Wednesday, 31 October 2007
Got To Have A Nibble At These Odds
Robert Guerrero defends his IBF featherweight title on Saturday against Martin Honorio and the betting line marks him down as being different class to his challenger. Maybe that will turn out to be right, but I’m not convinced.
I watched Guerrero lose this same crown to Orlando Salido last November and was not the least bit impressed by his showing. Guerrero tried hard enough but could never get on top of old pro Salido who was simply the better man and took a comfortable decision.
Salido’s reign as champ was over before it had properly begun when, post fight, he tested positive for nandrolone, but a follow up test the next day showed him clear of any steroids so maybe it was a tough on Orlando that the result of the fight was still changed to a no decision status and the title declared vacant.
Whatever the rights or wrongs of that situation, though, the fact is that Robert Guerrero looked an ordinary fighter in there – certainly nothing special, even though he has subsequently reclaimed the crown by stopping Spend Abazi in Denmark.
Martin Honorio is nothing special either. The Mexican has been beaten three times against twenty four career wins and one draw but, despite his being the record of a fighter who is merely capable at best, there is one performance in his log that suggests to me he has a real chance this weekend.
Less than two years ago Martin beat Steve Luevano in what was the otherwise unbeaten Luevano’s thirtieth outing, the same Luevano who in July of this year whipped Nicky Cook to win the WBO featherweight crown in the style of a real good ‘un.
Robert Guerrero is a southpaw. So is Steve Luevano. I say Luevano would beat Guerrero every day of the week.
Martin Honorio was on the floor in the second round of his scrap with Luevano and was docked a point for low blows in round three, yet he had enough about him to claw back that points deficit and come away with an unanimous decision. You’d have to say that was some performance.
Indications are that Honorio could be a bit vulnerable early on in fights, and maybe Guerrero can catch him cold, but if Martin settles into the action and is able to repeat the level of performance he produced in beating classy Luevano, the IBF champ will surely have a fight on his hands come Saturday.
With that in mind, I find myself compelled to have a betting interest because one of the books out there has Guerrero a 1-3 favourite with Honorio available at 11-4 against. On what these two men have actually produced in the ring, those sort of odds don’t stack up. I won’t be going in large, but cash will be ventured on the underdog.
I watched Guerrero lose this same crown to Orlando Salido last November and was not the least bit impressed by his showing. Guerrero tried hard enough but could never get on top of old pro Salido who was simply the better man and took a comfortable decision.
Salido’s reign as champ was over before it had properly begun when, post fight, he tested positive for nandrolone, but a follow up test the next day showed him clear of any steroids so maybe it was a tough on Orlando that the result of the fight was still changed to a no decision status and the title declared vacant.
Whatever the rights or wrongs of that situation, though, the fact is that Robert Guerrero looked an ordinary fighter in there – certainly nothing special, even though he has subsequently reclaimed the crown by stopping Spend Abazi in Denmark.
Martin Honorio is nothing special either. The Mexican has been beaten three times against twenty four career wins and one draw but, despite his being the record of a fighter who is merely capable at best, there is one performance in his log that suggests to me he has a real chance this weekend.
Less than two years ago Martin beat Steve Luevano in what was the otherwise unbeaten Luevano’s thirtieth outing, the same Luevano who in July of this year whipped Nicky Cook to win the WBO featherweight crown in the style of a real good ‘un.
Robert Guerrero is a southpaw. So is Steve Luevano. I say Luevano would beat Guerrero every day of the week.
Martin Honorio was on the floor in the second round of his scrap with Luevano and was docked a point for low blows in round three, yet he had enough about him to claw back that points deficit and come away with an unanimous decision. You’d have to say that was some performance.
Indications are that Honorio could be a bit vulnerable early on in fights, and maybe Guerrero can catch him cold, but if Martin settles into the action and is able to repeat the level of performance he produced in beating classy Luevano, the IBF champ will surely have a fight on his hands come Saturday.
With that in mind, I find myself compelled to have a betting interest because one of the books out there has Guerrero a 1-3 favourite with Honorio available at 11-4 against. On what these two men have actually produced in the ring, those sort of odds don’t stack up. I won’t be going in large, but cash will be ventured on the underdog.
Sunday, 28 October 2007
Povetkin Getting Hotter
Alexander Povetkin’s eleventh round stoppage of Chris Byrd in Germany last night was spectacular in the end, but hard earned. I hadn’t expected anything less.
Byrd went in believing his experience and professional nous would give him big advantages over the Olympic champ from the Athens Games, who was after all having only his fourteenth pro outing, and that belief wasn’t entirely wide of the mark.
Chris had got himself into top shape for the job and his quick hands and slick movement gave Povetkin real problems. I’d go so far as to say that the Russian could possibly have lost this fight if he hadn’t had that educational ten rounds with Larry Donald back in June.
Povetkin shut out Donald on all the cards that night but nonetheless had to fight hard throughout against the tricky veteran who was always looking to cash in on any mistakes Alex might make. In the course of the exercise, Povetkin learned a need for patience, perseverance, and total concentration when in the ring with someone who knows how to defend himself and doesn’t just fall down when you hit him on the chops.
That’s exactly what Povetkin was up against last night but, as well as showing defensive savvy, Chris Byrd also put together some effective bursts in what was at times a thrilling battle. It took the best of Alexander Povetkin, physically and mentally, to break down and finally overwhelm the feisty 37 year old, but even though the win didn’t come easy I reckon it’s a breakthrough triumph in his career. On the strength of what he found out in the pit with cutie Byrd, Alexander will, I’d say, be a 10% better and more clued up boxer next time out, which is bad news for the other heavies out there because he’s already shown himself to be pretty damn good, hasn’t he.
I’ve been saying all along that Povetkin can be the champ. I’m still saying it, only louder. He’s a natural fighter who’s eager to learn and keep improving, and he has the killer instinct about him too. Everything’s coming together smoothly from where I’m looking.
Next stop, the survivor out of Eddie Chambers and Calvin Brock. You have to respect both those men, and their own ambitions, but it says here that Alexander Povetkin will bring him down, whichever it is.
Byrd went in believing his experience and professional nous would give him big advantages over the Olympic champ from the Athens Games, who was after all having only his fourteenth pro outing, and that belief wasn’t entirely wide of the mark.
Chris had got himself into top shape for the job and his quick hands and slick movement gave Povetkin real problems. I’d go so far as to say that the Russian could possibly have lost this fight if he hadn’t had that educational ten rounds with Larry Donald back in June.
Povetkin shut out Donald on all the cards that night but nonetheless had to fight hard throughout against the tricky veteran who was always looking to cash in on any mistakes Alex might make. In the course of the exercise, Povetkin learned a need for patience, perseverance, and total concentration when in the ring with someone who knows how to defend himself and doesn’t just fall down when you hit him on the chops.
That’s exactly what Povetkin was up against last night but, as well as showing defensive savvy, Chris Byrd also put together some effective bursts in what was at times a thrilling battle. It took the best of Alexander Povetkin, physically and mentally, to break down and finally overwhelm the feisty 37 year old, but even though the win didn’t come easy I reckon it’s a breakthrough triumph in his career. On the strength of what he found out in the pit with cutie Byrd, Alexander will, I’d say, be a 10% better and more clued up boxer next time out, which is bad news for the other heavies out there because he’s already shown himself to be pretty damn good, hasn’t he.
I’ve been saying all along that Povetkin can be the champ. I’m still saying it, only louder. He’s a natural fighter who’s eager to learn and keep improving, and he has the killer instinct about him too. Everything’s coming together smoothly from where I’m looking.
Next stop, the survivor out of Eddie Chambers and Calvin Brock. You have to respect both those men, and their own ambitions, but it says here that Alexander Povetkin will bring him down, whichever it is.
Sunday, 21 October 2007
Ireland's Best?
John Duddy got win number twenty two in Dublin last night when he stopped Prince Arron in the second round, but the right reaction to that should be so what?
Arron came in as a twelve fight novice who had already been beaten twice and had only taken part in one ten round bout. Putting him in with Duddy was a pointless exercise to those of us who want to see competitive boxing.
It would have been much more satisfying to have seen the Derry man in with another boxer who appeared on the Dublin bill. Matthew Macklin.
Macklin stopped Alessio Furlan in eight rounds, the same Furlan who made it to round ten against John Duddy in July. Apart from the obvious statistical comparison, a fight between Macklin and Duddy would have real appeal and would also decide what we don’t yet know – just who is the best middleweight in Ireland. Always assuming that Manny Steward’s Olympian, Andy Lee, doesn’t for the moment want to get involved in that particular argument.
Instead of that kind of testing action, though, Duddy’s camp have kept him to an undemanding schedule. Hardly the stuff to prep him for what will be coming his way on Jan 26th in Atlantic City when he boxes Kelly Pavlik for the middleweight championship of the world but it’s a planned campaign that has seen his people aim Duddy at a title fight, and get him there, without ever having put their fighter in a high risk situation.
From a purely business angle, that’s a job done to near perfection. Trouble is, Duddy’s consequent lack of trenches experience won’t do him any favours in the biggest fight of his life. With the cotton wool removed, I see only pain and suffering.
Arron came in as a twelve fight novice who had already been beaten twice and had only taken part in one ten round bout. Putting him in with Duddy was a pointless exercise to those of us who want to see competitive boxing.
It would have been much more satisfying to have seen the Derry man in with another boxer who appeared on the Dublin bill. Matthew Macklin.
Macklin stopped Alessio Furlan in eight rounds, the same Furlan who made it to round ten against John Duddy in July. Apart from the obvious statistical comparison, a fight between Macklin and Duddy would have real appeal and would also decide what we don’t yet know – just who is the best middleweight in Ireland. Always assuming that Manny Steward’s Olympian, Andy Lee, doesn’t for the moment want to get involved in that particular argument.
Instead of that kind of testing action, though, Duddy’s camp have kept him to an undemanding schedule. Hardly the stuff to prep him for what will be coming his way on Jan 26th in Atlantic City when he boxes Kelly Pavlik for the middleweight championship of the world but it’s a planned campaign that has seen his people aim Duddy at a title fight, and get him there, without ever having put their fighter in a high risk situation.
From a purely business angle, that’s a job done to near perfection. Trouble is, Duddy’s consequent lack of trenches experience won’t do him any favours in the biggest fight of his life. With the cotton wool removed, I see only pain and suffering.
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