Redemption for Pavlik, Cotto…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
That might be too strong a word for it, but it was big mentally for both Kelly Pavlik and Miguel Cotto. Last weekend saw the middleweight champion and the welterweight contender Miguel Cotto get back on the winning track.
Pavlik was coming off a 12-round thrashing where Bernard Hopkins took him to school while Cotto was coming off what is now a controversial 11th-round TKO against Antonio Margarito.
The handwrap issues with Margarito now have everyone questioning that win. But that’s neither here nor there today.
Pavlik had no trouble stopping Marco Antonio Rubio in nine rounds while Cotto received little resistance in putting out Michael Jennings in five.
As a nececssary evil, the Top Rank card was put on Pay-Per-View from two different sites. Pavlik fought from his hometown of Youngstown while Cotto fought from his adopted hometown of New York.
I get why it was on PPV, but what I don’t understand is trying to convince anyone that this card was worth $44.95. Even if the economy was good, that would seem outlandish.
It had to be on PPV, I get that. It’s too pricey for either ESPN or any other Spanish language stations. And if HBO and Showtime don’t want to put up the money, then PPV is the only way to go.
But how about not insulting the fans’ intelligence. I even think $30 is too much for a card like this. I would top it out at $20 and hope that by doing that, you might get sway some fans over with the price.
At $45, forget it. You have to love either Cotto or Pavlik enough to want to fork over that type of change.
It’s the exact opposite this week as HBO continues its red-hot start to 2009 with Juan Manuel Marquez against Juan Diaz.
The fight is taking place in Houston, Diaz’s hometown and ticket sales are going great, according to all parties concerned.
This should be a good one, much more in-depth preview of this fight before the weekend. I’m leaning toward Marquez at this moment.
As much as bashing HBO is the “in” thing to do in 2009, its first two months have been exactly what fight fans have been clamoring for. No HBO-caliber fights on PPV and no events so far that haven’t been worthy of being on HBO. It’s a start.
***
Didn’t get to see much of UFC 95, except for the main event. Diego Sanchez has come a long way since I first saw him on TUF against Kenny Florian.
Sanchez defeated Joe Stevenson by unanimous decision and have no complaints on the verdict. I had it 30-27, but I could see a 29-28 scorecard.
His striking skills impressed me, especially little things like using the jab often. He’s always had an explosive game, and he’s only added to it.
Haven’t been able to see the big upset of Josh Koscheck losing in the first round to Paulo Thiago. Early candidate for Upset of the Year. Very early candidate.
Be back later in the week with a preview of Diaz and Marquez.
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