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It might be mind games, he wants Pacquiao to be either too conservative so he can rob him or too open so he gets caught.
Official 2013 Boxing Thread: Year is over, please lock.
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by proshares,
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It might be mind games, he wants Pacquiao to be either too conservative so he can rob him or too open so he gets caught.
lightweight champion
Banned
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Either way he wants him to lose. Pac's contract is up after 2013 isn't it?
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End of 2014 if I'm not mistaken. But Arum probably realized by now that Pacquiao's fan base is going to support him through thick and thin.
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No, he signed an extension through Dec. 31st, 2014. Apparently he has a $1 million bonus if he does two fights in 2014...
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Where do you get this info about pacquiao's contract with top tank? Cause I'm not aware of what you are saying.
Before the marquez fight, didn't bradley say he wants to fight pacquiao again so he can prove he truly won? If pacquiao wins in a convincing manner, I hope they do the rematch early next year.
Before the marquez fight, didn't bradley say he wants to fight pacquiao again so he can prove he truly won? If pacquiao wins in a convincing manner, I hope they do the rematch early next year.
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It's still way too soon to be calling Bradley "elite." Let's be honest, he lost to Pacquiao and there were 2-3 times in the Provodnikov fight the ref should have stopped the fight (especially based on other fights being stopped on much weaker circumstances). He had a solid performance against Marquez don't get me wrong. One fight against Marquez isn't going to sling shot him to the top but its a good start.
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if im not mistaken bob arum himself said that about pacmans contract awhile ago of when it was up and everything else.
but since boxing contracts aren't public who knows. with all the reports all the last few months
Danny Garcia
Broner
Canelo
pac
Bradley
Chavez JR
will all be "free agents" next year
but since boxing contracts aren't public who knows. with all the reports all the last few months
Danny Garcia
Broner
Canelo
pac
Bradley
Chavez JR
will all be "free agents" next year
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I will never be a Bradley fan congrats on him winning but I have no interest in watching him fight Floyd if Bradey gets out of the TR contract. He barely beat Provodnikov almost got himself ko'd and I thought he lost to Pacquiao. I don't think hes elite imo hes the type that barely gets by winning he cant be like Floyd & perform a masterpiece like winning a 120-108 or 119-109 type of boxing display.
Id like to know the ppv buys numbers I don't think it sold well just a hunch. Im excited for Ruslan vs Alvarado.
Id like to know the ppv buys numbers I don't think it sold well just a hunch. Im excited for Ruslan vs Alvarado.
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You laugh but would any of you put Bradley in the boxing HOF now as he said he punched his ticket already with these two wins over Pacquiao & JMM.
I don't see him as an all time great like Leonard, Duran, Chavez etc...
I don't see him as an all time great like Leonard, Duran, Chavez etc...
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Hell no. That win vs Pacquiao was a rigged decision. And he looked good against JMM, but he's 40 years old and slowing down.
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I'm not laughing at your post in particular. And I don't disagree with most of what you said. I just think the hate for Bradley is comical. I couldn't find many valid reasons to hate him. I've seen people go as low as calling his wife unattractive.
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YOUR GRACE
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this guy always slips by and win, it is entertaining when he goes all out its like a pillowfight LOL
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this guy always slips by and win, it is entertaining when he goes all out its like a pillowfight LOL
That's his "world class" defense y'all are talking about? Lol, I don't hate the guy but let's be foreal. Not to mention the rigged win over PAC after he lost damn near EVERY round. Really no debating this.
YOUR GRACE
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im not a bradley fan as a boxer but some peeps talking trash about his wife is a bit low and personal
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I'm not a fan of Bradley either, but as of late people are judging him solely based off his Pacquiao and Provodnikov fights. What about the times he dominated Lamont Peterson and Devon Alexander when they were undefeated? Or when he was dead broke and went to Junior Witter's backyard to take the title from him? He may not have flashiness, but he doesn't have quit in him. Every time he got knocked down, he came back up fighting.
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the credit is there for bradley for his prior fight before pac. bradley knows deep inside that he didnt win against pac top it off with cj ross stepping down . but thats boxing at its finest, on the other note its funny how marquez is claimimg that he got rob LOL
Wrap up of the fights from this weekend:
A roundup of the past week's notable boxing results from around the world:
Saturday at Las Vegas
Timothy Bradley Jr. W12 Juan Manuel Marquez
Retains a welterweight title
Scores: 116-112, 115-113 Bradley, 115-112 Marquez
Records: Bradley Jr. (31-0, 12 KOs); Marquez (55-7-1, 40 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Bradley and Marquez have both been involved in close decisions in Las Vegas and, given their style of fighting, it came as little surprise that this one turned out to be yet another close, competitive distance fight. But when that happens, naturally, the loser walks away bitterly disappointed, as was the case with Marquez.
The all-time great Mexican felt like once again he had been ripped off by the judges, who awarded Bradley, 30, of Palm Springs, Calif., the split decision, especially since almost every single one of the 13,111 who filled the Thomas & Mack Center was rooting for the 40-year-old Marquez.
But unlike some of Marquez's other defeats, specifically both of his controversial decision losses to Manny Pacquiao, this one really doesn't rise to the level of being controversial. Close? Yes. Controversial? No. Marquez was in the fight for sure, but Bradley, defending his title for the second time, showed better movement, was busier and landed a touch more. It was enough to rightfully convince two judges that he was doing the better work. But that didn't stop Marquez, a notorious sore loser, from making this out to be a robbery on the level of the gift split decision Bradley received against Pacquiao in June 2012.
After Bradley got the gift against Pacquiao -- but no respect from fans or media for the victory -- he wanted to prove himself. So instead of putting on a skillful boxing match in his first defense in March when he faced Russian brawler Ruslan Provodnikov, Bradley went toe to toe and nearly paid the price, as he was badly whacked around in the fight, concussed, nearly knocked out multiple times and dropped in the 12th round. Bradley wound up pulling out a tight decision but was in bad shape for a couple of months after the fight. For this showdown with Marquez, Bradley returned to the boxing style that helped him win a junior welterweight world title, successfully move up to welterweight, and crack the pound-for-pound list. It was that boxing style that was just slick enough to shade the majority of the rounds against Marquez.
Marquez, who knocked Pacquiao out cold in the sixth round of their fourth fight in December for the only definitive result in their series, elected to face Bradley for less money ($6 million guaranteed) rather than do a fifth fight with Pacquiao (which was offered) because he wanted Bradley's title. A victory would have made Marquez the first Mexican fighter to win world titles in five weight classes and that was the motivation for him in the fight. Bradley also turned down a rematch with Pacquiao, preferring instead to get another great name such as Marquez's on his resume for less money ($4.1 million). So with the victory, combined with the official win against Pacquiao, Bradley is the only fighter to have wins against both of those future Hall of Famers.
Bradley used his right hand, speed advantage and in-and-out movement to keep Marquez off balance. Marquez's best rounds came early in the fight, but by the later rounds, Bradley appeared to be in a groove. He rocked Marquez with a right hand in the 10th round and nearly knocked him down with a clean left hook in the final moments of the 12th round.
Yet when the scorecards were announced, it was Bradley celebrating amid a shower of boos from the Marquez fans and Marquez storming out of the ring in his typical manner after a loss. When he did consent to an interview with HBO PPV's Max Kellerman in his dressing room, Marquez said he was not sure if he would continue his career, which is the same thing he usually says after a bitter loss. Although he got beat, Marquez remains a top-notch fighter and there does not seem to be any reason for him to retire unless he just wants to.
For Bradley, this is the crowning victory of his career, even more satisfying than the one over Pacquiao, because this time many people think he clearly deserved the decision. What comes next, however, remains to be seen. He's not going to get a fight with champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., because of the promotional and television network conflicts that make the fight impossible at the moment. A rematch with Marquez is also extremely unlikely. A Pacquiao rematch could happen, but Pacquiao first has a tough assignment with Brandon Rios to get through on Nov. 23. A Provodnikov rematch might be out there at some point, but does Bradley really want to go there again? Whatever Bradley does do next though, he will go into the fight off this fine performance and well-deserved victory.
Orlando Salido KO7 Orlando Cruz
Wins a vacant featherweight title
Records: Salido (40-12-2, 28 KOs); Cruz (20-3-1, 10 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: After the fight, Salido said his career has been like a roller coaster. So true. Salido, 32, of Mexico, suffered most of his losses as a teenager, the portion of his career where he learned how to fight. He continued to have his ups and downs though, such as winning a belt against Robert Guerrero in 2006 and later being stripped and the win erased from his record because of a failed postfight drug test. Two years later, he won a title for the first time and then lost his next fight to Yuriorkis Gamboa. Then, in 2011 and 2012, came his greatest triumphs as he knocked out Juan Manuel Lopez on his turf in Puerto Rico for big upsets in title fights. But in January, Salido looked like an old man as he got dropped four times and lost a lopsided eighth-round technical decision and his title to Miguel Angel "Mikey" Garcia.
But when Garcia failed to make weight for an August defense and was stripped, it paved the way for Salido to get an unexpected shot at the vacant title by facing Puerto Rico's Cruz, 32, whose story of coming out as boxing's first openly gay fighter last year made global headlines and was the central focus of this fight.
That was fine with Salido, who got almost no attention in the buildup but then got into the ring and beat Cruz down to rejuvenate his career in a major way. Cruz was game but he was outgunned by the bigger and stronger Salido, who did most of the damage with a punishing body attack. But Salido also landed strong heads shots and uppercuts, all of which sapped Cruz of his ability to move well. He was a sitting duck for many of the shots, his left eye was being battered and it looked like it was only a matter of time until Salido got rid of him.
Cruz didn't try to run or survive, instead going out on his shield has he tried to fight back. That played into Salido's hands. He caught Cruz near the ropes with a tremendous right to the jaw and a left to the body that badly hurt Cruz, who dropped to his knees and then fell over face-first to the canvas. Referee Kenny Bayless did not bother to finish the count, calling it off at 1 minute, 5 seconds. Cruz has a great personal story, but Salido had a great fight. It is possible that Salido's first defense could come in January in New York against two-time Olympic gold medalist Vasyl Lomachenko, who made his pro debut on the card with the plan set out by he and Top Rank to have him fight for a title in his second fight. Salido has always been willing to fight anyone and if the fight with Lomachenko comes off what a fascinating matchup that would be.
Vasyl Lomachenko KO4 Jose Luis Ramirez
Featherweight
Records: Lomachenko (1-0, 1 KO); Ramirez (24-3-2, 15 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Lomachenko, 25, of Ukraine, is one of the greatest amateurs in boxing history, a career that culminated with back-to-back Olympic gold medals, at featherweight in 2008 and lightweight in 2012. With so much experience and such physical and technical gifts, he and his handlers saw no reason to go the usual route that a prospect coming into the pros typically takes, namely smashing a few no-hopers in showcase four-rounders and then taking the traditional path through six-, eight-, 10- and then 12-rounders. Lomachenko felt no need for seasoning after about 400 amateur fights and a glittering resume.
So when he came into the pros, he insisted that whomever he signed with move him very quickly, which Top Rank boss Bob Arum agreed to do. So rather than a facing a complete no-hoper out of the gate, Lomachenko went right into a scheduled 10-round fight against a seasoned veteran in Ramirez, 25, of Mexico, who was coming off an impressive split decision victory against contender Rey Bautista in Batista home country of the Philippines.
Lomachenko would have preferred to fight for a world title in his debut, but was convinced that he could face a solid opponent first and then get a title shot. So Lomachenko dazzled against Ramirez, showing his speed and pinpoint punching accuracy. It was sensational performance as Lomachenko dropped Ramirez in the first round with a left hand to the body and a right hand to the head. Lomachenko dominated the fight the rest of the way until ending it in highlight-reel fashion in the fourth round when he jammed a hard left hook to Ramirez's body and dropped him to his knees as referee Russell Mora counted him out at 2 minutes, 59 seconds.
If Lomachenko gets his way, and is still up for the task, Arum plans to match him with newly crowned featherweight titlist Orlando Salido (who won a vacant world title in the co-feature) as soon as January. Longer range, Arum wants to match Lomachenko with junior featherweight champ Guillermo Rigondeaux, the two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist. As great as Lomachenko was as an amateur, it remains to be seen if he is really ready for an assignment as tough as Salido probably would be.
"Irish" Seanie Monaghan TKO3 Anthony Caputo-Smith
Light heavyweight
Records: Monaghan (19-0, 12 KOs); Caputo-Smith (14-2, 10 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: For the past few years, Monaghan, 32, of Long Beach, N.Y., has built a steady fan base and become a top attraction in New York, the reason why promoters doing shows there wanted to have him on their cards. The reason Monaghan sells tickets is because he is a brawler and he's Irish, and Irish fans from New York are very supportive. Top Rank saw that when it included Monaghan on some of its New York shows. Eventually, Top Rank offered Monaghan a contract, and while it will continue to use him on the company's New York cards, his penchant for brawls also make for good television, so he was added to this pay-per-view undercard. Monaghan is more of a club fighter than contender at this point and is facing limited opponents, so he was able to shine against a foe such as Caputo-Smith, who came to fight but was physically manhandled by Monaghan, who was in tremendous condition.
They opened the pay-per-view with the expected brawl, although Monaghan dominated from the outset. It was obvious how much stronger he was than Caputo-Smith. The crowd cheered as Monaghan teed off on Caputo-Smith, who fought back enough to make it fun. But Monaghan eventually got him with a series of clean punches, forcing referee Tony Weeks to stop the onslaught at 2 minutes, 39 seconds of the third round. It wasn't competitive, but it was at least a bit entertaining.
Saturday at Mendoza, Argentina
Juan Carlos Reveco Tech. Dec. 8 Ricardo Nunez
Retains a flyweight title
Scores: 80-71 (three times)
Records: Reveco (32-1, 17 KOs); Nunez (26-4, 22 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Reveco, 30, of Argentina, had held an interim belt before being elevated to a full titleholder last year. He was making his third defense against Nunez and had no problems taking care of business. Reveco was dominating the fight, but when an accidental head butt opened a bad cut over Reveco's right eye just a few seconds into the eighth round -- blood was pouring down Reveco's body -- referee Uriel Aguilera stopped the fight on the advice of the ringside doctor, sending the matter the scorecards for a technical decision, which Reveco won easily.
Nunez, 25, an experienced fringe contender from Panama, was getting his second shot at a world title. In September 2012, he also lost a flyweight title bout, getting stopped in the eighth round in Panama by Moruti Mthalane of South Africa.
Friday at Las Vegas
Jessie Vargas W10 Ray Narh
Welterweight
Scores: 98-91 (twice), 97-92
Records: Vargas (23-0, 9 KOs); Narh (26-4, 21 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Vargas, 24, of Las Vegas, got the headline spot on a card in his hometown on the eve of the Timothy Bradley Jr.-Juan Manuel Marquez fight at the Thomas & Mack Center, the same venue where Vargas faced Narh. The card was a treat for fight fans in town for the big fight the next night, because sponsor Tecate underwrote the card, meaning free admission.
Vargas gave the hometown folks reason to cheer with the one-sided, but hard-fought, decision win, a follow-up victory to his tough 10-round decision win against Wale Omotoso on a high-profile card in March. Narh applied pressure to Vargas throughout the fight, but Vargas slipped a lot of the punches, controlled the action and rolled up points on the cards. Narh hurt Vargas with a right hand in the 10th round, but Vargas rebounded and dropped Narh with a left hand in the final moments of the fight to seal the clear decision.
Narh, 35, of Ghana, lost his second fight in a row and third of four. After he quit against Mike Alvarado in a third-round knockout loss in 2011, Narh left boxing for two years before returning in June to upset Ronald Cruz. But since then, he has lost both of his fights.
Jessie Magdaleno TKO3 Raul Hidalgo
Junior featherweight
Records: Magdaleno (17-0, 13 KOs); Hidalgo (19-10, 14 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Magdaleno, a 21-year-old southpaw from Las Vegas, is one of the top prospects in all of boxing, a kid who looks like he will someday be a world champion. Hidalgo, a 25-year-old journeyman from Mexico, had no prayer. Magdaleno, the younger brother of junior lightweight contender Diego Magdaleno, started quick and rolled to the dominant win. He dropped Hidalgo three times overall, starting with a four-punch combination that floored him late in the opening round. Magdaleno added two more knockdowns in the third round, first on a clean right hook to the head with 45 seconds left. Hidalgo did not look too interested in continuing after that knockdown and Magdaleno, now working with trainer Joel Diaz (who also trains welterweight titlist Timothy Bradley Jr. and also is new to Diego Magdaleno's corner), went right at him. He hurt Hidalgo with a combination and then floored him with a heavy right hand to the ribs. Referee Vic Drakulich called off the fight without bothering to count, ending it at 2 minutes, 55 seconds.
Saturday at Las Vegas
Timothy Bradley Jr. W12 Juan Manuel Marquez
Retains a welterweight title
Scores: 116-112, 115-113 Bradley, 115-112 Marquez
Records: Bradley Jr. (31-0, 12 KOs); Marquez (55-7-1, 40 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Bradley and Marquez have both been involved in close decisions in Las Vegas and, given their style of fighting, it came as little surprise that this one turned out to be yet another close, competitive distance fight. But when that happens, naturally, the loser walks away bitterly disappointed, as was the case with Marquez.
The all-time great Mexican felt like once again he had been ripped off by the judges, who awarded Bradley, 30, of Palm Springs, Calif., the split decision, especially since almost every single one of the 13,111 who filled the Thomas & Mack Center was rooting for the 40-year-old Marquez.
But unlike some of Marquez's other defeats, specifically both of his controversial decision losses to Manny Pacquiao, this one really doesn't rise to the level of being controversial. Close? Yes. Controversial? No. Marquez was in the fight for sure, but Bradley, defending his title for the second time, showed better movement, was busier and landed a touch more. It was enough to rightfully convince two judges that he was doing the better work. But that didn't stop Marquez, a notorious sore loser, from making this out to be a robbery on the level of the gift split decision Bradley received against Pacquiao in June 2012.
After Bradley got the gift against Pacquiao -- but no respect from fans or media for the victory -- he wanted to prove himself. So instead of putting on a skillful boxing match in his first defense in March when he faced Russian brawler Ruslan Provodnikov, Bradley went toe to toe and nearly paid the price, as he was badly whacked around in the fight, concussed, nearly knocked out multiple times and dropped in the 12th round. Bradley wound up pulling out a tight decision but was in bad shape for a couple of months after the fight. For this showdown with Marquez, Bradley returned to the boxing style that helped him win a junior welterweight world title, successfully move up to welterweight, and crack the pound-for-pound list. It was that boxing style that was just slick enough to shade the majority of the rounds against Marquez.
Marquez, who knocked Pacquiao out cold in the sixth round of their fourth fight in December for the only definitive result in their series, elected to face Bradley for less money ($6 million guaranteed) rather than do a fifth fight with Pacquiao (which was offered) because he wanted Bradley's title. A victory would have made Marquez the first Mexican fighter to win world titles in five weight classes and that was the motivation for him in the fight. Bradley also turned down a rematch with Pacquiao, preferring instead to get another great name such as Marquez's on his resume for less money ($4.1 million). So with the victory, combined with the official win against Pacquiao, Bradley is the only fighter to have wins against both of those future Hall of Famers.
Bradley used his right hand, speed advantage and in-and-out movement to keep Marquez off balance. Marquez's best rounds came early in the fight, but by the later rounds, Bradley appeared to be in a groove. He rocked Marquez with a right hand in the 10th round and nearly knocked him down with a clean left hook in the final moments of the 12th round.
Yet when the scorecards were announced, it was Bradley celebrating amid a shower of boos from the Marquez fans and Marquez storming out of the ring in his typical manner after a loss. When he did consent to an interview with HBO PPV's Max Kellerman in his dressing room, Marquez said he was not sure if he would continue his career, which is the same thing he usually says after a bitter loss. Although he got beat, Marquez remains a top-notch fighter and there does not seem to be any reason for him to retire unless he just wants to.
For Bradley, this is the crowning victory of his career, even more satisfying than the one over Pacquiao, because this time many people think he clearly deserved the decision. What comes next, however, remains to be seen. He's not going to get a fight with champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., because of the promotional and television network conflicts that make the fight impossible at the moment. A rematch with Marquez is also extremely unlikely. A Pacquiao rematch could happen, but Pacquiao first has a tough assignment with Brandon Rios to get through on Nov. 23. A Provodnikov rematch might be out there at some point, but does Bradley really want to go there again? Whatever Bradley does do next though, he will go into the fight off this fine performance and well-deserved victory.
Orlando Salido KO7 Orlando Cruz
Wins a vacant featherweight title
Records: Salido (40-12-2, 28 KOs); Cruz (20-3-1, 10 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: After the fight, Salido said his career has been like a roller coaster. So true. Salido, 32, of Mexico, suffered most of his losses as a teenager, the portion of his career where he learned how to fight. He continued to have his ups and downs though, such as winning a belt against Robert Guerrero in 2006 and later being stripped and the win erased from his record because of a failed postfight drug test. Two years later, he won a title for the first time and then lost his next fight to Yuriorkis Gamboa. Then, in 2011 and 2012, came his greatest triumphs as he knocked out Juan Manuel Lopez on his turf in Puerto Rico for big upsets in title fights. But in January, Salido looked like an old man as he got dropped four times and lost a lopsided eighth-round technical decision and his title to Miguel Angel "Mikey" Garcia.
But when Garcia failed to make weight for an August defense and was stripped, it paved the way for Salido to get an unexpected shot at the vacant title by facing Puerto Rico's Cruz, 32, whose story of coming out as boxing's first openly gay fighter last year made global headlines and was the central focus of this fight.
That was fine with Salido, who got almost no attention in the buildup but then got into the ring and beat Cruz down to rejuvenate his career in a major way. Cruz was game but he was outgunned by the bigger and stronger Salido, who did most of the damage with a punishing body attack. But Salido also landed strong heads shots and uppercuts, all of which sapped Cruz of his ability to move well. He was a sitting duck for many of the shots, his left eye was being battered and it looked like it was only a matter of time until Salido got rid of him.
Cruz didn't try to run or survive, instead going out on his shield has he tried to fight back. That played into Salido's hands. He caught Cruz near the ropes with a tremendous right to the jaw and a left to the body that badly hurt Cruz, who dropped to his knees and then fell over face-first to the canvas. Referee Kenny Bayless did not bother to finish the count, calling it off at 1 minute, 5 seconds. Cruz has a great personal story, but Salido had a great fight. It is possible that Salido's first defense could come in January in New York against two-time Olympic gold medalist Vasyl Lomachenko, who made his pro debut on the card with the plan set out by he and Top Rank to have him fight for a title in his second fight. Salido has always been willing to fight anyone and if the fight with Lomachenko comes off what a fascinating matchup that would be.
Vasyl Lomachenko KO4 Jose Luis Ramirez
Featherweight
Records: Lomachenko (1-0, 1 KO); Ramirez (24-3-2, 15 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Lomachenko, 25, of Ukraine, is one of the greatest amateurs in boxing history, a career that culminated with back-to-back Olympic gold medals, at featherweight in 2008 and lightweight in 2012. With so much experience and such physical and technical gifts, he and his handlers saw no reason to go the usual route that a prospect coming into the pros typically takes, namely smashing a few no-hopers in showcase four-rounders and then taking the traditional path through six-, eight-, 10- and then 12-rounders. Lomachenko felt no need for seasoning after about 400 amateur fights and a glittering resume.
So when he came into the pros, he insisted that whomever he signed with move him very quickly, which Top Rank boss Bob Arum agreed to do. So rather than a facing a complete no-hoper out of the gate, Lomachenko went right into a scheduled 10-round fight against a seasoned veteran in Ramirez, 25, of Mexico, who was coming off an impressive split decision victory against contender Rey Bautista in Batista home country of the Philippines.
Lomachenko would have preferred to fight for a world title in his debut, but was convinced that he could face a solid opponent first and then get a title shot. So Lomachenko dazzled against Ramirez, showing his speed and pinpoint punching accuracy. It was sensational performance as Lomachenko dropped Ramirez in the first round with a left hand to the body and a right hand to the head. Lomachenko dominated the fight the rest of the way until ending it in highlight-reel fashion in the fourth round when he jammed a hard left hook to Ramirez's body and dropped him to his knees as referee Russell Mora counted him out at 2 minutes, 59 seconds.
If Lomachenko gets his way, and is still up for the task, Arum plans to match him with newly crowned featherweight titlist Orlando Salido (who won a vacant world title in the co-feature) as soon as January. Longer range, Arum wants to match Lomachenko with junior featherweight champ Guillermo Rigondeaux, the two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist. As great as Lomachenko was as an amateur, it remains to be seen if he is really ready for an assignment as tough as Salido probably would be.
"Irish" Seanie Monaghan TKO3 Anthony Caputo-Smith
Light heavyweight
Records: Monaghan (19-0, 12 KOs); Caputo-Smith (14-2, 10 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: For the past few years, Monaghan, 32, of Long Beach, N.Y., has built a steady fan base and become a top attraction in New York, the reason why promoters doing shows there wanted to have him on their cards. The reason Monaghan sells tickets is because he is a brawler and he's Irish, and Irish fans from New York are very supportive. Top Rank saw that when it included Monaghan on some of its New York shows. Eventually, Top Rank offered Monaghan a contract, and while it will continue to use him on the company's New York cards, his penchant for brawls also make for good television, so he was added to this pay-per-view undercard. Monaghan is more of a club fighter than contender at this point and is facing limited opponents, so he was able to shine against a foe such as Caputo-Smith, who came to fight but was physically manhandled by Monaghan, who was in tremendous condition.
They opened the pay-per-view with the expected brawl, although Monaghan dominated from the outset. It was obvious how much stronger he was than Caputo-Smith. The crowd cheered as Monaghan teed off on Caputo-Smith, who fought back enough to make it fun. But Monaghan eventually got him with a series of clean punches, forcing referee Tony Weeks to stop the onslaught at 2 minutes, 39 seconds of the third round. It wasn't competitive, but it was at least a bit entertaining.
Saturday at Mendoza, Argentina
Juan Carlos Reveco Tech. Dec. 8 Ricardo Nunez
Retains a flyweight title
Scores: 80-71 (three times)
Records: Reveco (32-1, 17 KOs); Nunez (26-4, 22 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Reveco, 30, of Argentina, had held an interim belt before being elevated to a full titleholder last year. He was making his third defense against Nunez and had no problems taking care of business. Reveco was dominating the fight, but when an accidental head butt opened a bad cut over Reveco's right eye just a few seconds into the eighth round -- blood was pouring down Reveco's body -- referee Uriel Aguilera stopped the fight on the advice of the ringside doctor, sending the matter the scorecards for a technical decision, which Reveco won easily.
Nunez, 25, an experienced fringe contender from Panama, was getting his second shot at a world title. In September 2012, he also lost a flyweight title bout, getting stopped in the eighth round in Panama by Moruti Mthalane of South Africa.
Friday at Las Vegas
Jessie Vargas W10 Ray Narh
Welterweight
Scores: 98-91 (twice), 97-92
Records: Vargas (23-0, 9 KOs); Narh (26-4, 21 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Vargas, 24, of Las Vegas, got the headline spot on a card in his hometown on the eve of the Timothy Bradley Jr.-Juan Manuel Marquez fight at the Thomas & Mack Center, the same venue where Vargas faced Narh. The card was a treat for fight fans in town for the big fight the next night, because sponsor Tecate underwrote the card, meaning free admission.
Vargas gave the hometown folks reason to cheer with the one-sided, but hard-fought, decision win, a follow-up victory to his tough 10-round decision win against Wale Omotoso on a high-profile card in March. Narh applied pressure to Vargas throughout the fight, but Vargas slipped a lot of the punches, controlled the action and rolled up points on the cards. Narh hurt Vargas with a right hand in the 10th round, but Vargas rebounded and dropped Narh with a left hand in the final moments of the fight to seal the clear decision.
Narh, 35, of Ghana, lost his second fight in a row and third of four. After he quit against Mike Alvarado in a third-round knockout loss in 2011, Narh left boxing for two years before returning in June to upset Ronald Cruz. But since then, he has lost both of his fights.
Jessie Magdaleno TKO3 Raul Hidalgo
Junior featherweight
Records: Magdaleno (17-0, 13 KOs); Hidalgo (19-10, 14 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Magdaleno, a 21-year-old southpaw from Las Vegas, is one of the top prospects in all of boxing, a kid who looks like he will someday be a world champion. Hidalgo, a 25-year-old journeyman from Mexico, had no prayer. Magdaleno, the younger brother of junior lightweight contender Diego Magdaleno, started quick and rolled to the dominant win. He dropped Hidalgo three times overall, starting with a four-punch combination that floored him late in the opening round. Magdaleno added two more knockdowns in the third round, first on a clean right hook to the head with 45 seconds left. Hidalgo did not look too interested in continuing after that knockdown and Magdaleno, now working with trainer Joel Diaz (who also trains welterweight titlist Timothy Bradley Jr. and also is new to Diego Magdaleno's corner), went right at him. He hurt Hidalgo with a combination and then floored him with a heavy right hand to the ribs. Referee Vic Drakulich called off the fight without bothering to count, ending it at 2 minutes, 55 seconds.
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Sugar Ray Leonard on ESPN First Take this AM hyping the NO MAS 30 for 30 tonight.
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Sugar ray........ Respect
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Been looking forward to this 30for30 for like a week now.
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Thanks illPhillip for the reminder didn't know they had a special today.
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Something about old school boxing that's just sooooo much better than todays
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Because in boxing you're measured only against the BEST. That fight with PAC (dispite the obvious fix) exposed him. Money may Is the best because he's never been exposed. In this era of boxing where real competition is few and far between, those fights against top fighters (some say the top at the time) account for a lot.
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