Here are my Olympic Boxing Semi-Final predictions for the welterweights, light heavyweights, and super heavyweights. These bouts will take place on Friday the 22nd at 8:30 a.m. EST (welter), 9:00 a.m. (light heavy) and 9:30 a.m. (super heavy). We’ll analyze how I did on Saturday. (Jabandgrapple picks in bold)
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Welterweight Semifinals
Carlos Banteaux (CUB) vs. Hanati Silamu (CHN)
Banteaux and Hanati are the top two ranked remaining competitors. I shudder to say fighters because the Chinese have done little fighting during this competition. This match could be 20-19 given the ease with which Cubans and Chinese have received points from the judges this …read more

Last night on ESPN2’s Wednesday Night Fights, Ring Magazine’s #9 ranked light heavyweight Chris Henry (22-1) bounced back from his somewhat controversial April decision loss to Adrian Diaconu (c’mon, the fight was in Romania, what did he expect?) with a sixth round TKO of Detroit’s Rubin Williams (29-5-1).
Last night’s fight was fought at cruiserweight although both fighters came in well under that class’ 200-pound limit. But even at 181 pounds Henry showed some impressive power and dominating strength against Williams. Williams may be winless in his last four fight but he has faced impressive competition. His last two losses had …read more

Chris Byrd’s foray into the light heavyweight division did not go as planned. In a relatively shocking and ultimately sad bout Shaun George TKOd the former heavyweight champ late in the ninth round. Referee Jay Nady stopped the fight after George floored Byrd for the second time that round.
George’s demonstrative and dominating win, he was up 79-72 on all three cards, announced that he is yet another talented fighter in a division proving to be boxing’s finest. Byrd, on the other hand, did not prove that he belonged.
Byrd fought the smaller quicker George as if he were a …read more

Image details: Joe Calzaghe Media Interview served by picapp.com
If you call your opponent a “sore loser” doesn’t that necessarily indicate that you’re a sore winner? In Joe Calzaghe’s case it just means that he’s a classless boxer who doesn’t know when to shut up or give a great fighter credit.
What this all means is that Calzaghe is at it again, talking to BBC Two in a Sunday interview, view it here, spouting off about everything, professing his love for countryman Tom Jones and Al Pacino, insulting Bernard Hopkins‘ performance and attitude, harping about the referee and American judges, and …read more

Image details: Bernard Hopkins v Joe Calzaghe served by picapp.com
Joe Calzaghe is no Ricky Hatton. He doesn’t bring legions of Britons to Las Vegas, he’s not gracious to his opponent in post-match interviews, he doesn’t want to fight dangerous young fighters, but, most importantly, he’s able to find a way to win, however controversially, against his American opponent thus maintaining his undefeated record.
Calzaghe escaped the 43-year-old Bernard Hopkins’ technical, throwback counterpuncing style with a high volume of pitter-pat slaps and occasional rabbit punches scoring a close split decision victory and the linear light heavyweight title. Judges Ted Gizma (115-112) and …read more