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| The LAST GREAT CONTENDERS Heavyweights of the 1970s $19.95 |
| "The Fight Life" Boxing Documentary $14.99 |
| Boxing Careers on DVD Click above for catalog |
Robert Guerrero UD10 Vicente Escobedo
A unanimous duke for “The Ghost” although the 100-90 scoring by judge Jean
Williams is cause for head scratching. Guerrero was too strong as expected for
Escobedo, flooring the former Golden Boy prospect in the third and sixth
rounds. The HBO announcing team stated that Escobedo was contemplating
moving back down to the 130 lb division. Probably the best choice for him
considering the lightweight division is home to fighters that are more physical
than he is…But Escobedo seems to be a fighter that would have benefitted from
a return to fifteen round fights considering the way he has closed the gap in the
final rounds against Michael Katsidis and now Guerrero.
Guerrero is now set to take on the winner of the Juan Manuel Marquez/Michael
Katsidis title tilt. I would favor him strongly against Katsidis. I also give him the
slight edge over Marquez who has to be slowing down.
Zab Judah SD12 Lucas Matthyse
A close call for the Brooklynite as Matthyse floors him in the tenth and finishes
strong. Judah controlled the early rounds with his superior speed as Matthyse
was content to throw body shots one at a time. Matthyse seemed to be a bit
overcautious at the start which I chalk up to nerves at being on the big stage for
the first time. His weakness is that he is a body puncher and body punchers are
always undervalued by American judges. The HBO announcing team had
incorrectly labeled Matthyse as a knockout artist/slugger. His record certainly
suggests it (27-1, 25 early knockouts) but this Argentine will be a long haul
trucker against the elite of the division. He won’t knock out a top ranked fighter
in the division early but seek to punish them over the course of the bout with
body shots and come on late. Against guys like Judah, he has to start a lot
sooner. My guess is that he won’t progress beyond the bottom tier of the top 10
because of limited foot
speed and punch volume.
Judah still has some life at age 33 but it is hard to see how much progress he can
make in the stocked junior welterweight class. Because of his connections and
name, I would not be surprised to see him get a title shot but it is apparent that
his better days are behind him and the persistent lack of focus throughout the
course of a tough fight will forever be his albatross.
Glen Johnson KO8 Allan Green
Allan Green has the worst body language of any fighter I’ve seen when things
don’t go his way. During bouts against Andre Ward, Edison Miranda and now
Johnson he seems to hang his head in defeat as soon as a few hard shots are
landed. Johnson started slow but found Green’s head to be a stationary target
for his right hand. The frequency of Johnson’s right cross landing increased by
the round and one could see a knockout courtesy of that blow was imminent.
Green repeatedly complained about rabbit punches but didn’t have a case as he
repeatedly put his head down and away. Turning his head in this manner gave
Johnson no choice. As Green was floored in the eighth he laid on the ground and
complained to the referee a la Chris Byrd when he was ko’d by Ike Ibeabuchi.
Once upon a time Glen Johnson was slated to face former super middleweight
king Joe Calzaghe for Johnson’s light heavyweight belt, I believe. Now he has
an opportunity to make some noise in that division. He would be a heavy
underdog against the three elite fighters left in the tournament (Ward, Arthur
Abraham, Carl Froch) but I would not rule him out against the latter two.
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ RTD8 RAFAEL MARQUEZ
A wild, nip and tuck affair. This one was just about as good as you can get.
Lopez seemed to take control but Marquez capitalized on a palpable opening
for his left hook throughout the fight. His left hook landed with alarming
regularity and hurt Lopez on at least three occasions. Lopez’, to his credit, never
retreated or regrouped. He kept pressing forward and would not be denied his
stoppage win. After battering Marquez throughout the eighth round, Marquez
pointed to his shoulder and decided to call it quits.
After the bout, Marquez called for a rematch but Arum demurred stating that
Lopez would have a match in his native Puerto Rico before taking on an eagerly
anticipated unification match with Yuriorkis Gamboa. Judging by his tone of
voice I am guessing the defense in Puerto Rico will not be against Marquez and
against a soft touch which Lopez deserves.
Marquez stated that he injured his right shoulder prior to the match and did not
want to postpone it any further. He didn’t throw his right hand very much
throughout and there may be something to this.
But I think Lopez would stop Marquez sooner in a rematch. He is only going to
get better and would make the adjustments necessary. But I will say this about
Marquez…I think he is one of the most dangerous fighters around when he is
hurt…He fires back instinctively and refuses to clinch. A true warrior.
A unanimous duke for “The Ghost” although the 100-90 scoring by judge Jean
Williams is cause for head scratching. Guerrero was too strong as expected for
Escobedo, flooring the former Golden Boy prospect in the third and sixth
rounds. The HBO announcing team stated that Escobedo was contemplating
moving back down to the 130 lb division. Probably the best choice for him
considering the lightweight division is home to fighters that are more physical
than he is…But Escobedo seems to be a fighter that would have benefitted from
a return to fifteen round fights considering the way he has closed the gap in the
final rounds against Michael Katsidis and now Guerrero.
Guerrero is now set to take on the winner of the Juan Manuel Marquez/Michael
Katsidis title tilt. I would favor him strongly against Katsidis. I also give him the
slight edge over Marquez who has to be slowing down.
Zab Judah SD12 Lucas Matthyse
A close call for the Brooklynite as Matthyse floors him in the tenth and finishes
strong. Judah controlled the early rounds with his superior speed as Matthyse
was content to throw body shots one at a time. Matthyse seemed to be a bit
overcautious at the start which I chalk up to nerves at being on the big stage for
the first time. His weakness is that he is a body puncher and body punchers are
always undervalued by American judges. The HBO announcing team had
incorrectly labeled Matthyse as a knockout artist/slugger. His record certainly
suggests it (27-1, 25 early knockouts) but this Argentine will be a long haul
trucker against the elite of the division. He won’t knock out a top ranked fighter
in the division early but seek to punish them over the course of the bout with
body shots and come on late. Against guys like Judah, he has to start a lot
sooner. My guess is that he won’t progress beyond the bottom tier of the top 10
because of limited foot
speed and punch volume.
Judah still has some life at age 33 but it is hard to see how much progress he can
make in the stocked junior welterweight class. Because of his connections and
name, I would not be surprised to see him get a title shot but it is apparent that
his better days are behind him and the persistent lack of focus throughout the
course of a tough fight will forever be his albatross.
Glen Johnson KO8 Allan Green
Allan Green has the worst body language of any fighter I’ve seen when things
don’t go his way. During bouts against Andre Ward, Edison Miranda and now
Johnson he seems to hang his head in defeat as soon as a few hard shots are
landed. Johnson started slow but found Green’s head to be a stationary target
for his right hand. The frequency of Johnson’s right cross landing increased by
the round and one could see a knockout courtesy of that blow was imminent.
Green repeatedly complained about rabbit punches but didn’t have a case as he
repeatedly put his head down and away. Turning his head in this manner gave
Johnson no choice. As Green was floored in the eighth he laid on the ground and
complained to the referee a la Chris Byrd when he was ko’d by Ike Ibeabuchi.
Once upon a time Glen Johnson was slated to face former super middleweight
king Joe Calzaghe for Johnson’s light heavyweight belt, I believe. Now he has
an opportunity to make some noise in that division. He would be a heavy
underdog against the three elite fighters left in the tournament (Ward, Arthur
Abraham, Carl Froch) but I would not rule him out against the latter two.
JUAN MANUEL LOPEZ RTD8 RAFAEL MARQUEZ
A wild, nip and tuck affair. This one was just about as good as you can get.
Lopez seemed to take control but Marquez capitalized on a palpable opening
for his left hook throughout the fight. His left hook landed with alarming
regularity and hurt Lopez on at least three occasions. Lopez’, to his credit, never
retreated or regrouped. He kept pressing forward and would not be denied his
stoppage win. After battering Marquez throughout the eighth round, Marquez
pointed to his shoulder and decided to call it quits.
After the bout, Marquez called for a rematch but Arum demurred stating that
Lopez would have a match in his native Puerto Rico before taking on an eagerly
anticipated unification match with Yuriorkis Gamboa. Judging by his tone of
voice I am guessing the defense in Puerto Rico will not be against Marquez and
against a soft touch which Lopez deserves.
Marquez stated that he injured his right shoulder prior to the match and did not
want to postpone it any further. He didn’t throw his right hand very much
throughout and there may be something to this.
But I think Lopez would stop Marquez sooner in a rematch. He is only going to
get better and would make the adjustments necessary. But I will say this about
Marquez…I think he is one of the most dangerous fighters around when he is
hurt…He fires back instinctively and refuses to clinch. A true warrior.