With the end of the World Series, the thumping lull of basketball season, and football limited mostly to Sundays, Saturday nights from this week until mid-December will be fight nights. A result of annual contracts nearing expiration, or careful avoidance of other sports events, whatever the reason, boxing fans can close out the year with what are guaranteed to be the best bouts of 2010.
Six weeks of bell-ringing, adrenaline-rubbing, Vaseline-smearing pugilism begins with Puerto Rican Juan Manuel Lopez?s title fight against Mexican Rafael Marquez on Showtime. Lopez (29-0) comes off a TKO against Steve Luevano. This time however Lopez will be putting his record on the line against Mexico City?s champ Rafael Marquez (39-5) who just won his umpteenth rematch with Israel Vasquez. Lopez looked good in the media workout and could very well polish off Marquez, but then again Marquez revealed that he has inside knowledge of the fighter, having sparred with him before. This one may just come down to who has the better chin. Regardless of who that is, one thing is guaranteed: blood.
The very same night Zab Judah (39-6), who just celebrated his 33rd birthday, is set to take on Argentine Lucas Matthysse (27-0). Judah here is looking to restablish his name after some losses that left him in the little name league, while Matthysse clearly wants to be the next big name in shooting the fives. Matthysse showed his stuff on the bag for cameras, sporting Everlast evergel gloves, and overall was looking good — aside from the soccer hair, that is. Can Judah use his speed and experience to overcome Matthysse? Will Matthysse crumble like coffee cake in front of real competition? Or is it Judah who will fold before a tougher boxer? HBO will have the answers.
