Is it me or does it appear that the middleweight division may shine once
again as one of boxing's premiere divisions in 2010? The following are
guys with the potential to do great who should become at least
contenders next year.
Top level:
Matvey Korobov (may be too soon)
Gennady Golovkin
Fernando Guerrero
Daniel Jacobs
Peter Quillin (should have been in 2009)
Too early, but 2011:
James Degale
Bastie Samir
Not to mention fighters that are probably moving up to middleweight from
junior middleweight next year:
Sergio Martinez
Paul Williams
Daniel Santos (there are rumors he's going up to 160)
Sergio Mora
And of course the resident champions:
Kelly Pavlik
Felix Sturm
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Timothy Bradley versus Lamont Peterson
Hailing from Palm Springs, California, Tim "The Desert Storm" Bradley was raised to be a boxer. Trained by a former lightweight champion in Joel Diaz, Bradley began boxing at age 10 and as an amateur amassed 125 wins in 145 fights [See Here for information on Bradley's amateur career: http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Timothy_Bradley]. Bradley received quality experience as an amateur with fights against Alfredo Angulo, Andre Berto, and Vanes Martirosyan (boxers that fight in higher weight classes as professionals). These experiences undoubtedly shaped Bradley into the champion he is today.
Bradley talks about his childhood in Palm Springs in this Showtime interview:
As a professional, Bradley owns wins over Kendall Holt, Junior Witter, and Edner Cherry. Tonight, he faces perhaps his toughest assignment yet when he defends his belt against Lamont "Havoc" Peterson. For Bradley, his fight tonight with Peterson will not be easy.
Like Bradley, Peterson is no stranger to rising above adversity. For ten years, Peterson was homeless on the mean streets of Washington, D.C. without father or mother. It wasn't until shortly after his tenth birthday when Peterson met trainer, Barry Hunter, that his life finally changed for the better. It was then that Barry Hunter introduced Peterson to boxing and Peterson's rise to the top began.
Peterson, like Bradley, had an extensive amateur career. Peterson was the 2001 national golden gloves winner at lightweight with amateur wins over Andre Dirrell, Willy Blain, and Rock Allen. Recently, Peterson gained internet fame when he allegedly got the better of Floyd Mayweather Jr. in sparring [read his trainer, Hunter's description of the sparring sessions here: http://www.doghouseboxing.com/DHB/Kim121209.htm] . Peterson is taller (5'9 to Bradley's 5'6) and longer (74" reach to Bradley's 66" reach).
Bradley has the advantages of the fight taking place in his hometown and possessing the better professional resume. Although Bradley is the champion, Peterson is a live underdog. Indeed, the expert's predictions are varied:
Graham Houston, a boxing writer I admire at www.fightwriter.com, picked Peterson: http://www.fightwriter.com/?q=node/2510
As did Gabriel Montoya from www.Maxboxing.com: http://www.maxboxing.com/news/promo-lead/montoyas-mailbag
Although Tim Starks at www.queensberry-rules.com picks Bradley:
http://www.queensberry-rules.com/2009-articles/december/previewprediction-roundabout-timothy-bradley-lamont-peterson-vic-darchinyan-tomas-rojas-and-jean-pascal-adrian-diaconu-ii.html
Doug Fischer from Ring Magazine favors Bradley:
http://www.ringtv.com/blog/1412/dougies_fat_friday_mailbag/
As do most of the writers at www.fighthype.com,
http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content6473.html?PHPSESSID=bb4bd189af06b07e71132cf33aa78f9b
Bradley talks about his childhood in Palm Springs in this Showtime interview:
As a professional, Bradley owns wins over Kendall Holt, Junior Witter, and Edner Cherry. Tonight, he faces perhaps his toughest assignment yet when he defends his belt against Lamont "Havoc" Peterson. For Bradley, his fight tonight with Peterson will not be easy.
Like Bradley, Peterson is no stranger to rising above adversity. For ten years, Peterson was homeless on the mean streets of Washington, D.C. without father or mother. It wasn't until shortly after his tenth birthday when Peterson met trainer, Barry Hunter, that his life finally changed for the better. It was then that Barry Hunter introduced Peterson to boxing and Peterson's rise to the top began.
Peterson, like Bradley, had an extensive amateur career. Peterson was the 2001 national golden gloves winner at lightweight with amateur wins over Andre Dirrell, Willy Blain, and Rock Allen. Recently, Peterson gained internet fame when he allegedly got the better of Floyd Mayweather Jr. in sparring [read his trainer, Hunter's description of the sparring sessions here: http://www.doghouseboxing.com/DHB/Kim121209.htm] . Peterson is taller (5'9 to Bradley's 5'6) and longer (74" reach to Bradley's 66" reach).
Bradley has the advantages of the fight taking place in his hometown and possessing the better professional resume. Although Bradley is the champion, Peterson is a live underdog. Indeed, the expert's predictions are varied:
Graham Houston, a boxing writer I admire at www.fightwriter.com, picked Peterson: http://www.fightwriter.com/?q=node/2510
As did Gabriel Montoya from www.Maxboxing.com: http://www.maxboxing.com/news/promo-lead/montoyas-mailbag
Although Tim Starks at www.queensberry-rules.com picks Bradley:
http://www.queensberry-rules.com/2009-articles/december/previewprediction-roundabout-timothy-bradley-lamont-peterson-vic-darchinyan-tomas-rojas-and-jean-pascal-adrian-diaconu-ii.html
Doug Fischer from Ring Magazine favors Bradley:
http://www.ringtv.com/blog/1412/dougies_fat_friday_mailbag/
As do most of the writers at www.fighthype.com,
http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content6473.html?PHPSESSID=bb4bd189af06b07e71132cf33aa78f9b
Saturday, December 5, 2009
In Praise of Lucian Bute and His Effective Use of the Body Shot
No matter Lucian Bute packs 15,000 fans into the Bell Center in Montreal, or that he has beat more top ten super middleweights than any other fighter at that weight, Lucian Bute continues to be overlooked. Maybe this is a result of his affable demeanor and his aversion to trash-talking. Nonetheless, as a 6'2 southpaw, the talented Romanian possesses power in both hands, head movement, and speed - all the ingredients of a great fighter.
However, taking a closer examination of Bute's wins, what is striking is his successful use of the body shot to stop his opponents. It's rare when a body shot ends a fight by itself, but Bute has ended numerous fights with carefully timed punches to the body. Indeed, 7 of Bute's 25 professional fights (a whopping 28%) have ended by way of a monstrous left hook to the liver.
Although Bute began implementing the body shot as an amateur, probably the first time he used it as a professional to cause a stoppage was in his fourth fight on April 24, 2004, when Bute stopped Zane Marks with a torturous body blow. Video is here:
Although in his third fight, Bute started the barrage of punches that eventually silenced Jeal Pascal Service with a terrific punch to the body, seen here:
In his sixth fight, Bute sent Rico Cason down four times with painful body punches to stop him in the second round. Unfortunately, video of this fight isn't available.
Bute now with a record of 12-0, fought Donny McCrary of Contender fame. Bute dispatched McCrary in the fourth round with a menacing blow to the body. It can be viewed here:
Three fights later, on December 2, 2005, Bute faced Donnell Wiggins (24-6) of Covington, Tennesse. The fight ended in similar fashion, when in the second round Bute sent Wiggins to the canvas in pain from a body shot. Notice Wiggins clutching at his sides after the count is over:
Thanks to Chris4Pres (http://www.youtube.com/user/chris4pres) for the footage in this post.
And then again in his battle with Fulgencio Zuniga, Bute viciously put Zuniga down with a body blow:
It was the same left hook that spelled doom for many of his previous opponents that felled Librado Anrade this past weekend. See it here:
Bute's record can be found here:
http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=223046&cat=boxer
However, taking a closer examination of Bute's wins, what is striking is his successful use of the body shot to stop his opponents. It's rare when a body shot ends a fight by itself, but Bute has ended numerous fights with carefully timed punches to the body. Indeed, 7 of Bute's 25 professional fights (a whopping 28%) have ended by way of a monstrous left hook to the liver.
Although Bute began implementing the body shot as an amateur, probably the first time he used it as a professional to cause a stoppage was in his fourth fight on April 24, 2004, when Bute stopped Zane Marks with a torturous body blow. Video is here:
Although in his third fight, Bute started the barrage of punches that eventually silenced Jeal Pascal Service with a terrific punch to the body, seen here:
In his sixth fight, Bute sent Rico Cason down four times with painful body punches to stop him in the second round. Unfortunately, video of this fight isn't available.
Bute now with a record of 12-0, fought Donny McCrary of Contender fame. Bute dispatched McCrary in the fourth round with a menacing blow to the body. It can be viewed here:
Three fights later, on December 2, 2005, Bute faced Donnell Wiggins (24-6) of Covington, Tennesse. The fight ended in similar fashion, when in the second round Bute sent Wiggins to the canvas in pain from a body shot. Notice Wiggins clutching at his sides after the count is over:
Thanks to Chris4Pres (http://www.youtube.com/user/chris4pres) for the footage in this post.
And then again in his battle with Fulgencio Zuniga, Bute viciously put Zuniga down with a body blow:
It was the same left hook that spelled doom for many of his previous opponents that felled Librado Anrade this past weekend. See it here:
Bute's record can be found here:
http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=223046&cat=boxer
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Zsolt Erdei - The Path of Least Resistance
In many ways, 35-year-old Zsolt Erdei (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zsolt_Erdei), a Hungarian boxing champion, has accomplished a lot in the sport of boxing. Representing Hungary as a middleweight, Mr. Erdei won the bronze medal in the 2000 Olympics. He is the former WBO light heavyweight champion and the current holder of the WBC cruiserweight belt, in addition to possessing a perfect 31-0 record with 17 knockouts. Yet, in choosing opponents, Mr. Erdei and his team have made it a habit of following the path of least of resistance. A charlatan champion? Perhaps.
Mr. Erdei has talent. That much cannot be denied. He dominated Thomas Ulrich and has two victories over capable, if slightly ordinary, Hugo Garay; more recently, he beat Giacobbe Fragomeni, a top ten cruiserweight. However, when examining who Erdei has NOT fought, it becomes crystal clear that Mr. Erdei's CV is woefully inadequate.
Mr. Erdei shares the light heavyweight division with Bernard Hopkins, Chad Dawson, Jean Pascal, Adrian Diaconu, Tavoris Cloud, and Glen Johnson. Immediately it is apparent that all of these boxers are American or predominately fight in the United States. Conveniently, Erdei has fought only a handful of Americans. Actually, Julio Cesar Gonzalez is the only notable American on his CV.
Consider this: in 2008, Mr. Erdei fought untested DeAndrey Abron, an American fighter from Philadelphia, but Abron was chosen instead of many more capable fighters such as Yusaf Mack, Chris Henry, or Tavoris Cloud. The latter fighters surely would not have cost more than Abron, none held titles, none had fought on the big stage, and none had a major following.
Similarly, it is logical that the reason Mr. Erdei decided to fight G. Fragomenni is because it was getting to the point where eventually he would have been forced to fight a boxer with a pulse at light heavyweight.
Interestingly enough, as an amateur Mr. Erdei lost against perhaps the best opponent of his career, Sven Ottke.
One thing is certain: Erdei is/was a champion in a marquee division and is completely and utterly irrelevant to anyone not living in Budapest or Berlin.
Mr. Erdei has talent. That much cannot be denied. He dominated Thomas Ulrich and has two victories over capable, if slightly ordinary, Hugo Garay; more recently, he beat Giacobbe Fragomeni, a top ten cruiserweight. However, when examining who Erdei has NOT fought, it becomes crystal clear that Mr. Erdei's CV is woefully inadequate.
Mr. Erdei shares the light heavyweight division with Bernard Hopkins, Chad Dawson, Jean Pascal, Adrian Diaconu, Tavoris Cloud, and Glen Johnson. Immediately it is apparent that all of these boxers are American or predominately fight in the United States. Conveniently, Erdei has fought only a handful of Americans. Actually, Julio Cesar Gonzalez is the only notable American on his CV.
Consider this: in 2008, Mr. Erdei fought untested DeAndrey Abron, an American fighter from Philadelphia, but Abron was chosen instead of many more capable fighters such as Yusaf Mack, Chris Henry, or Tavoris Cloud. The latter fighters surely would not have cost more than Abron, none held titles, none had fought on the big stage, and none had a major following.
Similarly, it is logical that the reason Mr. Erdei decided to fight G. Fragomenni is because it was getting to the point where eventually he would have been forced to fight a boxer with a pulse at light heavyweight.
Interestingly enough, as an amateur Mr. Erdei lost against perhaps the best opponent of his career, Sven Ottke.
One thing is certain: Erdei is/was a champion in a marquee division and is completely and utterly irrelevant to anyone not living in Budapest or Berlin.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Does Kessler's loss last night diminish Calzaghe's legacy?
The question is one worth asking although the answer must be a resounding "No."
The reason should be unsurprising. Calzaghe's win over Kessler isn't any less special or meaningful to Calzaghe's legacy, it just may be that Ward is sufficiently good to one day challenge Calzaghe's position as the all-time greatest super middleweight.
An Olympic gold medalist and undefeated professional, Ward is a world champion in the making with the pedigree and skills to challenge Calzaghe for the position of the greatest super middleweight of all time. To be sure, Ward has much to accomplish before the comparison can be made with Calzaghe. Calzaghe has an undefeated streak spanning a decade and victories over all-time greats. However, like Calzaghe two years ago, albeit in a much less entertaining fashion, Ward dominated Kessler last night.
The only doubt remaining on Ward is his chin.
The reason should be unsurprising. Calzaghe's win over Kessler isn't any less special or meaningful to Calzaghe's legacy, it just may be that Ward is sufficiently good to one day challenge Calzaghe's position as the all-time greatest super middleweight.
An Olympic gold medalist and undefeated professional, Ward is a world champion in the making with the pedigree and skills to challenge Calzaghe for the position of the greatest super middleweight of all time. To be sure, Ward has much to accomplish before the comparison can be made with Calzaghe. Calzaghe has an undefeated streak spanning a decade and victories over all-time greats. However, like Calzaghe two years ago, albeit in a much less entertaining fashion, Ward dominated Kessler last night.
The only doubt remaining on Ward is his chin.
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