The Buffalo Bills announced that a uniform change would be coming for the 2011 NFL season. Thanks to a Madden '12 promo video, the uniform changed was leaked. From what I've seen, it's a good change. The Washington Wizards also changed their unis, and unveiled them this week. Again, a change for the better. It got me to thinking about all of the horrible uniform changes throughout all of sports. Teams want to up their merchandise revenue, so they change colors, designs, even logos. While they may seem necessary, they don't always work out.
My first list will be NFL. No uniform is more representative of its sport than the NFL uniform. No faces, huge pads, big helmet logos....all you see is the uniform. It better look great. Here are my top 10 NFL uniform changes that should have never happened.
10. Detroit Lions: This may be the laziest change on the list. The change wasn't necessarily a bad one. In fact, it's a bit of an improvement. But based on what was actually done, it was completely useless. The Lions added black....that's about it. The logo went from looking out of focus to having a little bit of detail. The stripe on the sleeve became a little more solid, and the silver looks a bit brighter. What was the point? The logo is still boring. No one saw the new one and ran out to buy a new hat. Black alternative jerseys are nice, but they look like the Panthers at a glance. Try a little herder Detroit. This just seems lazy.
9. San Diego Chargers: The Chargers were due for a change. The fans all wanted it. The problem is, they made the wrong change. No jersey in the NFL gets more play than the powder blues. The Chargers started wearing the powder blues as a throwback in the early 2000's. They got immediate positive feedback. The color jumped off the field. In 2007, they unveiled their new uniform design. The white helmets looked great. The subtle change to the bolt was just enough to keep the tradition of the logo, but give it an updated feel. There was just one problem. The powder blue that everyone wanted, was nothing more than an accent. An alternate powder blue was unveiled, by why was it only an alternate? Ditch the navy, and go with the powder as the full time look.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jags took the coolest part of their jersey (the jaguar on the sleeve), and replaced it with some weird stripe that goes over the shoulders and meets at the small of the back. Their was really no reason to change the overall design of the jersey. A color change wouldn't be bad. That green/blue color is hard to look at and makes no sense for a jaguar. The black works, but change the rest if you really need to make a change. Get rid of that stripe and bring back the Jag.
7. Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks took what they had, and exaggerated it by a thousand. They had a small accent of green in the original uni, now the green looks like the lime popsicles I used to eat as a child. While it's still only an accent, they went ahead and made an alternate jersey in that green, and might just be the loudest jersey in sports history. They had blue, a very nice blue. Now they have a mutated blue that doesn't show up on any color wheel. Then they compound the ugliness of it by wearing the same colored pants and helmet. It looks like a wetsuit. And what happened to the silver? Like the Lions, they got really lazy with the logo. It was a wholesale change on color, but a "meaner looking eye" on the logo? Very lazy Seattle.
6. N.Y. Giants: I don't dislike the Giants uniforms overall. I just think they are really plain. The home blue jerseys used to have some red outline on the neck and sleeve. The blue had some life to it, as well. The road white jerseys had the same look to them with red and blue stripes on the neck and sleeve. The change was a throwback to the old Giant days. Like I said before, I don't dislike it, but it's extremely boring. The jersey is a plain, flat blue, with no design to it what so ever. The grey on the pants looks old and worn out, and is also very flat. The away jersey has red stripes on the sleeves. I don't understand why the home and away jerseys are two different designs. I like the change back to the old logo, and the blue on the helmet is great, but the flat color scheme and different home/away designs are lacking.
5. Houston Texans: This wasn't a uniform change, it was just a poor choice to begin with. The Texans have good looking uniforms. They have a clean look, and good logo. My question is, why choose a color scheme that resembles so many other teams? At the time of the Texans inception, 6 other teams were wearing navy blue jerseys; Bills, Patriots, Titans, Broncos, Rams, and Chargers. They have since added a red alternate jersey that actually looks pretty good. But why go with a jersey that is so similar to so many others? You are a brand new team without limitations.....be creative.
4. New England Patriots: Why did they lose the red? The red jersey with the white helmet was great! For some reason, the Patriots decided to lose the red jersey, white helmet, and "Patriot snapping the ball" logo, and switch to blue jerseys, silver helmets, and whatever that logo is now, back in the early '90's. Then they took the new blue, and turned it to navy blue in 2001. EVERYONE goes to navy blue. The Patriots lost everything that was good about their uniform. They brought it back a couple years ago as a throwback alternate, and made everyone remember just how good those uniforms were.
3. Philadelphia Eagles: I wasn't a huge fan of the Eagles old green and grey uniforms, but they were head & shoulders above the new ones. The new green is flat out ugly. It's also very dark, too dark for black to be the accent color. The logo is bad too. The Eagles did what too many other teams did with their logo, made it just the head in a charging style position. The old logo was an actual eagle clutching a football in its talons. It had life and detail. The new one is boring. I think they should bring back the grey if they plan on keeping the dark green. There's just not enough contrast with the black. And please, bring back the eagle.
2. Buffalo Bills: The bills have made a few changes. The uniform change from the O.J. Simpson days, to the Superbowl era, Jim Kelly days, was a good one for the most part. The logo got a little tougher, though I don't like the red helmet. The colors stayed the same on the uniform, but it was given an updated look. In 2002, the Bills forgot they were in the NFL, and went with an arena league looking uni. The first mistake was the navy blue. Stop with the navy blue. The second was wearing navy blue pants with the navy blue jerseys. Too much. The third, and worst, was the road jersey. What the hell is that? It looks like they ran out of white material, and had to finish the shoulders with blue. It looks like a bib! They are terrible. The only reason the Bills are ranked #2, is they announced in February '11 that they were changing them again. From what I've seen, it will be their best change yet.
1. Denver Broncos: Why? Orange was the Broncos. The "Orange Crush" defense. As recognizable as the "Purple People Eaters" in Minnesota. Orange jerseys in Denver were like the star on the Cowboys helmet, Silver & Black in Oakland, the Terrible Towel in Pittsburgh, the....well you get the idea. Denver became another team that went to navy blue. They also ruined their logo. The bronco coming through the "D" was perfect. It represented the team, and the city. The new one is the same as the Eagles, Panthers, Patriots, Rams, Jaguars, and Cardinals. It's just a head seemingly rushing forward. They did themselves a favor by adding orange alternates, but the old brighter blue worked a lot better with the orange than the navy. This is definitely a uniform that should have never changed its colors, or logo.
I'm sure not everyone will agree with this list. Maybe your favorite team made a change you don't like. Maybe you like one of the changes that I didn't. Let me know. I wan to hear some feedback on this.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Boxing vs MMA
Can we stop the argument that MMA is SO much better than Boxing. Every time a high profile Boxing match disappoints, MMA supporters jump at the chance to KO Boxing. Why? What does one sport have to do with the other? Why are MMA fans so against Boxing, and Boxing fans so against MMA?
This past weekend. Manny Pacquiao stepped into the ring against Shane Mosley. The fight turned out to be a bit disappointing in the eyes of most fans. Pacquiao hurt Mosley early, and Mosley ran for most of the fight. It happens. But that wasn't the only fight on the card. The three fights leading up to the main event were filled with action. I didn't hear a single MMA fan talk about the 12th round TKO of Vasquez by Jorge Arce. No one mentioned the 10 rounds of constant punches thrown in the Pavlik vs Lopez fight. If all people focus on is the main event, then why did so many people tune in to UFC 129? Georges St Pierre is a great fighter, one of the best. But his fights have become predictable, and boring to watch. He takes away his opponents biggest attribute, and stays out of harms way while out scoring him. MMA fans loved 129 because of how action packed the whole show was, not just the main event result. Why doesn't that logic apply for Boxing?
On the flip side, Boxing fans like to attack MMA for how violent it is. "MMA is just a bunch of barbarians beating the crap out of each other. There isn't any skill involved in MMA." What load of you know what! First of all, if MMA is too violent, then what the hell is Boxing? In MMA, if you get knocked down and are hurt, the referee will jump in and stop you from taking more punishment. In boxing, the referee gives you 10 seconds to get up, pretend like you're not hurt, and go back for more punishment. MMA has several different disciplines; Mui Tai, Jiu Jitsu, Wrestling, Boxing, Grappling, all of which require a great deal of skill to be able to compete at an elite level. Boxing has just one, Boxing. Known as, "The Sweet Science," it can be a thing of beauty to watch. It is, however, just one discipline. Those who master it make it look effortless, but it shouldn't be regarded as a more difficult, or as a better skill than the ones MMA fighters have to learn.
The two sports have some similarities. They are both one-on-one contests. They both involve hand-to-hand combat. They are both violent! But that's where the similarities end. Why can't there be enough room for the two sports to co-exist without all of the trash talking?
I have been around Boxing since I was a kid. I wasn't introduced to MMA until I was 22 years old. I love them both. They each have their own flair. For all of their similarities, there are a million differences. Stop talking so much garbage, and take the time to look a little deeper into the other sport. You might like it.
This past weekend. Manny Pacquiao stepped into the ring against Shane Mosley. The fight turned out to be a bit disappointing in the eyes of most fans. Pacquiao hurt Mosley early, and Mosley ran for most of the fight. It happens. But that wasn't the only fight on the card. The three fights leading up to the main event were filled with action. I didn't hear a single MMA fan talk about the 12th round TKO of Vasquez by Jorge Arce. No one mentioned the 10 rounds of constant punches thrown in the Pavlik vs Lopez fight. If all people focus on is the main event, then why did so many people tune in to UFC 129? Georges St Pierre is a great fighter, one of the best. But his fights have become predictable, and boring to watch. He takes away his opponents biggest attribute, and stays out of harms way while out scoring him. MMA fans loved 129 because of how action packed the whole show was, not just the main event result. Why doesn't that logic apply for Boxing?
On the flip side, Boxing fans like to attack MMA for how violent it is. "MMA is just a bunch of barbarians beating the crap out of each other. There isn't any skill involved in MMA." What load of you know what! First of all, if MMA is too violent, then what the hell is Boxing? In MMA, if you get knocked down and are hurt, the referee will jump in and stop you from taking more punishment. In boxing, the referee gives you 10 seconds to get up, pretend like you're not hurt, and go back for more punishment. MMA has several different disciplines; Mui Tai, Jiu Jitsu, Wrestling, Boxing, Grappling, all of which require a great deal of skill to be able to compete at an elite level. Boxing has just one, Boxing. Known as, "The Sweet Science," it can be a thing of beauty to watch. It is, however, just one discipline. Those who master it make it look effortless, but it shouldn't be regarded as a more difficult, or as a better skill than the ones MMA fighters have to learn.
The two sports have some similarities. They are both one-on-one contests. They both involve hand-to-hand combat. They are both violent! But that's where the similarities end. Why can't there be enough room for the two sports to co-exist without all of the trash talking?
I have been around Boxing since I was a kid. I wasn't introduced to MMA until I was 22 years old. I love them both. They each have their own flair. For all of their similarities, there are a million differences. Stop talking so much garbage, and take the time to look a little deeper into the other sport. You might like it.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Paquiao, Mosley review
Everything was in place for an exciting finish to a solid night of boxing. Everything, that is, except for a willing challenge from Shane Mosley.
In the nights main event, Pacquiao delivered a win to his millions of fans. It was not the most exciting, or entertaining win in his Hall of Fame career. Both fighters looked extremely tight in the beginning. Neither wanted to engage the other, showing a lot of respect for each other. Pacquiao picked up the pace a little in the 2nd, while Mosley was still willing to paw with his jab and try to find his range. The 3rd round started with a bit more fire than the previous two. Mosley looked like he was finally ready to start fighting. Then, it happened. As Mosley was leaning forward after throwing a left, Pacquiao unleashed a straight left of his own, landing it on the left side of Mosley's face and dropping him to the canvas. Mosley had a very shocked, and nervous look in his eye as he got back to his feet. Later he would say he couldn't remember the last time he felt power like that. The knockdown turned Mosley from a fighter looking for a way to get to Pacquiao, to a fighter looking for a way out of the ring. The next several rounds were filled with accidental head-butts, Pacquiao combinations, and several touches of the gloves by the two combatants. By the 7th round, it obvious that Mosley was only looking to not get knocked out. In the 10th, Mosley was credited with a knock down after pushing Pacquiao with his right hand while standing on his foot. Kenny Bayless, who was the referee, mistakenly called it a knock down. For Pacquiao fans, it may have been the best part of the fight. The bad call lit a fire under Pacquiao, and he began to pummel Mosley with combo after combo. The last two rounds were nothing more than a Pacquiao showcase of hand speed and punching power, as Mosley back peddled and did all he could to make it to a decision. Pacquiao won a UD, 119-108, 120-108, 120-107.
The nights other 12 round title fight was exactly what you would expect from a Mexico vs Puerto Rico bout. Undefeated WBO Jr Featherweight Champion, Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. (Puerto Rico) put his title on the line versus former champion, Jorge Arce (Mexico). Arce came out looking fast, and strong against the younger champion. Vasquez landed some hard shots in the 2nd, but Arce just smiled and continued to press forward. Arce dominated the 4th round for 1:59. That's when the two simultaneously threw left hooks that both landed. Arce received the worse of the two punches, dropping to the mat at the bell. He quickly got back to his feet, and returned to his corner. The two traded shots through out the middle rounds. Vasquez hit the canvas in the 10th and 11th rounds, both were called slips. It was the 3rd and 4th time he went down on a slip, evidence of Arce's relentless pressure. As the 12th round started, the decision seemed to be up in the air. The winner of the 12th would more than likely be the winner of the fight. Both men looked to finish strong throwing punch after punch. Arce backed Vasquez in into the ropes landing several punches. Just as it looked as though Vasquez was going to get out of trouble, his father threw in the towel from his corner, giving Arce the TKO victory, and the WBO belt.
Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik made his return to the ring after a 13 month layoff, part of which he spent in rehab for alcoholism. His opponent was undefeated WBC Continental Americas Champ, Alfonso Lopez. Pavlik looked every bit like a fighter who hadn't fought in a year in the early rounds. Threw the first three rounds, Pavlik threw one punch at a time, while Lopez threw combinations. Heads collided early in the fourth round opening a cut on Pavlik. The cut was not above the eye, and didn't seem to bother Pavlik too much. It did seem to wake him up, though. Pavlik began to land harder shots with more regularity. Lopez looked as though he was tiring as his pace slowed in to the 7th round. Midway through the 7th, the action was stopped to warn Pavlik for hitting below the belt. The rest seemed to revive Lopez. Through the 8th & 9th rounds, Lopez looked like he did in the first three landing combinations, and controlling tempo. I had Lopez ahead by one round going into the 10th. Pavlik must have the same score, because he came out on a mission in the final three minutes. Pavlik assaulted Lopez with power shots in bunches. The fight went to the scorecards. One judge had it the same as me, 95-95. The other two saw a very different fight, and had Pavlik winning easily 99-91, 98-92 for the majority decision, and the WBCCA title.
The fourth fight featured two knockout artists, Mike Alvarado (29-0, 21 KO's), and Ray Narh (25-1, 21 KO's). Both men fired power shots at each other right from the beginning. Though neither seemed to be hurt, the shots from Alvarado landed with great regularity. Everything he threw connected with Narh's face. After the 3rd round, Narh walked back to his corner with a very dejected look on his face. When the bell rang to start the 4th, Narh refused to get off his stool, effectively saying "No mas", ala Duran, and quitting, giving Alvarado the vacant WBCCA Super Lightweight Championship.
In the nights main event, Pacquiao delivered a win to his millions of fans. It was not the most exciting, or entertaining win in his Hall of Fame career. Both fighters looked extremely tight in the beginning. Neither wanted to engage the other, showing a lot of respect for each other. Pacquiao picked up the pace a little in the 2nd, while Mosley was still willing to paw with his jab and try to find his range. The 3rd round started with a bit more fire than the previous two. Mosley looked like he was finally ready to start fighting. Then, it happened. As Mosley was leaning forward after throwing a left, Pacquiao unleashed a straight left of his own, landing it on the left side of Mosley's face and dropping him to the canvas. Mosley had a very shocked, and nervous look in his eye as he got back to his feet. Later he would say he couldn't remember the last time he felt power like that. The knockdown turned Mosley from a fighter looking for a way to get to Pacquiao, to a fighter looking for a way out of the ring. The next several rounds were filled with accidental head-butts, Pacquiao combinations, and several touches of the gloves by the two combatants. By the 7th round, it obvious that Mosley was only looking to not get knocked out. In the 10th, Mosley was credited with a knock down after pushing Pacquiao with his right hand while standing on his foot. Kenny Bayless, who was the referee, mistakenly called it a knock down. For Pacquiao fans, it may have been the best part of the fight. The bad call lit a fire under Pacquiao, and he began to pummel Mosley with combo after combo. The last two rounds were nothing more than a Pacquiao showcase of hand speed and punching power, as Mosley back peddled and did all he could to make it to a decision. Pacquiao won a UD, 119-108, 120-108, 120-107.
The nights other 12 round title fight was exactly what you would expect from a Mexico vs Puerto Rico bout. Undefeated WBO Jr Featherweight Champion, Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. (Puerto Rico) put his title on the line versus former champion, Jorge Arce (Mexico). Arce came out looking fast, and strong against the younger champion. Vasquez landed some hard shots in the 2nd, but Arce just smiled and continued to press forward. Arce dominated the 4th round for 1:59. That's when the two simultaneously threw left hooks that both landed. Arce received the worse of the two punches, dropping to the mat at the bell. He quickly got back to his feet, and returned to his corner. The two traded shots through out the middle rounds. Vasquez hit the canvas in the 10th and 11th rounds, both were called slips. It was the 3rd and 4th time he went down on a slip, evidence of Arce's relentless pressure. As the 12th round started, the decision seemed to be up in the air. The winner of the 12th would more than likely be the winner of the fight. Both men looked to finish strong throwing punch after punch. Arce backed Vasquez in into the ropes landing several punches. Just as it looked as though Vasquez was going to get out of trouble, his father threw in the towel from his corner, giving Arce the TKO victory, and the WBO belt.
Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik made his return to the ring after a 13 month layoff, part of which he spent in rehab for alcoholism. His opponent was undefeated WBC Continental Americas Champ, Alfonso Lopez. Pavlik looked every bit like a fighter who hadn't fought in a year in the early rounds. Threw the first three rounds, Pavlik threw one punch at a time, while Lopez threw combinations. Heads collided early in the fourth round opening a cut on Pavlik. The cut was not above the eye, and didn't seem to bother Pavlik too much. It did seem to wake him up, though. Pavlik began to land harder shots with more regularity. Lopez looked as though he was tiring as his pace slowed in to the 7th round. Midway through the 7th, the action was stopped to warn Pavlik for hitting below the belt. The rest seemed to revive Lopez. Through the 8th & 9th rounds, Lopez looked like he did in the first three landing combinations, and controlling tempo. I had Lopez ahead by one round going into the 10th. Pavlik must have the same score, because he came out on a mission in the final three minutes. Pavlik assaulted Lopez with power shots in bunches. The fight went to the scorecards. One judge had it the same as me, 95-95. The other two saw a very different fight, and had Pavlik winning easily 99-91, 98-92 for the majority decision, and the WBCCA title.
The fourth fight featured two knockout artists, Mike Alvarado (29-0, 21 KO's), and Ray Narh (25-1, 21 KO's). Both men fired power shots at each other right from the beginning. Though neither seemed to be hurt, the shots from Alvarado landed with great regularity. Everything he threw connected with Narh's face. After the 3rd round, Narh walked back to his corner with a very dejected look on his face. When the bell rang to start the 4th, Narh refused to get off his stool, effectively saying "No mas", ala Duran, and quitting, giving Alvarado the vacant WBCCA Super Lightweight Championship.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Pacquiao, Mosley preview
For most, Cinco De Mayo is synonymous with celebration. For Las Vegas, it means another big fight is coming. This year will be no different. On Saturday, May 7th, at the MGM Grand Arena, Top Rank brings you an amazing card for this years big fight weekend.
The main event should be a great one. Manny "Pac-Man" Pacquiao (52-3-2) will be taking on "Sugar" Shane Mosley (46-6-1, one no contest), for the WBO Welterweight Championship.
Pacquiao is considered the pound-for-pound champ by most boxing writers and fans. He is the only fighter to win a title in 8 different weight classes, and the only one to win 10 world titles. He has fought as low as flyweight (112), and as high as junior middleweight (154). Manny's resume is filled with the best his generation had to offer. From Eric Morrales, to Marco Antonio Barrera, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and Juan Manuel Marquez. He has ducked no one. In a stretch of 12 fights from 2003-2008, Manny fought 11 Mexican fighters. He was an impressive 9-1-1 in those fights, earning him the nickname, "The Mexicutioner". In his last fight, Pacquiao took on his toughest opponent to date, Antonio "Tonio" Margarito. The Light Middleweight contest was fought at a catchweight of 150lbs, a weight Manny never even reached. He stepped into the ring 17 pounds lighter than his opponent, and dominated every round, winning the title by unanimous decision.
Pacquiao's opponent on Saturday will be former three division champion, "Sugar" Shane Mosley. Mosley is coming off of two very bad performances. The first was a showdown with self proclaimed greatest boxer of all time, Floyed Mayweather Jr. Shane hurt Mayweather in the second round, and almost finished the fight right then, but Floyd recovered and went on to out box Mosley for the last 10 rounds winning a unanimous decision. His last fight was against "The Latin Snake" Sergio Mora, of "Contender" fame. The fight was a contrast of styles. Neither fighter looked comfortable. The fight went to the scorecards and was ruled a draw. Both of these fights came directly after Mosley looked like the 28 year old version of himself, defeating Antonio Margarito by TKO in the 9th. Mosley too, has never ducked anyone in the sport.
This fight could be a Pacquiao showcase. It has the potential, though, to be a classic. Neither fighter backs up. Both are offensive minded, and like to move forward. Manny has fought a lot of guys with speed. He has fought a lot of guys with power. I don't think he has fought a guy that has as lethal a combination of the two as Mosley has. Even at 39, Mosley is a dangerous fighter. Fast hands, good power, great chin. Pacquiao has all of those things too, and at 32, has something Mosley does not....Youth.
Jorge Arce (56-6-2) will be taking on Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. (19-0-1). I have been to a lot of fights in my life, and none seem to have the electricity of a Mexican vs a Puerto Rican. This fight will be no different. Mosley and Pacquiao are both soft spoken men who seem to genuinely respect one another. Arce and Vasquez took that as an opportunity to liven up the press conferences. On Thursday, during their press conference at the MGM in Las Vegas, Arce said he didn't know what would happen, but that he would win by KO. Vasquez replied, "Arce is talking about a knockout. He is crazy. I'm ready for him." The fight will be for the WBO Super Bantamweight (122 lbs) title, held by Vasquez. Both are action fighters, and should provide some great entertainment early in the evening.
The return of "The Ghost." Kelly Pavlik is coming off of a 13 month layoff in which he spent some time at the Betty Ford Clinic for alcohol rehabilitation. Pavlik is a former Middleweight champion, earning the title by 7th round TKO over Jermain Taylor, then later defending it with a 12 round unanimous decision over Taylor. Saturday, he will be fighting undefeated Alfonso Lopez III (21-0). The fight will be at a catch weight of 171 lbs. This a huge opportunity for both men. Pavlik is looking to show his fans he is back, and that his weight and alcohol problems are behind him. For Lopez, it's a huge step up in competition, and a chance to put a big name on his resume.
If you love to see someone get knocked-out, then Raymond Narh(25-1) vs Mike Alvarado(29-0) is a must watch. The two have a combined record of 54-1. Even more impressive, they each have 21 KO in those 54 wins. Neither man wants to be in the ring too long. The fight will be for the WBC Continental Americas Super Lightweight (140) belt. Narh is a native of Ghana, and looks to follow in the tradition of other great Ghanaian fighters like, Azumah Nelson, and Ike "Bazooka" Quartey. Alvarado has not had a fight go the distance in two years. 11 of his last 13 wins have come by KO. Both of these men have heavy hands, and love to throw them. This is the one fight you have to set your DVR for. Blink, and it may be all over.
The main event should be a great one. Manny "Pac-Man" Pacquiao (52-3-2) will be taking on "Sugar" Shane Mosley (46-6-1, one no contest), for the WBO Welterweight Championship.
Pacquiao is considered the pound-for-pound champ by most boxing writers and fans. He is the only fighter to win a title in 8 different weight classes, and the only one to win 10 world titles. He has fought as low as flyweight (112), and as high as junior middleweight (154). Manny's resume is filled with the best his generation had to offer. From Eric Morrales, to Marco Antonio Barrera, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and Juan Manuel Marquez. He has ducked no one. In a stretch of 12 fights from 2003-2008, Manny fought 11 Mexican fighters. He was an impressive 9-1-1 in those fights, earning him the nickname, "The Mexicutioner". In his last fight, Pacquiao took on his toughest opponent to date, Antonio "Tonio" Margarito. The Light Middleweight contest was fought at a catchweight of 150lbs, a weight Manny never even reached. He stepped into the ring 17 pounds lighter than his opponent, and dominated every round, winning the title by unanimous decision.
Pacquiao's opponent on Saturday will be former three division champion, "Sugar" Shane Mosley. Mosley is coming off of two very bad performances. The first was a showdown with self proclaimed greatest boxer of all time, Floyed Mayweather Jr. Shane hurt Mayweather in the second round, and almost finished the fight right then, but Floyd recovered and went on to out box Mosley for the last 10 rounds winning a unanimous decision. His last fight was against "The Latin Snake" Sergio Mora, of "Contender" fame. The fight was a contrast of styles. Neither fighter looked comfortable. The fight went to the scorecards and was ruled a draw. Both of these fights came directly after Mosley looked like the 28 year old version of himself, defeating Antonio Margarito by TKO in the 9th. Mosley too, has never ducked anyone in the sport.
This fight could be a Pacquiao showcase. It has the potential, though, to be a classic. Neither fighter backs up. Both are offensive minded, and like to move forward. Manny has fought a lot of guys with speed. He has fought a lot of guys with power. I don't think he has fought a guy that has as lethal a combination of the two as Mosley has. Even at 39, Mosley is a dangerous fighter. Fast hands, good power, great chin. Pacquiao has all of those things too, and at 32, has something Mosley does not....Youth.
Jorge Arce (56-6-2) will be taking on Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. (19-0-1). I have been to a lot of fights in my life, and none seem to have the electricity of a Mexican vs a Puerto Rican. This fight will be no different. Mosley and Pacquiao are both soft spoken men who seem to genuinely respect one another. Arce and Vasquez took that as an opportunity to liven up the press conferences. On Thursday, during their press conference at the MGM in Las Vegas, Arce said he didn't know what would happen, but that he would win by KO. Vasquez replied, "Arce is talking about a knockout. He is crazy. I'm ready for him." The fight will be for the WBO Super Bantamweight (122 lbs) title, held by Vasquez. Both are action fighters, and should provide some great entertainment early in the evening.
The return of "The Ghost." Kelly Pavlik is coming off of a 13 month layoff in which he spent some time at the Betty Ford Clinic for alcohol rehabilitation. Pavlik is a former Middleweight champion, earning the title by 7th round TKO over Jermain Taylor, then later defending it with a 12 round unanimous decision over Taylor. Saturday, he will be fighting undefeated Alfonso Lopez III (21-0). The fight will be at a catch weight of 171 lbs. This a huge opportunity for both men. Pavlik is looking to show his fans he is back, and that his weight and alcohol problems are behind him. For Lopez, it's a huge step up in competition, and a chance to put a big name on his resume.
If you love to see someone get knocked-out, then Raymond Narh(25-1) vs Mike Alvarado(29-0) is a must watch. The two have a combined record of 54-1. Even more impressive, they each have 21 KO in those 54 wins. Neither man wants to be in the ring too long. The fight will be for the WBC Continental Americas Super Lightweight (140) belt. Narh is a native of Ghana, and looks to follow in the tradition of other great Ghanaian fighters like, Azumah Nelson, and Ike "Bazooka" Quartey. Alvarado has not had a fight go the distance in two years. 11 of his last 13 wins have come by KO. Both of these men have heavy hands, and love to throw them. This is the one fight you have to set your DVR for. Blink, and it may be all over.
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