Traveling Large
posted by Large
I’m on the road, No Masians, first Philly and now NYC, and thus having a little trouble keeping up with all my commitments. I did watch Klitschko/Tony the Toothless Tiger this weekend and let me tell you something – I was unimpressed. Somehow it seemed like the CW coming out of that fight was that it was a good outing for The Klinch Who Stole Christmas. Me, I thought he looked pedestrian at best.
There was a time back there, around, say, the Calvin Brock fight, when I thought that Manny Steward was evolving Wlad into a too-legit-to-quit one-two machine. That progression seems to have halted entirely, regressed even. Klitsch is now a bigger, right-handed, early-period Manny Pacquiao, only, you know, less fast and good. In other words, he’s all one punch, that straight right hand which is admittedly a frightening sledge-hammer of a shot but still one that he can’t seem to land accurately without measuring it constantly with that awful sissy slap of a jab that made such a mockery of the Ibragimov fight. First half of the fight, when Tony the Tiger still had some bounce in his old paws, he wasn’t haven’t much trouble bobbing and weaving out of the way of the big right, and Wlad didn’t have much of a clue as to what else to do in there.
Of course, eventually Old Tony ran out of Frosted Flakes and down went Frazier, not from any particular punch so much as the war of attrition that was his own raging exhaustion. (You had to ache for Thompson in his corner late in the fight when his trainer was getting up his ass and Tony kept saying, “Trust me, you have to trust me, I have a plan” – his trainer so blatantly did not trust him and neither did anyone else).
In conclusion, it was hard to come away from that fight not feeling like Klitschko is definitely ripe to be had by someone who moves side to side and has some pop punching with both hands. On that score, why the hell didn’t HBO list David Haye as a potential future opponent for Wlad? In my memory, they gave us four possible names, Sam Peter, Valuev, Povetkin and… Chagaev? Was it Chagaev? All’s I know is the Hayemaker, currently very high on everyone’s list of men who could save this ignominious division, wasn’t on the HBO list. Which made me think that maybe HBO doesn’t have a deal with Mr. Haye just yet.
One more thing – what the hell is McFit? Trickster, you out there? Anyone want to wager a guess? I’m saying “energy bar.”
All right folks – enjoy Rahman/Toney (I’m glad these two are fighting again because the first time they fought it was really, really interesting watching them not punch each other that much) and if you have time enjoy a few of my Sporting Blog offerings below:
Cotto /Margo Not Setting Vegas on Fire
The Miguel Cotto/Antonio Margarito fight on July 26 at the MGM Grand, one of the most anticipated fights of the year for hardcore boxing fans, is proving a lukewarm attraction in sizzling Vegas.
Philly Will Rise: A Musical Breakdown
But rather than just bore you with the details of the win and the prevalence of the Utley jerseys and the Hawaiian music… let me cut right to the quick and break down for you what each of the Phils is running with these days as his intro music when he comes up to the plate…
July 17th, 2008 at 7:33 am
I would love to see Arreola hit Wlad, I don’t think he has the chin to withstand it.
Also the trip looked calculated to me, Tony lost one of his legs after that fall and he had even less of a chance.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:10 am
I like that English kid…would be fun to watch the Haymaker…I wonder if he could take a shot from Wlad.
Also, can we have Rickey Day here at NoMas!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rickey_Henderson
Simply put…the greatest of our lifetime.
July 17th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Dang, did anyone see what happened to Oscar Diaz? Scary stuff. I was watching the fight but nodded off. I had no idea.
July 17th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Haha, good guess Large. But it’s a fitness-center-group. They do put some money into boxing over here, you can see them quite often as a sponsor (and the Klitschkos do make commercials for them). What a stupid name btw., McFit? Your fast-food-fitness-center?
Considering Wlad.. I do think Thompson would give lots of guys trouble, he’s just really big and keeps his hand tight, still Klitschko not throwing body shots was really crazy, he didn’t look like the Hvy. Champ, that’s for sure.
I’m not sold on Haye. Dude is a strong Cruiser, no doubt, but he got flored fighting smaller or equal men. Now he will face guys weighting 20 pounds more than him, as the rooster said… I’m not sure either if he can take a heavys punch, not even thinking bout Klitschkos.
July 17th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
First of all, Oscar Diaz. I didn’t see it, but when I read about it and watched the replay today, it shook me up. It always does when somebody gets that hurt. And he… the man has taken some shots in his time. That Golden Johnson fight was ridiculous. I hope he pulls through.
Arreola – that was the fourth they listed and not Chagaev – thanks Luke. Yeah, I’d like to see that fight too. Hell, I’d like to Arreola fight anyone. Sam Peter? That would be hot.
McFit Fitness Equipment. Sheesh. What a terrible name. On the David Haye score, Trickster, it’s not that I’m necessarily sold either, although I am sold on him as a puncher and I think he’ll take that pop with against the big boys. Plus, hell, I think Kelly Pavlik could knock Klitschko out, so David Haye could certainly get the job done. More than anything about Haye it’s just that he has some style and some moxie and… I don’t know. He’s something. The heavyweights need somebody we can get excited about. I thought Manny Steward was going to turn Wlad into an exciting fighter but it’s just not happening.
July 17th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Large, what are you thinking about the Pavlik/Hopkins fight they just set? Is it going to be as easy for Pavlik as it looks on first glance?
July 18th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Watched the fights at Pier 44 last night. Good stuff. Seeing young kids get it on in the ring is always nice. I hear that the Olympic team was at Gleysons. I hear they were looking for The Rooster to give them some pointers…holla! I hear there is one Mexican-American kid who is a middleweight that is nice. Some say The Rooster is the only Mexican-American with pop in his punch. There were some sweeeeeet ladies at the fights last night. The DJ was playing Naz. Then The Rooster was like, nobody can do it like me…Floyd Mayweather, tell me how my ass taste.
July 18th, 2008 at 9:22 am
“Some say The Rooster is the only Mexican-American with pop in his punch…”
There’s this guy named “Chris Arreola” that The Rooster should meet.