Weekend Review:
-Three prospects showcased on Friday night, and I was impressed with 2, not so much by the third.
Daniel Jacobs looks like a beast and a future champ. If Kirkland goes to the slammer, Golden Boy will probably throw his career into overdrive.
Antonio Escalante was very impressive in dispatching Stark easily and making Atlas wrong again on the prediction front. Escalante reminds me of a mini Fernando Vargas with his intensity and power - but he has one huge problem. He weighs 122 pounds. And the guy running that division is named Juan Manual Lopez.
Devon Alexander, I thought, left a lot to be desired. He was missing a lot of shots (not "sharp" as Farhood kept saying) and was sort of lucky to get the stoppage when Rodriguez quit on his knee. Rodriguez took the fight on short notice - I did not expect him to be able to win this. But Alexander seems to go into one mode in there - slapping, moving, and ZERO POWER. Cory Spinks part 2. I think Bradley destroys him.
-The two high profile, even-money fights of the week were Spinks-Latimore and Taylor-Froch. And they proved to be just that - flip of the coin battles. Props to anyone who was able to nail both of these (I think gweasel did it). Going 2 for 2 with these was like walking into the fire and coming out unscathed. Impressive.
I was on Latimore, but I believe the decision was correct. I had it 7-5 Spinks (114-113). Latimore's stamina and brains were a disappointment to me. Maybe he can improve, as he is still young (and does have power). Spinks fought a Cory Spinks fight - he pulled out another close one. That being said, I think his legs are gone and, just my opinion, he is fade material now.
-Although I was disappointed In Latimore's brains down the stretch, that was nothing compared to Jermaine Taylor's complete meltdown (AGAIN). I bet the draw in this fight, but I felt very bad for the guys who had Taylor. He is an 8 round world champion. I have NEVER seen him go the route and look fresh. He FADES EVERY FIGHT. Last night, he snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. The 12th round collapse was predictable, and yet, still amazing.
Credit must be given to Froch, though, who is limited in his defensive abilities, his speed, and his athleticism. But what he lacks there, he makes up for with power, smarts, TOUGHNESS, and downright cockiness. He never doubted he was going to win that fight, and Taylor did. Froch went in for the kill beautifully - keeping his distance and hammering away at Taylor in the 12th. Spectacular win for Carl "The Cobra" and congrats to those who had the balls to bet him.
-The ZDF German card was a total farce and Sato was, as I stated in the thread, one of the WORST title challengers I have ever seen in a televised main event. That being said, this German card was a goldmine for those of us who play favorites - Sturm, Balzay, and Golovkin were as sure a parlay as it gets. Easy hits on the Sturm and Golovkin unders as well. I did not see the Golovkin fight, but apparently, this guy is the goods.
-On the HBO card, Evan and a few others were smart enough to grab the fantastic price on the Lamont Petersen UNDER 9.5 - really a steal at +250. This was another UNDER in the weekend of UNDER hits - Jacobs, Golovkin, Petersen, Sturm, Alexander, Green.
In the main event, a star continues to rise. Juan Ma Lopez is downright scary in his talents and a complete BEAST in this boxing game. I really think putting Vasquez or Marquez in against him would be cruel to the veterans at this point. He didn't just beat a very good, very game Penalosa - he dismantled him. COMPLETE DOMINATION. Juan Ma is the truth. Believe.
-Best straight bet of the weekend, for the price, I think was Davaryl Williamson. He opened at -140 and this was WAY too low. Madjackers were all over this one. Williamson was -200 by fight time (still a steal when you consider the class difference), and he easily dispatched with Carl Davis.
-Three dogs hit this weekend:
Dapadong +220 (props to Graham for nailing this one perfectly)
Manuel Charr +375 (this was on the German undercard)
and the big one:
Billy Lyell at +2000 defeated John Duddy.
Duddy had looked terrible at points against Vanda and Smichet, but I never would have thought Lyell would be the one to knock of the Irishman. Props to punchmaster and lordofthelunch for hitting the homerun with this one.
-Fight of the weekend was the dramatic Taylor-Froch encounter on Showtime. But there was also a cracker on Setanta, with Martin Lindsay taking the British title away from Paul Appleby in Ireland (6th round TKO in a shootout). The Irish, it seems, are unbeatable this year.
Regrets:
This was a FANTASTIC money making weeekend. I don't have any regrets, even on Latimore, who was just too green but almost pulled it off still.
I do have one bet I wish I had made. Juan Ma ITD. Many of the madjackers hit this. I knew Juan Ma was just too big, too fast, too good. Wish I had followed you guys on that one.
Great weekend and congrats everybody !