New York, NY– Once again, boxing’s usually busy summer schedule heats up this weekend offering a twin bill of cards being dealt out by separate cable outlets. As a bonus; in a twist from the norm, two fighting worlds collide in a scrap that promises to entice any fight fans preference of style when a decorated former boxing champ tries his luck in the octagon against a Mixed Martial Arts legend. First, let’s check out the action that will transpire within the squared circle.
LITTLE GUYS LOOKING TO MAKE A BIG STATEMENT
Feather fisted, but gifted pug Ivan Calderon (34-1, 6 KOs) will meet Giovanni Segura (24-1-1, 20 KOs) over 12 scheduled rounds of throw down in unification showdown to claim supremacy in the light flyweight (108) division in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Saturday night at 9 PM ET on Intergrated Sports PPV.
SHOW ME SOMETHING KID
Aside from not capturing a knockout win since 2006, Ivan Calderon
is a spirited craftsmen who controls his opponents with effective lateral movement and superb technique. Despite holding his WBO title for over two years, Calderon hasn’t dazzled fans in a fashion to be credited as a must see fighter. Aware of his critics, to gain positive public appeal, Ivan seeks to deliver an impressive performance in effort to change his publicly labeled lackluster imagine.
GOT THE GOODS, BUT IS IT GOOD ENOUGH?
Having dealt with adversity by avenging his lone loss to Cesar Canchila by way of 4th round disposal in their rematch, heavy-handed thug Giovanni Segura is no stranger at stepping up to a challenge. Even though Segura holds the WBA belt, and despite his extremely impressive 11 knockouts in his last 12 wins, questions loom as to how well his “free swinging” style of reckless abandon will hold up against his tactical counterpart.
ESPN JOINS THE PARTY
Changing up their regularly schedule format of a Friday presentations, ESPN delivers a “cross roads” lightweight (130) affair on Saturday when once beaten prospect Omir Lowther (14-1, 10 KOs) battles once promising former title challenger Edner Cherry (25-6-2, 15 KOs) in Quebec, Canada, at 9 PM ET on ESPN 2.
BOXING VS. MMA IN UFC 118!
Former supermiddle (168) and cruiserweight (200) champion James “Lights Out” Toney makes his cage debut against sure fire mixed martial arts hall of famer Randy “The Natural” Couture (18-10, 7 KOs, 3 SUBS), in a scheduled heavyweight (over 206) 3 rounder at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, Saturday night at 10 PM ET on PPV.
LIGHTS OUT?
Having fought the best boxers in his weight classes for the past 20 years, without question, James Toney (72-6-3, 44 KOs) has always been one of the more capable fighters to rise to the occasion. Possessing his inimitable style of defense and accurate counter punching throughout his illustrious career, James impressively has only hit the canvas thrice in 81 fights and has never been counted out. Although not known as a huge puncher, James is one of only two men to defeat iron jaw ring legend Evander Holyfield by way of knockout. Proven boxing bravado aside, at the age of 42, and without any professional MMA bouts to his credit, is James in over his head against an established full contact fighter?
WHAT DOES RANDY HAVE LEFT?
A 13-year veteran of the cage, former UFC light heavy (186) and heavyweight champion Randy Couture has faced every possible opponent of note offered to him. His legacy of memorial wars against the best of the best has established him as one of the sports trademark pioneers. By displaying breath taking submissions, Couture has been best known through his career for his crafty wrestling style. However, at the age of 47, Randy has been apprehensive to expend energy by rolling around on the mat and has shown a willingness to stand and trade, will this be to his undoing against a savvy boxer?
John Signorella