Two-time welterweight beltholder Paul Williams is being considered for a bout with WBC junior middleweight titleholder Saul Alvarez in September.
Weekend Review: Pavlik's big night
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BIGGEST WINNER Kelly Pavlik: The middleweight champ is the biggest winner simply for being able to climb through the ropes and fight. He had had a disastrous 14 months, losing to Bernard Hopkins and then dealing with a persistent staph infection in his hand that scuttled two scheduled fights against Paul Williams. So even a victory over a marginal opponent like Miguel Espino on Saturday was important, particularly in front of the hometown fans in Youngstown, Ohio. Pavlik has taken a step in the right direction. The bad news? His last three victories are over Gary Lockett, Marco Antonio Rubio and Espino – not exactly a fearsome trio. Pavlik needs to beat a Williams or a Sergio Martinez to prove he remains one of the sport’s most-important figures. And that’s the plan for 2010. MOST STAGNANT Edwin Valero: The Venezuelan slugger’s knockout victory over Hector Velazquez on Saturday in his home country undoubtedly was meaningful to him. All fighters enjoy performing for their own people, particularly when they score a knockout. However, one of the sport’s most-compelling figures remains stuck in neutral to the rest of us. Texas is the only state that has been willing to license him because of an old head injury and now he can’t get a work visa because of a DUI arrest. Thus, he’s fighting a no-name like Velazquez in Venezuela when he should be making big money in a high-profile fight in Las Vegas or another major boxing town. His handlers seem to believe he’ll work his way his way through his difficulties and realize his potential. Let’s hope so. Everyone wants to see just how far he can go. MOST ADMIRABLE Miguel Espino: One must admire an underdog like Espino who gives everything he has in a brave effort to take advantage of a golden opportunity only to fall short because he lacks the physical tools of a superior opponent. Espino, who was given little chance of beating Pavlik, gave the middleweight champion hell for as long as he could and the fight was entertaining as a result. The North Hollywood, Calif., fighter should be proud. He left everything in the ring, which is all we can expect of any fighter. And, of course, he made a nice payday. That always helps soften the blow of disappointment. BIGGEST WINNER AND LOSER Juergen Braehmer: The hard-punching German retained his light heavyweight title with a one-sided decision over Dmitry Sukhotsky of Russia on Saturday in Schwerin, Germany. It was Braehmer’s fourth consecutive victory since he was outpointed by Hugo Garay in another title fight in November of last year. However, Braehmer, who already has served two prison terms for assault, reportedly is being investigated for another assault in a bar in Schwerin last year. The victim allegedly was a woman. I have a feeling his title is going to be vacant sometime soon. Also on that card in Schwerin, middleweight Sebastian Zbik of Germany defeated Italian Emanuele Della Rosa by a split decision to remain undefeated and retain an interim title. MOST OVERDUE Jesus Chavez: No one who has followed Chavez’s career would be surprised by his gallant effort in a losing effort against Humberto Soto on Saturday in Mexico. The two-time titleholder from Austin, Texas, has been a true warrior his entire career, which is why it’s time to say good bye. He has taken enough punishment and has now lost three consecutive fights (and four of his last six). I know he’s been thinking about retirement for some time, at least since his TKO loss to Michael Katsidis in April. That was followed by a competitive but taxing decision loss to David Diaz in September. Hopefully the latest setback will convince him that enough is enough. Chavez has had a fine career. He doesn’t deserve to be an “opponent,” which is what he is becoming. BIGGEST NO-BRAINER Staging Pacquiao-Mayweather in Las Vegas: The promoters of the pending Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight have reason to consider staging the fight in a stadium in Dallas or Atlanta. The gate would be enormous and the grandiose environment appropriate for such a huge event. However, the fight should and probably will end up at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The town has invested far more in the sport than any other venue and has played host to its biggest events. Thus, it’s hard to believe that Bob Arum, Golden Boy Promotions and Mayweather – all of whom have enduring ties to the city and hotel – would take the biggest event ever to another location. It would be a slap in the face. Besides, the MGM and Co. undoubtedly will pony up as much or more than the other suitors to land the fight. BIGGEST COMEBACK? Sam Peter: The former heavyweight contender’s last three opponents – Marcus McGee, Ronald Bellamy and Gabe Brown (on Saturday night) are hardly familiar names. The results of those fights are familiar, though: KO 3, TKO 2 and TKO 4. Those are the results we used to associate with Peter, a once feared heavyweight whose career went south as a result of losses to Vitali Klitschko and Eddie Chambers. Could the old Peter be re-emerging? Victories over McGee, Bellamy and Brown don’t prove anything but are a positive sign for the Nigerian. One thing is certain: The division could use another legitimate contender with a well-known name. LEAST POWER Cesar Rene Cuenca: The junior welterweight from Argentine obviously is a good boxer; he has won each of his 37 fights. Check out his total number of knockouts, though: one. That might be the lowest KO ratio ever for a fighter of his experience. Cuenca, who outpointed Nazareno Gaston Ruiz on Saturday, is ranked No. 4 by two alphabet sanctioning bodies but it’s difficult to gauge how good he is because he has never fought outside Argentina. The southpaw certainly won’t instill fear in any opponent but undoubtedly has frustrated many of them. Another question: What does this say about the chin of Andres Pablo Villfane, the only fighter Cuenca has stopped? BEST QUOTE Sen. John McCain and Rep. Peter King, who continue to fight for a pardon of Jack Johnson: “A posthumous pardon would represent a final vindication to Mr. Johnson’s family and to the ignominious stain on our nation’s history and highlight the achievements of an athlete who was forced into the shadows of bigotry and prejudice.” Johnson was convicted on trumped up charges of transporting a woman over state lines for immoral purposes. Michael Rosenthal can be reached at RingTVeditor@yahoo.com |