12.03.07 – By Ted Sares: Here are seven fights I’d pay to see in during the remainder of the 2007 boxing year. Would you?
7.) Edison Miranda, 28-2 with 24 ko’s vs. Kelly Pavlick, 30-0 with 27 ko’s. After Miranda’s destruction of Green, a fight against Pavlick is a natural and could well be a true boxing shoot-out. Moreover, Miranda’s technical deficiencies might be offset by Kelly’s defensive shortcomings. Off his brutal ko of Jose Luis Zertuche, if the taller”Ghost” with the 90% ko percentage puts the “Panther” down, he might stay down. I’d pay to find out….. Clearly, the winner of a Miranda/Pavlik matchup could fight Jermain Taylor down the line.
6.) Edison Miranda vs. Arthur Abraham II: A rematch. Both fighters have lot’s of heart and a genuine hatred for one another. King Arthur is a tough guy and has credibility. The second fight could be even more brutal and bloody than the first……if that’s possible.
It’s the hatred factor I find compelling on this one. Hopefully, this fight would be fought on neutral ground and with a different referee. But please, let’s stay out of Germany.
5.) Joe Calzaghe vs. Mikkel Kessler: Let’s get it on. Euro fans deserve it. A bona fide unification…just like the old days. This fight would define J.C.’s career and give Kessler the chance at making boxing history as well. Both are popular, unbeaten and both are double world champions. Moreover, the victor takes home all the marbles. This IS the one for serious boxing fight fans…..whether in the US or abroad. Let’s see if Kessler peaks and catches Calzaghe at just the right time, or if Joe rises to the occasion as is his wont and turns in another Lacey-like performance. Too close to call. Of course, both need to get by their next opponents (Manfredo and Andrade), but if they can’t, they don’t deserve each other. Moreover, someone named Chad Dawson is beginning to loom…..
I am much more impressed with the Pride of Wales’ overall level of opposition. If you did a won-lost analysis of Joe’s opponents (coming in) the result wold be astoundingly impressive. Fighters like Jeff Lacey, Mario Veit, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Evans Ashira, Byron Mitchell, Richie Woodhall, Omar Sheika, Chris Eubank, Robin Reid and Mark Delaney came in with either unblemished records or just one or two defeats. But the fact that he has fought much better opposition, combined with his age, might just have taken something out of him.
The bout’s location will be a factor in my final handicapping of this one…if it comes off……and for the sake of fight fans throughout the world, it must.
4.) Paul Williams vs. Antonio Margarito: Time for Margarito to put up or shut up. And the “The Punisher” might just be the one who zips his clam. Indeed, the tall Williams, who has emerged as one of the brightest prospects around with impressive wins over previously unbeaten Walter Dario Matthyse, and Sharmba Mitchell, has been calling out Tony for some time now. The 6’1” Paul with his incredible 82 inch reach is the mandatory challenger for Tony’s belt. This should be a fight between a stylist/power puncher and a brawler/power puncher…and should tell us a lot about both fighters. Is Williams really the next Hearns? Is Tony a figment of Arum’s hype or is he the real deal? The question has been energized by Tony’s recent showing against Clottey. I am frustrated with Margarito because it’s never quite clear who his next opponent will be. His one round demolition of Manuel Gomez was fine, but it was no big fight…and big fights continue to elude him. Time to bigup and fight Williams. Let’s see what you got.
3.) Miguel Cotto vs. Ricky Hatton: Body bombs away as the winner steps to the fore. An even and entertaining match up if ever there was one. Both fighters are incoming and are willing to take punishment in order to mete it out and both are brutal body punchers. Something has to give in this one. This could be Hatton’s redemption for his less-than-stellar showings against Collazo and Urango. As well, this could shut up those critics who say Cotto either takes too many shots or has not fought the most threatening opposition (read Branco, Malignaggi, Urkal, etc). Of course, he needs to get by seemingly made-to-order Zab Judah if that fight takes place.
2.) Joan Guzman vs. Edwin Valero: Dinamita’s amazing ko streak vs. Guzman’s undefeated record. The slickster/puncher vs the power puncher. Venezuela vs the Dominican Republic. With Valero’s brain scan issues lingering, he is somewhat of a mythical figure in North America but his amazing ko record is no myth. This fight could take place either in South America or in some Asian country other than Japan where Valero might get some “home cooking” in the extremely unlikely event the fight went the distance. The winner would be heir apparent at super featherweight. A fight between Jorge Barrios and Valero would also be a great one, but Guzman, who went from prospect to WBO titlist in ’06 with wins over Javier ‘Chatito’ Jauregui and Jorge ‘La Hiena’ Barrios, is the man to beat. I see the slick Joan taking out a game Valero by early KO in a shoot-out.
1.) Jorge Arce vs. Vic Darchinyan: A mini-LaMotta or Mayorga vs an incoming brawler throwing menacing hooks. Don’t go to the refrigerator; don’t even blink. These guys bring pure entertainment and excitement into the ring. Both have heavy hands and this could be one of the most explosive fights of 2007. After bringing himself to the attention of American boxing fans with three brutal stoppage wins in 2006, the IBF/IBO flyweight world champion is looking for the biggest fights available in 2007 and that’s with colorful Mexican Jorge Arce . The 27 year-old is a former WBC interim flyweight and WBC junior flyweight world champion, who is now campaigning at junior bantamweight. If this fight is made, it has the potential to be another Garza-Meza. Too close to call, but I am leaning toward the Armenian in a brawl for the ages. My kind of fight all the way. The one intangible is that the tragic Burgos fight may have depleted Vic’s spirit, but only time will tell.
Of course, Mayweather Jr vs. Oscar De La Hoya is set so I know I will be paying to watch that one in one of the bigeest fights since Tyson-Lewis. However, styles make fights and this one might not be as exciting as the others mentioned in this article. In fact it may well be a snoozer.
And here is one I’ll throw in for good measure (no pun intended)
Nikolai Valuev vs. Wladimir Klitschko – Let’s finally get the giant tested. If he survives Dr.Steel Hammert, he deserves all the props he can get, but Wladimir has the size to stand up to Valuev and the power to hammer him….let’s see if Valuev has the strength and stamina to hold him off. A fascinating match up…both for its oddity as well as for its import. While stamina could be a factor, I see Wladimir exposing the affable giant and protects the Rock’s mark of 49-0. I see him wearing down the Giant for a mid to late-round stoppage, or possibly a UD, but not without a meaningful degree of trouble. But remember Klitchko, is no Larry Donald or Monte Barrett, particularly this Klitschko.