Ringside with Raymundo 06.04.08: Fight Week

Posted by Raymundo Dioses on 06.05.2008

Raymundo Dioses dives into this weekend's fights featuring Pavlik vs. Lockett, De Leon vs. Lopez, Forrest vs. Mora and Quintana vs. Williams. Check out his breakdown of the fights along with his very own predictions.

This weekend features four bouts worthy of sitting down and relaxing in front of the TV.

Three of the four matches will be title bouts, and there will be opportunities for upsets, exhilarating middle of the ring action and knockouts, yes knockouts.

FIGHT 1: Kelly Pavlik vs. Gary Lockett (WBC, WBO middleweight championship)


Photo by Chris Farina / Top Rank

The hard punching Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik will be fighting someone not named Jermain Taylor Saturday night.
Kelly Pavlik is one lovable boxing story. Fighting out of Youngstown, Ohio, the tall, long armed middleweight fought his way up the ranks. He has fought professionally in 14 of the 50 different U.S. states since turning professional in 2000. He has punched his way to an unblemished record of 33-0 with twenty-nine wins coming by way of KO or TKO.

Pavlik is coming off two consecutive victories over Arkansas native and former Olympian Jermain Taylor.

The underdog in their first bout in September 2007, Pavlik survived an early knockdown and pummeled Taylor into the corner before referee Steve Smoger stopped the bout in the 7th round. Pavlik became the new WBC and WBO middleweight champion.

The two laced it up five months later in Las Vegas, and Pavlik proved he was no fluke in a relatively easy fight where he was never seriously hurt and commanded the bout throughout. He was awarded a UD after three judges scored it 116-112, 117-111 and 115-113.

Pavlik, in addition to becoming a multi-belted champion, was also considered the fighter of the year in 2007 by many media outlets.

He now closes his books on Jermain Taylor. This weekend he faces mandatory challenger Gary Lockett. Lockett, (30-0-1 21KO's) is a seemingly unknown fighter, albeit his undefeated record and 21 wins coming by way of knockout.

His better known trainer is Enzo Calzaghe, father and trainer of former undisputed super middleweight champ and current Ring magazine light heavyweight champion Joe Calzaghe.

"Father Calzaghe" has been in boxing headlines recently, trading verbal jabs with Pavlik's trainer, Jack Loew.

The elder Calzaghe has sent warning for Loew, in case he is over-looking Saturday's fight and instead focusing on a possible Fall showdown pitting Pavlik with his son. Trainers talking smack. Nothing new in boxing, but certainly entertaining.

A majority of trainers of boxers are actually former boxers themselves. Wouldn't it be interesting to see Loew and Calzaghe in an exhibition?

Or how about famed trainer's Freddie Roach and James "Buddy" McGirt in a four rounder?

While those bouts will likely never evolve, this Saturday night will. Tune in to HBO at 7 p.m.

I am seeing an early knockout in Pavlik's favor. He throws long, solid punches from the outside that few middleweights have been able to answer.

Prediction: Kelly Pavlik in six via KO.


FIGHT 2: Daniel Ponce De Leon vs. Juan Manuel Lopez (WBO super bantamweight championship)



The undercard of the Pavlik/Lockett fight features another title bout. WBO junior featherweight Ponce De Leon will defend his title for the seventh time when he takes on challenger Juan Manuel Lopez. De Leon has only one blemish on his record, against Celestino Caballero at The Avalon in Hollywood, California in 2005.

He has been dominant since winning the WBO super bantamweight title in June of the same year, and packs solid punches for his small frame. De Leon is currently 34-1 with 30 KO's. One apparent factor in fights at this weight is the amount of punches.

Although punches from a 125 pound frame don't pack the authority of say a 175 pounder, it is normal to see 500 to 600 punches combined thrown from both parties before the bell for the 4th round.

Lopez isn't seen as much of a threat to taking De Leon's title. De Leon seems to get better every time he steps into the ring, and should he have a successful outing this weekend, we should be seeing him facing bigger names such as Juan Manuel Marquez and either Rafael Marquez or Israel Vasquez should a fourth encounter between the two ever evolve.

I'm seeing De Leon in the sixth via KO.

Prediction: Daniel Ponce De Leon via KO sixth round.


FIGHT 3: Carlos Quintana vs. Paul Williams



The undercard of the Showtime card features the rematch between welterweights Paul Williams and Carlos Quintana. After taking Antonio Margarito's WBO welterweight title in the summer of 2007 via UD, Paul Williams solidified himself as a threat to the bigger names in the division.

He failed to score a title unification bout with the other champions, and had difficulty finding an opponent willing to step into the ring with him. Carlos Quintana was a late addition as opponent, but willingly signed on to fight Williams.

In previous contests, Quintana racked up 19 KO's in twenty five bouts. His most notable opponent was Miguel Cotto, whom he lasted five founds with. The two squared off February 9, 2008 at the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California. The lovely Casino in Southern California has been host to many championship fights and elite fighters since the late 1990's.

Sitting ringside for this bout, I thought it would be an awesome chance to see Paul "The Punisher" Williams in action before he fought the likes of Floyd Mayweather or Miguel Cotto.

Carlos "El Indio" Quintana had other plans.

From the outset Quintana shocked all in attendance, press row, and more importantly, Paul Williams. He fought like a boxer on a mission. He was consistently first to the punch, doubled up on shots that landed and mowed forward on the champion Williams.

Williams never found a rhythm as the fight progressed. Often he was caught against the ropes and stepping backwards from the punishment received from the plodding challenger. In scoring, I gave Williams only one round, almost a shutout of the thought to be formidable boxer.

All three judges saw it the same for Quintana at the scores of 116-112 (twice) and 115-113.

Quintana and Co. were elated when the scores were announced, jumping in the air and giving their boxer a proper celebration after what he just accomplished.

The fight is being regarded as a candidate for Fight of the Year 2008.

Post-fight, Williams seemed to be in a daze at what had just occurred, and mostly had his head low while answering questions in a polite manner. Williams hopes to put the loss behind him, and he has the chance to do so this Saturday on Showtime. The fight is not listed as a title match, but it is an excellent opportunity for the boxer to redeem his name and avenge the only loss on his record.

I'm seeing the same result in the rematch. Barring a changed Williams, Quintana has already shown he can get inside, that he packs harder punches and that he has no fear of going to war for 12 rounds.

These factors can lead to a knockout, which I see occurring in the eighth or ninth round.

Prediction: Carlos Quintana via TKO 8th or 9th round.


FIGHT 4: Vernon Forrest vs. Sergio Mora (WBC super welterweight title)



The main event of the Showtime card features Vernon Forrest defending his title against Sergio Mora for Forrest's WBC super welterweight title.

Forrest, (40-2 29 KO's) is a well known boxer from Georgia.

He has boxed professionally since 1992 and has stepped in with the likes of Shane Mosely, Carlos Baldomir and Ricardo Mayorga. The one-time holder of all three major welterweight titles, (WBC,WBA,IBF) Forrest has accomplished much in his career. He was undefeated from his first professional bout to 2003, a span of eleven years and many, many knockouts.

He won his first major title (IBF welterweight title) in 2000 when he scored a UD over Raul Frank. He captured the WBC title two years later against Shane Mosely, and again defeated Mosely in his first defense of the WBC belt.

2003 proved to be Forrest's worst year, as he was knocked out by rugged Ricardo Mayorga in three rounds. A rematch with Mayorga resulted in another loss. Forrest then had a succession of surgeries to his elbow and shoulders that sidelined him for nearly two years.

He returned to the ring in 2005 and has a five fight win streak. In December 2007 he defeated Michele Piccirillo for the WBC super welterweight title.

He is set to defend his title Saturday against Southern California's Sergio Mora. "The Latin Snake", Mora gained notoriety on the reality show "The Contender". The club fighter from Los Angeles mostly fought in Northern and Southern California before joining the show. The finale featured Mora against fellow Contender Peter Manfredo.

Mora scored a spilt decision at the Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas and was awarded 1 million dollars. The two scrapped five months later at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, and Mora again had Manfredo's number, this time a unanimous decision.

Mora has only fought four times in the past three years, but has remained unbeaten in 21 fights. His only blemish: a draw against Elvin Ayala in October last year.

The 27 year old Los Angeles native was un-impressive in that bout, and has yet to win over critics as to his skill in the ring. In recent reports, Forrest has slinged mud in Mora's direction, labeling Mora "garbage".

Mora has not responded to Forrest's attack, instead stating that he will "talk in the ring". He holds the only chance to prove that a former participant of the "Contender" series can be successful in the ring in big time fights.

Peter Mandfredo was embarrassed by then super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe in 2007.

Steve "2 Pounds" Forbes was beaten by Oscar De La Hoya Cinco De Mayo weekend and Ishe Smith recently had a less than impressive outing on ESPN's weekly fight series.

Both fighters are long and lanky, and are comfortable throwing from the outside. This fight will be won on the inside. Whichever fighter is able to take some punishment by getting inside will end up with the win, and the WBC belt.

My pick is the "Latin Snake" by KO in the 10th. Can you smell an upset?

Prediction: Sergio Mora by 10th round KO.