BoxingScene.com's Television Picks of the Week
By Cliff Rold
Welcome back boxing. We missed you.
Okay, so it wasn’t really gone. In fact, there were a few sneaky gems. But let’s be honest: the last two months will not be widely recalled. Given the slate ahead, there’s a very good chance the end of 2010 will produce at least one fight no one forgets.
It might even happen this weekend. We’ve got old lion/young lion; rising star versus streaking veteran; and Super Six.
These are the picks of the week.
Pick Feather: #2 Juan Manuel Lopez vs. #5 Rafael Marquez (Saturday, Showtime, 9 PM EST/PST)
The names on the marquee scream “Fight of the Year.” The legs in the ring may not but it’s why all must watch. Marquez (39-5, 35 KO), the former Bantamweight and Jr. Featherweight champion, is 35 years old and attempting to win a third title in as many weight classes. He still has the knowledge, the skill, but does he have the legs to weather a war? It’s a critical question because he might need them against one of the most dangerous young fighters in the world. The 27-year old WBO Featherweight titlist Lopez (29-0, 26 KO) has questions of his own. He’s been hurt badly before and never by someone of the pedigree of Marquez. Mexico vs. Puerto Rico? Yeah, this fight has that too. It’s not the only offering on Showtime Saturday either. The chief support will see Allan Green (29-2, 20 KO) try to salvage his second round replacement player bid into the Super Six Super Middleweight tournament against third round Mikkel Kessler replacement (and former Light Heavyweight champion) Glen Johnson (50-14-2, 34 KO). That’s the undercard. This is, in total, easily the card of the week and one of the best of the year.
Pick B.A.D.: Zab Judah vs. Lucas Matthysse (Saturday, HBO, 11:15 PM EST/PST)
Johnson isn’t the only big name coming down the scale. The 33-year old former Jr. Welterweight beltholder and former undisputed Welterweight king Judah (39-6, 27 KO) has returned to the former. It’s his second fight back at 140 and his latest step towards title contention comes in the form of the 28-year old Matthysse (27-0, 25 KO). Judah is a huge step up for Matthysse but history says something very clear: fighters who are going to make big steps can get by Judah. They also say Judah has the sort of explosive speed still in reserve to expose a pretender. This should be fascinating (and should be a stellar nightcap after Showtime goes off the air). Opening the night is intriguing Lightweight action between former Featherweight and Jr. Lightweight beltholder Robert Guerrero (27-1-1, 18 KO) and 2004 U.S. Olympian Vicente Escobedo (22-2, 14 KO). The least talked about fight of the week, this one might be the sleeper to steal all shows.
Add both shows together and boxing gives its fans a serious reason to stay home on Saturday for the first time in a while.
Pick Sho: Edwin Rodriguez vs. James McGirt Jr. (Friday, Showtime, 11 PM EST/PST)
Friday can’t say the same but between this show, and a Telefutura offering, there is at least something to DVR for viewing with Saturday morning Cheerios. Rodriguez (16-0, 12 KO) shows some promise at 168 lbs. McGirt (22-2-1, 11 KO) shows it’s tough to live up to a Dad who was as good in the ring as Buddy Sr. He fights hard and gets credit for being his own man in the ring. He and Rodriguez should be an entertaining go.
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