It's Monday. Welcome back for another edition of Observe and Fight, The Boxing Observer's compilation of observations and random thoughts from the week that was in boxing. Get caught up on some of the most recent events you may have missed out on, including a look at boxing's newest, not-so-new star, another successful title defense for Gennady Golovkin, strict new drug use penalties issued by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, and much more. Without further ado, check out the latest observations from the Boxing Observer, David Kassel.
Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez steals the show from Gennady Golovkin! We all knew GGG was going to stop Willie Monroe Jr., but it was a matter of when it would happen. American fans had heard about the Nicaraguan sensation, mostly from YouTube and his being ranked in the Top 5 pound-for-pound list on Jim Lampley's The Fight Game, but most didn't really know what to expect because he is a flyweight (112 lbs). Gonzalez came in and absolutely demolished the once formidable Edgar Sosa in 2 rounds, proclaiming he has arrived on the American landscape. Of Sosa's now 9 losses, 5 of those came in the first 4 years of his career (2000-2003), and all of his losses since then have been to world champions. The point is, while Sosa has seen better days, he can fight, and Gonzalez made him look like an amateur. I am aware that the crowd was not chanting "Chocolatito," but they were just as interested in the co-feature as they were in the main event. Get used to the name Roman Gonzalez because, at 27 years old, you'll be watching him for years to come.
Gonzalez is headed toward his own mega-fight that all boxing fans should hope takes place. Although he is featured in a very small weight class, Gonzalez's knockout percentage is astounding (86%). There is a fighter out of Japan, who was the pick by many as the 2014 Fighter of the Year, Naoya Inoue, who currently holds the lineal 115 lb championship after defeating long-reigning champion Omar Narvaez. It was the man Max Kellerman mentioned to Gonzalez after his victory Saturday. Both Gonzalez and Inoue share the same promoter out of Japan, and it is a fight that should easily garner Fight of the Year consideration. Not only that, but these two fighters may be the best fighters in the world south of 122 lbs. It's a fight that if made, American fight fans need to see live because both of these guys are superstar little men.
What's with all this nonsense about GGG being vulnerable? After Golovkin's dominant performance Saturday against Willie Monroe Jr., Golovkin's 20th straight knockout by the way, my social media feeds were blowing up about how Monroe forced Golovkin to work harder than he ever has and touched Golovkin up or fatigued him a bit. Was everyone watching the same fight I was watching? After the disastrous 2nd round for Monroe, Golovkin allowed him to get back into the fight. Golovkin basically allowed Monroe to hit him flush because Golovkin knew Monroe couldn't hurt him. Even GGG admitted he was trying to be fan-friendly and not end the fight sooner. Believe me, if Golovkin wanted to end that fight in the 4th round, it would have been over. Golovkin was trying to give the fans a show while baiting other big name fighters to step in the ring with him. The question is, which fish is going to bite?
Forget about Canelo Alvarez or Miguel Cotto vs. Golovkin some time in the fall. Those two guys are headed on a collision course so long as Cotto gets past Daniel Geale in June. Golovkin mentioned Andre Ward, but he didn't want to take that fight just yet because Golovkin isn't ready to move up (for those of you who say Golovkin is ducking Ward, just remember that Ward hasn't been too eager to move up to light heavyweight to face the big names even though he cleaned out the super middleweight division). I feel Ward vs. Golovkin will happen, just not right now. The winner of the Hassan N'Dam/David Lemieux bout on June 20th for the vacant IBF middleweight title would be the most logical choice, but there is one other name I would love to see GGG face next. Carl Froch. Froch wants a big fight in Las Vegas. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. is out of the question now, so why not he and GGG get it on? It's a big money fight that would have the fans buzzing. Even if it's not in Vegas, that fight could get 50,000 spectators into an outdoor stadium. The L.A. Coliseum or the Rose Bowl would be a great place for the event. How about Dodger Stadium? So many choices!
The Nevada State Athletic Commission is laying the smack down on drug offenders. Too bad it won't mean much to anyone. The NSAC is rolling out new, stiff penalties on fighters who violate any drug rule, from steroids to amphetamines to diuretics to sedatives. The minimum suspension for 1st time offenders of diuretics is 1 year. Each type of drug has the possibility of a lifetime ban after enough violations. This sounds great in theory. There is just one problem. These consequences are only valid in the state of Nevada. If a fighter violates any of these drug rules in Nevada, he/she is still capable of applying for, and obtaining, a license anywhere else in the world. At the end of the day, boxing needs a worldwide union. Until that happens, nothing will ever be solved. I don't know who will head up this union, but it needs to happen.
Upset of the Year candidate alert! Eden Sonsona of the Philippines knocked out the previously undefeated Adrian Estrella in Mexico on Saturday night. A vicious right hook to the jaw of Estrella sent him crashing face first into the canvas where he was unable to recover in enough time to beat the count of 10.
Jose Benavidez and Antonio Orozco are going to need some work. Both Top Rank undefeated prospects were featured on Tru TV Friday night, and both were supposed to shine. Benavidez needed a big night and eventually got it with a 12th round knockout of Jorge Paez Jr. Orozco was given a controversial unanimous decision win over the rugged Emmanuel Taylor (I scored the bout 95-95, a draw). I know Bob Arum has high hopes for both, but they need some work before they are ready for the big time.
Looks like I'm going to get my wish for a Jamie McDonnell vs. Tomoki Kamdea rematch! Kameda exercised his rematch clause option in his contract. Looks like they will meet again in the fall.
Is nobody else excited to see Timothy Bradley vs. Jessie Vargas? I think this has the potential to be a war. Styles make fights and neither guy is a big puncher. However, both guys like to get in there and throw big shots. I see a 12-round war on our hands, folks!
I'm less excited about Adrien Broner vs. Shawn Porter. While I believe this fight will be a very stiff test for Broner, the action will not be as exciting as Bradley vs. Vargas. Porter is going to try and bully Broner around the ring using his muscular frame, while Broner will try and use his jab to keep Porter at bay. I believe this is truly a 50/50 fight, even though most believe Broner is the clear favorite. Porter's strength is going to give Broner a lot of problems, especially considering Broner is not a high volume puncher and takes breaks during fights. Mark my words. This is a very dangerous fight for Adrien Broner.
Thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Tony Ayala Jr. Ayala was found dead, Tuesday morning, in San Antonio. Ayala, who struggled to get his life in order out of the ring, was a top contender until he was found guilty of rape in 1983. He served a 16-year prison sentence and his problems didn't stop there. He then violated his probation and served 10 more years in a Texas prison.
It's not a huge boxing weekend, but it's a solid boxing weekend. Friday night, ESPN Friday Night Fights shuts down the shop with the finals of Boxcino. On Fox Sports 1, an excellent main event takes place between Eric Hunter and Antonio Escalante, who looks to bounce back from a very rough personal go of his life in 2014, being charged with Driving While Intoxicated 4 times. In Moscow on Friday, former heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin takes on Mike Perez in a very intriguing bout. On Saturday afternoon, Andre Dirrell and James DeGale square off for the vacant IBF super middleweight title on the PBC on NBC.
That's all I've got for this week. Email any questions or comments to dkassel@fighthype.com and I will answer them throughout the week. Your email may be featured in the next "Observe and Fight." Follow me on Twitter @BoxingObserver, and be sure to "Like" The Boxing Observer on Facebook.
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