Classic Photo

Photo Courtesy of Frank Baltazar Sr.

John Liechty and Eddie 'Animal' Lopez Circa..1980
The Olympic Auditorium parking lot.

Fight of the Century: Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier I

By Randy De La O

The fight was unprecedented. Two undefeated heavyweights, one the current champion, the other a champion stripped of his title and returning after an exile from boxing for refusing his draft induction. Both men had a rightful claim to the title. In the months, weeks and days leading up to the fight, the feud between Muhammad Ali and Smoking Joe Frazier took on an almost mythical and epic proportion. Forty years later, today, time has not lessened either the myth or legend, if anything, it has grown.

On March 8, 1971 the world would literally stop to watch these two men do battle. Not since the days leading up to World War II and the rematch between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling had the world given this much attention to a championship fight. Lines were drawn and sides were chosen. Ali was considered the “People’s Champion” and Frazier had been relegated by Ali as an “Uncle Tom”, though nothing could have been further from the truth.

I was a young teen when the fight took place, a junior in high school. I liked both Ali and Frazier but I honestly felt that “Smoking Joe” would win this fight. Frazier just had a way of plowing through his opponents and he owned what may be the greatest left hook in the business . I bet five bucks on Joe to win.

I will always have a special place in my heart for both Smoking Joe and Ali. We may never again see their like in the ring again doing battle against each other. In my lifetime, Frazier and Ali were the two greatest heavyweights on the planet. There have been no close seconds. This fight will always be the yardstick by which I measure every other heavyweight fight.

Over the years, Muhammad Ali has received the lion’s share of glory. He would also win the two rematches, including their final fight “The Thrilla in Manilla”, also one of boxing’s greatest heavyweight title fight. But on this night, when the world stood by with bated breath, it would be Joe Frazier that would emerge victorious. Forty years later, on this day, the glory belongs to Smoking Joe Frazier . He won the fight.

The fight was a close and exhausting battle for both fighters but it was the knockdown in the final round (the 15th) that clinched it for Joe. Joe’s famous left hook came through when he needed it most. As my father, the late great Andrew De La O liked to put it “Ali won two out of three but Joe got the knockdown”.

Their fights took a toll on both of them. They deserve to rest on their laurels. Where ever they are today I hope they know that boxing fans are eternally grateful for all that they gave whenever they stepped into the ring. Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali were giants!

By the way, the guy never paid the five bucks!

Related articles

• 40 Years Later, Ali-Frazier Still An MSG Classic (newyork.cbslocal.com)
• Remembering Ali-Frazier And The 'Fight Of The Century', 40 Years Later (sbnation.com)

Saul "Canelo" Alvarez vs Matthew "Magic" Hatton

Photo Courtesy of Yahoo Sports

By Randy De La O

Saturday’s fight, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Matthew “Magic” Hatton, for the WBC Junior Middleweight title was not a great fight, it was however, a great showcase for Canelo’s talent. Canelo pitched a near perfect shutout over Hatton. I say near perfect because a point was taken away from Canelo in the 7th round for hitting after the break.

It was obvious from the start that Hatton was in over his head. He had neither the fire power nor the skill level to seriously challenge or hurt Alvarez. What he did have was grit and plenty of it. Each round was almost a carbon copy of the one that preceded it, with Canelo having his way, and with Hatton looking like he was ready to cave in and then coming back again and again with punches of his own, absolutely refusing to lay down. Still, the gutsy Brit took a lot of punishment.

Matthew Hatton was looking to step out of the shadows of his older brother, former champ Ricky Hatton, and I think to some degree he succeeded. Hatton’s style can be somewhat ugly, with all the holding, hitting behind the head, hitting after the break and hamming it up on the floor on two occasions. However, he is a survivor and he does possess a fighter‘s heart. Despite what even he must have sensed during the fight he never stopped trying to win. . Can’t fault a man for that type of thinking.

I don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade and I do agree with Max Kellerman, Bob Papa and Roy Jones Jr, that Alvarez is something special, but I do disagree that he is the complete package. Someday maybe but just not yet. That’s no knock on Alvarez either, he is after all only 20 years of age. He may one day be an all time great but at this point the kid still has a few things to learn.

In the later rounds, he became frustrated by his inability to put Hatton away and it showed. Another fighter, a better one than Hatton, might have capitalized on it. It’s one thing to take a good punch but it’s another thing altogether to take a punch foolishly. Without any defense Alvarez will never be a “Complete Package”. The history of boxing is replete with fighters with big punches, no defense and short careers. The really great fighters, the ones that hang around a while, regardless of style or punching power know enough to move their head just a little.

Canelo strikes me as a smart kid and I think he’s the type of guy that will learn from his mistakes. There was nothing I saw that couldn’t be tweaked and adjusted. Maybe I’m just nitpicking, I don’t know. Still, I know what I saw. In the post fight interview I thought both men handled themselves with grace and dignity. In Hatton’s case he was an extremely good sport about losing and made no excuses. That’s the way it should be.

Alvarez won the fight via a unanimous decision. All three judges had it 119-108 for Alvarez.

One final note. I thought Lou Moret, normally a fine referee, was asleep at the wheel during the entire fight. He seemed lost and a step or two behind the action and he almost gave the impression of not wanting to get too involved. In the long run it really doesn’t matter because the fight was so one sided. I thought Hatton got away with too much holding and hitting behind the head, and I thought the wrong guy got the point taken away form him in the 7th.

Related articles

• Alvarez wins first world title by dominating Hatton (tsn.ca)
• Boxer Alvarez dominates Hatton to stay unbeaten (cbc.ca)

Louie Burke: Updates on Austin Trout and Abie Han

By Louie Burke

Almost a month after His world title win and a whole lot of local excitement, Austin has been back in training for two weeks, and this last week he’s been in camp with World Middleweight champ, Sergio Martinez, getting him ready for his title defense against Serhiy Dzinzuiruk. While in the Los Angeles area, Austin will be attending the 154 WBC World Title fight between Canelo Alvarez/ Mathew Hatten. If Canelo wins, Austin, will call him out, giving Canelo an opportunity to restore the family honor against Austin who beat his older brother, Rigoberto for the WBA Title. After Austins win over his Rigoberto, Canelo called Austin out. Now, we can see just how serious he was.

In the meantime, Abie Han has been working out religiously, preparing for his March 18th fight in Tijuana, Mexico, promoted by Abie’s promoters, Top Rank. His opponent is TBA within the next couple of days. Instead of fluctuating from 154 to 165, Abie plans on campaigning at the 160 lb weight. He says, “ He just feels stronger at that weight”

Before leaving to California, Austin was giving Abie some work in the gym as is Tim Meek who himself has been preparing for a fight at the Las Cruces PAL on March 12 and for the upcoming New Mexico Golden Gloves and Men’s USA’s.

Again, thanks for all the support you’ve given us!!!!
　

Miguel Acosta vs. Brando Rios - DeMarco vs. Reyes Recap - SHOWTIME Boxing

Showtime Sports presents a recap of Miguel Acosta vs. Brandon Rios. Relive Bam Bam Rios' knockout punch, plus footage from the Antonio DeMarco and Reyes Sanchez fight.