Boxing: (April 6 & 7)

[H2O Man]

This weekend there are a number of good fights on ESPN, Showtime, and HBO. Here is a list of the fight cards that boxing fans can watch:

FRIDAY - at Uncasville, Connecticut (ESPN2) - 12
rounds, cruiserweights: Matt Godfrey (14-0, 8 KOs) vs. Felix
Cora Jr. (18-1-2, 9 KOs).

FRIDAY - Minneapolis (Showtime) - 12 rounds,
heavyweights: Travis Walker (22-0-1, 17 KOs) vs. George Garcia
(13-0, 4 KOs).


SATURDAY - at Cardiff, Wales (HBO) - 12 rounds,
middleweights: Joe Calzaghe (42-0, 31 KOs) vs. Peter Manfredo
Jr. (26-3, 12 KOs); 12 rounds, cruiserweights: Enzo Maccarinelli
(25-1, 19 KOs) vs. Bobby Gunn (16-2, 13 KOs); 12 rounds,
welterweights: Mehrdud Takaloo (25-5, 17 KOs) vs. Michael
Jennings (29-1, 14 KOs); 12 rounds, light middleweights: Bradley
Pryce (23-6, 14 KOs) vs. Thomas Awinbono (6-1-1, 3 KOs); 12 rounds,
middleweights: Gary Lockett (28-1, 19 KOs) vs. Ryan Rhodes
(35-4, 23 KOs).

SATURDAY - at Springfield, Missouri - (Showtime) -
12 rounds, light welterweights: Diego Corrales (40-4, 33 KOs)
vs. Joshua Clottey (30-2, 19 KOs).


This will be a tough weekend for me. My younger son was scheduled to fight in the finals in the NYS Eastern Division of the Golden Gloves. However, I made the decision to pull him out, because he had a serious case of the flu. It left him too weak too close to the fight. He's not happy with the decision, but I think he knows it is correct.

Instead of traveling to Plattsburgh, we'll watch the fights on television. Each of the four fight cards offers quality competition. The Friday night cards are interesting. ESPN has been trying to have more evenly matched main events, and on paper, this one is. The "ShowBox" fights are, in my opinion, some of the best fights on tv. They are a throw-back to the old Gillette Friday Night Fights, with "hungry" young contenders looking to make a name for themselves on national television.

Saturday's cards are interesting. Calzaghe is heavily favored to beat Manfredo. However, Sugar Ray Leonard is pretty invested in preparing Manfredo. While Calzaghe was outstanding versus Jeff Lacy, he is of an age that he isn't "up" for every fight. He may be looking past this fight, and thinking of the next potential "super fight." There are a few good options for him. He should win convincingly Saturday. But he can't take this kid for granted.

The most attractive fight of the weekend features Diego Corrales battling Joshua Clottey. Corrales is one of the most exciting warriors in the sport. He is somewhat like Thomas "Hit Man" Hearns: a tall guy with explosive power, who too often ignores his ability to outbox almost everyone, because he loves to slug it out anyone. And, like Tommy, he does not have a great chin. Unlike Hearns, Corrales does not have a long reach, and this makes slugging a dangerous game for him. This weekend, he moves up two weight classes, to fight one of the most dangerous men around. Clottey recently appeared to be on his way to an upset victory over hard-punching Antonio Margarito, until suffering an injury that prevented him from competing.

Corrales recently separated from his longtime trainer. It could be a difficult time to make two big changes: moving up two divisions, and having a new trainer/cornerman, seems to increase Diego's chances of having a very difficult fight on Saturday. And as much as the guy has welcomed tough fights over the years, I think it is going to catch up to him in 2007.

[H2O Man]

1. HBO notice ....

"A super middleweight title fight tops an exciting doubleheader from across the pond when World Championship Boxing: Joe Calzaghe vs. Peter Manfredo, Jr. and Amir Khan vs. Steffy Bull is seen live Saturday, April 7 at 5:00 PM ET/2:00 PM PT, and replayed later that same day at 10:00 PM ET/PT, from Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales on HBO."

ESPN Classic has fights tonight from 8 to 9 pm est; ESPN-2 from 9 to 11; and Showtime from 11 to 12:30. Can't beat it.

HBO has the 5 pm est show on Saturday (replay at 10); then ShowTime has the Corrales card starting at 9 pm. That will also be available on PPV for those who do not get ShowTime.

[TSIAS]

2. Good weekend of fights

Last night's ShoBox card was wild. None of the fighters were really good, but the fights were close and competitive. Former prospect Raphael Butler appeared headed for a 1st Round stoppage. However, his opponent held on and eventually Butler collapsed in the 8th Round. Neither fighter did much in the 2nd half, but the opponent was able to keep the fight on the inside to avoid big shots.

Also, unbeaten Travis Walker won an unimpressive split decision over George Garcia. Looking at Garcia, I thought it would have been a rout for Walker. Walker, a big HW, faced a chunky 5'10", 250 pound opponent. But Garcia did have a decent amatuer resume and did land a lot of shots, albeit without much force behind them.

Calzaghe should win impressively, as you say. I'd be shocked if this fight goes past five rounds. I've seen a lot of Manfredo, since he fought a lot of his early fights on FNF from the Northeast. He looked good in stopping shopworn Scott Pemberton in his last noteworthy fight. Still, I like Calzaghe by 6th Round stoppage.

Corrales/Clottey is also a good fight. I'm surprised to read at various boxing websites that Clottey is given a great shot at winning. Considering Corrales's suspect chin, and the fact that he's fighting at 147, Clottey by late KO is the popular pick. Clottey hung close in his bout against Margarito last year. I've always liked Corrales as a fighter. I remember watching his career blossom on early Boxing After Dark cards, against the likes of Angel Manfredy and John Brown. But as you say, he's had so many tough fights in the last few years. I'm going with Clottey to pull the mild upset.

[H2O Man]

3. The ShowBox card

seemed to have a tribute to Tony Galento! Man! I agree fully that the fighters were not world class, but the fights were competitive, fairly evenly matched, and were very exciting.

Calzaghe is very talented. When he is up for a match, he will be difficult for anyone to beat. I have a feeling that he will be at the top of his game for all of 2007.

The Corrales vs Clottey fight should be very exciting.

I'm glad that ESPN is starting the Wednesday Night Fights this week. I'm also looking forward to Zab Judah next Friday. He is an at times frustrating fighter to watch: he had such wonderful natural skills, but lacked the discipline to be a great champion. It's a shame.

[H2O Man]

4. Wow.

The Calzaghe fight ended on a sour note. It should not have been stopped. However, Calzaghe was on his way to a victory.

Corrales put up an intense fight. Clottey looked very good. I do not think Diego has much of a future at the top of any division. I hope he retires after this fight. He takes far too many punches, and at this point in his career, risks doing serious long-term damage to the grey matter.

[Kingofalldems]

5. Who won? I don't have HBO n/t

[H2O Man]

9. Calzaghe

by 3 round TKO.

[Awsi Dooger]

7. That's the biggest price I've given in quite a while

I bet Calzaghe at -950. In other words, a ratio of 950 to win 100. I very seldom take that kind of risk but this fight looked like a glorified pickup. Mirage had it -950 and Caesar's Palace had a much better line, IMO, -1600, so I dashed back to lay the -950 at Mirage. There's an eccentric multi millionaire here who is a former fighter and bets heavily on the fights, particularly the heavy chalk. I knew damn well he'd move the line vastly upwards and I was right, he eventually did. The -950 seemed like too much respect for Manfredo's name recognition coming off the Contenders program.

Anyway, I missed the fight but hope to see it later. Giving that type of price makes me antsy and I didn't want to watch. For anyone who visits Las Vegas, the Venetian sportsbook is the place to watch the fights on Saturday night. They always have them front and center on the big screen with sound on.

The only time I routinely gave the price was on Roy Jones in his prime, a string of easy wins for a decade although that first fight against Montel Griffin still makes me cringe. You're not supposed to get yourself stupidly DQed when I'm giving 6/1 odds.

[wake.up.america]

6. Did you happen to catch the Henry Maske versus Virgil Hill fight? Great comeback...

by Henry after not fighting over 10 years, having lost to Virgil at that time

[H2O Man]

8. I haven't seen it,

but it sounds like a good fight. Definitely an impressive comeback. Virgil Hill is a very good boxer.

[wake.up.america]

10. It took place in München. Henry outpointed him

[H2O Man]

11. I've read about it

and saw a report on one of the sports channels.

[wake.up.america]

12. I meant to ask you. - What's a good place for boxing info?

[H2O Man]

13. There is a

site I read:

http://secondsout.com


I also like Ring magazine.

[wake.up.america]

14. Vitali Klitschko will knock next Peters into next week. I have seen many of his fights.

Vitali has technique, quickness, stamina and strength. Doesn't like to get hit. Forte is wearing out his opponent by out boxing him. The best of a not so good heavyweight division I don't think Vitali will ever go into a match unprepared as he did in 2005.
Peter looks like brawler. Vitali should dance and tire Peter. If I were Peter, I'd make Vitali come to me and fight him close. Minimize reach advantage of Klitschko. What da say champ? You know much more about this.

[H2O Man]

15. I will be

mildly surprised if Vitali fights Peter. I think that he is already experiencing some difficulties with the old bones in training. My bet would be that if he does fight again, he will box someone who he believes poses little risk of beating him -- which is why he tried to get a match with Oleg Maskaev.

His choice might be Shannon Briggs. It's hard to say. But it is difficult for someone who retired because of physical injuries that make repetitive motion agony, to come back after a few years out of the sport. Even so, Vitali would pose a significant risk for anyone who faces him in the ring.

If he does fight Samuel Peter at the end of the summer, I think he will get KOed inside 6 rounds.

[wake.up.america]

16. Appreciate your thoughts. I must be thinking of Vatali of yesteryear

Apparently, he must be quickly deteriorating.

[H2O Man]

17. He hasn't fought

since 2004. That's a fairly long time in boxing. When Ali was forced out of action at a younger age, he never regained the natural skills that had allowed him to "hit and not get hit."

Klitschko pulled out of several scheduled fights with Hasim Rahman because of physical complaints, after his last bout in '04, and then retired. He is going to turn 36 soon, and has not fought in over 28 months. I don't think that qualifies as "quickly deteriorating." In his favor is that he didn't take a great deal of punishment in the ring. His loss to Lennox Lewis was because of a cut, although he appeared to be in a position to win the fight. Before that, he quit while ahead of Chris Byrd. He fought primarily the much smaller or the "third tier" fighters, though, and so ring-wise he wasn't shot. It'll be interesting to see what he does.

[wake.up.america]

18. I was wrong about his last fight 04 not 05. Thanks for the correction - My mistake