MANNY PACQUIAO vs. MIGUEL COTTO

THE NEXT SUPER-FIGHT

Part 3: The Prediction

Ahhhh, the prediction, it is half the fun of a fight. It doesn't need to be a big fight, or even a hard one to predict, just as long as you can ponder, debate, and make the call. How many times have you sat down to Friday Night Fights and thought to yourself, "this is a recipe for an upset, I'm taking the little guy". When the fights get bigger it just means you have more research to do: who beat who, who looked good against what type of fighter, who's bigger, who's faster, which guy cuts, what shirt was I wearing last time he won? The prediction can lead to months of back and forth anguish, sleepless nights, and all sorts of mathematical equations. You read another person's prediction and think, "maybe they know something I don't". You ignore house chores, and procrastinate when it comes to anything that might take away from fight study. In the end it's all about bragging rights...telling people you knew all along what was going to happen...you are the Nostradamus of fistic fury. On the flip side, once it's out there you can't take it back. All your ranting and raving, all the fights you watched, and all the hours you spent reading on the internet were for nothing. Now you have catch up on bills you ignored, the laundry that hasn't been touched in a month, and that damn shed that you never finished building. Remember though, if you get it right, you will lifted through the city on the shoulders of others, parades will be formed in your honor, and there is no doubt that streets will be named after you.

I think I am looking forward to this fight so much because it seems like it's been so long since a PPV fight came along that people were actually split on their predictions. In the Floyd Mayweather Jr.- Juan Manuel Marquez fight, was there any real question as to who would win? Even if you were a big time Marquez fan you had to know that it was a long shot. When Manny Pacquiao took on Ricky Hatton I thought that it would be a tougher fight, but I always thought it would finish with Hatton on the canvas. The last PPV fight that had such a split opinion might be Miguel Cotto - Shane Mosley. (I'm obviously not referring to the minor PPV cards like Latin Fury and such).

I separated this series into three parts for several reasons: I have major respect for both fighters, I have respect for the massive fan base of both fighters, and I am just plain excited about this match-up. Each guy has a legitimate chance to win this fight. They both have giant hearts, solid resumes, and great boxing skill.

Manny Pacquiao has looked like a world beater as of late, steam rolling through David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, and Ricky Hatton. Miguel Cotto looks as if he has seen better days, being stopped for the first time at the hands of Antonio Margarito, and pulling out the decision against Joshua Clottey by a thin margin. There are some questions left lingering with both of these fighters... Was Hatton made for Pacquiao? Was Joshua Clottey that good, or did Miguel Cotto lose a step? Does Pacman look better than he actually is? Did Cotto get a little fight taken out of him by Margarito? Can Pacquiao handle Cotto's body work? Can Cotto handle Pacquiao's speed?

MANNY PACQUIAO (49-3-2,37KO)

I firmly believe no matter what Jim Lampley and his cohorts wanted us to believe, Oscar De La Hoya didn't look good against Steve Forbes. I will fully admit going into his fight with Pacquiao all I paid attention to was the difference in size, not where the two were at in their respective careers, which as we all know turned out to be a mistake. With Ricky Hatton, I don't think he is as bad as people have made him out to be since his destruction at the hands of Pacman. He always had a habit of going in face first, he had done it his whole career. There were only a few guys who took full advantage of that: Floyd Mayweather Jr, Manny Pacquiao, and Louis Collazo. Collazo was a slick boxer who caught Hatton late in his fight with Hatton, but didn't have the explosiveness that Pacquiao has to finish him off. I think that Manny Pacquiao deserves to be rated as the pound for pound best these days because he is doing something that not many people in the sport are, stepping up. I don't mean that to say that other fighters are chicken, but Manny can make money without Cotto or Hatton. He wants to be the best, and fights like this are what puts him there.

MIGUEL COTTO (34-1, 27KO)

Miguel Cotto on the other hand is coming off of a decision over Joshua Clottey, and didn't look his best. My question to you is, has anyone looked good against Clottey? Clottey to me is a Winky Wright type fighter... even if you beat him, you'll never look good against him. Clottey was beating Margarito until he claims he hurt his hands. Either way he stopped fighting the same way he did against Cotto. So maybe that fight looks the same no matter when it happened(before or after Margarito).

I always felt going into fights that Cotto had finally bit off more than he could chew. Against Judah I thought uppercuts and speed could be a major factor, but Cotto weathered the storm, went to work and broke Judah down. Against Malignaggi I thought Cotto would have issue with his boxing skill and movement, but Cotto stuck to his game-plan, cut off the ring, and punished Malignaggi. Shane Mosley was a big, strong, fast, and skilled welterweight; I was sure Cotto was over his head, but he boxed, moved, and showed some skills I didn't know he had (keep in mind I never doubted Cotto, just questioned him).

I have always thought that Miguel Cotto's weakness was fast handed slick boxers like Paulie Malignaggi , Zab Judah, or Shane Mosley. Cotto disposed of three of those fighters, he cut off the ring, boxed beautifully, and broke each guy down as if he were chopping down a tree. (Mosley wasn't chopped down, but he did lose the fight).

In the end the two fighters that gave Cotto the most trouble were straight ahead rough and tumble boxers, Antonio Margarito and Joshua Clottey. Two sturdy guys who come to fight, don't back up, and have granite chins.

BREAKING IT DOWN:

For some reason the fight that I think about most when trying to make a prediction is the Zab Judah vs. Miguel Cotto fight. A small, fast, hard hitting, skilled Junior Welterweight taking on Miguel Cotto. Cotto had some rough moments early on and eventually his size and strength was imposed on the smaller fighter. The major difference is that Pacquiao is a much smarter fighter than Zab Judah, and can punch from all angles. I also have zero questions about Pacman's heart, corner, or his ability to change game-plans in the middle of a fight.

I do think that Manny Pacquiao is explosive enough to hurt and perhaps even KO Miguel Cotto if he's not careful. I think back to Allen Green on Friday Night Fights talking about different kinds of knockout power, some have brute strength, and some speed from out of nowhere; Pacquiao seems to have the later. The early parts of this fight are very dangerous for Miguel Cotto.

I can see this fight going somewhat similar to the Zab Judah fight. Pacquiao will be very dangerous early with his hand-speed and what I consider explosive power, but I think Cotto will weather the Pacman tornado and take over in the later rounds. I feel that Cotto will take some punishment from Pacquiao's early movement and fast combinations, but will be doing what Teddy Atlas refers to as "putting money in the bank", as he works Pacquiao anyway he can to slow him down in the second half of the fight. Ricky Hatton said after his fight with Louis Collazo that he he could feel the force of the punches more at 147 pounds than he could at 140. Pacquiao is not only facing a harder puncher than Collazo, but he will also be facing a guy who will be able to hit him, unlike his last couple fights.

My official prediction is that the first half of the fight is all Pacquiao with Cotto's methodical style and bodywork taking it's toll late. I think Pacquiao's streak stops here.

PREDICTION: COTTO TKO 10

Hopefully I am correct because I really don't want to finish that damn shed!

I leave you with one final question, no matter who you pick in the Cotto-Pacquiao fight, who do you think has a better chance against Floyd Mayweather Jr.?

MANNY PACQUIAO vs. MIQUEL COTTO

THE NEXT SUPER-FIGHT

Part 2: Why I Love Manny Pacquiao

At this point I think most know that Manny Pacquiao is one of the most exciting fighters in combat sports. That's right, not just boxing, but in all of the sports where two people square off to prove who's best. If you don't see it this way, you are 1 of 3 types of people:

1. In denial: You are so for Miguel Cotto on November 14th that you refuse to admit that Manny Pacquiao is not only a formidable opponent, but also an exciting customer at the Cotto counter.

2. New to Boxing Guy: You have never really been a boxing fan and are just starting to check it out. You peruse a few websites, and have heard of this "Pac-Man", but figure he's over-rated, and you're not going to give in to the hype.

3. A Moron: You are just in general not too bright. You probably mope through life disagreeing with pretty much whatever people say just to make them angry. You are also probably the person that is always in front of me when I'm driving.

My advice is simple;

Denial Guy: I understand how you feel. I have my favorite fighters as well, and I know you just don't like anyone challenging your man, but please admit to yourself, this is a great fight, between TWO great fighters. Now go put on your Cotto shirt, cross your fingers, and get ready for a solid fight. Trust me, you will live a happier life if you just give in on this (life might be a bit dramatic, but it will make the week and a half easier).

New to Boxing Guy: Go to Youtube, look up Manny Pacquiao, watch some of his fights, or at least some of his highlights. Read a little about him, maybe check out his Wikipedia page, and watch 24/7 on HBO, which will give you a little insight into his accomplishments and personality. Then if you still don't agree follow the Moron's advice.

Moron: I'm not sure how you even got this far in the article! You and I obviously have nothing in common, and I'm pretty sure I don't like you. You should go watch a different sport because you obviously can't tell when a fighter is exciting, and fun to watch. You're probably the type of guy that would dis Arturo Gatti too. Shame on you. Also, get off the road... you are always holding me up. My commute would be much easier without you!

Now that those morons are out of the way I will continue. My point is that we all know that Pacquiao is entertaining, talented, and one of the best parts of the sport we all love so much. We know that he has great reflexes, fast hands, and what seems to be an endless amount of energy. We hope that November 14th will be an explosive show, and that Pacquiao will once again give us an entertaining night of boxing.That is why I want to tell you a few different reasons why I love Manny Pacquiao, something that maybe you can’t find somewhere else. I can only read so many articles about Manny and this fight before I start to get bored, but I am so excited for it that I can't help but write about it anyway! So here goes, I hope you enjoy it!

How I Love Manny Pacquiao, Let Me Count The Ways:

1. 106 pounds: I could honestly write that Pacquiao weighed 106 pounds in his first fight, and he is now fighting a guy at 145 pounds (a catch weight). That is amazing to me! How does a guy who once weighed 106 lbs. add that much weight and still be so good all along the way? (Or I could spell it weigh if I really wanted to be funny).

A fighter gets the most accolades when he moves up in weight to heavyweight, but this feat is as big an accomplishment, if not more. I will always be impressed by what guys like Chris Byrd, James Toney, and Roy Jones Jr. were able to do, start at Middleweight and win to heavyweight. (I picked these three because it's about the same amount of weight, and I personally watched them all do it. I’m not going to talk about Henry Armstrong because I was born in ’78 and I didn’t watch him fight). The difference is, Byrd took advantage of the fact that he was the smaller, faster guy in a land of slow giants. Toney could have been better if he would've backed away from the table. Jones didn't test himself after he won the title. Pacquiao is not only moving up, he looks as if he has been getting better all along the way.

When a fighter looks as good as Pac-man has his past few fights, it's easy for people to discredit his opponents, but it's always after he destroys them that they are discredited, not before. Ricky Hatton looked like a new man when he stopped Paulie Malignaggi, now people talk about him as if he were an average club fighter and it’s all because of how Pac-man ended the fight. Weight drained, washed up, shell of a fighter, these are all the things Oscar De La Hoya was AFTER he fought Pacquiao, NOT before. I am finding a common theme to Pacquiao's opponents lately! Even when he fought Morales a few pounds ago, Morales beat Pacquiao fair and square in their first fight, then suddenly was washed up over night for their next two. Is it out of the question that Pacquiao is one of those special athletes that raises his game as he continues his career? He is only thirty, it's not like he is an old dog that can't learn new tricks, which brings me to my next one.

2. Manila Ice: The Hayemaker is David Haye's go to punch... his heavy right hand, yet naming it is cocky, arrogant, and in someway desperate. Yet Manny Pacquiao names his right hook "Manila Ice", and for some reason I think he's the coolest boxer to step foot on the canvas. In all seriousness, I think it shows how much both he and Freddie Roach really enjoy doing what they do, and that translates to fans watching his fights. They are having fun in a sport that can at times wear down its fans with all of its B.S. Manila Ice is such a cool name too, it should be Pacquiao's fighting name it's so good. (I may have exaggerated on Hayemaker, I actually kind of like that one too, what can I say, I'm a sucker for theatrics).

3. Swagger?: When I think of someone having swagger I think of cool, calm, collected, and confident, almost to the point of being uncaring. I think Jack Nicholson, Frank Sinatra, and Paul Newman. I would even say Miguel Cotto has that classic swagger that I am referring to, but not Manny Pacquiao. He has something different. He has a swagger that's all his own, that of a hyper kid from your elementary school days. You remember that one kid growing up that could never sit in his seat, always got in trouble, and was still somehow the coolest guy in class? That's Manny Pacquiao to a T. He's not cocky, but still confident, caring. Not worrisome, but is definitely cool in his own way. Come on, how many other boxers can get away with having a singing career?

4. Piano Solo: You can show someone why boxing is such a great, beautiful, and amazing sport just by having them watch a Manny Pacquiao fight (especially lately). He embodies all the great things that a famous piano solo should have: finesse, grace, and when the time is right, aggression. If I had to turn Manny Pacquiao into a song it would be a combination of Fur Elise, and Flight of the Bumble Bee. He is so fluid in his motions, even though he has a staccato and somewhat choppy rhythm. I am always amazed at how well he combines all the elements of aggression, speed, and power in an almost wreck-less manor, but rarely crosses that line to sloppiness.

5. Fighter: At the end of the day Manny Pacquiao is a fighter. He can sing all he wants, mingle and dabble in politics, do movies, commercials, and even appear on a postage stamp, but at the end of the day he knows he's a fighter. He is always prepared, always puts on a good show, and never lets his fans down.

Manny Pacquiao is something special in boxing; a guy who is guaranteed to give you your moneys worth. I was a little upset that the Hatton fight didn't last longer, but that doesn't mean I wasn't impressed. I wish the De La Hoya fight had lived up to expectations, but I was still amazed at what Pac-man had done. I was rooting for him in the first Morales fight, but was satisfied with the night of boxing in the end. I love Manny Pacquiao because in this day and age when I have to pay fifty bucks for the sport I love so much, he gives me an entertainment guarantee... a boxing warranty if you will, and on November 14th I wait to cash it in.

Stay tuned for Part 3: The Prediction

MANNY PACQUIAO vs. MIGUEL COTTO

THE NEXT SUPER-FIGHT

On November 14th two of the biggest stars in boxing will face-off for a PPV super-fight. These fights are something special for boxing; they are the types of fights that get the general public to pay attention to our wonderful sport of boxing. I go through a few different phases for a super-fight, here's a look at what life is like for The Bryguy:

PHASE 1: Going into a big fight like this I always envision an epic battle between two gladiators, blood and guts warriors, grit, sweat, anger, and other adjectives that sound tough and manly! I blog about what an amazing ballsy, kick-butt fight it will be. I talk to whoever will listen to my expectations, scientific analysis, and true gut feelings. This is a great phase to be in.

PHASE 2: Honey roasted Peanuts are set out, Bud Lights are cold, my scorecards are ready, and my girlfriend is patiently waiting until fight night is over(because she's been listening to me for a month, she knows THIS one is important). I then proceed to suffer through two or three horrid under-card fights, that if I'm lucky are complete mismatches and will at the very least end quickly. If I'm not lucky it's a Zab Judah mismatch that should have ended early, but he once again doesn't live up to expectation and drags me through the miserable fight for ten or twelve rounds. This is phase filled with anxiousness and a little aggravation.

PHASE 2.1: The under-cards were terrible, but that's OK, the main event will be so amazing it will make up for everything! I refill my peanut jar, double check the fridge to make sure I have enough BL’s (because the main event will have me on the edge of my seat for at least ten rounds). I answer a few text messages driving home my prediction, letting everyone on the planet know what an amazing boxing mind I have. THE FIGHT: The main event ends as soon as it starts or is a patty cake match for twelve rounds, where on top of everything the decision is a debacle!(obviously there is the diamond in the rough, but most do end in disappointment).

PHASE 3: Then comes the moping, tears, sadness, and complaining about forking over $50 bucks, "FOR THAT!” After that I swear off the sport forever because it's corrupt, doesn't treat its loyal fans with respect, and bleeds me dry every time I am forced to spend my hard earned cash! My girlfriend cues up Dancing with the Stars on DVR, and just yeses me to death until I finally stop my babbling and go to sleep in a Bud Light induced coma (She's very patient with me).

PHASE 4: I read on Eastsideboxing.com how the winner will square off against another huge name in the sport for what will inevitably be the fight of the year! Now THAT fight is going to be the best fight ever! I can't wait to blog about it, talk about, and pay money for it! I guess that means it's back to phase one.

Well folks, I am here to tell you that I am knee deep in Phase one right now! Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto are two guys who haven't ducked anyone, fight with true heart, and put on fights for the fans. There is no way this one can let us down. I am so deep into phase one that one blog won't cover this showdown. If I am going to do it justice I must break it into three parts:

PART 1: Why I Love Miguel Cotto

Miguel Cotto has been one of the most consistent fighters in the world of boxing over the past few years. There hasn't been another guy in boxing who has constantly stepped up competition, fought entertaining fights, and tested his own abilities quite like Miguel Cotto, except maybe Manny Pacquiao.

The reason Miguel Cotto is so fun to watch is that he IS beatable. I suppose that shouldn't be a reason why you love a fighter so much, but I think that was why Arturo Gatti was so popular. That's why every Diego Corrales fight was a must see, and it's probably why Floyd Mayweather Jr. hasn't been able to find the fan-base he thinks he deserves. It's not that you root against a fighter; it's that you never really know how he will pull off the victory.

There is a crazy nervous feeling I get when Cotto steps into the ring with his opponent, because a lot of the times I've thought the other guy has the tools to beat him. Somehow Cotto has figured out a way to overcome that adversity, and that is what fans want in their fighters. That ability to dig deep and muster some energy, or skill that maybe even the fighter didn't know he had, it is what makes elite athletes so special.

Miguel Cotto for the most part looks like a machine when he enters the ring, chin down, gloves high, and his eyes glaring between his fists like a sniper peering through his scope. He is also very militaristic in the way he can systematically break an opponent down, as he did with Carlos Quintana, Paulie Malignaggi, Randall Bailey, Kelson Pinto, Lovemore N'dou, and many others. He'll chop you down whatever way he can, not shying away from bodywork, or with Branco, just banging away at the arms!

There have been many fights though where he wins using other tools in his arsenal, in 2005 Cotto faced off against Ricardo Torres and won that fight with his heart. The two traded bombs in the center off the ring for several rounds; until Cotto was the last man standing

(This picture of Cotto at the end of that fight will always be a lasting memory for me).

In 2007 Miguel proved to the world that he was an upper echelon fighter when he disposed of two fast capable fighters in Zab Judah, and Shane Mosley. Against Judah he was taking on a fast, heavy handed fighter, who when his mind is in the game can beat just about anyone (of course his mind is never really in the game). Cotto overcame a vicious uppercut early in the fight, and fought through a severely damaged lip to impose his will, stopping Zab in the eleventh. Fighting Mosley later that year Cotto was beating the faster guy to punch and showed off some magnificent boxing skill that many didn't believe he possessed. He out boxed Mosley in an extremely entertaining fight, in which I think Miguel showed the ability to not only break opponents down, but also game plan and execute against another elite fighter.

In the lead up to the showdown against Manny Pacquiao all the talk has been about what the Pac-man is going to bring to the table, and rightfully so, he has had a run unlike anything I have seen in a long time. I feel however it's because of Cotto's only loss (Antonio Margarito) and his last fight (Joshua Clottey) that people are forgetting what a solid fighter Miguel Cotto is. In 2008 he took on the self-proclaimed "most avoided man in boxing" Antonio Margarito. The first half of the fight Cotto fought like he did against Shane Mosley, dancing around the ring, and putting on splendid display of his boxing skills (I still wish he had focused on the body instead of the head though). Then as the sixth round came and went, Cotto began to slow down and Margarito's punches started to take their toll, forcing Cotto to take a knee in the eleventh. Margarito was found with loaded hand-wraps in his next fight against Cotto victim Shane Mosley, begging the question of whether he had loaded wraps against Cotto as well.

In his last fight Cotto took on the very tough, and I feel much underrated Joshua Clottey. Cotto suffered a cut in the third round, and Clottey put on heavy pressure making it a close fight. Cotto had to dig deep in the championship rounds to pull off the split decision. The fight could have gone either way, but it seemed like Clottey just stopped fighting in those last rounds, and Cotto was able to walk away with the razor thin decision.

Is Cotto still haunted by the loss, and beating to Margarito? Maybe, I know I would not be able to overcome something like that. Did that affect him in the Clottey fight? I don't think so; I think Clottey is an underrated fighter, who will only be beat by the best fighters in the world. Let's not forget that Clottey’s only other loss is to Antonio Margarito, in which Clottey was making Margarito look very human for the first half of the fight, before he stopped boxing in the second half. Which brings up a few questions; were Clottey’s hands hurt as he claims? If so, he is quite a tough rugged fighter, were Margarito's hands loaded then as well? Where Clottey's hands fine, and he just has a habit of slowing down and not fighting towards the end of fights, as he did with Cotto? Either way Clottey is no pushover and can beat any fighter on any given night.

I love Cotto for many reasons, but one above all the others, he comes to fight (I also like some of his new tattoos, but mostly because he come to fight). Whether he's the wrecking ball that ran through Quintana, Branco, and Malignaggi, the Rocky Balboa who survived Ricardo Torres, or the finesse boxer who outpointed Shane Mosley; Cotto shows up and entertains on fight night. I have yet to watch Miguel Cotto step in the ring and not be entertained, and I don't see him letting me down on November 14th.

Stay tuned for PART 2: Why I Love Manny Pacquiao

Bryan blogs regularly at www.bryguyboxing.blogspot.com

Feel free to e-mail him at thebryguy21@gmail.com

DIGESTING THE SUPER SIX

Watching the first two fights of Showtime's Super Six tournament on Saturday was fun, and a little frustrating to me. I saw so much Saturday night. I saw great boxing, fantastic crowds, an amazing KO, and I also saw people being betrayed.
If you are like me and thought Dirrell won that fight you are a little perturbed about the decision. Well, I'm here to tell you Dirrell wasn't betrayed by the judges, he wasn't betrayed by the fans, or the ref, he was betrayed by his management team. The same way Taylor was betrayed by his past, his body, and his chin. The fans were betrayed by the sport again not getting it right, and therefore the tournament betrayed boxing by not fully living up to it's potential(Are you still following me?)

Jermain Taylor(28-4,17ko) vs. Arthur Abraham(31-0,25ko):
The tension after fifth round of the Jermain Taylor - Arthur Abraham fight was as thick as a Boston accent. Everyone knew coming in that Abraham was going to start slow and that Taylor may be able to stack up a few points because of it. Taylor seemed disciplined, focused, and very respectful of Abraham's ability as a fighter (mostly his power.) He was using his jab, moving, and as it seemed to me, reserving his energy so that he could avoid falling apart at the end.
Abraham was doing what he usually does, hands high absorbing shots, and consistently moving forward like a Panzer absorbing the enemies ammunition and waiting for it to run out. I think everyone knew at some point he was going to open up, start firing bombs, and leave tread marks on the opposition (that's it for the tank analogies, I promise.) In the fifth round Abraham started letting his hands go. By the sixth round it seemed like it was time for Taylor to return fire, the same way he did early in the first Pavlik fight and the Froch fight. Taylor just kept pawing with the jab and moving to his left. I kept thinking, "Ok, he's just making sure he's got enough gas in the tank for later." It's understandable with the issues he's had in the past, but the scorecards were evening up very quickly. Taylor seemed so afraid of running out of gas that he wasn't willing to throw with "Bad Intentions." I feel Taylor was haunted by his past. If he hadn't run out of gas so many times before, would he have put more on his punches? Could he have taken more steam out of Abraham, so perhaps that right in the 12th wouldn't have had so much on it? Did he fight scared? The answers no longer matter. Taylor's past caught up with him Saturday night, and it may be a warning, just like old Marley to Ebenezer, it's time for a change.

Andre Dirrell(18-1,13ko) vs. Carl Froch(26-0,20ko):
This fight was not easy to watch at times and yet still entertaining. Froch was the older grizzled champion taking on the young lion looking to make a name for himself. It was quite obvious from the get go that Dirrell had twice the athletic ability of Froch. The question was could he box as well. The answer, yes. He out-boxed Froch for most of the fight, and even held his own under the pressure of Froch's dirty tactics. I don't blame Froch for getting rough; he did what he had to do.

I don't fully blame the judges for giving Froch the fight, after all Dirrell ran and held quite a bit in this fight, I might even say he was wimpish. I don't even blame Dirrell; this is by far the biggest fight of his career. I blame Dirrell’s management for him losing this fight. A guy like Dirrell, with a bronze medal and boat loads of God given athletic ability, should have stepped up his game well before this fight.

You could see Dirrell gain confidence towards the end of the fight; he started to sit down on his punches, and stand up to Froch's reckless aggression. Dirrell seemed to realize what we all realized from the first round: he was a better fighter than Froch. That is something he would have known from the start, had he already been accustomed to fighting at this level. In the end it was poor planning on team Dirrell that betrayed them. Had Dirrell stepped faced a top ten Super-middleweight prior to his Froch fight I feel the outcome in Nottingham would have been very different. It wasn’t the decision that was bad, it was the decision to not step up his competition sooner that was no good!


Showtime:

One of my major problems with boxing has always been that the judges in a boxing match are paid by the promoter of the event (not directly, but that is where the money comes from). Imagine if the NFL refs were hired by the home team? What if all Olympics judges were paid by the host country? What would baseball be if the pitcher paid the umpires?

Sometimes in big fights the promoter even pays for the hotel and other expenses of the judges. Don't bite the hand that feeds you is the term, isn't it?!

Showtime put together a one of a kind tournament, something that could help boxing in the long run. They did something that no one else is doing; put the best against the best, with no exceptions. If they wanted this done right, they should have taken the promoters control over judges and refs out of the equation. Showtime should have been the ones signing the checks and picking the judges, or at least making sure it was someone other than the promoter. After all, the network put this together, put up the money, and is giving these guys huge amounts of exposure. A few bad decisions in the tournament and the whole thing could be tarnished. That means future tourneys won't make the same money, and Showtime Boxing will still be viewed as the bastard child of that other network (HBO.)

This is a tournament that could do wonders for the sport of boxing. If it is successful we could see this happen again with other divisions, or even better, all the divisions. Could boxing go to a World Cup, or US Open type format?

What if every year boxing was set up as a series of tournaments to find the champions in every division? Wouldn't that get boxing back on top? (I know this is a huge pipe dream.) Not if TV networks don't demand that something else happens with payment of the judges and refs. Perhaps both promoters split the cost of judges and refs, and an intermediate like the network pays them? (I don't solve problems, I just question them.)

IN CLOSING....

All that being said, the great thing about this tournament is whether the decision was correct or not. The boxers and the public move on. I don't have to read about people clamoring for a rematch that will never happen. Instead it feels more like regular sport, where people argue over the outcome and move on to the next game. Don't you like that feeling?!

It may have seemed as if I didn't enjoy the first two fights with all my ranting and raving, but I did very much. As much as boxing has burned me and fans like me, I will never abandon or betray it, because when it all comes together just right, it is the greatest sport in the world. Bring on Ward vs. Kessler and Group Stage Two!

Filling the playoff void

With the Sox out of the playoffs and the Yankees locomotive steaming towards another potential another World Series title, Sox fans have a void that needs to be filled this October. Pre-season basketball sure isn't gonna do it. Footballs great, but what do I do on a Saturday night? Bruins are helping, but I need more to fill the playoff void. Showtime's Super Six World Boxing Classic should be just the thing to knock me out of my playoff slump. Think of it as a boxing desert after your Bruins entree.

The Classic pits six of the top Super middleweights in world against each other in a round robin tournament. In the first stage of the tourney each fighter will face off against each other, with the victor being awarded two points for a win, and an extra point for a KO(in the case of a draw each fighter will be awarded one point). After each fighter has squared off, the top four points leaders move to the semi-finals. In the Semi's the one seed will face the four seed and two vs. three, then the winners tangle for the first ever Super Six championship.

I will remind you that these are six of the best Super Middleweights in the world! That means that boxing fans will get to see nine excellent match-ups, between top tier fighters...... and that's before the semi-finals of the tournament even begin! Now, seeing six top tier fighters face off against each shouldn't be a big deal, it actually should happen all the time, but it doesn't. That is why this is such a great event for both the fans, and the sport in general. Let's take a look at the fighters involved:

OCTOBER 17th

Carl Froch - United Kingdom (25-0,20ko)

WBC Super-middleweight champion

Age: 32 Height: 6'1" Reach: 74 1/2"

Biggest wins: Jermain Taylor TKO 12, Jean Pascal UD 12

Fact: Has fought twice outside of the United Kingdom.

Knock: Oldest in the tourney, looked beaten against Taylor until the late rounds.

Best Assets: Froch has heavy hands, a heart that won't quit, and a solid chin.

VS.

Andre Dirrell - USA (18-0,13ko)

Bronze medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympics

Age: 27 Height: 6'2" Reach: 75"

Biggest wins: Anthony Hanshaw TKO 5, Mike Paschall TKO 4, Victor Oganov TKO 6

Fact: Has never fought professionally outside of the USA

Knock: Has faced the weakest competition of anyone in the tourney.

Best Assets: Dirrell has extremely fast hands, is the only southpaw in the tourney, and has yet to taste defeat (Ward fights southpaw at times, but is primerally an orthadox fighter).

OCTOBER 17th

Arthur Abraham - Germany (30-0,24ko)

Former IBF Middleweight champion

Age: 29 Height: 5'10" Reach: 72"

Biggest wins: Edison Miranda UD 12, Edison Miranda TKO 4

Fact: Suffered a broken jaw in the first Miranda fight, and still took the Unanimous Decision.

Knock: Notoriously slow starter, smallest in the competition.

Best Assets: Abraham has underrated defense, a world class chin, and very heavy hands.

VS.

Jermain Taylor - USA (28-3,17ko)

Former Undisputed Middleweight Champion

Age: 31 Height: 5'11" Reach: 74 1/2"

Biggest wins: Bernard Hopkins SD, Bernard Hopkins UD

Losses: Kelly Pavlik TKO'd 7, Pavlik UD, Carl Froch TKO'd 12

Knock: Has had serious problems fading in the late rounds, which led to his KO to Froch .

Best Assets: Has had some of the best competition of anyone in the tourney, starts fast, and really has nothing left to lose at this point.

NOVEMBER 21st

Mikkel Kessler - Denmark (42-1,32ko)

WBA Super-middleweight champion of the world.

Age: 30 Height: 6'1" Reach: 73"

Biggest wins: Anthony Mundine UD 12, Markus Beyer ko 3, Librado Andrade UD 12

Only Loss: Joe Calzaghe UD 12

Knock: Has not been extremely busy since his loss to Calzaghe.

Best assets: He has fought the best opposition out of the six, has KO power, and one of the best 1-2 combos in the biz.

VS.

Andre Ward - USA (20-0,13ko)

Gold medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Age: 25 Height: 6'1" Reach: 73"

Biggest wins: Jerson Revelo TKO 8, Edison Miranda UD12

Knockdown: Ward has hit the canvas once, the 4th Rd. of his 7th fight against Darnell Boone.

Knock: Ward was rocked a few times early in his career, some believe he has a suspect chin.

Best Assets: Ward has blazing speed, his 1st fight will be in his hometown of Oakland, CA, and he doesn't know how to lose yet.

I know that in New England nothing replaces Red Sox playoff baseball, but I think a few KO's could be just what the doctor ordered. Take two fights this Saturday, and comment in the morning!

The Bryguy's quick picks: Dirrell with the upset over Froch. I wasn't that impressed with Froch against Jermain Taylor, and thought he was outboxed throughout the fight until Jermain hit the wall. I think Dirrell uses movement, and keeps Froch at bay. Dirrell UD

I'm taking Abraham over Taylor. This is a great fight because both guy are former middleweight champs who stepped up to Super-middleweight. I keep hearing how Taylor's camp has fixed the problem with his fading in fights, but this problem has been going on for too long, I see it haunting him again. Abraham is a tough guy and will keep pressure on Taylor through the whole fight. The other problem, Abraham gets stronger as the fight goes on.

ABRAHAM UD

I will hold off on my Ward - Kessler prediction until later, let me know your thoughts.

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.