:boxing: Boxing Bits ::05.18.16:: Canelo vs. Khan

It may have been tempting to pick Amir Khan and his blazing hand-speed, skill, or experience over Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in the requisite Mexican boxing showcase on Cinco de Mayo weekend, but the outcome was the only real prediction anyone could reasonably (if not sensibly) give. Alas, for all of Khan's superlatives, his chin has been his greatest weakness—if not his most distinct attribute. Granted, he was moving up in weight, Canelo had his trademark power, and it may be difficult to find to many pugilists that could've beaten the count after such a shot, but with the Brit, it was much more of a "when" than "if"…

:boxing: Boxing Bits ::05.31.15:: The Three Weeks After…/The Month in Review

[Intended Date: May 31, 2015. Original Post Date: June 2, 2015.]

Can you feel it?

That change in the air? The growing chatter? The warm glow enveloping the sport? The sun rising over the horizon?

YES, THE BOXING WORLD HAS BEEN SAVED!!! EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED!!!! EVERYTH—

:boxing: Quick Pick:: Mayweather vs. Pacquiao…

While I did have numerous things pop up this week, I am going to be honest with you: I don't care about this fight. Yes, it was finally made. Yes, it is actually being fought tonight. Yes, it technically is the "Fight of the Century", in terms of being the biggest fight since 2000 by way of marquee (only). Yes, there is inherent intrigue and a number of ways it could play out.

But no, it will not "save boxing". No, it is not the best-made fight in years or "this century" (the recent Matthysee-Provodnikov and upcoming Canelo-Kirkland bouts were/are far more mouth-watering). No, I'm not surprised that the very people that said they would never watch the fight (excuse me, "The Fight") because it took too long to be put together and both fighters are "past their primes" are the same that have been drooling, waxing poetic, and talking ad nauseum about it.

:boxing: Quick Pick:: Kovalev vs Pascal

In the midst of Premier Boxing Champions taking up most of the spotlight,we have tonight's big match-up between Sergey Kovalev and Jean Pascal on HBO. At least, it should feel big, but the build-up to it, even a month or two out, feels lacking. On top of that, it has some sizable shoes to fill following a very enjoyable night on Spike's PBC broadcast. Nonetheless, it is still an intriguing bout, not only for the match-up itself, but for the importance it holds in both combatant's careers at this point.

:boxing: Quick Pick:: Premier Boxing Champions: Berto vs Lopez & Porter vs Bone

Unlike last week's installment, this "Quick Pick" will actually be more like a…"quick pick". The previous one turned into more of a full-out preview, as it was a special case with the premiere of "Premier Boxing Champions". This time, however, it is the "B-Side" of its kickoff, featuring the TV-friendly, but less-marquee bouts of Andre Berto-Josesito Lopez and Shawn Porter-Erick Bone Shawn Porter-Roberto Garcia (Note: the more famous and unrelated Danny Garcia is also going to be featured on PBC on Apr. 11, fighting Lamont Peterson. The official website simply lists "Garcia", which can be misleading, so his name is initialized in the title.) (UPDATE: R. Garcia missed weight and has been replaced). And reflecting the billing, they will be broadcast at 9pm on Spike TV (and also online?), not NBC or CBS.

:boxing: Quick Pick:: Premier Boxing Champions' Premiere: Thurman vs. Guerrero & Broner vs. Molina

Saturday night marks the historic (but-not-very-historic-because-we've-had-boxing-on-network-TV-a-few-times-in-the-last-decade-or-so-but-it's-been-awhile-so-ok-whatever) return of boxing to primetime network television, in the form of "Premier Boxing Champions", a program debuting on NBC at 8:30pm, but will have future air dates on CBS and Spike TV, as well (brought to you by master butcher everyone's favorite clandestine boxing magnate/former music mogul Al Haymon). I'm not here to wring my hands over Paul Heyman's brother-from-another-mother, whine about the demise of a sport that people still show plenty of care and money for (which, if anything, looks to be in the most positive state it has been in years), talk one word about "that fight" beyond these own, or wax globs of poetic about boxing's past on network TV and how things aren't the way they were back then—I'm here to talk about what's taking place on PBC…

:boxing: Boxing Bits ::01.31.15:: (or Boxi-Jour…Nah…)

The month of January is drawing to a close, so I thought I would close it out by doing something a little different. This little month-in-review edition of Boxing Bits is being done "Ani-Journal" style, which will feature me basically shooting the breeze about the boxing scene in an (largely-)informal manner.

So yeah, about this month…

:boxing: Quick Picks, Road Editions (Hopkins-Kovalev, Pacquiao-Algieri)

With two big/notable fights having occurred this month, Hopkins-Kovalev and Pacquiao-Algieri, you may be wondering that HardDoor has been inconspicuously silent the whole time. In reality, if you have noticed on HD's social networking sites, Quick Picks have been "taken on the road" this month, with the former's QP being featured on HD's Facebook page (post-fight comments included) and the latter on HD's Google+ page! I have done something like this in the past, but not to this extent. Still, it was a nice change of pace and show of love to the auxillary sites of HD. If you haven't yet, you can check them out at the links above. Hope you will enjoy (post-Pacquiao-Algieri comments will come after I watch the replay [EDIT: Now available here!!])…

--HD

:boxing: Quick Pick:: Mayweather vs Maidana II

Last time we were here for Mayweather-Maidana, I picked Floyd Mayweather, Jr. to win, not so much because his skill set or him being a better fighter, but because Marcos Maidana posed more questions than definitive answers as to whether he could truly upend the fighter with his own formidable toolset and skills. Their fateful May 3rd encounter developed those answers as the Argentine gave the American all he could handle with a smothering assault and making him fight less characteristically.

:boxing: Boxing Bits ::08.21.14:: Brook Shocks Porter, Big Knockout Boxing Debuts

In a battle of contrasting youths, an unknown beats a growing name, and a new boxing promotion tries to shake things up all in one night in this installment of "Boxing Bits"…

:Sat.08.16.14:

Kell Brook MD Shawn Porter

Prior to Saturday night, IBF Welterweight Champion Shawn Porter was one of the hottest up-and-coming commodities in boxing. His power, speed, and take-no-prisoners tenacity made him one of the more enjoyable combatants to watch, and his recent demolition of Paulie Malignaggi was sight, if not a very concerning one, to behold. His Aug. 16th bout against little-known English contender Kell Brook was seemingly another rung to climb over on his way to the top of the ladder.

:boxing: Boxing Bits ::08.13.14:: Golovkin, Garcia Dominate, Rios-Chaves Unresolved, Jennings Unimpresses

Three weeks of boxing have gone by and a few big match-ups have come and gone. Let us look back (fondly and perhaps not…) in this new installment of Boxing Bits!!

:Sat.07:26:14:

Bryant Jennings SD Mike Perez

For two top-ranked heavyweights, Jennings and Perez fought as decently as one might expect from the division this day. In the larger context of history and as potential opponents for Wladamir Klitschko, there was little to be inspired by and even less to be fearful of by the longtime kingpin. The bout primarily consisted of both men lumbering around and throwing punches. There was nothing notable or standout about the affair. Neither asserted themselves as a frontrunner. Neither created any sort of compelling case not only as contenders, but as worthwhile heavy draws.

There was little distinction between the two, beyond Jennings getting the slight better of the exchanges. He may have set himself up for a chance to contend for the heavyweight championship, but if Bryant and Mike Perez represent the future of the division--one so lackluster, yet still so sorrily tied to the public's subconscious as the marquee and measuring stick of the sport--then the future is not looking any brighter…

:boxing: Quick Pick:: Canelo vs Lara

When viewing Canelo-Lara at first blush, it is not quite as easy to automatically pick a clear winner. When delving more into the figures and data, it is not any clearer. Saul "Canelo" Alvarez has the dogged tenacity, that explosive, ever-pressuring fight style, the speed, and power, but Erislandy Lara is far better skilled and the technician, more experienced and poised, and--while not up to Canelo's level--possesses a good amount of speed and pop. Many of those traits could give one man that vital edge over the other, but a few oddities are also present.

:boxing: Quick Pick:: Martinez vs. Cotto

If this was the Sergio Martinez of a few year ago, selecting him to go over Miguel Cotto, even in one his prime, would have been a forgone conclusion. His very unorthodox style, super quickness and agility, pinpoint accuracy from all angles, and pop would have been a poor contrast in styles for the more traditional, heart-before-health, future HOFer. Alas, this is not great Argentine of old--at least, we may not fully know that, yet.

:boxing: Quick Pick:: Mayweather vs Maidana

I've been pretty busy the last couple of days, but let's still try and predict stuff, namely with Floyd Mayweather, Jr.'s near-annual Cinco de Mayo bout, this time against non-Mexican Marcos Maidana. If there was one fighter that I could pick that would have a good shot of beating Mayweather outside of Manny Pacquiao, much less one fighter I would like to see him face, it would be Maidana. He is a natural welterweight, has power, has grown considerably as a pugilist over his last few fights, possesses a tenacious, smart-pressuring style that should match well against Mayweather's more technical and careful style, the instinct to capitalize and try to finish a hurt opponent, and has an underrated sneakiness to him.

All-around, beyond the traits, Maidana has long struck me as someone who could pose a significant threat to Mayweather. The latter has been snacking on baby food for far too long in his career and seemed to allow a few too many shots to land from the green Canelo Alvarez last year. Maidana is more battle-tested and attuned to his skills, and one has to wonder if Mayweather's 37 years of age and potentially-slowing reflexes will combine for a tough night for him.

So, then…why am I not in a rush to pick the Argentine to win?

:boxing: Double The Pain…:: Mayweather vs. Canelo & Garcia vs. Matthysee

2013 has been a bountiful year of good bouts and key match-ups and September 14th plays host to likely its biggest fight night. Boxing's hottest commodity in Saul "Canelo" Alvarez finally gets to meet its biggest money-maker in Floyd Mayweather, Jr in a long-awaited match, and as an added bonus, the not-so-beloved Danny Garcia is set to fight one of the sports most feared fighters in Lucas Matthysee.

:boxing: Boxing Bits :03:01.13: Broner Is the Problem, & So Is Pot…

Posterizing, posturing, and pot penalizations highlighted the last few week's of boxing in this return installment of Boxing Bits!

:Sat.02.16.13: Broner Beats Rees

Gavin Rees was as game as game could be and with heart to spare, but his body and ebbs in composure ultimately did him in versus the talented Adrian "The Problem" Broner, who stopped him within five. The final result was largely expected, but Broner's pomposity and narcissistic complacency in his own abilities has led to him allowing his opponents to land an increasingly large amount of punches on him, as if to show that he no one can do him harm. Rees, to his credit, employed some fine movement and tenacity in scoring good, flush shots on the open Broner, who shook them off but didn't exactly do much about them, either.

:boxing: Boxing Bits ::09.28.12:: Martinez-Chavez & More!

Sergio Martinez UD Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr.

Having a chance to see the big match replay last Saturday night, I have to admit: the much ballyhoed 12th round gave me more respect for Martinez than it did Chavez. No doubt, Chavez landed a good shot, but for Martinez to have stuck it out and kept fighting (despite tearing his knee and slipping soon after) was as nearly as jaw-dropping as the knockdown. Furthermore, his continued pressing of the fight actually helped keep Chavez at bay enough to help him stick it out and avoid the finishing blow.

:boxing: Boxing Bits ::09.21.12:: The "Other" Vegas Fight Card

Martinez-Chavez may have went down this past Saturday night, but it wasn't the only notable fight of the evening. Not only that, it wasn't even the only one in Las Vegas, as Showtime hosted a counter-card in the very same city as HBO's PPV telecast! Luckily for boxing fans, that meant that there were two venues featuring outstanding bouts, as Showtime's event did not disappoint…

:boxing: Quick Pick:: Martinez vs. Chavez

Let's see…Sergio Martinez & Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. don't like each other and want to punish and KO the other. Martinez has the speed & KO ability and Chavez the size & power. Chavez can feasibly win it, given his tenacity and, well, his propensity for coming in two weight-classes above the contested weight. That means he can absorb more punches and dish out the harder shots, but Martinez has his signature speed and agility, which has enabled him to rack 'em up and befuddle opponents. Martinez also really hates Chavez and has been begging for this match for ages, but such spirit and determination does not always migrate into the actual bout.

However, I'll give him the benefit of a doubt and say that a determined, and more experienced, Martinez uses his speed and unorthodox style to pick off a very game Chavez in a tough, tight bout, ending him by Rd. 8. As much as I like Martinez and dislike the overvalued son of the legend Mexican fighter, I don't believe it will be so easy to psych him out as he has done other opponents, as the latter has shown some recent improvements. He'll need to pull off another Paul Williams/Kelly Pavlik-type of generalship if wants to make his mark on the sport once again. On the flip side, if Chavez is unfazed by him or gets the best of Martinez, a 9th round stoppage or UD is very possible.

----------------

Outcome: Martinez, UD. No stoppage by Martinez, but he very nearly got stopped apparently in the final moments of the final round after schooling Chavez the whole fight. Can't count out someone with that much weight on him, plus the weight of that family name, when the chips are down, but Martinez was in a bad spot  in the beginning of the first Paul Williams fight getting knocked down before coming out of it fighting. He made it back here and managed to hold on to his claim of victory and saving what observers were calling a "masterpiece". But if you make sport of someone the prior 95% of the fight, do you fight the guy again? I guess the money will do the talking for Martinez on that question…

For the review, click here…

*HD EXCLUSIVE!!* Coverage of Top-Secret Boxing Event NOW LIVE!!

Much of March was a pretty quiet one for HardDoor, but there was a good reason for it. Earlier in the month, I received a special press pass to provide coverage for a then-upcoming special boxing event. The fight card looked promising and it was an all-expenses-paid trip to boot, so I decided to take the promoters up on their word for it.

Being your usual tight-lipped Japanese company, there were a number of controls and embargoes set in place to avoid leaks, so they made me and a number of other bloggers and journalists ride in a darkened limo and then a shuttered plane to an undisclosed location. From there, we were led directly from the plane and through a tunnel leading to the rather-swanky hotel we would all be staying at (and weren't allowed to leave from). The arena was housed in the same construction as the hotel and the event was only a day away, so even with no wi-fi and cellular coverage, it wasn't too bad. Can't argue with free breakfast…

The next day came and with it, Fight Night had finally arrived. The arena was filled to the brim with spectators, somehow, likely from a raffle or lottery under the same restrictions (Which, as I understood from an official, was done so that the special could air in Japan first before being shown worldwide a week later. Go figure.) The lights dimmed, the entrances were made, and with it, the first bout of the evening kicked off: