Boxing News

On April 23, 2005, live on ESPN from the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Antonio Margarito and Kermit Cintron will lock horns with each other for the right to be called the WBO welterweight champion of the world. This is one of those fights that creates such excitement, that debates as to who, how, and why one fighter will win are bound to happen. Well fight fanatics guess what? Such a “discussion” occurred between Jim Cawkwell and yours truly. For your reading pleasure, here it is.

Why Antonio Margarito will win!

All of us guys can remember when we were pimple-faced teenagers, rebelling against everything possible, trying to look and be cool. There were those fistfights that we all took part in to prove our manhood to our fellow “partners in crime.” After a few wins on the streets, some of us (yes I said us) started to believe that we could kick our Daddy’s butt (that’s another story for another time). Then, there were some of us (yes, I said us) that actually tried to whoop our Pops, only to find out that, even though he was slow, over-weight, and not much stronger, his experience, pride, and will were way more than what one bargained for (definitely another story for another time!). Well, in my opinion, this Saturday will end up being just that. I see Cintron as that mean, pimpled faced, bad attitude, “I’m it” teenager that has just told his “Daddy” (Margarito) that he can whoop his ass! Margarito, with that Fatherly smirk like is standing there saying, “Ok, prove it!” Don’t believe me” Let’s do it by the numbers.

Don't miss this exclusive new SaddoBoxing.com feature with Sergio Martinez arguing for Margarito and Jim Cawkwell arguing for Cintron. More...

In my opinion, there are two types of individual that maintain this industry in their respective way: the fighters, without whom the sport cannot exist, and the fans, without whom, the sport’s lifeline would be even more threadbare than it already is. That said, at SaddoBoxing.com, we aim to give these two factions

the chance to voice themselves. You need only peruse our interview section to see that the fighters have embraced this opportunity, and now, I’m happy to say that the fans have chosen to make their opinions known also. Despite maintaining neutrality, it is difficult to discuss a fighter’s shortcomings without offending his fan base. Of course, my only intention was to discuss the fight and the futures of both fighters from my perspective, and I am so glad that some of our readers decided to share their opinions. What follows is some of the feedback I received in response to my Morales-Pacquiao: Reflections on a Super-fight article, and I think you will find that passions are high in regard to what was, regardless of anyone’s opinion, a special boxing occasion. Please continue and discover what the fans have to say, and in responding, I remember to keep my hands up at all times. More...

Snakey: I think Vitali will be too much for the Brit, Vitali is really strong and has a reach advantage. Danny is not gonna get lucky by Vitali hurting his knee so I hope he doesnt hold that Tyson win too far up since Tyson is garbage nowadays and Tyson was injured.

JM: Vitali has shown he can take a punch already. That one uppercut by Lewis, and that left by Sanders. Those punches would have knocked Wlad flat on his back. Vitali is a very smart fighter. In his fight with Sanders, he waited a little, and wasn't as aggressive as he was against Johnson. He waited for him to tire out, and Sanders did. Vitali in this fight will not go straight foward because when he does, he is vulnerable to strong puches. He's going to stay away for the beginning to extend the fight a bit, and use his jab. Then when he starts landing big puches he will come foward more as the fight goes on. The best way Williams can win is if he puts a lot of pressure on Vitali. Thats why he had trouble with Sanders early on. He should put a lot of pressure on him, and go to the body more, which might wear down vitali. Vitali wins by TKO 9.

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Compiled by Jim Cawkwell.

The anticipation is intensifying as the days bring us ever closer to the Tszyu-Mitchell match; a fight that essentially clears up a good deal of unfinished business between the two fighters and gives us a new degree of clarity regarding the state of the light

welterweight division. Opinions are still starkly contrasting on the subject of precisely who will be the victor in this fight, but all fight fans are unanimous in their opinion that it will likely be an exciting fight, compulsive viewing for all boxing enthusiasts. Whomever emerges victorious from the fight will not likely have much time to rest on their laurels as a ling line of red-hot contenders for the title have already been waiting a long time to challenge the winner. Read on to find out what saddoboxing.com readers are saying about the fight. More...

Compiled by Jim Cawkwell.

The Mike Tyson saga has descended further still, from mediocrity to a despairingly bleak point in what was once the most celebrated career in heavyweight boxing history. Tyson is not a man who stubbornly refuses to accept the ravages of time that have depleted his abilities as a fighter, he openly acknowledges them and might have been able to leave this sport with a degree of dignity, if not for his sizeable responsibility to his debtors.
Clearly, Tyson’s dramatic fourth round knockout loss to British heavyweight Danny Williams represents the most unbearable of professional failures he has suffered; perhaps the only saving grace to take from the fight was Tyson’s attempts to fight through a terrible knee injury that occurred in the first round, considerably hampering his performance. However, I doubt any of us thought they would ever see the day when Mike Tyson would have to chase a rematch with Danny Williams in order to secure some vindication. Despite what appears to be an overwhelmingly depressing scenario facing Tyson, incredibly, he retains the respect of many fans worldwide and their hopes for his return and ultimate success in the ring remain strong. Opinions certainly differ on the subject of Mike Tyson, so read on and enjoy those of our regular readers here at saddoboxing.com. More...

Compiled by Jim Cawkwell.

It has been a wild year coming into the final stretch and as usual, we have had plenty of surprises along the way and it is not over yet. Legends have fallen, stars have been born, some careers have stumbled off track and others have exploded back onto the scene. In the words of fictional Roman gladiator Maximus Decimus Meridius: “Are you not entertained?” I find it hardly believable that any boxing fan could have witnessed the boxing year of 2004 and be disappointed. However, even if you are unimpressed, enough has happened in the boxing world so far to warrant a revising of the mythical pound for pound list. I will provide my top ten pound for pound list, but not before our saddoboxing.com readers weigh in with their opinions.

Taansend:

Firstly, we know that pound for pound is subjective. Do you reward someone on achievement or potential, or a balance of both? Do you go for punch power or skill, longevity or last fight? Most of all, do you like they way they carry themselves? I think that all of this is relevant. Only one of my fighters has lost in his last three fights (a close decision) and that was revenged with a devastating second round KO next time out. Here’s my pound for pound top ten and it’s correct (as far as I’m concerned). More...

This article contains the opinions of our loyal saddoboxing.com readers.

Emanuel Steward, Detroit’s legendary trainer of champions assumed control over the training responsibilities of both Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko at similarly tender phases of their development. Ironically, it was Steward’s orchestration of Lewis’s first defeat, simplistic but ruthlessly executed by Oliver McCall that compelled Lewis to enlist Steward in reconstructing his career. Lewis’s parting gift to boxing was his sixth round demolition of Wladimir’s elder brother Vitali Klitschko and Wladimir’s recruitment of Steward is an indirect example of the career symmetry to which I have alluded. The Klitschko’s closeness perhaps indicates a cultural predisposition that has greatly influenced their professional lives.

Victory for one brother appears equally shared by the other and the agony of defeat is as great for both regardless of upon whom it is inflicted. Because of this, their career paths have overlapped on several occasions as their respective failures have forced the other to seek out retribution on the others behalf. Recently, Wladimir has become an overwhelmingly consistent perpetrator of these failures and further scrutiny raises the question of whether he should remain in the hurt business at all. Seeking answers, we loose this debate to our loyal saddoboxing.com readers and forum goers. Enjoy! More...