My Two Cents: Hopkins vs. Murat

10/25/2013 by Jay McIntyre

hopkins673 By Jay McIntyre: The prevailing wisdom going into this Saturday’s bout between Bernard Hopkins (53-6-2-2, 32 KO’s) and Karo Murat (24-1-1, 14 KO’s) is that Bernard Hopkins will win. Given the experience, resume and set of skills that both men bring to the table, this really is an open and shut case. In what world could Karo Murat defeat Bernard Hopkins?

Well, one irrefutable fact in the world of boxing is that every fighter has a “puncher’s chance”. One defensive lapse and the whole game can change in just one move. One need only look as far back as Mike Tyson’s 10th round TKO to the 42:1 underdog James “Buster” Douglas to evoke a nostalgic memory for the underdog.

Alvarado and Provodnikov: Sometimes your best isn’t enough

10/21/2013 by Jay McIntyre

By Jay McIntyre: While this Saturday’s fight between Mike Alvarado (34-2, 23 KO’s) and Ruslan Provodnikov (23-2, 16 KO’s) was indeed a display of courage under fire, I couldn’t help but revise my earlier prediction (Mike Alvarado by decision) by the end of the first round. I know that it was a hasty reassessment, but in this case it proved to be a valid one.

Going into the fight I saw Mike Alvarado as having three variables favouring him. To begin with, he was fighting not only in his home state, but with the familiar advantages of training at the ‘mile high’ elevation and then fighting there as well. Secondly, Alvarado, if he intended to box, would have a staggering six inch reach advantage. Lastly, there was the noticeable absence of Freddie Roach from Ruslan’s corner (even though a capable replacement was deputized for the role).

My Two Cents: Alvarado vs. Provodnikov

10/18/2013 by Jay McIntyre

By Jay McIntyre: This Saturday, October 19th will bear witness to a fight between Mike Alvarado (34-1, 23 KO’s) and Ruslan Provodnikov (22-2, 15 KO’s), and make no mistake, it has the potential to become fight of the year. A boxing match in its simplest form is two men trapped in an enclosed space, trading leather with one another until the weaker one breaks.

At its intellectual peak, a boxing match is a savvy display of mental chess where two minds jockey for a position of dominance. The truth that awaits us this Saturday night lies somewhere in between.