Call these next two weeks the “quiet before the storm.” It’s been a while since boxing, criticized as of late, and supposedly nonexistent after the Floyd Mayweather-Oscar De La Hoya megafight in May, has featured such a heavy-hitting lineup. Almost all of the fight game’s big names will be in action over the next four months – against fellow big names. And though the Fernando Vargas-Ricardo Mayorga grudge match is postponed from its original Sept. 8 date, there is more than enough action over the rest of 2007 to make up for it. Here’s a fall preview.
*Juan Manuel Marquez (47-3-1, 35 KOs) vs. Rocky Juarez (27-3, 19 KOs), Sept. 15, Las Vegas, HBO PPV: The best thing that could have happened to this card happened: Original opponent Jorge Barrios was replaced by Juarez. The Houstonian is much more skilled than the face-first Barrios – and he will almost surely give Mexico’s Marquez, the WBC junior lightweight champ, a much tougher fight. Some even smell upset. The undercard (Sergio Mora vs. Kassim Ouma, Steve Forbes vs. Panchito Bojado) may even be worth the asking price. A great improvement from what Golden Boy originally offered. And a tough pick.
Matt's pick: Marquez W 12 (split).
*Vitali Klitschko (35-2, 34 KOs) vs. Jameel McCline (38-7, 23 KOs), Sept. 22, Munich, Germany, Showtime: The return of Klitschko, who retired following his 2003 loss to Lennox Lewis due to injuries. Those injuries are now healed, and Ukrainian Klitschko figures to factor in a heavyweight division that is still dreadful. (And, yes, a fight with his bro, IBF champ Wladimir Klitschko, is impossible). Who knows what McCline has left after busting his knee against Nikolay Valuev in January. At age 37, probably not much. Regardless, this should be billed as the battle of the "walking wounded."
Matt's pick: Klitschko TKO 5.
*Jermain Taylor (27-0, 17 KOs) vs. Kelly Pavlik (31-0, 28 KOs), Sept. 29, Atlantic City, HBO: The best middleweight matchup in years. Little Rock, Arkansas’s Taylor, the recognized champ since ’05, has been unimpressive over his two year reign – struggling to beat smaller men. Youngstown, Ohio’s Pavlik, meanwhile, mopped the floor with banger Edison Miranda in May, and looks skilled and polished enough to unseat a man who still has plenty to prove. At this point, Pavlik looks tough to beat. But he won't turn this into a track meet like Cory Spinks did - which means Taylor won't have to go looking for him. Which means this is pick'em.
Matt's pick: Pavlik W 12 (split)
*Manny Pacquiao (44-3-2, 35 KOs) vs. Marco Antonio Barrera (63-5, 42 KOs), Oct. 6, Las Vegas, HBO PPV: Four years ago, Pacquiao came out of nowhere to annihilate Barrera. Since then, Barrera has proven that he remains one of Mexico’s all time greats, while Pacquiao has continued to destroy everything in his path. Barrera maintains the first fight was an aberration. But most think Filipino “Pac-Man” will again be too much for a Barrera past his prime, in this 130-pound fight. But...Barrera has surprised us before. Remember when "Prince" Naseem Hamed was supposed to beat him with ease? Bettors..beware of the upset. But go with Pac-Man.
Matt's pick: Pacquiao W 12 (split).
*Oleg Maskaev (34-5, 26 KOs) vs. Samuel Peter (28-1, 22 KOs), Oct. 6, New York, Showtime: Russian native Maskaev makes his long-awaited first defense of the WBC heavyweight title he won from Hasim Rahman last year. Finally. He’ll do it against the murderous-punching Nigerian Peter, who looked sharp in a January victory over James Toney. Interesting matchup, but Maskaev’s weak chin will probably prove his undoing. It caved in against Oliver McCall 11 years ago. And, later, against David Tua, Kirk Johnson and Lance Whitaker. Nightmare new champ.
Matt's pick: Peter KO 7.
*Sultan Ibragimov (21-0, 17 KOs) vs. Evander Holyfield (42-8-2, 27 KOs), Oct. 13, Moscow, Showtime: Yes, that Holyfield, who actually looked pretty good in his last fight against Lou Savarese. But Savarese is ancient – as is Atlanta’s Holyfield. And the younger, fresher WBO heavyweight champ Ibragimov, from Russia, should prove to be too much. It would be an embarrassment if he lost to the 44-year-old Holyfield, who has really done nothing to earn this title shot. Perhaps if he loses, he'll give up his silly dream.
Matt's pick: Ibragimov TKO 9.
*Juan Diaz (32-0, 16 KOs) vs. Julio Diaz (34-3, 25 KOs), Oct. 13, Chicago, HBO: This unification of the WBA/WBO/IBF lightweight titles figures to be a barnburner while it lasts. Juan, from Houston, is an emerging star whose offensive assault has overwhelmed quality opponents such as Acelino Freitas. Julio, from Coachella, Calif., is a veteran who has learned from punishing losses to a prime Jose Luis Castillo, and wants to hold on to his world title. Strange that they’re fighting in Chicago – hometown of the WBC champ and another Diaz, David. Perhaps he will fight the winner. Right now, Juan has too much talent and too much momentum.
Matt's pick: Juan TKO 10.
*Joe Calzaghe (43-0, 32 KOs) vs. Mikkel Kessler (39-0, 29 KOs), Nov. 3, Cardiff, Wales, HBO: Someone’s ‘0’ will go in this battle of highly-skilled European super middleweight champions. IBF/WBO titlist Calzaghe, who will be fighting in his backyard, has made 20 defenses of his title over a 10-year reign. But WBC champ Kessler of Denmark is the hungry up-and-comer who looked superb in his last fight, a drubbing of top contender Librado Andrade. The winner could get Bernard Hopkins.
Matt's pick: Calzaghe W 12 (unanimous).
*Miguel Cotto (30-0, 25 KOs) vs. Shane Mosley (44-4, 37 KOs), Nov. 10, New York, PPV: In a year of big fights, this gem just may be the best matchup of the entire year – if not the decade. WBC welterweight champ Cotto is the new Puerto Rican god, by virtue of crushing wins over Carlos Quintana and Zab Judah. His face-first style is always entertaining, and you can bet he’ll be hurt at least once in a fight. And Mosley is the reemerging superstar, after dismantling Fernando Vargas and Luis Collazo in his last three fights. Absolutely can’t miss. This will be the best $50 you’ve ever spent on a PPV show.
Matt's pick: Mosley TKO 11.
*Joan Guzman (27-0, 17 KOs) vs. Humberto Soto (42-5-2, 26 KOs), Nov. 17, El Cajon, Calif., HBO: If you’re a die-hard fight fan, you know these two. And you know what an intriguing fight it is. WBO champ Guzman is a strong, gifted, undefeated 130-pounder who has dominated top contenders like Jorge Barrios. Soto looks like the second coming of Antonio Margarito – refusing to take a backward step and with power to spare. In a word, wow.
Matt's pick: Guzman W 12 (split).
*Floyd Mayweather (38-0, 24 KOs) vs. Ricky Hatton (43-0, 31 KOs), Dec. 8, Las Vegas, PPV: A fitting way to end a spectacular 2007, as America’s best, Mayweather, takes on England’s best, Hatton, for all the marbles at 147 pounds. The favorite will be Mayweather, whose speed and ability make him the best fighter in the world, pound-for-pound. But Hatton’s aggressive, choppy style just may be the style that finally does “Pretty Boy” Floyd in. But probably not. Floyd's just too fast and crafty.
Matt's pick: Mayweather W 12 (unanimous). M
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