Cleto Reyes Boxing Gloves

A Couple of Thoughts on Marquez and Pacquiao

Photo Courtesy of Yahoo Sports

Whatever I might think about who won the fight last and the decision, both fighters have conducted themselves like professionals throughout their careers. Both are good guys in a tarnished sport. Enjoy them for whatever time they have left. Their type of fighter is a dying breed.

 Last night's decision was no fault of Manny Pacquiao. He did what he was supposed to do, they both did. If we can look past all the rest we can recognize that we saw a great fight last night. With all that goes on outside the ring, what happens inside of the ring is still what makes it the greatest sport in the world, however tarnished it may be. (That was sort of a contradictory statement but so what)

Juan Manuel Marquez vs Manny Pacquiao: Marquez Robbed!

Juan Manuel Marquez en route to a royal screwing

By Randy De La O

Last night's majority decision, favoring Manny Pacquiao, was an injustice to Juan Manuel Marquez, as well as to boxing fans. The fight itself was close, but there was a clear winner in this fight and it was Marquez. Thirty-six of the best rounds of boxing in three fights, between two great fighters, that should go down with the best trilogies in boxing, forever marred by – take your pick – incompetent or criminal judging.

More than anything, a man has been denied his rightful place in boxing history. As time goes on and memories fade, he will just become someone who lost three fights to Manny Pacquiao. His children will know, and so will his grandchildren, and so will the true fans of boxing but that will fade with time. By next year the rest of the sports world will have moved on as they prepare for Pacquiao vs Floyd Mmayweather Jr.

I believe that just about everyone on the planet, except for Juan Manuel Marquez and his camp, thought he was over the hill, ripe for the taking. I believe Pacquiao did to Marquez, what almost everyone, believes Mayweather is doing to Pacquiao, and that is he waited til he thought “it was safe to go back into the water”. Marquez at any age, but even at 38, has always been more than enough for Pacquiao, maybe just a little too much.

Marquez has proven himself to be a fighter for the ages, as much or maybe more so than Pacquiao or Mayweather. Never the recipient of a close fight, never given the benefit of the doubt and always in the shadow of other, more well known, but not necessarily better fighters.

Well liked but never truly taken in by his countrymen in the same way his contemporaries; Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales have been, or more recently, the way Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has been, unproven though he is.

He had only his belief, that he was among the very best of his era. Since 1993 he has plied his trade, like a craftsman, learning through trial and error, until he has mastered the art of boxing and counter punching like few others. His progress can be measured in small increments, in small nuances.

The talk before going into last night's fight with Manny Pacquiao was the degree to which Pacquiao had improved, both physically and technically since their first two meetings. Unseen and unnoticed were the improvements made by Marquez. The changes were more subtle and learned mostly through losses and tough fights with young, prime fighters. The changes that took place were inside of an already courageous fighter. He was ready for this fight with Manny Pacquiao.

I'm not going to go over every single round, you saw the fight just as I did. Overall it was Marquez who seemed to control the pace, making Manny work harder or spend energy just by virtue of his own slower paced counter punching style. Pacquiao's own face told the story throughout the fight; frustrated, worried, befuddled and bewildered at times. He was given at times to wild lunges, throwing himself off balance unable to back down a determined foe in Marquez, who stood his ground, as he always had, against anything and everything Pacquiao has in his arsenal. He got the best of the exchanges and it was almost always Pacquiao who pulled away from those exchanges. Marquez was the more accurate and sharper puncher.

The HBO announcers as always, seem to favor the house fighter (Pacquiao). As soon as each round ended, and especially those rounds that favored Marquez, Jim Lampley as quick as he could, made sure we knew what the compubox stats were, and that they favored Pacquiao. Somebody needs to tell these guys, fights are not won by compubox stats. Fights are won, with skill, technique, heart and so many other things that will never register in compubox.

Both Max Kellerman and Jim Lampley gave it their best shot in trying to convince us that Marquez lost because trainer Nacho Beristain told him he was winning. That's a stretch. You could just as easily look to the corner of Pacquiao as trainer Freddie Roach, continually told Pacquiao to get in there and “knock him out, get him out of there”. He knew.

There is no doubt in my mind that Juan Manuel Marquez won the third fight. There is no doubt in my mind that Manny Pacquiao waited for the right time to fight Marquez, before attempting to prove he was the better man. There is no doubt in my mind who the better fighter is. However razor thin that difference may be, that man is Juan Manuel Marquez.

Make no mistake about it, like it or not, Floyd Mayweather Jr is the best "pound for pound" fighter in the world today. Juan Manuel Marquez, even if I'm the only guy on the planet that recognizes it, fills the number two slot.

More Thoughts on Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez III

By Randy De La O

Jeri and I were at the hospital earlier visiting our granddaughter Maddie (she was doing good), we walked over to the cafeteria for some coffee. While we were sitting down talking she asked me, “So who do you think is going to win the fight tonight?” Referring to the Pacquiao vs Marquez fight tonight. She already knows, so it was really just a rhetorical question. Still, I wanted to answer it honestly. “Well, you really have to go with Pacquiao, he's been a great fighter”. “They fought before, right?” she asked. “Yes, and they were very close.” “Was Marquez robbed? She asked me. “No, there was no robbery, some just feel that the decision could have just as easily gone to Marquez but there was no robbery.”

That's pretty much how I honestly feel. There was no robbery involved, no one stole the victory from Marquez. Both fights were very close. They were close enough and exciting enough to warrant a third fight. But at 38, Marquez chances are much slimmer now than, say, three years ago. Still, Marquez has always been the type of fighter that I admire; a tremendous heart, great boxing and counter punching ability, a willingness to mix it up, and a refusal to quit.

His quiet demeanor has sometimes worked against him. In some ways he reminds me of the great Alexis Arguello, not so much that both were great counter punchers, but in the way that both approached their sport. Arguello was, and Marquez is, the type of fighter that comes to work, clocks in, does his job to the utmost of his ability, then clocks out and goes home. No bull shit about either fighter. Perhaps too, like Arguello, Marquez will never beat his greatest rival but it won't be because he didn't try.

There is a type of fighter that really gets to me. The late Joe Frazier, of course, was the epitome of that type. I'm talking beyond style. I've mentioned before that heart is the quality that I admire more than any other in a fighter. Sometimes it will take a fighter to hell and back, sometimes to victory and sometimes to defeat. So what it comes down to, to me, is not always so much how a fighter wins but also in the way he loses. Even in defeat some men are magnificent.

I was trying to explain to Jeri too, on what makes a champion. There have been so many great champions over the years (not so much lately) but what sometimes defines a great champ is not so much that he was better than everyone but that when facing a bigger, stronger, better fighter, he still finds a way too win. That's what true champions do.

So, that's Juan Manuel Marquez' task tonight. To find some kind of way to beat a younger, faster, better fighter, with an equally big heart and with a mission that will rival his own, These are the fights that become legend.  

Austin Trout Stops Frank La Porto

Photo Courtesy of Showtime Boxing

By Randy De La O

Austin Trout thoroughly and completely dominated the fight last night against Frank La Porto, at the Cohen Stadium in El Paso, Texas. The fight ended as Trout had hoped but the fight went differently than expected. La Porto was a tough nut to crack, especially when, after being dropped in the first round, he seemed to be in survival mode. He did however, show a lot of heart and courage but he was outclassed by a superior fighter in Trout.

My one fear, after watching Alfredo Angulo punch himself out last week, after almost knocking out James Kirkland, was that Trout would do the same thing. I needn't have worried, Trout was in excellent shape. He looked like he could have gone 15 rounds last night.

Trout's corner, led by Louie Burke, was calm between the rounds as they kept their fighter focused on the job at hand. Trout, who lives in nearby Las Cruces, New Mexico, had the home court advantage last night. The pro-Trout crowd was on it's feet the entire fight. The knockout never came but by the 6th round, La Porto, a thoroughly beaten fighter, his will and heart gone, was saved by merciful referee, Rafael Ramos. I don't believe La Porto would have lasted another round. After the fight, La Porto's face looked brutally beaten but it was expression that said it all.

More than anything else, I was impressed by Austin after the fight, during the post fight interview. When asked to rate his performance and his future, Trout's reply was, “I felt like I did my thing. If anybody feels like I don’t deserve this belt, please come and take it.”

Mostly though, I was impressed by the way Trout conducted himself; confident and sure of himself but without the usual braggadocio and trash talking so common in young fighters and other athletes. Trainer Louie Burke and company have done an outstanding job. Congratulations Champ!

Pacquiao vs Marquez III

Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez III: Third Time's the Charm for Marquez?

By Randy De La O

Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquezwill go at it again tomorrow night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. They will be fighting for Pacquiao's WBO Welterweight title. I can't find too many people to agree with me but I think that Marquez has a chance to win. Regardless, I'm throwing my support behind him. Marquez, arguably, the best counterpuncher fighting today, has always had the right style to go up against Pacquiao. He has always found a way to upset Pacquiao's rhythm. I'm hoping he can do it again. Still, this is a fight that should have been made a few years ago but it is what it is.

Pacquiao and Marquez have fought twice before; a draw in 2004 and a split decision in 2008. The fights, the rivalry and the results have been discussed ad nauseum and there's no point in going over every detail again except to say that the difference between the two has always been razor thin. Given the closeness of both fights I don't understand Pacquiao's irritation at Marquez for believing that he won the fight, especially since a large part of the boxing world feels the same way.

Pacquiao seems to be concerned about the fight too. By his own admission, he is training harder for this fight than for any other. So he at least is giving Marquez some due respect. There is also a rematch clause that was added.......just in case. On the other hand, he seems to be looking past Marquez and to a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. sometime next year.

Pacquiao has momentum on his side, and he is a good fighter, no doubt (I'm still not sold on his greatness) and of course the odds and circumstances favor him, including the weight. If he has taken Marquez for granted, if he makes a mistake, if he has done one thing wrong during training, Marquez is the man that will make him pay.

I know that a fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather is good for boxing. But the way see it, if Pacquiao can't get past Marquez, than who cares about it? Not me. I believe that if this fight meets any and all expectations, regardless of who wins, it's a big shot in the arm for boxing. The future will take care of itself.

Throughout most of his career, Marquez has fought in the shadow of his countrymen, Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera. Now, he has out lasted both of them and has established his own legacy. Because of his draw and split decision loss (Both controversial), he has also fought in the shadow of Manny Pacquiao. I'm hoping that tomorrow night he steps out of the shadow.

I honestly don't know who will win tomorrow but I do know that Marquez will give every ounce of himself in this fight, they both will. I also know that Manny Pacquiao has never convincingly beaten Marquez. They both have something to prove to each other, and to themselves. Both are confident. No matter how you look at it, both men have been remarkable.

That loud shouting you hear coming from Whittier will be me screaming for Marquez to win, any kind of way.

As always, let the best man win, but here's hoping, that for Marquez, the “third time's the charm”.

The fight will be shown on HBO PPV.

Joe Frazier’s Funeral

Monday November 14, 2011
9-11am Calling – Closed Casket
11am – Service Starts

Calling and Service will be held at
Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church
2800 West Cheltenham Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19150
Get Directions 

In Lieu of Flowers, the Frazier family asks you to send donations to
The American Cancer Society. Make checks payable to ACS, Inc.
8400 Silver Crossing,  Oklahoma City, OK 73132.
Please include in your memo: In Memory of Joe Frazier.

Please leave a comment on JoeFraziersCorner.com  if you’d like to pay your respects.

Fight Night Champion - Still Standing: Joe Frazier

Courtesy of EASPORTS on Youtube.com

The Fight

By Randy De La O

I'm trying to find some kind of way to describe to a younger generation just how big the first fight between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali was. If ever there was a fight that could accurately be deemed “The Fight of the Century” this was the one. It is often, just simply called “The Fight”. No explanation is needed.

Oh, there were other so called“Fights of the Century” but in terms of historic epic heavyweight fights, only Joe Louis vs Max Schmeling II, and perhaps Jack Johnson vs James J. Jeffries come close. But this fight had something that no other heavyweight fight before it had; two undefeated heavyweights, each with a legitimate claim to the heavyweight title, the biggest prize in all of sports, perhaps the biggest prize anywhere. Add to that all the media attention that was not available to those other fights. The timing was right.

So big was the fight across the world that countries shut down and a war was put on hold – Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali were going to fight. Celebrities, politicians, anyone and everyone wanted to be part of the act. Frank Sinatra himself was to cover the fight as the photographer for Life magazine (I have that issue).

I was a junior in high school when this fight took place. When I think, talk or write about this fight, or either fighter, it is always through the eyes of a 16 year old boy, I can't help it. As I write this my eyes are welling up with tears as I remember. Both of these guys were my boxing heroes. It was hard for me to think of them fighting each other.

If you have read anything I have written before you know that my heart sometimes-No, make that always-overrides my head. I wear my heart on my sleeves. There is no hiding who I like and who I dislike. So when it was announced that Frazier and Ali were going to fight, I was besides myself, trying to decide where to place my loyalty. Ultimately, I put my $5.00 weekly lunch money on Smokin' Joe (I didn't tell my parents).

My father, a fighter in the army, was an old school fight fan and came from a time when fighters fought, not talked, and so he was not a fan of Ali. His guys were; Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Jerry Quarry and of course, Joe Frazier. Many from that generation could never quite warm up to Ali's bombastic style of boasting. Me? I ate it up. I knew it was all an act. Still, Joe Frazier; stoic, fierce and with a determined scowl, pacing back and forth like a wild cat, anticipating his prey, really grabbed me.

Ali had a way of getting inside a fighter's head. He would find out what another fighter's button was and than push it, and no one could push it like Ali. Frazier had built a wall around himself and Ali was never able to penetrate it. What we know now, that we didn't know then, or at least I didn't, was that Ali's words did hurt Joe. The “Uncle Tom” and “Gorilla” tags hurt Joe to the core of his being and he carried that resentment and anger throughout his life.

Somehow, Joe was able to channel that anger inside the ring. Relentless, forward moving and constantly throwing punches, but always in control.

Ali, as almost everyone already knows, was coming back from a three year exile. His last fight before he was stripped of the heavyweight title was a 15 round title defense against Zora Folley, stopping Folley in the 7^th round and defending his WBA title.

It would be three years before Ali would fight again. In his comeback Ali had taken on a new persona. He was now a genuine folk hero. He had taken a stance against the U.S. Government and the Viet Nam War and he won. As much as he was hated, or disliked before the exile, the political and social change that had swept the country made him bigger than ever. Not to say that there were no longer any Ali haters, but they were no longer the majority.

Ali fought again on October, 1970 when a fight was finally secured in Atlanta, Georgia against popular and ever tough West Coast favorite, “Irish” Jerry Quarry. Ali would stop Quarry in the 3^rd round. Officially the fight was a TKO due to cuts.

His next bout was with Argentina's Oscar Bonavena in December of 1970, at Madison Square Garden, New York. Ali stopped Bonavena in the 15^th round after knocking the Argentinian down three times in the final round. Ali had dominated the fight. Next up: Joe Frazier.

In June of 1969, Frazier defeated Jerry Quarry – in Ring Magazine's fight of the year- to win the New York version of the heavyweight title by stopping Quarry in the 7^thround of their scheduled 15 round fight.

Next on Frazier's hit list was Jimmy Ellis, for the vacant WBC title, as well as the WBA heavyweight title, also at stake was Joe's NYSAC heavyweight title. Ellis had won his version of the heavyweight championship by defeating Jerry Quarry a year earlier to win the heavyweight tournament. Ellis would be TKO'ed in 5 rounds. The fight was scheduled for 15 rounds. Joe Frazier was now the Heavyweight Champion of the world. Joe made quick work of his next opponent, light heavy king, Bob Foster, as Foster attempted to take the crown from Frazier. Foster was knocked out in the 2^nd round. Next up: Muhammad Ali.

Back at school, as the fight was approaching, those that followed boxing, and even those that didn't typically follow the sport, were broken into two camps: Frazier or Ali. It wasn't just school though, it was like that everywhere. I stayed out of any arguments. Despite the fact that I had picked Frazier to win, I was still a fan of Ali. I picked Frazier because, at that time and from what I had seen. I thought him invincible. As far as my heart was concerned, I was loyal to both. I would say nothing bad about Ali. Both were the heavyweight champions.

This was all taking place before cable and PPV television. So we had to depend on the news from the radio and of course, from the paper the next day. The fight took place at Madison Square Garden, in New York. The Garden and New York were still the epicenter of boxing in those days. The referee was Arthur Mercante. Joe Frazier beat Ali by unanimous decision and was now the absolute undisputed heavyweight champion of the word. Ali was down in the 15^th round as a result of a Frazier left hook. I still have the newspaper from that day, forty plus years later. It's wrinkled, fragile and yellow now. It's in a box somewhere. The fight was front page news all across the globe.

I had bragging rights at school, but really as happy as I was that Frazier had won the fight I was equally unhappy that Ali had lost. I was going to feel that way regardless of who won and lost. It's the price you pay for loving your fighters.

Over the years I have seen the fight on rebroadcasts and later on Youtube (a boxing fans best friend). Ali seemed in control in the early rounds but Joe was smoking and he just was not going to lose. I never tire of watching it.

They fought three times in total. Their last fight , in 1975, was “The Thrilla in Manilla” which might have even surpassed the first fight. That fight ended in the 14^thround when trainer and cornerman, the late and great Eddie Futch refused to let Joe come out for the final round. It's said that both men were near death that day. Whether that's true or not, I couldn't say. What I do know is that both men damaged each other. They fought each other with every fiber of their beings. They took each other to a place that most of us will never see or imagine. Neither of them were never again the same. Their fights with each other were of epic, almost mythical proportion. They were giants.

Their rivalry and trilogy was one for the ages. Their feud transcended the ring. In the last couple of years, they finally made peace with each other. Joe forgave Ali for the words, and belittlement. God Bless him for that.

I was lucky to be a fight fan when giants still fought in the ring. Smokin' Joe Frazier, a fighter's fighter and a man's man. Goodbye Joe, I'll miss you!

A Tribute to Smokin' Joe Frazier

Smokin' Joe Frazier Has Died

Smokin' Joe Frazier 1944 - 2011

R.I.P. Champ

By Randy De La O

Joe Frazier has died. A little piece of my past has gone with him. He was one of my boyhood idols. Hard to believe. To have been a young fan of boxing during one of the greatest era of heavyweight boxing is something I will never forget. That was at a time when the heavyweight title was the biggest prize in all of sports, maybe bigger than just about anything. On March 8, 1971 Joe Frazier beat my other boyhood idol, Muhammad Ali in their epic 15 round championship fight. On that night Joe Frazier was king of the world.

My condolences to the Frazier family. Go with God Joe!

Austin Trout Promo

James Kirkland Stops Alfredo Angulo

Photo Courtesy of HO Boxing

By Randy De La O

As anticipated, Saturday night's fight on HBO between Alfredo "El Perro" Angulo and James Kirkland, in Cancun, Mexico, was a real barn burner. Kirkland immediately took the fight to Angulo and thirty seconds into the round he was dropped and hurt by a right hand.  Angulo looking to finish Kirkland never stopped punching. He should have, or at least stepped back a bit and been a little more selective with his punches.

So sure was Angulo of a first round KO victory that he punched himself out. You could almost see it coming. Many of the shots missed their mark. Near the end of the round Angulo was knocked down, almost as much from exhaustion as from Kirkland's punches.

In the second round Angulo's legs were unsteady and his punching lacked any real zip. It was the beginning of the end for Angulo as Kirkland, 100% back in the fight, dominated the rest of the fight. Angulo was taking a beating. You got the sense that both fighters were willing to die in the ring. When the referee stopped the fight in the sixth round, it was unchallenged. It was a great, hard fought victory for Jame Kirkland. He attributed his win to his hard training and preparation. It gives credence to the old boxing adage, "Fights are won and lost in the gym". Regardless of the outcome both men proved their mettle Saturday.

Smokin' Joe Frazier has Cancer

“Life doesn't run away from nobody. Life runs at people.” 

-Joe Frazier

Legendary heavyweight and all around good guy, Smokin' Joe Frazier has Liver Cancer. Joe has always been a bigger than life man and champion to his countless and loyal fans, and that includes my entire family. 

Joe is in God's hands now, and is in the fight of his life, we will continue to pray for his recovery. Joe as well as his family are in our prayers. God Bless you Smokin' Joe Frazier.

Past articles on this site on Joe Frazier.

A Fighter and a Friend . . .

By Rick Farris

I was twelve when my family moved back to Burbank in 1964. This is where I would begin junior high school. I came from Orange County, where I grew up having more than my share of school yard fights. I expected being the new kid in class, somebody was going to try me, and I was ready, but it never happened. The kids in Burbank were a lot more mellow than I was used to, so I rarely had a fight.

I was one of the smaller guys in my class, but I was pretty much an athlete, and I'd meet another kid who was the same. He was my size and a great athlete, good runner. His name was Frankie Santillan, and he and I kind of hit it off.

At the time, I was totally into boxing. I dreamed of being a boxer and was looking for a place to make my dream come true. I would find out that Frankie also liked boxing, and that his dad Max was also a boxing guy. After school, I'd bring my boxing gloves over the Frankie's house and we'd box in the backyard. Frank's younger brother Maxie would referee. Afterwards Frankie would grab a couple of his dad's boxing magazines and we'd talk about some of the fighters of the era. I remember us discussing Joey Giambra one day. About twenty-five years later I'd meet Giambra, and as we discussed his career, I thought about the day Frankie mentioned it to me. We also talked about Davey Moore, the featherweight champ who had died in the ring a couple years earlier, in the only boxing event to ever be held at Dodger Stadium.

 A couple years later, my parents bought a home on the other side of town and we moved. After that I didn't see Frankie, we would attend different high schools. Shortly after moving I began my boxing career, training under Johnny Flores who managed heavyweight contender Jerry Quarry. I fought in the Junior Golden Gloves for nearly three years before I would see my old pal Frankie Santillan again. As we began the 1968 Jr. Golden Gloves tournament, I was fighting in the 96-105 pound weight class, in the Open division. As I looked over a program for the upcoming round of eliminations, I see a name that caught me totally by surprise, Frankie Santillan. Frank was fighting out of Canto Robledo's "Crown City Boxing Club" in Pasadena. He was fighting in my same weight class, but in the Novice division. Like me, Frankie Santillan was on a path that would one day lead both of us to make our professional boxing debuts while still attending high school.

 I won the Open division championship that year. And Frankie Santillan won in the Novice division. Frankie was flashy, fast, a solid puncher that liked to box but was more than willing to stand and punch. Although we were a bit different in style, we shared the same spirit, and we were both used to winning.

I remember that my dad and Frankie's father became friends as they sat together watching us fight. And they sat together, Frankie's family and mine, when the two of us finally fought. We would fight four times, and I truly believed that every fight was very close. I would lose two of those fights. We were friends outside the ring, but in the ring we were all business. We took nothing personal, but in the ring we were out to KO one another. But that never happened, we both stayed on our feet, and we both went toe-to-toe.

We both traveled to Las Vegas for the1970 Golden Gloves Nationals. Frankie's dad snapped a photo of the two of us in the dressing room prior to our fighting opponents from the Nevada team. I fought somebody from Arizona, and I forget who Frankie whipped that night. About two months later, we'd both turn pro a few weeks before graduating from high school.

We'd both fight at the Olympic Auditorium, and make our pro debuts on TV facing the same opponent, Antonio Villanueva, just a couple weeks apart.

After a few years, Frankie left boxing suddenly. I never saw him again. He and I had both worked as a sparring partner for the great bantamweight champ, Ruben Olivares. And we'd both boxed with world champs Bobby Chacon, Danny Lopez and others. I fought a bit longer before quitting for good when I was 24. I often wondered about Frankie Santillan. We shared a unique history, we walked the same path, and we both came out about the same career wise.

One day I get a Facebook friend request - from Frank Santillan!

In the late 90's, I began writing about boxing and I became involved with a few veteran boxer organizations and the World Boxing Hall of Fame. During the past dozen years I was able to reconnect with many of the great boxers I knew way back when. Frank told me he just walked away from boxing, but now he is back. In a few weeks, Frank Santillan, a good fighter and a good friend will return to a place where his star shined for awhile. And best of all, he'll be with all of us who knew him well, long time friends. We are no longer teenage prizefighters, we are a couple of old men. But on December 10th, we'll join some other old men we once knew and we are going to take a nice little step back in time.

Frankie and I never won a professional championship, but I can honestly say that we have traded punches with some of the greatest boxers of all-time. And it all started in a back yard in Burbank.

-Rick Farris

Public Media Workout for World Champ, Austin "No Doubt" Trout!!!!

By Louie Burke

Saturday, November 22nd at 12:00 pm noon, World Champion, Austin “No Doubt” Trout will have an open public and media sparring session and workout at Pound 4 Pound Gym at 10931 Pelicano, west of Lomaland in El Paso. This is in preparation for his up-coming title defense against Frank LoPorto, from Australia on 11/11/11!

The Bout will be held at Cohen Stadium and is a Zeferino Entertainment promotion.

 Abie Han, who is getting ready for his Oct. 29th fight, will start off the session, passing the duties to try and knock off “No Doubts” head to Josh Enriquez and then leaving the clean-up to Hector “The Hurricane” Munoz.

 All public and media are welcome: Austin will be fielding questions and signing autographs shortly after his workout.

 Contacts: Javier Sanchez, 915-329-6857
 Guy Taylor, 626-674-2905
 Pound 4 Pound, 915-590-2269

 Tickets for the event can be purchased at www.diablos.com$10 general admission, $20 box seats, $50 ringside and $500 for a table of 10 people.

AUSTIN TROUT TO DEFEND HIS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN EL PASO

From Publicist Javier Sanchez

 Junior Middle-Weight-World Champion Austin Trout, From the Cruces, will defend his belt November 11 at El Paso’s Cohen Stadium against Australian challenger Frank LoPorto. The championship fight will be televised on Showtime.

 Trout, born in El Paso, is an undefeated champion (23-0, 13 KOs) who will be making the second defense of the World Boxing Association (WBA) championship he won from Mexican Rigoberto “El Español” Alvarez last February 2 in Guadalajara, Jalisco. He had his first title defense against Mexican challenger David “Destroyer” Lopez last June in San Luis, Potosi, Mexico.

 This title bout was announced by Louie Burke, Austin Trout’s trainer.

 Trout, 26, is an outstanding boxer/puncher that readily capitalized on the first opportunity he had to become champion. He went to Guadalajara, the city of boxing Mexican greats Efrén “Alacrán” Torres and Jose Becerra, both former world champs, and took the title away from popular Rigoberto Alvarez, older brother of Mexican boxing sensation Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Also, he returned to boxing-crazy México to defend his title, and he came out ahead against dangerous puncher David “Destroyer” Lopez. Frank LoPorto is a 33-year-old Australian boxer with a 15-4, 7 KOs who’s getting his first crack at a world title. LoPorte has fought his whole career in his native Australia and has won his last two bouts by KO.

Touching gloves with…Sammy Goss

Posted on this site with the expressed courtesy of the author

By Dan Hanley

In the summer of ‘73 during a series of telecasts on ABC from New York’s Felt Forum, I was introduced to the east coast’s version of Mexican featherweight warfare. And I was absolutely smitten with the rampaging style of Sammy Goss as I watched this ’sure thing’ in action on those Saturday afternoons. Catching up with Sammy takes me back to the days of network TV and the efforts displayed which drew rabid crowds into unforgiving arenas of attrition. Good times.

DH: Sammy, you’re originally from Trenton, New Jersey, is that right?

SG: Born and bred and still here to this day.

DH: You’ve got quite the family background in boxing. Tell me about it.

SG: Well, my Dad was Jesse Goss. He was a fighter and eventually a trainer. As a matter of fact he trained Ike Williams back in the day. I started boxing around the age of 6 or 7 and all my brothers boxed. But boxing was not just in the family but also in the entire neighborhood. Everything was about boxing.

DH: How old were you when you formally started?

SG: I was 15. My father brought me down to the Trenton PAL to Percy Richardson for instruction.

DH: You had a remarkable amateur career. What are your stats?

SG: Well, I came along very fast. I was 5 time N.J. Golden Glove champ, 5 time state AAU champ, 1965 National AAU flyweight champ, 1968 National AAU bantamweight champ and 1968 National Golden Glove runnerup, losing in the finals to Earl Large of New Mexico.

DH: Now didn’t the AAU title grant you a berth at the ‘68 Olympic Trials?

SG: Yes it did. And in the finals of the trials I beat Earl Large. However, since I had lost to him recently in the Nationals it was decided we had to have a boxoff. So I beat him again for the bantamweight spot on the 1968 Olympic team.

DH: Tell me about Mexico City 1968
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SG: I would have had to win 5 fights to medal in the tournament, I received a bye in the 1st round and the second round I was fighting an eastern European. Now remember, Percy Richardson was not in my corner. I got to that point with Percy Richardson, who knew my style. In the Olympics we all had the National Coach, who was Pappy Gault. In the first round of my bout I had my opponent hurt bad but when I got back to my corner Gault jumped all over me. He wanted me to go to the body and nothing but. Well, he’s the coach and I had to do as I was told but I had to try and get under and in there and ate nothing but jabs trying to get in. He just kept popping me as I bore in and I lost the decision. That was all for me and I went pro after that.

DH: Who did you turn pro with?

SG: Well, Percy Richardson of course along with Frank Cariello were my trainers and I was managed by Pinny Schaeffer and Pat Duffy. We were together from beginning to end and we had the best time. (laughing) Those crazy guys could joke, let me tell you.

DH: You were up and down the eastern seaboard after turning pro. Maine, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts. Was it an issue getting fights for you?
SG: Well, I was taking the fights as they were coming to me, but then we hooked up with Promoter Russell Peltz in Philadelphia. And now, although I still lived in Trenton, I would take the train into Philly on weekends for some real serious sparring.

DH: I take it you were introduced to the Philadelphia gym wars?

SG: Oh man, you had to be on your toes. Sparring in Philly, to me, meant working on defense because every sparring partner was looking to beat on me in order to make a reputation for himself.

DH: You were a very busy fighter. In a year and half after turning pro you were 18-1 and went into a fight which smacked of old school rivalry. You and Augie Pantellas had been making a lot of noise out of Philly. In fact, Marty Feldman, Pantellas’ trainer, said that this had been brewing for two years. Tell me about the fight.

SG: Well, you’re right, this really was a rivalry. We packed them into the Philadelphia Spectrum that night, which was one of my best paydays. I don’t recall the figures but I remember I made enough to put a down payment on a house. As for Augie Pantellas, he was a puncher and this was going to be a very tough fight if I fought him the same way. But during training I watched the tape of the Sugar Ray Robinson - Jake LaMotta title fight every single night. I copied the same moves. I boxed, I spun him and countered him and took an easy decision.

DH: Were you aware that Promoter Lou Lucchese offered to bring lightweight champ Ken Buchanan to Philly to fight the winner in a non-title?

SG: I was not. And obviously I never heard anymore about it. See, Lucchese was more Pantellas’ promoter, whereas I was affiliated with Russell Peltz. But Buchanan would have been too big for me anyway. I was comfortable between 126-130.

DH: Your next fight set you back a bit. That was one bad dude you fought in Ricardo Arredondo. Does the fact that he would become world champ less than a year later suggest that you may have been overmatched at this stage of your career?

SG: Yes, he was far more polished than I was.

DH: Were you ‘in’ the fight at all?

SG: No, to tell you the truth, he was picking me off coming in. He had reach on me and could hit. But it was a learning experience.

DH: Several fights later you had a similar result against Jose Luis Lopez, getting stopped in 6. Was it simply a case of having a problem solving the Mexican style?

SG: Yeah, it was the same thing. He was a tall guy and he caught me with an uppercut. But we rematched about a year later and I had it down. I made him chase me, boxed and took the fight easily. See, the first fight I was going after him and walking into the shots.

DH: It does seem like you had it figured out with a two round blowout of Raul Cruz in your next fight. But thinking of some of these Mexican fighters made me wonder why you never relocated to the west coast for more work.

SG: I suppose I should have but Russell Peltz was bringing in the talent for me, so I didn’t have any complaints.

DH: In March of ‘73 you fought for the first and only time in Madison Square Garden. A 12 rounder against Walter Seeley. It was a brilliant win, but whatever happened to Garden matchmaker Teddy Brenner’s promise of an October title fight for the winner at the Garden against featherweight champ Ernesto Marcel?

SG: Don’t know. Nothing ever came of it. Of course, like Lucchese and Pantellas in Philly, the Garden was Seeley’s promoter.

DH: Jose Fernandez of the Dominican Republic was coming off of a tremendous result over in Europe when you beat him at the Felt Forum. Then you rematched on National TV for the newly created American Jr. Lightweight title. Tell me about the fight.

SG: Everything was right that night. He came right at me, I boxed, I punched. I couldn’t miss.

DH: The following month you were back on the air against undefeated Edwin Viruet. But you came in as a late substitute for Chango Carmona. Were you ready for this fight?

SG: I was staying in shape, so yes, I was ready and won a close decision.

DH: There was some controversey over your 8th round knockdown, wasn’t there?

SG: (laughing) Yeah, I caught him good with a leaping left hook, but he couldn’t pull away because I came down on his foot. He was a good fighter but I beat him with body punches.

DH: At this time you were Ring Magazine’s #1 contender for the 130 lb. title. What kind of efforts were there to get you a title shot?

SG: I know Russell Peltz was working on it but the only one we heard from was Ricardo Arredondo offering us a non-title fight. I was the #1 contender, I wasn’t going to go for that.

DH: For the first time in your career you took time off. It was seven months before you fought again and looked very ring rusty against a club fighter. Why the inactivity?

SG: I think it was a combination of me needing a rest and them working on a title fight.

DH: In August of ‘74 you signed to defend your American title in an all-Philly affair with undefeated rival Tyrone Everett. I understand the fight reeked of bad blood. Tell me about it.

SG: Tyrone was saying a lot of nasty things in the press, which really angered me and I was responding to it, which really heated things up. As for the fight, he dropped me around the 3rd round. I then began doing well with body punches but then he began running and boxing on the retreat. Percy was telling me between rounds to chase him and I was saying, “I’ll chase him but I don’t know if I can catch him.” And he won the fight. Afterwards Tyrone shook hands with me and apologized for the things he was saying and that it was just to hype the fight and pump up the gate.

Goss (right) seen here dropping Raul Cruz

.
DH: After that fight you began fighting on the road more. You fought Flipper Uehara over in Japan and held him to a draw. He was one of Japan’s hotshots at the time. How do you perceive the draw?

SG: That was no draw. I gave him one severe body beating. He came up to me after the fight and said, “I never fought anybody that hit to the body like you.”

DH: Something happened around this time that really bummed me out. You started losing to guys you had once dominated such as Jose Fernandez and Augie Pantellas. Were you spent after such a long amateur and pro career?

SG: I really think I was. I was just tired by that point.

DH: While on the road you fought twice in South Africa when apartheid was at its height. How were you treated over there?

SG: Oh, I was treated alright, like one of their own. I had no issues. As for my two fights over there, the first fight was against ‘Happy Boy’ Mgxaji and I thought I beat him. From bell to bell I pounded his body but they gave it to him. My fight with Brian Baronet was also my last. In the 7th round I was hit with a right and something happened to me. I went down and just sat there and let them count me out. Percy asked me afterwards what happened and I told him that my head felt like a bottle of coca-cola after you shook it up. I felt something rushing to the top of my head. It was enough. And I never fought again.

DH: What have you been doing with yourself over the years?

SG: I have been running the Goss & Goss Gym in Trenton along with my brothers Barry and Tommy. We’re giving kids the same chance we had.

DH: Sammy, if there was one fight you wanted that you never got an opportunity at, what would it be?

SG: A third fight with Augie Pantellas.

DH: Whooa! I thought for sure you were going to say a title fight with Ben Villaflor or Kuniaki Shibata.

SG: (laughing) Nope! I felt I beat him again in our rematch. I wanted a third fight with Augie Pantellas to set things straight.

DH: Sammy, last question, while we’ve been talking I’ve been noticing that fighters you beat such as Jose Marin, Jose Fernandez and Edwin Viruet along with fighters you felt you beat such as Flipper Uehara and Happy Boy Mgxaji all received title shots sometime after fighting you. Where was the justice?

SG: Really? All of them? Well, I don’t know how those guys made out in life, but I’m healthy, have all my senses, have my family and my own home from my ring earnings. So…maybe I did OK.

Alas, in the fight game, fate can be a cruel bitch. She provides amateur silverware to adorn the shelves, grants Olympian status to enhance the transition to pro and even bestows the ranking of #1 contender for world laurels. Yet, obstinately withholds the elusive shot at that very same world title. Cruel indeed. However, cruel fate has left no malice in the heart of Sammy Goss as he teaches the very same sport which left him marooned from the brass ring. For that alone I say, way to go champ.

See ya next round

Dan Hanley
pugnut23@yahoo.com

Louie Burke: Able Han Update

By Louie Burke

Abie Han’s fight with Eloy Suarez, which was canceled last month due to an oversight by the Texas Boxing Commission is now scheduled for October 29 in Thackerville, Oklahoma at the WinStar Casino. Top Rank is the promoter of the event that will be headlining highly rated Vanes Martirosyan, who’s fighting against Richard Guiterrez.

Abie’s opponent Eloy Suarez, is a tough come at you guy, with a solid chin. In Suarez’s last fight he put world rated Brian Vera to the test, pushing him to the final round before getting stopped. Prior to his fight with Suarez, Vera won a decision over former WBC World Champ, Sergio Mora.

Abie’s glad the fight was kept together and knows that Suarez will be a tough opponent that’s coming to spoil his undefeated record and his quest for a championship belt.

Thank you for the support and encouragement!

Floyd Mayweather Wins....Hands Down

Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Victor Ortiz: Character Inside the Ring and a Fight Town's Legacy

By Randy De La O

There is an age old adage in boxing that goes something like this, "You are never so naked as when you are standing in the ring". It's not the physical nakedness they are referring to, it's the character of a man (or a women) that's exposed. Your courage and heart and sense of fair play, and your ability or inability to handle pressure, or the propensity to cheat when frustrated, or a lack of character when it's time to face your actions when caught. You are never so naked a when you are standing in the ring. Ask Victor Ortiz, he got caught completely naked last night.

125486843 LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 17: Victor Ortiz reaches his head out as Floyd Mayweather Jr. is against the rope in the fourth round during their WBC welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 17, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Referee Joe Cortez called Ortiz for an illegal headbutt. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) 2011 Getty Images

 I'm no fan of Floyd Mayweather Jr, never have been and most likely, never will be. What I am is a fan of the sport of boxing. As difficult as that can be at times, especially when someone like Mayweather is involved, I do try my absolute best to put aside my own personal bias and dislikes and focus just on the fighter and the fights. It's not always easy. Saturday night's fight between Mayweather and Victor Ortiz is a good example. Coming into this fight I wanted Ortiz to put the trash talking Mayweather in his place. I wasn't 100% sure he could but I was rooting for him to pull it off. The other reason I was rooting for Ortiz was that I wanted to see the guy redeem himself. I was hoping he would prove once and for all, that his blatant quitting in the Marcos Maidana fight was an anomaly, just something that happened, a one time quirky act. I thought that Ortiz understood what true character was, and that he was going to work like hell to prove himself. Maybe position himself along side some of the great fighters of the past.

 Us guys from the West Coast and the L.A. fight scene are a proud bunch. We love our fighters and their exploits passionately. We have as rich a history in the sport as any town in the country, or the world too for that matter. We cherish and defend that history. The fighters that were either born here or came here to live and fight, range from the completely mediocre to the legendary. They trained at the Main Street Gym, the Teamsters Gym, the Hoover Street Gym and Canto Robledo's backyard gym. The names of these fighters stand with the best from anywhere in the world when it comes to courage, heart and fair play and they include fighters such as Manny Ortiz, Gil Cadilli, Kenny Teran, Art Aragon, Enrique Bolanos,Lauro Salas, Denny Moyer, Mando Ramos, Hedgeman Lewis, Randy Shields, Mando Muniz, Bobby Chacon, Danny "Little Red" Lopez, Rick Farris, , the Fighting Irish Brothers Jerry and Mike Quarry, Frankie Baltazar, Tony Baltazar, and more recently, Sugar Shane Mosley and Oscar De La Hoya. I couldn't begin to list them all.

Guys like Ruben Olivares, Chucho Castillo, Jesus Pimental came north from Mexico to lay it on the line at the Olympic Auditorium and the Forum because they knew L.A. was a fight town like no other and appreciated a fighter worth his salt. Art Hafey headed south from Canada to Southern California, to jump into the midst of what has come to be known as the "West Coast Featherweight Wars". The West Coast has been a hot bed of boxing for decades and L.A. has been the epicenter of it all. We don't care what nationality you are, what color you are or what your religion is. If you can fight and are willing, and can take it as good as you can give, than you are our kind of fighter. it's as simple as that. We'll be with you all the way.

 Then along comes Victor Ortiz, wanting to stand tall with all the rest. Quit against Maidana and was given a second chance at a career. Positioned himself with one of the two pound for pound best fighters in the world, and was making a fight of it. Mayweather began picking up some steam and the fighter who has ironically come to be known as "Vicious" began to crumble. Ortiz had Mayweather against the ropes and was actually landing some good shots, when for reasons known only to him, he decided to take the low road with a headbutt so obviously intentionally a blind man would have had no trouble seeing it. Anomaly? No, lack of character, lack of true courage, a complete lack of fair play.

 Am I being too harsh here? I don't think so. Given that Ortiz had a shot at redemption and spit in our eyes in the process, I think he's getting off easy. The crowd at the Staples Center, judging by the boos for Mayweather seem to be excusing Ortiz' behavior. Mayweather did what any sane fighter would and should do when facing a man who has already shown himself to be a cheater. I would lay some pretty good money that many of the same people that think Floyd sucker punched Ortiz, were jumping for joy a few years back when, Marco Antonio Barrera, like Mayweather, took matters into his own hands and grabbed Nassem Hamed in a half nelson and rammed him face first into the ring post. I don't recall ever hearing of one fan that thought Barrera was in the wrong. Neither was Floyd Mayweather in the wrong. But for the headbutt there would have been no controversy or knockout, at least not that particular knockout.

 To borrow quote from Dorothy and "The Wizard of Oz", "Victor, you're not in Kansas anymore!"

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez vs Alfonso Gomez

Photos by Gene Blevins/Hoganphotos

By Randy De La O

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Alfonso Gomez will be fighting on the undercard (sort of) tonight. Alvarez vs Gomez will take place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Their fight is the main event at that sight but on the HBO PPV their fight will be on the undercard, so to speak. I think it will be a good fight.

I happen to like both of these guys, though I do think at this point in his career, regardless of his age, "Canelo" is a bit overrated and over protected, but that's not his fault (yet). He still needs a lot of work, especially on defense but that should come with time.

Gomez is a guy you just can't help but like. I mean, how can you not root for Gomez? Now here is a guy that, more than anyone else, has made the most of his appearance on NBC's boxing reality show, "The Contender", a few years back, and here is a guy that could have griped to Kingdom Come when, after beating Peter Manfredo Jr on the fair and square, he was forced to fight him a second time after another contestant left the show and Manfredo was called back. Manfredo won the second fight. If they ended their fights with one and one, why was Manfredo allowed to fight Sergio Mora for the Contender title? The fair and honest thing to do would have been to make it two out of three. Gomez got screwed. I'm not saying Gomez would have beaten Mora but I do think he's the one that should have been given the chance. I'm digressing, I know, but I had to get that off my chest.

Gomez to be fair, is a limited fighter and most likely would have languished in obscurity if not for the "Contender", but it's his huge heart that has made me and just about everyone else a fan. He's my kind of fighter. He's always plugging away, always trying, always giving a 100%. I'm hoping that somewhere along the line, maybe tonight, he'll have a "Rocky" like moment in his career. He's fought and beat a few good guys, like the late Arturo Gotti, though to be fair to Gotti, he was at the end of a great career. He never fought again. He's stepped into the ring with Miguel Cotto, Jesus Soto Karass and Jose Luis Castillo. Castillo, like Gotti, was caught at the end of his career. Gomez is a deserving guy.

That's not to say that Canelo isn't a deserving guy. Like Gomez, I think he has his limitations but with the backing this guy has, he might as well have won a gold medal. His career is moving along like a juggernaut against mediocre opponents and he is not quite 100% deserving of his place in the upper echelon of boxing, someday maybe, just not yet. Still, his future looks bright.

Tonight, I'm throwing common sense, logic and conventional wisdom out the window and I'm going with my heart. It seems like the right thing to do! I'll be rooting for Gomez.

Star Power: Mayweather vs Ortiz

Floyd Mayweather Jr vs Victor Ortiz

Photo courtesy of HBO Boxing and Will Hart

By Randy De La O

Victor Ortiz. will be defending his WBC Welterweight title this Saturday, September 17, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, against Floyd Mayweather Jr..The fight will be shown on HBO PPV.

I would like to see Ortiz win this one but I'm not entirely sure he can. He looked good against Andre Berto in his last fight, and while Berto is a decent enough fighter and was/is considered one of the up and coming stars of this generation, he is not Floyd Mayweather Jr, not by a long shot. Logic and Common sense says that if he couldn't handle Marcos Maidana he won't be able to handle Mayweather. Still, there has to be a part of Ortiz that has vowed to himself, regardless of circumstances or opponent, that he will never again quit. That's just speculation on my part but it's one that makes sense. However he did it, Ortiz has positioned himself for a fight with one of the two best pound for pound fighters in the world. He has a huge mountain to climb. The time for talk is over.

 Mayweather on the other hand, regardless of what you or I might think of him, has yet to be beaten and has yet to show signs of aging. I don't think Ortiz will have anything new to show him. Mayweather has seen it all before. However, he has not been without some close calls. His first win against Jose Luis Castillo was considered somewhat of a robbery but he did removed all doubt in the second fight. He earned a split decision in his 2007 fight against a tired and aging Ocar De La Hoya. During that fight Oscar had some great moments but just could not sustain it. When Oscar used his jab he had his way with Mayweather. That may just be the blueprint for beating him, that and a truckload of intestinal fortitude.

 My hope for tomorrow night? That Victor Ortiz reaches deep inside of himself and finds it within himself, win, lose or draw, to produce the fight of his life. I'd like to see the kid redeem himself.

Louie Burke: Abie Han Update

By Louie Burke

After a number of opponents pulled out of fighting Abie Han tonight, Eloy Suarez accepted the challenge, but he was told by the Texas Athletic Commission that his boxing license had expired.

 Despite trying to convince the commission that he had a current license he was denied the opportunity. After being told he would not fight, he was not heard of from his trainers again. The commission then found out that he was licensed but had filled out the paper work, using his full legal name, throwing off the system that lists the licensees. But Suarez was gone, no where to be found and the Abie Hans fight was canceled.

 Hopefully Top Rank will be able to find another spot for him in the near future.

Louie Burke: Abie Han Update

 By Louie Burke

Opponent after opponent had pulled out of fighting Abie Han for next weeks, Top Rank show on Sept 16th . Rugged Eloy Suarez 11-12-1 is the fighter that finally stepped up to the plate and excepted the bout. This happened after his scheduled San Antonio showdown with Hector “Macho” Camacho Jr. was cancelled.

 Abie has been training diligently but was starting to wonder if the fight was going to happen, with so many change of opponents. In preparation for this fight he was able to spar with tough, talented fighters outa the Pound-for-Pound Gym in El Paso, Tx., owned by Louis Aguilar. He also got in rounds with WBA Champ Austin Trout and highly regarded amateur Zach Prieto.

 Abie says he’s feeling better than his two previous fights in which he was plagued by nagging injuries to his knuckles, ear drum and elbow. He also knows he’s in a rugged fight with Suarez, whose fight with “Macho” jr. was canceled a couple of weeks ago, freeing him up for this fight with Abie. Abie says “He expects a very physical fight from Suarez, who’s fought a ton of top rated talent. Suarez will be a good yardstick to measure where I’m at career wise. I look forward to fighting Eloy Suarez, so I know where I stand with some of the top guys in the division”.

 The fight will be an outdoor event at the QuikTrip Baseball Park in Grand Prairiie, Tx. September 16th.

 Abie wants to thank everyone for the support they give him and his family and wishes his sister Jennifer, who'll be fighing the day before, the best of luck!

HBO PPV: Mayweather vs. Ortiz - Fight Preview

Louie Burke: Austin Trout Update

By Louie Burke

Since defeating Rigoberto Alvarez for the WBA World Light Middleweight Championship Title in February 2011, Austin ‘No Doubt’ Trout has been busy. Austin is busy establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with in the Boxing Ring. He defended his World Championship Title against David the ‘Destroyer’ Lopez on June 2011 in a unanimous decision. Austin 'No Doubt' Trout is also busy living up to the responsibilities that a World Champion has to his community.

 In March, shortly after winning the World Championship, Austin Trout shaved his head bald to raise money to KO childhood cancer. This “St. Baldrick’s” fundraiser helps support research for finding cures for childhood cancers. Austin was honored to share the stage with courageous youngsters who were fighting for their lives against cancer.

 Shortly after “St. Baldrick’s“, Austin ‘No Doubt’ Trout donned a pair of running shoes, not for roadwork, but to participate in the March of Dimes Walk-a-Thon, raising money for worldwide programs to help prevent birth defects.

 A couple of weeks later, he slipped on a pair of shorts, not boxing shorts, but swimming shorts, to be the prize going into a Dunking Booth, for the “One Small Voice” organization, which raises money to educate and find a cure for diseases that cause blindness in children. The Champ got soakin’ wet for a great cause! In August, the Champ’s fancy footwork was tested in a ‘Zumba-thon’ for this great organization.

 After that, Mr. ‘No Doubt’ Trout put on the charm to meet and greet all the nice people that came to the “Habitat for Humanity” celebration. Habitat for Humanity is an organization that combats poverty by building eco-friendly homes for low-income families and victims of natural disasters.

 Then a couple of weeks later Austin “No Doubt” Trout was the guest at a “Meet and Greet the Champ” at the “Child Crisis Center”, striving for more community awareness of this organization. The “Child Crisis Center” helps prevent issues involving domestic violence, drugs and sexual abuse in children.

 Beginning September 2011, Austin Trout is serving on the Board of Directors for the Police Athletic League. This is an organization that is part of Austin’s roots in boxing. It was in the PAL Boxing Gym that Austin developed from a scrawny kid into a World Champion Boxer. His participation on the Board of Directors will ensure that other young kids have the same opportunities that he had.

 Then in November, he’ll be working on his fancy footwork, not in the ring, but on the dance floor, in Las Cruces’ version of dancing with the stars, “ Look Who’s Dancing!” mamboing and cha-cha-ing to raise money for New Mexico State University’s dance company.

 In December Austin Trout will play Santa Claus, giving brand new bikes away to the kids, whose families cannot afford to buy one. In the last 3 years Austin has participated in the “Jim Franklin Bike Give-Away,” already having given hundreds of bikes to underprivileged youth in the Las Cruces area.

 A full plate to say the least! When asked if the charities Austin’s involved in distract him from his grueling training regiment, he simply answers, “God gave me the opportunity to fight for, and win the World Championship! I feel God gave me that opportunity so I can help other people that are less fortunate than me or that might need a shoulder to lean on. I’m just a “Soldier of God”!

Trailer for the Documentary "Box or Die", Directed By: Uri Borreda

Posted here with the expressed permission of Uri Borreda

 Short Synopsis:By Uri Borreda

 This is the story of a 16 year old boy from Belgium, who was faced with the choice of boxing for survival. The story makes a curious turn at the boxing ring, where he meets Victor "Young" Perez, a Tunisian born Frenchman, and the first ever Jewish World Flyweight Champion, who had become a legend during his time. The story becomes even more amazing when it becomes apparent that the entire story takes place at the Auschwitz Death Camp between the years 1942-1945. The Jewish boy’s name is Noah Klieger, who is today 82 years old; a highly reputable reporter for the Yediot Aharonot daily newspaper; a reporter for the French Sports Magazine, L'EQUIPE; a former editor of the Sports Section of Yediot Aharonot; as well as a former chairman of the Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball Team. The story is based on Noah's book “Dozen Rolls for Breakfast ".

Classic Boxing Movie: The Ring (1952)

You can read the review and synopsis for "The Ring" here.

Joseph Agbecko vs Abner Mares: The Complete Fight

Recap: Agbeko vs Mares - Bantamweight Tournament Final - SHOWTIME Boxing

Showtime Bantamweight Tournament: Joseph Agbecko vs Abner Mares

Courtesy of Showtime Boxing

Courtesy of Ringtv.com

By Randy De La O

Wow, I hardly know where to begin. Last night's fight, low blow's and questionable referring aside, was actually pretty good. Lot's of action and a good performance by both fighters, though for the most part the fight was dominated by Abner Mares. Joseph Agbecko, for his part, started coming on in the late rounds, though it was, perhaps, a case of too little too late.

 Mares, a bold fighter by nature, immediately took the fight to "King Kong" Agbecko, working the body (and more) with left hooks that would take their toll on Agbecko. Mares showed a good set of whiskers in the fight, especially in the fourth when Agbecko landed his best punch, a right hand flush on Mares' kisser, buckling him. His knees buckled but his will stood and Mares never lost a beat. Mares was simply in better form last night.

 Still, you can't get away from the low blows by Mares or the lousy referring by Russell Mora, Agbecko is correct when he says he was fighting both Mares and the referee. It eventually became uncomfortable to watch. I like Mares and I think he is a terrific fighter. It pained me to see him win like this. I don't think it was done intentionally and I do think that some of the low blows were caused by Agbecko holding Mares' head down, some of them were borderline, landing just at or below the belt line. Still, there were just too many actual low blows to ignore and Mares should have had a point or two deducted.

 The first knockdown by Mares, of Agbecko, was somewhat questionable but both sides could make a case for it's legitimacy but it was not the worst call I've seen. The second knockdown in the 11th round was too obvious to excuse. Not only was a point not deducted from Mares but it was called a knockdown by the usually competent Mora. That Mora allowed the fouls to continue without a point deduction was inexcusable and beyond belief. It was almost surreal.

 I don't know how the fight would have turned out if a point had been taken away from Mares. He might have become more aware and kept his punches up or he might not have, maybe Agbecko would have fought differently not having to worry about being hit low but we'll never know because Mora did not do his job. It was a bad night for everyone, though Mora was not without his own culpability, I couldn't help feel for him when he said, almost pleadingly to Jim Gray, "Hey, don't ruin my night for me". It was definitely a bad night for Agbecko who feels, and rightly so, that he unjustly lost his title. It was a bad night for fight fans at the Hard Rock Casino and at home watching the fight. Mora himself seemed almost puzzled by the questions from Jim Gray. Everyone was cheated out of a good and fair outcome. No pun intended but it was a low blow for boxing last night.

 Mares said he would give Agbecko a rematch. Let's hope that he's man of his word and that it happens soon. If ever a fighter deserves an immediate rematch, it's Agbecko.