**** Kirk's ESB Championships 2011 ****

Before we get to the HBO main event, just a quick little mention of Roman Gonzalez and Omar Soto. Roman Gonzalez is one of the best little men in the game. One of the best, if not the best at 108. He had a great fight against Manuel Vargas earlier this year, and came out on top. Omar Soto, is a very good contender himself, but always loses to top tier fighters. He has lost to Brian Viloria, Muhammad Rachman, Omar Narvaez, Cesar Seda, Ulises Solis and even has lost to fighters like Gilberto Keb Baas, and Jose Lopez. All those are his 7 losses, all big name fighters. He only loses to fighters that are in the top tier, may’be even a notch below. Roman Gonzalez is one of the best in boxing and I expect him to knockout Omar Soto, the very quality fighter, but he always comes up short. Gonzalez is a nice brawler, has nice boxing skills and I believe he stops the tough Omar Soto late.

The main event on HBO and super saiyan Sergio Martinez is back. Definitely the hottest fighter of the last year and a half. Blooding up Pavlik’s face, knocking Paul Williams out cold, and destroying Dzinziruk. Martinez has done it all, and now he is taking on…Darren Barker. Now, Barker is a very good fighter, he is undefeated for a reason. He is a solid all around fighter, but against somebody you have to do more than just be pretty good all around. Barker doesn’t impress in one area he is a basic 1-2 fighter, gets tricky with nice head movement at times. Barker though really doesn’t have super speed, nor is a bone crushing puncher. He has okay speed, and decent power. That just isn’t going to get it done with someone like Sergio Martinez who has fanatic speed, and that left hand is just jaw breaking. I think Barker comes out a bit tentative and tries not to make any mistakes, but as the fight wears on the gulf in class is too massive and Martinez stops Barker in the mid rounds. It all depends on just how big Barker’s heart and how good he can take a punch. He’s never been pushed that far, as he really doesn’t have any notable names. Just a few okay, fighters he has beaten such as Ben Crampton, Darren McDermott, and most recently, Domenico Spada. Again, those are good step up fighters, and domestic fighters…fighters you have to beat, but they aren’t fighters to get you ready for the best in the division. So, I’ve got Sergio Martinez stopping Barker sometime in the middle of the fight, it may last into the late rounds depending on how big Barker’s heart is and how well he can take a shot.

Saving the best for last we got Rafael Marquez vs. Toshiaki Nishioka. Rafael Marquez is the old faded veteran that is highly skilled, and very technical. Nishioka the 122 champion is nice and fast, with a wicked
straight left hand. Starting off with the champion, Nishioka, hasn’t lost since 2004 against Veeraphol Sahaprom who just has Nishioka’s number. Nishioka went 0-2-2 against Sahaprom. And then a couple of early losses and a draw. So, basically, since he has gotten himself established only one man has been able to beat Nishioka. And Nishioka has had a pretty good resume, a nice list of challengers. Jhonny Gozalez was stopped in 3, Ivan Hernandez stopped in 3, Genaro Garcia stopped in 12, and Rendell Munroe was pretty much shut out over 12 rounds of boxing. A nice list of quality opponents and none of them have had success against Toshiaki Mishawka. Nishioka Is a tricky fighter. Has very good foot work, nice step back counters, great left hand, and when he has you up against the ropes look out for a 20 punch combo that comes out in a couple of seconds. Nishioka is a very talented fighter, The challenger coming back down to 122 is Rafael Marquez. This is the first time he has fought at 122 since 2008 where Israel Vazquez came from behind and nicked out a SD victory. Since that fight he has been fighting at 126 and has only had 4 fights. He has gone 3-1, but really none of his victories were against top opposition. He did beat Izzy Vazquez, but Vazquez, like Marquez, really took a lot out of each other over their epic trilogy. Marquez tied it up by stopping Vazquez in 3, but again, Vazquez was really not their mentally, and physically. The other wins were against fighters not anywhere in Marquez’ class. And the loss was against the bigger, fresher, Juan Manuel Lopez. Marquez had to retire in that fight due to a shoulder injury. Marquez is technically sound, but he might be on the other side of the mountain. And that is the funny thing with boxing. Marquez is only 1 year older, but Nishioka is by far the more fresher fighter. With all that said though, I’m taking Rafael Marquez in this fight. Marquez is the better boxer and I don’t think Nishioka will be able to handle Marquez’ straight power shots. I know Jhonny Gonzalez put him on the deck, and Gonzalez is P4P one of the bigger punchers in all of boxing, but Marquez has straight, faster shots that I think will trouble Nishioka. Nishioka will have success though, and I think he even drops Marquez in this fight, but I think the key is that I believe Marquez has the massive heart and will over come it with his will. While, when Marquez gets to Nishioka, I don’t think Nishioka will be able to overcome it. Marquez pounces on Nishioka and stops Nishioka in the late rounds in a flat out Fight of the Year contender.

 

Epic D-Dude. Epic

 

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I expected a big breakdown, but this?! :admin

 

Wait, this isn't funny... You're using the same DamnDan and the same emoticon without my permission, now I have to change it :bart

 

D:

Off topic, but is ESB slow for anyone else? Every other site is fine, but here...it's a bit sluggish at times. Pretty weird. :huh

 

A bit sluggish? My last 2 comments took minutes before they even posted. I didn't even know if the last one made it through :-(
It's so slow that "downforeveryoneorjustme" regulary gives a "down" respond, so there clearly is something wrong. I don't know what they host this site on, and I guess I don't wanna know.

 

Steve Cunningham UD
Sebastian Sylvester UD
Karo Murat UD
Sammy Gutierrez TKO
Juan Manuel Lopez TKO
Roman Martinez TKO
Jonathan Oquendo TKO
Gavin Rees TKO
Sergio Martinez TKO
Andy Lee by UD
Isaac Chilemba UD
Roman Gonzalez TKO
Rafael Marquez TKO

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iabC7-9YUG4[/ame]


Also, it's about time ESB makes your write-ups front page Dan, your predictions and IB's RBRs are without a question top quality.

 

10/01 - Steve Cunningham vs. Yoan Pablo Hernandez - IBF Cruiserweight title

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10/01 - Sebastian Sylvester vs. Grzegorz Proksa - EBU Middleweight title

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10/01 - Karo Murat vs. Gabriel Campillo - IBF Light Heavyweight eliminator

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10/01 - Jonathan Oquendo vs. Sod Kokietgym - WBO Super Bantamweight eliminator

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10/01 - Roman Martinez vs. Ramon Maas

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10/01 - Gavin Rees vs. 'Legend' Derry Mathews - EBU Lightweight title

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10/01 - Sergio Gabriel Martinez vs. Darren Barker - Lineal Middleweight title

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10/01 - Andy Lee vs. Brian Vera II

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10/01 - Isaac Chilemba vs. Jameson Bostic

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10/01 - Roman Gonzalez vs. Omar Soto - WBO Light Flyweight title

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10/01 - Toshiaki Nishioka vs. Rafael Marquez - WBC Super Bantamweight title

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10/01 - Jesus Soto Karass vs. Yoshihiro Kamegai

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10/02 - Ryo Miyazaki vs. Jerson Mancio - OPBF Light Flyweight title

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Cunningham UD, Sylvester TKO, Murat UD, Oquendo KO, Martinez KO, Rees TKO, Martinez TKO, Lee UD, Chilemba UD, Gonzalez KO, Nishioka UD, Kamegai UD, Miyazaki UD.

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Cunningham UD
Sylvester UD
Campillo UD
Rees KO
Martinez TKO
Lee KO
Chilemba UD
Gonzalez KO
Nishioka UD
Miyazaki TKO

 

Olesegun UD
Cunningham TKO
Murat TKO
Oquendo UD
Martinez TKO
Lopez TKO
Rees UD
Sergio Martinez TKO
Lee TKO
Chilemba TKO
Gonzalez TKO
Marquez TKO
Kamegai KO

 

Kirk, please note:
My Roman Gonzalez KO pick is also in effect if he fights Daniel Attah :good

And if it counts:

Sammy Gutierrez vs. Roilo Golez

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WHY?! What have I ever done to you DemoDan? This would have been a war!