A look at the upcoming fights in 2013: Mayweather-Guerrero, Fury-Cunningham, more!

04/15/2013 by James Sexton

floyd91 By James Sexton: 2013 started off a little sluggishly, but has really picked up recently. We were treated to several real intense match-ups such as Rios-Alvardo 2, Bradley-Provodnikov, and Donaire-Rigondeaux. However I feel some of the upcoming fights this year are going to be real gems to watch and our view of some of the current ‘prospects’ is going to have changed once it is all said and done.

We have Tyson Fury’s latest outing against Steve Cunningham. A win here could propel Fury that one step closer to a fight for a world title. Although I have been highly critical of Furys chosen opposition, I am pleased to say I feel he is moving in the right direction and if it isnt in this fight, it will be one of his next few which will really show where he belongs to be rated in the heavyweight division.

Rigondeaux decisions Donaire

04/14/201304/14/2013 by James Sexton

By James Sexton: Firstly, I would like to say I thoroughly enjoyed watching Nonito Donaire vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux fight tonight in which Rigondeaux defeated Donaire by a 12 round unanimous decision at the Radio City Music Hall in New York, New York. I believe the judges were a little off as I had the fight more in Rigo’s favor. However, the result was a unanimous decision for Rigondeaux and that’s exactly what it should have been. I am pleased that Rigondeaux won so decisively that he could not be cheated.

After doing a little after match reading I have heard that Donaire ‘could not do anything’ as Rigo was ‘running’ it reminded me a lot about what I heard from anti-mayweather fans earlier in his career as he would use footwork and quick, precise punching to win rounds rather than stand and exchange with his opponents.

The Kimbo Slice Illusion

04/11/2013 by James Sexton

By James Sexton: Kimbo Slice aka Kevin Ferguson the street fighter and mixed martial artist turned boxer, is 7-0 with 6 knockouts to his name. Thankfully, nobody has bought into this yet. I have not spoken to anyone who has told me that Kimbo Slice is going to be the next big thing in boxing, and with good reason.

In 7 contests he has not fought anyone but tomato cans which he can beat up on. He has looked sluggish and has a low work rate in the ring, with incredibly painful slow hand and foot speed. Often when fights get into the third round Ferguson is visibly fatigued and ceases to throw meaningful punches or gets tagged himself with head shots.

Honestly, I do respect him for what he has done in his time, however the Kimbo Slice that took place in the bare-knuckle street fight videos is a different man to the one who steps into the boxing ring today, and this version of Kimbo has no place fighting.

Will Amir ‘Hardcore’ Mansour ever make a mark on the heavyweight division?

04/11/2013 by James Sexton

By James Sexton: Amir Mansour is an undefeated American heavyweight boxer. His record stands at 17-0 with 13KO’s. His career started out with 9 straight victories before he was forced to take 9 years out to serve jail time.

Is Deontay Wilder the real deal?

04/09/2013 by James Sexton

By James Sexton: A lot of writers and personal friends are split on this topic, and for good reason. At first look, it is very impressive with an undefeated 6’7 American Heavyweight Deontay Wiler, who picked up a bronze medal at the 2008 olympic games, and has since amassed a professional record of 27-0 including 27 knockouts.

On paper, Wilder is a real star in the making. However, his critics like to point to the fact that in his time as a professional he has not defeated a single legitimate opponent, yet has still been knocked down by these lesser foes.

I am not here to knock his accomplishments as a boxer. From watching him it is immediately apparent that he has an incredible amount of power in his shots. It just seems that when you describe someone like Audley Harrison as a ‘step-up’ in competition, you have to wonder what he has been matched with up until this point.

The left hand in Donaire-Rigondeaux

04/09/201304/08/2013 by James Sexton

By James Sexton: After reading through several articles on boxing websites and the twitter feeds of several boxing fans, I find it hard to believe how little of a chance people are giving Guillermo Rigondeaux in his upcoming fight with 2012 fighter of the year Nonito Donaire.

I have heard a lot about how the main factor in the fight will be the powerful left hook of Donaire which has given so many other fighters problems in the past, but what I am not reading about, is the left hand which Rigondeaux possesses. Numerous times in his campaign as a professional he has dropped opponents with perfectly timed straight left hands to the head or even the body of his opponents.