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.
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.
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1 comment:
Yo it's about time you took Lefty Jeb's blog outta your links. That site is whack! Updates about as much as Street Talk on CN8 Sports Pulse!
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