Wednesday, July 27, 2011
More Photos From the 2011 California Boxing Hall of Fame
All photos in this set are courtesy of Ed Hernandez Jr.
California Boxing Hall of Fame 2011 at the Sportsmens Lodge in Studio City, California, June 25, 2011.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Louie Burke: Han Update
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| Abie Han |
Honing in on July 30’s opponent, Justin Williams, in Denver, Abie Han has looked strong in the gym, sparring with WBA World Champ Austin “ No Doubt” Trout, National Golden Gloves Champ Siju Shabazz and top undefeated prospect, 13-0 Cecil McCalla from Baltimore.
“These guys really push me, motivating me to be on top of my game every time I step in the ring with them,” says Han. “The diversity of styles and high skill level of these guys working with me forces me to adapt as quickly as possible and really think on what’s going to work for me offensively as well as defensively.”
The tough sparring and diligent gym work hopes to pay off against Williams, a spoiler with a height and reach advantage who comes to fight, and stays busy throughout the fight (he’s a “right-handed Paul Williams”). Williams is coming off a spectacular 3rd round ko victory over 10-1 Jovan Munoz, derailing this hot prospect from Tecate, Mexico.
Williams has fought tough opponents with much more experience throughout his short career, hoping that a win over Abie will open eyes, creating better opportunities for him in the future. Abie realizes this, which motivates him to continue his hard work, and not allow Williams to add another top prospect badge to his collection of upsets.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Pawel Wolak vs. Delvin Rodriguez: My Kind of Fight
By Ted Sares:
It’s ugly but I can stand it. Let them roll.
Steve Smoger
Just when we have the Rios-Antillon fight help remove the foul memory of Haye-Klitschko, along comes these two warriors to put on what arguably could be a Fight of the Year.
Pavel “Raging Bull” Wolak (29-1, 19 KO) is an incoming pressure fighter who throws lots of punches and usually wears his opponents down. He was born in Poland but raised in New Jersey.
Rodriguez (25-5-2, 14 KO) is a slashing fighter who uses the sharp uppercut as his main weapon and more often than not cuts up his opponents. Rodriguez was born in the Dominican Republic but raised in Connecticut. The thing about D-Rod (as he is called by his fans) is that he is a hard luck kind of guy. His draw and loss to Isaac Hlatshwayo were questionable and so were his losses to Rafal Jackiewicz and Ashley Theophane.
ESPN and the fans anticipated fireworks in this one and the fighters did not disappoint. Wolak kept coming in pressuring Rodriquez throughout the entire fight using body shots to hopefully slow down his opponent, but Delvin snapped off stinging combos and uppercuts that eventually made Pavel’s eye swell around the fourth stanza. From that point to the end, the swelling grew to grotesque Carmen Basilio-like proportions and D-Rod went after it like a Vampire seeking blood.
Both men fought extremely hard, each threw tons of punches, and neither showed any sign of wilting though Delvin came on strong in the last 20 seconds. Both also demonstrated tremendous will as they absorbed and dished out punishment in equal proportions. The stalking Wolak was much busier but Rodriguez threw the sharper and more accurate shots, particularly when he got separation and angles. Meanwhile, referee Steve Smoger did what he does best by letting them fight, but he also had the good sense to let the competent Ring Doctor closely examine Wolak’s eye several times. As the bell sounded ending this closet classic, the crowd at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City was up and roaring its approval. They knew they had witnessed something special.
There was no ebb and flow in this one as nether fighter really controlled the action. Each traded with the other throughout and the rounds were extremely close. Fortunately, judges Steve Weisfeld, Julie Lederman, and Tom Schreck are experienced and highly competent. The scoring went as follows: Julie Lederman 95-95, Steve Weisfeld 95-95, and Tom Schreck 97-93 resulting in a majority draw. Neither fighter found fault with the decision nor did the fans dispute it.
All in all, it was a satisfying end to a great fight in which two men gave 110% to take the next step up in their respective careers.
It’s ugly but I can stand it. Let them roll.
Steve Smoger
Just when we have the Rios-Antillon fight help remove the foul memory of Haye-Klitschko, along comes these two warriors to put on what arguably could be a Fight of the Year.
Pavel “Raging Bull” Wolak (29-1, 19 KO) is an incoming pressure fighter who throws lots of punches and usually wears his opponents down. He was born in Poland but raised in New Jersey.
Rodriguez (25-5-2, 14 KO) is a slashing fighter who uses the sharp uppercut as his main weapon and more often than not cuts up his opponents. Rodriguez was born in the Dominican Republic but raised in Connecticut. The thing about D-Rod (as he is called by his fans) is that he is a hard luck kind of guy. His draw and loss to Isaac Hlatshwayo were questionable and so were his losses to Rafal Jackiewicz and Ashley Theophane.
ESPN and the fans anticipated fireworks in this one and the fighters did not disappoint. Wolak kept coming in pressuring Rodriquez throughout the entire fight using body shots to hopefully slow down his opponent, but Delvin snapped off stinging combos and uppercuts that eventually made Pavel’s eye swell around the fourth stanza. From that point to the end, the swelling grew to grotesque Carmen Basilio-like proportions and D-Rod went after it like a Vampire seeking blood.
Both men fought extremely hard, each threw tons of punches, and neither showed any sign of wilting though Delvin came on strong in the last 20 seconds. Both also demonstrated tremendous will as they absorbed and dished out punishment in equal proportions. The stalking Wolak was much busier but Rodriguez threw the sharper and more accurate shots, particularly when he got separation and angles. Meanwhile, referee Steve Smoger did what he does best by letting them fight, but he also had the good sense to let the competent Ring Doctor closely examine Wolak’s eye several times. As the bell sounded ending this closet classic, the crowd at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City was up and roaring its approval. They knew they had witnessed something special.
There was no ebb and flow in this one as nether fighter really controlled the action. Each traded with the other throughout and the rounds were extremely close. Fortunately, judges Steve Weisfeld, Julie Lederman, and Tom Schreck are experienced and highly competent. The scoring went as follows: Julie Lederman 95-95, Steve Weisfeld 95-95, and Tom Schreck 97-93 resulting in a majority draw. Neither fighter found fault with the decision nor did the fans dispute it.
All in all, it was a satisfying end to a great fight in which two men gave 110% to take the next step up in their respective careers.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
WHERE HAVE YOU GONE JOE DIMAGGIO: REAL BOXING TRAINERS?
Article Courtesy of John Bardelli and Rick Farris
By Chuck Marbry
Charlotte, NC- Well, I saw and heard it again this weekend; a fighter comes to his corner after getting his face re-arranged. He has to wait at least eight seconds for the stool to finally get into the ring. His so-called “trainer” doesn’t pull on his foul protector so he can breathe deeply and easier, then allows the fighter to prop his arms on the ropes instead of keeping them down to enhance blood flow and recuperation. The “trainer” wipes his guy’s face with a towel, covers his forehead with about ten pounds of Vaseline, gives his guy some water, pours water on his guy’s head (after putting Vaseline over his eyes), and his advice to his guy after getting pummeled for the previous three minutes? “Just throw punches, you doing good!”
SOME (MOST?) TRAINERS TODAY ARE MERE IMPERSONATORS!
It is amazing to me that in the boxing game at the professional level there are apparently so many “trainers” who neverexperienced the sport at even the most rudimentary levels of competition, yet are allowed to get licensed and work in corners as “experts”and are even at times acknowledged by some guys impersonating themselves as media, when all they are is a somebody with a keyboard and a press credential.
NOT THE KIND OF GIG “YOU LEARN ON THE JOB”
Granted, you do not have to actually stick your hand into the fire to know that it will burn you. However, there is something about having that experience that helps you relay that information to others with a bit more urgency. In the same way, you do not have to have been a fighter to become a good trainer. Angelo Dundeeis an excellent trainer, and if he ever fought, I am not aware of it.
NEED TO BE BAPTIZED & THEN TAUGHT THE GAME
To be a good trainer, you do have to immerse yourself into the sport for years. You have to hang around it, eat, sleep, watch learn, pick up little nuances here and there that will in time make big differences. You have to develop a sharp eye to be able to size up mental and physical qualities, not only of your fighter but of his opponent as well. The fighter that was getting the dickens beat out of him this weekend, whose “trainer” told him “Just throw punches” was getting hit so much because every time he threw a jab, he dropped his right. His opponent picked up on it and started timing his own left hooks and was nailing him! But if the extent of your instruction as a”trainer” is “Just throw punches,” that might work in the amateurs, but your guy is going to get killed in the professional ranks.
JEFF MAYWEATHER’S ONE TRAINER THAT TEACHES DEFENSE FIRST!
As I have said, there are a few good trainers,coaches and teachers of the manly art of self defense around today, precious few. But sadly, there are also too many goof-balls that get a license and call themselves trainers who are nothing of the sort. Just as we lack a depth of truly hungry fighters with that “fire in the gut”, so we also have a lack of and a dilution of the ones who used to “stoke the fire” in the gut!
CAN YOU NAME FIVE “EXCELLENT” TRAINERS TODAY?
Think about it. With a precious few exceptions as far as trainers go, in terms of knowing how to train a fighter. and in terms of general boxing knowledge, is there really anyone out there who is close to comparing to Lou Kemp, Whitey Bimstein, Freddie Brown, Jackie McCoy, Ray Arcel or Charley Goldman?
IF YOUR TRAINER DOESN’T CARE, WILL YOU?
And when you watch almost any heavyweight bout today on any card, almost always one if not both fighters look like a “before” example on a Weight Watchers commercial. The only thing I can figure is that the lax mental attitude of our society today has affected our “trainers” and fighters, as well as fan’s for tolerating an inferior product. I mean, many times the poor physical conditioning is obvious.
TRAINERS NEED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY TOO!
That has to come back on the “trainer” giving in to the whims of the fighter. I know that if I had told my trainer, Lou Kemp, “I don’t think I’m gonna run or spar today,” two things would have happened, in this order; 1) He would have kicked my lazy tail, and 2) He would have canceled the fight. Period. Not out of spite or some power control issue. He cared about his fighters and he cared about me. He knew if I wasn’t right mentally or physically going into a fight, I was going to get hurt. That’s what a trainer does.
GOOD TEACHERS WORK THE BODY & THE MIND
You have to analyze and prepare a fighter physically and mentally to fight. True conditioning requires a fighter to always be busy. There are no secrets to hard work and plenty of it.
FIGHTERS NEED TO ANALYZE A TRAINERS NET VALUE TO HIM
Also, many of today’s fighters are allowed by their “trainers” to fight dumb. They follow their opponents around the ring in a straight line. Trainers don’t know how to teach cutting off the ring. They also fight standing straight up, they don’t know how to use a crouch or to bob and weave. The great lessons of the past are being lost because we don’t have anyone to teach them. The Old School Masters showed us the way. but many think the “New and Improved” is better…”Just throw punches, you doing good.”
Original Article Here.
Charlotte, NC- Well, I saw and heard it again this weekend; a fighter comes to his corner after getting his face re-arranged. He has to wait at least eight seconds for the stool to finally get into the ring. His so-called “trainer” doesn’t pull on his foul protector so he can breathe deeply and easier, then allows the fighter to prop his arms on the ropes instead of keeping them down to enhance blood flow and recuperation. The “trainer” wipes his guy’s face with a towel, covers his forehead with about ten pounds of Vaseline, gives his guy some water, pours water on his guy’s head (after putting Vaseline over his eyes), and his advice to his guy after getting pummeled for the previous three minutes? “Just throw punches, you doing good!”
SOME (MOST?) TRAINERS TODAY ARE MERE IMPERSONATORS!
It is amazing to me that in the boxing game at the professional level there are apparently so many “trainers” who neverexperienced the sport at even the most rudimentary levels of competition, yet are allowed to get licensed and work in corners as “experts”and are even at times acknowledged by some guys impersonating themselves as media, when all they are is a somebody with a keyboard and a press credential.
NOT THE KIND OF GIG “YOU LEARN ON THE JOB”
Granted, you do not have to actually stick your hand into the fire to know that it will burn you. However, there is something about having that experience that helps you relay that information to others with a bit more urgency. In the same way, you do not have to have been a fighter to become a good trainer. Angelo Dundeeis an excellent trainer, and if he ever fought, I am not aware of it.
NEED TO BE BAPTIZED & THEN TAUGHT THE GAME
To be a good trainer, you do have to immerse yourself into the sport for years. You have to hang around it, eat, sleep, watch learn, pick up little nuances here and there that will in time make big differences. You have to develop a sharp eye to be able to size up mental and physical qualities, not only of your fighter but of his opponent as well. The fighter that was getting the dickens beat out of him this weekend, whose “trainer” told him “Just throw punches” was getting hit so much because every time he threw a jab, he dropped his right. His opponent picked up on it and started timing his own left hooks and was nailing him! But if the extent of your instruction as a”trainer” is “Just throw punches,” that might work in the amateurs, but your guy is going to get killed in the professional ranks.
JEFF MAYWEATHER’S ONE TRAINER THAT TEACHES DEFENSE FIRST!
As I have said, there are a few good trainers,coaches and teachers of the manly art of self defense around today, precious few. But sadly, there are also too many goof-balls that get a license and call themselves trainers who are nothing of the sort. Just as we lack a depth of truly hungry fighters with that “fire in the gut”, so we also have a lack of and a dilution of the ones who used to “stoke the fire” in the gut!
CAN YOU NAME FIVE “EXCELLENT” TRAINERS TODAY?
Think about it. With a precious few exceptions as far as trainers go, in terms of knowing how to train a fighter. and in terms of general boxing knowledge, is there really anyone out there who is close to comparing to Lou Kemp, Whitey Bimstein, Freddie Brown, Jackie McCoy, Ray Arcel or Charley Goldman?
IF YOUR TRAINER DOESN’T CARE, WILL YOU?
And when you watch almost any heavyweight bout today on any card, almost always one if not both fighters look like a “before” example on a Weight Watchers commercial. The only thing I can figure is that the lax mental attitude of our society today has affected our “trainers” and fighters, as well as fan’s for tolerating an inferior product. I mean, many times the poor physical conditioning is obvious.
TRAINERS NEED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY TOO!
That has to come back on the “trainer” giving in to the whims of the fighter. I know that if I had told my trainer, Lou Kemp, “I don’t think I’m gonna run or spar today,” two things would have happened, in this order; 1) He would have kicked my lazy tail, and 2) He would have canceled the fight. Period. Not out of spite or some power control issue. He cared about his fighters and he cared about me. He knew if I wasn’t right mentally or physically going into a fight, I was going to get hurt. That’s what a trainer does.
GOOD TEACHERS WORK THE BODY & THE MIND
You have to analyze and prepare a fighter physically and mentally to fight. True conditioning requires a fighter to always be busy. There are no secrets to hard work and plenty of it.
FIGHTERS NEED TO ANALYZE A TRAINERS NET VALUE TO HIM
Also, many of today’s fighters are allowed by their “trainers” to fight dumb. They follow their opponents around the ring in a straight line. Trainers don’t know how to teach cutting off the ring. They also fight standing straight up, they don’t know how to use a crouch or to bob and weave. The great lessons of the past are being lost because we don’t have anyone to teach them. The Old School Masters showed us the way. but many think the “New and Improved” is better…”Just throw punches, you doing good.”
Original Article Here.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
Paul Williams: A Man n Denial
Paul Williams giving it his best shot at convincing us he won that fight on the up and up. A man in denial. The interviewer should be arrested for aiding and abetting.
From Wikipedia:
Denial is a defense mechanism postulated by Sigmund Freud, in which a person is faced with a fact that is too uncomfortable to accept and rejects it instead, insisting that it is not true despite what may be overwhelming evidence.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Louie Burke: Update on Abie Han
By Louie Burke
During the last 3 weeks, Abie Han has been in preparation for his fight July 30th at Softball Country Arena in Denver, Colorado against 3-3-1 Justin Williams from New Orleans, Louisiana.
Abie who’s been sparring with Austin Trout and Siju Shabazz, isn’t taking Williams lightly. As was Abie’s last opponent, Taronze Washington, Williams record is deceiving mainly, mainly due to him coming off a stunning 3rd round KO win over 10-1 Jovan Munoz. Williams 3 losses are from opponents that have a combined record of 15-1-1, all by decision. Williams wins are over opponents that have a combined record of 18-5-2 and having a draw with a 6-0 Rudolph Gomez Jr. !
Abie is anxious to get back into the Ring, after having a slightly longer time between fights than he’d like due to a cut suffered in his last fight. Abie is wanting to get back on the KO track again on July 30th!
The fight is being promoted by Top Rank Promotions and being televised on FOX Sports Network.
During the last 3 weeks, Abie Han has been in preparation for his fight July 30th at Softball Country Arena in Denver, Colorado against 3-3-1 Justin Williams from New Orleans, Louisiana.
Abie who’s been sparring with Austin Trout and Siju Shabazz, isn’t taking Williams lightly. As was Abie’s last opponent, Taronze Washington, Williams record is deceiving mainly, mainly due to him coming off a stunning 3rd round KO win over 10-1 Jovan Munoz. Williams 3 losses are from opponents that have a combined record of 15-1-1, all by decision. Williams wins are over opponents that have a combined record of 18-5-2 and having a draw with a 6-0 Rudolph Gomez Jr. !
Abie is anxious to get back into the Ring, after having a slightly longer time between fights than he’d like due to a cut suffered in his last fight. Abie is wanting to get back on the KO track again on July 30th!
The fight is being promoted by Top Rank Promotions and being televised on FOX Sports Network.
Brandon Rios KO's Urbano Antillon, Paul Wlliams Loses to Erislandy Lara but gets the "Win"
 |
| Chris Farina/Top Rank |
By Randy De La O
Kudos to Showtime. Saturday night's fight at the Home Depot Center between WBA Lightweight Champion Brandon Rios and Challenger Urbano Antillon represented everything that is good about boxing; good matchmaking, a real rivalry, two likable opponents, great action -while it lasted - and a definitive, no-nonsense and indisputable win, a spectacular third round knockout of Antillon by Rios. It just doesn't get any better than this. Both fighters had an old school persona about them. Neither guy is afraid to mix it up, both can punch and both can take it. Last night though, Rios just took it better.
Going into the third round, it was still a close fight and living up to everyone's expectations, until Rios landed a right hand that put Antillon on the canvas. He did it again a little later in the round. Antillon got up and was about to resume fighting, until he started to stagger across the ring, prompting referee David Mendoza to halt the fight at 2:49 of the third round.
It's hard not to like a guy like Rios. He never stops fighting but he does get hit a lot. I hope he tightens up his defense, even a little bit. Guys like Rios never come out of the fight game undamaged over the long haul. I don't really expect Rios to fight any other way. It's not in his nature to fight any other way. Rios is my kind of fighter.
Congrats to Carlos Molina on his upset of Kermit Cintron last night. It was his will to win and his big heart that won the fight for him.
 |
| Photo: Emily Harney |
If the Rios vs Antillon fight showed the best side of boxing, than the Paul Williams vs Erislandy Lara fight, at the Boardwalk Hall in New Jersey, showed the worst side. Not so much the fight itself, which, while not spectacular and certainly anti-climatic after watching the Rios vs Antillon fight, was at least a good performance by Lara, who dominated Williams for most of the fight. What was bad, and bad for boxing was the judging. In a fight that was clearly and indisputably won by Lara, the judges awarded the fight to Williams. The judges should be called to the carpet for this fight and than tarred and feathered. Judge Al Bennett had the fight even at 114-114, Judge: Hilton Whitaker III had it115-114 in favor of Williams and Judge: Donald Givens had it116-114 for Williams. .
Williams had absolutely no answer for Lara's left hand. Lara, a southpaw, almost couldn't miss. Kudos to the HBO broadcasting team of Max Kellerman, Bob Papa and Roy Jones Jr. for making it clear that Lara was the real winner of the fight. I don't expect Williams to give Lara a rematch but overall I don't think the "loss" will hurt Lara's career.
Credits:
Brandon Rios vs Urbano Antillon photo courtesy of ESPN
Paul Williams vs Erislandy Lara photo courtesy of Fightnews.com
Friday, July 8, 2011
Brandon Rios vs Urbano Antillon
By Randy De La O
To borrow a phrase from Mark Twain - sort of - "Rumors of boxing's death are greatly exaggerated". If you don't believe me, just take a look at the talent laden lightweight division. The current Ring ratings have Juan Manuel Marquez as their champion, and rightly so, following in the number one position is Brandon Rios, who also happens to be the WBA Lightweight Champion, and one of boxing's newest and most exciting young fighter. Number two and three in the rankings Humberto Soto (WBC Champion) and Robert Guerrero, followed by John Murray, Michael Katsidis, Miguel Acosta, Paulus Moses, Urbano Antillon, Miguel Vazquez and Antonio De Marco. If that isn't enough, the next division above are the the Super Lightweights/Junior Welterweights (take your pick) with guys like Timothy Bradley, Marcos Maidana, Amir Khan and Eric Morales ready to face any of the lightweights should they decide to move up.
After Eric Morales' outstanding performance against Marcos Maidana, earning a draw that many felt should have been a win for Morales, a fight between Juan Manuel Marquez and Morales suddenly seems like a great match up. Of the great Mexican trio of champions, Marquez, Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera, only Marquez and Morales have yet to face each other. Maybe it'll happen yet.
 |
| Urbano Antillon |
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| Brandon Rios |
Saturday's fight has the potential to be a fight of the year, if it lives up to the expectations. These two guys honestly don't like each other. I like both of these guys but my gut says Brandon keeps his title, maybe by knockout. However, as always, may the best man win! The fight will be shown on Showtime. Their weight for Saturday night: Brandon Rios 135 - Urbano Antillon 134.75
Monday, July 4, 2011
Sunday, July 3, 2011
An Interview by Mike Duffau...
My thanks to boxer turned writer Mike Duffau for interviewing me recently. The interview can be found here at Mike on Boxing at BrooWaha.com. I am absolutely honored to be the subject of his interview. Thanks Mike!
Mike on Boxing
Mike on Boxing
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