AVIS OF CABLE NETWORKS NARROWING GAP ON HERTZ
Los Angeles, CA– Over the years HBOhas earned the reputation as the leader in programming professional boxing. It’s rival network Showtime has recently gained ground. Their success is remarkable considering HBO’s enormous advantage budget wise. Showtime who stands proudly by it’s moniker of “buying fights, not fighters” has a successful market strategy as they have hosted some of the sweet science’s most memorable bouts in recent years.
SHOWTIME HAS THE RIGHT TO BOAST
With wars like 2005’s Ring magazine “Fight of the Year” between lightweights (135 lbs) Jose Luis Castillo (60-9-1, 52 KOs) and the late Diego Corrales (40-5, 33 KOs), and also one of boxing’s most memorable trilogies between super bantamweights (122) Israel Vazquez (44-4, 32 KOs) and Rafael Marquez (38-5, 34) the network has come a long way from the days of being Don King’s cable shill.
LIKE TIME KING HERTZ STRUGGLES TO MEET CHALLENGE
The gap between the two networks continue to narrow Saturday as it broadcasts the first two fights of their highly anticipated “Super Six World Boxing Classic.” This super middleweight (168) tournament that features six of the divisions top fighters. The positive concept is such that you can expect the envious suits at HBO will be watching closely.
TWO FIGHTS IN TWO EUROPEAN COUNTRIES SATURDAY
The double header has two fights from different locations; both ironically in Europe with the American fighters having to cross the pond. Former undisputed middleweight (160) champion Jermain Taylor (28-3-1, 17 KOs) squares off with former IBF middleweight titleholder “King” Arthur Abraham (30-0, 24 KOs), a German based Armenian.
DIRRELL LEAVES TATTERED FLINT FOR UK FIGHT
This same day in Nottingham, UK, Nottingham’s WBC champion Carl Froch (25-0, 20, KOs) faces Flint, Michigan’s athletically gifted Andre Dirrell (18-0, 13 KOs). Both matches are expected to give fans plenty of action. More importantly they appear to be “even” fights that are likely to provide real drama.
TAYLOR IN WIN OR TIME TO RETIRE BOUT?
2000 Olympian Taylor faces a real beast in the hard punching Arthur Abraham. What makes AA such a tough nut to crack is his tight defense. Jermain is more offensive minded and throws more punches, while Arthur likes to fight in spurts. But when he explodes out of his shell, he can be a vicious body puncher as well as having fight ending power in both hands. And to his advantage, AA works at a more relaxed pace than Taylor. This is a must win for the American as he has lost three of his last four fights. Two of those losses (one to Froch and one to Kelly Pavlik) were by brutal KO. In the minds of many the damage incurred is permanently etched into his boxing DNA. Expect the German to start slow but crank up the aggression in the later rounds and pull out a clear unanimous decision.
FROCH-DIRRELL UTILIZE TWO CONTRASTING STYLES
Carl Froch and Andre Dirrell employ two different styles in their face off. Froch, a heavy hitter somewhat limited in boxing skills, will need to rely on his power against the advantage in speed that Andre possesses. One important aspect of this contest is that the American has some punching power and fights from both the conventional and southpaw stance. Carl Froch is known for his pressure, not his defense and thus might be an easy target early on. Dirrell lacks experience, and one would expect him to fade down the stretch seeing has never been 12 rounds and has only had one bout go the full 10. Dirrell should be able to build a comfortable lead and carry that to a close but clear decision over Froch.
NEXT IN BOUT IN SHOWTIME SERIES PITS KESSLER VS. WARD
On November 21st, 2004 Olympic champ Andre Ward (20-0, 13 KOs) hopes to use his hometown advantage when he goes head to head with WBA champion Mikkel Kessler (42-1, 32 KOs) at the Oracle Arena in his native Oakland, CA.
Kevin “KP” Perry