There are so many “superfights” on the horizon but how much is hype? A lot of these fights seem great on paper, but the names might not tell the tale. Many of the upcoming bouts that the boxing public is talking about will probably not live up to the hype and really don’t give the indication that it will.
Because there are so many bouts coming up that are great for boxing regardless of the quality of the bout itself, I have decided to break them down and look at the superfights that are overrated, underrated, fairly anticipated, and all hype. Leading the pack is the scheduled bout between Felix “Tito” Trinidad and Roy Jones, JR.
September 29, 2007: Jermain Taylor Vs. Kelly Pavlik
This is a fight that seems to be flying under the radar. We have the undefeated Middleweight Champion, Jermain Taylor, 27-0, 17 KO’s, taking on the power-punching, undefeated, people’s choice challenger, Kelly Pavlik, 31-0, 28 KO’s. Much of the reason is the bad performance after bad performance by Taylor and people have lost interest. He eked by Bernard Hopkins twice, drew with Winky Wright, got a gift decision against Cory Spinks. He has either regressed or he is unmotivated. Pavlik should be his motivation, but if not, we have a new champ in the making.
Pavlik has been a storm brewing and nobody knew if he was for real with his high knockout ratio, but many became believers when he destroyed Edison Miranda, a dangerous power-puncher that was cutting through his opponents with ease. His win over Miranda was the same night that Taylor non-fight with Spinks, making Taylor small in the public’s eyes and Pavlik very big.
This is a huge fight for boxing and it’s the moment of truth for both men. The stakes are as high as they get ladies and gentlemen.
Verdict: Underrated
October 6, 2007: Oleg Maskaev Vs. Sam “Nigerian Nightmare” Peter
There was a day when the heavyweight champion was known all over the world, but those days have come and gone and now we have a heavyweight championship fight that is going basically unnoticed and it is one heck of a fight. Oleg Maskaev, the WBC Champion, brings in a record of, 34-5, 26 KO’s, and has gotten cagier and better in his old age. He is on a twelve fight winning streak and has much more experience than his challenger, but he is still lightly regarded and considered easy prey for a “Nightmare” that he is about to have. Maskaev has been stopped by Corey Sanders, Kirk Johnson, Mount Whitaker, Oliver McCall, and David Tua, but he has learned from his losses. There is a saying that a champion improves 10% when they win the title, and I believe that Maskaev has. Will it be enough though to defeat Peter?
Sam Peter is what the world wants: an iron-chinned power puncher. He brings a record of, 28-1, 22 KO’s, with his only defeat being a close decision loss to current IBF Champion, Wladimir Klitschko. He has put together back to back wins over James Toney, and has basically annihilated every other man foolish enough to put on the gloves and step into the ring with him. Now is Peter as good as he seemed to be in the second win over Toney or was it a case of “Lights Out” dimming in skills.
The outcome is uncertain in my mind and I’m actually picking Maskaev to retain his title via unanimous decision. So, the fact that people have already ordered their posters with Peter having the title around his waist and have planned his first title defense have lessened what this fight is. This is a heavyweight title fight with both men having question marks over their heads. This is a great fight and is getting zero attention.
Verdict: Underrated.
October 6, 2007: Manny Pacquiao Vs. Marco Antonio Barrera II
If the last fight was all about money and ego, then this fight is just about the same…at least half of it. Manny Pacquiao has been destroying his competition for quite a while and they haven’t been bums. He knocked out Erik Morales (twice), drew with Juan Manuel Marquez, although he got the better of it, beat the heck out of former champion, Oscar Larios, and destroyed the man that he is facing in October, Marco Antonio Barrera in 11th round. The first encounter between these men was in November of 2003, and the “Pacman” has improved, while Barrera has declined.
Marco Antonio Barrera, 63-5, 42 KO’s, is a ring legend and him at his worst, is better than 90% of the fighters out there. There is no denying that he has accomplished a great deal, has beaten many great fighters out there, but his time has come and gone and his last few performances against Rocky Juarez and Juan Manuel Marquez have shown that he is not nearly as quick as he once was. His reflexes aren’t even as good as they were when he faced Manny in 2003. The “Baby Faced Assassin” has lived by the sword and will die by it.
If you look at the history of rematches, especially when the loser was badly beaten, the reversal of fortune is rare. Barrera is going to take one last beating to line his pockets and will most likely try to remain in survival mode.
Verdict: Overrated
November 3, 2007: Joe Calzaghe Vs. Mikkel Kessler
Unification. That right there should sell this fight, but this is another bout that the casual boxing fans seem not to care about. Calzaghe, 43-0, 32 KO’s, has defended his WBO Super Middleweight Title twenty times, handily defeated American superstar, Jeff Lacy, and has proven virtually flawless in the ring. Many consider Calzaghe’s run a mix of his talent and careful matchmaking, and regardless if you subscribe to this theory or not, his bout with Kessler should satisfy every boxing fan in regards to the career of the “Pride of Wales.”
Kessler, 39-0, 29 KO’s, is the proud owner of the WBA/WBC versions of the Super Middleweight Title and has cut through his competition with ease as well. In his last bout, he showed his boxing skill with a workmanlike performance over Librado Andrade, giving him a lot of momentum going into this superfight. The boxing fans must be doing something right to earn this fight.
Verdict: Underrated
November 10, 2007: Shane Mosley Vs. Miguel Cotto
ANY fight that Miguel Cotto is in will be exciting and he has been building to a superfight, which this surely is. Cotto has earned this shot at a big name, no matter how beyond his prime he is. Mosley falls into the same category that Barrera does: at his worst, he’s better than 90% of the fighters in the game, but this fight will probably prove that he is not equipped to take on a young guy like Cotto.
Mosley has had an amazing career, amassing a record of, 44-4, 37 KO’s, but he is not a big puncher as a welterweight. His knockout over Fernando Vargas was more of a case of Mosley destroying a shell of a former good fighter, than Mosley displaying his overwhelming power. He has great skill and that is why he has had the longevity, but he is facing, arguably, the best young fighter in the game.
Miguel Cotto, 30-0, 25 KO’s, took a long time to fill the shoes of fellow Puerto Rican Star, Felix Trinidad, but he is nearly there. He has gotten off the canvas to knock out his opponent on several occasions and has proven stronger when he moved up seven pounds to the welterweight division, knocking out Zab Judah and Carlos Quintana. He is the new Julio Cesar Chavez, winning his wars through body work, attrition, and will, and should do the same with Mosley.
This fight is a great fight but it is not two prime fighters going at it. It’s one prime superstar against a faded star, trying to hold on. I’m still going to rent it, but it’s Mosley is going to have to find old form and hope for Cotto to have a bad day in order to pull this one out.
Verdict: Overrated
December 8, 2007: Ricky “Hitman” Hatton Vs. “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather, JR.
The man that vows to retire after every win, Floyd Mayweather, JR., 38-0, 24 KO’s, has chosen to take on one of the most likable fighters in the game, Ricky “Hitman” Hatton, 43-0, 31 KO’s, in a bout between two of boxing’s pound for pound best. Mayweather, JR., is universally seen as the best fighter in the game and holds wins over Oscar De La Hoya, Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo (twice), Zab Judah, and Arturo Gatti. He has been flawless and brings a defensive game, reflexes, and confidence that is hard to beat. He is heavily favored to beat Hatton, but not so quick.
Ricky Hatton did not look good in his first and only welterweight bout against Luis Collazo. He escaped with a win but he looked confused and ended up taking some punishment at the end of the fight, but Collazo is a southpaw and may have been overlooked. Floyd is not a southpaw and doesn’t always do well against physical fighters like Hatton. Jose Luis Castillo did very well with Floyd and Hatton is stronger and more aggressive. Hatton has one heck of a shot in this fight and he has improved, as displayed with his easy KO win over that same Jose Luis Castillo. This is a superfight without question and means everything to the boxing world.
Verdict: Underrated
January 26, 2008: Roy Jones, JR. Vs. Felix Trinidad
This is a bout that will be contested at 170 pounds between two fighters that are far beyond their primes. Roy Jones, JR., went back to what worked throughout his career: selective matchmaking, to make his way back into spotlight. After three consecutive losses, he rebounded with wins over Prince Badi Ajamu and Anthony Hanshaw, and has now landed the fight that he wanted in Felix Trinidad. Jones brings an impressive record of, 51-4, 38 KO’s, but he hasn’t had a win over a top quality opponent since his controversial win over Antonio Tarver in 2003.
Felix Trinidad, 42-2, 35 KO’s, was one of the biggest pay per view attractions of all time and brought an exciting style that saw him on the canvas at times only to climb back up to his feet and obliterate his opponent. He was a devastating welterweight, destroying everything in his path, but when he moved up, he lost a lot. As a middleweight, he was maneuvered into a championship with a match up against WBA Champion, William Joppy, a fighter that was custom made for “Tito.” Bernard Hopkins gave Trinidad a rude awakening and he hasn’t been the same since. The last time that we saw him was in 2005 when Winky Wright humiliated him over 12 rounds.
The match up between Jones, JR., and Trinidad is a meaningless fight. It’s not going to prove who the better fighter was…it’ll prove who the better fighter is right now, and it’s a money fight. Two great fighters, at one time, stepping into the ring to laugh all the way to the bank.
Verdict: All Hype
Despite the rating that I have given the fights listed above, they are all good for boxing. Roy Jones, JR., and Felix Trinidad going at it does what Mayweather – De La Hoya did: brought fans back to the game that has been against the ropes for a long time. The next few months brings boxing back to life and brings answers to many questions. I’m sure that we will see some surprises and some fighters reinforcing what we believe about them all ready. The boxing fans are finally getting treated well…it’s been a long time coming.
