BOXING !!! (9-18 & 19)

[H2O Man]

September 18
At Miami Beach, Fla. (ESPN2): Guillermo Rigondeaux vs. Giovanni Andrade, 10 rounds, junior featherweights; Felix Diaz vs. Luis Adorno, 4 rounds, junior welterweights; Yunier Dorticos vs. Melvin Miller, 4 rounds, cruiserweight; Yordanis Despaigne vs. Micky Scaraborough, 4 rounds, light heavyweight; Yudel Johnson vs. Frankie Santos, 4 rounds, junior middleweights; Stalin Lopez vs. John Figueroa, 6 rounds, junior welterweights; Erik Leander vs. Eric Womack, 6 rounds, heavyweights

At Santa Yanez, Calif. (Showtime): Travis Kauffman vs. Tony Grano, 10 rounds, heavyweights; Chris Avalos vs. Giovanni Caro, 8 rounds, bantamweights; Rufino Serrano vs. Jose Luis Mares, 4 rounds, featherweights; Abraham Lopez vs. Noe Lopez Jr., 6 rounds, featherweights; Jose Guzman vs. Carl McNickols, 6 rounds, lightweights; Orlando Lora vs. Hicklet Lau, 8 rounds, welterweights; Archie Ray Marquez vs. Mario Galan, 6 rounds, lightweights; Darryl Hayes vs. Jose Pechago, 6 rounds, lightweights

September 19
At Las Vegas (HBO PPV): Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Juan Manuel Marquez, 12 rounds, welterweights; Chris John vs. Rocky Juarez, rematch, 12 rounds, for John's WBA featherweight title; Vicente Escobedo vs. Michael Katsidis, 12 rounds, for vacant interim WBO lightweight title; Cornelius Lock vs. Orlando Cruz, 10 rounds, featherweights; Erislandy Lara vs. Jose Varela, 8 rounds, junior middleweights; Jesse Vargas vs. Raul Tovar, 6 rounds, junior welterweights; Dion Savage vs. Loren Myers, 6 rounds, middleweights; Said Ouali vs. Francisco Rios, 8 rounds, welterweights; Michael Perez vs. Richard Ellis, 4 rounds, lightweight

There are two good cards on tonight, and perhaps the most important fight of 2009 on Saturday. To start it off, ESPN features Guillermo Rigondeax on their show, which starts at 9 pm/est. This is only his third professional fight, and he is facing an opponent with over 70 fights and has held a few regional titles. Freddie Roach believes that Rigondeax, who he trains, is ready to fight any professional in his division, because of his skill level and amateur background. I tend to trust Roach’s judgement.

Showtime has a good "Shobox" card starting at 11 pm/est. There is also the 4th installment of HBO’s Mayweather-Marquez: 24/7" series tonight.

Saturday is the big fight. Apparently, Floyd weighed in 4 pounds over the limit. He will lose some money due to this, but it gives him an advantage inside the ring. I think he will TKO Marquez between 8 and 10 rounds. However, I recognize that Marquez is a great fighter, and is actually the most skilled ring technician that Mayweather has ever fought. He may be the most skilled techician in the sport today. Thus, even if Floyd wins in the manner that I predict, it is not going to be an easy fight. Any time two great fighters meet, both men get hurt.

Enjoy the fights!

[H2O Man]

1. Fight day ......

Time passes slowly for fighters and their handlers on the day of the fight. Marquez will be resting, and focusing on his fight plan. He wants to use his jab frequently, and to prepared for each of the scheduled 12 rounds as an opportunity to solve Mayweather's defense, land the left hook to the body, and interrupt Floyd's rhythm. His handlers' will be concentrating on having him having the mental image of raising his hands in victory at the end of the night. They will supervise his starting to warm up by stretching and shadow-boxing later in the day.

Floyd already has a game plan, despite what Uncle Roger said on 24/7. Viewers may have noted the difference in Floyd's mood in each week on the HBO series. He is becoming increasingly personal about the challenge Marquez poses. He wants to not only win, but to display a high level of punching skills tonight. His handlers mission is to keep him from burning too much energy during the day. Roger understands this; Floyd Sr is a distraction to this task. Floyd will want to speak to some group -- possibly reporters -- during the day. Floyd Sr desires the spoylight, too. Roger will focus on bringing Floyd into the shadows, both physically and mentally. Roger had a much darker side in the ring than his brother, and he is intent on passing this on to his nephew today and tonight.

[JonLP24]

2. How did Rigondeaux do?

I wasn't aware of FNF coming back and that was a fight I was looking forward to. I saw your thread much later after watching Boise St vs Fresno St.

[H2O Man]

3. He was outstanding.

He is among the most talented fighters today. Adding to that, he is as relaxed in the ring as anyone I've ever seen.

I told my son that he'd knock the opponent out with a left to the liver. And he did not disappoint. He has an unreal ability to land that punch -- not only did he win most of his amateur KOs with it, but 2 of his 3 professional victories, as well.

[JonLP24]

4. Oh wow another knockout to the body

I'm disappointed I missed it, I remember when he did that in his last fight. I sometimes catch a replay of FNF during the week so I'll be looking out for that.

[H2O Man]

7. It should replay

on Tuesday next week. You'll enjoy it.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

5. Avalos/Caro was entertaining.

Did you see the Malignaggi/Diaz fight last month? I was wondering what you thought about it. I say robbery.

[H2O Man]

6. Avalos vs Caro

was one of those fights that turns out far more entertaining and exciting, than it appeared on paper.

Malignaggi beat Diaz. It was a terrible decision. I liked how most of the boxing community, without being disrespectful to Diaz, made it clear they knew who won.

There was a possibility of Paul fighting Zab Judah on the undercard tonight. But, with the other co-main event, it was considered too likely to stretch to the distance, at a slow pace. I disagree with that -- I think it would be a good fight, and that the crowd would enjoy it. But it might do better in the northeast, either later this year or in 2010. Paul earned a top spot, no matter that he was robbed by some hometown officials who couldn't pass an eye exam.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

8. Good analysis of Marquez/Mayweather

I love watching Marquez fight. He's a thing of beauty: great accuracy, great counterpuncher, good chin, tremendous heart, and very saavy. He makes wonderful adjustments during the course of a fight and finds a way to exploit his opponent's weaknesses, like his use of multiple uppercuts against the Baby Bull. But the guy has only fought twice at lightweight since coming up from 130 and now he's fighting a welterweight and a bigger man. I was shocked by Pacquiao's ability to fight at higher weights and I could be wrong about Marquez, too. But Marquez is getting up in years and he's fighting someone who I believe is the most skilled fighter of his era in Mayweather. Mayweather's speed, his ability to move and his defense are going to be tough for the great Marquez to overcome. Heck, I just give Marquez tremendous respect for getting into the ring with Mayweather. It's yet to be seen if Mayweather has lost anything in his nearly two years outside the ring and whether his brittle hands are a factor and whether they've continued to deteriorate. But I agree with you about a possible TKO by Mayweather in the later rounds. I think this matchup is just too much to expect from Marquez, even though I agree with you that he is one of the pound-for-pound best at this time. I'm wondering what weight advantage Pretty Boy will have on Marquez when they step into the ring after they rehydrate.

[Wetzelbill]

9. watching John and Juarez right now

splitting time back and forth with the UFC.

[Wetzelbill]

10. Nacho was not happy about the weight

That was very unprofessional of Floyd.

I am very excited about both Franklin vs Belfort in the UFC and Marquez vs Mayweather. I hope I can watch both.

I love Marquez's technical skills, he's a great fighter. I tend to think size will be the difference but I hope Marquez can out will Floyd.

[d_b]

11. when does money fight?