Who's Hot, Who's Not; March Edition Vol. 1

By Dr. Peter Edwards

Once again, it's time to drop another edition of Who's Hot and Who's Not. This time, we run through an entire mill of people in the sport of boxing.

Who's Hot

ESPN - Finally a company puts out a pay per view product that is worthy of being bought by any boxing fan. Fans tired of buying garbage pay per views loaded with horrible mismatched undercards and a so-so main event need to check out this show. Four main event caliber matches on one single show. Any one of these bouts can headline a boxing card on any network. In the opening bout, undefeated Calvin Brock takes on his biggest test to date as he faces the dangerous Jameel McCline. This fight will show us if Brock is either a contender or a pretender. If Brock wins and wins big, he could be quickly thrown into the mix for a title shot in a division desperate for a new star. If McCline wins, he will be back in the mix for a title shot himself. The second bout features Shane Mosley in his return to the welterweight division. Shane has not won a fight in quite some time, he picks the crafty David Estrada in a bout that should provide fireworks.

Sensational Juan Diaz will face the never say die Ebo Elder. Elder has had a very nice string of good wins against good opponents and his motivation is at a high level. Diaz should have no problems in this bout, but Ebo does have a puncher's chance. In the main event we have a fight of the year contender. Two men with the ability to knock a guy out with a single shot. Antonio Margarito faces rising star Kermit Cintron. This fight will be a total slugfest because both men don't know how to fight any other way. They love to mix it up and prove their power, one of these men will not see the final round. A huge step up in class for Cintron and a very dangerous fight for Margarito's career. Did I mention that this pay per view is also under $30 dollars? I'm sure everyone reading is tired of paying for $50 dollar stinkers!

JAB - For getting together and fighting to make sure that legendary fight Jack Johnson gets his deserved pardon. The Joint Association of Boxers get together to ask our president to get involved and make sure Johnson gets his pardon.

Miguel Cotto - He almost had a brush with defeat this past Saturday, but he was able to keep his composure and gain another victory. Cotto said that it was first time in his career that he was hurt, but he passed the test with flying colors. It was a learning experience for the young fighter, he fought reckless and learned that you cannot fight reckless against any opponent, regardless of size or skill. Cotto knows that if one of the top 140 pounders were in Corley's place, he may have tasted defeated. I don't think we will ever see Cotto make that same mistakes that he made in Corley.

Who's Not

Chris Byrd - For not excepting a rematch challenge from Wladimir Klitschko. The guy wanted more money and Don King gives him more money, now he refuse to fight in Germany. Byrd can't draw flies to cow dung and Klitschko is still a huge draw in Germany, it makes financial sense to stage the fight there. I don't want to here his pathetic cries arguements of "I'm the champion so I pick the venue." Kostya Tszyu is a prime example of a "real" champion.  Tszyu is facing a very dangerous undefeated Ricky Hatton in the Hatton's own backyard of the UK. Tszyu could of bitched about venue, but he knows that holding the fight in the UK will make it a much bigger event and will provide more money for both men involved. Everyone says Wlad is washed up so Chris should step up and face him like a champion to get revenge for the beating Wlad gave him.

WBO - For appointing a referee who had no idea how to do his job. The way the ref let the fight play out in the Cotto-Corley bout was a disgrace. It smeared Cotto's win, robbed the fans of a great bout and stopped any chance for Corley's to make a comeback. The WBO has rules against appointing a hometown ref in a title fight, but some these ABC belt makers seems to break their own rules all the time.

Fabrice Tiozzo - He stops the returning Dariusz Michalczewski for the first time in his career within 6 rounds. After the fight, he doesnt call out Glen Johnson, he doesnt call out Antonio Tarver, he doesnt call out Virgil Hill, he calls out a retired Roy Jones Jr.! What a poor way for a champion getting a huge win to show the world he wants the best fighters in the division. Tiozzo might as well call out Mike McCallum and Bob Foster too!