Boxing, anyone?

[PlsDontTearDownY.S.]

Tonight EDIT: Saturday night Fernando Vargas fights again if anyone's interested in a very good non PPV fight card. If he can successfully come back from his devastating losses to Trinidad and Hoya, he can definitely add some flavor to the jr middleweight- middleweight classes althought middle might be too much for him.

I was no Vargas fan but he's like Mayweather, a guy that people either hate or love..and they want to see him fight every time he performs. Boxing needs guys like this.

http://www.hbo.com/boxing/fights/featured.shtml



And EY, you might be interested in this one:
http://www.sho.com/site/boxing/home.do


IBF Super Middle champ and knockout specialist Jeff Lacy fights Englishman, former champ and no1 contender Robin Reid in Florida tonight on another solid non PPV fight card on Showtime.

[English Yankee]

Lacy looked fantastic, but he was fighting a shot fighter. It'll be a great fight if he does sign to fight Calzaghe.

[PlsDontTearDownY.S.]

Lacy looked fantastic, but he was fighting a shot fighter. It'll be a great fight if he does sign to fight Calzaghe.

Hell yes. Although I thought Robin Reid foolishly underestimated Lacy's power and could have had a better showing, at this point Jeff Lacy was too much for him.

[PlsDontTearDownY.S.]

Good FREE fights tonight on HBO.

On the undercard, undefeated Miguel Cotto defends his jr. welterweight title belt against undefeated and hard hitting Colombian Ricardo Torres. This should be an awesome fight, these are two young, hard hitting, straight ahead undefeated fighters trying to earn bigger paychecks down the road.

The main event features Wladimir Klitchsko vs Samuel Peter, a hard hitting Nigerian.

http://www.hbo.com/boxing/?ntrack_para1=feat_main_title

[GimeMoMuny]

Damn, Cotto just scraped by in that 2nd round.

[GimeMoMuny]

Nice win for Cotto. The 2nd and 5th rnds should raise concerns, though.

[rock]

Good fights tonight. Not sure how impressive Cotto is whenever I see him on HBO. I was getting annoyed with all of Klitschko's holding too. I was hoping for Peter to knock him out!

[English Yankee]

For the first time Cotto looked beatable. And Peter was somebody I had high hopes for, but can't even beat Vitali's glass jawed brother. Entertaining stuff though, but not as good as Barrera last week. He's still got it, and he'd looked shot against Pacquiao.

[PlsDontTearDownY.S.]

Nice win for Cotto. The 2nd and 5th rnds should raise concerns, though.

He gets hit HARD. He needs to improve his defense and footwork, if Torres had two months instead of two weeks to prepare for the fight I think Cotto would have got KTFO. That was a hell of a fight.

[PlsDontTearDownY.S.]

For the first time Cotto looked beatable. And Peter was somebody I had high hopes for, but can't even beat Vitali's glass jawed brother. Entertaining stuff though, but not as good as Barrera last week. He's still got it, and he'd looked shot against Pacquiao.

Barrera still had it when he beat Morales in their third fight, which was after the Pacquiao fight. Lost in the mix of Morales, Barrera and Pacquiao is Juan Manuel Marquez...those four should do some kind of a unification tournament at 130. Also, Jorge Barrios would be an awesome matchup for any of those fighters.

[English Yankee]

He gets hit HARD. He needs to improve his defense and footwork, if Torres had two months instead of two weeks to prepare for the fight I think Cotto would have got KTFO. That was a hell of a fight.

Cotto won easily when he boxed and did his thing, but when he tried to go toe to toe with the Comombian he kept getting caught and doing everything wrong. It looks like he's having trouble making the weight too. They'll be looking to put him in a big fight now if that's the case.

[English Yankee]

Barrera still had it when he beat Morales in their third fight, which was after the Pacquiao fight. Lost in the mix of Morales, Barrera and Pacquiao is Juan Manuel Marquez...those four should do some kind of a unification tournament at 130. Also, Jorge Barrios would be an awesome matchup for any of those fighters.

I think Morales is past his best. He's still capable of wins against the right kind of guys, but I think he should quit.

[hardrain]

I think Morales is past his best. He's still capable of wins against the right kind of guys, but I think he should quit.

He was fun to watch in his prime, though. I take nothing away from him.

[GimeMoMuny]

He gets hit HARD. He needs to improve his defense and footwork, if Torres had two months instead of two weeks to prepare for the fight I think Cotto would have got KTFO. That was a hell of a fight.

I agree. He definitely needs to work on defense, but Torres had what? 27 KO's? At least Cotto proved that he could survive going toe to toe with a boxer w/ power.

[GimeMoMuny]

What's everyone's thoughts on Jones / Tarver III??

[English Yankee]

He was fun to watch in his prime, though. I take nothing away from him.

No question. One of my favourite boxers from the last decade or two. His first fight with Barerra was one of the best I've seen. They never know when to quit though.

[English Yankee]

What's everyone's thoughts on Jones / Tarver III??

Tarver wins. He might have to do it on points though. Jones is another guy who should be retired. He would have destroyed Tarver five years ago.

[JeffWeaverFan]

Cotto won easily when he boxed and did his thing, but when he tried to go toe to toe with the Comombian he kept getting caught and doing everything wrong. It looks like he's having trouble making the weight too. They'll be looking to put him in a big fight now if that's the case.

Agreed. I finally watched the fight last night and it was great. I'm a Cotto fan and hope he can challenge Mayweather at some point of time.

[JeffWeaverFan]

What's everyone's thoughts on Jones / Tarver III??

That Jones should be retired right now. Tarver will win.

edit: By the way, I don't think I'm going to pay the $50 it will cost for the Jones-Tarver fight because I want to save that money for the Corrales-Castillo rematch. If anyone is deciding between paying for one or the other, I beg of you to order the Corrales-Castillo fight instead. Their first fight was maybe the best fight I've ever seen. That or Ward-Gatti. It changes all the time.

[GimeMoMuny]

Tarver wins. He might have to do it on points though. Jones is another guy who should be retired. He would have destroyed Tarver five years ago.

Agreed.

That Jones should be retired right now. Tarver will win.

edit: By the way, I don't think I'm going to pay the $50 it will cost for the Jones-Tarver fight because I want to save that money for the Corrales-Castillo rematch. If anyone is deciding between paying for one or the other, I beg of you to order the Corrales-Castillo fight instead. Their first fight was maybe the best fight I've ever seen. That or Ward-Gatti. It changes all the time.

I doubt that I'm going to buy the fight, unless a few friends chip in. The main reason I'm even considering it is for a bridge to, or distraction from the Yanks-Sox.

I agree re Castillo-Corrales and the Gatti-Ward comparison, except a smarter Castillo could have changed the scope of that fight. I go with Ward-Gotti because they did it more than once, we still have to see about Corrales, Castillo.

[English Yankee]

Agreed. I finally watched the fight last night and it was great. I'm a Cotto fan and hope he can challenge Mayweather at some point of time.

I think Mayweather beats Cotto, but Hatton beats Mayweather. I'm not sure about Hatton vs. Cotto though.

As far as the Jones fight goes, Glen Johnson, who is really only a journeyman, knocked Jones out in his last fight and Jones was reportedly either out on the canvas or immobile on it for half an hour. He shouldn't be doing this any more.

[English Yankee]

http://sport.guardian.co.uk/boxing/t...582859,00.html

Good article on the current state of heavyweight boxing compared to previous eras if anybody's interested.

[JeffWeaverFan]

I agree re Castillo-Corrales and the Gatti-Ward comparison, except a smarter Castillo could have changed the scope of that fight. I go with Ward-Gotti because they did it more than once, we still have to see about Corrales, Castillo.

I was just talking to my friend about which fight was better. He said that the fact that Gatti and Ward are B level guys, while Castillo and Corrales are the best in their division should weigh in the decision. Either way, they both were amazing fights. I'm pumped to watch this fight. Diego Corrales is my favorite boxer so I'm rooting for him big time. It's tonight!

[English Yankee]

Castillo has played a blinder already. He came in well overweight, which means he hasn't had to kill himself like Corrales to make the weight. He loses 10% of his purse and it's now a non-title fight, but he still clears a million and moves up to another weight after this fight anyway so doesn't care about belts. Castillo even put a side bet on with Corrales' corner for $100 000 that he can knock Corrales out. He obviously had no intention of making the weight, and is basically trying to cheat. Gives this fight extra spice.

[English Yankee]

Wow. Castillo just turned his lights out. He has a stunning left hook. Knockout in fact. Fourth round.

[JeffWeaverFan]

I'm pissed.

[JeffWeaverFan]

Castillo has played a blinder already. He came in well overweight, which means he hasn't had to kill himself like Corrales to make the weight. He loses 10% of his purse and it's now a non-title fight, but he still clears a million and moves up to another weight after this fight anyway so doesn't care about belts. Castillo even put a side bet on with Corrales' corner for $100 000 that he can knock Corrales out. He obviously had no intention of making the weight, and is basically trying to cheat. Gives this fight extra spice.

That's a good theory. Castillo looked much stronger in this fight. I want to see #3. I'm pissed Diego lost.

[GimeMoMuny]

I wish I would have seen this one.

[JeffWeaverFan]

I wish I would have seen this one.

Wasn't that great. I had the first 3 rounds all scored for Castillo. Personallly, I think that Castillo did not make weight on purpose to have an advantage in this fight. I just want to see #3 because #2 was a dissapointment.

[Mr. October]

Boxing is useless NOW!

[English Yankee]

That's a good theory. Castillo looked much stronger in this fight. I want to see #3. I'm pissed Diego lost.

That's what actually happened. Castillo mugged him, and now his marquee value is as big as it could be. Corrales meanwhile only has the Castillo rematch as a serious earning option, and he looks finished at the top level. It wasn't so nuch the knockout, it was the fact that his punch resistance seems to have gone entirely. Plus there are no big fights for him at lightweight so he's going to have to move up in weight to fight naturally bigger guys like Castillo who will all be queuing up now to fight him as they think he's shot. How fortunes change in boxing - from the new Thomas Hearns to on the way out in four rounds. That was one of the great muggings last night.

[PlsDontTearDownY.S.]

Castillo has played a blinder already. He came in well overweight, which means he hasn't had to kill himself like Corrales to make the weight. He loses 10% of his purse and it's now a non-title fight, but he still clears a million and moves up to another weight after this fight anyway so doesn't care about belts. Castillo even put a side bet on with Corrales' corner for $100 000 that he can knock Corrales out. He obviously had no intention of making the weight, and is basically trying to cheat. Gives this fight extra spice.

Interesting. But if Castillo moves up to 140, that could kill the already heavily discussed Castillo-Corrales 3. Why would Corrales move up and give up his belts? There's more money in that fight than with anyone Castillo could find at 140. Anyway it was a brutal 4 rounds, Castillo was landing bombs on Diego's face. I really thought this one would go the distance but damn was I wrong! Most rematches after a brutal slugfest are fought more cautiously ( Gatti - Ward, Barrera - Morales ) but this was like Round 11 of the first fight. You gotta love it.

[Snatch Catch]

Interesting. But if Castillo moves up to 140, that could kill the already heavily discussed Castillo-Corrales 3. Why would Corrales move up and give up his belts? There's more money in that fight than with anyone Castillo could find at 140. Anyway it was a brutal 4 rounds, Castillo was landing bombs on Diego's face. I really thought this one would go the distance but damn was I wrong! Most rematches after a brutal slugfest are fought more cautiously ( Gatti - Ward, Barrera - Morales ) but this was like Round 11 of the first fight. You gotta love it.

Did you hear B-Hop on Star and Buc this morning? Good stuff.

[English Yankee]

Interesting. But if Castillo moves up to 140, that could kill the already heavily discussed Castillo-Corrales 3. Why would Corrales move up and give up his belts? There's more money in that fight than with anyone Castillo could find at 140. Anyway it was a brutal 4 rounds, Castillo was landing bombs on Diego's face. I really thought this one would go the distance but damn was I wrong! Most rematches after a brutal slugfest are fought more cautiously ( Gatti - Ward, Barrera - Morales ) but this was like Round 11 of the first fight. You gotta love it.

Corrales has no money fights at lightweight. The marquee boxers and consequent pay per view fights are all at higher weights right now. He has no choice but to move up in weight. At lightweight, he can beat Castillo. At 135 or 140, Castillo wins. Corrales doesn't exactly have a great defence and was looking a bit punchy at lightweight. Put him in with naturally bigger guys and he's going to have even less punch resistance.

[PlsDontTearDownY.S.]

Corrales has no money fights at lightweight. The marquee boxers and consequent pay per view fights are all at higher weights right now. He has no choice but to move up in weight. At lightweight, he can beat Castillo. At 135 or 140, Castillo wins. Corrales doesn't exactly have a great defence and was looking a bit punchy at lightweight. Put him in with naturally bigger guys and he's going to have even less punch resistance.

At lightweight after Corrales and Castillo, there are no marquee fights or big names. Jesus Chavez, maybe. But at 140, you have Hatton, Mayweather, Cotto, Tszyu, and some others so that is where the money is. Does Corrales have the chin to be able to stay in there with those guys? I'm with you, I don't think he does. PBF exposed Corrales in their fight, and if fair's fair, Castillo would have beaten him in the first fight. He had him until Corrales took out his mouthpiece.

[PlsDontTearDownY.S.]

Did you hear B-Hop on Star and Buc this morning? Good stuff.

I missed it...I slept all morning, what did he say? Hopkins does a great interview.

[English Yankee]

At lightweight after Corrales and Castillo, there are no marquee fights or big names. Jesus Chavez, maybe. But at 140, you have Hatton, Mayweather, Cotto, Tszyu, and some others so that is where the money is. Does Corrales have the chin to be able to stay in there with those guys? I'm with you, I don't think he does. PBF exposed Corrales in their fight, and if fair's fair, Castillo would have beaten him in the first fight. He had him until Corrales took out his mouthpiece.

He's probably got a rematch with Castillo ( which he'll lose ) and then one more big fight ( which he'll lose ). They can probably fit a couple of fights in between these two big fights with a couple of tomato cans, so he'll probably have two really big and a few not so big paydays before he quits. He just has a far too open style to last long at the higher weights. Mayweather has been able to do it because he never gets hit. Corrales takes more clean punches to the head in one round than Mayweather will in his career.

[PlsDontTearDownY.S.]

He just has a far too open style to last long at the higher weights. Mayweather has been able to do it because he never gets hit. Corrales takes more clean punches to the head in one round than Mayweather will in his career.

This is a good point, and you could say the same for Miguel Cotto. Both those guys get hit way too hard and too often, but have power in both hands and give the punishment as much as they take it.

[English Yankee]

This is a good point, and you could say the same for Miguel Cotto. Both those guys get hit way too hard and too often, but have power in both hands and give the punishment as much as they take it.

Cotto got drawn into a macho South American thing in his last fight. His normal style is good defensively, but his chin has looked suspect on a couple of occasions. He's a hell of a boxer, but Latinos especially like their guys to go to war. Cotto isn't cut out to fight like that, and will have to realise that he has to stick with his boxing skills rather than outfight everybody, otherwise it's just a matter of time before somebody catches him on the chin. I'd love to see him fight Hatton. I think that's the best possible fight at 140 right now.

[hardrain]

Cotto does have tremendous skills as a boxer. He needs to harness them and trust his strengths. I love watching him when he is in that boxer's zone, and not trying to outslug his opponent.

[PlsDontTearDownY.S.]

The heavily awaited Vitali Klitschko - Hasim Rahman championship fight has been canceled, due to a knee injury that Klitschko suffered in training:

http://www.hbo.com/boxing/?ntrack_pa...ategory3_show1

Mayweather moves up to welterweight and fights Sharmba Mitchell on regular HBO November 19. Hopefully it's a prelude to the fight everyone wants to see at welterweight which is PBF vs Zab Judah.

[DrNick]

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/box...ory?id=2218462

And now Vitali decides to retire. Smart move by him. 34 and lots of injuries lately does not spell a good future

[English Yankee]

The heavyweight division is worse than useless now. This is not good for boxing at all. When the heavyweight division has no box office attractions, it affects all of boxing. Vitali was easily the best of a bad bunch, and there's now nobody worth watching there, never mind two guys worth matching. I'm sure it won't stop Don King trying though.

[English Yankee]

Tyson turned up for a court appearance in Brazil in an Argentina football shirt.




Walking into a Red Sox bar wearing a Yankees shirt doesn't even come close to this. He's still got that box office charisma.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/4431170.stm

[PlsDontTearDownY.S.]

Tyson turned up for a court appearance in Brazil in an Argentina football shirt.




Walking into a Red Sox bar wearing a Yankees shirt doesn't even come close to this. He's still got that box office charisma.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/4431170.stm

He's probably wondering why they booed him.

[SILVERBACK1969]

DID SOMEONE SAY BOXING......FLOYD MAYWEATHER JR IS THE BEST BOXER I HAVE EVER SEEN.....PERIOD....SPEED AND POWER....HE WILL NOT BE BEATEN AT ANY WEIGHT HE CHOOSES TO FIGHT...HE MAKES LEANORD LOOK SLOW....THATS A FEAT

[SILVERBACK1969]

Good Thing For The Rock That He Retired....to Much Size And Power For Anyone At Heavyweight....he Is A Super Heavyweight

[PlsDontTearDownY.S.]

.HE WILL NOT BE BEATEN AT ANY WEIGHT HE CHOOSES TO FIGHT...HE MAKES LEANORD LOOK SLOW....THATS A FEAT

For one thing, if Floyd knows what's best for him he will stay at welterweight. A fight with Zab Judah is probably the biggest money fight out there for him
and it won't go down at 154, which is too much for him anyway. PBF could go down as the best welterweight champion ever if him and his management don't get stupid and bump up to 154...remember that moving up in weight for big money fights is what ruined Mosley's and Roy Jones' careers.

Also, have you ever seen any of SRL's fights? If you did I seriously doubt that you would claim PBF makes him look slow.

[PlsDontTearDownY.S.]

Tonight's the night! It should be an enjoyable fight in front of a packed house, I fully expect PBF to win but I think Mitchell will make it interesting.

http://www.hbo.com/boxing/fights/featured.shtml

[hardrain]

I'm looking forward to this fight...I do think Mayweather's quickness will win out.

But of course this is far from the golden age of boxing
Leonard, Duran, Hagler...those were boxers.