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Boxing Articles By Michael Worden
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By Michael Worden June 29th, 2007 All Boxing Articles
He hasn't won a fight in over two years and yet you would be hard pressed to find a writer alive that still wouldn't place Zab "Super" Judah, 34-5 (25), in the top ten of the welterweight division. Heck, I for one think that he is still one of the five best in that weight class.
But for one of the most physically gifted fighters of this generation, top five is far from where he was expecting to be at this stage of his career.
As a young fighter from a distinguished boxing family, the early stages of Judah's career had him being talked about in extremely high regard. After a disappointing outing at the Olympic Trials, Zab began his professional career by blazing through his first 28 opponents with ease before falling victim to a perfect punch by Kostya Tszyu in 2001.
Although Judah bounced right back with three straight victories, the invincibility that almost every young undefeated fighter carries with them was gone.
Now, almost eleven years after his professional debut, Zab Judah must take a step back, push away the folks that are yelling in his ears, and decide once and for all, is boxing what he really wants to do anymore? More...
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By Michael Worden June 6th, 2007 All Boxing Articles
Photo ©Michael Worden/SaddoBoxing
On July 14, live from the Home Depot Center in Carson California, Antonio Margarito, 34-4 (24), will put his WBO Welterweight title on the line against undefeated number one contender Paul Williams, 32-0 (24).
The fight will cap off a three bout card, separated by 3000 miles. HBO will first air Walter Matthysse, 26-1 (25), versus Kermit Cintron, 27-1 (25), for the IBF Welterweight title, followed by what might be the farewell fight for fan favorite Arturo Gatti, 40-8 (31), against Alfonso Gomez 16-3-2 (7), of The Contender fame.
Those fights will be held at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City and the telecast will then jump to Southern California to cap off a sensational night of welterweight boxing.
On Tuesday, SaddoBoxing had the opportunity to attend the first press conference at Morton’s Steakhouse in Burbank, California where emotions were running high and both fighters predicted an early end to the fight.
Dan Goosen introduced both fighters, not surprising considering the fact that he won the purse bid to promote the fight, and that Margarito’s promoter Bob Arum was in New York getting ready for the Miguel Cotto/Zab Judah bout this weekend. More...
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By Michael Worden May 11th, 2007 All Boxing Articles
He is the undisputed middleweight champion of the world. And it is that word, "undisputed", that grabs you when one speaks of Jermain Taylor, 26-0-1 (17), and his accomplishments, because in today's world of alphabet titles and paper champions, it is rare to find a consensus top dog in any weight class.
He won the Bronze Medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and from his first jab thrown during a professional fight, the expectations of his career have been huge.
He was instantly signed to a big endorsement deal with Everlast and was being billed on HBO cards before his fifteenth professional bout.
And it might not be an understatement to say that Taylor carried the hopes of many young American boxing fans. The potential that he has exhibited in the ring is boundless.
He left the ring as the world champion on July 16, 2005 at the ripe age of 26, just a month shy of his twenty seventh birthday, after defeating the legend and pound for pound king at the time, Bernard Hopkins. More...
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By Michael Worden May 5th, 2007 All Boxing Articles
It is the “LAST GREAT FIGHT.” That is not to say that there will no longer be exciting matchups in the sport, but in terms of the shear magnitude of events, it will likely be the last major special that the sport will ever see.
Over the past twenty years, boxing has gone from the front pages of every major sports section, when Tyson and Lewis were in their primes, to a niche sport dominated by those who still hold a connection to the sweet science.
For the betting world, boxing is still thriving, and continues to be a major source of action in both Vegas and Atlantic City. Big fights are still drawing tens of thousands of fans and PPV buys are staying consistent. So when I say that this is the LAST GREAT FIGHT, I don’t mean to imply that the sport is dying, it is just falling into a different category. More...
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By Michael Worden April 23rd, 2007 All Boxing Articles
The first reason, above all else, that a person sets out to become a boxing writer is the pure love of the game. Boxing writers are so passionate about the sport that they can see no other way to get closer to the action, aside from stepping in the ring themselves, than to become a fight writer.
They get to sit ringside at great events, have the opportunity to interview the fighters and hopefully get a little insight into the mind of a true warrior. Boxing writers are, first and foremost, fans.
As a fan of the sport, one of my main goals in life is to get everyone around me to become a fan as well. That goes from family and friends to acquaintances that I meet at the local pub. I want them to be able to share the excitement and thrill that I get when I see to guys putting everything on the line for a shot at become "The Champ."
If you feel strongly about something, it is intrinsic within every person to want to express those emotions and thoughts and to let others get inside your head.
I have been married for a little over two years now and my wife is the one person that I can talk with about boxing, for hours without as much as a breath of air. She became a fan because I am a fan and on Saturday nights, she will always sit down with me along with a case of brew and watch the fights. More...
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By Michael Worden April 7th, 2007 All Boxing Interviews
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The old saying "You can't go home again" has floated around forever and for undefeated heavyweight "Baby" Joe Mesi, 34-0, (27), nothing could seem more apt to describe his current situation.
Mesi is one of the longest currently active, undefeated heavyweights in |
the world. He was once ranked #1 by the WBC and was at the top of all the other alphabet ratings.
He signed a lucrative three fight deal with HBO and was consistently packing 20,000 plus into arenas in his hometown of Buffalo, NY before it all went south.
Fight fans everywhere are by now aware of the troubles that are keeping "Baby" Joe from returning to where he once was. There are those on both sides of the aisle on whether he should be returning to the ring but there are studies from doctors who have cleared him to fight.
But this is not about his health issues. This is about a still young heavyweight fighter who is working his way back to the top.
In order to get himself back into contention, Mesi needs to get ranked in the top ten, and in order to do that, he needs to fight, which is exactly what he is doing. He is 5-0 with two knockouts in his comeback, and has been steadily improving. More...
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By Michael Worden April 4th, 2007 All Boxing Interviews
In one of the most underrated divisions in boxing, undefeated NABA Cruiserweight Champ Matt "Too Smooth" Godfrey, 14-0 (8), will face off against Felix Cora ,18-1-2 (9), this Friday, April 6 for the vacant NABF title and a shot at a possible world title fight later this year. The fight is headlining a card entitled "Collision Course" at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut and will be broadcast by ESPN2's Friday Night Fights.
Rhode Island native Godfrey is currently ranked sixth in the WBC, ninth in the IBF and tenth in the WBA. With with a win over Cora on April 6, the 26 year old could propel himself into a world title shot very soon.
SaddoBoxing recently had the opportunity to speak with Matt about his upcoming fight and his opportunities in the cruiserweight division.
SaddoBoxing: Matt, You had a great amateur career; how has that helped you in your transition into the professional ranks?
Matt Godfrey: "The only thing that is different going from the amateurs to the professionals is the pace. I have had so many amateur fights that I have seen every style that is out there. Any style that is going to be thrown at me, I have already seen it." More...
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By Michael Worden March 7th, 2007 All Radio Show
Click for larger image © Michael Worden / Saddo Boxing
WBC Super Featherweight Champion Marco Antonio Barrera, 63-4 (42), opened up his camp to the media as he finalizes training for his March 17 HBO PPV bout against two time world featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, 46-3-1 (35), at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas,
According to Barrera’s trainer Rudy Perez, things are going great. "This is the best training camp that we have ever had," said Perez.
The Baby Faced Assassin said that he is feeling good and is currently at 131 pounds. When asked, he informed the media that he sees no problems making weight for the fight. More...
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By Michael Worden March 4th, 2007 All Ringside Boxing
Click for larger image © Michael Worden / Saddo Boxing
In one of the most highly anticipated fights of the year, bantamweight king Rafael Marquez solidified his position as one of the top pound for pound fighters in the sport by making WBC Super Bantamweight Champ Israel Vazquez quit prior to the end of the eighth round.
In front of a sparsely filled Home Depot Center in Carson, California, both fighters entered the arena to a loud and raucous ovation from those in attendance. It was clear from their initial entrance into the ring that there was no clear cut fan favorite in this fight, as both men were loved by the house. More...
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By Michael Worden March 1st, 2007 All Boxing Articles
The final stop on the promotional tour for the upcoming May 5 bout between Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr. was held Wednesday outside of the world famous Grumman’s Chinese’s Theater in Los Angeles.
Dubbed "The World Awaits", in front of the largest crowd on the 11 stop tour, and standing atop the footprints of the worlds greatest movie stars, the sports two biggest stars were about to leave their print on boxing. More...
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By Michael Worden February 14th, 2007 All Boxing Interviews
At just 5 foot 9 inches tall, Kelvin "Koncrete" Davis, 24-4-2 (17), has had to overcome long odds during his eight year career as a boxer, competing as a heavyweight before winning a world title in the cruiserweight division in 2004.
Saddoboxing recently had the opportunity to speak with the former IBF Champion who will face “The Ding-A-Ling-Man”, Darnell Wilson, 20-5-3 (17), on the February 23 installment of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, live from the newly renovated CYC Center in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
SaddoBoxing: How is training going?
Kelvin Davis: “Good. Training is going really good.”
SB: You’re fighting Darnell Wilson on February 23; how much do you know about him?
KD: “I know that he throws punches. I’m not worried. This is my 31st professional fight and I am really not all that worried.” More...
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