The Baby Bull is Back.  After setting up a network of successful businesses in his hometown of Houston the call to Boxing got its pickup when Juan Diaz announced his comeback earlier this year.  He will be fighting Pipino Cuevas Jr. this Saturday, April 13, 2013 at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.  It’s a warm up fight for Diaz as he plans on fighting 4 times this year.  Cuevas is a hard puncher, but nothing more.  He has lost 4 of his last 6 and 7 of his last 10.  The only thing Cuevas has going for him is his in ring activity.  He fought 3 times in 2012 with his last outing a KO defeat in November of 2012.  Diaz on the other hand last fought in 2010, a wide points margin defeat to the Mexican Legend Juan Manuel Marquez.  Diaz has also lost 4 of his last 6.  Looking to rebound back to his glory days, the Former undisputed lightweight champion is going to gauge his performance against Cuevas to see how much farther he has to go in order to begin facing the elite in the weight.  The Baby Bull is back. 

Juan Diaz:

AGE: 29

HEIGHT: 5’6” 168cm

REACH: 67” 170cm

STANCE: Orthodox

WEIGHT CLASS: Lightweight

RECORD: 35-4 (17KOs)

KO %:  43.59%

LAST 5 BOUTS: 2-3 (0 KO)


Pipino Cuevas

AGE: 33

HEIGHT: 5’6” 168cm

STANCE: Orthodox

WEIGH CLASS: Lightweight

RECORD: 16-9 (14KOs)

KO %:  56%

LAST 5 BOUTS: 2-3 (2KO)

THE INTERESTING 3

*Both Juan Diaz and Pipino Cuevas are 2-3 in their last 5 fights.  The quality of opposition Juan faced was significantly tougher than Cuevas.

*In the 2 wins Juan Diaz scored in his last 5 fights, 1 was a controversial decision vs  Paulie Malignaggie (who now holds a welterweight title) and the other was a hard earned split decision vs Michael Katsidis back in 2008.

* Pipino Cuevas on the other hand knocked out his opponents within 3 rounds of his 2 victories.

 
This exciting card is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Leija & Battah Promotions and sponsored by Corona. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. PT on fight night and the first bell rings at 7:00 p.m. PT.

 Tickets priced at $161, $152, $102, $47, $22 and $17 are available for purchase by calling Leija & Battah Promotions at 210-979-3302 or via email at , at the American Bank Center Box Office, H-E-B Ticketmaster Outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at (800) 745-3000. 

The television broadcast is presented by  FOX SPORTS NETWORKS, FOX DEPORTES & FUEL TV

Boxing Buzz:  After a career defining win vs Manny Pacquiao, Timothy Bradley is fighting a relative unknown in Ruslan Provodnikov.  Provodnikov is a come forward fighter who always delivers entertainment and, regardless of what the vegas odds are, is a real threat to Timothy Bradley and his undefeated record.  By all accounts, Bradley has fought and beaten the better competition, but this is definitely a high risk low reward fight for him.  I expect fireworks from the opening bell.  Below are the tangibles;


Timothy Bradley:

AGE: 29

HEIGHT: 5’6” 168cm

REACH: 69” 175cm

STANCE: Orthodox

WEIGH IN: 146.6

RECORD: 29-0 (12KOS)

KO %:  40%

LAST 5 BOUTS: 5-0 (1KO)


Ruslan Provodnikov

AGE: 29

HEIGHT: 5’6” 168cm

STANCE: Orthodox

WEIGH IN: 146.6

RECORD: 22-1 (15KOS)

KO %:  65.2%

LAST 5 BOUTS: 5-0 (4KO)

The Interesting 3:

1.     Provodnikov has knocked out 4 of his last 5 opponents, he is coming into the fight with a wave of momentum and Freddie Roach in his corner wanting to avenge the Pacquiao defeat

2.    Timothy Bradley received numerous death threats after defeating Manny Pacquiao

3.    After selling out the MGM Grand in his last fight, Timothy Bradley will be fighting in the Home Depot Center in Carson California, a significant downgrade in opponent and venue.

On Saturday April 20th, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez will face Austin Trout  in a Super Welterweight unification bout.  Both men will put their Championship Titles on the line as they battle for Super Welterweight supremacy.

 The Press Tour begins Wednesday, March 13 at the site of the future battle, in the Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas. 

Details of the press tour are below

Canelo vs. Trout 3-City All-Texas Press Tour Details

Wednesday, March 13

• SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS
• 2:00 p.m. Central Time   Alamodome (Arena Floor)
• 100 Montana St.
• San Antonio, TX 78205

Thursday, March 14

• HOUSTON, TEXAS
• 11:00 a.m. Central Time  
• Plaza Americas Mall - Lower Level Stage Area (Inside)
• 7500 Bellaire Blvd.
• Houston, TX 77036

MCALLEN, TEXAS

• 3:30 p.m. Central Time  
• McAllen Convention Center
• 700 Convention Center Blvd.
• McAllen, TX 78501

Canelo vs Trout, a 12-round WBC and WBA Super Welterweight World Championship Unification fight, is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, Canelo Promotions, Leija-Battah Promotions and sponsored by Corona and AT&T. The fight will air live on SHOWTIME.  Tickets priced at $300, $150, $100, $50, $25 and $10, plus applicable taxes, fees and services charges go on sale on Wednesday, March 13 at 2:00 p.m. Central Time and will be available for purchase at the Alamodome box office as well as TicketMaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling (800) 745-3000.

1.    As was first reported here on 22 September 2012, Leija-Battah Promotions are doing big things for Boxing in San Antonio.  They just landed one of the biggest fights for 2013 with Canelo vs Trout on April 20th  .  You can best believe there is something even bigger in the works.  Best of luck to the Leija-Battah team! #CaneloTrout

2.  “…if he dies, he dies” –Robert Garcia talking to newly minted IBF Champion,The Mexican Russian, Evgeny Gradovich.   I don’t see a rematch going any better for Billy Dib.  http://www.boxingscene.com/-mexican-russian-shines-through-foxwoods--62931

3.    I was sitting ringside when Omar Figueroroa knocked the soul out of Henry Aurad.  This was another event from Leija-Battah Promotions that exceeded expectations.  Keep a look out for the kid, Omar Figueroroa is the real deal at 140.  Watch his KO of Aurad here -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sApttK3huOs

4.    Mayweather vs Guerrero is heating up.  The first promotional faceoff with Showtime was just an appetizer for things to come.  Watch the video here -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fih0CAIKBXo

5.    Speaking of Mayweather, the perception is that he disrespected K9 Bundrage’s wife at K9's Championship fight vs Ishe Smith.  He was supposedly dancing on her and saying disrespectful things towards this woman.  A picture speaks a thousand words ->

6.    Bernard Hopkins is looking to defeat not only Tavoris Cloud this weekend, but also establish a new record by winning another Championship Belt at Light Heavyweight at the age of 48.  It is a record he previously established a couple of years ago by defeating Jean Pascal.  Bernard Hopkins is doing the unprecedented and defying age.  I find that inspirational.  Read more here ->http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mma/news/20130308/bernard-hopkins-48-tavoris-cloud/

7.    I would definitely watch the fifth fight of Pacquiao vs Marquez, if it gets made.  As a matter of fact, if I were match maker, the Pac Mans next three fights should be Marquez, Tim Bradley, and finally Floyd Mayweather.  Wishful Thinking.

8.    Adrien Broner may get his wish in his next fight, he has been clamoring for a fight vs Ricky Burns of the UK for a few years now.  Following Burns recent split with Frank Warren and his title unification cancellation with Miguel Vasquez, Burns was confronted by Golden Boy Promotions to do “business” as reported by BadLeftHook.com Read more about that, here ->  http://www.badlefthook.com/2013/3/8/4078352/ricky-burns-approached-by-golden-boy-following-split-warren-boxing-news

P.S.  Even if the Burns/Broner fight falls through, there is also talk about pitting Broner against 147lb Champion, Paulie Malignaggi.  This would require Broner to move up 2 weigh classes.  Pauilie seemed interested in the fight…..

Adrien Broner came onto the professional scene with an amateur record of 300 wins and only 19 losses.  His first 5 professional bouts came by way of knockout.  To date, his record is 26 wins, 22 knockouts and 0 defeats.  Immensely talented, and by his own admission, “…young, fly and flashy…” Adrien Broner is a force to be reckoned with.  He is currently rated as the #1 Lightweight in the world.  His demolition of Gavin Reese on the headline of HBO’s Boxing after dark is a testament to his abilities.  “The Problem”, his in ring moniker, has grabbed boxing’s attention for the moment. HBO has been giving him significant airtime to showcase his abilities, an investment to ultimately take the place of Floyd Mayweather once he departs the scene. Broner has handled almost every challenge placed in front of him with relative ease (sans Ponce De Leon) and seems to be living up to the hype placed upon him.   Broner has been clamoring for a fight with fellow Lightweight Champion Ricky Burns for a few years now (Burns is currently scheduled to fight Miguel Vasquez) and if he does not secure it, has stated he very well make a move to 140lbs.  At 140 is where the Ballad gets interesting.  Currently,

 Broner has had the advantage in size, strength and speed in most of his fights (at 135 or below).  A move to 140 will even the playing field so to speak.  The warriors at 140 are hungry, strong and have more “big fight” experience than Broner.  It will be interesting to see how he handles the move.  Will his handlers have him fight a lower level unranked fighter to test the waters, like a Soto?  Or will Broner go straight into the lions den of  Rios, Maltthsee, Garcia, Alvarado, Marquez and Khan?  Any of those fights would be barn burners and become more of a reality with the lions  share of those fighters fighting with Golden Boy.  How would he handle the power and determination of Maltthsee?  Would he be able to adjust to the speed and boxing ability of Amir Khan?  Will he succumb to the pressure  of a relentless Brandon Rios?  What would happen when he eats a pin point counter by Juan Manuel Marquez?  Will his handlers even let him step into the ring with any of those fighters? 

The ballad of Adrien Broner is not so much in his immense talents or self promotion, it is more in the potential of what Broner can be, and what he is not.  We see more than 50 shades of Mayweather in Broner, Floyd being Broners biggest inspiration, the way he talks and acts is almost as if he took all of Mayweathers most divisive one liners and amplified them.  We see what he can be, but we do not truly see what he is.  He only lets us see what he wants us to see.  But there are no denying the facts, outside of the ring he has a growing entourage, multiple children by multiple mothers.  He once Tweeted a picture of him on a toilet eating a Twinkie and then failing to make weight for his upcoming fight.  Broner also, on a nationally televised event, managed to embarrass a young woman and mock Vicente Escobendo in the same act of asking a young woman in his entourage to not marry him, but rather brush his hair (in a previous fight Escobendo had asked his longtime girlfriend to marry him in the ring).  Following in the footsteps of his idol Mayweather, Broner not only walks into the ring with a rapper, but also rapping his own songs.  It is hard to tell where the Mayweather act finishes and the Broner piece picks up.  Regardless, his antics are holding back his fan base.  It will be hard for the American Public to truly embrace such a polarizing figure.  He calls himself the missing piece of Boxing, the Savior of Boxing, Mr. HBO..... 

To truly capitalize on the product that is  Broner,  Golden Boy must do some change management and Public Relations training on his package.  Although he was impressive in a win against Reese, the showing at the gate was far from.  As uniquely talented as he is, will the American Public pay to see Broner?  Will they shed hard earned dollars, especially when Broner is an 80-1 over?  It is interested to see how Golden Boy will meet that challenge, especially with the departure of Mayweather in the next few years.  The answer is more than infusing dollars into the situation.  He needs to make a connection to the American People.  I believe the connection is with his past.  A  lot of people do not realize he has a twin brother, and grew up in crime on the streets of Cincinnati.  When talking of his past, as a kid, Broner's boxing career oftentimes took a backseat to his activities on the streets of Cincinnati. "I did everything you can name," Broner says, "but when I got in trouble the last time, my mom told me, 'You can't be king of the streets and king of the ring, you gotta pick one.' I had to make a choice. I chose the ring."   A lot of people he grew up with, his friends, family, are dead or in jail…. The true Ballad of Broner is a song of overcoming, of redemption, of pride and of embarrassment….of people telling him he couldn’t do it…that he was too small, too slow, that he is a cry baby (Ra’shee Warren beat him to tears).  Adrien Broner doesn’t act like this because he wants to…he acts in this manner because he believes you made him what he is.  He made it this far, his way, so why should he change now.  He embraces the bad guy role more than Mayweather…and it is in that effect he will become his own element.  He wants you to root against him; you have been doing it his whole life.  It motivates him.  Broner is the bad guy.  And in the words from the most famous bad guy you have ever rooted for here is  Tony Montana in a conversation with Manny;

Tony Montana: Me, I want what's coming to me.
Manny: Oh, well... what's coming to you?
Tony Montana: The world, Chico, and everything in it.

The Standing 8 Count

1.    Golden Boy vs Top Rank….the feuding is hurting the sport guys…

2.    One of the best Boxing Blogs out there, please check them out -> http://www.badculture.net/

3.    Figueroa vs. Aurad is presented by Golden Boy Promotions and Leija & Battah Promotions and sponsored by Corona on March 2nd  http://www.eastsideboxing.com/2013/omar-figueroa-vs-henry-aurad-on-march-2nd-from-san-antonio-on-fox-sports-networks-fox-deported-fuel-tv/

4.    Amir Khan may be fighting in April in England, opponent has yet to be named, but the word from the grapevine is that it will be a tune up for a possible Championship fight in the fall

5.    Michelle Rosado….She is doing big things in the boxing world, if you don’t know who she is….you better ask somebody -> http://ragingbabe.com/

6.    Danny Garcia vs Zab Judah….did he really have an injury to postpone the fight?  I wouldn’t be surprised if Zab squeaks away with a win….a lot of people forgot Zab did decision Malttysee…

7.    A good change management plan for Broner would be to focus an agenda with Broner giving back to the community in a humble, relatable manner…..

8.    The Ink Dolls of San Antonio, get to know them and their agenda here ->www.theInkDolls.com

2013 has already started in explosive fashion.  The one punch knock-out Walter Matthysee administered to Mike Dallas Jr obviously is in the running for KO of the year.   Dallas Jr started fast, double jabbing the slower Matthysee to keep him at bay.  It was obvious within the first minute his game plan was to keep Matthysee on the outside and Mattysee realized this.  Within the final minute of the first round, Matthysee threw a straight right on top of the first jab and put Dallas Jr to sleep before he hit the canvas.  Matthysee will always have trouble with the quicker boxer, but he is smart enough to know when to counter and how to time his punches.  This, coupled with his KO power has elevated him to the upper echelon of the 140 lb division and a stake on the claim as the most avoided man in boxing.  Currently Matthysee is campaigning for a fight with current WBA and WBC Champion Danny Garcia, which I feel he deserves……. but Danny Garcia is slated to fight Zab “Super” Judah at the Barclays center in April and he is not guaranteed a win (Zab also has a win over Matthysee).  Regardless, it looks like it will be a great year for boxing.  Floyd Mayweather is scheduled to fight twice and as of now, no opponent has been named.  Pacquiao and Marquez will get it on for the fifth time, possibly in Mexico.  Tim Bradley is coming out of hiding soon.  Emerging stars like Broner, Mikey Garcia and Canelo Alvarez are looking to solidify their soon to be Mega Star status.  Then we have the wild cards, where the only thing to expect is drama also fighting this year, Amir Khan, Victor Ortiz, and JuanMa.  Boxing is on the upswing and hopefully the promoters can put the best product (fights) for the consumers (fans). There is no other sport in the world where the absolute goal is to administer a concussive event on the opposition. 

That brings me to my next topic, as boxing fans we see the “KnockOut” as the bases loaded home run, the 21 point touchdown all for our enjoyment, but it comes as a grave consequence to the person on the receiving end.  With the increasing awareness of CTE (Chronic traumatic encephalopathy) in Football players and the link to bizarre behavior and suicides, what is the Boxing community doing to help protect our boxing warriors?  Who is going to step up and take the lead? The boxing commisions? The sanctioning bodies? Or even the promotional companies, regardless, as an organization there are many changes that need to be implemented in boxing in order to protect our fellow human being.  We know through documented cases that CTE is predominately caused by repeated blows to the head.  It literally kills brain tissue and is a potential factor in early onset alzheimers, Lou Gherigs Disease/Syndrome and dementia.  I don’t know what the answer is, but I know that we can not ignore it any longer.  We as humans are very resilient in the amount of punishment  we can take, history has proven that.  That does not mean we should allow our fellow human absorb punishment for our enjoyment and forget about the lasting effects boxing creates.  CTE is deadly and you can read more about some famous athletes who have died because of this preventable disease right here -> http://keepingscore.blogs.time.com/2013/01/24/cte-detected-in-living-ex-nfl-players-junior-seaus-family-sues-what-now-for-football-and-concussions/

Here is a video on CTE as it relates to boxing and MMA -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE9YwXgWou0

Dark spots show tau protein – which is found in the brains of dementia sufferers

·         Left: Brain of a normal 65-year-old

·         Middle: Brain of a 45-year-old American football player with CTE

·         Right: Brain of a 73-year-old former world boxing champion with CTE

The Standing 8 Count:

1.    2012 KO of the Year: Juan Manuel Marquez KO over Manny Pacquiao

2.    2012 Round of The Year: Orlando Salido vs Juan Manuel Lopez RND 9

3.    2012 Fight of The Year: Mike Alvarado vs Brandon Rios

4.    2012 Upset of the Year: Timothy Bradley DEC over Manny Pacquiao

5.    2012 Fighter of the Year: Nonito Donaire

6.    2012 Beast Mode Fighter: Adrian “The Problem” Broner

7.    I see Zab Judah giving Danny Garcia problems in their rescheduled fight….

8.    CTE is a serious problem that needs to be addressed.  Right now there is no definitive answer, but the first step to solving any problem, is acknowledging there is a problem….a short CTE Video -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE9YwXgWou0

I remember waking up to the smell of sizzling bacon one morning, walking to the breakfast table I glance over and say good morning to my Mom, who in all recollection smiles and asks in Spanish, "How did you sleep?" Of course I replied in English, "…it was good Ma". She served me a plate of the most delicious migas, bacon and orange juice. As I dig in I remember what I should have told her the day prior, something that would go on to eventually change and mold me for the rest of my life "Oh, Ma, guess what I did yesterday?" – "What mijo?" I smiled and replied… "I joined the Army." The crashing of pans is the next thing I heard, I turned and saw my Mother with the most distressed look, an uneasiness came over me. "Can you take it back?" my Mother whispered…. on June 24 I left for basic, only a few weeks out of high school. June 25th was my Mother’s birthday.

I would go on to travel the world, see foreign places like Yugoslavia, Kosovo, Pristina and Kuwait. Meet amazing people and learn about culture and religion from friends and mentors in Germany and Ireland. I learned what it feels like to be shot at and bombed in Iraq, jump out of airplanes in Georgia and feel the secrecy of being assigned to the Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense and all their underground bunkers and experiments. I’ve jumped in the water on both coasts and have come to learn what it means to be an American. I’ve seen the faces of those who wish to be us, to be born in our shoes and lay foot on our land only for the mere reason of having a choice…and a chance. To be able to choose a destiny where the possibilities are limitless. We as a people won’t ever know what it feels like to be oppressed. We owe that to our founding fathers who had a vision of an exceptional country.

As the English writer G. K. Chesterton famously observed, "America is the only nation in the world that is founded on a creed." That creed is set forth most clearly in the Declaration of Independence, by which the American colonies announced their separation from Great Britain. The Declaration is a timeless statement of inherent rights, the proper purposes of government, and the limits on political authority.

America is an exceptional nation, but not because of what it has achieved or accomplished. America is exceptional because, unlike any other nation, it is dedicated to the principles of human liberty, grounded on the truths that all men are created equal and endowed with equal rights. These permanent truths are "applicable to all men and all times," as Abraham Lincoln once said.

In an election year, whether you had Obama or Romney winning the debates, we must pay homage to those who have lost their lives to grant us the opportunity to do something that was almost not a reality. The opportunity to Vote.

Judging In Boxing

Judging the debates is all about perception and pre conceived notions. A lot of people had one or the other winning even before the debates got going and it didn’t matter who did what, they were going to find a reason to have their guy win. It is only human to do so. So on a smaller scale, the same thing happens in boxing. I am not saying judging in boxing is corrupt, but what I am saying is that when you leave interpretation up to humans, you will always be fighting battles with pre-conceived notions and self fulfilling prophecy. I don’t think there will ever be a way to eliminate that (human error), unless you go with a fully automated scoring system (which I disapprove of whole heartedly) but I think you can deter that somewhat by having judges, old and new go to a semi-annual "judging" seminar. There judges of all ages can get together and share ideas on what and how to score. It is unfair to stack certain judges of a particular style on a card for a particular fighter. Judging should be fair around the board, whether the contest is in New Jersey or Texas. The right person should win every time, that is what we pay for. We are in 2012 and we are still using archaic rules and systems. Boxing also needs to incorporate technology like slow motion replay for potential head butts or low blows, a more specific punch count system, and an across the board drug testing system that’s tests for performance enhancing drugs. Ok, enough on that, I can go on for days and will address in another article…….

Mayweather vs Pacquiao

Yes the fight itself has lost steam. Yes it is not as lucrative as it once was. Yes they are getting up in years and yes Manny is fighting Marquez in DEC.... but the fight vs Mayweather still needs to happen. Why you ask? Well, 3 reasons actually;

1.  Legacy. Although both fighters will not be ultimately defined by this fight, but both fighters will be judged on how they fought this fight.

2.  History. Regardless of what type of boxing fan you are, it appeals to all. This fight has the potential to not only break records, but shatter them completely. This bout is too big to not happen.

3.  The Fans. At the end of the day, we made Manny and Floyd superstars. We made them multi-millionaires. We gave them the mansions and fame. Without us, there would be no them. It is owed to the fan, a simple thank you, that will make all the PPV’s worth it.

Emmanuel Steward's passing was a shock to many. He is someone that actually pushed the entire sport of boxing to a new level. I will never forget his commentary, "This fight is going exactly how I thought it would…" His training style was fundamental in essence, with the jab and footwork as the foundation. He has changed lives for the better and can honestly say that he has and will continue to make this world a better place. You will be greatly missed Mr. Steward, and your contributions will never be forgotten.

The Standing 8 Count

1.  Broner vs Demarco 17NOV2012 – Demarco has always had trouble with quick fighters, as he was stopped by Valero and losing convincingly vs Linares before stopping him…..Broner sounds more confident than cocky, shot out to Bad Left Hook for the article here  http://www.badlefthook.com/2012/10/3/3452596/broner-vs-demarco-adrien-broner-hard-being-black-fighter-quotes-hbo-boxing-news

2.  Some reports have surfaced that Edwin Valero was murdered by police……hmmm

3.  Leija-Battah Promotions put on another great show this weekend in San Antonio and they seem to have another show in Dec. We are hoping to see a huge fight soon!!

4.  Rocky Juarez stopped Antonio Escalante in a minor upset this weekend as well. This was supposed to be a showcase for Escalante, but Rocky stepped on the gas and got his young foe out of there. Props to Rocky and his camp, I wonder what is next for him.

5.  Ivan Calderon has officially retired and will focus on being a coach and trainer at his new gym in Puerto Rico  http://www.boxingscene.com/ivan-calderon-makes-it-official-announces-retirement--58777

6.  Oscar DeLa Hoya made some statements on Twitter hinting at a comeback at 154lbs, The Return of The Golden Boy? "I am really confident I can do some damage to any 54 pounder in the world, except "Saul Canelo Alvarez" –Oscar De La Hoya via Twitter

7.  A big Shot Out to Kendo Castaneda of San Antonio Tx, winning his boxing debut in San Antonio over the weekend. We are all looking forward to your next bout! Nothing but bigger and better in his future. You can follow him on Twitter @Kendo_Tremend

8.  IF…..Zab fights Danny Garcia…..I think Zab Judah will give Danny fits the first half of the fight (with his speed), but Danny takes over the last half and remains undefeated. Danny’s first real test as a champion will be against Maltthyse……..

Sometimes pain becomes an integral part of pleasure and we have to be hurt in order to feel happiness. The dichotomy of the inner self, the strife, the struggle to feel, not only the good, but the bad is what makes us human. That is why it is ok for things to not be okay, it’s just not okay to give up. In boxing, there is an unfair standard to be perfect, to keep intact the "0". The "0" has been marketed so heavy when a new fighter is on the scene that we have put a blanket on the rest of boxing. A lot of times a new fighter has been just that, hyped up, and when he takes a step up in quality of opposition, we see just how much was hype. Then there are fighters that are truly good, and can truly make an impact on the sport. Those are the fighters who needed a set back, in order to be pushed forward. A lot of times we see the potential, we just need a way to tap in and unleash it. The following fighters have been placed on the "Redemption List" because we all know that these warriors have a lot more to offer boxing, and Boxing would love to have them back on the big stage.

　

10. Alfredo Angulo: El Perro has been off the radar for a number of reasons. First he suffered a devastating TKO loss to James Kirkland. Then Angulo was living in the U.S with an expired work visa. He turned himself in to the immigration detention center in El Centro, California to resolve his issue. He was promised he would be out in a few weeks but was detained there for over 7 months. He was finally released on August 14, 2012. Since his release he has been allowed to work and practice his professional boxing. He is currently scheduled to fight on November 10, 2012 against Raul Casarez under the Abner Mares-Anselmo Moreno Card. He is not the fastest or most technical guy in boxing, but we can see he has never been in a boring fight. Boxing welcomes you back.

09. Chad Dawson: Bad Chad was most recently seen as Sad Chad Dawson after failing to continue after he was knocked down in the 10th round by Andre Ward. I do give Dawson credit as he made a conscious effort to fight the best in and around his weigh division. Although not an excuse, I do feel the weight loss was a factor in the TKO stoppage. He is still the current WBC Light Heavyweight and Ring Magazine Champion and really has no reason to hang his head. He made for an exciting fight and he kept true to his word about fighting the best. A lot of boxers talk about it, Chad Dawson was about it.

08. Lamont Peterson: Lamont Peterson’s entire life has resembled somewhat of a redemption story. His father left him at an early age due to criminal activity and prison sentences and his mother, due to personal problems abandoned Lamont and his brother to the streets of D.C. Reportedly homeless and living off the kindness of others, if there were two people that are not supposed to make it at life, it would be Lamont Peterson and his brother. It wasn’t until a boxing trainer by the name of Barry Hunter came and took Lamont and his sibling under his wing that things began to turn around. He molded Lamont in a complete fighter and was undefeated until he fought Timothy Bradley and lost by UD after knocking Bradley down. He went on the comeback trail and beat Amir Khan in his most notable victory to claim the WBA and IBF Light Welterweight Championship. But after the drug tests came back, it came to light that Lamont Peterson tested positive for synthetic testosterone, in which he took to treat a medical condition. Now labeled a cheat, Lamont is facing an uphill battle to clear his name and work his way back up the boxing ladder.

07. Andre Berto: A boxer/puncher with tremendous upside, speed, agility, amateur background and a willingness to engage. He stepped on the gas in the championship rounds vs Luis Collazo to get squeak out a decision, but his willingness to engage may have cost him the fight vs Victor Ortiz in the fight of the year in 2011. He lost his WBC Welterweight Belt to Ortiz by Unanimous Decision. His next fight was versus highly regarded, yet untested and undefeated IBF Welterweight Champion Dejan Zavec. After 5 rounds of a hotly contested battle, Zavecs corner stopped the fight due to a cut and Andre Berto became the IBF Welterweight Champion. After agreeing to a rematch with Victor Ortiz, Andre Berto failed a pre fight drug test after testing positive for a banned substance and is the main reason he is on this list. Redemption is in the horizon.

06. Erik Morales: He is the first Mexican-born boxer in history to win world titles in four different weight classes. He is a former WBC Light Welterweight Champion, WBC & IBF Super Featherweight, WBC Featherweight (x2) and WBC & WBO Super Bantamweight Champion. Morales has defeated 15 different world champions during the course of his career. He is famous for his trilogies with fellow Mexican legend three-division champion Marco Antonio Barrera and Filipino octuple champion Manny Pacquiao. He ranks #49 on ESPN's 50 Greatest Boxers Of All Time. Why does a fighter of his caliber deserve mention on this list? Because he would rather not be anywhere else. He is a fighters fighter and fan favorite. Erik Morales is a showman with one last outing to prove, not only to himself but the rest of the boxing nation, that he is a champion. He is set to face undefeated Ring Light Welterweight Champion Danny Garcia in a rematch on OCT 20th. He lost the first contest that saw him frustrate Danny at times but couldn’t get over the hump and take advantage of the young lion. He, and all of his fans are hoping for a championship performance from Erik, and then walk into the sunset of retirement.

05. Juan Manuel Lopez: At a time when Puerto Rico was looking past Miguel Cotto to try and find the next "Chosen One" JuanMa Lopez was ready to answer the call. After winning championships he soon became a celebrity on the island participating in many non boxing events. But in the ring, with a devastating left hook he would knock opponents up and down. His dependence on his punching power became a crutch as he opted little to develop his defense, which in turn became his demise when he faced Mexian Orlando Salido. Salido has twice TKO’d Puerto Rico’s JuanMa in what many considered the first a fluke. He has gone back to the drawing board and is currently devising a plan to become once again at the top of his division and claim the glory of being a Puerto Rican Champion.

04. Victor Ortiz: If there is one thing we can say about Victor Ortiz is this, he has never been in a boring fight. After being abandoned by his parents as a child Victor turned to boxing as a way to support himself and his family. He was named the 2008 ESPN Boxing Prospect of the year and he looked it. Of his 29 wins, 22 are knockouts with a 76% KO ratio. Every opponent he has faced, except for two, has touched the canvas due to a Victor Ortiz punch. When Victor loses, he loses in dramatic fashion. He quit against Maidonna after not wanting to take any more punishment. He was knocked out by Floyd Mayweather Jr, after intentionally head butting Mayweather, Ortiz went on an apology frenzy and after time was called in was Knocked out in the process of apologizing. His last outing we saw Ortiz quit on his stool after Josesito Lopez broke his jaw. Sometimes we ask our boxers to be superheroes and Victor Ortiz is an example of the expectation we put on our fighters. If you had a broken jaw, would you continue working at your job? Or would you go to the hospital an seek medical attention? He is a dynamic boxer with tremendous flaw, a human I n the ring. He has been on the biggest stage versus some of the best boxers and he knows that there is still plenty in the tank to accomplish his goals, which is being the best.

03. Amir Khan: A Silver Medalist in the 2004 Olympics, Amir Khan is the youngest boxing Brit to ever win an Olympic Medal at 17 years old. This ushered the stage to the professional ranks where expectations were high. His speed and agility are never in question as he will almost always hold those advantages over his opponents, what is in question though is his ring smarts and chin. He has dropped two of his last 3 and was knocked silly against Danny Garcia in his last outing getting TKO’d in the 4th round. He holds all the potential of any new hot prospect, but gets complacent because of his speed advantages. When he grows as a fighter learns to minimize his mistakes, then we will see the true champion we know he will become.

02. Jorge Linares: Honestly 3 or 4 years ago today, I would have told you that Jorge Linares would have been in the Top 10 pound for pound. He is quick and fluid in the ring. He would have hit you from 40 different angles in a 10 second time span. Today, I cannot say the same. Of his 3 lossess, all three have come by KO or TKO and he is on a 2 fight losing streak. With a championship rematch versus Antonio Demarco hanging in the balance, Linares was TKO’d in the 2nd round vs Sergio Thompson (who?, exactly). He needs a win and he needs it bad. With a fighting style like a lighter hitting Manny Pacquiao, he is always in an exciting fight, but has some internal demons and confidence issues he needs to overcome. He has the makings of an elite fighter, someone just needs to get the timer right. At a crossroads, he needs a win, and he needs it bad.

01. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.: You can say what you want about JCC Jr, but one thing is certain, he has began the engraving process of his legacy as an A+ fighter. He made it the distance versus Pound for Pound staple Sergio Martinez, which is a feat upon itself since his 4 of his last 5 opponents didn’t make it to the final bell. In addition to that, he floored and almost finished Martinez in the 12th round in what will almost certainly be billed as "round of the Year". Other than the 11th and 12th round, JCC Jr was being utterly dominated by the quicker and more accurate Martinez. Jr was never hurt throughout the contest and seemed very reluctant to let his hands go, but when he did, you can tell they would inflict damage when landed. Talks of a rematch are in the works, tentatively slated at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas. Sergio Martinez put on a dominating performance vs an unseasoned Champion, but I feel, of all his career wins, this lost taught Jr. the most. I believe the rematch will have much more drama than the initial contest and is the reason why people become fans of boxing.

　

The Standing 8 Count

1.  The double card from rival promoters Top Rank and Golden Boy last week was not such a bad idea if you look at it from a distance. There were great fights, sold out arenas and happy fans. Talking to a contributing writer to this page he said, "Look at it this way, when the NFL and NBA have games, there’s usually multiple games going on at the same time, and that doesn’t deter the fan, it actually enhances the overall experience" With quality cards, I think he was right.　

2.  If you think you are great at predicting the outcomes of fights, you have to check out this site and become part of the "Fantasy Boxing Prediction League". It is updated weekly with your score versus other users.--> www.punchbagblog.com　

3.  Leija Battah Promotions are doing big things in San Antonio and really beginning to achieve what they set out to accomplish, which is make San Antonio a Mecca Of Boxing. You can check out their website and see what they have planned on the horizon here --> www.leijabattahpromo.com　

4.  Round 12 of Chavez Jr vs Martinez had me jumping up off my seat. There is no other sport on Earth that can have one team dominating in every fashion, then right before the final bell, almost have it all erased and lose.

　5.  Artist Alert II: I know I have said this before, but Amanda Kelleys work is just "Wow". Take a look at this picture of Manny and Freddie Roach under the 8 count.  You can view her work here --> http://amanda-kelley.tumblr.com/

6.  Make the FIGHT: WIth Timothy Bradley overlooked for a rematch and Robert Guerrero begging for a fight, it would only make sense to have these two young lions face each other....maybe too much sense.

7.  Where would you rank Floyd Mayweather Jr in the "All Time Great Fighters" list?

8. Take action. In the words of Benjamin Franklin...." Well done is better than well said. "

I still get chills when I think about it…..

…in the middle of the woods in Germany….

Laughing and joking with my buddies we were talking about how the junior enlisted (privates thru specialist) do all the work and what would happen if we decided to play a practical joke on the senior Command…..I was setting a perimeter of concertina and barbed wire around our base camp when our 1SG sent an urgent message and called us all in.  We didn’t even get into a classic military formation; we just huddled around his tent.  “Company, we may have to pack up early…..” We suddenly heard a crackling of a phone…our Operations Sgt was on the phone with his wife when he put the phone on speaker for all of us to hear.  We all diverted our attention to the phone and his wife’s voice….”they think it was a crop duster thingy plane that hit the tower on accident…people are going berserk trying to figure it out, wait…OH MY GOD!!…OH MY GOD!!….OH MY GOD!! ANOTHER PLANE HIT THE OTHER TOWER….OH MY GOD…IT JUST HAPPENED RIGHT NOW…OH MY GOD!!!.....PEOPLE…THE PEOPLE IN THE PLANE JUST BLEW UP IN THE TOWER <CRYING> THEY SAID IT IS A TERRORIST ATTACK!!” ….Baby, just calm down, we are going to head back…” ….”THEY SAY WE ARE UNDER ATTACK…OH MY GOD, BABY PLEASE COME BACK HOME….” By this time Our 1SG was on his phone receiving instructions to tear down base camp and our training operations and head back to our home unit in Giebalstadt, Germany.  What took half a day to set up, only took about 15 minutes to tear down….all of a sudden our training exercise became real life….and just like that…everything changed.

A few days later we mobilized into Afghanistan, I was specially selected from my unit to finish Peace Keeping Operations in Camp Bonsteel, Kososvo.  I laugh at the term peace keeping, my third day there a group of kids were playing soccer and accidently hit a land mine….i had seen death before, but never to a child, half alive…seemingly only moving by nerves…..I could only look at what once used to be a spry 8 year old boy, now a shell of his former self, a mangled mess……but this was also the first time I saw the resiliency of the human body.  I was sure that he was going to die, his lifeless eyes rolling into the back of his head…. Blood gushing from his wounds….but he arrived at the hospital in time and two weeks later we got the confirmation he was going to live….

A few years later I found myself being stung in the face by sand, unable to see 2 feet in front of me…..trudging through a sand storm in the middle of Iraq, lost from what was north and what was south.  It was hard to breath, the air was filled with flying granules….and even though my mouth was closed I could still crunch the sand in between my teeth, and I felt the granules in between my eye lids….luckily a truck pulled up beside me and I hopped in caked in this fine sand…

Yes everything changed that day…..but the more things change…the more they stay the same.  From the moment we declared our independence, America has been strong, but being strong does not mean we are invincible.  We were hit with a sucker punch, our hands were down and back turned, and much like that little boy I saw in Kosovo, we were down and bloodied, but not out.  At a time when we could have folded, we took a  deep breath and our eight count and brought the fight to them. 

It’s been a great few weeks in boxing, from Triple G, Gennady Golovkin’s coming out party (he dismantled a game Prosksa) to Andre Wards dominating performance vs Current Light Heavy Weight Champion Bad Chad Dawson.  In between we have found the next “most avoided man in boxing” Lucas Matthysee (140lbs) and another Vitali Win at heavyweight.  It has been an exciting ride and will continue to gain momentum this weekend in Las Vegas when Sergio Martinez faces Julio Ceasar Chavez Jr.  Right down the street from that fight we will have Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs Joselito Lopez in  a154 lb bout. 

But what does this all mean?  We have boxing that is creating significant interest in the general population, and by all signs, Vegas is going to be crazy this weekend.  From the business aspect, things seem to be looking up.  There are great, competitive fights that fans are paying money to see.  Chavez/Martinez is officially sold out.  That says a lot about the boxing economy and the state of boxing in general.  There is also a competing card right down the street that has sold nearly 20,000 tickets.  There is definite momentum in the boxing business and really this is a time to capitalize, strike while the iron is hot.  We know both Chavez and Martinez aren’t going to the ring to lose and the only thing I can see marring the weekend is one of those poorly judged decisions where the fans see the fight one way and the decision goes the other.  Nothing is a bigger turn off.  But like that young boy I saw in Kosovo, there was a time boxing seemed it was out, on its deathbed with less than competitive fights, over the top diva fighters, and less than honorable decisions.  But boxing deserved more, the fans deserved more and boxing didn’t die, it grew stronger.  It became not solely hinged on a Pacquiao or Mayweather fight, it grew bigger than that, because it had to.  We needed it to.  Boxing gave us a hint of survival and it was up to us to breathe life into its lungs.  You see, what a lot of people fail to realize, is that we make boxing what it is.  We have the power to make it whatever we want it to be, because at the end of the day, boxing is us, and if there was no us, there would be no boxing.

Predictions for this weekend,

We have some big fights coming up and the following are my predictions;

Saul Alvarez Vs Joselito Lopez – The other main attraction in Vegas this weekend, WBC Light Middleweight champion, Saul Alvarez will take on Joselito Lopez. Hanging in the balance of an Alvarez wins are lucrative bouts with either Floyd Mayweather Jr or Miguel Cotto.  Once again Joselito will be playing spoiler to those plans, but may have bitten off more than he can chew.  In what is possibly a career high payday for Lopez, he always comes to fight and never comes to lose.

Predictions: Saul Alvarez by TKO 8th Round 

Too big, too strong, and too skilled for Joselito in a game effort

Matthew Macklin Vs Joachim Alcine - On the Martinez/Chavez Jr under-card, Mathew Macklin is looking to end his losing streak vs Joachim Alcine.  Alcine is playing the role of sacrificial lamb to Macklin but I wouldn’t be so sure how much Alcine is buying into that role.  Alcine has won his last two fights and seems to be getting better after moving up in weight after his destruction at the hands of Alfredo Angulo in the first round.

Predictions: Joachim Alcine by Decision

Alcine’s work rate and aggression will be the deciding factor and win the close rounds for him.



Yoan Pablo Hernandez Vs Troy Ross - IBF Cruiserweight champion, Yoan Pablo Hernandez will make the second defense of his title this weekend vs Troy Ross.  Both have the power to knock each other out and both will certainly try.  Ross has been a contender for some time but has been unable to get over the hump, this may be the fight that springboards him from contender status, but I doubt it.

Predictions: Yoan Pablo Hernandez by Decision

In a lackluster fight, Hernandez wins by an effective jab, staying out of the way of danger, and landing the cleaner, harder shots.

Jhonny Gonzalez Vs Daniel Ponce De Leon - The WBC Featherweight Title hangs in the balance and the bout is on the under-card of Saul Alvarez's fight with Joselito Lopez. This is a crossroads fight for both fighters as they are nearing the end of their careers.  Given the two styles and the punching power involved, I see someone hitting the canvas at some point.  The importance of this fight for both fighters will make it very exciting as neither wants to lose.

Predictions: Gonzalez by Decision

I just feel Jhonny has more in the tank at this point in his career and will win the championship rounds.  It will be a great fan fight nonetheless.

Marcos Maidana Vs Jesus Soto Karass - Maidana is scheduled to have his second fight in the Welterweight division, his opponent is contender, Jesus Soto Karass.  Maidana is on the redemption list after his lackluster showing vs Devon Alexander in his last fight.  Karass has never fought for a world title, but will be coming to win on the night of the fight, and that extra motivation may be a key factor come fight time.

Predictions: Maidana by KO 9th Round

Karass wins rounds by his aggression and boxing against Maidana but eventually that will be his undoing as he will be getting hit too much and finally succumb to the power of the Argentinian.

Sergio Martinez Vs Julio Cesar Chavez Jr – The fight of the night and reason Vegas is buzzing this weekend.

To this point it has been a strange journey for both fighters.  Sergio Martinez is viewed as one of the best pound for pound boxers in the sport and he is facing a young lion in Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.  At this point last year, people would scoff at the notion of Chavez facing Martinez, but the fact Chavez has been facing quality opposition, and looking good in his wins have changed that perception.  What hasn’t changed is the silver spoon mentality boxing has bestowed upon him.  I feel a win vs Martinez will carve out a significant chunk of his legacy and erase the silver spoon mentality.  Martinez is fighting with a chip on his shoulder as he made it here the hard way, fighting in different continents, different weight classes, and not handed anything in his career.  It will be an amazing fight and the animosity between the two will lead to some great dramatics in the ring.  Two Champions fighting each other and that is what boxing needs to make forward progress.

Predictions: Martinez by KO 8th Round
*Martinez is just too  fast, too skilled and will come from angles Jr has never seen before. Jr is coming to win but Martinez has knocked out better fighters. He will have had enought by the 8th round.


 

The Standing 8 Count

1. TMT Promotions, the Promotional Company formed by 50 Cent has dissolved as quickly as it was formed.  An apparent falling out by Floyd and 50 may be to blame.  I was actually kind of excited to see what 50 could do for boxing, a different set of eyes always brings new pieces to the puzzle.  Too bad.
2. Manny Pacquiao has declared his next opponent on Dec 8th.  None other than Juan Manual Marquez.  There is a lot of backlash in the boxing community as to why JMM.  For this fight to be relevant, Pac needs to go for the KO.
3. There’s only one Ricky Hatton, and he may be coming back to the ring.  He is currently going through his medicals to get approved for his Boxing License.  Ricky has always been good for the sport and everyone loves a great comeback story.  Best of Luck to Ricky and I wish him the best.
4. Drama Alert: Apparently 50 Cent drops Floyd to pursue a boxing relationship with Manny Pacquiao? More to read here-----à http://www.boxinginsider.com/headlines/50-cent-ditches-floyd-mayweather-to-team-up-with-manny-pacquiao/
5. Luca Matthysee is the new “Most Avoided Man In Boxing” and apparently Amir Khan is calling him out…..I don’t think that’s a good move for Khan
6. Andre Wards dismantling of Bad Chad Dawson was spectacular, but how much did that have to do with Dawson draining himself to 168?  Would a fight at 175 be any different?  I would certainly watch it.
7. A star is born, Triple G, Gennady Golovkin.  Get used to the name because he will be around for a while.  Speaking of which, he should be fighting the winner of Chavez-Martinez, hopefully.

8.    There will be some changes to the site, I am scrubbing the Top Ten Lists, Pound for Pound, Redemption List, Up and Coming, On the Verge…etc etc…I am also adding a few new site authors starting with, “The Miggy Chronicles”.  We also have the amazing Debbie Debs take on boxing soon after (follow her on Twitter @debbie_debb7)….also stay tuned as we will be having our first GIVEAWAY…..more to follow as we continue to grow and always remember, stay true to who you are, because no one can do you better.

Very Respectfully,
Q.Cardenas
Follow on Twitter @realboxingbuzz

Everyone has a list, best foods, best destinations, top Super Bowls, best guacamole you name it and they are all subjective.  This list right here fits right into that category. Pound for pound is a term used in combat sports to describe a fighter's value in relation to fighters of different weight classes.  As these fighters do not compete directly, judging the best fighter pound for pound is subjective and ratings vary. The term was historically associated with fighters such as Benny Leonard and Sugar Ray Robinson who were widely considered to be the most skilled fighters of their day, to distinguish them from the generally more popular (and better compensated) heavyweight champions.  The criterion used to compile the list below was quality of opposition, gameness, the ability to adjust, heart, stamina and ring smarts.  So without further ado, the Top 10 Boxers of right now, Pound for Pound from 10-1…..

10.  Vitali Klitschko, Record: 44-2 (40KO’s) HeavyWeight- His Knockout Percentage speaks for itself.  He has not lost in almost 10 years, and even that loss was debatable, against Lennox Lewis.  Literally spending years politicking for a rematch, Lennox Lewis would rather retire.  Vitali’s right hand is devastating but it is his ability to use his height and reach advantage that puts Dr. Ironfist in the top two of the Heavyweight Division.  With a 86.96% knockout percentage rate, he holds the second best knockout-to-fight ratio of any champion in heavyweight boxing history, after Rocky Marciano's 87.76%. He has never been knocked down in any professional boxing bout and has also never lost a decision.  He would give any Heavyweight of any era his money’s worth.    NEXT FIGHT vs Manuel Charr on SEPT 8th 2012

09.  Nonito Donaire, Record: 29-1 (18KO’s) Junior Featherweight- The Filipino Flash is a four-division world champion and the reigning WBO and IBF Super Bantamweight Champion. He is also the former WBC and WBO Bantamweight, Interim WBA Super Flyweight and IBF Flyweight Champion. He is a known switch-hitter with the ability to fight either southpaw or orthodox, but what puts him a class above the rest is his ability to make in ring adjustments and the speed to take chances.  He is finally getting out of the shadow of his countryman Manny Pacquiao and setting his identity as a completely different type of fighter than Manny.  His upcoming superlight with #1 ranked Toshiaki Nishioka is sure to be a fight of the year candidate.  He has not lost a fight in over 10 years.  NEXT FIGHT vs Toshiaki Nishioka on OCT 13th 2012

08.  Timothy Bradley, Record: 29-0 (12 KO’s) WelterWeight-  Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley has been an underdog his whole life, which is actually a good thing.  It takes the pressure off when your not the “golden one”.  It is another reason he comes into every fight focused and mentally ready and has an unblemished record to prove it.  You can’t help but feel bad for him though, after winning the biggest fight of his life against Manny Pacquiao, he still does not have a plan of action for his immediate future, which is ok with him, because if there is one thing Tim knows, it is how to win against all odds.  NEXT FIGHT vs TBD

07.  Anselmo Moreno, Record:  33-1 (12 KO’s) BantamWeight-  Who?  He is another fighter who has not lost a fight in over a decade and has actually won 4 of his last 7 by Technical Knock Out.  He is riding a lot of momentum and has just signed a four fight deal with Golden Boy Promotions.  He is the current WBA Super World BantamWeight Champion and is riding a wave of momentum into the future.  He does not have anything lined up at the moment, but at 35 years old, this gentleman is reaching his peak.  His greatest asset is his experience,  ring savvy, and his will to win.  NEXT FIGHT vs Abner Mares OCT 27th 2012

06.  Juan Manuel Marquez, Record: 54-6-1 (39KO’s) Light WelterWeight-  He is a rare breed of boxing tactician and technician.  His later years have seen him become more of the aggressor, which has made for some compelling fights given his natural counter punching abilities.  If he cannot get a rematch with Manny Pacquiao, he is more than willing to get in the ring with another pound for pound contender, Timothy Bradley.  That would be a lucrative fight for both men, given their “Pac Man” connection.  Jmm is getting close to his final fights in boxing and it would behoove all boxing enthusiasts to watch him before he is gone.  NEXT FIGHT vs TBD

05.  Andre Ward, Record: 25-0 (13KO’s) Super MiddleWeight-  The future is bright for young Andre Ward.  The beginning of his career seemed really handpicked and forcibly slow for such an amazing talent, but his handlers had a plan, and it payed off in dividends.   He is the current WBA (Super), WBC and The Ring Super Middleweight Champion. Currently, Ward is rated among the best pound-for-pound boxers in the world. He is rated #6, #6 and #5 by Yahoo! Sports,[3] Sports Illustrated[4] and The Ring[5] respectively. Ward was a Gold Medalist at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Ward was named Ring Magazine fighter of the year in 2011.   He has never lost a boxing match at any level competitively.  A proven winner and he will face his toughest challenge to date when he faces “Bad” Chad Dawson on Sept 8th.  A lot of fighters claim they fight the best, Andre Ward has the resume to prove it.  NEXT FIGHT vs Chad Dawson on SEPT 8th 2012

04.  Wladimir Klitschko, Record: 58-3 (51 KO’s) HeavyWeight-  The Klitschko Brothers are beasts.  There is no other way to put it.  Right now they are winning practically every single round versus every single opponent and they don’t seem to be slowing down.  The question must be asked, are they the two best because the Heavy Weight Talent pool is low, or are they the one making it look easy, making other good fighters seem mediocre.  Only history can tell, but the fact remains that the stats like owning every major belt in your weight class is an achievement virtually unprecedented for brothers.  Wladimir is a technician with surgical precision.  In the ring he is cold, robotic, and unrelenting with his 1-2 combo.  What makes him that much greater is that all his opponents know what he is going to do….jab, jab, right hand, and they still are defenseless.  He is the current ddefending WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO & The Ring Heavyweight titlist.  He would have definitely held his own against any of the greats.  NEXT FIGHT vs Mariusz Wach on NOV 10th 2012

03.  Sergio Martinez, Record: 49-2-2 (28 KO’s) MiddleWeight- He is the current The Ring Middleweight Champion.  He is the former WBC & WBO Middleweight Champion[3][4] and recipient of the WBC Diamond belt. Martinez was previously in the light middleweight division, where he held the WBC Light Middleweight title (Interim then elevated to full status champion), as well as the WBC Latino title. Also, he has competed in the welterweight division, where he held the WBO Latino title. Martínez is currently rated as the number three pound for pound best boxer in the world by most sporting news and boxing websites, including The Ring, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and Yahoo! Sports. In 2010, Martínez received The Ring and BWAA "Fighter of the Year" and The Ring "Knockout of the Year" awards, respectively.  In other words, he is a monster in the ring.  His style is eccentric, fighting entire rounds with his hands down and never seeming to tire.  He is trying to land a Mayweather fight and depending on how he looks against undefeated Middleweight Champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, we will see what happens.  NEXT FIGHT vs Julio Cesar Chavez Jr on SEPT 15 2012

02.  Manny Pacquiao, Record: 54-4-2 (38 KO’s) WelterWeight- If a typhoon and Bruce Lee would ever have a baby, the product would be Manny Pacquiao.  He is a force to be reckoned with at any weight class.   A fighter like him only comes along once in a generation, someone who can captivate an audience and finish the fight with a single glaring blow.  Although he officially lost the fight to Tim Bradley, that score can be dismissed by watching the tape where 97 % of fighters, fans, commentators, and coaches had Pacquiao winning by large margins.  We are all waiting for the Super Bowl of Boxing when he finally enters the ring against the other Living Legend, Floyd “Money” Mayweather.  Until they actually step into the ring with each other, we can all sit back and speculate on who and why they would win.  NEXT Fight vs TBD

01.  Floyd Mayweather Jr., Record 43-0 (26 KO’s) WelterWeight-  When all you do is win, it is hard to argue who is the best, and Floyd “Money” Mayweather is the poster boy for winning.  As polarizing as he is, he is a much needed jolt into the arm of boxing, and when he fights, the world watches.  Cotto pushed him and Floyd had a chance to fold, but he didn’t, the dragon came out, and if the fight were 2 more rounds, he would have the Warrior Cotto out on his shield. But he was pushed and that is what everyone wanted to see, what he would do when he was challenged, when someone didn’t fold and fought back, and for the first time that I could remember, Floyds face was bloodied.  It was almost shocking to see that.  But the dragon came out and Floyd did what he does best, and that is win.  It is rare to have the #1 and #2 pound for pound fighters in the same weight class.  For all the sport has given Floyd and Manny, it would be a dishonor to boxing to not have them step into the ring together.   NEXT FIGHT vs TBD

 

The Standing 8 Count

1.      Chad Dawson vs Andre Ward is an example of the best fighting the best.  We hear a lot of boxers talk about fighting the best, but don’t talk about, be about it.

2.      Dream Match Up- Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero vs  Adrien “The Problem” Broner @ 140lbs

3.      Eric Morales vs Danny Garcia = War    Word on the street is Eric Morales is training like a beast………hmmmmmmm

4.      Bob Arum and 50 Cent are on talking terms and may Co-Promote a fight early next year

5.      San Antonio is on a collision course to become a “Mecca of Boxing” in the next 5 years

6.      A shot out goes to the Raging Babe Michelle Rosado, an Arizona based Boxing Promoter who is doing nothing but big things.  Please check out her website at http://facetofaceevents.net

7.      USA BOXING: Claressa Shields Claims Gold and Marlen Esparza earned Bronze, If you don't know who these two are, you better ask somebody.  Congratulations to these two female Warriors.

8.       Boxing motivation at its finest right here ---------à  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzJHKfR-_gk&list=UUSAKHhhVMjKZxApVg5nfuYw&index=1&feature=plcp