COWARD ROY HASN'T SIGNED!

My claim was that this year has been better than just about any other in recent memory. Going back to say, 1995, which gives us 12 years - 1/3 of my lifetime - the only year I'd argue was better from a quality AND end result standpoint was 2001. How far back would you like me to go to validate my opinion? How far back do we go where the term "in recent memory" is still applicable? Is this the best year ever for boxing? Of course not. But it's better than it's been in a long time, and without my satellite bill getting an extended workout.

That's fine. I've argued that for all you know, Jones-Trinidad will turn out to be shit.

And you're the one who wants to go in to semantics that you didn't say Jones-Trinidad does it for when other fights this year haven't and might not. Hence, my prefacing my post with "OK, I'll play your game..."

The same people who disagree with my take on this fight also acknowledge that there's been a lot of good boxing offered this year, and potential for plenty more in the remaining months of 2007. Last I checked, you're the only one in the thread who feels otherwise. Plus, your response reminded me of something TFK would say in such case. I've already explained that part. But... (read my next response)

Fine, I apologize for questioning your boxing fandom. I attacked you in my first response to you in this thread, when I should've instead offered a detailed explanation of why I disagree. I've attempted to do so in nearly every other post since then, but since you just want to focus on the insult part - I'm sorry for accusing you of being a TFK-type boxing fan. But in return, I'm looking at it the same way - you refusing to acknowledge my explanations, and instead create arguments out of things I've never said.

 

As for examples as to why this year has been a great one, with potential to be even greater:

Mormeck-Bell II - the best two cruiserweights in the world rematching each other. For eight rounds, the front-runner for 2007 Fight of the Year. Fight levels off in the last four, making it "merely a FOTY contender. Mormeck wins, and will now face top challenger David Haye next month, rather than seek a softer touch or just disappear for the rest of the year.
Sidenote: Mormeck-Bell II aired on MSG and FoxSports, as will Mormeck-Haye.

Marquez-Vazquez I & II - you couldn't ask for a better matchup at 122. Marquez' long awaited move up from bantamweight, going straight for the top player. The first fight was among the year's best until its anti-climactic ending. The rematch was even better, and presently the leading FOTY contender. As a result, there are strong talks of a rubber match.

Pavlik-Miranda - While Taylor continued his search for fighters he hoped to dominate and/or knockout, the rest of the top middleweights were faced with one of two decisions; sit on their hands and wait in line for an alphabet title shot, or face each other and earn the right to fight for the top prize. Pavlik and Miranda opted for the latter, giving those who attended an otherwise garbage show in Memphis their full money's worth. Pavlik emerged; as a result we now have the middleweight champ facing his top contender, due to popular demand.

In the same vein, but on a lesser level, we got Williams-Margarito. Both believed themselves to be THE best welterweight and that everyone else was avoiding them. Boxing said they needed to fight someone to prove it - the dog chasing its tail scenario. Only they decided to fight each other - and may perhaps do so again. The end result was a terrific meshing of styles, and Williams emerging as perhaps the greatest threat to anyone who calls themselves a top welterweight.

Michael Katsidis - His career most likely won't go very far, in a championship sense. He might not even become a major player at lightweight. But in 2007, he's 2 for 2 in offering Fight of the Year candiates, and gives us one more reason to not overlook the lightweight division. His 5-round, multi-knockdown war with Graham Earl was the year's first true FOTY candidate. His blood-soaked 12-round war with Czar Amondsot five months later gave fans reason to order Hopkins-Wright and NOT feel cheated at nights end. Next stop: a shot against whoever's left standing after all of the Diaz lightweights are finished facing each other.

The weeding out of the old - Even as a lifelong Gatti fan, I couldn't have been more pleased to see ordinary Alfonso Gomez unmerciflly beat the crap out of him. Old, recycled heavyweights are finally being left in the garbage bin (though for all of the same reasons I don't look forward to Jones-Trinidad, I'm also as disappointed in the attention being paid to Vitali Klitschko). The 35-and-older club at light heavyweight is beginning to run out of options other than to finally face the next generation (again, why I don't look forward to Jones-Trinidad, especially if Jones wins) or retire.

The signing of Calzaghe-Kessler means that, barring injury, we get to see the most significant fight in the history of the super middleweight division. Cotto-Mosley is a greatly matched bout between the top two welterweight contenders. Mayweather-Hatton pits the linear welterweight champ against the linear junior welterweight champ. Cazares-Calderon this weekend pits the world's best junior flyweight against one of the sport's best pure boxers. Maskaev-Peter puts us one major step closer toward cleaning up the mess that is the heavyweight division.

So there you have it. Tyler likes KO's. Jake likes when the best in each division face each other - and what's even better, when several of those matchups pan out to be among the year's best fights.

I guess if I explained all of this in my first post, we wouldn't be up to 180+ posts in this thread. But that's my fault for believing that anyone NEEDED it. Just about everyone else who responded to that portion of the topic knew exactly what I was talking about, even to which you still offered sarcastic remarks in return. You were the only one asking for examples.

And as mentioned earlier, I already explained why I feel a Trinidad-Jones fight potentially affects this recent trend (which shouldn't be a trend, but instead the way it should be in general). Hopefully between that post and this, my stance has been made perfectly clear, whether or not anyone agrees with it.

 

This year is unquestionably the best year in recent memory for boxing, great KOs and interesting mandatories, and near all the most interesting elite matchups (even if I would prefer hatton-mayweather at 140)...RJ-Trinidad is a sideshow in comparison, I will be watching out of morbid curiosity though

 

I understand your point "however" I still disagree that Jones-Trinidad will affect the string of good fights for better or for worse. It won't have any more of an effect than Mayweather-DLH did. I think your distaste for the matchup has caused you to give it more relevance than required.

Jones-Trinidad will be an anomaly just like DLH-PBF was. When it's over, it's forgotten. If PBF-Hatton, Cotto-Mosley, Taylor-Pavlik and MAB-Pac live up to the hype, it'll simply marginalize Jones-Trinidad to a one night event.

 

Pretty much, its relevance is purely from an economical standpoint...

 

Same crap, different post number. Let's just leave it that you think Jones/Tito will effect/take a step back/change the way boxing is right now, however the you want to word it, no one here agrees with you. You were incorrect in your assumption of what type a fan I am and that assumption/accusation is the weakest argument anyone can ever stoop down to. Consider yourself corrected and we both have an understanding of your mistakes now so we can move on.:clap:

 

:bears:

 

Interesting. I step up and admit when I make a mistake, yet you still insist on being an ass.

And for what it's worth, everyone who disagrees with me on this subject also disagrees with you on the level and number of quality fights produced this year.

Anyone who does agree with me (and despite your claim, there were a few, though still the minority), disagrees with you on the level and number of quality fights produced this year.

 

You didn't step up, you condescended directly after claiming your innocence and superiority ::

 

Back to semantics, eh? ::

OK, moving on for real. Besides, the Yankees are struggling right now and need my support (even with Posada throwing out a baserunner for the 2nd time this decade).

 

You sound like an O's type of boxing fan to me....
opcorn:

 

Good post.

I highlight the one sentence to emphasize the point that the relative tameness of the final four rounds is soley and surely to be blamed on open-scoring. And this isn't a possible outcome for a lot of fights, but a likely one when the circumstances are similar.

 

If that were true, I'd be wearing a Mets or Red Sox hat right now.


A-Rod up - and gone! #40 this year. Yanks up 4-3

 

I dunno about that...Mormeck does have stamina issues going into fights late; and I am pretty sure he wanted to bank alot of early rounds and then try to "manage" the last 4 regardless....and they were pretty clear rounds, those early ones.

Even with what happened in the last 4, I had Mormeck winning a few of those as well - sure, he was moving and being defensive - but he was also STILL landing cleaner than Bell and outscoring him.

That doesn't mean I am a fan of open scoring - I'm most definitely not!

Peace.

Peace.

 

Open scoring is bullshit. You get a defensive fighter knowing he is ahead, he can stink out the fight knowing how many rounds he has in the bag.

 

Agreed. :clap:

 

Everyone knows you can't 'bank' rounds early without taking a big chance.

The Mormeck I've seen tends to come on later in the fight (Hill, Bell, Gurov) rather than try to win early rounds and hold on.

I'm not saying Mormeck didn't win any of the later rounds, only that he fought safer and 'tamer' and that it took away from what that fight would have been without open scoring. I guess we just disagree. Fair enough.

 

Fair enough...I can see where you're coming from with your last paragraph...agreed; my point is just he likely would have fought similarly without it.

But your examples...in the first Bell fight he fatigued and was stopped in 10 (and started losing more rounds late); he stopped Gurov in 8; stopped Hill in 8 the first fight and lost rounds late in the second which is what made it close.

Mormeck's inactivity hurts him significantly here as well....since 03 he's fought 1 time a year until after Bell II in '06 (and now thankfully in 07)...a guy like him needs to stay active.

Also remember he IS in with Bell...O'Neil's punches WILL wear you out.

Anyway....we both agree open scoring SUCKS and that one of the big negative effects of it is what you mentioned.

So :clap: :clap:

Peace.