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June 30, 2006
Money's Worth
I don't know that I've ever been more disgusted with a judges' decision than I am tonight: Naoufel Ben Rabah took Juan Urango to school for 12 rounds, displaying style and intelligence and even wit. The fight was never even close, and an initially pro-Urango crowd, along with Teddy Atlas calling the fight, all expected to hear the cards read out unanimously for Ben Rabah. The cards were unanimous, all right - for Urango, who landed something like 18% of his punches. Urango claims the now vacant IBF welterweight belt, a belt about which nobody who gives a Mus Mus Tail about the sport should now have any reason to care.
Posted by jd at 11:50 PM
June 26, 2006
Sleeping Pills
I don't just want to like Calvin Brock; I want to love him, and cheer for him, and watch him bring a unified heavyweight belt home to North Carolina. In interviews, he's the nicest, most interesting fellow, and if you watch a Brock highlight reel, you'll see some knockout punches that'll make a believer out of you. But I happened to be in a Wilmington hotel with HBO on Saturday night, so I saw the much-touted Brock-Ibragimov fight. That was the most boring fight I've ever seen. I fell asleep during the tenth round, and only woke up to hear the decision. If Brock's going to revitalize the heavyweight division, he'll have to force the issue in fights like this one, not settle for a win on points. But I hate to criticize the man; he's so damned likeable. How, after all, can you not love a boxer whose chosen nickname is "the Boxing Banker"?
Posted by jd at 08:22 AM
June 07, 2006
Big Fish
Was really enjoying an interview with Antonio "Magic Man" Tarver about the upcoming rematch with Hopkins — Tarver's really smooth and engaging on the mic, and actually answers questions, which is a nice change from the usual stick-to-the-script routine most guys give. Then the reporters asked him for a prediction on the fight, and he said Hopkins wouldn't see the sixth round. Stand away from the paint fumes, Antonio Tarver! Hopkins may be 41 years old, but he's one of the few boxers around whom you might actually refer to as a "warrior" and mean it. My heart's with him — even though he whines when he loses, he punches all my sentimental buttons: stylistically, personally, sartorially — but good sense says Tarver's youth and speed and overall momentum will carry the night. Tarver by decision. If Hopkins can't knock him out in the late rounds, which is the longshot chance given Tarver's recent dramatic weight loss after beefing up to play a heavyweight in the next Rocky movie. Ahh...multitasking!
Posted by jd at 10:03 PM