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Sunday, March 22, 2009

How to Get That Multi-Million Dollar Job: Help Wanted in Heavyweight Division

Yesterday, I watched the Heavyweight boxing match between returning Vitali Klitschko and a certain Cuban Cruiserweight Mr. Gomez and I wondered why no one is applying for the job of Heavyweight champion of the world.

The ranks in the lighter weight classes are brimming with talent, but the Heavyweights of our era are clumsy behemoths who prefer the bludgeon to the scalpel. I'm not one of those people who doesn't appreciate the Kitchscko brothers, and their varied talents and interests. As boxers, they're not bad. But what irritates me in the Heavyweight ranks is that there is a lack of brilliance in the division.

In yesterday's match, Gomez was a beefed up Cruiserweight who took a shellacking at the hands of a six foot seven inch mesomorph with a powerful right hand. The best you could say of Gomez is that he was tough and brave and tried his damndest to make a fight out of it, largely without any special talent. He was a strong guy and tried to get close but was battered in every attempt. Gomez fought with his head straight up most of the time, didn't attack the body, and marched forward to deliver an occasional power shot, most of which fell short of the taller man's head.

There was a paucity of jabs from both boxers, who pawed at each other's forward hands to create openings. That's a legitimate tactic when you have a southpaw in the mix but you've got to have a real jab, too, if only to please the purists if not to hurt your opponent with it.

So Kitschko won, stopping the smaller guy within 9 rounds and I was glad for the end. Klitschko did pretty well for his tuneup, and the big question is what was the tuneup for? If there is to be a battle of behemoths, then he might fight Valuev. However, the safer choice for Klitchko's return may be Maskaev, another case where the tall stature and size may figure greatly.

I'm just wondering why there are such few applicants to the million dollar job. Surely, there's someone out there. Help wanted: Heavyweight Division.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

AFP: Boxer Hatton plans to shock Pacquiao with speed and moves

AFP: Boxer Hatton plans to shock Pacquiao with speed and movesMy fight guy in Nevada, David Rosetti, tells me Hatton is the sure-fire winner. Size and power will be too much for Pacquiao at 140 lbs, Rosetti says. Rightly or not, though, the Pacman has the wildness factor going for him. Hatton may be too workmanlike, lacking in passion, and uninspired. Contrast that with wild-eyed and wild-punching Phillipino. I'm going against the Nevada odds here, and I'd say to look for the unexpected in this fight.

Monday, March 2, 2009

ESPN Friday Night Fights: Glen Johnson Conquers Daniel Judah (again)

It was the classic Glen Johnson script. The man on a hinge bobbed and weaved, slipped and punched with the precision of a fighting machine. In the end, there was no doubt as to the outcome as Johnson had a bit to much for the game Judah. Judah fought the wrong fight much of the time and was unable to use his height or to keep Johnson away.

Johnson is either age 40 or pushing it but age hasn't caught up with him. I wish, therefore, that Chad Dawson had taken a rematch with Road Warrior Glen Johnson instead of taking the easy fight against Antonio Tarver. I have great respect for Tarver, but he's already accomplished what he would as a fighter and it's time for him to geton with it.

Johnson is the people's champion and, if Dawson is to be really "bad Chad" instead of "half-bad-Chad", he's got to get to Johnson before old age does.