Sunday, November 18, 2012

Brian Viloria Brutalizes Hernan Marquez, Roman Gonzalez Wins In A War



It's true. The Brian Viloria vs. Hernan Marquez card on WealthTV just didn't get the same type of pre-fight hype and attention as other cards that happened this weekend. And perhaps it made sense, as the other guys were heavier, have more popular names and sell more tickets. But some of us knew. Others as well. 

In what may wind up being the very best top-to-bottom televised boxing card of the year, fans were dodging punches all over the place just to get a look at the action, which was excellent. 

Viloria and Marquez engaged in a momentum-shifting, tough 10 rounds and change of power punching that left both men exhausted, but only Viloria with his glove raised. And in the co-feature, Roman Gonzalez skirmished back and forth against Juan Francisco Estrada over the 12 round distance, and very entertainingly. 


Thursday, November 15, 2012

Brian Viloria vs. Hernan Marquez Almost 50 Years In The Making


Exactly how greatness is quantified in boxing today is at times difficult to define. Absent a system where the best are forced to fight the best, and often, we often find ourselves gawking at athleticism in place of actual boxing skills, and mistaking strategic matchmaking for more significant accomplishments. 

On paper, lists of quintuple and sextuple champions would seem to put fighters like "Homicide Hank" Armstrong to weeping shame. And it's not like Tommy Hearns, Oscar de la Hoya and Manny Pacquiao are or were bad fighters, or that they didn't accomplish amazing things in boxing, but simply that the structure of the sport today makes the distinction far more likely than in the more ancient, medieval times of the sport. Fighters just aren't generally able to stumble across true, undisputed and inarguable titles these days, much less defend said title four times in the matter of a couple of weeks, or rematch great fighters a month after the vicious 15 round war that just went down.

The truth is the sport will probably never get back to that point, no matter how much the crusty, cynical history buffs want it to. However, that doesn't mean that extraordinary feats aren't accomplished every so often that exude the pungent scent of legitimate historical luster. 

When Brian "The Hawaiian Punch" Viloria steps in with Hernan "Tyson" Marquez this weekend on WealthTV, us fanatics might just get the best of both worlds. 



Saturday, November 10, 2012

Abner Mares Retains His Belt With A Decision, Leo Santa Cruz Remains A Whirlwind

Photo: Tom Casino/Showtime


LOS ANGELES – Before an unknown number of fans at the Staples Center, a series of solid, entertaining bouts sent sweat flying and the sound of leather ringing through the rafters. Some of the excitement was anticipated, some not. And some of it was delivered in ways that participants will remember just about every time they’re in front of a mirror for the next month or so.
Curious scorecards dirtied up what was otherwise a very fun bout, as WBC 122 lb. titlist Abner Mares delivered a big win against bantamweight belt-holder Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno in the Showtime main event, taking a perhaps undeservedly wide unanimous decision.