The Boxing Weekend: Arthur Abraham Headlines
By Geno McGahee
SHOWTIME
The Super Six continues with the leader in the tournament, Arthur Abraham, 31-0, 25 KO’s, takes on Andre Dirrell, 18-1, 13 KO’s. Abraham, the long time middleweight champion, demolished Jermain Taylor and sent him out of the tournament in his first appearance, picking up 3 points for the KO win, and now plans to get 3 more when he faces off against Dirrell.
Dirrell lost a close decision to Carl Froch in his first appearance in the tournament, currently having a zero on the scoreboard. Dirrell may have the best chance to upset Abraham, the current favorite to win. Dirrell has an awkward and quick style that isn’t pretty but is effective and a slow and methodical Abraham could fall victim to a decision loss. This is a wonderful showdown and will pump life back into the tournament, which it needs at this point with the drop out of Taylor and the postponement of the Allen Green-Andre Ward match.
HBO
HBO will be presenting a double header with Marcos Maidana, 27-1, 26 KO’s, taking on Victor Cayo, 24-0, 16 KO’s, for the WBA Light Welterweight Title. Maidana is still riding high off his stoppage victory over rising contender Victor Ortiz in 2009. His only defeat was a split decision defeat to Andriy Kotelnik. Maidana has a big punch and an exciting style and will be trying to add another memorable stoppage on HBO to his résumé this Saturday night.
The fight that may be most anticipated is the IBF Lightweight title bout between Joan Guzman, 29-0-1, 17 KO’s, and Ali Funeka, 30-2-3, 25 KO’s. In their first encounter, Funeka battered Guzman for twelve rounds, clearly winning the fight, but the judges saw it differently, scoring it a majority draw. It was called, by most, the worst decision of 2009 and now they try to settle the score, this time with the IBF Title on the line. Both men have a lot to prove and you have to assume that Funeka, a fighter who cannot get a break, losing a controversial decision to Nate Campbell and then suffering from that ridiculous draw. Expect Funeka to put Guzman on his back Saturday.
PPV
OK, if Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins merit a PPV price tag, and Evander Holyfield taking on Frans Botha does as well, then why not the returning Erik Morales? Morales, 48-6, 34 KO’s, will be taking on Jose Alfaro, 23-5, 20 KO’s, this Saturday night. Morales is 0-4 in his last four, two of which are by stoppage, but he continues on. He is the last man to hold a victory over Manny Pacquiao, although he paid dearly for it in the rematch and the rubber match. With money signs in his eyes, he returns, and has even mentioned a wanting to take on the “Pacman” again, which would be the first televised execution should he convince Team Pacquiao to meet him a fourth time.
Morales has zero left and this PPV is a waste of money, unless you are a fan of Morales and want to continue to follow his career. It may just end Saturday night. Much like Jones with Danny Green, Morales is an old man and he is facing a heavy-handed opponent…anything can happen.