Boxing

Friday Night Fights on ESPN 2: Wiggins vs Barrett

By Marc Abrams

05.04 - Friday Night Fights on ESPN 2 brings us to the mohegan sun in Uncasville CT, where 2 heavyweightswho come to fight and bring nice resumes into the ring. We are Talking about one-time hot prospect Monte Barrett and durable Robert Wiggins.

Barrett 27-2 (15 knockouts)is taking this fight on just 4 days notice after Ray mercer pulled out with a bad back. Has been in the ring with lots of recognizable names who have seen better days such as wins versus Greg page, Phil Jackson, Jimmy Thunder, Robert Davis, and Tim Witherspoon. His 2 losses have come on a split decision loss to Mount Whitaker an d a 7th round knockout at the heavy hands of Wladimier Klitschko.

Wiggins, a Southpaw is 17-2-1(10 Knockouts)has been with some of the young lions of the heavyweight division, such as Erick Kirkland, Derrick Bryant, and DaVarryl Willamson. Wiggins Knocked out Kirkland on 2 days notice. He got Knocked out by bryant in 4 and lost a decision to the heavy handed Willamson.

Now Onto the Fight, Barrett tried to set the tone early by attempting to box from the outside but could not connect on any jabs in the 1st round but he at least forced the action while Wiggins was attempting to just Land over hand lefts and not even coming close to connecting. Barrett just outworked Wiggins for the 1st 3 rounds.

The Fight Took a major swing in round 4 when 2 buts cut each fighter. Barrett's cut was far worse as the doctor had to be calledc over twice in a 30 second span and it seemed to bother Barrett as Wiggins Started connecting and scoring making the fight even through 6.

With both fighters tireing in the 7th there was more clinching and holding and Barrett tried to get back to using his classier skills and was landing a few shots here and there while Wiggins was swinging alot , missing, then clinching. Therefore i believe Barrett easily took 3 out of the remaining 4 rounds, although he started showing fatigue in the 8th by lowering his hands but Wiggins was just as spent as he could not land that 1 blow he was looking for all night.

Judges George Smith and Julie Lederman saw the figh 96-94 for Barrett . Judge Rich Flaherty saw it 97-93 for Wiggins ( I dont see where that score is even close to the fight most of us saw).

All things considerd its a good win for Barrett, being that it was on 4 days notice against a guy who has a proven track record that he can compete with quality fighters. I certainly believe that Barrett has much better skills then Wiggins, But Wiggins comes to fight every time and has the where withall to hold his own with fighters who may be better then him. As for Barrett, I dont think he championship quality heavyweight, but he is a guy who can compete on a level with some of the top 20-25 heavyweights and hopefully some of those fights lie ahead for him.

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