Weekend Fight Preview 2: Andre Ward, Eddie Chambers, Edison Miranda, Aurthur Abraham

Showtime - Friday Night

Andre Ward (15-0, 10 Ko's) vs Jerson Ravelo (18-2, 12 Ko's)

Ward, the former olympic gold medalist and the other super prospect from Goossen Tutor Promotions that will be featured this weekend, is looking to continue his ascension up the ranks.

His opponent, Jerson Ravelo, is a good fighter, but his only real competition was when he stepped in the ring with then undefeated Allen Green, finding himself on the losing end of a lopsided decision.

At 22 years old, Ward can slowly develop his boxing skills and record at the professional level.  He has already proven to be a great champion in the amateur ranks and should eventually do the same in the super middleweight division.

Under-card: Eddie Chambers (30-1, 16 Ko's) vs. Raphael Butler (31-4, 24 Ko's) 

Eddie Chambers will be looking to avenge his recent loss to Alexander Povetkin in what would have propelled him to receive a shot at the IBF heavyweight title.  

After showing that he had the ability and speed to land clean punches on Povetkin in the first three rounds, he began to falter in the middle of the fight.  He stopped throwing any punches and was engulfed by Povetkin's relentless pressure, resulting in a wide unanimous decision loss. 

Raphael Butler stands in front of him and his journey back to the top contender spot in the lackluster heavyweight division.

Showtime - Saturday Night

Edison Pantera Miranda (30-2, 26 Ko's) vs King Arthur Abraham (26-0, 21 Ko's) II

Their first match up was a grueling battle that ended in a controversial decision.  After watching the fight it is apparent that Abraham's jaw was broken before the "intentional" head butt from Miranda, that many believed caused the ailment. 

Miranda, fore the most part, seemed to dominate the fight and would have won the bout if it wasn't handled so horribly by the referee (and if he wasn't in Abraham's backyard). Forget the fact that he let the doctor work on Abraham during his 5 minute timeout, and the fact that he couldn't make anything that resembled a quality decision in the ring.  He deducted two points for a very weak head butt (should have been 1) and deducted 3 more points for very questionable low blows.

Before any of the controversy started, Abraham was losing rounds due to his low work rate.  He really showed us nothing except that he is one tough mother f-er, finishing the last 7 rounds with a highly visible severly broken jaw.

Miranda claims the fight would have been his if not for the deducted points (we agree) and Abraham claims that the only reason he didn't win more convincingly was due to the fact that his jaw was fractured in two places.  It wasn't very hard to get these two back in the ring together to settle the dispute. 

If Abraham can get through Miranda (not and easy task by any means), it seems he will be a possible future opponent for The Ghost, Kelly Pavlik.

Catch the first match on Showtime tonight @ 10:00 pm (EST) on SHO 2 and directly before the rematch at 6:00 pm (EST).

Weekend Fight Preview 1: Andre Berto and Cristobal Arreola

Once again Showtime and HBO have decided to hold two compelling boxing events on the same evening. And once again, it would be tough to pick one or the other.

HBO - Saturday Night

Andre Berto (21-0, 18 Ko's) vs. Miguel Rodriguez (29-2, 23 Ko's) 

Although facing mid-level talent up to this point in his young career, Andre Berto has defeated every opponent in an overwhelmingly convincing fashion.  He is built with an even combination of great speed and power, and we think he is the best young prospect in the talented welterweight division.

His opponent, Miguel Rodriguez, is a slight step up in class from Berto's previous foes and has never been stopped within the time limit.  However these factors should not play a part in another dominating victory for Andre Berto.

Berto's camp is content with having him slowly develop and build his unblemished record (which is a smart decision considering the talent at the top of the division). He is only 24 years old and will be challenging for the world title soon enough.

Chris Arreola (24-0, 21 Ko's) vs. Chazz Witherspoon (23-0, 15 Ko's)

Ever since our meeting with Cristobal Arreola's promotor, we have heard nothing but good things about this heavyweight prospect out of Los Angeles, CA.  Heard. We were under the impression that his last two fights were supposed to be televised, but somehow fell through due to unforeseen circumstances.  It will be great to finally see him in action.

From the clips on the Goossen Tutor Promotions website and YouTube, this ugly mug, standing at 6'4" and 250 lbs, looks like one bad mother (his trunks are even sponsored by a bail bonds company; see left).  

Chazz Witherspoon will be Arreola's first major test inside the ring.  If the pressure of fighting on the main stage doesn't get to The Nightmare, then he should be able to take care of business on his way to possibly becoming the first Mexican heavy weight champion of the world (and finally an American one at that).

Showtime fight preview to come...

Calzaghe vs. Jones: Pavlik Not Gonna Happen

The BBC reported that Joe Calzaghe's promoter, Frank Warren,  is currently working out a deal with former pound-for-pound #1 fighter, Roy Jones Jr. The fight, that Calzaghe claims will be his last, should take place sometime this fall. 

"Fighting the greatest fighter of the 1990's would be the perfect way to finish off my career... This is a case of famous last words, but I think that'll probably be it for me, so my message to my fans is enjoy it now because after this, it'll be the end." 

Calzaghe has also ruled out the possiblilty of a meeting between himself and the undisputed middleweight champion, Kelly Pavlik.  Pavlik is coming off a dominating 3rd round TKO victory over Calzaghe's training partner Gary Lockett. 

Joe admitted "that Pavlik is a good fighter and looked very impressive against Gary, but I'm in a different league" (money where the mouth is Joe).  " Kelly is just establishing himself and is not as big a star as Roy Jones, he's a legend."

So, it seems that Calzaghe will end his career with a victory over another over-the-hill fighter whose name will look great on his undefeated resume.  We do respect his decision to retire at age 37, having accomplished a great deal in his long career.  But, it's too bad that he is opting out of what could have been the fight of the decade. 

Boxing: The World's #1 Sport?

We are starting to get a little sick of the unfounded notion that boxing is a slowly "dying sport." 

It seems to be the popular phrase used by anyone who has seen about five fights in their lifetime or wants to sound like they have an idea of what the hell they are talking about when it comes to boxing (which in fact it proves their ignorance).  

Although it was the Ancient Greeks who first implemented fist throwing as a competitive sport, doing battle with the appropriately designed clubs at the end of our arms comes natural to humans, and could without a doubt, be traced back to the earliest men that walked the earth.

Because of the deep-rooted innate tendency for putting up our dukes, the sport of boxing has become a widespread global attraction to competitors and fans alike.  

For instance, of the 68 titles awarded by the four main alphabet organizations, only 13 were held by American boxers at the end of 2007.

The current Champions' origins span the entire atlas, reigning from countries such as Ukraine, France, Germany, Canada, United States, Great Britain, Cuba, Dominican republic, Armenia, Thailand, Ghana, Panama, Indonesia, South Africa, Hungary, Australia, Phillipines, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Japan, Venezuela and Uzbekistan. And that is just the current champs, not including current prospects, top fighters or past champions from various countries around the world.

We were intrigued by the fact that South America had only one champion in the mix (and no other fighters that we could name of the top of our heads), so we did some research and instantly located two all-time greats. 

Ed Jofre, from Brazil, is considered to be the greatest bantamweight of all time and made Ring magazine's 80 greatest fighters of the past 80 years (#19). Luis Firpo (see right), from Argentina, was the first Latin American to challenge for the heavywieght title (against Jack Dempsey) and named to Ring Magazine's 100 greatest fighters.

After a few more internet searches it became apparent that this can be done with nearly any major nation. Pick one, and you will find a former champion or a well-known great fighter.

So we challenge, find us a player who can skate like the wind from South America, Mexico, or Puerto Rico.  Find us a someone who can jack one out of Comerica Park in Uzbekistan or Ukraine. Show us a the next coming of M.J. from Indonesia or Thailand. What about a football player from... ah yes, only in America.  Of all the major spectator sports, it would seem that boxing spans the globe like no other.

But wait (you might say), what about soccer?

Writer Chuck Klosterman had an interesting take on the recent rise in the popularity of soccer: "Soccer fanatics love to tell you that soccer is the most popular game on earth and it's played by 500 million people every day, as if that somehow proves its value. Actually the opposite is true. Why should I care that every single citizen in Chile, Iran, and Gibraltar thoughtlessly adores "football"? Do the people making this argument also assume Coca-Cola is ambrosia. Real sports aren't for everyone." (see full article)

Although Kolsterman's article is entertaining, we think the real answer to the soccer question can be summed up with one word: America. It has yet to capture the American audience, possibly the most important market in the world. Professional boxing accomplished this nearly a century ago.

Since then, dying is the last thing that boxing has been doing in the recent years. Pay-Per-View all-time sales records have been smashed, and then smashed again by major boxing events, still garnering more single event views than any UFC/Elite XC/MMA fight or WWE extravaganza. 

The single greatest selling attraction of all-time Pay-Per-View sales - The Golden Boy, Oscar De La Hoya.

We would argue that the only other single sporting event that would receive as many buys as major boxing events, is the SuperBowl (in America that is).  We find it very hard to believe that someone would pay $59.99 to watch the NBA FInals if their team wasn't in it, and the same goes for the Stanley Cup or the World Series (and that's the finals and not just one game, but seven).

So, with the country's dismal financial state, how is that we can afford to pay the $54.99 in higher volume than ever before, to watch an event that may end in 35 seconds? The answer is simple. 

Boxing is the greatest sport in the world.

De La Hoya's Finale

The Golden Boy, Oscar De La Hoya, has given up his search to replace the vacant corner left open from the recent retirement of Floyd Mayweather.  After being turned down by Ricky Hatton, Golden Boy Promotions has decided to cancel the bout entirely.

December 6th will be the last time we see The Golden Boy inside the ring.  Miguel Cotto has been named as a possible opponent in what should be high-scaled match on all proportions. 

Hatton Declines Golden Boy Fight

According to BBC Sports, Ricky The Hitman Hatton, was approached by Golden Boy Promotions with an offer to fill Floyd Mayweather's newly vacant spot for the September match-up against Oscar Oscar De La Hoya.  However, The Hitman declined. 

"It would be to soon, Richard has only fought two weeks ago" said Ray Hatton, the father and manager of the IBO light welterweight champ.  

It seems that Hatton's camp is content with taking the shot at collecting another belt from the IBF junior welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi in the fall.  And we can't blame him for not taking it, which would force him to move up in weight against a game fighter like De La Hoya on such short notice.  

De La Hoya's camp was no doubt looking for the largest payday in sight, taking into consideration Ricky's cult following and the pay-per-view/ticket sales from his previous fights.

The search for an opponent worth watching continues for The Golden Boy.

This American Life: Boxing

The popular non-fiction public radio show-turned-hit Showtime series, This American Life, gives the public an in depth look into the interesting saga that is real life.  Each episode conveys a theme and uses that as the underlying backdrop for the segments. 

A recently-aired episode followed two journeyman club fighters through their struggles to stay afloat financially and maintain a "regular" life, while still pursuing their dream.  The fighters, Marteze Logan (26-32-2, Ko's 6) and Anthony Bowman (9-29-2, Ko's 2), have made their less- than-stellar careers by, basically becoming opponents for other rising stars who are on their way to the top. (These are the kind of guys who are found somewhere within the first ten bouts of a highly touted prospect; between the two of them, they have losses to Paul Williams, Steve Forbes, Hector Camacho jr. and Cornelius K9 Bundrage) 

In this interesting look into the tale of two professional boxers who, like so many others in the sport, will never be recognized outside of their rural cities, we get the chance to see one of them finally succeed (on a small level, but succeed none the less).  The episode comes to a conclusion when these two meet in the ring for the Mid-South welterweight belt in Memphis, Tenn.

Catch the episode on Showtime On Demand or on regular circulation on any of the Showtime stations.

Paul Williams Vs. Carlos Quintana II Recap

Last night Paul The Punisher Williams displayed the skill that had so many people gushing over him after his victory over Antionio Margarito for the WBO welterweight crown.  

Perhaps the last time these two met, Carlos Quintana caught Paul Williams on an off-night, because it was clear who the better fighter was from the sound of the first bell. Williams pounced on Quintana, landing crisp punches at will (a crispness he lacked in the previous fight).  See highlights

Two minutes in to the bout Quintana was quickly acquainted with the canvas and came to the realization that he had lost his WBO belt in less than three minutes (that he held for only one fight).

After the fight, Williams named the three big money names in the welterweight division for his next opponent - Margarito (who he already beat once), Cotto, and The Golden Boy, any of which will be a great fight.

Main Event: Sergio Mora has a great chin and no punching power which tends to lead to a fairly boring match when he is involved (can't KO anyone and rarely gets hurt).  His title fight with Vernon Forrest played out along the same lines as usual, however Mora showed enough elusiveness and skill to take a majority decision and claim the WBO junior middle weight title.

Kelly Pavlik vs Gary Lockett Recap

Just another day on the job for America's talented young phenom , Kelly The Ghost Pavlik.  As if he was hammering away at sheets of metal in one of Youngstown's steel factories, Kelly repeatedly pounded Gary Lockett until he was completely flattened.  

Half way into the third round, Enzo Calzaghe tossed in the universal sign of surrender after witnessing his fighter get knocked to the canvas three times and receive a healthy dose of punishment.  (See highlights)

The fight seemed to go exactly as planned for Pavlik who looked better than ever, connecting with punches from every angle on his way to an easy TKO victory. He put constant pressure on Lockett, landed a steady barrage of punches, and neutralized Lockett's supposed KO power with his lengthy frame.

It looks like the undefeated champ Arthur Abraham will be the next possible opponent for The Ghost (if he takes care of Edison Miranda on the 21st). As for Joe Calzaghe, it seems that he will be dancing with Roy Jones Jr. in the near future.  If those fights go as planned, then we will hopefully see the two face off in one of the biggest fights of the decade. 

Undercard: In the first round of the fight, Daniel Ponce De Leon was dropped by a right hook and relinquished his title to the undefeated young-stud of the division, Jaun Manuel Lopez. (Highlights)

Artwork by Adam Morris

Floyd Mayweather Retires (again)

At 5:30 pm, Pretty Boy Floyd Mayweather released a page-long statement to the media announcing that he is going to hang up his gloves and retire from the sport of boxing.

"It is with a heavy heart that I write you this message today. I have decided to permanently retire from boxing... I am sorry I have to leave the sport at this time, knowing I still have my God-given abilities to succeed and future multi-million dollar paydays ahead, including the one right around the corner. But there comes a time when money doesn't matter. I just can't do it any more.  I have a found piece with my decision that I have not felt in a long time."

We have heard this about six times before from Floyd, but, for some reason this one seems a little bit more legit. He hasn't done anything this elaborate before and the fact that it is coming just months before a title fight, not right after a victory (like usual), is somewhat telling.

Even the president of Golden Boy Promotions has already confirmed that the fight has been cancelled and "... will move on. Sometime next week, I will announce a big fight for Oscar.  There are different names out there and I will be working diligently to announce in the coming day's Oscar's next fight."

To be completely honest, we could really care less about this "breaking news". In the past few years Floyd has used the sport of boxing as nothing but a personal platform to make as much money as possible (trying not to end up like Holyfield I guess).  Now, after making hundreds of millions, he claims that he doesn't care about the money.  If he wants to leave the sport, then I say do it, it seems he hasn't really been in it for a while anyway.

His hall of fame career has been great to this point, however the jury is not out on whether or not he fought the best talent on his rise to the top.  One or two more high-quality wins would seal the deal on his career. 

As of now, if Mayweather never fights again, he may go down as the most talented boxer ever to walk the face of the earth, but will not be considered one of the top 10 greatest fighters in boxing history.

Miranda & Abraham: Coming to America

Edison Pantera Miranda (30-2, 26 Ko's) will meet IBF middleweight champ King Arthur Abraham(26-0, 21 Ko's) at a catch weight of 166 lbs in a highly-anticipated rematch slated for June 21.  

The first time these two met, Abraham won a fairly close unanimous decision despite his jaw being broken in two places halfway into the controversial fight.  

From the random video clips on you tube and the comments from the European contingent in the boxing forums, we have heard that this is one worth watching.  However, the fight took place in Abraham's backyard (Germany) and was not broadcasted to us yankees. Until now.

In the days leading up to the rematch, Showtime will air Miranda vs. Abraham I for our viewing pleasure.  The dates and times are as follows:

June 16th on SHO 2 - 10:00 pm (EST)

June 19th on SHO 2 - 10:00 pm (EST)

June 21st on Showtime - 6:00 pm (EST)

Evander Holyfield: Broke as Joke

The former four time heavyweight champion Evander The Real Deal Holyfield (42-9-2, 27 Ko's) is dead broke.

According to NBC Sports, Holyfield's $10 million estate in suburban Atlanta is under foreclosure, the mothers of his numerous children are suing for unpaid child support, and a Utah consulting company has gone to court claiming that Evander failed to pay back more than a half million dollars for landscaping on that 10 million dollar pad. 

So essentially he was paying someone to maintain his exuberant amount of plants and flowers instead of paying for all the seeds that he personally planted all over the state of Georgia. 

The self-proclaimed, "born-again Christian" has had three different wives (the most recent being a 24 yr. old college student) and 11 children (that we know of), three of which were conceived, by his own admission, with women out of wedlock.  

I think he may have skipped the portion in the Christian handbook that discusses monogamy, but at least we can confirm that he read two chapters - "Procreation - A Guide to Life" and "The Church's View on Contraception" (or listened to the book on tape; none of the evidence suggested so far implies that he is capable of reading).

One would think that the money from the "business savvy" endorsement deals with Sega Genesis (above) in 1992 and the "invention" of the "Real Deal Grill" (or should I say 

fraudulent copy of the greatest invention of all time - The Foreman: see left) could have been put in a savings account since he pulled down a confirmed $35 million for one fight with Mike Tyson. Apparently he didn't use any of that $35 mil to hire a financial planner. 

Since 2002, eight of his last thirteen fights have ended in defeat or draw. It is now apparent that in his comeback he may not have been fighting to regain the heavyweight title, but to replenish his bank account that must have been blown on some serious-ass stuff that we can't even begin to fathom (like Walt Disney's chriogenically frozen body, a diamond encrusted Lite Brite that uses push pins created from rubies, sapphire and jade or a down comforter fabricated from the feathers of 10 baby American Bald Eagles). I think I just fathomed it.