The Super Six super middleweight tournament was turned on its ear after Arthur Abraham decided that Andre Dirrell ought to fight while on his knees, too.
This month’s ten burning questions, from Arthur Abraham’s stupid punch to Matt Godfrey’s stupid career moves:
Q: So the Finito picked another one correctly in the Super Six super middleweight tournament, but didn’t predict it would be by DQ. How could you have missed that one?
A: Uhhh, because no one else figured Arthur Abraham would go Andrew Golota and crank Andre Dirrell while he was knees-down on the canvas! While there have certainly been some surprising results with this tourney so far, this was by far the strangest. Regardless of the outcome, Dirrell really deserved this one; he did all the things that would have put him over the top in his last fight against Carl Froch. Dirrell stood and fought more, and moved only when it was effective. He thoroughly befuddled Abraham, and proved that the Armenian may not be the world-beater we all thought he was after he knocked out Jermain Taylor. Showtime analyst Antonio Tarver predicted just before the fight that the speed and movement of Dirrell would give Abraham problems; kudos to him, he was exactly right. Abraham, a real veteran, got frustrated by the eleventh round and made a stupid mistake.
Q: Was it surprising to you, then, that Abraham accused Dirrell of acting in the post fight, saying that he wasn’t really hurt?
A: Yes, it was, and even though Abraham is considered to be a good guy, that was not his best moment. Granted, he was probably pissed that he lost and got dominated along the way, but wasn’t he watching Dirrell spasm on the canvas after he hit him illegally? It was clear to everyone except Abraham’s corner that Dirrell was in some serious trouble, especially since Dirrell still couldn’t grasp that he had won the fight despite being told so multiple times. Sure, it was the heat of the moment and Abraham was still emotional at the impact of his first career (and title) loss, but that accusation was really out of line. I hope Abraham apologizes at some point for it. He could have shortened Dirrell’s career with that shot.
Q: So what does this mean for the Super Six going forward?
A: It means that it’s really anyone’s tournament to win, as everyone has gotten on the scoreboard except Allan Green, who has not yet fought. It is becoming clearer that all fighters are very near the same talent level, and depending on the matchup, any of them might win on any given night. Dirrell showed that he has as much talent as anyone, and his next fight against Andre Ward should generate huge excitement. If Green somehow beats Ward in June, the third round of this thing could be a win and you’re in kind of deal.
Q: On to other fights of the weekend. Is Marcos Maidana the most dangerous man at 140 pounds after his knockout of Victor Cayo Saturday?
A: There are a lot of dangerous fighters at junior welterweight, but it’s fair to say there aren’t too many lining up to get a piece of the Argentinean. Freddie Roach didn’t want Amir Khan on the same continent as Maidana, and Team Khan managed to maneuver the situation so that Khan didn’t have to face Maidana despite his being Khan’s mandatory title challenger. Regardless of how spurious that might have been, Maidana’s clearly one of the most fearsome punchers in any weight division. Cayo, while being a little young and technically challenged, is a good fighter, but couldn’t hang with Maidana’s relentless pressure. That body shot he landed on Cayo hurt even to watch. I’m sure it was hard for Khan to watch, too. Don’t be surprised if the Brit gives up his title rather than face him.
Q: In the fight before Maidana-Cayo on HBO’s Boxing After Dark, Joan Guzman beat Ali Funeka despite weighing in at 144 pounds for a 135-pound fight. Since this is Guzman’s third straight fight where he hasn’t made weight, what should happen to him?
A: Although this isn’t an actual rule, they should make these repeated offenses suspendable just like failed drug tests or loaded gloves. I mean, how obvious was this? He showed up heavy for his fight with Funeka the first time, got his butt kicked (he even escaped with a gift draw), so he shows up even heavier for the next fight to further his advantage? If he lost or drew again, was he going to keep showing up heavier until he eventually won? Anyone watching the fight could tell that the extra weight made Guzman able to dish out and take punishment he could not handle the first time they fought. Some commission should put Guzman on the shelf for a while until he decides if he wants to be a real sportsman, not a guy who shows up at whatever weight cheeseburgers will allow. The worst part is that Funeka may be the best 135-pounder out there, but his last three fights (a KO loss to Nate Campbell, as well) have been against guys who couldn’t make the weight. Not too fair in my book.
Q: Erik Morales came out of retirement Saturday to beat Jose Alfaro at welterweight. He has repeatedly said he wants to win a fourth world title as an impetus for his comeback. Any chance of that happening?
A: Well, that really depends on your definition of what a “world” title is. Sure, he could probably beat some sap for an IBO or WBF title, but in terms of Morales ever beating someone of note (especially at 140 pounds) title or not, he might grow horns before that happens. Remember, “El Terrible” did most of his damage at 126 pounds and lower, and to see him running around looking like the Pillsbury Dough Boy against the middling Alfaro is not conjuring up any visions of his win against Manny Pacquiao. When Morales retired, he was looking pretty washed up, and this fight did nothing to say that’s changed at all.
Q: Going back ten days or so, were you surprised at Eddie Chambers lack of, well, anything positive against Wladamir Klitschko in their heavyweight bout? You had been talking up Chambers lately.
A: Yeah, and I was as floored as anyone at his non-performance. With the Klitschkos, they are such good athletes that you have to match their athleticism, which I really thought Chambers could. But once it became apparent that “Fast” Eddie was anything but, it was over before it started. You simply can’t stand there at the end of Wlad’s punching range and not move your head or body. You’ll get killed. It says something, too, that Klitschko didn’t have to throw a single left hook until round twelve (at trainer Emmanuel Steward’s prodding), and when he did, it cleaned Chambers’ clock. I don’t know what it is about those Klitschko brothers, but they can get confident, talented fighters to freeze in their tracks like deer. I just thought Chambers would not be one of those.
Q: Now let’s head out of the ring for a second. Lightweight sensation Edwin Valero recently ended up in a rehab facility for alcohol abuse. How is this going to affect his career?
A: It largely depends on whether this is going to be a six-month stay as planned or if it carries on longer. Valero is sure as hell not doing himself any favors. Bad enough he had that DUI recently, but now Valero might have had some domestic assault issues. He was apparently at the hospital with his wife, who had a punctured lung and broken ribs; when Valero told doctors that his wife fell down the stairs (Isn’t that the most cliché excuse ever? Did the dog eat his homework, too?), he went nuts when they didn’t believe him. If he ended up in rehab for this incident, it’s a good bet he was loaded at the hospital, too. Man, if it’s not licensing issues with Valero, it’s brain scans and now alcohol. If he doesn’t get it straight soon, his entire promising career may need the rehab.
Q: So what happened to Friday Night Fights last week? I thought they had saved the Steve Cunningham-Matt Godfrey cruiserweight title bout in time for their to be a show.
A: According to ESPN’s Dan Rafael, the fight almost was saved by Main Events, who regained the purse bid after Don King couldn’t come to terms with ESPN. The Duvas at Main Events tried working with a local promoter in Chicago to move the fight there within a few days of King’s annulment, but even when that came together, Godfrey’s camp decided not to go through with the fight after all. Godfrey’s people said that the interruption in training and general letdown made it so that he couldn’t go through with the fight.
Q: But wasn’t this fight for the IBF title? Why would Godfrey not go through with it if the fight was still on the same date?
A: Because Godfrey either got some bad advice or won’t be getting accepted into MENSA anytime soon. First of all, what interruption in training is he talking about? He shouldn’t be sparring in the week leading up to the fight, anyway, and it was two days the fight was in limbo at the most. As far as any letdown, how could it be a letdown when his world title opportunity is still on? So it’s somehow less of a letdown to ditch the fight entirely? The IBF even dropped him from their rankings, as was their rule, if Godfrey had bothered to check. Smooth move, Ex-Lax. It’s not like title opportunities grow on trees (well, unless you’re John Ruiz or Rocky Juarez).
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