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ESPN Friday Night Fights Recap

March 30, 2007

Cobo Center-Detroit, Michigan

IBA Women's Middleweight (160 pounds) Championship 10-Round Match:

Mary Jo Sanders (23-0, 7 KO's, 159 pounds) (c) vs. Valerie Mahfood (19-12-3, 9 KO, 159 pounds)

Mary Jo Sanders is the daughter of the formerNational Football League's, Detroit Lions tight end Charlie Sanders, who will be enshrined in the pro football hall of fame later this year. That makes her a big hometown favorite here in Detroit. Sanders has won championships in four different weight classes on the way to her perfect record. Sanders is ranked second in The Ring magazine best pound-for-pound women's boxer category behind Laila Ali, who is the in studio guest back at ESPN headquarters during this show. Sanders would like to move up in weight to face Ali. This is the beginning of the real build towards a match between the two. Sanders needs to really shine here. Mahfood has been knocked out twice by Ali and Sanders doing anything less than that would be considered a failure. Mahfood is a good fighter and a former champion at a higher weight class, but Sanders is looking for the big pay day. Ali finished Mahfood in 8 the first time and 6 the second.

The only real difference between professional men's and women's boxing is that the rounds are 2 minutes instead of 3 minutes. Otherwise the same rules apply.

Mahfood is a prison guard and MBA student by day and trains for boxing by night. That training does not appear to include defensive skills as Mahfood is taking pretty much every punch Sanders throws to try to get in to a brawling style fight. Sanders so far is having none of it. She is just taking the free shots and moving away when Mahfood comes in swinging. The knock on Sanders is that she does not possess a lot of knockout power. Mahfood has been put down a lot and not always by people as good as Ali. For a showcase, Sanders has the perfect opponent tonight. Round 1 is easily 10-9 for Sanders. For someone who has questions about punching power, Sanders is sure snapping the head of Mahfood back a lot in round 1. Mahfood needs to figure something out quick or by the time round 6 is supposed to come around Sanders will be half way to wherever the victory party is. Sanders is just way too quick, landing combinations at will. Sanders takes round 2, 10-9. Mahfood is tough, and has a heck of a chin on her. She needs it though, another round for Sanders 10-9.

As round 4 begins, ESPN puts up some CompuBox numbers to help give an idea of how one-sided this fight is. Mahfood landed 3 punches of 41 she threw in round 3 for a 7% connect percentage. Sanders on other hand is hitting Mahfood like a jack in the box, landing 34 of 67 punches thrown for a 51% connection percentage. In close, Mahfood is more effective. That is, of course a relative term meaning Mahfood loses not quite as badly. Another round for Sanders 10-9. If these were 3 minute rounds the fight would likely be over, but with this format I think Mahfood may last the fight. She has a really great chin and Sanders is not landing big enough shots to finish Mahfood in the time allotted. As round 5 begins Mahfood is starting to have some swelling around her left eye. Through 4 rounds Hopkins has it a shutout for Sanders 40-36 and that is very hard to argue. Sanders is starting to show some bad habits. It looks like she is no longer taking Mahfood as a serious threat. Sanders hands have dropped below shoulder level. It could be due to fatigue which is a very bad sign, but it appears far more likely its due to laziness. This could open Sanders up for problems, but its not likely going to be a problem tonight. Sanders wins round 5, 10-9.

Halfway through the fight, the average number of punches landed per round is 6 for Mahfood in stark contrast to 30 for Sanders. Sanders won round 5 on Hopkins scorecard, that was not surprising. Wash, rinse, repeat; round 6 goes to Sanders, 10-9.

In between rounds, the studio airs some highlights of the fight from Denmark last weekend and brings up the possibility of a Kessler-Calzaghe mega-fight. Hopkins, without cutting nearly as awesome a promo as Kessler did says if Calzaghe would like to come to America, the 42-year-old champion might like to fight Calzaghe. That might make a lot more sense for Calzaghe money wise and creates an interesting match up. It would however be on PPV and deny the Calzaghe-Kessler match from happening next, and Calzaghe-Kessler would likely be broadcast live on premium television with a much lower price tag. Hopkins just upped the ante a little bit though in his promo, as the Calzaghe-Kessler fight would likely be at the MEN in Manchester, England, but Hopkins wants Calzaghe in Yankee Stadium in New York City. That is a big gauntlet to throw down and I cannot imagine Calzaghe passing that up.

Back to the actual match taking place. This round will likely end up 10-9 Sanders too, with nothing new happening. Mahfood took an amazing series of over ten punches clean to her head, undefended and was forced to grab on to Sanders to stay on her feet. The exchange ended with Mahfood just tackling Sanders to avoid being knocked out. Both boxers ended up in a pile on the ground and it was ruled a slip for both. The time though it took to get the boxers standing and officially ready to resume gave Mahfood time enough to get her bearings well enough to last the round, barely. Mahfood even after the pile up took some more stiff shots. I score it 10-8 inSanders' favor as that pile up was really a knockdown with Mahfood doing an extended fall that could not be counted officially as a knockdown, but really was. Mahfood also ate a ton of punches, many ofwhich were very hard. This is round 8 where Ali finished Mahfood the first time. Hopkins scored the last round 10-9. Through 7 rounds, Sanders is connecting on 52% of the head shots she throws. Normally 40% is really good. She's above that. Next round is 10-9 Sanders, again. Sanders hands are starting to drop even farther. Mahfood's hands are still as high as they started, but it is not helping her block anymore punches then it did in the first round. Mahfood did some good work on the inside in round 9 and I think she may have won it, at least I'm giving it to her. Round 9 goes to Mahfood on my card, 10-9. Mahfood undoubtedly needs a knockout here so it is time to go for a broke and amazingly she looks rather fresh. Sanders is looking a bit gassed and Mahfood has a shot at it. There were some good brawling exchanges in round 10 which again likely went to Sanders. Sanders came looking for a knockout and did not get it, but looked very good against a tough fighter so it was a successful outing. Ali seemed to be in full on build for the match betweenher and Sanders as the fight comes to a close.

Sanders ended the fight with a 50% connect percentage on head shots out landing Mahfood by 219 and remember this is only a 20 minute match. Hopkins scored every round 10-9 in favor of Sanders. Now here are the judges' official score cards: 100-90, 100-90, 100-90 for the winner and still IBA Middleweight Champion Mary Jo Sanders.