While I’m sure HBO isn’t happy that they lost the Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley mismatch to Showtime, the flipside is that they can put more good fights on since they won’t have to shell out cash from their budget in May. Word is that Bob Arum was asking for a sum of money from HBO that was much too big for the network to commit to, so ESPN and CBS tried to profit from the fallout with the fight ultimately going to Showtime.
I’m hoping HBO can use that extra money to continue their already stellar schedule for 2011. Showtime hasn’t had a major star on their network since Mike Tyson retired and has shown a better quality of fights as opposed to the quantity of stinkers HBO has put on through the years. Expect Pacquiao and the Top Rank Boxing League to return to HBO in the fall though, because if the manner in which CBS has handled Strikeforce for the past couple of years is any indication of their dedication to boxing, I’m sure they’ll be banging at the door for HBO to let them back in!
Who Watches the Watchmen?
Think state athletic commissions are on top of things fight fans? Well, the Association of Boxing Commissions just released a report that revealed 28 boxers had fought while on suspension in 2010, with nine of those fighters fighting in California, including highly-ranked Bantamweight contender Christopher Martin and former title challenger Cecillo Santos. How these fights are being sanctioned by the state athletic commissions are beyond me, but it doesn’t surprise me when a state like California, who hasn’t changed their rules for boxing in well over 30 years, lets nine fighters currently on suspension continue to fight.
This is an awful blow to the sport and it shows that there is very little concern for the legitimacy of the game of boxing. The Nevada State Athletic commission didn’t have anybody in Antonio Margarito’s dressing room to watch his hands get wrapped before he pounded Miguel Cotto half to death, and I’ve also heard that neither Amir Khan nor Marcos Maidana were drug tested following their title bout in Vegas. Drug testing is mandatory in title fights that take place in Nevada. The fact that there are so many offenses is an embarrassing fact that has been brought to light and begs for Federal regulation of the sport.
Adamek vs. [Insert First Name Here] Klitschko This Fall!
In just three weeks, Tomasz Adamek secured a deal to fight one of the two brothers Klitschko this fall, something that’s taken David Haye three years and counting. Though both brothers will have their choice of who fights Adamek should they win their next bouts, I’m leaning towards Vitali challenging the Polish Heavyweight being that Wladmir will hold out should Haye grow a pair and finally commit to a fight with him.
I don’t give Adamek a shot against either Klitschko, but he’s going to give it as good as he can and it’s one of the best fights that can be made in the decrepit division. What I will give Adamek a shot at is that he’ll be much more competitive against the brother’s than Haye could hope to be.
Potshot Picks:
Timothy Bradley vs. Devon Alexander At this stage of their careers, Bradley is the more complete fighter and it will show as his accurate outside punching and superior body work will slow Alexander to a crawl. Alexander still has a good chance of winning because he’s a busy fighter. He will be the most active man in the ring, but he gets hit too much and his defense is leaky at best. Bradley by unanimous decision.
