OnThEGRiND BoXiNG

Friday June 12th, 2009
by BigTime Tim Kudgis

Welcome everyone to the latest edition to “BigTime” Timmy Tells It like It Is. There has been a lot of news happening in the boxing community since the last column, so let’s get into it right away!

Let’s start with the Klitschko-Chagaev fight on June 20th. In my opinion this is a step up from watching David Haye getting blasted back down to Cruiserweight. This I believe is a unification fight of sorts. Let me elaborate on my last comment. The WBA (It makes me laugh that they are a major sanctioning body) has named Nikolai Valuev as their “Regular” Heavyweight Champion, so naturally you are thinking Chagaev is stripped completely of his Champion status. The answer is NO; the WBA (LOL) still has not made a judgment on him leaving him their “Champion in Recess.” They also stated that they have not receive a request for his strap to be on the line for his upcoming bout, and that they most likely would not sanction it.

This is how unification of the titles could play out. If Wlad wins he will not have a title to gain… only retain his WBO, IBF, and IBO titles? On the other hand if Chagaev wins he will pick up the WBO, IBF, and IBO strap while maintaining his WBA (HAHA) “Champion in Recess” Title. Also if Chagaev should win he will most likely then be bumped up to WBA “Super Champion.” Bottom line is a fight that was with less than 3 weeks’ notice could have the HW Division one step closer to complete unification. Is this outcome likely? No.

Next on my plate is this weekend’s match up of Former UFC HW Champion Tim “The Maniac” Sylvia and Former WBO HW champion “Merciless” Ray Mercer. This clash was advertised for months as a 6 round “Boxing Rules” affair until recently. Ray Mercer informed us on OnThEGRiND BoXiNG RaDIo, that on a days notice it was switched to an MMA contest. Could this be because ABC President Tim Lueckenhoff recently said it would not be a sanctioned fight, and expressed his disgust in it taking place? Yes. PA Athletic Commissioner Greg Sirb contacted River Creek Combative Sports (A sanctioning body out of Canada) and referee John McCarthy about the different illegalities if this fight were to happen. After that both River Creek and John McCarthy pulled out of the card. Is it just me, or does any high profile Boxing event that has outside sanctioning get shut down or switched to “MMA” (See Morrison-Williams)? I always wondered why Greg Sirb seemed to have “God Complex.”

At this time I am going to give my prediction for the Cotto-Clottey fight his weekend. Since this fight was announced I believed Clottey would come out the victor (I even made a bet with Jesse Rican). The more I think about it I see this fight making it to the distance. To be honest with you can you really see Cotto dropping a Decision in NYC on the eve of the Puerto Rico Day Parade? So my final answer is Cotto via Split Decision or Majority Decision.

Notes:
Look for Danny “Swift” Garcia to shine on the ESPN FNF undercard.
Greg Sirb and I do have something in common which is “God Complex”
Anyone else notice and/or find weird that Michael Walker (19-2-2) is fighting stable mate Orpheus Waite (5-0)?

Thoughts:
Still no one in boxing has swagger like me.
Congrats to all of the 2009 IBHOF inductees.
Jesse Rican better hope that NYC doesn’t have to change Sunday to a Ghana Day Parade.
Once again thank you to all my legions of fans, I know this column means the world to you.