I'll eventually jump back in the loop...

The more I read other boxing sites and blogs just to keep up with what's going on, the more I realize that I am just totally out of the loop. The fact is, I've always maintained the position that you shouldn't write about a fight unless you've actually seen it. And these days, with no premium channels on my TV, I don't see much at all. There's occasionally a decent bout on Friday Night Fights on ESPN, but those fights are never close to the marquee fights you get on HBO, Showtime, and PPV.

That said, I think I'm just going to continue on this somewhat extended break, until I can get to a place where plunking down fifty bucks to watch a fight on PPV, or adding an extra $25 a month in premium channels to my budget is do-able. I'll also admit that I've become rather caught up in my obsessive love of the NY Mets (they are, after all, having a very good year). I guess we all have to have our priorities. Which isn't to say that I'm leaving boxingfan forever. It's just that my posting will be sporadic at best. Like it has been for most of the year.

As an aside, I think it's pitiful that for most of the year, I've been dreading the day when Wladimir Klitschko finally has a decent fight (or actually, any fight at all) and I can't watch it because I can't afford to. I can't believe I'm still waiting.

Maybe Evander Should Fight Rocky Balboa

Yes I know, snarky. It's the best I can do these days. I know my posting here has been for s**t over the past several months. I'll try to do better. Tomorrow maybe.

Anyway: Funny article here about Mr. Holyfield and his "comeback" from my friends at Deadspin (yes Will, you are now my friend.) Also worth mentioning, JE Grant has a snippet re: the Holyfield fight here. I won't comment on the fight because I didn't watch it. I'm sure something else was on the tube that night or maybe I was sleeping or playing with my dog.

I'm planning on posting more re: the fact that I've been sucked into The Contender. I know, I've tried in vain to miss that show since its inception, but now I've become drawn in. I tell you, every week I feel like killing myself over some poor slob's crap luck! Has the show always been like this? Poor Vinroy! Poor Ebo! I can't take it! I just want to watch a complete five-round fight, you know? Isn't that enough human drama without all the added.... drama?!

Ok, that's all I've got for now. I shouldn't be doing this at work anyway.

Liakhovich Shakes Up Heavyweight Division

What a fight! Sergei Liakovich decisively took away Lamon Brewster's WBO Heavyweight belt in one of the best heavyweight fights I've seen in a looooong time. In a fight that went the distance, at times it looked like Brewster would hit the canvas - sometimes in the same round and just a few seconds after it looked like it would be Liakhovich who'd end up flat on his back.

It seems a rematch will be forthcoming, and given the excitement they delivered last night, I'd expect a rematch to be strictly pay-per-view. I have to say, I'd pay for it. These guys showed tremendous heart, will, and boxing skill (though I think Liakovich displayed much more of the latter). It's refreshing to see a heavyweight with that kind of speed - he snapped Brewster's head back time and time again with that jab, and seemed to land that right to the body almost at will. Most impressive about Liakovich to me was his chin. Brewster gave him a hell of a beating at several points - and only once did he take a knee. I do think Liakovich needs to work on capitalizing on a hurt opponent. It was frustrating watching him punch himself out when he had Brewster against the ropes, throwing dozens of useless punches in short barrages instead of stepping back and choosing his shots. For his part though, Brewster is one tough SOB. He would simply not go down.

I expect Wladimir Klitschko to make short work of Chris Byrd. After that, I'd love to see him fight the winner of the Brewster/Liakhovich rematch (and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this may all yet happen in 2006). I know I said in my last post that the winner of Klitschko/Byrd should get a shot at the winner of Rahman/Toney, but after their completely unimpressive snoozer in AC a coupld of weeks ago, I'm changing my mind. Even though I think Rahman actually won the fight, I just don't care. In my opinion, both Rahman and Toney have become irrelevant.

Heavyweights, Joe Mesi, and Stuff

I just wanted to give a shout out to JE Grant. He posted his top heavyweights as of March 2006 on his site, JE Boxing. I pretty much agree with him, so rather than reinvent the wheel here, I'll just give a link to his site. (Ok, not sure that I'd put Rahman at #1, but I guess we'll see after the Toney fight, right?) Also, as you might have guessed, I've been a bit out of the loop lately. I just can't write about boxing as often as I'd like to. Which leads me to something I would like to write about: Joe Mesi. It must be the lawyer in me that's just fascinated with this guy. It's not as if I think he's the second coming of Rocky Marciano. Far from it. I'm more interested in his legal and medical issues as they relate to boxing than anything else. Plus, I honestly would like to see the guy get a fair shot at a title. That said, no way he's going to beat Klitschko, or Brewster, or Toney or Rahman. Not anytime soon. Frankly, if he gets past Sam Peter, I'll be impressed.

Anyway, the real reason for my post here is to ask anyone who still might be coming by my site if they happen to know where I can get a copy of the judge's opinion in the Mesi case. I've heard snippets of it quoted, but I'd like to read it in its entirety. From what I understand of the case now, Joe's battles are far from over. Looks to me like the judge punted; he didn't actually address the real issue of whether or not Joe has a right to fight. I do think his reasoning re: once the license expires, the suspension expires, is interesting. The problem is, I think it's a no-brainer that the Nevada State Athletic Commission will argue that the suspension should automatically re-attach to the license one it's renewed. But I don't really know at this point - that's why I'd like to read the opinion. And, if anyone out there actually has a copy of any briefs that may have been submitted to the court on behalf of either party - that would be an extra bonus!

Finally, I just want to say that the heavyweight fight I am waiting for is a rematch of Klitschko and Brewster. In my opinion, the winner of that fight should get a shot at the winner of Rahman/Toney, and then you'd have your undisputed #1 guy. But that's just my opinion.

Oh Man, I Can't Wait...

Hey Johnny, I know a lawyer who does wills real cheap!

Boxing and the Mainstream Sports Media

The only reason I knew that Vitali Klischko announced his retirement from boxing and ceded his belt to Hasim Rahman was because my wife told me. She was home watching Mike & Mike in the Morning on ESPN, and saw it on a crawl at the bottom of the screen. She called me at work to tell me about it. They never talked about it on the show.

To me the news of Klitschko's retirement was unexpected. But then, I'm a little out of the boxing loop these days. I haven't been hanging out of Maxboxing or ESB for awhile. It's not as if I'd get boxing news by watching ESPN or any of the major networks. To me it was big news, but I guess that's because I'm a fan of the sport. The mainstream sports media, however, does not give a damn about boxing. But if you're reading my little column here, then you probably know that already.

I came home and watched Sportscenter. And PTI. And that stupid show with Stat Boy - what's it called? Around the Horn. Right. The one Max Kellerman used to host - the one guy at ESPN who had half a clue about boxing. Anyway, no one cared to report that the Heavyweight Champion of the World retired. The wife tells me Jim Rome didn't talk about it either. All those morons are still too busy gorging themselves on that dead horse named Terrell Owens. By the way, is there someone I can PAY to MAKE THEM STOP?

If boxing has become insignificant, it's because the mainstream sportsmedia has made it that way. Yes, I am talking to you, ESPN.

Quick Note On Wladimir Klitschko & Other Stuff

I know I've been very much NOT around lately. New job, working my butt off. You know how it is. And I've sort of made it a policy of mine to not write about fights that I haven't seen. With money being tight and most PPV fights lately being barely worth laying out fifty bucks for, I've missed a lot of fights. But I didn't miss Cotto or Klitschko fight Saturday night, and I'm grateful I can still afford HBO and still manage to stay up past 9pm every once in awhile.

I didn't keep score. I noticed between every round I more or less agreed with Harold Lederman, except where the issue of Wladimir's holding was concerned. I think Harold whined about that too much. Wlad did what he had to do to win. He used holding the right way - to keep a wrecking ball of a puncher away from him, you jab, and if he gets inside, you hold. He didn't do the cheap grappling brawler kind of holding you see from the likes of John Ruiz.

The fact is, Sam Peter packs a punch, and that's about it. The guy has very little boxing skill, and Wlad took him to school. Wlad boxed, he moved, he jabbed, and miraculously, he took no less than three Super Peter Power Punches (including one cheap shot to the back of the head), went down three times, and got up -- and STILL WON.

I know there are a lot of Klitschko detractors out there. I never considered myself one of them, nor have I been a crazy fan. And I'll admit, after Lamon Brewster knocked him out, I thought Wlad was done. I thought Peter would knock him into next week. But I think we all, including Wlad, learned something Saturday night. First, you cannot underestimate the value of a smart, future hall-of-fame trainer. Take a bow, Mr. Steward. Second, the boy has a hell of a lot more heart, and quite a bit more chin than anyone gave him credit for. In my eyes, Peter's stock plummeted, and Klitschko's soared. The hell with Klitschko/Peter II. I'd rather see Klitschko/Brewster II.

As for Cotto, he certainly proved himself Saturday night as well. I honestly thought he was about five seconds from a stoppage in the early rounds. No doubt Ricardo Torres put himself on the map of the boxing world this weekend. He is a force to be reckoned with, and even with Tszyu's recent departure, the 140 lb. division has never looked so exciting. Speaking of which, Ricky, where are you? When's the next fight, man?

In other news, Dominick Guinn is fighting James Toney and I could care less. Toney is going to drag his big fat butt into that ring and mop the floor with Guinn, and everyone knows it. Still, if there's nothing else on TV that night, and I'm still awake, I may tune in. Tarver/Jones III - I just don't care enough to pay that kind of cash. Klitschko/Rahman, also on PPV? No thanks. You know what fight will be worth the money? Castillo/Corrales II. I'll find the money for that one, and I'll be back here writing about it when it's over.