Algieri Might Be the Most Interesting Man in Sports

11/14/201411/13/2014 Paul Strauss

The world has already learned a lot about Chris Algieri, 20-0-0 (8KO), and it wants more. It has listened to him, observed him, sometimes chuckling at what is heard or seen. But, the truth of the matter is Algieri is unlike any other prizefighter practicing his wares, now or in the past. The sporting world might have a real gem in this young man from New York.

Usually the athletes who get the headlines and magazine covers are the men and women with extraordinary physical attributes. They stand out because of their uncommon prowess. They can knock the ball out of the park, or a man to the canvas.

Sergey Kovalev Does The Job And Gives Good Advice

11/10/201411/10/2014 Paul Strauss

Sergey “Krusher” Kovalev 25-0-1(23KO) managed to bundle up three light heavyweight titles (WBA, IBF, & WBO) with his one-sided win over Bernard Hopkins at the Boardwalk Center, Atlantic City, N.J. The main point of interest, prior to the opening belt, was an expectation that sooner or later the experienced oldster Bernard “Alien” Hopkins 55-7-2 (32KO) would manage to set a trap. When the bait was taken, Hopkins would nail the Russia hard enough to start the ball rolling in his favor. After all, the Krusher, according to Hopkins, was a crude brawler, whose defense was porous, someone ready to be exploited.

The main reason or interest in the fight was Hopkins’ advanced age, and that carried through, even thought the ring action was one-sided. But, unlike other one-sided affairs, there remained the faint hope in the wily old fox. Might he once again shock the boxing world? The odds were against it. The likelihood of an upset grew even fainter when Philly’s own went down from a glancing right hand in the first round. The question of whether Krusher could hurt the veteran was answered.

Kovalev Brings Pressure and Power; Hopkins will Conduct & Inflict or Breakdown and Fail

11/07/201411/06/2014 Paul Strauss

This saturday at Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, N.J., maestro Bernard “The Alien” Hopkins 55- 6-2 (32KO) will attempt to conduct a clinic highlighting his knowledge, experience, good judgement and discipline. No other boxer in history has successfully accomplished what he has. He is the consummate artist. Only weeks away from his 50th birthday, in exemplary fashion, he will climb into the ring with the “Krusher”, Sergey Kovalev 25-0-1 (23KO). At 31 the Russian is still a whippersnapper to Hopkins.

Hopkins, the Alien, sees things differently than most. When fans, and a few boxing experts, look at Krusher, they see a tough, determined fighter, who is ready to flatten anyone who stands in his way. So far he has been able to live up to his nickname by knocking the stuffing out of 23 of his 26 opponents. Not a bad percentage, just a couple of points shy of Gennady Golovkin’s 90%,

GGG puts Rubio down for the count; Donaire flashes briefly then flickers out at hands of Walters

10/19/201410/19/2014 Paul Strauss

The StubHub Center, Carson City, CA kept adding seating, and the fans gobbled them up. Fans wanted to see Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire 33-2-0 (21 KO) squash Nicholas Walters 23-0-0 (21 KO) a rising star from Montego Bay, Jamaica, who learned his trade in Panama. They also eagerly wanted to witness Gennady GGG Golovkin get his 18th straight knockout. The build up for a Mexican Style battle was nothing more than a promotional tactic. Not many gave Rubio much of a chance. They were right.

First, what happened to the Flash. He put it best when he said, “He (Walters) beat the [expletive] out of me.” All you had to do was look at his face for convincing evidence. Both eyes were cut and swollen, and the rest of his face was also marked up. Walters was relatively unmarked, and was only in danger once in the second round when Donaire caught him with his vaunted left hook. It happened at the end of the round, and Walters wobbled back to his corner.

Mexican Style – Golovkin Will be Wearing the Sombrero

10/11/201410/10/2014 Paul Strauss

Marco Antonio “El Veneno” Rubio 59-6-1 (51KO) and his trainer Robert Garcia say Marco is going to introduce Gennady Gennadyevich Golovkin 30-0-0 (27KO) to “Mexican Style” fighting. The description implies being a warrior, willing to die in the ring, courageous, never afraid, exhibiting a good chin, always calm and of course having a great left hook to the liver.

Rubio enjoys all of the Mexican Style qualities. He is the current WBC interim middleweight champion. He has been through several wars, and with the exception of three stoppages in his long career, has proved to have the “good chin”.

Public Perception Means Diddily-Squat

09/26/2014 Paul Strauss

Don’t concern yourself. What you thought you saw wasn’t real. “All Access” was all showbiz, according to Floyd Mayweather, Jr. What viewers saw was what he wanted them to see. It was not real, a kind of mirage. Shedding more light, he explained it wasn’t marijuana we saw. It really was nothing but harmless weed, a prop. He further explained we need not believe what we heard either. The truth is his doghouse fighters really did have rest periods, and weren’t forced to spar for 31 straight minutes. And, those people flashing money around, giving us the impression they were betting, well that was a staged exhibition for the cameras.

The NSAC panel in charge apparently nodded their heads in agreement, and voiced their satisfaction with Mayweather’s explanation. The implication was as long as you were just kidding, it’s okay. But, next time please let us know a head of time what you’re planning to do, so we won’t be alarmed and made to look foolish. Money would have us believe as Mick “Crocodile” Dundee used to say, “No worries mate.”

Boxing Scores No Decision

09/16/201409/16/2014 Paul Strauss

What’s next? Who’s next? Video or no video, spank or don’t spank. There doesn’t seem to be any end in sight to the finger pointing, the accusations, and disbelief in the sporting world. Football, baseball, cycling, track and field, politicians and on and on with offenses and misdeeds that bombard the public.

Boxing is no exception. Left and right our kids’ heroes tumble, leaving responsible parents outraged, and squirming when forced to explain away disturbing and embarrassing news. They, above all, know Innocent children need help in understanding why their hero is no longer worthy of their admiration.

Yay or Nay for Mayweather, Jr. Gets Complicated

09/12/201409/12/2014 Paul Strauss

Big fight tomorrow night at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV. The rematch is billed as “Mayhem” or Mayweather vs Maidana II. Until recently Mayweather, Jr., thought he had fans right where he wanted them, and that’s in paying seats. In the recent past, it bothered him not one iota whether fans were paying to see him win or lose, just as long as they’re paying!

On the surface, it is no great slight to him if a number of fans object to his bragging. Few disapproved because of any character flaw. Rather, these boxing fans feel Money manages his career too carefully, which is a polite way of saying he avoids certain worthy opponents because they might be a threat to his “O” in the loss column. That group also argues his style is too defensive. They want a red blooded macho champion. They want to see Money get clobbered, and they’re willing to pay to see it. Money, of course, likes the pay part. Whether they’re paying to see him win or to get trounced makes no difference to the bottom line, and that’s the only line drawn in the sand Money cares about.

Broner gets big UD win over Taylor; Matthysse wants to stop Ortiz, but Referee beats him to it

09/07/201409/07/2014 Paul Strauss

Adrien “Problem” Broner 29-1 (22KO), comfortable in his Cincinnati, OH backyard, took a while to soften up Emmanuel Taylor 18-3 (12KO). The Problem child pulled away in the last quarter, topping off things for his fans by dropping Taylor with a hard left uppercut in the last round at the U.S. Bank Arena. Broner got what he wanted, a big win over a tough opponent. In a way, Taylor got what he wanted too. He proved his critics wrong by putting on a better showing than they thought possible.

Taylor’s early aggression kept the fight close. He prevented Broner from using his jab. Broner was limited to his “check hooks”, most of which missed or were blocked. Broner and Taylor both landed good body shots, but Broner’s had more mustard on them. Showtime announcer Paulie Malignaggi remarked on the quality of the action, stressing both men were technically sound and demonstrating a lot of skill. The fouls and dirty tactics were held to a minimum, and referee Randy Jarvis held a relatively easy time of it. There were a few warnings here and there for use of the elbow and occasional holding.

Brook defeats Porter; Dirrell and Bika look poor; Figueroa toughs it out

08/18/201408/17/2014 Paul Strauss

(Photo credit: Esther Lin/Showtime) Shawn “Showtime” Porter 24-0-1 (KO 15) was the favorite, confident he would be able to reach the taller Kell “The Special One” Brook 32-0-0 (KO 22). He was poised to give Kell a good thumping at the Stub Hub Center in Carson, California. After all he took care of the slick, durable Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi in four rounds. Experts were siding with him. They dismissed The Special One’s undefeated record, pointing out only one victory came on USA soil. It was back in 12-17-2011, a 5th rd TKO of Luis Galarza. In their minds he hadn’t really been tested.

Porter planned to quickly and thoroughly check the quality of the challenger. He envisioned himself having the ability to cleverly duck under Kell’s leads and bouncing at least one counter body shot off Kell’s ribs before pivoting off to his right, nullifying Kell’s right, and at the same time inviting the man from Sheffield, Yorkshire, UK to turn to his left, right into more shots before he could reset.