AND THEN THERE WAS…NOTHING!

(INSIDE BOXING) I'll bet all of you thought I'd disappeared into the sunset. All bets are off!

I took a little time off to observe what seemed to be a truckload of upcoming championship battles. As usual we are left somewhat disappointed.

In the span of a few short months: Bernard Hopkins destroyed Felix Trinidad, Jose Luis Castillo was robbed in a match with Floyd Mayweather, Jr., Vernon Forrest has stopped Shane Moseley not once but twice, Lennox Lewis knocked out the once invincible Mike Tyson and finally Oscar de la Hoya took apart his arch enemy Fernando Vargas.

All the above matches were highly anticipated fights that, according to the experts, had the incorrect outcome. But to the everyday fight fan these results have come at a high price. Our continued interest and excitement!

Imagine if…Felix Trinidad defeated Bernard Hopkins. We are looking at the possibility of Trinidad vs Vargas, de la Hoya or even Roy Jones, Jr. The way it now stands, Hopkins has only Roy Jones, Jr. as a fight that he cannot and will not win as a big money battle.

Jose Luis Castillo defeats Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and we have the prospect of Castillo vs Paul Spadafora, Stevie Johnston (again) or even Kostya Tszyu. The way this now stands, Mayweather plans an on again off again rematch with Castillo that he cannot and will not win.

Shane Moseley beats Vernon Forrest and he's looking at Moseley vs de la Hoya II. After the devastating back-to-back defeats by Forrest, Moseley has only the rematch with de la Hoya as his final swan song in the world of boxing. This fight he cannot and will not win.

Mike Tyson knocks out Lennox Lewis and the heavyweight division again is in turmoil. Tyson vs either of the Klitschko brothers, Chris Byrd or even Lewis again cannot spark even the remotest idea of excitement in anyone.

Fernando Vargas beats up on Oscar de la Hoya and Vargas vs Vernon Forrest, Shane Moseley or even Bernard Hopkins looks real interesting. As it now stands, de la Hoya is only interested in avenging his loss to Moseley. He probably wins that fight and the only persons left for him are Vernon Forrest and Bernard Hopkins both of whom Oscar can NEVER defeat.

So there you have it. Boxing is once again on the back burner.

The baseball playoffs are here, football season is in full swing and hockey pre-season has begun. Boxing has shot it's own self in the foot with matches that, although highly anticipated, the results have left us with absolutely nothing to look forward to.

I, for one, am going to take a looooong nap…

Stephen S. Johnson 10/05/02