Ward vs. Rodriguez: Will ring rust make this fight more competitive?

11/15/2013 Chris Carlson

419 It will have been just over 14 months since the last time Andre Ward graced the HBO airwaves as a fighter when he enters the ring this Saturday to face unbeaten Edwin Rodriguez.

Sidelined with a shoulder injury much has been said and written about Andre Ward.
Some of it was said using facts.

While other articles, tweets, and forum posts clearly had biasness oozing out of it, whether directed at Ward personally or at the way in which he was taught to fight.

The style of fighters and fans vigorously debating over the topic is nothing new.

I will never forget some of the arguments that my grandfather, the man that introduced me to the sport, and I had over who was better fighter and why between Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard.

Donaire vs. Darchinyan 2 & Garcia vs. Martinez: A bridge to nowhere

11/08/2013 Chris Carlson

Normally when two elite fighters are co-featured on a card together you can expect the winners (favorites) to be matched up in a (super) fight of sorts at some point in the near future.

It’s a formula that’s been used to build or as Bob Arum would say “marinate”, certain fights that have been labeled by the fans as must see fights.

Usually the promoters put each fighter in a showcase type fight for future highlight replays that will be used as fuel to stoke the fire of a talked about fight.

Some fights never come to fruition due to the inner political issues of the business of boxing.

Golovkin vs. Stevens: Slugfest, Slaughter, or both?

11/01/201311/01/2013 Chris Carlson

Gennandy Golovkin has taken America by storm shooting up the ladder of success faster than most of his opponents have lasted in his current streak of 14 straight knockouts.

Brooklyn native Curtis Stevens, who will be fighting close to home in the Theatre at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, has taken a much different path en route to get back on HBO after losing to Andre Dirrell his first time on the network.

The Las Vegas betting lines, boxing fans and media alike aren’t giving Stevens much of a chance besides as a puncher. Can you really blame them in a matchup that looks like a duck?

It seems like HBO is playing a dangerous game of trick or treat with triple G’s.

Quillin vs. Rosado: Will it be the King or the Kid?

10/26/201310/25/2013 Chris Carlson

Peter Quillin defends his middleweight title for the second time against the ever improving veteran Gabriel Rosado. The fight stands out to hardcore fans as the best matchup of Showtime Triple-header this Saturday night from Atlantic City, New Jersey. In the main even Bernard Hopkins attempts to add to his legend of longevity.

The unbeaten Quillin is on a mission to prove all of his doubters wrong with a great performance. Rosado, who claims he can’t get a legit fight at 154, travels north to 160 once again for a shot to win his first title.

They say the early bird gets the worm.

That old saying holds true majority of the time when it comes to successful professional boxing careers.

Mike Alvarado vs. Ruslan Provodnikov: This one has fight of the year written all over it!

10/18/2013 Chris Carlson

After successfully avenging a loss from Brandon Rios early this year, Mike Alvarado’s reward from Top Rank was some good ole fashion home cooking and a stylistic matchup with Ruslan Provodnikov that should guarantee entertainment.

Can Alvarado stay focused on the game plan with extra weight placed on his shoulders by a hero’s welcome he’ll get from his fans that will fill the 1STBANK Center in Denver, Colorado? Will Provodnikov build on a loss that raised his profile amongst fans who thought he was only at the ESPN level talent?

And most importantly to the fans that tune in on HBO and fill the seats of the live gate, will there be blood?

Ruslan Provodnikov had his moment in the spotlight last March on HBO in what was supposed to be a showcase fight for Timothy Bradley after being out of the ring with injuries, both physical and emotional he sustained during and after his fight with Manny Pacquiao.

Marquez vs. Bradley: Will Juan Manuel’s “Dinamita” be potent enough to put a dent in Mt.Timmy’s forehead?

10/11/2013 Chris Carlson

World class skill, heart, and grit will be on full display this Saturday night from the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada on HBO PPV. Many questions and queries from the boxing public will be answered when these pound for pound level fighters square off. Before we attempt to answer the final question of who will win enough battles to ultimately win the war, let’s take a look at what’s at stake and the doubts causing mass speculation leading into this matchup.

We might as well not beat around the bush, many fans and media members have placed a dark cloud of doubt that has followed the great Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez ever since he stepped on the scale for the third installment of a four fight series with Manny Pacquiao.

Marquez’s body, mainly his shoulders and arms, displayed growth and definition like never before. The last time above the lightweight division Marquez sported skin that wouldn’t be classified as saddle bags but surely his body looked bloated around 144 pounds.

Cotto vs. Rodriguez: Can Delvin derail Cotto’s big plans in 2014?

10/04/2013 Chris Carlson

This Saturday night Miguel Cotto makes his 2013 debut when he faces the crafty vet Delvin Rodriguez from the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. The odometer’s of each fighter is at the tip of everyone’s tongue when discussing this fight and possible outcomes.

Will either have enough left in the tank to make it competitive or at the very least entertaining? Both fighters are clearly past their prime but skill will ultimately rule the day.

Miguel Cotto is one of the best and most liked fighters of his generation. Haven fought the who’s who of names ranging from the 140 pound division all the way up to junior middleweight, giving us thrilling drama on the way.

Naturally a left hander, Cotto fights out of an orthodox stance, building his legend with one of the best jabs in the business and a left hook to the body that has left many of his opponents day dreaming about a cold bath mid fight.

Stevenson vs. Cloud: All roads to 175 supremacy have to come thru Canada

09/27/201309/27/2013 Chris Carlson

This Saturday in Montreal the Bell Centre will be packed per usual and that loyal fan base will cheer and sing, O Canada until their blue in the face, for their guy Adonis “Superman” Stevenson when he is challenged for 175 supremacy by Tavoris Cloud.

Does Cloud have the skill set sharp enough to stop Stevenson’s reign in his first defense of his lineal title. A title that he ripped suddenly from Chad Dawson’s soul, leaving the former pound for pound fighter’s career in doubt after back to back knockout losses.

I mentioned a sharp skill set, more accurately it will likely be how rough he can make this fight on the inside, using his brute strength to wear down the champion enabling him to use his natural power and athleticism.

Caleb Truax scores 4th round KO: Plus Full Recap from Minneapolis

09/22/2013 Chris Carlson

Caleb Truax hurt and finished local rival Cerresso Fort in the fourth round, quieting a talkative Fort in the early goings. With this victory Caleb keeps his position as a contender and will continue to climb the ladder of the middleweight division with the next step coming in January on Espn.

The main event between the now 22-1-1 (14KO) Caleb Truax and Cerresso Fort started slow with both fighters working behind their jabs. Fort made Caleb miss a few time early on making sure Truax knew it as he talked trash for most of the 1st round. In the second round Truax was able to land stiff jabs which opened up power shots to the head and body.

Caleb Truax vs Cerresso Fort: Unfinished Business; Weigh-In Results

09/21/201309/20/2013 Chris Carlson

This Saturday rising middleweight contender Caleb Truax, who was last seen knocking out Donovan George on Espn Friday Night Fights, faces an old nemesis from his brief amateur career, Cerresso Fort at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

The card is promoted by Seconds Out Promotions, a company that in recent years has created a boom for Minnesota boxing.