Blake’s Take: Quick Hits From the Squared Circle (January 12, 2011)

Added on Jan 12, 2011 by Brian Blake in

Boxing

- It appears that were are getting closer to a 2011 showdown between Mexican greats in former world champion Erik Morales and current WBA/WBO Lightweight Champ Juan Manuel Marquez. Marquez will soon meet with Golden Boy Promotions to work out the details in making the fight happen. Current issues are money and whether or not Marquez’ titles will be on the line. After dropping a lopsided decision in a welterweight bout with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in September of 2009, Marquez rebounded with back to back wins against Juan Diaz and Michael Katsidis. Morales is riding a three fight winning streak after stepping away from the ring for two and a half years.

- Both junior welterweight title holders Devon Alexander and Timothy Bradley participated in a national media conference call and spoke of their unification January 29 clash at the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan. Readers can expect a full write up regarding both the call and the fight later in the week. Both Alexander’s WBC and Bradley’s WBO title are at stake. The bout is appropriately being billed as the “Super Fight”, as it holds claim to being the first major fight to kick off 2011. HBO Sports will televised the 12 rounder.

- The press tour for the March clash between WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Miguel Cotto and former champ Ricardo Mayorga tomorrow afternoon in NYC. The two are set to promote their scheduled showdown which is officially set to take place on March 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cotto picked up the title back in June when he scored a ninth round TKO over then champion Yuri Foreman at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.

- Since injuring his shoulder during his bid for a third title in as many weight classes again Juan Manuel Lopez in November, Rafael Marquez hasn’t seen any sort of action. Despite the injury, his return may not be too far off as his promoter Gary Shaw recently stated that he is targeting a date in March for the return of the former two division champion.

- Former world title challenger and reality show contestant Peter Manfredo, Jr. returns to the ring this Friday in an ESPN televised bout in Key West, Florida. Mandredo takes on Daniel “The Hatian Sensation” Edouard in the scheduled 10 round main event which is set to be aired starting at 9PM ET/6PM PT.

- Any fight fan worth his salt, with the exception of my close friend Sam Calabretta (Sorry bud, had to…), knows all about hall of famer Tommy Hearns . However, not everyone might be as familiar with his son Ronald Hearns who takes his first crack at a world title when he steps up and challenges WBA middleweight king Felix Sturm for his crown on February 19 at the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart, Germany.

-Finally, a big “thumbs down” goes to IBF/WBO/IBO Heavyweight Champ Wladimir Klitschko for blowing off a much anticipated unification bout with WBA heavyweight king David Haye after making such ridiculous demands to all of which he accepted in anticipation of a fight, only to take a fight with the virtually unknown Dereck Chisora.