The 2011 ESPN2 FNF season is over!

July 29th:
Victor Manuel Cayo vs. Lamont Peterson, 12 rounds @ 140lbs
Yordanis Despaigne vs. Edison Miranda, 10 rounds @ 175lbs

August 5th:
Tim Coleman vs. Vernon Paris, 10 rounds @ 140lbs
Art Hovhanessyan vs. Cristobal Cruz, 10 rounds @ 135lbs

August 12th:
Kermit Cintron vs. Antwone Smith, 10 rounds @ 154lbs

August 19th:
Mauricio Herrera vs. Ruslan Provodnikov II, 12 rounds @ 140lbs
Hank Lundy vs. David Diaz, 10 rounds @ 135lbs



:think That is a strong finish.

It still sucks that they only do a six month season, though (premiering in late February and running through late August). There were a couple of weeks without any Friday Night Fights, and a couple of just crap cards...and let's not even get into that Dark Time without BK...

 

Two very anticipated match-ups there, and one big surprise.

Cayo-Peterson has been on-again off-again (scheduling or visa issues or something? Maybe injuries?) so it's good to see it finally happening.

Pretty much everybody's been holding their breath for Herrera-Provodnikov II since the first one ended.

Cintron-Smith - wow. WTF? That loss to Molina must have been a real wake-up call to Kermit if he's back in the ring in less than a month against an opponent of this caliber. This could really backfire. If he's no better than he was a few weeks ago he could very well dig himself a three loss hole and really bury whatever hope remains of resurrecting his career. On the other hand, Smith can't afford as flaccid and brain-dead a performance as he had against Tyner in that somewhat shocking upset loss a year back. He might be overtrained as well, as he had been preparing for a date with Joel Julio in late May that fell through. Then again, maybe having gone right back into camp while still fresh will see him emerge in excellent shape and able to exploit Cintron coming so soon off a beating.

 

:think

If it was Anthony Peterson (the one who fought Rios), I'd favor Cayo by kayo.

Lamont is the tougher out. Better skilled and more intelligent, with more heart and toughness.

This will be a very complimentary pairing of pure boxing with awkward aggression. It should make great viewing.

 

August 5th is the least exciting week on the docket due to the lack of big name star power, but that is a solid doubleheader featuring solid talents who - while comfortably outside the top ten ratings - could all be just this one victory away from knocking on the door.

Hovhannesyan was impressive in destroying Marquez last month on ShoBox, and has competed at maximum as a functional welterweight with his crushing power very much intact. Cristobal Cruz is a former champ and a "better than his record indicates" type, although he's coming up from a long stint at featherweight and his previous career zenith was 133 in a loss to Raheem (the only previous time he's ever been above super featherweight). The best Hovhannesyan has been in with is in actuality probably Cristian Favela - also in the "better than his record indicates" club, but not half as good as some of the guys Cruz has met...and beaten. The question here is whether Cruz is an "old" 34 years old after many years of toiling for cash through hand to hand combat, and whether the jump in weight is too much for him. In terms of class and experience, it's no contest in his favor. We've got a big strong Armenian bruiser and a smaller but crafty veteran who epitomizes Mexican perseverance and has the toughness and stamina to really be its poster boy. Juicy.

Coleman got a gift decision over a sliding Arnaoutis a couple of years ago but has continued to keep his momentum alive by winning, and not against cream puffs. Paris has padded up an unbeaten record with one or two decent but past-best names on his coup stick, and is finally leaving the Midwestern circuit to take on a serious challenge. This is a real proving grounds match-up for both. Expect this one to go the full ten, with the verdict issued to whoever "wants it more", to use one of boxing's most tired cliches.