Prettyboy Makes His Case To Be Pound 4 Pound/
Ward Tastes The Canvas

By Charles “Sweetchuck” Presnell
Photos: Justin Hughes


Floyd Mayweather walked into friendly territory in Portland, Oregon to display his dazzling boxing skills. Across the ring Sharmba Mitchell came looking for redemption from his knockout loss to Kostya Tsyzu. The pro-Mayweather crowd cheered every time Floyd would land a blow. While most boxing people would have liked to see Mayweather in with someone else, Floyd showed he still possess the hand and foot speed at welterweight. Those are facts that needed to be proven to show that he can hang with the welterweights. At the end of the night Floyd showed his worthiness of being called “Pound 4 Pound.”
 

Mitchell (56-5, 30 KO’s) entered noticeably a bigger fighter than his glory days at Jr. Welterweight. His added muscle decreased the speed that made him a world champion. Towards the end of the second round, Mayweather (35-0, 24 KO’s) took the time to talk to members of the crowd; Mitchell reacted to this lack of respect by throwing a hard combination. The two exchanged combinations at the end of the round. Mitchell was put down in the third round by a straight right. Mayweather tried to close the show, however, Mitchell survived.

Mayweather would dominate the fifth as Mitchell fought hard, as it would show; he did just enough to lose the round to the faster and stronger Mayweather. A headbutt in the 6th bothered Mayweather, but not enough to matter as moments later Mayweather landed a crushing right to the body to put Mitchell down for the count at 2:05. Floyd proved to the world that he can fight as a welterweight as well as pleading his case to towards being the best fighter in the world.
 

 

Sunday morning at the airport Floyd was gracious and when asked about a potential showdown with undisputed welterweight champ, Zab Judah, Floyd said “He’s easy work, I’ve already fought him.”

 

Olympic Gold Medalist Andre Ward came into the ring looking to get some work in before his December 15 showcase on Fox Sports Network. He got a little more than he bargained for from Darnell Boone. Ward boxed well through the first round while Boone was shy to fight much. Throughout the fight Ward displayed his superior boxing skills while periodically switching to southpaw. In the third and fourth rounds Boone fought with more aggression, and floored Ward with a right uppercut that put Reid flat on his back. Ward survived the round and intelligently. Boone came out swinging at the start of the fifth, but Ward was able to get his legs back under him. Both finished the fight well with Boone trying to get another hard shot in and Ward continuing to flash his jab. Ward pulled out the victory by the scores 57-56, 58-56, 59-55. This reporter agreed with the 57-56 score and seriously questions how two of the three judges did not recognize the knockdown on their scorecards. The decision received audible jeers from the crowd. Ward keeps winning and has fought several times this year. The jury is still out on whether Ward is the next De La Hoya or David Reid. Remember, De La Hoya tasted the canvas a few times early in his career.

In his first professional fight in his hometown, Steve “Mr.” Forbes impressed as he came out early and floored Julio Cesar Sanchez in the first round. Sanchez came out flashing combinations in the second round as Forbes stalked and picked his punches. Towards the beginning of the third Sanchez got braver, as it would come to pass; his valor would serve to wake up Forbes. Midway through Sanchez seemed to buzz Forbes, but it was not to be as Forbes would come on strong and land a right hand that knocked Sanchez flat on his back not to get up. The end came at 2:36.

Perhaps the fight of the night came with Nelson Zepada fought Robert Marthaller. The fighters exchanged bombs that staggered both fighters, nonetheless, they both kept coming forward. Marthaller suffered a cut under his left eye and swelling around both eyes. From the opening bell, the fighters threw any thing close to boxing technique out the window to trade punches to the crowd’s delight. When it was all said and done the judges scored the fight a draw as the mini Corrales-Castillo was over.

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