Bernard Hopkins "Discipline" from Leigh Simons Productions on Vimeo.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Bernard Hopkins vs Jean Pascal - Ends in a Controversial draw
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Getty Images 2010-12-18 |
By Randy De La O
Sometimes fighter’s career can be defined by one fight. Put in one bad performance after a great career and that is what’s remembered. On the other hand, put in a great trilogy, for the ages, to cap off an otherwise mediocre to fair career and you get a movie made about you, as was the case with Mickey Ward. In Bernard Hopkins case, he is a future “Hall of Fame “ fighter for sure but has never been known as an all out, in your face fighter. Saturday night’s fight with Canadian Jean Pascal changed that perception for me. Hopkins laid it all on the line last night, took a lot of risks, and proved himself a warrior. It was a career defining performance.
The fight, which began at the press conference, continued in the ring. After seemingly winning the first round, Hopkins was dropped by an illegal punch behind the head, one of several Pascal would land during the fight. Referee Michael Griffin, not having the best view, ruled it a knockdown. In the third round Hopkins was again knocked down. This time it was legit. When the fourth round started Hopkins had dug himself into a hole.
Hopkins picked up the pace from the fourth round on. Going to the body, using his jab, and both physically and mentally imposing his will on Jean Pascal, whose own physical strength and will seemed to be shrinking. By the seventh round Pascal had the look of someone that had just realized the he had bitten off more than he could chew. The old man still had a lot of fight left in him. Hopkins wasn’t quite ready to give up the ghost just yet, not by a long shot. Mindful of his legacy and his place in boxing history, Hopkins at 45 years of age fought the fight of his life.
The audience, which was almost a 100% for Pascal, seemed to realize that their man was losing. Hopkins sensed victory and began to fight like a man that was confident of winning the fight, at times mugging and teasing Pascal. Pascal corner seemed desperate and from what I could hear, seemed to think there man was getting the worst of it. Pascal, despite showing fatigue did have his moments during the fight but they were few and far between.
I thought that Hopkins won every round after the third, but a couple were close and could have gone either way. Both fighters came out hard for the twelfth round and it could have gone either way. Overall, Hopkins fought the better fight, threw more punches and landed more. He was more accurate with his punches and never wavered in his plan. He had Pascal flustered and intimidated throughout the fight.
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Getty Images 2010-12-18 |
Claude Paquette scored the fight 113-113, Daniel Van de Wiele also had it even at 114-114 and Steve Morrow scored the fight 112-112. The fight, shown on Showtime Championship Boxing, took place at the Pepsi Coliseum, in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Marco Antonio Barrera vs Kennedy McKinney - 1996
As long as I'm talking about the Marco Antonio Barrera vs Kennedy McKinney fight, I might as well just show you. This is the fight that made a Barrera fan out of me. He showed a lot of grit in this fight. I'll give credit to McKinney too, it takes two to make a great fight. The fight was shown on HBO and was the first telecast of "HBO After Dark". The fight took place at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California on February 3, 1996. The referee was Pat Russell, who was recently inducted into the California Hall of Fame. The fight was stopped at 2:05 of the 12rh round.
Press Conference Brawls
Watching Bernard Hopkins and Jean Pascal go through their little scuffle during their prefight press conference made me think of my favorite press conference fight, when Marco Antoni Barrera popped Kennedy McKinney right on the kisser for mouthing off and McKinney took it. It was too funny. Then after a tough fight Barrera kicks his ass again and stops McKinney in round 12.
In the second video Don King hosts a Top 10 Boxing Press Conference Brawls. Marco Antonio Barrera made the video along with Erik Morales. Watch how quick Morales reacts when Barrera punches him. Split second reaction. Riddick Bowe does a pretty good job on Larry Donald. I don't usually agree with Larry Merchant but he is 100% correct when he calls boxing "The Theater of the unexpected".
Bernard Hopkins vs Jean Pascal
If the press conference for Saturday night's fight between Bernard Hopkins and Jean Pascal is any indication, Hopkins may have just won the preflight psychological battle over Pascal. There was a brief scuffle over Pascal’s title belt in which Hopkins appeared to dominate and then in the following stare down, Pascal couldn’t or wouldn’t meet Hopkins gaze. Hopkins came off as cool and in control, while Pascal seemed flustered and intimidated. We’ll see how that plays out in the fight.
Hopkins, at 45 years of age, has been through this countless times and has a huge edge in experience, especially in the quality of opponents. But Pascal, at 28, has the advantage of youth. Hopkin’s fights can sometimes seem dull and tedious but he always has a plan and he almost always sticks with it. If Pascal goes into the fight angry it won’t take much for Hopkins to frustrate him. Hopkins knows every trick in the book and my gut feeling is that Hopkins is going to give Pascal a spanking Saturday but the fight will go the distance.
There’s no way tp honestly predict what will happen but if hard work counts for anything Hopkins should be in great shape. Hopkins has the height and reach advantage and you can bet your last dollar that he’ll use that advantage to the fullest.
If Hopkins wins, he’ll become the oldest boxer to win a prominent world title, replacing the venerable George Foreman, who recaptured the heavyweight title by knocking out Michael Moorer in 1994, twenty years after losing the title to Muhammad Ali in 1974.
I’ll be rooting for Hopkins to win this fight. If he wins it’ll be good for boxing and it’ll be good for us old guys, but win, lose or draw, you can be sure that we are seeing the end of an amazing career and one that has had it’s share of adversity. Someday he can tell his grandkids that no one ever handed him anything on a silver platter, he earned everything the hard way. Can’t fault a man like that.
Bernard Hopkins and Jean Pascal will fight on Satursay night at the Pepsi Coliseum, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Both the WBC light heavyweight title and the International Boxing Organization light heavyweight title will be at stake. The fight will be Shown on Showtime Championship Boxing.
As always, let the best man win.
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| Photo and weights courtesy of Fightnews.com |
By Dave Spencer at the scale
Photos: Tom Casino/SHOWTIME
Bernard Hopkins 174.6 vs. Jean Pascal 174.10
(WBC light heavyweight championship)
Paul Malignaggi 148.8 vs. Michael Lozada 148.6
Peter Quillin 164.14 vs. Martin Desjardins 164.5
Pier Olivier Cote 138.12 vs. Cesar Soriano 138.12
Tyson Fury 268.14 vs. Zack Page 212.3
Kevin Bizier 148.10 vs. Ronnie Warrior 149.2
Daniel Jacobs 164.12 vs. Jesse Orta 164.10
Eric Martel Bahoeli 239.4 vs. Ruben Rivera 261.5
Mikael Zewski 157.3 vs. Leonardo Rojas 159.9
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Abner Mares Humbles Vic Darchinyan and Amir Kahn Beats Marco Maidana
Last night was the first time I've seen Abner Mares fight. The kid is unbelievable. In the first fight of Showtime's Bantamweight Tournament, taking place at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington, Mares beat Vic Darchinyan in a absolutely thrilling battle. It was no easy task for Mares who fought through adversity from the onset, including a clash of heads that resulted in a large gash above the left eye, on the hairline, a flash knockdown in the second round, a point taken away for a low blow, and an incompetent referee that allowed Darchinyan to get away with several fouls during the fight. Several of the low blows were cause by Darchinyan who continually pulled Mares head down.
Darchinyan, ever the bully met someone who refused to be bullied. Mares took the fight to Darchinyan like a seasoned veteran and imposed his will and heart on Darchinyan, who for the first time displayed some good boxing ability. my guess is, he didn't have what it takes to stand up to Mares. Mares fought with a Chavez like determination. There have been so many great fights over the last couple of months. No one has impressed me like Abner Mares.
I can honestly say that I have never liked Vic Darchinyan. I think he is an arrogant loudmouth but you can add cry baby to the list now. I thought Pernell Whitaker was a whiner back in the day but this guy takes the cake. He blamed his loss on referee Bobby Howard, the same referee who let him get away with everything during the fight and took a point away from Mares. Darchinyan liked to boast that no Mexican could beat him, well, last night he got his ass whupped good, by a Mexican. I love it when justice is served. Mares won a split decision.
Over at HBO, at the Mandalay Bay Casino, Las Vegas, there were two contrasting fights. In the first fight there were no surprises, as Victor Ortiz, trying hard to erase the memory of his "fight: with Marcos Maidana, took a half step back in a dismal showing against Lamont Peterson. They fought to a draw. The less said about the fight, the better.
Kahn for his part was following his game plan, using his speed and combinations but nothing would deter Maidana who was relentless in his pursuit of Kahn. In the middle rounds Maidana took control of the fight, almost stopping Kahn at one point, but Kahn, determined to prove that he had a sturdy chin fought on. Kahn had built an early lead but still it wasn't a sure bet going into the last round. I'm not 100% sure Kahn won that last round but he won their fight by unanimous decision. Both men proved their mettle last night.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Sylvester Stallone Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
By Randy De La O
I have a few thoughts on Sylvester Stallone’s recent induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. You can agree or disagree.
I only met Sylvester Stallone once and it was a positive experience for me. It was a few days, almost thirty-five years ago, in January or February of 1976, during the filming of Rocky. It was Rocky that made Stallone into the superstar that he would later become. I didn't know much about him then except that he was the guy that I had seen in “The Lords of Flatbush”. Rocky has since become an iconic figure and part of American Pop Culture, like; Superman, Tarzan, Popeye, Fonzie, Phillip Marlowe or any number of characters that have popped up over the years.
With Rocky, Stallone created a character that best represents the type of fighter that I admire, an underdog, with limited skills, that gives his all in the ring and never stops trying, an honest fighter that knows no other way. For Rocky, it was all about heart. If Jimmy Stewart was “Everyman” than Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky was an “Everyman Fighter”. Most of the guys that have ever stepped into the ring were unheralded, unrecognized and under appreciated. We rooted for Rocky because he was one of us. A regular Joe, someone who just wanted a shot. When I rooted for Rocky I was rooting for myself and the chance that I never got.
I can’t say anything about Stallone’s character after the movie won an Oscar. He became big, really big. I’m sure it affected him, it had to. Still maybe over the years, just like the rest of us, he learned something about himself. I saw him again in 1987, it was at the Alberto Davila vs. Frankie Duarte rematch at the Forum (a great fight, by the way), he was a few rows away from me, sitting with Elton John. People were all around him but he seemed to be a good sport about it all and was smiling for his fans. He happened to look my way and when he did I raised my right hand and said, in my best Philly accent “Hey, Yo Rocky!” He smiled and acknowledged me. He could have ignored me.
There have been other actors that have played boxers on the big screen, most notably, Robert DeNiro as Jake LaMotta in “The Raging Bull”, Russell Crowe as James J, Braddock in “The Cinderella Man or even Hilary Swank as “The Million Dollar Baby” and Mark Walberg and Christian Bales as brothers Mickey Ward and Dick Eklund in The Fighter” which is being released this weekend, and countless others over the years and it’s not for me to say whether they also deserve an induction or not but what separates Stallone from the rest of them is that for everyone else, it was a role, and then they moved on. For Stallone, he became a life long friend to boxing, trying to find some way to promote boxing, as he did with “The Contender”. Even if you didn’t like the show you still have to admit that Stallone was there swinging away on boxing’s behalf. The continuing saga of Rocky Balboa continued to inspire young men to become boxers. He did for boxing, what Bruce Lee did for Martial Arts. He got people interested again. To be fair, the 1976 Olympic Boxing team also made some noise that year but it takes nothing away from Rocky Balboa.
I don’t know of any other non-boxer that has done more to inspire young men to become boxers, not only across the country but across the world. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard in an interview “It was Rocky, I wanted be a boxer when I saw Rocky”. (I’m paraphrasing)
My brother Dennis worked security for the movie industries years ago. For a few days he provided security for Sylvester Stallone. Dennis only had good things to say about him.
I went to the International Boxing Hall of Fame’s website to see just what he was inducted for. He was inducted as an observer, nothing more. He is not being recognized as a fighter. His is a non-participatory induction, that’s fitting, I don’t have problem with that. I don’t know what there reasoning was for selecting Stallone, they didn’t say. I would like to think that it was for the reasons that I stated.
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Sylvester Stallone and I at the old Main Street Gym in Los Angeles. Trainer Pat Ruggiero on the right. |
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Mickey Ward vs Arturo Gatti 1 Round 9
Speaking of Mickey Ward, this video is from the ninth round of his first of three fights with Arturo Gatti, on May 18, 2002 at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut. It was a spectacular round. Their trilogy is considered one of boxings best.
Mickey Ward won the fight by Majority decision, the last two were won by Gotti by unanimous decision. All three were wars.
The Fighter Movie Trailer
The Fighter, a movie that covers the early years of former champion boxer "Irish" Mickey Ward and his trainer and brother Dick Eklund, starring Mark Walberg and Christian Bale opens to a limited audience this Friday, December 10 and again on the 17th to a national audience. I'm looking forward to it.
IMDB.com: The fighter 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
A Night at the Fights for my Daughter and Friends
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| Meranda De La O and Oscar De La Hoya |
A few weeks ago my daughter Meranda won some tickets to the Juan Manuel Marquez vs Michael Katsidis fight on the 27th of last month, via a contest on Twitter (Marquez won by a 9th round KO). Oscar and Golden Boy Promotions gave Meranda the VIP treatment. My daughter and her gal pals as well as the husband of one of her friends were all given good seats, and my daughter got to spend some time with Oscar and attend the post fight press conference. They all had a great time. These are a few of the photos she took. My thanks to Golden Boy Promotions and Oscar De La Hoya for being a true gentleman with my daughter.
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| Meranda (center) and friends |
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| Oscar De La Hoya |
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| Marquez and Katsidis moments before the fight was stopped by Referee Kenny Bayless |
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| Marquez speaking at the post fight press confrence |
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| Andre Berto at the post fight conference. Berto stopped Freddy Hernandez in the 1st round |
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Chicago Blackhawks vs L.A. Kings
Staples Center, Los Angeles, California
Rick Farris, Brian Higgins and me
Rick and Monica Farris, Brian Higgins and my wife Jeri De La O
Chicago Blackhawks vs L.A. Kings 11.27/2010 (Blackhawks win 2-1)
Many thanks to our friend Brian Higgins of Chicago for his generosity in scoring tickets for Rick and I and our wives, last Saturday 11/27/2010. This was my first hockey game, in fact it was the first hockey game for all of us. Great seats and lots of fast paced action. I couldn't have had a better game or teams to watch, the 2010 Stanley Cup Champions, the Chicago Blackhawks vs the home team, the L.A.Kings. I could become a fan. It might take me a while though to understand the game. Lucky for Rick and I, a couple of fights broke out on the ice. Tough dudes and a tough sport!
Brian, a Judo/ Jiu jitsu/ MMA instructor and undefeated former light heavyweight boxer, is head of security for the Chicago Blackhawks. I can tell you that there is no safer team in the NHL.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Juan Manuel Marquez Stops Michael Katsidis in the 9th Round
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| Juan Manuel Marquez catches Michael Katsidis with a left jab Photo By Meranda De La O |
Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Michael Katsidis
MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada
WBA Super World Lightweight Title
WBO Lightweight Title
Marquez KO’s Katsidis Round 9
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| Press Conference Photo By Meranda De La O |
I was unable to see the fight last Saturday between Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico and Michael Katsidis of Australia but I did catch the replay on HBO the next day. I’m not surprised at the way the fight went or how it ended. Katsidis, like every Aussie I have ever seen fought like a true warrior. That was a given. A big heart and an exciting fighter. Despite a fairly high knockout ratio none of them came against top quality opponents , still a guy with a big punch is always dangerous.
Katsidis proved that when he knocked down Marquez in the third round with a quick left hook that hurt Marquez. Marquez, true to form, shook off the punch, fought back and by the end of the round was back in command of the fight. With each round Marquez continued to dominate and it was his experience as well as his amazing durability that won the day for him.
The fight, a likely candidate for the fight of the year, though mostly dominated by Marquez was exciting. At 37 years of age, part of the drama of watching Marquez fight is wondering if this is the fight where he shows his age. The thought was that over the long haul, that maybe Katsidis’ youth would kick in against an aging Marquez. It never happened. Instead referee Kenny Bayless stopped the fight in the ninth round after Katsidis was hurt from a series of punches thrown by Marquez. Some of the fans didn’t like it but Katsidis didn’t argue the stoppage.
Marquez always finds a reserve to draw upon. He has such a strong will to win. This is what makes him such a great champion and one that could have fought in any era. Fighting at a time when most fighters are afraid to take a real risk, Marquez continues to fight the best available fighters out there. Marquez, though has only one fighter in mind, it is his “Magnificent Obsession “, a third fight with Manny Pacquiao. It is his belief, a belief that is shared by many, that he won both of his fights with Pacquiao. This is what propels him.
I can’t say why Pacquiao refuses to give him a third fight and I honestly don’t know if at this point in time Marquez can still beat Pacquiao, but even if you feel, to be fair, as some do, that Pacquiao did win his two fights, the fact remains that the difference between the two is razor thin. There is no other better qualified or deserving opponent for Manny Pacquiao.
Marquez can’t go on forever. A fighter his age in the lighter weights is an anomaly. Don’t miss another of his fights. He doesn’t get the attention of Floyd Mayweather Jr or Manny Pacquiao just as earlier in his career, he fought in the shadows of his countrymen Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales but Marquez is a true boxing legend. Maybe when it is all said and done, he may just emerge as the best of all of them.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Classic West Coast Photos
Many thanks to Pat Ruggiero for sending me these classic old photos. Pat was one of the trainers from the old Main Street Gym in Los Angeles and learned his craft from veteran trainer and manager Ralph Gambina. Pat worked with Middleweight Mike Nixon and featherweight David Sotelo
Ralph Gambina and Heavyweight John Baca at
the Main Street Gym in Los Angeles, California
Pat Ruggiero and Ralph Gambina
Middleweight Mike Nixon, Pat Ruggiero, Sugar Ray Robinson and
Ralph Gambina at the Main Street Gym, Los Angeles, California
Sylvester Stallone and Pat Ruggiero at the
Main Street Gym during the filming of Rocky in 1976
Pat Ruggiero and Bobby Chacon
Al Silvani, Frank Sinatra, Hank Sanicola,
Ralph Gambina and Cisco Andrade, 1950's
Pat Ruggerio working the corner of David Sotelo during Sotelo's
fight with Art Hafey, April 15, 1976 at the Olympic Auditorium
fight with Art Hafey, April 15, 1976 at the Olympic Auditorium
Monday, November 22, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Sergio Martinez vs Paul Williams II: Williams KO'ed in 2
Middleweight King Sergio Martinez
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Getty Images 2010-11-20 |
Sergio Martinez vs Paul Williams
WBC Middleweight Title
Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey
HBO Production
HBO Production
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Getty Images 2010-11-20 |
Saturday night’s fight at the Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall in New Jersey was short and sweet. It was 1:10 into the second round when Sergio Martinez saw his opening and threw an explosive left hook to the side of Paul Williams jaw. It connected and then some. The ending was so sudden, so complete it was almost surreal, It was the type of knockout that scares you. “I was waiting for a mistake, but I was surprised that it came so soon, I didn't want the judges to rob me this time" said Martinez
The fight itself was expected to be a continuation of the first fight which ended in a controversial majority decision in favor of Williams. That fight never materialized. Martinez got his revenge quickly and decisively in a fight that started out competitively. The knockout is almost certain to be the knockout of the year and could end up being the knockout of the decade. I can’t remember the last time I saw such a devastating one punch knockout. “I got caught” said Williams “I just got caught”. Boy, did he ever.
There is a primal savagery in the way that Martinez fights; skilled but with a sort of reckless abandonment. He evokes memories of a time when the middleweights were king.This champ is not afraid of taking risks. He wanted to make his mark here in the United States and he did. It’s hard to believe that Martinez won’t have a following after this knockout. With one single punch he stole the thunder from last week’s fight between Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito. It has to shake up the pound for pound rankings.
Message to Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.; Make your fight with each other and quick. There is a new sheriff in town that realistically doesn’t need either one of you. Martinez is the kind of guy that can make both of you an after thought. Come to think about it, that fight is becoming less important by the minute. Better hurry!
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Don’t Doubt Trout, says Burke
Article Courtesy of Newmexicoboxing.com
Photo Courtesy of Fightnews.com
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| Austin Trout |
The latest news of the Rigoberto Alvarez-Austin Trout world title fight postponed til January, due to a cut received during Alvarez’s fight against Nobuhiro Ishida for the interim title and an eliminator for THE world title [Editor's note: Trout-Alvarez will be for the WBA's "regular" 154-pound title, with Miguel Cotto holding the higher ranked "superchampion" belt.] The year wait has been agonizing, and staying motivated when Austin was being ducked by Ishida was extremely frustrating.
Austin’s promoter Empire Promotions, headed by boxing guru Shelley Finkel, chose to step aside and let the winner of Ishida-Alvarez fight for the title eliminator, then fight Austin for the WBA world title, which has been vacated by Miguel Cotto [when Cotto was elevated to "superchampion." - Editor] Why step aside? Because Alvarez’ promoter Golden Boy brings Television and more money to the table, bottom line.
Alvarez won, as all had hoped, for the exception of Ishida, and the fight was set for December 4th. But as of last week we were told that Alvarez had sustained a cut and needed time to heal, understandably, as not to give Austin any advantage, Austin doesn’t need an advantage, just a fair event and a fight!
No one can even imagine the agony and frustration of waiting for these opponents to grow nads so they’ll get into the ring with Austin. The politics of waiting on and off for the “mandatory fight” has, at times, left Austin wondering if it’s better to give up the mandatory position and take a fight of no real significance, but would give him some pocket change to sustain him and his family.
The sacrifices have been real, but we feel that January is going to be the magic month. All those sacrifices, postponements, ducking and dodging, BS politics of boxing will be all rectified in January when Austin becomes the 4th New Mexican and 1st Las Crucen to win THE world championship.
The Anotonio Margarito and Sergio Martinez training camps have been a blessing, Austin was the main sparring partner for both guys getting them prepared for their up coming mega fights, shown on HBO Pay-per-view this weekend and the following. While in Oxnard, Austin was asked to do numerous national and international interviews and has been seen on HBO’s 24/7 and written about in Ring magazine.
Yet not a thing, locally has been done on Austin Trout. Here’s a number one contender, an Olympic alternate, an undefeated world class professional boxer getting ready to fight for THE world championship and NOTHING has been done to keep the public informed why he’s been inactive and when he’ll supposedly be fighting for THE world championship and the frustrations and disappointments he’s had to endure in pursuit of boxing’s holy grail.
It seems as if sports journalists could find more than a few stories in the drama that has come to be outside the ring, in prelude to the drama that’s going to happen in the ring!
Sergio Martinez vs Paul Williams II
Ed Hernandez and I were at the Home Depot Center in July of 2007, when Paul Williams took Antonio Margarito’s WBO title by 12 rounds unanimous decision. It was a close, hard fought battle and despite the angry response from the crowd, Williams deserved the win. He’s the real deal and I think it’s fair criticism when most boxing writers and boxing fans say that both Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao want nothing to do with him, though maybe a little more Mayweather than Pacquiao, especially after last Saturday’s shutout by Pacquiao over Margarito.
In his very next fight, Williams lost his title to the once highly regarded Carlos Quintana, a fight he avenged with a first round stoppage a few month later in the rematch. He has been on a six fight winning streak since the loss to Quintana.
One of Williams “victims” was Sergio Martinez, and I use the term “victim” loosely , in fact if Martinez was a victim that night, it was of bad judging. The fight at best could have been a draw but I thought Martinez edged out the fight and I’m not the only one. Still, it wasn’t a robbery , some fights just come down to opinions.
Martinez, an athlete and former soccer player from Argentina, made the transition from soccer player to professional boxer without the benefit of ever having fought as an amateur. Wasting no time after the loss to Williams, Martinez took on tough Kelly Pavlik for Pavlik’s WBC and WBO Middleweight titles. Pavlik’s only loss up to that fight was a twelve round loss to Bernard Hopkins. It was an exciting fight that Martinez won in spectacular fashion in twelve rounds.
That brings us to tonight’s fight in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Williams has proven he can win a rematch and Martinez has shown himself to be a legitimate fighter with skill and speed. Sometimes rematches turn out to be boring duds. Every once in a while though, we get a Gotti-Ward, Barrera-Morales or a Marquez-Vasquez. That’s my hope for tonight
Williams, a tall and rangy fighter needs to use his height and jab to set up his punches. Show some patience before going on the inside. Martinez, an excellent counterpuncher, has to keep in perpetual motion, not be a stationary target and find a way to get inside of Williams jab, which might not be quite as easy as the first fight.
This fight is a toss up but maybe the mental edge goes to Martinez. He was a contender in the first fight, Now he’s a champion. My father would tell me that a fighter really gains confidence once they win a title. They believe in themselves in a way they never did before, becoming a champion improves them. If that’s the case and Martinez is an improved fighter, Williams will have his hands full tonight. On top of that, Martinez feels he got screwed in the first fight. He wants revenge.
The fight will be televised by HBO. As always, may the best man win.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Is Manny Pacquiao Ducking African American Fighters?
"Maybe I'm biased because I'm black, but I think that this is what is said at people's homes and around the dinner table among black boxing fans and fighters. Most of them won't say it [in public] because they're not being real and they don't have the balls to say it, "But I do think that a fighter like the Ray Leonards or anyone like that would beat a guy [like Pacquiao] if they come with their game,
Listen, this ain't a racial thing, but then again, maybe it is, but the style that is embedded in most of us black fighters, that style could be a problem to any other style of fighting." - Bernard Hopkins
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With one inane statement Bernard Hopkins has just relegated every nonblack fighter to a secondary status. There are in fact three possible reasons that Manny Pacquiao has not faced any black fighters.
First, early in his career Manny Pacquiao fought all his early fights excluslivly in Asia, most of them being in the Philippines.
Secondly, in the championship stage of his career Manny Pacquiao fought the best fighters of his division, period. Is it his fault that the best at that time weren't black or that the best happened to be mostly Hispanic fighters? The guys he fought were champions in their respective division; Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez and Ricky Hatton. The only black fighter with a Leonard like style of fighting is Floyd Mayweather Jr. and if anyone can get him to sign the dotted line (good luck) Manny will fight him. To the best of my knowledge, Manny had already agreed to take the test. That the fight has yet to take place is squarely on Mayweather's shoulders.
Thirdly, maybe Bernard should consider the possibility that some of the black fighters in the lower weight division are ducking Manny Pacquiao. Who should he have fought? Nate Campbell? Too spotty a record and can't really be considered a serious threat. Zab Judah? Hold on, let me stop laughing,... okay, by the time Manny got to the higher weight classes, Judah, all on his own became a Persona Non Grata. He was a non issue by the time Pacquiao got to the Junior Welters. Tim Bradley, Devon Alexander and Andre Berto are all good fighters but all three are just now starting to make their mark. No one can seriously make the case that Manny Pacquiao is ducking them. So who exactly is he ducking? Why can't he or anyone else ask "Why is Floyd Mayweather Jr. avoiding Filipino fighters?". Now that's a fair question. If you can find one on his record I'll eat my hat.
While I agree with Bernard Hopkins that some black fighters do posses, albeit, to a lesser degree, a Leonard like style that is unique to African American fighters, I don't think they are, across the board, automatically better. If that's the case, why are two brothers from Ukraine holding the heavyweight belts hostage?
It's the man and his ability and nothing else.
What sickens me most is not what Hopkins said but this statement by Bob Arum "A fight with Shane Mosley would answer that situation,". If Pacquiao takes that fight I'll take back every good thing I ever said about him. Mosley, one of the best fighters of his era has seen his better days and though it pains me to say it, at this stage of his career it would sending him to the wolves for a big payday. Bob Arum should be made to go one round with Pacquiao just for thinking it.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Jesus Soto Karass vs Mike Jones
I know that I can’t be the only one that thought Jesus Soto Karass was given the old Jesse James Saturday in his fight with Mike Jones. If this isn’t a robbery than I don’t know what is. Jones and Soto Karass fought on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao and Antonio Margarito fight. Jones was clearly the house favorite and is being groomed for bigger and better things and Karass was the designated “opponent”.
Someone should have told Karass because he went in to this fight Saturday night to win, and he did, in my opinion. After a great second round by Jones where he threw a fifty-plus punch flurry while he had Karass on the ropes (they didn’t all land), Jones shot his wad and never really quite recovered and with the exception of a few good moments for the rest of the fight, Karass kicked his ass. It was all Jones could do just to hang on. The NABA, WBO NABO) and the WBC Continental Americas Welterweight Titles were at stake.
After surviving the second round onslaught by Jones and suffering cuts over both eyes, Karass hunkered down and gave a Margarito like performance (the old winning Margarito). He made some new fans with his rugged in your face style and big heart. I’m sure we’ll be seeing him on HBO again and soon. Jones got away with a 10 round majority decision.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Manny Pacquiao vs Antonio Margarito: Victory and Redemption
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The Thrill of Victory......
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Antonio Margarito
What ever you thought about him, what ever you wanted to happen to him, however bad you wanted to see him fail and get his ass kicked, you’ve got to admit, he took his lickin’ like a man. Not a whimper from the man. He did the only thing he knows how to do and that is forge ahead, take punches, suck it up and punch back. It has almost always been enough. For some, Manny Pacquiao was judge, jury and executioner and the fight was divine retribution, maybe but if so, the flip side would be divine redemption. Debt paid in full.
Margarito, clearly losing the fight almost from the opening round, never stopped trying. He never ran, never hid, never looked for a way to deceive the judges. He fought and lost in the most honest and basic of ways, simply by fighting to the best of his ability against the most dominating fighter of his era.
His face was taco meat, or hamburger meat if you prefer, by the end of the fight. Pacquiao’s face also showed signs of a being in a fight. Though Pacquiao’s performance was dominating and the fight one sided, Margarito did have a few scattered moments throughout the fight and by Pacquiao‘s own admission, Margarito did hurt him on more than one occasion, especially with the left hook to the body and the uppercuts. It was just never enough.
I couldn’t help but think of Robert DeNiro as Jake LaMotta in Martin Scoresese’s “The Raging Bull” when DeNiro as LaMotta says to Sugar Ray Robinson after the fight was stopped in the 13th round of a fight that has come to be known as “The St. Valentines Day Massacre”, You never got me down Ray, you never got me down”. Sometimes just staying on your feet is victory enough.
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For my money, this was the first legitimate win against a bigger fighter. With just a years difference between them, there was no age advantage for Pacquiao. He was fighting a man still considered to be one of the best fighters in the world. There was no asterisk in this fight.
Going into this fight I didn’t think Manny could do it. Despite the odds I felt Margarito would be too much for him size wise. Now? Now, I don’t think the Klitscho Brothers, on the same night would be too much for him. Pacquiao has proven himself to be as good as any fighter in history. There is no denying it. His name belongs with the best; Sugar Ray Robinson, Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard, Benny Leonard, Julio Cesar Chavez, Alexis Arguello, Aaron Pryor and Henry Armstrong. Each and every one of them would have had their hands full with the Filipino sensation, Manny Pacquiao.
That he was able to withstand the punches of a man that had a 17 pound weight advantage is nothing short of remarkable. It’s easy to believe that it all comes easy for him but listening to Pacquiao after the fight when he was being interviewed by Jim Lampley, you could sense the tiredness, the weariness that comes from giving your all. Along with his great skills and endurance it is Pacquiao’s tremendous heart that wins the fights for him. Manny Pacquiao refused to lose and always finds a way to win.
If it’s true that the whole world loves a winner, than it’s also true that we love a guy that can take what he’s got coming to him.
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....and the Agony of Defeat.
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