GOLDEN BOY PUTS TOGETHER GOOD SCRAP SATURDAY ON HBO
Los Angeles, CA-I have never been one to pull punches when it comes to the boxing establishment. Before I jump all over Golden Boy Promotions, which I’ll get to later, I have to commend them for Saturday’s match up between Danny Garcia (23-0, 14 KOS) and Britain’s Amir Khan (26-2, 18 KOs)
Will Khan Wheel His Way To Win?
which will unify the WBC and WBA junior welterweight(140 lb) titles. While it’s obvious it’s much easier for Golden Boy to work with boxing’s most powerful advisor Al Haymon, who handles Garcia, both top fighters belong to the same promoter and were willing to fight each other. As much criticism as Khan gets, mainly due to his perceived arrogance, he’s always been willing to face the best fighters available. While he never entertained giving Bredis Prescott(25-4, 20 KOs) a rematch after he starched Khan in one round in 2008, he has accomplished a lot since then and developed into an elite fighter. You also have to respect Garcia who is taking a step up in class but possibly at the right time.
GARCIA MOVED ALONG AT THE RIGHT PACE
Nowadays too many prizefighters are coddled in their development only to falter at the highest level because of being fed inferior opposition. The Philadelphia native looked solid winning a decision over hard punching Kendall Holt (28-5, 16 KOs) at the Staples Center in 2011, and showed heart and grit besting an elderly version of Erik Morales (52-8, 36 KOs) in his WBC
title winning effort in March, thus Saturday’s bout with Khan is a winnable one. As long as Garcia stays close he has a great shot to pull off the upset. Khan has advantages in speed of hand and foot with a longer reach, but Garcia is a good counter puncher who likes to exchange punches, and has underrated hand speed. One thing that is being overlooked by those picking against Garcia is that timing can beat speed, and Khan’s posture in the ring or lack thereof can be an advantage for Garcia. Speed is a great asset to have, but being in control and having good balance is something that favors the Puerto Rican-American fighting out of Philly. I will go out on a limb and say Garcia wins this bout by close decision. He’s improved in every fight, and Khan while explosive and dynamic has numerous flaws that can be exploited.
GOLDEN BOY SETTING UP LOPEZ FOR SLAUGHTER
I really like Josesito Lopez (30-4, 18 KOs) and am happy for him that he gets the opportunity to make the biggest payday of his life. Lopez did earn “a” big fight after upsetting Victor Ortiz(29-4, 22 KOs) last month, a jaw breaking effort that lead Ortiz to quit on his stool in a bout Lopez was trailing on the scorecards. That being said, I don’t like his chances against WBC 154 lb. paper champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (40-0-1, 29 KOs) in the televised bout on Showtime September 15th. First of all, the gutsy Lopez isn’t known as a big puncher, and against Ortiz he was at a significant size disadvantage waging war at 147 for the first time. Lopez is a natural 140 lb. fighter who relies on strength and pressure to defeat his opponents. I see no advantage here for the Riverside, CA based boxer-puncher. Alvarez will likely outweigh the lad by 15-20 pounds on fight night. I don’t believe Lopez is a good enough boxer to stay out of harms way for 12 rounds against a much larger and harder puncher. Another big concern is that Alvarez is not only the larger man, but has quicker hands. I’d be surprised if Lopez makes it the distance, but if he does it will show more about Canelo’s limitations as a practitioner of the sweet science than Lopez’s ability. If his promoter had any compassion for Lopez, and any real confidence in their charge Alvarez, they’d put him in there with the best available opponent, a fighter they promote, the disrespected Cuban defector and top 154lb contender Erislandy Lara (17-1-1, 11 KOs). You can’t blame Lopez for taking the fight. He’s in this business to make money.
DONAIRE WINS ON HBO SATURDAY, NEEDS TO FIGHT RIGONDEAX
WBO/IBF 122 lb. champion and Filipino rising star Nonito Doniare (29-1, 18 KOs) has recently established himself as one of the best fighters ‘pound for pound’ today. However, after fighting twice at 122, he appeared to have hit a snag. He loads up on shots in fights, and Nonito has abandoned his jab in fights looking to land home runs with every punch. In his rear view mirror is Cuban amateur star Guillermo Rigondeaux (10-0, 8 KOs), who’s been calling him out, and in every significant poll of note when it comes to potential opponents that “FANS” would like “The Filipino Flash: to fight, the Cuban two-time Olympic champ is at the top of every list. Instead of giving the public the fight they desire, Nonito has “sold out” and now says he wants to fight Jorge “Punching Bag” Arce (60-6-2, 46), a good fighter who’s only 32, but has more miles on him than a vintage Greyhound bus.
WHAT HAPPENED TO NONITO THE WARRIOR?
While the fight itself has prospects of being an entertaining affair lets be honest. Donaire wants to fight Arce because he’s a sitting duck that eats punches and is easy to look good against. Arce comes forward, cuts easily and is slow like maple syrup. People wonder what is wrong with boxing? The BS that continues in this sport where credible fights can be made only to make fights where the result is certainly predictable, if not preordained. Before anyone tries to come up with an excuse for Doniare to try and avoid Rigondeaux, who the hell was this guy he was fighting on Saturday? No disrespect to former IBF titleholder Jeffery Mathebula (26-4-2, 14 KOs) of South Africa, but people weren’t lining up to see this fight. Did you see the attendance at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA? Pathetic. It isn’t like the 5’11, 122 lb. fighter had an appealing style. He was lanky, awkward and had no power on his punches. If these are the kind of bouts that promoters feel they need to sell to the public in an effort to protect their fighter, the sport is in real trouble. Enough with the excuses and give the public the fights they clamor for.
-Kevin Perry