Joe Calzaghe Dethrones B-Hop

     Last Saturday night thirty six year old super middleweight champion, Joe Calzaghe faced off against the forty three year old light heavyweight champion, Bernard Hopkins for his title, in a much anticipated fight. Boxing fans were not sure if the lightning fast and unrelenting style of Calzaghe would bring home the victory, or if the shrewd, craft of the old veteran would reign supreme. Roy Jones Junior , who defeated Hopkins more than ten years ago, picked Calzaghe to come out victorious in the big show down. He felt that although Hopkins is still a great boxer, the younger and hungrier Calzaghe would be more active in the fight, thus pulling out a decision win. Other boxing analysts also shared the idea that Calzaghe would win by decision. Their expert predictions were not wrong, and the audience in attendance saw Calzaghe, the British fighter fighting for the first time on American soil, get his hand raised after twelve hard fought rounds of boxing to become the undisputed Light Heavyweight Champion of the world.

     The fight started with a flash knockdown, educed by a beautiful placed cross by Hopkins, to the chin of Calzaghe. He found himself on the ground much earlier than anyone could expect, but got up as fast as possible and finished out the round. Calzaghe won the following the round, setting the tone for the rest of the fight. Although Hopkins did win at least two rounds in the fight and seemed to give his opponent troubles with his effective crosses, he simply was not active enough. No one can deny that Hopkins got good shots in and was never dazed, but Calzaghe simply overwhelmed him for all three minutes of all twelve rounds. It was his desire to impose his will and Hopkins’ conformity with landing one shot at a time that made the judges give the challenger the victor.

     Hopkins is by no way washed up, or a has been, but it is about time he considers retirement. He reigned as middleweight champion for more than a decade, won the light heavyweight championship when no one thought he could do it, destroying legends such as Felix Tito Trinidad and Oscar de La Hoya; what more can he prove to the boxing world. While Calzaghe has only elevated his superstardom and should be ready for the big fights and big pay days up ahead.

George St. Piere vs. Matt Serra II

     GSP and Mat Serra fought for the second time this past Saturday night in what was to be a brutal beat down of the current champion. Most ringside experts expected GSP to demonstrate that his opponents win over him had been a fluke, and he proved that point loud and clear. The five foot six Serra fought a hungry and well prepared Goliath, who simply did not let him get intro his groove. GSP pressed the action from the opening bell and was inexorable in his devastating ground and pound. Although it Serra did have to weather the storm in the first round, and barely got out, he did nullify most of GSP’s fatal blows with his world class Jiu Jitsu. GSP, however, proved that his wrestling and passing skills are second to none, taking Serra down at will. All experts watching agree that his performance was top notch and worthy of a superstar of his caliber.

     The meaning of this fight is huge. GSP not only demonstrated that he is not a disgrace, but also that Serra was an underrated fighter, who simply got lucky a year ago. With Matt Hughes considering retirement, there is no one at the present moment that can compare to GSP. He is a menace with striking and vicious on the ground. Maybe some rising superstar in the future will pose a threat, but for now anyone who faces a focused and well prepared George St. Pierre are just guppies. …..The list of MMA fighters who have tasted defeat at the hands of the new champion are: Frank Twigs, BJ Penn, Mat Hughes (Twice), Josh Koshcehck, and now the Matt Serra.

     Serra should not pick himself up and try to work his way up in the UFC ladder. It would seem that the Welterweight division is, however, not his proper weight class. For someone who is five foot six tall, the lightweight division is the best option. With his punching power, and Jiu Jitsu ability, it would only be a matter of time until he is once again wearing a title around his waist.

Great fight, and Good Luck to both fighters.

Gsp Destroys Mat Serra

Margarito vs. Cotto

It’s set, they fight. Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto both illustrated virtuoso performances in their respective fights on Saturday. Margarito in the top card of the night fought Carlos Cintron, the man who he had knocked out in the seventh round of their first fight, and for the second time ran right through him. Cintron looked lackluster and unwilling to fight after Margarito relentlessly put devastating pressure, which would wear out any great fighter in his prime. Cintron eventually succumbed to another humiliating defeat in the fifth round. With this win earlier in the night, Margarito impatiently awaited to see if Miguel Cotto would also perform as well in his fight, for if he did, a lucrative pay-per-view fight was certain. 

 

Miguel Cotto did not disappoint his primarily Puertorican audience, and easily dismantled an inexperienced Alfonso Gomez. It even seemed in the fight that Cotto took it easy on Gomez so as to not hurt or humiliate him. He showed to all that were watching on Saturday, the difference between a up-and-coming novice and a superstar such as himself. Cotto was in a class of his own in this fight. This victory, yet again by ko/tko fashion, has brought Cotto closer to the much anticipated show off against Antonio Margarito

 

Now that the fight is set for the end of July, many questions are coming up: who will win, how will he win, and will it make for an exciting night? It is not such a viable task to predict the winner of a fight between to legends of them time. Margarito is known for his relentless offense, iron chin, and will over skill mentality. Cotton, on the other hand, with a great pedigree in amateur boxing, and an equally inexorable style if attack, looks to meet Margarito in the center of the ring. But a key point should be noted, Cotto’s frail chin. Against lesser fighters he has been tested and set to taste the reviled canvas. Margarito’s skill might not measure up to his undefeated opponent, but his heart and ability to continue after being hurt has never been questioned.

 

So who will win Cotto vs. Margarito? Puerto Rico vs. Mexico?

Whatever the result, the boxing world will be treated to a masterpiece no doubt.

Muhammad Ali and the Phantom Punch

          In 1965, Muhammad Ali faced Sonny Liston for the much awaited rematch. Before their first fight, Ali was a 7-1 underdog who scarcely anyone gave a fighting shot to. But with the controversial, yet defining, victory over Liston, after he refused to continue fighting at the begining of the 7th round, Ali was now, to the suprise of millions, the Heavyweight Champion of the World.

          When they finally met again, the tables and roles were switched; Ali was the reigning champion and Liston was the challenger. What a turn of events! People were claiming Ali had a fluke in his first fight and that Liston would get him this time around. However, to the astonishment of many, Ali not only defeated him again, but in a more humiliating manner: first minute of the first round. Because the fighters had barely gotten warmed up and the punch with which Ali had connected seemed to have not been so hard, many claimed that Liston had purposely taken the fall. Some say the Mafia forced Liston to purposely lose the fight because of pending dues he had with them. Others say that Liston himself was reported as stating that he threw the fight for fear of the black muslim sect that was campaigning Muhammad Ali’s boxing career. Due to being hard to see on regular speed, the punch that knocked out Liston was coined “the phantom punch.”

           Though some may discredit the phantom punch as the consequence of a corruption or exhortation, for those who do believe the punch do have connected flush it is an inspiration. No matter how many may count you out, if you believe in yourself nothing is outside your reach. Muhammad Ali, formerly known as Cassius Clay, demonstrated to the world that “Impossible is nothing.”

Muhammad Ali vs Sonny Liston (1965)

ALI Phantom Punch

Matt Serra=Fluke or GSP=Disgrace

     

          

      Serra comes back to fight George St. Pierre at UFC 83. Serra has not fought since UFC 69 due to testing positive for steroid use and some injuries; as a result, his match with George St. Pierre that was scheduled earlier this year was postponed. The rematch that is scheduled for next month has been much awaited since Serra’s upset victory over GSP in which he took the welterweight championship.

      In their first encounter everyone thought GSP would completely maul Serra. It was the safest bet to take, seeing how easily he had dismantled the great Mat Hughes. Serra, born and raised in Long Island, was not intimidated by the implausibly large mountain he had to climb. Round one started out with both fighters being very cautious and tactical. GSP tried to get his kicks going, but Serra kept interrupting his rhythm. Slowly but surely we saw Serra get closer and closer with his heavy hands. When out of nowhere one of his punches grazed the back of GSP’s head. He started to stumble backwards, but Serra with the rage of a champion in the making kept on him with devastating lefts and rights. As GSP completely collapsed to the ground, Serra hovered over him and perpetuated the barrage of blows to his face. The referee had no choice but to step in and be a witness to one of the biggest upsets of UFC history. Serra was now the welterweight champion of the world. 

      Since this fight occurred, Serra has not defended his title once or been in a fight for that matter. GSP on the other hand has had incredible performances against the likes of Josh Kosheck and Mat Hughes, proving his superstar status once more. With this rematch coming up, it is safe to assume that GSP will once again be the favorite and Serra the underdog. Most analysts and critics believe that the last fight was the case of the great champion taking his opponent lightly and paying the price for it. This time around most, if not everyone, believe that GSP will perform as is expected of him.  

      Will the former champion reclaim his title and prove the fluke of his previous lost or will the underdog once again be an inspiration for all those who are pegged to the old cliché of David vs. Goliath?