PREDICTION
JEAN MARC MORMECK(33-3,22KO) vs. DAVID HAYE(19-1,18KO)

I can not stress enough how disappointed I am that I have to watch this fight after the fact on youtube. Someone with some brains should have picked up the rights to this fight. I would have even paid a cheap PPV fee to see this fight.

These are two solid fighters with big time punches and world class skill. Both guys could probably move to heavyweight and do pretty well. I'm glad they stayed at the 200 pound limit though. David Haye has one loss for depending too much on his power. He may very well need to have an all around game to dispose of "The Marcsman". Mormeck looked very good in defeating O'Niel Bell in their rematch earlier in the year. I don't see this fight going the distance, both fighter have power and like to use it. I have to lean towards "The Hayemaker" to take this fight. He is younger and quite an impressive right hand. While waiting for this fight he tried his hand at heavyweight and ended things in quick fashion, destroying Tomasz Bonin(37-1) in 1:45 of the first round. Haye has lost only once and only gone the distance once, I don't see this fight being any different than his other wins. He will try and stay on the outside and bomb away on Mormeck's dome with the effect sinking somewhere late in the fight. PREDICTION: HAYE TKO 8

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

PREDICTION

I'm not sure why I even post my predictions anymore. If you've ever read my blog you'll know I'm usually very wrong! I should help myself and others by not posting prediction anymore, but that would be no fun, so here goes.

CALVIN BROCK(31-1, 23KO) vs. EDDIE CHAMBERS (29-0, 16KO)

I will come right out and say it, I don't care who wins. I hate the heavyweight division. I think I would rather watch Field Hockey than heavyweight fights these days. for the good of boxing Eddie Chambers needs to win this fight. Calvin Brock had his day, he got knocked out in the 7th, in one of the many very boring heavy fights this year. If Chambers wins he would go on to fight Alexander Povetkin, and the winner would face off against Wlad Klitschko for title in '08. The idea of a Brock-Klitschko rematch makes me throw up in my mouth. I think Chambers can and will beat Brock based solely on his speed. Brock is a slow lumbering very robotic type fighter. Someone with good movement and handspeed should be able to box circles around him. I'm looking for Eddie to use his speed and movement to stay away from Brock's power and win on a unanimous decision. PREDICTION: CHAMBERS UD

OTHER THAN THE OBVIOUS

Any good boxing fan knows that the best is yet to come. Even with a few fight of the year candidates in the bank(Vasquez-Marquez, Pavlick-Taylor, Cotto-Judah) there a still a few fights that have the potential to top even those. Yes, we know that the Miguel Cotto-Shane Mosley fight will be great, and great hype will come with the Floyd Mayweather-Ricky Hatton showdown. We know that Mikkel Kessler and Joe Calzaghe will not disappoint and that Jaun Manuel Marquez and Rocky Jaurez will have my DVR working overtime that action packed Saturday night. What I am talking about is a few fights I am personally excited about, and may have fallen through the cracks due to the full schedule this fall. Some of these fights may not be fight of the year caliber or even have a title at stake, but I'm interested and you might be too. Have no fear friends I am hear to remind you of the intriguing undercards, shamefully non-televised fights, and maybe one or two showdowns you hadn't known were even happening.

1. LUCIAN BUTE(20-0, 26KO) vs. ALEJANDRO BERRIO(26-4, 25KO) OCTOBER 19

Bute is Ring Magazine's fourth ranked Super Middleweight in the world. He is undefeated and getting his first title shot against a very tough Berrio. Bute has fought on ESPN a couple of times and impressed me. He has good power, hand speed, and knows how to command the ring well. He has been slowly stepping up the competition and handily outpointed the always rugged Sakio Bika in his last fight. Berrio is another step up for the Romanian, Berrio has handed knockout loses to some pretty could fighters, including Syd Vanderpool and Yusef Mack. He has power and likes to bang, not to mention a belt I'm sure he doesn't want to leave in Montreal. If that's not enough to make you interested in the fight, then how about the fact that those Canucks sure know how to support a fighter. When Bute faced Bika the Bell Center was devoured by a thunder and lighting storm, and it seemed to only make the fans get louder. Now those are the fight I enjoy seeing. Unfortunately this one's not televised in the U.S. but will be on TSN in Canada(the Canadian version of ESPN) which means I can see this one later on youtube. If anyone is interested some of Lucian's fights are on youtube now.

2. JEAN MARC MORMECK(33-3, 22KO) vs. DAVID HAYE(19-1, 18KO) NOVEMBER 10

What a shame that this fight will not be seen in the states. Two talented heavy hitting athletes squaring off for the title, this is the stuff you can't find at heavyweight. I wish people would pay closer attention to this division, it could be the best of them all. Mormeck is coming off a huge win against former undisputed champion O'Niel Bell, and taking on the number one challenger as all champions should do. Haye is a power puncher out of England looking to add another KO to his list before moving up to collect paychecks at heavyweight. These are two guys coming for the knockout. If you want to watch a tactical boxing match you might want to look elsewhere. I don't think it could be possible this to go the distance. Youtube, I am asking you as a friend please have this fight on your site ASAP.

3. ANDRE WARD(13-0, 8KO) vs. ROGER CANTRELL(12-0, 8KO) NOVEMBER 16

People in the past have in my opinion, been very tough on the gold medalist Andre Ward. I have always been a Ward supporter, and don't mind that his handlers have been bringing him along slowly. I understand that he has more experiance than most because of his extensive amatuer background, I know he's won a gold medal. What I think most don't understand is that he's 23. What's the rush? This is not basketball, or baseball, or even football. In those sports if your in over your head or pushed too fast, you go practice some more, work on free-throws, study your play-book, and work on the mechanics of your swing. In boxing if you have an off night you could end up severely hurt, and maybe never fully mentally recover from it. Do I even have to mention the name David Reid? I'm looking forward to this one because on paper they seem fairly evenly matched and it should be a decent test for Ward. Of course that's on paper, this could also be a chance for Ward to show off.

4. MATT GODFREY(16-0, 9KO) vs. JEREMY WILIAMS(42-5, 35KO) NOVEMBER 24

This a huge step up for my man Too Smooth, and I think he can handle it. Jeremy Williams made a name for himself by being an undersized heavyweight with heavy hands. He took a few years off after being grossly knocked out by Sam Peter. Williams has decided to try and make a name for himself in the Cruiserweight division, where he is matched with guys his own size. This fight will be a co-headline to a small PPV event held at Mandalay Bay Thanksgiving weekend. This one is a test for both fighters, if Williams can get past the Smooth undefeated fighter out of Providence, he may indeed be ready to conquer the division. If Godfrey can get by the tough veteran, he may indeed be ready for a title shot. Only time will tell. I am actually hoping to be in attendance for this one, hoping to make Godfrey's first fight in Vegas my first fight in Vegas.

Late word has it that this fight will be moved to Hartford Conecticut, oh well I guess Vegas can wait. The date will stay the same and the opponent should still be Williams.

5. JEFF LACY(22-1, 17KO) vs. PETER MANFREDO JR.(28-4, 13KO) DECEMBER 8TH

Both Manfredo and Lacy are coming off of some down time due to surgery, Lacy for a rotator cuff and Manfredo for an elbow. Lacy's time as been almost a year while Manfredo's last fight was in June. I'm looking forward to this fight for a few reasons, first these are both crowd pleasing fighters. Neither guy is going to shy away from contact and neither guy is known for amazing defense. Second, Manfredo is a very good test for Lacy, who is still one of my favorite fighters. I don't mean for that to down play Manfredo's talents, but I think the Jeff Lacy from a few years ago would take Manfredo apart. The question is can Lacy get back to his old form after two very long physically grinding fights. If he is not in good form he'll have a tough time getting rid of Manfredo. Third, it's on the undercard of a PPV I was planning on ordering. I have come to terms with the fact that most PPV's have crappy undercards. Who was on the undercard of Mayweather-Delahoya again? At least now I have two fights to look forward to on December 8th.



There you have it. those are a few fights I am interested in seeing or reading about this fall that have been lost in the shuffle. Let me know if you agree or maybe I missed a couple.

PREDICTION

I know I haven't posted in a while and I'm sorry to the three people that read my blog. I promise I have stuff to write about I've just been busy. Before it's too late I wanted to get my prediction in.

Jermain Taylor vs. Kelly Pavlick

I'm sorry to say that this fight will not go the way Pavlick-Miranda went. I think that Jermain is a much better fighter than Miranda and he will control the action using his jab. The last couple of fights for Taylor may have been boring to watch, but the two guys he fought still had better resumes than Kelly Pavlick. I'm not taking anything away from "The Ghost" I think he's a tough fighter. He just hasn't fought anyone even close to as good as Bernard Hopkins or Winky Wright. I think Taylor will control the pace from the start and may get rocked a time or two in the middle trying to prove he's a champ, then reign it in a bit towards the end to pull out the decision. PREDICTION: Taylor UD

CONTENDER SEASON 3

Ok, so I went home last night after work completely pumped for the new season of the contender, I get excited about any new boxing on T.V. Well, I saw a few good things and a few bad things about this season already. We'll start with the good:

1. This seasons fighters seem to have the best credentials yet. I mean Sam Soliman gave Winky Wright all he could handle not to long ago, and Sakio Bika is not too shabby going twelve with Joe Calzaghe.

2. The fighters already have more personality than any of the fighters from last year. Last year took a step up in experience but a step down in personality.

3. The trainers are a step up, I mean Buddy Mcgirt, come on he's one of the best out there.

4. The music is still awesome. How can you not get pumped up when hear the Contender theme blaring over the opening credits?

5. The underdog has already been chosen. It seems that the K-9 award goes to David Banks, I'm already liking and feeling bad for the last guy picked. (In case you didn't know Cornelious K-9 Bundrage got picked last in season 2 and came in third.)

There you have it that's what I liked about last nights episode. Now here comes the bad stuff, I will however try to be optimistic about the upcoming season:

1. It was thoroughly unentertaining! Nothing really happened, it was just another look at the audition process. OPTIMISM: I'm in hopes that last nights episode was a way for us to get to know all the fighters better before two guys actually square off.

2. Listening to Sugar Ray for an hour straight makes me sea sick. He sounds like he's doing a bad impression of William Shatner! OPTIMISM: I hope he isn't in so much of the up coming shows.

3. The trainers may be a step up but they are no where near as entertaining as Tommy Gallagher. OPTIMISM: Maybe they'll open up as we get to know them better as we get to know them. Hey maybe they'll even become crabby old men, you never know.

4. I will be very upset if we are forced to see a guest celebrity every week. Especially c-list celebs like Adam Corolla! Come on man, who cares what Adam Corolla says about anything, much less boxing! I watch the show to get to know the fighters and watch some boxing, not hear the same regurgitated crap about how amazing it is to be in the presence of so-and-so. OPTIMISM: I don't really have any on this one I think we're stuck with the guests, I just hope the get better than Corolla.

5. When they show ed the previews for next week I realized they still have the same announcer. I would rather listen to Suger Ray read me a Charles Dickens novel than hear that guy gurgle through "ROUND NUMBER FIVE". OPTIMISM: He doesn't look like he keeps in the best shape, maybe he'll drop dead and they'll replace him.(Sorry I know that's a bit harsh).

Any thoughts about last nights show?