A dozen moments since 2000
These are not in any order. These are the twelve moments since 2000 that made me happiest I was a boxing fan.
Bernard Hopkins Takes Out Felix Trinidad-I'd seen 25 BHOP fights before this and this was the first time it struck me that BHOP might be an all-time great fighter. It wasn't that he defeated Tito. It was HOW he defeated him. As clear a display of boxing IQ manifested as you will ever see. Tito did himself proud in defeat, ferocious and full of heart to the end.
Michael Carbajal Goes Out a Champion-The great Carbajal is way past his prime and on his last legs. He has been a glorious ring presence for over a decade and has grown up as a fighter before my eyes. But now? A young champion Jorge Arce is beating him from pillar to post, has won every round and has left Carbajal bloodied and bruised after ten rounds. Carbajal was valiant and overmatched. But somehow in the eleventh, one magical right hand and Carbajal retires on top.
Israel Vasquez-Rafael Marquez III-Simply a fight for the ages. Great courage combined with great action is not all that uncommon in the ring. But it is rarely, rarely joined by great skill and competing ring generalship. Two likely HOFer's put on a legendary display and forever bind their names.
Ricky Hatton Stops Kosta Tzsyu-Those who think Kosta was used up heading into this fight are badly mistaken in my view. His shoulder had clearly healed given his last few performances and he fought well this night. He could not resist the relentless force urged on by his countrymen that exploded into prominence this night.
Felix Trinidad Forever Ruins Fernando Vargas-This fight operated at a level of ferocity rarely seen. Why? It simply causes too much damage for the human body to absorb without permanent impairment. The courage Vargas showed in surviving round one was exemplary. To then knock Tito down? Remarkable. Tito buys time by going south of the border. Vargas finally is bankrupted in the twelfth. A glorious display by both men.
Joe Calzaghe Wrecks Jeff Lacy-I'd only seen snippets of Calzaghe prior to this. His unique style in the ring, overwhelmingly athletic, almost intellectual in design just jumped off the screen that night. Lacy looked like a caveman by comparison. The speed of both hand and foot, the understanding of distance and angles and the sheer exuberance in the ring was startling. A strange and wonderful talent.
Chico Corrales and JL Castillo-The most amazing thing about this extraordinary fight was that Chico never stopped thinking. Never.
Marco Antonio Barerra Runs Naseem Hamed Into A Ringpost-The difference between an all-time great ring craftsman and someone who has gotten by on extraordinary athletic ability and a big freaking mouth. It wasn't nearly as close as the judges saw it. MAB schooled Naseem.
Manny Pacquioa Arrives-Lehlo Ledwaba was a very good 122, one of the three or four best in the world. I'd seen him KO Eduardo Alvarez the year before. Manny was a late replacement who had yet to fight in the US. Holy crap! Who IS this? He has NO idea what he's doing in the ring but Lord is he fast and athletic and ferocious!
Thailand and Tehran-Mahyar Monshipour defends his 122 strap against Somsak Sithchatchawal. The champ is down in the first but gets up and the two put on as action-oriented a fight as one could possibly ask for. Ten rounds of barely controlled violence.
Erik Morales-Marco Antonio Barerra I-Bitter enemies in a ring classic. What I loved best about this fight was Morales' interview after he won a contested decision. "It was a very close fight, yes he hurt me several times, yes he is a wonderful fighter and I am done at 122. But if he will come up to 126 he deserves a rematch." You cannot ask for more than that from a fighter.
Finito Cements His Legend-Bufalo Alvarez shows up younger, stronger and missing weight by TWO divisions! A fading Lopez insists on going ahead with the fight. He is cut in four places, dealing with a superior athlete and simply refuses to lose. With ten seconds of the rest period remaining Ricardo Lopez is already in ring center, hands up, so he doesn't lose a second getting after his foe. A champion’s heart on display.
Waddya say and waddya got?
Re: A dozen moments since 2000
Goosen with one of the greatest statements, when he told Chico he better fucking get inside on him now.
Re: A dozen moments since 2000
hard to believe it is possible, but Calzaghe's shots did more damage to Lacy, than Tito's did to Vargas. Vargas was still able to be a pretty good fighter after Tito, though it was clearly he had left quite a bit in the ring with Tito. Lacy-he was a shell aftewards. Couple that with his bad shoulder and Calzaghe completely ruined him.
Re: A dozen moments since 2000
Quote:
Originally Posted by
captainanddew
Goosen with one of the greatest statements, when he told Chico he better fucking get inside on him now.
That really was something wasn't it?
Re: A dozen moments since 2000
Quote:
Originally Posted by
captainanddew
hard to believe it is possible, but Calzaghe's shots did more damage to Lacy, than Tito's did to Vargas. Vargas was still able to be a pretty good fighter after Tito, though it was clearly he had left quite a bit in the ring with Tito. Lacy-he was a shell aftewards. Couple that with his bad shoulder and Calzaghe completely ruined him.
Duuuuuuuuuude!
Yup. My question is this. I am convinced Vargas was the goods. Just a monster talent. Wins already over Raul Marquez and Bazooka Quartey and he really fought great against Tito. Lacey, even at the time, seemed like hype as much as anything. But yeah, Calzaghe wrecked him, no question.
Re: A dozen moments since 2000
can't believe you left out:
Jirov vs Buffet James Toney
great fight. Jirov not able to keep up late as Toney proved how bad a man and wonderful a technician he always had been.
Re: A dozen moments since 2000
Always loved the Hopkins vs Tito match. Hopkins blended his sniper boxing best with a bit of his recently holstered mean streak. His destructive best off ugly scrappy battle with dangerous almost clumsy Echols but had been somewhat pedestrian in prior fights. Was entering his 'preservation' mode. Always surprised me how many really over looked his boxing going in though. A great game plan to watch unfold that night, definition of picking a guy apart.
Carbajal was just phenomenal. Great call. Pieced it back together after being mugged by Baby Jake and literally was going to go out on his shield. Went out his way and so glad didn't try to get blood from a stone and go on, ride name. From debut to that last final shot...just a Champions champion and pleasure to experience
Re: A dozen moments since 2000
Quote:
Originally Posted by
marbleheadmaui
Quote:
Originally Posted by
captainanddew
hard to believe it is possible, but Calzaghe's shots did more damage to Lacy, than Tito's did to Vargas. Vargas was still able to be a pretty good fighter after Tito, though it was clearly he had left quite a bit in the ring with Tito. Lacy-he was a shell aftewards. Couple that with his bad shoulder and Calzaghe completely ruined him.
Duuuuuuuuuude!
Yup. My question is this. I am convinced Vargas was the goods. Just a monster talent. Wins already over Raul Marquez and Bazooka Quartey and he really fought great against Tito. Lacey, even at the time, seemed like hype as much as anything. But yeah, Calzaghe wrecked him, no question.
there are a few differences that should come into play here...
1-vargas was far more naturally talented and had greater ability & boxing knowledge & skill than lacy.
2- tito was fighting with loaded gloves which caused so much damage to be done to vargas, where joe didn't have that much pop on each punch but just beat on lacy like a drum.
i know people hate the thought of this but i believe evidence of the loaded gloves can be found in his fight against bernard. yes bernard is a master boxer who makes people look bad by forcing them to fight his fight...but tito came out and a showed no confidence in his power because he knew that he didn't have the loaded gloves to hurt bernard. i like tito he was great and fun to watch but i can't ignore what seems so obvious to me. you see the same pattern in the margarito v mosely fight. a cheater gets caught and then doesn't look the same in the ring cause they know they were successful in part cause of cheating.
great list you've put together. i'm gonna go and look a few of them up. thnaks!
Re: A dozen moments since 2000
Quote:
Originally Posted by
marbleheadmaui
Quote:
Originally Posted by
captainanddew
hard to believe it is possible, but Calzaghe's shots did more damage to Lacy, than Tito's did to Vargas. Vargas was still able to be a pretty good fighter after Tito, though it was clearly he had left quite a bit in the ring with Tito. Lacy-he was a shell aftewards. Couple that with his bad shoulder and Calzaghe completely ruined him.
Duuuuuuuuuude!
Yup. My question is this. I am convinced Vargas was the goods. Just a monster talent. Wins already over Raul Marquez and Bazooka Quartey and he really fought great against Tito. Lacey, even at the time, seemed like hype as much as anything. But yeah, Calzaghe wrecked him, no question.
How is it going Marble? Glad you are still out thinking about the sweet science (and teaching it to others)!!!
Re: A dozen moments since 2000
Quote:
Originally Posted by
captainanddew
can't believe you left out:
Jirov vs Buffet James Toney
great fight. Jirov not able to keep up late as Toney proved how bad a man and wonderful a technician he always had been.
Absolutely a GREAT choice...now what are ya gonna take out to put it in?
I shoulda gone a Baker's Dozen :)
Re: A dozen moments since 2000
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Spicoli
Always loved the Hopkins vs Tito match. Hopkins blended his sniper boxing best with a bit of his recently holstered mean streak. His destructive best off ugly scrappy battle with dangerous almost clumsy Echols but had been somewhat pedestrian in prior fights. Was entering his 'preservation' mode. Always surprised me how many really over looked his boxing going in though. A great game plan to watch unfold that night, definition of picking a guy apart.
Carbajal was just phenomenal. Great call. Pieced it back together after being mugged by Baby Jake and literally was going to go out on his shield. Went out his way and so glad didn't try to get blood from a stone and go on, ride name. From debut to that last final shot...just a Champions champion and pleasure to experience
I REALLY thought I might be watching another Duran in Tito. I hadn't realized his feet just weren't of that caliber. What makes BHOP BHOP is he saw it all along.
I couldn't have said it better than you just did about Carbajal.
Re: A dozen moments since 2000
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ruthless rocco
Quote:
Originally Posted by
marbleheadmaui
Quote:
Originally Posted by
captainanddew
hard to believe it is possible, but Calzaghe's shots did more damage to Lacy, than Tito's did to Vargas. Vargas was still able to be a pretty good fighter after Tito, though it was clearly he had left quite a bit in the ring with Tito. Lacy-he was a shell aftewards. Couple that with his bad shoulder and Calzaghe completely ruined him.
Duuuuuuuuuude!
Yup. My question is this. I am convinced Vargas was the goods. Just a monster talent. Wins already over Raul Marquez and Bazooka Quartey and he really fought great against Tito. Lacey, even at the time, seemed like hype as much as anything. But yeah, Calzaghe wrecked him, no question.
there are a few differences that should come into play here...
1-vargas was far more naturally talented and had greater ability & boxing knowledge & skill than lacy.
2- tito was fighting with loaded gloves which caused so much damage to be done to vargas, where joe didn't have that much pop on each punch but just beat on lacy like a drum.
i know people hate the thought of this but i believe evidence of the loaded gloves can be found in his fight against bernard. yes bernard is a master boxer who makes people look bad by forcing them to fight his fight...but tito came out and a showed no confidence in his power because he knew that he didn't have the loaded gloves to hurt bernard. i like tito he was great and fun to watch but i can't ignore what seems so obvious to me. you see the same pattern in the margarito v mosely fight. a cheater gets caught and then doesn't look the same in the ring cause they know they were successful in part cause of cheating.
great list you've put together. i'm gonna go and look a few of them up. thnaks!
I simply disagree on Tito and how he wrapped. It was no different than how Arguello wrapped or how Bob Foster wrapped. What Naz did, to his eternal credit, was play one hell of a mind game.
Re: A dozen moments since 2000
Out of the one's you mentioned Marble:
Bernard Hopkins Takes Out Felix Trinidad-I'd seen 25 BHOP fights before this and this was the first time it struck me that BHOP might be an all-time great fighter. It wasn't that he defeated Tito. It was HOW he defeated him. As clear a display of boxing IQ manifested as you will ever see. Tito did himself proud in defeat, ferocious and full of heart to the end.
This was Hopkin's best performance ever, and one of my all-time favorite fights, a thing of beauty to watch. (unless you were a Tito fan)
Re: A dozen moments since 2000
Hopkins fought a very smart fight against Trinidad, who, by that time, had practically forgotten that he had, at one time, thrown punches other than left hooks.
And, for the baker's dozen, how about the first Carbajal vs. Chiquita Gonzalez fight?
Re: A dozen moments since 2000
Quote:
Originally Posted by
greynotsoold
Hopkins fought a very smart fight against Trinidad, who, by that time, had practically forgotten that he had, at one time, thrown punches other than left hooks.
And, for the baker's dozen, how about the first Carbajal vs. Chiquita Gonzalez fight?
What a dingbat...SINCE 2000!!! Duh.
Re: A dozen moments since 2000
Really good thread enjoyed reading it.
Good shout on the tito vs vargas fight. Vargas had the potential to be HoF i reckon. He was my favourite fighter and i was devastated when he lost to tito. He showed an amazing fighting spirit though. I personally think it was too early to face trinidad but Vargas was desperate for his fight with Dlh and winning a title so soon in his career he had put himself in to a position where he had to fae the top boys.
With Lacy i think he showed some balls to not quit against Calzaghe but he was a mentally broken man after which is why his career went in to a downward spiral. He shouldn't have listened to the hype because once he realised it wasnt true he didnt have enough about him to come back. Same with Vargas though he may have faced JC a bit too early but he too didnt have much choice after getting a title early.
Re: A dozen moments since 2000
Quote:
Originally Posted by
armyash
Really good thread enjoyed reading it.
Good shout on the tito vs vargas fight. Vargas had the potential to be HoF i reckon. He was my favourite fighter and i was devastated when he lost to tito. He showed an amazing fighting spirit though. I personally think it was too early to face trinidad but Vargas was desperate for his fight with Dlh and winning a title so soon in his career he had put himself in to a position where he had to fae the top boys.
With Lacy i think he showed some balls to not quit against Calzaghe but he was a mentally broken man after which is why his career went in to a downward spiral. He shouldn't have listened to the hype because once he realised it wasnt true he didnt have enough about him to come back. Same with Vargas though he may have faced JC a bit too early but he too didnt have much choice after getting a title early.
At the time I couldn't for the life of me figure out why Vargas had to be put in with a monster like Tito then. I mean he was what? 21 with 20 fights under his belt? I told people then he was being fed to the wolves. He could have taken fights with guys like Boudouani and Harry Simon and Bronco McKart just to give him another year to mature.
Having said all of that, he fought far more effectively against Tito than I thought he could.
Re: A dozen moments since 2000
Vargas's team thought he was ready to face the best of the sport. Big mistake when the top of the sport includes a monster like Tito.
Fight that should have been included:
Lennox Lewis/Vitali Klitschko- boxing's glamour division hasn't had much of it in the past decade, but for one night, we got to see 2 worthy heavyweights really go at it. Both guys landing big shots. Vitali cut all to hell. Lennox landing uppercuts that were a thing of beauty. Was it an absolutely great HW fight? No. But it was damn good, and in light of the long period of darkness we have seen, it was a vast ray of light for us boxing fans.
