I'm excited about the boxing calendar and if you're a fight fan you are too!Starting with this past weekends performance by Devon Alexander and his stoppage of Juan Urango, the boxing world is about to go on a run with some tremendous action fights. The next five months are littered with very interesting matchups from featherweight to heavyweight. Names like Vazquez, Jones Jr., Hopkins, Pavlik, and Pacquiao will all be stepping into the ring and doing battle. Some folks may say that I'm exaggerating with this next point, but it's just how I feel. I think this could be one of the biggest years in boxing history with some of the things that are on the table.
This weekend is Pacquiao v Clottey in Dallas. I saw a report that 40,000 tickets had been sold so far and Jerry Jones has promised a spectacle like no other. The people are all rolling with Pacquiao from what I've read in the blogosphere. I haven't checked the betting lines on the fight, but I'm sure Pacquiao is a heavy favorite. Not many people seem to be leaning Clottey's way, but there are those who truly follow the game and believe as I do that Clottey definitely has all the tools necessary to gain an upset victory.
As a St. Louis guy, I'll be interested to see how the Deandre Latimore v Sechew Powell fight will go on March 19th. Latimore defeated Powell in an upset in 2008, making way for his title opportunity against Corey Spinks. Powell is looking for some retribution, and that could make for some fireworks.
The very next day an American heavyweight will attempt to dethrone Wladimir Klitschko. "Fast" Eddie Chambers , 35-1 with 18 knockouts, will have to make the trip overseas for his shot at the title The bout is to be held in Dusseldorf, Germany. "Dr. Steelhammer" is the reigning IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight champion of the world and hasn't lost a match in almost six years. Can Chambers shock the world or will the Klitschkos' dominance continue?
March 27 is kinda packed. The legend Erik Morales makes his comeback versus Jose Alfaro in a scheduled 12 round bout. Morales hasn't been in the ring since 2007 when he suffered a UD loss to David Diaz. "El Terrible" lost five of his last six bouts before shutting it down, but has said he can still fight and wants to test the waters again. Yoriorkis Gamboa will put his featherweight strap on the line against Jonathan Victor Barros. The Super Six tourny is on the 27th as well. Andre Direll v Arthur Abraham is going to be a battle of two totally different styles. Can Abraham use his solid defense and power punching to wear Direll down, or will Andre use his speed and quickness to frustrate and confuse "King Arthur"?
April heats up with a matchup that should have taken place a decade ago. Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. due battle April 3rd. The two living legends finally got past each others egos and got the deal done. I just hope that the fight is 1/3 as good as the original. Asking for anything more is foolish.
Some of boxing's biggest names are set to get bloody in April, including Kelly Pavlik, Andre Berto, Luis Callazo, Andre Ward, Allan Green, Karl Froch, Mikkel Kessler, and Cris Arreola. Lucian Bute will put his IBF super middlewight title on the line against Edison Miranda in Montreal on April 17th.
I almost feel like the boxing gods set up the perfect warmup for Mayweather v Mosley, and it was the entire month of April, because on May 1st all eyes should be fixed on an explosive welterweight event. Two of the sweet sciences' best pure talents will face off in what is alreay being deemed winner of fight of the year. Will Shane be able to get to Floyd and make him uncomfortable? Can Mayweather handle Mosley's combination of aggressiveness and power? A lot of questions will answered on the first of May. Whoever the winner is will have a lot of chips to bargain with for his bext fight.
Even though Mayweather v Mosley is getting the most attention, it may not even be the best fight in the month of May. On the 27th, Israel Vazquez will fight Rafael Marquez for the fourth time. Yes, a fourth time. It's clear these guys bring the best out of each other, and boxing fans are lucky they they realize it too. If any fight is worth watching in 2010, it may very well be this one. Vazquez and Marquez have waged epic wars and I believe their next fight to be more of the same.
With so many good things on the horizon this year in the sport of boxing it's hard to see why it can't reach some great new heights with fan appeal.
Some great fights - what I can't understand is why Lucian Bute did not go into the Super Six.
ReplyDeleteI hope he fights the winner of Froch V Ward as he looks very good from the last few fights I have seen.
2011 and still no Pacman V Mayweather will this fight happen?