My thoughts on tonights big fights (from the guy who picked Tarver!!!)

Ok, had to gloat there at the beginning. But in all seriousness...I watched all the fights, and the following is my unabashed thoughts.

Cotto - Gomez

How did Dennis Green say it??? ALPHONSO WAS WHO WE THOUGHT HE WAS!!!!

Gomez was in waaaaaaaaaay over his head. I picked Cotto in 5...got that one right!!! Cotto was faster, more skilled in EVERY SINGLE FACET OF THE GAME, stronger, smarter, has better hair, etc. Do I really need to go into more detail than that???

No idea how anyone felt Gomez stood a fraction of a chance here???

I would say tho...in my honest eyes, there is one person who I would expect to dominate Cotto. One person who I think Cotto CANNOT beat...and his name?

Antonio Margarito

(nice segwey???)

Margo - Cinton

This was the lone fight I predicted wrong tonight (tho I had Tarver stopping Woods late...). I saw the last time they fought and I just felt Cintron had grown so much since then as a fighter...his skills had gotten better...he was still a big puncher...and by all intents and purposes he held quite a few stylistic advantages, like speed, outside fighting, accuracy (or so I thought), movement, youth, etc. And tho those things may be true, one thing I noticed in Kermit is he has one, gigantic glaring weakness....

Mentally, he may be the weakest (near) top fighter I have ever seen. Everytime he hit Margo clean, and he didnt fold, Kermit did. He would paw out the jab, seemingly afraid to get hit by Tony. Any chance he got, he looked to the ref for help...ACTUALLY GETTING IT AT TIMES!!!! Each time getting hit to the body, he would drop himself low enough where Margo might be able to foul him...then when he got cut, I stated out loud he wasnt going to make it past the next round....and sure enough, he didnt. Tho that body shot wouldve put many, many, many fighters down and out.

Now about Tony. He looked fantastic. Not the fastest fighter. Not the most skilled. But strong as a bull (I think by FAR the strongest guy in the division), incredibly varied in his attack, an absolute IRON CHIN (not many fighters could have taken some of those shots he just WALKED THROUGH...WITH A SMILE AT THAT???!!!!), power in both hands and tremendous....and I mean tremendous footwork. He was NEVER off balance, never not in position to throw his shots with full power and leverage. He is a nightmare for anyone out there....and against a fighter who likes to mix it up on the inside...I dont think he would lose.

And I have to be honest...before this fight, I was NOT a Margarito fan. Afterwards...I am a believer. WOW!

He is Miguel Cotto's worst nightmare. I think Cotto could beat Mayweather (tho it would be close...and I would favor Floyd)...but I just think that Margo is just aaaaaaaalllllllllll wrong for him. He should stay as far away as he can.

(but he wont...and for that you gotta give Cotto credit)

Tarver - Woods

I watched Woods fights with Johnson leading up to this...all of which I felt he lost. I saw that he was his best when able to mix it up...but when his opponent went tactical, he struggled (not just vs Johnson obviously...cant really see many tactics in a Glen Johnson fight ). Tarver, tho slower than he was...was still a very good tactical fighter....he uses angles well, throws a variety of punches (with very good power...more on this in a second), is alot smarter a fighter than he is given credit for, still has fast hands (tho not feet LOL), etc.

What surprised me tho...and is honestly a testament to how hard Antonio truely hits...Woods was timid when it came to mixing it up. Instead of using his jab to come in behind (which would leave him open for Tarver's counter left), he chose to use head movement, attempting to limit how open he would be for shots. And everytime he did mount an offensive, if he got hit, he stopped. Tarver hurt him...and even his shots that werent clean, seemed to make Clinton weary.

I also attest this to Tarver being a southpaw...and tho that surely led to it all...it was not the biggest reason for Woods lack of an offense.

I said Woods was overrated...but a very good fighter. Ive said he lost all three to Johnson. I knew he was out of his league here. But with him being such a great guy (that post fight interview was PURE CLASS...not many fighters in the game like him...I take my hat off to the guy!!!), and Antonio being such a dick...I was soooo hoping to be wrong.

Oh well.

Some other thoughts....Tarver is not only one of the best interviews in the game (the guy, tho an ass...is funny as hell!!!!)...but also has one of the hottest wives I have seen yet! Im kinda glad he won, just so I can see her during his next one!!!

Great job Antonio...no idea how ya pulled THAT one out (his marriage!!! )???

WAR MILKDUD!!!!

Dawson - Johnson

While most were picking Dawson by either TKO or wide UD....I just couldnt bring myself to do so. Johnson's style doesnt allow fighters to just blow them away. I knew it would be close...so I went with Dawson by UD...tho I admittingly was thoroughly impressed with both fighters at the end of this one.

I felt this was one of the better fights of the past few years...and I am befuddled by some of the posters on here screeming that Dawson is now somehow overrated.

Could it be that MAYBE, JUST MAYBE we all have been underrating The Road Warrior for so long? Dawson looked fast, threw tremendous combinations, has some of the best footwork and movement I have seen in a loooong time (especially for a fighter so young), plus a ****load more...he just fought an ultra experienced pro with VERY GOOD DEFENSE, a relentless attack (especially the right cross or chopping right hand), great ring generalship, strong as an ox, etc.

I had the fight 7-5 for Johnson at the end (meaning if I was right, my prediction would be off), but there were 2 rounds I had as close rounds that could have went either way (razor thin in all honesty)...both of which I gave to Johnson...so I would have ZERO problem with Dawson winning 7-5 as well. But I cant for the life of me figure out what other round those judges saw as Chad's. 8-4 is just tough to swallow.

I think if the scores were one round closer to Johnson...but Dawson still winning...there would be much, MUCH less of an outcry. But the decision itself was not that bad.

In all honesty tho...is there a possible way for any true fan of the sport to NOT be a Glencoffe Johnson fan???? He is just pure class, in and out of the ring. I ****in love that guy...he gets overlooked immensely.

Finally, I think from what I saw tonight, Dawson is clearly a top fighter in LHW...with Johnson still definately up there (this decision may help him secure a few more big fights before retirement...), and Tarver a notch below both of them. Woods was exactly what I thought he was...a class guy, who was very overrated. Cotto is a beast...but should stay away from Tony....Cintron has the mental strength of my 2 year old daughter...and Gomez is...well, Gomez.

And to the person on here who I argued with that Clinton Woods in no possible way could beat Hopkins. And they said I was just blinded and biased. Ummmm, wanna retract that???

:huh

Oh and for your viewing pleasure, I give you....DENISE TARVER!!!!

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:hey

WAR MILKDUD!!!!

 

There were QUITE a few of them...but some troll (cant remember who) went balistic on me a few days back. Im too lazy to look up the post.

But there were some respected posters on here actually stating this as a forgone conclusion. Like Bernard stood no chance vs a fighter of Woods calibur. Look around a bit...you will see who.

(dont really like to call out names....and btw, not sue...sues...common mistake tho as its an odd screenname...but has a loooooong story behind it :good )

 

Thanks!!!!

As for Cotto - Margo. I agree it would be an absolute WAR!!! One in which I just dont see both fighters making the final bell...and while Cotto has shown he can be hurt in the past (but has PHENOMINAL recupperative abilities), Margo has fought longer at a higher weight, against stronger competition (physical strength, not talent...Cotto resume is better than Tony's) and has never had that problem. If I had to go on which would fold first, my money would be on Margo. The man is just a tank....

 

I just dont see Cotto hurting him. Cotto is smaller...you are right. And tho he is a bull against fighters that are naturally smaller...a fighter of Margo's size and strength (something Cotto has never seen ANYTHING LIKE...EVER!!!), along with that workrate and power. He is a nightmare for Miguel, who would need to keep it on the outside to win...and I dont think he is strong enough to keep Tony off of him. Plus with that chin, my god.

Cotto I have no doubt could outbox him...I just dont think he could make it to the final bell. That fight would be an all out war!!!!

 

I am now a believer.

:good