A pet peeve of mine is smaller sites pretending that they are one of the big guys. Let’s face it, when looking for re-caps of the day’s fights, most everyone is going to instinctively look up the big sites.
As a small, but growing site, The Boxing Tribune has long been look for something that flips the script a bit and adds something to the scene rather than just re-tilling the same soil that already has 50,000 people working it.
Hopefully, our feature, “The Late Stoppage” will be of use to our loyal followers and all future readers:
Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany:
**Wladimir Klitschko TKO 10 Samuel Peter**
Re-cap: Peter came out strong, but slowly got beat down with Wlad’s usual combination of long, straight shots and timely clinches. Klitschko retained his IBF/WBO heavyweight title.
What this means to Klitschko: Wlad probably didn’t win many new fans with this performance, but this dominant win keeps him at the top of the heavyweight division.
What this means to Peter: It’s back to the end of the line for the “Nigerian Nightmare.” This was especially tough for Peter since he actually did seem in shape and motivated for this fight. He might have one last run in him, but it’s all about money now; He’s already been dominated by the two best heavyweights (Wlad and Vitali Klischko).
What this means to fight fans: Wlad stays on top, draws more negative headlines from American boxing writers, and Peter goes back to the pack. May we suggest Peter vs. Chris Arreola in a battle of the “Nightmares?”
Rainton Meadows Arena, Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
**Steve Molitor MD Jason Booth (116-113, 116-112, 114-114)**
Re-cap: Despite being bigger, more talented, and more skilled, Molitor still plodded through a dull affair en route to defending his IBF jr. featherweight title. Booth fought to the best of his abilities, but his abilities suggest little more than a European club-level fighter.
What this means for Molitor: A return to Canada and a resumption of where he left off before being pulverized by Celestino Caballero– Hometown defenses against fringe contenders in a weak division.
What this means to Booth: Back to the UK club circuit.
What this means to fight fans: Just another ho-hum title fight with an uninspired champion in an underachieving weight class.
Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
**Brandon Rios DQ 7 Anthony Peterson**
Re-cap: After a solid first round, Peterson decided to make Rios’ life a lot easier by standing and fighting toe to toe. After a Peterson knockdown and a mess of low-blows that look designed to buy time, Peterson was DQ’d, but it looked to be a matter of time before he was stopped anyway.
What this means to Rios: This was a WBA lightweight eliminator, so this means a title shot, but not against the real WBA champ, Juan Manuel Marquez. “Regular” champ, Miguel Acosta looks to be next on the agenda, although Rios called out Humberto Soto in the post-fight interview.
What this means to Peterson: A lot of soul searching and psychological rehab. This was the type of fight that takes something from a young, talented fighter.
What this means to fight fans: Not as much as it should since Rios won’t likely get a crack at the real title. But Rios’ arrival on the main stage means a young, hungry brawler is near the top….and that’s always a good thing.
**Yuriorkis Gamboa UD 12 Orlando Salido (116-109, 115-109, 114-109)**
Re-cap: WBA featherweight titlist, Gamboa put in a solid performance despite suffering a flash knockdown in the eight. Salido, IBF title holder at 126, fought a tough fight, but couldn’t do any real damage to Gamboa. A two-point deduction against Gamboa for hitting Salido while on the canvas in the twelfth led to the strange scoring.
What this means to Gamboa: One step closer to Juan Manuel Lopez. Plus, an IBF featherweight strap to be added his WBA title.
What this means to Salido: Back to anonymous fights in Mexico, but 126 is so deep that he’ll be back in the picture soon.
What this means to fight fans: Hopefully, it means a Lopez-Gamboa bout in 2011. If not, at least we got one less title holder at featherweight.
Monumental Plaza de Toros, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico
**Edgar Sosa TKO 10 Ryan Bito**
Re-cap: Bito was tough and game, but ultimately over-matched against one of the sport’s best little men, Sosa. Edgar Sosa ground down Bito and stopped him with body shots in the tenth.
What this means to Sosa: With three fights in four months, Sosa is serious about his new campaign at flyweight. The former jr. flyweight champ picked up a bogus WBC title, but is now in place for a shot at their champ, Pongsaklek Wonjongkam.
What this means to Bito: Some seasoning and a decent payday for the 24-year old Filipino.
What this means to fight fans: Edgar Sosa vs. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam could be a classic.
**Erik Morales KO 6 Willie Limond**
Re-cap: Morales looked uncomfortable and clumsy whenever Limond showed any movement, but Limond realized that he couldn’t win a fight by moving constantly. When he stood toe to toe, both fighters’ class showed and Morales would stop Limond with body shots in the sixth.
What this means to Morales: Another pay day for Morales and, possibly, a title shot.
What this means to Limond: A ticket back to Scotland and a story to tell the grandchildren.
What this means to fight fans: Somehow, the WBC sanctioned this for their diamond belt at jr. welterweight despite neither fighter making the 140 lb. limit. Is the WBC trying to say that Erik Morales is now a bigger champ than WBC jr. welter title holder, Devon Alexander? Let’s hope nobody ever thinks of making Alexander vs. Morales.
Leave a Reply