Boxing Blog – TSS Tidbits

Joey the K weighs in on Saturday’s Lamon Brewster bout

I haven’t seen much of Sergei Lyakhovich in a while, which is merely a fact of him not fighting recently. It has been almost 1.5 years since he fought, and beating on Dominick Guinn is nothing impressive. As was the case for Lamon Brewster against Luan Krasniqi, Lamon can be beat with a steady diet of jabs and hard right hands, provided they are followed with movement and discipline. That will likely be where the “White Wolf” gets into trouble, trying to use consistent movement to stay away from Brewster’s monster left hook. It may be a matter of time, or Brewster may rush Lyakhovich from the opening bell to give him a quick rust check, but Brewster will land the punch he needs to stop Lyakhovich before the final bell.

Joey Knish writes for The Sweet Science. To read more of his work

My prediction is tempered by the fact I was able to witness Hasim Rahman in camp, while I haven’t seen James Toney. What I do know is Rahman is in tremendous shape and that he can slug. I don’t know what type of condition Toney is in, and I don’t know if he can take a true heavyweight punch. I’m confident Toney’s elusive style will make Rahman look foolish at times, but I also think Rahman’s trainer, Thell Torrance, will figure out the puzzle. Torrance has been in the corner of several Toney opponents, including Montell Griffin (two wins over Toney), Mike McCallum (draw, majority decision for Toney) and Vassiliy Jirov (fight of the year). I’m leaning toward Rahman, but it will have to be by knockout because if it goes the distance, Toney’s boxing skills likely will have won him enough rounds.

Tim Graham writes for the Buffalo News and The Sweet Science. To read more of his work

There’s an episode of Seinfeld in which George Costanza decides he’s been making the wrong choices in life because he always says and does what he thinks. When he chooses opposite of what he normally would choose, he has amazing success. My heart tells me a decent heavyweight should blow through a decent middleweight, possibly even knocking him out alaJohnson-Ketchel. Hasim Rahman may be a chronic underachiever but should still be able to take James Toney, however the George Costanza in me tells me Toney just might beat up the larger Rahman, showing us all why sometimes it pays not to mess with bullies. Sometimes bullies are bullies not because they’re full of bravado but because they enjoy beating people up. Toney will taunt, confuse and spank Rahman en route to a unanimous decision via the Fatman factor.

Scott Mallon is the Far East correspondent for The Sweet Science. To read more of his work

Scott Mallon goes against the grain and picks Calzaghe

Everybody’s big on Jeff Lacy and some are discounting the prowess of Joe Calzaghe. Not me. I think the fight has great potential and may be the bout both fighters need to bring out the best of one another. Personally I think Calzaghe isn’t given the credit he’s due. He’s a strong, determined and skilled fighter fighting in front of his crowd. Lacy has been looking better and better but is on enemy territory. Lacy’s not all he’s cracked up to be and Calzaghe has more than people give him credit for. On his home soil – Calzaghe via unanimous decision.

Scott Mallon is The Sweet Science’s Far East Correspondent. To read more of his work

Joe Rein gives us the inside scoop on Lacy vs. Calzaghe

Joe Calzaghe’s got an interesting, bounce-up-and-down, dated style…as if it was taught when a land mass split off – all paint-by-the-numbers, ramrod stiff. The only thing missing are the knee-length tights and silk sash. But why fix what ain’t broke? He punches hard with his left. His combos are quick. He’s a good finisher (though he looks like he’s cuffing) an infernal southpaw, and he’s shown some “bottle.� You go undefeated after 40 pro fights – even if you’re fighting your grandmother – you don’t lack confidence. I’m sure Jeff Lacy’s muscles and reputation don’t cow him. They should. He’s the real deal – a super heavyweight masquerading as a super middle. He can bring down a building with either hand. It’s the one you don’t see that does ya in, as the saying goes – not with Lacy. They’re big arcing shots. You can see them from across the pond and brace, but a wrecking ball still leaves you in ruin. Joe should have his early innings – between pride, hand speed and 40,000 at the MEN Arena screaming for him – but, ultimately, he’ll be bludgeoned into the canvas by the eighth round.

The multifacted Joe Rein writes for The Sweet Science. To read more of his work

Over the last two years, Mosley and Vargas have often been punching contradictions. One minute they look good, seemingly on the verge of reclaiming their championship form, and the next they are struggling to beat the David Estradas and Raymond Jovals of the world. Which makes this a tough call. But, it appears as though, physically, Mosley still has the speed and quickness that marked his prime. For “Sugar Shane”, it seems to be a question of confidence – confidence that was ripped away by Vernon Forrest four years ago. Mosley hasn’t really taken a beating, except maybe that first Forrest fight. Vargas has, and his decline may be more a result of cumulative physical damage. He has absorbed the best punches from the best punchers of his generation – Felix Trinidad and Oscar De La Hoya. After those two wars, it would be difficult for anybody to rebound. Based on that, you’ve got to give the edge to Mosley. But Vargas will be there every step of the way, which should make this a good scrap between two former stars – one slightly more faded than the other – in the vein of Hearns-Leonard 2. Mosley by split decision.

Matthew Aguilar writes for the El Paso Times and The Sweet Science. To read more of his work

Reports were circulating that Vargas tipped the Holy Toledos! at 200 pounds around the holidays and then a full two weeks before the fight was down to the 154-pound limit. For a guy who always had trouble making weight I don’t remember seeing Vargas so light, so early, as a good sign. He may have left his best fight in the gym and if he is a half step behind Shane it will be a long night. Too bad this bout wasn’t made 5+ years ago, but it is still an interesting battle at this stage, although for different reasons. Mosley likely will be more comfortable at 154 than Vargas and I think EL Feroz is longer in the tooth ring-wise due to his layoffs and injuries. It has been 8 fights and 4 years since we saw Mosley knock anyone out as his “power boxing” was much more productive at the lower weights. Remember though, Sugar Shane, although no longer sweet, has only lost to two fighters (Wright and Forrest twice each) and has fought better opposition. I don’t think Vargas can implement the strategy that those two used, not at this point in his career, and Mosley will come on later in the fight to take the late rounds and win.

Joey Knish writes for The Sweet Science. To read more of his work

Recently, HBO replayed some of Mosley and Vargas‘ earlier fights – Vargas against Bazooka and Mosley against Oscar, and it’s amazing how different Vargas and Mosley look now. Vargas used to fight going backward, taking little steps as he whipped lefts and rights at his target. The same goes for Mosley. These guys were great boxer-punchers who were so patient and expert, it’s sad to watch them now. Vargas’ reflexes are really gone. He looks as hesitant as Michael Grant was after Lennox destroyed him: unsure of himself, mentally and physically worn out. The same goes for Mosley. Both follow their opponents around the ring now, struggling to figure out how to win. Now that they’re fighting each other, I expect Mosley to figure out Vargas first. Actually, I think Shane is going to take one look at Vargas and then jump on him when he realizes he has a dead in front of him. Mosley TKO 5.

Mitch Abramson writes for for the TimesLedger and The Sweet Science. To read more of his work

Matt Aguilar’s take on Saturday’s bout between Jose Luis Castillo and Rolando Reyes …

Rolando Reyes is tough. He is durable. He is capable. But he has never faced anyone remotely close to the quality of Jose Luis Castillo. Reyes’ counterpunching style may present some early difficulties for the two-time WBC lightweight champion, but Castillo has seen everything. By the middle rounds, “El Temible” will have figured Reyes out, and will begin to issue a brutal beating. He will hit Reyes with everything – right hands, left hooks, body shots, uppercuts – and he will look as physically strong as he did against Diego Corrales in October, since he will not have to make the 135-pound weight limit (the fight is contracted for 137 pounds). The courageous Reyes will be a bloody, beaten mess when the referee steps in and stops the fight in the 11th round.

Matthew Aguilar writes for the El Paso Times and The Sweet Science. To read more of his work

Joey Knish has his say on Gatti vs. Damgaard …

Arturo Gatti is the obvious favorite and for good reason. Thomas Damgaard may have seen his best days and is and in-your-face puncher who should be easy to find. Still, Gatti used to be a brawler and if “Lionheart” Damgaard can draw him into that type of fight again it is anyone’s bout. Both men have been known to cut and the possibility that the Mayweather debacle took something out of Arturo is real. Gatti was so badly outclassed that it may have taken some of his passion out of the game. Not having to struggle to make weight at 140 will help Gatti, but the fact that Damgaard is a natural welterweight will nullify that. It’s a longshot with Damgaard, but it’s a shot, and the battles and beatings “Thunder” Gatti has taken may eventually catch up to him.

Joey Knish writes for The Sweet Science. To read more of his work