Mar 17 - ESPN2 06:00 pm
Steve Johnston vs. Julio Alvarez
Stevie is an up and coming lightweight who has much heart and determination.
Since he avenged his only loss to Cesar Bazan, he has been on a consistent roll of well
boxed wins. Although he is not a big KO artist, he wins rounds and ultimately, fights.
Julio is a club fighter who is durable and is relatively unknown and unheralded. Another
day at the office for Stevie.
Johnston by decision
Mar 18 - HBO 10:00pm
Floyd Mayweather vs. Goyo Vargas
Floyd is one of the best super feathers in the game today. He had a falling out
with HBO, but fortunately is back. His dismantling of the unsuspecting Angel Manfreddy in
Dec 98 was a big feather in the cap of this little big banger. In recent memory he has
stopped Carlos Gerena this past sep (as predicted) and
heralded Justin Jukko this past May (as predicted).
Floyd is on his way up, and Goyo is on his way down. Goyo unfortunately is a shade past
his prime, and to be quite frank, couldn't beat Floyd even if he was in his prime. His
only win of notoriety was a good stoppage over Tracy Patterson, and has went the distance
in his last couple fights against mediocre competition. The bigger and faster Floyd will
overwhelm him from the opening bell. Goyo's experience will get him half way through the
fight, but the bigger faster Mayweather will end the match inside the distance.
Mayweather inside 7
Diego Corrales vs. Derrick Gainer
Diego is a surprisingly durable and hard hitting banger who won one of the bigger
upsets in 1999 when he stopped undefeated Roberto Garcia last Oct. I was most impressed
because he was taking a beating until a couple of combinations had the undefeated champ
out in 7. In his first defense he went the distance with veteran John Brown last Dec, the
same John Brown Shane Mosely stopped in 8 the April before.
I'm still not convinced of Diego as a champion, and am probably the only person in the
world who believes Gainer has a chance against Diego.
Derrick was supposed to fight the same guy Diego beat for the title on the Roy Jones /
Reggie Johnson undercard, but Roberto pulled out at the last second. Derrick has been
fighting out of the Roy Jones camp for a while now, and Roy believes Derrick has the goods
to be a world champion. So do I.
I expect Derrick to expose Diego as the pretender to throne that he is, and his speed and
southpaw stance will confuse and overwhelm Diego. This should be a slug fest from start to
finish, and Derrick will end with his arm extended.
Gainer by decision
Mar 18 - Hamburg,
Germany (No U.S. TV)
Wladimir Klitschko vs. Paea Wolfgramm
Wladimir and his brother are both the best heavies in the world. There is bad
blood between Wladamir and Paea, which will spill in Germany. A rematch of Olympic Rivals.
Paea is fresh meat for the bear, and will be served up inside 6 heats. A tomato can for
the little Klitschko brother to knockdown in a less than competitive early stoppage.
Klitschko inside 6
In Retrospect:
Steve Johnston vs. Julio Alvarez
Almost as expected. Stevie, cut over the left eye in round, 1 decided to lay it
on the line in the second round. He trapped Julio on the ropes and unleashed a volley of
unanswered punches that prompted the ref to call a halt at 2:25 of round 2. I believe the
cut pushed Stevie up to the next level and he took more chances then he usually does. An
impressive KO, his first since Nov 98 when he dispatched Demetrio Ceballos in 6
rounds. Perhaps this is a new, improved Stevie. Now with added KO power.
Floyd Mayweather vs. Goyo Vargas
Almost as expected. Goyo proved himself to be a tougher nut to crack than I
expected. Floyd did momentarily drop him with a body shot, but other than that it was a
one sided game of catch with Floyd pitching and Goyo catching. Goyo did land a few shots
flush on Floyd, but he walked through every shot. Floyd could do the same to Diego
Corrales. Diego would have trouble with someone good lateral movement and balance like
Floyd. A superb performance from the Champ!
Diego Corrales vs. Derrick Gainer
Not as expected. This was a weak and premature stoppage of Derrick by the ref and
proves nothing as far as Diego is concerned. Derrick was winning the first 2 rounds, and
was continuing to stick and move. Diego did land some good leather, but Derrick was not in
any real danger at the time the ref stopped the fight. We'll have to see where Diego goes
from here.
Wladimir Klitschko vs. Paea Wolfgramm
Exactly as expected. Wladamir destroyed the unsuspecting Paea in 90 seconds!
Wladamir landed 24 of 28 punches and left the Tonga native laying on his belly unable to
get up and bleeding profusely from his nose.
Wladamir goes to 32-1 30 KO's. Did I not mention tomato can? ;)
