Boxing Thread 2K12

[JKidd]

Another KO of the year candidate here.

Shinsuke Yamanaka drops Thomas Rojas like a bad ****ing habit.

Tomas ''Gusano'' Rojas Vs Shinsuke Yamanaka KO...

[Shoryuken]

A short piece on Danny Williams, from Frank Warren's column in British newspaper, The Sun. Best known for beating Mike Tyson in 2004, it looks like he simply doesn't want to call it quits, even at age 39:

Originally Posted by Frank Warren

SADLY Danny Williams has allegedly taken to the unlicensed circuit.

The heavyweight, 39, has been refused a licence by the British Boxing Board of Control and has been fighting abroad under a Latvian licence.

He’s been stopped three times in his last five fights and now wants to take on Mark Potter — the man he beat in 2000.

He just doesn’t seem to accept his career is over.

[JKidd]

I chatted with a fella at the Ring about Danny Williams fighting on, and it's a matter of time before something god awful happens to Danny.

He had his glory run with the Tyson KO, and then the shot at Vitali, but he was washed up after that.

I really hope someone, anyone, stops him from getting in the ring again. I've watched 3 or 4 of his fights in recent years (Charr, Larson, and Chisora fights come to mind immediately), and to say he presents anything more than a heavy bag workout would be giving him too much credit. He just needs to stop before he gets taken to the morgue.

[JKidd]

Some quick news... Marco Huck has retained his title via controversial decision (go figure, in Germany).

Huck has regressed a lot. Firat is a tough guy, but a guy he should have beat relatively easy, IMO. But, he just doesn't have the put away ability anymore. He has been negotiating with the Wlad for a HW title shot in the past week, so if it's an oversight on his part or what, but he did not look good in this one and his normal output was not there.

Either way, he retains the title and will likely get Ola Afolabi for a third time if he doesn't move up again to HW.

[JKidd]

A mixture of being gun shy and Grachev being better than we thought, but Bute goes to the limit and wins a decision (a lot closer than the cards would tell you) against the tough Russian.

I had it an even fight going into 11, and thought Bute finally got around to letting his hands go better, and started to box much better in 11 and 12.

From 1-10 though, Grachev was taking and giving. If that form of Bute shows up against Froch, we'll have another blow out and the man from Nottingham will walk through Bute, again.

[Shoryuken]

Originally Posted by jkidd

I chatted with a fella at the Ring about Danny Williams fighting on, and it's a matter of time before something god awful happens to Danny.

He had his glory run with the Tyson KO, and then the shot at Vitali, but he was washed up after that.

I really hope someone, anyone, stops him from getting in the ring again. I've watched 3 or 4 of his fights in recent years (Charr, Larson, and Chisora fights come to mind immediately), and to say he presents anything more than a heavy bag workout would be giving him too much credit. He just needs to stop before he gets taken to the morgue.

Got beat up in the first round of a HW 'Prizefighter' tournament a while back as well - them 8-man, 3-round contests that are held every so often over here on Sky Sports and generally attract journeymen and young up-and-comers with a local or regional reputation.

Something else covered in that article is Afghanistan holding it's first pro boxing event amid heavy security in Kabul. For the record, Hamid Rahimi beat Tanzania's Said Mbelwa for the WBO intercontinental title. Credit to Mbelwa for doing that, it takes the whole 'hostile crowd' business to a whole new level.

[JKidd]

Speaking of "Prizefighter" I watched a lot of it this weekend and was thoroughly surprised and entertained.

Craig McEwan was the overwhelming favorite and was vanquished in the first round of a solid tourny.

I like the setup and everything. Wish we had something truly on that level here state side.

Some ****ty news is that Tyson Fury vs. Denis Boystov is now off. The Russian's team cancelling the fight less than week after making it citing inadequate training time.

Some good news, Shawn Porter is ready to come back (a little early for my liking given the nasty gash he suffered last time out) and will take on Julio Diaz on the Amir Khan/Carlos Molina bill next month.

Arce vs. Donaire is official. Both contracts are signed for Houston in December. So Arce has about 6 weeks left to live. I expect him to come in overweight for the bout to try and have an advantage.

Andre Ward vs. Kelly Pavlik is gaining steam. Pavlik really wants the fight, and Ward has no other options right now with Kessler, Froch, Bute, and everyone else at SMW tied up at the moment. Location remains as the biggest stumbling block. Top Rank wants the fight East in AC or Vegas, and Ward is not budging from Oakland or Sacramento.

Shawn Hawk, 23-2 17 KOs, has been named the replacement to stand opposite Nathan Cleverly this weekend. A short notice guy, not too bad I guess.

That's it for news thus far.

A stacked weekend awaits.

[Shoryuken]

Originally Posted by jkidd

Speaking of "Prizefighter" I watched a lot of it this weekend and was thoroughly surprised and entertained.

Craig McEwan was the overwhelming favorite and was vanquished in the first round of a solid tourny.

I like the setup and everything. Wish we had something truly on that level here state side.

Always high on entertainment, the 3-round format makes it all-out attack from the first bell.. the £32k ($50k) winners' cheque is more than enough incentive to get guys into it. More than happily watch them when they are held.

[JKidd]

The big news from the boxing world, overshadowed by that stupid election thing, is that Zab Judah vs. Danny Garcia has been inked.

The fight will be 1/19 and will either be at AC or Barclays. GBP is hoping to secure Barclays for their second show there.

On that card, Peter Quillin will defend his WBO MW belt, no opponent yet.

They'll also be securing one more fight for sure to stage a triple header, but will try and pack another fight on the card to make it a quad.

Showtime will be carrying the fight.

[JKidd]

Some more tragic news, that is becoming all too often now a days.

Carmen Basilio, the former welter and middleweight champion of the world has passed away at age 82.

In the late 50s, Basilio was involved in fight of the year candidates on the regular. He took on everyone of the era... Sugar Ray Robinson, Tony DeMarco, Ike Williams, and Gaby Ferland.

He's also famous for his part in the Frankie Carbo trial in the 60's, sending the mobster to prison for a long time. It was immortalized in an ESPN documentary, if you ever get a chance to catch it.

RIP champ.

[Wadubbin]

If you ask me.I hope Ward doesn't start playing these games with turning down fights because they aren't in his back yard.There's no reason why he shouldn't fight around the country.If he wants his stock to rise even more than it already is.He needs to fight on the east coast as well.He and Pavlik would do good in AC if you ask me...

[JKidd]

It really makes no sense to me, why he repeatedly insists on fighting in his back yard. I get it, you're the champ and you want to have every advantage and you probably don't feel like you should have to leave your home, but that's the way the sport is, and it'll be a huge drawback for future big fights. Especially when other fighters listen to other fighters who complain that he gets away with a lot of stuff at home (see Mikkel Kessler).

I personally don't think it matters where Andre fights Pavlik, he beats the piss out of him either way. I don't think he'll knock him out, simply because Pavlik has a hell of a chin, but it could be stopped by cuts because Kelly cuts very very very easily and it gets ugly. But, I can see Ward nailing down a shut out UD again Kelly.

[JKidd]

Huge weekend of action this weekend, my reccomendation would be to DVR the HBO card, and watch the Showtime card live, as that's where it's at this weekend.

We'll start with the overseas action first:
Wladimir Klitschko (58-3, 50 KOs) vs. Mariusz Wach (27-0, 15 KOs) - for Klitschko's IBF/WBO/WBA heavyweight title
**Prediction**
The only thing Wach has is size and power. He is the slowest thing alive, and when he throws a hook, it will allow Wlad at least 3 seconds to get back. However, he does have the size to keep Wlad tentative early on, and possibly catch the champ's chin - who isn't used to facing guys this big. However, I see Wlad being well prepared and not his sparring partners (all about 6'7) should have given him enough big guy practice tot he point where he shouldn't get caught. The only question for me, is whether he steps on the gas hard enough to get the stoppage. I see it either UD win for Wlad, or a stoppage. Wach has a punchers chance, and that's about it.


HBO Card in Vegas:
Vanes Martirosyan (32-0, 20 KOs) vs. Erislandy Lara (17-1-1, 11 KOs) - WBC junior middleweight eliminator
**Prediction**
This is a VERY solid fight, and will be a hell of a boxing match. I can see it possibly getting boring as the fight drags on, simply because the deeper a fight goes, the more Lara checks out and just pot shots. But, Vanes is as solid a boxer as it gets, and should be able to match the Cuban's moves. In this one, I like the smoother boxing, and the better competition that Lara has faced - and beaten - over the Twitter talking Vanes has done. I'll take Lara by decision.

-Mikey Garcia (29-0, 25 KOs) vs. Jonathan Barros (34-3, 18 KOs) - 10 rounds, junior lightweights
**Prediction**
Mikey has a lot riding on this fight, which is a title shot at Orlando Salido. We've seen a lot of guys fall in this position (Victor Ortiz and Ismayl Sillakh most notably). Like the Lara/Vanes fight, I can see this one possibly getting to be a shadow boxing session in the middle rounds, as Mikey isn't your normal seek and destroy guy, and Barros likes to stay on the outside. Barros also has never been stopped, and has gotten off the mat against Gamboa and Celestino Caballero, so finishing the guy is damn near impossible. In this one though, I'll take Mikey by decision.

Showtime card in LA:
-Alfredo Angulo (20-2, 17 KOs) vs. Raul Casarez (19-2, 9 KOs) - junior middleweights
**Prediction**
Not even worth really going through. Angulo will tear him apart.

-Nathan Cleverly (24-0, 11 KOs) vs. Shawn Hawk (23-2, 17 KOs) - for Cleverly's WBO light heavyweight title
**Prediction**
Hawk is a VERY late replacement on about a week notice, seeing what kind of shape he shows up in will be huge. He's got a punchers chance, but Cleverly has a hell of a chin, and didn't buckle when Tony Bellew of all people landed flush bombs to the chin, so that's a tough task for Hawk. I've only seen Hawk one time, and that was live in NoDak earlier this year. He looked decent, but is too slow and should be easy pickings for Cleverly's boxing. Clev will have to be aware, Hawk will try to make the most of this and go balls out - so watch for Hawk to test the water early, then dive in. I'll take Clev via UD.

-Leo Santa Cruz (21-0, 12 KOs) vs. Victor Zaleta (20-2, 10 KOs) - for Santa Cruz's IBF bantamweight title
**Prediction**
One of my favorites going, Leo Santa Cruz. A relentless body puncher who will throw over 100 a round most of the time, and has very underrated defense. He busted up, and stopped Eric Morel last time out, the first fighter to claim such a victory, and in front of him is a guy who will be completely overwhelmed. The only question will be how long does this last? I give it a TKO Leo by the middle rounds.

-Abner Mares (24-0, 13 KOs) vs. Anselmo Moreno (33-1, 12 KOs) - for Mares' WBC junior featherweight title
**Prediction**
If there was ever a toss up between the two guys - here it is. Abner Mares has had easily, one of the toughest stretched of any boxer in recent memory. Every one of his opponents has been a divisional top 5 guy, for the past two years. Now, he gets a divisional top 3 in Chemito Moreno. Moreno is as silky a boxer as it gets. Very, very, very hard to hit, and even tougher to land something solid or lasting on. If Mares wants to be successful, don't bother with the head, attack the body - which is something he does VERY well. Break him down, and batter every possible part of Moreno. For Chemito, it's simple, stick, move, turn, reset. Don't get antzy and don't let Mares get comfortable or trap you. One thing to look for, does Moreno's power impose any sense of respect in Mares, or does he walk through it and get emboldened by the fact he can't be hurt? I'm going to go with Mares via SD.

Winner of this bout should move into everyone's P4P top 10, if either isn't in there now (I've got Mares at 10 right now).

[JKidd]

Huge KO of the year from Olympian Gary Russell Jr on Showtime last night.

Gary Russell Jr KO Roberto Castaneda KO OF THE...

Scary knockout here...

[Wadubbin]

Definite KOTY!!Hands down.I agree that Russell needs to pick it up with some better competition..

Also I would love to see Leo Santa Cruz fight Abner Mares,but Mares wants Nonito,and from the way Mares was talking.He isn't going to give him a shot anytime soon.I guess Santa Cruz is just going to have to pick it up as well,and start going after the other champs at bantam and get some bigger names on his resume.

That being said.Donaire/Mares would be a good fight.I think Nonito would win it by KO in the later rounds as Mares tires and gets caught coming in leading with his head,and looping an overhand right.It might be a straight right or a patented crisp left hook from Nonito.