By Cliff Rold
After a week with almost no fights on the tube in the U.S., the week ahead offers options on T.V., online, and on the dollar. The first of those options becomes television the day after and how many eyes find the replay will depend on the result.
If fans read that it went as expected, that the Heavyweights failed to deliver genuine suspense once again at the championship level, so be it. But what if?
That’s always the question. Upsets make special moments in sports. Just ask Jacksonville State. Can an upset happen next Saturday?
These are the picks of the week.
Pick It: World Champion Wladimir Klitschko vs. #10 Samuel Peter (Saturday, ESPN3.com, 5 PM EST/2 PM PST)
While many still have lingering doubts about the toughness and chin of Heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko (54-3, 48 KO, Lineal/Ring/IBF/WBO), it’s been a long time since they were sincerely tested. September 2005 would be when; Samuel Peter (34-3, 27 KO) the who. Klitschko won nine rounds; Peter scored knockdowns in the other three.
Much has happened since. Klitschko has gone on the best run of his career. Peter won, and lost, a WBC belt while looking good (against James Toney and Oleg Maskaev) and bad (against James Toney and Vitali Klitschko). What he rarely looked was in shape but he’s suddenly closer to 240 lbs. than 260 for a run of fights and still has one punch thunder.
On paper, this should be another lopsided win for Wladimir but the punchers chance, and the Heavyweight title being on the line, make it the Pick for Saturday. If the fight turns out good, and online viewing ain’t your thing, ESPN will replay it on Sunday at 4:30 PM EST.
Pick It Too: #6 Yuriorkis Gamboa vs. #7 Orlando Salido (10 PM EST/7 PM PST)
Talent is good. Proven talent is better. Right now, the WBA Featherweight titlist Gamboa (18-0, 15 KO) is looking to do some proving and has a salty veteran in front of him. IBF titlist Salido has seen the best (34-10-2, 22 KO), winning way more than he’s lost since a stoppage loss in 2000. He hasn’t been stopped since as the foes got better. Gamboa has pound for pound athleticism and amateur pedigree. He also has an often lazy defense and a suspect beard so far. Salido is a spoiler and hard to look good against, tough as old boot. A big win here would say a lot for the progression of the Cuban. On the undercard, top Lightweight Anthony Peterson fights in a WBA eliminator against Brandon Rios in what could be a show stealer. It’s an excellent edition of Boxing After Dark.
Pick Memories: Erik Morales-Willie Limond (Saturday, PPV, 9 PM EST)
Serious fight fans will want to check out Heavyweight Tyson Fury on ShoBox on Friday night (11 PM EST) for the curiosity factor alone. Those with money to burn can check this one out Saturday. Erik Morales (49-6, 34 KO) is way past his sell by date by the Mexican warrior is never, ever, boring and he’ll bring it against Limond. Limond (33-2, 8 KO) of course almost upset Amir Khan while the Brit star was on his way up the ranks. Former WBC 108 lb. titlist Edgar Sosa is also on the show as he gets closer (supposedly) to a mandatory shot at lineal World and WBC Flyweight champ Pongsaklek Wonjongakm. For those who love Morales, it’s there.
Back in seven.
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Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com
