FLOYD & RAPPERS DO MMA TONIGHT ON BET
Los Angeles, CA- ?Hip-Hop? and mixed martial arts become allies in BET?s (Black Entertainment Television) new MMA team concept show called ?Iron Ring,? which airs tonight (Tuesday). The program includes Floyd Mayweather along with rap superstars, T.I., Ludicrous, Lil? John, Juelz Santana and Nelly are the team coaches. It appears that BET recognizes the popularity surge in MMA, as well as Mayweather, who has a Wrestlemania date on March 30, and the Hip Hop community. How the show will be received by viewers is yet to be seen. The show debuts tonight on BET.
BOXING BONUS: YAHOO AIRS UNDERCARDS
The untelevised portion of the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez was broadcast live on Yahoo sports, with Maxboxing?s Doug Fischer and Rich Marotta doing the commentary. The quality was excellent if you have a cable connection and hopefully they will occur more in the future. The future of television is the Internet and it?s nice to see that boxing won?t be left behind. What was intriguing was what occurred in the featherweight eight-rounder between Baudel Cardinas (17-12-2, 6 KOs) of Mexico, and Freddie Roach trained Filipino Michael Farenas (19-2-2, 17 KOs). The Filipino fighter was dirty as he threw a number of low blows, some of which received warnings from referee Tony Weeks.
In the third round Farinas landed a perfect uppercut to the cup area. The Mexican went down hard and lay almost motionless on the canvas for a couple minutes. No points were taken, no disqualification was rendered and since the Los Mochis native could not continue, thus Farenas won by TKO. According to the rules Cardinas had five minutes to continue in this case, and the punch probably wasn?t intentional, but it appeared that the shot was so vicious and damaging and the result somehow didn?t seem fair. What did you think?
PACQUIAO A PUPPET FOR MASSA? BOB
Years ago it appeared that Manny Paquiao was willing to fight ?anybody, anywhere, anytime.? His new motto should be I will fight ?anybody, anywhere that promoter Bob Arum tells me to.? In fighting David Diaz (34-1-1, 17 KOs) Manny will be contesting for the WBC lightweight (135 lbs.) title against a guy who didn?t even earn it. One could argue that he lost his bout with Erik Morales, and he performed rather ordinary against a somewhat ordinary Roman Montano (15-5-2, 1 KO) under Pac-Marquez. Diaz has no notable wins on his resume, except for the come from behind victory over Jose Armando Santa Cruz (25-3, 14 KOs). Pacquiao will stay away from fighters like Joan Guzman (28-0, 17 KOs), who would beat him handily, or newly crowned lightweight champion Nate Campbell (32-5-1, 25 KOs). Marquez acquitted himself well against ?Pacman,? but one has to believe that against fighters with comparable hand speed (such as Guzman and Campbell) Manny would be in over his head.
JAMAICAN STAR GOES BEFORE HOP-JOE
On April 12th Showtime hosts one it?s most competitive cards in years when Glen ?The Road Warrior? Johnson (47-11-2, 32 KOs) finally gets his shot at the WBC light heavyweight (175) title against southpaw Chad Dawson (25-0, 17 KOs). It?s the classic match up between rugged veteran and a young hungry champion. In the co-main event Antonio Tarver (26-4 19 KOs) hopes to get back on track when he challenges IBF titleholder Clinton Woods (41-3-1, 24 KOs). Seven days later, Bernard Hopkins (48-4, 32 KOs) defends the World light heavyweight title against World super middleweight champ Joe Calzaghe (44-0, 32 KOs) live on HBO.
CONTENDER CHAMP A REAL BUST!
Hopefully Sergio Mora (20-0-1, 5 KOs) is happy that he pissed away all of his momentum since winning ?The Contender.? He turned down a title shot and lucrative payday with then middleweight (160) champion Jermain Taylor (27-2-1, 17 KOs) last year. He looked terrible in a draw versus the limited Elvin Ayala (18-2-1, 8 KOs) in October 2007. Now he gets a title shot in June against WBC super welterweight (154) titlist Vernon Forrest (40-2, 29 KOs). Forrest has looked impressive recently and it appears that his shoulder is finally healed. Expect him to win comfortably. Did Mora earn his shot? No. Will he be paid less for this fight than he would have in challenging Taylor? Yes. Is Mora an idiot? You decide.
