Ringside with Raymundo 01.09.09: First Lap, Not Bad

Posted by Raymundo Dioses on 01.09.2009

This week, Raymundo takes us through the first five months of the 2009 boxing calendar year, and picks the winners waaaayyyy before he should!

With speculations as to whether or not boxing will live on past Oscar De La Hoya, the sweet science has some very good matches mapped out in the first few months of the year.

Throw in a mega bout midway through the year, and boxing not only will survive 2009, but highly entertain. A majority of these fights also have titles on the line.

Below are some of the matches that you shouldn't miss in the first quarter of 2009.

January 24, 2009


Photo by Chris Farina / Top Rank

Antonio Margarito vs. Shane Mosley

Margarito is fresh off his improbable upset of Miguel Cotto in July of last year.

The long time welterweight had his ups and downs in his career, and seemingly reached his pinnacle of success by dethroning the undefeated Cotto for the WBA welterweight strap.

According to reports, Margarito is showing no signs of slowing down in the ring, and has been beating up on sparring partners while training in Southern California.

Meanwhile, "Sugar" Shane Mosley is in the twilight of his storied career, and hopes for one last shot at a title by stepping in with Margarito in the latter half of January at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Mosley is a Southern California favorite, and the clash will no doubt draw out a crowd from his hometown of Pomona, California.

"Sugar" fought a tough 12 rounds with Miguel Cotto before dropping a decision in November of 2007, and some pundits point out the fact that he couldn't beat Cotto while Margarito did.

Mosley returned to the ring in September 2008, and knocked out trash talking Ricardo Mayorga in stunning fashion in the closing seconds of the final round.

The two pair up nicely, as both are come-forward, action seeking boxers who are more known for their offense rather than defense.

Their height and reach are basically the same, and the veterans combine for a total of 65 knockout victories.

Expect fireworks in downtown Los Angeles come January 24.

Raymundo's Pick: Antonio Margarito


February 7, 2009

Jorge Arce vs. Vic Darchinyan

Vic "The Raging Bull" Darchinyan pits his WBA, WBC and IBF super flyweight titles against rugged veteran Jorge Arce at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

In his last bout, Darchinyan pummeled favored Christian Mijares, scoring a slew of knockdowns before stopping the younger fighter in 9 rounds.

Nearly 95% of all media outlets had picked Mijares to win, and Darchinyan was quick to make note of the upset and affirm that he is the truth at 115 pounds.

The trash talking Darchinyan scoffed at Jorge Arce's name when the fight was announced, and has already thrown verbal lashings' in Arce's direction.

"Arce has got a big mouth. He is always talking. I want to shut his mouth."

Arce, a former WBC light flyweight title holder, is a fan favorite, and is also regarded as a fighter with some pop in his gloves.

It is well known that fighters at this weight throw a multitude of punches, providing an entertaining affair that could end by KO.

Raymundo's pick: Vic Darchinyan


February 14, 2009

Alfredo Angulo vs. Ricardo Mayorga

There will be no love on Valentines day when up and coming contender Alfredo Angulo steps in with veteran Ricardo Mayorga on HBO.

Angulo is hoping that a victory over Mayorga will catapult him into the mainstream.

The young fighter is undefeated at 14-0 with 11 KO's, and dons a solid package of offense and defense.

Mayorga's last match ended with him on the canvas, but the rugged Nicaraguan packs plenty pop and with his awkward style of fighting, will be no pushover come February 14.

Raymundo's pick: Alfredo Angulo


February 28, 2009

Juan Diaz vs. Juan Manuel Marquez

Juan "The Baby Bull" Diaz was at one time the WBA, WBO and IBF lightweight champion, and the young fighter was poised to become the top lightweight in the world before he was upset in March of last year by Nate Campbell.

Stripped of all of his titles, the determined fighter got back in the ring and fought a valiant effort in 12 rounds against Michael Katsidis later in the year for the vacant IBO title.

Now officially on the comeback trail in hopes of winning back his titles, he steps in with top ten pound for pound fighter Juan Manuel Marquez in his hometown of Houston, Texas on the last day of February.

Marquez is the Ring magazine lightweight champion, winning the title with a TKO over Joel Casamayor in September 2008.

Both fighters match up nearly the same in size and weight, and neither will take a step backward when they step into the ring.

Raymundo's pick: Juan Diaz


March 14, 2009



Chad Dawson vs. Antonio Tarver

"Bad" Chad is arguably the best light heavyweight in the world.

Undefeated at 27-0 with 17 knockouts, Dawson rocked Tarver for 12 rounds on October 11, 2008 in their first encounter.

A rematch clause ensured Tarver of a rematch, as Tarver will reload and hope to poke holes in Dawson's near flawless repertoire.

A venue has yet to be announced for the fight.

Raymundo's pick: Chad Dawson


April 4, 2009

Timothy Ray Bradley vs. Kendall Holt

Thompson Boxing's Timothy Ray Bradley was brought along majestically by his promotional company, providing entertaining bouts in his native Southern California while climbing the light welterweight rankings.

In May, 2008 Bradley won the WBC light welterweight title via decision over Junior Witter, and hopes a victory over Holt will lead him to match against pound for pound champion Manny Pacquiao.

Kendall Holt partook in two memorable bouts for the WBO light welterweight title against Ricardo Torres in 2007 and 2008, losing the first match and winning the second in 61 seconds in what was labeled 2008's round of the year by most media outlets.

A rubber match was halted due to illness on Torres' end, and Holt instead took on Demetrius Hopkins on December 13 of 2008.

Holt won a lopsided decision, and can now add the WBC strap if successful against Bradley.

Raymundo's pick: Timothy Bradley


May 2, 2009

Manny Pacquiao vs. Ricky Hatton

Although this fight isn't set in stone, reports are negotiations have went well between Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions in making this fight a reality in Las Vegas.

Neither fighter has declined to the fight to media persons, so we can pretty much say the fight is on.

While most see Pacquiao as the favorite, its not easy to write off Hatton, who had a resurgence of sorts with a convincing victory over Paul Malignaggi in November of last year.

We all saw what the "Pac Man" did to Oscar De La Hoya, in the process definitively becoming the pound for pound best boxer in the world.

If Pacquiao is successful in this fight, a promoter's dream bout could be set up between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., who is rumored to be in search of a "right money, right fight" deal if he is going to come out of retirement. Mayeather was regarded as the number one poind for pound best boxer in the world when he retired in June of 2008.

A fight between the two could solidify who the pound for pound No. 1 boxer is in the sport, in or out of it.

Raymundo's pick: Manny Pacquiao


Note : Also in action in the first half of 2009 are middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik and former WBA title holder Miguel Cotto.

Both are coming off losses, and are heavily favored to win their bouts, Pavlik against Marco Antonio Rubio and Cotto taking on Michael Jennings.

Pavlik and Cotto's fights will be on the same day in separate venues on February 21.