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Can Carlos Baldomir pull off the upset of the Year? He's done it twice already.
For once we had a rarity my friends, fellow boxing enthusiasts, and beloved forum goers...a weekend that was devoid of the standard drunken installment of yee Ole' Round by Round. To fill the void I've thrown together this little article for discussions sake...and also...gotdammit I'm bored...and you all know how I love the weekend interaction.
For the past month or so I've been getting back on track with my vhs to dvd transfers. In doing so, I sat through Baldomir's matches against Gatti and Judah, along with Mayweather's bouts respectively. So...in anticipation of the upcoming Mayweather Baldomir unification showdown I'd like to discuss the matter in depth...so hear me out...or read me out and let's get this going.
Can Baldomir pull off the Upset of the Year?
It's 2006 & he's done it twice already...
Over the past year I've been guilty of that one thing most boxing fan's fall prey to...being biased and ignoring talent.
Being a huge fan of Floyd Mayweather jr. it's easy to recognize his talents & abilities. Even Floyd's greatest critics will admit that he is one of the most talented fighters of the past five to ten years, this admittance is shortly followed by more detractions regarding his opponents and so on & so on. Critic's will be critics.
That being said...over the past year I've been guilty of that one thing most boxing fan's fall prey to...ignoring talent. Maybe I should rephrase myself...dismissing talent is more accurate...no...maybe denying talent is a bit more on the up and up.
However you look at it, I've been dismissing the talent, heart, and abilities of one Carlos Manuel Baldomir, the current WBC and IBA Welterweight Champion.
So...why am I acknowledging my faults, you ask?
Quite simply...the man has defied the odds of late and he's slammed the door shut on two of the sports superstars to become the Welterweight Champion of the world. No small feat.
Many of my fellow forum goer's will laugh at that statement based on my previous opinions regarding Baldomir and also the opposition that he has beaten of recent date. While I may not be a fan of Zab Judah or Arturro Gatti...there is no denying that there is skill there in both men and they have defeated some game opponents.
While I do admit to being a die hard fan of Mayweather, I am beginning to warm to Baldomir and also his chances. Over the past month I have begun to see this fight as a possible upset in the making...honestly...unbiasedly...how could one not?
Sure, you can break apart Gatti and Judah and their worth at 147 pounds. Sure, you can say that Baldomir has gotten lucky to catch these two opponents of name recognition at the likely end of their ropes. Sure you can say that Baldomir hasn't a shot in hell of winning against Floyd. Sure, it's impressive that Baldomir has gotten this far in the division. Sure, it's just as impressive that Floyd has made the climb up the tall ladder of all of the divisions that he has.
Sure, you can bring up all of the positives and negatives that spring to mind...but one thing is for sure...this is going to be the fight of both men's career.
All talk of timing and luck aside, in my personal opinion...it's impressive as hell that Baldomir has gotten this far. It's just as impressive as it is that Floyd has made the climb up the tall ladder of the divisions that he has.
Unfortunately, with this fight and it's outcome, I feel that we will all become suspects in another crime...ignoring talent. Wev'e all become a bit to critical & cynical regarding both of these fighters...and if justice is served over the course of twelve rounds...it would be a shame to ignore the merit of both men...and believe you me...there are those of us who will.
Again, a month or so ago, I would have been on of those "us".
Watching the four matches and shared opponents between both Baldomir and Mayweather it's easy to recognize that both Judah and Gatti always rise to the occassion against B and C level fighters...they never crash the party with the A listers. Gatti was basically slaughtered by Mayweather and was broken down by Baldomir (who I considered to be and still do see him as B level or maybe B+), and IWO, both fights should be career ending matches for Gatti.
The shared Judah fight produced wildly different results. While Baldomir outboxed and gutted it out down the stretch against Judah in shocking fashion, Judah was able to hang in there for five or six rounds against Floyd. This would have been shocking, but as per the norm with Judah...once pressed he fell apart and fell back into the pattern of utter stupidity within the ring.
One has to wonder, based on the fact that Baldomir performed so well against both men and that Floyd will finally be facing a full fledged Welterweight warrior, how will Mayweather perform?
The fact that I've gone from wondering how Baldomir will look against the technically superior slickster that Mayweather is...to wondering how Floyd will fair against Baldomir shocks even me. It may even seem like I'm just covering my own ass in the wake of a Baldomir win...but that's not it. The true fact of the matter is...Baldomir has done so well lately that it brings up some serious questions.
Questions:
#1: Can Floyd continue to rise up with repeated success?
#2: Can Baldomir continue to hold his unbeaten streak against the cream of the crop?
#3: Can Floyd's hands, chin, and skills pull him through against today's equivelant of "the Cinderella Man"?
My answers:
#1: No. I don't think that he can. Favorite fighter or not...I don't go for the weight jumping...I think that it ruins careers down the road. I believe that Mayweather will beat Baldo in a tuff fight...but moving up to 154 & more...possibley facing Oscar or Mosley...things like that...I just don't see him pulling off anymore.
#2: No. I don't think that Baldo will defeat Floyd.
#3: Yes. Floyd's hands, chin, and skills pull him through this battle...the real question is...does everyone buy into the fact that the media is selling Baldo as today's equivelant of "the Cinderella Man"?
All will be answered Saturday November the 4th, 2006 in what will be one of the most important 12 rounders of both careers with the WBC, IBO, and the IBA Welterweight titles on the line. It's make or break for Baldomir and another chance for Floyd to prove that he is indeed the pound for pound elite fighter of the world.
Now...if I were to be wrong...honestly...I'd hate for my guy to lose...but I couldn't think of a better person for him to lose to. Oddly enough...I guess that means that I do buy into Baldomir being today's equivelant of "the Cinderella Man", which I find to be an aggrevating term that is thrown around quite frequently today in boxing. Baldomir is the rags to riches story in a nutshell though and I do dig on the fact that he's got everything to lose going in to this fight. While I may not think that Baldomir has the technical skills to best Mayweather...he does have the heart and he does have the edge in power, couple that with the fact that he's proven that he can take a shot...well...you never know what could happen.
In the end...I'll be sticking to a Mayweather Unanimous Decision Unification Win...but a shock could be quite refreshing and who better to recieve the honor of defeating one of the greatest fighters in the sport today?
I can't think of anyone more deserving than Carlos Baldomir.
There...I said it.
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Originally Posted by BoxingCoachBW
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For the Analysis.... Very Provoking..
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