ECL (ESPN Classic Sports)

[H2O Man]

is featuring some classic boxing matches this week, which are not usually seen on their channel. Last night they had the first Ray Leonard vs Tommy Hearns fight.

Tonight at 9, they will show the 7-12-86 Evander Holyfield vs Dwight (Braxton) Muhammad Qawi cruiserweight title fight. Evander won a split decision. I thought Qawi won when I watched it 19 years ago.

At 10 is the 3-6-93 WBC welterweight title fight between Pernell Whitaker and James "Buddy" McGirt. I believe it is their first fight, though I might have it confused. Either way, it's a great match. McGirt is a top trainer/cornerman today, while Whitaker has had trouble with addictiuon-related issues.

The week before last, ECL played the Dwight Braxton vs Matthew Saad Muhammad lightheavyweight title fight. I'm glad to see they are putting more of a variety on. They own Jimmy Jacob's collection of fight films, and should be doing this more often.

[WilliamPitt]

1. Thanks for the heads up

[H2O Man]

2. I think they are

working up to a big weekend. They have a good heavyweight fight Friday on the regular show, then a great pay-per-view scheduled for Saturday night.

Huge win for the Yankees yesterday, eh? Back on track .....

[H2O Man]

3. Tonight! (4-20)

At 9 pm is the 9-9-83 fight between Alexis Arguello and Aaron Pryor. Aaron "the Hawk" wins by a late round TKO, in a classic match. The fight was questionable, in my opinion, because Pryor tested positive afterwards for a performance-enhancing drug that comes in the form of a white powder. He may have won anyhow, but I really am opposed to drugs in sports. Plus, Alexis was really decent to my sons when they were little boys. I have a great film of him playing with them.

At 10 is a replay of Monday night's Sugar Ray Leonard vs Thomas Hearns. Great fight. It was one of the few Hearns' fights my brother didn't attend. I have a great collection of "Hit Man" photos etc from his top years. Things from training at Kronk gyms to fight-nights.

From last night, I'll have to say Evander looked better on film than I remember. I liked Dwight (Braxton) Qawi, in large part because Rubin Carter had helped train him when he served time in New Jersey. Tough man, Dwight, but it's hard to be on top when Holyfield and Michael Spinks are in the same division(s). I always wished Holyfield and Spinks would have met.

[nickgutierrez]

4. I love "Cheap Seats"

Where they take the worst sporting events you can imagine, and turn them into the funniest thing on TV at that time of night. :)

[H2O Man]

5. I sometimes forget

how much I enjoy sports. The never-ending nonsense on CNN, Fox, and MSNBC has led me to watch more ESPN, etc .... in large part because my teen-aged son loves sports. So "Cheap Seats" and other things are getting more play time in my house.

As a result, I'm reading the sports forum on DU more often. Boxing is my favorite sport, of course, but I've always enjoyed basketball, football, and baseball, among others. Unlike most of the others, I don't dislike any sports team. Most athletes/athletics are interesting, and having been up in the ring myself, I try not to find fault in others' performance. Still, I do like watching some of the bizarre things on CS.