Manny Pacquiao vs. JM Marquez IV: Will cuatro “sinko” at the bank?

Manny Pacquiao vs. JM Marquez IV: Will cuatro “sinko” at the bank?By Joseph Herron / On December 8th, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao (54-4-2, 38 KOs) will attempt to defeat Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez (54-6-1, 39 KOs) for a third consecutive time.

Although every meeting between the two future Hall of Famers have been riddled with controversy, the all time great trilogy has given fight fans around the world many memorable flashes of elite level action.

Despite the popularity of both fighters, most fight fans are divided regarding their support of the scheduled event. But realistically, what choices were Pacquiao and Top Rank left with?

Whereas most casual and die-hard fight fans are in agreement concerning whom they would prefer to see Pacquiao face in the ring on December 8th, that distinction has never been solely on the shoulders of Manny or the Top Rank brass; contrary to popular belief.

And while Palm Springs resident Tim Bradley won the Pac-Man’s WBO Welterweight title this past June, most fight fans are in congruence regarding the validity of the controversial “Split Decision” victory. Even after two consecutive losses to Pacquiao, a fourth bout with JMM still holds more credibility with the boxing faithful than a rematch with the current Welterweight title holder.

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Does Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. really want a rematch with Maravilla?

Does Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. really want a rematch with Maravilla?By Joseph Herron: Be careful what you ask for in boxing, because you just might get it. After the drama filled conclusion of Top Rank’s main event at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on September 15th, many questions remain concerning the heated rivalry between former WBC Middleweight Champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and universally recognized 160 pound king Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez.

While the Argentine sharpshooter dominated JCC Jr. for eleven rounds of their twelve round battle, the epic final stanza opened the door for a lucrative rematch in the minds of many devoted fight fans.

Followers of the 26 year old fighter claim that an immediate rematch is a boxing imperative for true Middleweight supremacy. Junior’s supporters allege that Martinez was saved by the final bell of their epic showdown, and a rematch in “Chavez Country” would result in a decisive and resounding KO.

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Q&A Patrick Nielsen: There will be a new fighter in the ring on Saturday

In his first fight after the summer break, WBA Intercontinental Middleweight Champion Patrick Nielsen (15-0, 8 KOs) takes on Jose Yebes (11-2, 5 KOs) at the Nordic Fight Night in Frederikshavn on Saturday night. The 21-year-old has just wrapped up sparring in Berlin and will travel out to Denmark on Wednesday for a press conference in Copenhagen in the morning and a press training in Hjørring in the afternoon.

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Will Chavez Jr. be the next fighter to dump Roach?

Will Chavez Jr. be the next fighter to dump Roach?By Robert Jackson: Over this past weekend Amir Khan announced his exit from the Freddie Roach camp and entrance into the Virgil Hunter camp. Under Hunter – as it was under Roach, Khan won’t be the 1st option, Andre Ward WILL be. Mike Dallas Jr is also trained by Hunter, just winning his 2nd fight with Hunter in his corner.

I for one think that this move is a good one for the simple fact that Hunter isn’t loaded down with a large stable of fighters to cater too, like Roach and Emanuel Steward (but that could change with the success of Ward and Dallas). Khan will get a lot of Hunter’s time to develop his technique and tactics in pursuit of championship. If Khan chooses to listen and not talk so much, his improvement WILL be evident right away.

Another Freddie Roach pupil lost big time this past Saturday night but had a chance to pull it out in the last round but didn’t. Severely outfought and out-boxed for 10+ rounds of the fight, it looked like Chavez Jr wasn’t TOTALLY prepared for what he would be facing. All of the pre-fight talk coming out of Chavez Jr’s camp sounded like Chavez Jr would be ready, and when he easily made weight that gave most observers every reason to believe that Chavez Jr was indeed ready.

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Sergio Martinez fought with a broken left hand from the 4th round against Chavez Jr

Sergio Martinez fought with a broken left hand from the 4th round against Chavez JrBy Marcus Richardson: Sergio Martinez (50-2-2, 28 KO’s) was forced to fight that last eight rounds of his bout with WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (46-1-1, 32 KO’s) with a broken left hand last Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fighting with mostly just his right hand, Martinez was still able to pound out a relatively easy 12 round unanimous decision by the scores 117-110, 118-109, 118-109.

Martinez’s trainer Pablo Sarmiento said to ESPN “I’d offer credit for not showing that he [Martinez] was compromised [injured] during the tussle. He suffered a broken left hand in round four.”

For boxing fans who don’t know already, Martinez is left-handed and his left is his bread and butter punch that he uses to knockout most of his opponents. With his left hand badly broken, Martinez was unable to get maximum power on his left hand power shots the way he wanted to against Chavez Jr.

With how easy it was for Chavez Jr. to be hit last Saturday it’s scary to imagine what Martinez would have been able to do to him had he had two good hands instead of just his right. This is why Martinez was forced to jab Chavez Jr. so often in the fight because his left hand was out of commission in terms of power punching.

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Arum excited about a Chavez Jr-Martinez rematch, sees it doing big business

Arum excited about a Chavez Jr-Martinez rematch, sees it doing big businessBy Michael Collins: Top Rank promoter Bob Arum sees nothing but dollar signs in proposed rematch between former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (46-1-1, 32 KO’s) and Sergio Martinez (50-2-2, 28 KO’s) for early next year at the Cowboys Stadium in Texas. The pay per view numbers haven’t yet been released for last Saturday’s Chavez Jr-Martinez PPV fight but the word is that the fight did better than what the promoters Arum and Lou Dibella had hoped for.

Arum said to Examiner.com “They want to do an immediate rematch. This fight did unbelievable business. The next fight will do even bigger business.”

I don’t see it quite like Arum. I think the rematch will do well because Chavez Jr. is a popular fighter, and he’ll no doubt he able to pack the Cowboys Stadium with his devoted boxing fans from around the Texas area. However, I don’t think the Chavez Jr-Martinez rematch will do huge business on PPV, because the asking price was steep last Saturday night with a price tag of $49.99 for a card that was pretty much empty of big names and competitive fights.

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Maravilla or Canelo?

Maravilla or Canelo?by Robert Jackson,y photo: Alma Montiel: 2 champions were on full display this past Saturday night and neither one disappointed. Except for a glitch in the 12th round, Sergio ‘Maravilla’ Martinez was dominant, except for a stubborn Josesito Lopez, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez was dominant. A case can be made for either man to be the next opponent for one Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather.

With Canelo we have a 22 year old WBC 154lb champion whose skillset improves each fight. Facing Jose Lopez in the place of an injured Victor Ortiz, Canelo was supposed to win. Lopez who’d previously campaigned at 140lbs moved up to 154lbs to try and take Canelo’s WBC strap. If Lopez thought that lightning would strike twice as it had struck when he faced Ortiz, he was in for a rude awakening. Extremely focused, conditioned and strong Canelo took nothing for granted and made an early night of it for himself by taking Lopez out in 5. The moments that the always game Lopez had were few and Canelo always had an answer for them. After 4 knockdowns referee Joe Cortez had seen enough and stepped in to protect the overmatched Lopez from himself.

While Canelo was making easy work for himself; a few blocks down the Vegas strip Maravilla stayed true to his pre-fight admonitions to punish Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and that he did, winning rounds 1 – 10 in a workmanlike fashion taking a few from his opponent while giving many more to his foe. In the late rounds of the fight Maravilla with victory all but his began to slow down while also using less movement then he had during the fight. Maravilla was also taunting the youngster – sticking his chin out with his hands down daring his opponent to hit him. In the 12th round Chavez Jr finally caught up to the 37 year old and unleashed the fury he was unable to throughout the fight and down went Maravilla seriously hurt. If only Chavez Jr had more time, maybe he could’ve taken Maravilla out and pulled the upset ,but the master boxer Maravilla used all of his tricks to stay upright, finishing the fight and getting his hand raised.

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20 Years Ago Next Month, UK’s ‘Dark Destroyer’ Nigel Benn Wins WBC Crown

20 Years Ago Next Month, UK's 'Dark Destroyer' Nigel Benn Wins WBC CrownBy Rick Murray – Doesn’t time fly. It was early October 1992, and Nigel Benn -long-time labelled on both sides of the Atlantic as boxing’s most exciting fighter- is preparing to face awkward, cagey Italian spoiler and WBC 168lb. ruler Mauro ‘Rocky’ Galvano. Known for his smothering, ring movement, clinching and countering, as well as being a former light-heavyweight (Benn was a former middleweight), Galvano started as the betting favourite and pre-fight tip by all pundits.

Benn, known for his aggressive power-punching and bob-and-weave style, ripped up the odds sheets and tore into the Champ relentlessly for four rounds, cutting off the ring and landing body shots and right hands. Tough man Mauro was breathing heavily and bleeding profusely and the fight was halted. New WBC King, Nigel Benn -who would hold the crown for a further 10 (often-exhilarating) defenses.

Benn switched over in January 1987 after beating every man he faced in the amateur ranks as an Army boxer and ABA competitor. This included future pro prospect Rod Douglas -ranked in the top-five in the World amateurs- and other very good amateur stand-outs in Mark Edwards, Roy Andre and Johnny Melfah. He had 24 knockouts in 28 fights for the West Ham ABC in 1985 and 1986, and in the early eighties won every tournament he entered in the Army ranks.

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Dibella: Boxing deserves a Chavez Jr-Martinez rematch

Dibella: Boxing deserves a Chavez Jr-Martinez rematchBy Michael Collins: Lou Dibella, the promoter for WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez, feels that the sport of boxing needs a rematch between Martinez and former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. after last night’s one-sided 12 round decision win by the 37-year-old Martinez over Chavez Jr. at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las, Nevada.

Dibella said to the LA Times “Boxing deserves a rematch. My philosophy is when you have lightning in a bottle, don’t let it go. A rematch probably sells out Cowboy Stadium.”

So let me get this straight. Chavez Jr. loses 11 rounds plus the fight, and then gets a rematch out of this? There’s something wrong with this picture because that doesn’t make sense at all. I don’t care that Chavez Jr. knocked Martinez down in the 12th. The fact of the matter is he couldn’t finish him off and it was Martinez who was pummeling Chavez Jr. at the time the 12th round ended.

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