Watchdog: Steve’s PPV Criteria: Marco Antonio Barrera vs Rocky Juarez II
 WATCHDOG By Steve Hudgins (Sep 16, 2006)
THE PURPOSE: I don't think any one fight can be made in boxing today, that alone, is worth the price of a PPV. Unless of course, they can conjure up Dempsey vs Marciano or Joe Louis, but until that day comes, I want some quantity to go along with quality!
I say, if they want us to shell out 30, 40 sometimes 50 bucks per PPV, they should give us some bang for our buck! The card should be solid from top to bottom! Or at least it should be so top heavy with excellent fights that they can get away with a showcase fight to kick off the festivities, but these 2 or 3 showcase fights and 1 decent to mega main event PPV's
are for the birds! (My apologies to any of the birds I may have offended with that statement.)
SO HERE'S MY SYSTEM:
I preview and rate every fight that is scheduled to be televised on a PPV Boxing Card, and try to determine whether that card is worth purchasing or not based on my point system below.
Please note that at the end of each preview, I will mention what weight class the bout is being fought at and where each fighter ranks within that weight class. This is done by using ‘The Ring’ ratings.
HERE'S HOW STEVE'S PPV CRITERIA WORKS!
POINTS:
6 = MEGA MATCHUP
5 = Excellent Matchup
4 = Good Matchup
3 = Decent Matchup
2 = OK Matchup
1 = Bad Matchup
If a fight is scheduled to be televised on the card, it gets at least 1 point. This helps to reward quantity.
POINT SYSTEM:
14 or higher = GET IT!
13 = If you can find someone to split it with you or the price of the PPV is 24.99 or less, GET IT!
12 = If you can find someone to split it with you or the price of the PPV is 19.99 or less CONSIDER getting it.
11 = If you can find a place that is showing it, or get enough people over to split it with you, so that you are not paying more than 10 dollars for the card, CONSIDER getting it.
10 or under = Save your money and sleep well at night knowing you didn't get ripped off!
AND AWAY WE GO!
September 16th - PPV PRICE: $44.95
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MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA 41-5-2 (33) vs ROCKY JUAREZ 25-2 (18) II
Their first bout was a tough, hard fight from beginning to end, with both fighters having good moments. After the bout, the decision was announced as a draw. Later, it was discovered that the scoring was calculated incorrectly and Barrera was given a split decision victory. One thing everybody can agree on is that the bout was close and entertaining. I expect the rematch to be similar to their first fight, but with both fighters picking up their game another notch, so I expect it to be even superior to their first encounter. Should be a blast!
*Marco Antonio Barrera is rated # 2 at Jr Lightweight (130 lbs) - Rocky Juarez is rated # 5 at Jr Lightweight (130 lbs)*
SCORE = 5
JORGE BARRIOS 46-2-1 (33) vs JOAN GUZMAN 25-0 (17)
Guzman was known as a big puncher at 122 lbs, but hasn't seemed to have carried his power up in weight with him. However, he is still a brilliant, flashy boxer who likes to put on a show. He won a very easy decision over Javier Jauregui in one sided, uneventful fashion in his first step up to 130, but should have a much tougher time against gritty, aggressive Jorge Barrios. Barrios, too, is a showman, but prefers to bang. This is a classic boxer vs puncher fight and should provide a lot of entertainment as the main undercard attraction.
*Jorge Barrios is rated # 4 at Jr Lightweight(130 lbs) - Joan Guzman is not rated*
SCORE = 4
ISRAEL VAZQUEZ 40-3 (29) vs JHONNY GONZALEZ 33-4 (28)
I'm giving this fight the benefit of the doubt by scoring it a 4. I'm tempted to make it a 3, based on the fact that Jhonny Gonzalez's last fight, against Fernando Montiel, was one of the most boring fights of the year. However, this matchup is different and I think the fight will be fun! Gonzalez, a good counter puncher, was standing around all night waiting to counter Montiel in that snooze fest, but it's difficult to counter someone who only throws 3 punches per round! Gonzalez will have plenty of countering opportunities against Israel Vazquez, because Vazquez will not be laying back playing the counter punch game. He will take the fight to Gonzalez in an attempt to wear him out quickly. Both fighters should have many opportunities here and I expect fireworks throughout! Oh and another thing to keep in mind, this is a rare, REAL championship of the world. Vazquez is the one and only real champ at Jr. Featherweight, as opposed to just some trinket holder.
*Israel Vazquez is the Jr Featherweight(122 lbs) champion of the world - Jhonny Gonzalez is rated # 3 at Bantamweight (118 lbs)*
SCORE = 4
JORGE PAEZ JR 10-0 (7) vs DERRICK CAMPOS 6-2 (5)
Showcase fight to kick off the evening. Campos has a nice KO to win ratio, but his opponents were nothing. If we're lucky, he'll give Paez a couple rounds of work to get the juices flowing.
*This bout is being fought at Jr Welterweight (147 lbs) - Neither Fighter Is Rated*
SCORE = 1
FINAL SCORE = 14
SUMMARY: This is by far the best PPV of 2006. If you only order 1 PPV per year, this is the one to get! 3 solid matches, and a showcase. That's about as good as boxing fans are ever given in a PPV nowadays. It sure would have been nice for Golden Boy promotions to have gone that extra mile and thrown in a nice solid 4th fight to kick off the night, but apparently somewhere along the line, a law was passed saying that all PPV's have to be opened with 4 round showcase bouts. Great opportunity for Golden Boy to buck that trend! Too bad they chose not too. Oh well, the rest of the card is so solid, which is rare enough for a PPV nowadays, that I won't gripe too much. Enjoy the night of fights! SHOULD BE A GOOD ONE!
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