Official 2012 Boxing Thread: JMM/Manny IV - FOTY.
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by proshares,
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as of right now, who at showtime or hbo would 50 call to set up a regular saturday night show, let alone a PPV?
and you can find the Olympic match on the NBC olympic coverage website. theres an article also on front page bc the Ref was kicked out of the games after that debacle
and you can find the Olympic match on the NBC olympic coverage website. theres an article also on front page bc the Ref was kicked out of the games after that debacle
If it's true that Haymon is going to be associated with TMT, then you can bet the bank that Showtime will give his fighters the time of day. Whether it be ShoBox, undercards on Xtreme or undercards/main events on Showtime. Won't even need to be truly great fights. Haymon has Espinoza around his fingers. Look at the garbage fights he got produced so far.
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but the point Im making is 50 isnt powerful without Haymon.
He couldnt cold call showtime or HBO and get a fight aired.
how can you put a guy anywhere near the conversation who has to reply on basically the #1 guy.
He couldnt cold call showtime or HBO and get a fight aired.
how can you put a guy anywhere near the conversation who has to reply on basically the #1 guy.
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When? Source?
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I'm pretty sure Nonito re-upped with Top Rank, he did try to jump ship after the Montiel fight.
Will be interesting to see how TMT does with their matchmaking and if they're willing to co-promote with GBP/TR. Also, what happens when Floyd retires - will Curtis be the next Richard Schaefer?
Will be interesting to see how TMT does with their matchmaking and if they're willing to co-promote with GBP/TR. Also, what happens when Floyd retires - will Curtis be the next Richard Schaefer?
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we're not gonna get a may/pac fight.... why won't we just set up their bootleg counterparts... Broner vs Mercito Gesta
night marcher01
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NT's boy saying "I'm back" 
from last night...
Homie got that LeBron hairline though
from last night...
Homie got that LeBron hairline though
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NT's boy saying "I'm back"
Homie got that LeBron hairline though
Floyd put on some muscle mass.
night marcher01
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Yeah he did, he's almost as big as me not quite yet, but almost... I think he's walking at like 160 now.
Dude said he was doing card deck push ups and everything straight up prison style.
not quite yet, but almost... I think he's walking at like 160 now.Dude said he was doing card deck push ups and everything
straight up prison style.
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Floyd should invest in some Double Headbands like LeBron..
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wow, at first i thought someone photoshopped floyd's head on 50's body... so this is really him?
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DMag fighting tonight lets see him cook.
night marcher01
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Yeah it's him. I mean it's not hard to put on muscle mass since all he did was bed dips and deck push ups, being locked down for 23 hours. You don't have much time to do much cardio.
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Watched classic fights all weekend.
Leonard/Hearns
RJJ/Pazienza
Ray Robinson/Jake Lamotta
Old Willie Pep fights
The sweet science
Nothing like it.
Leonard/Hearns
RJJ/Pazienza
Ray Robinson/Jake Lamotta
Old Willie Pep fights
The sweet science
Nothing like it.
Weekend fights.
A roundup of the past week's notable boxing results from around the world:
Saturday at Las Vegas
Diego Magdaleno TKO4 Antonio Davis
Junior lightweight
Records: Magdaleno (23-0, 8 KOs); Davis (29-8, 13 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Top Rank has designs on getting Magdaleno, 25, a title shot later this year or early next year, possibly against the winner of the Sept. 15 bout for a vacant belt between Roman "Rocky" Martinez-Miguel Beltran Jr. With a title shot in his near future, this bout, which headlined "Solo Boxeo Tecate" on Telefutura, served as what will be his likely final tune-up fight before a title opportunity. Therefore, Magdaleno was matched relatively softly against the 40-year-old Davis, a former three-time junior lightweight title challenger from Atlanta who was once a decent contender. Now he is 3-4 in his last seven bouts with each loss coming by knockout after Magdaleno routed him, as expected. Fighting in front of his hometown fans, Magdaleno was on his game against the slower Davis. Magdaleno, a southpaw, repeatedly hurt Davis with combinations and punches from all angles. He worked the body and head and had little concern for Davis' limited offensive attack. With only about 20 seconds left in the fourth round, Magdaleno badly hurt Davis with a short left uppercut. Davis was in bad shape and trying to cover up but Magdaleno continued to work him over. Magdaleno was destroying him until referee Joe Cortez stepped in to call off the fight at 2 minutes, 59 seconds -- just as one of Davis' cornermen had stepped up onto the ring apron to throw in the towel. Ideally, Top Rank will line up the title shot for Magdaleno. He looks like he is ready.
Jose Benavidez TKO4 Javier Loya
Light welterweight
Records: Benavidez (16-0, 13 KOs); Loya (7-1, 6 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Benavidez, 20, of Phoenix, was a star amateur who probably would have been competing in the London Olympics had he not turned pro. He is so gifted that he was granted a special waiver by the Nevada State Athletic Commission to begin his pro career when he was 17 instead of waiting until he was 18, which is the rule. Although he has had some hand issues that have forced him into longer-than-anticipated layoffs, Benavidez is a stud prospect. Loya, 26, also of Phoenix, was undefeated and game but utterly outclassed. Benavidez was in full command going into the fourth round when he finally stunned Loya and put together a sustained flurry of blows that had Loya on the verge of going down. Benavidez was rocking Loya's head all over the place with clean shots until referee Tony Weeks correctly intervened at 1 minutes, 41 seconds. Benavidez is a top prospect to keep an eye on.
Mike Lee TKO2 Tyler Seever
Light heavyweight
Records: Lee (10-0, 6 KOs); Seever (13-12-1, 11 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Lee, 25, of Chicago, continues to gain experience as he moved into double digit victories. If you follow boxing, you ought to know about Lee by now. He graduated from Notre Dame with a finance degree and could have gone onto a lucrative Wall Street job. Instead, he decided to pursue his dream of professional boxing and also wound up with a Subway restaurant endorsement deal to boot. With some early knockouts, Lee's bout made the "Solo Boxeo Tecate" broadcast on Telefutura and joined the early knockout parade. Lee dominated the first round and landed some solid right hands. In the second round, Lee finished Seever, 28, of St. Joseph, Mo., dropping him twice -- both times with hard right hands -- until referee Russell Mora called off the fight following the second knockdown at 1 minute, 35 seconds. Seever's five-fight winning streak came to an end as he was stopped for the ninth time. As for Lee, who simply overpowered Seever, he will move on to a coveted spot on HBO PPV undercard of the Sergio Martinez-Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. middleweight world championship fight on Sept. 15 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. His presence on the televised portion of the card is because of a deal between Top Rank and Subway to come on board as a sponsor of the event, according to Top Rank's Bob Arum.
Saturday at Mobile, Ala.
Deontay Wilder TKO1 Kertson Manswell
Heavyweight
Records: Wilder (24-0, 24 KOs); Manswell (22-6, 17 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Four years ago right around this time, Wilder, 26, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., was in Beijing on his way to a heavyweight bronze medal. He was the salvation for a historically awful Team USA, which had only Wilder's medal to show for its efforts in the boxing tournament. As a professional, Wilder has been brought along by Golden Boy extraordinarily slowly as he has racked up one easy win after another against a series of woeful soft touches. He was supposed to take a small step up in competition against undefeated Kelvin Price in the main event of this Fox Sports Net/Fox Deportes card, but Price dropped out a few weeks ago because of an injury and was replaced with Manswell, 34, of Trinidad, who at least had a lot of experience but was otherwise a punching bag in recent fights. Wilder blew him out and barely broke a sweat doing it. The most competitive part of the fight was the pre-fight staredown in the center of the ring when they went literally forehead to forehead during referee Keith Hughes' instructions. Then they spent the first 75 seconds of the fight doing nothing but feinting, staring and pawing jabs before the imposing 6-foot-7, 228½-pound Wilder dropped Manswell to his backside with a couple of right hands, the first shots of any consequence thrown in the bout. A right hand-left hook combination floored Manswell almost immediately when the fight resumed and moments later Manswell went down for the third time off a right hand, and Hughes stopped the farce at 2 minutes, 10 seconds. Wilder can certainly punch, especially with his right hand, but it is really time for his handlers to dramatically raise his level of competition. He has fought abysmal opposition and probably gets better work in the gym than he did from Manswell, who lost his third fight in a row and for the sixth time in eight fights. At least Wilder looks the best of the good opponents Manswell has been facing. Wilder got him out in the first round while a series of notable heavyweights took longer to erase him: Alexander Ustinov (three rounds), former world titleholder Ruslan Chagaev (eight-round distance), former world title challenger Cedric Boswell (10-round distance), prospect Mike Perez (three rounds) and fringe contender Bermane Stiverne (two rounds). Even though Wilder has never faced an opponent with even a faint pulse, he called out the heavyweight champion brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko after the fight. Try not to laugh. Maybe someday it won't be so funny, but right now it is hilarious.
Saturday at Mazatlan, Mexico
Johnriel Casimero W12 Pedro Guevara
Junior flyweight
Retains a junior flyweight title
Scores: 116-111, 114-113 Casimero, 114-113 Guevara
Records: Casimero (17-2, 10 KOs); Guevara (18-1-1, 13 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: In February, Casimero claimed a vacant interim belt via 10th-round knockout of Luis Lazarte in Lazarte's native Argentina that ended in a wild riot in which fans at ringside were throwing chairs and debris into the ring following the stoppage in a fight that Lazarte fought by breaking just about every rule known to man. Casimero and his team were lucky to escape. Last month, Casimero's interim belt was upgraded to a full title because titlist Ulises Solis, who is injured (non-boxing related) was stripped for being out of action for 11 months with several more to go before he can fight again. Casimero, 22, of the Philippines, has fought all over the world -- Philippines, Mexico, South Africa and Argentina -- so he had no problem going to Mexico for a second time and to Guevara's hometown for his first defense. He escaped with the split decision after a very tough fight with Guevara, who was in easily the most notable fight of his five-year career. He acquitted himself well, but Casimero, whose two losses had come in previous title bouts in 2010 and 2011, got the deserved nod. Casimero's margin of victory came thanks to a flash knockdown in the first round. He caught Guevara cold with a right uppercut only about 40 seconds into the fight. Guevara shook it off and made a fight out of it the rest of the way.
Friday at Las Vegas
Mercito Gesta TKO9 Ty Barnett
Lightweight
Records: Gesta (26-0-1, 14 KOs); Barnett (20-3-1, 13 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Gesta, 24, a native of the Philippines living in San Diego, has been a professional fighter since 2003 so it is hard to call him a prospect any more but he is still gaining experience, and notched a nice win against Washington, D.C.'s Barnett, 29, who was in tremendous condition. Gesta, a southpaw, is not the next Manny Pacquiao and probably not the future star that Top Rank promoter Bob Arum hypes him up as sometimes, but he's a good fighter who can please the crowd and still can get better. Headlining ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights," Gesta spent a bit too much admiring his shots and throwing one punch at a time early on instead of keeping the pressure on Barnett, but he eventually broke him down. He got Barnett's attention in the first couple of rounds by landing wide open left hands until Barnett settled into a bit of rhythm. There were some exciting moments of back-and-forth action throughout the fight. In the fifth round, Gesta seriously rocked Barnett with a series of blows. His legs went to jelly for a moment, he staggered backward and had to fend of Gesta's aggressive attack for the rest of the round. Gesta seemed like he was on his way to a 10-round decision win before ending matters in the ninth round. He caught Barnett with two straight left hands that messed up his legs and then unloaded seven shots, including a clean uppercut, that dropped Barnett. He made it to his feet and referee Jay Nady allowed the fight to continue but only until Gesta landed a right and a left that dropped Barnett hard just as the bell ending the round sounded. Barnett made it to his feet again but his legs were gone and Nady properly called it off. This is a good win for Gesta, who is sort of spinning wheels against average competition in the hopes that Top Rank can deliver him a world title opportunity.
Jesse Magdaleno TKO2 Aldimar Silva Santos
Junior featherweight
Records: Magdaleno (11-0, 8 KOs); Silva Santos (17-3, 9 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: As good as junior lightweight contender Diego Magdaleno is, 20-year-old younger brother Jesse looks like he has even more potential. He was a U.S. national amateur champion and a National Golden Gloves champion. Had he remained an amateur, Magdaleno almost certainly would have been a member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team in London, but he turned pro and is off to a fantastic start to a career that has future champion written all over it. Magdaleno, easily one of the most impressive prospects in boxing, has looked good from Day 1 of his pro career. But he really impressed in June when he destroyed typically durable former Puerto Rican Olympian Carlos Valcarcel by vicious first-round knockout on ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights." Returning to the series, Magdaleno, who has a fan friendly style and excellent power and speed, made another violent statement with a smashing knockout of Santos, 31, of Brazil, who was fighting in the United States for the first time. What a tough way to make an American debut. Magdaleno, fighting in front of his hometown fans, wasted little time getting started as he took it to Santos right away. He was banging his body and pushing him around before landing a series of right hands to the head that dropped Santos late in the first round. Magdaleno was patient with his attack in the second round before connecting with a left hand that dropped Santos. He beat the count but there were still 45 seconds left in the round and Magdaleno battered him. He finally pinned Santos along the ropes and teed off with a series of shots that badly buckled his knees, forcing referee Robert Byrd to step in at 2 minutes, 54 seconds. Another sensational performance from a possible future star.
Thursday at New York
Thomas Oosthuizen W12 Rowland Bryant
Lightweight
Scores: 118-110, 117-112 (twice)
Records: Oosthuizen (20-0-1, 13 KOs); Bryant (16-2, 11 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Oosthuizen, 24, of South Africa, was fighting in the United States for the second time in a row -- and third overall -- as he headlined promoter Lou DiBella's "Broadway Boxing" series, which was, for the first time, available live via a web stream and on the Fight Now TV network. Oosthuizen, a 6-foot-4 southpaw with a fan-friendly style nicknamed "Tommy Gun," is closing in a title opportunity. DiBella said he was offered a shot at titleholder Carl Froch in November but that the money was "so ridiculously low" that the offer was declined. In any event, Oosthuizen found himself matched with Bryant, 32, of Altamante Springs, Fla., who made a name for himself on April 21 when he scored a surprising third-round knockout of longtime contender Librado Andrade. Oosthuizen worked off his jab. As the taller man, he was trying to keep Bryant on the outside. Oosthuizen also landed some solid body shots. Overall, he was busier than Bryant and more accurate with his jab. Oosthuizen's fairly dominant performance was punctuated in the 12th round when he opened a cut over Bryant's right eye. This was another solid victory for Oosthuizen, who figures to get a title shot eventually, one for which he can make a good payday.
Saturday at Las Vegas
Diego Magdaleno TKO4 Antonio Davis
Junior lightweight
Records: Magdaleno (23-0, 8 KOs); Davis (29-8, 13 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Top Rank has designs on getting Magdaleno, 25, a title shot later this year or early next year, possibly against the winner of the Sept. 15 bout for a vacant belt between Roman "Rocky" Martinez-Miguel Beltran Jr. With a title shot in his near future, this bout, which headlined "Solo Boxeo Tecate" on Telefutura, served as what will be his likely final tune-up fight before a title opportunity. Therefore, Magdaleno was matched relatively softly against the 40-year-old Davis, a former three-time junior lightweight title challenger from Atlanta who was once a decent contender. Now he is 3-4 in his last seven bouts with each loss coming by knockout after Magdaleno routed him, as expected. Fighting in front of his hometown fans, Magdaleno was on his game against the slower Davis. Magdaleno, a southpaw, repeatedly hurt Davis with combinations and punches from all angles. He worked the body and head and had little concern for Davis' limited offensive attack. With only about 20 seconds left in the fourth round, Magdaleno badly hurt Davis with a short left uppercut. Davis was in bad shape and trying to cover up but Magdaleno continued to work him over. Magdaleno was destroying him until referee Joe Cortez stepped in to call off the fight at 2 minutes, 59 seconds -- just as one of Davis' cornermen had stepped up onto the ring apron to throw in the towel. Ideally, Top Rank will line up the title shot for Magdaleno. He looks like he is ready.
Jose Benavidez TKO4 Javier Loya
Light welterweight
Records: Benavidez (16-0, 13 KOs); Loya (7-1, 6 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Benavidez, 20, of Phoenix, was a star amateur who probably would have been competing in the London Olympics had he not turned pro. He is so gifted that he was granted a special waiver by the Nevada State Athletic Commission to begin his pro career when he was 17 instead of waiting until he was 18, which is the rule. Although he has had some hand issues that have forced him into longer-than-anticipated layoffs, Benavidez is a stud prospect. Loya, 26, also of Phoenix, was undefeated and game but utterly outclassed. Benavidez was in full command going into the fourth round when he finally stunned Loya and put together a sustained flurry of blows that had Loya on the verge of going down. Benavidez was rocking Loya's head all over the place with clean shots until referee Tony Weeks correctly intervened at 1 minutes, 41 seconds. Benavidez is a top prospect to keep an eye on.
Mike Lee TKO2 Tyler Seever
Light heavyweight
Records: Lee (10-0, 6 KOs); Seever (13-12-1, 11 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Lee, 25, of Chicago, continues to gain experience as he moved into double digit victories. If you follow boxing, you ought to know about Lee by now. He graduated from Notre Dame with a finance degree and could have gone onto a lucrative Wall Street job. Instead, he decided to pursue his dream of professional boxing and also wound up with a Subway restaurant endorsement deal to boot. With some early knockouts, Lee's bout made the "Solo Boxeo Tecate" broadcast on Telefutura and joined the early knockout parade. Lee dominated the first round and landed some solid right hands. In the second round, Lee finished Seever, 28, of St. Joseph, Mo., dropping him twice -- both times with hard right hands -- until referee Russell Mora called off the fight following the second knockdown at 1 minute, 35 seconds. Seever's five-fight winning streak came to an end as he was stopped for the ninth time. As for Lee, who simply overpowered Seever, he will move on to a coveted spot on HBO PPV undercard of the Sergio Martinez-Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. middleweight world championship fight on Sept. 15 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. His presence on the televised portion of the card is because of a deal between Top Rank and Subway to come on board as a sponsor of the event, according to Top Rank's Bob Arum.
Saturday at Mobile, Ala.
Deontay Wilder TKO1 Kertson Manswell
Heavyweight
Records: Wilder (24-0, 24 KOs); Manswell (22-6, 17 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Four years ago right around this time, Wilder, 26, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., was in Beijing on his way to a heavyweight bronze medal. He was the salvation for a historically awful Team USA, which had only Wilder's medal to show for its efforts in the boxing tournament. As a professional, Wilder has been brought along by Golden Boy extraordinarily slowly as he has racked up one easy win after another against a series of woeful soft touches. He was supposed to take a small step up in competition against undefeated Kelvin Price in the main event of this Fox Sports Net/Fox Deportes card, but Price dropped out a few weeks ago because of an injury and was replaced with Manswell, 34, of Trinidad, who at least had a lot of experience but was otherwise a punching bag in recent fights. Wilder blew him out and barely broke a sweat doing it. The most competitive part of the fight was the pre-fight staredown in the center of the ring when they went literally forehead to forehead during referee Keith Hughes' instructions. Then they spent the first 75 seconds of the fight doing nothing but feinting, staring and pawing jabs before the imposing 6-foot-7, 228½-pound Wilder dropped Manswell to his backside with a couple of right hands, the first shots of any consequence thrown in the bout. A right hand-left hook combination floored Manswell almost immediately when the fight resumed and moments later Manswell went down for the third time off a right hand, and Hughes stopped the farce at 2 minutes, 10 seconds. Wilder can certainly punch, especially with his right hand, but it is really time for his handlers to dramatically raise his level of competition. He has fought abysmal opposition and probably gets better work in the gym than he did from Manswell, who lost his third fight in a row and for the sixth time in eight fights. At least Wilder looks the best of the good opponents Manswell has been facing. Wilder got him out in the first round while a series of notable heavyweights took longer to erase him: Alexander Ustinov (three rounds), former world titleholder Ruslan Chagaev (eight-round distance), former world title challenger Cedric Boswell (10-round distance), prospect Mike Perez (three rounds) and fringe contender Bermane Stiverne (two rounds). Even though Wilder has never faced an opponent with even a faint pulse, he called out the heavyweight champion brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko after the fight. Try not to laugh. Maybe someday it won't be so funny, but right now it is hilarious.
Saturday at Mazatlan, Mexico
Johnriel Casimero W12 Pedro Guevara
Junior flyweight
Retains a junior flyweight title
Scores: 116-111, 114-113 Casimero, 114-113 Guevara
Records: Casimero (17-2, 10 KOs); Guevara (18-1-1, 13 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: In February, Casimero claimed a vacant interim belt via 10th-round knockout of Luis Lazarte in Lazarte's native Argentina that ended in a wild riot in which fans at ringside were throwing chairs and debris into the ring following the stoppage in a fight that Lazarte fought by breaking just about every rule known to man. Casimero and his team were lucky to escape. Last month, Casimero's interim belt was upgraded to a full title because titlist Ulises Solis, who is injured (non-boxing related) was stripped for being out of action for 11 months with several more to go before he can fight again. Casimero, 22, of the Philippines, has fought all over the world -- Philippines, Mexico, South Africa and Argentina -- so he had no problem going to Mexico for a second time and to Guevara's hometown for his first defense. He escaped with the split decision after a very tough fight with Guevara, who was in easily the most notable fight of his five-year career. He acquitted himself well, but Casimero, whose two losses had come in previous title bouts in 2010 and 2011, got the deserved nod. Casimero's margin of victory came thanks to a flash knockdown in the first round. He caught Guevara cold with a right uppercut only about 40 seconds into the fight. Guevara shook it off and made a fight out of it the rest of the way.
Friday at Las Vegas
Mercito Gesta TKO9 Ty Barnett
Lightweight
Records: Gesta (26-0-1, 14 KOs); Barnett (20-3-1, 13 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Gesta, 24, a native of the Philippines living in San Diego, has been a professional fighter since 2003 so it is hard to call him a prospect any more but he is still gaining experience, and notched a nice win against Washington, D.C.'s Barnett, 29, who was in tremendous condition. Gesta, a southpaw, is not the next Manny Pacquiao and probably not the future star that Top Rank promoter Bob Arum hypes him up as sometimes, but he's a good fighter who can please the crowd and still can get better. Headlining ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights," Gesta spent a bit too much admiring his shots and throwing one punch at a time early on instead of keeping the pressure on Barnett, but he eventually broke him down. He got Barnett's attention in the first couple of rounds by landing wide open left hands until Barnett settled into a bit of rhythm. There were some exciting moments of back-and-forth action throughout the fight. In the fifth round, Gesta seriously rocked Barnett with a series of blows. His legs went to jelly for a moment, he staggered backward and had to fend of Gesta's aggressive attack for the rest of the round. Gesta seemed like he was on his way to a 10-round decision win before ending matters in the ninth round. He caught Barnett with two straight left hands that messed up his legs and then unloaded seven shots, including a clean uppercut, that dropped Barnett. He made it to his feet and referee Jay Nady allowed the fight to continue but only until Gesta landed a right and a left that dropped Barnett hard just as the bell ending the round sounded. Barnett made it to his feet again but his legs were gone and Nady properly called it off. This is a good win for Gesta, who is sort of spinning wheels against average competition in the hopes that Top Rank can deliver him a world title opportunity.
Jesse Magdaleno TKO2 Aldimar Silva Santos
Junior featherweight
Records: Magdaleno (11-0, 8 KOs); Silva Santos (17-3, 9 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: As good as junior lightweight contender Diego Magdaleno is, 20-year-old younger brother Jesse looks like he has even more potential. He was a U.S. national amateur champion and a National Golden Gloves champion. Had he remained an amateur, Magdaleno almost certainly would have been a member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team in London, but he turned pro and is off to a fantastic start to a career that has future champion written all over it. Magdaleno, easily one of the most impressive prospects in boxing, has looked good from Day 1 of his pro career. But he really impressed in June when he destroyed typically durable former Puerto Rican Olympian Carlos Valcarcel by vicious first-round knockout on ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights." Returning to the series, Magdaleno, who has a fan friendly style and excellent power and speed, made another violent statement with a smashing knockout of Santos, 31, of Brazil, who was fighting in the United States for the first time. What a tough way to make an American debut. Magdaleno, fighting in front of his hometown fans, wasted little time getting started as he took it to Santos right away. He was banging his body and pushing him around before landing a series of right hands to the head that dropped Santos late in the first round. Magdaleno was patient with his attack in the second round before connecting with a left hand that dropped Santos. He beat the count but there were still 45 seconds left in the round and Magdaleno battered him. He finally pinned Santos along the ropes and teed off with a series of shots that badly buckled his knees, forcing referee Robert Byrd to step in at 2 minutes, 54 seconds. Another sensational performance from a possible future star.
Thursday at New York
Thomas Oosthuizen W12 Rowland Bryant
Lightweight
Scores: 118-110, 117-112 (twice)
Records: Oosthuizen (20-0-1, 13 KOs); Bryant (16-2, 11 KOs)
Rafael's remarks: Oosthuizen, 24, of South Africa, was fighting in the United States for the second time in a row -- and third overall -- as he headlined promoter Lou DiBella's "Broadway Boxing" series, which was, for the first time, available live via a web stream and on the Fight Now TV network. Oosthuizen, a 6-foot-4 southpaw with a fan-friendly style nicknamed "Tommy Gun," is closing in a title opportunity. DiBella said he was offered a shot at titleholder Carl Froch in November but that the money was "so ridiculously low" that the offer was declined. In any event, Oosthuizen found himself matched with Bryant, 32, of Altamante Springs, Fla., who made a name for himself on April 21 when he scored a surprising third-round knockout of longtime contender Librado Andrade. Oosthuizen worked off his jab. As the taller man, he was trying to keep Bryant on the outside. Oosthuizen also landed some solid body shots. Overall, he was busier than Bryant and more accurate with his jab. Oosthuizen's fairly dominant performance was punctuated in the 12th round when he opened a cut over Bryant's right eye. This was another solid victory for Oosthuizen, who figures to get a title shot eventually, one for which he can make a good payday.
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I watched the ortiz lopez fight yesterday. Really good stuff. Undercard was good too
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Mike "Mile High" Alvarado vs Brandon "Bam Bam" Rios on the Donaire card set for Oct. 13. It will be a slugfest, I think it should of been the main event.
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Rigondeaux gonna cruise to another easy win. He is ready for the top level guys.
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Man I'm running through my collection of JMM fights.
Next up is Finito.
Next up is Finito.
Blockbuster card set for Oct. 13.
Unified junior featherweight titlist Nonito Donaire, one of boxing's top pound-for-pound fighters, will meet former titlist Toshiaki Nishioka and junior welterweight contender Mike Alvarado will face former lightweight titlist Brandon Rios on a blockbuster doubleheader Oct. 13, promoter Top Rank announced Wednesday.
The card, which will take place at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., will headline HBO's "Boxing After Dark" (10 p.m. ET/PT) and feature some of the sport's most exciting fighters in even-money matches.
Rafael's Boxing Blog
Get the latest scoop and analysis on the world of boxing from ESPN.com's Dan Rafael in his blog.
"History shows there is only one way for a fighter to make the leap to stardom and that's by accepting the challenges and risks like the ones Donaire, Nishioka, Rios and Alvarado committed to on October 13," Top Rank president Todd duBoef said. "They are young, hungry and ambitious."
Donaire (29-1, 18 KOs), 29, is a former flyweight, interim junior bantamweight and bantamweight titlist and moved up to claim a junior featherweight title in February. On July 7, he unified 122-pound belts when he dropped Jeffrey Mathebula and broke his jaw en route to a unanimous decision.
Top Rank's plan had been to match Donaire, known as "The Filipino Flash," with Mexican star Jorge Arce (60-6-2, 46 KOs) on the October card, but negotiations stalled when Arce's team asked for far more money than was available. But all along, Top Rank's Bob Arum had talked about Nishioka also being a possible opponent.
From a competitive standpoint, Nishioka figures to be more of a test for Donaire than Arce.
Nishioka (39-4-3, 24 KOs), 36, of Japan, has not lost a fight since 2004 and is on a 16-fight winning streak, during which he won a junior featherweight belt and made seven defenses against a series of top opponents. However, following a unanimous decision against former bantamweight and junior featherweight champion Rafael Marquez in October in Las Vegas -- for which Donaire sat ringside to scout him in anticipation of a possible fight -- Nishioka vacated his title and decided to take some time off because of an undisclosed personal issue.
But he attended Donaire's win against Mathebula last month thinking there was a good chance he would make his return if he could land a fall fight with Donaire.
"No question that Nishioka is a tougher fight (than Arce)," Top Rank's Carl Moretti said. "He's a southpaw, fast, experienced, he can box. He's really not an easy guy to fight no matter who you are, so Donaire will truly be tested. You want to make the best fights for Donaire and clearly this is one of them."
Alvarado-Rios features two of boxing's most exciting fighters and, on paper at least, the bout looks like a can't miss slugfest.
"HBO wanted two great matchups," Arum said. "That's what we're giving them. This (Rios-Alvarado) match could be the first of a trilogy like (Arturo) Gatti-(Micky) Ward."
"It's unfair to make Gatti-Ward comparisons. You don't want to do that so let's not go there, but the size and style of Alvarado and Rios bleeds -- literally and figuratively -- that this will be something special," Moretti said. "They are both so mentally tough and physically strong. They both have that innate ability to endure pain in order to inflict it."
Alvarado's last two fights -- against Mauricio Herrera and Breidis Prescott -- were sensational brawls. In April, Alvarado (33-0, 23 KOs), 36, of Denver, outpointed Herrera in a leading fight of the year candidate.
Rios, 26, of Oxnard, Calif., was due to face Herrera on Donaire's July 7 undercard but withdrew because of a sore elbow that has since healed.
Rios (30-0-1, 22 KOs) was forced to move up to the 140-pound junior welterweight division after failing to make the lightweight limit of 135 pounds for two consecutive fights: a title defense against John Murray in December that resulted in Rios being stripped of the belt (but getting an 11th-round knockout win) and an April fight for the still-vacant belt against Richard Abril (which Rios won via highly controversial split decision but was again not eligible to win the title).
"I think you'll see a much better Brandon Rios at this weight, and he's fought a better competition that Alvarado," Moretti said. "But Alvarado, when it comes to putting boxers in certain categories, I can't think of too many guys who apply the constant pressure he does on another fighter. He'll just walk you down and walk you down. And Brandon is the kind of fighter who will be right there to meet him head on."
The card, which will take place at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., will headline HBO's "Boxing After Dark" (10 p.m. ET/PT) and feature some of the sport's most exciting fighters in even-money matches.
Rafael's Boxing Blog
Get the latest scoop and analysis on the world of boxing from ESPN.com's Dan Rafael in his blog.
"History shows there is only one way for a fighter to make the leap to stardom and that's by accepting the challenges and risks like the ones Donaire, Nishioka, Rios and Alvarado committed to on October 13," Top Rank president Todd duBoef said. "They are young, hungry and ambitious."
Donaire (29-1, 18 KOs), 29, is a former flyweight, interim junior bantamweight and bantamweight titlist and moved up to claim a junior featherweight title in February. On July 7, he unified 122-pound belts when he dropped Jeffrey Mathebula and broke his jaw en route to a unanimous decision.
Top Rank's plan had been to match Donaire, known as "The Filipino Flash," with Mexican star Jorge Arce (60-6-2, 46 KOs) on the October card, but negotiations stalled when Arce's team asked for far more money than was available. But all along, Top Rank's Bob Arum had talked about Nishioka also being a possible opponent.
From a competitive standpoint, Nishioka figures to be more of a test for Donaire than Arce.
Nishioka (39-4-3, 24 KOs), 36, of Japan, has not lost a fight since 2004 and is on a 16-fight winning streak, during which he won a junior featherweight belt and made seven defenses against a series of top opponents. However, following a unanimous decision against former bantamweight and junior featherweight champion Rafael Marquez in October in Las Vegas -- for which Donaire sat ringside to scout him in anticipation of a possible fight -- Nishioka vacated his title and decided to take some time off because of an undisclosed personal issue.
But he attended Donaire's win against Mathebula last month thinking there was a good chance he would make his return if he could land a fall fight with Donaire.
"No question that Nishioka is a tougher fight (than Arce)," Top Rank's Carl Moretti said. "He's a southpaw, fast, experienced, he can box. He's really not an easy guy to fight no matter who you are, so Donaire will truly be tested. You want to make the best fights for Donaire and clearly this is one of them."
Alvarado-Rios features two of boxing's most exciting fighters and, on paper at least, the bout looks like a can't miss slugfest.
"HBO wanted two great matchups," Arum said. "That's what we're giving them. This (Rios-Alvarado) match could be the first of a trilogy like (Arturo) Gatti-(Micky) Ward."
"It's unfair to make Gatti-Ward comparisons. You don't want to do that so let's not go there, but the size and style of Alvarado and Rios bleeds -- literally and figuratively -- that this will be something special," Moretti said. "They are both so mentally tough and physically strong. They both have that innate ability to endure pain in order to inflict it."
Alvarado's last two fights -- against Mauricio Herrera and Breidis Prescott -- were sensational brawls. In April, Alvarado (33-0, 23 KOs), 36, of Denver, outpointed Herrera in a leading fight of the year candidate.
Rios, 26, of Oxnard, Calif., was due to face Herrera on Donaire's July 7 undercard but withdrew because of a sore elbow that has since healed.
Rios (30-0-1, 22 KOs) was forced to move up to the 140-pound junior welterweight division after failing to make the lightweight limit of 135 pounds for two consecutive fights: a title defense against John Murray in December that resulted in Rios being stripped of the belt (but getting an 11th-round knockout win) and an April fight for the still-vacant belt against Richard Abril (which Rios won via highly controversial split decision but was again not eligible to win the title).
"I think you'll see a much better Brandon Rios at this weight, and he's fought a better competition that Alvarado," Moretti said. "But Alvarado, when it comes to putting boxers in certain categories, I can't think of too many guys who apply the constant pressure he does on another fighter. He'll just walk you down and walk you down. And Brandon is the kind of fighter who will be right there to meet him head on."
- 25,471
- 650
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2004
If you have followed the Olympic boxing tournament in London the past two weeks, you know that this has been the worst American team in history.
Sure, there have been scoring controversies and brutal refereeing, but most other countries are in the same boat.
The bottom line? Zero medals for the American men. That is a first. Not even a stinkin' bronze. (Although two of three U.S. women, in the first year of women's boxing as an Olympic sport, are bringing home medals.)
begin inline 1 INLINE MODULE
[h4]Rafael's Boxing Blog[/h4]
Get the latest scoop and analysis on the world of boxing from ESPN.com's Dan Rafael in his blog.
END INLINE MODULE end inline 1
USA Boxing, the organization that oversees amateur boxing in the United States, is an unmitigated disaster, with more problems than a third-world country. It's a complete mess that needs a massive overhaul from top to bottom. The entire culture needs a scrubbing. It simply doesn't put America's hardworking young men in the best position to bring home medals.
With the men having been shut out, the program has reached its nadir. Remember, Americans once dominated Olympic boxing to the tune of 108 total medals, including 48 gold. The American amateur program has produced legends of the game: Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roy Jones Jr., Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and many more.
And now it has come to this: In 2012, Mongolia, with a population of about 2.8 million, will take home two men's boxing medals. The United States, with a population of about 312 million, will take home none.
I was talking to promoter Dan Goossen the other day, and we were lamenting the woeful performance of Team USA. Goossen has an affinity for Olympians. He has promoted several in his day, most notably 1996 gold medalist David Reid, who went on to win a junior middleweight world title as a pro, and current super middleweight champion Andre Ward, the last American gold winner in 2004.
Goossen said there was only one way to restore America to a medal-winning machine.
"We gotta do what they did in basketball," Goossen said. "We gotta bring in the pros."
That got me thinking: How interesting would it be if the United States, or any country, for that matter, was able to send its professional fighters to the Olympics? It probably would pump a lot more interest into the tournament than there is now. It would be exciting.
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Hans DerykWould Floyd Mayweather Jr. jump at the chance to return to the Olympics to earn the only thing his money can't buy, a gold medal? You bet he would.
Currently, the lords of amateur boxing don't allow pros, even though it's common practice in other sports. That's why we see the likes of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant closing in on a basketball gold medal, and basketball pros from all over the world play for their countries. It's also why superstar pros Serena Williams and Roger Federer play in the tennis tournament.
If pro fighters were cleared to compete, I believe that many would accept the opportunity to represent their countries without being paid. Boxing is one of the most nationalist sports there is. Flags are always flying in the stands at big fights.
Just imagine Team Ukraine being led by super heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko, the 1996 gold medalist gunning for another. And what about Manny Pacquiao, captain of Team Philippines, seeking the 141-pound light welterweight gold? He has eight pro world titles but no Olympic gold medal.
I have visions of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez putting aside their rivalry for a few weeks to support each other on Team Mexico, with Chavez going for gold at 165 pounds and Alvarez doing the same at 152.
With pros, the level of interest in Olympic boxing would be off the charts. I took it a step further and came up with my own "Dream Team" to represent the United States. Because the weight limits for amateur weight classes are slightly different from the pros and there are fewer divisions, I took the liberty of moving some guys slightly up or down in weight, but all are weights at which these fighters could legitimately fight.
With that, here's my American Dream Team:
Light flyweight (108 pounds)
Unfortunately, Team USA wouldn't have a full squad. There isn't a single notable American professional who fights in either the 105-pound strawweight division or 108-pound junior flyweight division. The U.S. would kick some butt in the other weight classes, though.
Flyweight (114), Brian Viloria
INLINE MUG
END INLINE MUG
Viloria was a 2000 U.S. Olympian and a major medal hope, but he got a very tough draw in Sydney. He won his first bout but lost a close fight to eventual gold medalist Brahim Asloum of France in the second round. All these years later, Viloria is still going strong as a pro flyweight titleholder. In fact, of all the fighters on the 2000 U.S. team, Viloria is the last man standing. He probably would love a second chance to earn the medal he didn't get in 2000, and you know what? He'd probably do very, very well.
Bantamweight (123), Nonito Donaire
INLINE MUG
END INLINE MUG
Some folks might say, "What's he doing on the team, he's from the Philippines?" Yes, Donaire -- one of pro boxing's pound-for-pound stars and a reigning unified junior featherweight titlist (122 pounds) -- was born in the Philippines and embraces his heritage. But he also has lived in the United States since he was a child and, more importantly, came up through the American amateur system to the tune of winning multiple national titles. He wore the red, white and blue for those tournaments and could do it again to go for gold. With his speed and power, Donaire would be in the thick of the medal hunt for sure.
Lightweight (132), Adrien Broner
{C}INLINE MUG
{C}END INLINE MUG
Broner won a 130-pound pro world title, was recently stripped for not making weight and will now fight at 135. He would be fine at 132. He turned pro at age 18, so although he had hundreds of amateur fights, Broner didn't fight in the major international tournaments. But he sure has the talent and style to fight any competition, which is what you need in amateur boxing because you never know what kind of opponent will be in the ring from fight to fight. Broner has a soft spot for his country, too, which is why he went on a USO tour of the Middle East with other Golden Boy fighters in 2011. With a chance to represent his country (and also to grow his brand), how could Broner, still just 23 -- younger than many fighters in London -- turn down that opportunity? Mark him down as a medal favorite.
Light welterweight (141), Timothy Bradley Jr.
INLINE MUG
END INLINE MUG
Bradley owns a 147-pound world title after his controversial win against Manny Pacquiao in June, but he's included here for his exploits at 140, where he was a unified world champion and one of the best in the business. Bradley had a good amateur career and is one of America's best pros, so it was a no-brainer to send him back to 141 pounds to help America's cause. The weight class is a tough one on the international scene. Bradley would do well. Not sure about gold, but mark him down for a medal.
Welterweight (152), Floyd Mayweather Jr.
{C}INLINE MUG
{C}END INLINE MUG
"Money" would do this for free. If the wealthy NBA stars can represent America, Mayweather would, too. In fact, Mayweather was a 1996 Olympic bronze medalist who was robbed in his medal-round loss. When the scores were announced, everyone thought he had won -- including the referee, who began to raise Mayweather's hand in victory until he heard the other guy's name announced as the winner. Mayweather has often spoken of his American pride, and failing to earn gold was a big disappointment to him. I asked him once years ago about winning a bronze medal. He looked me dead in the eye and said, "You don't win a bronze medal; you receive a bronze medal because you lost the fight." The pound-for-pound king -- who holds pro world titles at 147 and 154, so weight is no issue -- would gladly lead Team USA back into battle for the opportunity to get something that all his money can't buy: a gold medal. Clear a spot on top of the podium, because with Pacquiao fighting in my fantasy Olympics at his more natural 141 pounds (meaning we would continue to miss out on a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight), Mayweather would surely win gold.
Middleweight (165), Andre Ward
{C}INLINE MUG
{C}END INLINE MUG
Ward, the last American boxing gold medalist, took the 2004 tournament. He knows how the Olympic system works, and he's a winner. Ward is on a 15-year winning streak, with his last loss coming at age 12 in an amateur fight. Besides Mayweather, he is America's best fighter and must be on the Dream Team. Keep this in mind: When Ward won gold in Athens, he did so in the 178-pound light heavyweight division. He was facing much bigger guys. When he fought in the gold medal match, he weighed only 172 pounds. As a pro, he has dominated at 168 but has said that he would be willing to meet middleweight champion Sergio Martinez at around a 165-pound catchweight if that's what it takes to make the fight. For a chance to win another gold medal, Ward would drop the three pounds. And he'd dominate again.
Light heavyweight (17
, Chad Dawson
{C}INLINE MUG
{C}END INLINE MUG
Dawson, the 175-pound pro world champion, is dropping down to 168 to challenge Ward for his title on Sept. 8, but for the chance of a lifetime in the Olympics, he would gladly fight guys a few pounds heavier. Dawson wasn't a decorated amateur like some of my other Dream Teamers, but he has a style that's conducive to the Olympic scoring system because he's tall and can pick his shots, use a jab and touch his opponents enough to score points. For three rounds -- the scheduled length of Olympic bouts -- Dawson can box with anyone on the planet. He'd be a medal lock.
Heavyweight (201), Steve Cunningham
{C}INLINE MUG
{C}END INLINE MUG
In the Olympics, the 201-pound category is called heavyweight, but it's essentially equal to the pro cruiserweight 200-pound division. Cunningham, who has held cruiserweight titles, is planning to move up to the pro heavyweight division in his next fight. But he could put it on hold to fight for gold. We also know he has a streak of patriotism because he served in the United States Navy, hence his nickname of "USS." Being honest here, he would be in a tough spot. The Eastern Europeans at 201 and at super heavy are extremely tough and often very technical. The American big men are the weak link on this Dream Team. Cunningham has the ability, but he'd have a tough road to a medal.
Super heavyweight (201-plus), Cristobal Arreola
{C}INLINE MUG
END INLINE MUG
With the big guys, one punch can turn things around, even in the Olympic system (where knockouts are few and far between), so Arreola always has a chance. But the American heavyweight contenders aren't what they once were, and Arreola is about the best the U.S. has at the moment. He can bang, and even though his stamina isn't the greatest, in a three-round Olympic fight he could go all-out and try to get by on intense pressure. Forget about gold if Klitschko is in the tournament. Silver or bronze? Maybe.
Sure, there have been scoring controversies and brutal refereeing, but most other countries are in the same boat.
The bottom line? Zero medals for the American men. That is a first. Not even a stinkin' bronze. (Although two of three U.S. women, in the first year of women's boxing as an Olympic sport, are bringing home medals.)
begin inline 1 INLINE MODULE
[h4]Rafael's Boxing Blog[/h4]
END INLINE MODULE end inline 1
USA Boxing, the organization that oversees amateur boxing in the United States, is an unmitigated disaster, with more problems than a third-world country. It's a complete mess that needs a massive overhaul from top to bottom. The entire culture needs a scrubbing. It simply doesn't put America's hardworking young men in the best position to bring home medals.
With the men having been shut out, the program has reached its nadir. Remember, Americans once dominated Olympic boxing to the tune of 108 total medals, including 48 gold. The American amateur program has produced legends of the game: Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roy Jones Jr., Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and many more.
And now it has come to this: In 2012, Mongolia, with a population of about 2.8 million, will take home two men's boxing medals. The United States, with a population of about 312 million, will take home none.
I was talking to promoter Dan Goossen the other day, and we were lamenting the woeful performance of Team USA. Goossen has an affinity for Olympians. He has promoted several in his day, most notably 1996 gold medalist David Reid, who went on to win a junior middleweight world title as a pro, and current super middleweight champion Andre Ward, the last American gold winner in 2004.
Goossen said there was only one way to restore America to a medal-winning machine.
"We gotta do what they did in basketball," Goossen said. "We gotta bring in the pros."
That got me thinking: How interesting would it be if the United States, or any country, for that matter, was able to send its professional fighters to the Olympics? It probably would pump a lot more interest into the tournament than there is now. It would be exciting.
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Hans DerykWould Floyd Mayweather Jr. jump at the chance to return to the Olympics to earn the only thing his money can't buy, a gold medal? You bet he would.
Currently, the lords of amateur boxing don't allow pros, even though it's common practice in other sports. That's why we see the likes of LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant closing in on a basketball gold medal, and basketball pros from all over the world play for their countries. It's also why superstar pros Serena Williams and Roger Federer play in the tennis tournament.
If pro fighters were cleared to compete, I believe that many would accept the opportunity to represent their countries without being paid. Boxing is one of the most nationalist sports there is. Flags are always flying in the stands at big fights.
Just imagine Team Ukraine being led by super heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko, the 1996 gold medalist gunning for another. And what about Manny Pacquiao, captain of Team Philippines, seeking the 141-pound light welterweight gold? He has eight pro world titles but no Olympic gold medal.
I have visions of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez putting aside their rivalry for a few weeks to support each other on Team Mexico, with Chavez going for gold at 165 pounds and Alvarez doing the same at 152.
With pros, the level of interest in Olympic boxing would be off the charts. I took it a step further and came up with my own "Dream Team" to represent the United States. Because the weight limits for amateur weight classes are slightly different from the pros and there are fewer divisions, I took the liberty of moving some guys slightly up or down in weight, but all are weights at which these fighters could legitimately fight.
With that, here's my American Dream Team:
Light flyweight (108 pounds)
Unfortunately, Team USA wouldn't have a full squad. There isn't a single notable American professional who fights in either the 105-pound strawweight division or 108-pound junior flyweight division. The U.S. would kick some butt in the other weight classes, though.
Flyweight (114), Brian Viloria
INLINE MUG
Viloria
END INLINE MUG
Viloria was a 2000 U.S. Olympian and a major medal hope, but he got a very tough draw in Sydney. He won his first bout but lost a close fight to eventual gold medalist Brahim Asloum of France in the second round. All these years later, Viloria is still going strong as a pro flyweight titleholder. In fact, of all the fighters on the 2000 U.S. team, Viloria is the last man standing. He probably would love a second chance to earn the medal he didn't get in 2000, and you know what? He'd probably do very, very well.
Bantamweight (123), Nonito Donaire
INLINE MUG
Donaire
END INLINE MUG
Some folks might say, "What's he doing on the team, he's from the Philippines?" Yes, Donaire -- one of pro boxing's pound-for-pound stars and a reigning unified junior featherweight titlist (122 pounds) -- was born in the Philippines and embraces his heritage. But he also has lived in the United States since he was a child and, more importantly, came up through the American amateur system to the tune of winning multiple national titles. He wore the red, white and blue for those tournaments and could do it again to go for gold. With his speed and power, Donaire would be in the thick of the medal hunt for sure.
Lightweight (132), Adrien Broner
{C}INLINE MUG
Broner
{C}END INLINE MUG
Broner won a 130-pound pro world title, was recently stripped for not making weight and will now fight at 135. He would be fine at 132. He turned pro at age 18, so although he had hundreds of amateur fights, Broner didn't fight in the major international tournaments. But he sure has the talent and style to fight any competition, which is what you need in amateur boxing because you never know what kind of opponent will be in the ring from fight to fight. Broner has a soft spot for his country, too, which is why he went on a USO tour of the Middle East with other Golden Boy fighters in 2011. With a chance to represent his country (and also to grow his brand), how could Broner, still just 23 -- younger than many fighters in London -- turn down that opportunity? Mark him down as a medal favorite.
Light welterweight (141), Timothy Bradley Jr.
INLINE MUG
Bradley
END INLINE MUG
Bradley owns a 147-pound world title after his controversial win against Manny Pacquiao in June, but he's included here for his exploits at 140, where he was a unified world champion and one of the best in the business. Bradley had a good amateur career and is one of America's best pros, so it was a no-brainer to send him back to 141 pounds to help America's cause. The weight class is a tough one on the international scene. Bradley would do well. Not sure about gold, but mark him down for a medal.
Welterweight (152), Floyd Mayweather Jr.
{C}INLINE MUG
Mayweather
{C}END INLINE MUG
"Money" would do this for free. If the wealthy NBA stars can represent America, Mayweather would, too. In fact, Mayweather was a 1996 Olympic bronze medalist who was robbed in his medal-round loss. When the scores were announced, everyone thought he had won -- including the referee, who began to raise Mayweather's hand in victory until he heard the other guy's name announced as the winner. Mayweather has often spoken of his American pride, and failing to earn gold was a big disappointment to him. I asked him once years ago about winning a bronze medal. He looked me dead in the eye and said, "You don't win a bronze medal; you receive a bronze medal because you lost the fight." The pound-for-pound king -- who holds pro world titles at 147 and 154, so weight is no issue -- would gladly lead Team USA back into battle for the opportunity to get something that all his money can't buy: a gold medal. Clear a spot on top of the podium, because with Pacquiao fighting in my fantasy Olympics at his more natural 141 pounds (meaning we would continue to miss out on a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight), Mayweather would surely win gold.
Middleweight (165), Andre Ward
{C}INLINE MUG
Ward
{C}END INLINE MUG
Ward, the last American boxing gold medalist, took the 2004 tournament. He knows how the Olympic system works, and he's a winner. Ward is on a 15-year winning streak, with his last loss coming at age 12 in an amateur fight. Besides Mayweather, he is America's best fighter and must be on the Dream Team. Keep this in mind: When Ward won gold in Athens, he did so in the 178-pound light heavyweight division. He was facing much bigger guys. When he fought in the gold medal match, he weighed only 172 pounds. As a pro, he has dominated at 168 but has said that he would be willing to meet middleweight champion Sergio Martinez at around a 165-pound catchweight if that's what it takes to make the fight. For a chance to win another gold medal, Ward would drop the three pounds. And he'd dominate again.
Light heavyweight (17
, Chad Dawson{C}INLINE MUG
Dawson
{C}END INLINE MUG
Dawson, the 175-pound pro world champion, is dropping down to 168 to challenge Ward for his title on Sept. 8, but for the chance of a lifetime in the Olympics, he would gladly fight guys a few pounds heavier. Dawson wasn't a decorated amateur like some of my other Dream Teamers, but he has a style that's conducive to the Olympic scoring system because he's tall and can pick his shots, use a jab and touch his opponents enough to score points. For three rounds -- the scheduled length of Olympic bouts -- Dawson can box with anyone on the planet. He'd be a medal lock.
Heavyweight (201), Steve Cunningham
{C}INLINE MUG
Cunningham
{C}END INLINE MUG
In the Olympics, the 201-pound category is called heavyweight, but it's essentially equal to the pro cruiserweight 200-pound division. Cunningham, who has held cruiserweight titles, is planning to move up to the pro heavyweight division in his next fight. But he could put it on hold to fight for gold. We also know he has a streak of patriotism because he served in the United States Navy, hence his nickname of "USS." Being honest here, he would be in a tough spot. The Eastern Europeans at 201 and at super heavy are extremely tough and often very technical. The American big men are the weak link on this Dream Team. Cunningham has the ability, but he'd have a tough road to a medal.
Super heavyweight (201-plus), Cristobal Arreola
{C}INLINE MUG
Arreola
END INLINE MUG
With the big guys, one punch can turn things around, even in the Olympic system (where knockouts are few and far between), so Arreola always has a chance. But the American heavyweight contenders aren't what they once were, and Arreola is about the best the U.S. has at the moment. He can bang, and even though his stamina isn't the greatest, in a three-round Olympic fight he could go all-out and try to get by on intense pressure. Forget about gold if Klitschko is in the tournament. Silver or bronze? Maybe.