Fedor vs. Dawson, who ya watchin’?
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
This weekend begins three straight weekends of major MMA events going head-to-head with major boxing fights.
Very interesting to see who will win these mini-wars. Boxing picked up a big W with Floyd Mayweather vs. Juan Manuel Marquez going up against UFC 103.
This week, I’ll give the edge to MMA. I’m pumped to see a Fedor fight live when he takes on Brett Rogers on CBS. I’ve watched so many on the ‘Net that it’ll be great to see what all the rage is about.
Rogers is talking a big game, which I like. I’m glad he’s got the confidence and as a fellow Chicago boy, I can appreciate that. Still don’t think he has a chance of beating Fedor, but things change quickly in MMA and boxing. One punch can turn a career around.
The buzz has been great and CBS has done a good job in trying to promote it as much as possible. I think they can hook a lot of viewers Saturday afternoon with the Alabama-LSU football game.
Over on HBO, we have the light heavyweight rematch between Chad Dawson and Glen Johnson. Dawson won a close unanimous decision the last time these two hooked up.
Most thought it was a draw and maybe Johnson pulled it out. Kinda the same old story for Johnson.
You know I’ve been a Dawson supporter, but my support expires Saturday night if he doesn’t do more than what he’s been doing.
Maybe I want him to be better than what he really is. I just feel like he should be able to put all the pieces together and become not only a huge star but a great fighter, too.
Either way, prob watch Fedor live and catch Dawson on a replay. Or actually depending on when the fights happen, should be able to see both live.
Also getting closer and closer to Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto. I’m salivating at this one. This is going to be fun. Still on the fence. I got a week to make up my mind.
***
Put in the Noah Zuhdi video to NewsOK late Thursday night. Hopefully that will be posted later today or this weekend. Saving the Eric Fields video for when his story comes out Thursday.
Zuhdi and Fields will be a part of the Remington Park boxing card Thursday night. Tickets are still available. For more info, head on over to www.catboxentertainment.com.
***
And of course if you haven’t heard by now, UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar has mono and has been forced out of UFC 108 in January against Shane Carwin. Hey, hope Brock gets better. Still one of my favorites to watch.
In the gym with Fields and Zuhdi…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Sounds like a bad name for Web cast show or something, huh? No, actually I watched cruiserweight boxer Eric Fields and Oklahoma lightweight champion Noah Zuhdi train Wednesday.
The two will both be fighting next Thursday (Nov. 12) at Remington Park in separate bouts. For more info, head on over to www.catboxentertainment.com.
It was an eye-opening experience. I hope me being there didn’t distract from their normal routine. It didn’t feel like it did, but who knows?
I haven’t been to many live fights and not nearly as many I would like to, but the THUD of Fields’ punches is downright scary. I don’t know what was louder, the right cross or the left hook? All I know is I never ever even want to be close to the left hook.
Was my first opportunity to really sit down and talk with Fields. His is an interesting story that you find more about next week as we get closer to the fight.
A real quiet, reserved guy. A lot of the boxers in this area have tended to be that way. Fields turned pro after limited amateur experience because he needed to support his family.
Fields has a wife and four kids that live in Ardmore. But it wasn’t like he couldn’t compete. He was a two-time National Golden Gloves champion, which is more than enough credentials for anyone.
What I thought was most interesting is that even though Fields is 50 pounds (give or take) heavier than Zuhdi, they both push each other.
Zuhdi commits so much on his punches that it seems like his biggest issue is being too wound up. Needs to try to relax a little more. That’s a tough one to teach.
Fields, on the other hand, is learning the game. He’s come so far with natural gifts, but he’s starting to real learn the ins and outs of the game, starting with footwork.
Boxing becomes a lot more fun when you watch fighters who are so dedicated to their craft like these guys are.
Unfortunately, I picked the wrong day as neither was able to get in sparring, but I was just happy to see them working the mitts with trainer Pete Ramirez.
Also had a chance to meet Fields’ manager Jim Schaffer for the first time, very knowledgable man in the sport.
What’s great about the Azteca Boxing Club is Zuhdi and Fields can use it whenever they want. And when they’re there, it’s basically their gym. That is so crucial to be able to do what you need to do when you want to do it.
I was there for more than three hours and also had a chance to catch up with Capitol Hill student Juan Alex Saucedo. Think his biggest concern is finding a good fighting weight. He’s got some real skills, and Schaffer was pointing out to me the things Saucedo does well. As he starts listing ‘em, you start to realize how much talent this kid has.
Anyway, I shot a bunch of video with Zuhdi and Fields. That should be posted on NewsOK sometime later this week or on the weekend. Hope it gives people a little taste of what the fighters go through on a day-to-day basis.
And once again, the card is next Thursday at Remington Park. Tickets are still available.
Catching up with Fields and Zuhdi…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Here in a few short hours, I plan on going to a sparring session with Ardmore cruiserweight Eric Fields and Oklahoma lightweight champion Noah Zuhdi.
No, they’re not sparring each other.
Fields has breathed fresh life into the Oklahoma City boxing scene. Names like Zuhdi, George Tahdooahnippah and Carson Jones have been around for a while. Each has had a fair share of success, but Fields might have a chance to eclipse them all.
Fields is an interesting story in that I know he didn’t have much amateur experience, yet he is a two-time National Golden Gloves champion.
I’m interested in learning why Fields decided catBOX Entertainment was the best option to go to. It was a real shot in the arm for the promotional group to get such a world-class boxer.
Bringing along my trusty video camera to get a little one-on-one time with the two of them and that should be posted late this week or early next week.
Fields and Zuhdi are among the fighters with bouts at Remington Park next Thursday (Nov. 12). Tickets are still on sale. For more info, head on over to www.catboxentertainment.com.
***
With Kelly Pavlik out, looks like it’s been confirmed that Paul Williams will take on Sergio Martinez.
If styles make fights, this should actually be tougher for Williams. Pavlik was a straight ahead, no nonsense-type of fighter. Martinez is a crafty lefty who isn’t afraid to box, box, box, to get the job done.
***
Received a couple of e-mails as to why Brett Rogers will beat Fedor on Saturday. But this one says it all: “Because he’s American.” Nationalistic pride runs deep with me in boxing and MMA, so though not the most articulate, I like it. But I still don’t give him a chance vs. Fedor on Saturday night on CBS.
Did we just see the Fight of the Year?
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
I didn’t watch the live telecast of Joseph Agbeko and Yonnhy Perez, too busy watching Oregon destroy USC. As a Notre Dame and Oklahoma fan, always nice to see the Trojans get touched up.
But I caught the West coast replay. Boy, am I glad I did. I have to watch it again to fully dissect it, but it was one heck of a scrap.
For the record, I gave it to Perez because of the questionable 10th-round knockdown. I didn’t give him a 10-8 round because of it, but it did switch a 10-9 to Perez instead of Agbeko for a finaly tally of 115-113.
Those 117-110 and 116-111 cards for Perez were crazy, but you just shrug your shoulders at this point.
What I loved most about this fight was both men from the opening bell decided it was going to be a war.
Nobody was going to give an inch, and we were going to be in that proverbial phone booth for 12 rounds. Agbeko looked so dominant against Vic Darchinyan this summer, but Perez was ready to go toe-to-toe.
My only complaint is that nobody was ever really hurt, so it can’t be an all-time classic. It can’t be something like Diego Corrales-Jose Luis Castillo or Irsrael Vazquez-Rafael Marquez. Instead, it’s more going to remind me of Paulie Ayala-Johnny Tapia.
A great fight, maybe Fight of the Year. Great shots landed by both fighters but none of them actually making an impact. In a fight like that, you can always make an argument one way or the other. Hope it leads to a rematch. They’ve earned the payday.
Regardless, a pleasant surprise on a night where I wasn’t looking for an entertaining tilt.
Unlike this weekend where I am expecting Chad Dawson to bring the goods against “the ageless wonder” Glen Johnson. If Dawson wants to remain “one of my boys,” I need to see a complete performance from him. He’s got so much potential, just want to see him put it all together.
***
Get that clicker hand busy as to go along with that bout will be Fedor against Brett Rogers on CBS. CBS has hyped this up pretty good in the last week.
As of today, I think Fedor wipes the floor with Rogers. But I’m willing to listen to a Rogers fan as to why I should give their boy a chance.
Grady Brewer to fight Winky Wright…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Lawton’s Grady Brewer has been waiting for a chance to showcase his skills, and he just might have one now.
The season 2 winner of The Contender is slated to fight former world champion Winky Wright on Dec. 11 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
A presser will officially announce the bout Wednesday in Puerto Rico, and Brewer’s people said they will send me anything newsworthy that happens there.
Brewer has won eight fights in a row, but his career hasn’t really taken off since winning The Contender.
A win against Wright would get him another big fight. Wright’s inactivity has taken him away from the spotlight. His last win was three years ago against Ike Quartey, and he’s lost back-to-back fights to Bernard Hopkins and Paul Williams.
Wright has been one of the best pure boxers in the sport the last 15 years but never really garnered that acclaim after two wins against Shane Mosley and a near wipe out decision win against Tito Trinidad.
Much more on this fight as we get closer.
***
Eric Fields’ opponent for the Remington Park card has been announced. The Ardmore cruiserweight will take on Adam Harris (10-1, 7 KOs) of Massachusetts in the main event Nov. 12.
Oklahoma lightweight champion Noah Zuhdi and Arkansas middleweight Delray Raines will also be on the card.
For tickets and more info, head over to catboxentertainment.com or call (800) 595-4849 or (405) 408-3599.
Machida escapes Rua…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Well, it’s not too often I’m wrong. Wait, it’s not too often I’m RIGHT. But UFC 104 once again proved that even the most predictable outcome sure is fun getting there.
Really thought Lyoto Machida was going to walk on, through and everything else against Shogun Rua.
With the way Machida handled ‘my boy’ Rashad Evans and that Rua was getting the rub off of beating Chuck Liddell (though a legend, he’s past his prime), thought Machida would cruise to the easy win.
Wasn’t so. All three judges scored it 48-47 for Machida, who lost his first rounds ever in his eight UFC bouts.
What is clear after watching it Sunday and judging from the crowd reaction is that Rua won the last two rounds, and that’s what people remember.
It’s all about the finish. Very close fight. Initially, I called it a draw. I might watch it again for a better assessment.
Either way, all it really did was build up the anticipation to an immediate rematch that has earned the right to headline a PPV. UFC president Dana White said he thought Rua won and also said there would be a rematch.
In the other notable bout, heavyweight Cain Velasquez continues his rise with a second-round TKO victory. Stoppage was a bit premature, but Cain was handling his business.
Don’t know if he’s ready for a title shot, but he dang close at this point. I would like to see him win one more fight against a well-seasoned fighter that could give him fits.
***
Caught the first episode of 24/7: Pacquiao and Cotto as must say both Manny and Miguel are coming off as likable dudes.
Still torn on who I’m picking in this one. Something in me keeps saying this is Cotto’s moment and Pacquiao has never faced someone with such power.
But Cotto has never faced anyone with such blinding speed. Hmm, see, could go back and forth every day.
Sets up a good November as I forgot about Chad Dawson vs. Glen Johnson II on Nov. 7, then PacMan and Cotto on the 14th and Andre Ward vs. Mikkel Kessler to close off the first stage of the Super Six on Nov. 21.
Few weeks away from Fields’ Remington debut…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Fields to make Remington debut
The buzz has never been higher for the Oklahoma City-based boxing promotions group, catBOX Entertainment.
The organization recently signed world-ranked cruiserweight contender Eric Fields of Ardmore, and Fields will fight his first bout under the catBOX banner Nov. 12 at Remington Park.
Fields, 27, is a two-time National Golden Gloves champion and fought for the WBO cruiserweight championship in April 2008.
He has only fought once since, an easy second-round technical knockout in January and is 12-1 with 10 knockouts.
Also scheduled on the card will be Oklahoma lightweight champion Noah Zuhdi. Zuhdi is 8-0 with eight knockouts. It will be his seventh fight at Remington.
Tickets are on sale. For more information, call (800) 595-4849 or visit www.catboxentertainment.com.
This is pretty exciting for the local boxing scene, and it will be very interesting to see how much interest is generated from having someone like Fields around.
The last Remington card left a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths, but this sounds like a winner on paper.
I’m hoping that since it’s a Thursday night, I’ll be able to check it out. It shouldn’t interfere in my HS football duties, but we shall see.
***
Couple of boxing fights to update on as it Vitali Klitschko will take on Kevin Johnson in December in Switzerland.
I’ve long been a fan of Johnson and what he brings to the table. Though I don’t think he is anywhere near ready for this type of bout, hey, go for it.
Johnson, from what I’ve seen, has an incredible jab and great handspeed. The knock on him has been his lack of power. He’s won his last three fights by KO, so that’s a step in the right direction.
There isn’t a name on his ledger, and he’s not someone the most casual of a fan should even recognize, buy hey, go get ‘em.
Also, Shane Mosley is now said to be fighting Andre Berto. I’ll believe it when I see it as Mosley has had no luck at all since destroying Antonio Margarito in January.
***
And for those who want a look of what being a boxing writer in the 21st century means, here is a poignant piece from Thomas Hauser at maxboxing.com.
It’s a look at the lack of boxing coverage by The New York Times.
This will give you some real insight on how perception becomes reality real quick, and it’s a constant battle. A battle (of getting boxing out there) that I feel can be won (or I wouldn’t fight it). But as always, tremendous piece by Hauser.
Back Friday with some UFC 104 thoughts.
Super Six giving boxing buzz…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
While MMA and UFC are seemingly doing everything right in trying to create new fans and exploring new marketing ideas, boxing has been well behind the curve.
For years, us ‘experts’ thought there needed to be the Next Great Star to try to bring fans to the game. But after watching the Super Six World Boxing Classic, that is not needed.
Imagine that all it took was fighters willing to risk everything for the chance at getting everything. The buzz was there this last weekend for Arthur Abraham and Jermain Taylor and Carl Froch vs. Andre Dirrell.
Taylor has left the hospital and is now vacationing in Europe. That’s the best news you could hope for at this point.
Some thoughts, observations
- European crowds are absolutely fantastic. Great atmosphere at both venues. Wish it would be like that again in the US.
- Antonio Tarver is going to be one heckuva announcer. What he’s doing a real good job of right now is not turning the focus back to himself. He’s talking about the fighters. Really hope he sticks with it. I love the “Magic Man” but the last couple of years have stained what I remember of him.
- Glad we finally know the format of the Super Six. Three stages with two points for a decision win and three points for a KO win. After that, a semifinals and a final. Thank you.
- How cool is the Super Six? Because of the format, not one person (well, almost) has mentioned how Andre Dirrell is now done because he just had his first loss.
- Taylor needs to get out. And I’m not just saying that because I’m an advocate of Tulsa’s Allan Green taking his place. Taylor gave us everything he had. He took on one tough fight after another. He’s good to great, but it seems he’ll always end up just a little short. The money isn’t worth the memory loss.
- But that leads to an interesting conundrum. Say Green (or whoever) replaces someone. Does the replacement inherit the other guy’s point total, and how would that be fair? We’ll see.
- I love Gus Johnson’s excitement, but he was off the mark on Dirrell and Froch. I thought Dirrell won, too, but Johnson seemed to only notice what Dirrell did the whole night. And great to see Steve Albert back for the Abraham fight, a true class act.
- Well, we got almost a month now. 24/7 for Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto starts Saturday. That fight is Nov. 14, with Mikkel Kessler and Andre Ward concluding the first stage of the Super Six on Nov. 21.
- Back later in the week as I try to muster up some enthusiasm for UFC 104. I don’t know, just think Lyoto Machida is going to wipe the floor with Shogun Rua. We’ll see.
Super Six: Good as advertised…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
After watching hours upon hours upon hours of high school softball all last week, it felt good to watch some boxing Saturday night.
Showtime presented the first two bouts of the Super Six Super Middleweight Classic, and it was solid. A great night of action.
But you know I love Jermain Taylor and everything he has represented. And it’s probably why I didn’t post something Sunday because my heart was still going out to Taylor after being brutally knocked out by Arthur Abraham in the final seconds of the 12th round.
I don’t think this was a case of Taylor tiring down the stretch, but more it was Abraham simply coming on and making his imprint in the fight.
Taylor had the edge through six rounds but didn’t do enough to make me think it wasn’t going to be a sad end.
He jabbed like nobody’s business, but it wasn’t effective and he didn’t follow it with a right and left hook. It was just a double jab into the ear muffs of Abraham.
In round 9, Taylor was buzzed something awful. Thought it was done, almost hoped it would be. I knew if it wasn’t, that maybe something even worse was in store.
And in the final half minute of round 12, it happened. Abraham wasn’t looking for the kill shot but found it anyway with a right hand. Taylor went completely limp and thudded on the canvas.
When he hit the ground, his gloves remained in the air. In other words, stop counting referee. Amazingly, Taylor gave a postfight interview but has been said to be suffering from memory loss and of course has a nasty concussion.
Big win for Abraham in front of his home crowd. Not sure where Taylor goes from here. And honestly, not sure if I want him to go anywhere from here. That’s three brutal KOs in two years. Retire and live the good life.
In the other bout, didn’t expect much from American Andre Dirrell as he took on England’s Carl Froch.
Boy was I wrong. Dirrell is the real deal, even if two of the judges didn’t see it that way.
Dirrell lost a close split-decision by scores of 115-112 twice for Froch and 114-113 for Dirrell. I believe The Boneman had it 115-113 for Dirrell. Don’t remember what round I had even.
Thought Froch was out of line in his postfight interview, lambasting Dirrell for how he fought. Which is it: did Froch want to show he had some skills like he said before the fight? Or did he want it to be a rough affair where he gets away with every dirty trick in the book?
A day later, not too peeved about the decision. Live, I was frustrated. More for American boxing than anything else. It was a close one, and Dirrell didn’t do what he needed to do in the 12th round on foreign soil.
The interesting thing to me is the first five rounds. That’s where this fight was won or lost by Dirrell. It was just a lot of ‘blah’ and running and an occasional flurry by the American. But Froch had no answer. Didn’t cut off the ring and landed next to nothing, too.
After the fifth round, the action heated up, and I know that Dirrell hurt Froch at the end of the 10th round but didn’t press it enough. I know it. From the way Froch’s body language was and his legs unsteady, he was there to be had.
Either way, chalk it up as a W for Froch and the first loss for Dirrell.
More thoughts and analysis Tuesday on the Super Six as this has kinda got me pumped about the boxing/MMA world again after a couple of listless weeks following Ultimate Fight Night.
The Super Six is here…
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Even when it was made official I couldn’t believe it was actually going to happen. No way could this six-man super middleweight round robin actually occur.
Well, the first two boxing fights are Saturday on Showtime, so ha, take that, Boneman.
This is truly something I haven’t seen in my lifetime. The only thing remotely close to this was the middleweight tournament in 2001 on HBO featuring Bernard Hopkins, Keith Holmes, Tito Trinidad and William Joppy. Hopkins, of course, added to his legacy with a brutal one-sided 12th-round knockout of Trinidad.
But this Super Six is intriguing at all levels with Jermain Taylor, Andre Dirrell and Andre Ward representing the US and Arthur Abraham, Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler representing Europe.
It kicks off with Taylor vs. Abraham and Dirrell vs. Froch, both fights are in Europe.
You know I love Jermain, but there is no way the Arkansas native doesn’t get stopped in this one. He tires out, and Abraham is in his prime, too, and is certainly one of the best fighters in the world today.
Taylor should dictate early as usual, but then Abraham should figure him out, let Jermain wear himself out and take him down.
Dirrell and Froch is interesting because not sure if Dirrell belongs with the rest of these cats.
He has the most to prove, if you ask me (but you didn’t). Froch is coming off that memorable 12th-round KO of Jermain Taylor in the spring.
If Dirrell chooses to box from the outside, he might be able to do enough to eke out a decision. But Froch never stops coming, so I don’t know. And it’s in Europe, so I don’t know. Think Dirrell has to try to make some sort of statement in this one.
Gonna go with Abraham TKO 8 and Froch by close unanimous decision against Dirrell.
***
Able to talk with Oklahoma lightweight champion Noah Zuhdi this last weekend about how things are shaping up for the Nov. 12 card at Remington Park.
Exciting time for catBOX Entertainment, based here in the Oklahoma City area. Able to sign its first big name in cruiserweight Eric Fields, and he’ll make his debut under the catBOX banner in the main event Nov. 12.
There was a press conference last week at Remington to officially announce it, and it seems like interest in the local boxing scene is starting to pick up.
***
Back Thursday with some MMA news and notes, including the latest on former OSU start Johny Hendricks.
