First Annual “Gogue Awards” for the boxing year 2012 – Part I

12/26/201212/25/2012 ESB

marquez9025 By Joseph Herron: After somewhat of an historic year in the world of boxing, expert fight strategist and prolific trainer James Gogue gives Eastsideboxing.com his exclusive insight into the best and worst of the sweet science during the year 2012.

Gogue Award for Fighter of the Year 2012 – Juan Manuel Marquez

“During 2012, we saw many fighters make a solid and convincing argument for “Fighter of the Year’ honors,” admits James Gogue. “Danny Garcia, Abner Mares, Nonito Donaire, Austin Trout, Wladimir Klitschko, Leo Santa Cruz, Adrien Broner…they all deserve recognition for their respective accomplishments in the ring throughout 2012.”

“Although these fighters made great strides to further their clout within the industry, one fighter accomplished something that impacted the sport greater than any other individual achievement. That was Juan Manuel Marquez doing the unthinkable and knocking Manny Pacquiao unconscious. JMM finally gained that signature win on his resume that eluded the Mexican fight legend throughout his entire 17 year professional career.”

Haye should forget about Vitali and either retire or fight someone else

12/26/201212/24/2012 ESB

By Michael Collins: It’s kind of sad to see former WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (26-2, 24 KO’s) still hanging around waiting and hoping that he’ll somehow get a big fight with WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko. It’s pretty clear that isn’t going to happen, and he’s just wasting his time talking about the fight all the time when the signs are pretty clear that there’s just no interest from Vitali’s side.

Helenius vs. Sprott, Huck vs. Afolabi 3 on March 2nd, in Germany

09/15/201612/24/2012 ESB

By Michael Collins: Big unbeaten 6’6 ½” heavyweight Robert Helenius (18-0, 11 KO’s) will be facing high level journeyman Michael Sprott (37-19, 17 KO’s) in a scheduled 10 round bout on March 2nd in what may be a more competitive fight than what many boxing fans think at the Koenig Pilsener Arena, Oberhausen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany according to German boxen site x-boxen.

The Best Of 2012 – Who Was The Fighter Of The Year?

09/15/201612/24/2012 ESB

By James Slater – All in all, though 2012 saw a startling and quite unacceptable number of top names from our beloved sport failing drugs tests, the past 12-months were pretty good for boxing (sure, we saw our fair share of debatable, even plain bad decisions). We were treated to a number of truly great fights involving marquee names, we witnessed a number of unforgettable KO’s and we saw some quality match-making.

Indeed, as we approach the very end of 2012, it’s a tough job picking award winners for Fighter Of The Year. KO of The Year? That’s an easy one this year – the stunner that occurred in the 6th-round of a fourth meeting between two all-time greats; one from Mexico, the other hailing from The Philippines. But just who was 2012’s Fighter of The Year?

Here, for what it’s worth, take it or leave it, I list my choices:

Fighter Of The Year:

1: Juan Manuel Marquez.

Pacquiao-Marquez 5 could be a tough fight to make; both of their wives want them to retire

12/24/201212/24/2012 ESB

By Marcus Richardson: Whether Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez end up fighting for a fifth time may rest on whether both of their wives will allow them to continue fighting. It’s no secret that Marquez and Pacquiao’s wives both want them to retire.

Pacquiao’s wife was stunned at seeing Pacquiao knocked cold by Marquez in the 6th round in their fourth fight on December 8th, and she’s worried that Pacquiao could badly hurt in a 5th fight. She wants Pacquiao to retire straightaway, although she’s leaving the final decision with him.

Marquez’s wife had an agreement from Marquez that he’d retire after the fourth fight with Pacquiao, but now Marquez is hoping to talk his wife into allowing him to fight one more time before retiring in a final fight with Pacquiao. So far, Marquez’s wife is reportedly still adamant about wanting him to hang up his gloves. He’s going to try and convince her in the coming weeks/months to allow him to fight Pacquiao for a 5th fight.

The problem with the two fighters is that they’ll want to keep fighting unless something or someone makes them talk. The competitive drive between these guys is too strong for them to retire when the interest in still there with the boxing public.

Manuel Charr vs. Dereck Chisora in March 2013?

04/11/201312/24/2012 ESB

By Michael Collins: In a battle of recent former heavyweight title challengers, Dereck Chisora (15-4, 9 KO’s) might be facing #8 WBC Manuel Charr (22-1, 12 KO’s) in a still to be determined venue in Germany in March. The Charr-Chisora fight should be an interesting fight if it happens because both fighters can pack a punch but are unfortunately too deeply flawed to capture a world title at this time. Both fighters are crude brawlers so this should be an appealing fight for boxing fans that like to see a lot of slugging.

Oops! 1st a draw then Adamek gets SD to sink USS Cunningham

12/23/201212/23/2012 ESB

adamek3 By Paul Strauss: When has hall of fame announcer Michael Buffer ever needed a second try to announce the winner of a fight? It just doesn’t happen. But, happen it did at the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem, PA. The main event of NBC’s Saturday afternoon telecast featured a rematch of Tomasz Adamek and Steve “USS” Cunningham. The result was first announced as a split decision draw. Hold the phone! Michael Buffer hadn’t relinquished the microphone yet. The iconic announcer seemed confused as he was informed there had been a mistake. A mistake? That’s putting it lightly. This was a staggering screw up.

The winner gets the IBF North American Heavyweight title belt (okay, so that isn’t a big deal). More important he goes to the front of the line for a possible title shot against Wladimir Klitschko. Needless to say, Cunningham was crushed, not once, but twice. First, he thought he had gotten screwed out of a win. Then, he gets hammered a second time when he realizes he didn’t even get a (split) draw!

Confucius said, “To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.” I guarantee you Cunningham is going to remember this monumental screw up. The fight was close and exciting, but most people expected Cunningham would be declared the winner, if only by a slight edge, or possibly a draw. He fought an intelligent fight, avoiding for the most part, Adamek’s heavier shots. In their first fight, four years prior, he got a little over eager, thinking he had Adamek where he wanted.

Sergio Martinez – Martin Murray: The Talking Begins

09/15/201612/22/2012 ESB

By Padraig Ivory: Sergio Martinez and Martin Murray came face to face this week ahead of their April 2013 fight. The St Helens fighter made the long trip to the homeland of the middleweight champion to commence the promotional campaign and to introduce himself to the Argentinean fight fans. Martin made television appearances and press calls as the wheels of the promotional bandwagon were set in motion.

The respectful ‘Maravilla’ had returned and he praised his English challenger. Last time out the Oxnard resident had displayed an uncharacteristic hatred and genuine dislike for his opponent as he promised to inflict serious injury on Chavez Jr.”

“He’s young and strong. It’s great that he should want to give his all…” Martinez said of Murray. However the 37 year old promised to be at his best for his homecoming celebration stating that the fight “won’t go past the eighth round”.

Martin’s assessment of the fight differed from that of the current WBC champion. “He began at the bottom and today he’s the most powerful in the division. But I’m better and can beat him”. Murray’s confidence stems from his unbeaten 26 fight professional campaign and in particular the performance he put in against former champion WBA Felix Sturm.

Pacquiao hoping to return to the ring in April

12/23/201212/22/2012 ESB

By Rob Smith: Manny Pacquiao has no interest in sitting around and waiting until September 2013 before he fights again. Pacquiao reportedly is interested in getting back in action in April despite his 6th round knockout loss to his old nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez on December 8th of this month.

Mayweather vs. Guerrero in the works for May 4th, Canelo Alvarez possible for undercard

12/23/201212/22/2012 ESB

By Bill Phanco: A fight between WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (43-0, 26 KO’s) WBC interim welterweight champion Robert Guerrero (31-1-1, 18 KO’s) is reportedly in the works for May 4th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. The contracts haven’t been signed as of yet, but this appears to be the fight that the 35-year-old Mayweather wants for the Cinco de Mayo Mexican holiday on May 4th.

Guerrero has won two big fights since moving up to the welterweight division this year in beating Selcuk Aydin and Andre Berto. Both wins were decisive, and Guerrero did a good job of winning despite showing a lack of big power in both. Although he’s moved up from the lightweight division, Guerrero hasn’t lost his high work rate that he was known for in the lower weight classes.

Mayweather had one of his worst performances in his career in his last fight against Miguel Cotto last May. Floyd won the fight but he took some terrible punishment and he looked like he’s lost a step or two.

WBC junior middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (41-0-1, 30 KO’s) is being talked about as being the co-main event for this pay per view card on HBO. Alvarez’s potential opponents for the fight are Miguel Cotto, James Kirkland or Austin Trout.