-2 as he circles away. Diaz digs with a hook to the body and upstairs. Malignaggi now with Juan's left tied up in close. Juan on the march forward. Paulie sticking the jab and moving. Paulie with another jab and ties Juan up. Diaz with a hook that lands. Diaz tries to flurry and lands a combo. Paulie responds with his own 1-2. Diaz with another flurry, trying to dig downstairs. Paulie keeps firing back though whenever it looks like Juan might be getting an upper hand. Diaz with a right over the top. Cole warns Malignaggi for using his elbow. Diaz keeps pressing, and Paulie is throwing 1-2 and moving. Diaz just ate a sharp jab that snapped his head back. Diaz coming forward and Paulie dancing away to his left. Paulie circling away and the crowd getting a little restless. There have been very few moments without action. Nobody can have any complaints so far with what we're seeing. There's the bell. 12:29... The cut over Juan's left eye is in a bad spot - right on the eyebrow - but I don't think it's deep. 12:32... Paulie with an uppercut as Juan comes forward. Paulie quickly dances away. Cole said at the start of the round that the second cut Diaz suffered was an accidental head-butt. The first was caused by a punch. Diaz coming forward trying to bang Paulie with hooks. Paulie ties Juan up on the inside. Diaz with a right and tries to bang the body with a hook. Paulie trying to work the jab and keep his distance. Diaz with a little uppercut in close, and tries to bang Paulie's body. Action in the middle of the ring with the fighters almost shoulder to shoulder. Paulie landed a flurry, and then ate a hard shot in return from Juan. 1:00 to go. Paulie is warned for pushing Juan's head down in close. Paulie circling to his right, and now to his left. Diaz with a hook as he presses forward. Paulie sticks the jab as he circles. Paulie keeps sticking the jab and keeps moving. Juan having a little trouble here getting close over the last 30 seconds or so. Paulie with a flurry and Juan tries to respond but misses. 12:32... Paulie's trainer tells him to stay off the inside. 12:33... The doctor is having a look at Diaz in the corner. Just checking the cut out. It's right on the eyebrow. Juan has another one on the eyelid, much smaller, that was caused by a punch. 12:34... Harold has it all even, 57-57. 12:37... Paulie is working the jab. Diaz trying to jump in there with a left. Paulie flurries, and Juan tries to fire back. Paulie circling away to his left. Juan gets inside and tries to dig hard to the body. Paulie responds with a right to the body and then dances away. Paulie flurries, and then hangs around on the inside as Diaz tries to bang to the body. Paulie now slides away. Diaz with a hard right hand over the top. Paulie takes it sticks a 1-2 into the guard as he backs up. Paulie flicking the jab out and dancing to his left. Diaz trying to dig to the body, but Paulie slips away. Paulie moving to his left. Diaz trying to get in close, but misses with a left/right. Paulie moves away, but eats a left as he does. Diaz with a left hook that lands with Paulie moving along the ropes. Diaz with a jab. Diaz chasing, but having a tough time getting close as the round closes. You have to wonder if Paulie's legs will get tired late. 12:37... Juan's corner is working on that cut. Looks to be under control. 12:41... 4-3 for Diaz on Harold's card. Diaz coming forward, Paulie on the move. Now Diaz works his way in behind the jab, but Paulie dances away to his left. Juan with a jab. Paulie flicking his jab out and moving away to his left, now he goes to his right as Juan chases. Juan trying to slip the jab as he gets close, but Paulie keeps dancing away. Paulie not stopping at all this round. Juan trying to land the hook when he gets close, but Paulie slips away to his right. 1:30 to go. Paulie slips a combo and then holds on. Diaz trying to bang a hook in there, but Paulie sticks a few jabs in and gets out of there. Bob Papa comments that Paulie's trunks are slowly coming down. "They are literally falling off, right now." Diaz with a right hand. Diaz comes forward and misses with a right. Diaz trying to work in close but Paulie staying away. Someone needs to pull Paulie's trunks up. 12:41... Diaz' corner is telling him that he has to cut the ring off and "when he jabs, jab with him." 12:44... 5-3 on Harold's card to Diaz. Paulie flicking the jab out and moving to his right. Now to his left. Diaz trying to bang downstairs when Paulie stopped for a second. Paulie always with the left hand low. Diaz with a nice right hand that landed. Paulie backing away, and now grabs a hold of Juan and there's a break. Paulie with a 1-2 into the guard as he bcks away. Juan with a jab, and a right hand that landed flush. Good shot from Juan there. Paulie took it well though and sticks his jab home and gets on the move again. 1:30 to go. Juan misses with a right and eats a jab. Juan slips a left. Juan with a right. Diaz edging forward, while Paulie slips away to his left. Diaz with a jab. Paulie sticking out the jab, and circling. Diaz trying to chase him down. He fires a right hadn that just misses. Lennox says that Diaz needs to come back with a hook after throwing the right. Diaz with a hook, but it's short as Paulie dances away. 10 seconds left. There's the bell. 12:45... According to Bob Papa, Guerrero probably broke his left hand against Klassen. Harold has it 5-4 for Paulie. I must have made a mistake last round, as I was sure it was 5-3 for Diaz on the graphics on screen. 12:49... Paulie working the jab, slipping to his right and now moving away to his left as Diaz tries to get close. Paulie now grabs a hold of Diaz in close. Now he slips away again. Juan trying to chase, but struggling at the moment to get going. Diaz with a jab, and tries to work the body. A good exchange, with Paulie firing off a 1-2 and Diaz responding with a combo. Now Paulie on the move again. Sticking the jab and moving left. 1:30 to go. Diaz trying to slip the jab as he moves forward, but Paulie won't keep still and Juan is just not able to set his feet and rip in close. Paulie now fires off a 1-2 and then gets out of there. 1:00 to go. Paulie with another jab and keeps moving. Juan just isn't getting close enough. Juan following, but not landing. Now Juan misses, and Paulie grabs him, and then moves out of trouble. Diaz fires a right hand that might have partially landed. There's the bell. 12:50... "This is easy work." - Malignaggi's corner. 12:53... Juan Diaz needs to cut the ring off. He's not doing it. Paulie's keeping him at the distance he needs to. 6-4 on Harold's card for Paulie. Paulie with a jab and moves. Diaz trying to jab his way in, but Paulie slips to the side. Paulie with a jab. Diaz tries to jump in with a hook. Diaz misses with a hook. Now he lands a jab. Paulie with a nice upjab. Juan backs Paulie into the ropes, but Pauile throws a combo and dances away. 1:30 to go. Juan tries to lunge in with a hook. Diaz with a right hand. Paulie flurries and moves. Diaz now digs a hook to the body. Diaz trying to flurry here. Paulie ties him up. Lennox comments that Diaz needs to punch with some real urgency. He's trying. He's just not able to catch Paulie. Laurence Cole just called time to pull Paulie's trunks up. 25 seconds left. Paulie with the jab, and gets out of there. Diaz keeps coming forward, but he's not getting close often enough. 12:55... Juan's corner is working on that cut. 12:58... Harold has it 7-4. Paulie sticking the jab. Diaz trying to flurry, but Paulie gets a hold of him. Diaz with some real urgency now. He's pressing forward and trying to rip hooks, but Paulie's staying out of trouble. Diaz now hooks to the body and comes upstairs. Paulie fires back with a combo. Diaz with a hard right hand that landed flush on the inside. Paulie now ties him up. 1:50 to go. Paulie sticking the jab out, and Diaz rips a hook downstairs. Paulie jabbing as Juan presses. 1:20 to go. Diaz with a little hook. Diaz has blood streaming down the left side of his face. He throws a hook, and follows up with a right that just misses. He's fighting with more urgency than he has in the previous few rounds. 50 seconds to go. The crowd is urging Diaz on. Paulie dancing away though. Diaz with a hook downstairs. Paulie dancing away. Diaz with a right, and tries to land his hook, but Paulie gets out of there. 15 seconds to go. Diaz bangs a hook downstairs. Paulie flurries and moves. Diaz comes forward throwing and Malignaggi fires back as the round ends. 12:59... These cards should be interesting. There were a couple rounds in the middle, where Paulie didn't stand his ground at all but was landing his jab. I think Harold gave those to Paulie. Will the judges in Houston have done the same? 1:00... Harold's card 115-113 for Paulie Malignaggi. 1:00... Here's Michael Buffer with the scores. 116-112, 115-113 and 118-110 all for Juan Diaz. 1:01... Wow. 118-110? Really? 1:02... "Inexplicable." - Bob Papa 1:04... I really don't know what to say. As a fan, you kind of lose heart when you see scorecards like that. 1:05... Diaz says he wants a rematch with Marquez. 1:06... Paulie is not pleased. "That was ridiculous." He's mad as hell, and you can't blame him. 1:07... "Boxing is full of shit." - Paulie Malignaggi 1:08... I'm guessing the post fight press conference should be interesting. Anyway, that's it for our coverage tonight. I hope you enjoyed it, and please check back with us for our next live round by round blog.

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Juan Diaz vs Paul Malignaggi Preview

Carlos Acevedo previews Saturday night's junior-welterweight match-up between Juan Diaz (pictured) and Paul Malignaggi.

Photo © Marty Rosengarten / Ringsidephotos.com

Juan “The Baby Bull” Diaz and Paulie “The Magic Man” Malignaggi--two fighters looking to reestablish themselves after high-profile defeats--face off Saturday night at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, in a match that practically personifies the hackneyed phrase “crossroads bout.”

Check out our live blog coverage of this event: Diaz vs Malignaggi

The winner of this match stays in the big money mix and the loser faces a murky future at best. In the end, perhaps, the pressure will weigh more heavily on Malignaggi. Although Malignaggi has won an alphabet title at junior welterweight, he has yet to beat a world-class opponent, and, at 28, with recurring hand injuries and losses in his two biggest fights, it seems possible that Malignaggi views his match with Diaz as a last stand for his career.

Diaz, the former unified lightweight champion, will not have that same sense of urgency. If he loses, he will still be a marketable commodity because of his rip-snorting style. Malignaggi, on the other hand, has no such mojo going for him. If Malignaggi loses, he will be looking at the proverbial Dead End sign; a career, perhaps, of narrowing options and diminishing returns. Not even the skillful legerdemain of Lou DiBella will be able to keep Malignaggi, with all of five knockouts in his career, on HBO.

Malignaggi is a solid underdog going into the bout: 3 ½ to 1 on most books and as high as 4 to 1 on others. To his disgust--and to his surprise--Malignaggi realizes that he is being brought in to face Diaz as an opponent. Malignaggi has agreed to a catchweight of 138 ½ pounds, and he has agreed to fight on enemy turf in Houston, concessions usually made by fighters in the blue corner. He is also keenly aware that Golden Boy Promotions is virtually an HBO subsidiary. Even the selection of the judges reeks of cloak and dagger to the cynical Brooklynite. “Basically,” Malignaggi told William Detloff of The Ring, “they put me in a position where I’m showing up for a loss unless I knock out Juan Diaz, and I’m sick of this shit, man. I’m really sick of the shit that goes on in boxing. Nobody fixes it because the people in power are the commissions and the commissions are the most responsible for fucking all this shit up.”

If indeed, the cards are stacked against him before the pre-fight instructions are read, then Malignaggi will have to be at his very best to win. Unfortunately for Malignaggi, 26-2 (5), he has not looked particularly sharp since losing a punishing decision to Miguel Cotto in 2006. He boxed circles around Edner Cherry and Lovemore N’dou, but looked stale against Herman Ngoudjo, where he was wobbled by his feather-fisted opponent and walked away with unanimous decision that might have been a little less unanimous for some. He also looked vulnerable against creaky warhorse N’dou in their rematch, a fight notable for the infamous fright wig debacle that led to Malignaggi getting an impromptu hair cut in his corner between rounds. Then came the grim thumping at the hands of Ricky Hatton last November in Las Vegas where Malignaggi won only a single round on each of the three scorecards. In addition, Malignaggi has been prone to cut over the last few years and his brittle hands have failed him as recently as the N’dou rematch.

For his part, Diaz, 34-2 (17), is looking to rebound from a devastating stoppage loss to Juan Manuel Marquez last February in a riveting shootout for the lightweight championship. Diaz stormed from his corner at the opening bell in an effort to overwhelm his smaller but more skilled opponent. The two traded blows in a frenzy and for a while it appeared that Diaz, not a serious puncher, might be able to get Marquez out of there. By the middle rounds, however, Marquez was connecting with precise counters and Diaz began to decelerate. In the ninth, Diaz was dropped twice, the second time by a vicious uppercut that practically knocked him head over heels. Referee Rafael Ramos stopped the fight without a count. Marquez is one of the best fighters in the world, no question, but getting flattened by a featherweight is not good news for Diaz. Perhaps this is why Golden Boy Promotions has brought him back against an opponent, Malignaggi, with a knockout ratio of just under 18 percent. Diaz, Houston, Texas, is a relentless pressure fighter who throws left hook after left hook to the body and has a seemingly inexhaustible supply of energy. Diaz has lost two of his last three bouts, though, and the question of whether he has reached his peak is a legitimate one.

So the scene is set for a fast-paced bout between an aggressive banger sans power and a skilled counterpuncher sans power. Add to this the subplot of two fighters looking to remain in the Big Time and you should have the makings of an exciting fight.

Malignaggi, Brooklyn, New York, is faster and slicker, but he seems to have lost a defensive step or two recently. He blames that on his former trainer Buddy McGirt: “Buddy and I didn't blend well,” he told Nat Gottlieb at HBO.com. “A lot of the things I'd always done well he didn't want me to do. Me being the type who always wants to listen I went along with what he was teaching me. But it got me away from being the fighter I really was.” These are harsh words for a respected trainer, but Malignaggi was just getting started. “Buddy ruined my main asset by taking away my legs,” Malignaggi continued. “I like to go in and then move out, go in and move out. I call it creating space so I can utilize my jab and hand speed. He wanted me to go toe-to-toe with Hatton, which I'm not afraid to do, but it played into Hatton's strength. What Buddy had me do helped Hatton. I was a world champion fighter when I went to Buddy, and I left as a mediocre one."

Malignaggi has since replaced McGirt with Sherif Younan, a Brooklyn-based trainer best known for the “tough love” sessions he used to put his son, amateur wunderkind Sherif Younan, Jr., through at Gleason’s Gym. He now operates out of the Coney Island Boxing Club in Brooklyn.

In order for Malignaggi to win he will have to work like a tight rope artist—without the slightest margin for error. At 5’8 ½”, he has an edge in height over the 5’ 6” Diaz, and a slight pull in reach as well. But Diaz is determined to knock Malignaggi off the wire and send him plunging into the dark netherworld of undercard fights, ESPN2 main events, and syndicated telecasts on regional cable networks.

Diaz feels that Malignaggi will not be able to handle his onslaught. “I'm going in there and do what I do which is work,” Diaz told The Houston Chronicle. “I don't care what Malignaggi's going to do. He can move and be slick, but I think the pressure is going to be the key to the victory.”

Despite his flashy ring style, his fashionista leanings, and his frailty in the ring, Malignaggi is a real fighter inside. He showed tremendous grit coming back from a poor start and an early knockdown against Miguel Cotto to make a fight of it in the late rounds, and when Buddy McGirt threw in the towel during the Hatton massacre, Malignaggi was distraught at having a TKO loss posted on his record. Like Diaz against Nate Campbell, Malignaggi has also fought on in fights with a variety of cuts and ailments.

With that in mind, it should be a tough bout for both men, neither of whom want to take a wrong turn at this point in their careers and wind up on a detour to nowhere.

For more from Carlos Acevedo, check out his blog, The Cruelest Sport on the MVN network.

Check out our preview of Robert Guerrero vs Malcolm Klassen by Michael Nelson. Read more!

Topic of the Week: Edwin Valero

After Edwin Valero's spectacular two round destruction of Antonio Pitalua this past weekend, boxing fans naturally can't wait to see what's next for the quick handed southpaw slugger. This week, we asked our writers who they would like to see Valero in with next, and how they think he would do against the other top fighters in the 135 pound class.

1. Who would you like to see Edwin Valero fight next? "Humberto Soto. What a great clash of styles this would be. Classic combination punching vs. a southpaw with lightning in his fists. I want this fight bad, and I think it could very well happen later this year since both guys are with Arum." - Lee Payton "I think Katsidis is a good option. Another fight I would be interested in is Prescott. Two limited guys that can bang, sign me up for either." - Mark Lyons "I too would like to see Valero against Prescott. Both are raw punchers, and Prescott has enough talent to give Valero's chin a stern test." - Michael Nelson "I'd like to see him fight Juan Diaz next if Diaz was ready for another tough fight. Diaz has the ablity to at least trouble the best and would be a good gauge of whether Valero was ready for the very best, i.e. Pacquiao and Marquez. Plus it'd be a guaranteed action fight." - John Vaci "I think a fight against Katsidis, Juan Diaz or Funeka would be the best options for him. Funeka's a reasonably well known fighter in the trade and should be able to take Valero a few rounds before eventually being ground down in the mid-section of the fight. I wouldn't be surprised if Yuri Romanov were Valero's next opponent, and if it is Romanov, Valero might be on the end of a surprise defeat. I think the smooth Belarusian would be able to counter the crude Valero all night long. " - Dave Oakes "I think David Diaz would be the best choice. It would be an entertaining bout, and another spectacular performance, especially one that trumps Pacquiao's against Diaz, would start to line up things for Valero a bit more. Plus Diaz is tough enough to make it interesting." - Jeff Pryor "I think Valero's team should try and get Katsidis. That would be a guaranteed crowd pleaser, and a winnable fight." - Andrew Fruman

Valero vs Juan Manuel Marquez "I think he would give Marquez a ton of trouble before getting caught with something big on the chin. He has some technical flaws, but his speed and athleticism and the threat of his power makes those flaws harder to take advantage of. That said, Marquez TKO 9." - Lee Payton "I think Marquez would completely undress him. He couldn't miss a counter against Valero if he was blindfolded. I'm hard pressed to see that fight lasting past 5 rounds, or being at all competitive." - Mark Lyons "I doubt he's ready for an elite counter-puncher with pop like Marquez. Marquez would likely have him out of there before he even has time to make mid-fight adjustments." - Michael Nelson "At this point he's a bit too inexperienced and lacking enough technical ablity to beat Marquez." - John Vaci "I've seen no evidence as of yet to suggest that right now Valero's anything more than a limited slugger with a huge punch. I think he has to have a few learning fights before facing someone with the skills of Marquez. The only trouble is that he's a world champion and will be expected to face some of the bigger names of the division instead of honing his skills against durable but limited opponents." - Dave Oakes "Marquez eventually would pick Valero apart and KO him, but he might have to come off the floor to do it." - Jeff Pryor "I think Marquez is just too sharp, but Valero could make things interesting early." - Andrew Fruman

Valero vs Juan Diaz "Juan Diaz is capable of beating Valero, I'd just be more comfortable picking him if he had more power and moved his head more. Also, we don't really know how he handles a good left-hander. His style really is better suited to face other orthodox fighters, because of the way he sets his feet. I'll take Valero, but I think Diaz breaks his KO streak." - Lee Payton "He has a punchers chance against Diaz. You never know how Juan will respond to his first knockout. I will take the baby Bull by late TKO, but Edwin has a shot there." - Mark Lyons "His lack of an uppercut would serve as a big disadvantage against Diaz, though he certainly has a good chance of a late round KO." - Michael Nelson "I think he also beat Juan Diaz by knockout, but he'd have to earn it, provided Diaz was in the same form as he was against Marquez." - John Vaci "I'd rate his chances about 50/50 against Diaz." - Dave Oakes "Juan Diaz overwhelms him early, but Valero catches him mid-late." - Jeff Pryor "I think I'd lean ever so slightly towards Valero in a great fight." - Andrew Fruman

Valero vs Joan Guzman "It's hard to picture a Valero-Guzman fight. Maybe because I don't see it ever happening, for one reason or another. I'll say that I suspect Guzman is far more comfortable in there with conventional fighters. I don't really have much proof to offer, just a hunch, given his style. While Valero is probably not as good technically, he works hard and fast. Speed screws everything up. And while I think Guzman could catch him on the chin at any point in the fight, I don't see a KO. Joan can still hurt guys at 130-135, he just can't knock them out. Interestingly, Valero's best shot may come down the stretch. We could really see what he's made of if this fight was put together, though I don't see Arum taking the chance." - Lee Payton "Guzman would take him to school. Not sure if it's a stoppage or a decision. I can't see Valero winning a round in this one." - Mark Lyons "I'd favor Guzman to outpoint him in a competitive match." - Michael Nelson "Guzman would be a tough style match-up if he could make weight safely, but even if he did, I think Valero could eke out a victory due to his size and strength advantage." - John Vaci "He's got a better chance than he would have against Marquez, but for the same reasons, he'd be in over his head." - Dave Oakes "Guzman outboxes him over twelve." - Jeff Pryor "The most likely result is for the cagey Guzman to edge out a close decision, but I think Valero's speed and power give him a reasonable shot at winning this. Guzman's ability to make weight and be strong late would be a big factor." - Andrew Fruman

Valero vs Michael Katsidis "Katsidis has a small puncher's chance. The problem is he just takes too many shots. I can't get around that. His feet aren't great for facing a lefty, but he does kind of make up for that with athleticism, as we saw against Casamayor. I'm sure he'd make things interesting, but he's out-gunned in this one. Valero TKO in 6." - Lee Payton "Katsidis in a shoot out. I'll take Michael by KO in a fight that sees them both on the canvas." - Mark Lyons "I think he has more power and speed than Katsidis and would likely take him out early in a war." - Michael Nelson "I think he knocks out Katsidis, who's just way to hittable to surivive against Valero." - John Vaci "Both guys hit the deck, but Katsidis' face is sliced up and they stop it." - Jeff Pryor "I like Valero by KO within 5, although Katsidis would have a decent chance." - Andrew Fruman

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Marquez Stops Diaz in Thrilling Bout

By Lee Payton

In a battle that will be talked about for some time, the great Juan Manuel Marquez left no doubt who the best lightweight in the world is by stopping Juan Diaz at 2:40 of the 9th round.

The challenger's youthful energy won him the first half, but it was the Champion's class and heart that decided things in the end. If you didn't think he had done enough to warrant a Hall Of Fame induction before, this performance left you with no choice.

Photo © Ray Kasprowicz

Diaz pushed a hard pace upon the older fighter's legs from the first bell, often finding the target with snappy shots that forced Marquez to the ropes. Of course, Marquez tried to match the bursts of punches headed his way with his own sharp counter attacks, but he did seem a little uncomfortable under the intense early heat.

By the 6th round, both men were feeling the effects of the intense combat, and it was the more experienced fighter who found the extra gear. He matched the Baby Bull's overwhelming output, and stood up the explosions that came his way, as he found the range with a dazzling array of counters thrown in combination to the head and body.

The hometown kid's sturdy foundation cracked for the first time, in the 8th. After suffering a cut above the right eye earlier in the round, a sneaky left hook caught him on the jaw and made his back leg lift awkwardly off the canvas. The consummate professional, Marquez didn't try to force the finish. He knew the damage he had just caused wasn't going anywhere.

Diaz showed his own championship heart in trying to fight through a charging opponent and a bad eye, but his grit and enthusiasm weren't enough on this night. He was toppled onto his head by a combination of power shots out of a clinch, and was put down again by another precise assault, that was set up by some smart work to the body. The finishing touches dropped the courageous youngster like he'd been shot and the ref waved the fight off without a count.

While I'm not surprised Marquez was victorious, the way he did it was a bit of a shock. Most thought this fight had 12 rounds written all over it.

Two questions Juan Manuel Marquez has forced us to ask:

Is he better than Morales and Barrera?

Is he the real pound-for-pound king of boxing?

In the co-feature, Indonesian title holder, Chris John, retained his belt with a draw over an inspired Rocky Juarez. It was a very good, professional contest that pitted John's quickness and activity against Juarez' pressure and power.

While his skills were handy, it might have been John's toughness that allowed him to walk away with his belt against a hard charging Juarez who came on very strong down the stretch. And even though Juarez failed to win that elusive strap, he fought with the type of emotion that has been missing during some of his past efforts.

The draw verdict was perhaps a little generous to Juarez, the hometown fighter, although it was a closely contested battle and the decision, at least to these eyes was hardly outrageous.

e-mail Lee Payton Read more!

HBO WCB Predictions: Juan Manuel Marquez vs Juan Diaz

Tonight in Houston, Juan Manuel Marquez puts his world lightweight title on the line against "The Baby Bull", Juan Diaz. Here's what The Boxing Bulletin writers have to say on who'll emerge victorious.

Despite Juan Diaz being exactly the type of youthful, energetic opponent that foists his style on the fight and imposes his will on his opponents, I would not be surprised to see Marquez's counter punching mastery pick the sometimes off balance younger man apart. In what I expect to be a very competitive and entertaining bout, I'll take Marquez to win a clear decision. This is the fight he makes it certain, if their were still any doubt, that he is a fighter to be admired right along with his other more highly celebrated contemporaries.- Jeff Pryor

Uppercuts and body work were instrumental in Nate Campbell breaking Diaz down, and Marquez has one of the better uppercuts in boxing and is no slouch when it comes to body punching. Diaz does have a strong, consistent jab that will give Marquez fits, but Marquez will eventually find his way around it. Also, aside from Barrera, Marquez has left all of his recent opponents with compromised vision, and if Diaz suffers a gash, his corner will have to do a lot better with handling blood than they did in the Campbell fight. I see Marquez winning a close decision, a bit more decisively than the scorecards are going to indicate. - Michael Nelson

JMM is going to need fight changing punches to stop the pressure Diaz will bring, and I don't think he hits hard enough to do it. I expect the first three or four rounds to go clearly the baby Bull's way, before JMM works his way back into the fight over the next third but it will take a ton of effort and his older legs will feel it. Diaz will take over down the stretch and win a clear decision in a fight that is more competitive than it is close. 8-4 or 9-3ish. Stronger, faster, younger and at this point in their careers, just plain better. - Mark Lyons

I'm taking Diaz by close decision. I think his advantages in youth, speed, size and volume punching will carry him to a close decision. Make no mistake about it, Marquez is as skilled and savvy as it gets, but he's a bit too and old and small. - John Vaci

Granted Marquez is probably a little undersized for the division, and is getting up there in years, but he's still the best counter puncher in the sport. Diaz will do his thing and let his hands go, while Marquez will pick his spots very effectively, and the judges will have to choose between quality verse quantity. If they go with quality, I think JMM will take it by 8-4, 7-5 type scores. - Andrew Fruman

I like Marquez by decision. Straighter punches and professionalism will allow him to thrive off the younger man's spirited effort. It is going to be a great fight. - Lee Payton

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Man on Fire

by Jeff Pryor

Juan Manuel Marquez is a man who is on fire inside. Long labeled a clinical technician who refused to go to war, and who fought without the passion so beloved by his Mexican homeland, Marquez now fights not just to win, but to show that he is a warrior deserving of his countries adulation.

Photos © Ray Kasprowicz

With such ambitions it becomes apparent that Marquez has resigned himself to facing more than one foe when entering the ring. This weekend he will battle at least four men in the squared circle; Juan Diaz the best young Lightweight in the world, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales the two contemporaries he has been in constant, if indirect, competition with for virtually his entire career, and Manny Pacquiao, The Moby Dick to Marquez's Captain Ahab, the white whale that pulls Marquez inexorably through weight classes in pursuit of his obsession to prove once and for all that he can beat the Filipino sensation.

This fire that now crackles within Marquez was slow to ignite, and his is a flame that burns slow, gaining in heat the longer it smolders. In many ways his career trajectory mirrors that of both Bernard Hopkins and Joe Calzaghe. All three were under appreciated for much of their careers. For various reasons each was passed over or missed opportunities that may have made their careers take off sooner. While Calzaghe and Marquez both began their late career pushes at roughly the same time, Calzaghe has since decided he's proven all he wished to and retired, while Marquez continues to face the best opposition of his career and strive for a greater legacy.

In this way his tale is more closely aligned with Hopkins'. Each man lost their first fight. Each lost their first major title bout, Hopkins to Roy Jones Jr. and Marquez to Freddie Norwood. The similarities continue in that, since then, each has suffered 3 blemishes on their record; Taylor I & II and Calzaghe for Hopkins, Pacquiao I & II and Chris John for Marquez. Setting aside official decisions, it could be argued that neither man has lost since those losses to Jones and Norwood years ago.

It is also likely no coincidence that these two aging warriors are perhaps the two best technically skilled boxers in the world. While Marquez cuts a textbook silhouette and Hopkins' is that of an old school Philly slickster, neither were particularly admired for their athleticism and it is quite apparent that their longevity is due to hard work, diligence and the deftness of their craft.

Though his mastery of the art of boxing was admired by many, Marquez realized after his controversial points loss to Chris John in Indonesia that something had to give. It is to his great credit and to our greater satisfaction that Juan Manuel realized shortly there after that to accomplish what he wished in the sport he had dedicated the greater part of his life to, he would have to sacrifice even more of himself.

So it was that in his next bout against tough, but unheralded, Terdsak Jandaeng that Marquez began to fight with urgency, offense and spirit. He came out with a swollen eye, but an impressive and entertaining performance that marked the birth of a new era for "Dinamita" as a fan friendlier and determined prize fighter worthy of our attention.

Likewise in his next fight against a similar tough, but largely unknown opponent Jimrex Jaca, Marquez laid out his foe in the 9th round, peering through a face streaked with gore from a grisly cut on his forehead. Aside from showing us blood, he revealed to us that he was willing to push the peddle even when he was ahead and deliver everything he had to offer even if it meant giving up a little of himself to bring the pain to his opponent.

He was rewarded for his new riskier approach with a string of bouts to equal anyone's agenda of the last several years, Marco Antonio Barrera, Rocky Juarez, Manny Pacquiao, and Joel Casamayor. His fight with Barrera paled only in comparison to the incomparable Marquez-Vasquez trilogy that began that year. He went on to deliver a punishing decision against Juarez. And then the long awaited rematch with Pacquiao, again surpassed within the year only by his brothers third appointment with Vasquez.

Having been denied a third go around with his own nemesis, Marquez instead followed Pacquiao up to 135lbs. and was content to one up the "Pacman" by not choosing a lesser title holder like David Diaz with which to test the waters with, but by going after one of the two men who could claim to be the top dog at Lightweight, Joel Casamayor (Nate Campbell being the other). He proceeded to knock out the future hall of fame fighter, the first man ever to do so, in spectacular fashion. It must be said that Casamayor, at age 37 is past his best, though he was just off a stirring victory over the all Michael Katsidis.

At any rate, Marquez impressively stamped an exclamation point on his appearance on the scene at lightweight and had done all he could to position himself for another big money bout with Pacquiao. However, after his surprising victory over Oscar De La Hoya, Pacquiao is chasing money up the weight divisions himself right now, and his promoter, Bob Arum seems loathe to put Manny back into the fire with Marquez, when bigger money is there to be snatched.

Though his white whale has eluded Marquez once again, it would appear he is left in a position which is rather enviable. With Nate Campbell's trouble in making the 135 pound limit a few weeks ago, and his annex to a higher weight class, Marquez now finds himself unquestionably atop the lightweight division. Enter Juan Diaz, the man Nate Campbell trod over to gain his perch as top of the division last year.

Diaz brings a non-stop attack that can rattle off ten or twelve punch combos with regularity. Though he lacks big power, his chief weapon appears to be a mental battering ram in which his foes succumb to his relentless onslaught, unable to cope with the multi-punch barrages and more importantly the strain of knowing that they must make all there punches land, just to keep up. He has broken the will of champions like Acelino Freitas and Julio Diaz. The one man who has had success against Diaz was Nate Campbell, who's willpower never faltered, and who never wilted under the attack like each foe of Diaz's that came before him.

It would be fair to say that a fighter who could be knocked down three times in the first round of a fight against the most dynamic fighter in the world, who would rally back and pull out a draw, has considerable willpower, and that's just what Marquez impressively did against Pacquio in their first go around. If you believe as I do, that the secret to Diaz's success is willpower, the question that must be answered when Marquez and Diaz square off is what will be required of Diaz in order to break the will of Marquez. Can he deliver greater turmoil to Marquez, than he experienced in the opening round with Pacquio?...

I doubt it.

While Juan Diaz's throw-everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach has worked well against sluggers, brawlers and bangers like Katsidis, Julio Diaz and Freitas, he has never fought anyone with the boxing ability and counter punch precision of Marquez. That said, Juan Diaz is exactly the type of youthful, energetic opponent that could make any 35 year old who has lost just a step or two, look old overnight.

If he should lose to Diaz, it would be the final stumble in his chase after Pacquiao. There is a fair chance it would end his hope of catching the Barrera or Morales type of esteem that he is after too. It is indeed a must win for Marquez if he is to make up for lost time.

If Marquez can defeat the "Baby Bull" and solidify his place as the best of the best at Lightweight, there will be little left to do at 135 and he will be left to chase that white whale again and hope to face off with the winner of Pacquio-Hatton. Baring that, perhaps the time would be nigh to revenge his loss to Chris John at a weight between the two, or perhaps face Nate Campbell at 140 in hopes that Pacquiao eventually is forced to look rearward and see the pursuing foe that deserves another shot.

Like Hopkins' late career win over Pavlik, Marquez can still add immensely to his legacy with a win against his young foe, at an age when most Prize Fighters are fading away. Like Hopkins' too, Marquez would likely delight in proving to fans and naysayers alike that he has been undervalued throughout his career.

After all the years of being on the losing end of the comparison to his Mexican contemporaries, Eric Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera, in the past several years Juan Manuel Marquez has been taking large strides in his quest to catch up to them. Adding a respected young champion like Juan Diaz to his win column would further close the gap between the trio, and it may take no more than another substantive win or two to cinch the three of them together in a Mexican standoff of boxing legacies.

The fire that burns in Marquez has taken him this far, propelling his late career surge in a burst of blazing ambition. Is there enough fuel left to ignite him past the fireplug that is Juan Diaz? Old "Dinamita" can be hard to predict, but if I were advising Diaz I would have one suggestion.

Handle with care...

e-mail Jeff Pryor
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HBO Preview: Juan Manuel Marquez vs Juan Diaz

This Saturday night, Juan Manuel Marquez defends the Lightweight Championship against plucky challenger, Juan Diaz. Since the fight was official, fans of both have been going back and forth on the outcome of this terrific match-up. The champion is favoured, but most think he's in for a taxing affair.

What's At Stake

For Marquez: The World's Lightweight Title. With Nate Campbell losing his belts at the scale, and moving up to the 140 pound division, there is no doubt who the lightweight champ is.

What is in doubt is Marquez' legacy. With his hall of fame credentials still in question, a victory over a respected young fighter like Diaz may put him over the edge. Some insist that he is overrated because he never actually won an official decision over Pacquiao. Those people will also remind you that Casamayor and Barrera had seen better days. Maybe he really is just a bad style match-up for the best in the world. Or maybe fighting Manny even, over 24 rounds, means he belongs at the top of the heap. We'll find out which side is right on Saturday.

For Diaz: This is a huge opportunity to wipe away the memory of what Campbell did to him. Really, with a win here, that fight becomes meaningless for anything other than the experience. As well as being able to pack the house with devoted fans, he'll be considered "the man" by all. If he pulls it off, his situation looks great next to Nate's, so a measure of revenge can be gained. Personally, I just want to see how the young man performs at boxing's highest level.

The Styles

Marquez is an offensive counter puncher. He stands in a classic, efficient stance that is the foundation for perhaps the most fundamentally perfect arsenal in boxing. His discipline in the ring is rivaled only by dedication he has shown to training throughout his many years as a professional fighter. What makes taking him especially scary, is his passion for winning. He's never been shy about trying to hurt the guy in front of him.

He's recognized as a quick, sharp puncher, who has stung everyone he's ever fought at one point or anther, though he's not thought of as a banger. Some think of him as a great defender, but I'm not sure that is the case. I see him setting up his attack, more than anything. Either way, he is definitely getting hit more these days.

Diaz is a hustling pressure fighter who keeps his chin tucked and his hands high. He's shown a belief in his jab, which allows him to get inside and do his best work. When you add his fighting heart and willingness to walk through fire, you've got a handy fighter, and a stern test for a 35 year old man.

Diaz' best attribute may be his combination punching. He is capable of bombarding opponents with salvos that make them more concerned with survival than winning. When winging shots up and down with a head of steam, he's a very difficult guy to deter.

What To Expect

First off, I think Diaz will be successful with his jab, and that says a lot, because that punch is the one that sets up his offense, and also goes far in dictating his comfort level. I've noticed that the Marquez brothers both eat quite a few jabs because of the way they set up, so I think it's a shot that the challenger can count on.

If he gets sucked into a jabbing contest though, he might be in trouble, because the champ depends on standing his ground and countering with short, stabbing blows. I think that's one area that could decide the fight. Marquez has the tighter technique, so I think he'll get there first with the harder punches. The fact that Diaz is always coming behind a high guard could mean he'll get beat to the punch quite often.

At his best, Juan Diaz wears guys down with his accelerated pace. I think his ability to win depends on breaking the older man down over 12 rounds. The only problem there is, Juan Manuel Marquez doesn't bend. In the past we've seen many examples of fun fighters throwing 100 punches a round, only to have that output brought down to something much more manageable by proven old pros.

I figure this pretty much HAS to be a close fight. Read more!

Mark's Top 40 At 40: (40-36)

It's time for the second installment of the Mark Lyons countdown. As he's turning forty soon, we thought we'd ask him to make a list of his forty favorite fighters of his lifetime. No easy task, as he soon discovered.

Last week, he went over some of the names that were special to him for one reason or another, but just failed to make the cut. This week, he gets down to business...


Forty through thirty six...

40. Curtis Parker

Career Record: 29-9 (21)

Three Favorite Fights: Mike Colbert W12, Mustafa Hamsho I L10, Wilford Scypion L10

May as well start the list by saying I am a huge mark for Philly fighters. Parker was a typical tough Philly battler who waded in for war. His power didn't translate to the elite level, but he was a very difficult guy to stop. Hard in-fighter with a great left hook who rarely took a backwards step.

Two rugged fights with Hamsho showed his toughness. Curtis was a guy who just never got to the next level. He did take out Frank "The Animal" Fletcher in an all Philly brawl.

A guy doesn't have to be a champion to inspire you. Sometimes it's just their will and desire coupled with a ten year old's fascination with Philly warriors.

39. Juan " The Baby Bull" Diaz Career Record: 34-1 (17) Three Favorite Fights: Lavka Sim W12, Julio Diaz TKO9, Nate Campbell L12 I've never understood the disdain a lot of fights fans have for Diaz. Always pressing forward and ripping body shots looking to go to war. Just because he isn't a devastating puncher with a sculpted body doesn't make him a wimp. In his only loss he displayed as much courage as you ever want to see. With a face the elephant man would wince at, Diaz continued to give his all and came up short. A tough loss can be the best thing for a young pugilist and when he faces Juan Manual Marquez I am convinced he will be on top of one of boxing's best divisions.

38. "Terrible" Tim Witherspoon Career Record: 55-13-1 (38) Three Favorite Fights: Larry Holmes L12, Ray Mercer L10, Jorge Luis Gonzalez TKO5 Old farts like myself who watched TNF will probably agree there was nothing better than a Witherspoon night. I can't think of a fighter I would rather watch in a tune up. It was only a matter of time until a thudding right hand crashed onto someone's jaw with enough force to part the Red Sea. I'm still waiting for Anders Ecklund to get up. In just his 15th fight he engaged all time great Larry Holmes (pictured battling it out with Witherspoon) in one of the finest title fights the division has seen. There was more heart and guts displayed in the ninth round than Wladimir Klitschko's entire career. Spoon didn't always come in the best of shape. But he always brought his lethal right hand, a rock solid jaw and the willingness to get it on. Even an old Spoon was robbed, in my opinion, against ray Mercer, and an even older one almost beheaded Lou Savarese.

37. Jesse Burnett Career Record: 23-18-2 (11) Three Favorite Fights: Victor Galindez W12, John Conteh D10, Yacqui Lopez L15 Photos © Nick Duggan This is a fighter you could make a movie about. Watching his career was like watching the titanic sink. Some fighters don't prepare for fights or let themselves down. Burnett was a classic victim of poor management and bullshit judging. He fought in a Golden era of Light Heavyweights and faced all of them with the exception of Saad Muhammad. The majority of these fights were on about 2 weeks notice and many in the other fighters home town. He was the victim of so any bad decisions, he makes Glen Johnson look blessed. The British crowd cheered him after a dubious draw against John Conteh and you would be hard pressed to find 3 rounds to give Leon Spinks in Burnett's 12 rd unanimous decision loss. I mean, these were the kind of decisions that make you want to pound your television with a sledgehammer. When subbing on late notice, yet again, to face Victor Galindez in a Cruiserweight eliminator. Jesse put it all together and dropped Galindez twice on his way to a wide decision win. His reward was a title shot nearly three years later at the tender age of 37 against the vicious punching ST Gordon. This is a guy that I wish more would familiarize themselves with. Tremendous skills and a story that just breaks your heart.

36. "Terrible" Terry Norris Career Record: 47-9 (31) Three Favorite fights: Ray Leonard W12, Maurice Blocker TKO2, Troy Waters KO3 Here was a guy who approached every opponent like he caught them in bed with his wife. Tremendous boxing ability, but he would prefer to pound you into submission instead of use them. Termed as "chinny", I prefer to think of him as brilliantly vulnerable. Norris had only one mission when he entered the ring. To get back out of it as quickly as possible. Kill or be killed couldn't apply better to a fighter. I'll give away a secret, Sugar Ray Leonard wont be appearing on this list. Watching Terry pummel him (that's Leonard covering up on the ropes in the photo) brought me great unexpected joy and made me a fan for life.

By Mark Lyons e-mail

Last week's installment of Mark's list
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The Audacity Of Imperfection

By Jeff Pryor

Being undefeated in the last year was not as enviable a position as it historically has been in the sport of boxing. For whatever reason, be it a first brush with tough competition, overconfidence or sheer karma, undefeated records were being waived off faster then a bout at Millennium Stadium.

If you had an "0" in your record at the beginning of 2008 and still have one now at the dawning of '09 you are one of the lucky few (Lucian Bute I'm looking your way). But, while losing your unblemished ledger is never an optimal situation in a sport where a single loss can devastate a career, not all losses are created equal. Here's a look at some of the more noteworthy first losses over the last year and who fares best and worst coming off that initial drawback. I've ordered the losses roughly in how damaging I feel they were, starting with the least.

Miguel Cotto: We won't no for sure until Cotto fights again just how much effect that first loss has had on him. What we do know is that status-wise, the effect has been very minimal. He is still considered a top twelve pound for pound fighter and his drawing power likely won't diminish one iota after the brutal fight of the year candidate that he and Margarito put on this past July. Mentally however, there could be residual effects from the TKO loss in which Cotto, a man accustomed to breaking wills, had his own busted in two. In the long run, being knocked flat on his back may have been better for Cotto, at least then he could say it was a great punch and leave it at that .Instead he will have to rectify within himself that he was forced to take a knee in the face of more punishment from the indomitable Margarito assault. If he can overcome that and get back to his winning ways against Michael Jennings and then even the score, a tall order, against Margarito later in the year, that first loss will be a faded blip on the radar.

Paul Williams: Getting blasted by looping overhand rights for 12 rounds against Carlos Quintana was not the best way to start out the year for Williams. Out of that loss however, something good came to the fore; Paul Williams can accept a loss like a man and move on. He didn't blame his performance on having to drain his 6'1" frame to 147lbs or cite the possibility of some nefarious poisoning scheme to which he was a victim, he just knocked Quintana cold within the first two and a half minutes of the rematch. Then laid out his next opponent inside a round, and then moved on to the Junior Middleweight division and grabbed a title. Does all that completely wipe out his listless, there-to-be-clocked-all-night performance from February of '08?....Not really, but sports fans are fickle. Boxing fans especially. And it's fair to say that Williams' star is pretty close to being back to where it was just after his career making turn against Margarito. If he can entice a showdown with Pavlik at 160lbs or Margarito late in the year, he will have solidified his position as one of the handful of fighters the sport's immediate future may rest on.

Juan Diaz: Nate Campbell out-Diazed Diaz. It must have been a sobering realization for "The Baby Bull" when it finally hit him, (probably within the first half of his inaugural losing effort), that the 36 year old fighter was outworking him. Heretofore Diaz was always pushing his opponent, delivering more than they could handle and generally dispiriting them with an avalanche of punches and energy. Campbell came in with the right plan and sapped that energy from the start, leveling shot after shot at the deceivingly soft midsection of Diaz, and crowding the kid close, making it a gritty in-fight. Like Cotto, Diaz, who is used to breaking his opponents will, was having the tables turned on him. Unlike Cotto, Diaz never broke and soldiered on to the bitter end with one eye entirely closed, his peeper garishly replaced by a nasty cut ripped across the eyelid drawn like a shutter. Like Williams, Diaz had no excuses and came back to form against Katsidis later in the year. Ironically, it is Campbell who is the forgotten man after their clash early in '08, while Diaz looks to have no lingering mental issues from the loss and should draw a packed house in his hometown when he participates in the biggest fight the division has to offer, in the first part of '09 against Juan Manuel Marquez.

Michael Katsidis: Being that his first loss was a legitimate fight of the year honors worthy candidate, he was mostly forgiven for the way he bounced off the floor after the crisp counter by Casamayor. Since then he's been in the ring with Juan Diaz. In that bout, a battle of once defeated pugilists, he again came up shy. I'm not sure any of that matters though. Katsidis is the kind of fighter that you want to see fight. He'll never be a pound for pound entrant, he may never rule a division, but when he fights... he fights. It's hard to imagine a match-up that wouldn't produce sparks with Katsidis in one of the corners. He needs a marquee win to get back in the mix, but as long as he brings it, there will be a place for him. A showdown with former belt holder David Diaz would be just the thing to propel one of the brawling bruisers back into the championship sweepstakes.

Sergio Mora: Still struggling for respect amongst hardcore boxing fans, on the heels of his upset championship win against Vernon Forrest, struggled mightily to make weight in the rematch, came in 2 pounds over and then looked like warmed up barf in the ring. Without a rematch against Forrest, which no one wants to see and "The Viper" is denying him, he may not immediately have the big fight he is looking for. As with all the other first time losers recently, winning is a cure for all. Among the exciting 154lb crop of prospects and contenders like Angulo, Kirkland (both of which have had brutal gym wars with Mora), as well as Vanes Martirosyan, John Duddy and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr there are some interesting match-ups to be had and a win against any of those names would catapult him back to the top of the division.

Kelly Pavlik: Hey, there are worse things you could do than to lose your undefeated record to ring legend, Bernard Hopkins. Still, the complete domination that the 43 year old "Executioner" foisted upon the Youngstown prize fighter raised eyebrows and called into question the validity of Pavlik's burgeoning super stardom in the sport. In fact, Pavlik may have been done a disservice by both his handlers and the boxing media in the build up to the fight where few gave Hopkins much chance, (the editor of this site and yours truly excluded, to gratuitously pat ourselves on he back) and in doing so raised highly unrealistic expectations for Pavlik. This made his eventual undoing that much more dramatic to the bewildered boxing world who had arrived at Atlantic city expecting to see the crowning of a new crossover superstar for the sport. All that said, a return to 160lbs and a dominating performance against Marco Antonio Rubio will wash much of the foul taste from the mouths of disenfranchised "Ghost" fans. Whatever may have been exposed in regards to the technical liabilities of Pavlik, no doubt his unwillingness to quit was on display too as he swung away in the 12th round as the final seconds of his undefeated career ticked away. Redemption for the blue collar fighter no doubt lies at the feet of Arthur Abraham in what would be a terrific battle between the two best 160lb fighters in the world. A win there and all is forgiven.

Amir Kahn: Few first losses were as quick, decisive and unexpected as Kahn's 1st round knock out loss to Breidis Prescott this past autumn. In 54 seconds a life was changed and a promise filled career derailed. Not just a prospect to be watched, many had tabbed the UK youngster to be a pound for pound force for years to come. As sometimes happens, little known Columbian prospects have other ideas. Kahn has already fought since, blasting out Oisin Fagan, however, little known Irish prospects rarely provide the same surprises their Columbian counterparts do. With his speed and technical abilities Kahn may yet prove to be the star once predicted, certainly in the UK he will maintain a strong following for the foreseeable future. The real questions will be answered when he is put back in with a dangerous puncher and the durability of his chin may be further tested.

Andy Lee- The future of the Middleweight division. Championship ready by the end of the year... hell... ready for Pavlik right now!! Well, as it turns out everyone got just a little ahead of themselves. Andy Lee's loss to Brian Vera on a night when ESPN's Friday Night Fights was frothing at the mouth with superlatives for the Irish import was a good reminder that everyone's the future of the sport until they lose, from the 1-0 starry eyed kid to the 16-0 darling, all it takes is one loss and you're damaged goods. Now Lee will likely have to work his way into a title shot, maybe not much, because he has Manny Steward's name to get him in the door, but it's no longer the cakewalk that it was shaping up to be. That punch that knocked Vera down in round one may have been the worst punch Lee ever threw; it gave him a false sense of confidence and invincibility. This one will be like all the rest... he must have thought. Vera wasn't like all the rest, he refused to play the part. And while cracking someone with everything you've got, again and again had always worked for Lee before, it just wasn't going to that time. Not that night. Not against that guy.

Among other first time losers Eddie Chambers, Sultan Ibragimov, Jean Pascal, Joachim Alcine, James McGirt Jr. and Aaron Williams are some of the more prominent. Each of them are fairly young and can likely work themselves back into position for bigger and better things. The key for their future success, much like those boxers listed above, will depend upon whether they learned from their losses or whether they have simply learned how to lose. Will Eddie Chambers continue to be satisfied with merely outclassing foe's, but not outworking? Will Ibragimov get more aggressive if that's what it takes? Will Jean Pascal work on defense as opposed to relying on athleticism? While the foe's that delivered the first losses to these newly imperfect fighters deserve much of the credit for their upheaval, for every name mentioned here, from the superstars to the prospects, the key to renewed success is internal. It's up to each to realize what their failings were and correct them as best they can.

One last chunk of food for thought on the undefeated woes of the newly defeated. Several notable fighters nearly (maybe should have) lost their perfect records over the course of the last year or so. Chad Dawson was pushed hard by Glen Johnson, but escaped with a hard fought victory, Joe Calzaghe survived a first round knockdown and scraped by with a lackluster split decision against Bernard Hopkins and Lucian Bute got a little help from his friends in Quebec after a hard-charging Librado Andrade had him literally holding on for dear life for much of the second half of the fight and groggily rising from the canvas as time expired. All of these fellows had a bad scare, and none of them wish to give their opponents rematches. Sometimes, in and out of the ring, you do what you've got to do to stay undefeated, such is the perceived value of that empty loss column. The fact that Dawson, Calzaghe and Bute are, along with , Arthur Abraham, Andre Berto and Ivan Calderon among the few major names left with an undefeated record in the sport says something about the level of matchmaking that's been going on over the last few years. Along with all those prize fighters listed above, just the year before we had prominent undefeated fighters like Ricky Hatton, Jermain Taylor, Mikkel Kessler, Allan Green, Edison Miranda, Tomasz Adamek and Librado Andrade. All went up against other undefeated fighters and came up a little short, but when two perfect records face off, something's got to give and it's to their credit that they took the challenge.

It would behoove the sport if everyone; from the fighters to the fans, the promoters to the networks, the trainers to the media, remember that a loss doesn't end a career, in most cases it makes the career all the more interesting. Outside of Marciano (and Floyd would like to think, himself) how many of the greatest prize fighters to ever live never lost? None. Zero. In the long run that statistical "0" is more important than the empty slot next to some undefeated flavor of the week, because it says that the greats took chances, challenged themselves and fought the best. When all is said and done, no great story can exist without a conflict within it's plot and often in life,and in boxing, it is a slight imperfection which makes things most interesting.

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