Weekend Boxing: April 13-14

[H2O Man]

FRIDAY - at Tunica, Mississippi (ESPN2) - 10 rounds,
welterweights: Zab Judah (34-4, 25 KOs) vs. Ruben Galvan
(27-11-2, 10 KOs); 12 rounds, flyweights: Rayonta Whitfield
(16-0, 8 KOs) vs. Jonathan Perez (12-1, 9 KOs)

SATURDAY - at Stuttgart, Germany (MSG) - 12 rounds,
WBA heavyweight title: Nikolay Valuev (46-0, 34 KOs) vs.
Ruslan Chagaev (22-0-1, 17 KOs).

SATURDAY - at Russellville, Arkansas - 8 rounds,
heavyweights: Marvin Hill (20-10, 16 KOs) vs. Joe Mesi
(34-0, 27 KOs).

SATURDAY - at San Antonio, Texas (PPV) - 12 rounds,
super featherweights: Manny Pacquiao (43-3-2, 34 KOs)
vs. Jorge Solis (32-0-2, 23 KOs); 12 rounds, WBC super flyweight
title: Jorge Arce (46-3-1, 35KOs) vs. Cristian Mijares (30-3-2,
12 KOs); vacant WBC light flyweight title: Brian Viloria
(19-1-1, 12 KOs) vs. Edgar Sosa (26-5, 14 KOs).


We have some potentially interesting fights scheduled for Friday and Saturday nights. The first is the return of Zab "Super" Judah, on ESPN. After serving a year's suspension for some ugly tactics in his fight against Floyd Mayweather, Zab is returning against an opponent who should not pose a serious problem for him. It is a "warm-up" bout for a possible June fight against Miguel Cotto. But, as boxing fans remember, Zab has an ability to underestimate an opponent -- especially when he is looking past him, and focusing on the next big fight. However, Galvan doesn't appear to be another Baldomir.

In the film I've seen of Zab preparing for the fight, he seems to be focused. But in interviews, he is his overconfident self, comparing himself to the greatest fighters ever. It's too bad this guy has rarely exercised self-discipline in preparing for fights.

I'm glad the Valuev fight will be on MSG. I have never had the opportunity to watch Chagaev. From what I've read, he would be interesting competition for the "smaller" heavyweights -- guys who are under 230 lbs -- but will be too small to compete with the giant Valuev.

Joe Mesi should retire. It seems that some promoter will eventually match him against Tommy "the Duke" Morrison soon.

While I am not buying many PPV fights in '07, I would like to see Manny Pacquiao defend against Jorge Solis. Manny is one of the most exciting warriors of this era, and he is fighting a qualified opponent. Also, Jorge Arce is an exciting fighter. It should be a good card.

[H2O Man]

1. Clearly

most of DU is, like myself, looking forward to Zab "Super" Judah's return to the ring. That explains why there haven't been any responses! Everyone is getting comfortable, in front of their tv, waiting for the fight card to begin.

[H2O Man]

2. Judah

should have been awarded a TKO. There is nothing on the film of the fight that proved that it was anything other than a punch -- specifically, the right uppercut -- that opened the cut. The other guy claimed it was a butt, and there was absolutely no chance of the cut coming from a butt. On the replay, the ESPN guys thought it may have been from an elbow .... there was one point where after throwing a left, Zab's elbow came back near the guy's head. I think it was more likely the uppercut.

The fight on MSG is at either 4 or 4:30 est today. It should be interesting. Valuev is getting closer to Rocky Marciano's "official" record of 49-0. It sounds like things are very close to having Wladimir Klitschko sign to fight him this summer, assuming that he wins today. That would create some serious interest in the heavyweight division. Though I am hoping to limit myself to one more PPV fight this year, I would likely buy a Valuev vs Klitschko match.

[TroubleMan]

3. I think he was cut by the upercut, too.

Judah was coming close to getting a KO or a TKO, and he looked good. I wonder if he'll take one more warm up before the big fight.

[H2O Man]

4. The timing

might make it hard. He is fighting Cotto June 9 in NYC. That would give him a total of under 60 days. In the pre-1960s, fighters were often that active. But for Judah, at about 30 years of age, it would mean peaking twice. Plus the risk of a cut from an accidental butt, etc.

Cotto vs Judah is a heck of a fight on paper. I do not anticipate it going 12 rounds!

[TroubleMan]

5. I didn't know it was so soon.

I'm most likely going to watch that one. It should be exciting.

[TSIAS]

6. Valuev/Klitschko is likely off

Ruslan Chagaev ended up winning a majority decision and picks up the WBA belt. I read the online reports, since it's not airing where I live. Appeared to be a close, tactical fight, with Valuev wearing down near the end. The next proposed Klitschko bout is in July, possibly a rematch with Lamon Brewster.

I'm not buying the Pacquiao card. If there's one thing I cannot stand from a visual standpoint, it's Bob Arum Top Rank PPV productions. I might buy it if it were done by HBO, but not the biased Top Rank garbage. Still, Pacquiao is always in good fights, and on paper Solis is a good opponent.

Jorge Arce is also on the undercard. For your sake, lets hope his opponent this time comes to fight. In his last appearance, his opponent was content to survive the 12 round distance, losing every round.

[H2O Man]

7. Good fight.

Valuev fell behind in the first 7 rounds, then appeared to come on in the next 4 rounds, but lost the 12th. Every round was fairly close. The decision was certainly fair. This guy can Ruslan Chagaev has to be considered capable of giving anyone in the division a very good fight. He will bring a lot of excitement to the division.

I'm thinking that Klitschko probably wishes he had fought him. Don King said that Wladimir will be "defending" against Lamon Brewster, in an attempt to get revenge for the KO loss in their first fight.

The heavyweight division is getting good.

I like watching Pacquiao and Arce, but the card isn't worth $45. I'm sure it'll make money, though. It sounds like Arce may have a tough match.

[H2O Man]

9. Klitschko vs Brewster

July 7.

[H2O Man]

8. Pacquiao by TKO in 8.

It sounds like an interesting fight, where a butt caused a serious cut.

Mijares decisioned Arce.

On edit: one report states that Pacquiao won by KO, another that it was a TKO. "SecondsOut" says the referee counted Solis out.