Floyd Mayweather vs. Juan Manuel Marquez - The Undercard

by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 17, 2009 10:40 AM EDT in MMA News

While the majority of readers of this site will undoubtedly choose to watch UFC 103 over the Floyd Mayweather/Juan Manuel Marquez scrap I do think it is important to pay attention to the boxing card. This is a fight between two of the top three pound-for-pound boxers in the world and as such it does matter both in terms of combat sports in general and as far as what the Franklin/Belfort card is up against in the battle for PPV buys.

Scott Christ over at Bad Left Hook has done a great series of write ups of what is, in the boxing world, a very solid PPV undercard. Here are the installments with highlights from each:

Know Your PPV Undercard, Pt. 1: Cornelius Lock v. Orlando Cruz

Neither Lock nor Cruz are afraid to mix it up, so there's a decent chance we'll get a pretty good scrap out of this, even though it really doesn't belong as part of the undercard that was to prove to boxing fans that the promoters actually listen and understand our problems with past PPV shows being $50 for one decent fight.

Know Your PPV Undercard, Pt. 2: Michael Katsidis v. Vicente Escobedo

Dear friends, have you yet to meet Mr. Katsidis? He likes to throw down. Rumble. Go to war. Get hit in the face. Not be able to defend. Hit people in the face. Bleed. These are his turn-ons. Turn-offs include mean people and coffee (yuk!)

...

I wonder to myself if a lot of people will be picking Katsidis simply because he's the bigger name, having been featured on American TV more often. I think that's a fool's bet.

Know Your PPV Undercard, Pt. 3: Chris John v. Rocky Juarez II

Chris John and Rocky Juarez first met on February 28, a disputed 114-114 draw across the board in Juarez's hometown of Houston, a fight city whose reputation plummeted last month after building nicely with one of 2009's best cards on that February night. I scored the bout 115-113 for John, but Juarez made an impressive late run and nearly stole a win. It was a good, back-and-forth fight, and most importantly, it finally brought Indonesian Chris John to American soil.

Check out the full pieces on each fight (they're great) and check out Bad Left Hook for more news and analysis of boxing's biggest show of the year.

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Comments

Good call with the cross promotion. I’m sure I won’t be the only one watching either show and checking the results of the other. In the end, the competition always ensures the best outcome for fans of both sports.

by cyke on Sep 17, 2009 10:12 AM EDT reply actions

Is this normal?

Do you usually analyze boxing shows here? I don’t remember seeing this before.

by Fibbus on Sep 17, 2009 10:12 AM EDT reply actions

I do frequently...

then again I started out writing for SB Nation on Bad Left Hook. I think combat sports are all related and that good combat sports events deserve attention. Yes, this is an MMA site first but it’s also a combat site.

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

by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 17, 2009 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Ugh...

I get the whole “combat sports are related” but I am just not interested in boxing analysis on my MMA website. Just my 2 cents, not a criticism.

I'm the kind of girl who loves to watch a GOOD fight!
--------
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by funnytiger on Sep 17, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

This particular article does kind of directly relate to MMA

in that MMA fans are pretending that every boxing PPV has a weak undercard when this particular show (the biggest of the year for boxing) has a very strong undercard and is heads up against a UFC card.

Plus…just don’t read the boxing articles then.

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

by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 17, 2009 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions

Plus…just don’t read the boxing articles then.

Don’t plan to. Matter of fact, I didn’t read this one. Again, I was just adding my 2 cents.

I'm the kind of girl who loves to watch a GOOD fight!
--------
Join the DC Area UFC Meetup Group
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by funnytiger on Sep 17, 2009 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions

To an article you didn't read...

thanks!

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

by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 17, 2009 11:27 AM EDT up reply actions

Why would he read it

if he’s not interested in articles about boxing?

Is there a chance it will suddenly shift topics and be about something awesome that he’s actually interested in?

Or do you think he should read it for the anti UFC/Dana White subtext?

by Fibbus on Sep 17, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Why would he/she take the time to COMMENT on the article then?

http://www.fourouncestofreedom.com

by Tim Burke on Sep 17, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions

To give a little consumer feedback, obviously.

by Fibbus on Sep 17, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions

That's what I thought

this was really all about.

Another F U to Dana White.

by Fibbus on Sep 17, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Agree i check an MMA website not a boxing website.

by JaTinkles on Sep 17, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions

Well...

it isn’t going to stop. So maybe just ignore them rather than going into the comments.

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

by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 17, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions

So

BE isn’t interested in feedback on their content from their readers. Check.

I'm the kind of girl who loves to watch a GOOD fight!
--------
Join the DC Area UFC Meetup Group
http://www.meetup.com/DCUFCGroup

by funnytiger on Sep 17, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions

If by that you mean...

I should stop writing about boxing events because it doesn’t interest you…yes. I am 100% uninterested in that. I am also uninterested in people coming into comments of articles that don’t interest them to whine. Just ignore the article and move on to the next one.

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

by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 17, 2009 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions

You're being really defensive

For really no good reason. If your response to legitimate feedback is accusing people of whining then I don’t know what to tell you.

I'm the kind of girl who loves to watch a GOOD fight!
--------
Join the DC Area UFC Meetup Group
http://www.meetup.com/DCUFCGroup

by funnytiger on Sep 17, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

This isn’t legit feedback. How is it legit if you didn’t even read the article? He’s not being defensive, he’s correct.

http://www.fourouncestofreedom.com

by Tim Burke on Sep 17, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions

So

I have to read the article about boxing to tell him I’m not interested in reading articles about boxing?

Gotcha.

I'm the kind of girl who loves to watch a GOOD fight!
--------
Join the DC Area UFC Meetup Group
http://www.meetup.com/DCUFCGroup

by funnytiger on Sep 17, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions

WHy do you need to read the article

if the feedback is “I’m not interested in articles about boxing?”

This is all anti UFC agenda stuff anyway. Same ol BS.

by Fibbus on Sep 17, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions

You’re a hilarious troll. Wonderfully done sir

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

by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 17, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions

You already all but admitted it.

When you tried to justify the connection of this article to MMA.

by Fibbus on Sep 17, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh yeah? Saying that this is relevant to MMA in that this card is going up against UFC 103 makes it an anti-UFC hatchet job?

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

by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 17, 2009 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Subtextually.

At least that’s the subtext I read into someone promoting a boxing card on an MMA website days before an MMA event.

One that Dana White HAPPENED to trash.

by Fibbus on Sep 17, 2009 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions

My job isn't promotion...

my job is to talk about combat sports. The boxing show is interesting and deep in terms of interesting fights. At no point did I say that it was better than the UFC show, at no point did I say someone should pay for this over the UFC show, at no point did I say anything but that this card is up against UFC 103.

But I guess when your opinion of what is anti-UFC is simply “Dana White said this is bad, if you say it is good you’re anti-UFC” then we’re not going to be able to have a mature discussion. Feel free to come back when someone tells you how to feel about another story.

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

by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 17, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions

The nice thing about insinuations

is that they’re 100% deniable.

To me it was obvious that this was an “IN YOUR FACE!” to ufc and dana white from the get go, and that was it’s only value to MMA fans. If I interpreted it wrongly, so be it. If I was right, though, would you admit it? Probably not.

by Fibbus on Sep 17, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions

You're very clearly wrong...

I’ve written about boxing several times on this site when I feel that a fight is of a level (be it of importance, quality…etc) that should be relevant to MMA fans. I’ve written on this very site that the Mayweather/Marquez show has been promoted very poorly. Oh…and then there is THIS ARTICLE where clearly my anti-ufc, pro-boxing bias shines though. Also, the fact that an anti-ufc bias for someone whose site benefits greatly from the UFC would be hilariously stupid.

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

by Brent Brookhouse on Sep 17, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions

The sheer dishonesty

of the argument that no MMA website would have an anti UFC bias because it would be stupid is clear when one looks at, oh, almost every major fan-MMA website in existence.

Yeah, you’ve failed to convince me. Pretty hard.

by Fibbus on Sep 17, 2009 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Then go somewhere else. Please.

http://www.fourouncestofreedom.com

by Tim Burke on Sep 17, 2009 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions

Voicing how you don’t get boxing doesn’t really add anything to the conversation. It’s not going to change anyone’s life.
So why waste space by talking?

Just because Dana trashed his main competition on Saturday doesn’t mean its true.

Dana talking about it is your link to MMA and can give you a better perspective on things. So why the whining over a moot point?

by cyke on Sep 17, 2009 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Dana White also said he doesn’t know who Juan Manuel Marquez is, but we all know that’s bullshit.

Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com

by Mike Fagan on Sep 17, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Bullshit

or a joke.

It’s a thin line, isn’t it?

Oh wait, no it’s not…

by Fibbus on Sep 17, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Wuzza?

Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com

by Mike Fagan on Sep 17, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s because you’re siding with the enemy in the MMA/boxing war that will decide the future of every combat sport in existence Brent…

…you goddamn traitor….

by Tonley on Sep 17, 2009 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

yeah

this too

by Fibbus on Sep 17, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions

I guess I should have added [/sarcasm] at the end of that post.

by Tonley on Sep 17, 2009 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions

[feign]You should really

have matching tags though, shouldn’t you?

[sarcasm] AND [/sarcasm]?

You know, for the sake of symmetry. Or whatever.[/feign]

by Fibbus on Sep 17, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL

See what I have to deal with.
=)

by MMASuPreMaCy on Sep 17, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I was thinking the same thing.

http://www.fourouncestofreedom.com

by Tim Burke on Sep 17, 2009 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I know what to tell you: big boxing cards are absolutely post worthy. Period. That isn’t even debatable so don’t waste your time.

If you don’t like them, fine. Don’t read them. Want to offer feedback? By all means. Knock yourself out. But we’re at a point with this site where we know what works and what doesn’t. Don’t let the tiny vocal community here fool into thinking there is some mass protest about boxing articles. There isn’t.

They are here to stay and that’s all there is to it.

by Luke Thomas on Sep 17, 2009 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, I agree, because nothing annoys me more when I am checking out my favorite decathlon website and someone posts a story about Usain Bolt’s 100m race coming up or an 110m hurdles race with Dayron Robles. What are they thinking? There is absolutely no correlation between the decathlon and the individual events that make it up.

by John Nash on Sep 17, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s been done, especially after a good fight or when previewing interesting upcoming shows.

by cyke on Sep 17, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions

two or three times a year

old man boxing dusts himself off and puts on a good PPV. This is one of those occasions.

Follow me on Twitter @KidNate

by Kid Nate on Sep 17, 2009 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions

big ups on the linkage

And just to shamelessly SELF-promote, if anyone is watching 103 on Saturday but feeling the need to have some incredibly fast live updates on the boxing show, BLH is your place. We do our RBR a little differently (the updates are in the comments and they show up live), but it’s pretty much the same deal as what it is here otherwise.

Bad Left Hook
"Well Howie, I think I'm going to stay outside and outjab him." -- Tex Cobb telling Howard Cosell how he would approach Larry Holmes

by Scott Christ on Sep 17, 2009 10:39 AM EDT reply actions

I enjoy 'em.

As a complete doofus when it comes to boxing – I can’t remember a fight ever being on in my house except Tyson-Holyfield II – I like having boxing posts that are more directly addressed to my perspective and level of knowledge. Things like that make the sport more approachable, which leads to more people enjoying boxing for what it is, and I’m all in favor of that. Of course it’s not for everyone, but cross-pollination is one of the neatest things about MMA.

Besides, a boxing post serves as a landmark to make it easier to navigate through TUF/103 posts.

The ULTIMATE ultimate proving ground.

by Dodectagon on Sep 17, 2009 10:49 AM EDT reply actions

nice write-up

This is the most stacked boxing card I can remember. I know I can get a good UFC card every month, but the fact that boxing has finally come up with one makes me seriously consider ditching 103 for Mayweather/Marquez.

by steak_knife on Sep 17, 2009 10:52 AM EDT reply actions

Yeah, BLH will occasionally post MMA stuff too, so you guys need to get the panties unwadded.

Twitter: @Mike_Fagan_13
http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com

by Mike Fagan on Sep 17, 2009 12:56 PM EDT reply actions

NO! NO!

I read something about boxing on a blog dedicated to a sport where guys beat each other up and NOW I’M OFFENDED!!

by Tonley on Sep 17, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Why is it important?

Who cares what the undercard is on a boxing fight? Thats not why I come to read this site, and I never understand why you guys continually mention boxing in any context. I ordered one boxing PPV, mayweather vs. de la hoya, and of the fifteen people at my house I was the only one who stayed the watch until the end, and that was a terrible decision. Since then I dont care about boxing, and Im pretty sure most of the people dont either.

by nomomrnicekyle on Sep 17, 2009 1:09 PM EDT reply actions

I can

honestly say I would watch TUF reruns before I get suckered into ordering another PPV from boxing. The last 5 or six boxing PPV I purchased I told myself not to do it again. This time I wont. This might not be fair to the sport or the boxers, it is just that I have been burned too many times.

I don’t mind the once a month boxing articles on BE. Maybe in a year if boxing start cleaning up their act I might follow it again. When BLH or Brent hype of fight card in 18 months using the logic, this promoter has put on 4 great cards in a row, I will stop and reconsider. I like the fact they keep me informed without me having to go searching for vital info.

I see this in no way as being anti UFC or Dana White, and that’s coming from a UFC nutthugger. And I would have never seen the entire Malignaggi debacle. Keep up the good work.

by Riney on Sep 17, 2009 1:26 PM EDT reply actions

Holy shit

What’s with the whining? Ignore the post if you don’t like boxing.

I for one am looking forward to both events. ANd all I really need in addition to JMM/Mayweather is one extra good fight…and John/Juarez gives me that. I had no idea they were fighting again until this post. Pumped.

BOOSH

by Farthammer on Sep 17, 2009 1:55 PM EDT reply actions

You guys are being an bunch of babies. If you don’t care about boxing, DON’T READ THE ARTICLE! It’s not like they’re shoving it down your throats. He’s just highlighting what he thinks is a rare good under card in a night of boxing fights. Thanks for the article Brent, I totally forgot John/Juarez was on the card.

by Zack Gobie on Sep 18, 2009 5:37 PM EDT reply actions