Soliman vs. Taylor: Bad intentions in Biloxi

10/08/2014 Chris Carlson

Jermain Taylor returns from a sabbatical of sorts to challenge Sam Soliman for his IBF middleweight belt. The card will be broadcasted live on Espn2 from the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Boxing adviser extraordinaire Al Haymon, known for his mysterious persona, has a way of giving his clients the best possible deal and boxing fans the shaft. His mismatches on Showtime have underlined a subpar 2014, coming off an energized 2013.

When I first heard this fight being announced it wasn’t so much how but why. I’m not one to take money out of the next mans pockets but this fight is more than a shame.

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Stevens vs. N’Dam: Where the rubber meets the road

10/02/201410/01/2014 Chris Carlson

Espn2 Friday Night Fights is back, but not for the season, rather a double dip of sorts that kicks off Wednesday night in Southern California at the Barker Hangar. The winner of Wednesday’s bout will be in line for a title shot facing the winner of Wednesday’s fight between Jermain Taylor and Sam Soliman, which will also be broadcasted by Espn.

A few years ago, and 8 pounds north of his current weight class, Curtis Stevens was on a path leading to nowhere fast on the world level. Stevens, known for his power in both hands, struggled mightily with the likes of Jessie Brinkley and Marcos Primera.

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Mayweather -Maidana 2: To box or not to box that is the question?

09/12/201409/12/2014 Chris Carlson

Floyd Mayweather and Marcos Maidana will meet once again at the MGM Grand Garden Arena this Saturday night live on Showtime PPV. Will Chino’s melee create “Mayhem”, or will it be muscle memory for the money man?

Damn near everyone is convinced that Floyd Mayweather will do a number on Marcos Maidana in the rematch. Isn’t this the same sentiment most fans had prior to the first go round? Maidana was a huge underdog at the sports book, ranging from 12-1 all the way up to 15-1 on a few betting website.

Even though Marcos gave Floyd by far his toughest and roughest fight of his career, barley any one gives him a real chance to get the job done against the future Hall-of-famer.

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The problem returns home and the machine plans feast on Ortiz’s “0”

09/06/2014 Chris Carlson

Adrien Broner put his foot down in order to obtain home field advantage in the city of Cincinnati against the sturdy Emmanuel Taylor. Coming off a fight of the year win, Lucas Matthysse takes on Roberto Ortiz, who has never lost a fight as a professional. The Showtime tripleheader’s first bout will be between Andre Berto and Steve Upsher Chambers.

In his last fight Adrien Broner was unspectacular, ho-humming his way to a decision versus Carlos Molina. Many fans craved for Broner to face a top flight junior welterweight. Instead he will face Emmanuel Taylor, who is fresh off his best victory over Karim Mayfield.

As Broner’s star began to rise many media members and followers of the sweet science overrated him. His close points win against Ponce De Leon was chalked up as a learning experience.

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Gonzalez vs. Yaegashi + Estrada vs. Segura = Flyweight Wars

09/05/201409/04/2014 Chris Carlson

The Flyweight division doesn’t normally get the same attention or recognition as the fighters do at Welterweight, Super Middleweight, or the heavily debated Super Bantamweight. This week on two smaller networks beIN sports espanol and A.W.E., 4 Flyweights will battle for future paydays, pride, legacy, and unification supremacy.

Both fights feature similar stylistic matchmaking, the traditional puncher versus boxer match-up. In this case the boxer-types being Estrada and Yaegashi, have plenty of power and will engage in a brawl when the rubber hits the road.

The last few years Roman Gonzalez has been knocking on the door of elite status. This weekend presents a chance to kick that door in. Hardcore followers in the Western Hemisphere rave about “Chocolatito” aggression and knockout power, having stopped 33 opponents to go along with his 39 wins.

Roman Gonzalez was on the outside looking in on the pound for pound list because of a lackluster resume. After a somewhat softer run at 108, Gonzalez earned a signature win against Juan Francisco Estrada in a highly entertaining and competitive bout.

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Kovalev “The Krusher” back on the Boardwalk & Rios vs Chaves potential FOTY

08/01/201408/01/2014 Chris Carlson

Rios claims that he has returned back to earth after his head was stuck in the clouds of success. Alex Ariza is gone from his camp, now he and his world renowned trainer Robert Garcia are going back to the basics. Strength and condition coach or not, Rios better have been on his best behavior to prepare for a hungry and dangerous fighter like Chaves.

Diego Chaves has a snappy jab and loves to throw chopping hooks to the body and head. He favors his left hand for lead hooks and has a decent overhand right to go with it.

The thought amongst fans and media who are picking Chaves are banking on his movement. I question Diego’s capability to outbox Rios only because he hasn’t shown that trait at a high level. He pressed the action for the most part in a loss to Keith Thurman, and in a close victory over Omar Weis. When he was pushed back in both of those fights, he looked very uncomfortable making him vulnerable to a hunter like Rios.

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Golovkin vs. Geale: Will Daniel thrive or try to survive?

07/25/201407/25/2014 Chris Carlson

Gennady Golovkin was built on HBO’s “Boxing After Dark” and has become just that, bad. Golovkin has already passed the eye test now he will encounter a new style test versus Daniel Geale from historic Madison Square Garden in New York City broadcasted live on HBO Championship Boxing.

Majority of talk inside the boxing world leading up to this matchup has been more about what’s next for “Triple G”. The round in which Golovkin stops Geale seems to be the only item up for debate. Does Geale have enough skill and sturdy enough chin to end the string of knockouts which currently stands at 16 in a row? To find out what these fighters are capable of let’s look back at what got them here.

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Canelo Alvarez vs. Erislandy Lara: Winner enters elite ranks

07/11/201407/11/2014 Chris Carlson

To the victor goes the spoils’ which includes an upgrade to elite status for winner of Showtime’s PPV main event this Saturday night, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. There are many questions that remain just days before these men battle for Pride and Glory.

Can Canelo Alvarez make his star shine even brighter in this career defining moment? Will Erislandy Lara be the thorn in Canelo’s side with his counter punching slick-style? And of course with a cash cow headlining the event, it must be asked if there will be a controversial ending to add yet another black eye to an already beat up sport?

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Crawford vs. Gamboa: The Guantánamo cyclone headed straight down tornado alley

06/28/201406/27/2014 Chris Carlson

Omaha gets its first title fight in over 40 years this Saturday on HBO with a matchup of speed, wits, and power that may not create explosive action. It will however bring us clarity at the division raising the winners profile at lightweight and beyond.

Yuriorkis Gamboa lived up to his nickname “The Guantánamo Cyclone”, when he stormed on to the American boxing landscape via Espn2 Friday Night Fights. After a few highlight reel knockouts HBO came knocking and Gamboa kicked the door down with his blistering hand speed, mixed with heavy hands and vulnerability.

The fans began to call for a lower weight super fight of sorts with Puerto Rican Juanma Lopez, who at the time was making waves with his volume punching and a 1st round knockout over Ponce De Leon. If it wasn’t one punch power, it was rapid fire combinations breaking punch stat records and his opponents will in the process.

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The Ghost returns, a crossroads fight, and two decorated amateurs round out Showtime Triple

06/22/201406/20/2014 Chris Carlson

(Photo credit: Esther Lin/Showtime) Who will be left behind when Devon Alexander and Jesus Soto Karass meet at the crossroads? Decorated amateurs square off creating a Featherweight (contender) belt holder. Robert “the ghost” Guerrero returns after a 13 month hiatus to face a prospect from Japan. If they were playing night baseball it would be one, two, three strikes their out for the losers of this Saturday night’s Showtime Triple header.

Jesus Soto Karass has bounce back and forth from contender to gatekeeper, yet his performance is consistently worth the price of admission regardless the outcome.

Devon Alexander looks to right the ship after his career capsized the last time out versus Shawn Porter. The former junior welterweight and welterweight champion looks to get back into the picture at the 147 pound division with a win over Soto Karass.

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