Is it me, or is Mauricio Herrera a bad style match-up for Danny Garcia? I know this should be an easy win for Garcia, but Herrera has good boxing skills, great stamina, and an iron chin. Seems like Garcia would have picked a better foil for his Puerto Rico homecoming.
Speaking of Garcia's homecoming, aren't fighters most vulnerable when they return home for a stay-busy defense after one of their biggest wins? From Nunn taking on Toney, to Martinez's near miss over Martin Murray... it seems that a letdown is almost always expected. Squeeze in the hometown defense early on against optional opponents who offer nothing. Don't try to do it against a spoiler, after you've been up for too many tough fights in a row.
Speaking of many tough fights in a row... I am not exactly excited by the potential opponents at 168 for Andre Ward, but if anyone has earned a break, it is he. Oosthuizen is inactive, troubled, and not scintillating. Gonzales is in his own camp. Groves and Froch need each other. Ditto Steiglitz and Abraham. Hell... ditto Anthony Dirrell and Bika. Taylor and Andre Dirrell don't seem interested in fighting, Pavlik is retired, Periban has been exposed twice, and Jack just got KO'd in 1 round. Either Ward moves up, or a 160-lber moves up for him. The winner of GGG-Chavez would be his natural next opponent, but there is no guarantee that fight would even come off. In the meantime, Ward will either have to kill time, or take on a softie. After the 2009-2012 he had, however, who cares?
Speaking of Chavez, I admire him and his team, if they are serious about fighting GGG. Golovkin would likely beat up and stop Chavez Jr late. This fight would also spell the ending of Chavez as a marketable top fighter. I think Top Rank already smells that coming, so they are cashing out. I was wondering why they would take this beating, however, as opposed to being taken to school... like a loss to Ward would accomplish. At least he won't be slurring after that one.
Speaking of damaged goods, Angulo looked all the part of a shot fighter against Canelo. Pitty pat, moving backwards, slow starts... all terms that the old Angulo never had attributed to him. Canelo is not a big puncher, but he is a strong fighter, who throws hard, and hands out frightful beatings to anyone who is not for real. The Angulo that fought last Saturday was anything but "for real."
Chris Strait
www.convictedartist.com
