Gilberto J. Mendoza Blog

Whilst David Devon “The Hayemaker” Haye, Audley Harrison, Ricardo “Maestrito” Cordoba and Guillermo Rigondeaux, without any proof of doubt, today will mark part of boxing history, it is impossible not to be hype by the great Pacquiao v. Margarito bout in Arlington, Texas.

Truth is boxing needs big events, this welterweight clash, is a classic with no exemption.

WBA might not be involved but my boxing heart just desires the best man win tonight at Cowboy Stadium.

But let’s now concentrate on the WBA championship bouts.

The Heavyweight Championship, usually the main attraction of boxing, but boxing’s new business model has deviated this old axiom.

As expressed before today’s main event will be Manny versus Margarito.  

Despite of it, Hayemaker and Audley, will square off for the reign of all division, the Heavyweight championship, just some hours earlier, in a battle of local hostility, big men and eccentric personalities.

The city of Manchester will host a bout rich in boxing achievements and importance. In one side David Haye is a few of a kind, a solid unified cruiserweight champion, a man able to defeat the biggest heavyweight champion of all time Nicolay Value, hard puncher, fast, and to me a master strategist in the ring.

In the opposite corner a strong, willing and brave boxer, Audley “A-Force” Harrison, with his physical advantage, will try to silence the skeptics, since winning an Olympic Gold Medal at Sydney had a career with up and downs but solid enough to prove he can rebound from adversity. He has nothing to lose thus a lot of pride will be put in the ring tonight.

This bout will be spectacular from bell to bell.

Another bout with a particular sense of rivalry will be WBA Super Bantamweight championship former king Ricardo Cordoba versus Olympic star Guillermo Rigondeaux.

Why call it rivalry?

Simply because the clash between beyond the excellence technician, fast and solid, boxing abilities of both contenders, the classic amateur boxing style in the ways to being professionalize faces a true Latin American boxing style, Panamanian boxing, not by mere luck has produced 30 world champions, Roberto Duran and has passed its borders with names like Wilfredo Gomez and Alexis Arguello. 

Please expect a real tough and tactical bout in which strategy will prevail over force and power.

Isn’t this the real art of boxing?