It?s looking to me that Golden Boy Promotions should just hand the September 15th date over to Top Rank. There is no real reason to force the boxing public to pick one over the other, it?s not healthy for the sport, so why even go there? I would also like to say that a year ago, heck, even a few months ago, I would have picked Sergio Martinez to spank Chavez Jr. Today, from where I sit, I?m singing a totally different song. Chavez Jr. is never going to be the vicious hunter that his father used to be when he would cut the ring off and kill you, Chavez Jr. takes a little longer to get there, but when he gets there, he operates like a lumberjack. As of right now, this fight is a 55-45 type of fight. I?ll leave it at that and leave it up to you, the fans to decide on who has the edge in this fight.
Next for Lucas Matthysse?- Number 1, I am not shocked that Matthysse was able to knock out Humberto Soto in the fashion in which he did. To me, it was to be expected. Soto?s frame is just not built to fight above 135 pounds. It is what it is, skills kill but sometimes the weight will dictate. If I?m Matthysse, I would gun for Lopez, Yes, Lopez! Now that Lopez?s star is sky high, I would rush into the offices of Golden Boy Promotions and beg them to get me a shot at Josesito Lopez. The money fight would be to take on the winner of Khan/Garcia, but I feel that Khan will win that fight and will then move on to bigger and better things at 147. If Garcia is to shock the world in the same manner that Josesito just did, then at that time, I would get on my knees and beg for Garcia. So in saying that, since this is the theatre of the unexpected, if I?m Matthysse, maybe I would just sit back and see how things unfold with in the next few weeks.
The Canelo curse- We were supposed to first have had, Canelo vs. Kirkland, then Kirkland decided that his shoulder needed a little more time to heal. Then we were supposed to have seen Canelo in against Victor Ortiz, well, Josesito Lopez then came in and crashed the party. So now, once again, Canelo sits alone without a date. Imagine the thoughts going through Canelo?s mind as the Ortiz/Lopez clash was starting to reach the guts and balls stages of the fight. At this point, if it?s not Miguel Cotto in the opposite corner, then I?m not interested.
Major props to Josesito Lopez- Was Victor Ortiz beating Josesito Lopez heading into the ninth round? Yes, absolutely. Thing is that this is a 12 round fight and Josesito Lopez was not going to be denied. Don?t get me wrong, I enjoy watching Ortiz do battle, the kid is never in a dull fight. But I have always felt that Ortiz only fights because he can, not because he loves the sport. In this sport, there is no off season, you must have the heart, will, skill, passion, and determination to be able to see and REACH the light at the end of that dark tunnel. Lopez with his wide ass punches may not have the skill level of Ortiz, but Lopez?s combination of heart, will, passion, and determination was more than enough to kill the skill of Victor Ortiz. Sure it?s easy for me to say since I wasn?t the one being punched in the jaw, but this is the plate that you chose to eat, you wanted to be called a fighter for a reason. You are either cut from that cloth or you are not.
Speaking of fighters, Carson Jones is all fighter, and he is ready to fight!- Carson Jones will take on the scorching hot, Kell Brook on July 7th at at the Motorpoint Arena Sheffield. I spoke with Carson Jones earlier today, and here are a few highlights of the conversation we had.
It?s almost time for the moment of truth, where are you training at for this fight against Kell Brook?
CJ- I?m out here in Big Bear. I?m putting in the work out here. I?m ready to go.
Jose Benavidez Jr. is out a fighter from around my way, I hear that he is also up there training as well, have you two gotten a chance to spar one another yet?
CJ- Yeah, I saw them recently. We haven?t sparred or anything like that because I think they just got up here about a week ago or so. He is a talented kid.
Your record stands at 34-8, to the naked eye, it would seem that you have the type of record that forces fighters to make the mistake of sleeping on you. You have a very deceiving record, you are like a real life Rocky Balboa. The under dog of under dogs, you are 8-0 with 7 ko?s in your last 8 fights, hungry as ever. Do you feel that Kell Brook may be over looking you because of your record?
CJ- I think that yeah, he may be over looking me a bit. But like you said, I?m a fighter and this is what I love to do. I?m going all the way over there to win. I?m beating Kell Brook come July 7. I?m gonna knock him out.
Sounds like you are ready, sounds like you are looking to play the role that Josesito Lopez played this past weekend as he shocked the world to beat Ortiz. Speaking of that fight, what was your take on the way the fight ended? It?s easy for me to say that Ortiz should have boxed 3 more rounds with a broken jaw, but coming from a fighter like yourself, what was your take on it?
CJ- Well, I for one, have never had a broken jaw so I couldn?t really say how I would have reacted. It?s really in no one?s place to call Ortiz out on anything. Only the fighter knows what he is feeling at that particular time. We should never be quick to judge. You mentioned to me earlier how you feel that it may be a mental thing, because when your own parents give up on you then it?s quite easy for him to quit on himself. You may have a point, but in my case, I am adopted, and it makes me push myself even harder in tough situations. It was a great fight and both fighters gave it their all.
Carson, you as a fan of the sport, who would you like to see Canelo face now?
CJ- I don?t really know man, you told me that you would like to see Cotto in with Canelo, I had totally forgot about Cotto being there. That would be a real good fight. I as a fan would love to see that fight also. I know that Kirkland was supposed to face Canelo, but to me, Canelo would have beaten Kirkland. I have sparred Canelo, I know what he can do man.
Any closing thoughts? If Kell Brook is reading this, what would you like to say to him?
CJ- I would just like to say to Kell that he best be ready. Ready to be knocked out because I am knocking him out!
