2007, vintage year for boxing?

Shirow · Post by **Shirow** » 01 Aug 2007, 08:14

For entertainment, spectacle & anticipation 2007 has been the best i can remember.

So far this year we have had

Hatton v Castillo
Pavlik v Taylor
Cotto v Judah
Katsidis v Earl
Marquez v Barrera
Marquez v Vazquez
De La Hoya v Mayweather
Donaire v Darchinyan
Linares v Larios
Williams v Margarito
Johannsen v Burns
Sprott v Harrison
Limond v Khan

And we've got these to look forward to

Pavlik v Taylor
Pacquiao v Barrera II
Calzaghe v Kessler
Marquez v Vazquez II
Hatton v Mayweather
Khan v Earl (maybe not i've just read)
Mosley v Cotto

Have i missed any out?

Am i going overboard because we've been been conditioned not to expect regular good contests or should we all be basking in current glory of our sport?

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 01 Aug 2007, 08:20

No i don't think you are going overboard, i was thinking the same myself. It has been a hard year to top and ironically has coincided with the rise of the UFC and all that stuff. Good to keep the promoters on their toes!

Phenomenal-Nutrition · Post by **Phenomenal-Nutrition** » 01 Aug 2007, 08:38

Best year in a long long time. I really don't know when we had as good match ups as 2007 and hope promoters keep putting them on.

Who knows 2008 may see Mayweather-Hatton winner versus Mosley-Cotto winner. Guzman-Soto winner against Pacman-Barrera winner. Complete HW unification. Calazage-Kessler winner in with Taylor-Pavlik winner. All those fights look likely enough to be made

Good times ahead

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 01 Aug 2007, 09:11

I think with the Top Rank/GBP feud over, it's opened up top fights in the 2 best divisions, welter (Cotto-Mosley) and super feather (Soto-Guzman).

I'm going for Cotto and Soto big time in those fights, though it'll be bloody hard work.

Also, with British fighters like Macca, Haye, Arthur maturing, we could see plenty more interesting stuff, not to mention Khan/Murray reaching or close to domestic title level...

koomey · Post by **koomey** » 01 Aug 2007, 09:25

You forgot Sprott-Skelton!!

koomey · Post by **koomey** » 01 Aug 2007, 09:26

Good list!

Vargas - Mayorga could be shaping up for a good fight.

Koomey

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 01 Aug 2007, 09:27

Shirow wrote:For entertainment, spectacle & anticipation 2007 has been the best i can remember.

So far this year we have had

Hatton v Castillo
Pavlik v Taylor
Cotto v Judah
Katsidis v Earl
Marquez v Barrera
Marquez v Vazquez
De La Hoya v Mayweather
Donaire v Darchinyan
Linares v Larios
Williams v Margarito
Johannsen v Burns
Sprott v Harrison
Limond v Khan

And we've got these to look forward to

Pavlik v Taylor
Pacquiao v Barrera II
Calzaghe v Kessler
Marquez v Vazquez II
Hatton v Mayweather
Khan v Earl (maybe not i've just read)
Mosley v Cotto

Have i missed any out?

I'm i going overboard because we've been been conditioned not to expect regular good contests or should we all be basking in current glory of our sport?

Ding-dong! Right on the money mate, fantastic year for boxing.

One of the best years ever for British boxing, in terms of big fights. I cannot remember the last time Britain had two fighters in the top 10 P4P.

If Haye does the business at Cruiserweight, Froch wins a title, well, hard to think of a year that topped it. When Benn, Eubank and Watson were in their primes, there wasn't so much happening in the other divisions.

Dirk Kelly · Post by **Dirk Kelly** » 01 Aug 2007, 09:30

How would we favour Cotto to do against Mayweather and Hatton?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 01 Aug 2007, 10:00

Favour Cotto to beat Hatton, think he's too strong and hard hitting at Welterweight. He can be hurt, but he would really hurt hatton back, and is an excellent attritional fighter.

Maybe a bit too ponderous to beat Mayweather. Think Hatton has a better chance because of his speed of hand, and especially his footwork.

SticknMove · Post by **SticknMove** » 01 Aug 2007, 10:40

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Favour Cotto to beat Hatton, think he's too strong and hard hitting at Welterweight. He can be hurt, but he would really hurt hatton back, and is an excellent attritional fighter.

Maybe a bit too ponderous to beat Mayweather. Think Hatton has a better chance because of his speed of hand, and especially his footwork.

I would agree with that.

I think Cotto is very strong at WW and appears to get get stronger the longer the fight goes. He is a very hard puncher these days too. Not best suited to Hatton who relies on his strength to put guys on the backfoot. But Cotto’s lack of footspeed and handspeed may well suit PBF.

Hatton on the other hand has good balance, lateral movement and speed of foot to get himself in range or in a clinch. And it is what he does in the clinches that reveals him to be a different proposition to the Hatton pre-Zoo. I see him trying use this strategy to push and pull PBF’s arms and elbows about in the clinches and trying to unload on anything that presents itself as a target. For me Hatton has to make the fight as ugly as possible, but for how much of the rounds and the fight he is able to do this I have my doubts.

THEBUTCH · Post by **THEBUTCH** » 01 Aug 2007, 10:41

Not going overboard at all. It's been an excellent season of boxing.

Despite the Hatton getting boxing's number 1 star, I'd still much rather see Hatton v Cotto. These two in the same ring with each other makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 01 Aug 2007, 10:55

Don't forget Mormeck v Haye in September.

Whats also been great is actually being able to watch alot of these fights, instead of just hearing the result. Sky have improved the boxing coverage this year.

Also alot of the division seem to have strength in depth, i think this has been a major plus this year. Its only the Heavyweights that seem a bit thin on the ground, and this is more to do with not having 1 stand out boxer in that division , which we have always had in the last 20 years.

If you look at any other weight division there are class match-ups to be made.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 01 Aug 2007, 10:58

SticknMove wrote:
jamesmcdonnell wrote:Favour Cotto to beat Hatton, think he's too strong and hard hitting at Welterweight. He can be hurt, but he would really hurt hatton back, and is an excellent attritional fighter.

Maybe a bit too ponderous to beat Mayweather. Think Hatton has a better chance because of his speed of hand, and especially his footwork.
I would agree with that.

I think Cotto is very strong at WW and appears to get get stronger the longer the fight goes. He is a very hard puncher these days too. Not best suited to Hatton who relies on his strength to put guys on the backfoot. But Cotto’s lack of footspeed and handspeed may well suit PBF.

Hatton on the other hand has good balance, lateral movement and speed of foot to get himself in range or in a clinch. And it is what he does in the clinches that reveals him to be a different proposition to the Hatton pre-Zoo. I see him trying use this strategy to push and pull PBF’s arms and elbows about in the clinches and trying to unload on anything that presents itself as a target. For me Hatton has to make the fight as ugly as possible, but for how much of the rounds and the fight he is able to do this I have my doubts.

Yes, Cotto tends to slowly stalk his foes, banging in body shots from range and trying to take their legs away, but he is esentially a flat footed fighter. That's not ideal for trying to tag someone like Mayweather who rarely stays in one place for long. Hatton closes the gap a lot quicker.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 01 Aug 2007, 11:02

Hatton would need to go into a contest with Mayweather looking to hit anything above the belt line, really bully Mayweather out of his stride. I can see Ricky pulling off the win, but it would be close, very close.

Goz · Post by **Goz** » 01 Aug 2007, 11:07

Excellent year and only looking to get better and looking highly likely that I will finish it with my first big fight trip to Vegas so personally 2007 will be unforgettable.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 01 Aug 2007, 11:36

Something I hope Graham notices.....

In the early rounds against Mayweather, Oscar had a lot of success with shots to the chest, and upper torso, Floyd was in retreat and off balance as a result, and these were the rounds where Oscar did best. People often forget about shots to the chest, the heart, and the solar plexus, but not only do these shots hurt, but they are all scoring shots (or should be, do wonder about modern judges and whether they would credit shots to these areas).

Almost as important, is the fact that because they are landing above the centre of gravity, but in an area with large mass (the trunk), they have a big effect in knocking your opponent off balance, and therefore out of their stride. If you can get Floyd off balance, he cannot use his legs, and you are going to get openings.

If Billy Graham hasn't noticed this, which would surprise me, then I'd love to sit with a video of the Oscar fight and point this out.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 01 Aug 2007, 12:31

Ricky's very good in clinches. Yank writers act like he's John Ruiz. He's nothing like him. Look at how he smothered Castillo's shots in close and found room for his own really fast body shots.

Also, as he showed early vs Urango, before he tired, he's great at punching out of a clinch, clipping you round the side and finding the angle out.

Hatton is the best at roughing ppl up. That's exactly how to beat Floyd. Oscar had a stab at it but it's not his style.

Mayweather's not invincible. Demarcus Corley and Sharmbah Mitchell - past their primes - had him briefly stunned!

I could understand if ppl said Witter would have no chance. Mayweather's shots are well timed, compact and would get there long before Jr's. But this thought that Hatton has no chance is silly.

Just because Ricky goes for the working class bloke image (he is that anyway), certain parties have tried to seize on this. Floyd being upper class and Hatton being "the great unwashed." It's just stupid snobbery and has no bearing on what happens in the ring - whatsoever.

With a little thought, Floyd is not classy. He nearly went to prison for having a member of his posse smash a bottle on someone's head. He beat up his girlfriend. He bitches and shows off and acts immature and obnoxious.

mattyp151 · Post by **mattyp151** » 01 Aug 2007, 12:36

Autobarn wrote:Ricky's very good in clinches. Yank writers act like he's John Ruiz. He's nothing like him. Look at how he smothered Castillo's shots in close and found room for his own really fast body shots.

Also, as he showed early vs Urango, before he tired, he's great at punching out of a clinch, clipping you round the side and finding the angle out.

Hatton is the best at roughing ppl up. That's exactly how to beat Floyd. Oscar had a stab at it but it's not his style.

Mayweather's not invincible. Demarcus Corley and Sharmbah Mitchell - past their primes - had him briefly stunned!

I could understand if ppl said Witter would have no chance. Mayweather's shots are well timed, compact and would get there long before Jr's. But this thought that Hatton has no chance is silly.

Just because Ricky goes for the working class bloke image (he is that anyway), certain parties have tried to seize on this. Floyd being upper class and Hatton being "the great unwashed." It's just stupid snobbery and has no bearing on what happens in the ring - whatsoever.

With a little thought, Floyd is not classy. He nearly went to prison for having a member of his posse smash a bottle on someone's head. He beat up his girlfriend. He bitches and shows off and acts immature and obnoxious.

Mitchell didn;t touch Floyd at all in that fight, you're on crack. That was 6 rounds of Sharmba being out of his league and getting picked apart. Corley's shot was no better or worse than Judah's double jab striaght left that backed Floyd up, notice what happened immediately after each...Nothing, Floyd snuffed the follow up with his defense.

Yes, Hatton has a chance, but those clinches that Castillo got into won't be there with Floyd. He doesn't try to clinch much, it's mostly pucnhing while going backwards from corner to corner, and moving when you touch the ropes.

I notice you didn't mention how Floyd buckled Oscar's knees in the 5th with his back against the ropes though...

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 01 Aug 2007, 12:39

Autobarn wrote:Ricky's very good in clinches. Yank writers act like he's John Ruiz. He's nothing like him. Look at how he smothered Castillo's shots in close and found room for his own really fast body shots.

Also, as he showed early vs Urango, before he tired, he's great at punching out of a clinch, clipping you round the side and finding the angle out.

Hatton is the best at roughing ppl up. That's exactly how to beat Floyd. Oscar had a stab at it but it's not his style.

Mayweather's not invincible. Demarcus Corley and Sharmbah Mitchell - past their primes - had him briefly stunned!

I could understand if ppl said Witter would have no chance. Mayweather's shots are well timed, compact and would get there long before Jr's. But this thought that Hatton has no chance is silly.

Just because Ricky goes for the working class bloke image (he is that anyway), certain parties have tried to seize on this. Floyd being upper class and Hatton being "the great unwashed." It's just stupid snobbery and has no bearing on what happens in the ring - whatsoever.

With a little thought, Floyd is not classy. He nearly went to prison for having a member of his posse smash a bottle on someone's head. He beat up his girlfriend. He bitches and shows off and acts immature and obnoxious.

Did floyd beat up his girlfriend, sure you're not thinking of Corralles or what's the other guy, was it spadafora or someone like that?

Floyd did get involved in an altercation with a champagne bottle though.

A lot of the other stuff is just for the cameras, he was nice as pie when interviewed on the Jay Leno show.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 01 Aug 2007, 12:41

Mattyp151 wrote:
Autobarn wrote:Ricky's very good in clinches. Yank writers act like he's John Ruiz. He's nothing like him. Look at how he smothered Castillo's shots in close and found room for his own really fast body shots.

Also, as he showed early vs Urango, before he tired, he's great at punching out of a clinch, clipping you round the side and finding the angle out.

Hatton is the best at roughing ppl up. That's exactly how to beat Floyd. Oscar had a stab at it but it's not his style.

Mayweather's not invincible. Demarcus Corley and Sharmbah Mitchell - past their primes - had him briefly stunned!

I could understand if ppl said Witter would have no chance. Mayweather's shots are well timed, compact and would get there long before Jr's. But this thought that Hatton has no chance is silly.

Just because Ricky goes for the working class bloke image (he is that anyway), certain parties have tried to seize on this. Floyd being upper class and Hatton being "the great unwashed." It's just stupid snobbery and has no bearing on what happens in the ring - whatsoever.

With a little thought, Floyd is not classy. He nearly went to prison for having a member of his posse smash a bottle on someone's head. He beat up his girlfriend. He bitches and shows off and acts immature and obnoxious.
Mitchell didn;t touch Floyd at all in that fight, you're on crack. That was 6 rounds of Sharmba being out of his league and getting picked apart. Corley's shot was no better or worse than Judah's double jab striaght left that backed Floyd up, notice what happened immediately after each...Nothing, Floyd snuffed the follow up with his defense.

Yes, Hatton has a chance, but those clinches that Castillo got into won't be there with Floyd. He doesn't try to clinch much, it's mostly pucnhing while going backwards from corner to corner, and moving when you touch the ropes.

I notice you didn't mention how Floyd buckled Oscar's knees in the 5th with his back against the ropes though...

Floyd got stung with a straight left or two.

Sure, Floyd can hurt fighters - he hits correclty and solidly enough.

I'm so not getting sucked into this reactinary Mayweather can't be beat shite. I was practically ridiculed for having the bare faced audacity for saying that Pavlik could beat Miranda.

All the top p4p guys can get beaten, Mosley, Forrest, Jones Jr, Hopkins, Tszyu etc etc

mattyp151 · Post by **mattyp151** » 01 Aug 2007, 12:43

jamesmcdonnell wrote:
Autobarn wrote:Ricky's very good in clinches. Yank writers act like he's John Ruiz. He's nothing like him. Look at how he smothered Castillo's shots in close and found room for his own really fast body shots.

Also, as he showed early vs Urango, before he tired, he's great at punching out of a clinch, clipping you round the side and finding the angle out.

Hatton is the best at roughing ppl up. That's exactly how to beat Floyd. Oscar had a stab at it but it's not his style.

Mayweather's not invincible. Demarcus Corley and Sharmbah Mitchell - past their primes - had him briefly stunned!

I could understand if ppl said Witter would have no chance. Mayweather's shots are well timed, compact and would get there long before Jr's. But this thought that Hatton has no chance is silly.

Just because Ricky goes for the working class bloke image (he is that anyway), certain parties have tried to seize on this. Floyd being upper class and Hatton being "the great unwashed." It's just stupid snobbery and has no bearing on what happens in the ring - whatsoever.

With a little thought, Floyd is not classy. He nearly went to prison for having a member of his posse smash a bottle on someone's head. He beat up his girlfriend. He bitches and shows off and acts immature and obnoxious.
Did floyd beat up his girlfriend, sure you're not thinking of Corralles or what's the other guy, was it spadafora or someone like that?

Floyd did get involved in an altercation with a champagne bottle though.

A lot of the other stuff is just for the cameras, he was nice as pie when interviewed on the Jay Leno show.

He was accused of kicking his girlfriend, but she testified she lied and was caught in the moment, and he was acquitted.

The other charge was from a bar fight, and how many of us haven't been in one of those?

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 01 Aug 2007, 12:44

jamesmcdonnell wrote:
Autobarn wrote:Ricky's very good in clinches. Yank writers act like he's John Ruiz. He's nothing like him. Look at how he smothered Castillo's shots in close and found room for his own really fast body shots.

Also, as he showed early vs Urango, before he tired, he's great at punching out of a clinch, clipping you round the side and finding the angle out.

Hatton is the best at roughing ppl up. That's exactly how to beat Floyd. Oscar had a stab at it but it's not his style.

Mayweather's not invincible. Demarcus Corley and Sharmbah Mitchell - past their primes - had him briefly stunned!

I could understand if ppl said Witter would have no chance. Mayweather's shots are well timed, compact and would get there long before Jr's. But this thought that Hatton has no chance is silly.

Just because Ricky goes for the working class bloke image (he is that anyway), certain parties have tried to seize on this. Floyd being upper class and Hatton being "the great unwashed." It's just stupid snobbery and has no bearing on what happens in the ring - whatsoever.

With a little thought, Floyd is not classy. He nearly went to prison for having a member of his posse smash a bottle on someone's head. He beat up his girlfriend. He bitches and shows off and acts immature and obnoxious.
Did floyd beat up his girlfriend, sure you're not thinking of Corralles or what's the other guy, was it spadafora or someone like that?

Floyd did get involved in an altercation with a champagne bottle though.

A lot of the other stuff is just for the cameras, he was nice as pie when interviewed on the Jay Leno show.

he did hit his girlfriend. hence why he was labelled a hypocrite for criticising Corrales for doing it.

a lot of the showing off is for the cameras, ie playing the bad guy, but it is so pathetic to watch.

mattyp151 · Post by **mattyp151** » 01 Aug 2007, 12:45

Autobarn wrote:
Mattyp151 wrote:
Autobarn wrote:Ricky's very good in clinches. Yank writers act like he's John Ruiz. He's nothing like him. Look at how he smothered Castillo's shots in close and found room for his own really fast body shots.

Also, as he showed early vs Urango, before he tired, he's great at punching out of a clinch, clipping you round the side and finding the angle out.

Hatton is the best at roughing ppl up. That's exactly how to beat Floyd. Oscar had a stab at it but it's not his style.

Mayweather's not invincible. Demarcus Corley and Sharmbah Mitchell - past their primes - had him briefly stunned!

I could understand if ppl said Witter would have no chance. Mayweather's shots are well timed, compact and would get there long before Jr's. But this thought that Hatton has no chance is silly.

Just because Ricky goes for the working class bloke image (he is that anyway), certain parties have tried to seize on this. Floyd being upper class and Hatton being "the great unwashed." It's just stupid snobbery and has no bearing on what happens in the ring - whatsoever.

With a little thought, Floyd is not classy. He nearly went to prison for having a member of his posse smash a bottle on someone's head. He beat up his girlfriend. He bitches and shows off and acts immature and obnoxious.
Mitchell didn;t touch Floyd at all in that fight, you're on crack. That was 6 rounds of Sharmba being out of his league and getting picked apart. Corley's shot was no better or worse than Judah's double jab striaght left that backed Floyd up, notice what happened immediately after each...Nothing, Floyd snuffed the follow up with his defense.

Yes, Hatton has a chance, but those clinches that Castillo got into won't be there with Floyd. He doesn't try to clinch much, it's mostly pucnhing while going backwards from corner to corner, and moving when you touch the ropes.

I notice you didn't mention how Floyd buckled Oscar's knees in the 5th with his back against the ropes though...
Floyd got stung with a straight left or two.

Sure, Floyd can hurt fighters - he hits correclty and solidly enough.

I'm so not getting sucked into this reactinary Mayweather can't be beat shite. I was practically ridiculed for having the bare faced audacity for saying that Pavlik could beat Miranda.

All the top p4p guys can get beaten, Mosley, Forrest, Jones Jr, Hopkins, Tszyu etc etc

Not to change subject, but I had Pavlik in that one as well, so I don't think your opinion is crazy. However, to say what Magri said that Hatton is going to take him out is just as crazy as saying easy work for Floyd at this point. It's going to be very difficult for both guys, and just because the fight starts in one direction doesn't mean it can't go in another around round 6.

Autobarn · Post by **Autobarn** » 01 Aug 2007, 12:45

so Floyd cain't be beat. he ain't never done notin' wrong. Floyd=god blah blah blah

mattyp151 · Post by **mattyp151** » 01 Aug 2007, 12:46

Autobarn wrote:
jamesmcdonnell wrote:
Autobarn wrote:Ricky's very good in clinches. Yank writers act like he's John Ruiz. He's nothing like him. Look at how he smothered Castillo's shots in close and found room for his own really fast body shots.

Also, as he showed early vs Urango, before he tired, he's great at punching out of a clinch, clipping you round the side and finding the angle out.

Hatton is the best at roughing ppl up. That's exactly how to beat Floyd. Oscar had a stab at it but it's not his style.

Mayweather's not invincible. Demarcus Corley and Sharmbah Mitchell - past their primes - had him briefly stunned!

I could understand if ppl said Witter would have no chance. Mayweather's shots are well timed, compact and would get there long before Jr's. But this thought that Hatton has no chance is silly.

Just because Ricky goes for the working class bloke image (he is that anyway), certain parties have tried to seize on this. Floyd being upper class and Hatton being "the great unwashed." It's just stupid snobbery and has no bearing on what happens in the ring - whatsoever.

With a little thought, Floyd is not classy. He nearly went to prison for having a member of his posse smash a bottle on someone's head. He beat up his girlfriend. He bitches and shows off and acts immature and obnoxious.
Did floyd beat up his girlfriend, sure you're not thinking of Corralles or what's the other guy, was it spadafora or someone like that?

Floyd did get involved in an altercation with a champagne bottle though.

A lot of the other stuff is just for the cameras, he was nice as pie when interviewed on the Jay Leno show.
he did hit his girlfriend. hence why he was labelled a hypocrite for criticising Corrales for doing it.

a lot of the showing off is for the cameras, ie playing the bad guy, but it is so pathetic to watch.

He was acquitted when she testified she was just pissed he left her for someone else.

2007, vintage year for boxing?

2007, vintage year for boxing?

Re: 2007, vintage year for boxing?