By Troy Ondrizek
FightNightNews senior staff
writer
Calzaghe Losing
Credibility
When Joe Calzaghe
put on a virtuoso
performance this
past March against
Jeff Lacy, we in the
boxing establishment
were ready and
willing to pardon
him for his past
sins. Calzaghe still
has yet to repent
for his previous
unwillingness to
fight the best at
his weight-class and
to unify. Now after
brutally defeating
Jeff Lacy, Calzaghe
has gone back to his
sinning ways.
The boxing world
still wants to see
Calzaghe in with the
best fighters at
168, but Calzaghe
has decided to once
again follow the
Sven Ottke path to
being a champion.
Sometimes, fighters
participate in what
are known as "closet
classics," that is,
great fights that
nobody ever saw and
only aficionados
know about. It's
important, not only
for the fans, but
for the combatants,
that these slugfests
get their due. Here
are just three:
"17 Hours of
Hell"
On January 13, 1995,
two very tough
customers by the
names of Prince
Charles Williams and
Merqui Sosa met at
Bally's Park Place
in Atlantic City for
the vacant NABF
Light Heavyweight
Title.
Both were old school
types whose DNA
contained no quit.
With hardly a clinch
in the fight, both
fighters went to war
hitting each other
with pure
malice....the shots
to the body and head
were brutal. The
fight was stopped by
Referee Lipton in
the 7th due to the
amount of punishment
each fighter was
receiving.
Officially it was
called a technical
draw, but it was
hotly contested by
Sosa who was well
ahead at the time.
(Judges Jean
Williams had it
69-63, Melvina
Lathan 69-64 and
Steve Weisfeld
69-64...all for
Merqui).
A few years back in
July 2001, Hector
Camacho Jr, 32-0, 18
knockouts at the
time, fought Jesse
James Leja, 42-5-2
with 17 knockouts
coming in, at
KeySpan Park in
Brooklyn.
In the fifth round,
a cut was opened
across the Camacho's
right eyelid. At the
end of the round,
Dr. Robert Polafsky
examined the cut
which did not appear
to be all that bad
to television or
ring side viewers.
Then it was
announced that the
doctor had ordered
the fight stopped,
and under the rules
it would go to the
scorecards. After
much confusion,
fussing, and
stalling, Camacho
was unbelievably
declared ahead 49-46
on two of the cards
and 48-47 on the
third. The technical
decision was roundly
booed by a crowd of
about 4,000 fans at
KeySpan Park even
though this was
Camacho‘s home
town..
The bout had been
televised live and I
saw it, but it would
be ten years before
boxing appeared on
television again.
There had been bad
blood between Emil
Griffith and Benny
"Kid" Paret prior to
their third fight on
March 24, 1962. The
two had split their
previous two
meetings. During the
weigh-in, Paret
reportedly called
his opponent a
maricon, the Spanish
equivalent of
"faggot." Emile had
to be restrained
from going after
"The Kid" right
there and then. At
the time there were
rumors about
Griffith's
homosexuality
floating around in
the boxing world (he
reportedly had been
spotted in gay
bars).
Timothy Bradley Jr.
is ready for prime
time. The unbeaten
Palm Springs,
California junior
welterweight will
step into the
spotlight December
1st to face
Columbian veteran
Jaime Rangel in an
eight round bout to
be broadcast on
Shobox.
It’ll be the
national TV debut
for Bradley,
nicknamed “Desert
Storm” because of
his aggressive
style, and also his
first bout since
inking a promotional
deal with Gary Shaw.
An accomplished
amateur, Bradley has
compiled a record of
16-0 with 10 KOs
while campaigning
under the banner of
respected local
promoter Thompson
Boxing since turning
pro two years ago.
As the revolving
door continues to
spin with alphabet
champions running in
and out; we cannot
wait until the
future of the
division arrives.
Well that means its
time again to look
at three more
candidates to see if
they got the goods
to be a true
contender.
This time around we
follow a very
obscure and slightly
elderly fighter from
the islands, a young
raw fighter who just
showcased his skills
on Showtime, and
possible stud from
the rich heavyweight
breeding grounds of
New York State. We
also will take a
look back at past
candidates and see
what they have or
have not
accomplished since
gracing us with
their prospect
presence.
Ontario, CA- It was
the type of fight
that every young
fighter needs.
Adversity breeds
competence and
confidence.
Local favorite
Josesito Lopez
successfully
defended his
Continental Americas
lightweight title
for the first time,
with a thrilling
seventh round
stoppage of Mexico’s
Adrian Navarette
Monday night at the
Doubletree Hotel.
The bout was halted
2:43 into the round
after Navarette was
deemed unfit to
continue by referee
David Mendoza.
Moments earlier, it
was Lopez who looked
to be to be in
trouble. Navarette
had followed a right
hand with a solid
left hook that
stunned the
youngster. With
Lopez up against the
ropes, the two began
trading bombs.
Manny “Pac Man”
Pacquiao represent
what is good in
boxing today. Not
only for his skills
in the ring, but for
the way he comports
himself outside.
After a fight, he
always praises his
opponent in the
manner of old school
fighters. "Dissing"
was not a word back
in the day and it's
not one Manny uses
today
Moreover, Pacquiao
skills have
increased
considerably under
the tutelage of
Freddie Roach and he
is fast closing the
gap on Pretty Boy
Floyd as being the
best Pound for Pound
fighter out there.
As well, he may well
be the most
devastating puncher
in boxing today. He
has polished his jab
and now includes in
his impressive
arsenal a sharp and
crisp right hook to
go with his
sledgehammer left.
Sometimes fighters
are reviled because
they have done time
in prison. Mike
Tyson and Paul
Spadafora ( former
IBF champion, now
resuming his career
on parole after
being convicted of
shooting his
girlfriend in
Pittsburgh)
immediately come to
mind. So do Ike
Ibeabuchi, Michael
Nunn, and Tony Ayala
Jr each of whom is
now incarcerated. Of
course, who can
forget the great
Carlos Monzon who in
1989 was convicted
for the homicide of
his second wife.
Monzon was inducted
into the
International Boxing
Hall of Fame in
1990, while still
serving his sentence
in an Argentinean
prison. On a
somewhat less
serious level and
more forgivable
level, Diego
Corrales and Naseem
Hamed also might be
mentioned. There are
others too numerous
to cite here. For
these, the hard
times followed the
good times.
In round three,
Manny Pacquiao,
44-3-2, dispatched a
completely beaten
Erik Morales, 48-5,
with a buzz saw
attack and heavy and
lightening quick
hands. There was no
particular drama
involved, nor will
it be a candidate
for fight of the
year....it was too
short and one-sided
for that. Erik made
an attempt to fight
back in round three
but that only opened
the door for Manny
who closed matters
out with his
non-stop attack and
brutal left hands
thrown with the
deadliest of
intentions. When
Morales went down
for the last time,
he shook his head at
his corner. He knew
he was a beaten man.
He knew the long run
had come to a close.
By Troy Onderizek
FightNightNews Senior staff
writer
The mere mention of
the name John Ruiz
and boxing fans
everywhere cringe.
Ruiz’ style of
fighting has become
one of the most
reviled aspects in
the history of the
sport. Ruiz’ ability
to lull viewers and
opponents alike to
sleep has left him
as one of the most
unpopular fighters
of our time. Most
people watch Ruiz’
fights just hoping
to see him laid out
unconscious upon the
mat. It is an
absolute shame that
a champion should
evoke these types of
emotions from fight
fans, but John Ruiz
is a one and only
fighter; at least
most fans hope that
there is no other
like him.
I sigh as I admit
this, but I can
appreciate what Ruiz
does in the ring and
understand why he
fights the way he
does. That doesn’t
mean I like or
condone it, I just
understand.
In reality, Ruiz, as
disdained as he is,
he never turned down
the toughest
opponents and he
always looked to
make himself the
premier fighter in
the division, even
if it was obvious
that he wasn’t.
The MAB-Manny
Pacquiao bout has
not yet been made
but if and when it
is, it will be
similar to the
second Morales-Pacquiao
fight, or at least
the result will be.
Once again, it would
feature one fighter
at the top of his
game and moving with
positive momentum
and another who may
be fading, though
that will in no way
harm his chances for
future induction
into the
International Boxing
Hall of Fame. "Pac
Man" is going up the
elevator and "The
Baby-Faced
Assassin," off his
two fights with
Rocky Juarez, seems
to have slowed down.
Here is how I see
their rematch
playing out, but
first the breakdown:
Height and
Weight: Barrera,
63-4-0-1, stands 5
ft. 6 in and has
about the same reach
as Pacquiao who is
5’6 1/2. Manny
always appears
comfortable no
matter what weight
is designated. For
his part, MAB always
comes in fit and
ready as well.
According to
Wikipedia, old
school is a slang
term referring to an
older way of
thinking or behaving
within the context
of newer, more
modern times. Rather
than carrying the
negative connotation
of obsolete, it is
often used to refer
to a time of
perceived higher
standards or level
of craft. Some might
equate the term to,
"They just don't
make 'em like this
anymore."
Kind of like
referring to a Gen
Fullmer, Carmine
Basilio or Tough
Tony DeMarco. Maybe
when someone refers
to Micky Ward as old
school, they are
equating him with
guys like Carmine,
Gene and Tony.
Humble, ferocious in
the ring,
courageous,
respectful, hard
working. That seems
to be the behavior
that reflected the
values that existed
back in the 40's and
50's.
Without the
journeymen or club
fighters, there
likely would be no
boxing. Club
fighters often fight
locally and have
so-so records.
A journeyman is
slightly more
respected than a
club fighter - often
by way of having a
superficially decent
record. A contender
defeats journeymen
and club fighters in
order to establish
himself as a
challenger for a
world title.
Club fighters and
journeymen provide
the foundation and
grounding for the
sport we love so
much. Being one is
not a bad thing.
Terry Malloy in On
The Waterfront was a
club fighter, but he
could have become a
contender.
But some fighters
seemed to be matched
to lose with the
certainty of the sun
setting......fighters
like Andre Crowder
(8-55-4), Greg Cadiz
(4-46-2), Danny
Wofford (who has
lost over 100
fights) and Frankie
Hines (lost 120).
These may be club
fighters but they
are not journeymen,
for they lack the
ability to protect
any gates nor garner
much respect by
their ring
performances.
I hate the word
"closure." It's
politically correct
and I despise
political
correctness more
than anything, even
more than spinach.
What I need is what
James Brown sang
about. I need some
payback regarding a
few fights I
witnessed over the
years, some revenge,
if you will. So call
me jaded or
whatever, but the
following are
rematch fights I'd
pay to see. I am
sure you could you
could add some so
have a go at it.
1) Tua vs Ruiz:
In their first
fight, Tua caught
the "Silent Man"
early and cold and
sent him into
unconsciousness with
as brutal a left
hook as you will
ever see. That was
along time ago, but
it has haunted Ruiz
ever since.
Interestingly, Ruiz
has a great chin.
This was the only
stoppage in his
career. Since that
fight, he managed to
win a world
championship and
fight at the top
level of his
division, albeit in
an ugly and
non-crowd pleasing
manner.
However, I believe
he possesses a
strong, quick and
sneaky right that
could floor most
opponents. He iron
chinned Tua, on the
other hand, never
managed to win a
belt and as Ruiz's
career moved up, the
Samoan's stagnated
with inactivity,
poor management and
an occasional flash
of the old David in
wins against Moorer
and Fres Oquendo.
He is now on an
unbeaten streak and
may be positioning
himself for a prime
time fight. I'd like
to see it be against
Ruiz, assuming Ruiz
gets by his next
opponent. I see it
as a closer fight at
this point in their
respective careers
but if forced to
commit, I'd go with
Tua in an extremely
ugly and dirty fight
between two guys
with solid chins. Of
course, if Tua
fights like he did
against "The
President," Ike
Ibeabuchi, then it's
"oh oh" for Ruiz.
But then again,
redemption can be a
strong motivator.
First off, he is not
going to retire.
Let's get that
ridiculous thought
out of the way at
the outset. There
are too many mega
purses out there for
him and he knows it
better than anyone
else except perhaps
his uncle. Pretty
Boy's problem seems
to be one of
maturity, attitude
and out-of-ring
demeanor. What he
need most is a good
Public Relations
spokesperson. God
knows he has few, if
any, problems in the
ring. Sure, if he
retired now, he
would end up being a
slam dunk in the
International Boxing
Hall of Fame....but
his legacy as a
premature retiree
would haunt him
forever.
There are too just
too may challenges
out there for him.
Ricky Hatton, Miguel
Cotto, Antonio
Margarito, Sugar
Shane Mosley and
Oscar De La Hoya
come to mind. And up
and coming Paul
Williams looms. Now
I am not saying he
should fight and
beat each of them,
but victories
against Margarito,
De La Hoya and
Mosley would cement
his greatness and
put an end to the
endless and
unfathomable
criticism .
Sometimes a fighter
wins but really
loses. It's all
about the end game.
The classic case of
this involved
Riddick Bowe's two
brutal battles with
the "Foul Pole,"
Andrew Golota.
When Big Daddy met
Evander Holyfield
for the third time
in the mid-90's, he
did not look nearly
as fit as the
fighter who won the
title three years
earlier. His
training routine has
dropped off
considerably, but
his eating habits
had increased
considerably.
When those two
variables intersect,
the result is not a
good thing. And it
showed during the
last fight of this
hard fought trilogy.
A lethargic Bowe was
decked by a
Holyfield left hook
in the fifth and he
also appeared hurt
in the eighth, but
then he landed a
thumping right
during a furious
exchange and that
was it for the "Real
Deal." But in
winning, it was
clear something was
very wrong with "Big
Daddy." He was more
vulnerable, his
musculature had lost
definition, he was
lethargic, and he
could not sustain a
steady punch volume.
All of a sudden, he
appeared ripe for
the picking.
