In this week’s three punch combo, I first of all want to state why I feel the Nonito Donaire-Abner Mares fight is the best potential fight that can be made for 2013. Next, I will look forward to what I feel is the best fight on paper so far in 2013, the matchup between Gennady Golovkin and Gabriel Rosado. And finally, I’ll look at the positives from Saturday’s controversial bout on NBC between Tomasz Adamek and Steve Cunningham.
Donaire vs. Mares in 2013
There are several quality fights that can be made in boxing in 2013. But by far the best potential matchup out there is between Nonito Donaire and Abner Mares.
First of all, I am fully aware of the difficulty in making this fight. Golden Boy, who represents Mares, and Top Rank, who represents Donaire, typically do not do business with each other.
We have seen occurrences in the past where such feuds were put aside. Remember in 1999 Top Rank and Don King put their long running hatred aside to make De La Hoya-Trinidad. The point here being that sometimes business sense can take precedent over feelings of animosity.
But let’s get away from the politics of making the fight and look at why this is such an enticing matchup. Donaire and Mares are each legitimate top ten pound for pound entrants and an argument can even be made that both should be in the top five. Each has also enjoyed tremendous success over the past few years, stringing together several impressive performances. And both fighters are currently in the prime of their respective careers.
The fight is also a legitimately even fight on paper. Solid arguments can be made for either man to win. Donaire, on the one hand, has shined when fighters have brought the fight to him. Mares has shown he won’t back down from a fight. But Mares has also shown the ability to find a way to beat very difficult opponents. So which fighter’s will and skill will ultimately prevail? It’s a difficult question to answer and that’s what makes this fight so fun.
I think this fight has the potential for lots of action and high drama. It’s nearly an impossible fight to handicap. And hopefully we will get to see it made in 2013.
Golovkin vs. Rosado
The boxing schedule is starting to fill up for the first quarter of 2013. And right now the matchup I am most looking forward to is Gennady Golovkin vs. Gabriel Rosado on January 19th.
This fight has intrigue and fireworks written all over it. Golovkin is a strong Middleweight and a huge puncher. He had a breakout performance with his knockout victory in his US debut over Grzegorz Proksa in his last bout. Rosado has been on a roll himself of late winning seven consecutive fights. He has looked especially impressive in his last few outings displaying both tremendous hand speed and good power.
Rosado has been knocked out before and is moving up in weight. And this brings me to the first potential outcome in this bout. There is a chance Golovkin comes out and blitzes Rosado early. If this occurs we would be probably see a highlight reel knockout and would have the boxing community further buzzing about Golovkin.
Early highlight reel knockouts are fun and enhance a fighter’s profile but I tend to think Rosado is going to put up a challenge to Golovkin. Rosado has made great strides over the last few years and is a much improved fighter from the one who was knocked out by Alfredo Angulo in 2009.
As stated above, Rosado possesses very fast hands. He also has shown good boxing ability from the outside. I tend to think he is going to be able to control the fight at times from the outside with his speed and his power will be effective enough to make Golovkin think twice about just charging inside.
Golovkin though will have opportunities and will land his shots. And here is what makes this fight so fun. Rosado has in the past has shown a true Philadelphia fighter’s heart. When he gets hit he instinctively wants to let his hands go and land shots of his own. So the potential is there for some real leather to be flying in this one.
I have a feeling this fight would be an early candidate for Fight of the Year. And I think Rosado’s hand speed and boxing skill will propel him to an upset victory.
The Positives From Adamek vs. Cunningham II
Tomasz Adamek won a controversial split decision over Steve Cunningham on Saturday in boxing’s return to NBC. There has been enough written about the scoring of this bout. I want to focus in on the positives from this fight that are getting overlooked in all the controversy.
This was simply a tremendous action fight. I was attending a Christmas party and was able to get the fight turned on in the living room. Most people who were in the room were not boxing fans. As a matter of fact someone asked me when it was I got into wrestling. But as the fight progressed more and more people stopped their conversation to watch what was taking place.
When the 10th round ended, questions started to pour in as to how the outcome would be determined. And the last two rounds people were really getting into the fight and surrounded the television at the end to hear the decision. A lady told me at the end this was the first fight she ever watched and will be watching the next time boxing is on.
So what is my point to this story? Non-boxing fans at the party I attended really got into the fight. And some left asking when the next boxing event was going to be on television.
Here’s another thing to keep in mind. There were not many other sporting events taking place in that time slot on Saturday. I am certain that other parties were going on this weekend and there is a good chance the fight was being televised at these parties. The casual sports fan as well, with not many other options, may also have tuned in. And there is a good chance at least some of those people left thinking they want to watch boxing again soon.
I fully understand that there is outrage over the decision. But Steve Cunningham will get more big fights based off his performance. So though the decision turned out controversial the overall event was a success.
