Boxing: Spinks vs Karmazin

[H2O Man]

Saturday night boxing fans are being treated to what looks like a very interesting card. In the main event, Cory Spinks returns to the ring to challenge IBF Jr. Middleweight Champion Roman Karmazin. This should be one of the more interesting fights of the summer.

Cory lost his 147 lb title to Zab Judah in February '05, in what was Judah's best effort in years, and it was in front of Spinks' hometown. Cory had clearly been distracted by nonsense like one of the silliest entrances into the ring. He also has said recently that he had started training at just under 170 lbs, and had trouble losing 20 pounds. Also, he was getting divorced from his wife.

At 28 years of age, and 5'10", his frame can surely hold 154 pounds. I'm glad to read he has spent 12 weeks in solitary training on one of Don King's farms. I must say I am concerned when I've read that he is trying to become a harder puncher. He is best at being a masterful boxer, and in this fight, I don't see much benefit in trying to slug it out. His 34-3, with 11 KOs record supports this.

Roman Karmazin is not a household name in the US -- yet. But he easily could become one of the more popular figures in the extremely tough welterweight-to-middleweight divisions. He is one of the growing number of Russians who has gone from being the top dog in Europe, to beating the best in the western world. Boxing fans know that not only did he beat the very talented Kassim Ouma for the IBF crown, but he had been being scheduled to fight Oscar De La Hoya twice in 2001, and Oscar found excuses not to fight the guy both times. Though some papers are listing him as 5'8 & 1/2 inches and 28 years old, he is actually 6' and 33 years old. His record is 34-1-1, with 21 KOs.

It's a heck of a fight on paper. I think it is hard to bet against Karmazin. If Cory tries to slug with him, I think the champ will take him out. But if Cory uses his skills, and is willing to win a decision that people who aren't "boxing purists" don't appreciate, I think he can win.

The undercard features Steve Cunningham vs Guillermo Jones. These are two big cruiserweights, going for the IBF "title." Steve is 19-0, with 10 KOs. He was a top amateur fighter. He is 6'3", and he is one of the reasons the cruiserweights are going to be one of the most exciting divisions for years to come.

Jones is 33-3-2, with 26 KOs. He is 6'4", and has moved around in weight in a curious career. The guy's record is good, but I think he is actually better than the record indicates. Cunningham can not afford to look past this fight, to the title shot he hopes for at the end of the year, or he will have his first professional defeat.

Enjoy the fights!

[H2O Man]

1. PS:

Have you seen that James Toney is fighting Samuel Peter in September? Holy shit!!!! That is one fight I would like to be ringside for! My boy is pressuring me to get us tickets to it!

[MessiahRp]

10. Is that going to be PPV or on a pay network? nt

[dr.zoidberg]

11. It's on Showtime. They don't do PPVs. n/t

[H2O Man]

12. Yes they do.

Many Showtime fights are available on PPV for non-subscribers, for about $25.

[dr.zoidberg]

2. Showtime puts together another good card.

Fightnews reported yesterday that the Cunningham/Jones fight was canceled. The word from Panama is that Jones was hospitalized with high blood pressure and and potassium problems. Fighntews is also saying that the fight may be replaced with Randy Griffin vs. Maselino Mascoe.

I would have to say that the IBF was almost justified in stripping O'Neil Bell. The IBF ordered Bell to make his defense against Cunningham, twice. Bell found excuses both times to not take the fight. The first excuse he used was fake, while the second he used was actually legitimate. Maybe if Bell wouldn't have bullshitted his way out of the fight the first time, then nothing would have happened.

While I'm talking about O'Neil Bell, I have read on various boxing websites that he will be fighting Chris Byrd next. The thing is Byrd is moving down to cruiserweight for the fight.

I would give Karmazin a good chance at winning this fight, if only for the reason that Spinks has been out of action for nearly two years.

[H2O Man]

3. Thanks. I had not

heard about Jones. Too bad, it looked like a heck of a fight.

I've heard two stories on Bell v Byrd. One had it at cruiserweight, the other as Bell trying the higher weight. Either way, it would not interest me in the way a Bell- Cunningham fight would.

Both Spinks and Karmazin have had too long a lay-off, in my opinion.

I'm very interested in your thoughts on Toney v Peter?

[dr.zoidberg]

4. Thoughts on Toney/Peter.

If Toney shows up and fights the way he did against Rahman, then his head will be knocked into the second row. If Toney shows up in shape, then he has a great chance to win.

[H2O Man]

5. I like them both,

and hate to see either lose. Toney is not a big heavyweight, at least not in shape. He's a little older and slower, and relies on being able to outsmart people, set the pace, and use his strengths and his opponent's weaknesses to his best advantage. In this fight, I'm sure he thinks he can bring Peter into the deep water.

But unlike Rahman, Peter isn't likely to throw one punch and clinch. James is good at punching inside his opponent's punches, but that is more dangerous with Samuel than with most any other heavyweight today.

I agree that a lot depends upon what shape Toney is in. But, even in good shape, we might find he has tried to fight too big a man. Should be interesting to look at this more when the fight gets closer.

[MrSlayer]

6. Another illegitimate victory.

Spinks did not win that fight. At best it was a draw. You can't take a man's belt away with a performance like that. Boxing has become more and more of a joke.

[H2O Man]

7. People here thought

Spinks won, eith 8-4 or 7-5. It is worth noting that the loser didn't complain about the decision, and stated that he wasn't able to get started until the second half of the fight.

[MrSlayer]

8. He didn't complain.

But he did say he figured there was no way he could win with the referee that did the fight. I had it 7-5 for the Russian. Draw at worst. My interest in boxing has waned quite a bit since the 80's.

[H2O Man]

9. Different people

score based upon different things. Some give more weight to aggression, which would have counted against Cory. I admit that I like the boxer .... I'll dig out some pictures of Willie Pep when he was the ref for one of my fights years ago. Spinks fights somewhat like Pep.

I didn't understand the near complete lack of a body attack for the first 6 rounds. It might have slowed Cory down considerably. Even if a guy moves his head well -- and Spinks was the only one moving his head for 6 rounds -- the body is still there.