Rokk here to bring you up to speed on boxing news and what to look for in the next 48 hours! Well those who got to catch the replay of Pacman vs Morales and Gatti vs Damgaard are the lucky ones, for this weekends action will not live up to that. For those who have upgraded cable will be able to catch three fight cards but none will be worth cancelling engagements for. But fear not there is a light at the end of the tunnel, for what comes next week on ESPN2. More on that later.
We’ll look at the ShoBox feature for Friday night first, which showcases Sechew Powell an undefeated American Junior Middleweight. At 18-0 with 11 KOs, you may say why shouldnt I be excited about him? His toughest test to date has been a split decision victory over Grady Brewer, if you are asking who Grady Brewer is….you aren’t alone. Powell will be facing a quite unimpressing Robert Frazier at 31-6-4 who’s claim to fame is a lopsided loss to Germany’s Felix Sturm. Why watch this fight you ask, my answer is that ShoBox has been known to showcase some rather exciting fights, this should be interesting, but if you have plans, don’t think you have to cancel to see this fight.
Next ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights. Their card includes 17-1 Super Featherweight Koba Gogoladze who in his last fight out was knocked out by Kid Diamond aka Almazbek Raiymkulov, now you know why people prefer to call him Kid Diamond. Koba will be facing Antonio Davis 19-1 who is riding a 15 win streak. This fight will be a 10 rounder for the vacant WBO NABO Super Featherweight Title. Why watch this fight? This fight will be exciting, nothing to write home about, but when up and comers get a chance to fight on national TV for the first or second time, they will bring their “A” game.
Finally Showtime angerly sighs while UFC promoters wet their pants with joy that Diego “Chico” Corrales pulled out of his trilogy fight with Jose Luis Castillo. Both participants won one fight a piece by an extraordinary KO. Corrales vs Castillo I, was far and away 2005 Fight of the Year, and many say Fight of the Decade. Chico citing a rib injury pulled out of this Saturday’s fight against Castillo who has an impressive record of 53-7-1 with a huge 47 KOs. Replacing Corrales is American Ronaldo Reyes 26-3-2 with 16 KOs who is ranked #10 Lightweight. Reyes has been down once in his career but has never fought someone with the intensity of Castillo. If Corrales did not suffer his injury I would say that it would be a fight that would rival the excitement of the Superbowl to boxing fans, but since Reyes is the replacement, it is a showcase fight for Castillo. For those that are staying home Saturday night and have Showtime, please watch this fight, since a fighter of the caliber of Castillo only comes around a few times in a lifetime.
Rokk’s Prediction: Jose Luis Castillo KO 6th round.
Boxing, The Sweet Science is chock full of talent, but talent doesnt always bring you to the top of your game. Most of the best known fighters have had a certain “zest” to them. Zest being used in place of an adjective that describes a human body part that most everyone uses in one way or another everyday. Ali and Prince Naseem Hamed come to mind as the most impressive in the art of being an A-Hole. Love them or hate them, you watched them, either rooting them on or just hoping you could catch a glimpse of their pain.
Since Marco Antonio Barrera taught Hamed a painful boxing lesson we have seemingly been without a fighter we love to hate. Well wait no longer! Brooklyn native Paulie Malignaggi a Junior Welterweight is here to save you. Aka the Magic Man, has enough talk to anger a deaf person, and at 20-0 with only 5 KOs may be able to back up his talk. Though still young in his career, guided beautifully in regards to his opponents being hand picked for him will be fighting on next weeks ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights, and you will want to see this! More on Malignaggi next week, but be warned, love him or hate him you will not miss one of his fights after watching his pre-fight and his skills in the ring.
-Rokk
