This has been a typical August for boxing: dead.
But things are about to change, as major matchups — on paper, at least — make up for these dog days of summer.
Here’s a preview Sept. 8, HBO: Andre Ward (25-0, 13 knockouts) vs. Chad Dawson (31-1, 17 KOs). WBC light heavyweight champ Dawson, fresh off his rematch victory over Bernard Hopkins, sheds seven pounds to take on WBA/WBC super middleweight champ Ward. Dawson is even doing it on Ward’s home turf of Oakland. But Ward is one of boxing’s pound-for-pound best, as evidenced by his December win over Carl Froch to win the Super Six World Boxing Classic. Dawson, of New Haven, CT, will have to utilize his 5?-inch reach advantage to have a chance.
On the same RING TONES News and opinion on the sweet science.
card, expect a barnburner between sluggers Antonio DeMarco (27-2-1, 20 KOs) of Tijuana and Covina, California’s John Molina (24-1, 19 KOs) for the WBC lightweight title. Sept. 8, Showtime: Randall Bailey (43-7, 37 KOs) vs. Devon Alexander, (23-1, 13 KOs). The 37-year-old Bailey is one of the great knockout artists of our day. His stunning, vicious knockout of previously undefeated Mike Jones on June 9 was the highlight of the Timothy Bradley-Manny Pacquiao card. Most importantly, it garnered Miami’s “Knockout King” that elusive world title. But he’s got an uphill battle against St. Louis’ Alexander “The Great” — a former 140-pound champ who looked very good in beating Marcos Maidana in his last fight. Alexander has more speed, more skill Advertisement
and is 12 years younger.
On the undercard, another big puncher, Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse (31-2, 29 KOs) takes on undefeated southpaw Ajose Olusegan (30-0, 14 KOs) of Nigeria in a hot 140-pound showdown. Sept. 15, PPV: Sergio Martinez (49-2-2, 28 KOs) vs. Julio C?sar Ch?vez Jr. (46-0-1, 32 KOs). Really, there may not be a more attractive fight in 2012 than this middleweight unification gem at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. It matches one of boxing’s top three pound-for-pound fighters in Argentina’s “Maravilla” Martinez, against the big, young, strong son of arguably the greatest Mexican fighter in boxing history in Ch?vez Jr. Skill-wise, it’s advantage Martinez, a brilliant, fast boxer-puncher. But Ch?vez Jr. has emerged as a large (he’ll enjoy three-inch and two-inch advantages in height and reach, respectively), strong, fierce competitor in the cast-iron mold of his father. Sept. 15, Showtime: Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (40-0-1, 29 KOs) vs. Josesito Lopez (30-4, 18 KOs). Alvarez was set to defend his WBC junior middleweight title against Paul Williams before Williams suffered a career-ending motorcycle injury. The replacement was to be Victor Ortiz before Ortiz lost a stunner to late replacement Lopez. Without a dance partner for the ever-important Sept. 15 date at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, promoter Golden Boy went with the “Rocky”-like Lopez. On paper, a great fight. Lopez broke Ortiz’s jaw and looked like a star. But he’s a natural 140-pounder competing against a natural 154-pounder. It’s just not fair. Oct. 13, HBO: Nonito Donaire (29-1, 18 KOs) vs. Toshiaki Nishioka (39-4-3, 24 KOs). A three-division champion and considered one of the top four best pound-for-pound fighters in boxing, Donaire tackles the best junior featherweight in boxing in Japan’s Nishioka.
On the undercard from the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., it’s an explosive battle of the undefeateds as WBA lightweight champ Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios (30-0, 22 KOs) of Oxnard meets Denver’s Mike Alvarado (33-0, 23 KOs) in a 140-pound shootout. Dec. 1, PPV: Manny Pacquiao vs. (insert name here). Pacquiao has moved his Nov. 10 outing to Dec. 1. His possible opponents include Bradley, old rival Juan Manuel Marquez and former victim Miguel Cotto. It’ll probably be Marquez in a fourth fight.
