HAVE recently discovered that some of my Last Rounders aren?t even hardcore boxing fans. To me that was a very pleasant discovery. But it also means I have been taking a lot of things for granted. How insensate of me.
Earlier this month, I had been toying with the idea of featuring upcoming boxing events but I figured that most of my readers surf the net anyway and so information access was not going to be a problem
Au contraire.
Some of my readers are just casual boxing fans who only have a passing interest of the sport. Ergo, they are familiar only with the more popular pugs but when they want to check out what fights are coming up, they can only rely on what is being advertised on our local boxing channels. This can be quite inadequate as so many good fights are not shown on local cable.
The departure of Solar Sports from Sky cable?s roster has only worsened matters, but this is stuff for another column.
SMS. A text message to Sun Star Cebu?s sports forum (from Matoy of Mandaue) requesting me to feature upcoming ideal fights for 2008 got me into thinking I also probably need to come up with some sort of fight calendar for the benefit of those who a) do not surf the net, b) do not bother to surf the net, c) don?t know what the hell the net is.
Let?s start with the first quarter of 2008 and see how things shape up. Usually events that transpire early in the year determine how things play out in the latter part.
First up would be the much anticipated and also much maligned match-up between Felix Trinidad and Roy Jones Jr. on Jan. 19. My column tomorrow will feature my take on that mega-fight.
The natural progression for the winner would be a match-up with the winner of the Bernard Hopkins-Joe Calzaghe tiff tentatively scheduled on April 12.
On the local front, please mark Feb. 2 on your calendar as on that day, our very own Z Gorres trades mitts with tough-talking Vic Darchinyan at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino. Yup, cocky Vic is actually coming to Cebu to try and cold-cock Z.
Best of luck Vic. Last time, Fernando Montiel tried it, but Z was just too slippery and too damn good. Sure, he won the match, but not the fight. Montiel was a better boxer than you and so, this early, I?m predicting a unanimous decision win for Z.
Another interesting bout penciled for Feb. 9 is Paul Williams vs. Carlos Quintana for the WBO welterweight title. Williams is an undefeated southpaw with a record of 33-0 with 24 KOs and stands a freakish 6?1?. Quintana, also a southpaw, is 24-1 with 19KOs. His only loss was inflicted by Puerto Rican superstar Miguel Cotto. Someday, when the de la Hoyas and the Mayweathers are sent out to pasture, you might be talking about these guys a lot.
Feb. 16 is the big day for the much-anticipated Kelly Pavlik-Jermain Taylor rematch. These guys opted to duke it out at the super-middleweight limit this time and so Pavlik?s belts will not be on the line. That same day, our very own IBF minimum weight champion Florante Condes makes his much- awaited return to the ring against undefeated Raul Garcia of Mexico.
On Feb. 23, the big guys take centerstage as Wladimir Klitscko and Sultan Ibragimov collide with both the IBF and WBO diadems at stake.
March 1 brings us a scorcher in Israel Vasquez- Rafael Marquez III. Of course, there?s Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez II on March 15 and rounding out the ides of March is the Joel Casamayor vs. Michael Katsidis for the WBC lightweight belt.
THE LAST ROUND. It?s on my uncles Oscar and Monching Quijano, Auntie Lerma and my cousin Junjun who is coming home to tie the knot. Welcome back and Cheers!
