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By Dr. Peter Edwards - Every few months, a fighter comes along to capture the imagination of a starving boxing public.
Unfortunately for the sport of boxing, the next big thing usually becomes the next big bust. Or at least that's the usual trend over the last couple of years.
Every now and then, a fighter comes along to break "the next big bust" theory. Could Kelly Pavlik become that fighter? Maybe, or maybe not.
The next big thing is usually a fighter being pushed hard by one of the cable networks like HBO or Showtime. Remember heavyweight "Baby" Joe Mesi? Yeah that guy. After knocking out amateur standout DaVarryl Williamson in a single round in 2003, Mesi was hyped to the moon by HBO. He was dubbed the next heavyweight to make an impact. On the opposite end of the corner was Dominick Guinn. Another heavyweight HBO was pushing big in 2003. The network was showcasing both fighters in order to maneuver them towards an inevitable showdown.
In less than six months, heavyweight contender Monte Barrett exposed both fighters. He nearly derailed the unbeaten record of Joe Mesi by knocking him down and almost taking him out before losing a close ten round majority decision. Several months later, Barrett would not be denied by outhustling Guinn down the stretch of a ten round contest and winning a split decision.
Guinn was never the same fighter, and neither was Mesi. Guinn lost four times since the Barrett meeting and is now viewed by many as nothing more than a capable journeyman. While Mesi is still undefeated to this day, he took bad beating in 2004 at the hands of cruiserweight turned heavyweight, Vassiliy Jirov. Mesi was knocked down three times in the final two rounds of the bout, barely making it out of the final round to win a close decision. Following the Jirov win, MRI tests revealed a subdural hematoma (bleeding on the surface of his brain). He was put on a medical suspension that kept him away from the ring for two years. He returned in 2006, winning six uninspiring straight bouts against no-hopers in the last 13 months. [details]
Unfortunately for the sport of boxing, the next big thing usually becomes the next big bust. Or at least that's the usual trend over the last couple of years.
Every now and then, a fighter comes along to break "the next big bust" theory. Could Kelly Pavlik become that fighter? Maybe, or maybe not.
The next big thing is usually a fighter being pushed hard by one of the cable networks like HBO or Showtime. Remember heavyweight "Baby" Joe Mesi? Yeah that guy. After knocking out amateur standout DaVarryl Williamson in a single round in 2003, Mesi was hyped to the moon by HBO. He was dubbed the next heavyweight to make an impact. On the opposite end of the corner was Dominick Guinn. Another heavyweight HBO was pushing big in 2003. The network was showcasing both fighters in order to maneuver them towards an inevitable showdown.
In less than six months, heavyweight contender Monte Barrett exposed both fighters. He nearly derailed the unbeaten record of Joe Mesi by knocking him down and almost taking him out before losing a close ten round majority decision. Several months later, Barrett would not be denied by outhustling Guinn down the stretch of a ten round contest and winning a split decision.
Guinn was never the same fighter, and neither was Mesi. Guinn lost four times since the Barrett meeting and is now viewed by many as nothing more than a capable journeyman. While Mesi is still undefeated to this day, he took bad beating in 2004 at the hands of cruiserweight turned heavyweight, Vassiliy Jirov. Mesi was knocked down three times in the final two rounds of the bout, barely making it out of the final round to win a close decision. Following the Jirov win, MRI tests revealed a subdural hematoma (bleeding on the surface of his brain). He was put on a medical suspension that kept him away from the ring for two years. He returned in 2006, winning six uninspiring straight bouts against no-hopers in the last 13 months. [details]
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