king boxster

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Kessler and Froch Engage in an Instant Classic

Mikkel Kessler (left) and Carl Froch waged a twelve round war in which Kessler eventually garnered the victory.

In the best fight thus far of the Showtime network's Super Six World Boxing Classic, 168-pound super middleweights Mikkel Kessler and Carl Froch engaged in a back and forth battle that will likey be in the running for fight of the year honors.

WBC champion Froch, from Nottingham, England, made the trek to Kessler's home country of Denmark. The fight took place in the small town of Herning before an enthusiastic, partisan crowd of more than 10,000.

After twelve rounds of heated action in a bout that featured wild exchanges, it was Kessler that emerged with the title belt by unanimous scores of 117-111, 115-113 and 116-112. This writer also pegged it for Kessler at 115-113.

Kessler, who suffered a serious cut high on his left brow had to dig down deep in order to secure the victory. He was uncharacteristically aggressive and abandoned his careful boxing style and went blow-for-blow with the heavy-handed Englishman.

"I knew he was not that good at fighting backards," said Kessler just after the decision in his favor was announced. "He fought my fight instead of me fighting his fight and that was the difference."

Kessler, 43-2, 32 knockouts, got off to a good start by landing quick left jabs and offering plenty of movement. He enjoyed the speed advantage over Froch, now 26-1, 20 knockouts, who was the stronger and more deliberate puncher. But as the fight wore on, it was Froch who seemed to take control by using unorthodox punches fired from long range.

Froch's big right hand kept Kessler honest, but it wasn't enough for him to keep his championship.

However, by the sixth round the pendulum had swung and it was Kessler who seemed to find a second wind. It allowed him to take charge of the second half of the bout as he took the fight to Froch. Standing in front of "The Cobra", the Danish fighter was able to nail him repeatedly with stinging combinations and powerful right hand shots. As a result, Kessler won five of the last seven rounds on my unoffcial card.

The final two rounds were ferocious in nature as both prizfighters stood their ground and unloaded every punch in their arsenal. Both bled from cuts and threw caution to the wind. It was a classic donnybrook where either man could have been felled by any punch at any moment. This was thought to be the type of brawl that would play to Froch's stengths, but it was Kessler who put his punches together more effectively enabling him to outfight Froch, who tended to land the singular harder shots.

"No excuses," said a disappointed Froch after he learned of his first loss. "It was very close and I don't want to take anything away from Mikkel Kessler. I thought I did it all and I thought there were three times when I had him badly hurt."

For Kessler, who desperately needed the win after having suffered a one-sided loss to Andre Ward in the first round of the tournament, it was a homecoming worthy of his nickname - the "Viking Warrior".

Kessler's confidence had been badly shaken in the loss to Ward last November. The manner in which he was defeated led many to write him off as a serious threat to the tournament favorites. When the unique series was announced, it was Kessler, the former WBA and WBC super midleweight champion, who had been favored by many to emerge the victor of the entire affair.

Kessler, who has delved into modeling in the past, had his handsome good looks marred by a wide, deep cut and swelling around his eyes. But he was unable to mask the happiness of his win. His blue eyes twinkled and his bright smile told the story of his night.

"I look like a fighter tonight," he happily declared as he clutched his newly obtained championship belt. "Maybe the modeling will have to stay in my past."

April 2010

Friday, April 23, 2010

Adamek Steps into Arreola's Backyard

Chris Arreola (left) and Tomasz Adamek will square off tomorrow night in a heavyweight showdown.

Ontario, California is a long way from Tomasz Adamek's hometown of Zywiec, Poland.

But being half a world away from his home country and taking on native Californian heavyweight contender Chris Arreola on Saturday night, doesn't seem to bother Adamek too much. It also doesn't seem to bother Adamek that he will be fighting in Arreola's backyard, who hails from just down the road in Riverside.

A former light heavyweight and cruiserweight champion, Adamek was his usual placid, unassuming and matter-of fact self on Thursday afternoon.

“I'm ready and we will see what happens,” said Adamek who scaled 217 pounds to Arreola's 250 ½. “I had a very good training camp for the past couple of months with Roger Bloodworth and Ronnie Shields. Everything was perfect and it was one of the best training camps I think I have ever had.”

With a record of 40-1, 27 knockouts, Adamek is struggling with being a “small” heavyweight in a land of behemoths. Arreola is a man with a bull neck and heavy fists. He has heavyweight bones and has lost just once as well, in a failed title bid to WBC titlist Vitali Klitschko last September. The one difference with Arreola's ledger of 28-1, 25 knockouts, is that it was built entirely against heavyweights. Most believe that will be the deciding factor in Saturday's match.

Adamek has worked hard to put on over 40 pounds since his days as a light heavyweight.

The Pole has fought just twice as a heavyweight and although he won both outings, neither opponent was on the level of Arreola. Adamek took out faded countryman Andrew Golota in five rounds and followed up that debut effort with a twelve round decision over Jason Estrada. Adamek is aware that he is facing one of his most dangerous opponents on Saturday and he alluded to his game plan to beat the much larger man.

“Well, I'm not into suicide,” he chuckled. “My best fights, as far as I'm concerned, have been when I make the guys miss and then hit them after they miss. I won't be running, but I will take advantage when he misses me with his big punches.”

The oddsmakers initially installed Arreola as an overwhelming betting favorite, but as the fight has neared the odds have become tighter. While Arreola is still favored it is now by a slim margin of less than 2-1. Arreola has struggled with his weight and his technical deficiencies were on full display in last year's stoppage loss to Klitschko. He promised a leaner and meaner version of himself, but his weight Thursday afternoon was disappointing to those expecting to see him closer to 240 pounds.

Adamek, on the other hand, always shows up in magnificent condition. He was the picture of fitness during his days at 175, was similarly fine tuned at 200 pounds and now at 217 he appears to be very easily settling into his new division. Thursday's weigh-in showed that he was well muscled yet relatively lean.

“To me, size doesn't mean too much,” explains Adamek as he tapped his chest. “It's what you have in your heart that really counts. I don't even pay attention to the people that say I am small or that he is so much bigger than I am. To me, it makes no difference.”

In his eleventh year as a prizefighter and with 41 total bouts under his two world championship belts, it is only now, that he has risen to heavyweight, that Adamek is gaining some degree of notoriety. His master plan did not contain the move to heavyweight. But once he rose to 200 pounds and still retained much of his speed and power he began to envision the heavyweight title belt strapped around his waist.

His plan now involves one day taking on Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, the heavyweight champion brothers. Adamek has also discovered the money paid to heavyweight prizefighters is much more rewarding than light heavy and cruiserweight.

“The money is better, yes,” he says with a smile. “But I want to bring some life and excitement into this division. I am sure this fight against Chris will be just the beginning for me and there will only be more big fights at heavyweight after this one.”

April 2010

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Apple Ipad Craze

Ganda naman nito.. Sana magka meron me nito..It was a bigger version of ipod touch 3rd gen..almost same application only this one was bigger in size..di kaya mapudpod ang daliri ko dito?
Ipad from Apple Computer..
Good reviews and i`m sure it will be a hit in universities and school when this one landed in our local market

Is it money? or Is it Loyalty?

These are the question hounding acting secretary Agra in his unpopular decision to let go the Ampatuans in murder case of media journalist and political opponents. Sad he didn`t just the law to take its course and let the court decide later if some ampatuans where guilty or not..
May be involved was loyalty?favor?or what? Relate this info from abs cbn news.com..

Arroyo loyalist

Agra is known as someone who is loyal to President Arroyo. He served as President Arroyo’s lawyer when congressment tried to impeach her in 2006.

He was one of those who defended President Arroyo when issues were raised against her numerous cabinet appointments. Most of these appointments have fixed terms, which means the next president will not be able to replace them during that tenure.

Agra said these did not violate any law since they were made before the appointment ban took place. The executive department is banned from appointing new officials two months before the May 2010 polls.

Agra first joined the government in March 2007 when he was appointed head of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC), the agency that represents government-owned and controlled establishments in legal proceedings.

He was eventually appointed to head the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) Regulatory Office, a position he relinquished in June 2008 because of conflict of interests allegations.

He previously taught at the Ateneo Law School, his alma mater. Since 2003 he taught Law on Public and Government Corporations, Election Law, the 1991 Local Government Code, Administrative Law, and Law on Public Officers

He graduated from the University of the Philippines in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy. He finished law at the Ateneo de Manila where he graduated in 1990. He passed the bar in 1991.

Is it Money?

Some relative of the victims consider this scenario. It may worth more than we can imagine. Putting your career on the line with unpopular decision must be worth risk taking..Who ever the next president is, although his appointment was fixed term, i`m sure Agra`s government servise career is over.."Who care if there millions and millions in your pocket" some of the victims relative was saying..

But for him.He was quick to stress that his decision was based only on the evidence presented to him. Sipag niya. In an interview, he said he there were “no considerations” when he made his decision.

“I am not a vindictive person,” he told “I was never a lawyer for the Ampatuans,” he added.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Pavlik Goes Down in Flames Against Martinez

Pavlik (left) never found his groove against Martinez and he lost his middleweight championship.

Sometimes in the sport of boxing those whose flame burns the brightest go out with a a mere flicker.

And so it was Saturday night in Atlantic City, when middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik lost his world championship belts to Agentina's Sergio Martinez via 12-round unanimous decision.

Judge Roberto Ramirez scored the fight 116-111, Barbara Perez scored it 115-111 while Craig Metcalfe had it 115-112, all for Martinez.

Pavlik was outclassed and outfought from the get go. For most of the night he had the look of a zombie walking through a fire pit.

“He was a smart fighter,” said Pavlik, whose mug was covered with cuts and bruises. “He doubled up on the jab a lot after he cut me. I just couldn’t get anything going.”

What became painfully obvious as the rounds wore on is that Pavlik learned little during his time at the top of the 160-pound division. He had no answer to Martinez' slick movement and he was unable to cut off the ring to stop Martinez from zigging and zagging. It also became clear that Pavlik has no inside game. He threw very few body punches which would have served to slow the smaller man down.

It was tedious to watch Pavlik stumble ahead like the Frankenstein monster. He was gangly, he was clumsy and his hopes seemed predicated on landing his big right hand punch.

But the night belonged to Sergio Martinez. He was edgy, he was flashy and more importantly he took the chances he needed to take in order to be victorious. He walked into the dragon's lair (also known as Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall) and he did what many believed he could not do.

“It was a 12-round fight and I knew it would go the distance,” said Martinez who is Hollywood handsome. "I knew at the end I had to close strong.”

As the rounds wore on, and Pavlik's face became a bloody mask, the pain of the night could also been seen on his promoter Bob Arum's face. Seated at ringside, Arum could be seen biting his bottom lip and he slumped further down into his seat with every passing minute.

Before the start of the twelfth and final round, Pavlik's trainer Jack Loew pleaded with his man to land the big punch. He knew that Kelly would need that in order to return home to Youngstown, Ohio with the title belts.

It was not to be, however. Pavlik never did find the big punch that he needed. His belts slipped away without much of a fight. For Pavlik fans, it was frustrating and painful to watch. He gave up his belts by fighting the final round like he fought the first - without fire.

“We were coming on strong in the middle rounds. After the eighth round, he just seemed like he gave it away,” said his trainer, Jack Loew. “We couldn’t turn it around, and I don’t know why.”

Pavlik's future in the sport is now clouded with doubt.

There was a rematch clause in the contract, but it would be foolhardy for Pavlik to pursue that option. Martinez has too much skill, too much experience and too much passion for Pavlik. Some will say that Pavlik should abandon the middleweight division and move eight pounds north to 168 pounds to the land of the super middleweights. But that would also be a move fraught with danger and uncertainty. The last time Pavlik moved up in weight he was even more sluggish and one dimensional in losing to Bernard Hopkins.

The new middleweight champ is a gentleman, a sharp dresser, a big hit with the ladies - and he can fight, too.

Besides, all of the top super middleweights in the world are tied up in the Showtime network's Super Six World Boxing Classic. The one who is not, Quebec's Lucian Bute who fought tonight prior to Pavlik's fight, also on HBO, scored an electrifying one-punch knockout over the big punching Edison Miranda. Quite simply, the undefeated Bute would embarass Pavlik easier and more convincingly than Hopkins and Martinez did. He is that good.

So, at 28-years-old the future for Pavlik looks to be clouded with doubt and uncertainty. Chances are he does not defeat Martinez in a rematch. He is too one dimensional for the top fighters in the world and unless he can learn to throw more than a jab and a right hand he will have no chance against them. His defense is virtually non-existent.

What is clear is that if Kelly Pavlik is going to continue as a going concern in the sport he will have to decide in which weight division he can be most effective. He struggled before weighing 159 1/2 pounds on Friday for the official weigh-in, but he scaled 178 pounds before stepping into the ring Saturday night. He will also have to go back to the drawing board and add nuance to his game.

Instead of progressing, his skills appear to have regressed since he won the title from Jermain Taylor in 2007. I'm not advocating that he rid himself of Jack Loew, but it may be time to consult a trainer that has more experience and knowlege at the world class level.

Finally, Kelly Pavlik needs to take a good, long look in the mirror and decide whether a boxing career is really something he still has his heart in - because the manner in which he fought Saturday night says that he does not.

April 2010

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Kelly Pavlik Must Shine Tonight

World middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik has a lot to fight for tonight in Atlantic City.

Make no mistake, as Al Bernstein might say, middleweight champion Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik from Youngstown, Ohio must win tonight – and look good in so doing – if he is to remain relevant in his chosen profession.

Pavlik will face off tonight in Atlantic City against Argentina's Sergio Martinez, who has flirted with top status over the past couple of years, but has never won the real big one.

Pavlik, on the other hand, has won the real big ones. His title winning effort in 2007 and subsequent rematch win over Jermain Taylor in 2008 ushered Pavlik into the top spot at 160 pounds. Pavlik was perceived to be one of the brightest young stars in the sport. He was the owner of an undefeated record, was from the same hometown as 80s lightweight king, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini, and with the promotional power of Bob Arum's Top Rank behind him the sky was the limit for Pavlik who is still only 28-years-old.

But after a perfect knockout win over Gary Lockett in his second title defense, Pavlik was matched against Bernard Hopkins in an ill-fated over-the-weight bout at a catch weight of 170 pounds. Pavlik was humiliated and schooled over 12 rounds versus the more experienced Philadelphian and he lost a unanimous decision.

Since then, Pavlik's career has flat-lined.

After a so-so win at home over Marco Antonio Rubio in early 2009, Pavlik struggled throughout most of the year with a stubborn, life-threatening staph infection. It shelved plans for him to fight Paul Williams. There were also rumors that Pavlik was having difficulty in dealing with his newfound fame, wealth and the pressures of being a big fish in a small Youngstown pond.

If the fight is as colorful as the poster promoting it, boxing fans will be pleased.

He rebounded nicely near the end of 2009 with a confidence building win over Miguel Espino, again at home in Youngstown in front of a sparse crowd. But a loss against Hopkins, a stretch of inactivity and two wins over middle of the road opposition on Top Rank pay-per-views have kept Pavlik off the boxing radar.

Tonight, he gets his chance to get back in the picture. Atlantic City has become like a second home to Pavlik. It is the site of his greatest wins. It is where he won the title from Taylor and looked the best I have ever seen him look against Lockett. It also where he lost to Hopkins, but that's another story.

Pavlik must shine tonight against Martinez.

If he he does not, then the fickle boxing world moves on without him. Pavlik competes eight pounds below a scintillating super middleweight division that is in the midst of the Showtime network's Super Six World Boxing Classic tournament. It features fighters with names such as Andre Ward, Andre Dirrell, Alan Green, Mikkel Kessler, Carl Froch and Arthur Abraham. If Pavlik is not brilliant in victory tonight, they easily overshadow him.

Martinez is a handsome, tricky, experienced southpaw fighter with exquisite footwork and decent punching power. In a 13-year long professional career he has only lost convincingly once – to Antonio Margarito a decade ago. His other loss was a disputed decision to Paul Williams last December. In a fight prior to that, against Kermit Cintron, Martinez clearly won, but it was ruled a draw by the judging crew. As it stands, Martinez, at 35-years-old, has a record of 44-2-2 (24)KO, but he has never won a world championship.

Martinez (left) is always in supreme condition. He is a well-schooled and versatile fighter.

Bob Arum, Pavlik's promoter, understands the predicament that his young charge finds himself in.

“The public is very fickle,” says Arum. “They caught onto Kelly leading up to and including the Taylor fight. Then there has been a fall-off – his performance against Hopkins and the injury and so-forth. But I am convinced, beyond any measure, that we are going to see the old Kelly Pavlik against Martinez and as soon as we see that and as soon as the public sees that and thanks to HBO it will be a huge audience, he will be right back on top and people will be clamoring for his next fight whether it be against Paul Williams or Lucian Bute or somebody else…people love to see knockouts.”

But unless he wins tonight – and wins big – Pavlik will go back to Youngstown with a very uncertain future.

April 2010