June 25 - ESPN2 6:00
Vinny Pazienza vs. Estaban Cervantes
Can this be the same Estaban Cervantes who was campaigning about 3 years ago as a
cruiserweight? You mean to tell me he dropped 3 weight classes from 190 to Jr middle at
168? Hmmm. Although Cervantes IS rated by the WBA as a light heavy, his musical weight
class game has to affect his power and stamina.
Vinny has been fighting strong, and it's no secret that I'm a Pazmanian Devil fan. He
always puts on an entertaining bout. Since moving up to super middle weight, Vinny has
increased his power, and his sound beating of the much heralded Kiwanuka
last April is testimony to this (as I predicted). Vinny will start fast, and if
Cervantes can survive, he'll get the short end of a decision. I expect the much psyched
Paz to stop him in the mid to late rounds in an action packed slug fest!
Pazienza inside 9
June 26 - PPV 5:00
Johnny Tapia vs. Paulie Ayala
Johnny, in my opinion is a lunatic who gets to vent his frustrations in the ring. Here's a
quote from Johnny during last Wed. press conference, "The advantage of fighting
(inside the ring) is that I can hit somebody and keep on hitting somebody and not go to
jail for it". Think I'm kidding? Since his sound beating of Danny Romero, I've
been sold. Paulie also is undeniably a great bantamweight. Ranked #2, he is a cagey
southpaw who without a doubt will give Johnny a run for his money. This is Ayala's 2nd
title bid, who received a technical loss due to headbut in his first run.
One problem, Johnny doesn't know how to lose and the demons of his past continue to drive
him. In a more than competitive and heated battle with many heavy exchanges, Johnny will
stop Ayala.
Tapia inside 8
Stevie Johnston vs. Aldo Rios
Stevie looked good in his last outing against Cesar Bazan last Feb (as I predicted). It
was exceptionally exciting because this was a rematch in which Bazan took Stevie's title
away the June before (his only loss). He beat the odds and took his title back, and
avenged that lone defeat. Stevie is looking stronger and more determined. Aldo is a boxer
with very limited world experience, perfect for a first title defense. Although
undefeated, Aldo brings 3 KO's in 19 fights. That's a considerably weak win to KO ratio.
Stevie isn't a big KO artist, but wins rounds and bouts. Look for Stevie to take the
distance win.
Johnston by Decision
Luis "Yory Boy" Campas vs. Ronald Weaver
This is Yory Boy's first outing since getting stopped by the greatest (and my favorite) Jr
middleweight out there, Fernando Vargas. Yory needs some convincing wins to get back into
world title contention. Ronald is a former IBA Jr Middle weight champ, but has been on a
losing streak since winning that title back in 97. Since then, he has won 1 of his last 3
bouts, and I'm sure believes this is his chance to look good against a much seasoned foe
like Yory. Yeah right, Yory may of had his head softened by Fernando, but he knows an easy
win when he sees one. So do I . . .
Campas inside 4
Eric "Butterbean" Esch vs. Peter McNeeley
I've said it before, I'll say it again. Blubberbean is a loser, but not near the loser the
chinless McNeeley is. More than likely Bean will bean McNeeley, and Peter's trainer Curley
will step in and stop the fight. All said, my prediction:
WHO CARES!!!
Not Televised:
Wroclaw, Poland
Andrew Golota vs. Al Cole
Golota is a heavyweight who doesn't get the recognition he deserves. I was in awe of his
power until he was chin checked by Samson Po'uha back in 95, and had to bite Samson's neck
and hold on. He survived and went on to stop Samson in 5, but I questioned his chin. Fast
forward to his first fight with Bowe in July 96. He was busting up a prime Bowe, until he
managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of certain victory by low blow DQ. The rematch with
Bowe left him with his second DQ, but his performance in that fight was text book. Riddick
retired and STILL slurs to this day from the damage inflicted by Golota. His only TRUE
loss was a quick stoppage by Lennox Lewis (which was later determined to have legit
medical aspects to it), and since then (Oct 97) hasn't lost.
Al, in the last performance I saw him in, looked less than stellar against Kirk Johnson.
Al is most comfortable at cruiser weight and has problems against true heavies (which
Golota is). He went the distance against Tim Witherspoon and lost in 96, an opponent
Golota beat unanimously in 98. Al hasn't ever been stopped, and takes much damage.
Fighting in Golota's native Poland can only fuel the heavy handed warrior. Expect Golota
to hold a boxing clinic on Al's face.
Golota by Decision
In Retrospect:
Vinny Pazienza vs. Estaban Cervantes
This fight went sorta as expected. Cervantes proved to be a formidable opponent
taking Paz the distance and winning in the eyes of at least one judge, but as I expected
the charged up Paz prevailed. Vinny is looking and hoping for a tittle shot, but don't
hold your breath. Who's going to want to give a guy like Paz a shot? At 168, his only
title chance in my opinion would be a match for the IBF belt against current champ Sven Ottke. Sven is undefeated at 15-0, but has only
2 KO's. Vinny could teach that kid a thing or two. The other two belt holders at 168
(Byron Mitchell and Richie Woodhall) could be more than the Paz can handle. I'll keep an
eye on Vinny.
Johnny Tapia vs. Paulie Ayala
What can I say? Definitely not as expected! Tapia choked, and from what I've read,
opened the door for the determined southpaw. I have not seen this fight yet, but the whole
card is to be retransmitted on ShowTime on 3 July. I'll keep you posted on the
particulars, but in a nutshell . . . OH MY!
Stevie Johnston vs. Aldo Rios
As expected. Stevie is a boxer. Period. Apparently Rios never mounted any kind of
attack, and Stevie boxed his way to a win, and boxed the booing crowd to sleep. A wins a
win huh Stevie?
Luis "Yory Boy" Campas vs. Ronald Weaver
Yory Boy did what he does best, he boxed his way to another win. Although I
expected the former world champ to be more explosive, and take Ronald's head off, this
can't look good. We'll see what kind of competition the boy stirs up next time around.
Eric "Butterbean" Esch vs. Peter McNeeley
AS EXPECTED. That loser McNeely is a non boxing, slack jawed, weak-chinned faggot
that does nothing but make whoever is busting up his face look good. Although this isn't
going in my permanent record, it's still an unspoken win =) Oh, I stand corrected, not
EXACTLY as expected. Curley didn't step in and stop the fight. Now Blubberbean wants
Tyson. I'd like to see that!
Andrew Golota vs. Al Cole
Andrew didn't fight Cole, so this goes down as a "DQ" in my record
(change of venue). Instead, he fought Quinn Navarre. None the less, he is working the jab
well, and when Andrew works the jab and puts combinations together, people have a tendency
to lay down! Although there were no knockdowns, Andrew landed a volley of punches in the
5th, then in the 6th he landed two hard rights and a left hook that had Quinn tell the ref
Richard Steele (the ref of ALL questionable stoppages!!!) he was done, and Richard stopped
the fight.
There's talk of a possible fight with Mike Tyson or even the winner of the Lewis/Holyfield
rematch (provided it happens). I personally would like to see him in a match with Lewis
again to both avenge that loss and be the first, well, the second (McCall was the first)
person to expose Lewis for the wanna be champ he is.
