Bleacher Report - Articles by EJ Claudio

Another Rumored Big Fight: Floyd Mayweather Jr. Vs Juan Manuel Marquez

EJ Claudio — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:57:57 -0400

It has been rumored that the Pretty Boy and Dinamita are set to take the stage on July 18 at a catch weight of 145 lbs. Now, doesn't that get your adrenaline pumping?

According to most boxing sites I've read, money was never the issue for this fight to take place. The only thing that is under negotiation is the weight. Juan Manuel Marquez doesn't want to move up to 147 and Floyd Mayweather Jr. doesn't want to go down to 140.

That's why a catch weight of 145 lbs. has been proposed. And I really do hope this fight gets done. How rare is it that we get to see two excellent boxers going at each other?

Looking at the tale of the tape, Floyd Mayweather Jr. stands at 5'8" while Juan Manuel Marquez is 5'7". There's just an inch that separates the two.

And when it comes to their weight, I don't think that Floyd will have any difficulty moving down even to 140, as his body is not that big compared to Miguel Cotto, although Floyd has some lean muscles.

When it comes to styles, they are both defensive fighters as Juan Manuel Marquez is known to be the best counter puncher in his division and Floyd Mayweather Jr. has a solid defense as well, with his shoulder rolls and great footwork.

And talk about power. They can both pack a punch, but we have yet to see if Marquez can carry his power up to welterweight. Marquez has recently knocked out Casamayor and Diaz, while Mayweather put down Hatton in his last fight.

If this gets done, I'll be rooting for Marquez. Juan Manuel Marquez will be the underdog here. But my prediction on the outcome is different.

I am predicting this to be a tactical fight in the earlier rounds, with Floyd using his speed and strength in the second half to come away with a TKO win around the 10th round.

David Haye Has His Eyes Set On The Klitschko Brothers

EJ Claudio — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:23:21 -0400

Wearing a t-shirt depicting a victorious picture of himself with Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko laying headless on the ring, David Haye waged war on the Klitschko brothers.

Wladimir Klitschko, visibly irked by Haye's cockiness responded, "I am going to give him a lesson in good behaviour."

I think Haye will not benefit from his bravado. The more he plays mind games with the Wlad, the more Wlad gets motivated to destroy the former Cruiserweight champion.

Wlad will not get carried away with his emotion but he will be pumped up to train hard for this match. Wladimir Klitschko is a well-schooled and disciplined fighter. He fights real smart.

I also think that it isn't smart to overlook Wlad as David Haye is already expecting to overcome Wlad and wants to challenge Vitali right away, even claiming that he can destroy both of them in one night. Too much confidence can kill.

I am not saying that Haye is not a talented fighter. He is. It's just that he was never really tested at Heavyweight. He keeps on mouthing off that Wlad only faced over-the-hill contenders and hasn't faced anyone like him. I say that Wlad has the more impressive resume between the two.

I don't see this fight going the distance. I'm predicting Wlad will knockout Haye out earlier than he predicted. Wlad predicted a 12th round knockout as he plans on punishing Haye, but I don't think Haye will last that long.

I could be wrong and Haye would surprise us, but I'm going with my prediction. Wlad will play teacher as he teaches David Haye a boxing lesson and some lessons in manners.

Acting Like Children: Freddie Roach and Floyd Mayweather, Sr.

EJ Claudio — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:57:44 -0400

There were reports that during their recent press conference, coaches Freddie Roach and Floyd Mayweather, Sr. were not on their best behaviour.

The two combatants, Ricky Hatton and Manny Pacquiao, were civil and even joking around. But not their trainers.

The two world-class trainers were exchanging verbal jabs, and were too busy hurling insults at one another. It wasn't confirmed who started it, but it might have stemmed from Roach's bold prediction that his boy, Manny Pacquiao, will knockout Ricky Hatton in the third round.

Floyd Mayweather, Sr. might have felt insulted with that prediction that he was heard saying that Freddie doesn't deserve to be in the Hall of Fame.

Childish as it may seem, who knows if there really is bad blood between the two coaches. It just might be a marketing strategy to further hype their upcoming fight.

But this time, the hype is coming from the coaches, not the fighters.

Whatever it is, that their doing, and it's working for me! I'm so hyped for this fight that I can't wait till May 2.

Another Snoozefest in LA: Eddie Chambers Edges Samuel Peter

EJ Claudio — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:04:05 -0400

Another heavyweight article that only a few people will read about. I guess I'm just one of those few people who still hopes that the heavyweight division will be resurrected.

However with the recent performance of Samuel "The Nigerian Nightmare" Peter and Eddie "Too Fast" Chambers, shows that this division needs a lot of work.

I had a feeling this bout was going to be another boring fight even before the first bell rang when Samuel Peter entered the arena. He came in at 265 lbs. His heaviest for a fight. I knew that Peter won't be able to move well with all that weight.

Then I had second thoughts. I thought that maybe this would work on Chamber's favor, as he can thoroughly outbox the slumbering Peter with his fast hands.

But that didn't happen as well as Chambers appeared to be too reluctant to let his hands go. He was content on giving Peter the occasional jab as he looks to be afraid to get clobbered by a wild punch.

Peter was already gassed by the 6th round, and Chambers failed to capitalise as he didn't show enough grit to even attempt to finish the show.

The scores were unanimous in Chambers favor. I didn't get to score the fight, as I fell asleep in some rounds. However, from the rounds I've seen, I do believe that Chambers deserved the win, but it wasn't an impressive fight.

For me, this loss marks the end of Peter's career. The most he can do is become a gatekeeper of the division. And for Chambers, he needs to work on his aggressiveness. He is effective but his style is just painful to watch.

I hope that the coming heavyweight match-ups this year would be much better than the lackluster performance these two fighters displayed.

Is Jameel McCline on the Decline?

EJ Claudio — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:10:50 -0400

He's had four world title shots. He lost all four of them.

Most people might even wonder why I'm writing an article about Jameel "Big Time" McCline.

I had to. Because he's going up against a rising contender in Chris "The Nightmare" Arreola. I find this match-up very amusing. An old warrior going up against a hyped contender.

I've seen Arreola fight and to be honest, I am not impressed. He's got power and heart but that's it. He is still green with having 26 fights against C-level competition. He doesn't display defense and has no footwork at all. Add to that the fact that Arreola always comes in really heavy for a fight.

On the other end, we have Jameel McCline. His career is not that impressive as well but skill wise and experience wise, Big Time has the edge. He has faced the better opponents and displayed the better skill.

What McCline lacks is heart. He doesn't have killer's instinct in finishing his opponents just like what he displayed when he had Sam Peter down thrice in their fight.

McCline was on the losing end of the judges decision against Sam Peter. He wasn't able to close the show. Did he gas out? Probably, but if it were someone like the Klitschkos or even a Lamon Brewster, things would have ended in a win for them.

Jameel McCline had four opportunities to get the heavyweight title and failed. This fight against Arreola is his last chance. If he wins, fans will take him seriously again. If he loses, then he should call it a day and hang 'em up.

In this fight, I'm rooting for McCline as he is a real live underdog against Chris Arreola. I am hoping that McCline trained real hard so that he can provide us with an exciting fight.

It's time the heavyweight division treat us fans with an excellent fight.

Marco Antonio Barrera and Amir Khan: A Crossroads Match

EJ Claudio — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 15:46:51 -0500

I already wrote an article before regarding Marco Antonio Barrera. I said in that article that he needs to retire and that he has nothing to prove as he clearly is one of Mexico's finest fighters.

I wrote that article because there were rumors that time that Barrera was in line to face the winner of the Ali Funeka-Nate Campbell showdown. In my opinion, either guy would be too much for "The Baby-Faced Assassin." But all that changed when Campbell lost his titles on the scale after failing to make weight.

So what we have now is a match between an old legend and a young prospect. A classic example of a crossroads match.

If Marco Antonio Barrera prevails, it would further elevate his status, like Bernard Hopkins and Shane Mosley, and prove me and the other fans/critics wrong. It would show that Barrera can still perform at the top level. He lost his luster after he lost to Pacquiao and Marquez.

Should Amir Khan win against Barrera, it will prove that Khan is not just another product of the hype machine and that he is a legitimate contender for the lightweight crown.

Whoever loses will have to say goodbye to the sport. And this time, although I'm a Barrera fan, I think Amir Khan has enough to win over an aging Marco Antonio Barrera. And I think this will be close.

If Khan wins, I think that he will inject more excitement to an already talent-laden division. And in my opinion, a Khan win is better for boxing.

Here's hoping to a great fight on March 14.

Is Kelly Pavlik Really Ducking Arthur Abraham?

EJ Claudio — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:14:16 -0500

Arthur Abraham and his camp have been making claims that Kelly Pavlik is ducking them. The casual fan might find that a bit absurd as Pavlik has been in exciting fights against Edison Miranda and Jermain Taylor, so why would The Ghost avoid him?

King Arthur is not a familiar name as he fought most of the time in Germany. Let's take a look at his record to see if Pavlik should really fear the King.

Arthur Abraham is undefeated in 28 professional fights. He won 23 of them by knockout.

He bravely fought then undefeated Edison Miranda. Arthur Abraham won that fight despite having a broken jaw by decision. In this fight, it shows that Abraham definitely has heart. He was able to survive multiple low blows and headbutts from Miranda and still salvaged the win.

In their rematch, Abraham displayed his tough shell defense which frustrated Miranda, who couldn't land a clean shot as he kept on hitting Abraham's gloves. And he also displayed his strength by launching a left hook in the fourth round that dropped Miranda that lead to his defeat.

In both of those fights, Arthur Abraham showed that he has heart, his defense is good and that he has knockout power. But is that enough to defeat The Ghost?

Looking at Kelly Pavlik, he also faced Miranda and knocked him out in the seventh round. Kelly Pavlik was already known as a knockout artist with 30 of his 34 wins coming by knockout. He also knocked out the talented Jermain Taylor.

Both boxers are both known to be hard hitters. They both display a lot of heart, however offensively, Pavlik has the edge and defensively, I have to give the nod to Arthur Abraham.

They say that Pavlik is overrated and is afraid to face Abraham but I don't believe that is the case. Pavlik was beaten by Bernard Hopkins but that doesn't mean that Pavlik was exposed. There is no shame in losing to a master tactician in B-hop. Not everyone can fight like Hopkins do.

I think that Team Pavlik is just waiting on other options before deciding on who to face next. And I bet that they already have Arthur Abraham in their radar.

I am hopeful that this fight gets made as it will surely be good for boxing, to see two champions slugging it out to determine who is the real middleweight champion of the world.

What's Hurting Boxing?

EJ Claudio — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:58:57 -0500

I was once asked why I love the sport of boxing. I love boxing because inside the ring, you don't have anyone but yourself to rely on, because it is a sport where in your main goal is to inflict the most damage on your opponent and it's fun to watch boxing.

But nowadays, the sweet science has lost some of it's luster. The excitement of a championship level match is not as intense as it used to be. Before, every TV is tuned in on a boxing match.

What happened to our beloved sport?

It's not MMA. It has nothing to do with the disappearing appeal of boxing. MMA is an entirely different sport with a different fan base. The only thing they have in common is that they are both contact sports.

I believe that the following is what's causing boxing to lose its popularity:

Three letters: PPV

With the economy on a downfall due to the recession, I find it hard to believe that boxing promoters and TV stations are terrorizing us with ridiculous PPV prices. An example is Roy Jones Jr. vs Joe Calzaghe. $49.95?

Boxing Promoters

Boxing promoters are not allowing the best fights to happen. Just like the case of Gary Shaw, he doesn't want Vic Darchinyan to rematch Nonito Donaire because of some promotional dispute.

The Alphabets

With so many corrupt governing bodies in boxing, we can't have one unified and recognized champion. They won't allow their champions to face each other. As well as their sanction fees, some fighters just opt to let go of their title rather than pay it.

Talent

Let's face it. Most of today's fighters are pure hype and no talent. Enough said.

Greed

In some cases, it's not the promoters' fault that a proposed fight did not materialize. Some fighters feel that they are worth more than what was being offered, but I guess we can't blame them for that. Boxing is a dangerous sport and they just want to get paid before their body deteriorates from the wear and tear of the sport.

I am still hopeful that boxing will regain it's popularity. I can still name a few fighters that I know will help the sport of boxing and bring it to a higher level with their intensity and dedication. People will once again see a unified champion in every weight class.

Let's keep our fingers crossed that this year will be redemption for boxing.

Juan Manuel Marquez Deserves a Third Shot at Manny Pacquiao

EJ Claudio — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:14:37 -0500

Manny Pacquiao can move from weight class to weight class, win against the biggest names in every division, and still be haunted by one fighter. I believe he knows deep inside his heart that it is this fighter that gave him his toughest fight.

Juan Manuel "Dinamita" Marquez gave our current pound-for-pound champ all that he could handle.

Pacquiao scored a controversial draw and a controversial win in both of their meetings.

"Controversial" is the term. It means that it wasn't a convincing decision. Neither man dominated or won clearly. Most fans and experts have a different opinion on who won in both matches.

In their first fight, after Pacquiao dropped Marquez three times in the first round, it was Juan Manuel Marquez who displayed a masterclass counter-punching clinic. In my opinion, Pacquiao won three rounds in that fight and the rest was all Marquez.

In their rematch, It was pretty close. It was hard to judge the fight. It was aggression versus effectiveness. Pacquiao was the one pressing the action, but it was Marquez who landed most of the meaningful punches. In this one, I had Marquez winning by a single round.

Both fights could've gone either way. Hey, I'm no expert. I'm just a fan.

I am hoping that Manny Pacquiao will give Juan Manuel Marquez a third and final match to settle once and for all who is the better fighter between the two.

It's going to be a very big fight! I believe that this will draw in the money, because a lot of fans are asking for it.

Manny Pacquiao will also elevate his status as an all-time great if he can prove his critics wrong by performing better against Marquez one last time. It will also cement his legacy.

Juan Manuel Marquez has been chasing Pacquiao for quite some time now, and I believe that he has earned his due. Team Pacquiao should consider giving Marquez a third and final match.

Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera: Who Is the Better Fighter?

EJ Claudio — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 12:24:17 -0500

Erik "El Terrible" Morales and Marco Antonio "The Baby-Faced Assassin" Barrera are two of the most popular names in boxing today. They are two of the best fighters to come out of Mexico.

They are both legends. But who is the better fighter of the two?

According to ESPN's "50 Greatest Boxers of All Time," Barrera is ranked No. 43 and Morales is No. 49. But in my opinion, Morales is the better fighter of the two.

Let me explain.

Erik Morales has been more successful than Barrera. Yes, Barrera beat Morales twice, but their trilogy was so close, it could've gone either way.

Both fighters captured the Super Bantamweight title. Barrera held the WBO title while Morales held the WBC title. He captured it by winning a unanimous decision over Daniel Jimenez, while Morales got his belt by knocking out Daniel Zaragoza in the 11th round.

Morales won in a more impressive manner and against better competition. Barrera lost twice to Junior Jones, but Morales knocked out Jones in the fourth round.

In 2001, Barrera soundly defeated Naseem Hamed for the IBO strap, while in the same year, Morales defended his against In Jin Chi and won by unanimous decision. In this one, Barrera has the edge, as he beat a better fighter in Hamed.

In 2003, Manny Pacquiao annihilated Barrera in 11 rounds, while Morales knocked out Guty Espadas, Jr., in the third round.

The following year, Barrera redeemed himself by knocking out Paulie Ayala in the 10th round while Morales won against the tougher Jesus Chavez, even knocking Chavez down twice.

In 2005, Morales was the underdog against Pacquiao, but he proved the critics wrong by putting on a boxing clinic against the Filipino sensation, winning by decision. Barrera had "stay busy" fights against Mzonke Fana and Robbie Peden.

It almost seemed like Morales was avenging Barrera's losses. He beat the fighters who beat Barrera.

In Barrera's first match against Rocky Juarez, Juarez did enough to win the fight although it was declared a split decision. During that year, Morales was beaten twice by Pacquiao and was knocked out for the first time in his career.

Barrera had a rematch with Pacquiao in 2007. However it looked as if Barrera was just trying to survive 12 rounds.

In that same year, Morales attempted to capture his fourth title in four weight divisions, as he took on David Diaz. Morales sure looked like a winner in that fight but the judges didn't see it that way.

Judging from the quality of fighters that they faced and how they won against them, I have to say Morales is the better fighter of the two.

Will The Hand Wrap Controversy Plaster Antonio Margarito's Career?

EJ Claudio — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:04:08 -0500

I am writing this article not to proclaim that Antonio Margarito is guilty. I am not a judge, nor am I an investigator. I am still waiting for the result of the investigation conducted by the California State Athletic Commission. I'm really questioning the commission more than Margarito.

How long does it really take to find out if there was anything illegal on his hand wraps?

But let's get to the point here. The main focus of this article is to show what will become of Margarito if he is found guilty of this violation.

I'm not saying that he is guilty, but if the results show that there was indeed something on his hand wraps, I truly believe that he, his trainer and his entire camp should be banned from boxing.

Putting bricks on your gloves is one of the worst crimes that can be committed by any boxer.

I do, however, like Antonio Margarito as a boxer. He has given us memorable fights, and is such a nice guy outside the ring. However, if found guilty, it will tarnish his accomplishments, and everybody will question whether he has been doing it in all of his fights. It will give our beloved sport another black eye.

I am truly hoping that Margarito's name will be cleared once the results are out because if he did, in fact, use illegal hand wraps, it will be another blemish in the history of boxing.

Gerry Penalosa and His Chances Against Juan Manuel Lopez

EJ Claudio — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 09:42:10 -0500

He is young, strong, and fast. But can he handle a wily veteran in Gerry Penalosa?

All physical attributes are leaning on JuanMa to take this one. He is three inches taller than Penalosa and has a longer reach. If you've seen him fight, you'll also notice that he has speed.

And power?

Let his record speak for him—24 wins with 22 coming by way of knockout. That is truly impressive!

Penalosa, on the other hand, has ring smarts and experience on his side. He's been with big punchers like Daniel Ponce de Leon and survived 12 rounds.

Penalosa has never been knocked out. He is a crafty fighter. He makes use of the ring and times his shots very well. But the question is, can he box his way to victory against JuanMa without getting knocked out?

With a record of 53 wins, six losses, and two draws, you can say that is an impressive record as well. However, time is not on his side. Penalosa is 36 years old and has been through many wars.

There is a chance that his age will show in this fight. If not, then can we expect a boxing clinic from him?

Most experts and fans predict a blowout win by JuanMa. He is considered to be the next big thing in the lower weight classes, but I disagree—maybe I'm backing Penalosa on this one because he is my countryman but also because I believe that he will use his experience against the young JuanMa.

Can Lopez knockout "Fearless" Gerry Penalosa? I'm predicting Penalosa will get dropped, but he will get up and box his way to victory. As a Filipino, I know Penalosa has the heart of a champion.

Penalosa will be taking a tune-up fight before this match, and I hope there won't be any upsets so that this fight will take place because it's not yet finalized.

I hope this fight does get signed because this will be his biggest fight, and I'm hoping that he will step up and make his country proud.

Win or lose, I'm already proud of him.

Can Winky Wright Overcome "The Punisher" Paul Williams?

EJ Claudio — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:30:00 -0500

If the fight will be made, two southpaws will clash in a bout I expect to be very entertaining. Winky Wright will challenge Paul Williams.

Let's talk about Paul "The Punisher" Williams first. He is a menacing 6'1" with an 82" reach advantage. He is freakishly huge for his division and causes a lot of mismatches. His punch-output-per-round is phenomenal as well.

In his match against Antonio Margarito, Paul Williams was very busy, winning the first half of the fight, however, he allowed the Tijuana Tornado to get inside in the later rounds with punishing body shots and got cut in the 11th round. But Williams already built a comfortable lead and ended with a unanimous decision victory.

In that fight, it showed that Williams can easily be hit on the inside as he was almost knocked down in the 11th round. Then against Carlos Quintana, he was outboxed for most of the fight and lost by decision.

It was a good thing that in the rematch, he was able to hurt Quintana and successfully regained the title by way of TKO. Williams was able to redeem himself in that match. After destroying Vernon Philipps, Paul Williams is now considered a beast in his division. One of the most avoided fighters in welterweight.

And now comes Winky Wright. He was once considered as the most avoided boxer in his time. And that was the past. He has been inactive for more than a year now.

Winky Wright is not an exciting fighter to watch. He is not considered a puncher but rather a slick boxer and counter puncher. He has been avoided because of that effective style of making his opponents make mistakes and make them pay for that.

He earned wins against Shane Mosley twice and he put on a boxing clinic when he fought Felix Trinidad. Those were impressive wins. And because of that, he was ducked.

Winky Wright is now 37 years old. Same as "Sugar" Shane Mosley. And age is always a variable in making predictions in a boxing match. Add to that the fact that he has been inactive.

I truly admire Winky Wright for taking on this challenge without having a tune-up fight. Winky must've seen something in Paul Williams that made him think that he can win over "The Punisher".

Can Winky Wright pull off an upset? He is clearly the underdog in this fight. Can he follow what Bernard Hopkins and Shane Mosley displayed in their recent fight?

In his last fight against "The Executioner", Winky Wright was thoroughly outboxed by Hopkins. But that was Hopkins. Williams is no master boxer like Bernard. I am hoping that Winky has a good game plan against his formidable opponent.

I am expecting Paul Williams to take this one, but, if Winky Wright pulls it off, I won't be surprised. With the recent demolition of Antonio Margarito in the hands of Shane Mosley, it only shows that anything is possible.

Vitali Klitschko Says Purse Split Not an Issue

EJ Claudio — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:43:10 -0500

Vitali Klitschko is setting a good example to all the boxers out there whose egos are probably bigger than the continent of Asia.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Vitali Klitschko mentioned that he would offer a 50/50 split with Nikolai Valuev just to make the fight happen. What's important to him is to win the belt and unify the division with his brother, Wladimir.

Vitali Klitschko was quoted saying, "Around the world, fans and experts want to see this fight, but these promoters are doing everything to make sure that this fight doesn't go ahead."

That holds true. Nikolai Valuev, a very nice person but an awful boxer, is being protected by his promoters. They know that as soon as Valuev steps up the competition, he'll get destroyed by either Klitschko.

Vitali Klitschko has earned my respect for that statement. Every boxer should follow his lead so that the best fights can be made.

Boxing's Most Memorable Quotes of All Time

EJ Claudio — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:51:43 -0500

The sport of boxing has the most colorful collection of characters. The fighters, their trainers, the promoters, the broadcasters, the fans, they all say some of the most unforgettable quotes. They may have said it to promote themselves, to challenge someone, to make noise, to insult or just for fun, it will always be remembered once it hits the headlines. It can be funny, inspiring, insulting or just plain nonesense. Let's take a look at some of the most memorable quotes in boxing...

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Why Marco Antonio Barrera Still Fights On

EJ Claudio — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:46:28 -0500

What is the "Baby Face Assassin" trying to prove? He has already proven to his loyal fans that he is one of the greatest boxers ever to come out of Mexico. So why continue fighting?

I certainly don't think that Marco Antonio Barrera is doing it for the money. He has earned enough that he can provide his family a good life. So why is he still fighting?

In my honest opinion, I believe that Barrera is still trying to compete with his nemesis, Erik "El Terible" Morales. Barrera is trying to prove that he is better than Morales by trying to do what Erik couldn't: Win another title in another division.

Both Morales and Barrera have won three world titles in three divisions. Barrera won the WBO Super Bantamweight title, IBO/WBC Featherweight title and the WBC Super Featherweight title. Morales won the WBC/WBO Super Bantamweight title, WBC Featherweight title, and WBC Super Featherweight title.

However, Erik Morales did try to capture his fourth title by challenging former WBC Lightweight champ, David Diaz. Morales lost by a controversial decision, as many people thought he did enough to win.

Now, Marco Antonio Barrera is trying to do the same. He is now campaigning at the lightweight division. He signed a contract with Don King to promote his fights after he parted with Golden Boy Promotions.

Barrera, as reported, will be taking on Johnny Nolasco. This serves as a stay-busy fight for Barrera, as he awaits the winner of the Nate Campbell vs Ali Funeka match on Feb. 14.

How Barrera became the No. 1 contender, I don't know.

I truly believe that Barrera should retire. If he loses, this will tarnish his legacy. He is already way past his prime and should be taking a vacation after all the entertaining fights that he gave us.

Any fight that he takes, at this point, will always be a dangerous match for Barrera. He shouldn't go the "Holyfield Way."

Marco Antonio Barrera, you are already a legend. No need to fight.

The 10 Baddest Athletes on the Planet

EJ Claudio — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:28:18 -0500

Athletes... we either love them or loathe them. A lot of superstars , in their respective sport, are becoming villains instead of the heroes that they should be. But hey, if it wasn't for them, there won't be any heroes right? Some of them were born evil and some turned bad because of their new found fame. These athletes in their own sinister way, drew a lot of attention to make their respective sport popular.

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Who Should Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko Face?

EJ Claudio — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:15:33 -0500

The heavyweight division is receiving tons of criticisms that it is not generating the attention that is used to. It has lost its fans. The reason for that is because the division is lacking in competition and excitement.

Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko are the recognized champions in the heavyweight division. They are the first brothers to ever hold the title at the same time—a world record. But who cares?

I do care. Because I strongly believe that we have two talented champions right now, and it is not their fault that the division has become somewhat boring.

It is the level of competition that is causing this. The talent in the heavyweight division has become scarce. A rarity nowadays.

But some will argue that Wladimir's style is boring due to his safety first approach, which is why the casual fans don't appreciate him. I would disagree with that because each time Wladimir fights, it is his opponents that cause Wladimir to fight that way. Most of his opponents are doing nothing, and it is Wladimir that is pressing the action.

Vitali Klitschko is an exciting fighter, as he tends to brawl a lot rather than out-boxing his opponents. However, due to both brothers' demeanors, fans are not interested with the champs. The Klitschko brothers are gentlemen—they don't trash talk. I noticed that the previous champions like Ali and Tyson are good trash talkers. They certainly know how to hype up a fight, unlike these two.

Now, who should they face so they can bring back the interest in the heavyweight division?

When you take a look at the top contenders, you see names like Kali Meehan, Alexander Dimitrenko, Chris Arreola, David Haye, Alexander Povetkin, James Toney, and hell, even John Ruiz. Now, that isn't a good crop of contenders. That is why you can't criticize the brothers for facing weak competition when they don't have a choice.

With the names mentioned, I would love to see Wladimir face David Haye, as this would make a more interesting fight rather than Haye facing Vitali. And Vitali should challenge Chris Arreola after he finishes Juan Carlos Gomez.

Wladimir vs. Haye is better because David Haye has a chance to beat Wladimir, and Chris Arreola vs. Vitali will definitely be an all-out war, although I still see Vitali winning. That will shake things up in the division if those fights are made.

I also think that Nikolay Valuev against any Klitschko will get the casual fan's attention. However, the fight won't be that competitive as Valuev, who is a very nice giant, isn't that skilled as a fighter.

I just hope that new talents will rise so that we can have great champions in the future.

Is James Toney Delusional?

EJ Claudio — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 21:49:54 -0500

I read a report at Boxingscene.com that immediately made me very upset.

James Toney said that he won the fight against Fres Oquendo. Really?

"First off, that fight wasn't close at all, I was pressing him the whole time. Look at my face after the fight, I was not hit," Toney said in all his arrogance. He even added, "One of the judges saw it different and the decision and the fight is what it is, bottom line is, I got the win."

Now that is what I call "Delusion of Grandeur." James Toney, if you can read this, you did not win the fight. Plain and simple.

I am not an Oquendo-nuthugger. I don't even rank Fres Oquendo as a top dog in the heavyweight division, however, for his effort that night, I truly believe that he deserved the win.

What I admire about the pudgy former middleweight champion is that he has the balls to say that. Majority of the people who saw the fight would definitely disagree with his statement. Yes, James Toney was a great multi-division champ, but since he moved up with the big boys, he lost his edge. He is no contender.

He even called out Klitschko brothers, or should I say "Klitschko sisters," according to Toney. Doesn't he know that either brother would annihilate him? He won't stand a chance. He can't even do good against an average Fres Oquendo, what more with a skilled giant like Wladimir Klitschko?

In my opinion, James Toney should hang them up before he ruins the sport. He doesn't even train properly for a fight and that is not a good example. He is always out of shape. He's got skills, I give him that, but his conditioning is what costs him his fights. He doesn't show dedication because he believes that no one can beat him, but the truth is, he has been beaten several times and was just given gift decisions.

James Toney, for all that you've accomplished, please cherish them and walk away. You are losing a lot of the fans' respect.

Top 5 Boxing Films of All Time

EJ Claudio — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:01:11 -0500

Hollywood created boxing films to bring the fans closer to the sport and generate more interest. More often than not, they succeed. They have brought the lives of prize fighters to the silver screen and sometimes, they create their own fictional character.

I saw an article about the greatest sport movies ever made, and I just felt the urge to make my own list.

Here are my Top 5 boxing films:

1. Rocky

Sylvester Stallone will always be remembered because of this film. It was a very good movie that connected with the audience. It is about Rocky Balboa, a not-so-smart boxer with limited skills who rose to fame by winning the hearts of many when he overcame the odds and put on a good fight against the champion, Appollo Creed.

2. Million Dollar Baby

The story is about Maggie Fitzgerald, an amateur boxer who wanted to make the big time under Frank Dunn. A good story that shows us the hardships of being a boxer and a trainer as well.

3. Raging Bull

This is as real as it gets. It tells the life story of Jake LaMotta.

4. Undisputed

It is about George "Iceman" Chambers, the heavyweight champion of the world, being sent to prison and was forced to face the prison boxing champion. There were even rumors that this was in reference to Mike Tyson and that it really happened to him when he was in jail.

5. Cinderella Man

The inspiring story of James Braddock. It tells us how he battled poverty and gave his family a good life through his efforts in boxing.

These movies, for me, were influential and brought more fans to the sport that we love.

Is Miguel Cotto Being Considered As Manny Pacquiao's Next Opponent?

EJ Claudio — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 16:51:29 -0500

In an interview with Miguel Cotto's trainer, Evangelista Cotto, he told ESTO, "Anything is possible. We're going to have to see what happens." That is in reference to a proposed match against pound-for-pound king, Manny Pacquiao.

Miguel Cotto is campaigning at the 147 pound division, but Cotto and Pacquiao are similar in stature. Cotto is only half an inch taller than Pacquiao, however, if Pacquiao's camp will stick to their word that Pacquiao will not campaign anymore over the 140 pound division, then this fight will never happen. Unless, of course, Cotto agrees to go down to 140.

This is a great match. I personally believe that this will be even more explosive than Pacquiao-Hatton. Both throw a lot of punches per round so you can expect fireworks. Pacquiao will have an edge in speed and Cotto will have a slight edge in power. So this should be fun to watch.

After Pacquiao's match with Ricky Hatton, he will have several options. However, the biggest fight would be against Floyd Mayweather Jr., but if the Pretty Boy decides to stay retired, he can look at Cotto and Juan Manuel Marquez as his next opponent.

A Look At Luisito Espinosa

EJ Claudio — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 22:21:03 -0500

Luisito "Lindol" Espinosa made the Philippines known during his time. It was in 1989 that he won the WBA Bantamweight title with a spectacular first round knock out of Khaokor Galaxy. He was the most famous Filipino world champion that time and he made the country proud.

Louie successfully defended his title twice before losing it to Israel Contreras by knock out. He then moved up and beat Mexican Manuel Medina for the WBC Featherweight title. This time, Louie rose to fame and a lot of people were riding on his success.

He defended the WBC Featherweight title seven times before losing it to another Mexican, Cesar Soto. After that loss, he tried to win back the title and lost to Guty Espadas Jr. and his fame crashed down with it.

The people who rode Espinosa's back during his success were nowhere to be found and they left the former champion with nothing. His purse was left unpaid and Espinosa tried to make a living by continuing to box. After he lost to Cristobal Cruz, Louie eventually retired.

His career gone, his money lost and his family abandoned him. Espinosa was left in the US trying to make ends meet. He worked at a supermarket and begged the people who owe him money to pay him.

His cry fell on deaf ears.

Now, according to some reports, Espinosa is currently trying to make a living as a trainer for Nick and Nate Diaz in the MMA. He is their coach to improve their stand up game.

This is an example of a sad ending in the career of a former champion. Once you lose your glitter, you tend to be forgotten.

I am a fan of Luisito Espinosa. He is a good man and he made his country proud during his reign as champion. That is why this sport is very dangerous. Not only do you risk your health, you risk everything. You have to make sure that you stay with people you really trust because boxing is political in nature.

I just hope that Espinosa, for all he has done, will be recognized for his past efforts and get the money he is due.

Ricky Hatton-Manny Pacquiao Almost Done?

EJ Claudio — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:53:18 -0500

According to Mirror.co.uk, the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton is almost a done deal. They have a target date of May 2, 2008 and the venue is either the MGM or The Thomas And Mack Center in Las Vegas. They will finalize the details before Christmas.

"Manny has been at the top of my radar since he beat Oscar De La Hoya.", Ricky Hatton stated. He also claimed, "Every boxer wants to prove himself against the very best and that is what I have done again and again."

Ricky Hatton is a courageous fighter. He has fought the former pound-for-pound champ, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and is now challenging the current pound-for-pound champ, Manny Pacquiao.

The match was almost in jeopardy when both camps couldn't agree on the venue as Hatton's camp insists that the fight should be in Wembley. But due to Pacquiao's enormous following in the city of sin, I guess they agreed to do it in Las Vegas where the money is bigger.

This is definitely great news for boxing fans. This one of the most anticipated match ups for next year. 2009 is starting to look like a great year for boxing. Now who said that boxing is dying?

Glen Johnson Deserves A Shot at Chad Dawson, Not Antonio Tarver

EJ Claudio — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 15:33:19 -0500

"I thought HBO really meant business when they put together great, competitive fights like Margarito-Mosley Berto-Collazo and Marquez-Diaz for the early part of 2009, but then they agree to put on a rematch of a fight that wasn’t even competitive the first time. It boggles my mind, especially when the only true rematch at 175 pounds is between Dawson and myself," said an angry Glen Johnson.

I believe that if Chad Dawson can't get a fight with a big star like Joe Calzaghe, he should fight Glen Johnson again because for me, I believe that the Road Warrior won that fight by two rounds. It was a controversial decision because the fight was very close.

Unlike his match against Antonio Tarver, it was a beatdown. Tarver got dominated and there is no point fighting the Magic Man again.

Could it be that "Bad" Chad is afraid of Glen Johnson?

Dawson cannot say that Johnson doesn't bring the money because Tarver is no longer an attraction as well. Dawson versus Johnson II is a more attractive bout and could build on Dawsons reputation.

If Dawson decides fight to Johnson later this year or next year, he will receive a lot of criticism even if he wins. Fans and critics will say that he waited for Johnson to grow old before he gave him a rematch. It is better that they do it now instead of fighting Tarver.

Time is not on Glen Johnson's side, he wants to prove to everybody that he is better than Chad. I like Chad Dawson too but I don't like the idea that he favored a match against Tarver rather than fighting Johnson or even Mikkel Kessler.

This match doesn't mean anything even if Chad knocks Tarver out in the first round and he will be humiliated if Tarver caused an upset. He might as well have taken his chance against better opposition than this.

Boxing's Heavyweight Pretenders

EJ Claudio — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 22:44:16 -0500

Boxing is full of excitement. Part of that excitement of course is the hype that surrounds a fighter. A great management team, the right connections and a padded record can always make a boxer look like the "Next Big Thing". There are several boxers whose careers were stellar but they never faced real competition, fighters who are products of the hype machine. Some faced real competition and was exposed as a fluke. In the heavyweight division, you can find a lot of overrated boxers. The reason for this is that us, fans, keeps on looking and hoping for the next great champion. It is not our fault because this division was once the most coveted of all. Now, we are left with bums pretending to be the next Ali, Tyson, Foreman or Dempsey. Let us take a look at some of the divisions most hyped fighters. In no particaular order, they are...

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Vic Darchinyan vs Jorge Arce: Explosive

EJ Claudio — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:46:46 -0500

Both are brash talkers outside the ring. Inside, they are both relentless sluggers who brings it all out.

On February 7, 2009, World Super Flyweight champion Vic "The Raging Bull" Darchinyan vs Jorge "Travieso" Arce is guaranteed to set up fireworks. This is one of the fights that I'm looking forward to next year.

They have exchanged pleasantries when the fight was announced. Arce stated, "Let’s see how much guts the so-called ‘Raging Bull’ actually has." Darchinyan, not to be outdone, responded, "If Arce thinks he has a snowball's chance in hell of beating me, then he's a bigger sucker than those lollipops he chews on." Two very eloquent men trading verbal jabs at each other.

They're just talking and it's already fun.

Arce and Darchinyan are not the slickest of boxers. They usually rely on their offense and most of the time, forget about defense which makes this an explosive matchup.

Since both rely on power, in my opinion, the stronger boxer will win this fight. I give the edge to Vic Darchinyan in that department. If he can land a flush shot on Jorge Arce, then it will be goodnight for the Mexican fighter.

However, I am still giving Jorge Arce a chance in winning this fight. If he can overcome The Raging Bull's early onslaught, he can take him out as well in the later rounds. But I still favor Darchinyan to win this one.

No matter who wins this match, the fans will definitely have their moneys' worth in this fight. I don't see this one going the full 12 rounds.

Mikkel Kessler Is Looking for an Opponent

EJ Claudio — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:16:06 -0500

In an article on Boxingscene.com, it was reported that Mikkel Kessler said he had challenged several elite fighters in the Super Middleweight division and nobody accepted.

This is very sad for the Viking Warrior.

He has been criticized before for only fighting in Europe, and now that he has journeyed to the U.S. to personally challenge fighters, his challenge was rejected.

Kessler even stated that he wouldn't go the way that other fighters do by being childish and calling them names to get their attention. Kessler has nothing but admiration for his counterparts, and that is something to like about the Viking Warrior. He is a class act.

Kessler challenged Bernard Hopkins, but was advised that B-Hop is not interested in fighting him. He also spoke with Joe Calzaghe and was advised that Calzaghe doesn't do rematches. He said that Chad Dawson doesn't want to fight him, and Winky Wright has been silent. Jermain Taylors' management said that they don't want to fight him either.

This is really tough on Kessler. He is hoping to get a big fight and none of the top dogs wants to fight him.

Boxing: My Top Ten Pound-For-Pound Fighters

EJ Claudio — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 22:38:43 -0500

Everybody has their own list of who should be included in the pound-for-pound rankings. We all have our own opinion and we, more often than not, debate about it.

Here is my Pound-for-Pound list:

1. Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao

The Pacman had three fights this year in three different divisons, and he won them all. What more can you ask for in Pacquiao? He is still proving his worth and currently awaits Ricky Hatton and Floyd Mayweather Jr.

2. "The Pride of Wales" Joe Calzaghe

Joe bested two Hall of Famers in the ring this year, beating both Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. After being knocked down by both fighters in the first round, Joe showed his heart in overcoming those knockdowns and winning the fight.

3. Juan Manuel "Dinamita" Marquez

He lost to the Pacman earlier this year in controversial fashion, then went up to the Lightweight division and knocked out Joel Casamayor. The way he outboxed the veteran was spectacular.

4. Antonio "Tony" Margarito

He knocked out two tough hombres this year in Kermit Cintron and Miguel Cotto. Tony is being considered by some to be the best welterweight this year. A match against Paul Williams will be very interesting.

5. Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins

B-hop defied age and schooled Kelly Pavlik in his recent match. The odds were all against Hopkins, but he showed resilience and dominated the younger fighter.

6. "Dr. Steel Hammer" Wladimir Klitschko

One of the very active fighters that we have, he fought three times this year and won them all. He is a very skilled heavyweight with a killer right hand, and his left jab is one of the best.

7. Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton

After his loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr., Ricky Hatton redeemed himself this year by beating Juan Lazcano and dismantled Paulie Malignaggi. The Hitman showed improvement under the tutelage of Floyd Mayweather Sr.

8. Israel "Magnifico" Vasquez

His trilogy with Rafael Marquez was a classic. There was never a dull moment in their fights. Israel Vasquez proved to be the tougher little man by winning their last fight.

9. Paul "The Punisher" Williams

He fought three times this year as well, and won each bout by knockout. Paul Williams has good boxing skills and is a very big welterweight. A fight with Margarito is certainly something to look forward to.

10. "Bad" Chad Dawson

Undefeated Chad Dawson is one of the best fighters in the light heavyweight division. He dominated Antonio Tarver and had a close fight against Glen Johnson. Chad is hoping to get a fight against Joe Calzaghe.

My list is based on the performance and quality of opponents that these fighters had for this year. Next year is a different story.

Vitali Klitschko to Face David Haye In June?

EJ Claudio — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 16:56:12 -0500

In a recent interview, David Haye said that his camp and Vitali Klitschko's camp has agreed to fight sometime in June.

Haye said "We sat down and talked numbers that made sense for both sides and it's done and dusted."

A lot of fans expected that David Haye will be going after his younger brother, Wladimir. However, Haye surprised a lot of critics by choosing the tougher and meaner Vitali.

I personally think that The Hayemaker is biting more than he can chew here. I was really hoping he would take one more fight probably against Chris Arreola or Samuel Peter. A fight that he would benefit from so that he can get used to the division.

Haye also said "I am going after the most dangerous fighter on the planet."

And for that, I admire David Haye for taking this fight, if it materializes, because he is indeed taking on a brutal champion. Vitali Klitschko is no Monte Barret. Haye will be tested if this fight happens. However, I don't see Haye winning in this match.

Wladimir Klitschko Destroys The Rock

EJ Claudio — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 17:19:16 -0500

At the SAP Arena in Mannheim, Germany, IBF and WBO Heavyweight champion, Wladimir Klitschko emerged victorious over his challenger Hasim Rahman.

Wladimir Klitschko came out firing stiff left jabs that hit Hasim Rahman and it continued for several rounds. Klitschko was very accurate with his punches and Rahman was having a hard time getting inside.

In the sixth round, Klitschko dropped Rahman with a rapid combination. Rahman beat the count, however, he had no answer as Klitschko took him to the ropes and punished him some more.

In the seventh round, Klitschko came out firing combinations that forced referee, Tony Weeks to stop the fight as Rahman was taking too much punishment and was not fighting back.

David Haye was watching from the stands and he challenged both brothers for a fight in the future.

The future is looking great for Wladimir Klitschko as he retained his belts with a smashing performance.