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By Jake Donovan - Everything about James Kirkland’s 2011 campaign was a comeback.
The year first began as a return to the ring for the first time since 2009, with Kirkland spending time in prison after getting popped on a weapons charge, a violation of the terms of his probation from a prior sentence. Two wins over tomato can-level opposition paved the way for a high profile pay-per-view undercard appearance on a show topped by Marcos Maidana’s gutsy points win over Erik Morales.
About an hour or so before Maidana and Morales would wage war in an event that figures to be mentioned in Fight of the Year discussion, Kirkland found himself on the wrong end of another award “winning” moment. Lightly regarded journeyman Nohubiro Ishida was brought in as cannon fodder, but caught an ill-prepared Kirkland at the right time in the fight and his career, drilling the Texan early en route to a shocking three-knockdown first round stoppage for the first and – to date – only loss of his career.
The bout was Kirkland’s third in the span of just over a month, but it appeared as if the comeback was all but done. Sure there would be work to be found for the 27-year old southpaw, but any discussion surrounding his potentially returning to contention would be dismissed as nonsense.
That was, until Kirkland swallowed his pride and took note of what – and more specifically, who - was missing in his career. [Click Here To Read More]
The year first began as a return to the ring for the first time since 2009, with Kirkland spending time in prison after getting popped on a weapons charge, a violation of the terms of his probation from a prior sentence. Two wins over tomato can-level opposition paved the way for a high profile pay-per-view undercard appearance on a show topped by Marcos Maidana’s gutsy points win over Erik Morales.
About an hour or so before Maidana and Morales would wage war in an event that figures to be mentioned in Fight of the Year discussion, Kirkland found himself on the wrong end of another award “winning” moment. Lightly regarded journeyman Nohubiro Ishida was brought in as cannon fodder, but caught an ill-prepared Kirkland at the right time in the fight and his career, drilling the Texan early en route to a shocking three-knockdown first round stoppage for the first and – to date – only loss of his career.
The bout was Kirkland’s third in the span of just over a month, but it appeared as if the comeback was all but done. Sure there would be work to be found for the 27-year old southpaw, but any discussion surrounding his potentially returning to contention would be dismissed as nonsense.
That was, until Kirkland swallowed his pride and took note of what – and more specifically, who - was missing in his career. [Click Here To Read More]
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