James Kirkland, Brian Vera, and Andy Lee

As I sat down to watch James Kirkland vs. Brian Vera I had instant flashback of the last "Vera" fight that I saw against Andy Lee. The (Vera/Lee) fight was a nightmare to watch. I sat down telling one of my close friends, "Lee's the guy to watch...Steward's got another Hearns on his hands...Vera's gonna get crushed with power shots...". Little did I know that night Andy wouldn't be able to handle the handful that Vera is in the ring. A rugged brawling southpaw with a sturdy beard. Slowly, Lee was losing confidence in a match he could have (and should have) easily won on points. Instead Lee pulled the "I'm Game" card and tried to go to town on Vera with a KO in his mind, and left the ring with a loss on his hands.

Once again I found myself sitting down to see if Vera could do the unthinkable again. I felt that Kirkland should win, but what if? What if Vera's chin and rugged attitude in the ring will breakdown the undefeated prospect? Kirkland dashed all my negative thoughts to expose Vera for what he truly is. A rugged brawling southpaw with a sturdy beard. Kirkland had the right gameplan, and I think he also proved to have some extra intangables that Andy Lee wasn't capable of showing. Kirkland rained heavy combos down on Vera, and didn't stop. When it got down to that point Lee was losing it in he ring. He looked like a child that bit off more than he could chew, and he began to look more and more helpless as rounds went by. Lee couldn't adapt to the fact that Vera was extremely game and ready for anything and Vera also had the attitude to back it up.

Not to say that Andy Lee isn't a good fighter, the man has the skill and talent to be an insanely great boxer (not too mention one of the most experienced trainers in the game in his corner). However, last night Kirkland proved what Lee couldn't. Beating Brian Vera is just as easy as sticking to the gameplan. Maybe this will prove that either Lee has less heart then we think, OR that James Kirkland has ice running in his veins and he wasn't around to take any **** from a former 'Contender' contestant.

Either way the Kirkland/Vera fight was interesting to watch. For me it was the fact that Vera had Lee's name under his win column, and that he was taking on another prospect that once shared the same rarefied air as Andy Lee. Fights like this are what make undercards exciting.

 

Excellent point.

I also think Vera proves to be a very tough challenge to any prospect who thinks he's worth his weight. Now, the sad thing is I hope Vera doesn't go and turn into a gatekeeper for his respective weight class. He'll end up a brain damaged mess with a style like that. Exciting for a career, but also career shortening in the same breath.