CBCSports.ca’s Chris Iorfida pulls no punches on the action inside the squared circle and in the world of pro boxing.
Quebec boxer Alcine faces tough test
Thursday, July 10, 2008 | 05:22 PM ET
It sounds strange to say for an undefeated champion, but Laval boxer Joachim Alcine has a lot to prove heading into his second junior middleweight title defence Friday at Uniprix Stadium in Montreal against Daniel Santos of Puerto Rico.
Alcine performed the impressive feat of winning the title in Tarvis Simms's hometown last summer, but it was an ugly fight stylistically.
Alcine then made his first defence in Montreal in December with a 12th round stoppage over Alfonso Mosquera, an unimposing challenger who should have been and had been in the past stopped earlier. Alcine chalked up the slow start to nerves defending his title for the first time in his home, and that's an acceptable excuse.
He'll likely have to put in a career-best performance to turn back the challenge of Santos.
Santos is also 32 but has been a contender going back a decade and won the bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
How good can he be? Four years ago he took the best of Antonio Margarito, maybe the best pressure fighter in the game, and emerged the winner of a technical decision in the 11th round.
The question around the Puerto Rican is rust. He has essentially fought once a year over the last five years.
Don't sleep on the Tiger
In one of the quietest heavyweight bouts in recent memory, Wladimir Klitschko takes on Tony "The Tiger" Thompson in Germany on Saturday.
Thompson, who turned pro eight years ago at age 28, is not a household name, but is known to hardcore Canadian boxing fans. Thompson fought in Niagara Falls, Ont., in 2003 and the next year defeated Vaughn Bean in Montreal.
No one is giving the undefeated American much of a shot, but if Klitschko is as timid as he was against little Sultan Ibragimov, Thompson's jab and patience should prove a test. He's a six-foot-five southpaw who figures to only have a chance if the fight is dull and measured.
With the U.S. sports media so desperate for a homegrown heavyweight champion, he'll make a lot of people perk up if he pulls the massive upset.
The week in Mayweather
Floyd Mayweather was in his Grand Rapids, Mich., hometown the past weekend, raining the crowd of upwards of $30,000 in bills during Lil' Jon's set as part of a festival that in large celebrated the boxer's life.
Mayweather made even more of a splash on the weekend he accused HBO, which has broadcast most of his fights, of racial bias. Mayweather said the commentators don't praise black fighters to the degree they do white and Hispanic boxers.
Of course, it was pure nonsense. Bernard Hopkins and Winky Wright were elevated to star status thanks in part by the network despite a propensity for less-than-thrilling bouts. Mayweather himself was allowed to feast on fodder like Henry Bruseles instead of more imposing foes due to HBO's complicity.
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About the Author
Chris Iorfida has been writing about professional and amateur sports since joining CBC Sports in 2002. Previously he worked as a producer for the Team Sports Radio Network and has also written for national publications Strategy, Chart and Exclaim.
A passionate boxing observer since 1982, a crazy year for the sport, Chris has never missed a major bout and has travelled to Nevada, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York and of course in Canada to attend fights in person.
Recent Posts
- Path clear for Molitor; big fights on horizon
- Thursday, September 25, 2008
- Margarito's will, chin second to none
- Monday, July 28, 2008
- Cotto-Margarito battle promises to be action-packed
- Thursday, July 24, 2008
- Quebec boxer Alcine faces tough test
- Thursday, July 10, 2008
- Blackhawks fan Diaz tries to knock off one of boxing's best
- Friday, June 27, 2008
- Subscribe to Final Bell
Archives
- September 2008 (1)
- July 2008 (3)
- June 2008 (1)
- May 2008 (3)
- April 2008 (3)
- March 2008 (2)
- February 2008 (2)
- January 2008 (2)
- December 2007 (2)
Comments
sykop@t
montreal
ti-joa is from montreal... jean pascal is from laval !
Posted July 11, 2008 03:37 PM
Tommy
FL,USA
the Alcine vs Santos event will be televise?
what channel?
Posted July 11, 2008 04:42 PM
sykopat
mtl
on radio-canada(french) maybe espn2.
Posted July 11, 2008 08:11 PM