Boxing in September 2006 – An Overview
Friday September 1st (ESPN Friday Night Fights)
Oklahoma, USA
Undefeated super-middleweight prospect Allan “Sweetness’ Green (21-0 15KOs) returns to ESPN on Friday September 1st on a special version of Friday night fights. A win for Greene would continue to help catapult him to the star he’s already becoming.
Saturday September 2nd (Showtime)
Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
James ‘Lights Out’ Toney (69-4-3 43KOs) clashes horns with Sam ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ Peter (26-1 22KOs). A highly anticipated matchup pitting one rising star against an old school style, slip & punch type of fighter. Both fighters promise horrid knockouts, and a future plateau of champion stature.
On the under card, Robert ‘The Ghost’ Guerrero (18-1 11KOs) takes on Eric Aiken (16-4 12KOs) in a IBF featherweight championship matchup.
Saturday September 16th (HBO PPV)
MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
WBC Super featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera (62-4 42KOs) is generous enough to offer Rocky Juarez (25-2 18KOs) another crack at his world title. The two previously met back on May 20th of this year. In a classic tale of boxer vs puncher, Barrera barely out pointed Juarez in a razor thin 12 round Split decision. The matchup was competitive enough to call for a rematch, and this is why we’ll be in Las Vegas on that Saturday night.
Also on the under card
Jorge Rodrigo Barrios (46-2-1 33KOs) defends his WBO Super featherweight title against Joan Guzman (25-0 17KOs).
Jhonny Gonzalez (33-4 28KOs) and Israel Vazquez (40-3 29KOs) meet for the Super-bantamweight WBC title.
Rey Bautista (20-0 15KOs) vs. Giovanni Andrade (51-9 42KOs)
Saturday September 23rd (HBO Televison)
Home Depot Center, Carson, CA
Jorge Armando Arce (44-3-1 34KOs), and young Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (26-0-1 20KOs) are both featured on this evening’s version of HBO world championship boxing, but in separate matchups. Rising star, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr remains one of the younger faces in the sport at age 20. At 5’11, he appears to be one of the larger welterweights in the 147lb division. Although he’s still quite inexperienced with top opposition, just give him time and watch his sprout.
Friday September 29th
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY (Untelevised as of right now)
Power, undefeated middleweight prospect ‘Ireland’s’ John Duddy (17-0 15KOs) continues his rise throughout the middleweight ranks when he takes on Luis Ramon Campas (88-8 72KOs). Unfortunately for Duddy, 27, his American television debut seems yet to light up our screens. Duddy is a solid young middleweight; devastating power, good hand speed, and decent boxing abilities. Maybe not at this moment, but eventually he’ll continue his assault in the middleweight ranks and rise to the challenge of reaching magnificence.
Other news, updates and general info.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. finally has an opponent lined up for his November 4th HBO pay per view date. Floyd, (36-0 24KOs) left the boxing community rather impatient; awaiting the mention of his next victim, Carlos Manuel Baldomir (43-9-6 13KOs). For many who thought Baldomir was nothing more than an overnight celebrity, guess again. His recent victories over Zab Judah and Arturo Gatti have gotten the attention of all contenders between 140 – 147lbs.
With Oleg Maskaev now the WBC heavyweight champion, and all of the heavyweight championships belonging to the Soviet section of the planet, many wonder what’s next for America’s heavyweights? Within less than a year, Chris Byrd, John Ruiz, Lamon Brewster and Hasim Rahman have all lost their heavyweight championships. Fortunately, a heavyweight tournament will take place amongst the new and existing champions to solidify who the ‘real’ champ is.
Bernard Hopkins has finalized his retirement.
Both ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley and Oscar De La Hoya are still vowing to remain inactive for the rest of 2006.
Zab ‘Super’ Judah (34-4 25KOs) looks to make a ring return sometime later this year under his new promotional banner, Super promotions.
We could very well see Glen Johnson face off against Roy Jones Jr. sometime later this year or early next year, only if Johnson gets through Clinton Woods (39-3 24KOs).
I’ve decided to take a stab at this sport for which I adore so dearly. I am running, eating healthy, slim and trim and staying in the gym. Due to a hand injury I recieved on just my second day of boxing, I took a few days off to allow the pain to heal. I’ll be returning to the gym to work on my craft within the next week or so. I am hoping to get a matchup with #1 Pound for Pound fighter Floyd Mayweather Jr. by early December. (Wish me luck!)
Well that’s it boxing fans.. See you in October!
