Pacquiao vs. Marquez IV: Can Manny knock-out JMM?

Pacquiao vs. Marquez IV: Can Manny knock-out JMM?By Joseph Herron: “Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.”Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

On December 8th, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao will take on Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez for a fourth time in what could prove to be another great war of wills.

Although neither fighter has ever dominated their respective nemesis, both men have publicly stated that they feel a sense of urgency to end the ongoing rivalry with a sensational and resounding knock-out.

But will the fourth installment materialize into another strategic but action filled tug-of-war, or will the boxing universe finally witness a decisive victory for the eventual winner?

Despite getting the decision in two of his three epic battles with JMM, the Filipino Congressman is coming off a disappointing loss to Timothy Bradley and is convinced he has much to prove to his fans as well as his critics.

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Musing over Maravilla

Musing over MaravillaBy Ted Spoon: Rating fighters before they’ve retired is a good crack. When boxers add another chapter to their legacy the fanatics usually pipe up, involuntarily summoned to criticize or praise. And with these two extremes accounting for 90% of support it can make you feel obligated to say something that could be interpreted as objective.

Sergio Martinez is, at the time of writing, at that tender junction having just turned back another challenge. With the bout not yet adequately arranged in time we can’t be sure of its worth. The defeated could go onto do nothing of note, consequently reducing its significance, or, conversely, he could go onto achieve great things, polishing the victory with each successive win.

A good way to get our bearings would be to say from the offset that Sergio is certainly not in the same company as a Marvin Hagler or Marcel Cerdan. Of course, that’s hardly a ‘diss’. The Argentinean is closer to a Tony Zale with the opportunity to nudge himself into a higher consensus.

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Corrie “The Sniper” Sanders…shot dead at age 47

Corrie “The Sniper” Sanders…shot dead at age 47

It’s been confirmed that former WBO Heavyweight Champion Corrie “The Sniper” Sanders has died this morning after being shot in the stomach at the “Thatch Haven Restaurant” just outside of Pretoria, South Africa.

The 47 year old southpaw was attending his nephew’s 21 st Birthday party when three unknown assailants entered the restaurant and robbed several customers before opening fire in and outside of the establishment.

The proprietor of the establishment, Johan de Jager, described what transpired yesterday evening at 8PM SAST (South Africa Standard Time), which is six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.

“Three guys came inside and just started shooting. Unfortunately during the shooting, they shot Corrie.”

The hard punching Heavyweight was rushed to Kalafong Hospital for emergency surgery but died at 4AM SAST this morning due to complications associated with the injury.

Former trainer Harold Volbrecht was understandably emotional when news of his fighter’s passing had been publicized

“This is very sad. My heart is broken. It’s just terrible. I can’t believe this has happened.”

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Ricky Burns Magnificent In Stopping Kevin Mitchell In 4th-Round, Retains WBO Lightweight Crown

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By James Slater: Tonight, before a sold-out and very passionate Glasgow crowd, reigning WBO lightweight king Ricky Burns turned in what was arguably the finest performance thus far in his ever improving career. Halting a game Kevin Mitchell in the 4th-round, Burns made surprisingly easy-looking work of what was widely expected to be a tough battle.

Dropping Mitchell with a sweet left hook that landed flush on the Dagenham man’s jaw in the 4th, 29-year-old Burns proved that he can bang. Dropping a badly stunned but full of heart Mitchell for a second time when a series of rights clubbed the 27-year-old headfirst to the mat, Burns then poured it on as Mitchell, trying to fight back, was stuck on the ropes and in bad shape. The referee, Terry O’Connor, really was left with no choice but to dive in, halting the exciting rumble at the 2-minutes and 59-seconds mark of the 4th.

Now 35-2(10), Burns seemingly has the world at his feet. His right hand looking strong, accurate and powerful, the always immaculately conditioned Coatbridge warrior sure looked like one of the best 135-pounders in all of boxing tonight. Mitchell came to fight, and he won the opening session as the defending champ looked a little tense. There was also some thrilling trading in the 2nd and 3rd-rounds, temporarily letting fans believe they would get the classic war they had both anticipated and hoped for. In the end though, we were treated instead to a classic performance; possibly one that will allow Burns to win 2012’s FOTY award.

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Frampton stops Molitor; McCloskey decisions Perez

By Rob Smith: Commonwealth super bantamweight champion Carl Frampton (15-0, 10 KO’s) may not have proved that he’s good enough to beat the likes of Nonito Donaire or Guillermo Rigondeaux tonight but he did prove that he’s good enough to defeat former IBF super bantamweight champion Steve Molitor (34-3, 12 KO’s) in a three-knockdown 6th round stoppage performance from Frampton at the Odyssey Arena, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

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Joseph Rios upsets Miguel Diaz to win WBC USNBC Flyweight title

By Joseph Herron – On Friday, September 21st, at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario, California, rugged fight veteran Joseph Rios (12-7, 4 KOs) upset previously undefeated Flyweight prospect Miguel Diaz (9-1, 4 KOs) in the main event of an entertaining five bout fight card, presented by Thompson Boxing Promotions.

Both fighters were coming into the eight round featured bout with two big respective wins on their resumes.

Diaz originally won the vacant WBC minor Flyweight title by beating formerly undefeated Mexican prospect Austreberto Juarez (10-1, 2 KOs) in March of this year, and Joseph Rios bested previously unbeaten Joel Garcia (5-1, 1 KO) on June 23rd in a gritty, six round slugfest.

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Rosado stops Whittaker in 10, issues challenge to Canelo

By Joseph Herron – Last night at the Sands Resort & Casino in Bethlehem, PA, Junior Middleweight contender “King” Gabriel Rosado (21-5, 13 KOs) knocked out crafty, 19 year fight veteran Charles Whittaker (38-13-2, 23 KOs) in ten entertaining rounds.

After having some stylistic problems early with Whittaker’s lateral movement and hard left hook, Rosado was forced to display his ability to adapt and overcome. Gabriel’s initial strategy of fighting from the outside wasn’t terribly effective against the wily old hand, so the Junior Middleweight prospect was forced to tighten up his defense and fight Whittaker on the inside.

Rosado showed his technical skills in getting the better of the more experienced fighter; setting up short, compact hooks underneath Whittaker’s defense and continuously landing the right hook over the top.

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Pacquiao vs. Marquez IV – “It has to happen…really?”

By Marc Livitz – Change is good…Complacency kills.

Neither of these well known socially accepted proverbs holds any weight if each of them is universally governed by the words of the great P.T. Barnum.

Oceans worth of fans still feel jilted from the fallout which resulted from the past three fights between a certain Emmanuel D. Pacquiao and a noteworthy Juan Manuel Marquez Mendez. To their credit, there is enough evidence however much it may be clouded by opinion and anger on each side to support their respective arguments.

Throughout the thirty six rounds contested between the two, we have been constantly reminded afterwards just how microscopic the differences have been in terms of how the scoring has played itself out. The knockdowns have made the difference, at least they have (or did) in the first and second contests, which took place in May 2005 and March 2008, respectively.

A show of hands, please. Who really wants to see a fourth meeting between the two?

Take into consideration for just a moment how age is certainly going to factor into the bout once the bell rings to commence round thirty seven on December 8 of this year. Manny Pacquiao will be closing in on his 34th birthday, while Marquez has already settled into the final year of his thirties.

Win?…pissed off at the result. Lose?…pissed off at the result. Draw?… pissed off at the result.

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All-Time Great Roy Jones Junior To Face Kevin Ferguson, AKA Kimbo Slice …..In An Exhibition Bout

By James Slater – Whether your opinion will be, “how the mighty have fallen,” or a more in-the-spirit of the event, “this will be a fun night,” chances are you WILL have an opinion when you read how faded legend and all-time great/future Hall of Famer Roy Jones Junior will face former street fighter/You Tube phenomenon-turned pro boxer Kevin Ferguson, AKA Kimbo Slice in December.

The bout, actually an exhibition, will go down in Montego Bay in beautiful Jamiaca in December, as confirmed by website Jamaica Observer, who reported on the bout being announced as official this past Thursday. The fight has been dubbed “The Beauty And The Beast.”

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No Gethin, but still a great show

By Peter Wells: It was meant to be all about local fighter Martin Gethin last night (Friday 21 September), but after his sponsors pulled out on Tuesday, Frank Warren came in to save the fight.

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