Matthew Aguilar
176 articles · El Paso Times
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Nonito Donaire returns vs. unbeaten Narvaez
The last image of Nonito Donaire in a boxing ring is indelible: raising his gloves skyward after what will almost assuredly be 2011's "Knockout of the Year." A Donaire left hook from…
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Sergio Martinez will blister Darren Barker
The middleweight division is to boxing what the sweep was to Vince Lombardi. It is the very essence of the game. And it has produced the best fighters who have ever lived.…
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Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Saul “Canelo” Alvarez must step it up
It's bad enough that WBC junior middleweight champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez -- a legitimate box-office monster who has yet to meet an opponent who can actually beat him -- is fighting Alfonso…
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Matthew Aguilar: Pacquiao – Marquez 3 headlines so-so fall
When the Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley fight is the highlight of the year so far, one can only hope that 2011 gets better for boxing. And while the fall slate of fights is…
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Matthew Aguilar: Don’t beat yourself over this edition of fighting’s best
It's been a few years since the last time the El Paso Times celebrated the "Best of Boxing." It's a "best of" series that is sure to get the fight fans' blood…
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Up-and-coming Gamboa will be too much for Solis
Yuriorkis Gamboa is one of boxing's future stars -- a fast and furious phenom who, because of his crazy talent, went from prospect to world champion seemingly overnight. His abilities are unmistakable.…
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Pacquiao is best pound for pound
It's been nine months since the El Paso Times updated its pound-for-pound list. It's time to revisit: Pac Man tops ... again 1. Manny Pacquiao, 52-3-2 (38 knockouts): Pacquiao has been criticized…
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Memory of Holyfield better than comeback
Most of the world first laid eyes on Evander Holyfield when he was a gutsy, talented and classy U.S. Olympian competing in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Holyfield was dominating New…
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Juan Manuel Marquez makes sense for Manny Pacquiao
Juan Manuel Marquez may have been considered the odd man out in the Manny Pacquiao sweepstakes before last weekend. But after a blistering ninth-round knockout of tough Australian Michael Katsidis, "Dinamita" has…
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Mayweather has tools to make Pacquiao look ordinary
Bernard Hopkins isn't the most politically correct quote in the world. He says things that make people uncomfortable and he is often accused of playing the race card. But you can't deny…
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Matthew Aguilar: It’ll be Pacquiao in a split decision
ARLINGTON, Texas --Generally, boxing weigh-ins are much ado about nothing. Bulging muscles and stare-downs rarely win fights. There was a turning point on July 26, 2008 -- a subtle change in momentum…
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Matthew Aguilar: Nevada made right move on Antonio Margarito
Antonio Margarito had some big plans this fall. The "Tijuana Tornado" was either going to fight a rematch with Miguel Cotto or, if Manny Pacquiao's proposed superfight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. fell…
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Miguel Cotto has uphill battle vs. Yuri Foreman
All you have to do is look at the photo of Yuri Foreman and Miguel Cotto standing side-by-side to see the physical disparity between these two very different boxers. Foreman, the smooth…
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Long-awaited showdown Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Shane Mosley tonight
LAS VEGAS -- For the first time in his career, Floyd Mayweather Jr. may be going into a fight where he does not have supreme physical advantages. Mayweather, who will meet WBA…
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One of the best boxing fights you won’t be seeing
It says a ton about the state of boxing when a heavyweight championship fight -- a legitimate heavyweight championship fight that features arguably the best big man in the sport -- is…
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Matthew Aguilar: Joshua Clottey’s great but Manny ‘Pac-Man’ Pacquiao is greater
Joshua Clottey is as tough and dangerous a welterweight as there is in boxing. He has cut his teeth against the world's best 147-pounders; he has an aggressive, straight-forward style that makes…
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Juan Manuel Lopez the likely heir to Miguel Cotto at MSG
The massive Puerto Rican Day Parade is the talk of New York City every second Sunday in June. And, for the past few years, the unofficial host has been Miguel Cotto, who…
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Clottey will bring it vs. Pacquiao on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium
The boxing world may be bummed that the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight has been scrapped, having been replaced by Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey on March 13 at Cowboys Stadium. But, drama…
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. to blame for Manny Pacquiao debacle
Now that the scheduled March 13 megafight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. officially is kaput, "Pac-Man" has moved on to a meeting with Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium on the…
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Decade belonged to Pacquiao
CHICAGO -- The El Paso Times boxing column started in 2001. It's been quite a decade. Time to hand out awards for the best of the past 10 years. Thanks for reading.…