ESPN PPV Worth The Money, Experts Weigh-In
by
Julius Stecker
4/22 - Pay-per-view boxing has really hurt the sport. Fans have been ripped off far too many times and look no further for a recent example a few weeks back. Yeah, you know the one. Who in their right mind would lay down $44.95 of their hard earned money to watch WBC champ Marco Antonio Barrera butcher a guy named Monzake Fana?
Personally I don’t like to fork out money on many PPV’s as in the past my buddies and I would split the cost on the fight cards, so I would only spend around a reasonable $5 or $10 bucks. Now ESPN has smartened up, giving us a breath of fresh air, and no it is not the upcoming NFL Draft. Low and behold ESPN has entered sports toughest arena; boxing.
Featuring a salivating match-up between two of boxing’s rising stars, Antonio Margarito and Kermit Cintron, ESPN has upped the ante so to speak providing quality fights at a reasonable rate. Also on the card is a great match-up between former three-division world champion 'Sugar' Shane Mosley and IBF-rated David Estrada, and a great heavyweight match-up between Calvin Brock and Jameel “Big Time” McCline. All of this for $29.99, yes it is $15 dollars less then that crap we saw a few weeks back. Just think of it as $9.95 a fight. I for one can’t wait. [Fighters Discussing their Fights at the Thursday Press Conference]
The fight that really gets me jacked is Kermit Cintron versus Antonio Margarito. You have perhaps a pair of the best
welterweights in the world, with only one guy likely to come out standing upright. Cintron has the shoulders and the
strength of a body builder, while Margarito has the stamina of Kenyan marathon runner. So something has to give this fight
and for fight fans it will be intriguing.
People, don't sleep on Chicago native David Estrada. Many pundits give Estrada a good chance in there with 'Sugar',
especially since Shane is 1-4-0-1 over his last six fights. Estrada can fight, and he is going to give Mosley hell. At
26-years old, he throws punches in bunches and just doesn't stop throwing. Estrada has everything to gain, with nothing to
lose.
If Mosley has slipped, Estrada will take advantage. In the heavyweight fight I am picking the experience and going with 'Big Time' McCline, but forget what I think, let us see what real boxing people think...
Expert Opinions on ESPN PPV
TalkingBoxing caught up with jr. welterweight and former USBA champ Mike “No Joke” Stewart, and One in a
Million promoter and CEO, Octavius James, to get their takes on the upcoming fights.
The Main-Event:: Margarito-Cintron
James: “I have liked Cintron for years, but I like Margarito in this fight.”
Stewart: “Margarito is too seasoned for Cintron. But Cintron can punch so you really don’t know.”
The Return:: Mosley-Estrada
James: “I would like to stay away from a prediction in this fight if you don’t mind, but I will tell you one thing. It will
be a great fight.
Stewart: Estrada is tough, so it is hard to pick. But if Mosley wins it will be because of his experience.
The Token Heavyweight Fight That Actually Means Something:: Brock-McCline
James: “I think experience will play in role in this fight. I really like the way McCline looked in his last fight against
Chris Byrd. Plus he will be the bigger stronger fighter in this fight”
Stewart: I like McCline
So the experts have spoken.
Recent 'Ring of Fire' Documentary on the USA Network
What a moving documentary. It is just another example of how boxing is and always will be, the most compelling story worthy sport in the world. Emile Griffith is a very interesting figure, and it is good that a story like that came to television. Even better, it lacked commercial interruption.
It was brilliant story telling from a sociological standpoint with a very enlightening narrative. The image that sticks out, occurs when they showed the footage of the savage beating Griffin laid on Benny Parat in their 3rd and fateful fight. The voice over from one of America’s greatest authors Norman Mailer was just mind-blowing. The story was just simply poignant.
Chicago Boxing Catches Telefutura TONIGHT
Friday April 22nd at Aragon Ballroom in Chicago Illinois, 8 Count Productions with Top Rank Boxing. To be televised on
Telefutura.
> Jose Armando Santa Cruz, 18-0 (9KO's) vs. Justin Juuko, 39-8-1 (29KO's), ten rounds--lightweights
> Omar Bernal will not be appearing on this card.
> Francisco Rincon, 9-1 (4KO's) vs. Floyd Trumpet, 12-5-2 (6KO's), eight rounds--welterweights
> Trinidad Garcia, 4-1-1 vs. Joe Lynch, 4-1 (2KO's), six rounds, junior middleweights
> Michael Walker, 6-0 (4KO's) vs. TBA, six rounds, middleweights
Due to an injury Jimmy Gonzalez will not be appearing on this card
Gonzalez will be rescheduled for an upcoming 8 Count Productions event
One in a Million :: May 20th at the Radisson Hotel & Star Plaza
One in a Million Boxing presents:
NABF Cruiserweight Champion Ali Supreme, Mike Walker, Johnny Novak, Jimmy Holmes, Jaime Alvarado and Ruben Galvan.
Discuss this at our Boxing Forum
