Someone told me there is a big PPV fight this weekend, did anyone hear about this?  Finally we get to Mayweather vs. Mosley.  First off I might be the only one who thinks this but kudo’s to Mayweather for getting a better drug testing system into boxing and I am glad Shane went along with it.  Too many fighters test positive for PED’s after fights (Chavez Jr. anyone) and in my opinion they are like cockroach’s, if you see one then you missed a hundred.

Also I find it funny that many of the talking heads have been calling for fighters to spurn the alphabet belts and stop paying the sanctioning fees for years now, but when Mayweather does it they jump all over him calling him greedy.  The level of unintelligent hate flung at Mayweather is hilarious.  We could find out that Mayweather has been helping needy children for a decade and the talking heads would say “we only found out because he wants the press”, PBF could cure cancer and the talking heads would say he only did it for the money.  It makes them sound ignorant.

I am only able to do one fight this week because many of the talented prospects in action this weekend have yet to be rated.  The most glaring omission is Saul Alvarez.  But this is the first American TV showing for Alvarez so hopefully after this fight.  The fight between him and Cotto’s brother should highlight a very solid PPV card.  Ponce De Leon and Cornelius Lock should be another good one, but Lock is missing from the database also.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. (40-0) vs. Shane Mosley (46-5)

Using both fighters Welterweight rating, PBF dominates the fight winning 76-21-3.  Mayweather won most of his fights by UD of course.  Over half of Mosley’s wins came by stoppage.  I think Mosley wins 3 of the first 4 rounds and then as usual Mayweather will figure him out and dominate the rest of the fight.  I will say after watching GBP try to screw Floyd in the De La Hoya fight I except the same treatment, Floyd will win 8 or 9 rounds and have to settle for a split decision.  I will be rooting for Mosley and he needs to jump all over Floyd early but I just don’t see him winning.

Bad week last week as I went 1-2 and TB Predicts went 3-0.  That evens us up at 15-5 so far on the year.  Both of us are at 75%.  Jersey Jim is winning easily at 15-2.

Looking forward to this weekend to help get past the tragic events of the last few days.  We have a great Saturday night of boxing with dueling cards on Showtime and HBO.  On Showtime the Super Six tourney continues with Mikkel Kessler facing Carl Froch.  Kessler is in must win territory while Froch hopes to continue his trend of losing most of the fight but somehow coming out the winner.  On HBO we have a rarity, a very intriguing Heavyweight fight.  Chris Arreola takes on Tomasz Adamek in a fight that will legitimize the winner.  I think it is a must win for Arreola because a loss in this fight leaves him with very few options.  Also on the card is Alfredo Angulo against Joel Julio.  While I think a loss would hurt Angulo, it would be pretty much be the end for Julio.  Julio burst onto the scene but has since lost every time he has taken a step up.  A loss here and he is looking at nothing but non-televised fights or being the opponent to rising prospects.

Predictions:

1. Mikkel Kessler (42-2) vs. Carl Froch (26-0)

Kessler wins in Title Bout 51-43-6.  The most common win for Kessler is by UD12.  Surprisingly, Froch won most of his by decision also.  I think Kessler wins this fight fairly easily.  I thought Froch lost his last two decision against Pascal and Dirrell but was saved by Nottingham.  He was also way behind against Taylor before scoring the last second KO.  He gets his long overdue first loss on Saturday night.

2. Chris Arreola (28-1) vs. Tomasz Adamek (40-1)

Title Bout favored Adamek’s new HW rating in this one (despite it being lower than Arreola’s) by a wide margin.  Adamek won 61-36-3 over Arreola with the most common outcome being a UD12.  When Arreola won it was most commonly by TKO7.  As a fan of Arreola, obviously I think this is way off.  We will finally see if Adamek can take a HW punch.  I don’t think he can.  I believe Arreola comes in under 245 and stops Adamek late in the fight.

3. Alfredo Angulo (17-1) vs. Joel Julio (35-3)

Title Bout likes Angulo by a very slim margin 50-49-1.  When Angulo wins it is by UD most often.  With Julio it was split down the middle between decision and stoppage.  This is a tough one for me as I am a big fan of Angulo.  I don’t think Angulo can outbox Julio like Dzinziruk and Quintana did and I don’t think Angulo can beat Julio up like Kirkland did.  I am going to regretfully go with Julio on this one.  I will be rooting for Angulo but my pick is Julio.

I am sitting at 14-3 on the season and Title Bout Championship Boxing is at 12-5, with two different picks this time TB can catch up.  Jersey Jim is making a mockery of both of us sitting at 13-1 right now.

Starting something new this week as I will talk about the upcoming fights first and then give the predictions.  This is a good weekend for boxing fans.

First we have the split site doubleheader on HBO.  Kelly Pavlik finally fights a breathing human being as he goes against Sergio Martinez.  In the same way that I thought Sergio Mora would be a tough style for Pavlik, I think this fight is Mora times 10.  I hope Kelly is back because it would be good for boxing.  His loss to B-Hop stopped some big time momentum, but I hope he has learned from his first loss and is a better fighter now.  The other fight on the card features Lucian Bute against Edison Miranda.  Bute might be the best Super Middleweight out there now, Miranda is always dangerous.

Friday night we have a Heavyweight match on ESPN between Tony Thompson and Owen Beck.  Thompson needs to win to stay relevant.  Shobox will feature the return of bouncy Shawn Porter, along with another prospect Fernando Guerrero.  Both prospects shouldn’t have any trouble with their opponents.

Predictions:

1. Kelly Pavlik vs. Sergio Martinez

In proving that TB can produce “styles make fights” type of bouts, Pavlik has all sorts of problems with Martinez within the game.  Pavlik edges Sergio out 48-42-10.  The most common outcome for Pavlik is a 9th round stoppage and when Martinez won it was by UD12.  I believe Martinez will defeat Kelly Pavlik and I think it will be by a wide margin, possibly even a stoppage.

2. Lucian Bute vs. Edison Miranda

Bute dominates within the Title Bout Championship Boxing game.  He won 85-14-1.  His most common outcome was a 10th round stoppage while Miranda would win by the same the few times he won.  I think Miranda has a punchers chance in this fight but a slim one.  I think Bute ends the night early, before the 5th round.

3. Tony Thompson vs. Owen Beck

Thompson wins easily in the game going 77-20-3.  Most of his wins were by UD12.  When Beck won it was by TKO8.  This is probably a snooze fest but I agree with TBCB and I think Thompson wins by decision.

Last time out both Title Bout and I went 2-1.  I am leading this season with a record of 11-3 with Title Bout Championship Boxing sitting at 10-4.

1)Deandre Latimore (20-2) vs. Sechew Powell (25-2)

Latimore wins this easily going 59-12-7, with the most common outcome being a 7th round stoppage (dead on with their first fight)

Mike’s Take – Can’t disagree with this one as Latimore wins easily again.

2) Wladimir Klitschko (53-3) vs. Eddie Chambers (35-1)

Wlad easily takes this one 95-4-1, with the most common outcome being a UD12.

Mike’s Take – I’m no fool I agree with title bout here.  I think Wlad stops Chambers late though.

3) Odlanier Solis (15-0) vs. Carl Drumond (26-2)

Solis wins this one 59-34-7, with a UD12 being the most common outcome.

Mike’s Take – As much as I want to take Drumond of Odlanier Fat, I just can’t do it.  Solis waddles his way to a UD.

I took the lead over TB last week with my overall record being 9-2.  Title Bout sits at 8-3 on the year.  Our Editor in Chief is a sparkling 10-1 so far for the season.

1) Devon Alexander (19-0) vs. Juan Urango (22-2-1)

Alexander wins 54-35-11. His most common win was by UD12.

Mike’s Take – I want to go with Urango thinking he will test Alexander’s chin but I think Devon will be too slick for him and outbox Juan for 12 rounds.

2) Sam Peter (33-3) vs. Nagy Aguilera (15-2)

Peter dominates this one going 83-13-4. 5^th round stoppage the most common outcome.

Mike’s Take – Nagy takes this one. I think he is a good up and coming HW and Peter is shot.

3) Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2) vs. Joshua Clottey (35-3)

Pac Man winning 87-10-3 with the most common being stoppage in the 7th round.

Mike’s Take – Roach only lets Manny fight guys who are tailor made for him and Clottey is no exception. Pac Man destroys him and stops him early. No great surprise.

4) Humberto Soto (50-7-2) vs. David Diaz (35-3)

Diaz wins easily 65-29-6. Soto is woefully underrated in the game.

Mike’s Take – Soto wins this one easily

5) Alfonso Gomez (21-4-2) vs. Jose Luis Castillo (60-9-1)

Using Castillo’s WW rating this one was close. Castillo pulls it out going 47-41-12. Castillo’s most common win was by UD10.

Mike’s Take – Gomez by easy and early stoppage. A shot Ricky Hatton made quick work of a shot Castillo and I think Gomez would knockout Ricky Hatton right now too.

I went 3-1 last time out as did TBCB, which puts us both at 5-1 on the year. Three different picks this week!

1) Glen Johnson (49-13-2) vs. Yusef Mack (28-2-2)

Johnson wins this one easily going 82-13-5.  The most common outcome was UD10

Mike’s Take – I have the same result but I think Johnson may stop him late

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2)         Edwin Valero (26-0) vs. Antonio DeMarco (23-1-1)

Valero dominates this one 94-6.  The most common outcome was a 6^th round stoppage

Mike’s Take – No way this one gets to the 6^th.  I like DeMarco but this fight doesn’t get out of the 2^nd round.

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3) Brandon Rios (23-0-1) vs. Jorge Teron (23-1-1)

Teron wins this one in the game 61-34-5.  Most common outcome was a UD10

Mike’s Take – Nice matchup between two prospects.  I think Rios is underrated in the game and will win this fight but it will be a good one.

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4) Tomasz Adamek (39-1) vs. Jason Estrada (16-2)

Adamek wins this with ease 66-30-4.  Most common outcome is a UD10.

Mike’s Take – Going with a gut feeling on this one and I will say Estrada pulls off the upset.  Not sure Adamek can fight at HW.  Hope he proves me wrong.

I am tied with TB Predicts with both of us starting out 2-0.  Two different picks this weekend could set the tone for the season!

1) Juan Manuel Lopez (27-0) vs. Steven Luevano (37-1-1)

Lopez wins this one easily going 79-20-1.  The most common outcome was TKO8

Mike’s Take – I think it will be closer than TB suggest but I think Lopez stops him late in the fight or gets a clear cut decision.

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2) Yuriorkis Gamboa (16-0) vs. Rogers Mtagwa (26-13-2)

Gamboa cruises in this one also going 89-10-1.  The most common outcome was a 7^th round stoppage.

Mike’s Take – Mtagwa proved to be a tough SOB against Lopez and Gamboa’s chin is more suspect.  Still I think Gamboa will win this fight but it will probably go the distance.

This starts a new season of TB Predicts and we both start out 0-0.  In these two fights I feel both Luevano and Mtagwa are a bit underrated in the game.  But at the end of the day (as Saturday night proved), these are Top Rank fighters and if they finish on their feet they will get the decision.

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Mikkel Kessler vs. Andre Ward

By Jimmy Krug.

Mikkel Kessler 42-1 (32 knockouts) vs. Andre Ward 20-0 (13 knockouts)

Jimmy’s Take: The Super Middleweight Tournament is off and running.  Arthur Abraham established himself as a legitimate Super Middle with a brutal KO victory over Jermain Taylor in the final round of their bout and Carl Froch outworked Andre Dirrell by a hair in the eyes of the judges to capture a split decision victory  in their matchup several weeks ago.

Tomorrow, Andre Ward will attempt to out-speed and out-slick defending WBA belt-holder Mikkel Kessler.  After feeding the results into Title Bout Championship Boxing, Kessler was the clear pick – usually by stoppage around the 7^th or 8^th rounds.

I personally have not seen that much of Ward, but realize that those who are favoring a Ward victory are doing so based upon Ward’s speed and overall athleticism.

From where I’m sitting, I see Kessler as a better fighter since the Calzaghe loss and I really don’t see Ward’s speed being a factor over Kessler experience beyond the 4^th round.

I agree with the computer and see Kessler winning this one, probably by TKO around the 10^th round.

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Mike Hanson’s Take: Coming Soon!

1) Carl Froch (25-0) vs. Andre Dirrell (18-0)

I will start this by saying two things.  First I think Froch is wildly overrated in real life and in the game.  I also think Dirrell is vastly underrated in the game.  TB has Froch destroying Dirrell.  Froch won 87-13 with a whopping 57 stoppages.  Most common round was the 9^th.

Mike’s Take – All aboard the upset train.  Froch has two good wins against Pascal and Taylor.  Pascal won’t get out of a phone booth which is the way Froch likes to fight.  Taylor was up 9 rounds to 2 going into the final round.  Dirrell will not stand in front of Froch and just tattoo him all night long.  Froch gets beat up in this fight because he won’t keep his hands up.  He is tough enough to go the distance if cuts don’t stop it.  I’m almost willing to bet he gets beat by such a wide margin that he is the first to pull out of the tourney.  Dirrell wide margin UD12, like 10 rounds to 2.

2) Arthur Abraham (30-0) vs. Jermain Taylor (28-3-1)

TB has this one closer than I thought with Abraham winning out 56-43-1.  Most common outcome was an 8^th round stoppage.  29 of Abraham’s wins came by stoppage.  When Taylor won it was by decision.

Mike’s Take – I am on the upset train and I’m not getting off it.  I think Taylor’s opposition far outweighs Abraham’s.  With the rumor mill going on how great Jermain’s training camp has been I am going with Taylor by UD12.  I think he racks up rounds early in the fight and doesn’t wear out late this time.

TB Predicts took the lead on me last time out as we both missed on Grano but I went with a gut feeling on Juarez and was wrong.  TB Predicts sits at 12-6-1 and I’m at 11-7-1.  This is a make or break weekend as I could fall 3 behind if I lose both.