Cliff Rold
427 articles · Hard Core Boxing
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David Haye-Dereck Chisora: $natching Victory From Defeat
By Cliff Rold
Boxing loves a winner. It loves money more. Make a fight with the promise of violence, and evidence of violence in the build to the opening bell and? Cha-ching. Fire up the…
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Nonito Donaire Unifies, Looks ?Definitely? to Nishioka
By Cliff Rold
For the second time, 29-year old Filipino WBO 122 lb. titlist Nonito Donaire (29-1, 18 KO) of San Leandro, California, holds two major titles in a weight class. This time, he did…
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Nonito Donaire-Jeffrey Mathebula: Pre-Fight Report Card
By Cliff Rold
If only it were always this easy. Nonito Donaire wins a belt at 122 lbs. in February. Jeffrey Mathebula wins one in March. In search of opponents, they turn to each other.…
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Klitschko Times Two: History?s Long Odds
By Cliff Rold
In a way, the fight itself is a compliment to World Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko (57-3, 50 KO). He?s won the Olympic Gold Medal. He?s rebounded from knockout losses to unify almost…
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Bundrage Sets Focus on Canelo After Blasting Spinks
By Cliff Rold
It took two rounds longer, but 39-year old IBF Jr. Middleweight titlist Cornelius Bundrage (32-4, 19 KO) repeated the result of their first encounter, stopping 34-year old Cory Spinks (39-6, 11 KO)…
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Ortiz-Lopez, Matthysse-Soto: Pre-Showtime Report Card
By Cliff Rold
Sometimes, the misfortune of others isn?t so bad. Boxing fans everywhere were disappointed with the initial postponement of Victor Ortiz-Andre Berto II. They were more than that when the rescheduled rematch was…
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A Burst of Adrenaline in The Middleweight Division
By Cliff Rold
A champion is often only as good as his division. A division is only as good as its combination of talent and matchmaking. Middleweight has talent. In 2010, when Sergio Martinez bested…
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No Reward for Robbery: BScene Pound-for-Pound Update
By Cliff Rold
The reviews are in and judges Duane Ford and CJ Ross get two thumbs down from most of the boxing community. Given consideration of the quality of opponent he had in front…
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Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley: Pre-Fight Report Card
By Cliff Rold
In the wake of his second round atomizing of Ricky Hatton for the lineal World Jr. Welterweight Championship in 2009, Manny Pacquiao had a clear number one contender in his class. He?d…
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The Bradley Challenge: Boxing Before Razzle-Dazzle
By Cliff Rold
The best fights in boxing often combine the naked promise of violence between two notable warriors in peak form with, to borrow from the musical ?Chicago,? a little of the old razzle-dazzle.…
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Paul “The Punisher” Williams: A Fearless Warrior Falls
By Cliff Rold
It was arguably the saddest news in boxing since the murder of Vernon Forrest. Paul Williams, the former Welterweight and Jr. Middleweight titlist, was injured in a motorcycle accident. Paralyzed below the…
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Marquez-Morales: The Only Choice for Cowboys Stadium
By Cliff Rold
In a boxing world that managed to squeeze in Roberto Duran-Hector Camacho before both were 100% done with the ring, it?s humorous how often the hope to see Juan Manuel Marquez and…
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Brian Viloria Eliminates His Demons With Trilogy Win
By Cliff Rold
Almost six years after suffering his first defeat and losing his first professional title, 31-year old WBO Flyweight titlist Brian Viloria (31-3, 18 KO) of Waipahu, Hawaii, avenged the defeat with a…
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Brian Viloria vs. Omar Nino III: The Pre-Fight Report Card
By Cliff Rold
A fine rivalry can happen anywhere on the scale. Unfinished business can be resolved a class higher than where it all began. This Saturday, at 112 lbs., 2000 U.S. Olympian attempts to…
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?The Ring? Changes The Rules, Further Clouds Title Scene
By Cliff Rold
It?s been a little more than a decade since ?The Ring? elected to begin handing out belts to men deemed to have validated their place as the legitimate World Champions of their…
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Cotto-Mayweather: Cinco De Mayweather Report Card
By Cliff Rold
If nothing else, the world got a hellacious staredown at the weigh-in festivities on Friday night. If the pre-fight battle of the eyes between Tommy Hearns and Wilfred Benitez in 1983 is…
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Floyd Mayweather-Miguel Cotto: One and Probably Done
By Cliff Rold
Floyd Mayweather is fond of pointing out 42 have tried and failed to erase his undefeated mark. It?s ever amusing in the days before a Mayweather fight to point out the flaw…
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Floyd Mayweather-Miguel Cotto: One and Probably Done
By Cliff Rold
Floyd Mayweather is fond of pointing out 42 have tried and failed to erase his undefeated mark. It?s ever amusing in the days before a Mayweather fight to point out the flaw…
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Bernard Hopkins – The Magic of The Executioner
By Cliff Rold
Eventually, Harry Houdini succumbed. The cause of his end was a ruptured appendix. Houdini?s act reportedly sometimes included tightening his abs and show people what shots he could take. It was one…
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Get Used to Chemito: Weekend Review, Ratings Update
By Cliff Rold
Abner Mares, the new WBC 122 lb. titlist, was clearly the star of the show, defeating 1996 Olympian and former WBA Flyweight titlist Eric Morel by virtual shutout. WBA ?Super? Bantamweight titlist…