Sunday, September 30, 2007

Pavlik proves me wrong

Wow, what a thrilling win by middleweight Kelly Pavlik on Saturday night as he wrestled away the middleweight crown from previously unbeaten and highly thought of Jermain Taylor. Pavlik survived the early barrage by Taylor to stop him in the seventh. The native of Youngstown, Ohio, has always carried a big punch and he has put some excitement back in the middleweight division, once one of the best of all time.
Pavlik and Taylor could meet again in a rematch. Let's hope so. Taylor was ahead on the scorecards and then got careless. Pavlik has a puncher's chance in any fight he has and let's hope he continues to do well because he certainly adds to the sport.

Underated Ghana fighter Joseph Agbeko is the new IBF bantamweight title holder. He stopped champion Luis Perez on Saturday night in Sacramento. Agbeko is a talented two-fisted fighther with a high skill level. There have been a lot of great fighters from Ghana, including Azumah Nelson. Hopefully, Agbeko will continue to fight in the states against top 118-pounders because he is certainly an up and comer in the sport.

Solid weekend for football teams

Las Cruces High and Mayfield were both looking to make statements this weekend in high school football games against Eldorado and La Cueva respectively. And they did.
The Bulldawgs went up to Albuquerque and handled Eldorado 28-7. Las Cruces High was simply too fast for the 2-2 Eagles, while improving to 5-0 on the season. Las Cruces High gained 362 yards on the ground and got a pair of scoring touchdowns from RB Will Bruce. The win sets up Friday's game against 5-0 Artesia at the Field of Dreams. Artesia is the top team in Class 4A and some might argue is the best team in the entire state of New Mexico, regardless of class. Quarterback Landry Jones has committed to Oklahoma and is the top QB in the state. The Bulldawgs feature RB James Hall Jr., arguably the best in the state at his position.

Mayfield High got the services of QB Matt Sandoval on Friday and he responded with a big touchdown run in the second half and a late first half touchdown pass in a 20-10 Trojans victory.
The Trojans are 4-1 and have won three straight despite battling several injuries. They should have a fairly easy time on Friday Rio Grande before starting district play against Oñate on Oct. 12.
If LCHS and MHS win on Friday, both should run through district play without much problem until the two teams meet on Nov. 9.

— Felix

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Taylor/Pavlik

Tonight in New Jersey, middleweight champ Jermain Taylor defends his title against Kelly Pavlik. Pavlik has a puncher's chance and has steadily improved, but the Taylor should win the battle of the two unbeaten fighters. Taylor is fast and he's fighting a dangerous fighter for the first time in over a year, which has motivated him even more for this fight. Taylor hasn't fought anyone of significance since beating Winky Wright last summer.
Pavlik should have his moments at times because of his punching power, but if Taylor can survive the early rounds, he should wear Pavlik down. Reports are that Taylor could move up to 168 after this fight and try to clean out the super middleweight division.

— Felix

Friday, September 28, 2007

Mayfield webcast

Mayfield football fame will be webcast

LAS CRUCES – The Mayfield High School Media Department will be working with the New
Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) television program to webcast the Mayfield Trojans’
varsity game against the La Cueva (Albuquerque) Bears on live tonight from the Las Cruces Field of Dreams LCPS Information Technology Department Director Jeff Harris said.
Judy Thomas, the teacher in charge of the Mayfield Broadcasting System, said her students will be providing the video production for the game.
Anyone with a high-speed Internet connection will be able to watch the game live at
http://www.nmaa.tv, said Harris.

Coaches

Six Oñate High School football assistant football coaches were placed on paid administrative leave on Friday.
The school district nor Onate High School would go into detail about why the coaches were placed on leaving due to the ongoing investigation.
The 2-2 Knights take on 4-0 Cibola on Saturday afternoon at the Field of Dreams.
I have learned from a pair of sources that varsity assistant coaches Jaime Ramirez and Mark Mueller were not among the coaches that were put on leave. Head coach Kelly McKee is also not part of the staff put on leave. The allegations do not involve students and at no time were students in any kind of danger according to a press release given to the media by the Las Cruces Public Schools.
Public school officials hope to have the investigation wrapped up by next week.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Mayfield football injury update

It looks like Mayfield senior quarterback Matt Sandoval will play on Friday night at home against La Cueva. He has been practicing this week and head coach Michael Bradley said he would play on Wednesday night. He has missed the past two games with a sprained ankle for the 3-1 Trojans. Backup quarterback Nathan Enriquez could also see time at QB, but with the return of Sandoval will go back to receiver.
Running back Carlos Olivas isn't so lucky. The senior running back hasn't played all season because of a bad left foot and he did return last week to do some running. But he reinjured his foot this week and could be out until the playoffs.
And senior defensive end/receiver Yemi Adeogba could be back next week. He's missed the team's first four games with a foot/ankle injury.

— Felix

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Barrera/Pacquiao

On Oct. 6 in Las Vegas, Nev., Marco Antonio Barrera and Manny Pacquiao battle in a 12-round super featherweight bout. It is a rematch of their fight in 2003, won by Pacquiao via 11th-round stoppage. Barrera is a great champion, a winner of 63 fights and wins against the likes of Kennedy McKinney, Paulie Ayala, Erik Morales and Rocky Juarez.
But Pacquiao is 28 and his prime. He is skillful, powerful and if he's focused will be tough to beat. Reports are that Barrera has had a good training camp and he has a history of rebounding well from losses and his last fight he lost a decision to Juan Manuel Marquez. Expect Barrera to start strong, but Pacquiao's power will be too much and look for him to win by late stoppage. Barrera has had a habit of boxing in spots of late, taking time off in rounds, then trying to steal them at the end. He can't do that against Pacquiao or he'll be in big trouble.
Pacquiao was in impressive in his two wins against Erik Morales and he just keeps getting better and better. He'll be focused and ready to go for Barrera.

- Felix

Big week ahead

If you are a high school football fan, this weekend should be entertaining.
On Friday night at the Field of Dreams, La Cueva and Mayfield renew their rivalry. The two teams have battled for high school supremacy in the state for the past few years and other than 2004 and 2005, Mayfield usually comes out on top. But the Bears are usually one of the top four or five teams in the state and this year feature freshman Ronnie Daniels, who many are considering the next Bobby Newcomb. Newcomb starred at Highland High School in Albuquerque and later played at Nebraska.
La Cueva is 2-2 and could easily be 3-1. The Bears lost 24-21 in week 1 to Cibola. Last week, they beat Clovis 26-21.
The Trojans, meanwhile, are 3-1 and are coming off a 32-20 win at Manzano last week. Mayfield could get some help this week. Quarterback Matt Sandoval practiced on Monday after missing two weeks with a bum ankle and running back Carlos Olivas did some running on Monday as well.
Mayfield is the more consistent team right now and in a close game, will get past the Bears 24-17.

Also on Friday night in Albuquerque 4-0 Las Cruces High gets a stiff test at 2-1 Eldorado. The Bulldawgs have been impressive on offense and more than adequate on defense. The Eagles have won two straight after losing their opener at Clovis. My pick: LCHS 28, Eldorado 21.

On Saturday at the Field of Dreams, Albuquerque Cibola visits Onate. The Cougars feature quarterback Jonathan Mader and offensive lineman Rio Mares, two leaders of a strong offense. Last year, the Cougars were a play or two away from making it to the 5A title game. This year, they have hopes of taking the title back to Albuquerque. Onate is young and has been turnover prone this year. The unbeaten Cougars will be too much for 2-2 OHS on Saturday. My pick: Cibola 38, OHS 17.

— Felix