Boxing promised us a welterweight fight for the ages and for 11 rounds Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito provided. Margarito charged relentlessly with defiant straightforward abandon while Cotto skillfully bobbed, weaved, counterpunched and scored with inspired boxing. Power punch after power punch from both fighters, bomb after bomb.

But in the 11th it was the Mexican, the Tijuana Tornado Antonio Margarito, who proved to have the greater will as the Puerto Rican Cotto quit on his feet, too battered, unwilling and unable to summon strength in the championship rounds.

Cotto’s corner ostensibly threw in the towel but Miguel’s sinking eyes and drooped shoulders had already betrayed his self-defeat and resignation; he had to decided to give away his title rather than defend it with his last breath. It was a disappointing conclusion to what had been a thrilling study in contrasts and a ceaselessly exciting fight. As good as the fight was it deserved to be and should have been better.

Margarito started out slow, just as he had in his defeat one year ago to Paul Williams, looking outsmarted and outclassed in the first. But by the second Antonio had picked up the pace only to have his whirlwind flurries picked off and evaded by Cotto’s quick defenses and then countered by skilled straights and hooks.

Superficially in this chase Margarito looked to be dictating the action, but it was Cotto who was really in charge. He looked at ease, confident, and in control. All the while, however, Margarito was taking Cotto’s best punches and he must have realized that the Puerto Rican could not hurt him. He was the stronger man and his adversary couldn’t run forever. He was going to tire out.

The tide of control began turning in the middle rounds. The script, however, had not changed. Margarito was still charging, throwing countless flurries, uppercuts, and hooks to the body while Cotto was dodging and countering. Only now more of Margarito’s flurries and uppercuts were landing. Cotto’s left eye was cut and he was leaking blood from his nose and mouth. His counters had less force and less accuracy.

Margarito was the turned ocean, he was getting more powerful and more forceful, while Cotto’s time had passed. Cotto needed to hang on, he needed to stand steadfast against the rushing force, and he needed to bring forth the powers that make great fighters transcendent, that turn great fights into legends.

That switch never happened for Miguel Cotto and one has to wonder if his spirit is gone, like his countryman Felix Trinidad’s was after his similar shrinking against Bernard Hopkins. Tito was just 28 then and he has never returned to greatness; Cotto is just 27. We hope Miguel quickly shakes off his demons and returns to the ring soon. A prolonged departure from meaningful competition could lead him down the Trinidad path and that would be a tragedy to the sport of boxing. Cotto is still a great fighter, but tonight he just ran into a ruthless buzzsaw.

After the fight Margarito joined the litany of fighters wishing to become Oscar De La Hoya’s “final” opponent on December 6 joining every lightweight through middleweight who has won on Showtime or HBO since Oscar dropped Steve Forbes in early May. Margarito’s hook is that it’s one for Mexican supremacy, a bookend for Oscar’s illustrious career whose greatness began with his June 1996 TKO of Mexico’s all-time best Julio Cesar Chavez.

Image details: Kelly Pavlik v Jermain Taylor served by picapp.com

ESPN.com is reporting that middleweight champ Kelly “The Ghost” Pavlik will face boxing’s Methuselah Bernard Hopkins on October 18 in Atlantic City, New Jersey’s Boardwalk Hall. The bout will be fought at a 170-pound catch weight and will be broadcasted on HBO Pay-Per-View.

Pavlik’s promotor Bob Arum admitted to ESPN that “This fight was not our first choice, but it was the only alternative we had to make a buck.” How’s that for salesmanship? You know Bob, it wouldn’t have been this fight fan’s first choice either — that would have been serial big fight ducker Joe Calzaghe — but it’s not bad. Hopkins doesn’t always make exciting fights but he will be a true test of Pavlik’s supposed greatness.

The Atlantic City venue should pull in a good crowd for each fight AND Arum also tells ESPN that the he has been assured by Calzaghe’s people that Kelly will get the Welshmen if both are victorious in their respective fights. We’ll believe it when we see it.

Image details: Chris Arreola v Damian Wills served by picapp.com

My dad recently asked me “Why didn’t you write about the HBO heavyweight fight a few weeks ago? The one where the young kid Chris Arreola just tore that poor Philly boxer Chazz Witherspoon up. That kid was something else.”

Back in late June I was much more interested in the Showtime fights that aired at the same night: the Arthur Abraham - Edison Miranda rematch its co-feature the Raul Marquez - Giovanni Lorenzo upset. A few days later when I got around to watching the HBO fights — Arreola’s third round KO and Andre Berto’s domination of Miki Rodriguez — there was nothing left to say.

Since then everyone and their mother (my father was on the cutting edge) has fallen in love with young, round, and large Chris Arreola. During the July 2 Friday Night Fights ESPN2 ranked him as America’s 2nd best heavyweight behind Tony Thompson, after the Wladimir Klitschko fight the HBO team was rushing to place him in a major fight, and today Arreola pops up in Ring Magazine’s Top Ten Heavyweights.

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Image details: Joe Calzaghe Media Interview served by picapp.com

ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael has just reported the worst kept Breaking News in boxing: 2008’s Top 5 pound-for-pound boxer Joe Calzaghe’s next fight will be against 2002 Top 5 pound-for-pound boxer Roy Jones, Jr.. They will fight for Calzaghe’s 175-pound light heavyweight title.

The 36-year-old Calzaghe (45-0, 32 KO) will fight the 39-year-old Jones (52-4, 38 KO) on September 20, 2008 in Madison Square Garden on HBO pay-per-view. Oh, if only this fight had taken place a few years ago. Maybe then I’d be inspired to spend my hard-earned $50-60. But this fight choice just serves as evidence to Calzaghe’s painful lack of ambition as well as his disdain for boxing history.

Maybe once Calzaghe disposes of the once feared Jones he’ll saunter down to the historically relevant middleweight division (or, alas, a catch weight), take on fellow pound-for-pounder Kelly Pavlik and finally rise to a pugilistic challenge.

Image details: Juan Manuel Lopez v Juan Brea served by picapp.com

If you stayed with the end of Showtime’s Sergio Mora victory over Vernon Forrest then you probably missed HBO’s opening bout. Heck, if you blinked you might have missed Juan Manual Lopez’ declarative first round TKO and WBO super bantamweight-grabbing win over Daniel Ponce de Leon.

The 24-year-old Puerto Rican destroyed the 27-year-old Mexican first dropping him with a straight left halfway through round one. Ponce de Leon got up but was out on feet an Lopez pounced. He stalked Ponce de Leon around the ring finally cornering him at the 50 second mark. At this point he wailed hook after hook flattening his opponent again. The Mexican was unable to gather and the ref mercifully stepped in and ended the beating.

HBO announcer Max Kellerman asserted that “a star is born.” It’s hard to argue with that statement especially after Lopez’ confident and personality-filled post-match interview. Israel Vazquez and Rafael Marquez now have an exciting prospective Puerto Rican dancing partner. Kellerman asked him if he’s ready for those two luminaries to which Lopez smilingly responded, “If the fight today didn’t demonstrate it, then what do I have to do?”

It didn’t take long. In just two minutes Paul Williams regained his WBO welterweight title from Carlos Quintana revenging his unexpected February loss to the Puerto Rican. Williams put Quintana down twice in the first reminding us why he was once one of boxing’s most feared fighters.

This emphatic win puts Williams back on the welterweight map. He’s an exciting fighter and a powerful champ. Now that Oscar De La Hoya has nothing to do on September 20 why not take a chance on this up-and-coming star from Aiken, South Carolina.

The best part of Williams’ quick win is that it takes away many boxing fans’ impending 10 p.m. angst: “what will I watch when HBO’s broadcast starts?” Now there might not be much of a choice to make as the Showtime card might be done by that time. Thanks Paul for your quick work!

Photo Source: Newscom.com

Last night a message appeared on my Comcast cable box. It read: You still have time to order this Saturday’s exciting welterweight pay-per-view event “Sugar” Shane Mosley vs. Zab “Super” Judah. I wonder what would happen if you did order the May 31 fight that was officially canceled almost three weeks ago because of Zab Judah’s unfortunate incident with a shower and the resulting fifty stitches Zab had installed in his right arm?

Would you get a Zab Judah highlights montage showcasing the choking Jay Nady incident, the Roger Mayweather corner clearing brawl, the dizzying Kosta Tszyu knockdown? Or maybe you would get a clandestine video of what really happened in the infamous Las Vegas glass shower. ESPN’s Dan Rafael reports on his ESPN Insider blog that Judah did indeed put his jabbing arm threw glass only it didn’t occur because of an unfortunate slip.

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Alfredo Angulo vs. Richar Gutierrez
HBO’s Night of the Bulldog continues with 2004 Mexican Olympian Alfredo Angulo. He approaches the ring with MMA star Kimbo Slice. Angulo’s robe and T-shirt carry a stately pit bull profile and he’s wearing a dog collar emblazoned with a sparkly El Perro (the dog).

Unlike the first fight it’s quickly evident that both fighters fall into Ann Wolfe’s definition of bulldog. The 154 pounders trade blows and look good in a very even first round. Angulo settles down late in the second, finds his path and establishes dominance in the third. He spreads his targets throughout Gutierrez’ body throwing a lot a close range punches at an alarming rate. Angulo continues his barrage through the fourth. He now looks very comfortable.

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Eromosele Albert vs. James Kirkland
As the opening bell rings Max Kellerman insists that James Kirkland is a fun boxer to watch lauding his ferocity and his urgent aggression. 40 seconds later he knocks Eromosele Albert down silly. Joe Cortez lets the fight continue but Albert never recovers and is dropped for good ten seconds later at 1:06 of Round One. After the fight Kirkland says he wants to “take over the 154-pound division”. Kirkland is now 22-0 with 19 KOs seven of which have happened in the first round. Albert fell to 21-1.

Because of the fight’s abrupt end the HBO announcing team focuses on Kirkland’s trainer Ann Wolfe and her unorthodox methods which they equate to torture. Wolfe counters with “When you play with a puppy it’ll lick you in the mouth. When you come to the gym it’s bulldogs in there; you better be a bulldog or you’ll get ate alive.” The Primm Valley Resort Arena responds with spontaneous applause. It’s officially the night of the bulldog on HBO.

Photo Source: Newscom.com

It’s 8:00 p.m. EST on Saturday night. Your probably know already whether you’re going out or not. We here at www.jabandgrapple.com are indeed leaving the humble abode and headed to this party. Just because it’s an art show doesn’t mean we’re not tough. Heck, we’re watching Steven Seagal and DMX’s Exit Wounds right now.

Nevertheless if you are staying in you really need to watch tonight’s Boxing After Dark on HBO. We can’t explain why any better than Tim at Ring Report:

Yuriorkis Gamboa = Mike Tyson + Roy Jones + Floyd Mayweather. Gamboa, a 130-pounder, may not end up being as good as any of the three boxers mentioned in the headline there. But stylistically, he resembles an amalgamation of them — Tyson’s fearless charges, Jones’ dangling left hand and sneaky power, Mayweather’s quickness and defensive reflexes.

For more on the fight you should be watching tonight — we’ll watch it tomorrow morn on the DVR (perhaps even at 3 a.m. if we can’t wait) — check out these glowing testimonials:

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