In Boxing News: Judah, Mayweather, The Cruiserweights, Hatton & Pacquiao

In Boxing News: Mayweather In Spring For Judah?

Writing for the El Paso Times, our own Matt Aguilar says this should be the year boxing fans find out the truth about Zab Judah. If Judah beats Carlos Baldomir on Saturday as expected, look for the man they call “Super” – says Aguilar – to meet another super-talent in boxing’s three-division champ Floyd Mayweather, probably this spring.

Dan Rafael of ESPN says that the undisputed cruiserweight championship fight between Jean-Marc Mormeck and O’Neil Bell is the reason Showtime bought Saturday’s doubleheader, which is headlined by Judah vs. Baldomir. Both Mormeck and Bell believe a victory Saturday would be a springboard to the more lucrative heavyweight division. Mormeck even singled out a prospective opponent: It is kind of a dream to go up to heavyweight. If I would have to choose someone to fight, it would be Lamon Brewster because he is really strong. The Philadelphia Inquirer has an interesting column on Philly cruiserweight Steve Cunningham, who appears on the non-televised portion of Showtime’s Saturday night card.

Something that will likely go largely unnoticed is the announcement that US cable channel Showcase Networks is launching its first interactive TV application for Microsoft Windows XP Media Centre in the first quarter of this year. I see a lot of debate amongst boxing fans about the role of video on demand etc. and the role technology might play in the future of professional boxing. This is something to keep an eye on.

The BBC reports that Ricky Hatton will map out his fight plan for 2006 by the end of January. Ray Hatton, Ricky Hatton‘s father and manager, said win or lose, America wants Hatton. The casinos have been calling us. They know he’ll put bums on seats in Las Vegas, New York or Atlantic City. Hatton has been widely linked with fights against Arturo Gatti and lightweight Diego Corrales, with Floyd Mayweather being Hatton’s ultimate target, possibly before the end of 2006.

In a telephone conference call, trainer Freddie Roach admitted there were some tactical lapses when Manny Pacquiao met Erik Morales the first time: I don’t think we fought a great fight the first time. Manny was overanxious and a little left-hand hungry. There are definitely adjustments that can be made to fight a much better fight this time. We’re also studying the tapes of Morales’ loss to Raheem. He had trouble with Raheem’s speed and Manny has that type of speed. Ring magazine editor-in-chief Nigel Collins concurs: I think the Zahir Raheem fight showed how vulnerable Morales is to movement. If Manny can use his legs to dart in, score, and then get out, he can win. Bob Arum, Morales’ promoter, added some intrigue when he said Morales fought Pacquiao a certain way and he may change and fight him a different way.

Despite Matt Skelton missing a schedule press conference, the war of words in the UK between Skelton and Danny Williams continues.

(More Boxing News Links at TheSweetScience.com)