THE BRYGUY'S 2007 WISHLIST

First off I would like to say I'm pretty happy with 2006. I got to see my first big fight, Hatton Collazo at the Banknorth Garden. I was able to see one of my favorite fighters keep progressing and have a great year himself.(Matt godfrey knocked out another undefeated cruiserweight in the first round. Then took a UD in 12 against a proven fighter in Danny Batchelder. I saw my main man B-hop put on a boxing clinic against Antonio Tarver. Last but not least I made some terrible predictions! I hope I can change that in 2007. Probably not, but here goes my wishlist and maybe a few predictions for '07.

Heavyweights:
Just keep plugging along I guess. I like some things about '06, Brewster - Liakhovich, Shannon Briggs mouth, and Klitschko's punch. I hated others, Shannon Briggs actual fight, mandatories, and too many fatties.

1. I would like to see the champions actually fight the champions. I'm sick of seeing bad mandatories get the chance to fight for titles they don't deserve. How many times can you watch valuev fight guys like Monte Barrett? Klitschko vs. Brock? Someone please help me! Am I the only one that can see this going on?!

2. How about more interviews with Shannon Briggs and James Toney. The most entertaining things about the division this year was thier giant mouths!

Cruiserweights:
Is it just me or could this be an exciting division if people would fight each other?

1. How many times do I have to ask? Chris Byrd vs. O'Neil Bell. This could be such a great fight. In a year when this division could've capitalizzed on having a unified champ, they did nothing! Pleas make this happen somebody, I'm begging you!

2. My boy Matt Godfrey should just keep doing what he's doing. I hope he isn't rushed into a title fight. I'd like to see him fight 3 or 4 more times in '07 and maybe get a title fight in early '08.

Light Heavies:
This division is getting some new blood finally.

1. I want to see more of everyone. Paul Briggs, even though he lost to Thomas Adamek twice. Both fights were exciting brawls. Thomas Adamek is set to fight new kid on the block Chad Dawson. I'm going out on a limb and saying Dawson good enough to win. Whoever does I want to see them both more than once this year.

2. I want to see Bernard hopkins get his rematch with Roy Jones Jr. As I said before, this could be a great fight now because both guys have aged. This is a win-win for everyone. Get it done!

3. I would also like to see Calzaghe step up in weight to take on Hopkins. I think Bernard should have the chance to keep Joe from breaking his 20 defense record. Maybe Hopkins could go down to 168 and try for another title.

Middles:
I'll put the super-middle and middle in one group to save time.

1. Let's see more of Joe Calzaghe. I am interested in seeing the Manfredo fight. I think Peter has gotten much better under the tutelage of Freddie Roach and could give Calzaghe a run for his money. Even if he doesn't it will make for a much better fight to watch than Calzaghe - Bika.

2. I would love to see Jermain Taylor move up in weight to fight Calzaghe. Could Calzghe put on a show against another 2000 olympian?

3. Winky and Taylor need to do it again. I thought Jermain pulled off the first fight and Winky is a big cry baby. Either way we need a descisive victory. I think just like in his second fight with Hopkins Jermain will fight better and pull off a UD victory.

4. Edison Miranda and Arthur Abraham need to fight again. This time it needs to be on HBO or Showtime. I've seen most of the fight on youtube and love to see them do it again in America.

Jr. Middles:
This could be one of the more exciting divisions in boxing. Lately they seem like the heavies with people avoiding each other for terrible mandatories.

1. Someone give Jose Antonio Rivera a chance. This guy has been an exciting fighter for quite some time. Every time he deserves a shot against a good fighter for good money some sabotages him. This time the WBC has told him he has to fight a guy who hasn't fought in 2 years(Travis Simms). After he mops the ring with Simms pleas give him another title shot.

2. Oscar and Floyd should fight each other. Oh wait that's already happening. Sweet! I say Floyd wins by UD, but it'll be much closer than people think. I was gonna go with Oscar, but he's on the cover of the new fight night game.

3. Just put fights togther. Mosely, Spinks, Karmazin, Rivera,Mayweather, DeLahoya. I'm not even mentioning the guys that could move up from 147.

Welterweight:
Same thing as the Jr. Middles. Just put good fights together. Ricky Hatton,Migueul Cotto, Kermit Cintron, Zab Judah, Antonio Margarito, Mayweather, the lsit goes on and on.

1. I would also like people to give louis Callazo a chance. He gave Ricky Hatton a run for his money, and was in a barn burner that no one saw against Rivera. He obviously puts on a good show and is willing to fight any of the fighters mentioned above. Perhaps Quintana vs. Callazo.

2. More Andre Berto. I like this kid and like the fact that I have been able to see him so often this early in his career.

Jr. Welterweights:
Now that both Castillo and Corrales have moved up in weight this could be a very good division as well.

1. I would like to see Vivian Harris and Junior Witter get it on.(Fight I mean, you perverts.)

Anything lighter than this should include The Pac-man! I wanna see pacman Barrera II and Jaun Manuel Marquez-Pacman II.

That's enough of that peace!

I'M BACK!

I haven't had a computer so I haven't been blogging. To all three of my faithful readers, I'm back! I will post soon!

THE BRYGUY'S WISHLIST

I decided that instead of complaining about the fact that James Toney got robbed I would make a wishlist. I am not going to harp about the two judges that had the fight 116-111 for Sam Peter. I won't point out how James Toney ducked dogged and slipped his way through Sam Peter's wild punches. What I will do is tell you fights I would like to see most in the heavyweight division.

1. JAMES TONEY vs. CHRIS BYRD
I have been saying this one for a while and I think now is a better time then ever. Both guys are coming off of loses and probably won't get another big fight or title fight. They are by far the slickest trickiest boxers of the big men. I would love to see these two similar heavies fighters square off. I'd give the edge to Toney, but wouldn't guarantee it.

2. SHANNON BRIGGS vs. WLAD KLITSCHKO
This one almost happened. I think the klitschko camp bocked. Wlad has a shaky chin and Briggs is not a wide puncher like Peter, so they wanted a big fight for no risk. That's why they are scheduled to fight "The Boxing Banker" instead. Briggs is now going to fight sergei Liakchovich. That is a tough fight. "The White Wolf" proved he had chin when he went 12 with hard hitting Lamon Brewster to get the WBO belt. Point is I would have liked to see two giants go for the knockout right away. This one wouldn't have gone past 6.

3. LAMON BREWSTER vs. NICOLI VALUEV
I would love to see the spectacle. To see the giant square off against the much smaller heavy hitting Brewster. We know the big man can take Owen Beck, but "what the heck" most heavies could.(get it?) We saw how Lamon hung on and overcame the much more skilled Wlad Klitschko. Could he do it again with a much lager opponent? If so what would Valuev look like going down? The fight would have many question marks and a ton of hype. I would just like to see Brewster in the ring again. He's one of the most exciting current heavies to watch. (unless he's fighting Kali Meehan of course).

4. DAVID TUA vs. SHANNON BRIGGS
This was rumored to be happening over the summer in my neck of the woods, but they never pulled it off. I had said a while ago I would like to see this go down. I don't care if Briggs wins or loses to "The White Wolf", I want this one to happen. Two guys strickly looking for the KO. Both needing the win badly. The two of them having names from long ago. I like it would be like wild west, a straight up shoot out till someone doesn't get up.

5. JOHN RUIZ vs. EVANDER HOLYFIELD IV
I'm just kidding! I don't want to see either of these guys in the ring ever again! I wish they would both retire. I will say though, Holyfield - Oquendo will be a barn burner compared to Ruiz - Oquendo!(The ref stopped the fight in the 11th out of boredom!)

PREDICTION

JAMES TONEY vs. SAM PETER

First of I have to apologize to the four people who read for not blogging in a while. I have moved and haven't gotten a computer yet.

Now let's get down to business. James Toney will be taking on Sam Peter tonight in what could be an interesting heavyweight showdown. As I noted in a previous blog my predictions have not been very good lately. I am hoping that will change from here on out. The reason tonight should be a fun fight to watch is because Sam Peter is a dangerous fighter. No matter how badly he is getting beaten you know he could always land that knock out blow. Unfortunately for him I don't see it happening. James Toney is probably the smartest slickest boxers in the game right now. Sam Peter hasn't impressed me all that much except for the fact he's knocked out a bunch of guys. Those guys aren't on the same level as Toney. The one thing that give sPeter a chance is the fact that Toney can't hurt him. In the Klitchsko fight Wlad was able to back Peter off. James Toney will never knock out Sam Peter, but he will embarrass him by slipping and countering all night long. I think sometimes people get lured in by fighters power. The sport is called boxing for a reason. The much better boxer is James Toney by far. I don't see Peter landing a lucky punch and even if he does Toney head seems to be like concrete. Peter couldn't put the lights out on Wlad Kitcschko, I can't see him doing it to James Toney.PREDICTION: TONEY UD

THE BRYGUY IS SO STUPID!

I have calculated my average of my predictions for the year and it's not good! I have been wrong 80% of the time. That is absolutely horrific. If I thought that was going to happen I never would have started this stupid blog. Enough people in my life know how dumb I am, I don't have to advertise it on the internet.(Like I just did.) I am going to examine my pics thus far in 2006 and explain myself. I'm in hopes that my fans(all three of them) won't lose faith. Right now I am 2 for 10.

The Good:

Coralles over Castillo
I know what you're thinking, the fight never happened. Well I predicted that forcing Castillo to make weight was going to be his downfall. I thought it would've happened in the ring, but I'll take the TKO at the scales.

Hopkins over Tarver
This one was pretty easy Hopkins is a much better fighter at any weight. I won't say I thought it would be a schooling, but I was pretty confident he would get the W.

The Bad:

Taylor over Wright
I say it's in between because I think Taylor won a razor thin decision. I know some saw it the other way butit's too close to call.

The Ugly:

Gatti over Baldomir
I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I thought Gatti would have more in the tank. From the get go he seemed flat and tired. I don't know if perhaps Baldomir was hurting him right away or he just grew old over night. Looking back I guess I liked Gatti too much too see he wasn't that great in his last fight. And maybe his thrashing to Mayweather wasn't just pretty boy but also Gatti losing a step or two.

Vargas over Mosley
This one I just got into the hype too much. When they announced the rematch I said there is no way Mosley would lose to Vargas. As the fight got closer I believed all the things about Shane not wanting to take the fight. I also thought Vargas would be so desperate he would pull it out.

Lacy over Calzaghe
Lacy's my boy and still is. I think he's a class act and a fun fighter to watch. I didn't pick against him then and won't in the future.

Malignaggi over Cotto
Let's just say I took a shot in the dark. I knew it wouldn't be easy but I had heard of Cotto's problems with weight, and firmly believed that Paulie had a style that fit. I'm ok with this one because it was a great fight and a lot closer than most expected. I'll also say, just as Gatti's out, is Paulie in?

Pemberton over Manfredo
This was tough for me because I had met both guys and they were very nice to me. I took Scottie because he had the heavier hands and Peter wasn't proven at 168. I never took into account Freddie Roach. My B.

Mormeck over Bell
Easy to explain. Mormeck destroyed Brathwaite and Bell squeaked by his last two fights. I didn't realize Bell's chin was so sturdy and that Mormeck was so susceptible to tiring.

Judah over Baldomir
If anyone picked Baldomir let me know. I want to shake your hand.

I hope that clears some things up. I want people to have faith in me and trust my judgment. So hears to hoping the rest of the year goes well.(gulp!)

GATTI - BALDOMIR PREDICTION

Let's see if I can make up for my despicable prediction last week. I completely embarrassed myself with the thinking that Vargas would beat Mosley. This week there is one prediction I can guarantee, Gatti-Baldomir will be much more entertaining fight. I've seen a few people predicting Baldomir to take this one. I have to disagree. Although I give Baldomir major respect, not just for beating Zab Judah in January, but also for not losing a fight since 1998. He is a tough opponent who has a solid chin and will keep coming forward. I just don't see a guy like this beating Gatti. Maybe the Gatti of old, but recently he has gone back to boxing rather than brawling.(Of course you need to excuse his appearance against Mayweather.) If Zab had been prepared and not such a head case he could have beaten Baldomir. I've never seen Gatti not prepared. Zab also thought he needed the knockout to lock down the Mayweather deal, going for it probably hurt him in the end. Gatti doesn't need to look fancy in this performance, he's proved everything he needed to over his career. All Gatti needs to do is leave the ring with the belt.
PREDICTION: GATTI UD

WRONG AGAIN!

Once again "The Bryguy" got it wrong. Instead of a back and forth battle btween two guys not wanting to slip into oblivian. We saw a 6 round trouncing by "Sugar" Shane Mosley. I don't know who he was fighting, must have been a last minute replacement for "Ferocious" Fernando Vargas, because he didn't show up. The guy in his place decided the best way to win this fight was take as much glove to the face as possible. Not to take away from Shane, he put on quite a show. He proved he still belongs and is not over the hill as some have speculated. The rematch left no question about Vargas' career. The younger guy in the ring looked like the one closing in on forty. A few too many battles have left "Ferocious" shop worn. From the opening bell it seemed as if he just couldn't get his shots off. His performanc reminded me of some of Holyfield's most recent trips to the ring. After the fight their was talk of perhaps a Mosley - Mayweather matchup. I for one would be interested. I would have to give the nod to Floyd, but Shane is fast and would have the size atvantage so you never know. I mean who thought Mosley would walk through Vargas the way he did. Not me, that's for sure. All I can say is, my B.

MOSELY VARGAS PREDICTION

Most people are thinking that the rematch between these two will very similar to their first encounter. I tend to agree with one exception. I think Vargas now knows he can overpower Mosely. In the late rounds of the first fight Vargas started to imposs his will on Mosely and control the fight. Let's not forget that was with one eye. I think Fernanado will start much faster this time and wear down Mosely as the fight goes on. He will not stop Shane or dominate but he will win by a slim decision.

PRDICTION: VARGAS UD

HEAVIES DESERVE CREDIT

We are about half way through the boxing season and I would say I'm satisfied so far. We have already seen a few fight of the year canidates. (Brewster - Lyakhovich, Cintron - Estrada, Rivera - Garcia, Bell - Mormeck, and Barrera - Jaurez). We've seen a legend end his career with a masterpiece(Hopkins beating Tarver). And we've seen more relevant action in the heavyweight divivsion than we have in years. Of course it has had it's up and downs in the past six months, but remember we're talking about a division that was irrelevant this time last year.

The heavyweights started off with a possible fight of the year canidate. Lamon Brewster and Serguei Lyakhovich put on a see-saw battle for twelve rounds. Both fighters showed heart and some skills proving they belong in this division. Then came an absolute disaster. A draw between James Toney and Hasim Rahman. This fight was supposed to send one guy to the front of the pack and the other packing. Instead it left them both right where they were before, full of question marks. Finally, a front runner was spotted. Wlad Klitchsko put on an show when he trounced Chris Byrd in 7. Wlad showed the skills needed to be seen as the leader of the pack. Along the way we have seen a few contenders be eliminated as well. Dominic Guinn finally made people see that Audley Harrison just doesn't have the heart to compete with the rest of this division. Then Guinn himself was embarrassed by Tony Thompson ending his short lived comeback. We've realized that one prospect is not as exciting as once thought in Calvin Brock. And the best thing about the heavyweight division so far this year is we haven't heard much from John Ruiz.

It looks like the second half of the year could be shaping up quite nicely for the big dogs as well. Some interesting fights have been put together for the fall, and I for one am excited. I'll give my picks later right now let's just go over what's happening.

1. Hasim Rahman (41-5-2) vs. Oleg Maskaev (32-5) II August 12
Rahman will be dealing with some demons when he faces off against Maskaev on the 12th. The last time he met "The Big O" he was knocked out cold and almost crushed Jim Lamply on his way through the ropes. Rahman not only needs to win this fight, but he needs to look good doing it. In his last fight he gave a lackluster performance against a far overweight, smaller James Toney.

2. James Toney (69-4-2) vs. Samuel Peter (26-1) September 2
This is a very interesting matchup. These two guys couldn't be more different. Sam Peter is easily the hardest puncher in the heavyweight division, but is still very raw when it comes to his boxing skills. Toney is by far the most skilled boxer in the division, but lacks punching power and size. Both guys need a win here to get a title shot. If Toney should get knocked out people will say he was a middleweight who doesn't belong. If Peter loses people will say he doesn't have the boxing skills to keep up with the elite in the division.

3. Wladimir Klitschko (46-3) vs. Shannon Briggs (47-4-1) November 11
This could be the most exciting heavyweight fight in years. These two guys are knockout artists. Both have good boxing skills, and both have something to prove against each other. Wlad needs to show the world that his chin is sturdy. There were still some questions left unanswered from the Peter fight. If Peter wasn't such a reckless boxer could he have finished Wlad? Briggs needs to show the world this time around he's taking it seriously. He's been talking a lot since his comeback but has yet to step in the ring with a top level opponent. This fight is what the heavies need. Two guys getting in the ring with the sole purpose of knocking the other one out.

4. Chris Byrd (39-3-1) vs. O'neil Bell (26-1-1) TBD
This fight would be at cruiserweight, but I thought it deserved mentioning. The fight is still in the talks stage, but if it gets put together could be a fun one to watch. This would be the first time Byrd has fought under the heavyweight limit since 1994. Bell is the first unified cruiserweight champ since Evander Holyfield. I would love to see Chris Byrd go down to cruiserweight, it would give that division the boost it needs and I think after Bell there are a few more matchups that would be interesting to watch. I'm not saying Byrd would or wouldn't win, either way it's a fight I'd like to see get put together.

Some notables:
Unfotunatley Evander Holyfield is back. He has lost three of his last four, and is scheduled to fight Jeremy Bates. This guy has a record of 21-11, and years ago wouldn't have even been allowed to sit ringside for a Holyfield fight. Now, he probably has a good chance to beat him. I wish Evander would just hang em up. Axel Schulz is slated to make a comeback. That's all this division needs another guy closing in on forty getting into ring for a comeback, don't we have enough already. Speaking of comebacks, Tommy Morrison is talking about a comeback. If it isn't bad enough the man has AIDS, he hasn't fought in ten years. Last but not least Kevin McBride is getting a title shot against Serguei Lyakhovich, I don't think I need to say anything about this. I just hope after this fight we get to see a rematch with Lyakhovich and Brewster.

WINKY THE WHINER

I had nothing but respect for both fighters leading up to this fight. They handled themselves extremely well. They both showed up to all the press conferences and never spoke a bad word about their opponent. They behaved like professionals. In the sport of boxing that is rare. After the fight I gained respect for one fighter and lost respect for another.(I have lost respect for some writers as well.) First of all, I will say I scored the fight 115-113 for Taylor. There were a couple rounds that easily could have gone the other way so I can see anyone giving the fight to Winky, or even calling it a draw. My Problem isn't with the fight or even the scoring. For once I think they actually got it right. My problem is with Winky storming off and crying about how he was robbed. In no way shape or form was he robbed. Robbery is when you clearly have a fight won and they take it from you. DeLahoya beating Sturm was robbery, Roy Jones not getting a gold metal is robbery. Winky not getting a thin decision that could go either way, is a close fight. After the fight Winky stormed out of the ring as if he had won all 12 rounds and they still gave the fight to Taylor. That's not the case and Winky should have known that. In the end Taylor got to keep his belts. I think he deserved to, after all he was the only guy who fought for all 12 rounds. I gained a major amount of respect for Jermain following the fight. He was the first one to admit if Winky had fought at all in the last round he probably would have won the fight. My other problem is all the media screaming about how Winky was robbed. If you can't watch the fight and see how close it was you're blind. Several of those rounds could have been interpreted differently. I hope there is a rematch, even though both camps say they don't want one. For the record Taylor will win the second by UD. He has gained more experience and confidence the same way he did in the first Hopkins fight.

WEEKEND WRAP-UP

This past weekend we had two dueling PPV shows, a few exciting fights, and a legend walked off in to the sunset.(we hope he walks off anyway.) I made predictions about the Malignaggi-Cotto fight and Hopkins-Tarver FIGHT. let's see how I did.

HOPKINS vs. TARVER

As I sat at the Sports Depot watching the fights with a few cohorts I realized a couple of things:

1. The Depot is a cool place to catch a PPV fight. $10 at the door is way cheaper than the $50 PPV price tag. There is an atmosphere that is almost as good as being there(slight exaggeration). The beer is cold, TV's are big, and the sesame chicken is delicious.

2. Most people don't know boxing at all. A guy sitting next to me asked my opinion about who he should put his money on, I told him Hopkins and gave my reasoning. He replied "ya, I'll put my money on the dog." The "dog" he was referring to was Bernard Hopkins! I'm sorry future hall of fame boxer Bernard Hopkins, I stopped talking to him after that.

3. My boy B-Hop is the man. Bernard Hopkins on Saturday night was like a painter painting his masterpiece. From the 1st round to the 12th B-Hop dismantled Tarver and made him seem like a boxer in his pro debut. Tarver the 3-1 favorite didn't have any sort of answer for Hopkins crafty attack. If B-Hop was a few years younger I think he even could have knocked out the "Magic Man". I know that Hopkins is usually not a very exciting fighter to watch, but knowing this would be his last fight you couldn't help but get excited as he thoroughly outclassed the bigger man. I hope Hopkins keeps his word to his mother and stops fighting, this fight would be such a nice exclamation point on his already great career. If he does fight on I will be there at the Depot cheering him on and explaining to the moron next to me that he is not a dog.

COTTO vs. MALIGNAGGI

For this fight I had predicted that Paulie Malignaggi would be able to outpoint Cotto in a unanimous decision, I was wrong. I thought Malignaggi would use his footwork and handspeed to confuse Cotto and potshot him all night long. The night started off badly for Paulie when in the first round he got a cut above his eye. This forced Paulie to stand in a little more with the ferocious punching of Cotto. In the second Paulie took a left to the chin that put him down, not the start Malignaggi was looking for I'm sure. He did seem to find a groove in the middle rounds and even rocked Cotto twice in the ninth. Had it not been for the cut in the first I think Paulie would have found a groove earlier. In the end Malignaggi had taken so much punishment that he couldn't keep up the pace in the last few rounds. I think this fight was a win-win for both fighters. Cotto proved he could keep up with a slick boxer, Paulie proved he could hang in there with a world class athlete. Cotto surprised me with how fast his hands were, he seemed more mobile than he has in his past fights. I'm still concerned about his chin, Paulie rocked him twice in the ninth and he only has 5 KO's in 21 fights. Malignaggi should get better fights after his performance, 1st off he showed that he is an exciting fighter with a big heart. 2nd he he proved that he can promote a fight. After reading all the trash talking form Paulie how could you not want to watch this fight.

TOMMY Z

I for one am excited about heavyweight Tommy Z. I know it's tough to tell a lot about a guy after his first fight, but I have a good feeling about this one. For a big guy he seemed very light on his feet, rather than the usual plodding fat guy. Also he had very good hand speed and showed some combinations right away, most heavies early in their careers just fire off big bombs. Tommy was throwing straight fast punches that found their target rather easily. I expect big things from this guy, but I've been wrong before.

JOHN DUDDY

If you have read my blog at all you know I am a big fan of John Duddy. I have been to a few of his fights and enjoy his style and KO power immensely. What I say from this past Saturday concerned me a little. He seemed flawed in many ways, dropping his hands, backing straight up, and not moving his head. If Freddy Cuevas was a few years younger I think he could have given him serious problems. Like I said I am concerned only a little. He seems to have a good team around him and they are bringing him along slowly. So hopefully this will be another learning experience and he will only get better.

JUST MORE RANDOM THOUGHTS

OK, so I made my predictions for June. I am now just crossing my fingers hoping that they at least come close. I have had second thoughts about one prediction, Jermain Taylor vs. Winky Wright. I watched the HBO Countdown to Taylor-Wright last night and I'm starting to lean towards Dan Birmingham. That dude is scary! If you haven't seen the countdown yet you should check it out, Dan Birmingham(Winky's trainer) is one bad ass mother...shut yo mouth! Every time he speaks it seems like he's ready to whoop some ass. In all seriousness I have already had second thoughts about the fight. I probably will second guess myself again before fight time. Winky is pretty nasty and his jab is great. He could confuse Jermain all night long and shut him out the way he has so many others. I don't know, I think I'll just flip a coin.

One thing I am very sure of is that I will be ordering the Cotto-Malignaggi PPV. I think that Paulie has done an amazing job of selling this fight. He has talked so much to every boxing website that I have to watch to see what happens. On one hand I need to see if he can back it up(I have a feeling he can) and if he can't I'm dying to see what his reaction will be. Will Paulie be a sore loser or will he be gentleman and give Cotto the respect he didn't before. Also has anyone seen the pictures of Cotto from the presser? If you ask me he looks pretty dehydrated, that could be a major advantage for Paulie, and could be the reason why he's been rocked so easily in his last couple of fights. If problems making 140 is the reason his jaw is so shaky, he could be a force at 147.

Speaking of HBO Countdowns I watched Hopkins-Tarver as well. By the time I finished I thought Hopkins looked like the better man. He looks healthier and more focused, but last night on Wednesday Night Fights Tarver made an appearance and looked pretty darn fit. I still go with B-Hop, but the fight could be more interesting than I originally thought.

JUNE PREDICTIONS:

Everyone loves to act as if they know everything about everything. That's why everyone and their mother calls out HOMERUN when Manny's at the plate with the game on the line.(I am one of those people.) I have called several Ortiz game winners, I have been wrong most of the time, but I don't talk about those games. That might be why I love boxing so much you have a 50/50 shot at predicting the winner. And many times the underdog is no slouch, so if you pick the underdog and you're correct people think you're the man!(at least in your head.) So here are my predictions for some upcoming bouts, a few of these may surprise you.


JUNE 3RD

DIEGO CORRALES vs. JOSE LUIS CASTILLO III
OK first off I'm going to say that this trilogy happened a little too fast for me. Not to say I'm not excited about this fight, I just wish it was the second fight this weekend not the third. That being said I will be hunkered down with some brewskies and thoughts of knock outs running through my head. This time around I feel that the weight issue will catch up to Castillo. I know he wishes people would stop making a big deal about it but, it is a big deal. They have been monitoring his weight throughout training, so I think that means he has had to make weight several times through out the weeks. I also believe that Caorrales wants this win more than anything else. Where as in the second fight he just wanted to beat Castillo at his own game and show everyone how tough he was. This time around Corrales will box instead of standing in and taking unnecessary punishment. PREDICTION CORRALES KO 9

JUNE 10TH

BERNARD HOPKINS vs. ANTONIO TARVER
If you're one of the three people who actually read my blog you know that Bernard Hopkins is one of my favorite fighters. So you have to know that I am not going pick against him. Even though he is the underdog going in I feel strongly that he will pull off the upset, and it's not just because I like him better. The experts are making a big deal about a few things and they all pertain to Hopkins. (Going up in weight, his age,he lost his last two fights). Well let me point out a few details about Tarver:
1. He just shot a movie where he played a heavyweight(rocky 6), therefore he is coming down in weight. I think that is harder on the body then bulking up.

2. Tarver is no spring chicken at the age of 37 he only beats Hopkins by 4 years. Four years would be an advantage between a 32 year old and a 28 year old but once your over 35 it's all up in the air.

3. Tarver has won his last two fights but it was to a couple of guys who beat him previously, and I don't know anyone other than Tarver who would brag about his performance in the third Jones fight.

Now I'm not saying Hopkins doesn't have his work cut out for him, I just think people are expecting too much from Tarver. I think Hopkins is crafty enough to avoid Tarvers big shots, and will wear him down as the fight goes on. (Similar to the first fight with Taylor). Tarver doesn't have youth on his side like Taylor and he has a habit of fading down the stretch. PREDICTION: HOPKINS UD


JUNE 10TH

MIGUEL COTTO vs. PAUL MALIGNAGGI

This is the pick some may call me crazy for. Maybe I've gotten caught up in the hype, maybe I like listening to Malignaggi run his mouth, maybe I just like going against the grain. I don't know what it is but I think Malignaggi can win this fight. He hasn't fought the same kind of opposition as Cotto and doesn't pack a knockout punch. (Paulie only has six ko's in 21 fights). But neither had Collazo before he fought Hatton and look what happened. I know Collazo got the loss, but did anyone expect him wobble Hatton or even lose a cotoversial decision? I happen to agree with what paulie has said all along, that his style alone will beat Cotto. Paulie is a fast handed, quick footed, fundamental boxer. Cotto is a flat footed, hard puncher. Now I'm not saying that Cotto isn't talented, Malignaggi has to have a perfect fight to win. Cotto has a ton of power and if Paulie isn't ready Cotto will make him feel it. I just happen to see a very similar match up as the Lacy - Calzaghe fight. If Paulie is in shape I see him using his jab and moving away from Cotto's left all night. Now Cotto is the heavy favorite and very obviously the more popular fighter so Malignaggi has to win convincingly. I think he has the ability to do it. PREDICTION: MAIGNAGGI UD

JUNE 17TH

WINKY WRIGHT vs. JERMAIN TAYLOR

This could one of the most difficult fights to pick that I've everseen. Both guys are very good, have solid jabs, and could beat just about anyone else. The match up kind of reminds me of the Hopkins-Taylor fight. Winky is somewhat like Hopkins in the way that he is a slick, crafty, veteran known for his defensive prowess. The thing that makes him different is that his defense is not good, it's great. He has man handled some of the best fighters in the world, Tito Trinidad, Shane Mosley twice, and lost a controversial decision to Fernando Vargas. The one thing I look at is the fact that all of these fighters were in a weight class above what they normally had fought at previously. Mosley fought most of his career at 147, and Trinidad fought mostly at 154, both moved up a weight class after their prime to fight Winky. Now Winky who has fought most of his career at 154(he has fought 5 times at 160) and will take on a naturally stronger foe in Taylor. Jermain is not just a natural middleweight, but a big one at that. Jermain has a great jab and since his last two fights were against Bernard Hopkins he has seen trickery and defense at it's best. I think he is much stronger than Winky and after fighting Hopkins twice will be more patient than Trinidad was. PREDICTION: TAYLOR UD

I'm very sorry to be long winded, but I am excited about all of these fights. Once again if I am wrong on any of these I will erase the entry and deny everything.

What I saw:

I taped both the Lacy-Calzaghe fight and Cotto-Branco fights last week and had some interesting thoughts. First, I did write it was possible that Calzaghe could beat Lacy. I thought it was unlikely because I was blinded by how much fun it was to watch Lacy destroy his opposition. Second, as I was watching Lacy get completely manhandled, I wondered if it was ok to cry.(I didn't, but I thought about it.) When I was done watching the Lacy-Calzaghe fight I turned on the Cotto-Branco fight. During this fight something occurred to me, Cotto can be beat by Paulie Malignaggi. The strange part of this thought is that if it were not for the Lacy-Calzaghe fight I probably never would have thought this. Branco would lean on the ropes and get walled on. Cotto was able to set up his punches and plant his feet. When Branco would move around the ring and use his jab Cotto didn't have much to do. Joe Calzaghe used the ring, moved to the left and potshoted Jeff Lacy all night long. He used his hand speed, footwork, and ring generalship to outsmart and outwork the young hard punching fighter. These are the exact things that I thing Paulie Malignaggi can and will do against Miquel Cotto. Paulie is in great shape and has excellent footwork and handspeed. The "Magic Man" does lack power but as long as he doesn't stop moving it shouldn't matter. So that's what I saw last week, a reason why Paulie Malignaggi may be able to tarnish Cotto's record. That and a one sided beating of my favorite fighter.

JEFF LACY VS. JOE CALZAGHE:

This was taken from a previous blog entry written 12/26/05. I made a minor adjustment, but overall I still feel the same way. I would like to state I am more excited about this fight than any other in quite some time. I have even considered staying home Saturday night just to watch it. I think due to a pub crawl a tape and Sunday viewing may have to due.
Jeff Lacy has been eating up competition ever since he turned pro. It seems as if he's been getting better and more ferocious in each fight as well. It reminds me of Mike Tyson back in the day. People are starting to wonder if he is unstoppable. Joe Calzaghe is one of those guys across the pond that many feel is a protected fighter with a fictional record. I've only seen the Calzaghe-Mitchell fight from Showtime On-Demand. I am convinced that if Calzaghe comes in and fights the same way he'll be crushed. I have read a few articles that state Joe is a very good boxer, but I've only seen the one fight, so I haven't witnessed it. I am totally biased in this prediction because Jeff Lacy is by far my favorite fighter to watch. My only fear is that Calzaghe will be to Lacy what Holyfield was to Tyson, a reality check. I doubt it Lacy is a much smarter person and boxer than Mike was. But the potential is there. Lacy: TKO 10

WHY?

Why can't they figure out how to run the sport properly? There are so many people in boxing that talk about how boxing used to be. They talk about how it used to be the most popular sport, how everyone would gather in front of the T.V. to watch the fights. How it would fill giant venues, and how it used to get a ton of media coverage. You'd think that the people in boxing would recognize where boxing was and understand that someday it could be there again. You'd think that they would look at how other sports are successfully run and make some changes. I'm not even going to get into the fact they need one organization like the NFL,NBA, or MLB. I'm not going to get into the fact that most fighters deserve better, and shouldn't have to be broke after fighting for twenty years. I'm simply saying don't split the market. Boxing has a small, but passionate fan base. If you go to fights locally you will see the same people at almost every fight. I'm sure the same goes for the big fights as well. HBO, Showtime, and other promoters refuse to talk and work there fights around each other so as to not split there small, but passionate following. Next weekend Showtime and HBO will once again go head to head with main events. Showtime has the Jeff Lacy vs. Joe Calzghe fight, and HBO will be airing Miguel Cotto vs. Gianluca Branco. This is extremely disappointing to me because Jeff Lacy and Miguel Cotto are two of my favorite fighters. You're telling me that two of the richest TV stations on the planet couldn't get any other date for these fights. There are seven days in a week and 52 Saturdays in year. It gets worse from there, those two fights are at least on cable. June 10th again Miguel Cotto will fight Paulie Malinaggi on PPV. At the same time Bernard Hopkins will be fighting Antonio Tarver on PPV. As a boxing fan I find this to be insulting. Not only do I feel neither of these fights to be worth PPV money, but to put them on the same night is ridiculous. It gets even worse when you get to the local boxing scene. I have been to fights in Boston and at the same time just across town a rival promoter is putting on another show. There are only so many boxing fans in one city. What bothers me most about this is not that they are hurting themselves by not getting as much money as they could. Which to me is pretty stupid. But they are hurting the sport of boxing. The old fans are used to it and will just keep taking it, but sooner or later there won't be any of us left and boxing will disappear forever. Sorry that was a little dramatic, but you get my point.

NEW ENGLAND GOLDEN GLOVES

I went to my first amateur show last night. The finals of the New England Golden Gloves. I was extremely impressed. I compare it to watching college basketball instead of the NBA. There was no politics involved, no bad decisions, and no boring fights. These kids faced off against each other for pride, and a trip to the nationals. There were a couple thousand fans in attendance, most of whom go every year. They don't care who fights just as long as they fight. The fans had no problem booing if there was a break in the action, who cares if he's only a kid we paid money to get in here. Luckily there wasn't much of a break throughout the 7 fights. One kid in particular I feel fortunate to have seen was Demetrius "Boo-Boo" Andrade. This kid will surely be a part of the 2008 Olympic team. It was like seeing and NBA player go back and play at a small college. His skills were so far superior that he was trying not to hurt his opponent. Seeing him fight was such a treat because when he does make the Olympics or make a name for himself in the pros I can say I remember him when. All in all I was a huge fan of the Golden Gloves, and can't wait to go back next year.

MORE RANDOM THOUGHTS:

I just read that Paulie Mallinaggi is close to getting his fight with Miguel Cotto. Paulie has been shouting about this fight for quite a while now. At first I just threw him in with the pile of everyone else calling out Cotto. After watching the "Magic Man" play with Donald Camerana on ESPN two weeks ago I'm excited about this fight. It is a good matchup looking to answer some questions lingering with both fighters. How would Cotto look against a fast slick boxer? Can Paulie's speed make up for his lack of punching power? Is Mallinaggi just a big mouth or a boxer who knows how good he is? Is Cotto a good enough boxer to slow Mallinaggi down? About a year ago Paulie said this would make a great fight for the same reason people were interested in Mayweather - Gatti. It's the perfect good vs. evil fight. Cotto is a quiet well respected boxer. Paulie is a cocky big mouth who likes to clown in the ring. Me personally, I like both guys. I'll take Mallinaggi's mouth over Tarver's anyday. But as far as hype, it would be very easy to hype this up. To be honest I'm not sure who would win, but I have to think Cotto has the upperhand. He's faced the better opposition and Paulie's lack of punching power is going to affect him against Cotto. My only question is can Miguel catch him?

I wish every fight had an HBO countdown made for it. I was not excited about the Mosely - Vargas fight, until I sat down and watched the on demand countdown. After watching the thirty minute documentary, I felt like this was going to be the greatest fight ever put on TV. I think they could make a fight between Butterbean and Ruiz seem worth the money. I have since relaxed and realized it won't be, but it still convinced me to buy the fight. Of course I get half off, so it's not hard to convince me. It is a crossroads fight and I believe both guys will come out guns blazin'. I think Mosely still has the better skills and his speed is always a major advantage. Vargas' last couple fights have been strange to me. He seems like he doesn't know what kind of a fighter he wants to be anymore. PREDICTION: Mosely KO 9

The best thing about On Demand is the boxing. If you miss a Sho-box or boxing after dark you can call it up on-demand a few days later. If there is a big fight coming up HBO or Showtime will replay a great fight from each upcoming fighter. This week in preparation for Vargas - Mosely, not only did I get to watch the countdown documentary, but I was treated to Vargas - Quartey and Delahoya - Mosely . Both classic fights and I get to enjoy them all over again. On Showtime I was able to watch Joe Calzaghe fight Byron Mitchell. This was a double treat, not only had I never seen Calzaghe fight, but it was a pretty intense enjoyable fight. Showtime also had the Lacy - Pemberton fight, but seeing as I like Scott very much I chose not to view that one again. How did I get so lucky? I've watched so much boxing this week that I may not watch Friday Night Fights, or the Vargas - Mosely fight. No I'm just kidding, of course I'll watch, I'm The Bryguy.

TOP FIVE RING ENTRY SONGS:
I think the song a fighter picks to enter the ring to is important. It should say something about them, get fans pumped up and scare the opponent all at the same time. Admit it there's nothing more disappointing then a guy entering the ring to some lame song. These songs are not necessarily used, but the Bryguy feels they should be.

5. YOU KNOCK ME OUT - R. KELLY

At first listen it may sound like a slow R&B track about a chick. Well, it is but it's got a good beat and great chorus. Kells sings "you are the champ baby you are the champ baby." Just a personal fave, but I know it's not for everybody.

4. THUNDERSTRUCK - ACDC

This track is used for the entry of Arturo "Thunder" Gatti. It's got the slow start with the quitar and the chanting of "thunder!" What a way to get fans riled up. It's got a tough beat and a kickass chorus saying "you been, thunderstruck!" You can't go wrong. Especially if your fighting name is "Thunder".

3. ENTER SANDMAN - METALLICA

This song is also used by a fighter. By New Bedford's own Scott "The Sandman" Pemberton. What a perfect song announcing that the Sandman is entering the ring. This song is heavy and could get anybody in the mood to fight. Even if your not a boxer, but I'm sure that helps. You can picture his opponent just standing in the ring waiting to get put to sleep.

2. RUMBLE YOUNG MAN RUMBLE - JUELZ SANTANA
This song is off his recent CD. I'm sure no one is using it yet. It's all about being strong and fighting to survive. The chorus is straight from Ali. I don't think you can get any better than that. You're entering letting everyone know you're ready to "Rumble Young Man Rumble".

1. MAMA SAID KNOCK YOU OUT - LL COOL J
I know it's a bit too obvious to be number 1. But that's what's so bad ass about it. LL raps with so much anger and emotion you can't help but get pumped up. It's also pretty tough to let everyone know you're planning on the KO. My personal choice would be to go with the unplugged version. It's even tougher than the original.

HONORABLE MENTION:

BAGPIPES

Just like in Million Dollar Baby. I saw John Duddy do it once too. It's such a unique instrument that it works. It's almost like your at the other mans funeral.

SOME LIVE ACTS

I saw Dimitry Salita lead in by jewish reggae artist Matisyahu once. It was pretty impressive. It had a similar affect as the bagpipes. It also makes you pretty badass to say I don't want a CD I want the real thing. Sometimes this can backfire. One I think of right away is Nelly leading in Corey Spinks. I know they're both from St. Louis, but it just seemed cheesy to me. It was even cheesier when Spinks got knocked out by Judah in the ninth. I wonder if Nelly rapped when Corey was leaving the ring too.

CONTENDER EAST COAST SURPRISE:

I was overwhelmed this weekend by the fights in Providence. First off, my predictions couldn't have been more wrong. I had no idea Manfredo would fill out so well. In the post fight press conference Manfredo trainer Freddie Roach said he thinks Peter was struggling to get to 160. He also feels Peter is stronger and faster at 168. I agree fully with Mr. Roach. The Peter we saw on Monday night was by far the best we've seen. The only thing that Freddie and I disagree on is that he thinks Peter is ready for the winner of Lacy-Calzaghe. I would like to see the "Pride of Providence" take on another younger person at 168 before tackling a Lacy or Calzaghe. One thing I was also impressed with was how Matt Godfrey handled his step up. Matt knocked out Ernest manteen in the second round. That is not what I was impressed with though. The changes he made between the first and the second rounds is what impressed me the most. He felt out "M16" for the first round. In the second he seemed to already know what was going to land easily. This is smart boxing. He quickly adjusted and did what was necessary to get the KO. In the end "Too Smooth" was indeed too smooth. Unfortunately we didn't get to see much of Jason Estrada's step up due to and accidental headbut. No matter what Yanqui Daiz says, I believe it was accidental. One last thing that impressed me more than anything was the way Scott Pemberton handled himself after the fight. He answered every question reporters asked and made no excuses for the loss. He gave Peter full credit including telling him "the better man won tonight." He also interjected some humor, about how his mail lady asked him for a Manfredo autograph. I think Scottie should get credit for being a class act. Other fighters should pay attention and follow his lead. Over all I thought it was a pretty good night. My only complaint is I would have rather skipped the two Contender undercard fights.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

I like the fight between Wlad Klitchsko and Chris Byrd. It may not be the best fight in the heavyweight division, but at least it shows some progress. The loser most likely will be sent packing. This is what the division needs more than anything, to be cleaned out.

This is my favorite time of the year for boxing. We've seen a couple good fights (Mormeck - Bell, Pacqiua - Moralles II). Been Treated to an upset(Baldomir over Judah). Seen a nice undercard (Edner Cherry - Jose Santa Cruz, on the Castillo - Reyes undercard). Caught glimpse of a new prospect(Andre Berto) and saw a prospect get one step closer to being a contender (Sechew Powell). Add to that I saw my first fight in Boston(John Duddy vs. Julio Jean) VIP no less. (Thanks Larry!) Along with the fact we still have a pile of fights to look forward too. (Toney - Rahman, Mayweather - Judah, and Lacy - Calzaghe). If that doesn't fill your appetite, Espn2's Friday Night Fights is back. I just might OD on boxing when new episodes of The Contender air. It's too bad I know about halfway through the summer I will be dissapointed in the sport again. I'm sure we'll see some bad decisions, worse matchups, and a ton of excuses.
Is it just me or did Andre Berto look like a mini Jeff Lacy on Showtime Saturday night? I just might add Berto to my list of favorite fighters, under honorable mention of course. I would file him in with the other two Andres.
Speaking of favorite fighters I saw John Duddy live for the second time Saturday night. I was thankful I got to see him fight a full ten rounds. Last time it was over in about thirty seconds with a body shot. Someone in line for the bathroom thought he didn't look very good. I disagree, Jean seemed to be a tricky fighter. He was very slippery and some of his style slightly reminded me of Sam Soliman. Duddy had some trouble getting a hold of him, and just couldn't land a knockout shot. I'm ok with this, I hate to see guys who think they can knockout everyone. It always comes back to bite them. It's better to learn it against a guy with no ko power than one with heavy hands. I think this was a great learning experience for Duddy, and can't wait to see him again.

I guess the Tua - Briggs fight is off. The Bryguy appologizes if he offended anyone with his bragging. I do hope we get to see Briggs - Peter instead.

CONTNDER: EAST COAST PRIDE

This weekend I will be attending the Contender East fight card. I am very excited about this for a few reasons. This is probably the biggest fight in New England in about seven years. Also the undercard is stacked with intriguing matchups. I have followed a couple of Providence fighters since they where amateurs. On the 12th they will both be taking major steps up.
Matt Godfrey (10-0 5ko) will be fighting Ernest Manteen(29-11-3 10ko). Manteen has 11 loses but some of those loses have come at the hands of Antonio Tarver, James Toney, O'Neil Bell, and Vassily Jirov. Just being in the ring with those guys gives him an advantage over Godfrey. I think Matt is a very intelligent fighter and will outbox Manteen over the six rounds. It is a very good test for Matt and I only wish it was a ten rounder. PREDICTION: Godfrey UD

Jason Estrada (5-0 1ko) is taking huge step up taking on Yanqui Diaz (13-3 8ko). Diaz has fought such heavyweights as Kirk Johnson, and Samuel Peter. Diaz actually beat andundefeated Jaun Carlos Gomez and a tough Vaugh bean. Diaz has a sturdy chin, he went 5 with arguably the hardest puncher in boxing Sam Peter. There is no way Estrada gets a ko in this one. I do expect Big Six to pull this out though. Jason knows how talented he is, and some times I think he knows he can get away with a halfway performance. On this one he knows he better be in tip-top shape. Don't get me wrong I don't think Diaz is a great fighter by any stretch. But I do think if Jason isn't fully ready to step up he could get the first blemish on his record. I think Jason is too fast and too talented to lose. PREDICTION: Estrada UD

Main Event:

Peter Manfredo Jr. (24-3 10ko) is facing off against Scott Pemberton(29-4-1 24ko). This is to crown the new king of New England boxing. The fight is a true crossroad for both fighters. If Pemberton should lose he will probably not fight again. If he wins Scott might get one more shot for big money and a title. With a Manfredo win he will jet up the rankings and put himself in a nice spot for a title shot in the near future. With a loss he still has a career, but it will be strictly in Providence. In the end I think Pemberton's right hand will be too much for Manfredo. PREDICTION: Pemberton KO 8

V.S
PEOPLE ARE READING

Let's make one thing clear. The Bryguy is not right very often. But when he is he'll rub it in your face all day long! If you remember correctly in an earlier blog(Waz Happenin' in '06) I stated a fight between two vets should be made.(Shannon Briggs & David Tua). Well, it seems like the people at Showtime have been reading up on the Bryguy's wisdom. And because it was my idea they decided to have the fight in my neck of the woods.(Mohegan Sun) The fight will take place April 1st and the Bryguy will be there. Oh one more thing The Bryguy Told You So!

ARTURO GATTI VS. THOMAS DAMGAARD

This fight for some reason is atough one for The Bryguy to pick. Not that I think so highly of Damgaard.(I've never seen him fight.) It's just the last time we saw Arturo Gatti he looked like a Bop-Bag.

Mayweather beat him down so badly, it seemed as if he had no skill at all. I don't know why I'm letting that fight bother me. "Pretty Boy" would make 90% of the boxers in the game look that way. So I'm still going to pick Gatti in this one, but I'm nervous about it. The reason I think he wins is Damgaard is a protected fighter. His last fight was an 8 rounder against a guy whose record was 1-6. A boxer who is 37-0 should not be fighting a guy with only seven fights under his belt. It seems like Damgaard has been holding on to his undefeated record just to get a fight like this one. Poor Thomas will get his first loss Saturday night, and Arturo Gatti will once again be in the midst of another comeback. Prediction: Gatti KO 9

ZAB"T.O."JUDAH

I didn't think I would ever see another talented athlete be as stupid Terrell Owens was last year. Maybe because I'm not very athletic and have no major skills other than drinking. I can't understand how guys like T.O. and Zab Judah can have the whole world in the palm their hand. They throw it all away by simply being stupid. Owens got kicked off his own football team. He couldn't shut his mouth. You'd figure millions of dollars would be motivation enough to keep your friggin' mouth shut. Zab Judah was set to make a huge payday and set himself up for a mega-fight with Mayweather. All the guy had to do is beat a mandatory challenger. Instead of training hard and taking care of business, he got put on queer street in the 7th. Luckily Zab will still get the opportunity to fight "Pretty Boy", but I'm sure it's for a lot less money. Now there are many stupid athletes. The reason I've lumped these two together is they both looked even dumber when making their excuses. Owens held a press conference to apologize. His agent Drew Rosenhaus delivered all the apologies in what turned out to be one of the most ridiculous things I've ever seen.(next question!) Zab decided to blame Don King for making him do interviews. We all know how tiring that can be. Instead of Rosenhaus in Zab's corner it was his dad. Shouting and screaming like an A-hole. I'm sure these two will turn out fine still they'll still wind up making millions. But one thing is for sure, they never stop being stupid.

HOPKINS VS. JONES OFF

I know that most of the boxing world breathed a sigh of relief at the news. I for one am disappointed. Both guys are going to fight again against different opponents. Hopkins will probably fight a farewell in Philly. Jones will try and fight another light heavy. Jones will most likely have the same type of performance he had against tarver in there third encounter. Avoid and try just to last twelve. The only fight worth seeing Hopkins in would be against Winky Wright. As much as I think it would be a good fight, two defensive wizards might also be pretty frickin' slow. If Hopkins and Jones were to give another go around I think it would be pretty interesting. Has Jones slowed enough for Hopkins to catch him? Is Jones chin really that bad? Has Hopkins learned to start faster after the Taylor fight? I think the fact that these guys have aged and lost a few recently makes this fight more intriguing. They match up better now than if they had fought five years ago. I know there's a doubters than believers. One thing I like about boxing is you never know. Everyone could be right, it could be a terrible fight. It could also be the fight we expected out of the first one. You never know.

PREDICTIONS FOR THIS WEEKEND

This weekend on Showtime Jean-Marc Mormeck will face off against O'Niel Bell to unify the cruiserweight titles. On the same card Zab Judah will take on Carlos Baldomir. This is a must win for Zab if he wants Mayweather next.

Mormeck vs. Bell

The winner will be the first undisputed crusierweight champion since Evander Holyfield back in the late eighties. Whoever wins this fight will no doubt move up to heavyweight with high expectations. I think Mormeck will put on relentless pressure like he did with Braithwaite. Bell will start off by trying to box and move. But as the fight goes on Mormecks pressure will be too much for Bell. I know Bell has a knockout punch, but Jean-Marc has some good whiskers. I say "The Marksmen" takes out bell in the 11th by TKO. I don't think Bell will get taken out but the ref will stop it. Look out heavies here comes Jean-Marc! Mormeck 11th TKO



Judah vs. Baldomir

Zab Judah's precursor to his Mayweather bout in April. Judah is a one of kind talent. Zab is going to want to put Baldomir away in fashion. "Super" wants to let people know what he plans on doing to Floyd. This is where Baldomir's chance comes in. The last person to try and put on a show was Vivian Harris. Remember he punched himself out. And was knocked out by Carlos Mouser in the 7th. I don't see this happening to Zab, but there's always a chance. Judah KO 3