Boxing TV Guide: Antonio Margarito Stars in an Entertaining Grotesquerie
Boxing TV Guide: Antonio Margarito Stars in an Entertaining Grotesquerie
Antonio Margarito probably shouldn't be fighting at all--but he is and you may want to watch. It's the best fight of a weak crop of boxing television this weekend.
Antonio Margarito probably shouldn't be fighting at all--his orbital was destroyed by Manny Pacquiao in 2010, then further punished by Miguel Cotto a year later in a fight eventually stopped by ringside physicians. Doctors told him to hang it up. Fans, still put off by his grotesque and dangerous foul play, were all too happy to see him go.
Miraculously, at the age of 37, his eye apparently healed itself. Not enough to face the scrutiny of a United States based athletic commission. But well enough to take fights in Mexico. Is he potentially risking serious injury? Possibly. But a certain class of boxing fan will watch him whether it's ethical to do so or not. After all, once you commit to watching other men bludgeon each other for money, moral boundaries are tenuous at best.
Margarito, of course, isn't the only man fighting this weekend--he's just the only one you've likely ever heard of. That's why we're here weekly with this television guide. What's worth watching? Who will win--and why? Those are the questions. The answers follow.
Miguel Flores (20-0, 9 KOs) vs. Ryan Kielczewski (25-1, 7 KOs)
Key Info
Date: August 12th
Network: ESPN
Promoter: King's Promotions/Haymon Boxing
Undercard bouts: Jamal James (20-0) vs. Yordenas Ugas (15-3)
Interest Level: Medium
Cards like this don't necessarily scream "big action," but there is definitely talent here, especially on the undercard. James was in a very serious fight against Wale Omotoso less than a month ago, but immediately rushed back into the ring for a payday against Cuban gatekeeper Yordenas Ugas. That's a pretty old school move. We'll see if it pays off.
I'll be honest--Flores/Kielczewski is not my cup of tea. There's a Polish White Hope type for an ethnic audience in one corner and a guy who has seemed pretty average as a boxer in the other. Flores should win easily, and Jamal James should get the W as well, but their opposition is not the sort who will impose their will and blast away.
Some opponents come to fight. These two B-sides are more likely to sit on the back foot and get jabbed for the entire scheduled distance. If that's your kind of thing, by all means...
Main Event Prediction: Miguel Flores by Unanimous Decision
Antonio Margarito (39-8, 27 KOs) vs. Ramon Alvarez (23-4-2, 15 KOs)
Key Info
Date: August 13th
Network: beIN Sports
Promoter: Canelo Promotions/Zanfer
Undercard bouts: Emmanuel Navarrete (14-1) vs. Edivaldo Ortega (24-0-1)
Interest Level: Disgustingly High
In Mexico, there's a category of TV boxing star who is not world class and perhaps never was, but has name value capable of grabbing viewers nonetheless. Ramon Alvarez and Antonio Margarito occupy this zone, and this fight will attract serious interest south of the border.
Up in the Estados Unidos , Margarito has been all but blackballed, both because of his cheating scandal and because of his left eye doesn't...what is the word? Work. Doesn't work. Despite these serious limitations, Margarito managed to beat Jorge Paez Jr., another washed Mexican TV Boxing Star, in March. One or or two, he's still Antonio Margarito. That means something.
Ramon Alvarez, one of Canelo's many brothers, is not the kind of skilled fighter capable of dismantling a half blind Margarito. He's more the kind of guy who engages in a back and forth war with a half blind Margarito. That's not good for him, but it's good for you, the viewer, who presumably likes violence.
Margarito should be the favorite. He isn't anywhere near his prime or anywhere near being allowed to step foot in a US ring. But this is a perverse spectacle we're talking about, not a standard prizefight. This will actually be quite the entertaining slug fest, and both men will probably touch the canvas. If you're morally compromised, I'll see you on Twitter for some play-by-play!
Main Event Prediction: Antonio Margarito by Split Decision
Anthony Karperis (12-2, 4 KOs) vs. Ariel Duran (9-8-1, 5 KOs)
Key Info
Date: August 13th
Network: GoFightlive.TV ($14.99)
Promoter: Star Boxing
Undercard bouts: full card, no one you've heard of, but there is a guy named "Seifullah Jihad Wise"
Interest Level: Low
You know it's a bad weekend when we're forced to talk about the likes of Anthony Karperis. I'd love to talk about Roy Jones Jr. instead. He's fighting this weekend after all--but that bout won't be on internet PPV. Instead, this one is. I don't really know anything about anyone fighting here. If you aren't a blood relative, you probably don't either. Boxrec informs me that this is a rematch of a prior 4 round fight that Karperis won. Boxrec also informs me that Duran has never beaten anyone worth talking about, and Karperis lost to fighters I almost recall like Bayan Jargal.
What does that mean? When in doubt go with the guy who fought the guy you kind of remember. Karperis is going to win, basically.
Main Event Prediction: Anthony Karperis by 6th Round KO
Miraculously, at the age of 37, his eye apparently healed itself. Not enough to face the scrutiny of a United States based athletic commission. But well enough to take fights in Mexico. Is he potentially risking serious injury? Possibly. But a certain class of boxing fan will watch him whether it's ethical to do so or not. After all, once you commit to watching other men bludgeon each other for money, moral boundaries are tenuous at best.
Margarito, of course, isn't the only man fighting this weekend--he's just the only one you've likely ever heard of. That's why we're here weekly with this television guide. What's worth watching? Who will win--and why? Those are the questions. The answers follow.
Miguel Flores (20-0, 9 KOs) vs. Ryan Kielczewski (25-1, 7 KOs)
Key Info
Date: August 12th
Network: ESPN
Promoter: King's Promotions/Haymon Boxing
Undercard bouts: Jamal James (20-0) vs. Yordenas Ugas (15-3)
Interest Level: Medium
Cards like this don't necessarily scream "big action," but there is definitely talent here, especially on the undercard. James was in a very serious fight against Wale Omotoso less than a month ago, but immediately rushed back into the ring for a payday against Cuban gatekeeper Yordenas Ugas. That's a pretty old school move. We'll see if it pays off.
I'll be honest--Flores/Kielczewski is not my cup of tea. There's a Polish White Hope type for an ethnic audience in one corner and a guy who has seemed pretty average as a boxer in the other. Flores should win easily, and Jamal James should get the W as well, but their opposition is not the sort who will impose their will and blast away.
Some opponents come to fight. These two B-sides are more likely to sit on the back foot and get jabbed for the entire scheduled distance. If that's your kind of thing, by all means...
Main Event Prediction: Miguel Flores by Unanimous Decision
Antonio Margarito (39-8, 27 KOs) vs. Ramon Alvarez (23-4-2, 15 KOs)
Key Info
Date: August 13th
Network: beIN Sports
Promoter: Canelo Promotions/Zanfer
Undercard bouts: Emmanuel Navarrete (14-1) vs. Edivaldo Ortega (24-0-1)
Interest Level: Disgustingly High
In Mexico, there's a category of TV boxing star who is not world class and perhaps never was, but has name value capable of grabbing viewers nonetheless. Ramon Alvarez and Antonio Margarito occupy this zone, and this fight will attract serious interest south of the border.
Up in the Estados Unidos , Margarito has been all but blackballed, both because of his cheating scandal and because of his left eye doesn't...what is the word? Work. Doesn't work. Despite these serious limitations, Margarito managed to beat Jorge Paez Jr., another washed Mexican TV Boxing Star, in March. One or or two, he's still Antonio Margarito. That means something.
Ramon Alvarez, one of Canelo's many brothers, is not the kind of skilled fighter capable of dismantling a half blind Margarito. He's more the kind of guy who engages in a back and forth war with a half blind Margarito. That's not good for him, but it's good for you, the viewer, who presumably likes violence.
Margarito should be the favorite. He isn't anywhere near his prime or anywhere near being allowed to step foot in a US ring. But this is a perverse spectacle we're talking about, not a standard prizefight. This will actually be quite the entertaining slug fest, and both men will probably touch the canvas. If you're morally compromised, I'll see you on Twitter for some play-by-play!
Main Event Prediction: Antonio Margarito by Split Decision
Anthony Karperis (12-2, 4 KOs) vs. Ariel Duran (9-8-1, 5 KOs)
Key Info
Date: August 13th
Network: GoFightlive.TV ($14.99)
Promoter: Star Boxing
Undercard bouts: full card, no one you've heard of, but there is a guy named "Seifullah Jihad Wise"
Interest Level: Low
You know it's a bad weekend when we're forced to talk about the likes of Anthony Karperis. I'd love to talk about Roy Jones Jr. instead. He's fighting this weekend after all--but that bout won't be on internet PPV. Instead, this one is. I don't really know anything about anyone fighting here. If you aren't a blood relative, you probably don't either. Boxrec informs me that this is a rematch of a prior 4 round fight that Karperis won. Boxrec also informs me that Duran has never beaten anyone worth talking about, and Karperis lost to fighters I almost recall like Bayan Jargal.
What does that mean? When in doubt go with the guy who fought the guy you kind of remember. Karperis is going to win, basically.
Main Event Prediction: Anthony Karperis by 6th Round KO