It's
good to see an old year out and look forward to the promise that
a new one may bring. We had an awful lot of new stars arrive in
2007 and some old ones move on down the bus. Kelly Pavlik showed
us that you can never rest on your laurels when you have an ego
that supersedes itself. When Edison Miranda was shrieking for
Jermain Taylor to fight him, he looked completely over the head
of the man he was due to face that particular weekend. Kelly
stayed focused and calm before showing the bombastic Miranda
that you should never place all of your eggs in one basket.
Pavlik delivered a very complete beating to Miranda,
thus diminishing any chance of a Taylor-Miranda showdown.
However, one man's
breaking became another man's making; Kelly had earned himself a
chance to challenge Jermain and in doing so he humbly came in as
the underdog and stole the show and Taylor's titles.
The
Heavyweight Kingpins remained silent for most of the year but
when they did perform they did so in impressive style; Ruslan
Chagaev arrested Big Nikolai’s WBA title as the most unlikely
victor being one of the shorter of the Giants prospective
challengers.
The WBC
champion Oleg Maskaev slipped, dodged and evaded all of his
scheduled dates and eventually the WBC was forced to offer
Samuel Peter a Championship interim title for achievements in
extreme patience. Unfortunately, when Sammy did fight he gave
the worse possible live advertisement of his talents by almost
crumbling at the hands of the very limited Jameel McCline who
came within an ace of taking Samuel's pseudo crown and the
opportunities that may come with it. So with Wladimir Klitschko
at the helm, yet untroubled throughout the year, the best fight
may come in early 2008 against WBO stalwart champion Sultan
Ibragimov who is proving that his come one, come all attitude is
indeed for real. Step one of the unification series 2 is just a
timeframe away as both fighters have gamely signed the paperwork
to meet at MSG early 2008.
Alexander Povetkin and Eddie Chambers have elevated their
standings as well, by fending off all other prospective
contenders to land a huge final eliminator in the coming couple
of months. Since 2004 Olympic success Alex has remained unbeaten
and un-phased and in his last outing sent Klitschko a stern word
of warning by stopping former IBF Champ and recent Wlad victim
Chris Byrd in impressive style. Chambers climbed the heavyweight
ladder a little more steadily, beating one-time heir apparent
Dominick Guinn impressively in Las Vegas on a young heavyweights
show that also featured maybe heavyweight "futurettes" Kevin
Johnson and Malik Scott.
Floyd
May Jr. showed us why he still gets the nod as P4P pest.. (did I
say pest)... by impressively beating the gallant pride of the
UK, Ricky Hatton, in their super fight in Las Vegas last
month. Ricky can come again but it has to be at light
welterweight and not welterweight. (Collazo and May Jr. ) Didn’t
they tell you something about natural fighting weights?
Cotto is
fast becoming a solid champ in beating Sugar Shane, but in my
humble opinion the feelers are still out about that chin! David
Haye is a force at cruiserweight, but only as long -once again-
as he protects that chin, not necessarily bone china but a
quality chandelier perhaps, but excitement he truly brings. I
look for a mid-spring fight with Welshman Enzo Maccarinelli who
has so far remained unbeaten with a good win over a sparkless
Wayne Braithwaite late in 2007.
2008 has
the potential of some great matches in the coming months;
Darnell Wilson, Steve Cunningham, Haye, Maccarinelli, et al,
showing us that the heavyweights have a lot to live up to when
it comes to quality output. Joseph Calzaghe runs the super
middleweights unless you live in Bernard Hopkins' land; that one
is a must fight for the coming months. Joe saw off brave and
slick Mikkel Kessler to secure his number 1 spot.
My
favourite prospect placement goes out to Amir Khan, the still
unbeaten lightweight Olympian from the 2004 games. Khan remains
head of his class and ready for a fight stateside. In my opinion
probably against a fighter along the lines of an Edner Cherry
following Edner's cute win over Wes Ferguson on the December 8th
undercard at MGM (Hatton/Floyd.) He has flaws but shows each
time out that he works hard in correcting them. Khan is still
only 21 and has plenty of time on his side.
I would
like to shout a mention to the son of a past friend of mine who
is to represent the United States at the coming Olympiad at
super heavyweight. I'm referring to Michael Hunter Jr. (Las
Vegas, NV), son of Mike 'The Bounty' Hunter, the fabulous
unorthodox heavyweight from the 1980s and 90’s who beat Oliver
McCall and Tyrell Biggs throughout a colourful career. Mike was
shot by police in 2007 during an incident in LA where he was
enduring some hard times. I wish Michael the best of luck and
hope he can make his country and mother very proud.
I have
not posted The Mouthpiece as often as I should have
during 2007. I suppose there are few heavyweights I have just
mentioned that have appeared more often than my articles have in
the past year.
Retirement plea… I think Evander needs to take a good look at
where he feels he stands following his very game championship
challenge in 2007, I would like to remember Holyfield as a man
who lit up a dormant jr heavyweight division in 85 and cleared
house at not just cruiser but heavyweight in a 23 year pro
career.
Riddick
Bowe, I love you, but you honestly need to apply your amazing
talent outside the ring, hopefully as a trainer or in some other
capacity that takes full advantage of his extensive knowledge.
Bowe does indeed know boxing.
Personal
.. Great to see my own dangerman Friday Ahunanya getting back
to winning ways in taking the unbeaten scalp of New Zealander
Shane Cameron 8 weeks ago on the Kiwis home turf. Friday is now
the proud holder of the NABA interim heavyweight title, WBO Asia
pacific title and PABA heavy title. We hope 2008 can bring us a
chance to prove that Friday is every bit as good as the men who
have thwarted us on the quest so far. (Sultan Ibragimov, Sergei
Lyakhovich, Alex Povetkin). Friday has been the proverbial
bridesmaid, but never the bride in heavyweight championship
terms. I would welcome a chance to see any of the so called
majorettes hand Friday a chance to shine on the Big scene one
last time.
Past
giants... Kelsie Banks, the 1988 Olympian, and Merqui Sosa, the
vastly experienced monster puncher from the Dominican Republic,
are currently working purely out of love for the game as
trainers at Las Vegas Boxing on Commerce and Charleston Blvd.
Kelsie lost to Dutch talent Regillio Tuur in Soeul and was one
of the biggest prospects in that era. Merqui boxed everyone from
Charles Williams to Roy Jones Jr. and was one of the most
avoided super middleweights in the 1990’s. These two diamonds
are giving their soul to the sport each and every day, first to
the gym and last to leave, they are lifelong 100% boxing purists
and are breathing proof that money doesn’t just drive everyone
in the game today. These type of people are the reason why I
love this game so dearly.
Past
soldier.. Diego Chico Corrales lived a fast and furious life
and through boxing made us all gasp in awe at his extreme
bravery, truly a warrior and die hard fighter's fighter. Diego
is sorely missed by every one who knew him. Infectious man whose
memory will live forever through the epics fights he provided us
with as boxing people. Only the good die young..
Diego Chico Corrales
passed in 2007 in a motorcycle accident.
My heart
goes out to everyone who were close to him.. Men like him don’t
come along everyday.. A very special person.
I’d like
to thank Elisa Harrison for her hard work alongside the rest of
the Braggingrights family in providing me with the shop window
to show my primitive scribes. God bless them all and hope we can
enjoy an incredible 2008.
Until the next episode,
Good luck, Good health, God bless.
You can reach me for any
reason @
themouthpiece1@aol.com
Stephen Jones..
1-1-2008
