Gennady Golovkin vs Matthew Macklin Preview

By Peter Wells (twitter @boxingbrains):

Its not every fighter that will be awarded with 3 world title shots in 3 years when he loses the first 2. So when Matthew Macklin - 29-4(20) - was awarded with the chance to make it 3rd time lucky then there must have been as much relief as joy. Deep down 'Mack the knife' knows that a defeat at the hands of WBA 'world' Middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin - 26-0(23) - would culminate in a hard road back to convince promoters and TV companies he can change his fortunes.

Win or lose and Macklin still has a couple of lucrative fights in store for him. A much anticipated mini-tournament is what British fight fans crave. British trio Macklin, Darren Barker and Martin Murray have all proved to be world class. Barker and Macklin both put up brave efforts vs Sergio Martinez but were both ultimately outgunned. While Martin Murray was very unlucky not to get the decision in Argentina when challenging Martinez. Murray and Macklin also have both come close to upsetting Felix Sturm. Macklin losing a close points decision while Murray claimed a draw.

Gennady Golovkin - known as Triple G/GGG - has recently launched himself to become one of the most feared punchers pound-for-pound, but lest we forget, Matthew Macklin is by far Golovkin's hardest challenge. Grzegorz Proksa and Gabriel Rosado were both tough, but lacked any defensive skills and Ishida boxed well before being caught by GGG, and was out for the count. But say what you please about the opposition. 13 stoppages in a row is something special. 

Lack of activity for Matthew Macklin could prove critical, as he has only fought 1 round since his March 2012 defeat to Sergio Martinez. While Golovkin has taken to the ring twice this year.

For Macklin to win, first things first. He needs a solid chin, because he will take flush shots. If Macklin can force Golovkin onto the back foot, he has the engine to outwork the Kazakhstan fighter, who may begin to start looking for one big shot.

For most of the build up I have picked Golovkin to win on points. I feel he can land enough clean blows to slow Macklin down and take the fight down the stretch. But some inclination is telling me that Macklin can pull this off. If he can avoid Golovkin's bombs early in the fight then Macklin will have enough in the tank to survive some very shaky moments in the later rounds before he is rewarded with a close points decision win. The likelihood of this happening though is very slim. Macklin on more than the odd occasion is caught by solid punches. So I will stick to my original pick and say that Golovkin will come out victorious on points.

Gavin Rees vs Anthony Crolla Preview

By Peter Wells (twitter @boxingbrains):

While fireworks are expected tonight when Frankie Gavin and Denton Vassell take to the ring to face each other in a solid all-British clash, there seems no doubt that tomorrow night will be even more explosive. Although in a fight featuring a much clearer favourite, no boxing fan is under the false illusion that Gavin Rees vs Anthony Crolla will be anything other than a belter.

Gavin Rees can feel no shame in his performance last time out against Adrien Broner, where he was halted in 5 one-sided rounds. On that February night, Broner proved to be a level above the Welshman, and Rees never had a chance to impose himself on the fight. Although in small spurts he did have success.

What Gavin has a chance to do on Saturday is to cement his place above his fellow domestic rivals. He already has a win over Derry Matthews, and adding Anthony Crolla will put himself in a solid position to take on stablemate and WBO Lightweight champion, Ricky Burns.

But lest we forget that Rees' opposite number will be fired up by that exact same incentive. A victory over a former world champion and winning the WBO Inter-Continental Lightweight title will shift Anthony Crolla into a solid position to challenge the Scotsman, Ricky Burns.

If one is to judge a fight on common opponents then the way that Rees bullied Derry Matthews in both their fights, compared to the way Crolla struggled to cope with the Liverpool man in their own sequel suggests that Rees has the huge upper hand. Yet common opposition rarely expose the true story.

While 'Million Dollar' Crolla - 25-4-1(9) - has shown great durability and solid boxing skills, I find it very hard to look past the ever-motoring Gavin Rees. Crolla lacks pop to bother the Welsh fighter, leaving the 40 fight veteran to steam roll forward. At 37-2-1(18), Rees is the pick to step on the gas after 3 rounds, and following countless scary moments for Crolla the referee will step in to halt the contest around the 9th round.

BoxNation expands as Promoters join forces

By Peter Wells (twitter @boxingbrains):

Promoters working together! That quote has become about as rare as the Spanish Football team having less than 70% of possession in a match. Yet here we are, in the 21st century and beyond all beliefs, Frank Maloney, Ricky Hatton, Barry McGuigan and Amir Khan have all joined Frank Warren and his BoxNation channel.

With Sky Sports cutting boxing down to a minimal, it was up to Frank Warren to hand his fellow promoters a favour. BoxNation is yet again proving that it is the answer to all boxing's problems in the UK. With all fights being so easily accessible on one channel, there becomes no need to subscribe to several TV channels because it's all on one.

This still doesn't include Eddie Hearn's ever growing Matchroom Promotions, who are contracted to Sky Sports. Sadly one of those new recruits at Matchroom was former Hatton Promotions 'Golden Boy', Scott Quigg. Had Quigg stayed with Ricky Hatton, then the much anticipated Quigg-Carl Frampton (promoted by Barry McGuigan) fight would have been back in fight fans minds.

This is not to say that mouth watering British showdowns aren't on the horizon. For one there's is a potential Heavyweight belter being lined up as Frank Maloney's Derek Chisora could face Frank Warren's David Price, if the two fighters win their respective upcoming fights.

And that isn't all as BoxNation's great relationship with Golden Boy Promotions will iron out any complications with TV deals in the UK. This mainly concerns Amir Khan who would no longer be tied between Sky Sports or BoxNation when fighting on a Golden Boy promoted show. Add to that, Warren, Hatton, McGuigan and Maloney will now have the chance to get their fighters onto Khan's undercards in the States. The experiences they will garner will be irreplaceable.

To sum things up, BoxNation is truly flourishing, and UK fight fans can finally feel in safe hands. And more importantly, UK fighters themselves can finally begin to believe that they're careers are being guided in exactly the right way.

Frankie Gavin vs Denton Vassell Preview

By Peter Wells (twitter @boxingbrains):

It seems like only yesterday that the state of British boxing was being questioned, yet tomorrow night anticipation is high as English Welterweights Frankie Gavin and Denton Vassell go head-to-head in a clash of unbeaten fighters.

Opinions are spilt, but after the main event we will know who is the best Welterweight in Britain (not including Kell Brook who is now beyond domestic level). All English dust-ups don't get much bigger than this, yet the respect between the two boxers before the contest has been pleasant to see in a sport where trash talking and degrading one's opponent has become almost a formality in some fighters books.

Entering the contest, Frankie Gavin - 15-0(11) - is the favourite. The Birmingham fighter became the first Brit to ever win a Amateur World Championship Gold medal, and turned pro carrying the burden of great expectations.

Frankie's career thus far has been watched by critics under the microscope, leaving little room for any bad showings. The criticism he received after a hard-fought victory over former footballer, Curtis Woodhouse was unnecessary and over the top. Gavin though took on board the feedback and used it as motivation to produce arguably his best two performances of his career.

Firstly last November he ripped the British title from Junior Witter's grasp. Witter, is as awkward a fighter as they come, but in the second half of the contest Gavin adjusted and came through to win a unanimous decision.

Then in January this year at Walsall Town Hall, Gavin dominated an outgunned Jason Welborn before scoring a stoppage in the 7th, courtesy of some punishing body shots. I had the pleasure of seeing this fight live, and was pleasantly surprised at just how fast Frankie Gavin looks in person compared to watching him on TV.

As for Denton Vassell, the 28 year old has received the most pressure from himself. To Vassell suggesting he has fulfilled his potential already would be an insult. With each passing fight it seems clear that the boxer born in Lancashire is on his way to shock the world in the same way that Ricky Burns and Jamie McDonnell have.

Vassell now 20-0(10) has not been present in the ring since he handed Ronnie Heffron the first defeat of his career in 6 rounds, which took place last November. Prior to that Vassell first broke onto the domestic scene when he defeated Lee Purdy and won the vacant Commonwealth title which he has successfully defended three times.

In one of those defences Vassell dominated the then unbeaten Bethuel Ushona. The Namibian's only other conqueror since was former IBF Welterweight champion, Jan Zaveck.

What lies ahead tomorrow night is neigh on impossible to foresee. Vassell's incredible physique should earn him the alias 'The Tank', so it remains hard to envision that Gavin will be able to bully Denton in the same way that he did to a much smaller Welborn.

As for Gavin his speed and ability to counter punch so effectively could prove key to convincing the judges to tilt towards himself in tight rounds.

Expect Gavin to box the majority of the bout off the back foot, circling Vassell and pawing the jab patiently, waiting for his opponent to make an error in which he can punish. Vassell himself is no slouch when it comes to ring generalship, and this will ensure that Gavin will be left with few clear openings to counter.

Both boxers have the skills to win this fight, which is what makes a prediction so hard to make. If I was pushed hard to make a pick, then I would lean slightly towards Frankie Gavin. Whoever takes all the titles at the end, you can rest assured it will be close and leave everyone thinking "rematch" at the final bell.

BoxingBrains Boxing News Episode 1: Broner, Gavin, GGG & much more

By Peter Wells (twitter @boxingbrains):

 

For my 1st episode of 'BoxingBrains Boxing News' I'll be looking back at Adrien Broner's victory over Paulie Malignaggi, and also looking ahead to this weekends action, including: Frankie Gavin-Denton Vassell, Gavin Rees-Anthony Crolla and Gennady Golovkin-Matthew Macklin.

Adrien Broner vs Paulie Malignaggi Review

By Peter Wells (twitter @boxingbrains):

Last Saturday night, the controversial Adrien Broner took another small step towards filling the potential that his trash-talk has promised. A tough-to-score fight ended in fittingly controversial fashion, as fans were split on who should have been given the nod.

Broner threw less but his accuracy was hard to ignore, while the former WBA Welterweight champion, Paulie Malignaggi threw punches like they were going out of fashion, yet his work rate didn't result in shots landing all that often.

The man who dons himself 'The Problem' was awarded victory via a split decision verdict. Judges scored the bout 115-113 to Paulie and 115-113 & 117-111 in favour of Broner.

For this particular fight, Adrien Broner took with him his controversial antics. After Paulie lifted his leg up, it appeared that Broner kicked out at the champion. More followed as referee Benjy
Esteves Jr struggled to control the Cincinnati man. Esteves had every right to deduct a point from Broner who at one instance while breaking from a clinch threw punches from over his own head at Paulie.

Between the odd moments in the fight, the pace was moving swiftly as Paulie circled the ring before firing combinations to the body. While all the shots early to the torso were blocked, Broner's lack of punch output meant that Paulie was ahead in most people's eyes at the halfway stage.

In the second half of the fight, Paulie began to slow. His legs weren't moving at the same rate and Adrien Broner was visibly closing the gap. Even so Paulie adjusted, and sacrificed his movement in order to win rounds by outworking the challenger. Despite that the heavier punches of Broner were taking their toll and the fight was tilting in Broner's favour.

Questions raised by Broner not finding a stoppage seemed harsh when considering that Miguel Cotto failed to halt the Brooklynite. Broner's punches still carried the snap to momentarily halt Paulie when he came forward, but Malignaggi's chin proved once again hard to dent.

The final result seemed fair, and Paulie's rant at the end about the decision being fixed were an over-reaction. Adrien Broner's after fight comments lacked class too, so maybe both fighters should take a few lessons from Austin Trout on how to conduct yourself after winning or losing.

Now it is the time for some to admit that maybe Adrien Broner - 27-0(22) - is a very good fighter, who will be near, if not at, the top for some time. While there are clear flaws, at 23, Adrien has time on his side to make corrections.

As for Paulie Malignaggi, now 32-5(7), the gates are still open for fights in a jam-packed Welterweight division. Match-ups with Andre Berto, Robert Guerrero, Devon Alexander, etc all make sense. Although there is a possibility that the new generation, Mike Jones, Brad Solomon, Frankie Gomez, will be intrigued with the idea of testing themselves against a fighter like Paulie.

Adrien Broner vs Paulie Malignaggi Preview

By Peter Wells (twitter @boxingbrains):

Later tonight Paulie Malignaggi 32-4(7) and Adrien Broner 26-0(22) will finally take their differences into the ring, and sort matters out the way boxing intended. Whether you want to admit it or not, you are looking forward to this fight and whatever you say about the press conference trash talk, Broner and Malignaggi have sold this bout, and they've sold it well.

This brings me on to a point that I'd like to address. The media and some boxing fans alike, have brandished the trash talk from both fighters as "disgraceful", "unsportsmanlike" and so on. The way it has been lamented makes it seem as though grown men cursing at one another and dishing out insults is something we never see. Broner and Malignaggi don't like each other, and this is not the first time in boxing that pre-fight talk has become personal.

As for the role models debate, Mike Tyson's past lifestyle hasn't affected him being the reason for thousands of kids taking up boxing. The amount of current fighters who say that Tyson is there role model is incredible considering how a boxer can’t even stick their middle finger up without being labelled a "bad role model". No one has been forced to watch this, people choose to watch the press conferences, so if you have a phobia of  bad language and insults then firstly, boxing really isn't the sport for you, and secondly, don't watch them!

So now that I have that out of my system, I can focus on the fight itself. The talk on its own isn't the only variable that has fans intrigued by this match-up. The fact that Adrien Broner is moving up two weight divisions - jumping from Lightweight to Welterweight - gives this bout another selling point. Broner has proved himself a world class operator, but stepping up 12lbs to fight a naturally stronger fighter than he's been fighting at Super Featherweight and Lightweight ensures that Broner's talent is going to be tested.

Although the betting underdog, Paulie Malignaggi is no stranger to the term. That is because Paulie has been fighting at a high level for some time now. His first title shot, 7 years ago was against the then undefeated Miguel Cotto, whom Paulie went the full 12 rounds with, albeit he lost a unanimous decision.

The only fighters who have managed to halt the Brooklyn man were both British. Ricky Hatton was the first, and Paulie's most recent defeat was against Amir Khan who won in 11 rounds.

The "Magic Man" Malignaggi won the WBA Welterweight title, which he defends tonight, 14 months ago when he travelled to the Ukraine and stopped Vyacheslav Senchenko in 9 rounds. Senchenko unbeaten coming in was on the receiving end of one of Paulie's best performances, a display that gives hope to Paulie's fans.

In his next contest, the reign as WBA champion was nearly ended very quickly. Last October Pablo Cesar Cano rallied in the second half of the contest to floor and nearly stop Malignaggi in the 11th round. Paulie survived and won a split decision. The verdict was disputed but what seemed most controversial was the scorecard of 118-109 in favour of Cano. For the record I scored the contest 114-113 Malignaggi. What made the close fight worse was the fact that in Cano's next fight he was beaten on points by Shane Mosley, laying seeds of doubt over whether or not Paulie is truly going to win one of the "big ones".

Adrien Broner himself was handed a close and controversial victory, when back at Super Featherweight he struggled with Daniel Ponce De Leon over 10 rounds in a tougher than expected contest. Since then Broner has left no room for questions or complaints as all 6 opponents have failed to reach the final bell. Back in November last year came his most impressive victory when he dominated the number 1 Lightweight in the world, Antonio DeMarco before stopping him in the 8th round.

Even though the DeMarco win was impressive, the Mexican never had the power to hurt Broner. All credit still goes to the American for making the win look so easy and straight forward, when he was expected to be tested.

While Paulie doesn't have the power to hurt Broner, he does have the skills and defence to cause him far more problems, than any of “The Problem’s” previous opposition.

To win, Paulie must attack the body of Broner on a regular basis and he must also be the counter-puncher in the fight. If Malignaggi becomes the leader, then Adrien's ‘Mayweather’ like defence will make things all too simple for Broner to make him miss, then make him pay.

The pick is for Broner to struggle to get into any rhythm early, while Paulie remains cautious, peppering Broner with fast jabs. Broner must be careful not to allow Paulie to create too much of a gap. If the Brooklynite grabs an early lead he will start moving more, not allowing Broner to set his feet and throw power shots. Although this will be what Paulie will try to enforce, it is more likely that Broner, although not the quickest on his feet, will be able to cut off Paulie and wear him down as the fight drags on. By the 8^th/9^th round Broner will be in command, but Paulie’s chin and heart should help him to survive the final third of the fight only to lose clearly on points.

Mikey Garcia vs Juan Manuel Lopez Review

By Peter Wells (twitter @boxingbrains):

After years of hard work and tough grafting, it took just 2lbs for Mikey Garcia to lose the WBO Featherweight title. Garcia and his camp have received plenty of criticism but it was Garcia himself who was effected the worst as he lost the chance to defend his world title for the first time.

Yet despite the disappointment there was a welcome consolation prize. An impressive 4th round stoppage of former star of the future, Juan Manuel Lopez was all that Mikey could do to improve the frustration of losing his WBO strap. With an impressive variety of punches, Garcia chopped down Lopez with considerable ease, proving that Lopez truly is a hollow version of the fighter he once was 3 years ago.

Before the fight began, I refused to read too much into the Orlando Salido defeats on Lopez's record, instead believing that JuanMa could pull off the upset. But that tiny feeling was squashed in the 4th round, when a left hook sent the Puerto Rican to the canvas for the second and last time in the contest. Lopez came to fight, but he simply lacked the skills to compete with the brilliant counter-punching of the Mexican, Garcia.

The first round was close. Garcia dominated with his jab for the majority of the round, but Lopez fired in some powerful one-twos which caught Garcia's attention. The next stanza was all Garcia, the jab rarely missing and suddenly JuanMa's vulnerabilities seemed all too easy to exploit. A desperate flurry from the fists of Lopez was punished with a single, accurate right hand which left Lopez seated on the canvas.

The third wasn't a bad round for Lopez, who seemed to have recovered well, but his failure to defend himself after letting his hands go was punished almost every time by the fast counters from Garcia.

Then in the 4th round of the fight, Lopez, after being caught with a right hand became reckless and Garcia on the back foot landed heavy shots, snapping JuanMa's head back with every blow. One final punch and Lopez was down and unsteady on his feet. Referee Rafael Ramos rightly called a halt to proceedings, declaring Garcia the winner by way of technical knockout.

A third stoppage defeat of his career for JuanMa - 33-3(30) - leaves the Puerto Rican in a sticky situation. Despite that Lopez has name value, which may warrant him at least one more world title shot. Outside of that if Gary Russell Jr is ready for the step up in class then a fight between himself and Lopez would be interesting to watch.

As for Garcia now 32-0(27) , he did express his desire to remain at Featherweight where lucrative fights with the likes of Abner Mares, Chris John and possibly Guillermo Rigondeaux lie in wait. But if and when Garcia feels that he should move up to Super Featherweight a Puerto Rico-Mexico match-up looks likely against Roman 'Rocky' Martinez.

On the undercard, Terence Crawford once again impressed, dominating Alejandro Sanabria before the Mexican was stopped in the 6th.

Just three months after out boxing Breidis Prescott over 10 rounds, Crawford took the fight to Sanabria to prove that he has the power to match his skills. Crawford now 21-0(16), is looking at a bright future in boxing, although Max Kellerman's claim that he is the best 135lbs fighter in the world, is a few stretches too far. As for Sanabria he drops to a still impressive 34-2-1(25) after his first contest outside of Mexico.

Boxing Wishlist: Fight #1 Lucas Matthysse vs Danny Garcia

By Peter Wells (twitter @boxingbrains):

Before I begin, for those of you who have not seen my previous article then I should firstly explain what is going on here. A few days ago I wrote on my blog and on boxingnews24.com, asking readers which fights are on their 'Boxing Wishlist'. To my great surprise I received over 170 comments, and a whole load of great match-ups. What I shall be doing for however long it takes is writing previews for these potential boxing matches. So do not mistake these articles for previews of actual fights, although boxing fans will be hoping that they do come to fruition.

The first preview is by far the most popular and in demand contest, Argentine banger Lucas Matthysse vs Philly boxer/puncher Danny Garcia. So here is the video the video of my preview:

Prediction: In most fans eyes Lucas Matthysse will be the big favourite, with the upper hand in power. If Matthysse keeps the fight at range and stays patient the big shot opportunities will come. But if Matthysse decides to stalk Garcia then it may become a case picking the Argentinean off being teeing off with big left hooks to both body and head. Although I see Garcia having moments, the fact is no matter what tactics are implied I can see only one victor. The pick would be for Matthysse to force a stoppage in the final quarter of the contest. The culmination of straight right hands will eventually be too much for a brave but outgunned Danny Garcia.

Mikey Garcia vs Juan Manuel Lopez Preview

By Peter Wells (twitter @boxingbrains):

As Juan Manuel Lopez looks deep into the eyes of Mikey Garcia, he see's an image of himself 26 months ago. He sees the hot prospect in Garcia, that once lay in himself. He smiles at every complimentary word aimed towards Garcia, because not too long ago those identical praises were directed at him. But rather than feeling jealous of the favourite, he instead feels sympathy, and a hint of sadness. That is because he was once in Garcia's shoes, and now he is ready to inflict the same damage on Garcia's career as Orlando Salido did to his in 2011.

For Mikey Garcia to think Lopez is anywhere close to being 'done', would be a huge mistake that himself and his team will be wise not to commit. Garcia may be coming off a one-sided technical decision victory against Lopez's only conqueror, Orlando Salido, but the JuanMa challenge is a totally new and daunting test.

Lopez once upon a time, was the rising star in the Super Bantamweight division. One sided destructions of Daniel Ponce De Leon(TKO 1), Gerry Penalosa(RTD 10) and 4 others in his 6 fight reign as WBO 112lbs king - although his final defence vs Rogers Mtagwa was on points. He then took Featherweight by storm, stopping Steve Luevano(TKO 7) for the WBO title before successful defences against Bernabe Concepcion(TKO 2) - in a fight that saw four knockdowns - and Rafael Marquez(RTD 8).

Then along came the stumbling block. When a money-spinning match-up with Yuriokis Gamboa was on the horizon, Orlando Salido took exception, dragging the Puerto Rican into deep waters before he was stopping him in the 8th round. After one comeback fight Lopez was seeking revenge against his Mexican nemesis. Once again Lopez was the favourite, many believing that he had underestimated his 30 year old conqueror (Salido is now 32). Instead it was a repeat, Salido halting Lopez in 10 rounds this time, but the structure of the contest and the outcome was identical to the first instalment.

Now at the age of 29 and with a record of 33-2(30), Lopez is suddenly the fighter coming in with the punchers chance - which is how many viewed Salido. However the 25 year old Mickey Garcia 31-0(26) comes in as a heavy puncher himself, scoring 8 knockouts in a row before his technical decision victory of Salido.

Garcia's most impressive wins have come against former Lopez victim, Bernabe Concepcion(TKO 7) and Jonathan Victor Barros(TKO 8). Against Salido, Garcia dominated in every department, scoring four knockdowns before an accidental head-butt broke Garcia's nose. Mikey unable to continue, sent it to the scorecards in which Garcia was light years ahead.

For Lopez to come out victorious he must not stalk Garcia at the same pace that Salido did. The Mexican was too slow and cumbersome, allowing Garcia to pick his shots at a canter. JuanMa must be quick to pressure his opponent, forcing him onto the ropes and land big shots to the head and body. Having previously broken his nose, it wouldn't be a bad idea if Lopez targeted that area in the hope that the injury may re-surface.

As for Garcia, although this challenge will prove to be far greater than the Salido one, he must box in the same vain. Lopez leaves himself wide open on the way in, so Garcia will have the chances to put some real hurt on JuanMa.

A knockdown or two is likely with both boxers zoned in to hurting one another. The pick is for Lopez to start the contest brightly, forcing a cautious Garcia onto the ropes. Sensible body assaults could leave Garcia tired and vulnerable in the second half of the fight. If Lopez fails to employ good head movement then he will be picked apart for a late stoppage. However I have the tiniest of inclinations that Lopez can pull it off, only if he manages to make himself hard to hit, something JuanMa has never been too successful at before.

Boxing Wishlist: What fights are on your boxing wishlist?

By Peter Wells (twitter @boxingbrains):

It is always intriguing to fantasise possible fights, and as fight fans we do this every week. After every fight we suggest possible fights that could happen, and usually we have our own early predictions as to the outcome if ever these boxing matches were made.

That is why for the next few weeks, I shall be writing articles previewing fights that fight fans want to see happen in the next few years. I have already expressed my belief that there is a new golden era beginning between Light Welterweight and Light Middleweight, which is where a lot of my 'dream fights' will be coming from, although I will be previewing potential fights from every weight division.

Now even though I have plenty of fights on my very own wishlist, I would be very happy to hear your thoughts on what fights you would love to see happen. If you have any fights I haven't thought of myself then I will preview them. So if do indeed wish to make your thoughts heard, then leave the fights that you'd like to see in the comments at the bottom. Or you could also go on to Twitter and send me a tweet (@boxingbrains).

Maidana vs Lopez Review

By Peter Wells (twitter @boxingbrains):

Amazing, scintillating, exhilarating, these are just some of the superlatives being used right now to describe Marcos Maidana's incredible 6th round TKO of Josesito Lopez. It was just that kind of a fight, and that is what boxing fans around the world have been witnessing throughout this incredible 2013. Lopez and Maidana were simply following suit.

Between 140lbs and 154lbs, the fight game has been absorbing fantastic matchups that are promising much, but delivering even more. Which brings along with it the question. Are we in the middle of a new golden era of boxing? With the amount of talent situated between three weight classes, every month there is at least one fight that is grabbing our attention. In just two weeks time Paulie Malignaggi will be taking on Adrien Broner in another cheek turning event in the Welterweight division. I am not suggesting we are witnessing anything close to the 'Four Kings' era but what we have now is very similar to what was absorbing late night TV sets in the 90's with the sensational matchups in the Middleweight and Super Middleweight divisions. In fact this may be even better.

You may not agree with what I'm saying. Everyone is too busy discussing how much boxing has gone down the drain to notice that in fact something good is happening in the 'Sweet Science'. Danny Garcia, Lucas Matthysse, Amir Khan, Adrien Broner, Mike Alvardo, Brandon Rios, Timothy Bradley, Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather, Austin Trout and Saul Alvarez, are just some of the fighters that could be pitted against one another in the coming years (barring the usual factors which deny us great fights, that boxing fans seem so quick to highlight).

But while we sadly cannot predict the future, we must instead switch back to Saturday night when Marcos Maidana and Josesito Lopez had fans spouting about how great boxing is. Almost six terrific rounds had flown by when referee Lou Moret intervened, much to the displeasure of Lopez who protested that he should have been allowed more of a chance to fight his way out of danger. Although there seemed good reason for his anger, the last thing we wish to see is a fighter being badly hurt in the ring and for that reason I have to agree with the officials timing of the stoppage.

Up until the stoppage Lopez and Maidana were involved in a back and forth war, where both fighters had already been hurt in previous rounds. Lopez - whom I had ahead 48-47 going into the 6th - seemed to be doing more damage to his Argentinian opponent, much to the surprise of most at ringside and watching on Showtime (in the USA) or Boxnation (in the UK).

In the opening round the two fighters were holding back the big guns, yet the intent of going to battle was there in both boxers early work. The Home Depot Center exploded to life in the 2nd round as the bombs began to fly. Big overhand rights were landing flush on Maidana's chin, but the former Light Welterweight returned fire with two fisted flurries.

Fan-favourite Israel Vazquez sitting ringside, was enjoying every second of the non-stop brawling that he engaged in so often in his memorable fights.

In the third the fireworks were lit as Maidana backed Lopez up, only for the Mexican-American to fire back, going to work downstairs before spraying punches to the head of Maidana. Although I was still scoring the bout, it was obvious that it was a pointless task... This one was not going the distance!

The 4th carried on in the same vain. Suddenly I was tweeting as frenetically as the two warriors were throwing punches, and 'caps lock' was turned on to emphasise what I was witnessing. One of my tweets read "TWO big rights and a big left then goes to the body all from JOSESITO LOPEZ!!!" The first turning point of the night came in the 4th round as Lopez was clearly taking over the fight. Lopez hurt Maidana badly, seconds before Maidana fell to the canvas, but Moret ruled it a slip.

The 5th round then took another dramatic twist, as when looking comfortable, Lopez was caught flush and with his back against the ropes was pummelled for the remainder of the round. Although Lopez was throwing back Maidana had for the first time stamped his authority on the contest.

Then came the finish. Lopez, hurt from several sickening uppercuts finally went down. Now unable to keep Maidana off of him Lopez succumbed again. The end was in sight and Maidana's relentless assault forced the referee to intervene.

In his second stoppage defeat Lopez drops to 30-6(18), while the victor Marcos Maidana improves to 34-3(31). Lopez's style and heart has once again won him more support and it may well win him a few more paydays in the Welterweight division. As for Maidana, the question as to whether he will fight fellow Argentinian Lucas Matthysse lingers more than ever.

The co-feature wasn't too shabby itself, as Erislandy Lara fought tooth and nail to defeat Alfredo Angulo. Although negative in his last outing, the Cuban, Lara survived two knockdowns before stopping Angulo in the 10th round. After a punch caught Angulo in the eye, the Mexican's orbital bone was left terribly swollen. Angulo and his corner rightly called off the fight, not wanting to risk the fighters vision.

Prior to the stoppage, Lara was twice on the canvas but outside of the knockdowns, delightfully out boxed the Mexican in range, much to the delight of the fans, who were served two exciting fights in one night. My scorecard read 85-85 at the time of the stoppage.

Angulo drops to 22-3(18) while Lara moves to 18-1(12), and with bouts against Carlos Molina, Paul Williams and now Angulo, it seems about time the exciting Cuban talent received a shot at a world title.

Huck vs Afolabi III Review: Afolabi falls short again as Huck moves on to Arslan rematch

By Peter Wells (twitter @boxingbrains):

When Marco Huck and Ola Afolabi fight, it can be hard to predict who will be the victor, but it doesn't take a genius to know that both fighters will leave it all in the ring. And, as everyone predicted we were treated to a third all-or-nothing war between the pair of Cruiserweights who just have a knack of serving up a delightful brawl.

For the 2nd time in the trilogy, Marco Huck, the German fighter, was awarded the decision - the 2nd fight was scored a draw. Although each fight has been tight, so far I have agreed with each of the decisions - basically I don't believe any of the fights were biased towards the home fighter, Huck, which is the common accusation when a boxer is awarded the win in a close fight in his homeland.

For anyone who has watched the 2nd bout then I'm sure you'll agree that this fight was more in line with that encounter than the 1st meeting. The one difference between fights 2 & 3 was that on Saturday it was Afolabi who looked the stronger of the two in the second half of the fight before the Champion rallied in the latter stages.

Afolabi - a British born fighter now based in America - has been labelled as the fighter who's always the bridesmaid but never the bride. And so the curse continues for Ola, but during each fight it has been evident the former WBO Interim Cruiserweight champion has improved. Sadly for Afolabi, Huck himself always manages to 'up' his game and when he is in deep trouble he has been able to rely on his immense heart to will him over the finish line.

Afolabi started the fight with clear intent, behind the jab he controlled proceedings, while repelling the sporadic attacks from Huck. 'Captain' Huck stole rounds 3 and 4 when coming to life in the final minute of the respective sessions. Rounds 5 and 6 were tough to call - I gave a round apiece - as there were the first signs of fatigue setting in.

With stern instructions from his corner still ringing in Marco's ears, the WBO Cruiserweight champion began to plod forward with authority. Afolabi's stern jaw saved him from a trip to the canvas, but the sign was clear, Huck was taking over and it seemed as though Afolabi had no answer.

Ola Afolabi needed a strong final four rounds and in being so determined not to go home empty handed he stumbled out towards Huck, throwing all his tired body could muster. Both fighters were exhausted but it was the visitor who's desperation was edging him back into contention for the victory.

But just when there seemed as though there could be no more twists in the story line, Marco Huck came close to stopping Afolabi, who was out on his feet by the time the final bell rang. A champions finish merited a champions victory, and so the judges agreed. John Madfis handed in a wide score line of 117-111 (Huck), while Lahcen Oumghar scored the fight even 114-114 and Deon Dwarte's 115-113 (Huck) scorecard was in line with my own. With the majority decision defeat, Ola Afolabi falls to 19-3-4(9).

Next up for Marco Huck - whose record improved to 36-2-1(25) - is a rematch with Firat Arslan whom Marco controversially beat on points last November. The fight is likely to take place during October in Germany.

Stevenson vs Dawson review & a look at how Dawson can bounce back

By Peter Wells (twitter @boxingbrains):

 

It took barely more than a minute, for a fight expected by most to last the full 12 rounds, to end. What wasn't surprising though, was the man scoring the one punch KO. As Haiti-Canadian Adonis Stevenson landed a looping left hand to the jaw of Chad Dawson. 'Bad' Chad staggering to his feet was left once again to pick up the pieces after consecutive defeats and his 3rd of his career.

 

Although the early defeat won't have the same effects physically on Dawson as the previous two, the concern is what has this defeat done to Dawson mentally. A setback like this to a fighter moving up in weight and considered by most to be the inferior boxer, is a huge blow for Dawson's career.

 

On the other side of the morale ladder is the jubilant but, judging by his impeccable self confidence, not quite surprised Adonis Stevenson. Adonis 'Superman' unnerved Dawson before the bout had even began - a brawl nearly broke out at the weigh in the day before - and rattled him further when his trademark left hand made exactly the kind of impact Stevenson had been dreaming about. Now the WBC Light Heavyweight champion, Adonis can suddenly start making the demands for his dream fights, at both 175lbs and 168lbs (if he can still make the latter). Stevenson will likely face mandatory challenger Tony Bellew next. Although a big fan of Bellew, I see Stevenson as the victor in that fight. If Stevenson does indeed dispatch of Bellew then a lucrative fight in Canada lies in wait against the winner of Lucian Bute-Jean Pascal. Then there is always the option of moving back down to Super Middleweight, where the likes of Carl Froch and Andre Ward await. All in all the future certainly is bright for this 'Superman'.

 

The question now is...Where next for Chad Dawson? Firstly he must sit down, look around and see who is still by his side. Then he must tread carefully, select the right opponent, and with any luck he can regain some of that lost confidence. Re-gaining confidence is the first and most important step. As far as his style goes, himself and his team must start to look at ways he can change the way he fights. This isn't down to the fact that some fans find him boring to watch - because let's be honest if he changes his style to be more exciting and gets KO'd all the time no one would watch him anyway. Winning is far more important than pleasing, simple as that. But as things stand opponents are having far too much time to pick shots, move around, and look like they are doing more work - because they are. 

 

Chad's best weapon is his jab, yet he just does not throw the punch half as much as he should. If he can keep opponents at the end of his jab, it makes things so much easier for him to land hard right hands, this may even generate a few knockdowns or knockouts. Variety of punches is also key to success. There is always a chance that Chad has a certain punch that may just work for him, maybe a left hook or an uppercut, this is where Dawson needs to experiment in training. Finally, for myself, Chad's footwork leaves a lot to be desired, this could come down to the fear of tiring himself out, but quite simply to bounce back Dawson needs to be lighter on his feet - and I don't mean bouncing around on his toes constantly for no good reason - but by simply stepping around the ring more, maybe at a higher tempo, and don't allow patient fighters like Ward and Stevenson the time to pick their shots. All this can sound very simple, but it can be very hard for a fighter to change the way he fights, but for Dawson this could be key to changing his career around, if he wishes to fulfil that great potential.

Marco Huck-Ola Afolabi I & II recap plus keys to victory & 3rd fight prediction

By Peter Wells (twitter @boxingbrains):

After two wars in 2009 and 2012 respectively these two fighters, Marco Huck and Ola Afolabi still insist they have a score to settle. The two warriors have earned one another's respect to the degree that they are both once again happy to put their respective careers on hold to enter the ring and trade bombs yet again. In the first encounter Huck was given the fight on a close unanimous decision, while the second contest saw two of the three judges scoring all level, pitting the fight as a draw and ultimately treating the fans to another great Cruiserweight affair. The Cruiserweight division has become the new heavyweights. The slightly smaller fighters have been delighting fans with wars aplenty as the new breed of heavyweights fail to provide the excitement that was always associated with the pinnacle weight class in boxing.

The first fight was far from a clean fought war. It was more in line with a sloppy brawl. Both fighters seemed to be fighting tired throughout the fight, where holding was a common sight. Although the scores were close I failed to see how Afolabi could have been handed the fight and I have no doubt that Huck was a deserved winner.

The opening rounds were close, but Huck seemed to be doing more work while Afolabi seemed to be enjoying the occasion too much, with lots of showboating and looking out of the ring. The 5th round was probably Ola's best round of the entire contest. He badly rocked Huck with a solid uppercut, but after that round Huck re-took control of the fight, winning the next four rounds. The final 3 rounds were hectic and I was kind in giving Afolabi rounds 10 and 12. My final scorecard read 117-113 Marco Huck, in a fight where Huck proved he was just the stronger man.

Three years later and the return, and Afolabi was ready to right the wrongs of the first contest. Straight from the off he showed clear improvements. Afolabi took centre ring from Huck and held his hands much higher, he was also happy to use the jab to outwork Huck early on. Keeping on the front foot made the fight a far more exciting spectacle, although as the fight wore on and the fatigue set in, scrappy exchanges soon ensued. This is where Marco Huck came back into the fight in the 2nd half of the contest.

After 12 exhausting rounds a great finish from Huck earned him a draw on the cards, and I have to agree, with my scorecard reading 114-114. Once again close rounds made the fight extremely hard to score, meaning the result is up for debate.

So now I look ahead to tomorrow nights third fight between the pair. For Ola Afolabi, he was far more successful on the front foot in the second fight, so would benefit from doing the same in the third affair. The jab was also a key weapon in the fight, he landed plenty, totally out jabbing Huck, which helped him into an early lead on the cards. The uppercut was an obvious weapon to use against Huck, yet Afolabi didn't use it half as much as he should have. When Huck inevitably gets inside, Afolabi must throw the uppercut to halt the Germans momentum. Although there were positives, Afolabi can improve in several areas. Firstly his conditioning as he faded badly in the championship rounds. Once the fight becomes an inside brawl it turns into Marco's fight. Also when tagged Afolabi would benefit from putting his hands up and trying to escape the danger area, as opposed to swinging wildly and trying to dodge haymakers with erratic head movement. The longer he can keep off the ropes and at long range the more likelihood Afolabi will get the win.



Afolabi(LEFT) & Huck(RIGHT)

As for Huck, he needs to issue his authority early on, try and force Afolabi to back up where he is far less effective. The left hook landed on several occasions in both encounters, that shot coupled with the straight right is a knockout combo. Huck has the knowledge that he can hurt Afolabi, but must be aware that Ola has the power to hurt him too, but he cannot be too cautious especially early on. If Huck can force Afolabi onto the back foot early in the fight and not dig himself a large hole then he can cause Afolabi to tire himself out early and then force home his strength late in the fight for a clear points win or even a stoppage.

So having looked at what the fighters can do to win, now for my prediction. The pick is for Afolabi to punch his authority early, while Huck tries hard to force him backwards. This should create damaging opportunities for Afolabi which he must take. Huck will inevitably come into the fight in the second half of the contest. In this stage Afolabi should remain cool and stick to his boxing. For me this time Afolabi will do just enough in the middle rounds to still get a close decision after a final assault to regain his belt from Huck.

Marcos Maidana vs Josesito Lopez Preview

By Peter Wells (twitter @boxingbrains):

Maidana(RIGHT) & Lopez(LEFT)

The story of Josesito Lopez 30-5(18KOs) since the start of 2011 has been quite simple, Win, Lose, Win, Lose. So if this was an exam then when I asked you what comes next in the sequence, the simple answer would be Win. But then comes the catch. If boxing were an exam it would be the most unorthodox exam on earth. Is then this pattern of results just a coincidence... Yes! There is no formula in boxing, and Josesito Lopez and Marcos Maidana will know that, they know they have to invent their own chemical equation without the help of a textbook, in order to come out with the right answer. And for the last couple of months that is exactly what both fighters and trainers have been doing, now comes the test, and as they enter the exam room they will both know the questions they are asked will not be entirely in line with what they revised for.

 

So after that long boxing metaphor, I'll cut it down to the basics. Marcos Maidana 33-3(30KOs) comes into the bout off the back of an impressive stoppage victory of Jesus Soto Karass(TKO 8) and a knockout of novice Angel Martinez(KO 3). Prior to that Maidana was dominated on points by IBF Welterweight champion Devon Alexander(L UD 10). Maidana's other two defeats both came on points over 12 rounds against Amir Khan(L UD) & Andriy Kotelnik(L SD 12). The clue in the 30 knockouts is that Maidana is a very hard puncher although his 18 fight knockout streak was halted by DeMarcus Corley(UD 12) who despite suffering a knock down lasted the 12 rounds. Erik Morales(MD 12) is the only other fighter to go 12 rounds with Maidana and lose.

 

Like Maidana, Josesito Lopez's biggest victory came against Victor Ortiz, who in both fights received criticism that was over the top, mostly from keyboard warriors who have never suffered a broken jaw before. I have never once questioned Ortiz's heart - I would never question anyone's heart if they get into the ring - but it instead seems to be more of a mental issue, where Ortiz makes rash decisions when the going gets tough, most notably against Floyd Mayweather. Lopez against Ortiz still had a chance of winning the fight on points after the 9th round when he broke Victor Ortiz's jaw. But Ortiz made the quick decision to retire on his stool giving Lopez the victory.

 

In the Maidana-Ortiz fight, or more accurately, War, both fighters suffered numerous knockdowns, but after a 2nd knockdown Ortiz decided enough was enough. In this instance it seemed like Ortiz in his mind thought he wasn't going to win the fight, handing Maidana a 6th round TKO win.

 

Either side of Lopez's win against Ortiz he was beaten over 10 rounds by Jesse Vargas(L SD 10) and was stopped when making the error of moving up to Light Middleweight to face Saul Alvarez(L TKO 5).

 

Although for myself, Lopez has the slightly better boxing ability Maidana will make it hard for Lopez to resist trading. At times Maidana can look terribly open but if Lopez is to dive for the bait he could fall into a nasty trap. If Lopez is the better boxer then the Argentinian Maidana is by far the harder puncher, and having such a solid chin suggests for Lopez to win it'll have to come via points.

 

Angulo(LEFT) & Lara(RIGHT)

It is a hard fight to call but I expect a cagey opening 3 or 4 rounds, where Lopez can take an early lead with higher activity. Maidana will then start to sting the American as he uses head movement to slip the long range punches from Lopez. Maidana will enjoy success when he pins Lopez on the ropes where he struggled against Alvarez. The pick is for Maidana's ability to trap Lopez on the ropes to be the difference in the fight, and I expect Marcos to take a deserved victory on points.

 

Although the victor will hope that money fights come pouring in afterwards, the likely scenario is that the winner and loser will both be looking at fights with the likes of Ruslan Provodnikov, Andre Berto and rematches with Victor Ortiz, and for Maidana Amir Khan. Although these fights aren't too shabby for the fans though.

 



Hopkins(LEFT) & Charlo(RIGHT)

On the undercard is an interesting mash of styles when brawler Alfredo Angulo 22-2(18KOs) and the Cuban stylist Erislandy Lara 17-1-2(11KOs). The pick is for Lara to neutralise Angulo early but his sometimes negative style may result in Angulo coming back into the fight and being awarded a very close maybe split decision.

 

Also Jermell Charlo 20-0(10KOs) makes a further step towards a Light Middleweight world title when he takes on Demetrius Hopkins 33-2-1(13KOs). The pick is for Charlo to dominate past round 3 on route to a points win.



Chad Dawson vs Adonis Stevenson: A look at Adonis Stevenson

By Peter Wells (twitter - @boxingbrains):

With just a few days to go until Chad Dawson defends his WBC Light Heavyweight title, I'll be taking a look at his challenger, the 35 year old Canadian Adonis Stevenson. With just 21 fights to his name Stevenson is moving up from Super Middleweight having failed to secure a fight with one of the top guns at 168lbs. In modern day boxing Stevenson has failed to attract much attention outside of the fight game. Having fought the majority of his fights in Canada he has some what gone under the radar, but Saturday night he has the chance to make a name for himself. Win, draw or lose, a good performance from Adonis against the world class Dawson would do wonders for his career. Having been a pro for just 7 years, Adonis still has time on his side even at the age of 35, a late bloomer he is, but compare him to fellow Light Heavyweight Bernard Hopkins and he's a young pup.

My main focus for giving you the low-down on Stevenson will be his bout last October against Don George, where he won via TKO in round 12. The most notable trait of Stevenson's is his punching power, early wins against Jesus Gonzalez and Noe Gonzalez back this up, and the way he finished Don George in the 12th highlights his killer instinct. What we gained from the George fight past round 4 bears little significance to what can be expected Saturday night. Once George was twice knocked down in the 5th, the fight was virtually over.

First thing to note though is that Stevenson is a southpaw, like Chad Dawson. The straight left hand is his best weapon, whether to body or head. A left to the body in the 5th was the beginning of the end for George. Adonis rarely gets careless with his left hand, but on occasion left himself too open to the right hand counter. This generally comes down to his wanting to be the aggressor. At range though George didn't have the reach nor the speed to counter. Although patient Stevenson is happy to let his hands go, and is very active with his right jab. When Stevenson has his opponents hurt he does go for broke somewhat, but in this particular fight after the 5th round he remained patient and looked for shots rather than throwing punches with reckless urgency, a good idea when he's fighting someone like Chad Dawson.



It all gets heated at the weigh-in: Stevenson(LEFT) & Dawson(RIGHT)

As far as his defence goes, he holds his right hand low, slinging jabs from his hip. Almost identical to Carl Froch. Good head and body movement helps him to avoid slow counters. At first he constantly stepped to his left, but made the correct adjustment when George started to land the right hand. Stevenson then began to step to his own right opening up room for the left hand and avoiding any wild right hooks from George. Although just a minor adjustment it showed he has the ability to make adjustments mid fight, after that he didn't need to make any other changes to his game plan.

Adonis also oozes confidence, and fights well at his own pace, he'll need to step up the pace against Dawson, who also fights at a slow tempo. Dawson will be a huge step up in class, although the step up in weight shouldn't be a problem. Stevenson is a big Super Middleweight, not in terms of height but in terms of build. Being able to knock opponents over with one shot has its pluses and minuses against Dawson. The plus side is that it is hard to land combinations on Dawson, meaning if he is going to be knocked down then it'd have to be from a single shot - just like Andre Ward did only that was more to do with Dawson being weight drained that Ward being a powerful puncher. The minus side is that Stevenson may not throw enough leather to win rounds against Dawson, much like Bernard Hopkins who just didn't do enough to win.

Well I hope now you have a better idea on what to expect from Adonis Stevenson this weekend. But this analysis is my own opinion and not facts, so I am sure you all have your own opinions on Stevenson's style that may not be in direct line with my own.

Diaz W TKO 7 Gethin: Ammeth Diaz with world class performance against brave hometown hero Martin Gethin

By Peter Wells- (twitter @boxingpeter):

Image courtesy of my very own camera phone

"A once in a lifetime chance", "he'll never get a chance like this again". These are phrases heard too much in boxing. Those who are not optimists DO NOT belong in boxing. If one cannot see beyond what there eyes show them, then they have chosen the wrong sport. For those suggesting that Martin Gethin has missed his one and only chance at contending for a world title, then they needn't look much further than the two men who fought in a small hall classic last Friday night, to prove themselves wrong.

If Martin did not have the mind set of a fighter, he would have quit many years ago. Indeed he considered giving up, but the boxer inside of him resisted the temptation - I'm sure every boxer has had to fight back the question, "What on earth am I doing this for!?". After 3 defeats in a row, Gethin refused to believe his shot at landing a British title - which he had came so close to before losing to Scott Lawton - was gone. Instead he stormed back with 8 victories in a row, to land a shot at the British Lightweight crown, which he took with both fists.

Then came the unexpected world title eliminator. Gethin had nothing to lose. But after 7 hard fought rounds, his opponent was just too powerful and too good on the night. Gethin's chance had gone. But wait! Where have we heard that before? Well look no further than the man who will take on IBF Lightweight champion Miguel Vazquez for the second time in 2 years. Yes, Ammeth Diaz is no stranger to that phrase, yet here he is again, another shot, when it looked as if his chance had passed him by.

Back in 2007, Diaz fought Souleymane M'Baye in a WBC Light Welterweight title eliminator and was stopped in four rounds. So he got back up, wiped himself down and two stoppage wins later he was involved in a WBA Lightweight title eliminator. Once again he lost, this time he was dominated on points. Next fight and a fourth round stoppage defeat, but Diaz was not finished there. Two more wins later and he was taking on Ji-Hoon Kim in a IBF Lightweight title eliminator. Once again he lost, this time in the 1st round. So surely that is it, isn't it? Not quite. Another two wins and Diaz was presented with a 4th world title eliminator. This time he made no mistake, winning in 5 rounds to set up a shot at Miguel Vazquez. Vazquez though was too good and dominated for a 12 rounds points win. But just when you think Diaz had missed his one and only chance he received and won a 5th world title eliminator, and for the 2nd time in his career he will challenge for a world crown.

The moral of the story here is... it isn't over just yet for Martin Gethin. And something tells me it is nowhere near over just yet for Diaz either. But on Friday night the quick step up in class showed as Diaz dominated the fight, and despite the crowd and Gethin's best efforts, Diaz was just too much. A badly damaged nose, a perforated eardrum and swelling around the left eye was all too much in the end. After three knockdowns, Gethin's body just wouldn't allow him to rise as he was counted out. For everyone in attendance, myself included, it was a terrific fight to witness and one that no one there will forget.

Diaz was tired of being the uninvited guest, this time he was going to make a scene, and a scene is exactly what he made. Diaz himself won many admirers Friday night, including myself.

So as the Diaz story goes on, Martin Gethin's boxing story may just have begun. If he and Diaz have learnt anything in boxing, it is that there is always another chance waiting around the corner, you just have to go and grab it.

Looking Back - 18th September 1999: Oscar De La Hoya vs Felix Trinidad

By Peter Wells (twitter- @boxingpeter):

With the upcoming latest instalment of the Mexico-Puerto Rico rivalry coming up on June 15th when Mikey Garcia of Mexico takes on Juan Manuel Lopez of Puerto Rico, I felt it fitting to look back at a much talked about Mexico-Puerto Rico match-up which I had yet to witness until today.

That match-up was between two of their respective nations greatest treasures as National icons, Oscar De La Hoya and Felix 'Tito' Trinidad faced off in Las Vegas. A fight still talked about to this very day, not entirely for the drama in the ring but the controversial scoring that gave Felix Trinidad a majority decision win. The general consensus was that the fight was either a draw or a close victory for De La Hoya. But while one judged scored it dead even at 114-114, the other two at ringside favoured with Trinidad with scores of 115-114 & 115-113 respectively. To go as far as suggesting a robbery, might be a slight overreaction - there were several close rounds, where one had to choose between fast clean counter shots of Oscar or the aggression of Trinidad. Also the final three rounds, De La Hoya took his foot off the gas and neglected the work rate that had helped him into an early lead, which is coupled with Trinidad going for broke.

De La Hoya entered the contest as the WBC Welterweight champion, which he had acquired two years earlier when defeating defensive wizard, Pernell Whittaker(W UD). An amazing 7 defences later and he was taking on the IBF Welterweight king, Felix Trinidad. After destroying Maurice Blocker in 2 rounds back in 1993, 'Tito' had successfully defended his IBF crown 14 times. His challengers included, Hector Camacho(W UD), the 56-0 Luis Ramon Campos(W TKO 4), Pernell Whittaker(W UD) and many more. In his early reign, Felix suffered 3 knockdowns in his first 5 defences but always fought back to dominate.

During the opening few rounds, Oscar boxed well off the back foot, as Trinidad failed to get his punches off as De La Hoya moved around the ring, before firing quick combinations. De La Hoya had moments of flair where he forced Trinidad to back up momentarily, but most of his good work came when Felix was on the attack. Although I awarded Oscar the first 3 rounds, their was little in them, especially the opening 2 rounds, which could have gone either way. The 4th was Trinidad's best round as he managed to land left hooks, and right hands, but it was false hope for Trinidad's fans.

Oscar got back on his bike and dominated the next 4 rounds - although round 6 was a 50-50 round. In the 9th De La Hoya lessened his work rate, as Trinidad was allowed back into the fight. It was a round that drew a lot of different conclusions on who won the round, I scored it 10-10. But the final 3 rounds, Felix dominated as De La Hoya neglected the right hand which he had rarely missed with all fight. As Trinidad neglected his defence it was a perfect chance for Oscar to close out the fight by stinging the Puerto Rican with the right, but he refused to take it, instead opting to survive the championship rounds, believing he was far enough ahead on the cards. I believed that Oscar had just done enough to win, 116-113, but the opinions that counted did not.

So now it is up to JuanMa Lopez and Mikey Garcia to etch their names in the book of great Mexico-Puerto Rico rivalries.