Boxing: June 27

[H2O Man]

SATURDAY - at Berlin (Showtime) - 12 rounds, IBF middleweight title: Arthur Abraham (29-0, 23 KOs) vs. Mahir Oral (25-1-2, 10 KOs); 12 rounds, welterweights: Leonard Bundu (18-0-1, 6 KOs) vs. Frank Shabani (17-0, 6 KOs); 12 rounds, middleweights: Sebastian Sylvester (30-3, 15 KOs) vs. Lajuan Simon (21-1-2, 12 KOs).

SATURDAY - at Los Angeles (HBO) - 12 rounds, interim WBA super lightweight title: Victor Ortiz (24-1-1, 19 KOs) vs. Marcos Rene Maidana (25-1, 24 KOs); 12 rounds, WBA featherweight title: (To Be Announced) vs. Rocky Juarez (28-4-1, 20 KOs).

There are two good cards scheduled for this Saturday: a "same-day" taped feature on Showtime, and an HBO card that has a serious, last-minute disruption. Let’s take a quick look at each.

Showtime will cover the IBF middleweight title fight between Arthur Abraham and Mahir Oral. Abraham, a tough-as-nails Armenian who now resides in Berlin, Germany, has the poyential to become the actual world middleweight champion. Since his September, 2006 fight with Edison Miranda, in which Abraham was given one of the most outrageous decision "victories" in decades, "King Arthur" has won seven straight. These include a decisive 4-round knockout in the return bout with Miranda, and six impressive IBF title defenses.

Abraham’s opponent, Mahir Oral, turned professional in 2000. Though he won the first seven of his fights, they were against opponents with a combined 3-32-5 record. In his 8th fight, he drew with an opponent making his pro debut. Then, in his 9th and 10th fight – which were in Oral’s 4th and 5th year as a pro – he again drew, and lost a decision. Since then, he has won 18 in a row, against some decent competition, with some pretty soft opposition mixed in.

Oral is also from Germany, and this fight may not seem to be of great interest to American fans. However, Abraham is likely to be fighting in the US later this year, or possibly meeting a quality American foe in Germany. He’s worth watching. More, when you notice the top three fights on this card feature six boxers with a combined record of 140-5-5, with 72 KOs, it suggests that American fans might enjoy the Berlin cards.

The HBO card – if it remains televised – is scheduled to include Victor Ortiz, the southpaw junior welterweight who enjoys a close friendship with Oscar de la Hoya. This young warrior has won 8 knockouts in a row, ranging from 1 to 10 rounds. That indicates he has the ability to deliver powerful punches at any time. I am impressed at his ability to throw serious combinations.

His opponent has an impressive record. Maidana’s early fights were in Argentina, against relatively unknown opposition. However, in recent times, he has fought in Germany. He did lose his last fight, in which he challenged for the WBA title. But he could prove to be a tough test for Ortiz.

Chris John had been preparing for Rocky Juarez on this card. It would have been a rematch, as the pair had a controversial draw in February. However, John experienced problems while training this weekend, and medical tests indicated that he will not be able to fight. The promoters are reportedly considering substituting Carlos Salgado (20-0, with 14 KOs). I’m not sure if Salgado has agreed to fight; even if he does, HBO has to agree to cover the fight. (This past weekend, HBO was planning to cover the Klitschko vs Haye fight; when Haye pulled out, HBO declined to cover the substitute).

I think Salgado is more likely to entertain North American boxing fans, than Chris John. I hope HBO will show him fighting Rocky Juarez. I think it would be a good match-up.

[rosesaylavee]

1. ...

Missing you at the Pond.

Boxing remains a mystery to me but thought I would just stop in and say :hi:

[H2O Man]

2. Hello!

I've been spending more time recently on a couple other projects .... including giving some "research assistance" to my sons' soon-to-be-published book, and on some articles for a boxing web site I contribute to.

Boxing is a curious sport. But its attraction is not limited to what goes on inside the ring .... in many ways, that is the least of it. I find the group of men who were/are "boxers" to be the nicest, most insightful, and intense people (with some exceptions, of course) that I have encountered.

Recently, Alan Levy published a book, "Floyd Patterson: A Boxer and a Gentleman." Levy is a history professor at Slippery Rock University in PA. I think it's a great book, not because I agree with much of his analysis, but because he really focuses on the role that boxing -- and boxers -- play in the larger culture. The current edition of the largest, most influential boxing magazine has a book review that includes some curious attacks on the author's work. By coincidence, perhaps, I'm doing a review, which includes an interview with the author, that I plan to finish in the next 10 days or so.

Both Levy and the writer for the magazine lack one thing that I have -- and that is first-hand experience in the ring (and training & managing boxers). Plus, I had the opportunity to get to know Floyd Patterson, though not well. But few, if any, people really knew Floyd well .... and that may include Floyd, himself. There were layers upon layers, and Levy uncovers some fascinating aspects of the man in his book. Still, upon completing it, I suspect the many people who liked Floyd but dislike boxing (people such as my mother) will wonder how a nice guy like him ended up boxing?

I also continue to sit at The Pond and fill notebook after notebook on the strange thoughts that wander around inside of my head. I'm not confident that they really "fit in" on DU anymore. It seems to me that much of DU is like a crowd at a fight card .... where people become intoxicated and often are on edge, and arguing about things that I do not care to argue about. In that sense, I really do appreciate Floyd Patterson. (grin) But maybe after I get out of the doctor's office today (and I surely hope that I do!), I'll look through one of the notebooks, and see if there is something that might be appropriate for DU.

[rosesaylavee]

3. Well that makes sense

... as you most always do. Boxing is a mystery but I do find people very interesting who choose careers out of the main. I hope your doc visit goes better than you expect and you are released to go back to your thinking and writing.

DU is an odd place but I find that for every 10 angry types, there is one person with an exceptional POV or thought I would miss if I didn't wade thru the anger to get to it. People are afraid on so many levels. As I am too. Frequently. I think that is why your Pond series go over so well. Calming, thoughtful and always with a twist of humor or irony somewhere in there.

[H2O Man]

4. Tonight:

The Showtime card is at 9 pm est; HBO's "BAD" starts at 10.

Last night, on ESPN's FNF, Daniel Jacobs won an impressive TKO over George Walton (20-3). Walton had never been stopped before, but he was in against one of the best young fighters in the sport last night.

Jacobs was 137-7 in the amateurs. He was a national junior olympic champion in 2003, at the age of 15; won four NYS Golden Gloves titles; was a repeat US Golden Gloves Champion in '04 and '05; won PAL national titles in '04 and '05; and the US amateur title in '06. I used to see him at amateur cards, when he was there to support other, younger fighters. I didn't have an opportunity to watch him fight. But, even from what little I got to talk to him then, it was obvious that this young man was something special.

He made his pro debut on the undercard of Mayweather vs Hatton, scoring a TKO in 29 seconds. He has very impressive skills. He's fast, strong, great reflexes, and controls his fights by good movement, great counter-punching, solid body blows, and better-than-average power. I think he'll continue to impress the boxing community.

I'm disappointed to report that the late-July card in Saratoga Springs, NY, "lost" its ESPN option. The promoters were unable to secure the level fight for its main event that ESPN is looking for. In recent years, they have featured guys like Andre Berto, and I had expected a similar show this year. (Even "bought" a ringside table for 6, before the card was solid.) Oh, well, I can't complain, as I think Teddy Atlas's efforts to improve the quality of FNF is a big plus. The undercard will feature fights for two sons of one of Teddy's old friends from the D'Amato days, and I thought that might help get ESPN there.

Here's a photo from earlier in the week, of my light heavyweight banging the bag: