Boxing 2014

[Kevin D]

http://www.badlefthook.com/2014/1/13/5305350/2013-knockout-awards

 

 

 

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x19i3et_2013-ultimate-boxing-knockout-compilation-part-1_sport#from=embediframe

 

 

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x19i493_2013-ultimate-boxing-knockout-compilation-part-2_sport#from=embediframe

 

 

Above you should find a video collection of 92 of the best knockouts of 2013. Below you'll find the order in which the knockouts appear. So enjoy that first; then we'll chat later.

 

 

 

Video 1

 

2013-01-11 John Molina KO4 Dannie Williams

2013-01-19 Anthony Ferrante KO10 Isa Akberbayev

2013-01-23 Neuky Santelises KO2 Juan Javier Guerrero

2013-01-26 Lucas Martin Matthysse KO1 Mike Dallas Jr

2013-01-30 Alejandro Solis KO1 Eduardo De La Cruz

2013-02-01 Artur Szpilka KO6 Mike Mollo

2013-02-02 Mickey Bey Jr KO3 Robert Rodriguez

2013-02-09 Carlos Ruiz KO1 Cesar Baltazar

2013-02-09 Erik Skoglund KO2 Attila Baran

2013-02-16 Juan Heraldez KO1 Benjamin Romanio

2013-02-16 Noe Gonzalez Alcoba KO1 Idiozan Matos

2013-02-21 Ibrahim Balla KO1 Jasper Buhat

2013-02-23 Charles Martin KO1 Anthony Hinson

2013-02-23 Tony Thompson KO2 David Price

2013-02-27 Tiger Tor Buamas KO1 Nongbeer Sor Bangkru

2013-03-02 Brandon Brewer KO2 Glisandy Mejia

2013-03-02 Jorge Melendez KO4 Ryan Davis

2013-03-08 Braulio Santos KO1 Kevin Hoskins

2013-03-09 Argenis Mendez KO4 Juan Carlos Salgado

2013-03-09 Edgar Sosa KO2 Ulises Solis

2013-03-15 Yunieski Gonzalez KO8 Rowland Bryant

2013-03-21 Paul Butler KO4 Anwar Alfadi

2013-03-22 Adonis Stevenson KO6 Darnell Boone

2013-03-22 Mian Hussain KO2 Basilio Silva

2013-03-23 Matias Carlos Adrian Rueda KO5 Ramon Armando Torres

2013-03-30 Gennady Golovkin KO3 Nobuhiro Ishida

2013-04-05 Rustam Nugaev KO8 Jonathan Maicelo

2013-04-06 Dodie Boy Penalosa Jr KO3 Nimithra Sithsaithong

2013-04-06 Fabrizio Leone KO1 Gianluca Tamburrini

2013-04-06 Milan Melindo KO4 Tommy Seran

2013-04-08 Takashi Miura KO9 Gamaliel Diaz

2013-04-12 Amir Imam KO2 Jeremy Bryan

2013-04-13 Jesse Hart KO3 Marlon Farr

2013-04-19 Javier Fortuna KO1 Miguel Zamudio

2013-04-20 Lucas German Priori KO2 Miguel Angel Bogado

2013-04-20 Tyson Fury KO7 Steve Cunningham

2013-04-27 Anthony Ogogo KO2 Kieron Gray

2013-05-06 Takashi Uchiyama KO5 Jaider Parra

2013-05-08 Ryo Miyazaki KO5 Carlos Velarde

2013-05-15 Eliezer Agosto KO2 Angel Suarez

2013-05-16 Dominic Shchukin KO1 Bashir Sadiq

2013-05-18 Krzysztof Cieslak KO7 Ariel Krasnopolski

2013-05-18 Lucas Martin Matthysse KO3 Lamont Peterson

 

Video 2

 

2013-05-25 Armando Santos KO2 Herald Molina

2013-05-28 Denkaosan Kaovichit KO12 Ichal Tobida

2013-06-08 Adonis Stevenson KO1 Chad Dawson

2013-06-14 Patrick Allotey KO6 Patrick Bogere

2013-06-15 Edrin Dapudong KO1 Gideon Buthelezi

2013-06-15 Enad Licina KO3 Marcel Zeller

2013-06-15 Juan Antonio Lopez KO4 Jonathan Hernandez

2013-06-15 Mikey Garcia KO4 Juan Manuel Lopez

2013-06-21 Salvador Juarez KO2 Carlos Alberto Barraza

2013-06-29 Gennady Golovkin KO3 Matthew Macklin

2013-07-12 Alphonso Black KO2 Artie Bembury

2013-07-19 Ryan Kielczweski KO5 Miguel Soto

2013-07-20 Tadas Jonkus KO2 Manuel Grimieri De Ioanni

2013-07-28 Bryan Abraham KO2 Chris Russell (Bare Knuckle Boxing)

2013-07-28 Eric Fowler KO1 Carl McNickles (Bare Knuckle Boxing)

2013-08-02 Craig Vitale KO2 Joe Muir

2013-08-03 Curtis Stevens KO1 Saul Roman

2013-08-09 Deontay Wilder KO1 Siarhei Liakhovich

2013-08-12 Hozumi Hasegawa KO1 Genaro Camargo

2013-08-17 Edis Tatli KO5 Innocent Anyanwu

2013-08-17 Stephen Smith KO5 Gary Buckland

2013-08-19 Daniel Jacobs KO3 Giovanni Lorenzo

2013-08-22 Pete Reyes KO2 Juan Zapata

2013-08-23 Anthony Miller KO1 Dominic Goode

2013-08-23 Christian Hammer KO7 Leif Larsen

2013-08-24 Jhonny Gonzalez KO1 Abner Mares

2013-08-24 Sho Nakazawa KO1 Dejchai Bovigym

2013-08-31 Ilunga Makabu KO5 Eric Fields

2013-09-07 Rico Ramos KO10 Carlos Ivan Velasquez (no video)

2013-09-12 Jeff Horn KO1 Samuel Colomban

2013-09-17 Aiktawan Mor Krungthepthonburi KO2 Chamuakpetch Kor Kamolwat

2013-09-21 Cristofer Rosales KO3 Luis Ruiz

2013-09-21 Jairo Rodriguez KO2 Frederick Castro

2013-09-21 Rafael Vazquez KO9 Leon Moore

2013-09-27 Jose Perez KO1 Julio Borda

2013-10-05 Michal Gerlecki KO2 Mikolaj Milczenko

2013-10-12 Vasyl Lomachenko KO4 Jose Ramirez

2013-10-17 Solomon Haumono KO3 Marcelo Nascimento

2013-10-19 Luis Concepcion KO10 Carlos Ruben Dario Ruiz

2013-10-26 Genesis Servania KO2 Rafael Concepcion

2013-11-01 James Chereji KO2 Belmin Skomorac

2013-11-02 Giovani Segura KO12 Hernan Marquez

2013-11-16 Chris Eubank Jr KO6 Frankie Borg

2013-11-16 Erkan Teper KO1 Martin Rogan

2013-11-22 Abner Lopez KO3 Alejandro Alonso

2013-11-29 Yodmongkol Vor Saengthep KO12 Koki Eto

2013-11-30 Sergey Kovalev KO2 Ismayl Sillakh

2013-12-06 Ryan Sermona KO4 Matt Garlett

2013-12-13 Leonardo Baez KO1 Marcos Ochoa

2013-12-14 Darnell Wilson KO6 David Rodriguez

 

%~%~%~%~%~%~%

 

Mmkay then, did you have a good time? I know you did. You're welcome. Now let's try to figure out which fight deserves the coveted "Knockout of the Year" honor. Since it took so long to publish this (because a tremendous amount of effort was put into it) just about every other boxing website that does year end awards has already announced a winner. The popular choice was, apparently, Adonis Stevenson's 76 second ruination of Chad Dawson. It certainly was a stunning stoppage, but it was far from a true knockout. Dawson easily beat the count and was very upset that he wasn't allowed to continue. Dawson wasn't robbed or anything, but the knockout was clearly technical.

 

Nonetheless the KO was "important" and is widely considered the best 2013 had to offer. Stevenson, a +160 underdog, defeated the #1 light heavyweight in the world, won the WBC/RING light heavyweight titles and became the newest French Canadian boxing sensation. Apparently all of that made the knockout more amazing, so, in an effort to entertain the logic of the masses, "importance" was factored into the KO criteria this year to give "Stevenson KO1 Dawson" a shot at the ultimate prize. Other criteria include "brutality," "theatricality," and "relativity."

 

Brutality should be self-explanatory. Theatricality is another way of saying "most like a movie" (aka the "he fell funny" award). And relativity is what should matter more than importance. Essentially people should care more about what was most "remarkable," with the strengths and limitations of both fighters taken into account. Boxing fans generally seem to understand this concept when voting for "Fighter of the Year," otherwise someone like Glen Johnson would never have won in 2004, but there's a lack of consistency with other awards. Such is boxing.

 

In any event serious candidates for the 2013 BLH KOTY must be proficient in at least 2 of the 4 mentioned categories, narrowing the field to the following:

 

2013-02-21 Ibrahim Balla KO1 Jasper Buhat (B, T)

2013-03-15 Yunieski Gonzalez KO8 Rowland Bryant (B, T)

2013-03-21 Paul Butler KO4 Anwar Alfadi (B, T)

2013-03-22 Adonis Stevenson KO6 Darnell Boone (B, T)

2013-03-30 Gennady Golovkin KO3 Nobuhiro Ishida (B, T)

2013-04-20 Lucas German Priori KO2 Miguel Angel Bogado (B, T)

2013-05-18 Krzysztof Cieslak KO7 Ariel Krasnopolski (B, T)

2013-05-28 Denkaosan Kaovichit KO12 Ichal Tobida (B, T)

2013-06-08 Adonis Stevenson KO1 Chad Dawson (I, R)

2013-06-15 Edrin Dapudong KO1 Gideon Buthelezi (T, R)

2013-06-15 Juan Antonio Lopez KO4 Jonathan Hernandez (B, T)

2013-06-21 Salvador Juarez KO2 Carlos Alberto Barraza (B, T)

2013-07-12 Alphonso Black KO2 Artie Bembury (B, T)

2013-07-19 Ryan Kielczweski KO5 Miguel Soto (T, R)

2013-07-20 Tadas Jonkus KO2 Manuel Grimieri De Ioanni (B, T, R)

2013-08-02 Craig Vitale KO2 Joe Muir (B, T)

2013-08-17 Edis Tatli KO5 Innocent Anyanwu (B, T)

2013-08-17 Stephen Smith KO5 Gary Buckland (B, T, R)

2013-08-22 Pete Reyes KO2 Juan Zapata (B, T)

2013-08-24 Jhonny Gonzalez KO1 Abner Mares (I, R)

2013-08-24 Sho Nakazawa KO1 Dejchai Bovigym (B, T)

2013-09-07 Rico Ramos KO10 Carlos Ivan Velasquez (B, T)

2013-09-12 Jeff Horn KO1 Samuel Colomban (T, R)

2013-09-17 Aiktawan Mor Krungthepthonburi KO2 Chamuakpetch Kor Kamolwat (B, T)

2013-09-21 Cristofer Rosales KO3 Luis Ruiz (B, T)

2013-09-21 Rafael Vazquez KO9 Leon Moore (B, R)

2013-10-26 Genesis Servania KO2 Rafael Concepcion (B, T)

2013-12-14 Darnell Wilson KO6 David Rodriguez (B, T, R)

 

I = Important

B = Brutal

T = Theatrical

R = Remarkable

 

%~%~%~%~%~%~%

 

The immediate front runners include fights that proved fruitful in 3 categories (Jonkus-Grimieri De Ioanni, Smith-Buckland, and Wilson-Rodriguez). However, context aside, the sheer awesomeness displayed in Gonzalez-Bryant, Priori-Bogado, Cieslak-Krasnopolski, and Black-Bembury was on a whole nother level (although Tatli-Anyanwu may have been the most fun). You may remember Priori as the KO King from 2012.

 

And now this is where you, the reader, come in. The race is too close to call and your input will be much appreciated. Comment on this page with whichever fight you consider the "Knockout of the Year" and the most popular choice will be weighed along with the other categories. The fights most likely to win were listed in the previous paragraph, so, you should probably choose one of them...

 

The winner won't be officially announced until the "2013 Male Fighter Awards" piece. Another article like this one will be devoted to the best rounds of the year prior to that. Separate articles won't be done for the other awards.

 

In closing here are some other unrated categories that various knockouts belong to, just for fun:

 

The Most Controversial

 

2013-01-19 Anthony Ferrante KO10 Isa Akberbayev

2013-02-02 Mickey Bey Jr KO3 Robert Rodriguez

2013-02-09 Ray Edwards KO1 Nick Capes [Tied for win]

2013-04-20 Tyson Fury KO7 Steve Cunningham

2013-11-01 Milos Pantelic KO1 Heriberto Gutierrez [Tied for win]

 

The Best to the Body

 

2013-04-06 Dodie Boy Penalosa Jr KO3 Nimithra Sithsaithong [Winner]

2013-05-06 Takashi Uchiyama KO5 Jaider Parra

2013-06-29 Gennady Golovkin KO3 Matthew Macklin

2013-10-12 Vasyl Lomachenko KO4 Jose Ramirez

 

The Most Ape Shit Post-KO Commentary

 

2013-09-21 Rafael Vazquez KO9 Leon Moore

2013-11-29 Yodmongkol Vor Saengthep KO12 Koki Eto [Winner]

 

 

The Best Without a Y Chromosome

 

2013-02-28 Oxandia Castillo KO2 Hanna Gabriel [previously detailed in the 2013 FFA]

[DanDanShaw]

Anybody else buzzing for the big fight this weekend?  Bute Vs Pascal, it should be a good one, always prefer it when the international cards are on Sky.  I mean I've watched old fights in fuzzy black and white on YouTube before, but I do enjoy HD boxing.

[Hooch]

Not me.  Pascal is gonna destroy Bute.

[loadsoftrophies]

I think Pascal is very limited, hes tough but his stamina is shite, if Bute gets his tactics right and can hurt him then it could be a good fight....Froch was all wrong for Bute. If glass jaw and no defence Bute turns up then its gonna be over quick again.

[Alan Sex]

[Alan Sex]

[Bjornebye]

[Kevin D]

I think Pascal is very limited, hes tough but his stamina is shite, if Bute gets his tactics right and can hurt him then it could be a good fight....Froch was all wrong for Bute. If glass jaw and no defence Bute turns up then its gonna be over quick again.

All the ingredients for a fight of the year candidate.

[DanDanShaw]

I can't wait, Pascal's style is so fan friendly and Bute has been inactive and it's his first time at the weight.  I think Pascal will blast him out though, are we having a prediction thing for the weekend fights?  Few decent scraps on the undercard as well, I hope Perez can mentally get over recent events and come on strong.

[Lee909]

Should be a good one.

In other news Jose Suilliman (WBC) president has died.

Im sure he will br replaced by another just as corrupt

[Kevin D]

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/312269-who-wins-pascal-bute

 

HBO's Jim Lampley calls light heavyweight ex-beltholder Jean Pascal "the betting favorite" entering Saturday's 175-pound bout against former IBF super middleweight titleholder Lucian Bute at Bell Centre in Montreal, even though he views Bute as the better boxer.

 

"He's clearly the better technician when they are both fighting at their best, but Bute doesn't have Pascal's speed, quickness and athletic explosiveness," said Lampley. "I understand that Pascal is the betting favorite in the fight, and I think that it's warranted for Pascal to be the betting favorite in the fight."

 

Bute, nevertheless, has said that he plans to “have fun" in the ring opposite Pascal, who has stated that Bute's "team conspired to postpone the fight” from its original date of May 25 “in order to demoralize me.”

 

Bute (31-1, 24 knockouts) is coming off a unanimous-decision victory over previously unbeaten light heavyweight Denis Grachev in November which followed a fifth-round knockout loss to Carl Frochthat cost him his IBF 168-pound belt in May of 2012. A subsequent injury to Bute’s left hand forced the postponement of the Pascal bout, which will happen at Bell Centre in Montreal.

 

Pascal (28-2-1, 16 KOs), meanwhile, has scored a unanimous decision over Aleksy Kuziemski and a fifth-round knockout of George Blades since losing his WBC title via unanimous decision to Bernard Hopkins in May of 2011.

 

Bute's victory over Grachev may not bode well for him against Pascal, considering that Grachev was destroyed by Edwin Rodriguez in the first round of his next fight in July, and that Rodriguez, in turn, was dominated during a unanimous decision loss to RING 168-pound champion Andre Ward in November.

 

"Bute, at this point, is not a known quantity. He was terrible against Froch, and that's not terribly surprising given that Froch was on a high coming into the fight, and that he was fighting on his home turf in England. But Bute was not impressive against Grachev. He also has not fought in 14 months. The only one of them who has fought within the past year is Pascal," Lampley said of Pascal, loser of a unanimous decision to Froch as a 168-pounder in December of 2008.

 

"In his fight against Blades, Pascal looked good. Blades is not a strong opponent, but Pascal turned in a strong performance. Based on everything that we've seen over the past year and a half, I think that Pascal has to be regarded as the more reliable physical commodity coming into the fight, and it's logical to expect him to be the more confident fighter coming into the fight, so it's going to take a little bit of a reversal of fortune here for Bute to get this done."

 

RingTV.com polled 22 boxing insiders as to their thoughts on what will transpire in Pascal-Bute, the results of which are below.

 

 

Mike Coppinger, RingTV.com/USA Today
 

 

Jean Pascal TKO Lucian Bute: This is an intriguing coin-flip matchup, and if it took place two years ago Lucian Bute would be heavily favored. But the image of Bute being shellacked by Carl Froch is burnt into my memory.

 

So too, is Bute's life-and-death struggle with Denis Grachev. Bute's chin and durability is now a question, as is his inactivity. Jean Pascal is the superior athlete and puncher, and I expect a good scrap between the fellow Canadians.

 

Pascal employs a rougher style, and I expect his aggressiveness and toughness to pay off with a late-round stoppage.

 

 

Jake Donovan, BoxingScene.com

 

Jean Pascal W 12 Lucian Bute: Even if he's all the way back at full strength, I don't like Lucian Bute's chances against any top light heavyweight. I'm still not convinced Jean Pascal can recapture past glory, but I like his chances in this matchup, winning with plenty of room to spare.

 

 

Doug Fischer, RingTV.com

 

Jean Pascal W 12 Lucian Bute: Bute is the better overall boxer with the sharper technique, in my opinion, but I think Pascal is tougher and he has more heart. Plus, I think Pascal's unorthodox style (some would call it "wild" or "raw") and athleticism will continually disrupt Bute's smooth boxing rhythm. The southpaw has a chance to win if he can hurt Pascal to the body (and Bute is a damn good body puncher when he wants to be) but I see the former light heavyweight champ sucking it up and gradually overwhelming his fellow Montreal star. If Pascal were a more complete fighter with a more consistent attack, I'd have picked him to win by KO or TKO, but he's the kind of boxer who gets off in spots.

 

 

Norm Frauenheim, THE RING magazine, www.15rounds.com

 

Jean Pascal TKO 8 Lucian Bute: There's no sure pick here, other than to say Adonis Stevenson would beat Jean Pascal, Lucian Bute and anybody else in Quebec. Picking between Pascal and Bute is a virtual coin flip because of all the questions that have arisen in the years since both fell short of their advertised potential.

 

Vulnerabilities were initially exposed  by Carl Froch, who stopped Bute in the fifth round and scored a unanimous decision over Pascal. Pascal's subsequent loss to Bernard Hopkins in a rematch left doubt about his stamina and ability to adjust. But the bigger question is in Bute's corner. He's coming off hand surgery that postponed a May date with Pascal.

 

In the wake of the Froch loss — his only defeat — he looked like a fighter suddenly past his prime in a decision over Denis Grachev. Pascal still has great speed and enough power for an effective early assault of Bute, who figures to be tentative in his first bout since bone chips were removed from his left hand. Bute won't be able to hurt Pascal. Midway through the fight, he'll know that he can't beat him either. 

 

 

Jeffrey Freeman, www.KODigest.TV

 

Jean Pascal W 12 Lucian Bute: It's a new year on RingTV.com, and what better way to kick it off than with a personal resolution to keep things simple when analyzing these fights and picking winners.

 

In Jean Pascal, we have a talented but troubled light heavyweight contender in deep for the first time since being embarrassed by Bernard Hopkins in 2011. Across the ring from him will be southpaw Lucian Bute, a less dynamic light heavy in only his second fight at that weight since a crushing TKO loss to Carl Froch in 2012 at super middleweight.

I expect the relative rustiness of both fighters to be offset by the disparity in confidence displayed by each. Pascal just KNOWS he can bang with Bute, but the Romanian must have doubts after his collapse against "The Cobra" Look for a more active Pascal to be less tentative than Bute en route to scoring a comfortable decision or possibly a late stoppage.

 

 

Tom Gray, RingTV.com

 

Jean Pascal TKO10 Lucian Bute: What a strange fight this is. Despite the hype this is a showdown between two part time fighters and it could be a question of who is damaged the most. Jean Pascal was taken to school twice by Bernard Hopkins and, for the most part, has been playing hooky ever since.

 

He’s had two fights against undistinguished opposition and seems more focused on being seen at fights with Curtis Jackson (aka 50 Cent) than performing in them. Bute was taken to the slaughter house by Carl Froch. The previously unbeaten southpaw wasn’t just beaten in a prize fight by the Englishmen, but given an outside a bar ass-whipping, which may have removed his swagger and fighting heart permanently.

Bute has fought once since May 2012. The trouble with making a pick based on form is that there is no form. But my hunch is that Pascal retains the ambition. I’m not convinced Bute still wants to fight and he could merely be doing what is expected of him by continuing his career. I see Bute starting well, but succumbing to a late round rally by Pascal.

 

 

Andreas Hale, KnockoutNation.com

 

Jean Pascal UD 12 Lucian Bute: Had this fight happened a couple of years ago, I would have had no problem picking Lucian Bute. However, with Bute being exposed by Carl Froch, an injury plagued 2013, and a less-than-impressive victory over Denis Grachev, it becomes increasingly difficult to see Bute being the same fighter he was when he was champion at super middleweight.

 

It's not as if Jean Pascal is that much better, rather, it is about how far Bute has fallen. Pascal should be keenly aware of Froch's strategy that saw him firing right out of the gate and, if you couple that with Bute's inactivity, it will likely be the formula to either get an early stoppage or give Pascal a large enough lead in the early rounds that Bute cannot overcome.

 

Given Pascal's tendency to start fast and fade late, this strategy is the only way he'll win. Bute is a harder puncher and slicker boxer, but with Pascal's swarming style, Bute will likely struggle to keep up early. The battle for Montreal will likely end with Pascal proving that he has more gas in his career tank than Bute. 

 

 

Keith Idec, The Record/BoxingScene.com

 

Jean Pascal TKO10 Lucian Bute: This is still a great fight for boxing in Quebec, even though neither fighter is what he was a couple years ago. But Lucian Bute hasn't fought in 14 months, didn't exactly look good against Denis Grachev in his last fight and might never really recover psychologically from the beating he took from Carl Froch in May 2012. Jean Pascal appears to have more left and eventually will wear down a seemingly fragile fighter in the later rounds.
 

 

Julian Johnson, guest/fan, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

 

Lucian Bute UD 12 Jean Pascal: While Lucian Bute is seriously unpredictable,  he should have the ability to out-box Jean Pascal. There should be some good moments as it think Bute is not iron-chinned. 

My heart wants Jean Pascal, but my brain is sold on Bute via slightly wide unanimous decision. I believe that Pascal could work as a fringe contender with a loss.

 

 

Ryan Maquinana, CSNBAYAREA/BoxingScene.com

 

Jean Pascal W 12 Lucian Bute: I think if Jean Pascal can apply his ambushing style in a consistent manner over 12 rounds, he will outwork Lucian Bute, if not stop him late.

 

I just didn't see Bute recover his past form against Denis Grachev, especially coming off the stoppage loss to Carl Froch. Combine that with over a year of inactivity, and I believe Bute has too tough of a task ahead of him on Saturday.

 

On a side note, the Bell Centre will be packed to the brim despite only a regional belt being on the line, once again proving that the fighters involved — not the trinkets — dictate the real magnitude of a fight.

 

 

Rich Marotta, KFI Radio, Los Angeles

 

Jean Pascal TKO-11 Lucian Bute: This looks like a great way to kick off 2014. Should be a terrific action fight. I used to think Lucian Bute was close to indestructible, but the overriding visions in my head now of Lucian are Round 12 against Demetrius Andrade and the last couple of rounds against Carl Froch. in both, he was in terrible, terrible trouble. 

 

Jean Pascal has had his share of rough moments too, but I think he is more capable of surviving in the difficult situations. He is more clever than Bute, rangier and quicker-handed.

 

Although Lucien may at times overpower Pascal and appear about to win, I look for Pascal to start winning the exchanges about midway through the fight, start building up a big volume of punches and eventually land so many in the later rounds that Bute will not be able to stand up to it.

 

 

John J. Raspanti, Doghouseboxing.com/KO Monthly Magazine/examiner.com

 

Jean Pascal MD 12 Lucian Bute: This battle, between Canadian stars Jean Pascal and Lucian Bute could come down to two factors: Rustiness and confidence.
 

Pascal has fought three times in the past thirty-six months. He lost his light heavyweight title to Bernard Hopkins way back in 2011.  Bute was annihilated by Carl Froch and won a hard-fought decision over Denis Grachev last year.

 

Bute looked shaky and unsure of himself. Bute needs to use angles and keep Pascal guessing. If he does that, he wins. Pascal will press the action and swarm him. I see Pascal rallying in the later rounds to win by majority decision.

 

 

Matt Richardson, Fightnews.com

 

Jean Pascal W 12 Lucian Bute: This is like picking straws because I have no idea what either of these fighters have left at this stage of their careers.  A few years ago, I would have picked Lucian Bute.  But now? 

 

After he seemingly had his confidence beaten out of him by Carl Froch, I'm not sure if he will ever look as good as he did before then.  Jean Pascal, meanwhile, isn't the most skilled guy around but he makes up for it with heart and determination. 

 

Pascal may not have a lot left in the tank either — his most recent performances have been difficult to gauge — but I assume, at this point, he has a little more than Bute.  With a gun to my head, I'll pick Pascal to escape with a close decision win. But it may be hard down the stretch if he fades — which he may.

 

 

Chris Robinson, Hustleboss.com

 

Jean Pascal W 12 Lucian Bute: I like Jean Pascal to win a spirited decision over Lucian Bute in a good, tough fight. Pascal appears to be very focused for this opportunity and I think his style might catch Bute off guard just a bit. Excellent matchup in this one.

 

 

Cliff Rold, BoxingScene.com

 

Jean Pascal KO Lucian Bute: It feels like Lucian Bute is being written off too easy.  Jean Pascal can be a technical mess sometimes and his output is erratic.  Bute is the more skilled boxer.  It doesn't matter.  Pascal is tougher, quicker, and Bute's chin is suspect.  Pascal will find it.

 

 

Michael Rosenthal, THE RING Magazine

 

Jean Pascal W 12 Lucian Bute: This is a tough one. I think Lucian Bute is a better boxer and probably a harder puncher than Jean Pascal, but I think Pascal is tougher. I'll go with Pascal by a close decision.

 

 

Joseph Santoliquito/THE RING Magazine/RingTV.com/CBS Sports

 

Jean Pascal KO 10 Lucian Bute: Though they've both had considerable time off, my leaning is toward Jean Pascal. Carl Froch, I believe, really exposed Lucian Bute. Pascal will expose him even more.

 

I'm not convinced Bute can hang with someone as physically imposing as Pascal. He seems to have put the injuries behind him. It should be a good fight, but Pascal has too much firepower.

 

 

John Scully, former trainer of RING and WBC lightheavyweight champion Chad Dawson

 

Jean Pascal W 12 Lucian Bute: I'm going to go with Jean Pascal to win a decision over Lucian Bute in a very exciting and tactical match that will have the arena in Montreal going bonkers for the whole 12 rounds.

 

I just think Jean's energy and big punching style will offset Bute this time out. I think Lucian will be right there for most of the way and will have his moments, but Pascal's aggressive punching will be the ultimate difference.
 

 

Ryan Songalia, RingTV.com

 

Jean Pascal W 12 Lucian Bute: I have Jean Pascal by decision. I didn't like the way Lucian Bute looked in his last fight against Denis Grachev. He doesn't seem to be a real light heavyweight yet.

 

Jean Pascal has a steady chin, is unorthodox and will be able to land from unorthodox angles against him. I still think it will be a tough fought, competitive fight, but Pascal will take this, I believe.
 

 

Rob Soucy, BoxingTalk.com

 

Jean Pascal UD 12 Lucian Bute: This is a tough fight to handicap considering the fact that Lucian Bute is coming off of a 13-month layoff and consequently an injury.
Jean Pascal figures to be the fresher fighter, while Bute will probably need a few rounds to shake off the ring rust.

 

Not only is Pascal a couple of years younger than Bute, but he is the bigger man, having been a light heavyweight for much longer. Pascal will outwork Bute for much of the fight and will be the aggressor.

 

Bute, who is a murderous body puncher, definitely can win this fight. But I believe that Pascal will out-hustle him on his way to a close but clear unanimous decision.

 

 

Dominic Verdin, RingTV.com

 

Jean Pascal TKO 11 Lucian Bute: Lucian Bute and Jean Pascal will be opening 2014 with the first big fight of the year in what should be an outstanding display of boxer vs gladiator. Lucian Bute has had a tough two outings, losing one by knockout to Carl Froch, and looking sluggish and rather complacent over the course of a decision in the other against the rugged but limited Denis Grachev.

 

Pascal, meanwhile, has won two straight to rebound from the unanimous decision loss to Bernard Hopkins for and the WBC title. The question is whether the Romanian-born Bute is an elite athlete who can withstand the potentially overpowering Pascal?

 

Bute will box from angles off his back heel, building a lead over the first eight to nine rounds. But as Bute fades, he will engage more, and that will give Pascal the opportunity of a life-time.  In the 11th, Bute will be exhausted, battered and left reeling along the ropes, forcing the referee to put a halt to their Canadian mega-fight.

 

 

Anson Wainwright, RingTV.com

 

Jean Pascal W 12 Lucian Bute: After getting taken apart by Carl Froch, Lucian Bute looked less than impressive returning against Denis Gratchev. That was 14 months ago. Of course they were due to meet last summer until Bute broke his hand. I think that having the time away from boxing may well have helped him physiologically.
 

As for Jean Pascal, his career over the past few years has also been blighted with inactivity for a myriad of reasons. Just two fights in the last two and a half years. Pascal looked impressive stopping George Blades in five rounds last September. 

 

That win will likely have helped him shed some ring rust. I think heading into this bout, its a fight both will believe they can win, and opinion will be spread. I see Pascal's greater athleticism being a key factor. I see Pascal winning a points decision here, though I expect Bute to have his moments along the way

 

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mma/news/20140113/mike-perez-magomed-abdusalamov/

 

 

Last November, boxing was struck by another tragedy. Hours after a bloody, 10-round fight against Mike Perez, heavyweight contender Magomed Abdusalamov, a married father with three daughters, underwent surgery at a New York hospital to remove a blood clot in his brain. Shortly after, he suffered a stroke. He was placed in a medically-induced coma. At various times, doctors gave him little chance to live.

 

Abdusalamov's life is no longer in immediate danger. He was moved to a rehab facility last month, but he is unable to walk or talk. He has a long road ahead of him.

 

The man who put Abdusalamov there has also dealt with the result of that night. For Perez, the Abdusalamov fight was supposed to launch him to the next level. The fight was televised by HBO and a high-profile fight for the winner loomed as the prize. Never did Perez imagine things turning out as they have, and the gut wrenching that has followed.

 

"I didn't think he was hurt that bad," Perez told SI.com. "He kept fighting hard. He was a warrior. I never thought he was that hurt. In every way it was a hard fight, a close fight. If he was hurt, it should have been stopped. That's not up to me. I don't know what the referee or his corner were thinking."

 

Said Perez's trainer, Abel Sanchez. "Those first couple of weeks after the fight were tough. He was blaming himself. It was a lot of 'How could I do this, how could I have done that to a man.' I know he was thinking that it could have been him."

 

Besides his own guilt, Perez was stung by the cruel commentary from fans.

 

"Unfortunately, there were a lot of [messages] that he was getting, Facebook messages that he was getting, blaming him for what happened," Sanchez said. "People were putting pictures of Mago on his Facebook saying, 'This is what you have done.' It wasn't fair."

 

As Perez moves forward with his career, Abdusalamov isn't far from his mind. At a recent press event, Perez had to step away from an interview briefly to regain his composure. He says that he asks his team members for updates on Abdusalamov every day. Perez (20-0) has dedicated his fight against Carlos Takam (29-1) on Saturday at the Bell Centre in Montreal (HBO, 10:15 pm) to Abdusalamov, and will wear his name on his trunks.

 

"All the people around the world who think they know everything about boxing, boxing is a very serious sport," Perez said. "People can see what happened to [Magomed], it could happen to anyone. It could happen to me. This sport is not a joke."

[Lee909]

[Kevin D]

And here we go.

[Kevin D]

Bute's career is basically over. Shell of a fighter.

[Lee909]

I caught the result before i could watch.It doesn't even sound worth bothering with according to reports and one sided drumming.Every analyst has it at least 7-8 rounds for Pascal except Jim Watt who thought Bute won according to what i have read.If Watt thinks somebody one there is a 90% chance he didn't.The sooner Sky get rid of the old fool the better

[chrisbonnie]

I had Pascal winning 116-112, bute did fuck all, Pascal just did slightly more than fuck all. Shite fight really

 

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

 

 

[DanDanShaw]

What a terrible fight, I can't believe I stayed up for that shit.  Bute looked scared all fight and Pascal didn't want to KO him, because he wants an easy money rematch.

[El Rojo]

Dreadful display from Bute, he 'fought' as though petrified with fear. I think the Froch hiding has pretty much finished him.

[loadsoftrophies]

Both were shite. Bute is finished at the top and Pascal loses to anyone who's technically good. Sounded like Pascal was avoiding Stevenson in the interview as well, he knows he'll get beaten.

[DanDanShaw]

Pascal would get battered by Stevenson.  Stevenson and Kovalev have both signed 4 fight deals with HBo and included in the contract is that they have to fight one another.

[Kevin D]

http://www1.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/9126513/tony-bellew-to-make-cruiserweight-debut-on-big-night-of-liverpool-boxing-on-march-15

 

 

Tony Bellew will make his cruiserweight debut on a huge night of boxing in Liverpool.

 

 

'The Bomber' faces former world title challenger Valery Brudov at the Echo Arena on Saturday, March 15, live on Sky Sports.

 

 

The night also includes three of the Smith brothers, Kell Brook's warm-up fight before his world title tilt and Londoner Kevin Mitchell, who continues his comeback at lightweight.

 

 

Stephen Smith is looking to make a giant step in the world level as he takes on Argentina Fernando David Saucedo for his WBC Silver featherweight title in what turns out to be an eliminator.

 

 

Older brother Paul can win the prestigious Lonsdale Belt outright with the third defence of his British super-middleweight title and the youngest Smith, Callum, looks to continue his stunning start to professional boxing.

 

 

Brook will of course challenge for the IBF welterweight world title, currently held by Shawn Porter, later this year and is adamant he needs to stay fresh and fight before the big one.

 

 

One British fighter who is aiming to get a second crack at world glory is lightweight Mitchell and he'll be looking to move up a gear, while the impressive young gun Kal Yafai and Liverpool youngster Robbie Davies are also on the packed bill.

 

 

A mouth-watering local clash between unbeaten super-middleweight prospect Rocky Fielding and veteran campaigner Tony Dodson has also been added to the Liverpool card.

 

 

Bellew made the decision to move up to cruiserweight following his defeat at the hands of hard-hitting super-middleweight world champion Adonis Stevenson, the second time he had come up short following his loss to then-WBO king Nathan Cleverly in 2011.

 

 

The 31-year-old from Liverpool says he wants to be fighting for a world title at cruiserweight before the end of this year and was keen to start his new chapter against a top-level fighter.

 

 

Russian Brudov challenged both Virgil Hill in 2006 and Guillermo Jones in 2010 for their titles in a career which has seen him knock out 28 of his 41 victims and lose just four times, including last year's defeat to Ola Afolabi.

 

 

Both were shite. Bute is finished at the top and Pascal loses to anyone who's technically good. Sounded like Pascal was avoiding Stevenson in the interview as well, he knows he'll get beaten.

Agreed on Saturday's fight, but I think that's unfair on Pascal. The guy fights everybody and is one of the most battle-tested and hardest fighters around.

[index1000]

That looks a great card. 

Surprised Sky have put it together.

[Kevin D]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/boxing/10591110/Eddie-Hearn-outlines-plan-for-Carl-Froch-rematch-with-George-Groves-at-Wembley-Stadium.html

 

 

Promoter Eddie Hearn has outlined his plans to create a rematch between Carl Froch and George Groves which could take place at Wembley Stadium for 70,000 to 80,000 fans on one of the last two Saturdays in May.

 

The pair had a brutal war in Manchester in November in which Froch retained his two world supermiddleweight titles after stopping Groves on a ninth round referee stoppage. Groves has complained bitterly since the decision, and is going all out for a rematch.

 

But Hearn insisted today that the decision on a rematch lies with Froch, who has dreams of fighting in Las Vegas. Froch has four options – a rematch with Andre Ward, who defeated Froch on points in Atlantic City in December 2011, a fight with rising star Gennady Golovkin, a middleweight, Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr, and Groves.

 

"Groves has options and has spoken to other promoters, but obviously he wants Carl most. And the public want this fight so much – they want answers as to what may have happened after that fantastic fight and the controversy of George being stopped," Hearn wrote in the Mail Online.

 

"Carl has four options – a rematch with WBA super-middleweight champion Andre Ward, who beat Carl in 2011; Gennady Golovkin, the middleweight world champion; Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr, the former middleweight champion. Then there’s Groves. We all know about George."

 

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"To my mind, the Ward fight, commercially speaking, is not big enough. The only reason for them to fight is Carl wants revenge, but he wants it badly. The money is not comparable for the Ward fight to the Groves and Chavez fight. Chavez is an easier fight, if you ask me, but politically it would be tough because of the rematch clauses and the money Chavez wants."

 

"I don’t see many reasons for Golovkin to move from middleweight and I have been told by various sources that their team believes Carl is the toughest fight out there.

 

"That’s the fight his people ooh, ah and wince at. It would be a truly great fight between two warriors, but I don’t think Golovkin is quick enough or awkward enough to grit it out with Carl at 168lbs."

 

A Las Vegas contest notwithstanding, Hearn suggests the best option would be a rematch with Groves, and that it may happen this year.

 

 

 

http://ringtv.craveonline.com/news/314241-gabriel-rosado-looks-to-twist-the-script-vs-jermell-charlo

 

Gabriel Rosado feels that it’s a good thing to still be relevant, especially when one looks at his ledger. The Philadelphia-based junior middleweight has endured an arduous battle to stay germane, considering he hasn’t won a fight since September 2012.

 

However, the losses (seven defeats smudge his record) haven’t changed what the boxing public feels. They want to see Rosado again. So does Showtime. They like the way he keeps coming at his opponents, how he keeps pushing guys that he’s not supposed to beat.

 

But Rosado knows there is something deeper at stake than building fan support when he takes on undefeated 23-year-old junior middleweight contender Jermell Charlo (22-0, 11 knockouts) this Saturday in the Showtime-televised co-feature to the Lamont Peterson-Dierry Jean main event at the DC Armory in Washington, D.C.

 

Rosado (21-7, 13 KOs and 1 no-contest) senses that this is it for him. A loss may possibly banish him back to the shadowy, smoky world of the club fight circuit. Rosado also is very aware that Charlo has never been in with a fighter like him before, too.

 

He was “the opponent” against iron-fisted WBA middleweight titleholder Gennady Golovkin, putting on a spirited fight before succumbing in the seventh round last January. Rosado put on another exciting, action-filled fight playing the same role against WBO middleweight beltholder Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin last October in Atlantic City. The fight was stopped due to a cut over his left eye with 40 seconds left in the 10th round.

 

Rosado left the ring wearing sunglasses to protect his bruised and swollen eye but he left to cheers, while Quillin received a smattering of boos.

 

Rosado wants to flip that scenario. He wants to be the one who leaves the ring amid raging applause after a victory, rather than the hard-luck loser that continues to go out valiantly on his shield.

 

“With Charlo, I’m looking for the knockout because I think that I’m forced to fight that way right now; I don’t think I can box myself to a decision,” said Rosado, who trained in Puerto Rico for the first time in his career. “It’s tough to say, but it’s my reality. I’m a good boxer and I thought that I had a good year in 2012. I was able to box guys like Jesus Soto Karass, Sechew Powell and Charles Whittaker (Rosado’s last victory). I was able to dictate the pace and do my thing.

 

“But with the politics of the sport, it’s something that I understand that I have to do. I know I can’t box this guy and get rounds. It’s what I have to do today. It’s something that I understand.”

 

Charlo has notable victories over Jose Angel Rodriguez, Demetrius Hopkins and tough Harry Joe Yorgey. Charlo has gone 12 rounds once (against Hopkins) and 10 rounds twice. “Iron Man,” however, has never faced anyone as seasoned as Rosado.

 

“I know that and that’s why I feel the only advantage Charlo has over me is if I beat myself; I have been battle tested; I have risen from knockdowns, I know what I’m capable of doing,” Rosado said. “Charlo doesn’t know adversity. He doesn’t understand that, and no fighter can really fully understand that before they actually go through it. Charlo will understand what he’s made of. I knew I was tough, but you have to go through it to know.”

 

Rosado said his test came when he fought Golovkin, known as “GGG” to his growing fan base. He was going up in weight and suffered two nasty cuts in the second round of that fight.

 

“The fact that I was standing up to a murderous puncher like GGG and I stood up to it says a lot,” Rosado said. “I learned that I belong among the best and that I didn’t quit. I got a lot of love and respect from that fight. When I went through that with GGG, I realized nothing could stop me. There is nothing that Charlo can do that will give me problems. I’ve done everything and gave up everything for this camp. I’m doing the things that I’m supposed to do to win this fight. I don’t even think about him. This fight is all in my hands.”

 

Rosado said that his weight is right where it should be for Charlo. He also said that he’ll probably be bigger than he usually is, coming in at almost 170 pounds after rehydrating following Friday’s weigh-in.

 

There was a great deal learned from the Quillin fight. Rosado feels he made Quillin look like an “average fighter.”

 

Training in Puerto Rico has given him an added understanding of his heritage. Fans have recognized him everywhere he’s gone. It’s spurred him, he admits, to feel that he is fighting for more than just himself when he climbs through the ropes against Charlo.

 

“This is the strongest that I’ve been going into a fight, and I think what helps is just coming off the Quillan fight in October,” Rosado said. “I was off for three weeks and the work I put in for Kid Chocolate was like a Bernard Hopkins thing – keeping myself already in shape. You will see a smarter Gabriel Rosado. I want to put everything together and make a statement that I want to fight the best at 154. Being in Puerto Rico and seeing how the fans have embraced me has been great. I have the island behind me and I think I’ve created a bigger fan base.”

 

Now all he needs to do is win

 

 

 

http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/10332697/the-delusion-boxing

 

It has been said that the truth will set you free, but in boxing an axiom often attributed to the Talmud is far more appropriate: "We do not see the world as it is. We see the world as we are."

 

I had never really thought much about these opposing worldviews until 1988, when I published an article in The Ring titled "The Horror Of Kid Chocolate." British journalist Jonathan Rendell, who was going to Cuba to cover amateur boxing for the BBC, wanted to know if there was something he could write for The Ring while he was there.

 

 

At first glance, it seems a great irony that an undertaking as terrifyingly tangible as prizefighting is such fertile ground for make-believe. But it's the in-your-face violence and the primordial nature of boxing that fires the imagination and creates such an intoxicating mix of fact and fancy.

 

 

The answer popped out of my mouth before I had a chance to think. I told him that I wasn't really interested in the amateur scene, but if he could find Kid Chocolate, I would be thrilled to use the piece.

 

Not only did Rendell and photographer Andrew Palmer find Chocolate, they combined their considerable talents to create, in my opinion, a brilliant piece of journalism and, in all likelihood, Kid Chocolate's last interview. The former junior lightweight champion, whose given name was Eligio Sardinas Montalvo, died on Aug. 8, 1988, just a few months after it was conducted.

 

After several false starts, Rendell and Palmer discovered the erstwhile "Cuban Bon Bon" in a pitiful state, sick and living in squalid conditions in a decrepit mansion that smelled like a sewer. The old fighter agreed to an interview in exchange for a bottle of rum, which resulted in a marvelously evocative but ultimately tragic picture of a man who was once the toast of boxing.

 

Not long after the issue hit the streets, I began to receive angry phone calls and letters from readers who demanded to know why I had tarnished the legend of a great fighter by publishing such a mortifying article. The fact that the accompanying photographs were proof that the article was both genuine and accurate didn't matter. A significant number of readers simply didn't want to know the truth.

 

The incident was the genesis of my understanding that there is delusion on both sides of the ring ropes, and that fighters and fans alike suspend disbelief to one degree or another in order to participate and/or enjoy boxing. In other words, boxing is partly a fantasy world populated by dreamers who choose, either consciously or subconsciously, to ignore many of the realities inherent in what British writer Hugh McIlvanney christened "the hardest game."

 

 

[+] Enlarge

Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesEvander Holyfield became just another example of a once-great fighter carrying on well past his prime despite the real dangers in front of him.

 

 

This mindset assumes many forms, some relatively benign and others potentially fatal. While virtually all fighters will readily admit that boxing is extremely dangerous, the vast majority of them seem to be in denial and take an it-won't-happen-to-me attitude. The reason for this is easy enough to understand: They couldn't participate effectively otherwise. If all boxers entered the ring worried about being killed or suffering brain damage, a promoter would be hard-pressed to find enough fighters to fill a card.

 

Countless boxers fight past their primes because they need the money, and many of them are delusional about their prospects. In recent years, Evander Holyfield has been the most prominent victim of this fallacy. His insistence that he could reunite the heavyweight title more than a decade into his decline was an illusion of quixotic proportions, which is, I suppose, only fitting for an overachiever who had made a career of proving people wrong.

 

Holyfield, of course, is far from the only great fighter to carry on after reaching a point where it would have been wiser to retire. It's as common as bloody noses and black eyes. Losses themselves seldom convince a boxer to pack it in -- there's always some rationale or another that convinces him to keep going. In the end, it is usually a severe beating (think Rocky Marciano-Joe Louis and Larry Holmes-Muhammad Ali) that finally forces a fighter to recognize that he has been fooling himself.

 

The common practice of padding of a boxer's record with a multitude of easy wins creates another familiar illusion, one that has been known to sucker fighters and fans alike. Artificial record are mirages -- visions that promise much but ultimately let you down.

 

Arguably the most egregious instance of this practice would be Primo Carnera, who was managed by underworld characters that fed him a string of no-hope opponents and outright fixes. While boxing insiders and savvy fans knew what was going on, the general public, its imagination inflamed by newspaper reporters on the take, ate it up.

 

"The Ambling Alp" was a huge attraction both figuratively and literary, and managed to win the heavyweight title by knocking out Jack Sharkey under circumstances that were dodgy at best. Two fights later the former circus strongman was exposed and utterly destroyed by Max Baer, who knocked the Italian giant down 11 times to take the title.

 

[+] Enlarge

Hirz/Getty ImagesThe common practice of padding a boxer's record was never done more egregiously than in the case of former heavyweight champion Primo Carnera.

 

 

Sean O'Grady, who was managed by his father, is a more recent example of a built-up fighter whose first real fight was also his first defeat. After 29 straight victories over a string of nonentities, including a waiter working at the venue where the fight took place, "The Bubblegum Kid" came a cropper when Danny Lopez knocked him out in the fourth round.

 

O'Grady returned to the stiff circuit after the Lopez defeat, but unlike Carnera, he actually had some fighting ability and eventually won a lightweight title, only to lose it in his maiden defense. With a more credible apprenticeship, O'Grady may very well have achieved more.

 

Although fighters ultimately suffer for their delusions, fans are pretty much free to let their imaginations overrun rational thought whenever it's convenient. After all, the only way they can take a beating is at the betting window.

 

Being a boxing fan is primarily about hero worship, which is a big part of the reason people often become bullheaded and refuse to consider dissenting opinions. The social media war between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao supporters has driven home the point like never before.

 

Arguments about the merits of opposing boxers used to take place in locations such as barrooms, barbershops and office water coolers. The advent of the Internet, however, has given people a forum that exposes their views to a far wider audience. It has also given them an anonymity that allows them to express themselves in a manner they probably wouldn't have the guts to use in the presence of those who disagree.

 

Calling rival Pacquiao or Mayweather fans an unsavory term to their face would most likely elicit a much sterner response than an equally idiotic Internet posting. To the fans who indulge in this sort of behavior, there are no shades of gray. It is a myopic attitude perfectly suited to the ultimate fantasy realm -- otherwise known as the digital world.

 

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There is, nevertheless, a positive side to the passion generated by hero worship: It fills seats and sells pay-per-views. Most Canelo Alvarez enthusiasts probably didn't seriously evaluate their man's chance of handing Mayweather his first pro defeat. Their infatuation with Alvarez was so powerful, all other considerations were irrelevant.

 

To a lesser degree, the same could be said of the 20,479 customers who turned out to watch Jean Pascal dominate Lucian Bute at the Bell Centre last Saturday. Much of the boxing world considered it a match that had exceeded its shelf life, but to Montreal's boxing faithful that didn't matter one iota. The lure of the local rivalry trumped any thought of where the fighters were at that point of their careers.

 

The media is complicit in keeping boxing's make-believe world alive and thriving. Currently, the pound-for-pound ratings are the most popular form of this sort of thing. Due to the fact many of the fighters are in different divisions and would never fight each other under any circumstances, P4P ratings are an arena of the mind, not of the corporal world in which we live and breathe.

 

Pound-for-pound is a term that was coined to describe Sugar Ray Robinson because, although he was clearly the best fighter in the world, he was not a heavyweight champion. Consequently, he was the best, pound-for-pound.

 

The proliferation of weight classes and so-called champions has resulted in a much broader use to the term and the invention of P4P ratings. They are, for many people, a way to delineate the best fighters, but that doesn't make them any more real than the Easter Bunny. Pound-for-pound ratings are just something we made up in an attempt to make sense of a sport run amok.

 

[+] Enlarge

Eric Bolte/USA TODAY SportsThe lure of the local rivalry between Montreal stars Jean Pascal and Lucian Bute trumped any reality of where both fighters are in their careers.

 

 

Dream fights between fighters in the same weight classes from different eras never go out of style. It's a fun exercise and great debate fodder, but they are just another flight of fancy with no application in the material world. Unlike some of boxing's delusions, dream fights fall into the no-harm, no-foul category. Still, many of the comments posted in regard to the recent series of dream fights on this website make it clear that a sizable portion of readers took them far more seriously than warranted.

 

There is, nevertheless, an upside to this routine recycling of legendary fighters. As Joyce Carol Oates wrote, "The boxing past exists in an uncannily real and vital relationship with the present … it is as if by way of the most strenuous exigencies of the physical self a boxer can -- sometimes -- transcend the mere physical; he can, if he's lucky, be absolved of his mortality."

 

At first glance, it seems a great irony that an undertaking as terrifyingly tangible as prizefighting is such fertile ground for make-believe. But it's the in-your-face violence and the primordial nature of boxing that fires the imagination and creates such an intoxicating mix of fact and fancy. Some of it is good and some of it is bad, and we each make up our minds which is which. For in boxing, as much as anywhere else, we see the world as we are.

 

And if I had to do it all over again, I would still publish the Kid Chocolate article. That's just the way I am, just the way I see it.

[index1000]

Thanks for posting that Kevin. I personally would love to see a re- match but i would also like to see Froch/GGG. 

[El Rojo]

Froch claiming this evening that a Vegas fight with Chavez Jr is more or less signed off on.