BODY SHOT: Antonio Margarito Outsmarts Miguel Cotto — and the Rest of Us
July 27, 2008
Boxing history’s most dramatic knockouts are those that come without a single punch. It is the picture of Joe Frazier on his stool in Manila as trainer Eddie Futch tells him “Sit down, son. No one will ever forget what you did here today.” It is Roberto Duran waving off Sugar Ray Leonard while exclaiming “No mas”. And it was yesterday as an utterly spent and exhausted Miguel Cotto dropped down to one knee after being backed into a corner in the 11th round by a relentless Antonio Margarito before his trainer and uncle, Evangelista Cotto waved the white towel. No Aaron Pryoresque barrage would be necessary to finish off Cotto – only the mere thought of one. Announcer Max Kellerman immediately pronounced the fight “A modern day classic” while Jim Lampley called it “An epic fight with an epic conclusion”. While HBO announcers are known to embellish from time to time, it ain’t hyperbole if it’s the truth. And if you are upset that you missed the bout, all I can say is: “I told you so”. Read more
Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito: 10 Reasons Why You MUST Watch This Fight!
July 25, 2008
Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito face off Saturday night at the MGM grand in Las Vegas. As it should be, it is on Pay-Per-View. If you don’t want to drop down the 50 bucks, find a sports bar near you and pay the cover. Just do it. Here is why:
1. Because every negative excuse of why people say they don’t like boxing goes out the window in this one.
2. Because this is two top welterweights in their prime.
3. Because some boxers win with skill, other boxers brawl, and Cotto and Margarito do both.
4. Because this might turn into the welterweight version of Hagler-Hearns.
5. Because boxing’s biggest names (see Mayweather and De La Hoya) have chosen not to fight them, so they are left to fight each other.
6. Because every extra dollar that Cotto and Margarito make from PPV, they deserve.
7. Because both fighters actually punch to the body — and can even knock someone out with a body shot.
8. Because a strong Cotto performance will probably lead to a big money match-up in Oscar’s final fight… which might then lead to Floyd coming out of retirement in 2009. And if so…
9. Cotto can possibly go down as the best fighter of this generation, yet Margarito has the will, ability, and punching power to pull off an upset with some big punches.
10. Because you DON’T want to see this fight on HBO tape delay a week later.
PREDICTION: despite his tough chin, Margarito gets knocked out by Cotto in the 9th round as a result of too much punishment and fatique from body shots. What do you think?
Is HBO Boxing, Larry Merchant, Racially Biased?
July 7, 2008
Floyd Mayweather Jr. – who recently retired from boxing — is not controlled by any team league commissioners, corporate endorsements, or television network executives. He has also made “great investments”, says that he “should be a billionaire” by the end of the year, and could care less what you think of him. In other words, Floyd just may be the only African-American athlete in America who can speak freely without major consequence. On July 4, he accused HBO of racially-biased coverage against himself and other black fighters Read more
Tainted Legacy: Floyd Mayweather Jr. Quits Boxing
June 7, 2008
An Open Letter to Floyd Mayweather:
Floyd, what if Sugar Ray Leonard never fought Roberto Duran? What if Hagler never risked his belt against Tommy Hearns? What if all of these four fighters never squared off with one another in the 1980’s? …It would never happen. It could never happen. Because championship fighters at the highest level MUST challenge themselves against the very best. It’s in their DNA. But today you announced your retirement from boxing without fighting the only man that true boxing fans have wanted to see you fight: Miguel Cotto. Read more
It Called MMA, Him Name Kimbo – You Love Both
June 2, 2008
There’s something very troubling about MMA, just as there was about boxing before it (if you will).
There’s something wrong about the two men in a cage - ring, if you’re talking boxing - beating the shit out of each other format.
Neither boxing nor this bastardized form of fighting, with the gross misnomer of Mixed Martial Arts, was derived from anything other than the wish of the “common folk” to satisfy their suppressed violent urges.
But, for now, I want to speak directly to the mixed fighting form that was aired on CBS Saturday night.
That most martial arts were derived to develop self-discipline, restraint in using combat, respect for both self and opponent, and to defend against bodily attack, not initiate attack, makes the “MA” in Mixed Martial Arts a laughable inclusion in the naming of this fighting form. And to attempt to maintain that martial arts are involved in MMA beyond a rudimentary kick style or two is laughable, so the “Martial Arts” part needs to be removed from this person-to-person competition.
EXPOSED!: Kimbo Slice, CBS, ESPN, & MMA
June 1, 2008
Full Disclosure: I love boxing, but hate Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Not the fighters, just the game. I have great respect for the skill, heart, and courage they possess, and greater disdain for the spectacle they create. I am personally happy for Kimbo Slice that he can make a few extra bucks, but despise the reasons why he has become so popular. I respect the true fans of MMA who appreciate the sport on its most technical levels, but not the masses who come to cheer for its most barbaric images.
Best Round Ever? R.I.P. Diego Corrales
May 8, 2008
Okay, I caught this over at Sportaphile and am kicking myself for not posting a Diego Corrales tribute 24 hours earlier. Because of his heart and guts Chico was one of my all-time favorite fighters before his tragic death last year May 7 from a motorcycle accident. But Chico is best known for the 2005 fight of the year against Jose Luis Castillo — also eerily on May 7th. Corrales-Castillo I is personally my fight of the decade with Round 10 capping it off. However if someone wants to argue for Gatti-Ward I and Round 9 — that’s fine too. Most exciting round ever? That one might just be George Foreman-Ron Lyle Round 4. Anyway, R.I.P Chico.
Diego Corrales - Jose Luis Castillo I - Round 10
Arturo Gatti-Mickey Ward: Round 9
Will Oscar De La Hoya Do The Right Thing?
May 4, 2008
“Tremendous”… “fighting a perfect fight”… “turned back the clock”… these were some of the movie-review superlatives coming out of announcer Emanuel Steward’s mouth as Oscar De La Hoya beat Steve Forbes in a unanimous one-sided decision. But Steward was more HBO promoter than legendary trainer in his commentary. Read more
Joe Calzaghe Beats Hopkins or Did Bernard Beat Himself?
April 20, 2008
Bernard Hopkins deserved to lose against Joe Calzaghe. Why?: Because B-Hop’s greatest strengths are also his greatest weaknesses… Read more
Boxing’s Big Night: Cotto & Tarver Win, but Undercards & Controversy Steal the Show
April 14, 2008
Last night was a great night for real boxing fans who got a four-fight package instead of one megafight and little else. The night also featured “the return of the body shot” as it became the greatest weapon in three of the four fights. Here are some thoughts as in-depth round-by-round boxing analysis will be left to others.
