[youtube=http://youtu.be/BF05JMd9Hfk]
1969. The summer of love for many but for thousands of working class kids around England a very different time. Sometimes at For The Suits we have sudden epiphanies, where we can;t understand why we've been ignoring something for so long. This was one of them folks. The Ring Fight of the Year for 1969. Muhammad Ali was in exile, no state commission willing to give a war dissenter a boxing license and risk the wrath of the American government. Joe Frazier was one of the sports rising stars, a heavy handed cat with a hammer for a left hand. Jerry Quarry was a 198lb heavyweight afraid of no one. He had already fought some of the best in the game at this point, never afraid of a challenge. Well Frazier was the man to provide it. This is one of them phone booth fights, and it's incredible to think either man could take the punishment of it for a prolonged period of time. But you always put a little bit something special into your effort when you fight at Madison Square Garden.
Showing posts with label Friday Night Fights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friday Night Fights. Show all posts
Friday, 9 November 2012
Friday, 19 October 2012
FNF: Miguel Cotto versus Zab Judah
[youtube=http://youtu.be/P_7uZDIfTFU]
You can call this edition of Friday Night Fights the "if you had this opening the Barclays Center back in 2007, you woulda had people hanging from the rafters" edition. We figured since the brand new Barclays Center, in the heart of Brooklyn, is hosting the first professional boxing event in Brooklyn since 1931 this weekend why not feature two cats that share a bit of popularity in New York City as well as, undoubtedly, Brooklyn. Zab Judah is your definitive Brooklyn cat. Well at this point he was. The skill, power and speed he possessed were near enigmatic. But he was never able to put it all together, and keep it all together, to become an elite fighter. By all rights he could have been near the top of the sport, but he consistently let himself down. Whether not being able to make the step to the big stage, against Kostya Tszyu or Floyd Mayweather Jr, or his reaction to not being able to do it: going after the referee after a KO loss to Tsyzu or repeatedly low blowing Mayweather when he realized he was going to lose the fight Judah just never possessed the mental faculties to be one of the best. Even here, back in 2007, Jim Lampley discusses the fight being a chance for redemption for Judah. He's on that road still. Miguel Cotto on the other hand, has proven he is one of the best in the game. Not necessarily a P4P favorite, but he's a fan favorite. And that's more important when it comes to us trying to present interesting fights. On this night Cotto was still a star on the rise, a dude with everything in front of him. Little could he know he would run into the plastered fists of Antonio Margarito or the superhuman power of Manny Pacquiao. But he made it through both losses, avenging one to Margarito, and went on to nearly beat a seemingly unbeatable Mayweather. That's why he's a legend to Puerto Ricans both at home and in NYC. Cause they, like all good boxing fans, love a fighter. And these two came to fight.
You can call this edition of Friday Night Fights the "if you had this opening the Barclays Center back in 2007, you woulda had people hanging from the rafters" edition. We figured since the brand new Barclays Center, in the heart of Brooklyn, is hosting the first professional boxing event in Brooklyn since 1931 this weekend why not feature two cats that share a bit of popularity in New York City as well as, undoubtedly, Brooklyn. Zab Judah is your definitive Brooklyn cat. Well at this point he was. The skill, power and speed he possessed were near enigmatic. But he was never able to put it all together, and keep it all together, to become an elite fighter. By all rights he could have been near the top of the sport, but he consistently let himself down. Whether not being able to make the step to the big stage, against Kostya Tszyu or Floyd Mayweather Jr, or his reaction to not being able to do it: going after the referee after a KO loss to Tsyzu or repeatedly low blowing Mayweather when he realized he was going to lose the fight Judah just never possessed the mental faculties to be one of the best. Even here, back in 2007, Jim Lampley discusses the fight being a chance for redemption for Judah. He's on that road still. Miguel Cotto on the other hand, has proven he is one of the best in the game. Not necessarily a P4P favorite, but he's a fan favorite. And that's more important when it comes to us trying to present interesting fights. On this night Cotto was still a star on the rise, a dude with everything in front of him. Little could he know he would run into the plastered fists of Antonio Margarito or the superhuman power of Manny Pacquiao. But he made it through both losses, avenging one to Margarito, and went on to nearly beat a seemingly unbeatable Mayweather. That's why he's a legend to Puerto Ricans both at home and in NYC. Cause they, like all good boxing fans, love a fighter. And these two came to fight.
Friday, 5 October 2012
FNF: Jamie Moore versus Matthew Macklin
[youtube=http://youtu.be/NeVwlDn9YWI]
For The Suits loves boxing. As if there was any doubt. But we figured we might as well just make it so glaringly obvious one has to accept it. We love everything boxing can be, everything it can encompass. It can be two of the sports worlds biggest celebrities meeting at the MGM Grand Garden Arena amongst the greatest of pomp and circumstance. You know the deal: Michael Buffer handling the introductions, millions of people watching on pay per view and the sports entire fan base waiting on baiting breath through everyone round as two of the sports elite fighters battle it out for supremacy. But that ain't all the sport is. Sometimes it's about two lads giving it 110% in a sweat box in Manchester, England with friends and family screaming themselves hoarse in support of someone they know intimately. Alphabet titles don't matter between the two and many would consider they're fighting for a prize much smaller. But at that moment in time nothing could be more important. For each and everyone round they lay it all out on the line. That is Matthew Macklin versus Jamie Moore. Many only know Macklin as a failed opponent of Sergio Martinez.Yes he lost to Sergio, one of the best fighters in the world at the moment, but he's the kind of fighter who came up the hard way. Jamie Moore was much the same. Not too much glitz and glam. More hard work and dedication to the sweet science. And when these two met, it was explosive. Enjoy.
For The Suits loves boxing. As if there was any doubt. But we figured we might as well just make it so glaringly obvious one has to accept it. We love everything boxing can be, everything it can encompass. It can be two of the sports worlds biggest celebrities meeting at the MGM Grand Garden Arena amongst the greatest of pomp and circumstance. You know the deal: Michael Buffer handling the introductions, millions of people watching on pay per view and the sports entire fan base waiting on baiting breath through everyone round as two of the sports elite fighters battle it out for supremacy. But that ain't all the sport is. Sometimes it's about two lads giving it 110% in a sweat box in Manchester, England with friends and family screaming themselves hoarse in support of someone they know intimately. Alphabet titles don't matter between the two and many would consider they're fighting for a prize much smaller. But at that moment in time nothing could be more important. For each and everyone round they lay it all out on the line. That is Matthew Macklin versus Jamie Moore. Many only know Macklin as a failed opponent of Sergio Martinez.Yes he lost to Sergio, one of the best fighters in the world at the moment, but he's the kind of fighter who came up the hard way. Jamie Moore was much the same. Not too much glitz and glam. More hard work and dedication to the sweet science. And when these two met, it was explosive. Enjoy.
Saturday, 29 September 2012
FNF: Salvador Sanchez versus Azumah Nelson
[youtube=http://youtu.be/BllfooQQcZM]
What prevails: poise or aggression, composure or bravado? It's a question you'll be asking yourself if you've never before witnessed this legendary battle between Azumah Nelson, future Hall of Famer, and Salvador Sanchez, one of the most tragic figures in boxing history.
What prevails: poise or aggression, composure or bravado? It's a question you'll be asking yourself if you've never before witnessed this legendary battle between Azumah Nelson, future Hall of Famer, and Salvador Sanchez, one of the most tragic figures in boxing history.
Friday, 31 August 2012
FNF: Marco Antonio Barrera versus Erik Morales I
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjBexyCXh9Q?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=400&h=300]
Figured with Garcia/Morales II being officially announced this week, part of a card to welcome boxing back to Brooklyn, what better way to celebrate than making this weeks Friday Night Fight the 2000 Fight of the Year Barrera/Morales I. When you talk most exciting fighters in the last decade you will hear the same names repeated again. Marquez, Pacquaio, Barrera, Morales, Gatti, Ward, Vazquez. Really in the lower weight classes we witnessed some of the best fights of all time. Barrera/Morales I might be the one which kick started all the others. It made each mans career, became a signature fight for them one which people will always look back on when reviewing the careers of both men. You want to know how Marco Antonio Barrera fought, how Erik Morales fought? Watch this fight. It’s hard to believe 12 years later we still have Erik Morales in the ring. The man has an undying will to fight, to prove his mettle in the center of the ring. In October he’ll get yet another chance to prove the game hasn’t moved past him.
Figured with Garcia/Morales II being officially announced this week, part of a card to welcome boxing back to Brooklyn, what better way to celebrate than making this weeks Friday Night Fight the 2000 Fight of the Year Barrera/Morales I. When you talk most exciting fighters in the last decade you will hear the same names repeated again. Marquez, Pacquaio, Barrera, Morales, Gatti, Ward, Vazquez. Really in the lower weight classes we witnessed some of the best fights of all time. Barrera/Morales I might be the one which kick started all the others. It made each mans career, became a signature fight for them one which people will always look back on when reviewing the careers of both men. You want to know how Marco Antonio Barrera fought, how Erik Morales fought? Watch this fight. It’s hard to believe 12 years later we still have Erik Morales in the ring. The man has an undying will to fight, to prove his mettle in the center of the ring. In October he’ll get yet another chance to prove the game hasn’t moved past him.
Friday, 20 July 2012
FNF: Jake LaMotta versus Sugar Ray Robinson VI
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w328DbEX33g?wmode=transparent&autohide=1&egm=0&hd=1&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&showinfo=0&showsearch=0&w=400&h=299]
It’s been a bit since we’ve posted a Friday Night Fight, what with our computer being broken and all. Well to make up for it we’re doing it big tonight: Jake “Raging Bull” LaMotta and “Sugar” Ray Robinson step into the ring with each other for the sixth (sixth!) time here in 1951 and many consider this to be the best of all there fights. A true piece of history, not simply in boxing terms but also pop culture terms. You’re gonna like this.
It’s been a bit since we’ve posted a Friday Night Fight, what with our computer being broken and all. Well to make up for it we’re doing it big tonight: Jake “Raging Bull” LaMotta and “Sugar” Ray Robinson step into the ring with each other for the sixth (sixth!) time here in 1951 and many consider this to be the best of all there fights. A true piece of history, not simply in boxing terms but also pop culture terms. You’re gonna like this.
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