By Anthony Loy: How many times have we heard it? Or better yet “doesn’t make financial sense”. Boxing is plagued by quotes like this but sadly a large percentage does hold up under scrutiny.
It was announced last week that Kell Brook turned down a fight with Tim Bradley; this news was met by anger and ridicule in some sections but not by me because when you break it down its perfectly logical.
Donaire vs. Nishioka; power vs. quickness
by Robert Jackson: Quickness is in the mind, speed is in the body. Quickness is that quantity where ones perceptions – in response to events going on around him/her, are analyzed by the mind in a very short time and a solution is come to very rapidly. Speed is rapid mechanical movement produced by the body. Examples of these would be a sprinter who’s quickness is in play upon hearing the starters gun to rapidly respond and leave the starting blocks, and whose speed motors him/her down the track to the finish line.
Power in mathematical terms is the force (strength) x velocity (speed), where either affects the absolute output. With more force and less speed the power that is produced will exhibit itself as a forceful PUSH. Increase the speed along with that force and the power produced will look like a punch with a lot of pop on it, the kind that produces knockouts. So, depending on the sport you’re engaging in the type of power you want is specific. For example an NFL offensive lineman will develop the force component of power to a very high level to forcefully push defensive linemen and linebackers out of his way to make a running lane for a following halfback. While a boxer will develop force to a optimum level while simultaneously developing speed to a optimum level to have the necessary pop on his punches to KO his opponent rather than just deliver a forceful push.
Edwin Rodriguez vs. Kelly Pavlik: Expert trainer analysis
By Joseph Herron: On Saturday night, at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods in Mashantucket, Connecticut, Super Middleweight contender Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez (22-0, 15 KOs) made a major statement to the rest of the talent enriched 168 pound weight class by stopping the previously undefeated Jason Escalera (13-1-1, 12 KOs) in impressive fashion while making his first headlining appearance on HBO Boxing After Dark.
After the sensational performance, Rodriguez was very clear in stating that he wanted to tangle with former universally recognized Middleweight Champion Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik in the near future.
Though it’s clear this bout would be considered a potential fight of the year candidate by most boxing fans and fight scribes before both men ever entered the ring, it’s uncertain which fighter would eventually hold their arm up in victory.
To give fight fans and boxing enthusiasts a closer examination of this fan friendly match-up, master fight strategist James Gogue analyzes the head to head pairing.
Povetkin to have to wait until next summer to fight Wladimir Klitschko
By Rob Smith: If WBA World heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin (25-0, 17 KO’s) really honestly wants a shot against IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitshko next year, who you can make an argument that might not really want this fight, then he’s going to have to wait until next summer at the earliest for the fight to happen. There’s talk that the 33-year-old Povetkin’s promoters at Sauerland Events want to put Povetkin in with Wladimir in February of next year. However, that’s not going to happen according to Wladimir’s manager Bernd Boente. If the fight does happen it’s going to take place next summer.
This isn’t exactly a bad thing for Povetkin and Sauerland because it’s not as if he’s going to beat Wladimir anyway. Sure, he’d get a nice payday for the Wladimir fight but he’d out-gunned and totally embarrassed by the 6’6″ Wladimir. Sauerland Events is better off by keeping Povetkin busy fighting the older heavyweights he’s been dining on lately. He picked up the WBA title with a win over Ruslan Chagav, and then has defended it against 42-year-old Cedric Boswell, 39-year-old Hasim Rahman and then a cruiserweight in Marco Huck.
The talk now is that Povetkin will make his defense against 41-year-old Serbian Javo Pudar in either late December or early 2013. With these easy fights who needs Wladimir? All he’ll do is mess things up by ending the Povtkin gravy train by whipping him and sending him back into the contender ranks. I don’t know that Povetkin will ever be a champion again if Wladimir beats him because there’s better heavyweight contenders out than Povetkin.
Khan vs. Molina fight to be televised on Showtime
By Michael Collins: Showtime reportedly has bought the Amir Khan vs. Carlos Molina fight to televise on their network on December, according to Steve Kim of Maxboxing.com. The Khan-Molina fight could also have unbeaten heavyweight prospect Deontay Wilder fighting on the undercard against an unknown opponent. Molina, 5’6″, is a lightweight contender and would be moving up in weight to face the bigger, faster and stronger Khan. Presumably, the Khan-Molina fight was offered to HBO first but it doesn’t appear there was much interest from them.
A Khan vs. Molina would have been an okay fight for Khan to take earlier in his career but it does seem a tad out of place to be taking place now that he’s a former two-time world champion. There’s also the question about whether a Khan-Molina fight is worthy of being a main event for Showtime. I think it would be an okay ESPN2 level main event but not for Showtime. You’d expect a lot better than this given the size, power and talent differences between Khan and his smaller opponent Molina.
It’s been two years since Molina scored a knockout, which tells you a lot about his power or lack thereof. Molina has been facing little more than B and C level opposition and yet he’s not able to even knock them out.
Sena Agbeko knocks out Eric Kwadey in round 3
By Prince Dornu-Leiku: Promising boxer Sena Agbeko once again underlined his massive billing with a thrilling 3rd round stoppage win over Eric Kwadey to become the new Ghana Middleweight champion. Young Agbeko, who combines the pugilist trade with schooling at the Ghana Institute of Journalism, maintained the 100% fight and 100% knockout records of his just budding career via the victory over Kwadey to claim the vacant title.
Originally billed to face experienced Ayitey Powers who failed to turn up for the weigh-in and in effect, the fight, the victory may have come far quicker than the scheduled 12 rounds but Sena Agbeko is adamant it was a tough test.
“It was a good exercise, I haven’t fought in ten months and the guy (Kwadey) was also good. He was strong, he was a good opponent, he’s not like someone who was brought just to get beaten. No this guy was good and he helped me identify my strengths. He provided good opposition,” Sena who improved to 12-0, 12 KOs, said after his victory.
In other fights on the night, Issah Samir defeated Ishmael Tetteh via a unanimous points decision to claim the Ghana Light Middleweight belt, 118-112, 117-113, 119-110 on the judges’ scorecards after 12 rounds whilst Habib Ahmed also beat George Banson 117-112, 118-109,116-112 convincingly after 12 rounds to win their Ghana Super Middleweight clash.
Javan “Sugar” Hill: “There is no replacement for Emanuel Steward in Wladimir Klitschko’s training camp”
(Picture credit: Michael Freitag) By Joseph Herron: While camp is just getting underway at Wladimir Klitschko’s customary training facility in Austria, many have pondered the question concerning who will serve as the Heavyweight Champion’s chief second in Hamburg, Germany on November 10th.
Due to an unexpected ailment suffered by Wladimir’s longtime trainer, friend, and mentor, Hall of Fame boxing legend Emanuel Steward, “The Steel Hammer” will find himself in a very unusual situation when he faces undefeated Heavyweight contender Mariusz Wach.
While the usual band of fighters, coaches, and supporters will be on hand to help prepare the popular fighter, the incomparable master strategist and motivator will be unable to reprise his role as head trainer for a title defense that is set to take place in just 41 days.
Emanuel Steward’s nephew and longtime Kronk Gym trainer Javan “Sugar” Hill expounds on the current situation.
WBC prepared to enforce Junior Middleweight mandatory challenger in 2013
By Joseph Herron – On November 10th, at the Wynn Las Vegas, Vanes Martirosyan will finally face Erislandy Lara in a highly anticipated WBC Junior Middleweight title eliminator, which should place the eventual winner in a Championship contest opposite current WBC title holder Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in 2013.
While many fighters and boxing scribes alike have characterized the WBC’s involvement with Canelo’s championship run as unscrupulous, the president of the WBC has assured boxing fans and all three fighters involved with the 154 pound mini tournament that the eventual mandatory challenger for the WBC Junior Middleweight crown will indeed receive their deserved title opportunity immediately following the conclusion of the big November 10th event.
“Saul Alvarez must defend his title against the winner of the November 10th contest between Vanes Martirosyan and Erislandy Lara,” asserts Don Jose Sulaiman. “If he does not want to face the winner immediately after the conclusion of the contest, then he will have to forfeit the title.”
Rodriquez stops Escalera and edges closer to the top; Darchiyan’s experience too much for Del Valle
by Paul Strauss: Edwin “La Bamba” Rodriquez 22-0-0 (KO 15) pulled off a bit of a surprise when he jumped out with heavy shots in the first round of his fight with Jason Escalera 13-1-1 (KO 11) in the MGM Grand at Foxwood Resorts, Mashuntucket, Conn. Rodriquez took chances winding up and telegraphing his looping heavy shots. He realized he could get away with it, because Escalera failed to counter and instead went into an upright shell, failing to move his head. Several of the big bombs got through to the body, and many bounced off Escalera’s gloves, getting through to his head. Escalera was rocking right away in the opening stanza.
Rodriquez’ trainer Ronnie Shields liked what he saw, but he continually cautioned Edwin to fight smart and at the right distance. As the fight progressed, Shields knew Rodriquez was winning, but he also knew that he was getting hit with shots he shouldn’t be. As advertised, Escalera showed signs of being a decent puncher, but he didn’t listen to his corner men’s advice about moving his head and punching to the body. Hence, he was spending way too much time catching shots, rather than throwing them. There are good things about his style, though. He has good balance. He keeps his feet underneath him when he punches. He doesn’t over extend, and he throws nice, crisp, straight shots, but most of the time Rodriquez wasn’t there to receive them.
Khan: I could have chosen an easy opponent for December 15th
By Michael Collins: Amir Khan considers his next opponent the light hitting #10 WBO lightweight contender Carlos Molina (17-0, 7 KO’s) a tough opponent rather than just a soft touch which is what the 26-year-old Molina surely appears to be. No one would blame Khan for taking a light touch at this point in his career because he’s beaten in his last two fights against Lamont Peterson and Danny Garcia, although Khan feels he deserved the win in the Peterson fight. The judges obviously felt different after watching Khan shove Peterson around the ring for 12 rounds.
Khan said to the Dailystar.co.uk “I could have picked an easy fight but I’m going to have a tough one next because I want to bring the world titles back to Britain.”
A tough one? As far as I can tell, Molina has never fought contender before and is woefully inexperienced against high caliber opposition. Besides that, he’s a lightweight, not a light welterweight. Khan is really a big light welterweight, more of a welterweight fighting against light welterweights. So in choosing a lightweight to fight, Khan is facing a guy is much smaller than him in weigh, height, reach and body frame.