Thoughts on last night

states · Post by **states** » 09 Oct 2005, 10:11

Pacquiao-Hernandez: What a great little fight to start the night. Like most people, Freddie Roach included, I felt Hernandez did enough to win. Once again though, I was shocked by how few people actually watched it. Maybe the Vegas crowd should come and watch one of our WBU-filled, TBA opponent undercards to realise just how good they've got it!

JCC jnr: To be honest, I think it's a shocking moneymaking venture for the promoters. Yes, the kid is young, and looks like he has some potential. But he can't hit that hard, and I agree with Nicky Piper that he's got the look of a fragile fighter should he step it up. And his opponents are dreadful. They make the Eastern european journeymen we see over here look very good in comparison.

Arce-Hussein: Strange sort of stoppage, but I can't disagree too much with it in hindsight, as there was no way Hussein was going to win in my opinion. I love Arce, he's a terrific little fighter, and there are some great fights to be made involving him.

Coralles-Castillo: All weightmaking issues aside, it was terrific whilst it lasted. Great punch to finish it. Surely a 3rd fight is in the offing at some point? And surely we'll see them both at lightwelter in the future? With Gatti and Tszyu moving up, their addition would make the 140lb'ers very talent rich again. Anyone fancy seeing Hatton in with Castillo? I know I do.

Overall, very entertaining night. Well done Sky.

Lefthookhappy19 · Post by **Lefthookhappy19** » 09 Oct 2005, 10:24

I disagree on Chavez Jr. He looks good for a 19 year old. And he does appear to have power to me. Did you hear the thud of those left hooks to the body? And his opponent was not THAT bad. His opponent was a weight bigger and he was game and still far better than any of KM's opponents who don't throw anything back fullstop. Jr will be a champion one day imo. He picks his punches really well and he will improve.

jomothepure · Post by **jomothepure** » 09 Oct 2005, 10:27

I think they were pretty much writing up the contracts for fight III 20 minutes after the fight.

dandantheweatherman · Post by **dandantheweatherman** » 09 Oct 2005, 10:53

Good fights....still not convinced that Castillo didn't play games with the weight and decided to try for a catchweight match knowing he'd be stronger having not made the weight. Jim Watt said much the same thing just before the fight too.

Wouldn't mind seeing Witter, Hatton or Catto in at 140lbs with Castillo and Corrales.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 09 Oct 2005, 11:10

Well i watched the repeat this morning, poor old Paul Dempsey looked knackered he could barely keep his eyes open!

First of all enjoyed the main event, Corrales was shipping left hooks right from the first round so it was little surprise that was the shot that eventually ended the fight. He had few excuses afterwards admitting he got caught flush and that was it, i picked Castillo via late stoppage and was surprised it ended so soon but it was a great finishing punch, fight III is inevitable.

As for the undercard, i wasn't so shocked as the commentary team when Fenech threw the towel in for Hussein, i felt they knew something we didn't. It seemed almost certain which way the fight was heading for and i think they had it in the back of their minds what was going to happen, they probably thought Hussein gave it everything in fight one and couldn't find ther answers and even Watt himself remarked on how the change of fight plan wasn't working. I am not too shocked by the corners decision.

I can't understand why SKY cut out round 3 or 4 (can't remember which) of the Chavez Jnr fight it just seemed totally pointless. Anyway i am not convinced by Chavez Jnr as yet mainly due to the level of opposition so far, it seems difficult to judge him until he steps up to a higher class of competition.

And finally...i thought Hernandez beat Pacquiao narrowly, it took me half the fight to get used to Bobby he lookes the spit of Manny in every way even style wise 8)

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 09 Oct 2005, 11:42

Pacquiao vs Hernandez - great fight, we have been blessed with some crackers and this was one. Disagreed with the decision, but I cannot help (and I do indeed hope) that this fight has enhanced both guys chances of securing a world title fight. Whats the odds that Pacquiao vs Hernandez II will be an eliminator. Its got to happen again, how has Pacquiao lost 11 times, he looked every inch a world class fighter. Round 3 is the round of the year.

Arce vs Hussein II - Sorry I agree with Watt, it was disgraceful stoppage. Fenech short changed the fans there and also showed no respect for Hussein. Whilst it was looking onimous for Hussein, he had shown in fight 1 that he could hurt him. His reaction at the end said enough, whatever Fenech and Co. knew about Husseins' chances, he wasn't aware of it. The corner actually walked in at the same time as the towel being thrown so the ref couldn't ignore the towel - otherwise I think he would have.

Got to wonder how this will effect Nedal Hussein's chances vs Scott Harrison, it would surprise me in the slightest if Hussein Hussein will walk out on Fenech with immediate effect, will Nedal be needing a new trainer before the Harrison fight. Has Fenech's reputation just gone down so much recently, he's lost the plot.

JCC Jnr - Looks good for a 19 year old IMO, had some good moves and his old man look at the end of each round which must be intimidating.

Main Event - Cracking fight, looked to be a close one. Very similar to the early rounds of the first fight - I don't think Castillo looked any stronger than he did in fight one - it was a tremendous shot. I enjoyed Jim Watts commentary throughout but he was a bit harsh on Diego not being able to take the shot - it was a much better shot than the one that floored Corrales in their first meeting.

Rematch please!

Manos de Oro · Post by **Manos de Oro** » 09 Oct 2005, 12:51

Pacquiao - Hernandez

Sadly unsurprised to see my man El Famoso 'lose' to the politically connected Pacquiao. After a torrid tit-for-tat start Hernandez was killing him to the body for the final 5 or 6 rounds. Laughable that it was Duane Ford who decided the outcome - as Johnny Nelson said: notice the long pause before it was announced? Remember the long pause before Hopkins - Taylor was announced? Someone on the Current Scene said that he has recently admitted on TV not knowing what 'ring generalship' is, and from last night it's obvious he doesn't score body punches. He also gave the 12th round to Taylor in that Hopkins fight, even though Taylor was dazed at least three times and physically batted from post to post for much of the round - sending him to hospital with a concussion after it was over. Ford said he won the round 10-9. Just pure corruption really.

Arce - Hussein II

Well, I could see what Jeff Fenech was seeing - Hussy just wasn't at the races and was in for a long night. However, given the stage - chief support to such a main event - and the fact that he recovered to beat the count with time to spare, I think it was a premature stoppage. Not the worst I've ever seen, but it still leaves a bit of a bad taste. Anyway props to Arce: Hussy tried to outbox him but the Mexican looked to have some skills himself - just never let Fenech's man into the fight.

The Chavez Jr. show

Continues the roadshow, his next fight might be worth watching - the press in Mexico will probably be going bananas over it.

Corrales - Castillo II

Have to give respect to Jim Watt and Iain Darke first of all for cottoning on to the weight tactics from the get go - Jim being the previous holder of Castillo's (and Corrales' current) belt knew what was happening straight away. I believed those stories about the doctor coming in and that Castillo had just misjudged - though the fact he came in heavier second time niggled. It wasn't until he was in the ring with his robe off that it fully dawned on me - this guy is a full fledged light welterweight who had trained as a light welter. If these two guys were randomly off the street I'd imagine many boxing fans would class Castillo as a 140lb fighter - it's not the actual poundage that tells the story, it's the build.

The fight itself was good, though Corrales' tactics were moronic given he was fighting a stronger guy. He was far too static on the inside and was wide open for inside counters. That counter left hook that put him over was one for the ages - short, fast, accurate, leaning back to give it some style = picturesque knockout. I imagine all the usual slurs about Corrales being 'chinny' will resurface with vigour now, despite the fact many a 'world' class fighter would have been sleeping for minutes if they'd walked onto that bomb.

The rubber match is all set up perfectly now: two previous fights - two differing winners - both have knocked each other out in picturesque fashion - both have bent the rules to win in their respective victories. Couldn't believe some clown on the ESB front page said there was unlikely to be a third one because of the devastating manner of last night's knockout. Ummm, okay.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 09 Oct 2005, 12:56

Will Corrales get stripped? Isn't it usually the case if a fighter cannot lose his belt, but does get beaten then he gets stripped?

boxbet · Post by **boxbet** » 09 Oct 2005, 13:29

i thought castillo would win before the fight but was shocked how it ended and so quickly. felt sorry for diego, he didnt want to lose like that and should have been able to give a better account of himself. hats off to castillo, he's got his revenge.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 09 Oct 2005, 13:43

Just thinking you know, these last two battles just enhance Mayweather's reputation even more if you ask me, he beat Castillo twice (forget about the controversy he was never in any trouble in either fight was he?) and knocked Corrales down five times i mean it just shows the class of the pretty boy.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 09 Oct 2005, 16:02

Maybe Fenech is an ace trainer, but as a corner man, I think he sucks.

After the first, he was yelling at Hussein like he'd already blown the fight - gloom and doom, giving his man no confidence at all.

Then he takes away ANY chance Hussein might have had, by throwing in the towel so early - the guy was up on steady legs as well.
Give the man a chance why don't you? Just look at Castillo/Coralles and it shows you how one punch can changes things round.

Shocking decision I thought.

Imagine if Fenech was in the corner for Castillo or Coralles? Both fights would've been over before they started!

Let's hope the other Hussein doesn't bring over Jeff for the Scotland fight, and possibly f*** that up too.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 09 Oct 2005, 16:41

steve689 wrote:Just thinking you know, these last two battles just enhance Mayweather's reputation even more if you ask me, he beat Castillo twice (forget about the controversy he was never in any trouble in either fight was he?) and knocked Corrales down five times i mean it just shows the class of the pretty boy.

Absolutely.

I wouldn't mind seeing a fighting between Castillo OR Corrales vs Casamayor next. I doubt it will happen, but Casamayor must be one of the unluckiest fighters ever - although in someways its been his fault, he has still given both guys all the trouble they can handle.