By Fox Doucette Before we begin, a disclaimer: I'm not calling out any fighter's toughness here. Anyone who accepts a relative pittance (and even what Pacquiao and Mayweather make counts, especially when compared against a designated hitter's salary) to step into a modern version of a gladiatorial arena for combat has my respect. This is simply about a fan's frustration with … [Read more...]
Archives for September 2011
After the Gold Rush: Boxing in the Post-Pacquiao and Mayweather Era
It could be argued that the combined buzz of Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather is greater than that of all United States-based fighters, combined. Sure, fighters like Miguel Cotto and Tomasz Adamek have shown an ability to translate ethnic/nationalistic pride into full houses and better than average TV ratings, but Cotto is a weathered shadow of his former self and Adamek … [Read more...]
Steve Cunningham: From Philly, Fighting in Germany
By Gary Purfield This Saturday, IBF Cruiserweight Champion Steve “USS” Cunningham 24-2 (12 KO) takes on Yoan Pablo Hernandez in Neurbrandenburg, Germany. Cunningham is making his second defense of the title in his second reign as IBF champ. Cunningham has been in six championship fights (he is 4-2 in those fights). Five of the six fights have been in Europe with only … [Read more...]
Gavin Rees Defends European Title Against Derry Matthews, Saturday October 1
European lightweight champion Gavin “The Rock” Rees (35-1, 16 KOs) defends his title against “Dirty” Derry Matthews (29-5, 15 KOs) on Saturday October 1, at the Newport Leisure Centre in Newport, Wales. Matthews is a former participant of the Prizefighter tournament. He reached the finals of the Prizefighter Super Featherweight tournament in 2010, and was knocked out by Gary … [Read more...]
The Boricua Comeback?
2011 hasn't been a great year for Puerto Rican boxing. While faded boricua figurehead, Miguel Cotto, stopped Ricardo Mayorga in March, not even the fiercest of Cotto loyalists would argue that it was anything other than a trophy win from a critically weathered fighter. Cotto is far removed from being the fighter who once cut a violent swath through the ranks of … [Read more...]