Burke's Blog: Thoughts on Fridays fight

By Louie Burke

First I’d like to congratulate Tony Escalante on a great win Friday night, his defense and head movement has improved greatly. Team Escalante, keep up the good work! We really were hoping that Abies fight would make it on TV. It was too bad that His performance, which I was pleased with, wasn’t televised, due to the fights going the distance.
As a swing bout we were stuck in the dressing room on on again-off again mode . Being a swing, can really be nerve racking and a let down if it’s not televised. The win cured all of any harsh feeling towards the other fighters not trying hard enough to knock each other out.

After the first round knockdown, I felt the right hand was the key to the fight for Abie. When Abie came back to the corner, he was instructed to set up the right hand with jabs and hooks, he followed instructions to the tee. He started by jabbing more and trying to bait Soto in by throwing numerous left hooks. Once he felt that Soto was looking for the hook, Abie threw the quick right, ending the fight for Soto. I feel Abie is improving with every fight and he’s showing maturity beyond his 5 fights. But no one has a perfect performance, as a trainer I also see some things we need to work on in the gym. Hopefully we can get another quick fight this coming Friday at the Pan Am Center under Austin and George " Monk" Foreman.

It’s a shame Sammy won’t be on the card, he was diagnosed as having a posterior rotator cuff tear, this will take time and some therapy to heal properly. Never-the-less, Lil Sammy still wanted to fight and told big Sam that he thought he could go. Big Sam did the right thing and said no. All I can say is he’ll be ready when it’s healed and being that he’s young and in good health it shouldn’t take too long.

Austin is getting ready for Fridays fight, sparring with Siju, Abie, Cornelius Shuler and Tim Meek. Despite personal issues at this time, Austin wanted the fight with Primera, even though I showed concern for the bout. Why should I be concerned about a boxer who has only won 3 of his last 7 and has been off for 2 ½ years? Let me tell you why.

1. The guy is a full fledged middle weight and has fought super-middle several times against world class opposition and beat a few.
2. Has a wicked right hand and is known as a "chin tester" knocking out the likes of super-middle contender Curtis Stevens. Stevens only other loss in his 21-2 record was to bronze medalist Andre Dirrell.
3. He also wrecked 21-3 super-middle prospect, Carlos De leon jr. Giving him his first loss, stoppong him in 4 rounds with the same right hand. Carlos De leon, has a win over James "Buddy" Mcgirt Jr.
4. He beat 24-4-2 Julio Garcia. Garcia had wins over rugged boxers Augastine Rentaria and Kirino Garcia.
5. He has a win over Austins last opponent, Shawn Garnett.
6. Primera is known for his iron jaw going the distance with rugged 20-1 Jesus Gonzalez, losing to him in 10.
7. Going the distance with middle weight contender Jose Luis Zertuche, who has a win over Jesus Gonzalez and losses with Kelly Pavlik and Danny Perez and Marco Antonio Rubio.
8. Went 10 with 28-1 and #5 rated contender Joshua Clottey. Clottey has wins over Diego Corrales and Zab Judah and only 3 losses one with Antonio Margarito and his last fight which was losing a 12 round split decision against Miguel Cotto.
9. Lost a 10 round split decision over contender Danny Perez, dropping Perez in the 10th .
10. Lost a decision to Emmit Linton, who has wins over former-world champions Donald Curry and Manning Galloway and local fighters Benjie Marquez, Rudy Lavato, twice and Renee Herrera.
11.Lost a 12 round decision to Joachin Alcine, who just fought Daniel Santos for the WBA World Junior-Middle title.
12. Lost an 8 round decision to 18-1 Luis Callazo, who lost close decisions to Shane Mosely and Ricky Hatton. And just lost against Andre Berto, fighting for the WBC welter weight championship.
13. Has big fight experience.
14. Fought Joachin Alacine on Showbox
15. Fought Callazo on HBO
16. Knocked-out Curtis Stevens for the interim WBC youth world Super-middle weight title.
17 Fought Joshua Clottey for the Continental of Americas Title.
18. Fought Danny Perez for the WBO/NABO 154 title.
19. Primera has been stopped,4 times, thrice in ‘03 against 18-0 Quentin Smith, 24-1 Kifi Jantuah and future world champion Jermain Tayler. Primera’s last loss by a stoppage was in ‘05 against 21-1 Kingley Ikeke: who has a ko win over Antwon Echols, this set Ikeke up for the #2 spot in the IBF..
20.He has been absent for two years but it didn’t really make me feel any better when I was told he was in jail for the 2 ½ years. He got out of jail lighter than before. This tells me either he was stuck in a 4x4 cell and emaciated away or worked out the time he was serving his debt. I hope, but doubt it had anything to do with a 4x4 cell.
21. Short notice to prepare for the fight. Really only had about 3 weeks. Even though Austin fought recently and was not in bad shape, we did not expect to fight til August, so he took a little break time.

I just gave you 21 reasons, why I’ve been staring at the ceiling til 3 in the morning and I haven’t even mentioned the obvious the 22nd reason. Right now Austin has a lot on his plate, we’re sure everything will turn out fine, but anytime your dealing with a judicial process, it’s hard to concentrate on the task at hand, but if anyone can do it, Austin can and he will.
I can say I’ve known Austin since he was ten and he would not take anything that did not belong to him, he certainly is not a thief. He’s been a solid young man and a role model for the kids at PAL and in Las Cruces. Anyone that has known him through boxing, knows he would not take anything that was not his. I believe that it was a mistake and if feel it will be rectified. So we have to stay positive, hope for the best and keep his mind at the task at hand.

This is not going to be a cake walk, We tried getting an opponent from around the area without any luck, this guy was the only one that accepted the fight.. I would have liked a lighter tune-up prior to a Sept. 4th fight in Panama which is a #3 WBA eliminator, But Austin wanted to fight and has never backed down from anyone. Yea, his opponent doesn’t have the best record but the guys he’s fought have been some of the best in the word and he’s beaten some of them. He’s a solid opponent.

This is a big challenge and a win will be a big step toward bringing a world title to New Mexico. We hope that NMB readers will come and support his quest for the world title.
　

Vernon "The Viper" Forrest by Roger Esty

Vernon Forrest 1971-2009 R.I.P.

An Interview With Vernon Forrest

This interviewer took place following Forrest vs Sergio Mora II

Vernon Forrest 1971-2009

Vernon Forrest
Originally uploaded by randyman

Our condolences to the family and friends of Vernon Forrest who was shot and killed last night in a carjacking in Atlanta, Georgia.

Vernon was an exceptional fighter and a former World Champion, He held the WBC Junior Middleweight Championship, the WBC Welterweight Championship, the IBF Welterweight Championship, the IBC Junior Welterweight Championship, the WBC Continental Americas Welterweight Championship and the NABF Welterweight Championship.

He fought and beat guys like Vince Phillips, Sugar Shane Mosley, Carlos Baldomar, Ike Quartey and Sergio Mora.

R.I.P. Vernon Forrest

Ex-champ Forrest shot to death

“He was ready to come back and we were discussing fights for Vernon. ... I thought he still had a career in front of him.” -- Promoter Gary Shaw

By Dan Rafael
ESPN.com

Former two-division world champion Vernon Forrest was shot and killed Saturday night during an attempted carjacking, promoter Gary Shaw said.

"It's 100 percent confirmed. He's dead," said Shaw, who had two stints as Forrest's promoter. "I will say this about him -- he was a decent human being. His work with kids, I think people knew how much he cared for kids, underprivileged and mentally challenged people. He was a real decent human being outside the ropes."

WSB Radio in Atlanta first reported the shooting, citing a police spokesman. Forrest, who was 38, lived in Atlanta and was an Augusta, Ga., native. He was shot seven or eight times as he chased at least two men who had tried to steal his Jaguar as he put air in his tires at an Atlanta gas station, Lt. Keith Meadows said, according to the radio station.

But Forrest had a gun and confronted the men, police said.

"The victim and suspect became involved in a brief foot chase," Meadows said. "At some point, gunfire was exchanged between the two of them. The victim was shot at least once in the head."

Forrest was fatally wounded by two semi-automatic weapons, according to police.

"At this point we have a general description of at least two black males driving a red Monte Carlo," Meadows said, according to the report.

Police said the suspects likely didn't know Forrest, whose girlfriend's young son was in the car when he was shot.

"What can you say? Alexis Arguello, Arturo Gatti and Vernon Forrest all leaving us within 30 days? I think it's a little much for our sport to handle," Shaw said, referring to the recent high-profile deaths of two other boxing stars. "The violence, the guns have to go. Violence belongs inside the ropes. Not outside them. It's just senseless. Maybe boxing ought to dedicate itself to keeping the violence inside the ropes and try to send that message out to the world."

Manager Al Haymon was too broken up to talk about Forrest, the first fighter he signed to what would become an all-star stable.

Forrest (41-3, 29 KOs), a 1992 U.S. Olympian, was a former two-time welterweight and two-time junior middleweight champion best known for his two decision victories against Shane Mosley in 2002.

Forrest had beaten Mosley to keep him off the 1992 Olympic team but when they met in January 2002 in New York, it was Mosley, then widely regarded as the pound-for-pound No. 1 fighter in boxing, who was a significant favorite.

Instead, Forrest knocked Mosley down and dominated the fight to hand him his first pro loss and win the WBC welterweight title. Forrest outpointed him in a closer fight in the July 2002 rematch in Indianapolis.

Forrest won the vacant IBF welterweight title in May 2001 with a lopsided decision against Raul Frank in New York. It was a rematch because their first bout ended in a three-round no contest nine months earlier. Forrest never defended that belt, instead vacating in order to facilitate the big-money first fight with Mosley.

Forrest was also known for his charitable side because of his involvement in Destiny's Child, a group home that provides support and guidance for mentally challenged adults. Forrest had often talked about how the struggles of people he helped support provided him with inspiration when he fought.

After signing a multimillion dollar contract with HBO after the wins against Mosley, Forrest was stunningly upset in the first fight of the new deal when Ricardo Mayorga knocked him out in the third round in January 2003 in Temecula, Calif. In the rematch that July in Las Vegas, Mayorga won a majority decision to retain the title.

Forrest entered the rematch with Mayorga with nagging shoulder and elbow injuries, which required surgery and forced him into a two-year layoff after the bout.

Forrest returned in July 2005 and knocked out Elco Garcia; he was still troubled by his left arm, but continued to fight. After another one-year layoff, Forrest won a controversial decision against former welterweight titlist Ike Quartey in August 2006 before another 11-month layoff.

Forrest came back again in July 2007 and easily outpointed former welterweight champ Carlos Baldomir to win the vacant WBC junior middleweight title.

After knocking out Michele Piccirillo in the 11th round of his first defense in December 2007, Forrest was upset by former "Contender" reality series winner Sergio Mora via majority decision in June 2008.

But Forrest reclaimed the title Sept. 13 in Las Vegas by dominating Mora in the rematch in what turned out to be Forrest's final fight.

Forrest had been scheduled to defend against mandatory challenger Sergio Martinez on Aug. 1, but suffered a rib injury training for an April tune-up fight with Jason LeHoullier and withdrew from both matches.

With the mandatory defense long overdue against Martinez, Forrest was stripped of his title. But, according to Shaw, he was not quite finished.

"He was ready to come back and we were discussing fights for Vernon," said Shaw, who first promoted Forrest when the two were with Main Events in the early part of the decade. "I had told Al Haymon recently I would love to make a fight between Vernon and [middleweight champion] Kelly Pavlik. I thought he still had a career in front of him."

Dan Rafael is a senior boxing writer for ESPN.com.

Talking "Irish Thunder" With Micky Ward and Bob Halloran

An interesting interview with a very humble and gracious Micky Ward.

Alexis Arguello and Sugar Ray Robinson

Alexis Arguello and Sugar Ray Robinson
Originally uploaded by randyman

By Rick Farris

Great photo of two all-time greats!

Those of us who were training at the Main Street Gym in the late 60's and early 70's, would see the great Robinson almost daily,
The "real" Sugar Ray continued to train long after his career ended in 1965.
To keep his weight down, he'd wear a plastic suit like the one you see in the photo.
Ray didn't just skip rope and hit bags, he'd jump into the ring and spar with the best of the day.

I remember him doing his magic when banging it out with #1 welter, Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez one afternoon.
Of course, Ernie was a rough customer and put the pressure on, however, the slick Sugar Ray would slip, roll, pick-off and counter.
Ernie would keep pressing on, you could see him working hard, but Sugar was just cool and in control. He'd done this before.

If I could just step back into the Main Street Gym on any given saturday morning between the mid-60's-to-70's.
If that were possible, I'd see more world class action and talent throwing leather in those two rings than I will ever see again.
Randy, Frank and the rest of you who've been there know what I am saying is true.

I can visualize Rip Roseboro and Duke Holloway sitting on the bleachers, Howie behind his desk barking at someone on the phone, Memo Soto pushing a shopping cart full of equipment out from his dressing room, Gil Cadilli helping a boxer tie his gloves, Tony Marino stepping out from his room in the back holding a headgear he'd just made for a fighter, I see a smiling manager Luis Celeya (who Johnny Flores nicknamed "The King of the Mexicans), Bill Slayton putting vaseline on the face of Ken Norton, Ralph Gambina holding court in the corner, I can see Felipe Torres bouncing around the ring, working lightly with an amateur in the ring as he warmed up . . .
Just too many memories.


-Rick Farris

Why, Arturo? By John Bardelli

Special From John Bardelli

Life is not as it always seems and rarely is it rewarding. As Ye Sow, So Shall Ye Reap.

Stated another way, the transforming laws of physics, as described by Newton, apply to the unfolding of human drama be it good, bad, or indifferent, in the same manner that those laws govern all motion in the Universe.

In the same respect that the immutable laws of physics apply across the board, equally, in non-discriminatory fashion, within and upon the life of every man, woman and child, those same laws of physics play themselves out in a morality play converting Newtonian laws of motion into human masks of sorrow, jealously, self pity, regret, guilt, remorse, as life weaves itself day in, day out, into a coat of varying colors and shades of meaning.

If one drinks to excess, the intangible messing with the human physiology, eventually takes its tolls in ways not known but in a predictable and steady fashion, as an ocean tide.

If one is unfaithful in a relationship, a ticking time bomb will explode…it’s only a matter of time.

If one is abusive of a loved one and oblivious to the needs of a family… the human emotion of guilt will raise its head and provide a response that the vast majority will never see evolving for they do not want to be exposed to an unfolding of the future of their own destiny. It is easier to enable and to put one’s head in the sand.

Add to the equation, the physiological damage to one’s brain from having entered that squared circle, where only Angels should dare to tread, and combine that act with the inevitable sheering of neurons taking place, therein, coupled with the sucking up of the compelling adulation, the bravado, and the cheering of the mob… all the while the forces of self-denial setting in which thereby induce the recipient to erroneously conclude that those punches are incapable of taking their toll---denial to the point of no return… and you have on your hands the making of a Shakespearean tragedy engulfing and consuming all who come within the circle of enabling denial.

History provides its answers in a manner we don’t like to reflect upon and, indeed, shun in examining in detail the closing chapters which are there for examination and reading. It is so transparent--- and so readily available for all to witness were we to look at only a few of the once glimmering and now imploded stars of the Universe:

Grim, Nelson, McCoy, Papke, Fontaine, LaMotta, Arguello, Robinson, Charles, Louis, Pep, Machen, Foley, Turpin, Mills, Chacon, Lopez, Quarry, Norton, Ali, thousands more and, … dare we say, … Gatti.

Ah Gatti… one can only wonder what demons grabbed you in your moment of extreme remorse--- a remorse for conduct transformed into guilt and shame… and a crying out for help… setting into motion conditions which took you down the road to an oblivion… where it was not bad enough to have not only assaulted the one you professed an undying love for on the night that you were about to forsake the world--- much in the same fashion Judas did when the enormity of his own transgressions sunk in and transformed Iscariot, a disciple no less, over the enormity of his own guilt and lead him to his own self inflicted strangulation,… but, indeed a state of mind which would allow you to engage in a contemptible act without foresight that your own death, taken by your own hand, would bring even more contempt and ridicule upon the same Amanda Rodrigues you professed to love and, thereafter, forever render her an obstacle of scorn and hatred by those whose lives mimic your own---wasting their allotted hours in debauchery until their souls can take no more, rendering as yourself, a plaintiff cry---”Enough” And the die is cast---the end is here-- and oh, what a tangled web we weave.

Remember Arturo Gatti this Friday on HBO2 at 9PM/8C and Saturday on HBO at 10:15AM/9:15C

Prizefighting Today . . .

Rick Farris and Danny "Little Red" Lopez
Originally uploaded by randyman

By Rick Farris

I really don't care much for boxing today.
I love what it once was, what I experienced in my era, meeting greats from past eras.
I used feel excited about upcoming events, and we had such events every week.

Every couple months somebody would hold at major card in L.A.
Usually undisputed world championships were at at stake, or true "elimination" bouts.
Names such as Napoles, Lopez, Olivares, Quarry, Liston, Ramos, Rojas, Griffith, Chacon, etc. would be featured.
In between these mega-cards promoted by Eaton or Parnassus, were weekly bouts. These were as good as, often better, than the big ones.

Today, we can't attend boxing in L.A. as often or convenient as in years gone by.
Indian Reservations, the boxing venues of the new millenium, are located in the desert here in Southern Cal.
Occasionally, Oscar will throw a big event into the Staples Center.
His last featured his new star, a kid who didn't realize that boxers occasionally get hit.
When I fought, this was required knowledge.

In old school boxing, you were taught to defend yourself, and to accept the consequences when you couldn't.
Today, the fighters are much smarter, they just quit.
They seem not to realize that they have entered into a public contest where people are paying to see the participants get hurt.
The goal isn't a tochdown, or home run, it's a knockout. I'm no Rhodes Scholar, but I understood right off that this was a pain game.
The idea is to inflict as much of it on the other guy, and at the same time avoid allowing him to do the same.
It's not about breaking records, it's about breaking another man's spirit, to dominate. I guess it's one of those primitive things, whatever?

This past weekend I didn't expect to see anything great, maybe a little action. As expected, nothing was great and there was little action.
I watched a rough Armenian, who would try to intimidate opponents by telling the world he "hated" them.
A tougher African kid didn't care if he was hated, but he was smart enough to care who got hit, and made sure the Armenian took his share.
I thought to myself, "well, by today's standards the guys are fighting." It was a World Bantamweight title fight.

I looked at the champ and challenger and tried to compare them with the 118 pounders from my era.
We had Jofre, Harada, Olivares, Pimentel, Medel, Zarate, Castillo, Zamora, Martinez, Herrera, Anaya, etc.
I then thought about a guy from the previous era, Manuel Ortiz.

Am I just getting old, or has the quality of talent really diminsished?
Occasinally we'll see a "throw back". I think Manny Pac is a guy who "reminds" of us a better era. He'd be hard to beat at any time.
However, Pac would would not look so unbeatable a few years back, he'd be a good one, but just one of dozens that pass thru L.A. at any given time.
And he'd be fighting much more often against better fighters.

If I live long enough, there will be a time when I lose all interest in watching contemporary boxing.
When I no longer have my friends here to remind me of how special it was, then I'll just limit my involvent to teaching kids.
I won't teach boxers, I'll teach kids how to keep themselves safe, and fit.
I won't run a class, I'll just continue to workout, and I'll run into a kid who is being picked on.
He may be too small, or fat, or too white or too black, just a kid trying to deal with his pride, charactor and fear.
Sometimes they just need someone to believe in them, and then they might believe in themselves. I understand this.

There are many things I can teach about fighting. The best thing I can teach is how to avoid fighting. That was a hard lesson for me.

For now the WBHOF is of interest. I see a lot of old friends and meet a lot of idols from days gone by.
I find myself smiling more when I see my old friends, and meet some new ones, boxing people, the REAL boxing people.
In due course, today's lot will be retiring, and a few years later they'll be up for induction honors.
This is when I shall walk away. It will no longer mean anything to me.


-Rick Farris

Another Boxing death . . .

By Rick Farris

With the deaths of Alexis Arguello and Arturo Gatti getting most of the attention, many didn't notice that boxing lost a former heavyweight contender last week.
Cesar Brion, an Argentine heavyweight that fought Joe Louis, Ezzard Charles, and other top heavies of the era passed away on July 9th.
I have a video of Brion's ten round fight with the great "Brown Bomber".


Brion was trained by Charlie Goldman, and was a stablemate of Rocky Marciano.
Brion died of natural causes. He was 84


-Rick Farris

Police Detain Wife of Former Boxing Champion Gatti

By TALES AZZONI, Associated Press Writer

SAO PAULO (AP)—The wife of former boxing champion Arturo Gatti was detained as a suspect by Brazilian authorities Sunday following his death at a posh seaside resort.

Police said 23-year-old Amanda Rodrigues was taken into custody after contradictions in her interrogation. Gatti’s body was found early Saturday in a hotel room at the Porto de Galinhas resort in northeastern Brazil.

The former junior welterweight champion was apparently strangled with the strap of a purse, which was found at the scene with blood stains, said Milena Saraiva, a spokeswoman for the Pernambuco state civil police. She told The Associated Press that the Canadian also had a head injury.

The investigation was not complete, but Saraiva said authorities were preparing to present a formal accusation against Rodrigues, who denied being involved in her husband’s death.

Police said Rodrigues, a Brazilian, could not explain how she spent nearly 10 hours in the room without noticing that Gatti was already dead.

Police were investigating witness reports that the couple fought and Gatti was drunk when he returned to his room Friday night, Saraiva said, adding that police were told the pair were extremely jealous of each other and that he constantly complained of her clothing when she traveled to Brazil.

Acelino “Popo” Freitas, a four-time world champion Brazilian boxer, told Globo TV’s Web site on Saturday that he was a close friend of Gatti and his wife and that he “knew they were having some sort of problem and were about to separate.”

The couple’s 1-year-old son, who was unhurt, was with Rodrigues’ sister, Saraiva said.

The 37-year-old Gatti, whose epic trilogy with Micky Ward branded him one of the most exciting fighters of his generation, retired in 2007 with a career record of 40-9 and 31 knockouts.

Known for his straightforward punching and granite-like chin, Gatti captured the junior welterweight title in 1995, when he defeated Tracy Harris Patterson in Atlantic City.

A Hap Navarro Time Capsule

Arturo Gatti Has Died

Former IBF Super featherweight and WBC Junior Welterweight Champion Arturo Gatti has died today. He was found dead in Brazil earlier today by his wife. Some reports say his death is the result of head trauma. Gatti was 37.

Gatti was an old school hard fighting champion best known for his vicious battles with Ivan Robinson and Mickey Ward but certainly, every one of his fights was an edge of your seat cliff hanger. He only knew one way to fight and left nothing in the ring.

R.I.P. Champ


Defending champion Arturo Gatti, left, gets around the guard of James Leija in their World Boxing Council junior-welterweight title fight.
Photo: Reuters

Arturo Gatti's Career Record Here

A Video Tribute to Alexis Arguello By Pepe Rodriguez

A moving tribute to an all time great, Alexis Arguello. Gracious in victory and in defeat, Alexis was the epitome of a Champion.

ALEXIS ARGUELLO from PEPE RODRIGUEZ on Vimeo.

Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. vs Manny Pacquiao: who would win?

By Randy De La O

I'll pick Chavez at any weight. No doubt Chavez had trouble with Meldrick Taylor's hand speed. If you judge a fighter on the quantity of his punches you're likely to go with a fighter like Taylor, if you go with Quality of the punch than Chavez and fighters like him are your guys. The proof as they say, is in the pudding, Taylor was never the same after the Chavez fight, that wouldn't have changed even if Richard Steele had let the fight continue. The truth is, while Taylor was busy scoring points, Chavez was busy kicking his butt. Steele did right stopping that fight. Throughout the fight, whether you agree that the fight should have been stopped or not, Chavez kept his cool, never got discouraged and never wavered from his goal, which was to hurt and stop Taylor.

Pacquiao on the other hand was beaten by Erik Morelas in the first of their three fights, and Morales was already winding down his great career, Pacquiao also recieved a draw and a split decision against Juan Manuel Marquez, and you can easily make a case that Marquez won both fights, but regardless, they were close. Pacquiao has been ducking Marquez ever since. There has to be a reason.

Beating Oscar De La Hoya at this point in De La Hoya's career doesn't really amount to much, neither does beating Hatton, a fine fighter to be sure but with limitations.

Chavez had a cast Iron chin and skull and did not get stopped until late in his career, suffering TKO's from both Oscar De la Hoya , twice, one on cuts, with Chavez unable to continue and the other in the second fight with Chavez unable to answer the bell for the ninth round. Pacquiao was KO'ed twice; in his 12th fight with Rustico Torrecampo, and in his 28th fight against against Medgoen Singsurat. He can be stopped.

I'm making this comparison not to degrade Pacquiao but because the question was asked, who would win between the two. These are my reasons but as in any fight, circumstances change and there are always the intangibles, still given what I know I'll pick Chavez by a late round KO.

Julio Cesar Chavez' Career Record

Manny Pacquiao's Career Record

World's Greatest Ever Boxer - You Decide

www.greatestever.com

2-4 OCTOBER 2009, PARIS LAS VEGAS

Tickets are on-sale now for the World's Greatest Ever Boxer event at the Paris Hotel and Resort, Las Vegas. YOU can be present at this once-in-a-lifetime weekend of boxing events rubbing shoulders with Boxing's greats at this exclusive event. FOR TICKETS CALL: North America - 914 941 3366 / 847 917 8497 UK - 0845 0945 606 Europe - +44 845 0945 606 Asia - +61 3 5989 7666 Australia - 1300 788 666

www.greatestever.com

Happy Birthday America

Happy Fourth of July

To All my Family and Friends

God Bless America!

HBO Legendary Nights: Aaron Pryor and Alexis Arguello

Aaron Pryor Remembers Alexis Arguello

Alexis Arguello vs Aaron Pryor

November 12, 1982, Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida

Fight of the Year 1982

Fight of the Decade 1980's

A Country Mourns

Photos and Notations Courtesy of Yahoo

In this Saturday, June 27, 2009 photo, former lightweight boxing world champion Alexis Arguello, of Nicaragua, is pictured during an inauguration of a public boxing gymnasium named after Arguello, in Carolina, Puerto Rico. Arguello, who was also the current mayor of the Nicaraguan capital Managua, was found dead in his Managua home on Wednesday, July 1. (AP Photo/Anthony Luna)

A woman wipes away tears while mourning the death of Managua's mayor Alexis Arguello in Managua July 1, 2009. Arguello, the three-times world boxing champion who was elected mayor of Nicaragua's capital last year, was found dead on Wednesday in an apparent suicide, local media reported. REUTERS/Oscar Navarrete/La Prensa (NICARAGUA OBITUARY POLITICS SPORT BOXING)


People on foot and in vehicles accompany the hearse carrying the body of Alexis Arguello, former world boxing great and Managua Mayor, in Managua, Wednesday, July 1, 2009. Arguello was found dead at his home Wednesday, prompting three days of official mourning for a rising star of the Sandinista party who once bitterly opposed the leftist movement. (AP Photo/Miguel Alvarez)


People wave Sandinista flags while riding in front of the hearse carrying the body of Managua's mayor Alexis Arguello in Managua July 1, 2009. Arguello, the three-times world boxing champion who was elected mayor of Nicaragua's capital last year, was found dead on Wednesday in an apparent suicide, local media reported. REUTERS/Oscar Navarrete/La Prensa

Alexis Arguello Has Died

Alexis Arguello

1952-2009

Alexis Arguello vs Aaron Pryor

Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida

November 12, 1982

"See, I respect boxing because it has given me so much and that’s why I will never allow anyone to mistreat the sport of boxing if I can help it."

- Alexis Arguello

By Randy De La O

In an era that produced such stellar fighters as; Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Tommy Hearns, Wilfredo Benitz, Wilfredo Gomez, Salvador Sanchez, Bobby Chacon, Danny "Little Red" Lopez, Ruben Olivares , and in a sport where even the contenders held the mantel of greatness with aplomb and grace, Alexis Arguello stood as tall as any of them. In an era where great fighters fought each other for the right to be called the best, Alexis Arguello fought the best.

Arguello fought his first fight forty one years ago, August 1, 1968 in Managua, Nicaragua against someone named Cachorro Amaya, getting stopped in the first round of a scheduled four round fight. He fought his last fight on January 21, 1995 in Las Vegas, Nevada, losing a ten round decision to Scott Walker. In between those years Arguello won titles in three weight classes; Featherweight, Super Featherweight, and Lightweight. He lifted the WBA Featherweight crown from Mexican great "Rockabye" Ruben Olivares on November 23, 1974 stopping Olivares in the 13th round of their 15 round fight. He successfully defended his title several times before moving up in weight to challenge Alfredo Escalera for the WBC Super Featherweight title. The fight took place on January 1, 1978 in Escalera's home turf of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Arguello won a hard fought and exciting fight by stopping Escalera in the 13th round. On June 20, 1981 Arguello once again moved up to challenge the respected WBC Lightweight champion from the United Kingdom, Jim Watt. The fight, which took place at the Empire Pool, Wembley, London, went the distance. Arguello won the fight with a 15 round unanimous decision. It was Watt's last fight and Alexis Arguello's third title.

Arguello defended his titles against the likes of Bobby Chacon, Ruben Castillo, Cornelius Boza Edwards, Jose Luis Ramirez, Rafael "Bazooka" Limon, Andy Ganigan, Ray Mancini and so many more. He never gave anything but his best when he stepped into the ring. He was a champion in the truest sense of the world. He was also a champion with compassion. Who can forget his fight with Ray Mancini, who fighting valiantly, as much for his father as for himself, was finally stopped in the 14th round of their fight. Arguello, as much a gentleman as he was a champion, put his arm around Mancini and reminded him, that he too failed in his first bid for a world title, a 15 round decision to Ernesto Marcel of Panama. He encouraged Mancini and let him know that his day would come. That act of mercy and compassion would become his signature, his trademark.

Arguello was already an all time great when he moved up once again to
challenge the great Aaron Pryor for Pryor's WBA Junior welterweight title, for an unprecedented fourth title. On November 12, 1982, Alexis Arguello and Aaron Pryor fought their way into boxing immortality, in one of the great fights of the 1980's, a fight that would stand out in any era.

On this night it would be Aaron Pryor that would have his arms raised in victory. In the 14th round, after a grueling, exhausting and exciting fight, Alexis Arguello was knocked out, and in a sickening manner. It was painful. Up to that point it was still anyone's fight. Arguello had landed right hands that would have knocked out middleweights but Pryor was at the top of his game that night. There would be no fourth title for Arguello.

Arguello had two more fights before once again challenging Aaron Pryor for the title. His first fight after his loss to Pryor was against Vilomar Fernandez of the Bronx, New York, by way of the Dominican Republic, winning a 10 round decision and avenging an 1978 loss to Fernandez. Next up was former WBALightweight Champ Claude Noel. Noel was knocked out in the 3rd round. The second Arguello-Pryor fight ended with a 10th round KO of Arguello. Arguello retired but came back two years later to fight Pat Jefferson, knocking him out in the 5th round. His next fight was with former WBC Lightweight Champion Billy Costello. The durable Costello was stopped in the fourth round.

Arguello has been a favorite of mine from the very beginning. He was the epitome of coolness in the ring and the master of patience. He was a master counter puncher and a consumate professional. It's not enough to say that he was a great Latin fighter, he was a great fighter, a great champion. He will be missed by his fans.

I met Alexis Arguello in 1976 while training at the Main Street Gym in Los Angeles. He was training for a fight. I can't remember who his opponent was but looking at his record the only fight that shows in that time frame is a fight with Salvador Torres at the Forum in Inglewood, a fight he won by a 3rd round knockout. Arguello was only there a week or so but I had the chance to meet him, talk with and shake his hand. He was very humble, reserved and quiet.

Alexis Arguello died earlier today, the victim of a self inflicted gun shot wound. A suicide. I cannot imagine what demons drove him to such an act. Alexis was born on April 19, 1952. He was 57 at the time of his death. It is a great loss to his family and friends, his countrymen and the sport of boxing. He will always be remembered as a class act. A good guy. A man who gave his all to his sport. Even in losing, he lost like a champion, going out on his shield. He will always be a champion. He belongs to history now.

My condolences to the family of Alexis Arguello. Rest in peace Champ! You will be missed.