NOT DEAD,

JUST DVR'D!

As a die hard boxing fan it saddens me to see the sport of boxing not doing well. (I know 2009 is off to a great start, but I'm talking in the grand scheme of things). I know the usual complaints of corruption, bad fights, and too many PPV's. I agree with all of them! The Bryguy is not here to convince you that the sport he loves is perfect. I am not here to talk about the reasons why you should overlook bad fights, or even forget about corruption. What I am here to do, is tell you the great secret about how I still enjoy boxing so much. THE DVR! It's not just great for the Office, and Always Sunny in Philidelphia, but boxing too. As much as I love the sport of boxing, I am not willing to lose out on a good Friday or Saturday night out. I can go to the bar and I am guaranteed not to see Jim Lampley and Emmanuel Steward on the TV, and I have even less of a chance catching a PPV or Showtime fight on. I don't have to worry about someone ruining the outcome of the fight and best of all, if the fight stinks, just fast forward past it! I am as big a fight fan as you'll find, and I actually watch most of my fights over coffee not beer. Pavlick - Taylor I, Lacy - Calzaghe, and Cotto - Malignaggi are just few of the brawls I watched over my morning caffeine. (there is the occasional fight I watch with one eye as the room spins, but I usually re-watch those in the morning too). Not a bad way to start the day if I do say so myself. (Of course I'm talking about the fight, not the hangover!) So next time you decide to say boxing is a dying sport, take a moment and ask yourself, "am I just watching it wrong?".

DOWN THE ROAD

One of the things I hate about watching boxing is I know that two guys are going to slug it out as long as they can, and then some guy who has been sitting ringside drinking tea, is going to get in the ring and say "who do you want to fight next?". As much as I hate that question, I can't help but think about who the winner, or sometimes even the loser, should fight next. At least I'll wait a few days before putting my opinion out there. Let's go over some great fights, and recent news, and look down the road for a few good match-ups.

JOE CALZAGHE

First, I would like to say Calzaghe put on another amazing performance and deserves all the credit in the world for stepping up at the end of his career and fighting the best of the best. That being said, I got tired of Jim Lampley and Max Kellerman talking about how great Kessler was! I agree that Kessler is a good fighter, let's not shove it down my throat. It seemed like they were prepared to talk about Kessler more than Joe. Why not focus on how great Joe Calzaghe is? Maybe because they know Joe is at the end and HBO plans on Kessler being their fighter? It could just be me, but that's what I thought anyway. As for Joe's future, it seems he is determined to fight Bernard Hopkins. I'm not sure why Joe is so intent on fighting The Executioner. It seems to me there is not much of an upside to it. If he loses to him, which the possibility is there, people will say he only fought over rated contenders, or see he can't win outside of Wales. If he bets him, everyone says big deal he beat a 43 year old fighter. Then again I guess there aren't too many other big money offers out there for a guy who has beaten everyone at 168. The fight has my blessing, sorry Joe I gotta root for my man Bernard.

MIKKEL KESSLER

As much as I was sick of hearing HBO kiss this guys butt over the weekend I do think he is a great fighter. The one thing I couldn't help but think about was, maybe people will now give Jeff Lacy some credit. They stop saying he was overrated, and over hyped. People should start saying there is no shame in losing to a great fighter like Joe Calzaghe. I would love to see the two Calzaghe victims get a few fights under their belts and then face off for the 168 thrown. I would also like to see a match with the Canadian Lucian Bute get made. It would be tough because both guys can draw a crowd at home, so I'm sure there would be a pissing contest for home turf.

JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ

I don't think I even need to mention what should happen with Marquez. If the rematch with Manny Pacquiao doesn't happen then I would never watch either fighter again. This fight needs to happen, for the fans, boxing, and most of all for me! I will not even write about this any longer, because it's only going to make me upset that they haven't gotten in the ring already.

ROCKY JUAREZ

This is one tough dude, that just can't seem to win the big one. He is entertaining and as I said before very tough, he is now in my eyes the perfect gate keeper for the division. I wouldn't mind seeing him give Robert Guerrero a stiff test or even take on the heavy punching Edwin Valero. Let's see if Valero could handle Rocky before being fed to Pacquiao.

SAKIO BIKA
I was ringside for this potential fight of the year, and the more I think about it, the more grateful I am for being able to witness this one in person. These two guys started fast and didn't stop swinging for the fences from round one all the way to the end. I'm still not sure what happened, I just know that I was on my feet the entire time! Where should Bika go from here? Well, I would like to see him give Jaidon a rematch later down the line. Codrington
needs to get some other fights under his belt before tangling with Bika again. I would like to see Bika in with any of the other tough 168ers, Allen Green could be a good match-up, maybe Edison Miranda, or perhaps take on the winner of Lacy-Manfredo.

JAIDON CODRINGTON

I know that Codrington was knocked out by Bika and knocked out by Green, I still think this kid is pretty good and can handle big time fights. He proved his heart by getting up in that first round and standing toe to toe with Bika for seven more rounds. I think one of "The Dons" flaws is he was pushed so fast. He was put up against Allen Green way to soon, and even after that he has never been able to get rounds under his belt. I think even though he got KO'd in eight, he should proud of what he accomplished. He went eight extremely hard rounds with a world class fighter and hasn't gone ten rounds more than once in his career. Jaidon was running solely on heart after the fifth round. I would like Jaidon to take it slow get some rounds under his belt and then try for revenge against Bika in a year or two. I have a feeling we'll see a different fight.

PREDICTION

Two great fights, one great night. At 9 the best Super Middleweights in the world square off, followed at 10 by a pound for pounder trying not to blow his chance for a big pay day against the Pacman again. I give credit to Showtime for not only making this fight a non-PPV fight, but also setting it up so that it can be seen after the Calzaghe-Kessler fight. I was right last night, lets see how I do tonight.

JOE CALZAGHE(41-0, 32KO) vs. MIKKEL KESSLER(39-0, 29KO)

First, I would like to say I like both guys, enjoy their styles and commend them for taking this fight. Second, I think Mikkell Kessler has a really cool Tattoo! That thing is awesome! As far as the fight goes, I think it will be very competitive, and brutal. Both men seem as if they not only want to win, but win impressively. I wouldn't be surprised to see both guys get up off the canvas in this one. That being said, I'm gonna have to go with Joe Calzaghe, it seems every big fight people forget he's been the champ for ten years. I'm not saying Kessler is a slouch, I just think it seems that Kessler another guy in the long list that is supposed to be Joe's real challenge. I don't buy it, I think Joe really is that good! Now I think Kessler is his toughest fight, but I think Joe's handspeed and movement will be too much for the Dane to handle.PREDITION: Calzaghe UD

JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ vs. ROCKY JAUREZ

This one is going to be a good fight. Rocky Jaurez a tough foe, and always comes prepared to fight. I think Marquez is one of the best fighters in the world and will be too much for Rocky. I see him boxing circles around the rugged challenger, and still perhaps being caught with a stunner at some point from Juarez. In the end though, I think Marquez will walk away with the win and get the much anticipated rematch with Manny Pacquiao. PREDICTION: Marquez UD

WEEKEND PREDICTIONS:



MATT GODFREY vs. FELIX CORA JR.(ESPN)
This is my pick for the best fight of the weekend. Both fighters have great reputations and are looking for a major title fight in the future. A loss here would be devastating to both men's careers. A loss in the cruiserweight division is much worse than any other because it's lesser known division. Godfrey will be fighting in front of his hometown crowd which gives him the advantage if the fight goes the distance. Both fighters seem to have solid chins and both have a bit of power. I think in this fight both fighters will be pushed to their limits. I have a feeling Godfrey is going to walk away as an actual threat to the Cruiserweight division.

PREDICTION:Godfrey TKO 11



PETER MANFREDO JR. vs. JOE CALZAGHE(HBO)
This is tough for me to write being that I've met Manfredo several times and I think he's a very nice guy. I haven't been terribly impressed with Calzaghe, but I don't think Manfredo has fought anyone nearly as talented as the Welshman. I think the deciding factor in this one is Calzaghe's handspeed. Peter hasn't fought anyone with that kind of handspeed. Peter will impress a few people with how far he goes, but I think he will be stopped.

PREDICTION: Calzaghe TKO 9


DIEGO CORRALES vs. JOSHUA CLOTTEY(Showtime)
This is my pick for the upset of the weekend. Joshua Clottey proved to me that he can beat a-list fighters. In my opinion he put on a clinic against Antonio Margarito until he broke his hand. Chico has moved up two weight classes and I think that could be a mistake. At the lower weight class he was dropped several times and got himself out of trouble because of his punching power. I don't think his power will travel two weight classes.

PREDICTION: Clottey KO 7