Floyd Mayweather Got Whipped in a Radio Interview

Like any other true boxing fan, I feel that though Floyd Mayweather is very talented, he needs to prove he is great

And with the level of opposition he has faced recently, associating the term “great” with Pretty Boy Floyd is pretty much a farfetched idea. He needs to fight the best. So far, he dominated the best lightweight at a fight that occurred at welterweight.

Point is, PBF parading as the best is plain silly. And just recently, Floyd got owned in a heated argument with the Rapper R.A. the Rugged Man on Shade 45 satellite radio.

Rugged Man blasted Floyd with a series of questions, ranging from his choice of opponents, why he is dodging the best fighters out there, and comparisons with some of the legends and a relative unknown of the sport. And as usual, Floyd’s arguments can’t hold water while Rugged Man’s points are as valid as they can be.

If you want to hear how Floyd Mayweather went down in this debate, just click here.

Updates

My apologies for not updating this blog for the past week. I was among the organizers of a recent blogging summit held in my home city and the event demanded time and much more from me. However, I have not slacked about with regards to the event of the boxing world and so far, things are going great.

Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto are to clash in November 14th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. That would be nearly two weeks from now. And the first episode of the 24/7 series was a great success. I’ll write about that on a separate article.

And then there is this upcoming bout between IBF bantamweight champ Joseph Agbeko and challenger Yonnhy Perez. Agbeko (27-1, 22 KOs) is coming off a unanimous victory over hard-punching super WBC super flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan. On the other hand, Perez is undefeated in 19 fights, 14 by knockouts, with his last win over David Martinez ended in a sixth round TKO. This will be a promising fight as you have two hard hitters in the lower weights go at it for honor and glory.

Filipino fight fans! Brace yourself as three of our countrymen will battle it out a day before the Pacquiao-Cotto war. Bantamweight Federico “Magnifico” Catubay (25-15, 13 KOs), a native of Labason, Zamboanga del Norte, will face Juan Alberto “The Monster” Rosas (30-5, 25 KOs) of Mexico in a title eliminator bout for the IBF super flyweight title.

Mighty Mark Melligen (16-1, 12 KOs) of Bacolod City will slug it out against Mexican Michel Rosales (24-3, 21 KOs) in a 10-round bout in the welterweight division. Z “The Dream” Gorres (30-2-2, 17 KOs) will try to get a win over Luis Melendez (26-3-1, 21 KOs) of Colombia in a 10-round fight in the bantamweight division.

Go Filipinos!

Hatton Plans a Comeback Fight with PBF

After a five-month lay-off following his defeat in the fast hands of P4P kingpin Manny Pacquiao, former junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton is now eyeing a comeback in the early or middle of 2010. And who the Hitman wants for his comeback fight? His first conqueror, Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

While I genuinely believe that Ricky Hatton still has some fights left in him, a rematch with the younger Floyd Mayweather is a long shot. See, the Hitman has already tried to conquer the top and fell short against the best – he got knocked out by Mayweather in the 10th round in 2006 and was dominated brutally by Pacquiao in a fight that lasted two rounds last May.

Hatton is an entertaining fighter. His brawling style really gets the fans off their seats. But as may have witnessed, his forward, head first, form of boxing does not have what it takes to take out the A-listers of boxing.

It comes as a no surprise for any boxing fan to hear a boxer avenge his loss and Hatton is no different. But blaming the referee for his loss does not add up. Hatton said that the third man inside the ring, the venerable Joe Cortez, did not allow him to impose his will on the American champion.

The disparity in skills was very much visible. Poor defense, lack of maneuvering skills, and less speed are just some of the things why Hatton did not overcome Mayweather that night. And to try it all again would be a futile attempt.

But then, this is boxing. Hatton certainly has a puncher’s chance of beating Mayweather or perhaps Pacquiao should they meet again. That said, Hitman’s chances of winning are almost nil.

Hatton is a true fighter in every sense of the word and he will certainly be looking for a rematch with Mayweather. Whether there is a possibility of having the same results or not, people are going to spend money to see how it goes.

Mayweather to Evade Potential Clash Between Pac-Cotto Winner

As the events leading to Pacquiao-Cotto: Firepower begins to unfold with the opening of the 24/7 series this weekend, news about Floyd Mayweather, Jr. inching his way out to fight the winner is brewing. Many boxing fans and pundits have called on Pretty Boy Floyd to fight the Pacquiao-Cotto victor if he wants to claim the P4P throne now ruled by Pacquiao.

But it seems Floyd has other plans underway. And it does not involve fighting Pacquiao-Cotto winner, nor does it entail a match with Shane Mosley, Paul Williams, and Andre Berto. Simply put, Floyd does not have any schemes to fight any legitimate welterweight.

Instead, Floyd has his sights on a 19-year old Mexican slugger Saul Alvarez. Relatively unknown, Alvarez sports a record of 29-0,22 KOs. But while he definitely has power he lacks experience and skills he requires to compete with the A-listers of the welterweight division.

Golden Boy Promotions’ second-in-command Richard Schaeffer is already selling a potential match between Mayweather and Alvarez sometime in 2010. Alvarez-Mayweather is estimated to sell 100,000 tickets if held in Aztec Stadium. Loaded with BS, no?

Mayweather already discredited himself by beating a blown-up lightweight (no disrespect to Juan Manuel Marquez, he’s one of the best boxers there is). If he does opt to fight Alvarez, then he will not only stain his image, but ruin his legacy as well.

If Floyd wants people to believe in him when he says he is the best, then it is in his best interest that he fights those who are in the top and are his size. But if he does end up fighting the kid, then it’s pretty much clear that it’s all about the money.

It may be a good move for him business wise, but that would be a great disservice to the sport and its fans. When will Floyd truly prove his great?

Pacquiao-Cotto Preview: A Genuine Display of Respect

When you have two elite boxers trying to hype up an upcoming fight, trash-talking, name-calling, and other verbal insults are surely flying around nonstop.

You have Muhammad Ali calling Joe Frazier an ugly bear, to which of course Frazier responded with a rain of punches. The Mayweathers also are not lost when it comes to belittling their opponents before a fight. Floyd Mayweather Senior blasted fellow trainer Freddie Roach with titles such as “cockroach” and “the joke Coach.” The younger Mayweather, at a press conference, brought a chicken to cement his description of Oscar Dela Hoya.

So it’s quite refreshing to see two of the best P4P fighters smiling at each other as if they have no intentions of reconfiguring each other’s faces and perhaps careers.

Manny Pacquiao, the current pound-for-pound best fighter in the world, and Miguel Cotto, ranked 8th best pound-for-pound boxer and current WBO welterweight champ, are all smiles in their mini-interview with boxing analyst Max Kellerman. Both fighters handed each other praises and credit for their respective careers and in the truest sense of the word, mutual respect is visible between these guys.

Both Pacquiao and Cotto acknowledged the skills of the other and also talked about their motivation why they fight – family, honor, and country. But make no mistake. No matter how genuine these guys are, no matter how friendly they seem outside the ring, once they become boxers, they will try to get the other’s lights out.

Pacquiao-Cotto with Max Kellerman here.
Pacquiao and Cotto on the reason why they fight here.

Froch and Abraham Triumphant Against Americans

British Carl Froch and Germany’s Arthur Abraham have succeeded in garnering their respective wins in the first stage of the first round of the Super Six World Boxing Classic. Froch edged out Andre Dirrell in a split decision in what was a very thrilling match. In the German part of Europe, Abraham proved to be too powerful for the talented Jermain Taylor and knocked him out in the final round.

It proved to be a great night for both Europeans, staging great fights in Europe’s soil.

As expected, the younger and faster Dirrell danced around Froch and hitting him with crisp jabs and some solid shots. The early rounds saw a frustrated Froch trying to deliver his own dose of power bombs.

This pattern remained on its course until Froch found some openings in the later rounds and succeeded in transforming this bout into a brawl. And brawling is something Dirrell is not used to. Froch easily capitalized on the situation and asserted himself over Dirrell in most part of the bout.

With the win, Froch advances to the tournament with two points and elevated his record to 26-0, 20 KOs, while Dirrell suffered his first defeat in 19 bouts.

In Germany, Abraham versus Taylor seemed to be the reminiscent of Froch versus Taylor. What we all saw was the same stuff that unfolded last April. Taylor dominated the first half, gassed out, and got knocked as the 12th round was nearing its end.

After the fight, boxing pundits (most of them anyway) are now coming to a conclusion where Taylor is now on his way down and probable retirement awaits him after the tournament. Such concurrence is quite understandable considering that Taylor fades in a fight. He ran our out of steam against Kelly Pavlik, Carl Froch, and now Abraham.

This is Taylor’s fourth defeat and his second consecutive following his loss to Froch.

Winning his 31st fight in a row, Abraham proves to be a scary prospect for the other entrants of the Super Six. Not only did he win his first fight at the super middleweight level, he carried his destructive punching power with him.

Abraham’s record now stands at 31-0, 25 KOs. Taylor drops to 27-4, 17 KOs.

Next month, we’ll see how the young Andre Ward will fare against the tournament’s heavy favorite Mikkel Kessler of Denmark.

It’s The Same Boom Boom Bautista

After taking a humiliating defeat November last year, Rey ‘Boom Boom’ Bautista added another notch to his strings of victories at the expense of Indonesian challenger Marangin Marbun. Bautista blasted Marbun with an overhand right. Referee Bruce McTavish did not even bother to count.

In front of a hometown crowd in Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City, Philippines, Bautista displayed a same version of himself, though he did show some array of boxing skills. Exciting as always, Bautista’s relentless style proved too much for the Indonesian, who went down to the canvas in the fourth round.
The win improves Bautista’s record to 27-2, 20 KOs while Marbun drops to 19-6-1, 7 KOs.

While I am happy for Bautista’s victory at his debut at featherweight, he is not yet ready to fight at world-class level. His victory over Marbun showed little improvements from last year’s loss to Heriberto Ruiz. If Bautista fights the same manner at such bloc where the level of competition is high, he will be eventually leveled.

Here are my points:

• The first loss to Denial Ponce de Leon exposed Bautista’s chin. While the Bohol native packs power, his chin is very much suspect;

• In his second loss to Heriberto Ruiz, Bautista can be easily outboxed by a much more experienced fighter.

Last night’s fight displayed more or less the same Bautista who got schooled by Ruiz – reckless and heavily dependent on his powerful right hand.

Though it can be argued that Marbun is no hard hitter, trading punches from the get go with little to average defense can be an ingredient to a loss.

Featherweight at the elite level includes the names Chris John, Cristobal Cruz, and Steven Luevano. While Bautista certainly has what it takes to make his mark at featherweight, he needs more than raw punching power if he wants to be on top of this division.

His punches can go boom boom, but he won’t certainly boom boom his way to the top. He needs to improve.

Granted the fact that he has injured his wrist prior to the De Leon fight, what Bautista needs to do is train his defense and improve his somewhat lackluster technical skills. Fans do love a slugger and would love to see a good exchange of flurries every now and then, at which Bautista really is capable of administering, but I guess it won’t hurt him if he adds some boxing tricks to his bag.

Still, congratulations are in order and I wish him the best in his future fights.

Super Six Kick-Off: Froch against Dirrell, Abraham versus Taylor

And like the calm before the storm, we are now entrenched in a sudden quietness before the boxing gloves thud and bodies came crashing and slamming into the canvas. As we wait for the Super Six to unfold, perhaps the most significant boxing tournament ever designed, here’s my amateurish analysis of the fighters who are to kickoff the event.

Carl Froch vs. Andre Dirrell
Nottingham, England

Froch (25-0, 20 KOs) and Andre Direll (18-0, 13 KOs) are not lost for words when they refer to the other. But all the trash talking and verbal jabbing come to a halt as they let their gloves make the statements with exclamation points.

Froch, despite his unblemished record and the fact that the WBC Super Middleweight belt hangs around his waist, is the unanimous underdog of the tournament. At 32, Froch is the oldest entrant of the tournament and his age might play a factor in his first fight against the younger and more athletic Dirrell.

However, Froch has extreme durability, packs devastating power in his right hand, and parades an iron chin which was vital in his last fight against fellow Super Six entrant Jermain Taylor. In what was a losing battle on the points for the Englishman, Froch suddenly unleashed a last round barrage on Taylor, which culminated in a knockout 15 seconds before the end of the final round.

For his part, the 26-year old Dirrell has youth, quickness and power on his side. An amateur standout and a former Olympian, Dirrell can and will dominate Froch early on. However, Dirrell has never fought someone as resilient as Froch and it would be interesting to see how Dirrell would compensate should Froch refuses to wear down after a projected early phase attack from the young American.

Odds: 60-40 in favor of Froch

Arthur Abraham vs. Jermain Taylor
Berlin, Germany

In a fight that will pit power versus skill, Abraham (30-0, 24 KOs) of Germany and Taylor (28-3-1, 17 KOs) of the United States are slated to lay it all out. While there is no championship belt involved, expect fireworks from these two once they meet inside the ring.

Abraham will be having trouble finding his range against the much skillful Taylor, who is perhaps the most multi-talented boxer he has ever faced. Shorter by two inches, 5'10" Abraham has to neutralize the height advantage as well as reach advantage enjoyed by the American by pressuring him to the ropes. Mean power-punching coupled with precision would be the key to Abraham’s victory.

Taylor, on the other hand, must not repeat the mistake he made in his bout against Froch - he paused on the offensive and allowed the Englishman to take the momentum.

There is no doubt to Taylor’s superiority when it comes to skills, but even a superior boxer is often beat by one that possesses a bigger heart. And when it comes to heart, Abraham is winner and he displayed that when he successfully captured his middleweight title (he relinquished it prior to participating in the Super Six) against Edison Miranda despite a broken jaw.

Odds: 70-30 in favor of Abraham.

Grateful for Pacquiao-Cotto Fight

I honestly believe that Shane Mosley and Manny Pacquiao would have been a more explosive fight than a bout featuring Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto. Shane’s the bigger man and a much more legitimate contender in the pool of available fighters when Pacquiao was still looking for his next opponent.

Shane’s credibility is intact (forget the steroids issue. It was ages ago.), since he is the super champion of the welterweight division and he just came from a destructive win over Antonio Margarito, the guy who beat Cotto.


That said, it can be argued that the beating Cotto took from Margarito is in question, hinging on the discovery that Margarito’s hand wraps were sprinkled with Plaster of Paris right before Margarito engaged Mosley. That matter leaves to be debated.

Still, I find myself excited over the prospect of Pacquiao and Cotto dishing and slugging it out in the squared circle. Pacquiao who started his career at flyweight (106 lbs) will now fight a true welterweight in Cotto and with a championship belt at stake.

But what really makes this fight exciting as it is not the circumstances that evolve around the matchup. Pacquiao is gunning for his seventh title in his seventh division. Cotto is making a case that he is not damaged goods as many people perceive he is after the brutal TKO Margarito handed him.

But rather, the excitement comes from the fact that these guys take on the best there is.

Pacquiao fought the best of the lower weights, including the Mexican triumvirate of Morales, Barrera, and Marquez, on his way to the top. He scored victories over the legendary Oscar Dela Hoya, who many thought before the fight would win easily; and Ricky Hatton, who was once considered the top dog of the junior welterweight bloc.

For his part, Cotto also fought the best in the divisions he’s in. He fought and defeated Mosley in a difficult battle, a prime Zab Judah, who was once one of the fastest hands in boxing, and former junior welterweight champion Ricardo Torres, who decked him twice before Cotto knocked him out.

What we have here is a legitimate contest where everyone can make a decent argument as to who can win and why he should win. We got ourselves two of the elite fighters today that will march into the ring and lay it all out there and hopefully, give us a fight of epic proportions that will reverberate for the years to come.

And for all that, we fight fans should be grateful.

One More Week and It's Super Six!

While it is not the first boxing tournament ever conceived, the Super Six is certainly the most ambitious. Pitting the six of the best super middleweight fighters of the world, the Super Six is definitely one of the most refreshing twist in boxing’s history since its inception.


Coming in to the fray are three European fighters – Carl Froch, Mikkel Kessler, and Arthur Abraham; and three Americans – Andre Direll, Andre Ward, and Jermain Taylor. Of the six, Froch and Taylor are current super middleweight titleholders, while Taylor and Abraham are former champions in the middleweight division, and Direll and Ward are former Olympians who remain unbeaten.

The Super Six will run in a span of two years, with each fighter projected to have fought at least five times in a modified round-robin elimination with the four best scores going to the semifinals. Boxers will get three points for a KO win, two for a decisions win, and one for a draw.

In the semis, the four remaining boxers will engage in a single round elimination until one is declared winner and the best super middleweight there is (that is if Hopkins is no longer active and not as good as he is today).

Kicking off the Super Six will be Taylor and Abraham facing off in Germany on October 17, and Froch and Direll slugging it out in England on the same date.

There is no doubt that the Super Six will treat fans to a great showdown of pugilism. Just a few more sleep and no doubt next week, I will be blabbing about the Super Six.

Check the Super Six trailer here and also check what each boxer has to say here.

Lopez Needs to Rematch Mtagwa

In the sport of boxing, a rematch is due when a bout ends in a very close decision, wherein there is much difficulty of telling for certain who is the victor and who is not. A second meeting of the two fighters will give air on who is much better.

Last Saturday, we witnessed featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez surviving a final three-round assault concocted by the Tanzanian challenger Rogers Mtagwa. It was a fight where Lopez could have lost instead of winning by decision.

Before the fight, a lot of people felt that Mtagwa had no chances of winning against the younger and more powerful Lopez. After the final bell sounded, both men could have possibly won. Lopez was hurting and was gassing out late in the eighth round and Mtagwa did the right thing when the bell sounded for the ninth round – go relentless and berserk on the boy.

Although I believe Lopez racked enough points in the earlier rounds to secure the win, Mtagwa may have did enough to grab a win or at the very least a draw. But that matter leaves to be debated.

One thing that cannot be debated though is that Mtagwa deserves a rematch after putting up a dauntless attack in the last three rounds. Mtagwa staged a late rally where Lopez could have been stopped if the bell didn’t ring in the 12th. Hell, if this was boxing in the good old days, Lopez would not have the wind to fight in the 13th round and Mtagwa would have knocked him out by then.

Unfortunately, Lopez’ handlers do not want anything more from Mtagwa and dismissed the notions of a rematch with the Tanzanian. Business wise, it is quite understandable that they are protecting a boxing prospect’s future. A rematch with such tough guy may not be conducive to Lopez should the Puerto Rican lose if they meet again.

But in the eyes of a true boxing fan, Lopez needs to slug it out with Mtagwa one more time. A rematch with Mtagwa, boxing wise, is a beautiful thing for Lopez in thelong run. See, fans would want to see their heroes slug it out against tough and durable fighters and still come out the winner, with their victories not held in question and their integrity intact.

Lopez may lose the second time around against Mtagwa, but that will only prove that Lopez is willing to take the risk if he wants to achieve greatness inside the squared circle. Most of the heralded fighters lose at some point in their career. Lopez, if he is willing to be great, needs to risk losing in another fight opposite the Tanzanian warrior.

And if Lopez wins, then that only proves he is the better of the two, which is still another good thing in boxing, isn’t it?

Gerry Penalosa Should Retire for Good

Former two-time world champion Gerry Penalosa has expressed his desire to fight Mexican Fernando Montiel for the latter’s WBO bantamweight title. This dream bout with Montiel is, according to Penalosa, his last hurrah before he finally hangs his gloves and ride on to the sunset.

While it is an admirable endeavor to begin with, there is no need for Penalosa to step inside the squared circle one more time. Parading a very venerable record of 54-7-2, amassing 36 victories by knockouts, and besting top caliber fighters from all over the world, Penalosa has a great career from start to finish, though it did not end in a bang.

In his last bout against Puerto Rican sensation and current WBA super bantamweight titleholder Juan Manuel Lopez, Penalosa took a beating in that fight. Though he fought courageously, Penalosa was on the losing end from the get go and there was no way for him to win. If Freddie Roach wasn’t there, Penalosa could have tasted the defeat by a knockout, literally.

The fight with Juanma should be an eye-opener for Penalosa – he is old, way past his prime, and could no longer dig it in with the top guys. Fighting for one more belt, for another shot at glory may come at a heavy price.

A lot of fighters still fought despite the fact that their bodies can no longer endure such punishments. A number of boxers have taken too many blows to the heads, staggered on for too many rounds, fought on for too many bouts, and retired too late. Muhammad Ali is a prime example.

But if Penalosa wants an example that hits close to home, he’s no other than Freddie Roach. Roach’s career extensively continued when it should have ended much earlier. And the toll was great. Waking up every day knowing that Parkinson’s is eating away your motor skills and other physical capabilities is an agonizing reality Roach faces everyday.

There’s no need for Penalosa to go the same route his trainer did. He's a great champion and there is certainly no need to prove that to world.

So to you, Gerry “Fearless” Penalosa, hang those gloves for good.

Lopez Survives Mtagwa's Late Rally to Retain Featherweight Title

A lot of us got surprised last Saturday when WBO junior featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez defeated challenger Rogers Mtagwa from Tanzania in a very unfamiliar fashion.

Clearly, almost everyone (writer included) was hoping for an early stoppage from Lopez when he stepped up against Mtagwa.

Lopez won the fight all right, but almost everybody was wrong in their predictions. It went the distance, something we rarely see when Lopez fights.

Last Saturday in a jam-packed Madison Square Garden, thousands of boxing aficionados (mostly of Puerto Rican lineage) witnessed a very exhausted and battered Lopez weathered a Mtagwa assault in the final three rounds to win via a unanimous decision.

One thing I did not put into the equation is how resilient and tough Mtagwa is. I may have judged him poorly based on his record and the quality of his previous opponents. But he has proven a lot wrong when they said he was an easy target for Lopez.

With the win, Lopez improves to a 27-0, 24 KOs, while Mtagwa drops to 25-13-2. It may not have been a walk in the park as most boxing pundits imagined it would be, but it was a tough victory and Lopez deserves the accolades for facing such a tough fighter.

Probable opponent for Lopez in his next match is Yuriorkis Gamboa (16-0, 14 KOs) who fought as part of the co-main event of Lopez-Mtagwa fight. Unlike Lopez, Gamboa effortlessly dispatched challenger Whyber Garcia (22-7) in a fourth-round TKO in his successful defense of the WBA featherweight title.

Perhaps The Easiest Title Bout of Juanma's Career

After a giving former world champion Gerry Penalosa his first defeat by knockout in April 2009 and dispatching Oliver Lontchi last June, Puerto Rico’s boxing sensation Juan Manuel Lopez will once again put his WBO junior featherweight title on the line on October 10th in New York. Coming to the fight with a clean 26-0 record, 24 knockouts, Lopez will defend his title for the third time.

Challenger Rogers Mtagwa from Tanzania will try to take the belt from Lopez, but with a record of 26-12-2, it seems the Tanzanian has a huge assignment in his hands come fight night. That said, Mtagwa comes from three-win streak.

Bookers favor Lopez to easily win this bout against Mtagwa. And from the looks of it, chances for a Mtagwa upset is highly unlikely. And it does not take a rocket scientist to say why Lopez will dominate and embarrass the Tanzanian challenger come fight night.

First, Lopez is gifted with sheer punching power. Even the great champion, Gerry ‘Fearless’ Penalosa, who was never knocked out in his entire career, surrendered to the devastating onslaught conjured by the Puerto Rican (technically, it was Freddie Roach, Penalosa’s trainer, who dissuaded Penalosa from continuing the fight).

In addition to that, Lopez’s knockout rate is 92.3%, one of the highest knockout percentages in the lower weights.

Second, the qualities of Lopez’s last three oppositions are far more superior in contrast to the opponents faced by Mtagwa. Lopez last three wins were against Olivier Lontchi (18-1-2), Penalosa (54-7-2), and Sergio Manuel Medina (33-2). All of them are top caliber fighters, with the exception of Lontchi, who is still young and has a lot to prove.

Mtagwa’s last three bouts, all victories, were against Ricardo Medina (31-34-5), Tomas Villa (20-6-4), and Aldo Valtierra (25-11). From the records of their previous opponents, it is mighty clear who fought the best fighters.

Third, Lopez is fast as he is powerful. When speed and power combine, mayhem ensues.
If you will be betting on this fight, bet on Lopez. He’s clearly cut to win this one hands down.

Rey Bautista Attempts to Redeem Himself

Redemption.

This has got to be the only thing that fuels the returning Rey ‘Boom Boom’ Bautista, 26-2, as he gears up for another battle in the squared circle. The Bohol native will be fighting Indonesia’s Marangin Marbun for the vacant interim WBC International featherweight title.

This fight should be Bautista’s critical gauge. Does he have what it takes to box again after getting knocked out viciously in his first defeat and being schooled and bullied in the next?

Mexican Juan Ponce de Leon, who delivered the Filipino’s first defeat, showed the world Bautista’s chin is a nice target for power punchers. Another Mexican, the durable Heriberto Ruiz, exposed Bautista as nothing but a slugger who relies heavily in his power-loaded right fist in the second loss of the Filipino’s career.

Redemption.

It’s nearly a year since Bautista stepped inside the ring. And this time, he has to excel. Not just with power shots, but with excellent defense, footwork, and rhythm. Marbun may not look so good with a 23-18 record, but the Indonesian must not be taken lightly.

As Sun Tzu said centuries before, “never underestimate your enemy.”

The question now is can Bautista prove he is more than just a hard-punching machine? Can he box? Can he dance around the ring if his opponent can take his shots, instead of trying to force the issue like what happened against Ruiz?

Can he evolve?

Fernando Vargas Will Fight Again

Over two years of staying away from the squared circle, former Olympian and two-time light middleweight champion Fernando Vargas announced his intentions to once again step into the ring in 2010.

But is this a good idea to begin with?

The 31-year old pugilist from Mexico boasts of 22 victories, including those over former world champions Raul Marquez, Ike Quartey and Winky Wright.

His five defeats came from the hands of boxing’s top caliber fighters, Felix Trinidad, Oscar de la Hoya, Shane Mosley and Ricardo Mayorga. He lost to Mosley twice.

Back to the question, perhaps it is better said if asked this way: “Is Vargas fit to fight again?”


From an avid follower of the Sweet Science, it is best that Vargas remains retired, and for a number of reasons at that.

First, he is no longer in his prime. Vargas has grown old and so are his skills, or what has left of it. His last fight, which ended in a loss to Mayorga, showed how Vargas declined in the later part of his career. Decked by Mayorga once in the rounds 1 and 11, Vargas was never really n the fight, save for a few moments of spurts.

Second, his injuries will punish him severely if he decides to go on with his decision to lace those gloves once more. On December 12, 2003, Vargas fought and dispatched an unknown Tony Marshall in seven rounds, but also injured a disc in his back.

Against doctor’s recommendation, Vargas went on to self rehabilitate his disc rather than have a surgery. As a result, Vargas was inactive for nearly two years.

Thirds, his last three fights, all defeats, showed he struggles against elite boxers. While he successfully orchestrated his comeback in 2005 with convincing wins against quality opposition, Ray Joval of the Netherlands and Javier Castillejo of Spain, both via unanimous decision, they were still not as good as his next opponents.

The following year marked which should have been Vargas’ last dance, two bouts with Sugar Shane Mosley.

On February 25, 2006, Vargas faced Mosley for the first time in a tight seesaw struggle. However, Mosley’s punches began to take their toll on Vargas’ right eye. It was swollen to the pulp.

In the tenth round, referee Joe Cortez halted the bout and awarded the TKO victory to Mosley, stating that Vargas’s right eye was swollen shut he could no longer defend himself against Mosley’s right-hand punches. The doctor of the bout also supported Cortez’ decision.

Five months later, they once again squared for their rematch. This time, Mosley won in six rounds, totally dominating and later on downed Vargas via a left hook to the body. Although Vargas beat the count, he was completely disoriented that he was not able to defend himself against Mosley’s next flurries. Preventing further injury to Vargas, referee Kenny Bayless stepped in and called a halt to the bout at 2:38 mark in the sixth round.

Two years after the loss to Mayorga, Vargas called out Hector Camacho, Jr., for a bout in 2010. His wife already expressed her disapproval, some boxing experts also voiced reservations, and this writer says Vargas’ career has seen better days. But why fight again?

It is certainly not about the money. Vargas has his own clothing line and also appears in the movies. In fact, he even founded the Ferocious Foundation for Kids as his means to give back to the community.

Perhaps it’s that fighter mentality wherein a boxer needs to stay in the ring to feel alive. Or maybe it is another attempt to reconfigure his career’s end. A personal quest of his? Only Vargas knows.

But one thing is certain, despite strong objections for Vargas to fight again, one cannot help but admire the man, consciously or subconsciously. It may look like foolhard stupidity to most, but a fighter like Vargas, sometimes you have to admit they are quite a find.

IBF Bantamweight Championship: Agbeko Vs. Perez

After winning against Vic Darchinyan in a unanimous decision, Joseph King Kong Agbeko will attempt the third title defense of his IBF bantamweight crown against Yohnny Perez on October 31 in Treasure Island Hotel & Casino.

Agbeko, whose almost pristine record of 27-1, with 22 victories coming in by way of knockout, is the heavy favorite in the upcoming match.

While there is no question about his punching power and certainly none with regards to his heart and aggressive style, will the Ghana native deliver the goods this time? In his last outing, it could be remembered that he vowed to shame Darchinyan by beating him “worse than Donaire did.”

However, the fight went the distance, but Agbeko did enough to earn the win with sheer aggression, durability, and above-mediocre defense, which was better than Darchinyan’s.

Stepping up to the challenge is Yohnny Perez of Colombia, who is undefeated in 19 fights and knocked out 14 of his opponents. His last win was a 12th round stoppage of Silence Mabuza last May.

Little is known about this slugger, but from the looks of his record, he has some pop in those hands. Perez might have the biggest fight of his career yet against bantamweight’s King Kong.

Boxer Profile

Joseph King Kong Agbeko

Record: 27 wins, 1 loss, 22 knockouts (81.49% knockout rate)
Stance: Orthodox
Height:: 5' 5½? / 166cm
Reach: 65½? / 166cm
Last win: Vic Darchinyan via UD

Yohnny Perez

Record: 19 wins, 14 knockouts (74%)
Height: ?
Reach: ?
Stance: ?
Last win: 12th-round knockout against Silence Mabuza

My prediction in this fight: Agbeko by decision

Gorgeous Fighting Females

When it comes to highly competitive combat sports, those with well-defined female physique (plump breasts, nice body, and a face to match) are conventionally limited to do in-between round duties, which consists mainly of hoisting a number indicating the next round of the bout. That was before, not anymore.

Female fighters may have emerged years ago, but now we are seeing a new generation of femme fatales that could knock men off their feet, literally. These fighters may have taken the modeling and acting route, and they would have mightily excelled at it. But the call to fight was much stronger, fortunately for us, the hordes of male fans who equally like brawls and babes.

Laila Ali was hot. So was Vonda Ward if she didn’t have those muscles on her. But their time has passed and a new breed of gorgeous fighters is coming to take their place.

Chika Nakamura

Originally from Japan, 5’7 Chika Nakamura was a basketball star and famous swimmer in her home country before she decided to try her luck in boxing in the United States. Parading an 8-0 record, Chika is simply a knockout when she is not in her boxer mode.

As they say, there is nothing hotter than a hot Asian chick.

Gina Carano

If you ever treat MMA fighter Gina Carano wrong, expect to get a dose Muay Thai strikes and blows that will land you in a hospital bed with a busted nose, broken ribs, and a damaged spleen. Cyborg Santos may have given Gina her first loss in eight fights, but still, Gina is way hotter and prettier than the Jiu Jitsu specialist.

Ana Julaton

She may be petite, but this little Filipina will surely knock the wind out of you with furious punch combinations. 5’5 boxer Ana Julaton is more than just an exotic Filipina beauty.

She has showed tremendous heart when she recently captured the IBA Super Bantamweight World Championship in only her 5th professional victory, a feat no one has achieved, and against a 10-year, vastly-experienced multi champion Kelsey Jeffries.

Tiffany Junot

When in the ring, boxer Tiffany Junot is relentless. She punches in bunches and applies pressure to all her opponents, even against the famed Chika Nakamura.

Outside the squared circle, Tiffany, in one word, is FOXY.

Aby Rulloda

At first glance, you will think she is a model. Truth be told, Aby Rulloda is in fact a model, and a gogo dancer as well. But if you think you can get your hands easily on this beauty, prepare to be peppered by mean kicks.

Undefeated in four fights, Aby Rulloda is a kickboxer and she will definitely not hesitate to use those legs to give you a good spanking, er beating. Consider yourself a lucky man if she fancies you.

Fight fans, we are lucky indeed.

Pacquiao-Cotto: Almost an Even Match

With less than two months to go, both Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto are gearing up for their very much anticipated superfight. The significance of the bout will be of great importance, as both fighters have a lot of things at stake along with Miguel Cotto’s WBO welterweight belt.

Should Pacquiao wins, he will be the first Asian and the only boxer who coveted seven championships in seven different divisions and further solidify his status not just a P4P topper but also an all-time great. A loss to Cotto would diminish his camp’s negotiating power with Floyd Mayweather, Jr., who recently dismantled Pacquiao’s archnemesis effortlessly.

As for Cotto, a win will not only retain his belt, it will also elevate him the P4P rankings, perhaps to the fourth or fifth slot, overtaking current holders Juan Manuel Marquez and Bernard Hopkins. Also, victory over Pacquiao can potentially set up a fight between him and Money Mayweather , which may prove to be a juicy payday for the Puerto Rican boxer.

At the time of this writing, Pacquiao is the clear favorite, with +210 odds. On the other hand, Cotto is -250.

But before you place your bets, here’s a breakdown of the both fighters’ strengths and weaknesses.

Manny Pacquiao

Pacquiao main advantage will be his speed. It always has been his main asset and has been evident in his last five outings (Hatton, Dela Hoya, Diaz, Marquez, and Barrera). Another to consider is his underrated power.

Many have felt that with Manny going up in weight, his power would likely decrease. But as shown in the recent Hatton fight, Pacquiao not only shown he has power, he now packs power in both hands. He’s no longer a left-hand dynamite puncher he once was.

His extreme mobility will also come into play. Pacquiao’s quick movements have been the bane of Dela Hoya during the Dream Match. Against Cotto, Pacquiao must move well in order to avoid power shots from Cotto.

Pacquiao’s stamina has been tried and tested. The Filipino southpaw can even go 15 rounds without gassing out. And to make a perfectly clear observation, he seems to get stronger as the fight progresses.

One of Pacquiao’s chinks in his armor is his tendency to be reckless especially when exchanging flurries. At times, he is open for counters and overexerts himself just to win a trade.
Miguel Cotto

Mean body punching will be a key to this fight. Aggression should be Cotto’s mantra if he wants to deliver power shots to Pacquiao’s body.

Cotto is also a durable fighter who can take a punch. His bouts with Clottey and Mosley show how strong this guy’s chin is.

Many do not realize that Cotto is an effective counterpuncher and that will serve him well in his bout against Pacquiao. Pacquiao’s close fights have been with counterpunchers, notably Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez.

Cotto, however, cuts easily and if he is cut in the earlier rounds, he could be in deep trouble as Pacquiao can easily switch from a boxer to a brawler if he smells victory.

My odds in this fight: 60-40 in favor of Pacquiao. Speed kills, you know.

Mayweather Bests Marquez

Floyd Mayweather is yet to taste the bitterness of defeat after outclassing the great and legendary Juan Manuel Marquez in their welterweight bout in MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Using his superb defense and snapping jabs, Mayweather toyed with Marquez all night long. Using Grant professional boxing gloves, Mayweather dismantled Marquez right from the start, even knocking down the Mexican in the second round.

Mayweather was the accurate puncher too. Aside from that, he evaded almost 80% of Marquez’s shots. Elusive and powerful, there is no doubt why he should be reinstated in the Pound for Pound listing.

Mayweather’s excellent performance was seen all throughout the fight, with all the judges giving him the win by with a huge gap in the scores.

Kudos to Marquez, who showed people what is the Mexican Warrior all bout.

Congratulations to Mayweather for a job well done.

The Dilemma Between Cheap and Branded Boxing Equipment

There are lots of boxing equipment for sale out in the market. Some are cheap while others are priced highly. And if you are itching to get yourself some boxing equipment, you better answer the following questions first.

Do you want to be a professional boxer or is boxing a new means of getting fit and buff? The answers to such questions can help you decide what type of boxing equipment you might need to buy.

As a general rule in boxing, do not purchase cheap boxing gloves or any boxing equipment if you are looking to become a pro. Boxing equipment are created to help you become a better fighter, as such, they should be treated as investments.

If you are just starting out, do not worry about getting yourself a new pair of punching gloves or rig your garage with a heavy punching bag. Your trainer and the facility where you train will provide the equipment you will require for your training.

However, if you are boxing for the sake of wellness and health improvement, then it is quite okay that you use low-priced equipment. Heck, you can even buy used boxing gloves. But still you need to take care of your equipment if you want them to last long with you.

The Evolution of the Boxing Gloves

Modern boxers are a far cry from their ancient opposites. Back in ancient times, the practice of fist fighting was a brutal and completely merciless form of combat. It was never a competition. The conditions for victory included death of one or both fighters. In the truest sense of the term, the antique form of boxing was a dog eat dog contest.

With hands designated to do the talking, the modern boxing gloves’ predecessors were unforgiving both in form and in purpose. While today’s professional boxing gloves may be deemed tools of brutality, they pale in comparison to the designs and trimmings of their earlier versions.

The first form of boxing gloves, common among the Greeks, Etruscans , the Shardana and the Egyptians, was hardened leather straps wrapped around the knuckles. Crude, but these trappings were quite effective in causing unpleasant injuries for the person on the receiving end.

As ages went by, the Greeks had the hard leather straps replaced by gloves adorned with spikes. But when the Roman Empire rose, the boxing evolved from a combat form to a spectator sport.
Gladiators became the boxers of ancient Rome and the preferred equipment was the cestus – a type of leather glove fitted with sharp blades and metal plates. The cestus was designed to maim – and in most cases, to kill – an opponent.

When the Roman Empire fell, boxing also went out of the spotlight. But undocumented series of fist fighting still went on until the sport resurfaced in England in the 18th century in the form of bare-knuckle boxing, also called prizefighting. As the name suggested, bare knuckle fighting did not use any form of gloves.

When the modern era of boxing was ushered in the 19th century, bare-knuckle fights have waned and the use of padded gloves soon became the norm. Jack Broughton is credited for the creation of the cushioned boxing gloves, which soon became the basis of today’s boxing gloves.

How to Properly Apply Handwraps

ing handwraps are not just some fancy piece of fabric you put around your hands before you lace your boxing gloves up. This piece of fabric is there because it intends to protect your hands from sustaining serious injuries due to extensive and continuous punching and at the same time, blocking and parrying your opponent’s strikes.

That said, you need some expert hands to apply the handwraps or else suffer some grave consequences come fight time. Handwraps should not be too loose as it can get untangled quickly and will affect the way you perform. On the other hand, handwraps should not be too tight as they would constrict the blood flow in your hands, which also greatly alters the way you fight.

Below is an Expert Village video of Leo Cardenas, a professional boxer, demonstrating the proper application of the handwraps.

A Look at Boxing's Roots

Boxing has been one of the enduring sports today. While the London Prize Ring Rules, the first set of rules and regulations ever integrated to the sport, was inked and signed and legalized in 1743 in England, boxing’s goes deeper and farther into the history.

There are traces of fist fighting that might have occurred in ancient Rome, India, Egypt, and Greece. That said, boxing gloves of today are said to have evolved from the ancient equipment of boxing. Early Mediterranean boxers used strips of leather as their choice of boxing gloves. In ancient Greece, boxers, or pugilists, wore gloves with spikes,with fight ending either in a knockout, or a fighter leaving the fight, or sometimes at the casualty of one of the fighters.

The punching bag also originated from the Greeks. In an effort to increase punching power, Greek youth would practice their punches on a korykos, the earliest form of a punching bag. By 668 BC, boxing was included in the Olympics until the sporting event was banned by the Christian emperor Theodosius in 393 AD. But boxing was totally discontinued in 400 AD by Theodoric the Great as he deemed the sport an insult to God since it disfigures God’s image.

Today, modern boxing equipment are designed not only to produce effective results in a fight, but also protects boxers from serious injuries and possible deaths in the ring. Governing bodies of the sport have decreed that boxing equipment should pass safety standards and strict quality control before they be marketed for commercial

Boxer's Camp: A Prologue

When an athlete excels in any sport, most people talk about the skill, the talent, the heart. While they can all be that push any athlete to greatness, people tend to forget that athletes need equipment to succeed too. Any athlete’s capacities are amplified to a certain degree when using the right equipment.