A few thoughts on what may come from this past Friday’s results mixed with possible results from the Dec 4 show at Target Center.
Matt Vanda working the body, Courtesy SnapLocally.com
Did Friday’s events just set up a possible showdown for Minnesota’s two top draws? Remember, Vanda called out Walters before he signed to fight Williams. I cant help but wonder, if Zach Walters takes care of business, will we be treated to a couple of the states favorites squaring off in another major MN vs MN show? If Larry Sharpe gets the win, would it make sense to have an event featuring Matt Vanda vs Sharpe and Phil Williams vs Walters? Fun stuff to ponder.
I hope so!
Wouldn’t that be neat?!
Even a Vanda/Walters and Sharpe/Williams. That would be a big seller with any number of the combos depending on the outcomes Dec 4. Probably far fetched but its my wish.
No matter what the outcome of Walters vs. Sharpe is, I have no desire to see him fight at 168 anymore. Why would Vanda fight Sharpe even if he beat Walters? Makes no sense. Vanda wants big in-state fights or tough fights nationally.
Well, thought was, Vanda called out Walters before he signed to fight Williams. Williams and Walters called eachother out. The winners collide. Thats where it came from.
Vanda actualy told me he would fight Walters at 168, 170 or whatever and even in Duluth.
he put something on forum about that and i think radio
It was all over the place for a day or two, then Vanda/Williams was signed. I think at their Target Center presser he mentioned it as well along with on KFAN.
after watching vandas last one you think walters would fight him
Im pretty sure he would, but I do not know that. Right now its all Sharpe Im sure. I just thought it was fun to think about.
Cory, No desire? Bonsante, Jake Wegner, and pretty much everyone else said that was the best Vanda had looked in years. We are talking 3 pounds.
Walters never called out Vanda, Vanda called out Walters. I would think that would mean at a weight Walters can make.
Not worth sweating. All Walters is thinking about now is Sharpe.
I wrote that wrong Bob…I meant I have no desire to see Sharpe fight up at that weight after the Walters fight. I like Vanda at super middle. He doesn’t have a bad resume’ at that weight, does he?!
I think Vanda vs. Walters will eventually be a huge fight in Minnesota. Can the two groups come together to make it happen? That remains to be seen I guess.
Thats the million dollar question. And I too love Vanda in the 160′s. I never would have thought I would say that. The guy is unreal.
I dont see it making any sense to have Sharpe in the mix either. If Walters loses all of this is nothing.
I know they train together, but then I would love Vanda/Truax.
The more I think about it, I agree that was a dumb a$$ thought. Walters needs to win to make any of it worth it. I have said that for a long time, but I dont see Vanda and Truax fighting(both train under Ron Lyke), but you never know. I think Vanda fighting any of the younger/newer guys is doing them a favor. So if you look at it like that, he would be doing Truax and Lyke a favor by fighting him.
what about truax walters
I still like Kolle vs Truax. But I do like Walters vs Truax too. I just dont think it makes as much sense on Calebs side to fight Walters at 168 when he wants to be closer to 160.
zach will beat sharpe and then he should take vanda up on his call out and be done with them.
Todd,
How can Zach still be regarded at one of MN’s top 2 draws? He hasn’t main evented a big show in MN since June of 2008. That was 17 months ago and there he had Andy Kolle as a co-main. Together they didn’t even sell out Grandma’s in Duluth. The ticket sales for the Target Center show are ridiculously slow as well.
They sold out Grandmas, but Grandmas doesnt hold a ton of people. Vanda is in a league of his own in that department in my opinion. After him, its got to be Walters, Kolle, Truax. Again thats fan interest and ticket sales and not any kind of ranking.
We all saw what Kolle did to Vanda…won with his size. Walters is bigger and a better classic boxer, he would handle Vanda just fine.
Zach has only shown once in his career that he uses his reach. That was against Jim Strohl and he looked phenomenal.
I have seen Kolle vs. Vanda about 75 times and the outcome had very little to do with Kolle’s size, it was about his activity. Every time Vanda came with a flurry Kolle came back with an equally hard or harder flurry.
Another thing about Vanda/Kolle 1 is that I don’t think Vanda was in the kind of shape he is now. He was gassed in that eighth round….Now we’ve seen him go 10 rounds 5 times since then. I think he has much better conditioning now and I think that will help him bridge the gap a little with Kolle in a rematch if it ever happens.
Here’s a little scoop: Vanda was offered a fight with Zach Walters on the undercard of Kolle vs. Truax in what is rumored to be a potential co-promotion between Horton’s Gym and Seconds Out. Matt’s not going to put his career on hold to wait for the result on December 4th though……..MSC will keep him busy in a much higher profile fight.
3 weeks is just too long?
Other than Kolle/Truax there is no bigger MN vs MN fight in this state. But I have learned not to doubt MSC. I just am not a fan of the call out and no action. And yes that goes both ways.
Boooooo!
Aside from not having MSC’s name beside it, why would you want to block that huge of a show? December 4 is not far off.
cant wait to find out who they got for vanda, must be pretty big for him to pass on walters
I would guess they have something up their sleaves. Vanda/Williams 2??
Didnt Vanda say he saw no reason to fight Williams again? I dont know that people want that fight, it was not close. I would guess maybe a national type guy.
I dont know, I could get behind another Williams/Vanda. I think Williams would remember his bombs this time. Dont get me wrong I like Walters/Vanda much more. But both those fights could be good. Might be hard to get a good national guy to come to MN to fight Vanda. Been too much funny business.
If nothing else, I hope the Kolle/Truax part can still happen.
I agree with that big time.
We’ve been negotiating this new fight for Matt even before he fought Phil. Matt getting this fight was contingent on him getting he win……He got it. Now we’re gonna have some fun.
We’re not worried about having MSC’s name beside it on a show. IF the offer is right Matt will have no problem taking it. I think he, of all people in this state, has proven that. It’s Matt’s decision 100% who he fights for. He has his reasons for why he wants to fight for certain promoters as he has his reasons for not wanting to fight for other promoters. Again, they are his reasons.
Can Zach Walters make 165 like Phil did? He is fighting at a catch of 170 against Sharpe who is coming way up. I think if they were comfortable making 168 that they would go for it in this fight, don’t you guys?
Great points Cory. I do agree Vanda has by far earned the right to do whatever he chooses as far as opponents go. I cant wait to hear what you have got planned. Must be good. I would have to thinkg Walters camp would do 168, but I know nothing.
once again Cory thinks his analysis of fights is fact…vanda had to go inside on kolle BECAUSE of his size. Kolle outboxed him, but the style of fight was based on Kolles size. I am a big Vanda fan, but I’m not excited about him getting a big national fight and turning down Walters if he can’t bring home a win.
Thats the problem as I see it too.
Vanda had no problem getting inside on Kolle, but most of the fight Vanda would do his work from the outside, stop punching, and then Kolle would do his work and just a little better. My analysis, as always is opinion.
Why would you want Vanda to wait on Walters? We have nothing that makes us believe Walters can get down to the 165 lb mark. Zach’s got a big fight against Sharpe that I’m sure he is concentrating on. After that fight all the talks can commence. Remember, these rumored fights have no announced venue or date….So you can’t blame Vanda for doing what’s best for his career if there is in fact another opportunity out there for him at a better weight.
Did Kolle losing to Paul Williams make you want to see him fight Bonsante less in his next fight?
If Zach and Phil would have fought this summer would his loss to Byron Mitchell have stopped you from wanting to see those two go at it?
That being said, if Vanda’s next fight comes off like we hope I believe he will be the favorite. Who knows, maybe it won’t happen and he and the Jungle Boy will be on a collision course. A lot depends on the outcome of December 4th.
Vanda called Walters out. I think that would be at a weight Walters can make. 168? If Vanda fights Paul Williams I think he would get a pass. That is a good point Cory. I guess we have to wait and see what you guys have planned.
Why is Paul Williams the only pass? If Vanda takes this fight it will be for much more money than the Walters fight is worth. Vanda and Phil both called Zach out…..And Zach did have an offer to get into the planned tournament and fight Phil in the first round. No dice. So Matt and Phil fought each other. Now Zach is fighting Larry Sharpe and Vanda is getting criticized for considering a national TV fight? Sounds like a double standard here.
We can’t win here. I’m going to avoid this site like the other people in the game do.
Did you check your shows coverage, you guys got more props than any other show. But to each their own. I have no problem with Vanda taking a big fight. In fact I like it.
I think you do have fair coverage. I’m talking about fair criticism.
Maybe I am having trouble saying what I mean. I think Vanda have a national fight is great for him and Minnesota boxing. If it is on the 18th even better. Then he and Zach would pretty much be on same page, only having fights a few weeks apart. I dont know if its the call out part that has got you or what Kato or sombody else said. But I have no problem with whatever Vanda does. He is biggest gate and his toughness and willness to fight all has been proven time and again. I really like the fact you come on here and add to the discussion. Hope that doesnt change. But either way I will keep trying to be as fair as possible in both pre and post coverage of shows as well as on opinion peices. As to comments, not sure what to do. But it gives a voice to those who agree or disagree with what I have to say.
Cory there is no need to take your ball and run home.
If Vanda gets a big pay day and a winable fight I am pumped for him! I just think if he loses another national spotlight fight it hurts him and may be his last “shot”.
Walters would have no problem getting to 165 or 168.
What?
Not sure what the problem is. Kato you really think Zach can get to 165?
Yeah, I dont know if he could make 165. But I do know that there arent many who work harder than Zach, so if it can be done, he will.
Bob’s confused….big suprise. Walters could do 165.