The Post-Weekend Report

By Cliff Rold

What does it say when a man comes off the floor twice to win a title unification match and it’s least entertaining fight on a Saturday night?

It says it was one hell of a night.

For American fans who could find it, there was of course also Heavyweight action which easily shored up ‘most boring’ honors but given its lack of live domestic broadcast, we’ll treat that one like an addendum to the real events. 

In terms of stakes, it was the unification battle which was the most widely available for viewing in the U.S. and most significant affair of the weekend.  At the end of the night, 25-year old Timothy Bradley (24-0, 11 KO) had his second major victory and belt in tow, coming off the floor twice for the accolades.

Let’s go the report card. 

Grades
Pre-Fight: Speed - Bradley B+; Holt A/Post-Fight: A/A
Pre-Fight: Power - Bradley B-; Holt B/Post-Fight: B-; B+
Pre-Fight: Defense - Bradley B; Holt B/Post-Fight: Same
Pre-Fight: Intangibles - Bradley B; Holt B/Post-Fight: A/C-

Early on, it looked like then-WBO titlist Kendall Holt (25-3, 13 KO) might be leaving with the WBC belt sooner than later.  A perfect, highlight reel left hook whipped Bradley’s head around and shot him to the floor.  Holt pounced to finish the first strong but, showing focus and determination, Bradley got up and over the next few rounds began to outpace an alarmingly docile Holt.  Holt gave up advantage in height and speed, and all but abandoned his jab for long stretches, in search of counter power shots while Bradley steadily worked the body and timed hooks upstairs.  When Holt jabbed and moved his hands, he was effective but for seemingly rounds at a time, he choked up.  Holt’s twelfth round knockdown was more an issue of balance then pain and when the scores were tallied, he fell short in a fight where he’ll always have to ask himself if he could have done more.

Bradley will certainly have chances to do more going forward.  While Holt regroups and hopes for a rematch, Bradley has a fascinating slate in front of him.  With two belts, and title wins over Holt and the avoided Junior Witter, Bradley now has a merit mandate for a shot at lineal World Jr. Welterweight champion Ricky Hatton (45-1, 32 KO). 

What Bradley, who as of late has been a Showtime staple, does not have yet is a market mandate.  To achieve that, he’ll probably have to overcome three impressive foes and the potential of a Golden Boy road block as HBO is used to build Victor Ortiz (24-1, 19 KO), the anticipated next challenger for WBA titlist Andriy Kotelnik (31-2-1, 13 KO).  The Ortiz issue will be worked out beyond Bradley’s reach for now.  The foes he can face will be up to him.

His immediate threat is likely to come in the form of undefeated WBC mandatory Devon Alexander (17-0, 10 KO), who returns April 24th, if he wants to keep both belts.  At ringside on Saturday, former unified Lightweight titlist Nate Campbell (33-5-1, 25 KO) was a visible hint of a fight any serious fan would want to see.  Waiting on the other side, maybe even in front, of Campbell will probably be another mandatory, WBO style, in the form of Lamont Peterson (26-0, 12 KO).  Peterson is currently rated #3 by the organization and faces #2 contender Willy Blain (20-0, 3 KO) on April 25th for an interim WBO title designation.  Peterson should win there and force Bradley to either vacate a title or step to the plate.

Let’s hope it’s the latter and within the 2009 calendar.  Alexander, Campbell, and Peterson would all be deadly serious challenges for Bradley, keep the belts intact and, should he emerge still undefeated from that mix, would make any refusal to face him in 2010 an inexcusable act of cowardice. 

Right now, Bradley can still be dismissed as a question of cash.  He has opportunity by way of minefield to make it more than that.

Lightning Strikes

The myth of Valero is now reality on American shores and, well, it’s not a myth. 

As evidenced in about four minutes on Saturday’s Golden Boy outstanding pay-per-view show, despite a chin which hangs out in the air like a Little League curveball, Venezuela’s Edwin Valero (25-0, 25 KO) can flat crack.  After years of pixilated YouTube clips and presumed overmatched foes abroad, Valero hit Texas and wiped out the respectable Antonio Pitalua (46-4, 40 KO) like he wasn’t even there.  Considering the way Pitalua ran over the former ‘uncrowned World Lightweight champion’ Jose Armando Santa Cruz in his last outing, this was impressive stuff for the vacant WBC belt at 135 lbs.  Add it to Valero’s previous title winning effort, a 2006 knockout of then-WBA Jr. Lightweight titlist, and there is no reason to think Valero isn’t the real deal.

In the wake of the Pitalua win, there is already plenty of speculation amongst fans, press, and pundits about where Valero should go next.  Names like David Diaz or Michael Katsidis seem sensible for this weapon of chin destruction.

Those names are too conservative.

Valero, if the fight can be made, needs to be aimed at lineal World Lightweight Champion Juan Manuel Marquez (50-4-1, 37 KO) right now, right away.  There will be some who scoff given Marquez’s stature, pedigree and ‘pound for pound’ merits.  They will be wrong.  Sure, Valero might get taken to school by Marquez, might get the heavy pocket of air around that chin imploded.

Or he might exploit a Marquez who has previously been vulnerable to southpaws early in fights.  Freddie Norwood and Manny Pacquiao have scored a combined five knockdowns against Marquez within the first three rounds of fights and neither is as big a single shot puncher as Valero appears to be.  Given his flaws, and the years they’ve had to set themselves during Valero’s medically imposed U.S. exile since 2004, it could be hard for the already 27-year old Valero to correct the evident holes in his game.  He might be as good as he’s going to get and, if he is, the best idea is to roll the dice and go for it. 

Valero and Marquez, against Juan Diaz, have both made what should be lasting impressions in front of packed Texas crowds in 2009.  The Longhorn state could certainly pack another house to see them make impressions on each other.  Skip the prelims…let’s get right to this main event.

Povetkin Wins…Good Enough for Now

Away from the focus of American spotlights, IBF mandatory Heavyweight contender Alexander Povetkin (17-0, 12 KO) maintained his undefeated record and position to challenge IBF/WBO titlist Wladimir Klitschko (52-3, 46 KO).  He did so by dominating the second half against 2004 U.S. Olympian Jason Estrada (15-2, 3 KO).

Those are the good things. 

There are other considerations. 

Povetkin has been a pro since June 2005, with 13 of his fights coming in his first two years.  Since June 2007, he has fought only four times.  It’s not the schedule a man presumed by many as the best of the Heavyweight prospects should be keeping; with so few fights and rounds has come little progress or expanded dimension in his game.  Those are ingredients he may need considering the size and experience advantages of Klitschko.

The lack of activity also seems to be affecting his physical tools.  For the Estrada fight, he was just shy of 230 lbs. at a career high of 229 ¾.  His already doughy physique was looser than usual.  For ten rounds, he outworked his foe, but he looked slower than usual doing it.

It’s no news to anyone, but there is an epidemic of Heavyweights in this era that just can’t help being half ass.  It’s pathetic that “they are always in great shape” is held up as a strong attribute for the Klitschko’s or former Cruiserweight champ David Haye.  Considering the six and seven figure paydays Heavyweights command, being in shape should be an afterthought.  When fans are discussing who will beat who, they shouldn’t have to waste time with the if of “if he doesn’t show up like a slob.”

They do too often.  The battle of the guts, those on the outside instead of the intangible ones, a couple weeks ago between contenders Sam Peter and Eddie Chambers was ample evidence.

Pun intended.

To his credit, Povetkin was far short of a slob on Saturday.  A few pounds off his best weight, in his first fight since last July, is understandable but still not what anyone should want to see from someone with the promise of Povetkin. 

There is genuine excitement brewing about Wladimir’s summer showdown with Haye, perhaps as much anticipation as any fight at the top of the scale since the retirement of Lennox Lewis.  It says at least a little something that both men are known to do the work not just to win but to prepare to win.  When more of their division mate’s join them, this might become a weight class worth caring about for more than a night again.    

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