Three Division Champ Ready for Return

Erik Morales one of Mexico’s greatest warriors is ready to hop back into the ring against a stern opponent. Morales promoter contacted ESPN.com to let them know the fight was signed and ready to be announced. The fight will take place in Monterrey, Mexico March 27th and be televised through Pay-Per-View. Erik Morales (48-6, 34 KOs) will be coming off a 2 ½ year lay off the last time he fought was August 2007 against former Lightweight champ David Diaz. Morales is better known for his epic trilogies with Marco Anthony Barrera and Manny Pacquiao. Even though Morales has lost 4 fights in a row and 5 out of his last 6 the one win he has to his credit is 2005 victory against Manny Pacquiao the only win of the trilogy. That is the only loss Manny Pacquiao has had in the last 5 years that says a lot about his skill level at one point of his career. Even though the next 2 fights in the trilogy ended in exciting knockouts Pacman dominated.

I’ve followed Erik Morales for a long time when he was rising through the ranks and when he started dismantling in 2006, 07. I remember watching all three fights in the trilogy against Pacquiao and in the first one he looked good used distance and he had the stamina to go the full 12 rounds. In the next 2 matches Pacquiao absolutely blew Morales out the water he was getting hit and he’s legs looked like spaghetti. He was just over matched he gave up in the 3rd fight sitting on the canvas the referee was counting 10 and Morales just shook his head saying no. When he fought David Diaz he looked strong in the first 4 rounds he even knocked him down early in the fight. As the fight progressed the spaghetti legs returned for Morales as he tired significantly. What I’m getting at is I think Morales still can fight at a high skill level but the question is going to be if he has the stamina to last against a tough opponent. His opponent is former lightweight champion Jose Alfaro (23-5, 20 KOs). He held the belt for 5 months before Anthony DeMarco put a hurting on him and they stopped it in the 10th round. We and the entire boxing world will find out what Erik Morales is coming back with. Is he going to deteriorate like an old Roy Jones Jr.? Or will he have a George Foreman run late in his career? Due to the heavy wars he’s been in with Barrera and Pacquiao the odds point to deterioration but we will find out soon enough.



Written by Vic.P

Heavyweight for Feathers

This Saturday January 23rd Madison Square Garden in New York will be hosting a star-studded event as some of the worlds top featherweights will be fighting. Now you’re probably asking yourself what are featherweights? Featherweight is a division in boxing were a boxer can not exceed the weight limit of 126 lbs. Yes, these guys tend to be smaller in stature but some of the worlds greatest fighters all fought in this division at one point. Fighters like; Manny Pacquiao, Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez, Floyd Mayweather and that’s just to name a few. For years featherweights have gone to war and given the great sport of boxing epic fights. Unfortunately, these fighters tend not to get to much press due to there size. Nonetheless they have always delivered enough to hold as the main event at many venues.
This Saturday is no exception two undefeated fighters put there records on the line. Undefeated Cuban fighter Yuriorkis Gamboa (16-0, 14 KOs) squares up against Tanzanian fighter Rogers Mtagwa (26-13-2, 18 KOs) for the WBA World featherweight title, this makes out to be a slug fest. Gamboa relativity new in the boxing world with only 16 pro fights but he has a heavy right hand that has helped him in knocking out 87.5% of opponents. Mtagwa with double digit loses has been knocked out twice out of the 13 loses even though he’s took his fair share of loses Mtagwa is a tough character. Let’s just say that Mtagwa needs to keep that chin tucked in nice and tight.
In the main event undefeated Puerto Rican knockout artist Juan Manuel Lopez (27-0, 24 KOs) battles the WBO World featherweight champ California bred Steven Luevano (37-1-1, 15 KOs). This on paper makes out to be a more interesting fight than the fight before it. The reason for this is that Lopez has fought the majority of his fights at the Super Bantamweight limit which is 122 lbs. To most people 4 lbs difference isn’t much but in boxing 4 lbs of muscle can make a huge difference. Luevano isn’t a heavy hitter matter of fact he’s only knocked out roughly about 38% of fighters he’s faced. Luevano is a lanky southpaw that likes to box tall meaning he sticks the jab and lands the straight left hand down the middle. Even though Lopez and Luevano have the exact height at 5’7” and the exact reach at 69” their styles differ completely. Those that know boxing well know that style makes fights.

Predictions
Yuriorkis Gamboa (16-0, 14 KOs) VS Rogers Mtagwa (26-13-2, 18 KOs)

Gamboa has too many advantages youth, skill, speed, and power. Even though Mtagwa is a super tough customer I for see a 9th round knockout by the Cuban Gamboa nothing will stop him from getting on the inside. Keep in mind that Mtagwa did last all 12 rounds in his previous fight which was with Juan Manuel Lopez.

Juan Manuel Lopez (27-0, 24 KOs) VS Steven Luevano (37-1-1, 15 KOs)

This one is tougher to predict due to the skill level by both fighters. Luevano is boxer that has to stay on the outside of Lopez use utilize his jab effectively. If not Lopez is going to get on the inside and bang away at Luevano. Im bias when it comes to Luevano just because he’s a California kid but I have to look at styles and technique. It is going to be extremely difficult for Luevano to keep Lopez from the inside. Since both fighters are southpaws it could possibly be a sloppy fight foot work wise. Lopez will be able to get on the inside and bang away at Luevano to get the decision win. Luevano doesn’t have the power to discourage Lopez from getting inside with no problem and Lopez just has a bigger left hook than Luevano.

HAITI QUAKE BERTO PULLS OUT/ MOSLEY VS MAYWEATHER?

Miami born Andre Berto withdrew out of his biggest fight of his career today. The fight was scheduled January 30th against arguably one of the big names this decade Sugar Shane Mosley. Berto (25-0 19KOs) who was born in Miami but has ties through his parents to Haiti said that the stress was too much and caused him to place his focus on the disaster. “I lost several family members to the earthquake and after two days without word, was relieved to learn that my sister, Naomi and her daughter, Jessica survived, but were left homeless,” Andre said in a statement. Berto in the 2004 Olympics boxed for Haiti only by missing the USA team because his parents were born in Haiti.
This fight would’ve been an extremely good bout between two super athletes. This fight for those who didn’t realize was a bout between champions Mosley (46-5 39 KOs) holds the WBA belt in the welterweight division that he took by force from Antonio Margarito at the Staples Center. Berto Holds the WBC belt in the same weight class as Mosley, unification bouts are not too common now but when they come around it’s a major treat. If you have never seen Andre Berto fight then you have been missing out. He creates high excitement with his machine gun style he throws a lot punches with blinding speed and hurtful power. He tends to leave himself open due to the quantity of punches he throws, but that just makes him more appealing to the fans. Do yourself a favor check out Andre Berto skills with this you tube clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2yKJ86035Q you will not be disappointed. Style wise Berto and Mosley are tailor made for each other because they both throw with bad intentions, land with both hands, and punches are delivered with speed and power. We are indeed missing out on a potential fight of the year but the out comes could be greater. By Berto pulling out this opens the door for a fight on a grander scale.
Does Mosley VS Mayweather sound good to anyone? This fight seems to be in the bag because both fighters are promoted by Golden Boy Promotions. Of course Golden Boy would schedule this fight on the same day as the Pacquiao VS Clottey March 13th. No Doubt both bouts will be placed on Pay Per View, so if you’re not a hardcore boxing fan I doubt that you’ll order both, we have a decision to make. I’m going to watch both but if I had to choose it would be Mosley VS Mayweather. Mosley has the hand skills and the experience to put a blemish on Mayweather's record. It’s just more exciting to see an undefeated fighter go to battle. Even though I feel the thrilling fight will be Pacquiao VS Clottey because it’s a certain thing that Clottey will stand in front of Pacquiao as he did against Miguel Cotto so we’ll see how many punches Ghanas pride can take (Clottey). We’re in for some excellent boxing in 2010!

Written by Vic.P

GOOD BOXING IN ONTARIO JAN 22nd!!

“NEW BLOOD” FOR THE NEW YEAR
THOMPSON BOXING’S HIT SERIES RETURNS ON JAN. 22
Tickets for “NEW BLOOD VII”, priced at $75, $45, and $30, are available now and may be purchased by calling 714-935-0900.
In the “New Blood” main event, scheduled for eight rounds in the junior welterweight division, Indio’s Patrick “El Elegante” Lopez (17-2, 11 KOs) hopes to extend his two-fight winning streak in his toughest bout to date when he squares off against two-time world title challenger John “The Eastern Beast” Brown (24-16-2, 11 KOs) of Atlantic City.
A six round lightweight co-feature will see one of the game’s top rising stars, Daniel “Travieso” Hernandez (8-0, 4 KOs) of South Gate, return to action to take on Los Mochis, Mexico veteran Baudel Cardenas (18-19-2, 6 KOs) in what should be an entertaining battle.
Also scheduled for six rounds is a junior welterweight war between Riverside lightweight Hector “Teco” Serrano (10-0, 3 KOs) and Los Mochis’ Cristian Favela (17-23-6, 10 KOs) Serrano is 2-0 since a yearlong layoff, and his career is firmly on the upswing as he prepares for the veteran Favela.
Undefeated Los Angeles featherweight Efrain Esquivias (6-0, 4 KOs) first made a name for himself as a 2006 National Golden Gloves champion. On January 22nd he will look to improve on his perfect pro record in a six rounder against Albuquerque’s Randy Arrellin (2-1, 1 KO).
Riverside’s Alberto Herrera (6-0, 5 KOs) made his pro debut in 2009, he’s been living up to his nickname of “Baby Dynamite”. On January 22nd, he’s back in a junior middleweight six rounder against Boise, Idaho’s equally explosive Hilario Lopez (11-8, 8 KOs).
Opening up the show will be a four round clash of debuting junior welterweights, as Watsonville’s Jonathan Garcia takes on Riverside’s Anthony Reyes.
Bouts subject to change. Doors open at 6:30pm, and the first bell rings at 7:45pm. The Doubletree Hotel is located at 222 North Vineyard Avenue in Ontario. The hotel phone number is 909-937-0900

Mega Fight Fiasco

Ladies and Gentlemen, over the last decade boxing has been treated to epic fights between warriors. Recently to note is the Vasquez Marquez trilogy, or the legendary fight between Castillo and Corrales that took place in 2005. These and various other fights not mentioned are blessings to boxing that the sport desperately needs to regain credibility. Unfortunately, boxing has dug a massive hole that the sport is currently in. Due to sketchy score cards, athletes dodging fights, bad promotion and several other factors that contributed to slow demise of boxing in recent years. When I think of the horrors of boxings dark side I hear The Fugees Killing Me Softly playing in the background. So what can undoubtedly bring boxing out of its awaiting grave? How about a super mega fight between the undisputed Pound for Pound king Manny Pacquiao and former Pound for Pound king undefeated Floyd Mayweather? On paper this fight sounds like it can revive the sport and bring it back to the luster of the 1980s.
Why wouldn’t a fight that can potentially be the biggest fight of the century happen? Why wouldn’t a fight that’s in such high demand by the nation happen? Or a fight where both fighters were guaranteed 30 million dollars? So many questions can be asked but regrettably only one answer exists. The major fight of the century didn’t happen because of one word EGO. Floyd nor Manny could put their egos away during meetings. Both walked in with the, “It’s my way or the highway,” attitudes. Neither one willing to bend or budge. Compromises were said to be made by both camps but each compromise that was offered still favored the camp that proposed the offer. It’s extremely difficult to swallow that neither gladiator understood the magnitude of the fight, or that both fighters didn’t know how in demand this fight was. It was all over the media, each major network placed each movement under a microscope awaiting the verdict. As well as it was plastered all over websites, newspapers, and blogs. The world was discussing this fight and they couldn’t come up with an agreement whether to fight for the fans or the life of boxing? The answer is no, sadly they didn’t even do it for the horrid amount of money each would’ve made from the purse, pay per view, and ticket sales.
The outcome of the mega fight fiasco is one decent fight, one questionable fight on the verge of signing, and one lawsuit. Sounds like an episode of Jerry Springer only difference is that no one is pregnant. The fight between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey scheduled the same day that the Mayweather VS Pacquiao was supposed to happen, should be a decent fight. The Ghana native Clottey is a beast in the welterweight division with strong defense and an iron chin. Joshua Clottey is no chump but he’s squaring up against the destroyer of champions in the form of Manny Pacquiao; so Clottey good luck you’ll need it. Keep in mind that Clottey lost a close hard fight decision to former Champion Miguel Cotto and we all remember what Pacman did to Cotto. Mayweather is on the verge of signing a fight with former unified lightweight champion Nate Campbell. Now Nate Campbell is no slouch but he has NEVER fought outside of 140 lbs. This fight, if signed is suppose to take place at 147 lbs which is the welterweight limit. Money, you owe it to the fans and to boxing to compete with someone that can at least be considered a challenge. Now that the Janurary 30th fight between Andre Berto and Shane Mosley has been Cancelled. Berto has heavy ties to Haiti that has been struck with a massive earthquake. Berto represented Haiti in the Athens Olympics some years ago. This might be the fight Mayweather chooses to sign to compete with Pacquiao and Clottey. How about that, Mayweather vs Mosley and Pacquiao vs Clottey all in one day! As good as that looks on paper and both have the calibur to be amazing fights, they both fall short in comparison to a mega fight between Money Mayweather and Pacman Pacquiao. Until we meet again I’ll be patiently waiting for Money Mayweather and Suga Shane to be official.

Written by Vic. P