Guys, we got through it. What had been perhaps one of the most frustrating and uneventful summers for the sport of boxing in recent memory has finally come to an end. Not officially, but as far as I’m concerned, when I see ‘Back to School’ sales taking place and football season beginning( which it does next week, at least in the NCAA), that means the summer has come to an end. I don’t need the leaves to change colors to tell me anything. When it’s September, it’s the beginning fall.
It also means that- especially in 2009- that boxing has returned from it’s months long siesta. And it does not disappoint as it has put together one of it’s best runs in years. Showtime has anchored itself to it’s much ballyhooed ‘Super Six’ super middleweight tourney and HBO despite it’s contracting budget, finishes with a flourish of high-profile bouts.
A look ahead…
– September 12th (Showtime): Mikkel Kessler vs. Gusmyl Perdomo/ Andre Ward vs. Shelby Pudwill: Admittedly, when this comes to leading off, this isn’t exactly Rickey Henderson. Both Kessler and Ward get ( really)soft touches before meeting later on in the year. Like I’ve said before, think of this as the highly ranked team facing the soft non-conference opponent before getting things started for real later on.
I have a feeling that more than a few of you will Tivo this and watch USC face Ohio St live. Can’t say I wont be doing the same thing.
* Ivan Calderon vs. Rodel Mayol (PPV): In Puerto Rico a small independent pay-per-view that is being staged that features the rematch between Calderon and Mayol, who battled to a technical draw back in June, where the upstart Filipino fought well in the early rounds against the undefeated Calderon. Has Calderon slipped enough for a young, hungry boxer to trip him up? Can Mayol go on the island and take Calderon’s WBO jr. flyweight title?
Also on the card is the rugged Rocky Martinez, who defends his WBO jr. lightweight title against Michael Lozada.
* Julio Cesar Chavez Jr vs. Jason LeHoullier (PPV): Seriously, are you losing interest in Junior as much as I am? If he doesn’t care about his career, why should anyone else? There doesn’t seem to be much fury with this Latin.
– September 19th (HBO PPV): Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs Juan Manuel Marquez: So can two counter-punchers make a good fight? How will the two-year layoff effect Mayweather? Is Marquez simply too small and out-gunned as a welterweight? We’ll find out. Many doubt this will be a good action fight but most everybody is in agreement that this is one of the best pay-per-view undercards in years with Chris John-Rocky Juarez II, Michael Katsidis-Vicente Escobedo on the bill.
– September 26th (HBO): Vitali Klitschko vs. Chris Arreola: Is this bout simply too soon for Arreola? This much can be guaranteed, he’ll put up a much more spirited effort than the likes of Sam Peter and unlike David Haye, he’ll show up to the dance. Can ‘the Nightmare’ get past the early rounds and the jab of Klitschko and make this a fight in the middle-to-late rounds? That’s the big question.
– October 10th (PPV): Juan Manuel Lopez vs. Rogers Mtagwa: Lopez is the latest in the line of stalwart Puerto Rican pugilists that is building great popularity on his island and beyond. Mtagwa, is a tough, steady veteran, who’s style lends itself to entertaining fights. Lopez wont have to work hard to find Mtagwa. This latest edition of ‘Latin Fury’ also features Yuriorkis Gamboa and a heavyweight tilt between Kevin Johnson and Odlanier Solis.
– October 17th (Showtime): Carl Froch vs. Andre Dirrell/ Arthur Abraham vs. Jermain Taylor: The ‘Super Six’ is truly for the hard-core fight fan. And this round-robin kicks off with a split-site doubleheader in Europe. Froch is a tough and consistent fighter, but Dirrell’s style could give him fits. But can he win on the road in Nottingham, England? Abraham has moved up to 168 after a productive run as the IBF middleweight titlist. Taylor is the one fighter who most pundits don’t give much of a chance to really make a dent in this whole thing. And now, for the first time in his career, he goes on the road. My gut feel is that early on his jab and movement will trouble ‘King’ Arthur, but Taylor will suffer his customary late round fade.
November 7th (HBO): Chad Dawson vs. Glen Johnson II/ Alfredo Angulo vs. Harry Joe Yorgey: There’s more than a few folks( like myself) who believe that Johnson did more than enough defeat Dawson in April of 2008. Now, after defeating Antonio Tarver twice, he takes on the fighter that simply wont go away. Dawson has every concievable physical advantage, he’s younger, fresher, quicker and faster. But Johnson is one of those boxers who’s whole is greater than the sum of his parts. My early feeling is that Dawson will perform better this time and around, and don’t forget, this fight is in Dawson’s backyard of Hartford, CT. It’s hard to imagine Johnson getting a decision in a close fight.
It’s no secret that Angulo is troubled by movement and while Yorgey isn’t exactly Pernell Whitaker, he’s a competent boxer. Look for this fight to go some quality rounds.
November 14th: Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto (HBO PPV): I don’t think too much really needs to be said about this event, quite simply, it’s the most anticipated big fight of the year. It has a chance to break a million pay-per-view buys and stylistically it has the potential to make for a fun fight. You have the naturally bigger man in Cotto, who has heavy hands taking on the Filipino whirlwind that is ‘the Pac Man’. The only question is about this pay-per-view is just what caliber of undercard Bob Arum will provide. He promised something ‘spectacular’, we’ll see.
November 21st (Showtime): Mikkel Kessler vs Andre Ward: One of the things that I love about ‘the Super Six’ in addition to the fighter and match-ups involved is how fighters are being forced to go outside their comfort zones and travel to foreign locations. Dirrell and Taylor kick off this tournament by going to Europe and Kessler will be packing his bags and going to Oakland to face the hometown guy, Ward. It’s an interesting clash of styles, Kessler is the classic boxer, who works off a sharp jab and relies time and time again on 1-2 combo( jab, right cross). But Ward brings his athleticism and quickness and you wonder how Kessler will deal with his lateral movement.
– November 28th (HBO): Lucian Bute vs. Librado Andrade II: A bit of a holiday treat and certainly this rematch shouldn’t be considered Thanksgiving leftovers. The first go-around was mired in controversy as Bute was sent to the canvas late by the methodical Andrade and perhaps aided by a long-count, he was able to see the end of the 12th round and win a decision to retain his IBF super middleweight title. Let’s hope house referee Marlon B. Wright will be watching this rematch like the rest of us- from his living room.
– December 5th (HBO): Kelly Pavlik vs. Paul Williams: OK, I’m making an assumption here, because this fight is not a done deal, it’s been talked about, speculated upon and rumored. But as of now, Pavlik, has not been cleared medically to go forward with his training. But if it is, Pavlik-Williams will be one of the more interesting stylistic match-ups of 2009. Pavlik has the advantage of being a true middleweight throughout his career but Williams has the stature of a super-middleweight and is a windmill who just continues to throw a barrage of punches.
Can Pavlik put aside a turbulent period of his life and re-focus? Or will Williams do what Hopkins did to him last year?
– December 12th (PPV): Nonito Donaire vs. Jorge Arce/ Steven Luevano vs. Bernabe Concepcion: ‘Pinoy Power III’ will have the classic storyline of the young, up-and-coming star facing the faded veteran. At the very least, Arce, is still game and as courageous as they come. But Donaire seem to have every single attribute in his favor coming in. As for Luevano-Concepcion, let’s hope they get an extra loud bell for this rematch.
DECEMBER 26TH?
The latest regarding Shane Mosley is that he could be fighting on December 26th (yes, the day after Christmas) and Joshua Clottey is said to be the front-runner to land that assignment. But there are several issues, I’m told that ‘Sugar’ isn’t so sweet on fighting in any other venue other than the MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay or the Staples Center. There is said to be a pretty nice offer on the table from the Las Vegas Hilton, but Mosley is balking at that idea.
But here’s the thing, logistically, is that a good date for any promotion? As one boxing insider asked me rhetorically,” Who the hell is going to want to weigh-in on Christmas day?” Also, while many people stay home to watch sports and other events on that particular day, by December 26th, there are things like ‘After Christmas’ sales to attend to and gift returns to make. And the stark reality is that Mosley nor Clottey aren’t real ticket sellers to begin with.
Regardless, it’s a good fight whenever it takes place. The question is, will there be anyone in the building to watch it?
MONEY
OK, let me get this straight, this whole alleged roller rink shootout involving Floyd Mayweather and his crew was precipitated because of a text message where the said target had told Floyd he hopes he loses his bout with Marquez? ( Gulp)
Uh, in that case, I just want to personally apologize for myself and my former colleague Doug Fisher for anything derogatory, offensive or anything that we have penned that may have upset his majesty Mayweather, in the past. To paraphrase ‘Drake’: You the, you the best, you the, you the best. Best I ever saw, best I ever saw.’ Seriously, Floyd, I’m wholeheartedly sorry, don’t you or any of your associates pull the trigger, I’ve done seen the light.
Yeah, call me a coward( I’ve never claimed to be particularly brave), but hey, no need to get shot up, here.
FINAL FLURRIES
No truth to the rumor that one of Mayweather’s crew had anything to do with the shooting of promoter Ahmet Oner….I hear the money being offered to WBC welterweight titlist Andre Berto to face IBF belt-holder Isaac Hlatschwayo may keep that fight from becoming a reality. Seriously, if the Bengals are out of the playoff race by December( and they are the Bengals), why not offer the fight to ‘Ocho Cinco’?…..Can you believe college football begins this Thursday night? Oregon-Boise St. is a great game to kick things off….I have no comments on the season finale of ‘Friday Night Fights’ because I was in Hawaii, and well, y’know. But I’ll have more thoughts later this week after I view the fights….Does Mayweather have a ‘shotgun jab’ in his arsenal. Hey, I’m joking, I’m joking!!!…..It’s been put to my attention by loyal reader Shane B. that he wasn’t even aware that I had a Live Daily Blog( where I give quick breaking news hits, along with my opinions and musings), but yes, on the right-hand side of our front page, in blue, you will be able to see my blog…. Twitter.com/stevemaxboxing…..
