Boxing! (12-4 & 5)

[H2O Man]

December 4
At Santa Ynez, Calif. (Showtime): Tyrone Brunson vs. Carson Jones, 10 rounds, junior middleweights; Mauricio Herrera vs. Mike Anchondo, 8 rounds, junior welterweights

December 5
At Atlantic City, N.J. (HBO): Paul Williams vs. Sergio Martinez, 12 rounds, middleweights; Cristobal Arreola vs. Brian Minto, 10 rounds, heavyweights; Chazz Witherspoon vs. Tony Thompson, 10 rounds, heavyweights; Carlos Quintana vs. Jesse Feliciano, 10 rounds, welterweights

There are some good fights on television this weekend. Tonight, ShoBox features a couple of fights between good prospects in the junior welterweight and junior middleweight divisions. Both of these weight classes have a lot of talent in them, as does the division that separates the two. It's a tough time to break into the top of the welterweight and near-by divisions, but these four guys are all hungry for that opportunity.

The HBO card on Saturday will definitely be worth watching. In the co-feature, Chris Arreola begins a comeback, after his recent one-sided defeat at the hands of the elder Klitschko brother. There was talk of matching him against David Tua. HBO was not able to secure that fight, which is good for Chris. It is far too early in his comeback to fight even an older Tua. Perhaps after two or three more warm-up bouts.

Brian Minto is being brought in to serve as a punching bag, and to suffer a brutal KO defeat. However, it is possible that the veteran will frustrate Arreola – though probably not for too long. Minto is a C grade contender, but he is capable of pulling off a good showing. It would not shock me if he even pulls off an upset, though I think Chris is just too big and strong for him to survive.

(If Chris scores a quick KO, HBO might play part of the Witherspoon – Thompson fight. Both are relatively good boxers, but this one should go to an unexciting decision.)

The “big fight” of the weekend involves Paul Williams. He was supposed to be challenging Kelly Pavlik for the middleweight crown, but the fight was again postponed, due to Pavlik's infected hand. Curiously, Pavlik is having a tune-up fight later this month.

Sergio Martinez is a quality opponent, in his own right. He is fast, and fights in a strange style, making him difficult to hit, and allowing him to land quick combinations. Under normal circumstances, you would want more time to prepare for his style, as opposed to Pavlik's. But boxing in general, and Paul Williams in particular, rarely verges on normal circumstance.

Williams is not only tall, but he has an extraordinary reach. Add to that an amazing ability to throw a high volume of punches for twelve rounds, and he is difficult to beat. He also has learned to increase his punching power, when he sits down on his punches. Look for him to outbox Martinez for the first half of the fight, and frustrate him. This will result in Martinez's taking some gambles, which could allow Paul the opportunity to do his imitation of Bob Foster, the lanky, great light heavyweight champion. If Paul looks to score an early Foster-type of knockout, he could find Martinez tougher than expected.

Enjoy the fights.

[Auggie]

1. You make me want to get HBO/Showtime

:)

[Kingofalldems]

2. Arreola does not impress but I expect he will get

title shots mainly because he poses no threat to a champion. Hope you are feeling OK.