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By Ted Sares – BIFF, BAM, POW, let’s get right to it because the next few months will be a fan’s dream.. Juan Manuel Marquez will be fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Saturday, Chris Arreola and Vitali Klitschko will be getting it on, and the Super Six World Boxing Classic will soon begin as well. Of course, Cotto vs. Pacquiao will put the icing on the cake and Williams-Pavlik is not too bad either. What is a boxing fan to do but sit back, light up a legendary Perdomo Cameroon and maybe – just this time around-, instead of Scotch, pull on a cold bottle of Tecate-the cerveza con caracter. Or perhaps, in honor of Mexico’s fine boxers, a Pacifico, Corona, Estrella, Dos Equis, Negra Modelo, or Modelo Especial (my favorite) might be your brew of choice. At any rate, salute!
We have some killer music in the background, but your reasonable requests will be answered in the affirmative. I can hear “The Midnight Rambler” with “Symphony for the Devil” (as played live at Altamont) in the cue. Stevie Ray will be on with the incredible “Riviera Paradise,” and Van Morrison will stop by with “Live in Belfast 1998.” Finally, Jimi will be “Letting the Good Times Roll” and letting us know that “The Wind Cries Mary,” while Robert Plant and company will “Bring it on Home.”
Now it’s time to talk boxing, and I have listed a few subjects that might spark your interest or generate controversy. As always, feel free to inject your own topic..
1. Some Predictions: First, I have gone on record and picked Vitali to whip Arreola, Abraham to hammer Taylor, and Kessler to beat Ward. I now also think Williams will beat Pavlik because there are simply too many unresolved questions looming around “The Ghost” and his camp; hell, I have serious doubts the fight will ever take place. As for Dirrell vs. Froch, I withhold judgment for now, but I do see it as the U.S.’s best chance for a victory, but the Englishman is one strong customer. I have already predicted Jones over Green as that one defines the old saw–”styles make fight” and Jone’s style will be way too much for the rugged but slow Green. A fight between Hopkins and Jones in no longer out of the question and if Roy wins impressively, he likely can make that happen to the tune of some serious mega bucks. I also see Tomasz Adamek retiring Andrew Golota in Poland on October 24 in brutal and ugly fashion—that is, ugly in the way it will end.
Down the road, I see Haye beating (and possibly waxing) the Russian Giant (A.K.A. the Beast from the East), and “Bad Chad” Dawson beating Glen Johnson in their rematch. Age and speed will be the factors here as Chad is moving up and Glen is not. As well, I predict Lucien Bute will outpoint Librado Andrade in better fashion this time around, but he had better be prepared to go the full 12 rounds without tiring.
Mayweather over Marquez
I see Pretty Boy Floyd having too much of a natural size advantage for Juan Manuel Marquez to overcome. But the fact Floyd (who is coming off a long layoff) is not a physical fighter may detract from this advantage. Moreover, Marquez is a solid all-around fighter who can adapt and who will not be bullied by Mayweather. I see a highly competitive fight in which Mayweather will win a very close decision (or possibly even fight to a draw). I also see a technical, feeling-out type fight for the first few rounds until Marquez initiates the action. Of course, the opportunity of becoming an all-time Mexican legend can be a great motivator and a decisive intangible in the scheme of things. Should Marquez be successful in luring PBF into brawling exchanges, he just might end up with legendary status. In short, Mayweather will have to be at his best to beat Marquez whom I suspect will be at HIS best.
Remember, Castillo (albeit a younger Castillo) gave Mayweather fits and Marquez is no Castillo. And it’s difficult to visualize a Marquez being the victim of Floyd’s leads and/or pot shots as was Hatton. At any rate, the ultra-hype thankfully is just about over. So let’s get it on.
Pac Man over Cotto
I am picking Pac Man over Cotto. After all, just about all of the Top Ten lists have Manny as number one so how can I not pick him as the favorite? I truly believe Cotto’s style is perfect for Pacquiao to exploit with his great in-and-out movement accompanied by just about every punch in the manual and each thrown with malice aforethought. Now then, I clearly remember Cotto backing up in the late rounds against Clottey and I think I might have seen glimpses of the “Ghost of Margorito” somewhere in that ring. If Cotto backs up against Pacquiao, the Filipino superman will not let him off the hook as did Clottey. I see speed being the decisive factor in this one and speed is what Manny Pacquiao is all about.
Katsidis vs. Escibedo (9-19-09)
My prediction on this one is that it will be a solid candidate for Fight of the Year. Don’t miss it.
2. My Pound-4-Pound Top Dozen Right Now
Again, this is simply a snapshot at a particular moment in time and is subject to constant change. Here is my snapshot as of September 5, 2009:
1. Manny Pacquiao
2. Juan Manuel Marquez
3. Shane Mosley
4. Juan Manuel Lopez
5. Chad Dawson
6. Bernard Hopkins
7. Paul Williams
8. Nonito Donaire
9. Miguel Cotto
10. Celestino Caballero
11. Mikkel Kessler
12. Lucien Bute
I have made some major revisions since last month. Most were made to correlate with my divisional rankings (see ESB rankings)
Jorge Linares was deleted from the list due to inactivity and was replaced by Mikell Kessler. I have switched around Mosley and Lopez –and, unlike most other rankers, have not included Rafael Marquez or Israel Vazquez both of whom I believe were badly damaged during their great trilogy, especially Vazquez. By the way, the difference between Bute and Kessler is razor thin, as is the one between Dawson and Hopkins (who doesn’t fight enough to suit me). Of course, if Mayweather beats Marquez, he will be inserted as number two and maybe even higher if he does it in spectacular fashion.
What do you think?
3. Boxing Trivia 21
This is the name of a boxing software game on which I am try to put the finishing touches. (I have it just about copyrighted) It’s quite simple. Contestants have 5 seconds in which to answer the question. First one who reaches 21 wins. No ties.
For example, the following might be questions:
1) Who knocked out Simon Brown when Brown waved his arms while on the canvas?
2) Who was the referee in the Mercer-Morrison fight?
3) Who did Chuck Davey beat twice in two high profile fights in 1952?
4) Who defended his middleweight crown 14 times while remaining unbeaten over 13 years?
5) Who was the “Old Mongoose?”
If you would like to help me with some questions, please post them and I will incorporate them if they pass muster. One or two would be splendid.
4. Prospect of the Month.
As a new feature to the Scotch and Cigar Club, I will be including my Prospect of the Month.
This month, it’s Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez, a middleweight who fights out of Worcester, MA by way of the Dominican Republic. Edwin is currently at 11-0 with 8 KOs. He recently stopped Angel Gonzalez in Rochester, NY and is due to fight Robbie Tovar on September 23 in Manchester, NH. Edwin is a heavy handed bomber who blends power with good technical ability. He is being brought along patiently and progressively by his able manager Larry Army. After he starches Tovar, look for him to step up to stiffer opposition. I have seen him fight and in my opinion, he is the real McCoy. In fact, I witnessed him iced rugged Patrick Thompson who had only been stopped once before in some 30 bouts against extremely tough opposition and that was by Alfonso Gomez back in 2003. Thompson recently “lost” a controversial decision to Ronald Hearns in a fight in which he had “The Chosen One” hurt and holding on.
Do you have a prospect you want to mention here? You know, someone like Kenny Galaza or Shawn Porter? If so, I might be able to do a piece on him (or her).
5. Here are my latest Jr. Featherweight (122 lbs) rankings:
1. Juan Manuel Lopez
2. Celestino Caballero
3. Rafael Marquez
4. Israel Vazquez
5. Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym
6. Bernabe Concepcion
7. Toshiaki Nishioka
8. Bernard Dunn
9. Rendall Munroe
10. Daniel Ponce de Leon
11.Jhonny González
12. Steve Molitor
13. Antonio Escalante
14 Jeffrey Mathebula
15. Ricardo Cordoba.
15. Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr
Whne Dunn fights Kratingdaenggym on September 26, he will be a live underdog. That said, I am picking him to not only win but to knockout the Thai champion
6. R.I.P Darren Sutherland.
May God watch over your young soul, Daz.
Visit the author’s site at www.tedsares.com for stories, photos, and superb music.