On Saturday, July 14, boxing junkies will be treated to a rare tripleheader. Cancel your evening plans, order your hot wings, have your beverage of choice on hand, and enjoy this special delivery courtesy of HBO Championship Boxing. Many of their fight cards have left a lot to be desired in recent months, but it’s hard to find fault with the cable giant on this one.
MATCHUPS
Live from the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ, Arturo "Thunder" Gatti (40-8, 31 KOs) takes on Alfonso Gomez (16-3-2, 7 KOs) in a crossroads fight that will serve as a springboard to another major fight or retirement for Gatti. That’s the appeal. In the opening contest, Kermit Cintron (27-1, 25 KOs) faces off against Walter Matthysse (26-1, 25 KOs) in a fight that may steal Gatti’s thunder, as both of these once-beaten fighters can punch very hard.
Ironically, both men’s only losses came to the two fighters duking it out in the main event, Antonio Margarito (34-4, 24 KOs) and Paul "The Punisher" Williams (32-0, 24 KOs), respectively. By the way, the main event isn’t even in Atlantic City, NJ, it is taking place at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA. I told you this fight card was special!
PREDICTIONS
Fighting in front of the partisan New Jersey crowd, look for Arturo Gatti to dig up one more great performance. An alum of the boxing reality show The Contender, Gomez will not freeze due to the magnitude of the event. He will, however, freeze from Gatti’s punches. Look for Gatti to have some problems early on before figuring Gomez out in the middle rounds to win a hard-fought unanimous decision.
In the opening bout, Kermit Cintron’s career rehabilitation since his debacle a few years back against Margarito, will be complete. Look for him to shock and awe Matthysse with his power and strength, and stop his adversary around round six.
And last but not least, Antonio Margarito and Paul Williams are poised to live up to their top-billing on this night. Because of the bad blood that has brewed leading up to the fight, look for both fighters to come out quickly in an attempt to break the other’s will. This strategy will be short-lived, as both fighters will soon realize that the other will not be "broken" easily, and has considerable power to boot.
After six or seven even rounds, look for Williams to resort to fighting "tall," using his height and reach to keep Margarito at bay and at the end of his jab. The result will be a highly-entertaining, split decision victory for "the Punisher."
Paul Williams will win in mid to late round knockout. I think Gomez loses to Gatti ina decision. The Cintron/Matthysse fight is a toss up but I’ll take Cintron because he’s faced a little better competition.
Interesting call on the Williams pick. You really think he has the “pop” to stop Margarito, heh? I agree with your other selections obviously.
I agree with Ja’s picks on Kermit and it should be a interesting test for the very young somewhat tested Punisher but think he should step to the challenge. If he gets into a close banging war it maybe lights out for the punisher but if he stays tall he may send Margirito to bed early as well.
Now onto Gatti vrs Gomez; the one thing i dont like about Gomez is that he often comes in soft to fights and looks to wear down late in fights. That concern being said i think that Gatti’s power will not be an issue and we will see if Gatti’s age has really caught up to him.
Prediction
This is going to be a great boxing fan fight for sure; where i am confused when promoters put two counter punchers in together this is one that can be a fight of the year or better if one did the road work and the other has one more war left.
Yes, Gatti has a ton of questions BUT I think Gomez may have more, especially on this stage. But I do feel it has a chance to be a very exciting fight, but Margarito-Williams should live up to its top-billing.
The one point I missed in adding to my last post is that Gomez has been fighting a little north of 150 and Gatti has been a south of that his whole career and that may make the fight a little harder for Mr Gatti if he doesn’t bring his power with him.
Big fights makes big stars for Gatti this is another night at the fights for Gomez this is the biggest fight of his life; what type of shape will he enter the ring in.
Speaking of Contenders K9 took a beating at the hands of the “Love Child”. Juan Julio really made Cornelius “K9” Bundrage look like a a very limited one arm fighter. Jaun really fought the fight perfect once he had K9 turning and backing up he never got set to throw a meaningful right hand; this allowed Jaun to pepper him with combinations and counter punching. Believe the fight was stopped in the 6th or 7th but K9 was also dropped in the second with 2 minutes left and survived; i give him the credit he certainly has heart.
Jaun Julio with his height, skill set and talent can really find himself in the mix with a very talented mix of fighters ranging from 147 to 155. The “Love Child” said he needed 2 fights and then would be ready for a big fight; well his destruction of the out classed “K9” Bundrage was that second fight; should be very interesting to see who he is paired with next.
So are you leaning towards Gatti or Gomez Joe?!? =)
Regarding the “Love Child,” I am not sold on him yet. He still has to do much more to make me forget his systematic loss to Carlos Quintana.
The jury is still out on him – battering Bundrage does not provide answers for me.
I agree with Joseph and Jalil on the outcome of the Gatti/Gomez. I like Gatti in a highly entertaining, slightly controversial split decision victory. The fight will not disappoint. I also like Cintron. I think his edge in the power department will wear on Matthysse and Cintron will stop him in the 9th round. As for the main event, this will be Paul Williams’ official coming out party and signature moment of his career. Williams will use his superior technique to set up big shot, e.g. the right uppercut he used so flawlessly to victimize Sharmba Mitchell, and will stop Margarito late (9th or 10th). After Saturday night, we will be formally introduced to one of boxing’s rising new stars and new entrant to the top pound-for-pound rankings/discussion.
I tend to agree with all of your points here BUT I doubt Williams stops Margarito.
Too late to add my prediction now but I seen Gomez’s wieght in and knew it was going to be big trouble for Gatti. I was very impressed with how lean he came into the ring; being a semi serious body builder / athlete it disappoints me when fighters come in out of shape; this time it shows Gomez’s dedication to his career and it showed in the ring tonight against an aged battle worn warrior.
Kermit certainly stoled the show here tonight with that well timed KO and Manny Stewart has certainly made a big impact already. I really look forward to seeing this very deep class play out over the next couple years; lets hope the right type of fights are made could be a great time to rebuild boxing fan apeal.
Lastly, “The Punisher” really had me on the edge of the seat the second half of the fight but kept to the game plan and really showed very impressive resolve. I would be worried about putting him in against a decent puncher since he was very easy to hit as the match went on by a semi looping puncher that doesnt have much speed.
I think Margarito wins here to; his gutsy performance second half of the fight was very impressive; i dont think he lost much ground in his quest for greatness with the intellegent boxing public but without the belt he may have even harder time finding meaningful fights. As for Mayweather and Mosely avoiding him; I DONT THINK SO; my opinion is that they dont feel the trinket is worth it and both have money and money fights on the horizon and they are looking for something bigger then Margarito.
As for the Love Child I certainly agree with your point Ja but figured it was worth mentioning him 😛
Let’s forget the love child for now. =) But I totally agree with your assessment on Margarito, BUT I will always ask: why were Mosely and Mayweather so scared of a looping punch-throwing, slow-as-molasses fighter? I guess his size and inner resolve are the reasons – but when you watch the guy fight, it still shocks me that he was/is so feared.
I dont think its a matter of being scared; perhaps not worth the risk or both are coming towards the end of the career and the fight maybe just not what they are looking for; other then the trinket what did he have that they want he isnt a name for sure.
Yes, but I guess it’s a different day, because fighters of the 80s and even 90s would have jumped at the opportunity to fight guys like this, to further their die-hard cred. I guess it’s like the musician who decides to only turn out pop tunes, and loses his hardcore audience…the pop charts fill the pockets.