Friday, July 29, 2005

The Science of Lance Armstrong: Born, and Built, to Win

We were talking about just this the last couple of days and now, of course, there's an article - National Geographic.

Jones Tarver III !

The fight most experts said would never happen is happening. Roy Jones Jr. is coming back to the ring in order to meet Antonio Tarver for the third time.Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune has reported that the fight is practically a done deal, pending final approval from both promoters, but Brad Jacobs, Jones' senior adviser, views it as a mere formality.The bout appears to set for Oct. 1 on pay-per-view. Jacobs believes that the event will be held in Las Vegas.Tarver is fully ready for the upcoming bout and is planning to fight at his best to prove that he did not stop Jones with a lucky punch. Jones will be returning in his first bout since getting knocked out by Glen Johnson last September."I'm excited about this fight because I know this is what the fans want," Tarver told the Tribune. "Roy Jones has been on top of the game for a long time. His fans love him and they are anxious to see if he can vindicate himself. I'm getting up for this fight because he's Roy Jones Jr. Some people said maybe he had an off-night when I beat him, or I closed my eyes and landed a lucky punch."

Friday, July 22, 2005

Hopkins, go to your Corner.

As lifted from another website :

So much for the self-made man. For years, Bernard Hopkins has promoted himself as being above the shadiness of boxing. He managed himself and dealt only with small-time promotional groups to run his fights. He was not going to be a pawn to federations or the Don Kings and Bob Arums of the world.By all accounts, he was one of the few straight-forward people in boxing. It was expected that after his loss to Jermain Taylor, Hopkins would accept it like a man and look forward to the rematch.Wrong. Instead Hopkins did what many boxers do when they don't like a decision: He ran to the athletic commission to beg for an appeal. He is basing his complaint off the fact that a judge, Duane Ford, gave Taylor the 12th round. Had Ford given Hopkins the 12th, the fight would have been a draw."I'd be doing a disservice if I didn't challenge something that's in dispute around the world, based on a judge thinking Jermain Taylor won a round that everybody else says I won," Hopkins told The New York Times. "Duane Ford exposed something that we're trying to find out, if there is something to be found out."In actuality, Hopkins is doing a disservice by continuing this farce. He believes he won the fight. Fine. Two of the three judges disagree. That means he lost the fight.He is also failing to live up to his responsibility. Hopkins was the one who decided he didn't need to fight until the ninth round, not the judges. Hopkins was the one who failed to take advantage of a weakened Taylor in the 10th and 11th rounds, not the judges.If he wants to place blame for his defeat Saturday night, he need only look in the mirror.Although it's surprising that Hopkins has decided to take this route after a close loss, it really shouldn't be once I consider who his promotions partner is.Oscar De La Hoya, head of Golden Boy promotions, has never been in a fight he didn't win. After close losses to Felix Trinidad and Shane Mosley, De La Hoya whined in the public and privately about how was he cheated by judges who were jealous of his stardom.He forgot that his same stardom awarded him controversial decisions against Pernell Whitaker and Felix Sturm.For Hopkins, it's a similar path. In fights against Robert Allen and Howard Eastman, he was able to sloth his way through the early rounds and enjoy the benefit of equally cautious opponents.But last Saturday, Taylor decided to accept Hopkins' gifts in the early rounds and held on to win the fight. Taylor chose to fight all 12 rounds Saturday, even the rounds he clearly lost.Hopkins wasn't cheated or robbed as some other writers claim. He was lazy.But now it's time to put the past to bed. If Hopkins is half the man he claims to be in sound bites, he'll accept his loss like a man and start preparing for a December rematch.The last thing boxing needs is a sore loser.

Saturday, July 16, 2005

Hopkins Loses

Hopkins lost in a split decision. I listened to the fight, and it sounded like Hopkins was too slow out of the gate, got behind in the cards, and couldn't catch up. Hopkins did very well in the later rounds, and probably would have won a 15-round fight. I'm sure that there will be a rematch.

Thursday, July 14, 2005

Pacquiao-Morales II

Assuming that they both win their next fights, Manny Pacquiao and Erik Morales are slated to have a big-money rematch. Earlier this year, Pacquaio pounded Morales early, before Morales took control, winning a unanimous decision. Manny is one of my favorite fighters, and, even when he loses, he's always exciting. He's fast, strong, and has great technical skill. He may have moved up too far in weight class, though.

I'm also looking forward Bernard Hopkins' fight against Jermain Taylor this weekend. Hopkins is awesome, but as I know nothing about Taylor, I have to go with the champ in this one.

Sunday, July 03, 2005

Weekend of Action

On Friday night, George "not the washed-up drunken redneck singer" Khalid Jones won the vacant USBA light heavyweight belt when his fight went to the cards after a head-butt cut his opponent. Odd thing, all the judges scored the fight 88-83, though it was a split decision. I hate having judging in boxing. If you have to have someone tell you who won, it's not really a sport.

On the undercard, Courage "in name, not in nature" Tshabalalala quit on his stool to lose to journeyman Robert Wiggins. Courage looked to be in terrible conditioning, and fought like a bum, which reminded me of the way Foreman looked in "the rumble in the jungle" (which was aired last night, btw).

And of course, Samuel "the Nigerian Nightmare" Peter put a proper pummelling on Taurus Sykes , who lived up to his name. Of those of you who saw Alien Nation should remember this line:

Det. Samuel 'George' Francisco: It is like your name... Sykes. I'm sure it doesn't bother you at all that it sounds like "ss'ai k'ss," two words in my language which mean "excrement" and "cranium."

Peter has huge power, but did not look as if he knew boxing from beach volleyball (which wasn't really necessary to beat Sykes. Peter's calling for a big fight, and I'm looking forward to seeing him get it.