Nine Fight Cards in Five Weeks: Fight Fans Rejoice

by Brent Brookhouse on Nov 26, 2008 2:33 PM EST in News Comment 26 comments

This may be one of the best periods for a consistent schedule of significant fights in both boxing and MMA. Between now and the end of 2008 there are nine fight cards easily available to any American fight fan. Yes, this includes boxing, but every single boxing card I list here is worth watching. I sincerely suggest that you check the boxing out (I'm sure you are all planning to check out the MMA cards already) as nothing can give an MMA fan an appreciation for technical punching like watching high level boxers in action. So, here in one easy post is a list of every significant broadcast through the end of the year.

Boxing: November 29 On HBO - Paul Williams (Ring Magazine #2 Welterweight) vs. Verno Phillips (Ring Magazine #1 Jr. Middleweight) and Cristobal Arreola (Ring Magazine #10 Heavyweight) vs. Travis Walker

MMA: December 3 on Versus - WEC 37 - Headlined by Miguel Torres vs. Manny Tapia

Boxing: December 5 on Showtime - Luis Abregu vs. David Estrada and Travis Kauffman vs. Malachy Farrell

Boxing: December 6 on PPV - Oscar De La Hoya (Ring Magazine #3 Jr. Middleweight) vs. Manny Pacquiao (Ring Magazine #2 Lightweight) and Juan Manuel Lopez (Ring Magazine #3 Jr. Featherweight) vs. Sergio medina (Ring Magazine #6 Jr. Featherweight)

MMA: December 10 on Spike - UFC: Fight for the Troops - Headlined by Josh Koscheck vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida

Boxing: December 11 on Versus - Steve Cunningham vs. Tomasz Adamek for the Ring Magazine World Cruiserweight Championship

MMA: December 13 on Spike - UFC: Ultimate Fighter 8 Finale

Boxing: December 13 on HBO - Wladimir Klitschko (Ring Magazine #1 Heavyweight) vs. Hasim Rahman and Replay of De La Hoya vs. Pacquiao

MMA: December 27 on PPV - UFC 92 headlined by Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Frank Mir, Forrest Griffin vs. Rashad Evans, and Quinton Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva

From an atmosphere standpoint I really think everyone should check out Pacquiao/De La Hoya as it should be nuts and will be by far the highest grossing PPV of the year. Obviously this is far from anything like groundbreaking news, but it never hurts to remember that there is a great schedule on deck and that we as fight fans will have a great five weeks to watch grown men punch each other in the face.

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January and February are going to be crazy, too.

by Luke Thomas on Nov 26, 2008 12:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yes they are...

I’m as excited as I’ve been in a long time to be a fan of both sports.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Nov 26, 2008 12:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

why the hell would ring magazine rank manny pacquiao as the #2 lightweight?

He’s almost the consensus #1 P4P guy in boxing.. A few people may think otherwise but no one would even debate if he’s the best in Lightweight in the world.

Just goes to show how the ring magazine also doesnt follow its principles of crowning the true “champion” and best fighter in the division. cough*wamma*cough

http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/

by Anton Tabuena on Nov 26, 2008 12:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

ring has manny as its #1 P4P, because they think he’s the best overall.

rankings within weightclasses work differently, though. juan manuel marquez is lightweight champion right now because he beat joel casamayor, who was LW champion before their fight. manny would have to beat JMM at that weight to take that belt.

by boxingstudent on Nov 26, 2008 1:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

that is...

100% correct. This is TOTALLY different from WAMMA

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Nov 26, 2008 1:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I would debate his placement at #2 in an instant. He should probably be #4 at that weight. No higher. Being at #2 is a gift.

To put this in perspective, how do you feel about Anderson Silva in a P4P sense? #1? Maybe #2 in the world? Okay, now tell me where he’s ranked at 205.

by D.Capitated on Nov 26, 2008 1:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Because

Manny has 1 fight at LW where he fought and tore up David Diaz the #3 or 4 best guy in the division… Juan Manual Marquez who has went blow for blow with Manny twice also has 1 fight in the division. Except he fought the consensus #1 ranked LW in the world in Joel Casamayor and KO’d him in the 11th round. Thats why he’s the #1 LW – his title is more legit.

by skwirrl on Nov 26, 2008 1:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m really lookin forward to the Paul williams card. I’ve Heard Arreola’s a brawler so i’ve been wanting to see him fight for some time. The De La Hoya-Paquiao fight kinda irks me a bit but i’ll be watching it anyways.

by asmiley420 on Nov 26, 2008 12:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don’t even have a problem with boxing, but it’s impossible for me to even care about any of the fights.

Except for Klitschko v. Rahman, and that’s only because I sort of like Klitschko for his fight against Lewis and I really like Rahman for having beaten Lewis that one time. Also, he’s from Baltimore and as far as I know he hasn’t killed a man, which makes him about the most upstanding sports figure in this town not named Cal Ripken.

Oh, it’s not Vitaly. Well, ok. I like Wladimir just fine, I guess. He was supposed to be this great big deal back in the times when Tyson fought Lewis. I think I watched Wladimir get beat by a tiny South African dude on HBO for the WBO Heavyweight Championship, but that was so long ago that I could be confusing fighters. But hey, I was just glad I wasn’t watching John Ruiz fight.

So did Vitaly ever become a government official? Wasn’t that what he decided to do after retiring? Or is he fighting at all these days?

by Brett Jones on Nov 26, 2008 12:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

He recently came back...

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Nov 26, 2008 1:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And beat Sam Peters ass

Wlad did get KO’d by Corrie Sanders who if he had ever taken boxing seriously could have had quite a career. He punched as hard as any guy in the world but was always fat and lazy

by skwirrl on Nov 26, 2008 1:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

As always The MMA cards are always my fav… and while the Wec card and both UFC cards have some good fights. My mind right now is counting down to Dec. 27th. I can’t wait to see Rampage/Silva 3.

by asmiley420 on Nov 26, 2008 12:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

ranking errors

paul williams is ring’s #2 welterweight. verno phillips is #2 jr. middle.

by boxingstudent on Nov 26, 2008 1:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

blaf...

you’re right. I will fix.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Nov 26, 2008 1:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Isn’t blaf supposedly what Dana White goes by on the UG?

by Brett Jones on Nov 26, 2008 9:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

...maybe...

maybe I’m really Dana…hmmmm….

it’s a thinker…

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Nov 26, 2008 9:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Adamek/Cunningham card is the best of the boxing cards in terms of the quality of matchmaking, and oddly enough its on regular ass cable. Its kinda funny to look at the boxing and MMA cards against one another and see the boxing actually be better in terms of creating competitive matchups for once.

by D.Capitated on Nov 26, 2008 1:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I should state that its not across the board. UFC 92 is the best card on paper this year.

by D.Capitated on Nov 26, 2008 1:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Its at cruiserweight

which will never ever feature on a PPV because its the forgotten weight class

by skwirrl on Nov 26, 2008 2:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

BUT...

is very often good for action fights

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Nov 26, 2008 2:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Doesn’t look like TSN is going to broadcast WEC 37 here in Canada, at least it’s not on the schedule.
Anyone know for sure?
I recommend the rest of us Canadians to send a message to TSN audience relations asking why it’s no being aired.
http://www.tsn.ca/contact/#tvschedules

by pr0cs on Nov 26, 2008 1:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think it’s supposed to be on TSN2, which is where the last WEC card was carried. Unfortunately for a good deal of Ontarians (and a majority of Toronto natives) you can’t see it because Rogers Cable refuses to add TSN2 to its cable line-up.

by Frank_Castle on Nov 26, 2008 4:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

out west I get TSN2 and caught the last event but it was also listed on their schedule, 37 is not unfortunately.
I’m sure we’ll get something a lot more exciting like bowling or underwater basket weaving, perhaps poker.

by pr0cs on Nov 26, 2008 5:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

god I can’t wait for that Manny/Oscar fight. Will be one of the best fights of the last 10 years.

by lbk on Nov 26, 2008 2:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

PACMAN FTW!!!

Decemeber 6th will be epic.

by I Can't Feel My Face on Nov 26, 2008 7:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

What for the Troops?

I think Dana could have put a better card together “for the troops” personally. Kos and Yoshida should be a co-main event. Anderson Silva should have been put on that one to redeem himself (his POV, not mine)… maybe against another 205er? Anyhow, too late now.

by Jaydoggydog on Nov 26, 2008 10:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs