Pacquiao vs. Mayweather Jr?

How did we get here?

Not too long ago it seemed like after every fight I watched the winning fighter would call out Floyd Mayweather Jr. Experts and fans alike had differeing opinions on who should get a crack at the reigning pound-for-pound champ. A little over a year after Floyd Mayweather Jr's retirement and it seems as if everyone agrees Manny Pacquiao is the guy who desrves the shot(or at this point Mayweather deserves the shot at Pacquiao).  Did "Pretty Boy" actually help himself out by disappearing for a little while?

The names of Miguel Cotto, Antonio Margarito, Paul Williams, Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez, and Manny Pacquiao were all being thrown out there. Not to mention some thought Hatton deserved a second shot at the undefeated fighter. If Floyd hadn't retired would we have gotten to this point? 

Here are some big fights that have lead to a Mayweather Jr. - Pacquiao showdown:

December 12th 2008: Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Ricky Hatton

  Mayweather Jr. lands a perfect left hook on Ricky Hatton's jaw to knock him out in the 10th.

February 9th 2008: Carlos Quintana vs. Paul Williams

  Quintana upsets Williams by unanimous decision, and takes his WBO title. We start to wonder if Williams was just a bit overrated.

March 15th 2008: Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez II

  In a spectacular fight Pacquiao walks away with a Split Decision win (many experts and fans thought it could have gone the other way, I had Pacquiao winning). It gives Pacquiao an edge against his arch nemesis with the win, either way I think most look forward to a third encounter.

April 24th 2008: Antonio Margarito vs. Kermit Cintron II

  Margarito once again owns Kermit Cintron and KO's him 6 rounds. Cintron has lost a chance at Floyd with this outing. Margarito has the masses talking again.

June 6th 2008: Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Retirement

  The retirement would cancel the upcoming Delohaya-Mayweather II bout scheduled for September. Oscar is left without an obvious Mega-fight and has to look outside the welterweights.

June 7th 2008: Paul Williams vs. Carlos Quintana II

  Williams erases the only defeat from his record with the one round destruction of Carlos Quintana, Williams is back in our good graces.

June 28th 2008: Manny Pacquiao vs. David Diaz

  Pacquiao successfully moves up in weight and has arguably the best showing of his career by thoroughly dismantling 135lb champ David Diaz inside of 9 rounds. Word on the street is Paquiao is the new pound-for-pound champ.(Does that sound hip?)

July 26th 2008: Antonio Margarito vs. Miguel Cotto

  Margarito stops Miguel Cotto in the 11th round of a spectacular fight. Cotto suffers his first loss, and is no longer seen as the unstoppable machine he had looked like in his past few bouts.

September 13th 2008: Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Joel Casamayor

  Marquez takes on cagey southpaw veteran Joel Casamayor in his first fight at Lightweight, and takes him out in the 11th of a solid fight. Marquez continues his climb up the pound-for-pound ranks, and stalks a third fight with Pacquiao.

September 27th 2008: Shane Mosley vs. Ricardo Mayorga

  Shane Mosley KO's Ricardo Mayorga in the last seconds of surprisingly entertaining twelve round fight. The scorecards were pretty close, and it seemed as if Mosely was finally starting to show some signs of aging.

December 6th 2008: Manny Pacquiao vs. Oscar Delahoya

  Pacquiao man-handles the much bigger Oscar Delahoya, and gets the TKO in the 8th round. Pacquiao sends Delahoya into retirement, and is now widely considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. (Many considered him before, but after this fight there was no question).

January 24th 2009: Shane Mosley vs. Antonio Margarito

  Shane Mosley puts on one of the best performances of his career and goes almost untouched while delivering an embarrassing beating to Antonio Margarito, stopping him in the 9th. Previous to the fight Margarito was found to have padding in his hand-wraps, it was later revealed those pads were indeed Plaster-of-Paris. This puts into puts into question all of his previous wins.

February 28th 2009: Juan Manual Marquez vs. Juan Diaz

  Marquez would put on a stellar performance in what would be a front runner for fight of the year, stopping Diaz in the 9th. Marquez continues his rightful quest to take on Pacquiao for a third time.

April 11th 2009: Paul Williams vs. Winky Wright

  Williams completely out hustles and out classes the usually hard to handle Winky Wright, taking home a one-sided unanimous Decision. This was just the 3rd time Williams has fought over the Welterweight limit and his 2nd fight at Middleweight. Williams has been so good at Middleweight, do we really want him to move down again?

May 2nd 2009: Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton

  Pacquiao shows the world why he is now called the best fighter in the world. He may have sent his second superstar into retirement, this time with a flush left hook to the jaw in the 2nd round. Ricky Hatton can kiss his rematch with Floyd Jr. goodbye.

July 18th 2009: Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Juan Manuel Marquez

  Mayweather will step into the ring for the first time since 2007. He will face arguably the best opponent of his career in Juan Manuel Marquez. If he wins we will all be looking forward(hopefully) to a Pacquiao-Mayweather showdown in the fall.

So there you have it, some of the big things that have happened in boxing since the Pretty Boy's last fight. I'm not saying that the other guys don't deserve their shot at giving Mo' his first O, but there is finally a pecking order to the man.

Marquez has his shot, and Paquiao will hopefully get the winner. Sugar Shane isn't far behind, but let's not forget how much trouble he had with Mayorga, a guy who was destroyed by Delahoya. Cotto was out, but thanks to Margarito's cinder-block fists and questions as to when the cheating began, Cotto goes to the back of the line, assuming he gets by Clottey(no guarantee). Williams is standing next to Cotto, but I think I would rather see him stay at Middleweight. I don't believe Hatton should fight again and don't want to see Margarito ever step into the ring again.

Long story made short, if Mayweather can get by Marquez, the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight is the only fight in boxing that MUST happen. Who knew the best way to figure all that out was for Floyd Jr. to retire?

PACQUIAO VS. HATTON

This is my favorite time of the year, no not spring-time, not baseball season, not draft day, and definitely not Alcohol awareness month! It's big fight time! The Bryguy is ready to hunker down and watch arguably the biggest boxing event of the year.( I say arguably only because if Pacquiao wins there could be a Mayweather-pacquiao showdown later in the year.)

Does it get better than this? I love the hype of a big fight, especially when the fight looks like it could live up to it.(Not like Delahoya-Mayweather, although I enjoyed that hype as well.) For most people all they have to do is go to the bar or call a friend to talk about their favorite sport. Baseball fans have at least a game a day, Fox shows a National game every Saturday afternoon, ESPN has Sunday night baseball, and of course in New England, Red Sox games are always available on NESN(shameless plug).  Football fans have every Sunday and Monday night to bunker down and devour game after game. Boxing fans get one or maybe two big fights a year that will attract casual fans. This means more interest in the sport and more people to talk boxing with.  A fight like this to a boxing fan is like the playoffs to a football fan. Can you tell I'm excited?!

Prediction:

This is a tough fight to call, both guys are very good and looked like world beaters in their last fights. Ricky Hatton dismantled the usually slick Paulie Malignaggi, and Manny Pacquiao tore apart Oscar Delahoya as if he were nothing but a club fighter. There are many things to consider when talking about the outcome of this fight:

1. Hitman has never lost at 140lbs and Pacman has never fought at 140lbs

2. Hatton has only been with his trainer for 1 fight, Pacquiao has been with Freddie roach since 2001.

3. It's been a while since Hatton has fought a guy his own size(Ricky is small for 140lbs.)

4. Paulie Malignaggi has zero power, so Ricky had nothing to fear with him.

5. Delahoya was a shot fighter by the time Manny got to him.

6. Most importantly, Ricky can't wear his thong into the ring(check out the first 24/7 on demand if you don't get the joke).

So after thinking about all that, forget it because none of it matters! Yes Pacman is stepping up in weight; Yes Hitman is with a new trainer; Yes Hatton is a great body puncher; Yes Delahoya was shot; What I see more than anything is, Pacquiao has much greater hand speed and is the all around better fighter. Ricky, no matter what Floyd Sr. says is still the same fighter he was before. Hatton is the underdog going into tomorrows main event, but he is about as live an underdog as you're going get. He lost one fight to the pound for pound best fighter on the planet, of course in this fight he is taking on the guy who replaced Mayweather as number 1 on that list.

My pick is going to be the same as most, Manny Pacquiao. Although I think this will be a solid fight, worth the money spent on the PPV, I just feel that Manny is too good a fighter. Hatton will bring the fight to Pacquiao and force the Phillipino icon to dig deep, I just don't think Hatton can pull off the upset.  I think The Hitman will have his moments, perhaps even hurting Pacman in the middle rounds, but Pacquiao will recover to bring home the victory.  One of the problems is, as I just stated Hatton will bring the fight to Pacquiao, David Diaz did the same thing and Pacman ate him up with ease. I am not saying Diaz is as good as Hatton, but they both come straight forward and don't get too cute. Pacquiao has most famously had trouble with Juan Manual Marquez, a counter-punching wizard that throws punches from all angles. Hatton does have a tremendous body attack, but I don't see Pacquiao sitting on the ropes the way Jose Luis Castillo did when he fought Hatton.(The Hitman stopped Castillo in four rounds with a body shot). In the end Pacquiao will be too fast and surprisingly I think stronger than most think, Ricky Hatton will fall in the 11th of a tough fight.

PPV Plans:

When shelling out cash for a boxing event, it is always best to get a group to split it, and use it as an excuse to party.  I will be watching this fight at my brothers place, having some Delicious Bud Lights and perhaps some wings(I recommend Wings Over Brookline).   The last Hatton PPV was a great time at my place and I am hoping tonight will be just as good.  Sadly we will be missing one from the party, Boom-Boom made the last Hatton PPV an event to remember.  Boom-Boom has moved on to a better place, his presence and picture taking skills will be sorely missed tonight.     

Welcome Back!

Last Thursday I had the day off and did what most lazy people do with their free days, I slept late, lolly-gagged, and told everyone on Facebook what I was doing as I did it.(I know I'm that guy that updates you that I'm eating a Boston Creme donut in my underwear while watching Maury Povich, sorry!) Anyway, on this particular day I noticed that my friend HBO boxing has updated their status to; HBO Boxing wonders what you think: will Floyd Mayweather come back to boxing?

I immediately put down the Boston Creme, and did some research. Dan Rafeal of espn.com was reporting that Floyd was indeed making a comeback and an HBO date of July 11th had been bandied about for a tune-up fight. The Sweet Science.com and Maxboxing both had similar reports, saying that Floyd wanted to return and was looking to take on all comers.

Once I caught my breath I finished the donut and starting thinking about all the possible great fights Floyd could get into. It's not that I am the biggest "Pretty Boy" fan, or that his fights are overly exciting, it's just that fact that he is the best boxer in the game, and I want to see if he can be beaten. Here are the five I want after his tune-up:

1. MANNY PACQUIAO (48-3, 36ko)

This is the most obvious fight, and seems to be the fight that has brought "Money May" out of retirement.  This is a great match-up between the former pound for pound champ and his replacement. This fight will happen, I just hope Mayweather doesn't pull a Bobby Fisher and go back into hiding after beating the number one guy, there a few number two's I would like him to face as well.

2. JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ (50-4, 37ko)

Juan Manuel Marquez is arguably the second best fighter on the planet, and the only argument you could give for that statement would be, he's actually the best. Jimbobaroo once told me "Juan Manuel Marqeuez is the essence of dodge and punish".   I will be honest, I don't know what Jimbob was talking about, but I think it meant that JMM is a smart, solid fighter that shouldn't be doubted against anyone, even the pound for pound best.  If you saw his fight with Juan Diaz he looked as if he was getting pushed around by the younger man, but he was landing pin point punches(Alliteration!) the whole time. If he did miss it was almost like he did it just to set up a better punch.  I would like to see how Mayweather matches up with this counter-punching wizard. Would Mayweather seem as fast if he was being timed? Does timing really beat speed? Who is the best fighter in the world, Mayweather, Pacquiao, or Marquez? I don't have the answers, but I sure would like to find them!

3. SHANE MOSLEY (46-5, 27ko)

This would be such a good match-up between the guy who didn't think Antonio Margarito was anything special, and the guy who proved it. After watching Mosley put on a clinic against Margarito, it seems like he hasn't lost much off his fast-ball(that's for all you baseball nerds reading this). I would love to see how Mayweather would handle Sugar Shane's speed and power. Zab Judah looked like he gave Mayweather some fits early on in their fight, and I don't see Mosley fading or getting knocked out.

4. MIQUEL COTTO (33-1, 27ko)

If these two fighters were military weapons Miquel Cotto would be a tank, and Mayweather would be a Ninja.(OK, I know a Ninja isn't a military weapon, but come on, Ninjas are cool.) I personally think Cotto is a guy with the perfect style to beat Mayweather. He is a relentless, powerful fighter who chops his opponents down until they crumble. I would love to see if the vicious body puncher could slow down the slick defensive dynamo.(Another alliteration, where do I get these?!)  I have a feeling that this is one guy that "Money Mo" will avoid.

5. PAUL WILLIAMS (36-1, 27ko) 

I'm not sure if I really even want to see this fight.  I respect Paul Williams. but am just not that big a fan. I do enjoy that the guy moves up and down he weight classes to fight, but I just don't find him all that entertaining for some reason.(I really can't figure out why!) I just want to see Mayweather square off with a guy who has a 5 inch height advantage and a 10 inch reach advantage, talk about David vs. Goliath.   After this one I would then put him in with Valuev!

Let's admit it, Mayweather will never please everyone in the boxing world, but he sure can try a little harder.  I think he needs to fight at least 3 of these 5 to quiet the critics and not end up like Roy Jones, chasing the fights he should have had in his prime.

LOCAL UPDATE:

I found out that a few good local fighters will be filling out the April 25th Jermain Taylor-Carl Froch card, both Edwin Rodriquez and Danny O'Connor.  Edwin is coming off of an impressive outing, last Thursday he stopped veteran Patrick Thompson(15-13-1) in the second round, Rodriquez is only the second fighter to stop Thompson.  O'Connor's last victory was a first round TKO of Charles Wade(4-7-0) in Dorchester on March 14th.  There are still $50 and $75 seats available, and this is turning out to be a solid card.

LOCAL LEATHER

Over the next month New Englanders have a chance to see three full fight cards, two of their best up and comers, and one title fight that could be a pretty good brawl. Seeing as how I am a true fan of the sport and try to recruit new fans as well as make other fans aware of fights in the area, I am going to tell all about the local leather flying over the next month.


Saturday March 14th
The National Guard Armory
70 Liberty Ave.
Dorchester,MA

I will be honest, I only know about one fighter on this card, Framingham's Danny O'Connor. You may remember Danny from his stint on Friday Night Fights a couple weeks ago or Danny's pro debut which was featured on NESN.com. Danny has been busy since he turned pro in September, going 4-0 with one knockout. He should have a crowd rooting for him Saturday, since he's close to home, and it could be a fun night to see him perform.

There are several other locals on the card and many are making their pro-debuts:

Dan Conway - pro debut
Super Middleweight
Dorchester, MA

Alexis Santos - pro debut
Cruiserweight
Lynn,MA

Eddie Caminero (5-0, 5ko)
Super Middleweight
Lawrence,MA

Mike Reyes - pro debut
Light Middleweight
Roslindale,MA

Derek Sylveria (1-0, 1ko)
Light Middleweight
Byfield,MA

Jimmy Leblanc (12-15, 4ko)
Welterweight
Boston,MA

I will be honest other than Danny and maybe Jimmy Leblanc,who I saw lose once, I don't know much about anyone on the card. I do know that it's a pile of local kids and if you can you should show them some love. You never know, one of these guys could be the next Mickey Ward.


Thursday March 19th
Mechanics Hall
321 Main St.
Worcester,MA

Another up and comer I have blogged about before will be lacing up the gloves in his home town Thursday night for his first fight with his new promoter. Worcester native Edwin Rodriquez(9-0, 6ko) just signed a contract with Lou Dibella (Dibella Entertainment) and looks to be ready to do some big things in the next couple years. Edwin has fought 9 times in the past year is facing his biggest test yet, Patrick Thompson(15-13, 5ko) who despite his record is a solid fighter. His 13 loses have come against solid competition like John Duddy, Joe Greene, Vanes Martirosyan, and Alfonso Gomez. Thompson has a sturdy chin and doesn't lose to soft competition, so Rodriquez should be in for a pretty good fight.

Other locals on the card:

Dustin Rinehold - pro debut
Welterweight
Providence,RI

Valar Boise - pro debut
Light Heavyweight
Providence,RI

Ryan Kielczewski (3-0, 0ko)
Lightweight
Quincy,MA

Of course don't hold me to this as all bouts are subject to change.


Saturday April 25th
Foxwoods MGM Grand
Ledyard, CT

Here is the grand daddy of all the cards within driving distance. Jermain Taylor and Carl Froch will be facing of for a the WBC Super Middleweight title at the brand new MGM Grand-Foxwoods casino. Jermain Taylor(28-2, 17ko) is coming off a near shutout performance against former Olympic teammate Jeff Lacy. Froch(24-0,19ko) has decided to come over to the United States for only the second time(he fought in Cali once in 2005) to defend the belt he won via Unanimous decision against Canada's Jean Pascal(21-1,14ko). Many who saw that fight believed to be in contention for fight of the year.(Me, I youtube'd it, it's a pretty good scrap). The fight between Taylor and Froch should be good one, both guys have something to prove, Froch is looking for his first exposure to an American audience, and Taylor needs let everyone know he can compete with the elite 168 pounders. Taylor has only two losses, both at the hands of Middleweight titlist Kelly Pavlick and Carl Froch hasn't lost yet in his career. No matter how you cut, this could be a fight you want to be at.

The only other fight announced for this card is also a good one. another Super Middleweight bout, Allen Green(27-1,19ko) taking on Carlos Deleon Jr.(21-2,14ko). From what I've been reading on the numerous boxing message boards I check daily,(I'm a boxing nerd, what can I say?!) it sounds as if Green needs to impress and then could land some bigger money fights. He is line to take on former gold medalist Andre Ward(18-0,12ko) or maybe even the winner of the Taylor-Froch fight.

These are the only two fights announced so far, but with a month left before the fight, I'm sure a pile of others will be added. Fight cards like these are usually filled out with local guys who can sell tickets, so I'm sure there will be a few locals you've heard of filling out the night. I will be sure to keep you up to date.

Well, there you have it, if you are feeling a bit frisky(please don't take that the wrong way) go check out a fight, and support your local boxing community. You might even catch the Bryguy there(that's me, by the way).

Spring Spraining!

It's that time of year where little kids start to work over mitts, while their parents yell "no ball in the house". Baseball fans start talking bout what moves teams made in the off-season, who's going to be a surprise, and marking their calender for the big Yankees-Sox match-ups. That's right New Englanders, it's Spring Training time. Athletes and fans a like will be heading to Fort Myers to stretch, click pictures, and get or give autographs(depending on what side of the fence you're on). There will be plenty of running, throwing, catching, and even a little hitting. Well, there just isn't enough hitting for me! I need more jabbing, bobbing weaving, hooking, and 10 counts! Good thing this month seems to be packed with fight cards in Florida, and all about a two hour drive from Fort Myers! So, if you are here in sunny Florida to oogle some athletes, why not take the drive and check a couple guys putting on different kinds of gloves. I am even willing to give you the info, just in case you decide to give the sport I love a chance.

Saturday May 14th
The Bank Atlantic Center
Sunrise Florida
2 hours and 5 minutes

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This is the fight card to be at if you are a fight fan. You'll get to see a heavy handed head-case, a brawling prospect, and a guy who could be the best lightweight in the world. That's just in the main event, the under-cards are just as stacked. There are twelve fights on the card, and tickets as cheap as $25, that $2.08 a fight!! (Not including beers of course). LATE ADD: Word has Campbell didn't make weight, which means it's no longer a title fight, but the fight will still go on.

HEADLINERS

NATE CAMPBELL(32-5-1, 25ko) vs. ALI FUNEKA(30-1-2, 25ko)

This is a solid title fight. Campbell has been an exciting fighter who at times comes up just a bit short.(For instance, not making weight). Campbell is coming off a career best performance against the rugged, never take a step back Juan Diaz. Ali Funeka is a solid fighter with a good record and is coming of his biggest victory, a knockout out of Zahir Raheem in the fourth. Campbell is one of the top two Lightweights in the world, a fight against the other Juan Manuel Marquez could happen if Campbell keeps impressing. I look for this fight to be a crowd pleaser.

CO-HEADLINERS

KERMIT CINTRON(30-2, 27ko) vs. SERGIO MARTINEZ(44-1-1, 24ko)

This is a quality matchup and a great co-headline. Kermit Cintron is a bit of a head-case(he rolled around the ring crying after his fight with Jesse Feliciano), but Killer Kermit sure can punch. He'll be moving up in weight for the first time in his career to take a shot at a 154 lb belt. Sergio Martinez is a 33 year old veteran who's last fight was a career best on HBO. Both fighter's have losses to Antonio Margarito, and after his little hand-wrap incident it seems like a loss to Margarito was unavoidable.

ALFERDO ANGULO(14-0, 11ko) vs. COSME RIVERA(31-11-2, 22ko)

Angulo is just one of a stable of up and coming prospects being showcased by HBO. Angulo is a hard punching straight forward brawler. He has a style that can't make for a boring fight. Cosme Rivera is a veteran gate keeper, has taken other prospects like Andre Berto, and Joel Julio to the brink before taking the loss. Angulo was originally supposed to take on Ricardo Mayorga, but he pulled out over money. I would have rather seen that fight, but this one isn't to shabby.

NOTABLE UNDERCARDS FIGHTERS

ANTHONY DIRRELL (14-0, 12ko)

Dirrell is the brother of Bronze medalist Andre Dirrell. He has not been brought along the same way as his brother, is still quick and has some skills. Anthony has been feasting on less than stellar competition, but if you're at the fight that means he usually walks away with a KO. He isn't as good as his brother, but is still quite talented and worth checking out.

GARY RUSSELL JR. (1-0, 1ko)

Gary was one of the major disappointments in the Beijing Olympics last year, he lost his battle at the scales, failing to make weight. Sometimes a loss in the amateurs can fuel a guy to succeed in the pro game. If he does turn out to be a good fighter, why not say "I saw that guy when....."?


Saturday February 20th
The Nova University Center Arena
Fort Lauderdale
2 hours 10 minutes

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There are a few people worth checking out on this card, especially when you can get tickets as cheap as $15.

MAIN EVENTS

RICHARD GUTIERREZ(24-2-1, 14ko) vs. JESUS GONZALES(24-1, 13ko)

This is a must win for both guys. Gutierrez was on a roll, winning 21 straight fights until he ran into Alfred Angulo. Gonzales has only one loss to the hard hitting Jose Luis Zertuche, and has been matched fairly carefully, and needs to prove he's ready for some bigger fights. A loss for either guy would set them way back, so both guys should be fighting with plenty of intensity and heart.

YURIORKIS GAMBOA(13-0, 11ko) vs. WALTER ESTRADA(35-8, 24ko)

Gamboa has been on the fast track to the big time since he turned pro two years ago. I will admit, he could be one of the most exciting fighters to watch in boxing (I personally don't like him, but I will admit he's exciting). He has speed, power in both hands, and a little bit of a wobbly chin, which makes for edge of your seat fun. Estrada is a veteran, but don't let the record fool you, his competition has been below average for a guy with 43 fights. Then again, if you look at Beidis Prescott's record before Ahmir Khan it wasn't that impressive either!

NOTABLE UNDERCARD FIGHTERS

BREIDIS PRESCOTT (20-0, 18ko)

The hard hitting Colombian destroyed the much ballyhooed Englishman, and Olympic silver medalist Ahmir Khan in 54 seconds last time out. That's about all I know about Prescott, but that is enough to peak my interest.

ERISLANDY LARA (3-0, 2ko)

This Cuban prospect has been talked about quite a bit lately(mostly by his promotional team), as if he could turn out to be something. Why not check him out?


FEBRUARY 27TH
Seminole Hard Rock Casino
Hollywood, Florida
2 hours, 5minutes

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This is the last fight card in Florida during the Red Sox regular Spring Training schedule. The undercards are a little weaker than the other cards, but the main event is worth the trip.

MAIN EVENT

GLEN JOHNSON(48-12-2, 33ko) vs. DANIEL JUDAH(23-3-3, 10ko) II

It seems the Glen Johnson has spent his whole career begging people to get in the ring with him. The first fight with Judah ended in a controversial draw back in 2004. Judah has fallen off a bit since that last fight, but what I'm really interested in is seeing the Road Warrior(Johnson) get his revenge.

UNDERCARDS

DANNY O'CONNOR (3-0, 1ko)

This is a New England kid that Sox fans should support. I have written about him before, and I think he could turn out to be pretty good. Danny is a defensive fighter and has been busy in the very beginning of his pro career. So, don't be one of the band wagon jumpers, go support him now. Do you and him a favor, take the ride and show him some love.

I will fully admit I don't know too much about any of the other under card fighters. Sometimes those are the best fighters on card.

Well, there you go, all you need to add another stop on your Spring Training road trip. If you get sick of catching and throwing, you can watch some bobbing and weaving. If you're tired of K's and you'd rathe KO's, or maybe you want to see stretchers more than stretching(I have a million of these), take the 2 hour trip!

GET ER DONE!

It was announced recently that talks between pound-for-pound titlist Manny Paquiao and Light Welterweight conqueror Ricky Hatton were halted, allegedly because Pacquiao has insisted a 60-40 split of PPV profit. Now I don't want to go into detail about the money or circumstances that were reported. I will instead weep quietly, and eat a gallon of ice cream, or I could just write about the fights I feel need to get done in 2009, including the one being reported as dead in the water(Hatton-Pacquiao). Yeah, the writing would probably be better for my hips, so here you go:

1. Ricky Hatton(45-1, 38ko) VS. Manny Pacquiao(48-3, 36ko)

Light Welterweight(140lbs.)

This fight needs to get done, and needs to get done soon. Both fighters are coming off big-time wins, Pacman with his destruction of Oscar Delahoya (the most popular fighter in the world), and Hatton with his dominating showing over a tricky Paulie Malignaggi (which makes him the ruler of the division). Each fighter has always been immensely popular with their countrymen, but I think the two of them together would garner much attention in the states. Of course, most of all, it would be a great fight! Both are tough guys, both have aggressive nonstop, come forward styles, and both have loopholes in their defense. What more could you ask for?

PROGNOSIS:

I have a feeling this will get done, there is too much money involved. I read that Manny was guaranteed 12 million for the fight, he won't find that fighting anyone but Hatton. I have a feeling that Floyd Mayweather waiting in the wings and will have some influence, he seems poised to come out of retirement to challenge the winner, which would be another big money fight. This fight needs to happen first. So, GET ER DONE!

2. Lucian Bute(23-0, 18ko) VS. Librado Andrade(27-2, 21ko) II

Super Middleweights (168lbs)

Showtime aired the first fight on October 28th, 2008 from the Bell Centre in Montreal Canada. Bute, who was in front of his "home town" crowd of 16,000 was putting on quite the performance, when he faded down the stretch. He was knocked on his keester with just seconds left, and were it not for some shady referee maneuvers he would have been counted out! No joke, Bute probably thought he was Sylvester the cat and the end of the fight! That is no way to end one of the best fights of 2008. The only way to rectify the situation......rematch in 2009!

PROGNOSIS:

It could get done, but I'm not sure Bute's camp is going to go into it willingly. They still have that big shiny 0 on the end of his record, barely, but it's still there. His camp has a fight scheduled for March 13th against Fulgencio Zuniga(22-3, 19ko). One would think Bute would want to set the record straight, but I seem to doubt it. Their are many big names at Super Middleweight that could make for interesting fights and bigger money in 2009(Mikkel Kessler, Jermaine Taylor, Andre Dirrell, Andre Ward). So, I don't see this one getting done in 2009. NOT GETTIN DONE!

3. Miguel Cotto(32-1, 26ko) VS. Antonio Margarito(37-5, 26ko) II

Welterweight (147lbs)

The first fight was an instant classic. In the first six rounds Miguel Cotto was fighting the best fight of his life. He was dancing, hitting and moving, it was a splendid display of his boxing ability. The only problem? The bus that was in the ring with him didn't slow down, and didn't stop coming forward. Antonio Margarito wore down Cotto and eventually broke his will in the eleventh to give the Puerto Rican his first loss. This fight was runner up for the fight of the year in 2008, and I think a second fight could top it in 2009.

PROGNOSIS:

This one is in the bag! Bob Arum(promoter for both) has already said this fight is happening in June, as long as Cotto wins his tune-up against Michael Jennings. (That's as sure a thing as you're gonna get in boxing). So my message to Cotto? Take Jennings seriously, and GET ER DONE!

4. Tomasz Adamek(36-1, 24ko) VS. Steve Cunningham(21-2, 11ko) II

Cruiserweight (200lbs)

Another candidate for fight of the year in '08 was this knockdown drag out fight between these two top level Cruiserweights. Steve Cunningham outboxed Adamek for much of the fight, but he just couldn't overcome being sent to the canvas three times by the heavy-handed Polish fighter. Even with the three knockdowns it was a split decision, and I personally think demands a rematch.

PROGNOSIS:

I think this fight will get done. It may not happen right away, I think both fighters will need to win a bout or two, before facing off for a second time. Adamek is already defending his title on February 27th against undefeated, Emmanual Steward trained Jonathon Banks (20-0, 14ko). Cunningham is also fighting pretty quickly..........for a rematch. Check out this website he has started, asking fans to petition for another fight.

http://www.wewantarematch.com/

5. Chad Dawson(27-0, 17ko) VS. Antonio Tarver(27-5, 19ko) II

Light Heavyweight(175lbs)

Remember their first fight? Chad Dawson laid such a one-sided beating on Tarver we all thought "Magic Man" might retire! Yeah, Tarver, I want you to retire too! So why the hell is their a rematch?! I understand that there was a rematch clause in the contract for the first fight, but Antonio, you gotta know how badly you were beaten, just let it go! This is the type of fight that hurts boxing. I was really just kidding with this one!

PROGNOSIS:

Unfortunately this one is going to happen, GET ER OVER WITH!

The fight we should be seeing instead:

Chad Dawson(27-0, 17ko) VS. Glen Johnson(48-12, 33ko) II

Light Heavyweight(175lbs)

Johnson was a huge test for "Bad Chad", and he almost didn't pass, in fact some don't think he did. I had Dawson winning by a very slim margin, but I thought Johnson deserved a rematch in what was a barn burner of a fight. Chad being the slick lefty Matador, and Johnson the hard relentless bull wearing down the younger Dawson. This fight was similar in many ways to the Cotto-Margarito, except in that one, the bull stopped the Matador.

PROGNOSIS:

Even though the public demands this fight, I don't think Dawson's people, nor HBO want anything to do with it. They like Chad's undefeated status, and Johnson seems like the only guy right now who could snatch it. Maybe Johnson should start a website like Cunningham, then maybe we could GET ER DONE.

6. Floyd Mayweather(39-0, 29ko) VS. Manny Pacquiao(48-3, 36ko)

Light Welterweight(140lbs)

I don't think I need to say much about this fight. The Former pound-for-pound king taking on the current pound-for-pound king? It sounds like something right out of the WWE! Even though Mayweather did do a short wrestling stint, this is the real deal! Mayweather comes out of retirement to reclaim his thrown, that sounds like big money, and a true fight to get ordinary fans excited.

PROGNOSIS:

The only way this fight doesn't happen is if Pacman loses to Ricky Hatton. We should all pray that doesn't happen, (except Hatton fans of course), because this would be a truly great match-up. Now GET ER DONE!!

OUR OWN BACKYARD

New Englanders have true love for just a few things, four seasons(not always), sarcasm, Dunkin Donuts, the saying "it's not the heat, it's the
humidity", and of course sports. Everyone in the Northeast knows and loves the four majors(Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, and Celtics). Some are even quite found of the assortment of minor league teams, and fringe sports, such as Soccer, and Lacrosse. I am here to tell you about a few people you should be looking out for, and supporting the same as you do your local teams. New England has a few up and coming fighters training in it's region, and they may be fighting in your neighborhood from time to time. So in the honor of the four seasons I am going to list 4 up and coming fighters you should keep and eye on.

Matt "Too Smooth" Godfrey 27,
Cruiserweight: 18-1, 10ko's
Providence, RI
PAST: Matt was a highly touted amateur fighter, and was a 2001 Pan-American Games bronze medalist. Matt won 6 New England Golden gloves , and went on to become the a Golden Gloves National champion in 2002. He was also a U.S. National Amateur champion in 2000, and 2004(Middleweight, then Heavyweight).


PRESENT: As a pro Matt has compiled an 18-1 record with 10ko's, his only loss taking place in Germany(a tough place for foreign boxers to win) to an Olympic silver medalist named Rudolf Kraj. Godfrey has saved his most memorable fights for national audiences, in his Friday Night Fight appearances he finished with early KO's of Shaun George, Felix Cora Jr., and Emmanual Nwodo. In the Nwodo fight, Godfrey rose from a knockdown in the 3rd to finish Nwodo in the 4th.


FUTURE: Godfrey is getting ready for the a title eliminator against former Heavyweight champion Herbie Hide. If he wins this fight he will land himself another title shot against the winner of the Krzysztof Wlodarczyk(41-2, 31ko) and Giacobbe Fragomeni(26-1, 10ko). I hate to be the guy calling that fight!!

Danny O'Connor 23
Welterweight, 2-0, 1ko
Framingham, MA
PAST: Danny has been a 4 time New England Golden Gloves champion, and went on to become a bronze medalist in the 2007 Olympic trials. 2008 was his biggest year as an amateur, he was not only an Olympic Alternate in Beijing, but was also the National Golden Gloves champion, and U.S. Future Stars National Champion. He was voted most outstanding boxer at the U.S. Future Stars tournament, and was featured in Sports Illustrated as a Face in the Crowd. Danny also holds a 23-3 victory in the amateurs over the eventual Olympic Gold medalist Felix Diaz.


PRESENT: O'Connor made his pro debut at the Verizon Wireless center September 17, 2008. He ended the fight against Jose Guerrido(0-2) at 1:55 in the second. Danny followed up his debut with a 4 round unanimous decision over Anthony Woods(5-10) at the Hard Rock in Hollywood, FL.


FUTURE: O'Connor was to fight on an under-card in New York city, but the fight card was scraped when the headliners pulled out. Look for Danny to keep very busy, while he moves up the ranks.


Edwin "La Bomba" Rodriguez, 23
Middleweight, 9-0, 5ko's
Worcester, MA
PAST: Edwin started amateur boxing career in 2001 and became USA Boxing National Champion at a 165 pounds in 2005. He followed that up in 2006 with a championship at the same weight in the National Golden Gloves tournament. In the end Edwin compiled an amateur record of 84 wins, with only 9 losses.


PRESENT: As a pro Edwin has been on the fast track, starting in January 2008, and finishing the year 8-0 with 5 knockouts. He may be the busiest fighter in the country, but at the very least he is the busiest fighter in New England. This past Saturday Edwin fought on the Andre Berto-Luis Collazo undercard in Biloxi MI. That was a good HBO card, and all the right people were there to see him stop Brad Austin(8-5) in the third round. His competition has slowly progressed over his first 9 fights, and he has done well, with a good mix of KO's and distance rounds under his belt.

FUTURE: After his fight Saturday night, hopefully a relationship with HBO will mainatain. Perhaps a few more undercards on big shows. He is now 9-0, he should start to get some exposure in the near future. He might wind up with on Friday Night Fights, or maybe even a Shobox(Showtime) at some point in 2009. Also, a move up to the Super Middleweight division is probably going to happen sooner than later. The Supers right now are stacked with bigger name fighters, so big fights could be on the horizon.

Demetrius "Boo-Boo" Andrade, 20
Light Middleweight, 2-0, 2ko's
Providence, RI
PAST: Boo-Boo has been boxing since he was six years old, and began to really impress in 2005 when he became a U.S National Champion. In 2006 he was a U.S. National champion, and a National Golden Gloves Champion in '06 &'07. Demetrius took home gold in the 2007 World Amateur Championships, and Silver in the Pan American Games that same year. Andrade also made it to the semi-finals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.


PRESENT: Boo-Boo made his pro debut in Washington with a second round stoppage of Patrick cape on October 23rd. He followed that up on November 29th with another knockout, this time in the fourth round, and in front of his home town crowd in Providence, RI.


FUTURE: Andrade looks set to make his ESPN Friday Night Fights debut on March 2nd at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. Demetrius has a split contract with two promoters, which should keep him very busy and move him up the ranks at a quick pace.