Monday, November 29, 2010

Writer Roundup: Pros and Their Prose on a Packed Fight Weekend

Photo credit: Tom Casino/Showtime

This was not necessarily the weekend to be a brawler. Michael Katsidis served himself up on a proverbial platter to master technician Juan Manuel Marquez. Sakio Bika found himself out-dirtied against Andre Ward. And, on a more positive note for one brawler, Carl Froch put aside the bruiser and became a boxer for a night, taking an easy decision over Arthur Abraham.

Those were but three of the five fights on HBO and Showtime on a big fight weekend. And as always, BWAA members were on press rows or in front of their screens to capture the action.

The most noteworthy fight on paper turned out to be the most noteworthy fight in the ring. Among the many capturing Marquez-Katsidis on deadline were Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times, Jake Donovan of BoxingScene.com and Gabriel Montoya of MaxBoxing.com.

"Katsidis was well on the verge of falling into a deep hole before scoring with a monster left hook to floor Marquez and leave him buzzed even upon beating the count," Donovan wrote of the dramatic third round. "Ever the warrior, Marquez not only avoided disaster and survived the storm, but punched himself right back into the fight by rounds end."

Inevitably, talk post-Marquez-Katsidis turned to whether a third bout between Marquez and Manny Pacquiao will ever happen. The actual question, of course, is not who will be next for Marquez, but who will be next for Pacquiao.