Weekend Wrap

August 31, 2009

First of all, Saturday night was the first boxing event I’ve ever covered and I was very impressed. Like MMA, one of the coolest parts of covering fights is that build up in anticipation when the main event fighters come to the ring. When Brian Viloria came out to the Hawaii 5-0 theme song, the place was electric and had the kind of atmosphere that makes these events so exciting to watch in person.

But then, to watch Viloria and Jesus Iribe stand toe-to-toe and get after it for 33 minutes, only to come out for that final round and bang away like everything was on the line, was truly an epic finish to a great night that really was viewed as the rebirth of boxing in Hawaii.

Only time will tell how much of a rebirth it really will be. Since we in the media are forced to estimate attendance figures, the exact number of people that were at the show is a little disputed. It was pretty empty when the first fight began, but in taking a glance around just before the main event, I thought it had filled up to the point that it was at least 50% capacity in an arena that fits 8,000+.

Either way, that number will ultimately tell the story of what is to come with boxing in Hawaii. But after a six-year hiatus and with the rise of mixed martial arts providing a major obstacle, boxing fans have to be happy with what they saw Saturday night.

******

Since I was at the boxing fights, I missed out on UFC 102. Hometown favorites Randy Couture and Chris Leben didnt fare well with Couture losing a decision and Leben losing by submission in the third round of his fight against Jake Rosholt, who picked up his first UFC win.

I was interested to see Couture signed a new six-fight deal with the UFC. That leaves five more fights in the future for the 46-year-old Couture?  I know he’s Captain America and people always get themselves in trouble as soon as they doubt the man but 46 is no 40 and Couture has been beaten up in his last two fights against Brock Lesnar and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. I don’t know if he has five more fights him in.

Meanwhile I hope Nogueira gets a shot at Brock Lesnar. All apologies to Shane Carwin, who is getting the next heavyweight title shot, but Nogueira is clearly the biggest threat in my opinion to Lesnar’s heavyweight title. He’s no slouch in boxing and might be able to pick and poke at Lesnar on the feet. Lesnar obviously has a huge size advantage and should be able to shoot in and take Nogueira down, but Nogueira’s submission game on the ground is ahead of even Frank Mir’s. Carwin’s best shot is to knock Lesnar out, but I think Lesnar runs through him and hopefully the UFC sets up Lesnar/Nogueira down the line because Nogueira has a chance to become UFC champion once again.

Posted in Fights