411 Boxing Fact or Fiction 11.24.09: Donaire, Andrade vs. Bute, Ward, Sonsona, More

Posted by Ramon Aranda on 11.24.2009

Is Andre Ward now the favorite for the Super Six World Boxing Classic? Is Marvin Sonsona overrated? Will Nonito Donaire have a big 2010? Is Antonio Tarver right at home behind the mic with Showtime? 411's Igor Frank and Patrick Cassidy debate these questions and more in this week's 411 Boxing Fact or Fiction!


Original image by Rafael Rivera

Photos by Laura De La Torre

Ring the damn bell, as we get set for this week's edition of Fact or Fiction. Joining us this week is Patrick Cassidy who has pumped out another From the Vault this month in his look back at Lewis vs. Holyfield I. In the other corner is out SoCal boxing correspondent Igor Frank who comes to us with The Sweet Science every week.

I'll be the third man in charge so let's get it on!

Round 1: Andre Ward is now your favorite for the Super Six World Boxing Classic.

Patrick Cassidy: FICTION - I can't change my entire opinion of the tournament on one fight. Andre certainly has a legitimate chance but I can't overlook Abraham's body of work, not to mention physical capabilities. Plus, when you go on the shared opponent(Edison Miranda), Abraham easily dispatched of him in their second fight while Ward couldn't put him away. It'll be close but I still go with Abraham.

Igor Frank: FACT - Andre Ward didn't just beat the best super middleweight in the world; he dominated Mikkel Kessler, he was faster and controlled the action from the outside and stronger and more crafty on the inside. Ward's defense was exceptional; he used lateral movement to not allow his opponent to set for an attack and his accurate combinations and consistent work rate dictated the action inside the squared circle. At this point in time it is hard to imagine anybody beating Andre Ward in this tournament.

Scorecard: 0 for 1 - You both make a good case. Point being, Abraham and Ward are the front runners right now.


Round 2: Marvin Sonsona is overrated.

Patrick Cassidy: FICTION - If anything their's not enough hype surround him. This guy's only had 15 professional fights and does not have the amateur pedigree of many of today's young stars. This guy probably has tapped only a fraction of his potential, much like the Manny Pacquiao's and Marquez's of the sport who were rough around the edges early in their careers. Get this kid out of Canada and get him into camp with some of his compatriots and come back in five years time, you'll have something special on your hands.

Igor Frank: FACT - Marvin who? The nineteen year old Filipino is yet another southpaw with fast hands and good power, but he has not fought any one of note for this kind of hype. Let him come to United Sates and fight some tough Mexican warriors and then we will see. The only tough fight he had was his last fight in Canada with Alejandro Hernandez and it ended in a draw.

Scorecard: 0 for 2 - Time will tell if he can live up to the hype.


Round 3: You expect Librado Andrade to be more competitive with Lucian Bute this weekend (compared to their first fight).

Patrick Cassidy: FICTION - Andrade's a tough guy who is always going to look to win, he found that opportunity against Bute who let himself get gassed and opened himself up to that punishment. He's had plenty of time to prepare for this bout and I expect him to come in top shape, and fully prepared to counter the rugged style of Andrade. I'm picking Bute by clear unanimous decision.

Igor Frank: FACT - Librado Andrade should be a champion right now as he knocked out Bute in the final round of their last fight. Amazingly Bute was given almost twenty seconds to recover by the referee instead of customary ten seconds which gave him the needed time to survive. Aside from that Andrade lost the first fight by a wide margin. With that experience behind him Librado will press the action early so he has more time to get to his opponent and will make the rematch more compelling and more competitive.

Scorecard: 0 for 3 - Let's hope Marlon B. Wright stays as far away from this fight as possible.

AND NOW FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUNDS

Round 4: Nonito Donaire will likely have a big 2010.

Igor Frank: FACT - Nonito's speed and power at 112 ponds were liabilities when it came time to getting him opponents; nobody wanted to fight him. When Nonito moved up to 115 pounds, he struggled in his last fight. That might help him next year, because all of a sudden he does not seem as unbeatable as before. There are a lot of opportunities for Donaire at 115 pounds' one of them is a very intriguing rematch with Vic Darchinyan, who after losing to Agbeko moved back to 115 to defend his titles.

Patrick Cassidy: FACT - This is a tricky one. I think Nonito is one of the best fighters in the world at this moment and will continue to hold that place in 2010. However, he's still a small guy with not a lot of flashy names on the horizon for him. I don't expect 2010 to be a big fiscal year for the Filipino Flash but I do expect him to continue to climb the P4P rankings.

Scorecard: 1 for 4 - And they finally agree on one!


Round 5: Mikkel Kessler wasn't exposed; he simply had a bad night.

Igor Frank: FICTION - Mikkel Kessler is a solid all around fighter, but he was exposed by a man with more versatility. Kessler has a hard time with movement. He needs to have his opponent in front of him to be effective. Besides that Kessler was exposed for having no inside game and that does become liability on the elite level. At this moment I have my doubts if he is going to be able to handle Froch on the inside.

Patrick Cassidy: FACT - I don't want to take anything away from Andre Ward's starmaking performance but that was not the same Mikkel Kessler who dominated Andrade, Mundine, Beyer, Siaca, any many other top super middleweights. He never was able to get in his natural offensive rhythm and appeared to be off from the bell. Andre Ward is now a star but I don't think you can beat the opposition that Kessler has beaten and now be exposed.

Scorecard: 1 for 5 - Readers...your thoughts?


Round 6: You think Antonio Tarver is a natural behind the mic on Showtime Championship Boxing.

Igor Frank: FACT - Antonio Tarver brings his personal experience in the ring and his exuberant personality into his color commentaries which definitely benefit the telecast. I believe he is better with the mic than he was in the ring and hope he will stay on as he adds knowledge and flavor to the show.

Patrick Cassidy: FACT - Tarver has always been a natural behind the mic and it seemed inevitable that he would earn such a position, as many fighters have done in the past. What I really like about Tarver is, that unlike some former fighters who have announced(Jones, Foreman, Czyz, etc), he does not look to dominate the conversation or put himself over at the expense of the broadcast. He chimes in when it's appropriate and that's exactly what you want out of a former fighter.

Final Scorecard: 2 for 6 - I have to admit, Tarver on the mic works for me.

Now we want to hear from you the readers? Fact or Fiction? Let us know!