I have made loads of cash betting on his BIG FIGHT predictions:
EDNER CHERRY vs WES FERGUSON
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A game loser to the more experienced and physically stronger Edner Cherry in June, Wes Ferguson tries to turn the tables in a 10-round lightweight rematch on Saturday’s big PPV show.
Last time the fight was on Cherry’s home turf in Tampa, FL. This time Ferguson has the advantage of boxing in his adopted hometown of Las Vegas, where he is managed by Floyd Mayweather Jr. (hence his appearance on the Mayweather-Hatton undercard).
In the first meeting, Ferguson was cut over the left eye in the third round and he seemed to have been hurt by body blows, but he gamely rallied and actually finished the fight well, throwing lots of punches in a last-round rally.
At first glance it is difficult to see things going too much differently, but I do believe that Ferguson has a good chance. In the first fight, two judges had Cherry winning by 96-94, which seemed right (the third judge watched a different fight at 98-92). So, Ferguson almost got a draw on two scorecards, and that was away from home and boxing with the handicap of a cut from early in the contest. Also, he took that bout on three weeks’ notice.
Ferguson is a skilled and speedy boxer. I was impressed with his grit in the tough fight with Cherry. He also showed character in surviving a rocky fourth round to win a split decision over the stronger Josesisito Lopez, when Ferguson swept the last three rounds on two judges’ cards to pull out the victory.
Because of his clear if close win the first time, Cherry is obviously the favourite, but I feel that Ferguson will have learned a lot from that fight. He is boxing at home this time and he has had longer to prepare. It is going to be very tough against a superior physical specimen, but my feeling is that Ferguson’s boxing ability, quick jab and hand speed can see him through. I feel that Ferguson can get off to a better start than he did in Florida and score enough points to win a narrow decision.
Play: WES FERGUSON +198
JEFF LACY vs PETER MANFREDO Jr.
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Back from a shoulder injury that required surgery and extensive rehabilitation, former 168-pound champion Jeff Lacy appears in a 10-rounder on Saturday’s PPV show against Peter Manfredo Jr. in a fight that will determine the future of both men.
On Saturday Lacy will be boxing for the first time since his gruelling win over Vitali Tsypko a year ago
If Lacy loses, it will be a huge setback. A loss would not be as damaging for Manfredo, who is the big underdog, but a win would push the Contender Season One finalist into the forefront for further big fights.
In an interview with Dan Rafael of espn.com, Lacy revealed the gruesome extent of the injury to his left shoulder, with the tendon practically detached from the bone.
It says a lot for Lacy’s heart and determination that he was able to fight through the pain of such an injury and still defeat the Ukrainian southpaw Tsypko, a difficult proposition at the best of times, in his last bout before undergoing surgery.
Unable to use his big left hook effectively, Lacy won the fight by throwing right hands — and his heavy punches kept Tsypko defensive just enough for the former champion to grind out the close win.
Lacy told reporter Rafael that training has gone well, that the shoulder is back to normal and that he is eager to get back in the ring and get his career moving again.
Manfredo, meanwhile, has spent a month in Los Angeles training with Freddie Roach at the Wild Card gym. Roach was in Manfredo’s corner for his two best performances, the KO wins over Scott Pemberton and Joey Spina.
“Peter is looking good and I think this is a very winnable fight for him,” Roach said over the phone from Los Angeles. “I want him boxing and being smart. He likes to trade punches sometimes but I told him ‘Not this time.’ Lacy is coming back from a long layoff, which can’t help him. I think Peter’s going to outbox him.”
Each man has been beaten by Joe Calzaghe in Britain, Lacy widely and punishingly on points, Manfredo on a slightly hasty third-round intervention by the referee (although the challenger from Rhode Island did not help himself by covering up like a novice with his back to the ropes). Both Lacy and Manfredo believe they are better fighters than they appeared to be against Calzaghe and that their respective losses were not indicative of their true ability. Now they get the chance to prove it, against each other.
This is an interesting 10-round fight. Manfredo can box well and having Roach with him is a big plus, but the fact is that he looked bewildered against Calzaghe and has since struggled against David Banks, who hit him often enough to have one of Manfredo’s eyes swollen and closing.
Lacy’s long absence from the ring could be a factor, but he looks the more powerful of the two men and his pressure and heavy hitting could overcome the boxing, counter punching style that Manfredo hopes to employ. I think Lacy will win, possibly on a decision although I can also see Manfredo getting caught and hurt at some point in the fight.
Play: JEFF LACY -501
DANIEL PONCE DE LEON vs EDUARDO ESCOBEDO
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THURSDAY P.M. UPDATE: Colourful and heavy-handed Daniel Ponce De Leon is back in Las Vegas and on PPV, defending his junior featherweight title against fellow-Mexican Eduardo Escobedo on the big Mayweather-Hatton show.
In March, De Leon heard boos when struggling to win a decision over the smaller Gerry Penalosa at the MGM Grand. This seems to have upset him, because in his next fight he came out with all guns blazing to destroy Filipino Rey Bautista in the first round, since when he has knocked out veteran Reynaldo Lopez in a non-title bout.
Escobedo faces a daunting task against a more powerful opponent who will be coming to knock him out, but the underdog challenger has good skills and he has won seven fights in a row after a KO loss in Mexico three years ago.
In his last fight, Escobedo gave a polished performance when he knocked out a once-beaten Colombian in a fight televised by Telefutura. He had the great Mexican trainer Nacho Beristain and southern California’s well-respected Rudy Hernandez in his corner, and trainers such as these are obviously a big asset to a fighter.
I thought that Escobedo showed touches of Juan Manuel Marquez (trained by Beristain) in the way he moved and held his hands up in his last fight. He has been boxing as a featherweight, so he could be looking big and strong at 122 pounds although De Leon is the puncher in the fight.
The early rounds in particular are going to be fraught with danger for Escobedo because De Leon will be hurling haymakers from his southpaw stance, but if the challenger keeps his defence solid and doesn’t get overwhelmed by the initial onslaught I think that he can gradually box his way into the fight and be competitive.
I am expecting a KO win for De Leon, a real force of nature who will be eager to provide a similar devastating display to the one he gave against Bautista, but I would not be surprised to see Escobedo extend him into the later rounds.
UPDATE: A reliable source told me today that trainer Nacho Beristain is very confident about Escobedo's chances. Beristain has been telling visitors to the gym: "We will win this fight." The veteran trainer is an expert tactician, very good at working out the strengths and weaknesses of the opposing fighter. Of course, Escobedo has to fight the fight, but I am coming to the opinion that the big underdog might have a real chance on Saturday.
Play: Daniel Ponce De Leon -786
FLOYD MAYWEATHER Jr. vs RICKY HATTON
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The big moment approaches and I think a realisation is dawning on both sides of the Atlantic that Floyd Mayweather Jr. has a very real chance of losing to Ricky Hatton in the “Undefeated” PPV welterweight championship fight in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Hatton’s glowing fitness, intensity and unshakeable self-belief as captured in HBO’s 24/7 shows have obviously been a factor. The challenger from Manchester is approaching this fight in the manner of a boxer who feels he cannot be beaten.
Mayweather’s boxing skills have earned him recognition as the world’s best fighter at any weight, but there is a growing perception that Hatton could, in the words of the British boxer’s trainer, Billy Graham, be Mayweather’s worst nightmare.
Some in the American fight trade feel that Mayweather, with his world titles at five weights, is on a different level to Hatton, but money has been showing strongly for the underdog challenger.
Mayweather always talks a great fight but he seems almost unrealistic about Hatton’s ability and the genuine threat that the British boxer represents.
The fact that Mayweather took part in Dancing With the Stars is seen as an indication that he does not take Hatton as seriously as he should.
Hatton shocked the boxing world two years ago when he overwhelmed Kostya Tszyu on home ground in Manchester, and trainer Billy Graham told me in the days before that bout that he was certain of his man’s success against the Russian-Aussie. “Tszyu’s got a tiger by the tail,” was how he put it then. Graham talks with the same certainty about Saturday’s fight.
“I know how good Ricky Hatton is; I know how good Floyd Mayweather is,” he said in a phone conversation. “I’ve got all Floyd Mayweather’s fights, you know what I mean, I’m watching him all the time. He’s fantastic. He’s the fastest thing on two feet, he’s a defensive genius, but I just think Ricky is his worst nightmare.
“OK, I don’t think anybody is as fast as Floyd, but Ricky is really quick. They talk about Floyd’s exceptional balance, which is true — but Hatton’s got fantastic balance, anticipation and reflexes. He’s as special as Floyd, only he’s a different style. I think more people can appreciate Floyd’s style — I don’t think you have to be as subtle or as knowledgeable to realise what you see when you see Floyd. I don’t think they look close enough at Hatton.
“If you think that Floyd’s going to be able to stand on the outside and look pretty all night against Ricky Hatton — no, it’s not happening.
“People try to saturate Floyd with a lot of punches. It doesn’t work. He likes that. Ricky Hatton’s a master at threading single shots to vital areas, really hurtful, and on a regular basis.
“It’s a fight between two fantastic fighters with different styles and the best man is going to win — and it’s going to be us.”
Many players agree. There have been rumours of Mayweather having suffered an injury to one of his notoriously fragile hands. He has beaten a lot of champions but he has never met anyone like Hatton, who brings fast and intelligent pressure. While other fighters tend to bang away at arms and gloves when Mayweather goes to the ropes, Hatton is too clever for that. He is very good at shifting his body from side to side, sometimes going almost into a southpaw stance to rip in right hooks, as well as the hooks from the left side.
Hatton makes a very good point in that Mayweather has never had to dig down and show real grit to win a fight — his speed and talent has always been sufficient.
Mayweather has shown signs of vulnerability when things go wrong. There was the agonised expression and touchdown on one glove after hurting his hand on Carlos Hernandez’s head, the painful limping across the ring after Zab Judah had hit him low — one cannot imagine Hatton flying distress signals in such a way.
Hatton did have a difficult and close fight against the southpaw Luis Collazo, even getting wobbled a bit in the final round, in a previous excursion in the welter division, but he has had a much longer and better training camp for this fight. He laboured a little against the limited Juan Urango but he was suffering from a heavy cold and needed to slow down the pace and just box his way home in that fight.
In his last fight, when he dropped Jose Luis Castillo with a left hook to the body, Hatton showed the strength, energy and smarts that is going to give Mayweather a world of trouble on Saturday night.
Yet there is a hint of greatness about Mayweather, with his fast hands, jolting jab, defensive wizardry and almost radar-like ability to see punches coming and avoid them.
I also feel that Mayweather hits harder than generally believed. He is a sharp puncher with either hand. Hatton is strong and tireless, but Mayweather is accustomed to boxing with sparring partners much bigger than himself and in his last fight defeated a junior middleweight in Oscar De La Hoya.
Yes, Hatton is capable of hurting Mayweather to the body, harassing him, mauling him around, plastering him with punches and taking him right out of his smooth-boxing stride. It is also possible that Mayweather can do damage with his crisp punches on the outside and in the centre of the ring.
I went with Mayweather to win in my in-depth preview in Boxing Monthly and I have not changed my opinion.
Unfortunately, there is an increasing tendency for people to say that when someone picks against a boxer they are “writing him off”, which is quite absurd. I for one would never “write off” a high-quality, authentic and courageous fighter such as Hatton. I just think that Mayweather is going to be a little too sharp a boxer for him and will land enough scoring blows to win on points. It is just a matter of opinion, and I know that Billy Graham would agree that, if Hatton wins, the predictions favouring Mayweather will only serve to make the British camp’s victory that much sweeter.
Play: Floyd Mayweather -202
:toast:
EDNER CHERRY vs WES FERGUSON
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A game loser to the more experienced and physically stronger Edner Cherry in June, Wes Ferguson tries to turn the tables in a 10-round lightweight rematch on Saturday’s big PPV show.
Last time the fight was on Cherry’s home turf in Tampa, FL. This time Ferguson has the advantage of boxing in his adopted hometown of Las Vegas, where he is managed by Floyd Mayweather Jr. (hence his appearance on the Mayweather-Hatton undercard).
In the first meeting, Ferguson was cut over the left eye in the third round and he seemed to have been hurt by body blows, but he gamely rallied and actually finished the fight well, throwing lots of punches in a last-round rally.
At first glance it is difficult to see things going too much differently, but I do believe that Ferguson has a good chance. In the first fight, two judges had Cherry winning by 96-94, which seemed right (the third judge watched a different fight at 98-92). So, Ferguson almost got a draw on two scorecards, and that was away from home and boxing with the handicap of a cut from early in the contest. Also, he took that bout on three weeks’ notice.
Ferguson is a skilled and speedy boxer. I was impressed with his grit in the tough fight with Cherry. He also showed character in surviving a rocky fourth round to win a split decision over the stronger Josesisito Lopez, when Ferguson swept the last three rounds on two judges’ cards to pull out the victory.
Because of his clear if close win the first time, Cherry is obviously the favourite, but I feel that Ferguson will have learned a lot from that fight. He is boxing at home this time and he has had longer to prepare. It is going to be very tough against a superior physical specimen, but my feeling is that Ferguson’s boxing ability, quick jab and hand speed can see him through. I feel that Ferguson can get off to a better start than he did in Florida and score enough points to win a narrow decision.
Play: WES FERGUSON +198
JEFF LACY vs PETER MANFREDO Jr.
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Back from a shoulder injury that required surgery and extensive rehabilitation, former 168-pound champion Jeff Lacy appears in a 10-rounder on Saturday’s PPV show against Peter Manfredo Jr. in a fight that will determine the future of both men.
On Saturday Lacy will be boxing for the first time since his gruelling win over Vitali Tsypko a year ago
If Lacy loses, it will be a huge setback. A loss would not be as damaging for Manfredo, who is the big underdog, but a win would push the Contender Season One finalist into the forefront for further big fights.
In an interview with Dan Rafael of espn.com, Lacy revealed the gruesome extent of the injury to his left shoulder, with the tendon practically detached from the bone.
It says a lot for Lacy’s heart and determination that he was able to fight through the pain of such an injury and still defeat the Ukrainian southpaw Tsypko, a difficult proposition at the best of times, in his last bout before undergoing surgery.
Unable to use his big left hook effectively, Lacy won the fight by throwing right hands — and his heavy punches kept Tsypko defensive just enough for the former champion to grind out the close win.
Lacy told reporter Rafael that training has gone well, that the shoulder is back to normal and that he is eager to get back in the ring and get his career moving again.
Manfredo, meanwhile, has spent a month in Los Angeles training with Freddie Roach at the Wild Card gym. Roach was in Manfredo’s corner for his two best performances, the KO wins over Scott Pemberton and Joey Spina.
“Peter is looking good and I think this is a very winnable fight for him,” Roach said over the phone from Los Angeles. “I want him boxing and being smart. He likes to trade punches sometimes but I told him ‘Not this time.’ Lacy is coming back from a long layoff, which can’t help him. I think Peter’s going to outbox him.”
Each man has been beaten by Joe Calzaghe in Britain, Lacy widely and punishingly on points, Manfredo on a slightly hasty third-round intervention by the referee (although the challenger from Rhode Island did not help himself by covering up like a novice with his back to the ropes). Both Lacy and Manfredo believe they are better fighters than they appeared to be against Calzaghe and that their respective losses were not indicative of their true ability. Now they get the chance to prove it, against each other.
This is an interesting 10-round fight. Manfredo can box well and having Roach with him is a big plus, but the fact is that he looked bewildered against Calzaghe and has since struggled against David Banks, who hit him often enough to have one of Manfredo’s eyes swollen and closing.
Lacy’s long absence from the ring could be a factor, but he looks the more powerful of the two men and his pressure and heavy hitting could overcome the boxing, counter punching style that Manfredo hopes to employ. I think Lacy will win, possibly on a decision although I can also see Manfredo getting caught and hurt at some point in the fight.
Play: JEFF LACY -501
DANIEL PONCE DE LEON vs EDUARDO ESCOBEDO
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THURSDAY P.M. UPDATE: Colourful and heavy-handed Daniel Ponce De Leon is back in Las Vegas and on PPV, defending his junior featherweight title against fellow-Mexican Eduardo Escobedo on the big Mayweather-Hatton show.
In March, De Leon heard boos when struggling to win a decision over the smaller Gerry Penalosa at the MGM Grand. This seems to have upset him, because in his next fight he came out with all guns blazing to destroy Filipino Rey Bautista in the first round, since when he has knocked out veteran Reynaldo Lopez in a non-title bout.
Escobedo faces a daunting task against a more powerful opponent who will be coming to knock him out, but the underdog challenger has good skills and he has won seven fights in a row after a KO loss in Mexico three years ago.
In his last fight, Escobedo gave a polished performance when he knocked out a once-beaten Colombian in a fight televised by Telefutura. He had the great Mexican trainer Nacho Beristain and southern California’s well-respected Rudy Hernandez in his corner, and trainers such as these are obviously a big asset to a fighter.
I thought that Escobedo showed touches of Juan Manuel Marquez (trained by Beristain) in the way he moved and held his hands up in his last fight. He has been boxing as a featherweight, so he could be looking big and strong at 122 pounds although De Leon is the puncher in the fight.
The early rounds in particular are going to be fraught with danger for Escobedo because De Leon will be hurling haymakers from his southpaw stance, but if the challenger keeps his defence solid and doesn’t get overwhelmed by the initial onslaught I think that he can gradually box his way into the fight and be competitive.
I am expecting a KO win for De Leon, a real force of nature who will be eager to provide a similar devastating display to the one he gave against Bautista, but I would not be surprised to see Escobedo extend him into the later rounds.
UPDATE: A reliable source told me today that trainer Nacho Beristain is very confident about Escobedo's chances. Beristain has been telling visitors to the gym: "We will win this fight." The veteran trainer is an expert tactician, very good at working out the strengths and weaknesses of the opposing fighter. Of course, Escobedo has to fight the fight, but I am coming to the opinion that the big underdog might have a real chance on Saturday.
Play: Daniel Ponce De Leon -786
FLOYD MAYWEATHER Jr. vs RICKY HATTON
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The big moment approaches and I think a realisation is dawning on both sides of the Atlantic that Floyd Mayweather Jr. has a very real chance of losing to Ricky Hatton in the “Undefeated” PPV welterweight championship fight in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Hatton’s glowing fitness, intensity and unshakeable self-belief as captured in HBO’s 24/7 shows have obviously been a factor. The challenger from Manchester is approaching this fight in the manner of a boxer who feels he cannot be beaten.
Mayweather’s boxing skills have earned him recognition as the world’s best fighter at any weight, but there is a growing perception that Hatton could, in the words of the British boxer’s trainer, Billy Graham, be Mayweather’s worst nightmare.
Some in the American fight trade feel that Mayweather, with his world titles at five weights, is on a different level to Hatton, but money has been showing strongly for the underdog challenger.
Mayweather always talks a great fight but he seems almost unrealistic about Hatton’s ability and the genuine threat that the British boxer represents.
The fact that Mayweather took part in Dancing With the Stars is seen as an indication that he does not take Hatton as seriously as he should.
Hatton shocked the boxing world two years ago when he overwhelmed Kostya Tszyu on home ground in Manchester, and trainer Billy Graham told me in the days before that bout that he was certain of his man’s success against the Russian-Aussie. “Tszyu’s got a tiger by the tail,” was how he put it then. Graham talks with the same certainty about Saturday’s fight.
“I know how good Ricky Hatton is; I know how good Floyd Mayweather is,” he said in a phone conversation. “I’ve got all Floyd Mayweather’s fights, you know what I mean, I’m watching him all the time. He’s fantastic. He’s the fastest thing on two feet, he’s a defensive genius, but I just think Ricky is his worst nightmare.
“OK, I don’t think anybody is as fast as Floyd, but Ricky is really quick. They talk about Floyd’s exceptional balance, which is true — but Hatton’s got fantastic balance, anticipation and reflexes. He’s as special as Floyd, only he’s a different style. I think more people can appreciate Floyd’s style — I don’t think you have to be as subtle or as knowledgeable to realise what you see when you see Floyd. I don’t think they look close enough at Hatton.
“If you think that Floyd’s going to be able to stand on the outside and look pretty all night against Ricky Hatton — no, it’s not happening.
“People try to saturate Floyd with a lot of punches. It doesn’t work. He likes that. Ricky Hatton’s a master at threading single shots to vital areas, really hurtful, and on a regular basis.
“It’s a fight between two fantastic fighters with different styles and the best man is going to win — and it’s going to be us.”
Many players agree. There have been rumours of Mayweather having suffered an injury to one of his notoriously fragile hands. He has beaten a lot of champions but he has never met anyone like Hatton, who brings fast and intelligent pressure. While other fighters tend to bang away at arms and gloves when Mayweather goes to the ropes, Hatton is too clever for that. He is very good at shifting his body from side to side, sometimes going almost into a southpaw stance to rip in right hooks, as well as the hooks from the left side.
Hatton makes a very good point in that Mayweather has never had to dig down and show real grit to win a fight — his speed and talent has always been sufficient.
Mayweather has shown signs of vulnerability when things go wrong. There was the agonised expression and touchdown on one glove after hurting his hand on Carlos Hernandez’s head, the painful limping across the ring after Zab Judah had hit him low — one cannot imagine Hatton flying distress signals in such a way.
Hatton did have a difficult and close fight against the southpaw Luis Collazo, even getting wobbled a bit in the final round, in a previous excursion in the welter division, but he has had a much longer and better training camp for this fight. He laboured a little against the limited Juan Urango but he was suffering from a heavy cold and needed to slow down the pace and just box his way home in that fight.
In his last fight, when he dropped Jose Luis Castillo with a left hook to the body, Hatton showed the strength, energy and smarts that is going to give Mayweather a world of trouble on Saturday night.
Yet there is a hint of greatness about Mayweather, with his fast hands, jolting jab, defensive wizardry and almost radar-like ability to see punches coming and avoid them.
I also feel that Mayweather hits harder than generally believed. He is a sharp puncher with either hand. Hatton is strong and tireless, but Mayweather is accustomed to boxing with sparring partners much bigger than himself and in his last fight defeated a junior middleweight in Oscar De La Hoya.
Yes, Hatton is capable of hurting Mayweather to the body, harassing him, mauling him around, plastering him with punches and taking him right out of his smooth-boxing stride. It is also possible that Mayweather can do damage with his crisp punches on the outside and in the centre of the ring.
I went with Mayweather to win in my in-depth preview in Boxing Monthly and I have not changed my opinion.
Unfortunately, there is an increasing tendency for people to say that when someone picks against a boxer they are “writing him off”, which is quite absurd. I for one would never “write off” a high-quality, authentic and courageous fighter such as Hatton. I just think that Mayweather is going to be a little too sharp a boxer for him and will land enough scoring blows to win on points. It is just a matter of opinion, and I know that Billy Graham would agree that, if Hatton wins, the predictions favouring Mayweather will only serve to make the British camp’s victory that much sweeter.
Play: Floyd Mayweather -202
:toast:
