BRADLEY AND MARQUEZ

In keeping with my Sunday government bullshit boycott I have decided to talk about the anticipated battle between Tim Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez. I've been watching 24/7 and Tim Bradley sounds like a man with a hell of a lot to prove, and that can actually be a bad thing. In his last fight Bradley left himself open to too much punishment. I'm not saying that Bradley is damaged goods but he proved that he can hit and he does have a tendency to throw out his plans.

Marquez is a tactician and his ability to keep calm under fire can work as a major plus in his quest to stay near the top of the pound for pound rankings. The interesting thing here is Bradley had major troubles with Pacquiao while Marquez was Pacquiao's biggest problem. Marquez may well unsettle Bradley and Bradley may well dominate Marquez.

Marquez is superbly conditioned but age and battles may be too much for him while Bradley is vulnerable and hittable. This battle is really a crossroads fight for the two men. If Bradley loses he will validate everyone that thinks he lost to Pacquiao and is damaged goods. If Mraquez loses he will likely have to retire. In the end this fight has major implications for both men but chances are that a Mayweather fight is not necessarily one of those implications.

GOOD FIGHT.............BUT

I am tired of government bullshit so I have decided to go ahead and write about last night's boxing match between Miguel Cotto and Delvin Rodriguez. I thought the fight was great, from a showcase perspective. It was Cotto's way back after two back to back losses to Floyd Mayweather and Austin Trout. What was interesting was seeing what Cotto had left after not only after the two losses but also after fighting a murderer's row of punchers such as Pacquiao, Clottey, and Margarito. Common wisdom dictated that Rodriguez would likely extend Cotto because of his advantages in height and rugged nature.

Cotto dominated Rodriguez with a sustained body attack and an incredibly aggressive approach that Rodriguez was not expecting. Cotto went back to a huge left hook to the body that nearly caved the ribs of Rodriguez and a combination that nearly took Rodriguez's head off. Yes I think Cotto has something left but let's put it into perspective.

Delvin Rodriguez does not have an aggressive puncher's nature like upper echelon fighters such as Martinez and, to a lesser extent, Canelo Alvarez. I think Cotto could handle Alvarez and Martinez but he needs to be extremely aggressive and at the same time understand how to wear out and smother the attacks of fighters that will take three to land one.

One thing that Cotto may have against Martinez is the fact that Martinez may well be starting to feel the effects of age and wear and tear. Martin Murray extended Martinez and the punishment Martinez took in his first fight with Paul Williams was something else. The last round against Chavez was also taxing for the aging Martinez. Cotto looks good still and his new union with Roach provides a confidence and line that he needs. Cotto is no longer the boss of the corner and that's vital for a successful last run.

I think Cotto has a good run provided that he stays away from punchers such as Golovkin. Let's see if his last run leads him to the right roads.