2013 Fighter of The Year: Mikey Garcia

It seemed appropriate he was dressed in all white, his signature cowboy hat sitting atop his head. Mikey Garcia has never been interested in being the bad guy, leaving the brashness and verbosity to other fighters who lack his skills.

Last Chances and James Kirkland

The kind of brutal punching power supplied by James Kirkland is so rarely seen. For all the glory that goes with putting your opponent into a concussive state, very few are able to muster the kind of strength required to do so

Gennady The Destroyer

Gennady Golovkin is a destroyer of men. One only needs to watch any of his last fifteen fights to figure such a thing out. His congeniality is offset by his sheer brutality in the ring. He hurts men, very badly, with a smile on his face.

FNF: Nino Benvenuti versus Carlos Monzon I

http://youtu.be/Op3V6ffKXeY

A different level is brought to any fight when the animosity is real. One becomes so use to manufactured animosity being simply another marketing tool in a promoters arsenal. To see two men with a genuine dislike for one another go at is a rare spectacle.

HBO's "Legendary Nights" is Ready For A Comeback

http://youtu.be/adS5grDuZE8

It was announced some time ago that Legendary Nights, HBO's show dedicated to remembering some of the biggest nights in the history of the fight game, was making a comeback. Cue excitement. It turned into borderline hysteria for many fight fans when it was announced the epic first showdown between Mickey Ward and Arturo Gatti was to be the bout featured. Next Saturday the show officially makes its comeback, and HBO has given us a sneak peak. We'll be watching.

The One: Aftermath

People want to see Floyd Mayweather beat; it’s as simple as that. Beating him is a whole other story all together. He proved it again on Saturday evening, the MGM Grand Garden Arena once again where a virtuoso displayed his finest.

Born Ready

I was born ready

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez knows very well that those words could go on to live in infamy. He stands only a few hours away from the sort of oppurtunity very seldom presented to a man of his age. Time will tell if is indeed prepared for what lies ahead.

FNF: Michael Carbajal versus Humberto "Chiquita" Gonzalez I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQnyKC5cvCE&feature=youtube_gdata

There's something to be said for the anonymity afforded to fighters that reside in those weight divisions south of featherweight. While, to be sure, there is likely no fighter residing in those divisions that does not envy the sort of money and fame which larger fighters are privy to at the same time their inevitable exit from the ring must provide a softer landing.

FNF: Kennedy McKinney versus Marco Antonio Barrera

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc-fZpJvzCc&feature=youtube_gdata

One of, if not thee, most impressive traits any great fighter possesses is the ability to dig deep. To find something within themselves, when it seems as though all other options have been expended, to keep on going.

No Respect for Floyd

His record stands at 44-0. He's won World titles in five different weight classes. He's widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive boxers of all time. And he can't get any respect.

FNF: "Sugar" Ray Leonard versus Roberto Duran

http://youtu.be/d41GgTIFc9A

Today marks the 57th birthday of "Sugar" Ray Leonard, one of the biggest sports personalities of the eighties. After winning a gold medal at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal Leonard began a quest to becoming an entire brand onto himself.

Judah's Redemption

Tomorrow evening provides, very likely, the last chance for Zab Judah to to redeem a career that has been stuttering since he reached the pinnacle of the sport way back in 2005. It was that year he became the undisputed World Welterweight Champion. It's been a tough ride ever since.

The Proving Ground

The ring is perhaps the toughest proving ground of them all. It's cold and cruel, totally unforgiving. The canvas has very little give. Those who step between its ropes are trapped within them thereafter. But the very same ring that came provide a man with hour upon frustrating hour of punishment can also provide him with an unparalleled joy.

FNF: Flash Elorde versus Sandy Saddler

http://youtu.be/Bs02Uf23h18

It's become somewhat of a tradition for our Friday Night Fights feature to take inspiration from an upcoming fight. This evening is no different. With Nonito Donaire, one of the best in the fight game at this very moment, preparing for a showdown with what many consider to be his most dangerous opponent yet, Guillermo Rigondeaux, we figured it was time to hop in the time machine.

Aaron Pryor, Supernova

Aaron Pryor was more than a star he was a man whose career is eerily reminiscent of a supernova, that great cosmic event where for a few moments in time an explosion in a galaxy outshines everything around it until fading away.

FNF: Mike Alvarado versus Brandon Rios I

http://youtu.be/5MH8kq8wGOo
It's like Christmas Eve at For The Suits headquarters. Why you ask? The excitement could be down to the fact it's Friday night, or the three cups of tea slammed back one after the other. But if you're a boxing fan, you know exactly what is up. Tomorrow evening all us boxing heads are going to be treated to Mike Alvarado and Brandon Rios mixing it up in their second encounter. So the Friday Night Fight this evening is their first encounter in its entirety. It didn't last too long but they managed to pack about 24 rounds of action into the six it did last. If you had plans for tomorrow evening, cancel them.

FNF: Ruben Olivares versus Chucho Castillo

[youtube=http://youtu.be/swj_FjOQWgw]

What better accompaniment to our last piece that getting Friday Night Fights back on track by showcasing one of the grittiest matchups in the storied career of Ruben Olivares. It's April of 1970 and the Inglewood Forum is once again a showcase for fanatical Mexican-American boxing fans and two of their favorite sons. Only this time they were to step into the ring and do battle with each other. The fans had rioted when Castillo lost a split decision to Lionel Rose and went nearly as mad when Olivares defeated Rose by a fifth round KO. No easy pick for them here. It was as close in the ring as it was in their hearts.

A Wilted Rose

As Lionel Rose stood in his corner waiting for all the pomp and pageantry to subside, there had to be a certain fear within him. It's oft said when a boxer loses that fear of his opponent, that's when he really is in trouble. Nerves would have certainly been growing and growing, making him ever more anxious as his time of reckoning grew nearer.

For The Suits P4P Rankings: January 2013

It goes without saying: a lot changes in a year. In boxing that holds true more than in most sports. Although consistency and longevity are two greatly respected traits in the business, like many other sports, when you're dealing with boxing, as volatile ans fickle sport as any,  in which one's entire world can change with a perfectly delivered punch there is absolutely no guarantees. See: Victor Ortiz/Josesito Lopez or any planned future opponent of Canelo Alvarez' fight before the "big one" with Canelo.

2012 Fighter of The Year: Nonito Donaire

Last night Nonito Donaire gave For The Suits a real nice Christmas present. What was it? Taking away any chance of even discussing anyone else as our Fighter of the Year for 2012. Going into the fight we felt the same. After he blasted our Jorge Arce in three rounds any sort of inkling of doubt was immediately erased from our minds. It's been a banner year for the Filipino Flash.