A Big Night for Boxing!

[H2O Man]

Today is a good day for the sport of boxing. There is going to be a lot of activity at the Boxing Hall of Fame during the day, and then two interesting boxing cards. Both are on PPV.

In Atlantic City, Antonio Tarver defends his Light Heavyweight title in a match against Bernard Hopkins. Common sense would indicate that Hopkins, at his age, will have a difficult time moving up in weight to fight the younger champion. But sometimes champions who hang out in Hollywood have a hard time re-focusing on boxing, as Lennox Lewis found out.

Tarver has reportedly had to drop 35 pounds, and has not had the self-discipline Hopkins has had, as far as taking care of his body. Drug abuse can take a toll on an any athlete.

Hopkins showed an inability to maintain a steady pace in his last two fights, against a younger, faster Jermain Taylor. Will he be willing and able to cut the distance in the ring, in order to have a chance of pulling off the upset? Can he hurt Tarver? Can he take Tarver's punch?

I favor Tarver, but would like to see one of the true class acts of boxing win the fight. Many people are saying that it is hard for a middleweight to move up -- and the real Sugar Ray showed how true that is. Haglar never tried. But Ray was a big welterweight, and the great Dick Tiger showed that it is indeed possible.

The more significant fight in terms of boxing's future is Miguel Cotto versus Paul Malignaggi, at the Madison Square Garden. Boy, would I like to be ringside there! Cotto is an intense puncher, and Paul looks like he has the potential to be a young Willie Pep. This is a good fight. If Cotto is able to land to the body early, it could be a short fight. But if Malignaggi can create angles and use his speed, he may create real problems for the WBO Jr. Welterweight champ.

The card also features Irish sensation John Duddy vs Alfredo Cuevas. This is a big test for the very hard punching Duddy. DUers will remember Cuevas for his effort against Jermain Taylor in a tough, competitive 12-rounder in Little Rock. I think this could go either way, though I am very impressed with Duddy's power. He can go from the body to the head fast, and when he does, the fight can be over fast.

Sad to see Kevin Kelly on the undercard. Good to see Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. I guess that's what makes tonight so exciting: there is a new generation of very good fighters who are replacing some of the older legends.

What are your thoughts and predictions?

[Awsi Dooger]

1. Tarver easy

Too much skill. He may be only 4 years younger than Hopkins but it's a lightly boxed and late blooming 37 so the difference is actually much greater. If he's winning 2 of 3 rounds from Jones, no reason it shouldn't be similar or worse against Hopkins.

[H2O Man]

2. I'd agree

that Tarver should win convincingly. Size and Hopkins' age are the key factors. Tarver has never been at Hopkins' level of boxing skill, and there is no evidence he ever will be.

What do you think of the Cotto fight?

[MessiahRp]

3. Hmmm I think this might be harder to predict than one might think...

I've watched a lot of these two fighters' fights and I think Glen Johnson was pretty on cue by stating this will be a boring fight. That being said it Tarver has never had a knockout punch (sans the one on the very washed up Roy Jones) so this will be a close decision. 1 or 2 points to Tarver. I would not be surprised with a draw either. And if that's how it works out Tarver's stock should start to slide. He has a big mouth and charisma but he doesn't have enough in the ring to warrant the type of billing he gets. I think he'd get killed by certain heavyweights and he certainly shouldn't have to drop 45 lbs. anymore to make a decent fight.

Rp

[Awsi Dooger]

4. Probably will be a boring fight

Tarver is too cautious by nature and a tough guy like Hopkins might accentuate that. In the first fight with Jones, Tarver didn't press the advantage. Only when he exited that fight realizing Roy was more shot than everyone realized, did he become more aggressive in round two of the rematch and throughout number three.

[Awsi Dooger]

5. I don't know enough about Malignaggi

I missed the Cano fight. The only times I've seen Malignaggi he doesn't seem to have much of a punch, which usually makes me somewhat wary of projecting too high.

[k_jerome]

6. so far, thru 7, hopkins is dominant. nt.

[Awsi Dooger]

7. Very dominant

I was way off on this one. Hopkins has a habit of making these cute pretty boy fighters look sick, like De la Hoya and Trinidad. I thought of that aspect but 41 seemed too old to pull it off again.

[k_jerome]

8. i would have bet Tarver in this fight...

i have underestimated hopkins in the past. still a few rounds to go.

[k_jerome]

9. absolute domination by Hopkins...

beautiful performance.

[TSIAS]

10. Hopefully Hopkins retires

If he does retire, he'll go down as both the WORLD Middleweight and Light HW Champion.

Quite a career for ol' B-Hops.

[TSIAS]

11. Cotto beat Malgnaggi

I decided to buy Hopkins/Tarver.

But Cotto won 115-112 (2), 116-111.

[H2O Man]

12. I bought Cotto ....

heck of a fight. The entire card was really good. The main event was a hard-fought match, with back-and-forth action. Cotto hits very hard -- great body attack. Paul's face was a mess, but he never gave up.

Glad to see Hopkins won.

[Stephist]

13. I know it's too much to ask...

Because of promoters and whatever else but can you imagine how great of a card it would have been if they would have combined the two cards tonight?

[H2O Man]

15. My son and I

had discussed that while at the Boxing Hall of Fame. It would have made a heck of a card. I think the Cotto card was the more interesting, but I do look forward to seeing the Hopkins-Tarver fight.

Last year, the Hall of Fame had the ESPN fight card at the Turning Stone Casino. This year's ceremonies were not at the same level. Having the two fight cards so far away might have taken away from the weekend's events. Still, it was a great weekend to be a boxing fan.

[Stephist]

14. Kevin Kelly needs to retire.

It's sad when an old pro just can't let it go. :cry:

I figured the Bhop Tarver fight would be very dull and it sounds like it was.

I hope Hopkins retires now. He is bound for the hall of fame and has nothing left to prove. beating a washed up Roy Jones wouldn't do anything for him.

[MrSlayer]

16. B-Hop ripped Tarver apart.

I love it. The executioner goes out on top.