:boxing: Boxing Bits ::07.27.11:: Khan Zaps Judah

:Sat.07.23.11:

Amir Khan KO5 Zab Judah

Before their anticipated match-up this past Saturday, more than fair share of people had Zab Judah, rejuvenated and refocused, knocking-out rising star Amir Khan by the halfway point. But the only one left standing by then wasn't the Brooklynite…

:boxing: The Breaking Point

What happens when you numerically out-land your opponent across every category? When your connect rate doubles (and sometimes triples) your opponent's in every single round? When you land nearly 50% of your power punches (more than double his own, at 21%)? Where your lowest round percentage of 34% still tops his best by 5% (and was the only time, besides a 38% in another round, that you went below 40% in the entire fight--and you still connected more than him both times!) and your highest was 68% (with two other trips above 60%--spending half of the fight landing at least 45% of your power punches)? How about when you out-jab and, in total, out-land your opponent by a 2:1 margin, snapping back his head with each successive shot, displaying the greater ring generalship, and having people question the health of your opponent more than your own, as you don a massive knot on the side of your head? And what happens when the crowd, analysts, the press, and other ringside observers--including your opponent's corner during the match--have you winning the fight?

:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: Manager's Special!: Gundam Wing & RahXephon!!

Two years ago for HardDoor's third anniversary, I did a special post detailing how I got into anime, and in it I mentioned two series I considered to be my absolute favorites: Gundam Wing, which helped solidify my interest in anime, and RahXephon, which I have considered to be the best anime I have ever seen (and I don't throw that kind of praise around so lightly). As such, I think it is only appropriate that for HardDoor's fifth anniversary, I dedicate this month's Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick to the two shows I hold so dear to myself.

HardDoor--The Fifth Anniversary!!

HardDoor's original look, prior to its Oct. 2010 revamp. Now here in spirit…

HardDoor...Not exactly the most common of blog names......


So what is "HardDoor" and why is this named so? Perhaps at a later date I'll explain the history of the name (if you really want to call it that), but for now, I'll say this much: this blog is pretty "random" when it comes to topics. Anime, Boxing, a little bit of politics, maybe (or not :D ).


Today is a pretty good day to start HardDoor (I mean, it's the 26th of June!). Soon, I'll be populating it with thoughts on the various said topics, all while figuring out the strange little trinkets laid out on this blogging station. So until then...toodles <>:O

Anniversary Month Comes to HardDoor!!

In just a scant few weeks (on June 26, to be exact), HardDoor will be celebrating its five year anniversary! Across this month and the others to come, I'll be doing a few retrospects, some anniversary-related special features, introduce a new segment, and maybe pull off a surprise or two. ;)

While work has kept me pretty busy from really carrying out the extent of what I had originally planned for June, I won't let it stop me from carrying out as much of it as possible. Of course, there are also other features to handle, too, such as "Decade's Best" and the continuation of reviews for a **certain** show (-_-) , so keep out for those, as well.

So, hopefully without delay, here's to some happy future reading!

--HD

:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: Korekuraide Utau (Sing in my own way)

Creator: Kousuke Sugimoto
Artist Sites: Main Site, YouTube Channel
Additional Links: ANN Article
Video [Free]: YouTube

As luck would have it, just one month after posting about the newest work from one half of last January's independent short recommendations, Hiroyasu Ishida (aka "Tete"), the other half from the feature, Kousuke Sugimoto, happened to post his own new project onto YouTube earlier this month. "Korekuraide Utau (Sing in my own way)" is a music video for a song by friend Handsome Kenya, which falls very much into the same rambunctious vein as Sugimoto's previous "the TV show", with its seemingly random comedic vignettes, kinetic imagination, and interconnectivity, plus some kicking music (and nice lyrics, too). While you view the video (which is thankfully subtitled), try to keep in mind that Sugimoto is self-trained and in his late-twenties…

…Yeah.

:boxing: Boxing Bits ::05.31.11:: Pacquiao, Ward, & Hopkins Get It Done Right…

Three weeks, three major fights (and a few others)--some showed up to do their thing, and some others forgot to.

:Sat.05.07.11:

Manny Pacquiao UD Shane Mosley [Showtime PPV]

While the bout was not as awful as many have said, it wasn't amazing by any means and I can understand the universal panning of it. Simply put: Pacquiao showed up to fight, and Mosley showed up to survive. The Filipino dominated in typical fashion, but was unable to put on the sort of hurting he has laid on previous opponents like Oscar De La Hoya, Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito. This was chiefly because Mosley, after getting knocked down in Round 3, convinced himself that he wasn't going to win and did not want to get pulled into a tit-for-tat firefight, thus jeopardizing his streak of not getting knocked-out.

:boxing: ...It'll Do (At Least, For Me…), Part 3:: Pacquiao vs. Mosley

When this fight was first announced awhile back, I was looking forward to Manny Pacquiao fighting "Sugar" Shane Mosley, even though so many downed the fight, and doing a nice write-up on it, too.

However, duty (aka "work") beckons, and I have not had a whole lot of time to post anything (hence the lack of updates as of late). But I do not want to let this fight pass by without saying anything on it (which everyone and their mother are now hotly anticipating). On the other hand, there's not a whole lot of time left, so let's keep things short and sweet…

:anime: Free/Low-Cost Anime Pick of the Month:: rain town

Creator: Hiroyasu Ishida (aka "Tete")
Artist Sites: Main Site, pixiv Profile, YouTube Channel
Additional Links: "rain town" PV, Main Site post (**spoilers**), "rain town" Gallery (**spoilers**)
Video [Free]: YouTube

 "In this town, since who knows when, rain has never stopped. Residents moved out to suburbs and higher ground around "rain town". Peoples memories are now deeply submerged. But into this forgotten rainy town sometimes, someone wanders."

Last January, I recommended two independent shorts singularly animated (for the most part) by two individuals. One of them was Hiroyasu Ishida (also known as "Tete"), a student at Kyoto Seika Universitiy's Faculty of Manga (which also teaches animation), and besides highlighting his award-winning "Fumiko's Confession", I also made mention of his one-minute "rain town" PV, which left a big impression on me, despite its brevity and relative simplicity.

:anime: HardDoor's Seasonal Anime Preview 2011 Special:: noitaminA (Spring, Summer)

Fuji TV's noitaminA block has produced a fine number of great titles over the years. Their slate for the spring and summer cours, however, looks particularly strong, enough so to warrant this special installment of HD's seasonal anime preview. While full-fledged ones of old are currently on hiatus due to time constraints, I thought it would still be worthwhile to churn out an edition for something like noitaminA. I have had my eye on these series since they have been announced, and hope they turn out as good as they appear to be. And knowing noitaminA's track record, their chances seem high…