Boxing Pay-Per-Views

I’m not sure how to feel about this weekends back-to-back HBO/Showtime pay-per-view events.

On the one hand, I'm looking forward to the strong cards that were put together. A lot of power mixed in with

some good boxing skills. On the other hand, you have the judges. I feel that some of these fights have the

potential to go the distance and I am not, I repeat, I am not looking forward to that.

So I'll try to keep this short and to the point.

Let’s start with the Showtime PPV main event.

12 Round Heavyweight Bout

The key question for me is: Which Evander Holyfield is going to show up?

Will it be the consummate boxer/puncher that showed up against Mike Tyson I or will it be the lackluster,

always fighting to his opponents level Holyfield ala John Ruiz?

At 40 years of age, Holyfield is looking to become the undisputed heavyweight champion again. And with his

newly operated shoulder, we could be looking at a new and improved Holyfield (Holyfield injured his shoulder

in the first round of his last fight with Chris Bryd back in December of 2002).

But at 40, is he to old? Well, I started to think that way but after recently watching the 40 year old Randy

Couture spank (literally) the 28 year old Tito Ortiz at the UFC, I'm starting to think maybe, just maybe, he

has another year left in him. Holyfield keeps himself in good shape. But I’ll be honest and say I wish he

would retire. I'll just choose to believe that Holyfield has another year left in him and that he knows what he is

doing. 

Did I really just say that?

Anyway, according to Holyfield’s trainer Don Turner in a press release from Showtime on whether the

shoulder surgery has made Holyfield a better fighter physical and mentally, he stated:

”Yes, it has. Since the operation, I told him he has been a little apprehensive to throw the left hook. However,

I told him he has to throw it because he will never know whether it is all right unless he throws it. You cannot

wait for the fight to throw it, throw it now. Yesterday he started applying pressure with the left hook and

guess what happened. The guy went down.” 

So what about James Toney.  Toney is on a 12 fight win streak and beat the highly touted 1996 Olympic

gold medallist Vassiliy Jirov in his last bout to win the IBF Cruiserweight title earlier in April of this

year. Toney has never been stopped and wants a rematch with Roy Jones Jr. at cruiserweight or

heavyweight.  

In this bout, they both have the boxing skills to go the distance but I will not deal with that potential outcome

(judges).  

I see the fight shaping up this way - Round one will see Holyfield come out and try to establish his jab.

Toney is a good counter puncher and will keep him at bay.

Rounds two through four, I see the action picking up with combos landed by both Holyfield and Toney.

Holyfield should be circling, popping the jab and working the body. Toney will be on the defensive, countering

and looking for a weakness.

Somewhere around rounds five and six, both will let their hands go looking for the knock out. Toney will land

some punches that will stun Holyfield but true to his nature, Holyfield will battle back and will start to throw

combos that will back up Toney. By round seven, both will be tired. 

Rounds seven through 10 should see a switch as Holyfield will go on the defensive, counter punching while

Toney assumes the roll of stalker. Good boxing display but not much damage by either one.

Round 11 will see the end of the fight. I really don't think it but I'm trying to avoid getting a headache by trying

to figure out what the judges are going to be looking for.  I think it will be an even fight and should end in a

draw but the judges will probably have it a lop-sided victory for one or the other so I'll just pick Holyfield with a

11th round TKO over a tiring Toney so I can move on.

12 Round Jr. Lightweight IBF Title Eliminator Bout

Joel Casamayor (29-1, 18 KO's) vs. Diego Corrales (37-1, 31 KO's)

One word – WAR. Casamayor by 10th round TKO.

12 Round WBO Bantamweight Title Bout

Champ Cruz Carbajal (23-11-1, 19 KO's) vs. Gerardo Espinoza (25-4, 23 KO's)

Espinoza is coming off a ninth round TKO loss to Jorge Lacierva in his last bout and Carbajal is on a five

win roll with TKO wins over Danny Romero and Steve Dotse in his last two fights. I don’t see Espinoza

stopping Carbajal. Carbajal by fifth round knock out.

The HBO event puts hard knocking Erik Morales against former champ Guty Espadas. The last time these

two met, it ended in a controversial decision for Morales. Morales controlled the bout early but Espadas

came on in the late rounds. Many in attendance believed that Espadas did enough to win. 

WBC Super Featherweight Elliminator Bout - 12 Rounds

Champ Erik Morales (44-1, 33 KO's) vs. Former Champ Guty Espadas (37-5, 23 KO's)

This time there will be no controversial decision. Morales will put an end to the fight in the eighth round by

TKO.

IBF Jr. Lightweight Championship Title Bout - 12 Rounds

Champ Carlos Hernandez ( 39-3-1, 24 KO's) vs. Former Champ Steve Forbes (23-1, 6 KO's) 

After losing a unanimous decision to WBC Super Featherweight Champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. back in

May of 2001, Hernandez has won six in a row including capturing the vacant IBF Super Featherweight Title

against David Santos. Steve Forbes, the former IBF Super Featherweight champ who lost his title when he

didn’t make weight, doesn’t have a lot of punching power but is the consummate boxer. Hernanadez by , oh

crap, I’m going to say it, by unanimous decision.

IBF Bantamweight Championship Title Bout - 12 Rounds

Champ Rafael Marquez (29-3, 27 KO's) vs. IBA Champ Muaricio Pastrana (30-3-1, 19 KO's)

On an eight fight win streak since December of 2000, Marquez has amassed some notable victories over

such fighters as Mark "Too Sharp" Johson (twice) and Tim Austin. Pastrana won the vacant IBA

Bantamweight title in his last fight with a second round knock out of Mike Trejo. Pastrana has never been

stopped up until this fight - Marquez by ninth round TKO.

IBF Light Flyweight Championship Title Bout - 12 Rounds

Champ Edgar Cardenas (30-10-2, 16 KO's)  vs. IBF # 3 ranked Daniel Reyes (32-1-1, 27 KO's)

Reyes will be making only his second appearance outside of his native Columbia. His only ding was a

unanimous decision loss to Roberto Leyva for the vacated IBF light flyweight title back in April of 2001.

Cardenas is coming off a 10th round KO win over Miguel Barrera in May of this year. Look for an action

packed fight with Reyes stopping Cardenas in the 10th round.

Super Welterweight Bout - 4 Rounds

Jesus Gonzales (1-0, 1 KO) vs. Josh Peters (1-1, 0 KO)

Don't know much about them. Gonzales on a coin flip.

Let's hope we all see the same fights,

SN

cards subject to change

(10/2/03)