Alfredo Angulo Vs. James Kirkland: Boxing Greatness Under the Radar

By Geno McGahee

This Saturday night, two of the most exciting fighters in boxing clash in a high stakes showdown in Mexico. Alfredo Angulo, 20-1, 17 KO’s, a destructive and gritty light middleweight takes on the equally powerful and unpredictable, James Kirkland, 29-1, 26 KO’s, in a 12 round WBC Eliminator, broadcast live on HBO.

Angulo reminds many of Antonio Margarito, with his grit and demeanor in the ring. He hits harder than Margarito and there is plenty of room for growth. He is relentless and even in his loss to Kermit Cintron in 2009, he showed a lot of star potential. Since that defeat, he has put together five straight knockout wins, including a first round stoppage of former champion, Joachim Alcine.

James Kirkland was a highly touted junior middleweight, with an HBO contract. He was another tenacious power-puncher that plowed through most of his opposition with relative ease. His legal troubles in the past were usually discussed during his fights, but they were in his past…or so he claimed until he was locked up in 2009, again.

After 2 years in prison, he returned to the ring and it was business as usual with two straight early knockouts, but then the unexpected happen. On April 9, 2011, he faced Nobuhiro Ishida, a fighter with only 7 knockouts in 22 wins. Kirkland pounced and ran into a shot and down he went. He got up, and Ishida put him down again, Kirkland got up again and he was dropped again and the fight was stopped. The power-puncher was knocked out in the first round by a man not known for his power. Since then, Kirkland destroyed two no-hopers early, heading into this do or die fight.

The knockout loss to Ishida could have been due to several factors. He wasn’t warmed up, underestimated his opponent, or was just underprepared, but it does raise questions about his chin. Angulo’s chin has been hammered by powerful punchers like Joel Julio and Kermit Cintron. Both men landed flush and he was still standing. The emphasis in this fight is on Kirkland. What happens when Angulo lands and he will land and land early. Can Kirkland take the punch?

I don’t believe that Kirkland’s chin is as weak as it’s being advertised by many. Prior to the loss to Ishida, he stood up to Joel Julio’s incoming bombs without much trouble. He was mentally prepared to go to war and take the shots, and he will be in that mindset here as well. Kirkland is the underdog, but he is very live one going into Saturday’s showdown. He will be there trading for as long as it goes and both men are going to put themselves into harm’s way to win this fight.

Boxing itself may have some redemption Saturday night…may. I hesitate to say it will due to the past several fights that have been disappointing, to put it lightly. Kirkland is looking for redemption, Angulo is looking to impress the Mexican crowd, and that will equal huge fireworks. Get ready boxing fans…we may get a good one this time!