My thoughts on tonight's fights....

[vB Martin]

The Vazquez KD was pure BS. They even picked the replay angle to not fully show what happened.

If you have the fight recorded, go back and watch it in slo-mo.

Vazquez clamps Marquez's left hand to his own shoulder and stand on his left foot to hold him in place while he launches his left hook.
How do I know he did it on purpose? If you look at the original camera angle you can see that Marquez is trying to pull back but can't, but as soon as Vazquez launches the left he lets go of both the arm and the foot so Marquez's own efforts put him off balance just before the punch lands.
It was defintely a stinging shot, but it wouldn't have been so if Vasquez hadn't clamped the arm and stood on the foot.
I noticed it at first and wondered why the Showtime people hadnt picked up on it, then I rewatched to make sure I wasnt seeing things.

Also of note, there was a pretty good shove with the forearm.

[The Surgeon]

What a spectactular night to be a boxing fan. Both HBO and Showtime had a damn good lineup for tonight, but I'd give the edge to Showtime this time around.

SHOWTIME

Darchinyan vs. Burgos

From the outset of the fight it seemed like Victor Burgos didn't have a snowball's chance in hell at upsetting undefeated IBO/IBF Flyweight Champion Vic Darchinyan. Darchinyan's awkward style really seemed to throw Burgos off of whatever gameplan he had devised for the fight. And I thought Burgos had had enough when Darchinyan dropped him in the second round.

However it was not to be as Victor Burgos climbed back to his feet and tried to reposition himself in the fight. There were some decent exchanges where Burgos seemed to get the better of Darchinyan, as far as snap goes. I thought Burgos was repositioning himself and making the adjustments needed to fight Darchinyan on the inside and make it a more even fight.

However that too, was not meant to be. Victor Burgos withstood some serious firepower courtesy of Vic Darchinyan's whipping body blows. And by the end of the 7th round I couldn't possibly fathom why Burgos was still hanging in there, a lesser man would've surely quit on his stool. Burgos' comeback was shortlived as Darchinyan pounded him to the body and head relentlessly all night long, with the referee finally putting a stop to it in the 12th and final round.

There after we were treated to the tragic live feed of Victor Burgos being carried out of the ring on a stretcher. He was so weak and had taken so much damage in the fight, he could not even stand up. He was unresponsive to the E.M.T's commands and was immediately rushed to the nearest Hospital for further evaluation. It was heartbreaking to say the least. For me, as a fan of the sport, and a fan of fighters, I hate it when these things happen.

It was truly tragic to see Victor Burgos carried out on a stretcher after putting up such a game fight and valiant effort against a very tough opponet in Vic Darchinyan. My heart goes out to Victor Burgos and his family and friends. I wish him well and hope for the best....

Marquez vs. Vazquez

Wow, what a fight! Even before this fight took place we knew it was going to be a shoe in candidate for "Fight of the Year". Rafael Marquez started off early, dictating the pace with his quick and powerful combinations up top, rocking Israel Vazquez in both the first and second rounds. Israel Vazquez was able to reverse Marquez's gaining momentum in the third when a big left hook landed up top and rocked Marquez, sending him to the canvas.

At the end of round 3, it was clearly 2 rounds for Marquez and 1 for Vazquez. I caught myself saying "holy ****" on quite a few occasions before the bell even rang to signify the start of the 4th round. When the 4th round started, it was violent back-and-forth, seesaw action that saw both fighters giving as good as they could take. With a slight edge leaning towards Rafael Marquez for his quick, precise punching.

In the 5th it was apparent that Vazquez's nose was seriously injured when Marquez was able to back him off a substantial amount with 2 jabs that snapped Vazquez's head back. Immediately I began thinking of Vazquez's broken nose ala Johnny Gonzalez. Still, Isreal Vazquez showed the heart of a champion and continued to fight through his pain and fire back at Marquez, swinging wildly when Marquez had his back against the ropes.

The 6th rounds was much like the 4th, a lot of rapid fire combinations from Rafael Marquez with relatiation shots being thrown back by Vazquez. The 7th round was again, an action packed round. With the edge once again going to Marquez because of his quick combinations and his straight right hand. In the end of the 7th, Isreal informed his trainer Freddie Roach that he could not longer breathe, and would have to stop fighting.

While it wasn't exactly Castillo/Corrales I, it was about as close as we will ever get. This fight had it all, action, excitement, drama, and an anticipation I haven't felt in a long time. I found myself glued to the action and let several cigarettes burn out in the ashtray simply because I couldn't take my eyes away from the television screen. I, like many, am praying for a rematch on this one. As both fighters have agreed that they would be up for a second fight.

HBO

Miranda vs. Green

This fight was nothing that I expected it to be. I was expecting an all out war because that was what the hype had been built upon. Kinda like an HBO version of Vazquez/Marquez. What we ended up getting was anything but...

The first 7 rounds of the scheduled 10 were actually very boring with very little action going on. Allan Green did not fight like he had said he would, instead he took it upon himself to do as little as possible and coast for as long as he could. Edison Miranda tried on several occasions, unsuccessfully to make it a fight for the first several rounds. Taunting Green on multiple occasions and trying to bait him into exchanging with him.

Round 8 was rather unexpected. Suddenly Allan Green had become a game fighter. I don't know if it's because he knew he was losing or he finally decided to step it up a notch, but out of nowhere Green put Miranda on the canvas with a beautiful left hook. Miranda wasn't down for long as was soon back in the fight. In round 9 Edison Miranda turned up his energy level and began to fight like the Edison Miranda I've come to know and love. he staggred Green pretty badly in the ninth round.

In the 10th and final round, both fighters seemed to be at ease with each other and began to fight a little more than the preceeding rounds. Miranda was chasing a knockout even though he was already winning the fight. Miranda badly rocked Green in the 10th and put him on the canvas for what I was sure to be the knockout. But green found it in himself to get up off the canvas and continue on.

Miranda charged him and threw like a madman, rocking Green badly and again, putting him on the canvas. Surely this was it, the knockout Miranda had wanted. Green again found it in himself to get to his feet, maybe just to spite Miranda because he so badly wanted the knockout. When Green got back to his feet, Miranda ran at him and threw wildly until the bell rang a few seconds later. Edison Miranda had gotten the victory but Allan Green made sure it was not the KO he wanted.

Urkal vs. Cotto

Disappointing fight for me. I expected Miguel Cotto to wreck Oktay Urkal within 6 rounds. No disrespect to Oktay Urkal, he obviously came to fight and I respect the hell out of him but I expected a vintage Cotto performance and what I got was again, anything but....

Cotto easily dominated the first 4 rounds with his relentless body work and power punching skills. Rounds 5 and 6 could've gone either way and Urkal was a very game fighter and started finding his punches more frequently and connecting with Cotto. In round 7 Urkal was deducted a point for headbutting Cotto, which easily frustrated the young Puerto Rican.

Cotto took rounds 8 9 and 10 with his display of power punching and of course, the left hook to the body. In round 11 Oktay Urkal again headbutted Miguel Cotto and was deducted another point, in protest, Urkal's cornerman threw in the towel and the fight was over. A very strange finish to a very lackluster performance.

THOUGHTS ON THE WINNERS

Vic Darchinyan- Darchinyan has carved himself out a spot in the Flyweight division as one of the top 3 guys in the division with this performance. I think a super fight with Jorge Arce is bound to happen, possibly in the Fall, or early next year.

Rafael Marquez- With this exciting performance of technical ability and guts, Rafael Marquez has solidified himself as a shoe-in for anybody's top 10 pound-for-pound list out there. I can't wait to see who Marquez fights next, hopefully it will be a rematch with Israel Vazquez. Because any fight that good in 7 rounds, is worth seeing again.

Edison Miranda- Edison "Pantera" Miranda is slowly but surely carving himself out a solid spot as a top 5 guy in the Middleweight division. I would like to see Miranda perfect his craft a little more over the next year or so. I would definately like to see him fight Kelly Pavlik and move forward for a title showdown with Jermain Taylor.

Miguel Cotto- Miguel Cotto was once regarded as one of the top prospects in the sport. But with his wins over Ricardo Torres and Carlos Quintana, Cotto has solidified his stake as a bonafide star in the sport. The only real drawback to Cotto would be his frustration. We've seen it in the Paulie Malignaggi fight in the early rounds, and again tonight against Oktay Urkal.

Cotto needs to learn to control his frustration and not let it get the better of him or he could end up making a grave mistake in the ring. The body shot will only get him so far, ring smarts will do the rest. I certainly hope he's mentally stronger by the time he faces Zab Judah in June because Judah has all the talent and handspeed in the world to get under Cotto's skin. If paulie Malignaggi could do it, Judah could too.

Cheers for the run down bud!
Didnt get to see **** - Damn UK!