Mike Tyson, In Perspective

Arguably one of the most recognizable faces in boxing since Muhammed Ali, Tyson is considered to be among the all time greats in the sport. This is an attempt to put Mike Tyson in perspective, not to demean or discredit him.

First we have to figure out what makes a fighter great, especially if we are to consider a fighter as being one of the all-time greats. If we look at the records of other great fighters, we see a ledger full of other great fighters. Granted, some very talented fighters end up in divisions that are sparse in talent and are thus robbed of potential greatness, or forced to move to another division. Its not just fighting other great fighters, its beating other great fighters. Of course there are accomplishments like becoming the youngest heavyweight champion ever that would also weigh in on ones decision. Also, there are fighters like Arturo Gatti who was loved when he lost and when he won, a blood and guts warrior. In that case Gatti became great in the sense that he was a warrior, a crowd pleasing brawler, but still not among the all time greatest fighters. This is my basic criteria for establishing greatness.

Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in history by defeating Trevor Berbick via second round TKO, he then defended his title 9 times before shockingly being knocked out by James "Buster" Douglas in the 10th round. Many would consider Tyson prior to the Douglas fight as being in his prime, so his opponents during this time should give us some insight.

His first defense was against James Smith, a boring 12 round UD. Smith was a big hard punching heavyweight who held the WBA title, Tyson held the WBC. Smith did little of anything and mainly tried to stay away from Tyson the whole fight. After that there was Pinklon Thomas, Tony Tucker, Tyrell Biggs, and then Larry Holmes. This should establish Tyson as a great by destroying Larry Holmes, an all time great, within 4 rounds. However, Holmes came out of a two year retirement and was well out of his prime before he retired. How Holmes got this fight after being in retirement is beyond me but if beating an old Larry Holmes makes you great, then beating an old Ali should immediately make Holmes great. Holmes did not get the same reception for beating up an old Ali, who was also coming out of a two year retirement, that Tyson got for beating up Holmes, so if one doesn't count, why should the other?

After Holmes Tyson fought Tony Tubbs and then the super fight with Michael Spinks. Spinks is no doubt one of the greatest light heavyweights, but at heavyweight he beat an aging Holmes and a spent Gerry Cooney before taking on Tyson and being obliterated. That proved to be a great light heavyweight versus a young and prime Mike Tyson. Tyson then went on to fight the limited Frank Bruno and Carl Williams before being dethroned by Buster Douglas.

I suppose the argument could be made that Tyson fought who was there and perhaps I am being too hard on him. However I disagree. Tyson admittedly paid Lennox Lewis $5 million in step aside money, of course the argument is then made that Tyson "would have destroyed Lewis back then", well, why didn't he? It would have saved him some hassle and a severe beating years later. Early on, prior to Tyson winning a title, he was offered a fight with Earnie Shavers, which would have been a great test for a young Mike Tyson. The same redundant argument is made once again by Tyson fanatics, "He would have destroyed Shavers", again, if that is true, why didn't he? What if's don't count in boxing, although it is great to ponder what could have been, this is not a logical argument to make. Tyson also had opportunities to face the like of Bowe, Tua, Moorer, and a few other fighters but never did. The other great fighters that Tyson fought, he lost to, both Lewis and Holyfield, and neither fight was really competitive, aside from the first Holyfield fight maybe.

This is the problem that I have with ranking Tyson as an all time great, who did he fight? What makes him an all time great? The fact that he would have beaten all these guys had they fought him in his prime? The fact is, Tyson beat an old Larry Holmes that was retired for two year prior and a great light heavyweight in Michael Spinks. He did not fight other fighters that fought during his era that were more than willing, and lost when he stepped up in competition.

So what is it that makes Tyson so great? Would haves and what ifs? No offense to Mike Tyson, but it is disrespectful to the all time greats like Ray Robinson or Henry Armstrong to push them aside for Tyson. Armstrong ruled three divisions at a time when there were a total of eight, mind you, he ruled them at the same time! So, while Tyson certainly has his place in boxing history, nobody can deny that, he has not earned a place among the all time greats. 

Manny Pacquiao Vs Juan Manuel Marquez (2012) - Brothers Bound In War

Highlights from the four fights between Pacquiao and Marquez

Video provided by Mr. X

Angulo vs Silva, In Perspective

On the undercard of Khan vs Molina, Alfredo Angulo took on unknown Jorge Silva. While it was a fan friendly fight the whole way through, it was not so good for Angulo. Silva has fought his whole career below 154lbs, starting his career at 135lbs. This was his first fight at 154, against hard punching Angulo. I was not expecting much so I did not even bother to post any predictions on the fight. Silva has been knocked out twice before and has fought virtually nobody of real note. To me this smelled of early knockout, however, we got a war. Whenever Silva threw, he pretty much landed, the problem was, he doesn't have the power to hurt Angulo, and Angulo's work rate was far higher most of the fight.

I know Angulo is coming off a long layoff and has only had one first round knockout prior to that long layoff, but Silva was tailor made for Angulo. He is smaller, has a suspect chin, and is not all that powerful. If Silva was a big puncher, I could not see how Angulo would have been able to stand up, he took several clean shots to the chin, and he has a good chin, but can obviously be hurt.

This fight was very telling to me, Angulo is clearly not the same fighter since being all but completely demolished in six rounds by James Kirkland. Silva was able to back Angulo up and was seemingly unfazed by most of Angulo's punches. While we may have seen the best of Angulo, he still should be fun to watch while he is around, but in perspective, he doesn't seem to be the same "perro" he was before.

Deontay Wilder, In Perspective

On December 15th Deontay Wilder took on unbeaten Kelvin Price. This was the a step up for both fighters as each has had limited opposition. Price actually has fought the better fighters having beaten heavyweight hopeful Tor Hamer, so he certainly was a big step up in class for Wilder who has fought virtually nobody of note.

Now, I have been critical of Wilder and his very soft competition, I do realize that he came to the game late and his people are moving him slowly, I get that. However it seems as if he is being protected. There are plenty of heavyweights out there that he could get some rounds in against, there are plenty of guys he could be put in against so we, as fans, can see just how good Wilder is. We know he can punch, and that is about it.

I have to say that I was somewhat impressed by Wilder's performance in this fight. He was fighting a very awkward fighter who has more experience than him and he fought at a much slower pace than before, possibly losing the first two rounds. For me this showed that he is maturing. He did not rush in looking for a knockout, instead he took his time figuring out the awkward Price, staggered him in the third round and calmly and patiently followed up with a jab, that clearly blinded Price from the right hand bomb that followed and abruptly ended Price's night.

Granted, Price is not a top ten heavyweight, but he was undefeated and is a decent fighter. Price gave Hamer all he could handle and Hamer had a tough time finding Price due to his unorthodox style. So this fight did tell us something about Wilder, he is not just a face first brawler, a guy looking to come out bombing. He was clearly thinking in there, studying his opponent and patiently waited for the right opening. In the past when he had his man hurt, Wilder would seemingly lose his cool and flail until something landed and the fight ended. So to see him as calm as he was really impressed me because it graphically shows me that he is improving and trying to work out the kinks, smooth those rough edges I have previously spoken of.

In perspective, this is a good win for Wilder and a gives us fans a small glimpse into Deontay Wilder as a fighter, we know he is serious and he is improving, and I love to see that in a fighter. Now I think its time they start moving him up to the trial horses and gatekeepers. For anyone who has followed my posts they know I am always critical of Wilder, so for me to be impressed is saying something.

Khan in Perspective (Khan v. Molina Post Fight)

Amir Khan won his comeback fight against unbeaten, and limited, Carlos Molina. What does this fight tell us about Khan? Molina was chosen as an opponent, granted he came to fight and is tough as nails, but lets be honest, he cannot punch and has very limited experience.

What did Khan do right?
Khan used his superior handspeed and power to bust Molina up all night. He was relying on his jab to measure distance and he used his legs to keep Molina from getting set. To put it in another way, Khan used his assets to the best of his ability and they got him the win as Molina quit on his stool.

What did Khan do wrong?
Khan does not seem to be any different than before. He still clearly has defensive lapses and Molina showed this as he caught Khan on several occasions with the same punch Garcia knocked him out with, as well as a variety of other punches. The difference is that Molina has little to no punching power and is not nearly as fast as Khan. Even though he was able, at times, to take advantage of Khans defensive flaws, he did not have the power to dent Khans soft chin. I know Khan thinks his move to his new trainer in Virgil Hill is good but all fighters say that. They want to think they are better to boost their confidence. Truth be told, Khan looked like Khan. This isn't bad, Khan is an exciting fighter. He has fast hands and explosive power with a glass chin, that makes for exciting fights! I don't see him doing much more than he has already done or getting better than he already is.

Donaire vs Arce Post Fight Thoughts

Well, it was exciting while it lasted...all three rounds. I had predicted a Donaire win either by stoppage or flat knockout. Little did I know that he would completely out class Arce and obliterate him within three rounds. Arce did exactly what I said he would do, stood right in front of Donaire, probably thinking that Donaire couldn't hurt him. Sadly for Arce, he never made an adjustment to get the hell out of the way or attempt to box a bit.

Donaire seemed to be a man on a mission, to try and somehow make up for the brutal fashion in which his countryman, Pacquiao, lost recently. Donaire solidified his claim of being the heir apparent to the Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao. Prior to this fight his power was questioned but as I pointed out it was probably due to his last few opponents doing everything to avoid his power and not an actual lack of punching power. Arce, a normally durable warrior, was crushed under the weight of Donaires power, in fact I cannot remember a time when Arce was beaten up this badly and violently knocked out. Arce promptly retired after this fight, his legacy as a blood and guts warrior is not in question, even after this blowout.

Wilder vs Price Prediction

This weekend we will also be treated to another Deontay Wilder mismatch when he faces the 37 year old Kelvin Price. While Price is most definitely a step up, its not much of one. Kelvin Price's most notable fight is against Tor Hamer in which he was given a gift decision which essentially hinged on a dubious knockdown call by referee Benjy Esteves jr. In an odd statement made by Wilder, he said that this fight was dedicated to the late Emmanuel Steward, not because Steward trained him or even knew him but because Steward said he is the best american heavyweight hopeful, which in reality isn't saying much. I want to believe in Wilder, he seems to be a stand up guy, one that anyone could easily root for, but I have to assume that his team is hiding something. A 25-0 (with 25 knockouts) record is a bit suspicious, especially when there is not one recognizable name on it, I expect more from an olympian, and hope to get it some day soon.

What Should Happen:
It should be another relatively short night for Deontay. I don't smell an upset here as Price is 37 years of age and also has very limited experience. He hasn't lost or been stopped, yet. I am assuming Deontay wants to make a statement, well, whatever kind of statement you can make against an opponent like this, so it should be a quick KO.

What Could Happen:
Kelvin Price is undefeated, so it is he could pull off an upset. Being that we know nothing about Wilder, other than he can knock out tomato cans, it is likely that his chin is weak and Price could capitalize on that. Price can be slick and Wilder is still very rough around the edges, so its not out of the question that we see an upset, just very unlikely.

What I Think Will Happen:
Wilder destroys Price.

Khan vs. Molina Prediction

On December 15th Amir Khan will return to the ring for the first time since his brutal KO loss to Danny Garcia. He will be face Carlos Molina, not the tough and rugged Molina that has given fits to fighters like Erislandy Lara, Kermit Cintron, and James Kirkland. This Carlos Molina is far more conventional than the other. It should be a relatively easy night for Khan against the light punching Molina but there is always that possibility of Khan getting blown out again. His chin has proven to be weak and his defense is not even lackluster, its more like an amateur. With Khans obvious weaknesses it should give Molina some added confidence going into the fight, so while he is in there he should make a fight of it. If Molina can handle Khans punching power and take advantage of Khans weak chin and defensive lapses, he could pull off the upset and end Khan's career as a serious fighter forever. But with a 38% knockout ratio it is unlikely that Molina can hurt Khan. The more obvious scenario would be Molina stopping a tired Khan late, if Molina can survive Khan early.

What Should Happen:

I expect Khan to be very cautious, even against the light punching Molina. I am not sure how long that will last as the need to make a statement will likely overcome his desire to remain cautious. I am assuming that despite Molina's lack of punching power, that he will come out to test Khan's chin anyways, which is not such a bad idea since Khan's chin has proven to be the chink in his armor, well, that and his lack of defense. 

What Could Happen:

Molina could surprise us by taking Khan's punch and even scoring an upset over Khan. If this were to happen I have to assume that either Molina catches Khan cold, which is highly unlikely, or that Molina stops Khan late. Khan had a tendency to wear down in the later rounds and that coupled with his inability to take a good punch could prove his downfall and the end of Amir Khan as we know it. 

What I Think Will Happen:

Most likely Khan will play it safe opting to stay on the outside and rely on his jab and speed. If Molina can take what Khan dishes out, its unlikely Khan will ever engage him, despite Molina's lack of power. I think Khan will get a unanimous decision or even a late stoppage.

Khan v Molina Interviews and Workouts

If At First You Don't Succeed....

The Aftermath of Marquez vs Pacquiao

Days after the classic war between Marquez and Pacquiao, I am still in shock. I was not expecting a shootout and certainly was not expecting it to end in such brutal fashion, especially with Pacquiao face down motionless on the canvas. This proves that you never quit and no matter what, you go down fighting and that is what Marquez intended to do, knock Pacquiao out, or get knocked out trying.

Just last night I was standing in the checkout line and I heard several people carrying on about the fight.  It is rare that I get the chance to just hang out and talk boxing so I generally take every advantage, or force my friends and relatives to listen to me and pretend to care. I cannot remember the last time I heard people discuss boxing in the most random places, so instead of interjecting, I just listened gleefully.

This has possibly set up a fifth fight between the two. Now, 6 months ago I would have sighed and groaned about a fifth fight but now? I am all for it, and for many reasons. It would be huge for boxing, that is first and foremost, also, it should be another great fight. Marquez now knows that he end Manny with a single shot and while Manny has not knocked Marquez out, he has knocked him down a total of five times. While the boxing world was clamoring for Pacquiao vs. Mayweather, that has now passed and Mayweather will likely go down in history as the man who refused to fight Pacquiao. I know all the excuses that it was this and that, anything but Mayweather holding that fight up. Well, who cares now? Mayweather and Pacquiao are both passed their respective primes, Mayweather more so than Pacquiao, who wants to see that?

Marquez and Pacquiao were made for one another and now that they let it all hang out, we know how exciting the fifth fight will likely be. Marquez has to prove that it wasn't a fluke or lucky punch and Pacquiao has to prove that it was a lucky punch. In my opinion this fight is far more lucrative than a Pac-May matchup. Marquez is now the man who brutally knocked out Pacquiao and everyone wants to see it happen again or see Pacquiao get revenge. I also think that Marquez has essentially ended any desire for a Pac-May fight, even if it does happen, it has lost quite a bit of luster.

Simply put, a fifth fight would be great for boxing. The legends on their way out need to set the tone for those stepping into their place, and last Saturday both Pacquiao and Marquez set a pretty high bar. We may not have succeeded in getting a Mayweather vs Pacquiao matchup, but Marquez gave us an alternative, a seemingly better one too.

Pacquiao vs Marquez 4 - Post Fight Thoughts

I can happily say that I was wrong about my previous misconception that this was not going to be a good fight. Prior to this fight I had vocalized my lack of enthusiasm about this fight taking place, namely because the fights between these two had gotten progressively boring.

The first two rounds seemed to pick up where they had left off, Marquez looking to counter and Pac being cautiously aggressive in taking the first two rounds. The third, however, was to change the fight entirely with Marquez flooring Pacquiao hard with a looping right hand, one that probably wouldn't have landed on Pacquiao a few years ago. Manny got up and did not look to be that hurt, considering how hard he went down. He fought back like a Champion, but to me did not look like Pacquiao anymore. He was flat footed and seemed like his reflexes had abandoned him, nevertheless he fought back and even floored Marqez with a left in the fifth. Even though Manny looked like he had gotten old, he was busting Marquez up and even had him in trouble at the end of the 6th, before Marquez landed a hard right to an oncoming Pacquiao to put him flat on his face and completely motionless.

I don't want to take anything away from Marquez, it was a hard fought victory and an epic and historical fight, so he deserves credit. I had said in a previous post that if Marquez boxes more aggressively and intelligently he would win, and intelligently box he did. Marquez engaged Pacquiao more than he did in the previous fight, but not too much. He likely did this because he knows that Pacquiao will come right back, presenting Marquez with opportunities to counter. To me this was rather clear, and I thought it was genius but it seemed to be working against Marquez as Manny was busting him up. That being said, Manny's reflexes were just not there and he relies on those to get himself out of the way of incoming artillery and it just wasn't happing this fight. He was getting caught a lot more than he had in their previous fights, so Marquez's plan worked brilliantly. Engage Pacquiao with one or two punches, then counter when Pacquiao comes back. The knockdown only served to speed this process up as Manny knew he had to get Marquez back.

It really was sad to see Manny in such a sad state, but it was inevitable. The man has been in several wars and no doubt has some miles on the odometer. This fact seemed to be evident in his last few fights where he looked less than stellar. It reminds me of when Roy Jones Jr. was knocked cold by Antonio Tarver, it was bound to happen eventually but none of us thought it could happen to either Jones Jr. or Pacquiao, at their best they seemed unstoppable. But with the way Pacquiao looked, I think its safe to say that its the end for a legendary fighter who has given us some fantastic fights and stellar knockouts.

As for Marquez, he took some shots but clearly was the better fighter, and looked it. While Pacquiao's skills have faded, he still carries that power. But Marquez valiantly fought through it, lured Pacqiao to engage him and finally got the win over his nemesis, which is probably more satisfying to Marquez than any belt, championship, or any amount of money. For Marquez it is a fitting end to a bitter rivaly that has lasted years. He certainly did not look like a 39 year old man in there and for that alone he should be commended but, its best to go out on a high note, and what better way to go out then by knocking out your nemesis and arguably the best p4p fighter in the world. Although, there is always a rematch with Mayweather, who also seems to be fading and now seems like a winnable fight for Marquez. Either way, congratulation to Marquez and to Manny, thanks for all the memories, enjoy your career in politics.

 

Who is Andy Ruiz Jr.?

I was a bit taken by surprise when I first laid eyes upon Andy Ruiz Jr. He certainly does not look like a heavyweight prospect, but he sure does fight like one. I could not get passed the fact that he looks more like Jared Fogel before the subway diet..and then the bell rang. He showed very fast hands, good power, head movement, some nice defense, and an overall boxing know how. He may not look the part, but does that really matter? I am not saying that Ruiz is the next big thing but I am saying we should at least give him a chance, I mean, he is fun to watch at least.

The good thing is that his weight has come down significantly since his debut, in which he was 300lbs. He now comes in around 250. In his last fight he weighed in at 256 against Oliver McCall's son Elijah, and he knocked him out in three rounds. Its still unclear how far he will go but he definetly has the skill to get him there. We won't be able to tell how good he is until we see him in against better opposition, but so far he has compiled a 17-0 record, with 11 ko's, a 64% knockout ratio, not bad. I think he is ready for a step up in class and then we will get to see what he is really made of.

Is Chavez Jr. The Real Deal?

When I first heard that Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. was fighting, I laughed. Often times the sons of great fighters do not fair so well in the game, so I did not take him seriously. The few times I did see him fight, I was not terribly impressed. At times he seemed to struggle with very limited opposition and it seemed to me that he was more of a side show attraction, drawing crowds with his name in a cheap effort to make a bit of cash. However it was his fights with a shot Peter Manfredo, Marco Antonio Rubio, and Andy Lee that eventually sold me. It was not so much that he beat up Peter Manfredo, because that is what he was supposed to do, but how good he looked in doing so. He showed a marked improvement from his previous fights, boxing intelligently and applying intelligent pressure. He put his punches together well and showed some decent head movement.

Against Rubio he also showed a level of maturity not often seen in fighters with no amateur experience and limited experience in the pros. Rubio had revitalized his career and had been looking very good as of recent, even stopping highly touted power puncher David Lemeiux. Chavez Jr. grinded out a 12 round unanimous decision against the veteran Rubio. He again showed improvement from his previous fight and seemed to be taking boxing much more serious than he had before. When he signed to fight Andy Lee, I thought it was going to be a disaster for Chavez. Lee, who was trained by the late Emmanuel Steward, is a good solid fighter with a good chin and good power. I was sure that Lee would expose Chavez Jr for what he was, a kid trying to make a buck with his famous name. While he had no doubt improved, I was sure he hadn't improved enough to fight someone like Lee. Boy was I wrong.

Chavez Jr. seemed to walk through all of Lee's artillery without a problem while applying good pressure and showing signs of a vastly improved arsenal and defense. That his chin held up against Lee was impressive enough. This fight showed me that Chavez Jr. was for real. Andy Lee is not an all time great, but he certainly is a world class fighter who can punch. Is Chavez Jr. the real deal? I think so.

The Martinez vs Chavez Jr. fight was a mismatch, I thought. Martinez is a masterful boxer who can make you miss all night and dance circles around you, or blast you out with a single punch. I thought it was unlikely that Chavez Jr. would last a whole 12 rounds, let alone win or even get to Martinez. That being said, Martinez is not perfect. He seems to invite disaster by keeping his hands down, or sometimes standing directly in front of his foe when he doesn't have to. It was not that great of a fight until the last round when Chavez Jr. nearly pulled it out by knocking Martinez down, and nearly out. The crowd was in a frenzy because his dad had done this years ago, knocking out Meldrick Taylor with only seconds to go in the last round. Martinez showed how much of a champion he is by getting up and surviving, barely. He took a serious beating in that last round but had built up such a lead that it didn't matter where it mattered most, the scorecards. If there is a rematch I think Chavez Jr. could pull it out, but he certainly has improved and proven that he is good enough to be in there with championship calibur opponents.

Andre Berto vs Robert Guerrero 2012-11-24 (Complete Fight)

Andre Berto vs Robert Guerrero 2012-11-24 - Vidéo Dailymotion

Donaire vs Arce Prediction

This is an intriguing match up, one that I am actually excited for. Donaire is the younger guy who recently came up to super bantam, Arce's home, but has not really showed that same devastating punching power he did in the lower weights. However, that could simply be because his opponents have been better and more aware of his punching power, thereby escaping it. Arce is the aging veteran who has continually surprised us by consistently competing at a world class level for so long. It is surprising because he is more of a brawler, and brawlers don't long careers, especially at the lower weight. Arce, however, has defied this fact as he hasn't lost in 3 years, and when he did lose prior to that, it was to good opposition. Is this fight too close to call? I don't think so.

What Should Happen:
Arce will be right in front of Donaire, something Donaires last few opponents have been unwilling to do. In that case, it will be exciting while it lasts, but, Arce will be totally out gunned and get stopped on cuts, taking a beating, or actually knocked out. I don't think Donaire's power is in question, I think it is a matter of his last few opponents being smart enough to stay away from his power. Arce will, most likely, walk right into the wheel house and get busted up.

What Could Happen:
Arce could surprise us in a couple of ways. One, he could choose to box, which would only prolong his time in the ring but I don't think it would get him the win. If he boxes intelligently, jumps in landing a few punches and then gets back out, it could work, but unlikely.
He could also surprise us by taking Donaire's punches and out slugging Donaire. But again, unlikely.

What I Think Will Happen:
I think it will be entertaining for as long as it lasts, but Donaire will be far too much for Arce and end up stopping him, either on cuts, from a beating, or plain knockout. Basically see above "What Should Happen".

Donaire vs Arce Preview

Tor Hamer

Tor Hamer is a relatively unknown american heavyweight with a record of 19-1 with 12 ko's. He is best known for winning the prizefighter heavyweight tournament, beating the pre-tournament betting favorite Kevin Johnson. Hamer has some amateur background with a 34-1 amateur record and winning the 2008 national golden gloves at super heavyweight.

I have to say, I never really took a second look at Hamer until recently. I heard about him and seen very little footage of him. Having recently sat down and actually watched several of his fights, I am impressed. He is a 230lb heavyweight that fights kind of like a middleweight. He puts his punches together well and always seems to have the proper distance, never too far away, and never too close. On top of that he throws a lot of punches from awkward angles and he is relatively quick. One thing I noticed right away is that he fights with some intensity that is rarely seen in the heavyweight division, which every fan loves to see.

His opposition has not been the greatest but he only has 20 fights, his only loss coming earlier in his career, a six round split decision that could have gone either way. For only having 20 fights he has beaten a few decent guys, Kevin Johnson, Demetrice King, who knocked out another heavyweight hopeful in Bername Stiverne, and Dominique Alexander. Thus far he has shown that he is exciting and that he can beat experienced trial horses. He has also demonstrated a good chin in each one of his bouts. The jury is still out on Tor Hamer but  so far he has passed each test with flying colors and looks to be the best american heavyweight, keep an eye    on Hamer, win or lose he is fun to watch. 

Kingpin or Safety Pin?

In the wake of the snooze fest that was Fury vs Johnson, one has to wonder, should Kevin Johnson change his nick name from kingpin to safety pin? During the buildup to his fight with Tyson Fury, Johnson did a lot of talking, as he generally does, but come fight night did little fighting. I heard about Johnson long before I ever seen him, his mouth is almost legendary and if he could actually back it up, he might actually be liked. Since I heard so much from him, I began looking at his fights and I have to say I was not even slightly impressed by anything Johnson does. He is not just a safety first fighter but seems to be obsessively defensive, throwing jabs, then covering up. I am baffled by Johnson's claims to greatness when his activity level in the ring is virtually non-existent.

Against lesser fighters he had the same sort of pattern, jab and then go defensive. If his opponent offered up nothing in terms of offense then he might throw a lead left hook or even a right hand behind his jab, but rarely. Often times his opponents would tire, offer little resistance, and he would capitalize on that, like he did against Devin Vargas and Bruce Seldon. When he was in against Vitali, who never got tired, he literally just tried to survive from the opening bell, and survive he did.

There are few american heavyweights, our other hopeful, Seth Mitchell, got demolished in two rounds recently and then there is Kevin Johnson. The man calls himself "kingpin" and talks more than any other heavyweight in recent memory. What is worse, his banter is not even entertaining, it is annoying. He makes it even worse when he gets in the ring and does next to nothing. This is why I prefer to call him "safety pin" because of his safety first obsession in the ring that leads to bore fests.

I completely understand how dangerous boxing is, I myself have been in the ring and am well aware of the dangers. So I understand why people would be cautious in the ring, but Johnson takes it to a whole other level. The only other hope for american heavyweights is Deontay Wilder, who seems more content on fighting people we have never heard of then actually stepping up and facing someone of note. Hopefully Johnson's time has passed, I cannot bare to see another Johnson fight unless the end result is him laying on the canvas.

Cotto vs. Trout Fight Prediction

This weekend, on December 1st, Miguel Cotto makes his return to the ring against unbeaten, and relatively unknown, Austin Trout. Both fighters are coming off career best performances, although Cotto was on the losing end, I think he performed very well against Mayweather, maybe not career best but considering Mayweather is one of the best fighters, pound for pound, in the world. Trout is coming off a good win against Delvin Rodriguez, hardly the same level as Cotto. The difficulty in calling this fight should be rather clear, Cotto performed well in his last fight against Mayweather, but is considered well passed his prime. Trout is relatively unproven, but a natural 154lb fighter, and a young up and coming one at that.

What should happen:
Cotto should be his usual self. I don't think Cotto is that far passed his prime, as evidenced by his last fight against one of the best fighters in the world. Trout should put up a pretty good fight, at first, but Cotto will, as usual, impose his will and eventually take complete control of the fight. Cotto is a wise pressure fighter and he will probably try and rough up the younger and less experienced Trout and take him out of his game plan. I think Trout will largely be on the defensive because of Cotto's pressure and body work. If Cotto does stop Trout it will most likely be in the later rounds after Cotto has ground him down, but most likely Cotto will win a hard fought but decisive decision.

What could happen:
Well, Cotto could get old, and Trout could be better than we think he is and shock us. I do not think it is very likely that Trout stops Cotto at all, especially in the early rounds. But he could show up and be a far superior boxer, maybe even stronger than Cotto, and completely outclass Cotto. This would be very good for Trout, to win decisively, or to beat Cotto up. Mayweather seemed to struggle with Cotto at times, which was a surprise to me, so if Trout can show up and pound the hell out of Cotto, or beat him even more clearly than Mayweather, his stock will shoot through the roof, and so will his confidence.

What could also happen is that Trout is way in over his head and not nearly as sturdy as we think he should be and Cotto utterly demolishes him. Cotto is not known for one punch knockouts, but he punches hard enough to hurt and if Trout does not have a good chin, Cotto could exploit that and walk over Trout.

What do I think will happen?
I think it will be a good fight between two good fighters, one exiting his prime and one entering it. I think Cotto will be Cotto, come forward and beat up Trout and get the decision. 

Roberto "Hands of Stone" Duran Career Highlights

Lightweight

After an initial adjustment he won thirty in a row, and scored knockout victories over future Featherweight ChampionErnesto Marcel and former Super Featherweight Champion Hiroshi Kobayashi, culminating in his first title bout in June 1972, where he controversially defeated Ken Buchanan in Madison Square Garden, New York for the WBA Lightweight Championship. Durán, as a 2-to-1 underdog, scored a knock down against the defending champion just fifteen seconds into the opening round and battered him throughout the bout.^[7] He was well ahead on all three cards as the bell rang to end the 13th round, at which time Durán (apparently not hearing the bell due to crowd noise and the heat of the moment) continued to throw a couple of extra punches as Buchanan lay on the ropes. Upon closer inspection of the famed low blow, referee Johnny LoBianco can be seen standing behind Durán as the bell rang and immediately grabbed Durán in a bear hug-like style to pull Durán away from Buchanan. LoBianco can clearly be seen in the video altering the direction of Duran's right arm, pulling it downward as Durán attempted to throw a clean body punch at Buchanan; thus the infamous ridicule of Durán intentionally throwing a low blow was born. Buchanan immediately dropped to the canvas writhing in pain from a groin punch, that Buchanan's trainer, Gil Clancy, said was caused by a knee to the groin (which it wasn't). Referee Johnny LoBianco awarded the fight to Durán, insisting that the blow that took down Buchanan was "in the abdomen, not any lower" (the punch did land below belt line, LoBianco was out of position to see it) and that he felt that Buchanan would be unable to continue fighting.^[8] Columnist Red Smith of The New York Times wrote that LoBianco had to award the victory to Durán, even if the punch was a low blow, as "anything short of pulling a knife is regarded indulgently" in American boxing.^[9]

Durán followed up on his title winning performance with several non-title matches. Later that year, in another non-title bout, he lost a ten round decision to Esteban De Jesús. Durán got back on track with successful title defenses against Jimmy Robertson, Hector Thompson and future Lightweight Champion Guts Ishimatsu. In 1974, Durán avenged his loss to De Jesus with a brutal eleventh round knock out. In 1976, he defeated future Light Welterweight Champion Saoul Mamby. Overall, Durán made twelve successful defenses of his title (eleven coming by knock out) and amassed a record of 62-1, his last defense coming in 1978 where Durán fought a third bout with De Jesus, a unification match where Durán once again knocked out De Jesus and captured his WBC Lightweight Championship. Durán gave up the Undisputed Lightweight Championship in February 1979.

[edit]Welterweight

Vacating the Lightweight title was a build up for an attempt at the Welterweight title. Durán earned a pair of wins against former WBC Welterweight Champion Carlos Palomino and Zeferino Gonzales, setting the stage for a title bout against then undefeated WBC Welterweight Champion Sugar Ray Leonard. The venue chosen was the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, the same location where Leonard won an Olympic gold medal during the 1976 Summer Olympics. Durán resented the fact that he was getting only one-fifth the money Leonard would make despite the fact that he was entering the bout with an incredible 71-1 record. On June 20, 1980, Durán captured the WBC Welterweight title by defeating Leonard via a 15-round unanimous decision. The fight became known as "The Brawl in Montreal."^[10]

[edit]"No Más"

In the November rematch, Durán quit. Leonard has said that his strategy was to use speed and agility to taunt and frustrate Durán, believing it was his best chance of winning the fight.^[11] In the seventh round, Leonard started to taunt Durán. His most memorable punch came late in the round. Winding up with his right hand, as if to throw a bolo punch, Leonard hit Durán flush in the face with a left. In the eighth round, Durán, slightly behind on all three scorecards, shortly after a vicious right uppercut from Leonard, turned around, walked to his corner and gave up, supposedly saying the now famous words, "no más" (no more). However, he claims to have actually said, "No quiero pelear con el payaso." (Meaning, "I do not want to fight with this clown.") Another version of events has him saying, in Spanish, "I can't continue." Referee Octavio Meyran, perhaps as incredulous as was the rest of the world at what he was seeing, asked Durán if he was sure, and Durán then said, "No más, no más" (no more, no more). In violation of what any professional fighter does on the day of a fight, Durán gorged himself after the weigh-in and claimed he quit because he was having stomach cramps.^[12] However, Durán's manager, Carlos Eleta, said, "Durán didn't quit because of stomach cramps. He quit because he was embarrassed. I know this."^[13]

[edit]Middleweight

He took some time to recover from that fight and gained even more weight to contend for the WBC Light Middleweight title, but losing in his first attempt at a championship in that division on January 30, 1982, against Wilfred Benítez by a 15 round unanimous decision. Durán was also to lose his comeback fight in December 1982 in Detroit. Kirkland Laing, from London, shocked the boxing world, producing the type of display his talents promised yet he so rarely produced, taking the split decision. After being relegated to a 10 round walk out win over Englishman Jimmy Batten at The Battle of The Champions in Miami, Durán signed with promoter Bob Arum. This marked the beginning of a comeback in which he beat former world champion and now hall of famer Pipino Cuevas via a fourth round knock-out, which earned him a second crack at the light middleweight title, this time against WBA Champion Davey Moore.

The WBA title bout took place at Madison Square Garden on June 16, 1983, which also happened to be Durán's 32nd birthday. The still inexperienced Moore (12-0) was game through the first three rounds, but by the 4th, Durán said he knew Moore couldn't hurt him, and an onslaught began.^[14] The pro-Durán crowd at ringside cheered as Durán relentlessly punished Moore. By the end of the sixth round, Moore's eye had swollen shut and he was floored near the end of the seventh. Finally the fight was stopped in the eighth round as Moore was taking such a horrific beating and Durán won his third world title. After the victory, Durán was hoisted up in the air as the crowd sang "Happy Birthday" to a sobbing Durán.^[10]

Durán later fought for the World Middleweight Championship, meeting Marvin Hagler in Las Vegas in November 1983, but losing in a very competitive fight that went the full fifteen rounds, although after 12 rounds two of the judges had Durán ahead on points. Hagler fought tenaciously over the final three rounds to earn a unanimous decision. Despite the loss, Durán became the only man to ever last 15 rounds against the great Middleweight Champion in one of his defenses.

In June 1984, Durán was stripped of his Light Middleweight title when the WBA did not approve of his fight with WBC Champion Thomas "Hitman" Hearns and took away recognition of Durán as world champion the moment Durán stepped into the ring to box Hearns. Durán lost the fight after a vicious second round knock-out by Hearns.

Durán did not contend another title fight until 1989, but made the shot count when he won the WBC Middleweight title from Iran Barkley in February. The fight is considered one of Durán's greatest achievements, as the 37 year old former lightweight champion took the middleweight crown, his fourth title. In a tough, back and forth fight, Durán knocked Barkley down in the eleventh round and won a close decision. The bout was named the 1989 "Fight of the Year" by The Ring.

[edit]Super Middleweight

His reign was short lived once again as Duran moved up to super middleweight (although both fighters weighed in at the middleweight limit) for a third clash withSugar Ray Leonard in December (a fight dubbed Uno Más—One More—by promoters), but lost in a close decision. Durán seemed to be in decline after the fight, he attempted to win further middleweight titles in 1994, 1995 and 1996 (fighting for the minor IBC belt).

Durán fought Vinny Pazienza in 1994 and 1995 for the IBC Super Middleweight Championship and was defeated both times by unanimous decision.

In 1996, he challenged Héctor Camacho for the IBC Middleweight Championship but lost via controversial unanimous decision. In 1997, Durán was defeated by former champion Jorge Castro. Durán fought Castro in a rematch bout and won via unanimous decision.

In 1998, at the age of 47, he challenged 28 year old WBA Middleweight Champion William Joppy. Joppy, a trim, quick-fisted fighter, battered Durán to defeat in just 3 rounds. It was Duran's most emphatic loss since the Hearns fight, over a decade earlier. Durán then announced his retirement in August 1998, but was back fighting in 1999.

In June 2000, Durán avenged a previous loss to Pat Lawlor and won the NBA Super Middleweight Championship on his 49th birthday. He lost the title a year later to Héctor Camacho in a rematch bout and in what would be Durán's final fight.

Source: Wikipedia

Fury vs. Johnson Fight Prediction

On December 1st fans will be delighted to see an intriguing heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Kevin Johnson. Fury is an exciting heavyweight, he has many flaws, but he can punch and he loves to fight. Johnson on the other hand seems to think he is a great fighter in his own mind but never really performs come fight night. He has a big mouth but little else. The two exchanged pleasantries during their last press conference, while Fury seemed to have been rubbed the wrong way by Johnson's banter, none of which seemed to make any sense, both promised fireworks. However, Johnson will most likely not deliver on that promise and Fury most definetly will.

What should happen:
This is a tough one to call. Fury has made no secret in what he plans to do, come at Johnson and knock him out. This aggression will inevitably lead to Johnson being on the defensive and if Fury punches hard enough, he will likely just lay back and do nothing like he did against Vitali Klitschko. If this is the case then Fury will probably just beat on Johnson the whole fight and win a decision.

What could happen:
Fury is not without his flaws as he has been knocked down by lesser fighters. However, he has gotten up each time and fought back like a champ. If Johnson has enough power, he could catch Fury and change the tone of the fight, which may be difficult given Johnson's tendency towards defense and Fury's ability to get off the deck and fight back.

Fury could also get frustrated at Johnson's lack of activity. Its clear Fury does not like him much and wants to stop him. The defensive minded Johnson could frustrate Fury to the point of him making a mistake or punching himself out giving Johnson the opportunity to capitalize and get a career best win. In my estimation it will be a one sided decision for Fury, but certainly has the potential to be a shootout.

Price vs Skelton Fight Prediction

This coming Nov. 30th we will be treated to a heavyweight fight that should be entertaining while it lasts, and if anything it should give us some insight about the giant up and coming David Price. Price is coming off an 83 second demolition of Audley Harrison, a fight that many observers thought would test Price. Apparently it was such a tough test that Price is fighting a month later. Skelton represents a bit of a step up, but at 45, he probably doesn't have much left to offer other than a good punch. It should be an easy night for Price but Skelton should make a fight of it for the time he is in there. Being that Skelton can punch, we should be able to tell what kind of chin Price has and maybe, if Skelton gets lucky, how much heart and fighting spirit Price has in that 6'8 body.

What should happen:

Price should keep Skelton on the outside with a good jab, not giving Skelton any opportunity to land anything of significance. As the 45 year old Skelton tires, Price should then step on the gas pedal eventually ending things midway through the fight.

What could happen:

Well, it is boxing so technically anything could happen. We don't yet know what kind of beard Price has so if Skelton lands a big bomb and Price has a weak chin, it could derail the heavyweight hopeful right then and there. This is why Price is still a prospect, he clearly has all the talent, power and know how, but we he is not battle tested. He was stopped in the amateurs, but then again, so was David Tua and his chin seems to be fashioned from cast iron as a pro.

Coming off of a huge win against Harrison, Price clearly has the momentum going into this fight. It is entirely possible that Price blows Skelton out in the same fashion he did against Harrison. Because there are still questions about Price, anything could happen. But he seems to be working his way through the who's who of European boxing to establish himself as the man in Europe before stepping up to the Klitschko's, who may be ripe for the picking by the time Price is ready to fight them, both brothers are aging and can't keep this dominance up forever, but, only time will tell.