Scott Schiedly makes portraits of infamous characters from history looking “fabulous.” It’s a comment on masculinity and power etc., but it got me thinking about what villainous boxers would look like in similar get-ups. Carl Froch, for example, with a fetching dangly earring. Or Bernard Hopkins as little pink riding hood.
On to the schedule. This week we have Froch (who kind of redeemed himself through his honesty after losing to Andre Ward) in a mouthwatering super middleweight fight with Lucian Bute in Nottingham. There’s also a card from Cancun featuring fun Mexicans Sergio Thompson and Pablo Cesar Cano, as well as Deontay Wilder (warning: not a Mexican). Of course, there are other bits and bobs too.
- Lucian Bute vs. Carl Froch, Saturday, Epix, Nottingham England. Founder Tim will have the full preview of the biggest fight of the week a bit later, but I’ll give my thoughts briefly. French Canadian by way of Romania Bute (30-0) is a phenomenal looking talent who, by no fault of his own, has largely been left out of the super middleweight merry-go-round that’s been spinning for the last two or three years. Showtime, who foolishly chose not to include Bute in their Super Six tournament in the first place, foolishly chose to pass on this fight as well. Bute is facing the lanky, gritty Froch(28-2) in his own backyard. It’s the first time since 2004 that Bute has fought outside Quebec (excluding one fight in his other hometown, Bucharest), where he’s spent his time spectacularly knocking out fringe contenders. Froch figures to be his first real test in a long time. Froch is not as terrible on defence as some say, but he relies on his chin to some extent while awkwardly landing hard punches. Bute has a demonic uppercut and you can guarantee he will find Froch with it. Can he deal with Froch’s fitness and hardness though? So many questions. Insert Robin Hood/Carl Froch/Nottingham joke. On the undercard junior welterweight wrecking machine Pier Olivier Cote (18-0) fights the undermatched Mark Lloyd (15-5) after an impressive knockout of Jorge Luis Teron last time out.
- Pablo Cesar Cano vs. Fidel Moterrosa, Saturday, Fox Deportes, Cancun Mexico This big Golden Boy Promotions show in Cancun is kind of interesting. On the top of the bill are Mexicans Pablo Cesar Cano, who raised his stock last year in a valiant losing effort against Eric Morales, and Sergio Thompson, who upset and stopped Jorge Linares in March. The thing is that neither guy is that special. If either of them is going to be successful, it’s Cano (23-1-1) – who has showed good skills despite being a bit slow. Lightweight Thompson (22-2) is basically just a whirwind, but he shouldn’t be too challenged by his Argentine opponent, Juan Ramon Solis (17-5). Likewise Cano, who faces Fidel Munoz (29-5). But like I said, neither of these guys is actually that good – so these could be good, fun fights and even mild upsets. American heavyweight Deontay Wilder (21-0) faces Jesse Oltmanns (10-2) down the bill. You gotta step up someday, Deontay.
- The Rest. Have you heard the one about the Uzbek and the South Korean knockout artist fighting in St. Charles, Missouri? I haven’t, but you’ll have to tell me after Friday, when lightweight Alisher Rahimov (23-0) faces Ji-Hoon Kim (23-7) on ESPN2… On Thursday top flyweight and Pauly D lookalike Luis Concepcion (24-3) fights for some vacant regional trinket against Odilon Zaneta (14-1)… Saturday brings junior middleweight hardman Jesus Soto-Karass (24-7) trying to snap his three fight losing streak against Said El Harrak (10-1-1) in Tucson on Azteca America… Also that night there’s a very unremarkable Telefutura show from Columbus Ohio and Audley Harrison (shudder)… The second episode of the 24/7 series for Manny Pacquiao vs. Timothy Bradley premieres too.
