| _____________________________________________________________ MAY 2006 Fight of the Month Marco Antonio Barrera W12 Rocky Juarez A pitched battle between the legendary Barrera and young contender Rocky Juarez. The bout featured many momentum swings until the final bell, when many thought Juarez deserved the victory. A rematch may happen late this year. Fighter of the Month Oscar de la Hoya Oscar would return after 18 months out of the ring to completely dismantle the rugged, albeit limited Ricardo Mayorga in six rounds. KO of the Month Jorge Barrios KO1 Janos Nagy Both guys traveled a long way to be featured in the co-main event to Barrera-Juarez. The fight was over in a matter of seconds as Nagy took a knee because of a devastating, debilitating body shot. The lost art of the body punch on fine display. Upset of the Month Larry Mosley D12 Golden Johnson Mosley was considered one of the better young welterweight contenders coming into this fight with the aging veteran Golden Johnson, who had definitely seen better days. The Mosley train took a slight derailment as Johnson battled him tooth and nail to a draw. Disappointment of the Month Jhonny Gonzales W12 Fernando Montiel Gonzales and Montiel were supposed to put on a good show in the main event of their Boxing After Dark telecast. The fight had all the ingredients: two young, hungry guys looking towards bigger and better paydays, Gonzales the noted power puncher, Montiel the slick boxer. Unfortunately, neither guy gave a maximum effort, and left the crowd in Carson, Ca. and at home disappointed. Rumor of the Month The Saga of Oscar de la Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Who would Oscar fight next? Would he retire? Mayweather seemed to be putting all other opportunities on hold while waiting for word from de la Hoya. The drama continues, as rumors of retirement continue to swirl around Oscar. _____________________________________________ APRIL 2006 Fight of the Month Kermit Cintron vs. David Estrada - April 20 Kermit Cintron improved his record to 26-1, 24KO with a dramatic knockout victory over tough Welterweight contender David Estrada Wednesday night in a fight televised on ESPN2. Estrada's record falls to 18-3, 9KO. All judges had the fight scored in Cintron's favor at the time of the stoppage (87-84, 87-84, 86-85). Both fighters had several good moments with Cintron hurting Estrada on several occasions in the 4th, 5th and 6th rounds. Cintron was seem visibly grinning at the end of the 6th round as he directed a dazed Estrada back to his corner. Estrada came back in the 7th and 8th as Cintron seemed to get tired and allowed Estrada to get inside and do some damage of his own. Cintron came all the way back in this fight in the eyes of the boxing public, proving himself once again as a legitimate top Welterweight and reinstating his reputation after his near nervous breakdown one year ago against WBO king Antonio Margarito. Estrada lost nothing in defeat and may have learned a thing or two in much the same way Cintron learned some valuable lessons in his knockout loss to Margarito. Thanks to both fighters for reminding us why we're boxing fans. Fighter of the Month Sergui Lyankovich Sergui Lyankovich became the new WBO Heavyweight champion with a 12-round unanimous decision victory over Lamon Brewster. Brewster seemed to believe too much in his ability to come from behind and pull out a dramatic win but when he couldn't get to Sergui in the middle rounds he lost some steam. Lyankovich was able to box effectively in the second half of the fight and advances to 23-1, 14KO. For Brewster it's back to the drawing board as he drops to 33-3, 29KO). As this was one of the more exciting Heavyweight championship fights in recent years hopefully a rematch can be made. KO of the Month Wladimir Klitschko KO7 Chris Byrd Wladimir Klitschko’s bludgeoning of Chris Byrd. On paper the fight appeared to be a mismatch. These two had gone at it years earlier, and it was a one sided affair then. No one was really prepared for what Wlad did to Byrd though. After six one sided rounds, including a knockdown, Klitschko landed one of the more memorable right hands in recent memory. By the time Byrd rose to his feet his face was a bloody mask, the right hand not only knocking Byrd out, but opening a nasty gash. It was one of those brutal moments only the heavyweights can produce. Rumor of the Month Mayweather to take on Margarito? The saga involving Floyd Mayweather and Antonio Margarito. After Floyd beat Zab Judah, Bob Arum made Mayweather an offer few people thought he could refuse: an $8million fight with Margarito in August. The rumored potential fight became the fight that will probably never be, as Floyd not only refused the fight but bought out his contract with Bob Arum to the tune of $750,000. The current rumor involving Floyd is a possible showdown with Oscar de la Hoya this fall. And what about Margarito? Left out in the cold as usual. _____________________________________________________________ new page awards will be given on a monthly basis -May awards will be given at the beginning of June. |
