Sure, Michael Kastidis could upset the apricot, I mean the applecart.
If the Aussie of Greek extraction can overcome his usually robotic ring habits and take advantage of Juan Manuel Marquez’s creaking bones, then Katidis could upset the Mexican counterpuncher Saturday night in Las Vegas.
If, somewhat miraculously, this occurs, then throw MK’s name in the hat for Fighter of the Year, 2010.
Ditto for Marcos Maidana. Not that Argentinean fighters are not red hot now, nothing like that, but if he can buck the odds and shock Freddie Roach-trained Amir Khan on Dec. 11, his name goes into the hat as well.
I’m skeptical to either Juan Ma, Khan or both losing and no way, no how do I see either favorite getting knocked into dreamland as dramatically as Martinez did to Williams.
That KO almost made Ricky Hatton look lik he got off lightly in his less than two full rounds against Megamanny.
So it says here that, right now, Manny Pacquiao is NOT the Fighter of the Year, 2010, and my Boston pal Coach Roach is not the Trainer of the Year in the Boxing Writers Association of America’s annual derby.
Ballots should be marked, pending the Marquez and Khan fight results for Argentina hero Sergio Martinez over Pacman, who beat pedestrian talents Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito, and trainer Gabriel Sarmiento (yeah, the dude with the bodyguard sunglasses that he wears indoors).
These awards are for the needy, not the greedy, says Marley.
If that DQs me as a Pacman/Roach Fanboy, so be it.
Martinez smashed Paul Williams, a far superior talent to Clottey and “Margacheato” combined really and Spanish citizen Sarmiento was the architect who wrote the perfect fight plan for the rematch against Daddy Longlegs, a/ka/ PWill. I don’t see Sarmiento getting his proper props, not even from the Latino boxing media.
In the House of (Al) Haymon, they must be cursing this man’s name. Sarmiento could be his country’s greatest exports since the Serrano ham and those tasty olives.
I mean, give promoter Lou DiBella and talent scout Sampson “Miami Vice” Lewkowicz full credit, although they much prefer cash, but it was Sarmiento and Martinez who wrote the script that resulted in Williams crashing to the canvas like the Dunes Hotel-Casino being dynamited.
Pacquiao and Roach have more than enough hardware in their trophy cases. They might even skipping the writers dinner after their three year run of gobbling up the top two awards.
Fresh faces, new to the podium talents, will be on display and that’s a tonic for all concerned.
Martinez and Sarmiento, they get the big honors.
Only an upset-minded Kastidis and/or the dangerous Maidana can alter the outcome now.
Let’s say Kastidis runs second to cagey Juan Ma but MM beats Kid Khan, what then would the writers’ dinner theme be, with two winners from one South American country?
Too easy, I say, as you would actually have three or four winners (I assume but don’t know if Maidana’s trainer is also Argentinean) from the land of Eva Peron.
You got it, don’t cry for me, Argentina.
I think Carlos Baldomir might be available to emcee the swinging soiree.
