The “ten-point must” scoring system, as every fan knows, instructs judges to award a 10-point round to the combatant who better satisfies these four criteria: Clean punching, effective aggressiveness, ring generalship and defense. These criteria … [Read more...]
A One-Year Stand for the Ages, Part II
December 19, 2007 By
Christmas is just around the corner and as we celebrate, a new year awaits for its arrival. … [Read more...]
Twelve things of boxing that I want under my tree
December 19, 2007 By
You’ve heard of that holiday tune, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” Well, here are 12 things yours truly would like to see happen in our beloved sport: … [Read more...]
PERSONAL FAVORITES OF 2007
December 17, 2007 By
The past 12 months have produced a host of huge fights, unlike anything seen in years. Credit is due to the promoters and fighters for taking some risks and to the networks for demanding a top quality product for their viewers. Together they managed … [Read more...]
In search of perspective
December 17, 2007 By
There’s a tendency to exaggerate the relevance of events that happen in our time. Last week brought evidence of this, with pundits, emailers and message-board habitués all fired up about the historical significance of Floyd Mayweather’s victory … [Read more...]
GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS–GREAT TEAM, BUT THEY WON’T CALL YOU BACK
December 14, 2007 By
Today I came to praise Golden Boy Promotions, not to bury them. But, keeping it real, we’ll address some constructive criticism before we wrap up for the week. … [Read more...]
THE HISTORIC BLUE HORIZON
December 14, 2007 By
Recently I read that Philadelphia’s legendary Blue Horizon, one of the last bastions of good, entertaining boxing wars in an intimate setting was up for sale. The story was also reported in the most recent issue of Boxing Digest. After reading the … [Read more...]
A One Year Stand for the Ages
December 13, 2007 By
Year 2007 has certainly been a blessing as it provided to be one of the most celebrated and significant years in recent memory for the sport of boxing. … [Read more...]
On Thursday, we’ll look at the Saturday night fights.
December 12, 2007 By
After the Floyd Mayweather Jr. - Ricky Hatton fight last Saturday night, my email was jammed with questions and commentary from fans and colleagues about Floyd. Who should he fight next? How does he stack up with the rest of the talented welterweight … [Read more...]
Cotto prefers “Pretty Golden” opponents
December 11, 2007 By
It was about noon Saturday in Las Vegas. Reporters had gathered at Wolfgang Puck inside MGM Grand for promoter Bob Arum’s 76th birthday and for some access to his prized fighter – welterweight champion Miguel Cotto. … [Read more...]
MAYWEATHER BECOMES HERO AS HATTON LOSES ZERO
December 10, 2007 By
Floyd Mayweather Jr. may have fought his best fight last Saturday night, stopping England’s Ricky Hatton at 1:35 of round 10. Floyd oozed skill, quickness and defensive ability, and in demonstrating more of a willingness to rumble, we got to see … [Read more...]
Where credit is due
December 9, 2007 By
You don’t like Floyd Mayweather. You think he’s immature. You think his trainer should be sweeping gym floors instead of doing hand pad … [Read more...]
PRELIMS SPICE UP “UNDEFEATED”
December 7, 2007 By
A couple of days ago I threw out a teaser that I wasn’t sure that Jeff Lacy would be able to defeat Peter Manfredo Jr. at this point. The two men meet in a 10 round super middleweight fight on the “Undefeated” undercard on Saturday night, with … [Read more...]
THE SHOWTIME SHOWCASE
December 6, 2007 By
With seven fights to view on Saturday night, personally I was as happy as a kid on the first day of Hanukkah, with Santa Claus still to come. The Showtime card received a few raspberries in the press, and I think I understand some of the reasons for … [Read more...]
“UNDEFEATED”- IN THE RING, IN THE SPORTSBOOKS, AND AT THE BOX OFFICE
December 6, 2007 By
A strange thing happened to me last night. I went to sleep as firmly convinced as I have been since the fight was announced that Floyd Mayweather Jr. would take Ricky Hatton to the woodshed for a good spanking on December 8. When I awakened, somehow … [Read more...]
9 FOR 9 — LIKE SHOOTING FISH IN A BARREL
December 4, 2007 By
There were three major cards on the tube this weekend that we previewed last week. I went 9-0 in picking the winners, yet I feel no particular accomplishment in this case. All were favored, and were top level prospects, future champions, champions, … [Read more...]
Mayweather and Hatton: What could have been and what is
December 2, 2007 By
Saturday night, Manchester’s Ricky Hatton will defend his junior-welterweight championship against American Floyd Mayweather before 20,000 rabid Brits in M.E.N. Arena. Because of Hatton’s swarming style, and troubles Mayweather has had returning … [Read more...]
THE FILIPINO FLASH, THE VIPER AND THE MAGIC MAN
November 30, 2007 By
The 2007 edition of Showtime Championship Boxing, plagued by some bizarre curse that cancelled and/or postponed fights due to untimely injuries, last minute pullouts, and other problems, slipped to the #2 spot of premium boxing programming. It … [Read more...]
A FOOD FOR THOUGHT DAY
November 30, 2007 By
I recently read an article on www.braggingrightscorner.com, written by Keith Terceira that was harshly critical of the reign of Larry Hazzard Sr. as New Jersey boxing commissioner. The vitriolic tone of the piece made its points but in general was … [Read more...]
THE LOST WEEKEND
November 28, 2007 By
the Washington Redskins safety who died on Tuesday due to gunshot wounds apparently suffered in a robbery of his home in Miami. … [Read more...]
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. Creeping out of the shadow
November 27, 2007 By
Promoter Bob Arum has never shied away from boasting about one of his fighters. That’s his job, and he does it well. Arum, however, seems genuinely impressed with the way Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. has dealt with being the son of the legendary Julio … [Read more...]
Garcia/Vargas, Local/National, Positive/Negative
November 25, 2007 By
Those of us who write regularly about prizefighting are advocates of the sport. Gone are the days of boxing beat reporters on newspaper staffs round the country. There’s little routine coverage of prizefighting in the mainstream press. And if a … [Read more...]
PACQUIAO’S CHOICE
November 24, 2007 By
According to published reports, Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao is in Los Angeles for a meeting with Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum to decide on his next opponent. The top contenders have been narrowed down to WBC lightweight title holder David Diaz and WBC … [Read more...]
THE TURKEY
November 21, 2007 By
Fernando Vargas and Ricardo Mayorga finally meet on Friday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The show begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on Showtime PPV for $44.95. If this seems to be an outrageous amount to spend for a totally irrelevant … [Read more...]
Kermit Cintron: Impressive in and out of the ring
November 20, 2007 By
Kermit Cintron on Tuesday was about to sit down with reporters at the Sheraton Hotel in Los Angeles to discuss his world welterweight title defense against Jesse Feliciano on Friday at Staples Center. (Showtime pay-per-view will televise). … [Read more...]
GUZMAN, MARES, DOMINATE ON BAD
November 19, 2007 By
The Dominican from Brooklyn, New York, Joan Guzman, defended his WBO junior lightweight title with a unanimous decision over Mexican Humberto Soto last Saturday night by scores of 117-111 (twice) and 118-110. The fight was held at the Borgata Hotel … [Read more...]
Anemia, gangsta rap and suspense
November 18, 2007 By
In an effort to lose 100 pounds and make weight for his retirement match with Ricardo Mayorga in September, Fernando Vargas caused himself anemia enough to postpone the fight. We know Vargas once weighed as much as 260 pounds because he happily told … [Read more...]
SHAMEFUL, SHADY, AND SUSPICIOUS
November 16, 2007 By
I don’t generally care for stories that embarrass celebrities by putting their dirty laundry out for all to see. I wonder how well most of us could stand up to the scrutiny that even a “D” lister has to endure. Nevertheless that’s the America … [Read more...]
FIVE EASY PIECES
November 16, 2007 By
IT’S A BAD WEEK HBO’s Boxing After Dark series this week features a highly competitive WBO junior lightweight title fight between the belt holder Joan Guzman, 27-0 (17), and Humberto Soto, 43-5-2 (27). The fight will be held at the Borgata … [Read more...]
THREE BLIND MICE
November 14, 2007 By
The lightweight championship fight between Ring Magazine and WBC interim champion Joel Casamayor and Jose Armando Santa Cruz that took place on the undercard of the Cotto-Mosley card last Saturday night in Madison … [Read more...]
