Fireworks are guaranteed when Alfredo Angulo and James Kirkland step in the ring to face off in Cancun, Mexico on HBO November 5th. It’s a fight that boxing fans have wanted and needed from HBO for a long time now. We got the fight, just not exactly how HBO wanted it. Usually HBO builds 2 fighters with either mismatch showcase fights with a one dimensional veteran fighter or soft touches to get the best slow motion replay punches or knockouts which make the fighters look as dominant as possible. Thus building a fanbase or at the very least a bunch of hype to build up a big fight and sometimes super fight. In this case both fighters took a different route to their version of a 154 pound super fight. Obviously this fight has lost some luster with both fighters taking losses and taking time out of the ring for opposite reasons. I will break down the fighters and the fight, starting with James Kirkland.
The date was March 7, 2009 when James Kirkland defeated Joel Julio in a 2 way fight that turned into a Kirkland victory by way of TKO in the 6th round. Kirkland was a can’t miss(literally), straight forward brawler that had plenty of power which reminded some people of dare I say a junior middleweight version of “Iron” Mike Tyson. Maybe that’s a reach but Kirkland’s style and demeanor had the boxing World buzzing, especially the American boxing scene. We all know what happen next. Kirkland who was on probation from a previous felony, was caught with a gun and sent back to jail. Not able to throw punches in jail, Kirkland went thru the long process of getting out to the free world and after a few set backs he was finally released and able to get back to his career.
Kirkland unexpectedly changed trainers which drew many people’s concern because of the what seemed to be a good relationship between him and his trainer Ann Wolfe. HBO’s Ring Life gave us an up close look at how the two became a team and how much pain she would put him through during training camp. The results of that relationship and training paid dividends and had James on the cusp of not only becoming a champion but possibly becoming a star in the world of boxing. Kirkland chose to train in Las Vegas away from his hometown Austin, Texas and had a return tune up fight almost exactly 2 years after his dismantling of Julio in 2009. James made quick work that night, scoring a first round knockout. 13 days later Kirkland was back in the ring, this time it took 2 rounds to TKO his opponent. Even in those tune up fights you could tell that Kirkland was not the same and had plenty of rust on him from his 2 year ring hiatus.
3 weeks later he was set to face light punching Nobuhiro Ishida with a record of 23-6 and only 8 KO’s. Ishida was also coming off a split decision loss to Rigoberto Alvarez. The fight was supposed to be a showcase fight to highlight the HBO return of Kirkland on the undercard for the HBO PPV main event fight between Erik Morales and Marcos Maidana. It didn’t take long for a fighter to hit the deck, but it was not the fighter we thought it would be. It was Kirkland who was hit clean over and over again, which lead to 3 knockdowns in the first round, the last knockdown being the one that ended the fight and shocked the world of boxing with another upset to add to the list of the many unbeaten prospects in 2011. After the loss Kirkland would admit that he was not trained properly in his time spent in Vegas or at least not what he was use to doing in training camp to help him be prepared to fight.
In the case of Alferdo Angulo, very similar to Kirkland as far as the buzz. Angulo was a can’t miss, all action fighter that was on the cusp of something special. Or at least in line for a big fight and nice paydays at 154 in 2009. On the night of May 30, 2009 Angulo would enter the ring versus Kermit Cintron. But it didn’t seem to be the normal Angulo. Something seemed off that night as he got outboxed by Cintron, who was usually known for his puncher power and exciting style. Cintron switched up his style as he jabbed and moved the whole fight. Although Angulo started to come on a bit near the end, Cintron was able to buy time and come away with the win. Gary Shaw and Alfredo’s team revealed that Angulo was very sick and didn’t even get to Florida with enough time for the travel effects to wear off. He was not the same fighter that night and it clearly showed. Not that I don’t think Angulo can be outboxed, but he was slower than normal and seemed to be lethargic in the ring.
Maybe it was just an excuse? But that fact that he came in so late before the weigh in and fight tells us something wasn’t right about Angulo that night. However, Angulo got back on the horse and rattled off 4 impressive slow motion replay type knockouts over veteran fighters- Rosada, Yorgey, Julio, and Alcine, who was devoured in the 1st round on July 17, 2010. Angulo’s loss to Cintron turned out to be a minor setback when comparing it to the Visa issues he would face trying to get back into the United States to train and fight. 13 months later Angulo finally got to fight. Although it was a tune up to get the rust off, Angulo was now set to return to boxing in a big fight by the end of the year. And he, along with the boxing world, got his wish when he landed a big fight versus James Kirkland. So here we are 2 years and some change later. And we get the big slugfest that many fans have been craving for years! But, because of the time spent away for both fighters my prediction for this fight has changed.
We all know that Angulo and Kirkland like to fight, and both can get hit by a ton of shots back. Neither have been(or at least rarely) hit with power that each fighter posses. Both come right to there opponent and stand right in front to bang. Kirkland lets his hands drop more when he throws every punch like it’s his last, and while Angulo gets hit plenty, he does at least try to put up his guard. That may be the difference. In a war or toe to toe style of fight, the fighter who uses his skill just by the slimmest of margins usually wins. Even a simple jab can help win these fights and be the difference. Angulo may get hit a lot but at least he puts his guard up nice and high so he can once in a while block a shot or not get hit as many times cleanly. Another key element will be the jab. Each fighter can throw a powerful jab but only Angulo has shown that he throws it to set up shots and also uses it somewhat consistency. Prime for prime, in a fight that could see both fighters touching the canvas, it makes it very hard to pick a winner. Angulo may have taken a loss and time off trying to get his Visa in order, but the fact the he could at least go to the gym and get some sort of work in order to keep some of the rust off gives him a slight advantage.
Kirkland on the other hand took a long break away from the gym and gained weight in jail. Even James said himself that the prison guards would not let him throw punches in his cell. Add that to the fact that he got KO’d from Ishada who threw straight and accurate punches but not know to be a puncher, and you got yourself a fighter that has the power but does he have the mental strength at this current time to face adversity and battle back? In 2009 I thought at some point Kirkland would land too many power shots on Angulo and win by knockout. Don’t get me wrong. I saw it as a 2 way fight and still do today, but I figured that at some point James would beat him to the punch in an exchange and win by KO in a great fight. But now I see it as a 2 way fight with both fighters hitting the canvas at some point. Maybe early or mid? I really can’t say what part of the fight but I think Angulo will land his jab and the straighter punches. Maybe in an exchange Angulo will catch him and hurt him. Or slowly take over the fight and have him on the ropes for a TKO? But at some point I see Angulo winning a great 2 way fight by knockout. Mid to late. I don’t see James getting knocked out early because of his return back to Ann Wolfe. I think she will have him as ready as possible. But time away from this sport can hurt and I’m not sure if Kirkland is ready yet to face a power puncher like Angulo.
