After a well-deserved break, I am proud to announce the return of PureBoxingPress. On to the business of pre-fight analysis:
MATCH: Timothy Bradley (24-0-0, 11 KOs) vs. Nate Campbell (33-5-1, 25 KOs).
DATE: Saturday, August 1, 2009.
WEIGHT CLASS: Light welterweight, 140 lbs.
TITLES: Bradley's WBO belt.
LOCATION: Agua Caliente Casino, California.
TV INFO: Showtime ((live) 9PM ET / (delayed) 9PM PT)
UNDERCARD: Junior Witter vs. Devon Alexander (for vacant WBC light welterweight title).
Bradley's Advantages:
If Bradley is to hold on to his title, he will have to make full use of his speed, athleticism and conditioning. "Desert Storm" is a naturally gifted boxer, who has been blessed with exceptional hand speed and a body that is made for boxing by virtue of strong musculature and flexible joints, as well as a penchant for very thorough training that leaves no depths of the sweet science unplumbed.
His punches pack a reasonable amount of heat, even though he has never knocked out world-class opposition, and he is physically capable of roughing it up on the inside, or tying up if need be (a great weapon to use against an aggressive pugilist such as Campbell).
Bradley is also a varied, unpredictable fighter, who can combine power shots with good jab-work to win rounds - especially in the tiring latter-stages of a fight. He possesses a good chin and textbook fundamentals which will help him out in his impending scrap with an experienced man like Campbell.
Bradley's Disadvantages:
Although a solid world champion, Bradley has never faced as experienced an opponent as Campbell; he is thus liable to get caught with something huge if he treats his adversary with the aggressive, hands-down, forward-charging style he sometimes favors.
The Palm Springs, Cali native is also lacking in the footwork department, where Campbell excels and can hence negate the younger champion's superior speed and conditioning.
Campbell's Advantages:
"The Galaxy Warrior" is a powerful and veeeery-complete boxer, who has no weaknesses that are easily exploited, and a lot of tools for fighting inside and out in a smooth, aggressive style. He holds notable wins over Kid Diamond and (in his last two fights) then-undefeated Juan Diaz and highly-capable Ali Funeka. Campbell has a solid defense that makes flush shots improbable, as well as a good set of whiskers for shaking them off when they do find their way.
The Floridan also has one of the best cornermen that money can buy - defensive wizard John David Jackson, who has a useful knack for understanding other fighters' styles and helping his man adjust inside the ring.
Furthermore, Campbell boasts the reputation of an accomplished body-puncher and a versatile aggressor - meaning that he is creative with his combinations, and somehow always winds up doing damage to head and midsection alike. This is going to be crucial against a man like Bradley, whose considerable speed may be reduced as the damage to his liver and spleen stacks up.
Campbell's Disadvantages:
Someone has to do it, so it may as well be me: the man's 37 years old! His opponent is 25. 'Nuff said.
Campbell has looked average in losses to Robbie Peden (KO'd, twice) and Joel Casamayor, and should have done more against Francisco Lorenzo and Isaac Hlatshwayo, where he dropped close, split-decisions. True, he is undefeated in four years and five fights, but the end is looming for Campbell, and many are thinking that Bradley is the enforcing agent from this standpoint.
Outcome Prediction:
The press is picking Bradley for his youth and speed. The underdog is the more experienced and ever-so-slightly-more-skillful Campbell. There are some strange factors at play: Bradley is facing a steep challenge in the wily, old Galaxy Warrior - perhaps even more daunting than Junior Witter. Yet, Campbell has oscillated between greatness and mediocrity with alarming frequency (not to mention his recent difficulties in making weight, which prompted his move up to light welter). Everyone can agree on one thing: it's a difficult one to call, folks.
But I think that the time is ripe for me to go against the established boxing press, and pick Nate Campbell for the upset. Here's why:
Galaxy Warrior is motivated and wants to raid the 140-pound division for titles. I think he has it in him to make one last, great stand against the onslaught of young fighters. In a Mosley or Hopkins-esque twist, experience will trump youth and send the up-and-comers back to the drawing table one more time before the new era dawns. So here's my slight variation on an old Mayweather tune:
I'm tellin' you just so you know,
The old-man Campbell, by K.O.!
Undercard Analysis:
If ever you decide to take an extra hour or so out of your schedule in order to watch an undercard - this one's a great option! The Alexander-Witter fight will provide good value: it's basically two highly entertaining and somewhat-unpredictable pugilists going at each other for a chance at a world title. Congrats to everyone involved in making this fight!
Devon Alexander (18-0-0, 11 KOs)
Alexander is a young (only 22!) and exciting fighter, a decorated amateur and a solid technician who has power in both hands and a style that was designed to give opponents fits. But in challenging for a vacant world title, and facing a man like Witter, he may have been pushed ahead a little too soon; he has no significant victories (although he did outpoint faded former titlist DeMarcus Corley) and will have to dig very deep in order to stop his British counterpart.
Junior Witter (37-2-2, 22 KOs)
News flash: Witter has only ever lost to Zab Judah and Tim Bradley, both of whom are elite-fighters. He has beaten Andreas Kotelnik (recently dethroned WBA champ) and a whole host of contenders throughout his twelve-year career - which pretty much makes him a consistent, high-level boxer.
This is almost certainly his last chance at a world strap and good exposure in the US (a treat to which he was never privy, for some odd reason). As such, you can expect him to bring his notoriously-complicated game on Saturday night. Trust me - he won't disappoint.
Undercard Outcome Prediction:
Once again, experience will overcome youth - for now. Witter by mid-round KO.
Soooo - this is it for another preview! Do keep an eye out for the post-fight analysis and don't forget to say a prayer for the late Vernon Forrest (I'll be doing a piece to coincide with his funeral on Monday).
If you're so inclined, I'd be delighted to have you follow me on Twitter!
Or, you can send me any boxing-related banter at pureboxingpress@gmail.com!
Showing posts with label Showtime. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Showtime. Show all posts
Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Jermain "Bad Intentions" Taylor - Impending Resurgence?
Jermain Taylor’s recent record (1-3) inspires a pugilistic desperation generally associated with diminishing skills and impending retirement. So why is he involved in Showtime’s Super Six World Boxing Classic, where he will be fighting the likes of Arthur Abraham, Mikkel Kessler and Andre Ward?
Well, boxing fans, difficult thought it may be to believe in mid-2009, there was a time, not too long ago, when “Bad Intentions” was undisputed middleweight champion of the world. There was a certain eighteen-month span during which the proud Little Rock, AR native beat Bernard Hopkins (who at the time was undefeated in twelve years) twice and boxed defensive-wizard Winky Wright to a standstill to retain his four titles.
In late 2006, Taylor was on top of the world. The former amateur standout, who had won a Bronze at the Sydney games in 2000, was an undefeated world champion whose major concern in life revolved around paying sanctioning fees to the many alphabet organizations whose belts he held.
Enter Kelly Pavlik, underdog extraordinaire (at the time).
Taylor boxed his ears off for seven rounds, knocking him down in the second. Then came a masterful feint, a sharp right cross and a flurry of punches from the Ohio native that sent the champ to the canvas and gave ref Steve Smoger a mandate to (correctly) stop the fight. And so Bad Intentions was champ no more and Kelly Pavlik became an instant superstar.
A rematch clause was, of course, exercised, but to no avail. Pavlik beat Taylor by unanimous decision, further confirming the doctrine that rematches will provide the same result as the first fight, only with a more substantial point-gap.
Since then, Taylor has moved up to 168 lbs in the hope of winning more titles. He beat Jeff Lacy to become mandatory challenger to the WBC belt. He was beating WBC-champ Carl Froch by a couple of points on two of the scorecards, until the Brit unexpectedly knocked a spent Taylor out in the twelfth round, apparently ending his bid to become a titlist once again.
But then Showtime (read: deus ex machina) called, offering him a place in this tournament they were putting together. It cannot have been hard for Bad Intentions to ponder this one: three matches, two titles on the line. A contract was (of course) signed, and now Taylor is up against a daunting challenge, in the form of unbeaten former-middleweight titlist Arthur Abraham.
It is tempting to write him off. But let’s think on this for a second or three…
Is it that hard to envisage Taylor schooling Abraham? After all, who has King Arthur fought that makes him look so good? Edison Miranda, Khoren Gevor and Raul Marquez? No disrespect intended to the aforementioned, but Hopkins and Wright possess boxing skills and defensive moves that these three (along with Abraham, incidentally) can only fantasize about.
The real question is this: how much does Taylor have left in the tank? At 31 years of age, after ten grueling fights against eight world champions, one does earn the right to feel drained.
Make no mistake about it: a prime Jermain Taylor would give Abraham and Kessler apoplectic fits with his skill. A prime Jermain Taylor would beat Andre Dirrell and Carl Froch on the same day. And spend the evening with his wife. A prime Jermain Taylor would be a heavy favorite to win Super Six World Boxing Classic. But this isn’t about Taylor, or his prime. It’s about the next year and a half.
May Bad Intentions find his form once more during his last chance to add to his legacy.
Well, boxing fans, difficult thought it may be to believe in mid-2009, there was a time, not too long ago, when “Bad Intentions” was undisputed middleweight champion of the world. There was a certain eighteen-month span during which the proud Little Rock, AR native beat Bernard Hopkins (who at the time was undefeated in twelve years) twice and boxed defensive-wizard Winky Wright to a standstill to retain his four titles.
In late 2006, Taylor was on top of the world. The former amateur standout, who had won a Bronze at the Sydney games in 2000, was an undefeated world champion whose major concern in life revolved around paying sanctioning fees to the many alphabet organizations whose belts he held.
Enter Kelly Pavlik, underdog extraordinaire (at the time).
Taylor boxed his ears off for seven rounds, knocking him down in the second. Then came a masterful feint, a sharp right cross and a flurry of punches from the Ohio native that sent the champ to the canvas and gave ref Steve Smoger a mandate to (correctly) stop the fight. And so Bad Intentions was champ no more and Kelly Pavlik became an instant superstar.
A rematch clause was, of course, exercised, but to no avail. Pavlik beat Taylor by unanimous decision, further confirming the doctrine that rematches will provide the same result as the first fight, only with a more substantial point-gap.
Since then, Taylor has moved up to 168 lbs in the hope of winning more titles. He beat Jeff Lacy to become mandatory challenger to the WBC belt. He was beating WBC-champ Carl Froch by a couple of points on two of the scorecards, until the Brit unexpectedly knocked a spent Taylor out in the twelfth round, apparently ending his bid to become a titlist once again.
But then Showtime (read: deus ex machina) called, offering him a place in this tournament they were putting together. It cannot have been hard for Bad Intentions to ponder this one: three matches, two titles on the line. A contract was (of course) signed, and now Taylor is up against a daunting challenge, in the form of unbeaten former-middleweight titlist Arthur Abraham.
It is tempting to write him off. But let’s think on this for a second or three…
Is it that hard to envisage Taylor schooling Abraham? After all, who has King Arthur fought that makes him look so good? Edison Miranda, Khoren Gevor and Raul Marquez? No disrespect intended to the aforementioned, but Hopkins and Wright possess boxing skills and defensive moves that these three (along with Abraham, incidentally) can only fantasize about.
The real question is this: how much does Taylor have left in the tank? At 31 years of age, after ten grueling fights against eight world champions, one does earn the right to feel drained.
Make no mistake about it: a prime Jermain Taylor would give Abraham and Kessler apoplectic fits with his skill. A prime Jermain Taylor would beat Andre Dirrell and Carl Froch on the same day. And spend the evening with his wife. A prime Jermain Taylor would be a heavy favorite to win Super Six World Boxing Classic. But this isn’t about Taylor, or his prime. It’s about the next year and a half.
May Bad Intentions find his form once more during his last chance to add to his legacy.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
World Boxing Classic - Six Man Super Middleweight Tournament is Official!
Upon hearing the news, I took a lengthy walk and inspected the state of the world. No, there was no fire raining from the sky; nor were the seas running red with blood. Now that the initial shock is wearing off, I can assume that the six-man super middleweight tournament that Showtime has been harping on about is actually happening! But - it seems paradoxical, somehow:
Could it be that six elite boxers are actually signing on to fight ... each other?
Most fighters these days are too preoccupied with protecting their win-loss ratio and conservatively calculating the risk and reward associated with every bout. They are too busy trying to negotiate finances, or else choosing to make routine title defenses against alphabet-belt mandatory challengers.
Therefore, I suggest that all of us take off our proverbial hats to the six men who have agreed to compete in World Boxing Classic - a round-robin tournament organized by Showtime, with the express purpose of crowning a divisional champ among the 168 pounders. The pugilists involved (in alphabetical order) are:
Arthur Abraham (30-0-0, 24 KOs): fighting out of Germany, the Armenian warrior who goes by King Arthur has made ten successive defenses of his IBF middleweight belt. He is vacating it in order to move up to 168 and take part in the tournament.
Andre Dirrell (18-0-0, 13 KOs): the Flint, Michigan native won a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics and is ready to step up to elite opposition in a tournament which will give him the chance to showcase his considerable skills.
Carl Froch (25-0-0, 20 KOs): having finally emerged from the shadow of Joe Calzaghe as the top British super middleweight, Froch made his first defense of the WBC title by knocking out Jermain Taylor in the 12th round of a hotly contested fight. He is putting his WBC strap on the line to participate.
Mikkel Kessler (41-1-0, 31 KOs): former WBA and WBC super middleweight champion, his only loss is a decision to a prime Joe Calzaghe - which makes him very good, indeed! Currently WBA champ, he is scheduled to put his title on the line in order to compete.
Jermain Taylor (28-3-1, 17 KOs): one-time undisputed middleweight champ, he has recently suffered several setbacks, in the form of two losses to Kelly Pavlik, and one to Carl Froch. Taylor is looking to rebound by winning the tournament, dominating the super middleweight division and adding to his collection of belts.
Andre Ward (19-0-0, 12 KOs): the Olympic gold-medallist is looking to become recognized as the best 168-pounder out there. Superb boxing skills and an impressive string of victories make him a worthy challenger to the likes of Kessler and Froch.
Almost as if to prove to the world that the tourney is no hoax, Showtime gathered all six men, placed them on a podium for photographs, and announced the first-round of fights:
Arthur Abraham vs. Jermain Taylor
Carl Froch vs. Andre Dirrell
Mikkel Kessler vs. Andre Ward
In case you're wondering by now, the format is as follows: there are three bouts scheduled for each fighter. At the end of it, the boxers ranked one through four, in terms of points, will face off in a semi-final, to decide who fights for the overall title. A worthy concept, if you ask me! Points are awarded thusly:
2 for a win (with a 1-point bonus for a KO/TKO)
1 for a draw
0 for a loss
So. If this tournament happens as per the schedule set forth by Showtime, we should have 12 extremely interesting fights over the next year-and-a-half - all involving prime contenders/champions!
Of course, there is a little something missing: namely, Lucian Bute, and another worthy candidate (Pavlik? Wright? Andrade? Balzsay?) that could have turned World Boxing Classic into an eight-man affair and put three or four belts on the line, thus producing a true undisputed champion. Showtime argued against this, citing an exaggerated time frame and logistical difficulties - both valid excuses. In any case, Bute is likely to be a stand-by for the tourney, in case of injury or contractual dispute amongst the other fighters, so we may yet see him in action. Regardless of this, I think all boxing fans should focus on the positive aspect of World Boxing Classic - namely, that it does the sweet science a world of good, and is the most ambitious and all-encompassing boxing endeavor of the decade. Bravo to Showtime and the six pugilists involved!
To celebrate this brave group, PureBoxingPress will be chronicling the careers of each of the fighters over the next couple of weeks (in reverse alphabetical order, just because). Therefore, please be sure to stay tuned for the piece on Andre Ward, which will be up over the next 36 hours.
I also encourage you to become a follower of the blog, or else follow me on Twitter!
Any questions, concerns or comments should be emailed to: pureboxingpress@gmail.com
Boxing banter is, of course, always welcome!
Could it be that six elite boxers are actually signing on to fight ... each other?
Most fighters these days are too preoccupied with protecting their win-loss ratio and conservatively calculating the risk and reward associated with every bout. They are too busy trying to negotiate finances, or else choosing to make routine title defenses against alphabet-belt mandatory challengers.
Therefore, I suggest that all of us take off our proverbial hats to the six men who have agreed to compete in World Boxing Classic - a round-robin tournament organized by Showtime, with the express purpose of crowning a divisional champ among the 168 pounders. The pugilists involved (in alphabetical order) are:
Arthur Abraham (30-0-0, 24 KOs): fighting out of Germany, the Armenian warrior who goes by King Arthur has made ten successive defenses of his IBF middleweight belt. He is vacating it in order to move up to 168 and take part in the tournament.
Andre Dirrell (18-0-0, 13 KOs): the Flint, Michigan native won a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics and is ready to step up to elite opposition in a tournament which will give him the chance to showcase his considerable skills.
Carl Froch (25-0-0, 20 KOs): having finally emerged from the shadow of Joe Calzaghe as the top British super middleweight, Froch made his first defense of the WBC title by knocking out Jermain Taylor in the 12th round of a hotly contested fight. He is putting his WBC strap on the line to participate.
Mikkel Kessler (41-1-0, 31 KOs): former WBA and WBC super middleweight champion, his only loss is a decision to a prime Joe Calzaghe - which makes him very good, indeed! Currently WBA champ, he is scheduled to put his title on the line in order to compete.
Jermain Taylor (28-3-1, 17 KOs): one-time undisputed middleweight champ, he has recently suffered several setbacks, in the form of two losses to Kelly Pavlik, and one to Carl Froch. Taylor is looking to rebound by winning the tournament, dominating the super middleweight division and adding to his collection of belts.
Andre Ward (19-0-0, 12 KOs): the Olympic gold-medallist is looking to become recognized as the best 168-pounder out there. Superb boxing skills and an impressive string of victories make him a worthy challenger to the likes of Kessler and Froch.
Almost as if to prove to the world that the tourney is no hoax, Showtime gathered all six men, placed them on a podium for photographs, and announced the first-round of fights:
Arthur Abraham vs. Jermain Taylor
Carl Froch vs. Andre Dirrell
Mikkel Kessler vs. Andre Ward
In case you're wondering by now, the format is as follows: there are three bouts scheduled for each fighter. At the end of it, the boxers ranked one through four, in terms of points, will face off in a semi-final, to decide who fights for the overall title. A worthy concept, if you ask me! Points are awarded thusly:
2 for a win (with a 1-point bonus for a KO/TKO)
1 for a draw
0 for a loss
So. If this tournament happens as per the schedule set forth by Showtime, we should have 12 extremely interesting fights over the next year-and-a-half - all involving prime contenders/champions!
Of course, there is a little something missing: namely, Lucian Bute, and another worthy candidate (Pavlik? Wright? Andrade? Balzsay?) that could have turned World Boxing Classic into an eight-man affair and put three or four belts on the line, thus producing a true undisputed champion. Showtime argued against this, citing an exaggerated time frame and logistical difficulties - both valid excuses. In any case, Bute is likely to be a stand-by for the tourney, in case of injury or contractual dispute amongst the other fighters, so we may yet see him in action. Regardless of this, I think all boxing fans should focus on the positive aspect of World Boxing Classic - namely, that it does the sweet science a world of good, and is the most ambitious and all-encompassing boxing endeavor of the decade. Bravo to Showtime and the six pugilists involved!
To celebrate this brave group, PureBoxingPress will be chronicling the careers of each of the fighters over the next couple of weeks (in reverse alphabetical order, just because). Therefore, please be sure to stay tuned for the piece on Andre Ward, which will be up over the next 36 hours.
I also encourage you to become a follower of the blog, or else follow me on Twitter!
Any questions, concerns or comments should be emailed to: pureboxingpress@gmail.com
Boxing banter is, of course, always welcome!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Agbeko vs. Darchinyan - Analysis
MATCH: Joseph Agbeko (26-1, 22 KOs) vs. Vic Darchinyan (32-1-1, 26 KOs)
DATE: Saturday, July 11 2009.
WEIGHT CLASS: Bantamweight, 118 lbs.
TITLES: Agbeko's IBF Belt.
LOCATION: BankAtlantlic Center, Sunrise, FL.
TV INFO: Showtime, 9PM ET/PT
UNDERCARD:
Tony DeMarco vs. Anges Adjaho (WBA eliminator, also televised)
Steve Cunningham vs. Wayne Braithwaite (IBF eliminator, not televised)
Agbeko's Advantages:
"King Kong" Agbeko, although relatively unheard of, especially in the USA, is one in a long line of Ghanaian world champions and contenders: Joshua Clottey and Ike Quartey come to mind (the former having given Miguel Cotto fits for 12 rounds a month ago, and the latter having been robbed of victories against both De la Hoya and Vernon Forrest in the eyes of some). But being Ghanaian in boxing is generally equated to having the heart of a lion, and Agbeko has demonstrated this throughout a solid career.
He is also the naturally bigger man in this matchup (and no, I'm not referring to Vic's insults here) as a natural bantamweight, with an impressive KO record that denotes very good power. Agbeko also knows how to protect his chin (he's never even been knocked down), using head movement and good upper body work - this may come in especially handy against a powerful guy like Vic.
That Agbeko is a highly determined boxer, who has been given an opportunity to fight a smaller man for more fame and recognition than he could have hoped for a year ago is not to be ignored. You can bet your last dime that when the Ghanaian warrior steps into the ring tomorrow night, he'll be determined to fight through hell to defend his belt and good reputation.
Darchinyan's Advantages:
Vicious Vic (aptly nicknamed "Raging Bull") has made a habit of knocking out sturdy boxers: Cristian Mijares and Jorge Arce come to mind! Mijares was WBC and WBA World Champ in the junior bantamweight division, and Arce had only been stopped once before in a distinguished 56 fight career. This means one thing: an unnatural power. Indeed, Darchinyan is widely recognized as one of the top pound-for-pound punchers in the game, and his career record proves it. Furthermore, the fact that the Armenian-born fighter started out as a flyweight and carried his power over to the super flyweight ranks inspires a certain confidence in the man's ability to inflict damage.
Darchinyan possesses superb reflexes and athleticism, and has an almost-comically unorthodox stance, from which he throws punches at angles so odd that I'm surprised he's never KFTO'd a ref. He is an underrated boxer and exhibits good footwork when remembers to use it!
Lastly, he is running very high in the confidence department, having unified the super flyweight titles over the last year or so.
Agbeko's Disadvantages:
In one word - inexperience. Although a seasoned fighter in his own right, Agbeko has never dealt with an opponent of Darchinyan's pedigree. It is noteworthy that, since his controversial loss against Wlad Sidorenko, Agbeko has fought five times in five years, taking all of 2005 and 2006 off, and only climbing into the ring once in 2008. Since then, his opponents have had a combined record of 59-10, whereas Darchinyan has faced three former or current world champions, whose records (combined 116-10) do not do justice to their outstanding skill.
Agbeko is also being coached by the man who trained him as an amateur, Adama Ardey, who has been a good personal factor for the Ghanaian, but has not shown an extensive technical acumen that is generally required of those who prepare fighters for championship fights. Whether or not Ardey will be able to help his fighter adjust to Darchinyan's difficult style is pivotal to the outcome of the fight. Agbeko's tactical stagnation in his last few outings seems to indicate that it may be too great an ask to outsmart the wily Armenian.
Darchinyan's Disadvantages:
In two words - Nonito Donaire. The Filipino Flash caught Vic right on the chin in the fifth round of Vic's defense of his IBF flyweight title. Raging Bull could not beat the count, and looked a mess afterwards (bloody nose and all). Although Darchinyan showed drastic improvement in his subsequent bouts, the KO of the Year in 2007 proved that he was vulnerable to be hit with a hook when coming in to punch. Furthermore, Vic has yet to show us any semblance of defensive skill, which may be problematic against the biggest man he's ever faced. Thus, the risk of getting caught is fairly high - too high for a fighter of his caliber!
Besides the Donaire incident, Vic was never subtle - inside or outside the ring. Hence, his tendency to stand and trade bombs might just get him in trouble against a warrior like Agbeko.
Outcome Prediction:
Most pundits fancy Darchinyan in those one, and I would have to agree with them. Brave though he is, I cannot see Agbeko standing up to Darchinyan's freakish power and awkward style for 12 rounds. In the end, Raging Bull's superior natural talent and ring smarts will overcome King Kong's size advantage and chin. I predict a seventh round KO for Vic Darchinyan.
Undercard Analysis, Part I:
Fom what I gather, Showtime will televize the bout between Tony DeMarco and Anges Adjaho, so maybe I should start with that one. A small spiel on each fighter in this WBA lightweight eliminator:
Tony DeMarco (21-1, 15 KOs):
The talented Mexican fighter has put together a good string of ten successive wins, which have propelled him up the rankings and given him the bout against Adjaho, whose winner becomes WBA champion Edwin Valero's mandatory challenger.
DeMarco has good power in both hands and a solid grasp of fundamentals, but is an otherwise incomplete pugilist who may develop into a true contender in the next two or three years (he is, after all, only 23).
Anges Adjaho (24-1, 14 KOs):
A fairly obscure figure, who fought most of his career out of Africa, where he held a number of titles, has so far failed in his only World Championship eliminator match, against Miguel Acosta. His only notable victory is a decision over Fernando Angulo, and let's face it - he's not exactly a future Hall-of-Famer, is he?
Outcome Prediction:
DeMarco is a good prospect, who may be ready to step it up in the spotlight. Adjaho will not have the boxing skills and the ring experience to keep up with the Mexican youngster, and will gradually slow after the opening rounds. I predict a fourth round KO for Tony DeMarco. Just as a cynical sidenote - the reward for winning this match is a shot at Edwin Valero, who is known for destroying a billion brain cells inside of three minutes in the ring. Not exactly appealing, is it?
Undercard Analysis, Part II:
The untelevised bout between Steve Cunningham and Wayne Braithwaite is also relevant, as it serves as an eliminator for Adamek's IBF title. Hence, I get to throw my two cents on it:
Steve "USS" Cunningham (23-2, 11 KOs):
Cunningham stepped on to the world scene when he won the IBF Cruiserweight title in a rematch against Krzysztof Wlodarczyk in mid 2007. Since then, he has defended it against solid-contender Marco Huck and lost it in a split decision to Tomasz Adamek.
Cunningham is a very good, complete boxer, who has a reasonably high chance at winning at least one more world title in his career. At 32, he has a few good fights in him, and has been an established contender in the division for about five years, which shows his durability and skill.
Wayne "Big Truck" Braithwaite (23-3, 19 KOs):
Big Truck is notable for having held the WBC cruiserweight title for almost three years, and losing a one-sided decision to Enzo Maccarinelli for the WBO belt. Braithwaite has very good power, as is shown by a high KO ratio, but his work rate tends to drop in the latter stages of fights, which is a liability when facing a workhorse such as Cunningham. At almost 34 years old, Braithwaite's career may be drawing to a close - however, rest assured he'll be looking to prove his power by beating "USS" tomorrow night and squaring off for another world title.
Outcome Prediction:
Braithwaite is a seasoned pro, but the power of Big Truck will be offset by the complete skill set of Cunningham. Hence, USS will outwork and outclass his opponent in every department, before knocking him out in the middle rounds. My prediction is an fifth round KO for Steve Cunningham, who will then go on to get a well-deserved rematch with Adamek for the IBF belt.
So that's the end of my first major blog on a fight. I hope you enjoyed it, and that we'll see a couple of great matches tomorrow from Sunrise, Fla.
DATE: Saturday, July 11 2009.
WEIGHT CLASS: Bantamweight, 118 lbs.
TITLES: Agbeko's IBF Belt.
LOCATION: BankAtlantlic Center, Sunrise, FL.
TV INFO: Showtime, 9PM ET/PT
UNDERCARD:
Tony DeMarco vs. Anges Adjaho (WBA eliminator, also televised)
Steve Cunningham vs. Wayne Braithwaite (IBF eliminator, not televised)
Agbeko's Advantages:
"King Kong" Agbeko, although relatively unheard of, especially in the USA, is one in a long line of Ghanaian world champions and contenders: Joshua Clottey and Ike Quartey come to mind (the former having given Miguel Cotto fits for 12 rounds a month ago, and the latter having been robbed of victories against both De la Hoya and Vernon Forrest in the eyes of some). But being Ghanaian in boxing is generally equated to having the heart of a lion, and Agbeko has demonstrated this throughout a solid career.
He is also the naturally bigger man in this matchup (and no, I'm not referring to Vic's insults here) as a natural bantamweight, with an impressive KO record that denotes very good power. Agbeko also knows how to protect his chin (he's never even been knocked down), using head movement and good upper body work - this may come in especially handy against a powerful guy like Vic.
That Agbeko is a highly determined boxer, who has been given an opportunity to fight a smaller man for more fame and recognition than he could have hoped for a year ago is not to be ignored. You can bet your last dime that when the Ghanaian warrior steps into the ring tomorrow night, he'll be determined to fight through hell to defend his belt and good reputation.
Darchinyan's Advantages:
Vicious Vic (aptly nicknamed "Raging Bull") has made a habit of knocking out sturdy boxers: Cristian Mijares and Jorge Arce come to mind! Mijares was WBC and WBA World Champ in the junior bantamweight division, and Arce had only been stopped once before in a distinguished 56 fight career. This means one thing: an unnatural power. Indeed, Darchinyan is widely recognized as one of the top pound-for-pound punchers in the game, and his career record proves it. Furthermore, the fact that the Armenian-born fighter started out as a flyweight and carried his power over to the super flyweight ranks inspires a certain confidence in the man's ability to inflict damage.
Darchinyan possesses superb reflexes and athleticism, and has an almost-comically unorthodox stance, from which he throws punches at angles so odd that I'm surprised he's never KFTO'd a ref. He is an underrated boxer and exhibits good footwork when remembers to use it!
Lastly, he is running very high in the confidence department, having unified the super flyweight titles over the last year or so.
Agbeko's Disadvantages:
In one word - inexperience. Although a seasoned fighter in his own right, Agbeko has never dealt with an opponent of Darchinyan's pedigree. It is noteworthy that, since his controversial loss against Wlad Sidorenko, Agbeko has fought five times in five years, taking all of 2005 and 2006 off, and only climbing into the ring once in 2008. Since then, his opponents have had a combined record of 59-10, whereas Darchinyan has faced three former or current world champions, whose records (combined 116-10) do not do justice to their outstanding skill.
Agbeko is also being coached by the man who trained him as an amateur, Adama Ardey, who has been a good personal factor for the Ghanaian, but has not shown an extensive technical acumen that is generally required of those who prepare fighters for championship fights. Whether or not Ardey will be able to help his fighter adjust to Darchinyan's difficult style is pivotal to the outcome of the fight. Agbeko's tactical stagnation in his last few outings seems to indicate that it may be too great an ask to outsmart the wily Armenian.
Darchinyan's Disadvantages:
In two words - Nonito Donaire. The Filipino Flash caught Vic right on the chin in the fifth round of Vic's defense of his IBF flyweight title. Raging Bull could not beat the count, and looked a mess afterwards (bloody nose and all). Although Darchinyan showed drastic improvement in his subsequent bouts, the KO of the Year in 2007 proved that he was vulnerable to be hit with a hook when coming in to punch. Furthermore, Vic has yet to show us any semblance of defensive skill, which may be problematic against the biggest man he's ever faced. Thus, the risk of getting caught is fairly high - too high for a fighter of his caliber!
Besides the Donaire incident, Vic was never subtle - inside or outside the ring. Hence, his tendency to stand and trade bombs might just get him in trouble against a warrior like Agbeko.
Outcome Prediction:
Most pundits fancy Darchinyan in those one, and I would have to agree with them. Brave though he is, I cannot see Agbeko standing up to Darchinyan's freakish power and awkward style for 12 rounds. In the end, Raging Bull's superior natural talent and ring smarts will overcome King Kong's size advantage and chin. I predict a seventh round KO for Vic Darchinyan.
Undercard Analysis, Part I:
Fom what I gather, Showtime will televize the bout between Tony DeMarco and Anges Adjaho, so maybe I should start with that one. A small spiel on each fighter in this WBA lightweight eliminator:
Tony DeMarco (21-1, 15 KOs):
The talented Mexican fighter has put together a good string of ten successive wins, which have propelled him up the rankings and given him the bout against Adjaho, whose winner becomes WBA champion Edwin Valero's mandatory challenger.
DeMarco has good power in both hands and a solid grasp of fundamentals, but is an otherwise incomplete pugilist who may develop into a true contender in the next two or three years (he is, after all, only 23).
Anges Adjaho (24-1, 14 KOs):
A fairly obscure figure, who fought most of his career out of Africa, where he held a number of titles, has so far failed in his only World Championship eliminator match, against Miguel Acosta. His only notable victory is a decision over Fernando Angulo, and let's face it - he's not exactly a future Hall-of-Famer, is he?
Outcome Prediction:
DeMarco is a good prospect, who may be ready to step it up in the spotlight. Adjaho will not have the boxing skills and the ring experience to keep up with the Mexican youngster, and will gradually slow after the opening rounds. I predict a fourth round KO for Tony DeMarco. Just as a cynical sidenote - the reward for winning this match is a shot at Edwin Valero, who is known for destroying a billion brain cells inside of three minutes in the ring. Not exactly appealing, is it?
Undercard Analysis, Part II:
The untelevised bout between Steve Cunningham and Wayne Braithwaite is also relevant, as it serves as an eliminator for Adamek's IBF title. Hence, I get to throw my two cents on it:
Steve "USS" Cunningham (23-2, 11 KOs):
Cunningham stepped on to the world scene when he won the IBF Cruiserweight title in a rematch against Krzysztof Wlodarczyk in mid 2007. Since then, he has defended it against solid-contender Marco Huck and lost it in a split decision to Tomasz Adamek.
Cunningham is a very good, complete boxer, who has a reasonably high chance at winning at least one more world title in his career. At 32, he has a few good fights in him, and has been an established contender in the division for about five years, which shows his durability and skill.
Wayne "Big Truck" Braithwaite (23-3, 19 KOs):
Big Truck is notable for having held the WBC cruiserweight title for almost three years, and losing a one-sided decision to Enzo Maccarinelli for the WBO belt. Braithwaite has very good power, as is shown by a high KO ratio, but his work rate tends to drop in the latter stages of fights, which is a liability when facing a workhorse such as Cunningham. At almost 34 years old, Braithwaite's career may be drawing to a close - however, rest assured he'll be looking to prove his power by beating "USS" tomorrow night and squaring off for another world title.
Outcome Prediction:
Braithwaite is a seasoned pro, but the power of Big Truck will be offset by the complete skill set of Cunningham. Hence, USS will outwork and outclass his opponent in every department, before knocking him out in the middle rounds. My prediction is an fifth round KO for Steve Cunningham, who will then go on to get a well-deserved rematch with Adamek for the IBF belt.
So that's the end of my first major blog on a fight. I hope you enjoyed it, and that we'll see a couple of great matches tomorrow from Sunrise, Fla.
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