4 Corners 5.14.08: Byrd, Vasquez-Marquez Reborn, More

Posted by Alan Berg on 05.14.2008

Byrd drops down to 175, Peter fighting Golota is inexcusable, Vasquez-Marquez reborn on ESPN Classic

Here it is the latest 4 Corners starting with the light heavyweight debut of Chris Byrd.

Byrd makes his 175-pound debut

Sometimes I think I'm the only guy who finds this intriguing. I felt Chris Byrd was a quality heavyweight someone that could go with the biggest guys and stood toe-to-toe even if it wasn't the best of strategies.

However now that Byrd has dropped to 175 pounds I wonder can he have power at this weight? I mean imagine…Byrd has very strong boxing skills if he can knockout some of the best light heavyweights we all of the sudden have a great entrance in the division. Granted we probably won't see Calzaghe-Byrd anytime soon but it does add at wild card to the light heavyweight card.

I personally would love to see Byrd-Kessler, just to see who would have the better ability alone. Then there is the possibility of a knockout, wow the thought alone is exciting, the question remains can Chris Byrd solidify himself as a threat at 175? Tune into Friday Nigh Fights this week to find out as he takes his first step against Shaun George.


Calling out Sam Peter



This is a guy I really believed in after watching him, at ringside; smoke Jeremy Williams with one punch. The latest report is that before he even fights Vitali Klitschko, the Nigerian Nightmare will battle "I've had way too many title shots" Andrew Golota. I mean seriously…isn't Vitali supposed to your stepping stone fight to his younger brother Wladimir? I really think the world of Vitali I mean he gave Lennox Lewis all he could handle in their scrap but if he could still be a player at heavyweight would he have retired so soon? Just fight the Klitschko's Sam that's where the respect and the money lie.


A recent positive



It was pointed out to me by a fellow colleague that ESPN is now showing some classic scraps from Showtime Championship Boxing. If you haven't seen the first two acts of the Israel Vasquez-Rafael Marquez fights tune in on ESPN Classic this Wednesday as the channel will show the first two battles. They are can't miss TV for the fight fans out there. I'm going to review them just for the respect I have for the two men trading leather.


The five-punch combo

5) Wow Zab sliced his arm through a shower door? I wonder if he was training hard if that door would have gotten the better of him.

4) I love the fact that Ricky Hatton's next fight is on Versus. I don't love that it's setting up a battle between him and Paulie Malignaggi.

3) I think it's great that Joel Casamayor-Nate Campbell is going to happen. It's the most important fight at lightweight, regardless of the fact that Casamayor beat Nate the first time.

2) Is anyone else anticipating Mayweather-De La Hoya II 24/7 as much as me? I love that show, I think I would buy any fight if they gave four weeks to any matchup.

1) Everyone should watch Jorge Arce this weekend because he's an exciting fighter.