By Jake Donovan
For a while, it appeared that all we would get this year was "the fight that would save boxing." That fight, or as promoter Bob Arum would say – "business transaction in the ring", set plenty of records, but left many wondering if it was as good as it gets for a sport many claimed was on its deathbed.
Fortunately, the industry responded with an emphatic no.
The rest of the country may not notice, but boxing at the top level has never been so alive as has been the case in 2007. Whereas in past years we were force-fed fights that would lead to fights that would hopefully one day lead to a meaningful fight, the powers that be have cut right to the chase in 2007, staging one significant bout after another in any division with a weight limit.
Saturday night features stateside action loaded with significance - and possible closure - in both the North and South, as HBO and Showtime go head to head with dueling broadcasts. Showtime offers a junior featherweight doubleheader with a championship rematch to one of the year's best fights as Rafael Marquez (37-3, 33KO) defends against former ruler Israel Vazquez (41-4, 30KO).
Some 1,500 miles away, or $45 more out of pocket for those watching from the living room couch, future Hall-of-Famer Erik Morales attempts to turn back the clock and make Mexican boxing history in one fell swoop. His mission: snap a three-fight losing streak, and collect hardware in an unprecedented (amongst fellow Mexican pugilists) fourth weight division, as he travels to not-quite-Chicago and the hometown of not-quite-favorite lightweight David Diaz, himself nearly a year removed from his career-defining (and resurrecting) win, as they throw down in a lightweight battle that could potentially provide the leading challenger for a battle of two more lightweight Diaz' later this year.
As has been the case for four other Saturdays this year, the question becomes: HBO (PPV) or Showtime – which one to watch?
Rather than dictating which one to pick, here are the pros and cons surrounding both cards:
MARQUEZ- VAZQUEZ II (Showtime, Saturday, 9PM ET/PT, Dodge Arena, Hidalgo, TX)
What it means
122 lb. supremacy, much as it did in the first fight. Vazquez entered the first fight as the division's king, coming off of a Fighter of the Year campaign in 2006, following an equally impressive 2005 run capped by title-winning effort in his rubber match against Oscar Larios. Marquez moved up after years of starving himself to make the bantamweight limit, only to leave the division with his most significant moments coming before (pair of wins over Mark "Too Sharp" Johnson in '01 and '02) and during his title-winning effort (knocking out Tim Austin in 2003).
Why you should tune in
- Closure or Redemption: A repeat win for Marquez closes the book on the wouldas, couldas, shouldas of the first fight, which ended with Vazquez rallying in the prior two rounds before giving into a broken nose suffered earlier in the fight, leading to an increased inability to breathe as the bout wore on. The aforementioned is offered as an excuse for Vazquez and his fans, who believed that the tide was turning until the anti-climactic ending came about. What Vazquez hopes to prove is, much like his off-of-the-canvas knockout win over Jhonny Gonzalez last September, he possesses the ability to overcome adversity, even when faced against a man many regard as one of the sport's best punchers, pound-for-pound.
- Can't Miss Action Fight: Their first bout went almost exactly according to script. Those with first hand knowledge of the sport predicted a Fight of the Year candidate; such a pick proved to be spot on. The premature ending came with Marquez, earlier climbing off of the canvas, clinging to a narrow lead on the scorecards. You can count on one hand the number of less than scintillating fights both have been in, in recent memory. Prior to the stoppage loss versus Marquez, Vazquez had won eight straight, six coming by way of stoppage. Marquez hasn't lost in seven years, with only 3 of his 16 bouts lasting the distance over that stretch. They don't come just to win, but to overwhelm.
- Future Challenger on Tap: For years, beanpole super bantamweight Celestino Caballero (26-2, 18KO) has been among the sport's best-kept secrets. Promoters have done their best to shy away from the silky smooth 5"11 southpaw, and for good reason. Daniel Ponce de Leon was exposed as a plodding clubber in their 2005 eliminator, though Caballero did taste the canvas late in the fight. He's presently riding a seven-fight win streak, including back-to-back impressive stoppage wins over Somsak Sithchatchawal and Ricardo Castillo. This weekend, he draws relatively safe touch Jorge Lacierva, who figures to serve as little more than a speed bump in Caballero's road to the top. Factor that into both Marquez' and Vazquez' overwhelming desire to take on all comers, and there's little reason to believe that Caballero doesn't land the winner of the main event in the near future.
Why you should pass
- Once Was Enough: Sometimes no matter how good a fight we witnessed, we don't always need to see it again to figure out what will happen. Marquez was up by two points on two scorecards and even on a third at the time of the stoppage. But the general feeling was, take away the third-round knockdown, and Marquez otherwise dominated. The argument that Vazquez rallied in the 6 th and 7th round is countered by the claim that he fought the way he did out of desperation, and also at the urging of his then-trainer Freddie Roach after complaining of difficulty breathing at the end of the 5 th round. Despite suffering the bout's lone knockdown, Marquez never appeared to be on the verge of getting stopped, and otherwise dominated the first five rounds before Vazquez sensed the end was near and went for broke until forced to submit.
- Those Who Ignore History… In hearing the arguments for why Vazquez figures to fare better in, and possibly even win, the rematch, Marquez supporters can point to their guy's pair of stoppage wins over Silence Mabuza. Marquez came flying out of the gate in the first fight, dominating the first three rounds. Mabuza, who suffered a gash over his right eye which he contended was the result of a headbutt, enjoyed his best round of the fight in the fourth but was forced to call it a night after the gash was deemed to severe to continue. He was given a second chance nine months later; all that occurred was a longer version of the first fight. Given Marquez and Vazquez' styles, very few expect any different of a fight from an action standpoint; why should they expect a different result.
- Too Soon: Vazquez deserves much credit for coming back just five months after suffering such a severe injury. The question, though, is if he's coming back too soon. His former trainer, Freddie Roach, believes so, going on record as to not liking what he's seen from Vazquez in the gym or even in speech patterns, and claiming to want no part of the rematch. Vazquez will enter the ring with veteran trainer Rudy Perez in his corner. Oddly enough, the last time Perez stood across the ring from a Marquez was when his star pupil Marco Antonio Barrera faced, and lost to, Juan Manuel Marquez earlier this year.
DIAZ- MORALES (HBO PPV, Saturday, 9PM ET/PT, Allstate Arena, Rosemont, IL)
What it means
For Diaz, a springboard to superstardom, or at least a chance to prove that he's more than just the third best Diaz in the lightweight division. For Morales, it's one last chance to end a Hall-of-Fame on a high-note; once among the best, and most exciting, fighters of his generation, Morales is in desperate need of a win, having dropped three straight and four of his last five dating back to November 2004.
Why you should tune in
- Rise or Resurrection: Diaz won over the hearts of many in the boxing world after rallying from way down to score a 10th round stoppage over Jose Armando Santa Cruz last August. Diaz' career had been limited to "what if" scenarios prior to the breakthrough performance, with his lone significant bout being a stoppage loss against Kendall Holt eighteen months earlier on ShoBox. A win over the legendary Morales, even the badly faded 2007 model, will give Diaz the necessary shine that has otherwise long eluded a career that probably deserves better. A loss would all but write him off, even with the lightweight division running awfully thin once you get past the Diaz triplets. However, a Diaz loss would mean an improbable comeback for Morales, whose last hurrah was his close but clear decision win over Manny Pacquiao over two years ago. They say every great fighter has one great performance left in him; Morales is determined to prove that this weekend, and not March 2005, is that very moment.
- Can't Miss Action Fight : No, it's not déjà vu all over again. Much as is the case 1,500 miles away on another channel, what we have is a main event between two fighters who simply don't have it in them to fight any other way than balls-to-the-wall. Morales' career speaks for itself; two Fight of the Year performances (both against archrival Marco Antonio Barrera), and many more runner-ups (1 st and 2nd fights against Manny Pacquiao, 2001 versus In Jin Chi; 1999 versus Wayne McCullough; and 1997 title-winning effort against Hall of Famer Daniel Zaragoza). What very few know about Diaz is the circuit he was forced to survive; you don't fight on 8 Count Productions cards in Illinois without being matched tough. Their fight series regularly resemble survival of the fittest tournaments, which helps explain why no other promoter is featured more on Telefutura's Friday night Solo Boxeo series.
- Arum knows PPV: Purchasing any boxing PPV card is always a crapshoot. A fight can look good on paper, only to spend $40-50 on what turns out to be mierda. Legendary promoter Bob Arum is well aware of everything wrong with today's PPV model, and has done something about it: load up the undercard with action fights, and limit the downtime to a bare minimum. Case in point: the Manny Pacquiao-Jorge Solis card earlier this year, and the Miguel Cotto-Zab Judah Fight of the Year candidate this past June. In addition to the main event, you also get a glimpse at two of the sport's best prospects in Juan Manuel Lopez and (yes I said it) Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. in preliminary action. Rather than pondering why this fight comes with a $45 price tag, instead ask yourself the last time a Top Rank PPV did not feature more action than intrigue.
Why you should pass
- More For Less Across the Street : More often than not, it's impossible to justify spending money on one boxing show when there's another for free (with your cable subscription) on another network. Not only is Showtime offering a card for $45 less, but also many will argue that they boast the better and far more significant fight in Marquez-Vazquez II. Whereas Morales is one loss away from retirement, Marquez is among the sport's best fighters in the world; a win and Vazquez is right back in the pound-for-pound mix as well. Regardless of the outcome in their fight, neither Diaz nor Morales can even claim to be the world's best lightweight at the end of the night, never mind among the sport's pound-for-pound best.
- Who You Trying to Fool : Some are looking, or perhaps just hoping, for Morales to turn back the clock one last time. Others who aren't afraid to point out that their Emperor wears no clothes will tell you without hesitation that Morales should've called it a career after folding inside of three rounds in his rubber match against Manny Pacquiao last November. Even if he wins, the suspicion is that Morales's handlers merely found the safest route to title status, and believe David Diaz to be the division's weakest beltholder – and the division's weakest Diaz, for that matter.
- Save up for later : Juan Manuel Marquez-Jorge Barrios. Manny Pacquiao-Marco Antonio Barrera II. Miguel Cotto-Shane Mosley. Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Ricky Hatton. Four upcoming PPV's between now and December 8. This on the heels of the July 21 Bernard Hopkins-Winky Wright PPV (which upwards of 330,000 of us purchased), which followed the June 9 Cotto-Judah card, which followed the May 5 Mayweather-Oscar de la Hoya event… you get the idea. With so many significant bouts coming in the 4 th quarter of the year, why spend now when you can save for later?
So what should you do this weekend? I know where I'll be and what I'll tape. Chances are, there are no wrong decisions no matter what you choose this weekend.
The Good Fortunes Don't Stop Here
It's rare that a single weekend gives you so much to choose from, for those who love action fights anyway. Even better is having the luxury of looking ahead to so much more even after the good fortunes end this weekend.
Due to budget issues, HBO's Boxing After Dark series will undergo a hiatus until November. That's the bad news. The good news – it's going out with a bang, as their August 11 card is among their best in recent memory. Golden Boy Promotions brings their Boxing World Cup to the Network of Champions next weekend, with Mexico squaring off against the Philippines.
Power-punching Daniel Ponce de Leon (31-1, 28KO) squares off against 21-year old undefeated all-action contender Ray Bautista (23-0, 17KO) in a 12-round super bantamweight main event, hot on the heels of Showtime's aforementioned 122 lb. doubleheader this weekend. Ponce de Leon hasn't let a little thing like lack of boxing skills slow him down, having won seven straight since the lone loss of his career to Caballero over two years ago.
His last win, however, was riddled in controversy, as many had his March bout with Gerry Penalosa a hell of a lot closer than did the three judges, with more than a few believing Penalosa did enough to pull off the upset. While the former linear world junior bantamweight champion doesn't get a shot at redemption, he gets a cushy co-feature slot, though no easy draw as he faces brawling Jhonny Gonzalez in what figures to be a classic boxer vs. puncher in their 12-round bantamweight battle.
Boxing After Dark returns in mid-November with a highly intriguing matchup between junior lightweight contenders Joan Guzman and Humberto Soto.
In addition, boxing fans can expect to see the following (barring injuries or other excuses for postponements and/or cancellations):
- August 25 (Top Rank PPV) Hugo Cazares (WORLD 108 LB CHAMP) vs. Ivan Calderon
- September 8 (SHOWTIME PPV) Fernando Vargas vs. Ricardo Mayorga, middleweights
- September 8 (SHOWTIME PPV co-feature) Kermit Cintron vs. Jesse Feliciano, welters
- September 8 (SHOWTIME PPV prelim) Daniel Santos vs. Jose Rivera, junior middles
- September 8 (SHOWTIME PPV prelim) Luis Collazo vs. Sharmba Mitchell, welterweights
- September 15 (HBO PPV) Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Jorge Barrios, junior lightweights
- September 15 (HBO PPV co-feature) Robert Guerrero vs. Rocky Juarez, featherweights
- September 15 (HBO PPV prelim) Francisco Bojado vs. Steve Forbes, junior welterweights
- September 15 (HBO PPV prelim) Sergio Mora vs. Kassim Ouma, middleweights
- September 22 (SHOWTIME) Vitali Klitschko vs. Jameel McCline
- September 29 (HBO WCB) Jermain Taylor (WORLD 160 LB CHAMP) vs. Kelly Pavlik
- September 29 (HBO WCB Co-Feature) Andre Berto vs. David Estrada, welterweights
- October 6 (SHOWTIME) Oleg Maskaev vs. Samuel Peter, heavyweights
- October 6 (HBO PPV) Manny Pacquiao vs. Marco Antonio Barrera, junior lightweights
- October 13 (HBO WCB) Juan Diaz vs. Julio Diaz, lightweights
- October 13 (TBD) Ruslan Chagaev vs. Sultan Ibragimov, heavyweights
- November 3 (TBD) Joe Calzaghe vs. Mikkel Kessler - WORLD 168 LB CHAMPIONSHIP
- November 10 (HBO PPV) Miguel Cotto vs. Shane Mosley, welterweights
- December 8 (HBO PPV) Floyd Mayweather (WORLD 147 LB CHAMP) vs.
Ricky Hatton (WORLD 140 LB. CHAMP)
Boxing's dead? Then I can't wait to see when it's alive and kicking!
Jake Donovan is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He is also licensed as a manager, promoter and judge (ABC certified), and is a member of the Tennessee Boxing Advisory Board. He may be reached for questions and comments at JakeNDaBox@gmail.com .