WRITTEN BY ALEX LEE (@AlexIsTheeName)
A year later than expected, Danny Garcia (29-0, 17 KO) and Lamont Peterson (33-2-1, 17 KO) are featured in Saturday's main event April 11 from the Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York.
The broadcast begins at 8:30pm U.S. Eastern time on NBC while in the UK it begins at 1:30am BST on BoxNation.
Big wig, Al Haymon, advisor to each fighter, presumably reserved this fight until he could secure it on a larger platform in broadcast television to guarantee high ratings and the success of his brand. As such, Garcia had a tune up in undersized Rod Salka while Peterson faced Edgar Santana on the same card in August of 2014.
Danny Garcia is now a quasi-junior welterweight, quasi-welterweight - that is, a small welterweight - hence the catchweight. His talking point is that the fight was announced so late that it did not give him adequate time to properly emaciate to the 140-lb junior-welterweight limit. Therefore, he has suggested that he will officially move to welterweight some time this year, end-of-summer-ish [sic]. Peterson has also expressed wanting to move to welterweight, saying that he loses all the benefits of strengthening and conditioning by shredding to make weight. But Peterson still would have preferred the fight to be at 140 rather than 143 pounds.
After defeating Dierry Jean, Peterson began clamoring for a chance at Garcia, dismissing his loss to Lucas Matthysse as a bad style for himself, that he faired more favorably against Garcia. This sentiment was shared, for themselves, by other fighters at the weight. His perceived limitations in boxing ability also explains why Garcia found himself the underdog against Matthysse in September of 2013. Whereas Matthysse has previously shown excellent boxing skills against Devon Alexander and Zab Judah, Garcia had him appear one-dimensional. But it was Garcia who looked challenged in ability, e.g., when he faced Mauricio Herrera, Erik Morales, Amir Khan and Ashley Theophane.
Peterson, who likes fighting inside, wearing his opponent with body shots, had difficulty with Matthysse's physical strength in close. It is reasonable to suggest that Garcia, a bigger fighter than Matthysse, will also give Peterson problems in this regard. The key for Peterson would appear to be in his jab, as he has a 3 ½” reach advantage over Garcia, while generally avoiding frequent transitions of distance. Peterson has to be outside of Garcia's reach or completely inside smothering his punches, for in between is where Garcia looks to land his left hook, usually as a counter, or occasionally the counter-right. Garcia's main success with the jab will likely be as counters to Peterson'a jab, either as Peterson steps in with a power jab or as he attempts to throw combinations off of the jab.
In recent interviews, Garcia has considered himself a counter-puncher. Many of Garcia's past highlights involve counter-punching, most notably his first knockdown of Amir Khan. This obscures the fact that Garcia is often late with his attempted counters, e.g., missing repeatedly with counter-left hooks against a slow and old Erik Morales. That is, Garcia struggles with anticipation, reflexes, and timing. Garcia resorts to counter-punching because it is the most efficient for him given his physical ability. Lacking in reach, Garcia has to make up the difference in foot speed. Being flat footed and slow of the feet, Garcia finds it easier to allow his opponent to come to him, hence his development into a counter-puncher. In this respect, he resembles Juan Manuel Marquez.
Having leverage in his flat-footed posture, Garcia relies on his power to hurt his opponent so that he can subsequently gain the advantage in progressing forward. Garcia cleverly tucks his chin so low during exchanges that it appears as if he cannot see. While this impairs his vision to some extent, Garcia predicts where his opponent will be and relies heavily on muscle memory for accuracy. That heavy calculation also makes Garcia predictable and less reactive to variation Herrera took advantage by synchronously slipping underneath Garcia's counter-left hooks while closing distance in throwing his own punch.
Taller in stature than Herrera, Peterson may find it more difficult to slip underneath Garcia, but he can also use his head movement at distance to likewise take advantage of Garcia's slow reflexes.
For Garcia, that Peterson has shown a susceptibility for getting hit constantly by right hands and left hooks from men smaller than himself will give him solace that Peterson will make enough mistakes that this fight will always remain competitive.
Peter Quillin vs. Andy Lee
Peter Quillin (31-0, 22 KO) seeks to regain his WBO Middleweight title from Andy Lee (34-2, 24 KO). Upon the suggestion of his advisor, Al Haymon, who created the Premier Boxing Champions series, Quillin relinquished the title last year when Roc Nation Sports, headed by rapper Jay-Z, won the purse bid for a fight between Quillin and Matt Korobov. Quillin was chastised by the boxing public for his perceived cowardice and lack of intelligence in turning down the fight which alone would have earned him millions of dollars, a record payday for himself, in order to remain inactive.
At the time, Roc Nation Sports had made generous offers to numerous fighters advised by Al Haymon, including Keith Thurman and Adrien Broner. Keith Thurman was a bit of a loose screw, becoming vocal in his frustration regarding the quality of his recent competition and lack of a title shot. The saintly Al Haymon rewarded Thurman by having him headline the premier of Premier Boxing Champions on NBC in March. Thurman has blissfully cheered along Al Haymon's project ever since.
It was Al Haymon who lured Andy Lee into a fight with Peter Quillin in an opportunity for more widespread exposure on NBC, as well catapulting his notoriety should he upset Quillin. But Quillin was not the immediate mandatory, so Al Haymon paid step-aside money to Billy Saunders for his man, Peter Quillin.
Meanwhile, Roc Nation Sports struggles to solidify itself but has since signed Andre Ward and Miguel Cotto, Super-Middleweight and Middleweight champions respectively.
Quillin and Lee are near mirror images of each other from an opposite stance. Favoring the hook as their signature, each fighter cocks the hook by squaring the shoulders in the guard position. Being tall and long, each fighter sacrifices some distance while simultaneously making himself a larger target for an opposing straight rear hand, for the purpose of having a quick and powerful hook. Another effect of bringing the rear shoulder forward is losing the benefit of rotational torque of the hips and trunk for power in the rear hand. But the rear hand, being closer, can be used as a sort of power jab to precede a hook. It is the reverse of the conventional one-two combination where the lead hand jabs followed by a straight rear hand.
This is especially a favorite combination of Peter Quillin.
The paradox of the matter, particularly for Quillin, is that the very type of attack that will be successful, straight rear hand followed by a left hook, is what can result in Quillin being hurt from a counter-right hook from Lee. For Quillin leans forward when leading with his right hand, but lowers his left hand, cocking the left hook to make it faster, but leaves himself wide open in the line of right hook from a southpaw or a counter-right hand from an orthodox fighter. Andy Lee has relied on the counter-right hook to win his last two fights by stoppage, fights in which he was losing.
Lee, however, should not rely on the counter-right hand; instead, he should try to control the fight with his jab and straight left hand. Lee has a slight reach advantage and quicker feet than Quillin, and can trouble Quillin if he performs as the quintessential boxer and mover.
As just mentioned, Quillin's primary weakness as a fighter lies in his footwork. Truthfully, Quillin is built like a tall slender 7'0 center in the NBA whose balance and quickness is always challenged due to a lack of balance and coordination in his lower body. Unable to move effectively, Quillin has difficulty controlling the range, thus forcing himself into a defensive posture similar to the style of a counter-puncher. Fortunately or unfortunately, Lee will likely prefer to keep away from Quillin rather than apply pressure.
The key for Quillin will be in using the jab to work his way inside Lee's range, feinting Lee to create openings, and to avoid being counter by Lee's right hook as he throws his own right hand.
More: Stevenson dominates Bika
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| Image: Washington Post |
A year later than expected, Danny Garcia (29-0, 17 KO) and Lamont Peterson (33-2-1, 17 KO) are featured in Saturday's main event April 11 from the Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York.
The broadcast begins at 8:30pm U.S. Eastern time on NBC while in the UK it begins at 1:30am BST on BoxNation.
Big wig, Al Haymon, advisor to each fighter, presumably reserved this fight until he could secure it on a larger platform in broadcast television to guarantee high ratings and the success of his brand. As such, Garcia had a tune up in undersized Rod Salka while Peterson faced Edgar Santana on the same card in August of 2014.
Danny Garcia is now a quasi-junior welterweight, quasi-welterweight - that is, a small welterweight - hence the catchweight. His talking point is that the fight was announced so late that it did not give him adequate time to properly emaciate to the 140-lb junior-welterweight limit. Therefore, he has suggested that he will officially move to welterweight some time this year, end-of-summer-ish [sic]. Peterson has also expressed wanting to move to welterweight, saying that he loses all the benefits of strengthening and conditioning by shredding to make weight. But Peterson still would have preferred the fight to be at 140 rather than 143 pounds.
After defeating Dierry Jean, Peterson began clamoring for a chance at Garcia, dismissing his loss to Lucas Matthysse as a bad style for himself, that he faired more favorably against Garcia. This sentiment was shared, for themselves, by other fighters at the weight. His perceived limitations in boxing ability also explains why Garcia found himself the underdog against Matthysse in September of 2013. Whereas Matthysse has previously shown excellent boxing skills against Devon Alexander and Zab Judah, Garcia had him appear one-dimensional. But it was Garcia who looked challenged in ability, e.g., when he faced Mauricio Herrera, Erik Morales, Amir Khan and Ashley Theophane.
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| Image: Telegraph |
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| Open workouts |
Having leverage in his flat-footed posture, Garcia relies on his power to hurt his opponent so that he can subsequently gain the advantage in progressing forward. Garcia cleverly tucks his chin so low during exchanges that it appears as if he cannot see. While this impairs his vision to some extent, Garcia predicts where his opponent will be and relies heavily on muscle memory for accuracy. That heavy calculation also makes Garcia predictable and less reactive to variation Herrera took advantage by synchronously slipping underneath Garcia's counter-left hooks while closing distance in throwing his own punch.
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| Image: CraveOnline.com |
For Garcia, that Peterson has shown a susceptibility for getting hit constantly by right hands and left hooks from men smaller than himself will give him solace that Peterson will make enough mistakes that this fight will always remain competitive.
Peter Quillin vs. Andy Lee
Peter Quillin (31-0, 22 KO) seeks to regain his WBO Middleweight title from Andy Lee (34-2, 24 KO). Upon the suggestion of his advisor, Al Haymon, who created the Premier Boxing Champions series, Quillin relinquished the title last year when Roc Nation Sports, headed by rapper Jay-Z, won the purse bid for a fight between Quillin and Matt Korobov. Quillin was chastised by the boxing public for his perceived cowardice and lack of intelligence in turning down the fight which alone would have earned him millions of dollars, a record payday for himself, in order to remain inactive.
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| Andy Lee during open workouts. |
It was Al Haymon who lured Andy Lee into a fight with Peter Quillin in an opportunity for more widespread exposure on NBC, as well catapulting his notoriety should he upset Quillin. But Quillin was not the immediate mandatory, so Al Haymon paid step-aside money to Billy Saunders for his man, Peter Quillin.
Meanwhile, Roc Nation Sports struggles to solidify itself but has since signed Andre Ward and Miguel Cotto, Super-Middleweight and Middleweight champions respectively.
Quillin and Lee are near mirror images of each other from an opposite stance. Favoring the hook as their signature, each fighter cocks the hook by squaring the shoulders in the guard position. Being tall and long, each fighter sacrifices some distance while simultaneously making himself a larger target for an opposing straight rear hand, for the purpose of having a quick and powerful hook. Another effect of bringing the rear shoulder forward is losing the benefit of rotational torque of the hips and trunk for power in the rear hand. But the rear hand, being closer, can be used as a sort of power jab to precede a hook. It is the reverse of the conventional one-two combination where the lead hand jabs followed by a straight rear hand.
This is especially a favorite combination of Peter Quillin.
The paradox of the matter, particularly for Quillin, is that the very type of attack that will be successful, straight rear hand followed by a left hook, is what can result in Quillin being hurt from a counter-right hook from Lee. For Quillin leans forward when leading with his right hand, but lowers his left hand, cocking the left hook to make it faster, but leaves himself wide open in the line of right hook from a southpaw or a counter-right hand from an orthodox fighter. Andy Lee has relied on the counter-right hook to win his last two fights by stoppage, fights in which he was losing.
Lee, however, should not rely on the counter-right hand; instead, he should try to control the fight with his jab and straight left hand. Lee has a slight reach advantage and quicker feet than Quillin, and can trouble Quillin if he performs as the quintessential boxer and mover.
As just mentioned, Quillin's primary weakness as a fighter lies in his footwork. Truthfully, Quillin is built like a tall slender 7'0 center in the NBA whose balance and quickness is always challenged due to a lack of balance and coordination in his lower body. Unable to move effectively, Quillin has difficulty controlling the range, thus forcing himself into a defensive posture similar to the style of a counter-puncher. Fortunately or unfortunately, Lee will likely prefer to keep away from Quillin rather than apply pressure.
The key for Quillin will be in using the jab to work his way inside Lee's range, feinting Lee to create openings, and to avoid being counter by Lee's right hook as he throws his own right hand.
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