New York, NY – Highlighted by an intriguing, competitive, and meaningful card (finally) on HBO, boxing’s insanely busy schedule trudges forward this weekend.
ESPN KICKS THINGS OFF FRIDAY
Battle tested, but been bested heavyweight veteran’s Owen Beck (29-4, 20 KOs) and Tony Thompson (33-2, 21 KOs) do battle over 10 purposed rounds at the Omni New Daisy Theater in Memphis, Tennessee, Friday at 10 PM ET on ESPN 2.
KNOCK ME OUT OR I’LL KNOCK YOU OUT
Tagged as “knock you out or get knocked out” type fighters, Beck and Thompson have earned victories against descent opposition but fell short at world title bids in the heavyweight ranks. Both men are now in pursuit of separating themselves from each other in hopes of becoming a viable player in the very weak heavyweight division.
BANGER SHOWCASED ON SHOBOX
Undefeated power puncher Fernando Guerrero (17-0, 14 KOs) puts his perfect record on the line against rugged scrapped Michael Walker (19-3-2, 12 KOs) in a scheduled 10 round middleweight (160) affair at the Wicomico Civic Center in Salisbury, Maryland, Friday at 11 PM ET on Showtime.
NATURAL BORN PUNISHER
Boasting a knockout percentage of over 80 percent, Fernando Guerrero is hoping to share his thus far body battering and face smashing success with a national audience.
TIME FOR “WALK” TO TAKE A HIKE?
Facing formidable competition in 25 fights over a six-year career as a professional, Michael Walker has never tasted defeated by kissing the canvas. Despite such bravado, Mike has not fared well of late, going 1-3-1 over his last five outings.
HBO TO HOST ITS FIRST REAL FIGHTS OF 2010
HBO, which will host three major cards over the next three weeks, starts things off by offering an intriguing split location broadcast featuring highly competitive bouts of great importance.
PAVLIK VS MARTINEZ TOPS THE SHOW
WBO and WBC middleweight (160) Champion Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik (36-1, 32 KOs) makes his long awaited and highly anticipated return to “the big show” when he throws down against supremely talented and well rounded pugilist Sergio Martinez (44-2-2, 24 KOs) over 12 rounds or less at the legendary fight venue Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Saturday at 10 PM ET on HBO.
“GHOST” HAS BEEN VERY HARD TO SEE OF LATE
After being decked in a come from behind win by knocking out a “prime” Jermain Taylor (W TKO 7) for the title, the boxing public took notice to Pavlik’s tremendous heart and strength. Kelly then went on to showcase such attributes in a rematch win against Taylor (W UD 12). However, Pavlik would later be exposed by Bernard Hopkins (L UD 12) in a one sided affair. Since his humiliating defeated at the hands of the much older Hopkins, Pavlik has been fighting (and often canceling major bouts) in the shadows of the boxing world. Now, after two years removed from the drumming he administered by the Bernard, Pavlik will finally scrap in a meaningful bout.
MARTINEZ A PARTICIPANT IN FIGHT OF THE YEAR FOR 2009
Fresh off his amazing display of intestinal fortitude in a scintillating closely contested war against one of boxing’s top “pound for fighters” Paul Williams (L UD 12), Sergio Martinez looks to keep the fans buzzing about his blistering style when returns to the scene of the crime where he feel short of claiming his first major win.
POTENTENIAL FIREWORKS IN HBO OPENER
Unbeaten lights out punching IBF super middleweight (168) belt holder, Canada’s most recent favorite adopted son Lucian Bute (25-0, 20 KOs) will stand opposite of dangerous warrior madman Edison Miranda (33-3, 29 KOs) in a 12 round title contest at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
John Signorella