Essential The Official Boxing Random Thoughts Thread...All boxing heads ENTER.

[L68]

Steve Kim ‏@stevemaxboxing 46s
Please dont kill the messenger, but RSchaefer says the Matthysse-Garcia fight is not finalized, still some open issues to close #boxing

 

[patscorpio]

from Dan Rafael's blog - Fight of midyear: Alvarado-Rios II - Dan Rafael Blog - ESPN

Fight of midyear: Alvarado-Rios II

When it comes time to select the official 2013 Fight of the Year, it's a good bet that many of the top candidates will come from the first six months. For boxing fans, January through June has been terrific.

It was a tough call to select the fight of the midyear because you really can't go wrong with either of the top two, but in my view, the rematch between Mike Alvarado and Brandon Rios on March 30 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas gets the nod.

In October, they met for the first time, with Rios stopping Alvarado in the seventh round of a sensational battle that was the 2012 Fight of the Year runner-up.

When they signed for the rematch, this time for a vacant interim junior welterweight belt, expectations were sky-high for another classic. And you know what? They delivered -- and then some -- in yet another incredible action fight that opened the possibility of a second rematch.

This rematch was even a bit better than the first fight. It was an intense brawl with tons of clean punching, ebbs and flows. How this thing went the distance will forever remain a mystery, because the fighters were crushing each other.

In the second round, Alvarado nearly got dropped and was badly hurt by a left jab, of all things. But he rallied, and the fighters finished with a ferocious exchange that was one of the best rounds of the year. Top Rank promoter Bob Arum was so enthused that he called it the best round in a fight he had promoted since the all-time epic first round of the Marvelous Marvin Hagler-Thomas Hearns middleweight championship fight.

Alvarado-Rios II was a brutal fight. Both men were hurt, but Alvarado, who fought most of the night with a bad cut over his left eye, was able to box just enough to keep Rios off balance and eke out the close rounds to win a tight, but deserved, decision, 115-113, 115-113, 114-113.


Honorable mentions



Timothy Bradley Jr. W12 Ruslan Provodnikov (March 16 at Carson, Calif.): When Bradley, who was coming off his hugely controversial split decision win against Manny Pacquiao, was matched with Provodnikov, the boxing world yawned. Then we saw the fight. Oh. My. Goodness. The action was fierce and constant, and the drama unforgettable. Although Bradley won a unanimous decision -- 115-112, 114-113, 114-113 -- the fact that he made it to the final bell under the immense and nonstop pressure from Provodnikov made this a spectacle to behold. Provodnikov nearly knocked Bradley out in the first round, dropping him with a well-timed right hand, although referee Pat Russell ruled it a slip, a move that ultimately would cost Provodnikov a draw. Provodnikov continued to hurt Bradley and had him in huge trouble. He nearly ended the fight again in the second round with another onslaught, but Bradley survived. From the third round on, Bradley was able to collect himself, get back into the fight and begin winning rounds. There was a ton of back-and-forth action, especially late in the sixth, which was absolutely sensational as they simply pounded each other. Provodnikov suffered a bad cut on his left eyelid in the ninth round, and both fighters had taken so much punishment that at various times their trainers, Freddie Roach (Provodnikov) and Joel Diaz (Bradley), threatened to stop the fight. Neither did, setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion.

With Provodnikov seemingly needing a knockout to win, he staggered Bradley with a left hand, hurt him again with a right and sent him to the canvas with a flurry of shots with 15 seconds left in the fight. A dazed Bradley beat Russell's count, and the fight ended before another punch could be thrown.

Guillermo Jones KO11 Denis Lebedev (May 17 at Moscow): Jones, fighting on Lebedev's Russian turf, regained a cruiserweight title in a fight that wasn't for the faint of heart. It was a fantastic slugfest and a mild upset, but also was an unfortunate example of a fighter being allowed to continue despite a terrible injury. Jones cut Lebedev's right eye in the first round, and although Lebedev was winning the fight, the eye was getting worse and worse -- to the point that the entire right side of his face was a swollen, bloody mess. He couldn't see out of the eye, but was allowed to continue. Injury aside, the action was terrific, and Lebedev's heart was something to behold.

As the eye got worse, Jones began to pick up the pace and take over. They measured each other with huge shots in the sensational seventh round, a round of the year candidate, by which time Lebedev's eye was unrecognizable. As Lebedev faded, Jones couldn't miss, finally dropping him with a left hand to the eye that he never saw. Lebedev, ahead on all three scorecards and headed to a hometown decision, showed all the heart in the world as he tried to get up. But he could not beat the count, bringing an end to a gruesome, but thrilling, spectacle.

Carl Froch W12 Mikkel Kessler (May 25 at London): In 2010, Kessler edged Froch during the Super Six World Boxing Classic to take his world title in the best fight of the tournament. That fight was in Kessler's home country of Denmark. Meeting again three years later, this time to unify belts on Froch's turf, they turned in another classic that was boosted by the incredible energy from the sold-out crowd of about 18,000 at the O2 Arena. Froch started fast and banked several early rounds by tattooing Kessler with jabs and right hands. But Kessler also landed a lot of shots. He just wasn't throwing enough of them.

By the third round, Kessler's face was showing damage, and he was cut over his right eye. Kessler hurt Froch in the fifth round with a left hook and again with a with a right hand in the sixth. Froch, however, was throwing punches almost nonstop. There were numerous exciting exchanges, especially in the excellent seventh round and the action-packed eighth round. By the later rounds, however, Froch had seized control. Although Kessler had a big 11th round and went for the knockout in the 12th, Froch fended him off to win a blazing fight on scores of 118-110, 116-112, 115-113.

 

[Mr. Leonidas]

Steve Kim ‏@stevemaxboxing 46s
Please dont kill the messenger, but RSchaefer says the Matthysse-Garcia fight is not finalized, still some open issues to close #boxing

 

[charknicks]

ward and hopkins has had plenty of fights on hbo.

True. But, Ward and Hopkins are both American fighters who can either fill an arena off their name (Hopkins could, not really anymore, and Ward in Oakland), AND can announce/ speak during other fights to get their name out there more. Plus, neither of them were eating off HBO on their 10th fight.

 

[Skip b]

lets put it this way breh...if Bradley fought the usual way against ruslan and it was unspectacular do you think he would have gotten a PPV date? nikkas are interested in this because they want to see if Bradley is going to catch wreck again and/or if he lost something after that beating Ruslan laid on him...I know those are the only reasons why I care about this fight since im no Bradley fan

Show more one fight where Bradley didnt fight a head first, stand right in front of you infighting style



at HBO and anybody shytting on Rigo, are we gonna act like Donaire bytch ass aint have like 2 years worth of snooze fest only to have him hyped as top 5 p4p and fighter of the year and such, I'm starting to think HBO hates Rigo because he uses the shoulder on some straight Pactard shyt

 

[Skip b]

Steve Kim ‏@stevemaxboxing 46s
Please dont kill the messenger, but RSchaefer says the Matthysse-Garcia fight is not finalized, still some open issues to close #boxing

Why wont Team Matthysse accept the fight and accept testing


Garcia has agreed to his side, yall have to criticize LM pill popping ass the same way yall try to throw dirt and shyt on Danny

 

[TheNig]

If that fight is actually on the undercard then it will change my mind about ordering this PPV.

I order all ppv anyway but this might be the one that sends me over the top

 

[SuikodenII]

Isaac Hlatshwayo, 35-Years-Old, Retires From Boxing - Boxing News

By Edward Chaykovsky

Welterweight contender Isaac Hlatshwayo (30-6-1, 10KOs) has announced his retirement from boxing. The veteran lost five out of his last six fights. He held the IBO title at 135 and 147-pounds. And he also captured the IBF's welterweight title with a split decision over Delvin Rodriguez in August of 2009. During his career he also got victories over Nate Campbell, Phillip Ndou, Cassius Baloyi and Kaizer Mabuza.

Jesus Silvestre Lands a WBA Title Crack at Ryo Miyazak - Boxing News

By Miguel Rivera

Mexico's Jesus "Negrito" Silvestre is finally going to get his crack at undefeated Ryo Miyazaki, the WBA's stawweight champiuon, on September 7th at a venue to be announced on Japanese soil. Silvestre is the WBA's current interim-world champion.
Silvestre (27-3, 20 KOs) will fight for the third time in Asia, as he previously fought in the Philippines and Thailand. Miyazaki (19-0-3, 11 KOs). Miyazaki won the title last December with a split decision over Pornsawan Porpramook. He then made his first defense in March and knocked out Carlos Velarde in five rounds.

Strawweight, where top ranked fighters are actually fighting each-other


Merchant Agrees With HBO For Rejecting Rigondeaux - Boxing News

By Luis Sandoval

Former HBO analyst and commentator Larry Merchant was on hand at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, CA as he got a firsthand look at Zou Shiming whose fight he will be calling from ringside on July 27th in Macao, China.

Merchant has entertained us through out the years with his wit and entertaining yet informative rants while at HBO. For anyone who has ever interviewed Merchant, you always know you will get a great interview and great insight only he can provide.

On this day I asked Larry for his thoughts on a topic that had fans surprised as it was said HBO is not interested in having WBO/WBA Super Bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux back on their airwaves. The last time we saw Rigondeaux on HBO was this past April where he thoroughly outclassed highly ranked and pound for pound fighter Nonito Donaire.

While Rigondeaux’s performance was effective and dominant, some thought it simply wasn’t exciting enough and instead of praise, Rigondeaux received criticism.

Merchant was asked what his thoughts were regarding HBO’s decision in regards to Rigondeaux.

“I congratulate them. Rigondeaux is a beautiful boxer but this is prize fighting and prize fighting is entertainment. If you can't make the people want to come back and see you, it’s just like going to a restaurant; they don't feed you well, you don't come back. They feed you well, you come back. And he's got to know that this is a professional game and it’s not an amateur game” Merchant would tell BoxingScene.

While some will agree with Larry, some will disagree and wonder why it’s Rigondeaux who’s been forced to be the martyr in this situation. Whatever stance fans take, Rigondeaux will need to continue his reign as unified champion off network television for the time being.

And last but not least before we have another coli vacation...

Women's boxing needs the attention so I ain't even mad

 

[aceboon]

this is a good opening scrap on FNF

 

[patscorpio]

this opening scrap on FNF is some good shyt

 

[patscorpio]

man donaire looks fat as hell..nikka's been eating good recovering from shoulder surgery

 

[patscorpio]

this francisco-avalos fight has been sloppy but entertaining

 

[SuikodenII]

7/12/13 Friday Night Fights

 

[patscorpio]

@yawn forgot to reply to you but the 50 cent boxing card was cool....no one scored any ko's from what i remember but it was straight..i wasn't bored or nothing..dib vs oliver was more entertaining than it should have been..i was letting that fukk dib have it when i was at ringside lol..speaking of that..ringside wasn't worth no 150 bucks but at least i can say i was ringside on a pro boxing card that was televised nationally...the afterparty which i got in for free because i purchased a ringside seat was cool too....ill prolly be ringside next friday too when FNF is in New Hampshire...gotta support my nigerian breh Ajose who's in the main event next week

 

[iceberg_is_on_fire]