THE PREDICTION/EL PREDICCION

Floyd Mayweather Jr. (39-0,29ko) vs. Juan Manuel Marquez (50-4-1, 37ko)

This Saturday night two of the best boxers on the planet square off at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Juan Manuel Marquez is moving up in weight to take on the former pound for pound champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. 140 pounds. This is a big fight for both. Mayweather has had a two year lay off, and could be looking at huge payday against Manny Pacquiao if he wins. While Marquez is also looking at a fight against Pacquiao with a win,(that would be their 3rd fight), more importantly he needs to make people forget he drank his own urine.(Yup, he did it, on TV no less.)

The situation we have surrounding this fight reminds me somewhat of the potential upcoming ALDS match-up between the Boston Red Sox and the Anahiam Angels. Most fans are looking ahead to the ALCS match between the New York Yankees and the Red Sox. Most critics and bloggers are talking as if Floyd is going to win hands down. Why?

The Angels are a solid baseball team, Marquez is a great boxer. The Angels have proven that they can beat just about anyone in baseball, Marquez has moved up in weight and seemed to be more explosive than he did in past years. Then why are people writing these two franchises off so easily?(Yes, Marquez can be considered a franchise.)

Why?

Mayweather and the Red Sox have too much potential. When you boil it down, and put the facts side by side, the potential of both Mayweather and the Boston Red Sox is far too great to think that anything but a win could happen for them. They both seem as if they could be the sleeping giant.

The Sox have looked as if they where slumping, but then Matsuzaka comes back, a few quick wins later, and it seems like they may be starting to stoke the engine as they chug towards the playoffs. Could Maywether do the same with all the potential match-ups at 140 and 147? Could he be chugging into the Marquez fight towards what could be considered the playoffs of his legacy?(I don't know if that makes sense, but sure does sound deep doesn't it?!)

Floyd is one of the fastest boxers I have ever seen, but as Teddy Atlas always says, timing beats speed, and Marquez is a master counter puncher. He is an extremely smart fighter, with the ability to think on his feet, and adapt to what ever his opponent throws his way. He is the type of fighter that can seem as if he isn't doing very well, the next thing you know he's picking his opponent apart. We saw this in both the first Pacquiao fight, and his last fight against Juan Diaz. My problem with Marqueaz is that most of he knockdowns seem to happen when he is caught by speed. What I mean by that is, he never seems to be totally rocked, just off-balance, or surprised when he lands on his backside. That could be a major issue with a guy as fast as Floyd Jr.

In the end I am no different than everyone else, Mayweather is too young, too fast, too big, and just has too much untapped penitential to lose this fight. Floyd has rarely had to take to that next level against an opponent, but I think Marquez may be a guy to wake the sleeping giant. I think his speed will eventually be too much for Marquez and the fight will be stopped in the late rounds. Let's not forget though, same as the Angels won't just hand the Sox the ALDS, Marquez isn't going climb through the ropes, lay down, and say "count me out, because on paper you should win", and that my friends could make for an interesting fight, both in the park and in the ring.

PREDICTION/PREDICCION - Mayweather TKO 9

SHORT AND SWEET..... SCIENCE

Many athletes dabble in the sweet science during their off-seasons to stay in shape: Chad Johnson, Shawn Merriman, and Tom Zibikowski are just a few. (Zibikowski actually had one pro fight). NBA star Shaquille O'Neal just took on Oscar De La Hoya for his show Shaq Vs. on ABC. Now you can add Bruins forward Shawn Thornton to that list. Thornton was working out at The Ring Boxing Club all summer and I caught up with him recently to toss a few softball questions his way. Seeing as how I write about boxing and he's a hockey player I kept it short and sweet..... science.

The Bryguy:

Shawn you have been spotted training at the Ring in Allston over the
summer. Why did you decide to pick up boxing this off-season and how has
it been going?

Shawn Thornton:
Well, it’s done now, it was fun, a good summer. My trainer Tommy is a
great guy and went out of his way to help me out. It was a great
experience. For conditioning it is more fun to go in and do that then to
just go for a run in the afternoon or ride the bike. It’s better to
train with someone

How do you think boxing will help you when you hit the ice?

Conditioning wise it should help me and it helped me lose a few pounds.
It might help with my balance too. I didn’t do it to become a better
hockey player. I don’t really like talking about fighting really to
tell you the truth, I’m sure it won’t hurt me, but it wasn’t my
mind set to become a better fighter.

You told me at a recent event you went to the Kelly Pavlik vs. Jose
Luis Zertuche fight. (Pavlick KO'd Zertuche in the 8th) What were your impressions of that event?

It was awesome, we were sitting pretty much ringside and Pavlik was
actually staying in my hotel. I got to go have breakfast with him the
next day; he’s a big hockey fan, a big guy. I hadn’t heard of him
before then, but I have been trying to follow his career ever since. It
was a pretty cool experience.

Last but not least, every fighter has a carefully chosen ring entrance
song and fighting nickname. Any ideas for yours?

No, neither… I have not put any thought into that, but I am sure one of
my hockey nicknames would carry over, but for a fight song I would have
to put a little more thought into that, and get back to you.

Thank you Shawn for all your time and we'll see you on the ice.

As an after thought, I'm not sure about a nickname, but to keep with the Bruins theme, I think his entry music should be AC/DC Back in Black

For more information on The Ring visit their website, and for more on Shawn's hockey career you can check him out on the Bruins website.

Always Leave Them Wanting More

In 2009 it seems like the boxing gods have taken the advice of the one and only Walt Disney.(I think it was Walt Disney who said that!) The end of the year seems like it could go out with a bang, and as the quote says leave us wanting more.(Well, I always want more, but I'm a bit of a boxing extremist.) I feel being a big boxing fan comes with quite a heavy burden to carry. The difference between Sox fans, or Bruins fans and a boxing fan is, I have to convince people my beloved sport is not dead. Instead of saying my teams better than your team, Yankees Suck, or talk about the bullpen needing more depth, I have have to inform/convince people my wonderful sport as a whole is alive and kicking. I am like a cheerleader, or salesman for my and I need to let you know there are some solid fights out there. So I am hear as a good boxing fan and cheerleader of fistic fury to let you know about some great match-ups that are going to close out 2009.

September 19th HBO PPV

Floyd Mayweather Jr.(39-0,25ko) vs. Juan Manuel Marquez(50-4,37ko)

In a perfect world, the winner of this fight would fight the winner of the Miguel Cotto vs. Manny Pacquiao fight.(I may be a fan, but even I know that boxing is not perfect, so keep your fingers crossed.) At first glance I thought this was just a way to hype up a future Mayweather-Pacquiao showdown. The closer we get the more interested I am in this fight. Not only are they two of the best pound for pound fighters on the planet, but they're also two of the slickest. People always refer to fights as a chess match, if that is true, this is the ultimate chess match. Both fighters are fast, smart, and can adjust as the fight goes on. Also, there is quite a bit on line, as I stated before, the winner could be in for a huge payday against the winner of Cotto - Pacquiao. Heck I'd love to see the losers fight! Last but not least, the undercards for this PPV is shaping up as well. A rematch between Chris John and Rocky Juarez, Zab Judah vs. Antonio Diaz, and all action brawler Michael Katsidis vs. Vincente Escobedo. For once a PPV that may be worth the money.

SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT TOURNEY

October 17th SHOWTIME

Andre Dirrell(18-0,13ko) vs. Carl Froch(25-0,20ko)

It's Showtime's first official telecast with fighters from the tournament facing off against each other. Eventually all the included combatants will meet in the ring, with not one of the potential match-ups being boring. The first fight is a battle of the undefeated; Andre Dirrell, the former 2004 Olympic Bronze medalist will take on the heavy-handed straight ahead Carl Froch. On paper it looks as if Dirrell has all the tools to dispose of the British champ, but Dirrell has never faced anyone even close to caliber of Froch. On paper it looked like Jermain Taylor had the tools to dispose of Froch too, we know that didn't happen.

Arthur Abraham(30-0,24ko) vs. Jermain Taylor(28-3,17ko)

The second of fight of the tourney is one I thought I might have seen at middleweight(160) a few years ago. Taylor lost his last fight to Carl Froch via twelve round TKO, but was beating Froch for most of the fight, and may have won had he not faded down the stretch. Unfortunately for Taylor, Abraham is loosely similar to Froch, he has heavy hands, rarely stops coming forward, and has a solid chin.(Loosely-similar, I think it's an oxymoron, but you get it!) Unfortunately for Abraham, Taylor is a very desperate man, which in a tournament like this, is a very scary thing. No matter what both these fights, and the other look great. If you want more information on the tournament go to Showtime's website.

November 7th HBO

Chad Dawson(28-0,17ko) vs. Glen Johnson(49-12,33ko) II

Back in January I posted a blog that stated the fights I would like to see in 2009, this was one of them. Dawson walked away with a Unanimous decision over Johnson in 2008, but many fans and critics alike have been vocal about their feelings that Johnson took the fight. I thought Dawson did just enough to win, but Johnson did enough to get a rematch. It's finally here and it's not a minute too soon. This could be Johnson's last chance to be at the top, so expect him to throw everything but the kitchen sink at Dawson...... you know, the usual way he fights!

November 14th HBO PPV

Manny Pacquiao(49-3,37ko) vs. Miguel Cotto(34-1,27ko)

I wrote about this fight not too long ago, so I won't beat you over the head with it. This has fight of the year written all over it. Over the past few years Cotto and Pacquiao have repeatedly given fans what they want, solid entertaining fights. This is just one more quality fight for both guys. Let's hope that we get a few decent fights on the under-card.

November 28th HBO

Lucian Bute(24-0,19ko) vs. Librado Andrade(28-2,21ko) II

Last but not least, is this rematch of their exciting, but controversial fight in October 2008. Bute got away with a unanimous decision after, either some hometown cooking, or perhaps just some awful refereeing. Bute was out on his feet in the 12th when the Ref took his sweet time getting to the count. Early in the fight Bute pulled out to a pretty good lead, but Andrade broke him down as the fight went on. The rematch will be interesting; Will Bute pace himself? Will Andrade start faster? Will memories of the first fight haunt Bute? I can't wait to find out.

I'm sure you notice I left a certain Heavyweight fight off my list, it's on purpose. No matter how good a heavyweight fight has looked over the past few years, it always lets me down. Could this one be different? Sure, but I'm not going to waste my time talking about it until the division as a whole rebounds.

If that isn't enough for you HBO has also started up the Emmy winning 24/7 series again for the Mayweather - Marquez fight, and I would hope they would do another for the Pacquiao - Cotto fight as well.

With a packed Fall fight schedule 2010 has quite a bit to live up to, but I think that's a good thing, since we'll probably want more.