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Sunday scorecard: Kellerman versus Lampley

By Zach Arnold | May 5, 2007

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D-Day for the punishment of Melvin Guillard failing his drug test in Nevada (cocaine) is this Wednesday.

Floyd Mayweather defeated Oscar De La Hoya by split-decision after 12 rounds. Fight recap here. Photo gallery here. Plus, scorecard drama. There also was a verbal fight between Max Kellerman and Jim Lampley about MMA fighters. Why Lampley, on boxing’s biggest show, decided to bring up MMA is beyond me. If there is audio of this online, please let me know. Thanks.

The estimable Mr. Roadblock was at the De La Hoya/Mayweather fight. He comments:

Just got back from the fight. Good fight. Not great. Floyd was on his god damned bicycle just like I suspected. Floyd Run-away-weather. I had it 116-112 for Oscar. I felt he dictated the pace more in rounds 2-4 and 6-8. Floyd landed a lot of shots but they weren’t powerful and he wasn’t landing combinations. It’s not tag or a taekwondo tournament.

Anyway the real point, after the fight Jim Lampley and Emmanuel Stewart are standing ringside. Lampley says, “There’s been a lot of comparisons lately between the up and coming sport of MMA and boxing. Let me tell you the level of skill you saw tonight there is nothing like this level of skill in Mixed Martial Arts.” I paraphrased that. Then he went on to talking about some other bull s–. We were all flipping out about the comment. They go to Max Kellerman who is upstairs with Lennox “Ran away from Vitali” Lewis and Jim Brown. They ask Max a question and he says, “First thing I have to disagree with the point Jim just made about Mixed Martial Arts. There are a number of athletes in MMA that are competing in just as high a level as we saw here tonight in what they do.”

UFC 73 card line-up features Anderson vs. Nate Marquardt for the Middleweight title, Sean Sherk vs. Hermes Franca for the Lightweight title, Tito Ortiz vs. Rashad Evans, and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Heath Herring.

Gryphon notes the complete lack of activity in major Japanese MMA circles these days. It’s starting to set in that Japan is no longer home to big MMA happenings.

Legal happenings in boxing: Boxing Scene reports that Cedric Kushner (the promoter who Wallid Ismail said he would work with to get Jungle Fight shows in the USA) is suing Wladimir Klitschko. The Cincinnati Post reports that Greg Page has settled his lawsuit with the state of Kentucky. (Hat tip: Mikeinformer.)

Onto today’s headlines.

  1. ESPN: Mayweather – ‘I am the best fighter of this era’
  2. Fight Report: De La Hoya Stumbles in Mayweather’s Headlight
  3. The Fightworks Podcast: Quick results from ADCC 2007 Day One
  4. MMA Torch: IFL’s Jeremy Williams (of the Condors) dies of an apparent suicide (more at Sherdog)
  5. The Patriot Ledger (MA): It’s a HIT… and a kick and a grip too – MMA fighting surges in popularity
  6. Yahoo Sports: Boxing’s salvation show
  7. The Salt Lake Tribune: Sport of boxing at critical juncture
  8. The Oregonian: Travis Bush gets upper hand (over Enoch Wilson) this time in Sportfight title bout
  9. The Colorado Springs Gazette: MMA may soon KO boxing
  10. The San Bernadino Sun: The Boys bring ‘sweet science’ back to the ring
  11. The Salt Lake Tribune: Boxing in Utah – Sport’s backers look for boost from big bout
  12. The Los Angeles Daily News: Big John McCarthy – assistant football coach
  13. Charles Jay: For boxing, here’s the problem… and maybe the solution
  14. Pro Fight Store: Mirko Cro Cop getting an Octagon for his training gym

Topics: Boxing, IFL, Japan, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 26 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |

26 Responses to “Sunday scorecard: Kellerman versus Lampley”

  1. Tony says:

    Boxing fans,

    I have an honest question…I am not attempting to troll here:

    Was that a good fight?

    I haven’t watched boxing in a couple of years, and suffice it to say, that fight did nothing to draw me back into the fold.

    All the boxing press I’ve read (the SI.com frontpage and the fight recap link posted at the top of this page) both called the fight “great” and said it lived up to the hype.

    Despite immensely enjoying the “24/7” hype documentaries, I found myself quite bored during the actual fight. Maybe boxing isn’t for me…

  2. Mr. Roadblock says:

    It was a good fight. It wasn’t a great fight. To draw a baseball analogy it was like a pitchers duel in the world series. It’s exciting if you are very much into the technical aspects of the sport or if you are largely emotionally or financially invested into one of the combatants.

    It wasn’t really “a fight” to me. Or what I look for in a fight. They didn’t scrap. They didn’t mix it up much. Mayweather treated the event like a game. That’s always been his style. I’ve been watching him for years. He is in many ways similar to Tito Ortiz or to how Tim Sylvia fought Jeff Monson or Arlovski fought Werdum. He goes out, makes sure he does enough to win his rounds and avoids trouble. To me, that isn’t fighting it is playing a game. I understand that boxing with its rule set and the way it is judged and officiated is in fact “a game”. But I like guys mixing it up, trying to end a fight. The Evander Holyfield/Riddick Bowe trilogy has been replaying on ESPN Classics lately (it’s actually on right now). Those were great fights. There were two guys going at it putting it all on the line. The fight everyone saw tonight if that weren’t Oscar and Floyd I think people would say, “Eh, that was a pretty good one” and forget about it. There was so much build up to tonights figth that it was already an epic event regardless of the in the ring action. I don’t think this fight will go down in the history books as much of anything to be honest.

    Perhaps boxing isn’t for you, Tony. Give the Jermain Taylor v Corey Spinks and Edson Mirananda v Kelly Pavlik double header a shot in two weeks. If you didn’t enjoy tonight stay away from anything involving Winky Wright. There are number of styles of boxing. Floyd’s jab and hide style is, to me, one of the least appealing. Telefutura on Friday nights has wild Mexican fights. The Mexican style typically involves two guys standing toe to toe in the middle of the ring and pummelling each other with no clinching. If the guys tie each other up the fans start screaming at them.

    Miguel Cotto v Zab Judah will likely be very good, but wait for the replay a week later if you aren’t either a. wealthy b. a big boxing fan or c. in possession of an illegal cable box (do they stilll have those?).

  3. Amy Robinson says:

    Geez, I clicked the link to sherdog for some more info and got my own post. Like I said its such a tragedy, we keep losing these guys so young Jeremy, Eric Wray, Gilbert Aldana. They’ll all be sorely missed.

  4. Jordan Breen says:

    116-112 Mayweather pour moi, and if you’re not really a big boxing fan to start with, this style of fight is never gonna impress you or drag you back into the sport. As suggested, peep Pavlik/Miranda or Cotto/Judah, or even Katsidis/Guzman which could be Fight of the Year (Katsidis’ fight with Graham Earl is the current FOTY to this point). Taylor/Spinks is a waste, and will suck.

    Also, Gryphon ought to be dropping science on next week’s Shooto card at Korakuen Hall. Shit is cracklin’, easily one of the best cards this year, at least on paper.

  5. 45 Huddle says:

    I’ve always liked Kellerman. I have said for a while that he should be the guy doing the UFC shows on HBO.

    Kellerman has always been a supporter of the sport of MMA. He was hyping up Shamrock/Ortiz 1 on his ESPN show back in the day when no other news outlet would touch the sport.

    On boxing’s biggest night, for them to mention MMA…. Shows how much they know their sport is dying. Who wants to watch 12 rounds of running when fans can see multiple great fights with a UFC or Pride.

    The UFC has officially announced UFC 73 on their HP. There press release is a complete shot at boxing. Talks about spening $50 for a crap card, and then talks about 4 great fights for that unbelievable UFC card. Should be fantastic.

  6. 45 Huddle says:

    Here is what the first part of the press release says:

    The World is Ready for the UFC

    UFC 73 on July 7th Las Vegas, NV (USA) – Tired of paying your hard-earned cash for events packed with hype and little else? Sick of sitting down for a pay-per-view event and finding out that you’re paying over $50 for just three fights that include a showcase and a mismatch? The Ultimate Fighting Championship® has the cure for what is ailing fight fans, and in a continuing effort to provide what the world is truly waiting for, it is announcing yet another UFC card stacked with at least five fights that include two intense championship bouts and a heated grudge match between two light heavyweight rivals. UFC 73: STACKED features UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva in his first title defense vs. Nate “The Great” Marquardt. UFC Lightweight Champion Sean “The Muscle Shark” Sherk puts his newly-won belt on the line vs. Brazil’s Hermes Franca. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira steps into the Octagon™ for the first time for a heavyweight war with Heath Herring – and Tito Ortiz intends to put a painful end to Rashad Evans’ perfect 15-0 record. Let the fireworks begin. UFC 73, loaded with UFC superstars, takes place LIVE from ARCO Arena in Sacramento, Calif. Saturday, July 7, 2007.

  7. Jeff says:

    The Jeremy Williams news makes me sick. I was a fan and am horribly shocked and saddened to hear about this.

    The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free suicide prevention service available to anyone in suicidal crisis. If you need help, please dial 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

  8. Mr. Roadblock says:

    I scored rounds 1, 5, 9 and 10 for Mayweather.

    I will admit that I am biased agains the style of fighting he employs. I score on the 1/4 point system. When there is an engagement if one guy lands punishing blows or dictates his will I give him between 1/4 and 1/2 of a point. Whoever is ahead at the end of the round I score it for. Rounds 3, 4 and 6-8 Oscar started strong the round slowed because Floyd wouldn’t engage and then Oscar finished strong. I gave him those rounds. Jim & Emmanuel Stewart didn’t see it that way. They were all fof Floyd. But to me Oscar did more damage. Oscar changed the way Floyd wanted to fight and asserted his will. Floyd running backwards and landing jabs to Oscars arms and flush shots to the face that don’t phase Oscar shouldn’t be rewarded in my book. Oscar was snapping Floyd’s head back with the jab and pinning him on the ropes. Just my opinion. Doesn’t really matter.

  9. Croatian Strength says:

    Why couldn’t they feed Big Nog someone like Eddie Sanchez?

    This will derail Heath’s UFC career (although maybe that is what they want) and Nog won’t look so impressive against someone so experienced.

  10. klown says:

    Croatian Strength,

    Maybe they are trying to get rid of Heath Herring, while showcasing Nogueira.

    Imagine the fallout if there’s an upset. *shivers*

  11. 45 Huddle says:

    It is a very boxing like move to have a Nog/Herring 3 fight. However, the fact that it is the 4th best fight on the card makes it mildly acceptable…

  12. The Gaijin says:

    That fight was a crock….I don’t care what anyone says – you’ll never convince me that a “track star” beat a real boxer. Whatever happened to taking into account ring generalship. DLH had the centre of the ring the ENTIRE fight, landed all of the “significant” punches and was NEVER in any kind of trouble. Mayweather never strung together more than two punches.

    Worst of all HBO decides to tell everyone that they don’t know anything and if they thought DLH won they know nothing about the sport. I know enough to say that HBO and everyone knew and wanted Mayweather to win for the “good of the sport”…what a joke. Mayweather is a total wimp and never engages, waste of money and total BS decision.

  13. JThue says:

    Wow… Lampley just bringing up MMA out of the blue… You could actually feel it coming a couple of seconds earlier. He had that Vince McMahon defensive look on his kisser. And whatever mountain of ignorance he may have(did) showcased, Kellerman had last word, and without MMA-promoters lifting as finger, the sport of MMA gets a huge rub on the biggest boxing PPV ever(?). For some reason this reminds me of Bischoff loosing it and spoiling Raw on Nitro.

  14. Tomer Chen says:

    I had the fight 114-114, but I personally think Oscar screwed up badly by not continuing setting up the flurries with the jab in the last third of the fight and can’t blame anyone else by himself for losing the fight. And sad to hear about Jeremy Williams.

  15. Jordan Breen says:

    “Nog won’t look so impressive against someone so experienced.”

    Um… we are talking about Heath Herring, right? The guy Nogueira destroyed twice in quality fights and put a highlight reel submission on the second time?

  16. JThue says:

    I saw it 8-4 in rounds for Floyd. Oscar’s flurries looked like MMA-takedowns with no follow-up. In many ways this fight ended up being what Sylvia – Couture “should” have been. But Oscars comment afterwards that the challenger should BEAT the champion was right on the spot. Floyd fought like the champion, Oscar like the challenger.

    I’m far from a boxing fan, but following MMA has taught me to also appreciate the more technical aspects of boxing. From my viewpoint this was a solid fight that easily could have been far worse. It was entertaining, had close rounds pretty much all the way, two contrasting styles, and it really felt like De La Hoya had a shot until R11, so Sylvia-Monson or Sylvia – Arlovski it was not. A holy grail og boxing it wasn’t either, but I don’t see how it could have been in the first place.

    Jeremy Williams… Very sad news :/

  17. liger05 says:

    It was a good fight. It wasnt a classic but didnt need to be. The one thing which had to be avoided was for the fight to be a stinker and it wasnt. You didnt have two guys going toe to toe for 12 rounds but the fight was never going to be like that. PBF fought a smart fight. His the smaller younger guy and used his technical skills to win the fight. I cant argue with the decision and was pleased with the fight. Its unfair for people to use this as some sort of example of why boxing is ‘dying’. This was nothing like some of the awful stand up fights we have seen in UFC and has not hurt boxing at all.

  18. The Gaijin says:

    I dont know how people can see this fight as being any good. One fighter showed up for the fight and the other one wanted nothing to do with a boxing match. “Pretty Boy” should have his moniker changed to “Nancy Boy”, it was a pathetic display by boxing’s “newest star” who was given a gift SD.

    There was nothing PBF did to live up to his hype or status as best p4p fighter…what a joke.

  19. D. Capitated says:

    I credit Dana White with doing his best to attach the name of virtual unknown and lightweight UFC champion Sean Sherk (who’s a nobody even to the casual UFC crowd) to the biggest boxing match of the year. Smart move from Dana, especially given Sherk’s long inactivity.

  20. Euthyphro says:

    Even moreseo, it was a HUGE mistake by Mayweather to even mention UFC in his pre-fight press conferences. He opened the door for all the comparison articles, and gave Dana the leeway he needed to run wild.

  21. Sherk’s been around for a while, maybe the TUF kiddies don’t know who he is but pretty much all the other UFC fans do. He’s just had a rough year, getting trounced by Hughes and GSP and then winning that boring pin down vs Florian. Definately a smart move by Dana to attach him and the LW division to the boxing bout though

  22. D. Capitated says:

    Sherk’s been around for a while, maybe the TUF kiddies don’t know who he is but pretty much all the other UFC fans do. He’s just had a rough year, getting trounced by Hughes and GSP and then winning that boring pin down vs Florian. Definately a smart move by Dana to attach him and the LW division to the boxing bout though

    The Hughes fight happened years ago, and people who were mild fans of the UFC then didn’t even watch it. That was a disaster financially for them. The GSP fight people did see, and he got slaughtered. Being brought in as a #1 contender in a weight class he had never really been in previously was kinda odd too.

  23. liger05 says:

    Mayweather was aready regarded p4p best fighter before the fight and did nothing to suggest that is wrong. Styles make fights and Floyd did what needed to be done. He was the lighter guy moving up in weight and would of been stupid to fight on the inside. PBF is a great fighter!!!

  24. The Gaijin says:

    He may be a technically great fighter, but he is no great fighter in the other senses. He’s an awesome athlete but he looks like a fuckin track star…utterly boring crap watching a guy with tools like that want no part in actually, you know, boxing.

  25. captain~swing says:

    Tony wrote: “Boxing fans,

    I have an honest question…I am not attempting to troll here:

    Was that a good fight?”

    Short Answer: No.

    Longer Answer: I respectfully disagree with anyone who would call that fight “good”. It was watchable… at times. The best televised fight on the card was the bout that jerked the curtain (Bautista/Medina). Now THAT was a good fight.

    This suffered from “Big Fight Syndrome” where the so-called “casual” fans sit on their hands with their mouths shut for the undercard and then cheer every little thing that happens during the Main Event even if what they are cheering is meaningless flurries, shoe-shining and punches that aren’t connecting ec.

    Tomer wrote: “I had the fight 114-114”

    I scored the fight 115-115 but as usual managed to guess, with near pinpoint accuracy, how the three-blind-mice would have it.

  26. Zviggy says:

    I didn’t mind the Mayweather vs. DLH fight but it definitely wasn’t great. I have seen a few good ones this year but have to agree with Breen that the Katsidis vs. Earle fight is the best one I have seen this year.

    I believe they want to get rid of Herring. How much did he earn in his last fight? I remember seeing it and thinking damn, thats high compared to other guys in the UFC.

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