BoxingScene.com's Television Picks of The Week
Isn’t anyone sick of seeing Mexico versus Puerto Rico yet? Haven’t we seen enough Salvador Sanchez-Wilfredo Gomez’s?
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Cliff Rold
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3,425 stories on BoxingScene are published under the Cliff Rold byline.
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Articles by Cliff Rold: page 221
Jaro’s Monster Upset: Weekend Review, Ratings Update
At opposite ends of the so-called ‘original eight’ weight scale, two dominant figures went to scratch against opponents given little chance of defeating them.
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W. Klitschko vs. Mormeck: The Pre-Fight Report Card
by Cliff Rold - Take nothing for granted. Friday morning, fight fans eyes were opened by a headline few expected. Longtime Flyweight stalwart Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, reigning for the second time as the lineal king of the division, was stopped in six rounds by journeyman Sonny Boy Jaro in six rounds. The 2012 race for Upset of the Year will have more candidates. Jaro-Wonjongkam just opened a massive lead. When signed, the fight had been largely derided as time wasted by a potential Hall of Famer in his twilight. It turned out twilight had already passed him by. It’s an intriguing result when contrasted with what is to come on Saturday. Almost 36, Wladimir Klitschko reigns as the lineal Heavyweight king. Given his age and entering his sixtieth professional contest, Klitschko’s best days may soon be behind him. Across the ring, he has a former Cruiserweight king no one is giving a chance. Can lightning strike twice on the same weekend? Well… Let’s go to the report card.
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Brothers K - The Trouble With Two at Heavyweight
By Cliff Rold - It doesn’t feel true but it probably is. If 39-year old former World Cruiserweight Champion Jean Marc Mormeck (36-4, 22 KO) defeats reigning 35-year old World Heavyweight Champion Wladimir Klitschko (56-3, 49 KO) this Saturday, it’s the biggest Heavyweight upset these eyes have ever seen. Bigger than Douglas-Tyson. Bigger than Rahman-Lewis. Big. It’s so not going to happen. For the last two weeks, fans have been treated to good and better among the big men. Over the last year, with the rise of Tyson Fury, Robert Helenius, Dereck Chisora, and the rise in weight of Marco Huck, Heavyweight has received an infusion of excitement not seen in years. Klitschko-Mormeck doesn’t look like part of that equation. On paper, this is one of the worst Heavyweight championship fights ever made. Ignore Mormeck’s previous accomplishments. They were long enough ago to merit irrelevance in sizing up what’s coming. Mormeck last mattered in 2007, scoring an early knockdown in defense of the 200 lb. crown before succumbing to a knockout at the hands of David Haye. Out of the ring for two years, he returned in 2009 with an eight round decision win. He’s won twice since, both in 2010, by decision against Fres Oquendo and Timur Ibragimov. The latter victory came via split decision. Now, with another year and change of inactivity, he’ll try to cap his career in pursuit of the ultimate crown. It will be head scratching to some that he’s even in this position. Certainly his modest win streak doesn’t scream ‘title shot.’ Unlike Douglas and Rahman, he’s nowhere near his physical prime nor does he boast similar heavyweight credentials coming in.
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BoxingScene.com's Television Picks of the Week
After two strong weeks in the ring, albeit with some head scratching officiating in spots, we get a lull.
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Huck, Broner and Alexander: Review and Ratings Update
Sometimes we get good fights, other times strong performances. Often, it’s a little of both. Fight fans got one, the other, and the in-between on Saturday.
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Devon Alexander, Maidana and The Welterweight Flood
By Cliff Rold - It was only a matter of time. No matter how deep, no matter how exciting, being the best at Jr. Welterweight has rarely carried the cache that comes with owning the scale seven pounds up. When one thinks of Jr. Welterweight, the mind might wander to Nicolino Locche, Aaron Pryor, Julio Cesar Chavez, or Kostya Tszyu. When one ponders the history of Welterweight, the mind lusts for Mickey Walker, Henry Armstrong, Ray Robinson, Emile Griffith, and Ray Leonard. Welterweight wins. And who wants to be a “Jr.” anyways? It’s true even when the field at 140 lbs. is tougher and deeper than its larger counterpart. In recent years, 140 lbs. has been on par with Bantamweight and Super Middleweight in the race for ‘best division in boxing.’ It remains today the rare division with a top ten actually housing ten fighters worth rating. Welterweight has been as top heavy as any class in the game. Lineal World Welterweight Champion Floyd Mayweather (42-0, 26 KO) and titlist Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO) reside there, giving it more cache than any other spot on the scale. The drop from them to Andre Berto (28-1, 22 KO) and Victor Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 KO) is steep. There’s little to get anyone beyond the most devout interested from there. Hardcore fans have had a fulfilling ride at 140 but it’s been a grooming period for the inevitable rise. Heat rises. In boxing, so does talent. A lot of what has made Jr. Welterweight a hot spot is coming to Welterweight. This Saturday night on HBO, two of the best at Jr. Welterweight during its recent run, Marcos Maidana (31-2, 28 KO) and Devon Alexander (22-1, 13 KO), make their serious debuts at Welterweight. Maidana has left the door open for a return to 140. Alexander appears set to stay.
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EPIX Day, B.A.D Night: The Pre-Weekend Report Card
With three big fights, on two separate broadcasts, boxing fans can look forward to a second consecutive weekend of high quality boxing. All three fights feature top ten talents. All three look competitive.
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Jessie Vargas Stays Focused Despite Foul Fest in Vegas
In a bout marked by bent rules and dented cups, 22-year old Welterweight Jessie Vargas (18-0, 9 KO) of Las Vegas, Nevada, remained undefeated with a grueling ten-round unanimous decision win over 36-year old Lanardo Tyner (25-7-2, 15 KO) of Houston, Texas, on Friday night at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Burgos Overcomes Cruz To Win, Perez Shocks Santana
In an entertaining if sometimes awkward clash, 24-year old Jr. Lightweight Juan Carlos Burgos (29-1, 19 KO) of Tijuana, Mexico traded knockdowns with 34-year old citymate and former IBF Featherweight titlist Cristobal Cruz (39-13-2, 23 KO) en route to a unanimous ten-round decision win at the Dover Downs Casino in Dover, Delaware, on Friday night.
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