Boxing (8-22)

[H2O Man]

August 22
At Houston (HBO): Juan Diaz vs. Paulie Malignaggi, 12 rounds, junior welterweights; Malcolm Klassen vs. Robert Guerrero, 12 rounds, for Klassen's IBF junior lightweight title; Daniel Jacobs vs. Ishe Smith, 10 rounds, middleweights.

There are a number of interesting fight cards this weekend. But, before looking at one in particular, I wanted to address some news today, regarding Nick Charles from Showtime. Charles, who is one of the ringside announcers for the ShoBox series, is fighting bladder cancer. I’ve always enjoyed listening to Charles, and think that he adds to the sport, because he clearly loves boxing.

Charles also has respect and admiration for the men who step inside of the ring, and participate in the Great Sport. Not only that, but I’ve had the opportunity to meet Nick Charles and Steve Farhood at the Boxing Hall of Fame, and they are outstanding guys. They were happy to take the time to mix with the people at the annual induction ceremonies.

I’m hoping for a quick and full recovery for Nick Charles. I look forward to him returning to ringside, as soon as he is able to.

Now, for some of this week’s fights. There were a large number of cards that I did not include at the top of this article, mainly because they are not being televised. However, it is interesting to note that there are a number of good fights scheduled in the middleweight divisions. There are also some less competitive or interesting fights, involving some of the older heavyweights. That sums up the state of boxing’s big division.

HBO is featuring a very good card on Saturday. It includes the IBF super featherweight title match between Malcolm Klassen (24-4-2, 15 KOs) and. Robert Guerrero (24-1-1, 17 KOs);
and also a junior welterweight fight between Juan Diaz (34-2, 17 KOs) and. Paul Malignaggi (26-2, 5 KOs); and a middleweight fight bout featuring Daniel Jacobs (17-0, 15 KOs) vs. Ishe Smith (21-3, 9 KOs).

Daniel Jacobs, 22, is one of the most talented prospects that I’ve had the pleasure of watching in recent years. He won 7 national amateur championships between 2003 and ’06. And since turning professional, he has been showing consistent improvement.

Ishe Smith, 31, was an undefeated prospect, until losing to tough Sergio Mora in NBC’s "The Contender," in 2004. He appeared to lose focus, and lost two of his next six fights. But he’s put together a couple of wins in a row, including an upset win over previously undefeated Pawel Wolak last year.

It should be an interesting fight. Smith isn’t a big banger, but he has a good chance of winning. He needs to set the pace, and frustrate Jacobs’ attempts to land combinations. Still, I favor the younger man in this fight by unanimous decision.

In the co-feature, Robert Guerrero moves up in weight, to try to take the IBF super featherweight crown. He’s had an impressive run as a featherweight, wining both the NABF and IBF titles. I thought that one of his most impressive victories came in a February, 2008 title defense against hard-punching Jason Litzau, who he KOed in 8 rounds. Guerrero’s only loss came in 2005, when he lost a split-decision to Gamaliel Diaz; six months later, he flatten Diaz in a return match.

South Africa’s Malcolm "Stone" Klassen is also a hard-punching, talented fighter. This will be his first fight in the United States. He has definitely faced some quality opposition in his career, but I think Guerrero has more experience against top-notched fighters. It could prove difficult for Klassen to debut here against someone as tough as Guerrero. Still, he is the naturally bigger man, and is certainly aware of the scar tissue over Guerrero’s eye. This should be a slugfest, and it is difficult to imagine it going more than five or six rounds.

The main event is a contest between two seasoned veterans, in one of those fights where I wish that neither man had to lose. Juan Diaz and Paul Malignaggi are scheduled to go 12 rounds in what is definitely a "crossroads fight" for both.

Diaz, 25, is a college-educated former lightweight champion, who is moving up in weight after losing two of his last three fights. These are his only loses, and loses to warriors like Nate Campbell and Juan Manuel Marquez is no shame. However, Diaz absorbed a significant amount of punishment in both of these fights. Going against Malignaggi now is a clear indicator of what a tough competitor Diaz is.

Malignaggi, 28, is a thoughtful man, who often comes off as a brash street urchin. He also has only two loses, to Miguel Cotto and Ricky Hatton. He, too, took a lot of punishment in those fights. Although he had problems with his hands, and wasn’t considered a powerful puncher, Paul actually wobbled Cotto late in their fight.

Diaz is an aggressive fighter, who can be counted on to throw a high volume of punches. In the past, he would have had trouble finding Malignaggi in the ring. However, in what I consider a bad move, Paul bulked up after the Cotto fight. I understand why he would want to put on some muscle to compete in one of the toughest divisions in boxing. However, he has slowed down half a step, and his once brilliant defensive skill are not what they once were.

There are going to be two important factors in this fight. The first will be who is able to do more damage with their punches? Make no mistake: both of these fighters has the ability to hurt anyone they hit. But, more important, will be who can keep up a fast pace in that ring longer? One of the two is likely to pull out a decision, by imposing their will in the last few rounds in an otherwise close fight. I think that even though there is not a title at stake, this should be one of the most interesting fights of 2009.

[TroubleMan]

1. Kick

So I can find it after the fights.

[RagAss]

2. Kicked

[TroubleMan]

3. Wow - I think Malignaggi was correct in his criticism.

118-110 for Diaz - that's absolutely ridiculous. IMHO Malignaggi won by a round, but giving it to Diaz by a round isn't a robbery. It was a close fight, and a great fight.

Unfortunately biased judges can ruin a great fight.

[H2O Man]

4. I thought Paul won

by a couple of rounds. I had hoped for Diaz going in, but he didn't perform well.

I had it even after 8. I think Paul pulled it out in the last four.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

5. Same score here - Paulie by 2 points

I could understand a draw or even 115-113 the other way, as there were close rounds where neither fighter dominated. But the judge who gave Diaz 8 rounds and the other one who gave him 10 must have been high as kites. That was outrageous scoring and those judges should never be allowed near a boxing ring again. That kind of judging really undermines boxing, especially when it occurs in a nationally televised fight.

[TroubleMan]

6. Yeah the judging ruined a great, competitive fight.

It was great until the judges weighed in.

[H2O Man]

7. It's an unfortunate

part of the sport. Not unexpected, not surprising. But still gross.

In one of my amateur fights, for a tournament title, I knocked the hell out of my home-town opponent. Knocked his mouthpiece into the third row at ringside with one shot in the second round, then he ran like a track star for the rest of the fight. But, he was the son of a local "businessman," and when the referee saw the scorecards, he kept saying, "You can't do this. It just isn't right.

When the decision was announced, my opponent told me that he knew I won the fight. Carmen Basilio was at ringside, and he kept telling me that I won. In the dressing room, the opponent came over, and offered me the winner's trophy. I didn't want it, but I appreciated his offer.

It's funny: I fought hundreds of fights, and only lost nine. I have no problem with those where I really got beat, or where it was kind of close. But to get ripped off sucks, and it is something that you always remember.

Paul knows the deal. He needs to consider all of his options. I think that he should headline some of the cards in the Albany, NY area. Get a few "local" victories, even if they don't pay as well. Get on ESPN's FNFs. Rebuild. That makes more sense than accepting hometown rip-offs, and opponent status, even if that pays more in the short-term.

[TroubleMan]

8. For those who missed it, here's the video of the in ring interview of Malignaggi:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTnhWoFXgr0


and here's the post-fight:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hj1W1ruOdXc