Boxing News: Mayweather vs Marquez, Jermain Taylor k'od and predictions

[Kool Beenz]

Mayweather vs. Marquez

BoxingScene.com was advised, by two sources who are close to the situation, that a deal has been reached for Floyd Mayweather Jr. to fight Juan Manuel Marquez . The proposed date [unless there is some change] is July 18 on HBO pay-per-view. The two sides have been negotiating for several weeks and the biggest roadblock was the catch-weight. The exact weight was not disclosed to me, but from what I understand the two sides agreed on a weight below 145-pounds.
Mayweather has not fought since a ten round knockout of Ricky Hatton  in December 2007. Marquez, considered by many as the number-two pound-for-pound fighter in the world, would rise up from the lightweight division to take the fight.
I don't want to say the "fight is 100% done" because only Marquez has signed off. Mayweather has yet to do so - or at least as I'm writing this. I've been told that Mayweather expected to sign off on the fight and an official announcement will happen in the next few days.

Jermain Taylor gets knocked out
Super middleweight champion Carl Froch delivered a stunning knockout of Jermain Taylor in the final round to steal a fight he would have lost had it been allowed to go a few seconds longer on Saturday.

The WBC champion trailed 106-102 on two of the judges' scorecards entering the final round, but he knocked down Taylor with less than a minute remaining. Froch then battered Taylor against the ropes until referee Michael Ortega stopped the fight with 14 seconds left.

"He was hurt badly," Froch said. "It was a great decision by the referee."

Taylor, unable to defend himself, didn't dispute the stoppage.

"If there was 14 seconds left or one second left it made no difference, he was defenseless," Ortega said. "I wanted him to be able to go home safely to his family."

Froch (25-0, 20 KOs), part of a recent wave of British fighters making names for themselves in the United States, was making the first defense of the title he won with a brutal unanimous decision over Jean Pascal last December.

Afterward, Froch called out retired former super middleweight and light heavyweight champion Joe Calzaghe — even though the Pride of Wales has expressed no interest in returning to the ring. Froch also offered to give Taylor a rematch.

"Does Jermain Taylor deserve a rematch?" Froch said. "Absolutely he does."

"Yeah," Taylor added, "I'd like a rematch."

The loss was the third in the last four fights for Taylor, the first under similar circumstances to Kelly Pavlik in 2007. Taylor knocked Pavlik down early and was leading the fight when he got trapped against the ropes and was stopped in the seventh round.

"My hat's off to Carl Froch," Taylor said. "He came over here and stuck it out for 12 rounds."

Froch didn't look impressive early in the fight, getting knocked down for the first time in his career when Taylor (28-3-1) landed an overhand right in the third round. Carrying his left hand low, Froch struggled to cover up when the quicker Taylor ducked inside to throw a punch, and the bridge of his nose turned red from the blows.

Taylor was still delivering a beating at the end of the eighth round, hitting Froch with a series of combinations. When the round ended, the former unified middleweight champion raised his fist triumphantly and glared across the ring at Froch.

Froch nearly went down again in a wild 11th round, staggering back to his corner, where his team told him that he was well behind on the scorecards and needed — at the very least - to knock Taylor down in the final round.

"When I fight my next fight in America, I need to start quicker," Froch said. "Neverthless, I'm still the champion."

Predictions on this weekends fight

I think Pacman is gonna be Hatton but i hope hatton pulls through and win
he has a great chance against him especially cus he gots Mayweather Sr. in his corner
if anyone can beat Pacman (besides Mayweather jr.) it is only Hatton who can

[Mga223]

but arent they setting up winner of pacman v hatton gets a shot at mayweather..

and whats going with taylor 1-3 in last 4 fights damn

[Javier]

Sweet, can't wait for Mayweather vs Marquez.  And I have Pacman over Hatton

[Kool Beenz]

Taylor had the fight in the bag... he just gave up the last minute

i really think his run as champ is over... unless he can miraculously make it at Light Heavy which i doubt

[Kool Beenz]

Marquez is a GREAT fighter but this is just a tune up fight for Mayweather...
he really needs to fight pac man already

[Mga223]

Marquez is a GREAT fighter but this is just a tune up fight for Mayweather...
he really needs to fight pac man already

yea he should hurry up and knock pacman out cause im wondering how much longer his hands will hold up arent they fragile as a mofo

[Kool Beenz]

yeah he talked about how he is starting to have problems...
but pacman aint getting any younger either

Mayweather prolly just took a year off to help his body
no matter what anyone says mayweather is the smartest man in boxing... actually he IS boxing.... he knows what he is doing

[The-Leak (aka) kingwell (bka) JULES]

Can't wait for both fights..  Good post!

[Tay]

Couldn't believe that Taylor fight, it seems to be a common theme developing where he is close to the knockout but can't finish his opponent. This came back to defeat him against Pavlik and now Froch. He isn't over the hill age-wise, but it looks doubtful that he will ever realize his full potential.

[Kool Beenz]

Taylor doesnt know how to finish his opponents
he had Froch in round 3 and he had pavlik in the first fight but he couldnt pull off the finisher....

he needs a rematch with Froch and if he loses he should think of retiring, getting a new trainer, or changing weight classes

[tempo2]

frochs comeback was unbelievable and once again taylors stamina let him down, also maywether is fantastic and to me is top 3 greatetst boxers of all time, the way he defends with his shoulder and unleashes out of it is unreal, im really hyped for the hatton fight too, hatton is great.

[Fatdodger]

I doubt this is true marquez is a beast he will mop the for with mayweather and i think taylor needs to move weight class

[Tay]

I doubt this is true marquez is a beast he will mop the for with mayweather and i think taylor needs to move weight class

I think Taylor just moved up a weight class, he might need a new trainer and to re-focus, or maybe he just peaked too early and that's it. Marquez is a beast, but to say he will mop the floor with Mayweather is ridiculous. Mayweather hasn't even lost in his career, so obviously he has never been dominated. I would love to see this fight though (or Pacquiao-Mayweather).

[Kool Beenz]

Marquez will take Money May to war... but will get ko'd in the process...

Jermain really needs a new trainer.... he can be a dominant force in the super middleweight class but he CANT fuckin finish off his opponents... he had the fight in the bag and got knocked out... like wtf?
if he fails in his rematch with Froch he really needs to move to another weight class and work on his training and stamina...

he had a WAY better defense against Froch until the last 2 rounds when he just fucked up...
it should of been over in round 3 though

[.:DaYg0sTyLz:.]

People forget that Mayweather, more then any other fighter over the last decade, can take away his opponents rhythm and make them fight HIS fight.  This should be a good fight for sure, but Mayweather (as long as no rust has set in) should take it. Pacquiao should take out Hatton, setting up a Mayweather vs Pacman megafight.  But then again, its boxing...what SHOULD happen doesnt always.