Fighters Who Should Retire This Year

Call it stupidity or granite-headedness, some boxers really don’t know when to quit, to finally punctuate the chapters of their careers and close the books. Sadly, some of these fighters are those I have grown to admire when I was still in my childhood years. And this year, they are slated to lace up the gloves and partake in another beatdown.

Evander Holyfield (42-10-2) and Francois Botha (47-4-2, 2 no contest), Heavyweights

The 47-year old ex-world champion Holyfield is bent on retiring as a champion. And in an effort to do so, he is now on the stage with another aging boxer, 41-year old Botha, who is way beyond his prime (did he ever reached his prime?) and the current holder of the WBF heavyweight title. Seriously, what’s the WBF?

"I am going to win and I will cherish the WBF world title,” says Holyfield.

Seriously, what’s the WBF?

I hate to admit but these guys are so washed-up, and the fact that that they are fighting for a belt sanctioned by the WBF (seriously, what’s the WBF?!) makes them so wash-up even more. And get this, they won’t be fighting in the United States or Europe, but in Uganda. See how washed-up they are?

Gerry Penalosa (54-7-2, 36 KOs), Bantamweight

Before I say anything else, let me declare that I am Filipino and I love chicken adobo as well as sisig and papaitan even more so than the Pinoy sitting next to me. I have always loved Gerry and have watched him become an icon of Philippine boxing. But dude, you got to admit, at 37-years old, he is getting old. As technically sound and defensive-minded as he is, he’s over the hill. The beating Juan Manuel Lopez gave him last year should be a clear indication of that.

To Gerry, I implore you man. Quit. Hang those gloves. You got your legacy already secured; you have been through many wars and have given boxing a great boost, especially for us Filipinos. Heck, you made me proud when Juanma failed to knock you out, that you can take what he can dish. But no more fights man. You can be coach, a boxing analyst, but your time inside the ring is over. I hope you realize that.

Jermain Taylor (28-4-1, 17 KOs), Super Middleweight

I am a big fan of this guy. But with the losses he was dealt with, and the manner of how he lost, should make him really considering of calling it quits. Taylor’s last two losses (against Carlo Froch and Arthur Abraham) were so devastating that I am surprised he still wants more action. I admire the heart, but when your body can no longer take those types of shots, it is plain stupid to still ask for some more.

Roy Jones, Jr. (54-6, 40 KOs), Light Heavyweight

December 2, 2009. Got knocked out. In the first round. To an unknown fighter. End of story.

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.

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.

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.