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SATURDAY, November 29 - at Indianapolis - 12 rounds, heavyweights: Lamon Brewster (34-4, 30 KOs) vs. Bruce Seldon (38-7, 34 KOs); 10 rounds, heavyweights: Fres Oquendo (29-4, 18 KOs) vs. Zuri Lawrence (24-14-4, 0 KOs).
SATURDAY, November 29 - at Ontario, California (HBO) - 12 rounds, light middleweights: Paul Williams (35-1, 26 KOs) vs. Verno Phillips (42-10-1, 21 KOs); 12 rounds, heavyweights: Chris Arreola (25-0, 22 KOs) vs. Travis Walker (28-1-1, 22 KOs).
The American boxing community is in general agreement that the heavyweight division is the sport’s black eye at this point in time. While most other divisions are producing quality fighters, fans are dismayed to see more fight cards featuring the retread tires from yesteryear. Such is the card in Indianapolis, featuring four journeymen fighters who, at very best, are gate-keepers who can test the skills of the up-coming young contenders.
The only one with a decent win in recent years is Zuri Lawrence, who recently outpointed Poland’s newest sensation, Albert Sosnowski. Lawrence, who has not scored a single knockout in his 42 professional fights in a career that began in 1992, had fought six fighters with 12 or less fights, in his last six outings. He had lost his last two fights, before decisioning Sosnowski. Although his fight is on the undercard, it is worth remembering that he is on a better win streak than the other three featured heavyweights.
HBO will be featuring a good card on Saturday. In the co-feature, heavyweight prospect Chris Arreola will be tested by another possible contender, Travis Walker. As noted here in an earlier column this year, Walker is not "connected" to any of the top promoters in the sport, and has thus been kept in the margins. Boxing fans did get a glimpse of him on ESPN, in a pair of fights against TJ Wilson in late ’07 and early ’08.
Wilson caught Walker cold in the opening seconds of their first match, and scored an impressive 1-round TKO. In their return match, although he had dropped 18 pounds in preparation, Wilson ran out of gas in the second round, and Walker won the interim NABF heavyweight title by TKO.
Arreola is an exciting slugger, who knocked Chris Witherspoon out in June; the match was ruled a DQ when Witherspoon’s cornerman jumped on the ring apron, but really should be recognized as the brutal KO it was. At 6’4", he is about an inch and a half shorter than Walker; both men should weigh in at about 230 lbs, but have histories of not training seriously, and coming in overweight, at about 250 lbs. Hopefully, both will recognize that they owe it to themselves and the sport to be at their best when they enter the ring.
Arreola has to be favored, because he has shown a stronger chin. But Walker has the opportunity that he has been demanding for a couple years. Any time two 230-lb fighters square off, anything can happen.
In the main event, junior middleweights Paul Williams meets Verno Phillips. The Ring has that title vacant, as well as the welterweight title, though various commissions recognize both fighters as having titles – Williams at welterweight, and Phillips at jr. middleweight. No matter what else it’s called, it’s an interesting and important fight.
Williams is one of the most talented young fighters today. The current issue of The Ring notes that with his tall, lanky frame, he could compete in four divisions. Williams beat Antonio Margarito in July of ’07, and is eager to fight him again. Margarito, meanwhile, recently turned down $2 million to fight Shane Mosley (though he is expected to get a better offer),and is preparing to have one fight before giving Cotto a return match in June.
Phillips turns 39 on Saturday; he has been boxing professionally since 1988. He used to fight frequently in the Albany-Troy-Saratoga region of NY. In September 0f 1990, he fought Floyd Peavy in Troy. I knew Floyd when he was an amateur in Rochester; he was an outstanding amateur champion. He didn’t transition to the professional ranks well, though. He won his first twelve fights, but only one of the guys he fought was a decent opponent. He lost 7 of his next 11, with Phillips being the second to last.
For Phillips, that was his second in a stretch of 19 fights where he went undefeated between 1990 and ’95. He then had two tough years, and then, since 1997, has had 19 more fights, losing only to Kassim Ouma (twice) and Ike Quartey.
Although Phillips upset Cory Spinks in March, ’08, he sometimes has had difficulty in fights against taller, faster fighters. He has only been stopped once, in his fifth fight.
I expect that Williams will be too much for Phillips. He should win by decision, although he has shown an ability to take people out in recent fights. However, even though the younger Williams has a better future ahead of him, I will be hoping for an upset. Verno Phillips has been one of the better fighters, too often overlooked by the top promoters.
Enjoy the fights.
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