Former U.S. Olympian Demetrius Andrade faces a test in Grady Brewer in the final Friday Night Fights card
of the season. On Saturday, Alfredo Angulo makes his return, and Fernando Montiel is in action.
The backdrop: Andrade (13-0, 9 KOs) is a gifted 2008 U.S. Olympian who has not faced a legitimate challenge in his
career. That will change on Friday. Many wrote off the aging Brewer (28-12, 16 KOs) after he was dominated and then stopped
by Erislandy Lara in 10 rounds in January of last year. However, the winner of the second season of the reality series The
Contender recently followed the lead of Bernard Hopkins, proving that a 40-plus fighter can still be effective. Brewer,
40, was a significant underdog against then-unbeaten contender Fernando Guerrero but scored a stunning fourth-round knockout
in June on Friday Night Fights. That earned him another appearance against a rising young fighter on national television.
Andrade, who lost in the third round of the Olympics in Bejing, has dominated opponents as pro with his all-around ability
but has yet to beat a recognizable opponent. He’ll make a significant statement if he beats Brewer.
Also
fighting: David Diaz vs. Hank Lundy, 10 round, lightweights
Rating the card: B+. Very good
card. This is the type of test we want young fighters to face, a capable opponent who will probably lose but put up a good
fight. And, of course, we want to see whether Brewer has another surprise for us. The fight between Diaz (36-3-1, 17 KOs)
and Lundy (20-1-1, 10 KOs) also is an interesting fight, a grinder against a slick boxer. Diaz, 35, is 2-2 in his last four
fights – losses to Manny Pacquiao and Humberto Soto and majority decisions over a faded Jesus Chavez and Robert Frankel.
Lundy is 2-0 since he was stopped by John Molina last year.
Prediction: Guerrero was more experienced
that Andrade is but had moved down from middleweight to junior middleweight for his fight with Brewer, which might’ve
played a role in his defeat. Andrade seems to be a complete fighter who is perfectly comfortable at 154 pounds. No surprises
from Brewer this time. Andrade wins by a one-sided decision.
MICHAEL PEREZ vs. MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ
Rounds
/ weight class: 10 rounds, lightweights
Location: Bronx, N.Y.
Television:
Telefutura
The backdrop: This is a regional matchup between fighters of Puerto Rican descent and residents of Newark, N.J. (Perez)
and New York City (Rodriguez). Perez (13-0-1, 7 KOs) is a former amateur standout with only a draw being the only blemish
on his pro career, which started in 2008. He is coming off a third-round knockout of Ira Terry in May in Puerto Rico, his
third consecutive fight there. His most-telling victory might be a split decision over capable journeyman Jose Hernandez in
December. This is Perez’s first scheduled 10-rounder. Rodriguez (7-3, 3 KOs) might be in over his head. He has fought
only twice in the past four years, losing both times. He is coming off a near-shutout eight-round decision against prospect
Mike Faragon in May. He had won five consecutive fights in 2006-07. Gomez (5-0, 4 KOs) is an 18-year-old prospect from the
Bronx.
Also fighting: Eddie Gomez vs. Marcus Hall, 6 rounds, welterweights
Rating the
card: C. Perez appears to be a legitimate prospect, which makes him worth watching. It’s hard to imagine that
Rodriguez will be much of a threat, though.
Prediction: Perez isn’t a huge puncher but the disparity
in ability here will result in a knockout, probably in the mid to late rounds.
Also fighting Friday:
Tomas Rojas defends his WBC junior bantamweight title against Suriyan Sor Rungvisai in Srisaket, Thailand.
The backdrop: Angulo (19-1, 16 KOs) returns to the ring in his hometown after a 13-month layoff, the result of visa
issues that have kept the Mexican out of the U.S. and promotional issues. His handlers are working on resolving the former
and he recently signed with Golden Boy Promotions, which is tickled to have one of the more entertaining fighters in the world
in its stable. Angulo was on a roll when his career was put on hold, having KO’d four consecutive opponents –
Gabriel Rosado, Harry Joe Yorgey, Joel Julio and Joachim Alcine – since he was outpointed by Kermit Cintron in May 2009.
Joseph Gomez (17-4-1, 8 KOs) is a journeyman who has lost three of his past four fights, including his last two (the first
to Polish prospect Patrick Majewski). He is from Bloomington, N.M. Angulo’s handlers are working on a title-elimination
fight with former U.S. Olympian Vanes Martirosyan for late this year or early next year.
Rating the card:
C+. Angulo is the type of fighter who plows forward until his opponent flattened, which is why he’s so much fun to watch.
Defense? What defense? The matchup probably won’t be competitive in spite of the layoff, though.
Prediction:
Gomez hasn’t seen anything like this before. He’ll be in with a killer (figuratively speaking). And he probably
won’t survive long. Look for Angulo to score a knockout within five rounds.
The backdrop: Montiel (45-3-2, 35 KOs), one of the hottest little fighters in the world only six months ago, continues
to rebuild after his devastating second-round knockout loss to bantamweight king Nonito Donaire in February. The Mexican bounced
back with a strange third-round KO of Nehomar Cermeno in June, in which he hurt the Cermeno with a body shot late in Round
2 but former bantamweight contender was counted out to open Round 3. Cermeno apparently quit between rounds. And now Montiel
takes on former title challenger Alvaro Perez (21-3-1, 12 KOs) of Nicaragua, who has outpointed two journeymen in six-round
fights since he lost a technical decision to Hugo Ruiz for the interim WBA bantamweight title in January. Perez was stopped
in four rounds by WBC 118-pound titleholder Hozumi Hasegawa in December 2009, his only title shot. Montiel was 11-0-1 (nine
KOs) in his previous 12 fights before the disaster against Donaire. He has said he’d like a rematch with the Filipino-born
American.
Rating the card: B. Montiel is one of the best and most-exciting fighters on the planet.
And Perez is no pushover. His fight with Ruiz, a capable fighter, was very close.
Prediction: Montiel
is too much for his opponent – too talented, too strong, too experienced. He’ll probably break down Perez with
vicious body shots and then stop him in the middle rounds.
Special One-Hour Edition of “The Pugilist KOrner” Tonight
Blog Talk Radio’s,
“The Pugilist KOrner” is proud to present a special one hour “Post Fight” episode tonight at 7:00
PM EST. Tonight’s episode will focus on discussing Amir Khan’s impressive victory over Zab Judah,
Tyson Fury’s dominant performance against Dereck Chisora as well as Antonio Tarver’s shocking upset over Danny
Green. All listeners are encouraged to call in to “The Pugilist KOrner” at 718-506-1506.
KELLY PAVLIK - Living
in Steeltown
written by wcsteelerfan
Unless you’ve lived there, are really a crime history buff, or a boxing historian, you may have never
heard of Youngstown, Ohio.Once known for its steel mills, blast furnaces, and the frequent odor of dynamite,
Youngstown now lies in the center, of what is called the nation’s ‘Rust Belt’.
Founded in 1796, named after John Young, Youngstown became the county seat of Mahoning
County, in 1876 and soon became the vital link, of transportation and commerce, between Pittsburgh and Cleveland.Coal and steel established Youngstown’s reputation, as a hard-working ‘blue-collar’ town, and its
residents’ basked, in its glorious, as well as, infamous notoriety.
During
the latter 1920’s, and early 1930’s,Youngstown’s diversity of residents contributed
to ‘running the Klu Klux Klan’, out of Mahoning County , but an influx of Negro workers from the south, managed
to keep it’s ‘caste system’, in place.Our sports figures had the reputation, of being
hard-nosed, bred in the fire, of the steel mills, and tough as the steel, the town made.Hard-drinking,
womanizing and the regular weekend brawls, were badges of courage, expected and accepted by ‘The People’s Champ’;
local hero, of the squared circle.Let me set this, in its proper perspective for my reader
During the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, Youngstown, Ohio had established itself as “Murdertown
USA” in some circles “Bomb City, U.S.A.”.A Youngstown Tuneup’ was nationally known,
as a car bomb assassination.Local heroes, sadly to say, in most cases, were not hard-working fathers and
grandfathers, but the ‘gangsters’ (HBO’s popular series The Sopranos, used Youngstown, as a reference, for
unsolved murders), and its nationally known great fighters. Ray “Boom-Boom” Mancini, trained by his father Lenny
Mancini, carried his hard work ethic, to the sports highest level, and became the WBC World Lightweight Champion from 1982
- 1984, followed by Harry Arroyo IBF World Lightweight Champion from 1984 – 9185. The
Richardson Brothers brought excitement and prominence during the “Golden Glove” era, with Greg “The Flea”
Richardson, winning the 1974 AAU National title, as well as the 1974 National Golden Glove title. Chester continued with somewhat
mediocre professional career, Greg becoming WBC Bantamweight Champion in 1991. Jeff Lampkin became USBA,
and IBF Cruiserweight Champion in 1991, notables such as Earnie Shavers, James ‘Bone Crusher’ Smith, and Mike
Tyson had lavish training camps, within the area, and the local rivalries, with Pittsburgh and Cleveland, still fill fighting
venues.With the possible exception of “Boom-Boom”, we have all witnessed the long fall from
grace, most these former Champions, have taken.The Corrections Department is the number one employer within
the city and county, five (5) prisons operate, within the metropolitan area. This is the ‘legacy’ Youngstown,
gave to Kelly Pavlik.
It’s time to stop being “The Man”, the local neighborhood bar celebrity.You don’t have to live down, to past legends and succumb to the pitfalls of reading your own press, and listening
to an entourage of ‘yes men’; establish your own legend, and become your “Own Man”.Do
whatever is necessary, to get your mind, in the proper perspective, you can train your body, but nourishing you mind, has
to take just as much precedence, as your daily workout.Relieving your mind from a constant source of distraction
is just as important as a colon cleanse, before surgery. We have all seen Kelly’s skill in the ring, he’s won
37 bouts, 32 by KO, his only two (2) defeats come at the hands of future HOFer Bernard Hopkins, and current titleholder, Sergio
Martinez.Kelly has made all the right moves socially, going to rehab, winning his last fight, and re-establishing
himself, as a possible contender.Like a legendary Phoenix. Kelly Pavlik, has pulled himself from the ashes.
We just want him to take the next step, flying to the heights, of his potential
"Don't bark if you can't bite! Cornelius " K-9" Bundrage
It's been a long time since Cornelius "K-9" Bundrage
first introduced himself to us on Season 2 of the Contender.
It was his appearance on the ESPN boxing reality show, coupled with wins over Kassim Ouma and Zaurbek Baysangurov
in Germany that landed him in the ring to challenge then IBF 154lb kingpin Cory Spinks last August. Bundrage easily lifted
the strap via fifth round TKO.
Since winning the title K-9 has only fought once, defending his title successfully
against Sechew Powell last month in Saint Charles, MO at the Family Arena.
Bundrage recently spoke out in an interview on boxingscene.com expressing outrage against the rematch of Miguel
Cotto and Antonio Margarito. He states that other for revenge and because of the Mexico-Puerto Rican rivalry, the fight makes
little sense. He reminds us that Manny Pacquiao just defeated Antonio Margarito, yet Margarito gets to fight for a world title.
In an interview with FightSaga, Bundrage expands on his point.
"If I had my pick of the litter I'd
fight either (Miguel) Cotto or (Saul) Alvarez, because they're world champions and they're in my division. I want a fight
with someone either on my level or better. I don't feel anyone out there is better than me, but Cotto is ranked #1 at junior
middleweight according to Boxrec," says Bundrage.
According to Bundrage, a fight with Alvarez has some interest
in the HBO network.
"(Emmanuel) Steward told me after the (Sechew) Powell fight Harold Lederman and other
HBO people want to see me fight Canelo Alvarez. The fans want to see it. It makes sense."
Bundrage feels snuffed
by the announcement of Saul Alvarez-Alfonso Gomez fight this September.
"I was told that after (Sechew) Powell
I would get Canelo," states Bundrage. "Canelo fighting (Alfonso) Gomez makes zero sense. They're trying to make
Canelo the next Golden Boy. It's okay...you can run but you can't hide... I'm going to find you. Powell was once called the
most avoided fighter at 154 by The RING magazine. I beat him, so that makes me the most avoided fighter in the world!"
In addition to Miguel Cotto and Saul Alvarez, Bundrage also states interest I fighting Sergio Martinez. He states
there's a good chance Martinez drops down to 154 and Bundrage will be waiting and ready.
"Lou Dibella, holla
at your boy!" barks K-9.
Bundrage is adamant about fighting again this year, but his opponent
and fight venue are in the air. The plethora of talent at 154 and below is obvious, but Bundrage feels he's paid his dues
and deserves a big money fight soon.
Bundrage even gave us his take on this weekend's
fight between Zab "Super" Judah and Amir "King" Khan at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas,
NV.
"Khan is the bigger guy, but Zab is a veteran and he's got God on his side," he proclaims, but he
warns about possible controversy, because the promotional companies don't want Khan to lose.
Bundrage has a message
for FightSaga and his fans.
"Let my fans know I'm not here to disappoint them. I'm like the Joker. I'm pounding
on them! The dog is off the chain now! (growl)(multiple barks)"
The junior middleweight division is definitely
one to watch with Alvarez, Bundrage and Cotto holding straps. In addition you have contenders like Vanes Martirosyan, Austin
Trout, Erislandy Lara, Delvin Rodriguez and Carlos Molina waiting in the wings.
LAS VEGAS – A small crowd
of about 100 onlookers has gathered in the lobby of the posh Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino to see what the fuss is about,
as photographers rush toward a limousine that sidles up to the front door.
Boxer Zab Judah emerges with a group of six
or seven men. There is no shouting, as there often is at these staged “arrival” ceremonies. Judah is scheduled
to fight British star Amir Khan in the hotel’s events center on Saturday in a 140-pound title unification bout being
broadcast on HBO; promoters are desperate to drum up some interest and sell a few tickets
As boxing entrances go, this
one is fairly dignified. There is no ear-splitting music. Judah isn’t adorned head to toe with bling. He smiles wanly,
his son at his side, as a fan shouts “Super Judah!” As the photographers click away, Judah briefly raises his
index finger before quietly ascending onto a small stage, where a gaggle of television reporters await him.
Judah is
a 33-year-old man with a long, notorious history in Las Vegas. In 2001, when he was just 24, he was loud, boastful and arrogant
as he entered the MGM Grand to prepare to fight Kostya Tszyu for the undisputed 140-pound championship. Judah not only was
knocked out in the second round that night, but he lost his cool when the bout was stopped. He shoved his gloved fist into
referee Jay Nady’s throat and, in a fit of rage, hurled a stool.
For that, the Nevada Athletic Commission suspended
him for six months and fined him $75,000.
Five years later, he returned to Las Vegas for another massive fight. This
time, he was facing Floyd Mayweather Jr., widely recognized at the time as the sport’s best pound-for-pound fighter,
for a welterweight belt.
Judah was doing surprisingly well in the early going, and there was a palpable sense in the
arena that a massive upset was brewing. Inexplicably, though, Judah seemed to lose his composure as Mayweather increased the
pressure. In the 10th round, as Mayweather trainer Roger Mayweather entered the ring to complain about a foul, Judah’s
father, Yoel – who was his trainer – entered the ring and fired a punch at Roger Mayweather.
A wild brawl
ensued, with Zab Judah gleefully getting involved. All the while, Floyd Mayweather Jr. moved to a neutral corner, calmly avoiding
the brawl while waiting for order to be restored.
For Zab Judah’s role in that, Nevada boxing officials smacked
him with a $250,000 fine and revoked his boxing license.
Judah now lives in Las Vegas. He said he’s converted
from Judaism to Christianity and told an interviewer that one of the reasons he moved to the city is because of the large
number of churches there.
“I came to Vegas to party and have fun and I wound up living here,” Judah said.
“I realized I needed to change my life and the way I was going. To do that, I had to find God. It’s funny, but
a lot of people ask how I serve God while living in Sin City, but I can do a great job of it. This city is not all about gambling
and clubs and what is going on at The Strip. The secret here is that there are more churches per capita in Las Vegas than
in any other city in the U.S.”
That’s an old wives’ tale, but the point is that Zab Judah 2.0 at least
knows where the churches are located. A few years ago, he would have been hard-pressed to provide directions to anything besides
the town’s hottest night clubs and strip joints.
He’s trying to resurrect a career in the 11th hour because,
despite all his physical skills – the fast hands, the quick feet, the powerful punches – he’s repeatedly
come up short in his biggest fights.
Judah was blasted by Tszyu in his bid for the undisputed title. He was outboxed
by Mayweather. He was battered by Miguel Cotto. He was outworked by Joshua Clottey. He was outslicked by Cory Spinks.
Ten
years after the debacle with Tszyu, the roles are, in a way, reversed. It’s Khan who is 24 and filled with promise,
looking to unify titles and ascend the pound-for-pound rankings. It’s Judah who is the veteran hoping to remain relevant
and extend his career.
Judah has always been able to talk a good game, and he hasn’t changed in that regard. He’s
kept up a war with Khan on Twitter and he’s played his share of mind games with the 2004 Olympic silver medalist. On
a recent conference call, Judah refused to speak to British reporters because he isn’t getting a cut of the revenues
coming out of the United Kingdom.
Seeking to create doubt in Khan’s mind, he’s tried to cast the fight as
a battle of wills as well as a battle of skills.
“[Saturday’s bout] is about this: What can you bring as
far as your skills?” Judah asked. “What can you bring as far as your brains? What can you bring as far as your
knowledge of boxing? What do you do when you look across that ring and there’s a hungry lion named Zab ‘Super’
Judah looking you dead in the eye, anxious for the bell to go ‘Bing!’? You either fold or you play cards. Me?
I’m going to play to win.”
Khan is a 5-1 favorite, which is more a sign of bettors’ disdain for Judah
than it is for any deeply held belief in Khan. Judah’s skills are obvious, but so, too, is his history of checking out
when the going gets rough.
He’s over that, he insists. Judah swears he’s a new man, personally and professionally.
He told a group of reporters that if they searched the Internet for his name, they’d find not only stories detailing
his boxing career, but plenty of street fights and brawls. With a young son parked next to him, clutching one of his title
belts, Judah shook his head.
“That happens to a lot of us when we’re young,” he said. “I’m
sorry for those situations, but I’m moving forward now.”
He knows that a loss would probably end his shot
at any more big fights – and bring the big paydays to a halt. He’s got six children and, he’ll tell anyone
who will listen, a newfound commitment to living life right. And so, he’s trying to position himself as somewhat of
an elder statesman.
Judah praised Khan for accepting his challenge but said Khan’s bravado will ultimately be
his undoing.
“Amir Khan deserves a lot of credit and he’s shown great heart, putting his world title on
the line in a major fight against someone like me,” Judah said. “But this is a gamble for him. He’s good
– real good, one loss – but I have more knockouts than he has had fights. He’s like I was when I was in
my early 20s: a guy who believes he can beat anybody.
“But this is going to be a bit of a chess match here. They
have made a mistake where they have moved their piece on the board. They may have pushed him too far forward and they’re
going to find out they’ve sacrificed their queen.”
Khan, though, has the benefit of youth and time on his
side. He can absorb a loss and still get back to the top. Judah has been around for 15 years and is in his 19th title fight.
He’s had chance after chance after chance. This is probably his last one.
If he doesn’t do it this time,
he’ll be checkmated.
Fortunately, as he points out, Las Vegas has plenty of churches. He has the time to find
one before the fight and spend a few moments reflecting in solitude about the significance of the fight and his need to raise
his game when the stakes are highest.
He says he’s a different Zab Judah. This is his last chance to prove it.
Kevin Iole covers boxing and mixed martial arts for Yahoo! Sports. Follow him on Twitter. Send Kevin a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.
Brandon Rios Destroys Urbano Antillon
to Prove He's For real!
Brandon “Bam Bam”
Rios stopped Urbano Antillon in an entertaining, crowd-pleasing, action-packed three-round brawl.
Bam Bam scored two knockdowns of Antillon in the third round before referee Robert Mendoza called a halt to the action
with :11 seconds left when Antillon wobbled out of a clinch.
The
KO victory was Rios’ ninth in a row and should catapult him into the upper echelon of the lightweight division.
Before the fight Rios remarked that he had faced primarily boxers and started slow,
but Antillon comes forward.
“He will be there and I will
be at my best,” added Rios.
Rios also said the difference
in the fight would be who could take a punch.
His words couldn’t
have been more prophetic.
Bam Bam was at his best, and he took
some leather in the first two rounds before ending matters in dramatic fashion.
In the third, and what would be final, round of the fight Rios scored the first knockdown off of a devastating left
hook. Antillon would continue to try to survive and fight back, but moments later an overhand right from Rios sent him lurching
head-long on to the canvas.
"I took my anger toward him
into the ring," Rios said. "I thought he might make it into the later rounds, but he didn't."
Rios and Antillon showed respect for each after the fight, but their war of words before the fight spilled into the ring as
each wasted little time before throwing bombs.
Antillon got
under the skin of Rios with comments about Rios’s wife.
"I
got caught," Antillon said. "Soto is a great champion, who has good defensive skills. Rios is very strong. He's
much stronger than Soto. I just got caught."
Promoter Bob
Arum named Marco Antonio Barrera as Rios’s next opponent, with a fight against Manny Pacquiao being the goal in the
next couple of years.
The fight with Barrera is an interesting
one considering Rios named his son after Barrera and Barrera himself was present as an announcer.
The feasibility of a clash with Pacman remains to be seen, but there are a plethora of fights for Bam Bam at 135
and 140 pounds—fellow champs Juan Manuel Marquez, Robert Guerrero, and Miguel Vazquez come to mind.
However, Marquez is already busy with fights against Likar Ramos and Pacquiao,
while Guerrero is moving up in weight against Marcos Maidana. Vazquez is coming off a destruction of Marlon Aguilar.
Rios’s days at lightweight are likely numbered, and he may follow Humberto
Soto and Michael Katsidis to the equally deep junior welterweight division.
Crowd-pleasing fights with Matthysse, Maidana, or even Soto himself could be on the menu before bouts with Amir Khan,
Zab Judah, Timothy Bradley, or other champions in the division come to fruition.
Regardless of what the future holds for Rios, it will be bright.
The 25-year-old pugilist possesses a granite chin, an iron will, and a double-fisted attack. This victory has put
him in the spotlight, and a victory in a crossroads megafight will propel him to superstardom.
On HBO this evening, Saul Canelo Alvarez (36-0-1, 26 KOs) makes his first title defense by taking on rugged English fighter
Ryan Rhodes (45-4, 31 KOs) in a WBC Junior Middleweight Championship bout in Jalisco, Mexico.
With his unique brand of power, combination punching, and boyish charm, Canelo has definitely turned some heads in the boxing
universe.
But, does the young Mexican fighter have what it takes to be the next big star in boxing?
Veteran trainer James Gogue of Marines Boxing Gym in Pharr, TX, analyzes tonights upcoming bout and gives us some insight
into the future of Saul Canelo Alvarez.
I think this is going to be a very entertaining scrap, states the boxing expert. Ryan Rhodes is a solid veteran fighter who
usually fights from the southpaw stance but has the ability to switch back and forth effectively. This might cause some stylistic
problems for a young fighter like Alvarez.
Rhodes is a strong, well-conditioned, and experienced fighter who is going to give Alvarez his toughest test to date, predicts
James Gogue. But, if there is a young fighter in boxing who can handle the kind of pressures that come with fighting a crafty
veteran southpaw, its Canelo Alvarez. He is definitely mature beyond his years and shows solid technique with a lot of power.
Although the veteran trainer feels that Alvarez possesses quite a few positive attributes, James Gogue is most impressed with
one specific facet.
Its surprising how mentally tough and mature this kid is for only being 20 years old, professes James Gogue. He doesnt lead
with his face like most Mexican fighters who embrace the rugged Mexican style of in-fighting. Canelo can fight an opponent
at angles and box, but he can also throw great combinations with power on the inside. Hes the total package.
The experienced trainer feels that Alvarez a much more skilled technician than most boxing critics realize.
Because of his age and fight resume, most of Canelos critics dont realize how creative he is in the ring, states Gogue. He
mixes up his punches extremely well, which makes it very difficult for his opponents to time him and counter punch effectively.
Alvarez is very crafty and is going to be a tough opponent for anyone in the Junior Middleweight division, including veteran
fighter Ryan Rhodes, notices James Gogue. The English fighter loops his punches a little too wide and leaves room for Canelo
Alvarez to counter effectively.
Although the ring expert feels that Alvarez is the more technically sound fighter, he realizes that Rhodes will indeed be
a very tough test for the 20 year old Mexican pugilist.
Alvarez builds his entire arsenal of punches off of establishing a good consistent jab, states James Gogue. Unfortunately
for Canelo, he is going to have problems landing his jab effectively due to the different angles in which southpaws fight.
A left handed boxer lines up his feet and stands in a way which makes it very difficult for a right handed fighter to land
the left hook to the body or the straight left jab.
Continue reading on Examiner.com Trainer James Gogue examines Alvarez vs Rhodes - San Antonio Boxing | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-san-antonio/trainer-james-gogue-examines-alvarez-vs-rhodes#ixzz1PgEh4Lev
Tyson, Stallone, Chavez enter Boxing Hall
By JOHN KEKIS, AP Sports Writer
CANASTOTA, N.Y. (AP)—The once-proclaimed “baddest man on the planet” fumbled for words that wouldn’t
come. Sylvester Stallone knew exactly what Mike Tyson was feeling.
Both were inducted in the International Boxing Hall
of Fame on Sunday, Tyson for his reign as heavyweight champion of the world, Stallone for his “Rocky” movie series,
and the fans turned out in droves on a rainy, overcast afternoon.
Thousands packed every corner of the induction grounds,
and Tyson was no match for the emotion of the moment.
“I’ve got to be goofy about this or I’ll get
emotional up here,” Tyson warned before trying to honor the late trainer Cus D’Amato, who became his legal guardian
after Tyson’s mother died and taught him the finer points of the sweet science in a gym in Catskill, N.Y., just a 2
1/2 -hour drive from the Hall of Fame.
D’Amato died in 1985, the year before the hard-punching Tyson knocked
out WBC champion Trevor Berbick in the second round to become the youngest heavyweight champ in history at age 20.
“All
this stuff started when I met Cus, and Bobby Stewart (a social worker and boxing fan who introduced Tyson to D’Amato),”
Tyson said. “I was in reform school because I was always robbing people.
“All my life I watched these guys.
I look at them different,” Tyson said as he looked around at a dais that included hometown heroes Carmen Basilio and
Billy Backus, Jake LaMotta, Leon Spinks, George Chuvalo, and Marvin Hagler, among others. “Why would I want to be like
these guys I always say. I don’t know.
Tyson paused briefly—the crowd erupted in “Come on Mike!”—and
then he tried in vain to continue.
“Oh, man,” Tyson said. “I have to take my time with this because
there’s other guys up here, you know. When I met Cus, we talked a little bit about money, but we wanted to be great
fighters.
“Hey guys, I can’t even finish this stuff. Thank you. Thank you,” Tyson said, then sat
down.
If anyone could understand the 44-year-old Tyson’s mind-set, it was Stallone, who penned the script about
an underdog boxer from Philadelphia named Rocky Balboa and then played the part in the movies. “Rocky” was released
in 1976 and was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, winning best picture, best director and best film editing.
“Rocky”
made Stallone what he is today and captured boxing’s heart from the outset. Every induction weekend is punctuated by
the theme song from “Rocky,” and on this day it seemed a little bit louder than usual as it blared over the loudspeakers
when the honorees made their way onstage.
“I’ve never pretended to be a boxer. I don’t possess those
skills,” said Stallone, who skipped the annual pre-induction parade because of security concerns. “What I do think
I have is an understanding of what goes on outside the ring. Outside the ring is sometimes maybe an even bigger struggle than
what goes on inside the ring, and I was able to capture that. Then I believe that you can identify more with the fighter.”
Stallone paused as the crowd erupted again.
“More than that, you also realize that our life is a constant
battle,” Stallone said. “Sometimes I write things that may seem a little sentimental, but I truly believe it’s
not how hard you can hit—it’s how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward because that’s really what
makes the difference in your life.”
Stallone also wrote five other movies based on the Rocky Balboa character
and in 2006 was awarded the Boxing Writers Association of America award for “Lifetime Cinematic Achievement in Boxing.”
“There is special reverence for me,” Stallone said. “They are the greatest athletes in the world. They
are our connection to the past and our way to the future. They are the guys that go in there and take the blows and show that
if you really put it out there on the line, you are a champion. You may not be the champion of the world, but you’ll
be the champion of your life.
“And Yo Adrian, I did it!” Stallone shouted in closing, repeating one of
the more famous lines from the movie.
Mexican champ Julio Cesar Chavez, Russian-born junior welterweight Kostya Tszyu,
Mexican trainer Ignacio “Nacho” Beristain, and referee Joe Cortez also were inducted.
Chavez, who grew
up in an abandoned railroad car with his five sisters and four brothers, became a three-division champion, registering 88
knockouts before retiring with a professional record of 107-6-2.
“My induction into the Hall of Fame is not for
me, it’s for all of you and all of Mexico,” Chavez said through an interpreter in a brief speech.
Posthumous
honorees enshrined included: bantamweight Memphis Pal Moore, light heavyweight champion Jack Root, and middleweight Dave Shade
in the old-timer category; British heavyweight John Gully in the pioneer category; promoter A.F. Bettinson; and former BBC
broadcaster Harry Carpenter.
Trainer Freddie Roach breaks down the July 23 showdown between his fighter Amir Khan and Zab Judah
Mayweather to return against Ortiz in September
LAS VEGAS (AP)—Floyd Mayweather Jr. is returning to the ring.
The undefeated six-time world champion announced
on his Twitter feed Tuesday he will end a 16-month hiatus when he faces WBC welterweight champion Victor Ortiz on September
17.
Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) hasn’t fought since a unanimous decision over Shane Mosley on May 1, 2010, and has
repeatedly declined to accept a bout against WBO welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao—a dream ticket many boxing fans are
eager to witness.
Instead, it was Mosley who squared off with Pacquiao in May, losing to the Filipino star in a lopsided
12-round decision.
Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KOs) is riding a six-match win streak, most recently defeating Andre Berto in
April to claim the WBC crown in a fight many consider the year’s best.
“I am ready to return to the ring
and give my fans a fantastic night of boxing by fighting the best out there for me; that is Victor Ortiz,” Mayweather
said in a statement. “At this stage of my career, these are the challenges I look for, a young, strong, rising star
looking to make his mark in boxing by beating me.
“Trust me, I will be ready.”
The 24-year-old Mexican-American
is one of the sport’s strongest young fighters.
“I respect Mayweather because he has been a champion for
many years and I know he will be ready, but so will I,” said Ortiz. “I’m a world champion for a reason and
I am not going to let go of my title any time soon. This is going to be a great fight, but I will remain a world champion
for many years to come.”
The 34-year-old Mayweather’s time away from the ring has been riddled with legal
troubles.
He faces felony charges in a domestic argument with his ex-girlfriend and two of their children last year.
And he faces misdemeanor harassment charges accusing him of threatening two homeowner association security guards outside
his Las Vegas home. The charges stem from an October dispute over parking with guards in the gated community where the prizefighter
lives.
Mayweather also faces a September trial on a misdemeanor battery charge stemming from allegations he poked a
21-year-old guard in the face during a separate argument over parking tickets in November.
The venue for the September
fight has yet to be determined.
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Former U.S. Olympian Demetrius Andrade faces a test in Grady Brewer in the final Friday Night Fights card
of the season. On Saturday, Alfredo Angulo makes his return, and Fernando Montiel is in action.
The backdrop: Andrade (13-0, 9 KOs) is a gifted 2008 U.S. Olympian who has not faced a legitimate challenge in his
career. That will change on Friday. Many wrote off the aging Brewer (28-12, 16 KOs) after he was dominated and then stopped
by Erislandy Lara in 10 rounds in January of last year. However, the winner of the second season of the reality series The
Contender recently followed the lead of Bernard Hopkins, proving that a 40-plus fighter can still be effective. Brewer,
40, was a significant underdog against then-unbeaten contender Fernando Guerrero but scored a stunning fourth-round knockout
in June on Friday Night Fights. That earned him another appearance against a rising young fighter on national television.
Andrade, who lost in the third round of the Olympics in Bejing, has dominated opponents as pro with his all-around ability
but has yet to beat a recognizable opponent. He’ll make a significant statement if he beats Brewer.
The backdrop: This is a regional matchup between fighters of Puerto Rican descent and residents of Newark, N.J. (Perez)
and New York City (Rodriguez). Perez (13-0-1, 7 KOs) is a former amateur standout with only a draw being the only blemish
on his pro career, which started in 2008. He is coming off a third-round knockout of Ira Terry in May in Puerto Rico, his
third consecutive fight there. His most-telling victory might be a split decision over capable journeyman Jose Hernandez in
December. This is Perez’s first scheduled 10-rounder. Rodriguez (7-3, 3 KOs) might be in over his head. He has fought
only twice in the past four years, losing both times. He is coming off a near-shutout eight-round decision against prospect
Mike Faragon in May. He had won five consecutive fights in 2006-07. Gomez (5-0, 4 KOs) is an 18-year-old prospect from the
Bronx.
The backdrop: Montiel (45-3-2, 35 KOs), one of the hottest little fighters in the world only six months ago, continues
to rebuild after his devastating second-round knockout loss to bantamweight king Nonito Donaire in February. The Mexican bounced
back with a strange third-round KO of Nehomar Cermeno in June, in which he hurt the Cermeno with a body shot late in Round
2 but former bantamweight contender was counted out to open Round 3. Cermeno apparently quit between rounds. And now Montiel
takes on former title challenger Alvaro Perez (21-3-1, 12 KOs) of Nicaragua, who has outpointed two journeymen in six-round
fights since he lost a technical decision to Hugo Ruiz for the interim WBA bantamweight title in January. Perez was stopped
in four rounds by WBC 118-pound titleholder Hozumi Hasegawa in December 2009, his only title shot. Montiel was 11-0-1 (nine
KOs) in his previous 12 fights before the disaster against Donaire. He has said he’d like a rematch with the Filipino-born
American.
Rios and Antillon showed respect for each after the fight, but their war of words before the fight spilled into the ring as
each wasted little time before throwing bombs.
