By Robert Jackson: Ok to start with, I BLEW it, Juan Manuel Marquez is a STUD! Picking winners in boxing and horse racing is an inexact science, but I won’t pick against Marquez again unless he’s facing Wladimir Klitschko, Sam Peter and Kimbo Slice, on the same night. I also, don’t doubt that Marquez would move up to welterweight to face Pacquiao a 3rd time, should Pacquiao decide against returning to 135lbs after facing De La Hoya. Joel Casamayor made a good accounting of himself and had his moments, but at 37 and not getting any younger his days as an elite fighter may be over.
The fight on it’s own merits wasn’t the most action filled, but it had drama, the ebb & flow of the fight especially early made it either guys fight for the taking. Into the middle rounds as Marquez began to take over Casamayor would rise up like the Phoenix and deny Marquez supremacy if only temporarily. Marquez’ relentlessness paid off in round 12 when the end came for Casamayor, who for several of the later rounds was on shaky legs after suffering an earlier knockdown, and was knocked down again prompting referee Tony Weeks to stop the fight.
Notice how buff Marquez was for his debut fight at 135lbs, his spidery legs replaced with more sturdy drumsticks to go with his more muscular torso and upper body.
My next blown pick of the night is the Campbell/Guzman affair. What was Joan Guzman thinking? Him not fighting was an administrative rather than medical decision. It makes me wonder whether he was ever going to fight in the 1st place. Mayweather Sr. has to be disgusted with his charge and I wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t work together again in the future. I hope Nate Campbell recoups some financial benefit from this fiasco because he did his part. Fans were also cheated by Guzman’s failure.
Forrest/Mora a fight which I picked The Latin Snake to win turned out to be a good scrap with The Viper having his hand raised at the end. Mora failed to capitalize on his first victory over Vernon Forrest similar to his failure to capitalize on his Contender victory and failure to accept the proposed fight against Jermaine Taylor. For his part Vernon Forrest missed many of his shots showing his age but the shots that did land, did damage and scored points gaining him the victory.
Titmothy Bradley in his 1st defense of the 140lb WBC title made it known he will be a force in readiness. Using very good defense, an arsenal of punches and a late knockdown Bradley was able to overcome the swarming Edner Cherry. Both guys seemed to be evenly matched but “Desert Storm” separated himself from “Cherry Bomb” with ‘Mayweatheresque’ punch evasion skills, even though his inexperience surfaced at times. I picked Bradley to win by TKO in the late rounds and it almost happened, but the young man needs rounds to get the experience he’ll need to face veteran guys like Hatton, Malignaggi, and Emanuel Augustus and turn back challenges from prospects like Lamont Peterson.
Where do these guys go from here?
Talks between the Bradley camp and Team Juan Diaz are rumored to be ongoing, with Diaz moving up in weight to challenge Bradley for the WBC 140lb strap. Marquez and Campbell its seems have a date with destiny, a fight every fight fan I’m sure will look forward to, the winner of this bout will be expected to fight Manny Pacquiao for the undisputed 135lb crown. Vernon Forrest may look to unify the 154lb weight class starting with Verno Phillips. David Diaz, Michael Katsidis, and Joel Casamayor are all but eliminated from the 135lb championship picture for the time being and will be have to work their way back to a championship fight. Joan Guzman after a 6 months or year suspension may return to fight at the jr welterweight division and will have to fight himself into a championship position. The Latin Snake needs to go back to the drawing board, maybe hiring a new trainer to guide him into the elite levels of boxing, don’t think it will be long before Mora gets another call to embrace greatness just hope he’s ready.
What is there to look forward to?
Berto/Forbes, this fight will be skills vs size, brains vs brawn and Mosley/Mayorga, mouth vs master, louse vs legend.
What do you guys think?