WEEKEND FIGHT PREVIEWS & OTHER BOXING THOUGHTS
Posted on | August 27, 2009 | No Comments
By: Patrick McElligott
TODAY – at Los Angeles (Versus) – 8 rounds, bantamweights: Abner Mares (18-0, 11 KOs) vs. Carlos Fulgencio (11-2-1, 7 KOs); 6 rounds, lightweights: David Rodela (13-1-2, 6 KOs) vs. Gamalier Rodriguez (8-1-2, 4 KOs).
FRIDAY – at Hollywood, Florida (ESPN2) – 12 rounds, IBF junior welterweight title: Juan Urango (21-2-1, 16 KOs) vs. Randall Bailey (39-6, 35 KOs); 12 rounds, vacant IBF light heavyweight title: Tavoris Cloud (19-0, 18 KOs) vs. Clinton Woods (42-4-1, 24 KOs).
This is an interesting week in the sport of boxing. Before taking a look at two televised cards, there is some news about past fights that is worth looking at.
On Monday, the California State Athletic Commission ruled that the August 1st Timothy Bradley – Nate Campbell fight should be ruled a “no contest.” This ruling, while correct, does not change the public perception that Campbell was taking advantage of the rules, to avoid the certain defeat he was facing. Thus, while “no contest” is the proper ruling, the boxing world recognizes that the fight was indeed “no contest,” and that Nate choose a fancy way to quit.
Another interesting “public perception” has to do with the boxing community’s view of the decision in last weekend’s Paul Malignaggi – Juan Diaz fight. No one questions Diaz’s talent or heart. But the officials’ decision had little, if anything, to do with the action in the ring. Rather, it was evidence of the crooked unfunny business that takes place outside of the ring, between the promoters and officials.
The fans know what they saw. And, just as in the Bradley – Campbell fight, that includes knowing which fighter won, despite the “official verdict” that will be found on the fighters’ records.
I think that Malignaggi should consider a long-term approach to his career, that would involve fighting for a while in more “local” avenues – for example, headlining a few Pugnacious Promotions cards in the Albany area. Though they would result in less pay than traveling to fighters like Diaz’s home towns, he could build his career up again, rather than becoming a journeyman opponent.
Versus will be featuring the third “Fight Night Club” card at the Club Nokia in LA tonight at 9 pm est. This card will showcase a couple of the most exciting young west coast contenders in the co-featured main events. This series of fight cards adds a great deal to boxing, allowing sports fans the opportunity to see how the best young prospects are brought along at this stage of their careers. This should help grow the interest of the more casual boxing fans, and it definitely is appreciated by the serious fans.
ESPN will carry their season final on Friday, with an explosive card. The light heavyweight bout is for the vacant IBF title. While Chad Dawson is definitely the real champion, the winner of this fight should be ready to challenge for his title (no matter who holds it) in 2010. Tavoris Cloud is an exciting fighter, with very impressive speed and power in both hands. Clinton Woods is an experienced veteran, who will look to take Cloud into the deep water of the later rounds. There are, of course, dangerous risks involved in trying to slow the pace with a puncher like Cloud in the early rounds.
The IBF junior welterweight title fight features two of the most aggressive fighters in the sport today. Champion Juan Urango is extremely strong, and knows how to use this strength to his best advantage. Randall Bailey has one-punch knockout power, and tends to have a quicker, straighter delivery system. Urango will attempt to use his strength to keep Bailey off-balance, and to wear him down with solid body punches. Bailey will be looking to punch inside Urango’s wider shots.
Either of these fights would be a “must see” for boxing fans, worthy of main event status. That ESPN is providing us with both fights on a single card shows how important Teddy Atlas’s work to bring a higher quality of competitive fights has been.
One last suggestion: don’t take your eyes off the television during the rounds of either the Versus or ESPN cards. Any one of these fights could end in the split-second it takes for a knockout blow to connect. And it’s always that punch that you don’t see coming that gets you!
Enjoy the fights!