By Scott Gilfoid: Arthur Abraham (31-0, 25 KO’s) has reportedly arrived in Detroit, Michigan, after flying nine hours from Germany. Abraham will be facing Andre Dirrell (18-1, 13 KO’s) next Saturday night at the Joe Louis Arena, in Detroit, Michigan. Abraham, 30, is considered the favorite by many boxing experts to beat Dirrell in their stage 2 Super Six tournament fight. However, Abraham is coming into the fight without much else going for him other than power. Dirrell has everything else going for him in this fight – hand speed, mobility, height, reach, youth and home town advantage.
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Pacquiao wants to fight in the Cowboy Stadium again
By Jason Kim: World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao reportedly wants to fight at the Cowboys Stadium again after defeating Joshua Clottey by a lopsided 12 round decision last Saturday night in front of 50,000 screaming fans. The fight may have been a disappointment due to Clottey not really bringing his A game on that night, but it was still an interesting card due to all of the young prospects that fought on the undercard.
Pacquiao-Clottey: Largest Boxing Crowd in U.S. Not Featuring an American (Prelude to Mayweather?)
By Steve Lewis: As already announced, the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey bout was the third largest indoor crowd for a U.S. boxing event, tallying a total of 50,994 spectators at the opulent Cowboys Stadium.
It is however, the largest indoor crowd for a U.S. boxing event NOT featuring an American fighter. The largest U.S. crowd, with 63,350 spectators, was the 1978 rematch between Americans Muhammad Ali and Leon Spinks at the Louisiana Superdome, while coming in second, at 59,995, was the 1993 controversial draw between American whiz Pernell “Sweetpea” Whitaker and Mexican icon, Julio Cesar Chavez, held at the Alamodome.
How can Abraham beat Dirrell without hand speed?
By Scott Gilfoid: Former International Boxing Federation middleweight champion Arthur Abraham (31-0, 25 KO’s) goes into his March 27th fight against American Andre Dirrell (18-1, 13 KO’s) with three strikes against him. First of all, Abraham is a lot shorter than the 6’2” at only 5’10”. Abraham’s reach is also three inches shorter than Dirrell at 72” compared to Dirrell’s 75”. Abraham will have problems with that alone, because he won’t be able to get near Dirrell without taking a severe storm of lightning fast punches to the head before he even gets in position where he can throw a punch.
Options for Pacquiao’s next fight: Valero, Margarito and Marquez
By Jim Dower: According to the LA Times, World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao’s promotional team Top Rank is looking to put Pacquiao in with one of the following fighters in his next fight: Edwin Valero, Antonio Margarito or Juan Manuel Marquez. They also have mild hope that undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. will come around to the negotiating table, but no one is counting on that happening. For Mayweather to fight Pacquiao, he will probably have to drop his desire to have Pacquiao take the Olympic style random blood tests that Mayweather has been insisting on.
Pacquiao-Clottey: It’s going to be a sad night for Pacquiao at the Dallas Cowboy stadium
By Dave Lahr: Manny Pacquiao has been in some minor battles during his career, but nothing like what he’s going in store for him tonight against Joshua Clottey. It’s been ages since Pacquiao’s has been in with a fighter that could stand up to him. Juan Manuel Marquez comes to mind as the last fighter that Pacquiao was put in with who had a great chance of beating him. Marquez ended up losing a controversial 12 round split decision to Pacquiao in March 2008, but was never given a rematch for some reason.
USA vs. UK: Battle of the Countries
By Adam Fillingham: The United kingdom. Three world champions. The United States. Ten world champions. Two super powers in the boxing world. This got me thinking this morning. Whilst looking through some of the “box rec” rankings the title of this article got me thinking.
Juan Manuel Marquez plans on defending lightweight title, possibly against Juan Diaz – News
By Jim Dower: World Boxing Organization lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (50-5-1, 37 KO’s) is planning on staying at lightweight and defending his WBO title for one more fight before moving up to the light welterweight division for a possible fight against Ricky Hatton later on in 2010, according to Dan Rafael of ESPN. Marquez, 36, could be fighting next in June, says Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer. The opponent for that fight could be none other than former IBF/WBA/WBO lightweight champion Juan Diaz (35-3, 17 KO’s), who Marquez defeated last year in a 9th round stoppage in February.
Haye: “I’ve got to either stop or absolutely batter Ruiz to a pulp” – News
By Scott Gilfoid: World Boxing Association heavyweight champion David Haye (23-1, 21 KO’s) is determined to put in an impressive performance in his first defense of his WBA title belt on April 3rd, against two-time heavyweight champion John Ruiz (44-8-1, 30 KO’s) at the M.E.N. Arena, Manchester, Lancashire. The 29-year-old Haye won the WBA belt in November with a 12 round majority decision over champion Nikolay Valuev in Germany. Haye did just enough to squeak by with the decision in a safety first fight that Haye threw very power punches in.
A little over a week before Pacquiao-Clottey and everyone is talking about Mayweather-Mosley
By Dave Lahr: In case people haven’t noticed, there’s a little over a week to go before the Manny Pacquiao vs. Joshua Clottey fight and everyone is talking about the May 1st fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Shane Mosley. If it wasn’t so sad it would be hilarious. The Mayweather fight won’t be taking place for months, yet it’s all that’s being talked about. I know there’s a lesson in here somewhere. The Mayweather vs. Mosley fight is a true super fight, whereas the Pacquiao-Clottey is just a mismatch any way you look it.