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This Memorial Day weekend, millions of Americans fired up their backyard barbecues and cooled down by flocking to beaches and swimming pools – routines that indicate the symbolic beginning of summer. But the weather in the United States isn’t the only thing heating up; boxing, too, has its temperature rising in June, with a handful of important or highly-anticipated bouts on the schedule.
Although the solstice isn’t for another three weeks, the sweet science – like the Sun – has been approaching its high point for the past few months. And with June’s four major fights, it can reach its apex, from where the sport hopefully can maintain its momentum, finishing up 2006 in a stronger fashion than the manner in which 2005 fizzled over its own second half.
On June 3, Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo will wrap up their trilogy with its rubber match, completing the most exciting series since Micky Ward and Arturo Gatti went head-to-head while going back-to-back-to-back. Had Corrales not suffered a rib injury in training, the duo would have concluded their in-ring rivalry in February. But instead of fighting three consecutive times like Gatti and Ward, Corrales received some much-needed recuperation time. Meanwhile, Castillo got a relatively easy replacement, staying busy with a unanimous decision over Rolando Reyes.
Now, Corrales and Castillo can set the tone that their peers should have to follow. Like their preceding 14 rounds, violence is guaranteed. Neither man is willing to give an inch, even if changing strategies would help one party to achieve victory. But if the non-stop brawling of the last two fights is to carry over, the one thing that must stay behind is controversy. [details]
Although the solstice isn’t for another three weeks, the sweet science – like the Sun – has been approaching its high point for the past few months. And with June’s four major fights, it can reach its apex, from where the sport hopefully can maintain its momentum, finishing up 2006 in a stronger fashion than the manner in which 2005 fizzled over its own second half.
On June 3, Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo will wrap up their trilogy with its rubber match, completing the most exciting series since Micky Ward and Arturo Gatti went head-to-head while going back-to-back-to-back. Had Corrales not suffered a rib injury in training, the duo would have concluded their in-ring rivalry in February. But instead of fighting three consecutive times like Gatti and Ward, Corrales received some much-needed recuperation time. Meanwhile, Castillo got a relatively easy replacement, staying busy with a unanimous decision over Rolando Reyes.
Now, Corrales and Castillo can set the tone that their peers should have to follow. Like their preceding 14 rounds, violence is guaranteed. Neither man is willing to give an inch, even if changing strategies would help one party to achieve victory. But if the non-stop brawling of the last two fights is to carry over, the one thing that must stay behind is controversy. [details]
and i'd actually like to see more insight from lennox lewis. over-all they are getting better.
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