Weekend Fight Schedule-Larry's Pick

Damn the weeks keep flying by. But we got another good weekend of dukes coming up my friends. Is it just me or are things getting better in the fight game these days in both Boxing and MMA? This might be a long shot, but is boxing better because of the growth of the UFC? I think each discipline is under more pressure to deliver fan friendly match ups because they are both competing for our money. As long as my Lumpy Posse wins out in the end it works for me!

OK predictions predictions. The big fight this weekend is the Heavyweight Unification bout between the IBF champ Wladimir Klitschko (43-3) and the WBO champ Sultan Ibragimov (22-0-1). On a side note wouldn't it be nice if Joe Green and Bill White were fighting because these names are a pain in the ass to type!! Come on American Heavyweights, step up and get the damn title back before I get carpel tunnel!

OK sorry back to the fight. As crazy as this sounds this is the first heavyweight unification bout since 1999 when Lennox Lewis outpointed Evander Holyfield for the WBA, WBC, and IBF belts.
So yes even though this is a unification bout there are still the WBA and WBC champs out there...ahh boxing why can't you get your crap together?
Well in Larry's humble opinion even before this fight, Klitschko has been considered the top heavyweight out of all the champs and I see him taking care of business on Saturday night as well. I saw the weigh in and my man is in great shape, this cat is a CUT 238 pounds. Ibragimov is too small and a little flabby around the mid section. The only way he has a shot is if Klitschko's glass jaw rears it's ugly head (or should I say chin). Wladimir has been on his ass many a times in his career (Corrie Sanders and Sam Peter come to mind) but he seems have worked on his chin ups because he has been able to take a punch in his last few fights. Larry Lump says Klitschko by KO in the 8th.

Undefeated middleweight John Duddy is on the undercard. If he seals the deal with some sausage and veal he is rumored to be Kelly Pavlik's next opponent. I think HBO is going to re-air the Taylor-Pavlik fight too. Your boy L Cubed is going to watch again and pay attention this time so he can really score it. Will tell you what I come out with on Monday.

OK last week we had the latest MMA curiosity attraction, Kimbo Slice, beat the living snot out of Tank Abbott. This week we have another one for ya. Bob "The Beast" Sapp fights on Saturday night in Tacoma, WA. If you don't know Sapp he is one of the most popular fighters....in Japan. Check out YouTube to see him in action. In the US he is basically a total unknown but now he is ready to make his American run. I could easily see a Kimbo Slice/Bob Sapp fight down the road. Two giant beasts with little ground game. It would be brutal and end fast. I would give the nod to Kimbo at this time.

Have a great weekend kids!!! Keep ya dukes up!

BOXING SCHEDULE

FRIDAY - at Fort Lauerdale, Florida (ESPN2) -10 rounds, light middleweights: Richard Gutierrez(23-1, 14 KOs) vs. Jose Varela (23-2, 16 KOs);10 rounds, super featherweights: Johnnie Edwards(13-1-1, 7 KOs) vs. Yuriorkis Gamboa (8-0, 7 KOs).

FRIDAY - Reno, Nevada - 10 rounds,super middleweights: Jesse Brinkley (29-5, 20 KOs)vs. Otis Griffin (18-2-2, 7 KOs).

SATURDAY - at New York (HBO) - 12 rounds,IBF heavyweight title: Wladimir Klitschko (49-3, 44 KOs)vs. Sultan Ibragimov (22-0-1, 17 KOs); 12 rounds,middleweights: Joe Greene (17-0, 12 KOs) vs.Francisco Antonio Mora (52-12, 35 KOs); 10 rounds,middleweights: John Duddy (23-0, 17 KOs) vs. Walid Smichet (17-3-1, 13 KOs); 8 rounds, middleweights:Peter Quillin (16-0, 13 KOs) vs. Thomas Brown(11-3-1, 7 KOs); 10 rounds, cruiserweights: JohnathonBanks (18-0, 13 KOs) vs. Imamu Mayfield (25-8-2, 18 KOs).

MMA

Saturday, Feb. 23
Strikeforce: Bob Sapp vs. Jan Nortje, Tacoma Dome, Tacoma, WA