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By Ted Sares
The Prediction
Oscar has fought better opposition is bigger and maybe stronger. He is an orthodox fighter who looks to land fight-ending left hooks following stiff jabs, but the edge goes to Floyd who is the complete package blessed with superior speed, stamina, sharp punching, a solid chin and great defense. He has subtle old school moves and his great counter punching ability should give him the advantage in any heated exchanges, but he needs to be weary of THAT hook.
Late-developing issues between Floyd Sr and Roger seem unsettling, but Floyd has great pedigree and focus. Oscar has been taken out once and down several times. He has lost two of his last four fights, looked bad against Sturm, and beat a made-to-order opponent in Mayorga. Still, he has been in many mega fights and also has great focus.
In my view, the fight will be overly tactical, unless Oscar can use his size to back up Floyd in which case it could spell big trouble. But If Floyd punishes and frustrates Oscar with quick in-and-out movement, he will prevail. Styles make fights, and the styles here suggest a less than exciting bout. PBF's overall skill-set and career momentum will result in a UD victory.
The Outcome
It was an overly tactical, non–exciting fight even though the crowd screamed every time Oscar moved. With De La Hoya inexplicitly abandoning his jab at the wrong time and not being able to time THAT hook, he allowed Floyd to dictate the action, particularly going down the stretch. His speed and accuracy resulted in a well-deserved SD, though it should have been a UD as one of the judges (and Jim Lampley) missed it badly. I had it 117-113 but can’t argue with 115-113. Thank God it was not a draw.
As for the excitement factor, when Floyd Mayweather Sr. becomes the story of the night, something is sorely missing.
Clottey Dominates Corrales; Calzaghe Stops Manfredo, Khan too Much for Bull - The Good The Bad and The Ugly
 (Joshua Clottey, on left, facing down Diego Corrales) 07.04.07 - By Ted Sares:
First the good. Joshua Clottey vs. Diego Corrales fought ten full rounds of hard core, rock and roll. While we might well have seen the end of one great boxing career, we also may have witnessed the emergence of a new star in Clottey. The Ghanaian warrior showed that his great effort against Antonio Margarito was no fluke. With a 31-2 record “The Hitter” now has to be taken seriously as a top welterweight who is difficult to hurt and who punches with lightening quick combos. Watching Diego hit him with solid body shots that seemingly had no effect suggests that Ricky Hatton might be made to order. Time will tell. At any rate, this was an entertaining fight and was clearly “The Good” part of this piece’s title. By the way, the referee in this one was superb.
The bad was not Art Binkowski or George Garcia. It was their respective opponents. When is the last time you saw a fighter get knocked down three times in the first round only to come back and stop his opponent in the last round.
Archie Moore against Yvonne Durelle? Raphael Butler simply gave up once he saw that his Polish foe was not going anywhere…and that was that.
 (Diego Corrales getting his nose attended to in between rounds)As for Travis Walker, he looked dreadful against an opponent whose reach was 68’ vs. Walker’s 82’. Good grief. Again, props to Art and George both of whom showed grit, determination and plenty of heart. Sure, squat George Garcia lost, but he won over the boxing fans. And oh yes, "Fast Eddie" Chambers would eat Walker's lunch.
The ugly took place in Wales. Amir Kahn got to fight a live bag in Stefy Bull who quit at the first opportunity. A terrible mismatch that did nothing to enhance boxing’s reputation.
Then Joe Calzaghe made short work of Peter Manfredo in a bout that was stopped too soon. That was ugly enough, but what was was even worse was Manfredo's sluggish hand speed and reluctance to throw any punches. He looked like he was in a trance. Speaking of hand speed, Joe did what he had to do; Peter did nothing. That was ugly. By the way, the referee in this one was not superb.
When you contrast the Clottey-Corralas battle with what took place in Cardiff, you don’t need me to spell it out.
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Benn in the Hall? |
By TED SARES
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When you think of Nigel Benn, you think of words like fury, rage, and ferocity. These were his trademarks in the ring and provided uncommon excitement and entertainment.
Unfortunately, his career defining fight ended with tragic results and sometimes detracts from his entire body of work. As one writer stated, " One man's finest hour was the end of another man's life as he knew it." |
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Let's look at that work now and see how his accomplishments stack up insofar as being a prospective inductee into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame.
Record: Nigel "The Dark Destroyer" Benn, a Middleweight and Super Middleweight Champion, 42 - 5 - 1 with 35 ko's, was born in Liford, England the son of Barbadian immigrants. As an amateur, Benn had a fine record of 41 wins and 1 loss. His ko percentage was an excellent 83%.
Style: Ostensibly an orthodox fighter, he was a bomber and is still considered to be one of the hardest punchers of all time, but when he fought at the top level, he sometimes and inexplicably became somewhat unglued. Still, his ferocity and velocity were unmatched and were launched with evil intentions, the purest of rage, and often punctuated with a whirlwind of deadly hooks and uppercuts from all angles. With Nigel, the thing was his excitement and unpredictability. You knew what to expect...or maybe you didn't.... which made him so exciting. He would come out bombing and winging and try to ko his opponents in short order usually knocking them out, but his "take no prisoner" strategy sometimes meant that he himself would be stopped. Some even called him one of boxing's bad boys, and labeled his style as downright dirty. I'll refer to it as ?win at all cost."
As to the rage that seemed to be an inherent part of his persona, a reading of his compelling autobiography "Dark Destroyer," a great boxing book, offers many clues and glimpses into what made Benn fight with such ferocity and fury. It is highly recommended and rather than spoil it for you, I will keep silent as to its content. At any rate, Nigel presented an unabashedly snarling mien and personified the aura of a person you would not want to meet in a dark alley. In short, he was one tough guy!
Quality of Opposition: Excellent. Aside from the hapless Winston Burnett (who would finish with 20-98-3), Benn fought boxers with mostly decent records in his early years, a departure from the norm.
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Guys like Reggie Miller, Abdul Umaru Sanda, Darren Hobson, Nicky Piper, Jamaican Anthony Logan, Kid Milo, Canadian Dan Sherry, Puerto Rican Jose Quinones, American Sanderline Williams, Congolese Mbayo Wa Mbayo, David Noel, and Argentinian Hector Lescano all came in with winning records.
He then stepped up to a higher level to fight South African Thulani Malinga (twice), Italian and former WBC Super Middleweight champion Mauro Galvano (twice), former world champion Chris Eubank (twice), Juan Carlos Gimenez Ferreyra (46-6-3 coming in), future world champ and victor over "Sugar Boy" Mailnga (40-9 at the time), Vincenzo Nardiello (26-3), Michale Watson )21-1-1 coming in) and, of course. world champion Steve Collins (twice). |
While the names here might not resonate as much with an average American boxing fan as they do with one in Europe or the UK, they should strike a intimate chord with all serious boxing fans regardless of location. These fighters, along with Herol Graham and Robin Reid, represented the cream of the crop during a great era of fighters in the UK. But Benn also fought two top Americans in Iran "The Blade" Barkley (a warrior who fought in a savage manner not unlike Benn's) and the great Gerald McCllelan and beat them both by stoppage. O course, he beat Dough Dewitt as well. In short, Benn was competitive with the world's best.
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Chronology: As a juvenile, he was a delinquent to say the least, but a four-year tenure as a soldier in the Royal Fusiliers, which he credits as the turning point in his life, forced him embrace a need for self discipline.
Benn turned professional in 1987 and began a remarkable streak of 22 consecutive ko wins (100% ko percentage). The streak extended until 1989 during which time he beat tough Fernin Cherino, and then won the British commonwealth Middleweight title with a win over Abdul Umaru. But he lost this title to the very tough Michael Watson by a 6th round knockout and with it his undefeated record as well. |
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His next fight with limited Jorge Amparo was his first abroad and the first to go the distance. After two more wins, he got his initial opportunity at a world championship and made the most of it. He duked it out for the WBO World Middleweight champion with Doug Dewitt. Benn captured the crown by knocking out the resilient and granite-chin DeWitt (who had lasted 12 rounds against Thomas Hearns) in the 8th round. His first defense came against former world champion Iran "The Blade" Barkley and after being badly rocked himself, he knocked out Barkley in round one in a furious and savage shoot-out which was Benn's trademark. Eventually, however, he lost the world title when he was knocked out in round nine by countryman, the flamboyant Chris Eubank.
In 1991, he ko'd the vastly underrated Robbie Sims and half-brother of Marvin Hagler. Sims had beaten Roberto Duran and many other top level fighters like Tony Chiaverini, Doug Dewitt, and John Collins. Reflective of Benn's power, that loss would be Robbie's only career stoppage defeat. He then embarked on another undefeated streak, this time reaching fifteen. After beating his future conqueror and world champion "Sugar Boy" Malinga by a 10 round decision, he won the WBC's world Super Middleweight title with a knockout in round four over defending world champion Mauro Galvano. After two more wins, he fought a rematch with with Eubank and retained his title with a twelve round draw. Next came tough Henry Wharton (undefeated coming in) and Juan Carlos Gimenez, both of whom he beat by decision.
I am not going to dwell on Benn's next fight (with the great bomber Gerald McClellan), for it has already received voluminous treatment, but I will not ignore it either and in this regard I quote Ian McNeilly who poignantly said, "The fight was one of the best and worst to ever take place. A triumphant and tragic microcosm of boxing." Clearly, it would change Nigel's life forever:....according to his trainer, the tragic results of that fight took away Nigel's fighting spirit.
Quoting McNeilly again, "The story of Gerald McClellan is a painful one, one that fighters, boxing writers and fans seem to find it easy not to discuss............This is because he is a living embodiment of the risks fighters take every time they step through the ropes, a reminder of the dangers that are ignored at peril. To dwell on cases like Gerald McClellan would destroy the sport. To ignore him is to debase ourselves." Hopefully, no serious boxing fan would ever ignore Gerald MeClellan.
The "Black Destroyer" would go on to beat future world champion Vincenzo Niardiello and game Danny Perez before losing to "Sugar Boy" Malinga the second time around by a 12 round decision. In so doing, he also would lose his WBC world title. Then, he was given a another chance at a world title.....this time the WBO's world title, but he lost to Steve Collins by 4th round knockout in Manchester (a fight in which controversy arose as to an injury to Benn's ankle)....and after losing the rematch, it was clear Nigel had come to the end of his glorious career. As writer Jack Dunne once said, ".....he lost to Steve Collins, twice by way of TKO, guess what? It was just Nigel's time, NOBODY fights forever. Father Time is STILL the undefeated, undisputed champion of the fight game, all times, all divisions."
Some say that Nigel Benn is mostly a "forgotten warrior" perhaps because he will forever be linked to Gerald McClellan and it is admittedly painful to think of him without remembering their tragic fight, one of the most brutal slugfests of all time. But if so, that is manifestly unfair. Any assessment of Benn must be based on his entertaining style and accomplishments in the ring. Again, to quote McNeilly, "...the many who watched saw a man [Benn] reach down into his inner being and summon something to destroy a force [McClellan] supposedly greater than himself [Gerald was a 4-1 favorite]. And as we looked on, amazed and enthralled, we cheered as life slipped away from a fellow man slumped, defeated, in his corner."
Whether he gets into the International Boxing Hall of Fame remains to be seen, but if he fails, it will not be because of his lack of providing incredible excitement and indelible memories for boxing fans throughout the world. Nigel Benn was an eccentric, a one of a kind and will not soon be forgotten by boxing aficionados.
He now lives with his family on the Spanish island of Mallorca where he became a Born-again Christian and, later on, an ordained pastor.
Well there it is. In recent weeks, I have done pieces on such Hall prospects as Vinny Paz, Hector Camacho, Riddick Bowe, Virgil Hill and Ray Mancini. In retrospect, I cannot help but feel Nigel Benn stacks up pretty darn well. After all, he was a two-time world champion who fought the best of UK competition at a time when that competition was keen and perhaps the best in the world, he beat two great American fighters, he always gave the crowd its money worth, and he finished with a great ko percentage.
As for those who say, "if you have to wonder about it, then he doesn't belong," I say baloney.....because I'll show you any number of fighters in the Hall where I would have had to "wonder about it."
What do you think?
"The British press hate a winner who's British. They don't like any British man to have balls as big as a cow's like I have.? Nigel Benn
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Blood Brothers
By Ted Sares
Many families have had more than one member become famous in the sport of boxing. Some of them have even had multiple world champions. This is about five sets of boxing brothers...with each vignette featuring just a bit of twist and/or irony.
1) Giuseppe "Joey" LaMotta, brother of Giacobe "Jake" LaMotta, was one of my favorites. His record was 32-5-2 with 22 KOs, only one stoppage loss.But get this! His career was only 21 months long, but in those 21 months, he had 39 fights! He usually had a fight a week. He once had two fights in two days winning both by early ko's! He was one active fighter. Probably the best he ever fought was Anton Raadik out of Chicago. He was, on paper at least, Jake's manager. But in the film, "Raging Bull," Joey (played by Joe Pesci) is a complex and composite character -- a little bit Joey, and a whole lot Jake's best friend, Pete Petrella. Many of the things that happen between Jake and Joey in the film actually happened between Jake and Pete in real life (as La Motta reveals in his autobiography) -- the arguments and jealousy about women, about the mob, etc. Even the "breakup" and reconciliation with Joey actually happened In real life with Pete.
2) Ernie "Indian Red" Lopez was the brother of Danny "Little Red" Lopez and was quite a fighter in his own right. "Indian Red," 47 (23 ko's) -12 - 1 was a contender for several years during the mid 60's, but losses at crucial times prevented him from getting a title shot. His brother, "Little Red," did become featherweight champion. Among others, Ernie fought Emile Griffith (twice) and Hedgemon Lewis (3 times). After ten years of drifting throughout America making it from moment to moment, he was found in a Texas homeless shelter and brought back to California where he was inducted into that state's Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004. Of his time out there, Ernie says: "I've been all over the United States. Might have missed a few states, but it's sure a nice place.....but I never stayed too long anywhere." Now that he back with his wife in Los Angeles, his life on the road and along the streets may well be over. Let's hope so.
3) Robbie Sims, 38 (26 ko's) - 10 - 2, and half brother of Marvelous Marvin Hagler was a vastly under rated fighter who beat such top opposition as Iran Barkley, Doug DeWitt, Teddy Mann, Roberto Duran, Ralph Moncrief, Tony Chiaverini and John Collins. He also drew with Murray Sutherland. The only stoppage in his fine was sustained against Nigel Benn. Inmy view, Robbie Sims was an excellent fighter who waited too long to get a major title shot. Sims was a top contender for a very long time but took back seat to his brother's accomplishments and reputation. Ironically, what could very well of held Robbie Sims back was that he fought during the Marvin Hagler era in the middleweight division.
4) Joe Gatti once lost to the the current trainer of his brother, Arturo Gatti. Joe had a fine record of 30 (22 ko's) - 8 but would lose every time he stepped up against tougher competition...guys like Sven Ottke, James "Buddy McGirt, Rafael Williams, and Terry Norris (this was for the WBC Light Middleweight Title and Joe was brutally ko'd in one). However, his one day in the sun came in 2001 when he dismantled Alex Hilton, 37-6 coming in, (and from another famous Canadian boxing family) in 5 at the Molson Center in Montreal and I had the good fortune to be there. Hilton, who was involved in a highly publicized domestic dispute was loudly booed. As well, there had been bad blood between Joe and the Hiltons. But after the fight, Alex and Joe embraced in mid ring the crowd rose and roared its approval. It was quite an emotional evening at the Center. C'est bon!Joe would go on to stop Tim Shocks before ending his career with a valiant effort against the formidable Ottke in 2002 in Leipzig, Germany.
5) Rodney Bobick, brother of Duane, had a fine record of 38 (18 ko's) -7, and was only stopped once in his career...by Larry Holmes in 1975. Among his victims were Pedro Agosto, Ron 'The Butcher" Stander, Mike Weaver, Vicente Rondon, Terry Hinke, Pat Duncan, and South African Mike Schutte. He was Tko'd by Larry Holmes in the under card of the "Thrilla in Manila," which gave Larry some consolation for having lost to Duane in the armatures. Sadly, Rodney was killed in a single car accident at the age of 26 cutting short his promising career.
Many fans often got the brothers mixed up, but it was Duane, 48 (40 ko's) - 4, who fought at a higher level. Like Tommy Morrison, Duane brought excitement into the ring. His many accomplishments include a Gold medal in 1971 at the Pan Am Games, winning the National Golden Gloves heavyweight championship in 1972 and being a member of the 1972 Olympic team.As a pro, he usually would ice his opponent or be iced. In fact, all four of his losses came by way of stoppages...two by first round ko's by John Tate and Ken Norton, respectively. But to his credit, he managed to beat Scott LeDoux, Chuck Wepner, Mike Schutte, Bunny Johnson, Randy Neumann, George Scrap Iron Johnson, Mike Weaver, Pat Duncan, and Tom Prater all by stoppage. Sadly, in an industrial accident in a Minnesota paper mill, most of the bones in his right arm were crushed and he lost the index finger on that hand. He may never regain full range of motion in his wrist.
As an interesting aside, the great Teófilo Stevenson, representing Cuba, was the first boxer to win the gold medal in the same division three times. Competing in what is now known as the super-heavyweight division, Stevenson began his Olympic career at the 1972 Munich Games. At the previous year's Pan American Games, Stevenson had been defeated by none other than Duane Bobick. This time he met Bobick in the quarterfinals and stopped him in the third round. Still, a great accomplishment for Duane. Another of his great amateur victories was the aformentioned decision over future heavyweight champion Larry Holmes.
The number of other prominent boxing brothers is too numerous to list here, but equally ironic stories await.
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By Ted Sares
The Contender finalists are now set to rumble. Steve Forbes and Grady Brewer will duke it out in the finals on September 26 at the Staples Center in LA and thank God we will be able to see the bout live .....in its entirety ... The way a boxing match should be seen. Now then, maybe it's just me but the editing of The Contender series seems to have gotten a bit out of hand this season. Cheesy slow-motion? Enhanced sound effects and dumb music? Cutaways to girlfriends/wives/fathers/sons screaming hysterically, "Oh, c'mon baby, c'monnnnn!" or poignant and consoling visits to the locker room after the fight. And the final walk down the street after losing................ugh. Hey, this is boxing. Take a very hot and long muscle relaxing shower, maybe shave, splash on some cologne and talc and take the lady and/or kids out for a steak or some pasta and talk about what went wrong. And if things went right, get the homey's together and let the good time roll. That's reality! Speaking of the contenders, let's take a brief look.
Steve "2 Pounds" Forbes, 32 (9 ko's) - 3. He is younger (29 vs 35), has been a World champion (he won the International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior lightweight title vacated by Diego Corrales on an 8-round TKO over John Brown on Dec. 3, 2000) but has fought just fair opposition overall. His three losses were by UD, TD and MD. He beat Freddy Curiel, Nick Acevedo and Corneilus Bundrage to earn a shot at Grady Brewer in the finals on Tuesday. He has excellent skills and is an excellent counter-puncher, but can also engage if necessary. He is much stronger at 130 pounds than he was when fighting at heavier weights. He started boxing at age 10 and was 57-10 in the amateurs, and was a five-time Washington and Oregon Golden Gloves champion. Among his pro wins, he beat David Santos (37-3 going in) for the U.S. Boxing Association (USBA) 130-pound title on a lopsided 12-round decision. Overall, he is well-schooled with excellent speed, technical skills and mobility, but lacks power. Winning the Contenders Title will remove the "afterthought" label that seems to have been put on him.
Grady "Bad Boy" Brewer, 21 (12 ko's)-11. His amateur career started at age 11 and he won 40 of his 45 fights along with the Oklahoma State Golden Gloves tournament in his weight class. He may be peaking at just the right time. His three contender wins arguably were against tougher guys....Norberto Bravo, Michael Stewart and Vinroy Barrett. And he has fought far superior opposition overall, though he did get Tko'd by tough Marco Antonio Rubio sometime before going into the Contender series. His opposition includes Jermain Taylor, tough Sechew Powell, Anthony Carlos Bojorquez (who beat a shot Pernell Whitaker), former Contender finalist Peter Manfredo Jr, and streaking Kelly Pavlik. One big problem here; he has been stopped six times. Nevertheless less, the non-protected "Bad Boy" is physically strong and crowd-pleasing. And get this, since turning pro in 1999, he has been matched against 21 boxers with a winning record, including eight who entered the ring unbeaten and 19 with three losses or less. Moreover, he has appeared before the hometown fans in Lawton, Oklahoma only three times. His biggest pro win came when he Tko'd highly touted and previously unbeaten Anthony "The Messenger" Thompson (15-0 going in), on Feb. 16, 2004, in Las Vegas. A win over Forbes will remove the label of an “opponent” who has been often selected to fight on short notice.
In summary, this is strength and grit vs. speed and finesse. Both had draining third fights and should be equally worn or (fresh) going in. Frankly, it's too close to call. However, if my back were against the wall, I'd go with Forbes, but by a razor thin margin. "Bad Boy" is on a 3 -fight roll and smells the roses (and money)...but then, so does "2Pounder."
As for the drama part, please spare us Sugar Ray and Sergio Mora leaping to their feet like two trained robots in feigned enthusiasm. We can see the fight for ourselves and don't need the bile-inducing hype. Let's hope the final is about boxing,,,nothing more, nothing less.
"Boxing is just show business with blood." Frank Bruno
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 31.08.06 - By Ted Sares: I predict James Toney takes the Nigerian bomber to school (Saturday at STAPLES Center on SHOWTIME 10 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast) and this is why:
EXPERIENCE: Clearly, Toney is the more experienced man with far more quality rounds and 50 more fights under his ample belt.
QUALITY OF OPPOSITION: "Lights Out's" opposition has been light years superior to that of Peter. James has fought Roy Jones, a trilogy with the great Mike McCallum (2 wins and a draw), Vassiliy Jirov, Evander Holyfield, Hasim Rahman, Dominick Guinn, John Ruiz, Steve Little, Montell Griffin, Charles Williams, Iran Barkley, Reggie Johnson, Merqui Sosa, and, of course, Michael Nunn. The list reads like a "Whose Who" in tough opponents. Peter, on the other hand, has fought Wladimir Klitschko and then it goes quickly down hill. Charles Shufford Jr, Taurus Sykes and Jeremy Williams have been decent opponents. Indeed, "The Nightmare"sent Williams to sleep and into retirement with a scary left hook but he also was extended to the round limit by Shufford and Robert Hawkins. During the amateurs, he won 18 of 20 fights. No comparison here..
BOXING KNOW HOW: Toney possesses incredible fistic talent and Peter possesses's devastating power, but Toney is the professor and Peter is the student. Toney knows every cute move in the book and Peter is an upstart who may not know where the book is. Toney's Boxer IQ is high; Peter is still too amateurish and he may well be overrated. Toney likely has forgotten more than Peter knows about the ruidements of offense and defense. But Peter's awesome power can erase all of that with one left hook ala Jeremy Williams.
Prediction: Toney works his way inside "The Nightmare's" looping shots, and begins connecting with short hooks, and sharp counter uppercuts until one connects that momentarily stuns Samuel. James quickly steps back and unloads a strong overhand right down the pipe that surprises Samuel and forces him to become more cautious and tentative. Toney begins picking up the pace in the 4rth round, fighting inside and off the ropes ropes which he does better than just about anyone. He then starts the process of breaking the now somewhat discouraged bigger man down with crisp rights and combinations, while Peter is relegated to throwing one telegraphed punch at a time. Toney, now dictating the action, exposes Peter's lack of fundamentals and takes the crude but proud Nigerian to school. At the end, both fighters are exhausted but Toney's hand is raised as he wins by UD.
*"Question: Sam, Toney is a tremendous fighter in terms of defense, counter punching, fighting from angles. A lot of things that are really old school. You are a younger fighter and known more as a power puncher. Have you adjusted your style, or are you going to adjust your style, to face Toney?
Peter: I am going to walk through him. Toney: Oh, I like that. Keep your promise."
*From ESB James Toney-Samuel Peter Conference Call War - 09.08.06
Ted Sares is a syndicated writer who can be reached at tedsares@adelphia.net
Virgil Hill in the Hall
By Ted Sares
Next year Roberto Duran becomes eligible for induction into the International Boxing Hall Of Fame and that should be a slam dunk. A few years later, Virgil "Quicksilver" Hill also will become eligible and I submit a reasonable, if not compelling case can be made for his induction as well.
Let's look at the facts. Virgil won his first fight in 1984 against Arthur Wright in Madison Square Garden. He defeated Clarence Osby in 1986 at the Felt Forum in New York City to win the WBC Continental Americas Light Heavyweight Title. And in 1987 he beat Leslie Stewart in Atlantic City to win his first world championship belt (the WBA Light Heavyweight Title). Almost twenty years later on Jan 27, 2006 and also in Atlantic City, Virgil beat Russian, Valery Brudov, 31-1, in impressive fashion to win the Vacant WBA Cruiserweight Title. The WBA cruiserweight title was vacant because Jean-Marc Mormeck had been elevated to super champion status after winning a unification bout. Brudov was the top-ranked challenger and Hill was No. 2.
That he earned the fifth world title of his career with a unanimous decision over Brudov on January 26, 200 in Atlantic City at age 42 is all the more remarkable. All three Judges had him winning the 12-round match 118-110 to earn the World Boxing Association cruiserweight title. Incredibly, he was appearing in his 28th world title bout and he used that experience to his advantage in easily beatings his confused opponent. "I couldn't catch him. I was shocked he moved so well for a 42-year-old guy. His experience showed," said Brudov through an interpreter.
In between his Atlantic City title book-ends, he has fought tough competition holding two wins over Frank Tate, 41-5, two victories over Fabrice Tiozzo, 48-2. including one in which he overwhelmed Tiozzo decking him three times in a remarkable one round onslaught in Villeurbanne, France. He has also defeated Donny LaLonde, 41-5-1, James Toney conqueror Drake Thadzi, 30-9-1, Lou Del Valle, 35-3-1, Rufino Angulo, 21-3-3, Adolpho Washington, 31-9-2, Lottie Mwale, 44-9, Marvin Camel, 45-13-4, Jean-Marie Emebe, 27-7, Ramzi Hassan, 35-12-2, Marcos Geraldo, 60-28-1, Leslie Stewart, 31-12, Bobby Czyz, 44-8, James Kinchen, 49-9-2, and Henry Maske, 30-1. The combined won-lost record of just the opponents mentioned in this article is an impressive 833-149.
His 1996 win over Maske was in Munich and was the popular Maske's first loss. Henry retired after that loss. As a fearless road warrior, ten of his big career fights have been in other countries including England, Germany, Australia, France and South Africa. Amazingly, he won seven of them. While some might criticize the number of bouts fought in his home state of North Dakota, "Quicksilver" has had more than his fair share of fights in Atlantic City or Nevada and his willingness to fight in an opponent's home country is reflective of both his courage and his international popularity.
With a 250-11 amature record and a silver medal in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Las Angeles, Virgil Hill is a 5-time world champion having won titles in both the Light heavyweight and Cruiserweight divisions. He has only five defeats, and three were against truly great competition.....Thomas Hearns, 61-5-1, Dariusz Michalczewski, 48-2, and Roy Jones, 50-4. After taking a long layoff during which he contemplated retiring as champion, he decided to continue but lost his Cruiserweight title to the tough Mormeck, 32-3, in Marseille, France. After this loss he decided to make still another title run against the aforementioned Brudov which, of course, proved successful and which moved his career record to a fine 50 (23 ko's)- 5.
Looking ahead, Virgil says, ".......now I'd like to fight once more and then walk away on my own terms." To this end, he claims he has negotiated a deal to fight Henry Maske in Germany, probably in January. As mentioned above, Hill beat Maske 10 years ago to claim the WBA, WBO and IBF light heavyweight titles. Both boxers are now 42. "It's amazing, at the tender age of 42, everybody wants to beat up on the old boy," Hill said. He negotiated the fight himself, though manager Bill Sorensen is still part of his team. "It was just that in this particular instance, I negotiated it myself," Hill said. "It was great. I got everything I wanted and even more." He declined to disclose the fight's purse except to say it involves "seven figures."
There is another rumor out there to the effect Virgil may defend his title against come backing Thomas "Hitman" Hearns but the Maske fight seems more secure.. On June 3rd, 1991 Hearns outpointed Hill to win the WBA light heavyweight title that he held at the time. But as fellow writer Jim Amato sagely said in another piece, "Thomas Hearns is a legend but he has had only two fights in the last six years. Virgil has stayed active and effective. I understand Virgil wanting to avenge a loss and maybe pick up a nice payday. I understand Tommy wanting to recapture his past glory. In sensible reality though this fight does not make sense. Hearns has done nothing to warrant a title shot at this stage of his career. I hope this fight does not come off for the fan's sake and Tommy's." (Virgil Hill vs. Tommy Hearns II?, 03.07.06 - By Jim Amato)
Whomever "Quicksilver" fights in his "last" one, I believe he has done enough in an amazing career that has now spanned 22 years to warrant inclusion in the International Boxing Hall Of Fame. He beat nine world champions, faced top German fighters.....in Germany, beat Fabrice Tiozzo twice....in France, won five world titles, has a 50-5 career record, an amazing 28 world title fights, three of his losses were against Hall of Fame worthy opponents, and he was stopped only once (by Roy Jones Jr. That should be more than enough. While beating an aged Hearns will not do much for punctuating his chances, beating Maske will. In any event, let's hope he is one of the few to leave boxing on his own terms.
"It's still a tough hustle for the kids," But when they come to visit [the hall of fame], with all they do for boxers here, you know this [museum] is strictly done from the heart......for boxers, it's priceless," Angelo Dundee
Ted Sares is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and can be reached at tedsares@adelphia.net
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Sinan Samil Sam Is No Jeremy Bates
By Ted Sares:
Evander Holyfield's fight with Jeremy Bates did not tell me how sharp Holyfield is as much as it told me how bad Bates was. Jeremy, in obvious awe of Evander, was unable to capitalize on the right that he momentarily stunned "The Real Deal" with in the second round and which caused Evander to flounder, albeit tellingly, for just a second. As predicted, Bates quickly fell apart. So much for whatever dreams he may have had. Now Holyfield is hyping "Holyfield V, The Final Chapter," which he fully expects to end with him becoming the heavyweight champion for the fifth time. He is already the only person to do it four times. "Eventually I'll be the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world — 44, 45, it don't make no difference," Holyfield said.
It appears his next fight may be with Sinan Samil Sam, 26 (15 ko's) - 3, a Turkish fighter who is a boxer puncher. Sam, 6' 3'' and 32 years old, lives in Hamburg, Germany and has fought all but three of his fights in that country. Talk is that the fight will take place in November.
He is nicknamed the "Bull from Bosporus" which is only appropriate since Holyfield's last opponent was nicknamed "The Beast." But make no mistake, the Bull is no Beast. Sam is a witty and intelligent chap who will prove a far tougher gauge of Holyfield's "diminishing" skills.....far tougher, indeed. He pretty much has been under the radar screen except for the more knowledgeable boxing fans. He was born in Frankfurt of Turkish parentage, but relocated to Turkey at an early age. Brought up in Ankara, he took up boxing after being introduced to the sport by a teacher. His amateur career included more than 200 bouts (including many with Russians), nine Turkish championships, a loss to Wlad Klitschko, and a win over IBF and WBA super middleweight boss Sven Ottke. Ultimately, he won the World Amateur super heavyweight gold medal in Houston in 1999 by beating Mikhtarkhan Dildabekov from Kazakstan. He concluded his amateur career with an impressive 217-18 mark.
Sam first stepped up the level of his professional opposition in 2002 when he decked Przemyslaw Saleta, 41-4, four times in route to a 7th round TKO win for the European European (EBU) Heavyweight Title. Among other wins, he tko'd shop-worn Julius Francis in 2003 and Russian Dennis Bakhtov,19-2, for the WBC International Heavyweight Title in 2004. In 2005 he beat Ugandan Peter Okhello, 17-3, and the capable Lawrence Clay Bey, 21-2, but lost to rugged Oleg Maskaev by UD. This year he already has decision wins over Saul Montana, 47-14, and George Arias, 37-9. His two other losses were to tough German, Luan Krasniqi (who almost beat Lamon Brewster last year) and to Juan Carlos Gomez by MD and UD, respectively. He has a solid chin and has never been stopped. As Danny Williams found out, the sometimes plodding and slowish Turk knows how to cut off a ring with a come-forward style and power in both hands as he floored William three times in winning a 6-round stoppage in 2003.
Which brings us back to Holyfield and his ability to take punishment from a genuine and durable opponent...which I submit Sinan Samil Sam most certainly is, though he may never rise above B-level. Sure, Evander looked chiseled but so did Weaver, Norton and Tyson at the end....but in reality they were shells who possessed show muscles which are not reliable enough to sustain prolonged executions or furious exchanges. Sure, he snapped off some nice double hooks but he was doing this with a willing and immobile opponent. Sam will not be such an opponent. Sure, Evander says his health has been bad over the last few years, but that rap is wearing thin. The Real Deal's health had better be good if and when he faces this foe who can club with either hand and who has been in with far better opponents than a 44-year old boxer whose last victory before Bates was in June 2002 when he beat Hasim Rahman by accidental head butt.
I don't see this as just another step in Evander's latest work in progress. No, this step is with a dangerous and capable opponent who will not be in awe of a "Living Legend;"one who will be in there to place himself in contention with an impressive and decisive win. There are lots of fights out there for Evander Holyfield if he decides to fight on......which, of course, is his right as long as he can pass the required medical examinations. A rematch, for example, with light hitting Larry Donald would seem a good test, particularly regarding the veracity of Evander's claims about his health when he last fought Donald. Or how about Brian "The Beast" Minto, 26-1, (who also beat Jeremy Bates by TKO) or maybe Vinny Maddalone, 27-3. But Sam is the wrong one. Sinan Samil Sam is no Jeremy Bates and If he stuns Holyfield with a sloppy and looping right, he very definitely will know how to follow up.
"His ability to throw fast punches is there, his left hand to the right side of the belly of his opponent is crisp as he brings the left hand up from there to the head, still crisp, the right hand is triggered nicelly in combination for awhile. There are white collar guys over 50 in Gleason's gym who can do that too, so can I, but we cannot take the punishment at our age anymore and either can Evander. It is that simple, no one can." Referee Ron Lipton who refereed Holyfield twice, against Ray Mercer and Bobby Czyz
Ted Sares is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and can be reached at tedsares@adelphia.net |
The Essence of Boxing
By Ted Sares
While there are innumerable ways to go after this subject, mine will take a more confluent, albeit less technical path that has different directions coming together in a way that hopefully exposes my visceral affection for this very wonderful pastime. Indeed, for me, boxing is far more than a bout between two combatants in a square circle that is entered with knowledge of deadly risk and anticipation of high reward. Boxing is an experience that includes many different things including the wherewithal for passionate arguments and the witnessing of two men going mano a mano with the hope, but no guarantee, that the third man in the ring knows when the right time comes to save one of them.....and sometimes, with tragic results, he doesn't. Boxing is a loser alone with his thoughts in the dressing room and a winner being hero worshiped by fans as fickle as the weather. It is defeat or victory, nothing more, nothing less, but the difference can break a spirit or generate confidence. In the words of former boxer "Iceman" John Scully, "The wait in the dressing room before a professional boxing match -that last hour- could be enough to strip a man that never boxed before of whatever pride, desire and heart he THOUGHT he had" (April 2002)
For some, it is a left hook to the liver the genesis of which began in Culiacan, Mexico. For others, a sledgehammer straight right originating out of Detroit. Or, in a fight for redemption, a Swede's foot twitching after he is knocked cold by a leaping left hook coming from the Catskills. For me, it's identifying with one of my favorites, particularly an underdog, as he overcomes adversity to snatch surprising victory from certain anticipated defeat. When that happens, that's me in the ring and when victory comes, its my victory as much as it is his and I'm cheering for myself as much as for him. I can't say it any better than that....that's the essence, the very soul of this thing called boxing. Boxing and I become one at that point.
Boxing is also Big Jerry Cooney catching Ken Norton is a corner and pummeling him with frightening left hooks, Ray Mercer catching Tommy Morrison with brutal punches rendering him senseless, Gatti knocking out Gamache with left hook from hell, and Oleg coming back from three ko losses, but it's also slick boxers named Sugar Ray or Sugar Shane showing new and higher levels of defense, foot work, combinations, and hand speed. Boxing is watching a Ward left hook to the body end a fight at any time and a Pretty Boy seemingly work magic tricks in a ring with art and finesse. It's is watching the "Kids".....Parret, Gavilan, Akeem and the "Rocks"......Durando, Graziano, Marciano and Rahman. Boxing is all about Hearns vs Hagler in savage and unmitigated action and Castillo vs Corrales and Indian Yaqui vs Saad in quintessential ebb and flow.....it's steamy Philadelphia gyms and the forum in LA or some fair grounds in West Virginia or Ohio. It's Don Dunphy thrilling listeners to the "Gillette Cavalcade of Sports," and it's both Lennon's, Johnny Addi, Buffer, Ed Derian, Mercante, Clancy, Cus, Manny, Dundee, Bimstein, Goldstein, Futch and it's PAL, CYO, and AAU. The sport is both tender and brutal. Some find Jesus, others find the devil. Boxing is watching a "lonely" Larry Holmes in the middle of the ring taking out a a popular Cooney and a confused John Tate running away from a Trevor Berbick..................boxing is about a warrior mentality that unmistakably demonstrates a willingness to engage in a punch-out.......a willingness to take three to get in one or a hard and tough guy patting his chest and waiving the other guy in as he spits out blood while the crowd rises and roars its approval and chills go down your spine. Boxing is the sum and substance of indelible memories and for those blessed with good recall, it is something to manifest with emotion, passion and conviction.
Look, I've been there and have seen up close the unpredictable excitement that was Bob Satterfield and Johnny Bratton in the 50's, the classics between Marciano-Charles-Louis- Walcott. The emergence of Chuck Davey and Chico Vejar. I saw LaMotta-Robinson, Ward vs Gatti-Green-Augustus-Diaz, Zale-Graziano, tough, ethnic guys from the 50's like Fusari, Demarco, Durando, Basilio, Janiro and Miceli. Who can forget Gene "Silent Hairston on Gillette's Friday night fights? Ali-Fraizer, Patterson-Johansson, Barrera-Morales. I was dumfounded by the illogic of Hearns putting Duran away with a paralyzing straight right, and then Duran beating Barkley who then knocked out Hearns. I watched in disbelief as Martin starched Liston, Bruce Curry and Monroe Brooks went to the edge, McClellan and Benn fought with uncommon fury. Oh, I saw Paret take 17 unanswered shots, and Roach, Kim, Johnny Owens, Jimmy Garcia, Beethoven Scottland. Leavander Johnson and too may others leave their lives in the ring. I witnessed the sudden fury of Mesa-Garza; the shoot outs between Moorer-Cooper and Lyle-Foreman;the big bopping round-robin between Cobb-Shavers-Norton at the end of their careers. I've seen the smashed noses, ridges of scar tissue and deformed ears. I witnessed the slow slide of Jerry and Mike Quarry, Jimmy Ellis, Bobby Chacon, Jimmy Young and far too many others. I can easily detect the early signs......the slurring of speech......the nasal monotone. I can also detect, but not quite so easily, signs of short-term memory loss or difficulty with equilibrium or the inability to take certain directions or perform certain chores. No, we don't much want to talk about Pugilistica Dementia but constant reminders are always there and that's the dark side, the other, horribly irreversible side of the risk reward equation. And most boxers are leery of this darker side as well they should be, for this is the one that can lead to that dreaded place called Palookaville from which there is no return.
Hey, I witnessed the epiphany of Foreman and the"what if," and terrible disappointment that was Tyson. I've seen it all and have been dazzled by the magic, felt the emotional highs, heard the music and seen the dance. I pray for Michael Watson, Willie Pep. Jimmy Ellis, Gerald McClellan and Greg Page and remember the courage of Robert Wangila and Pedro Alcazar. I have seen very good things, some not so good, and some downright ugly. I've talked to humble and decent guys like Saad, Haugen, Scully, Ward, Cuevas, Laporte, Galaxy and Chuvalo and have been snubbed by others.....but not many others, for most boxers are uncommon in their decency, respect and humility and that too is part of the mix.
Boxing for me is also a sensual confluence......of sweat, fear, testosterone, perfume, cigar smoke, stale beer, cheap after-shave lotion....it is a the sweet smell of success and sour odor of failure. Greasy and heavily mustard hot dogs, cheese steak hoagies, onions, buttered popcorn and warm beer at the Blue Horizon and frothy mixed drinks and expensive after shave lotion at the MGM in Las Vegas or at Foxwoods. Boxing is cheering, taunting, chanting, whistling, screaming, and clapping......and leering at scantily clad card girls against a backdrop of the periodic screams of winners at a Black Jack table or the mindless and never ending sound of slot machines simultaneously providing hope and presenting odds that will prevents that hope from ever being fulfilled. The ambience includes pretty blondes, voluptuous Latinos and beautiful black women dressed to the nines; guys with chains worth the price of a new car and clothes and hair styles to match. Vanity, conceit, egotism are words that come to mind as one looks over the occupants of the ringside seats, but why not? Narcissism is an essential part of this mix as well.
There is no political correctness here or "right" way to behave and that is another great thing about boxing. You either love it or hate it, but if you hate it, you had best tread with caution here. Boxing try's to be color blind, but those behind the scenes use issues of color and ethnicity to generate more cash. It is never about hate; it is always about cash....it is what it is....and in this regard should not be taken as seriously as it is. The "Russians Have Arrived," will likely be replaced by something else, maybe 'The Cubans Are Coming" or the "Americans are Back" or "Here Comes the British," but that's just the way it is and it won't change any time soon.
Boxing is camaraderie with macho banter and, at times, not-so-friendly betting. It is drinks and maybe a great steak after the fight, or perhaps a hotel room with TV, friends, champaign, shrimp cocktails, maybe some poker, all the right ingredients for another indelible memory. Sure, the fight is the linchpin, but the entire experience is often just as much fun...it all goes together and blends in the mix. And the mix is the essence.
Boxing has a love affair with the world: from Japan to the UK, Germany to Australia, Canada to the countries from the former Soviet Union, and everywhere in between. Most of all, boxing is a safe place for me to be without having to worry about how I behave or what I say. Boxing thankfully is not a meeting of the Rotary and it certainly does not shackle me with corporate handcuffs. There is no phoney artifice, no plastic smiles or soft and clammy hand shakes; Boxing is a genuine, if sometimes harsh place. But hell, boxing is my sanctuary and I love it so.
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Harry Arroyo has movie star good looks and a personality to match. In plain English, he was and is a hellava guy. He was a power puncher from Youngstown, Ohio, the same city that produced Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini and he fought in the same exciting way. Right from the start, he went 22 (17 ko's)-0 before facing popular "Rockin" Robin Blake in Atlantic City on January 14, 1984. Robin was 20-0 at the time. It was a much anticipated fight between two 135 pounders on the move. Harry won a close 10 UD which was seen on national TV and positioned him for an April fight with Charlie 'Choo Choo" Brown, 23-2-1, a tough scrapper out of Philly. When Arroyo beat Blake, he broke into the top twelve IBF Lightweight rankings. Robin Blake retired in 1990 with a 33-8 record. After his loss to Arroyo, his star dimmed as he went 13-8.
The fight with Choo Choo would be for the IBF Lightweight Title at the Sands in Atlantic City. This would be the big one for the likable Youngstown welterweight. Brown had beaten Melvin Paul, 17-2, in January 1984 to take the newly created title by a close 15 round SD and was in defensive mode. Charlie would later recall( in a City Beat article by Benjamin Herold entitled, Fred Jenkins makes sure boxers — both aspiring and accomplished — have a home at his North Philly gym), "[Paul] definitely came to fight. He was a steady comer, he came right at you. So I figured I'll box him," Brown recalls while pantomiming his peek-a-boo style. "Both hands is right there in front of you, but you don't know which is coming first." Brown dropped Paul in round one with a left hook to the body and again in the fourth round with a right to the chest.
In the final round, Melvin Paul hit him with such a crushing right that Brown couldn't remember getting hit. But as a true Philly fighter with great heart, he managed to get up and stay up, even landing some solid shots before the final bell. Brown and Fred "Herk" Jenkins hoped to use the championship to catapult Brown, then 23-2-1, higher in the rankings of the better-established WBA and WBC. Their ultimate aim was a unification tournament involving popular WBA champ Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini and tough WBC champ Edwin Rosario. But that plan, unfortunately for Charlie, depended on beating Harry Arroyo.
Thus, the stage was set. And Harry did not dissapoint, taking the title with a dramatic 14h round TKO. Brown ran out of gas against the better trained and more determined Arroyo and was halted in round fourteen, though Choo Choo claimed the fight was stopped too soon.
Brown went on to win only three more bouts and eventually lost his last eleven fights retiring in 1993. "Things didn't go to well because of the frame of mind I was in," he says. "It got to the point where I just didn't give a damn. "I've been hurt by the fight game a little bit. I expected something from it. I've been to the top, and I even took the city to the top by my being from here. It didn't last long, but I got there." He finished with a mark of 26-16-2 after a 2nd round ko loss to Sammy Fuentes.
In September of 1984, Harry was set to defend his newly won crown against another Charlie Brown....this one nicknamed "White Lightening"............in Youngstown, OH This Charlie Brown, 23-0 at the time and from Moline, Illinois, was a true road warrior having fought in Miami, NJ, MSG, Memphis, NY, Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Illinois, Iowa, PA, New Mexico,Ohio, CA, Virginia, Denmark, and NC. But this didn't help him much as Arroyo dismantled him by KO in the eighth round. Brown would then go 8-10 losing 6 of his last 8, (though one of his wins was against Saoul Mamby by 6 round UD 1992). He retired in 1995 with a 31-11 mark, his last fight a second round TKO loss to tough Ralph Jones, 30-2. He probably will be remembered more for his nickname and subsequent first round KO loss to Greg Haugen than his willingness to fight anywhere in the US.
From the above, one might accurately conclude that Harry Arroyo provided the big detour in the careers of the aforementioned two Charlie's. Heck, numbers don't lie and their fights with Harry were pivotal in a negative way. But what of Harry? Where did he go from here?
After the win against "White Lightening," he defended his title against rock hard Terrence Alli, 24-3-1, from Brooklyn by way of Guyana.The fight took place at Bally's in Atlantic City in January 1985 and for those who were fortunate enough to be there or to witness it on national TV, it was a memorable one with ebb and flow action and incredibly hard punches landing on the heads of the two combatants. Savage and brutal, each fighter took turns hitting the other with sharp combinations and accurate shots. Harry was hurt by a vicious uppercut in the 7th but somehow hung on. In the 11th, with the fight dead even on the judges scorecards, Arroyo, who had been down once, waged a fierce exchange with Alli finally catching him in a corner. Putting his punches together, albeit slowly, he launched a barrage of unanswered punches that snapped Alli's neck back until Referee Tony Perez had no choice but to call a halt to the onslaught at 1:16 in what was hailed as one of the best fights of the year. Both fighters were ready to go at the end;Harry survived.................................but at what cost? He won the battle, but likely lost the war.
While the loss seemingly had no adverse impact on Alli's career (he would go on to win 29 more bouts though his last nine were winless), it was a different story for Harry. In April 1985, and perhaps too soon after the Alli fight, he defended his title against rugged Jimmy Paul, 21-1, again at Bally's. This time he lost a lopsided decision. Paul put Harry down five times to take the IBF title away from him and to signal that perhaps the Alli fight took far too much from him. Affirming this notion, Arroyo's career then went in the same direction as that of the two Charlie's.......and like "Choo Choo" and "White Lightening," he too fell on hard times. Unlike those two, however, Harry's detour resulted from a hard earned win. He went 14-10 the rest of his career. He did pick up the WBC Continental Americas Light Welterweight title from undeafted Rick Souce in 1988 only to lose it two months later by a brutal first round knockout to Loreto Garza, later WBA Junior Welterweight Champion. After dropping a 10 round UD to undefeated Vinny Letizia in 1993, Harry Arroyo called it quits with a fine record of 40 (30 ko's)-11 and a willingness always to fight the very best opposition out there.
He now lives comfortably off his ring earnings with his wife and four children in Ohio and has become involved with law enforcement and religion. Humble, sincere, friendly, and spiritual, he is one of the nicest people to meet and talk with at the annual International Hall Of Fame induction weekend. Though meeting the same boxing fate he rendered onto the two Charlie's, Harry, like too few others, has made a positive transition from boxing to a life after boxing and remains a true credit to the sport. He now enjoys being out of the limelight and with his family and his religion.......and that's a good thing.
"When I was going through my transition of being famous, I tried to ask God why was I here? What was my purpose? Surely
It wasn't just to win three gold medals. There has to be more to this life than that." Wilma Rudolph
Attention is called to an outstanding interview between fellow writer Jim Amato and Harry Arroyo in the ESB archives.
Ted Sares is a boxing historian and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America he can be reached at tedsares@adelphia.net. |
Roy Jones Jr. - Who Next?
30.07.06 - By Ted Sares:
Who Roy Jones should fight next is different from whom we would like him to fight next. Off his fine showing against the limited Prince Badi Ajamu, I submit he should carefully pick one more opponent (some might want to add the word "cherry" before pick) before stepping up in class.................and to me, stepping up in class means fighting the likes of Joe Calzaghe, Glen Johnson, Jeff "Left Hook" Lacy, or Bernard Hopkins.
He has already disposed of Clinton Woods but Woods is vastly improved from that TKO loss and might well fit the "whom" rather than the "who." Robin Reid is another name that pops up though he would be a big underdog, but remember, this is a work in progress.............or at least it should be depending on the demands of Roy's substantial ego. Rubin Williams, 28-2, and coming off a UD over Richard Grant, 19-13-1, would be another nice move on the way to the top. But my pick would be KO artist Alejandro Berrio, 25 (24 ko's)- 4, who recently tko'd the previously unbeaten Yusef Mack, 22-1-2, in spectacular fashion and has a degree of respectability about him based on his opposition, or the undefeated Robert Stieglitz, 28 (18 ko's)-0 who fights out of Germany. Of course, we all know German fighters don't want to fight Roy Jones Jr anywhere but in Germany. Indeed, all of Stieglitz's fights have been in Germany including his last, an 11th round highly controversial TKO win over the aforementioned Berrio in an IBF Super Middleweight Eliminator.
So why consider Berrio over the undefeated but plodding Stieglitz? Because it would be virtually impossible to get the Russian born German to fight outside of Germany and it would be equally difficult and understandable to get Roy to fight in a country known for decisions that seem to go against visiting fighters with alarming frequency. So that kind of leaves Berrio or perhaps Rico Hoye.
But wait, the venerable and tough Syd Vanderpool, 35 (23-ko's)-4, might be available and would be a common opponent vis a vis Bernard Hopkins, though his fight with the "Executioner" was 6 years ago. Rico Hoye, 19 (14-ko's)-1, or even Montell Griffin, 48 (30 ko's)-6, might fit the "who" category quite well. Hoye, out of Detroit, beat Griffin by SD but lost to Clinton Woods by TKO in 5 for the vacant IBF Light Heavyweight Title at the Magna Centre, Rotherham, England last year. His most recent fight was a UD over Derrick Whitley, 24-24-3. Griffin seems to be a on a decline so that fight likely would not be much of a test for Roy.
Lets's sum it up. I like the Colombian Berrio, Stieglitz or Hoye as the next "test" for Roy Jones, Jr......and by "test," I mean a fight to determine whether Roy was really that good or was Badi really that bad? And of the three, Berrio is clearly the most dangerous. Even though not a top level fght, it would be a dangerous one for Roy Jones Jr.
But if you want to play the "whom" game, we have a great "redemption" story if he fights Glen Johnson, and if Johnson fights like he did in the second Tarver fight, Roy just might get his redemption. However, my feeling is that, style- wise, Roy should avoid this fight, particularly because of the way Johnson looked in soundly beating Richard Hall and George Khalid Jones in his last two fights. I believe Roy would have great difficulty holding off the stalking and incoming Johnson.
A Lacy bout would be a classic young fighter vs old fighter story and hold a lot of interest for the fans, but I think Lacy needs another fight before stepping up in weight and stepping in with Jones. Style-wise, his one dimensional attack would seem to be made to order for a fit and ready Jones. However, if you like this one, you have to pass it over and like a Joe Calzaghe vs Roy Jones fight much better. After all, Calzaghe ate Lacy for lunch and a fight between the "Pride of Wales" and Jones would be a better one for the fans, albeit a more dangerous one for Roy. Still, Roy would be more comfortable at 175 than Joe who would be moving up in weight. And what about Woods? No, Jones has already been there and done that.
Of course, if one were to make hypothetical adjustments for moving up or down in weight, all kinds of opponents emerge throughout the world...names like Mundine, Kessler and Beyer, but my suspicion is that Calzaghe and Lacy are the only ones likely to do this in the near future.
So what's left? Well lo and behold, none other than the "retired,"content and smiling Bernard Hopkins looms in the background. Bernard has cemented his place in boxing history and so has Roy.................but a rematch between these two future Hall of Fame inductees would be one for the ages..................and the winner would still have Calzaghe to consider. In my mind, this is clearly the most compelling fight......the one "we all would like to see." If Roy engages his ego, we may well see it next. But if he engages his brain before his ego, the fight he considers next arguably should be with Hoye, Stieglitz or Berrio.....pick em. Either way, it's a treat for the fans.
As fellow writer James Slater says, "the future for Roy Jones, Jr will prove to be very interesting indeed."
The Apparition That Was Bobby Chacon
 28.05.06 - By Ted Sares: Sometimes I have the hubris to think I can write and on certain topics I sometimes seem do a reasonably fair job, that is, unless my friends and readers are patronizing me. But when it comes to my life's true love, boxing, I seem to have all kinds of problems expressing myself. I hope that's not the case here, for this essay is just too special and too spiritual for that to happen. It's about Bobby Chacon and if anyone deserves special treatment, it's Bobby.
Bobby "Schoolboy"Chacon was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame last year and that made me extremely happy. You see, Bobby was my favorite fighter, and since I have watched literally thousands of fights during my 68 years of life and consider myself something of an aficionado, I hope that accolade carries at least a modicum of weight. Hell, I have seen them all; the "bums of a month," the excitement that was Bob Satterfield, the fights between Charles, Louis and Walcott. LaMotta-Robinson, Ward-Gatti, Ward-Green, Ward-Augustus, Zale-Graziano, Correlas-Castillo, Ali-Frazier, Patterson-Johansson, Barrera-Morales. I saw Sugar Ray send Dave Boy Green into dreamland with the perfect left hook......and witnessed the illogic of Hearns putting Duran away with a lethal straight right, and then Duran brutalize Barkley and then Barkley knock out Hearns.
I watched Leotis Martin starch Sonny Liston. Bruce Curry and Monroe Brooks go to the precipice, and Kid Paret, Laverne Roach, Duk Koo Kim, Johnny Owens and Leavander Johnson leave everything in the ring. I witnessed the mind numbing suddenness of the Mesa-Garza fight and the shoot outs between Moorer-Cooper and Lyle-Foreman. The slow slide of Jerry Quarry and too many others. I can sense the early signs......the slurring......the nasal monotone. I saw the epiphany of Foreman. The disappointment that was Tyson. I have been dazzled by the magic, heard the music and seen the dance. I pray for Michael Watson, Gerald McClellan and Greg Page and remember the courage of Robert Wangila, Pedro Alcazar, and Beethoven Scottland. I have seen very good things, some not so good, and some downright ugly, but nothing comes close to what I saw and felt during a period between 1978 and 1982 involving three warriors by the names of Chacon, Limon and Boza-Edwards.
Bobby Chacon was born on November 28, 1951 in Sylmar, CA. He was a tough kid of Mexican-American descent and soon found himself in the gym. He became an amateur Diamond belt champion and fought in National Golden Glove Tournaments in both 1971 and 1972. He turned pro in Los Angeles in 1972 while attending California State University at Northridge thereby acquiring the nickname "Schoolboy."
With a fearless, savage and widely exciting style, he became an immediate fan favorite. While the word "brawler" might best describe him, he was also a crafty slugger who could slip punches off the ropes. Though short, he had a deceptively long reach advantage. He was often willing to absorb heavy punishment in order to mete it out and this likely contributed to his later difficulties. He knocked out 23 of his first 25 opponents, including a TKO over Chucho Castillo and an electrifying, career enhancing 9th round TKO victory over future Hall of Famer Danny "Little Red" Lopez. His only loss at that point was a 9th round stoppage to the very tough Ruben Olivares in 1973. The next year, he stopped Alfredo Marcano in 9 rounds to capture the WBC featherweight crown. He defended successfully against Jesus Estrada but lost the title to rival Olivares in 1975 (whom he finally beat by decision in their third match in 1977).
But the genesis for this story started in 1975 when he took on Rafael “Bazooka”Limon in Mexacali, Mexico. Bobby lost a ten round decision, but it began a four-bout rivalry that compares with the very best in boxing history. Neither boxer liked the other and the word "grudge" was frequently mentioned. The two would fight to a technical draw in 1979. Chacon then stepped up in class and lost to the great Alexis Arguello by knock out in the seventh round. Then, in what would become still another great rivalry, he lost in dramatic fashion by knockout to Ugandan Cornelius Boza-Edwards in the 14th round. Bobby could not come out for the 14th round, His left eye was almost closed and his nose hideously cut. This loss was considered by many as Bobby's swan song, and he was encouraged to take a hard look at getting out, but he would have none of that.
He pulled himself up, put together a string of wins, and began making his way up the rankings again. But during this time, that other story that others so often write about.....the personal and self-destructive side of Bobby's life.....was in upheaval. But unlike others, I will not deal with that, for I truly believe it diminishes that side of Bobby Chacon who was the fighter. Suffice to say his personal life was pure and real tragedy, and I just don't have the inclination (nor perhaps the literary skills) to give it its melodramtic due. If Bobby was no angel in his personal life, he certainly was a lion in the ring and that's where my focus and recollections remain.
Now then, after his loss to Boza-Edwards, his fourth and final bout with Limon was scheduled and fought. According to Ring and KO Magazines and the Ring En Espanol, the fourth Chacon-Limon fight became one of the fights of the year and the decade. First one would get rocked; then the other. Both would be floored. Bobby, was cut, bleeding profusely, pummeled, and ready to go only to come back score his own knockdown. Chacon got up bleeding after knockdowns suffered in rounds 3 and 10 to drop Limon in the closing seconds of round 15, and cinch a close bu undisputed decision.
Surely, had Limon not gone down, Bobby would not have won. I lived in Boston at the time and recall leaping up from my chair, spilling beer and food all over the place and on my friends and screaming unabashedly at the top of my voice, "Get him Bobby, get him, knock him out." And get him he did. The scoring was: Judge Angel L. Guzman 142-141, Judge Carlos Padilla 143-141 and Judge Tamotsu Tomihara 141-140.
This was the fight that turned me from dedicated boxing fan to full fledged addict and I make no apologies for that. This fight, the essence of which was toe to toe, ebb and flow, back and forth action, was breathtaking and I mean that quite lietrally. It was as close as two fearless men can get to death, to the edge, if you will, and still survive. Limon actually had a strange smile on his face as he was knocked down for the last time and was getting up; I swear on a stack of bibles that he smiled at the crowd. It was almost mystical, surreal, whatever label you could put on it. All I know is I will never forget the 15th round of that fight. "I broke down after the Limon fight,” he says. “I didn’t like that guy to begin with and with everything that happened…...I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat........."
Incredibly, Bobby would then go on to defend against Boza-Edwards at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and retain his crown in still another “fight of the year" that had me up and screaming once again. Trading vicious hooks throughout, this one almost equaled the Limon fight for its ebb and flow action and pure savagery. Ring Magazine called this one 1983's fight of the year, the second consecutive one involving Bobby. Once again Chacon rose from a knockdown (this time in the first round) and, despite a deep and dangerous cut, dropped Boza Edwards in round twelve as the crowd roared approval and as Bobby avenged his earlier defeat and retain his WBC junior-lightweight crown. One fight was unreal, but my God, another? How much could you take? Like the Limon fight, the unanimous decision he won against Boza-Edwards was surreal in its spectacularity......but unfortunately that would be the last of Bobby's ring glory.
Stripped of his title in June 1983 for refusing to fight Hector Camacho in his home country of Puerto Rico, Chacon then attempted to win a third world title, but was stopped by lightweight champion Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini in 3 one-sided rounds in 1984 (and as boxing fortune would have it, Greg Haugen would do the same to Mancini in 1992 and then he, himself, woud have the favor returned by Thomas Damgaard in 03). I last saw Bobby fight in 1985 when he exposed and bruatalized up-and-coming Davey Montana in Reno. He won seven consecutive fights against solid competition, including Freddie Roach and Arturo Frias, to close out his career in 1988 with a 59-7-1 (47 KOs) record and a legacy as one of boxing's most exciting and popular fighters.
But his personal life would once again be marred by tragedy when his son was murdered in 1991. Later, Bobby was spotted at a public appearance in 1996 to see the Pay Per View fight between De La Hoya and Chavez. By 2000 he had lost all of his material posesions including his mansion, farm and numerous cars. But far more tragically, he was now, by all accounts, suffering from pugistica demenetia, a condition that sometimes occurs among ex-fighters who take too many blows to the head. Bobby's speech is slurred and thick-tongued, his memory poor and he is now unsteady on his feet. In 2002, USA Today ran a story detaiing his residence in a Los Angeles transient way station, where local non-profit groups buy rooms for the homeless. He was 47 and living on a social security disability pension, and has been seen looking for aluminium cans on the streets and in junk yards to help support himself.
I don't know exactly where he is today, maybe living with his mother. He apparently was seen with Mike Weaver and a group of other former California boxers in 2005 at an autograph signing event in Los Angeles, but I'm not sure I really want to know much more than that. The memories I want are the breathtaking ones of those late afternoons in my den Boston when I watched his life and death struggles with Bazooka Limon and Conrelius Boza-Edwards, struggles in which he stood alone in the middle of the ring more as an apparition than as a boxer and seem to say "come on, let's make this special, I'm willing to pay the price." There stood a warrior resolute and unbowed, there stood a fighter.
Quite simply, Bobby Chacon had the greatest fighting hearts of any boxer I have ever seen. Win or lose, he would give it everything he had. And wherever he is, I know he will wearing his trademark ingratiating smile as he did when he was inducted into the Hall last year.
"As much as I love boxing, I hate it. And as much as I hate it, I love it." Budd Schulberg
Ted Sares is a syndicated writer who can be reached at tedsares@adelphia.net
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Shane Mosley vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr: The Perfect Storm
 20.07.06 - By Ted Sares: The middleweight showdown between Sugar Shane Mosley vs. Fernando Vargas II on July 22 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas affirmed that, like a perfect storm, everything is coming together......just the right things in the mix and with just the right timing. Team Mosley is now running on all cylinders. It will be hard for anyone to slow it down......and that perhaps includes Floyd Mayweather and Antonio Margarito. Let's break it down:
One, Sugar Shane dominated Fernando Vargas from the start and finished him off with one big and deadly left hook in the sixth preceded by a dazzling display of jabs and hand speed throughout the bout. Referee Kenny Bayless stepped in and stopped it 2:38 of the round. This outstanding piece of work was reminiscent of a prime Mosley. Arguably, some might pose the question: was Mosley that good or was Vargas that bad? The thinking here is that Mosley was that good.
Two, he is once again using feints,dazzling speed, quickness, and crafty head and body movement that served him so well in his two wins against Oscar De La Hoya and others.
Three, his creativity and ability to improvise in the ring has returned and adds to his potent arsenal of weapons
Four, he seems very comfortable having his father, Jack Mosley, 61, back in his corner for the first time in two years and if the Vargas fight is any indication, it appears he is back to stay. After all, he is man who directed his son to three world titles and the biggest wins of his career. Unlike the strained relationship between Roy Jones Jr, and his dad, Roy Sr., Shane Mosley, 34, embraces having Jack in his corner. He also is visibly content being promoted by Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins.
Five, Mosley, whose amateur record was an eye popping 230-12, knows his craft inside and out. He is a combination boxer-puncher but trainer Jack believes in power boxing, a method in which punches are thrown at a high rate of speed, most of them power shots with the hand speed generating the superior power. That style has worked well in the past as his son became a lightweight, welterweight, and junior middleweight champion.
Six, if Shane continues to fire wicked combinations that land with authority and if he is able to combine this with his trademark speed and reflexes, he will be every bit the formidable opponent for a Floyd Mayweather Jr who showed something to be desired in his last outing with Zab Judah. Again, a confluence of factors that come together to form a perfect storm.
Seven, a qualitative analysis and comparison of Floyd and Shane's respective opponents suggests that Sugar has fought the tougher ones. Vargas twice, Wright twice, De La Hoya twice, Forrest twice, Jesse James Leija, John John Molina, among others. Mosley has never been known for ducking an opponent.
Eight, Sugar Shane Mosley has his confidence back after his two losses to Winky Wright and an impressive win over strong David Estrada. More importantly, he has his swagger back.
It’s crystal clear the 34-year-old Mosley is still on top of his game and that Team Mosley is turbo charged and aiming in the direction of the man with the heavyweight ego, Pretty Boy Floyd Mayweather, Jr. For his part, Floyd says, "First, I'll beat Shane and then I'll beat his boss [De La Hoya]." Mayweather continues to dismiss a lucrative offer from Bob Arum for a date with tough and rugged Antonio Margarito. At any rate, Mosley is back and that's great news for fight fans and bad news for other boxers in the welterweight division. With memories of Hagler, Hearns, Leonard and Duran looming in the background.....and with Margarito, Mayweather and Mosley now in the mix, it's time to............
"......let's get it on." Mills Lane
Ted Sares is a syndicated writer and boxing historian who can be reached at tedsares@adelphia.net
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The Under Card: "King" Arthur Williams vs Kenny "The Emmett Eliminator" Keene
18.07.06 - By Ted Sares:
More often than not, a decent under card doesn't get its due but that may not be the case on July 29 in Boise, Idaho when King Arthur Williams, 42 (KO's)-14-1, fights "The Emmett Eliminator," Kenny Keene, 51 (KO's)-3. In a 10-round Special Cruiserweight Attraction. The "King," not to be confused with "The Prince" ( Badi of Camden, NJ who is in the main event), has fought top level opponents over the years with names like Imamu Mayfield, Vassiliy Jirov, O'Neil Bell, Steve Little, Dwight Muhammad Qawi and Orlin Norris on his resume, but his best could be behind him.
Williams, who has been fighting since 1989, has been a great favorite in Las Vegas over the years having fought there 21 times. He has now transferred that popularity to his new "home," in Worley, Idaho. In his last fight he beat Gary Gomez, 14-5, on January 20, 2006 at the Coeur d'Alene Casino in Worley by 10 round SD. Prior to that in October 2005, he lost to Felix Cora in the same Casino as he retired in his corner in the 8th. The fight was for the NABF Cruiserweight Title which he had won in June by KO over Ali Supreme again in Worley. He has lost 7 by stoppage.
In one of his many career highlights, he beat Adolfo Washington on January 6, 1998, defending his USBA Cruiserweight Title in a 12 round UD. The fight was also an IBF Title Eliminator.
Kenny Keene, The Emmett Eliminator, has also been fighting for 16 years. His only losses were to to Saul Montana, Bobby Crabtree (whom he beat twice by TKO), and a prime Robert Daniels. Keene, who has been called Idaho's greatest all-time boxer, is now working on an 11 bout unbeaten streak including a TKO victory over well-traveled Tony Menefee, 78 (40 ko's)- 23-1, and tough Rob Calloway, 57 (44 ko's)- 7, for the IBA Cruiserweight Title by UD. His last opponent was John Long,19-8-1, whom he ko' d in six. Curiously, Long's claim to "fame" was losing to aging Thomas Hearns last year by 9th round TKO. The 37 year old "Eliminator" also has been in with some tough customers like Ricky Parkey, JB Williamson, James Pritchard, Rocky Gannon, Dominic Carter, and Rich LaMontagne to name a few. He has never been stopped.
On a qualitative basis, their respective opponents are somewhat close in terms of capabilities, but Williams clearly gets the nod. William's KO percentage, based on total fights, is 51%; Keene's is 52%. No clear cut edge for ether fighter.
Of his 44 fights in Idaho, Keene has won 43 with 25 KO' s. This includes a 22-1 (12 KO's) record in Boise alone. His only loss there was nearly 10 years ago. The hometown advantage belongs to Kenny, though "The King" will have his Idaho fans as well.
One possible wild card is that the Calloway fight is said, by some, to have taken a lot out of Kenny. Having fought a lot of rounds during his long career, this could prove a telling point. Many fighters grow "old" overnight. On the other hand, Williams' recent outings have left something to be desired. Thus, while this fight should not necessarily be termed a crossroads battle, the loser will have to assess his future direction while the winner may seek more nice paydays. Both are experienced and both come to fight. There could be some real rock and roll. Indeed, don't be surprised if the crowd noise exceeds that of the main event; after all, the fans have good reason to cheer these two both of whom have made Idaho their boxing home. There is enough here to make it interesting and well worth the watch.
Oh yes, I almost forgot, there is another fight on this PPV venue. North American Boxing Organization light heavyweight champion Prince Badi "The Boxing Prince" Ajamu, based in Vero Beach, FL, already is training in Boise for this July 29 fight against five-time world champion Roy Jones Jr. This fight will Headline the July 29th "Hold Nothing Back!" pay-per-view show at Qwest Arena. Hopefully, along with other serious boxing fans, I'll be watching BOTH fights.
Ted Sares is a syndicated writer and Boxing Historian who can be reached at tedsares@adelphia.com |
Deja Vu All Over Again
By Ted Sares:
It was July 29, 1997 at the Theater in Madison Square Gardens and my friends and I had great seats. It was time to see what this so called "contender" had......and because I had done my homework, I had serious doubts that he had anything. Right out of the professional gate, he had won 18 in a row, 11 coming by way of first round KO. Only one of his fights went the distance and that was a 4 rounder against the immortal Edgar Turpin (0-6). In all he had fought 29 rounds in 18 fights or 1.6 rounds per fight. "He" was Richie Melito and he was nicknamed "The Bull." He was from Flushing but unlike another fighter from that part of the city, I sensed he was more flash in the pan than flash.
As best I could determine, none of his first 11 opponents had even won a fight. Finally, he fought unknown Chris Gingrow who sported a 1-7 record and dispatched him in one round. He then stepped up and fought tough journeyman Mike Dixon in Memphis and did manage a TKO in 4, his longest fight to date. Dixon, 16-30, had been in with may top level fighters so maybe "The Bull" had a little something after all.
When he fought John Carlo in his 17th fight, it incredibly marked the first time he fought an opponent with a winning record. This fight was for the vacant New York State Heavyweight Title. Carlo's record was 14-2 with his only distinguishing accomplishment being a first round KO over a completely shot Leon Spinks in 1994. It was one of Spink's last fights. Other than that, he had fought no-names with losing records. In fact, Carlo's most recent fight leading up to July 29, 1997 had been against Eddie Curry (13-27-2), out of South Carolina, whom he beat by a TKO in the third round. Tellingly, Curry had lost 17 fights inside of three. Completing the circle, he had even lost to Leon Spinks by DQ in 1994. Prior to"The Bull," Carlo had been defeated by one Derek Amos (14-22) and Crawford Grimsley, both by first round knockout. Grimsley's claim to immortality would be a 13 second knockout at the hands of Jimmy "From Down Under" Thunder! At any rate, "The Bull" beat Carlo by KO in the second round and "captured" the crown.
Clearly, Richie "The Bull" Melito's 18-0 record had been over-hyped by fighting 17opponents with losing records....and most had never even won a professional fight. Their combined won-lost record was 60-138. Now being a betting man, I had done my due diligence....my research. I was poised like a hawk waiting to swoop down on its prey (which in this case consisted of several ill-mannered and, more importantly, ill-informed "fans" from Flushing eager to depart with their money. As W. C. Fields once said, "never give a sucker an even break" and I wasn't's about to. This looked to be a profitable affair because lo and behold, Richie's opponent this night would not be the usual warm body; oh no, it would be tough and seasoned Bert Cooper. The fight would be for Melito's New York State Heavyweight Crown.
Smokin' Bert, a Philadelphia fighter always coming forward and throwing left hooks, had literally fought just about all the name opponents you could come up with. Arguably, there have been few fighters who have fought a tougher schedule. Unlike Melito's fans, it's a good thing I knew about the qualitative nature of his record going into the MSG Theater that hot July evening in New York. Appearing on Coopers resume were names like Moorer, Holyfield, Tillman, Foreman, Carl Williams, Mercer, Orlin Norris, Bowe, Weaver, Joe Hipp, Corrie Sanders, Larry Donald, Jeremy Williams, Chris Byrd, and many more. Interestingly, he beat prospect Willie DeWitt in 1987 in Regina, SK, Canada. DeWitt, a Canadian 1984 Olympic silver medalist was undefeated (14-0-1)and highly touted, but was badly beaten by the rugged Cooper who put him down four times before taking him out in the second. DeWitt had been exposed. I smelled deja vu all over again.
Leading up to this bout, Cooper had lost to Samson Po'uha by 4 round TKO and many thought he was washed up as a competitive fighter having fought too many wars. Fortunately for me, Melito's camp and many of his fans thought so as well. Bert outweighed the short and not-so-ripped Melito by 13 pounds coming in at 232, an observation that also did not escape me. However, something did pass by me and these were rumors allegedly circulating that the "fix" may have been in but the rumors later proved to be false. But false or not, had I known this, all bets would have been off.
But ignorance is bliss and my bets were in. It was fight time.The boxers were given their instructions by Referee Wayne Kelly, the bell rang, and before you could say "deja vu," it was all over in just one minute and fifty one seconds. Cooper had annihilated Melito with a number of brutal shots finishing him off with a debilitating blow to the body that put him down and out. The squat Bull had been exposed! But then, I already knew he would be.
As we left the MSG Theater and headed for cocktails and an expensive steak dinner in one of Manhattan's better restaurants, I lighted up my cigar, this time a 60 ring maduro Gloria. As I collected and counted my winnings. I looked over to my friends, winked and said, "hey, this one is on me tonight."
To Richie Melito's credit, he later fought against much better competition and won nine straight, eight by way of stoppage. In fact, he won the vacant IBF/USBA Northeastern Regional Heavyweight Title in April 1999 by beating Don Steele (45-6) in Myrtle Beach, SC. His last fight, according to my research, was a win against Damon Reed (41-11) in 2001. I don't know whether he plans to fight again.
Bert Cooper would go on to lose five of his last seven bouts before closing out his career in a TKO loss to Darroll "Doing Damage" Wilson in 2002. He would finish with a 36 (30-KO)-22 record.
"It's morally wrong to allow a sucker to keep his money." W.C. Fields
An unsolicited Book Review by Ted Sares: "From the Streets to the Ring: A Son's Struggle to Become a Man"Harper Collins, 2006, By Teddy Atlas, Peter Alson
The best way to start this review is to recite those lyrics from a famous Sinatra tune, ".........I'll do it my way.........," and that's what this book is really about. Teddy Atlas doing it his way, even when it meant emotionally draining confrontations and walking away from big paydays.
Though almost borderline "feel good" in certain chapters, I found this book to be an excellent and, at times, even riveting read that makes you anxious to watch Teddy analyze his next fight because now you have a much better foundation for understanding his complex persona. The book reveals more about the fiber and makeup of the author than it does about the activity in which he made his living for thirty years. The exception was when he discussed his complex relationship with Michael Moorer where both his compassion and his well documented stubbornness revealed itself, as well as his great technical grasp of boxing. While Teddy was being honest with himself when he walked away from Moorer after the Vaughn Bean fight, he also walked away from a hugh payday, one that might have "taken him over the top." But more to the point, it would have taken his family over the top and it at least plants a seed of doubt as to the wisdom Teddy's priorities.
While I could have done without the chapter devoted to Sammy "The Bull" Gravano (whose place in infamy is cemented), the chapters that deal with his relationship with Cus D'Amato in the Catskills and his interactions with a young Mike Tyson are particularly interesting..............and to his credit, the authors avoid vilifying or demonizing Tyson the way some might have expected. The impression, and a correct one, is that this book is not about Tyson; it's about Teddy Atlas' "struggle" to become a man............but herein lies the rub. Teddy's rough early life on the streets was his doing and he has to be accountable for it. If helping young people find a better direction in their lives though boxing is an outgrowth of that early life, then he has indeed resolved that accountability.
The author Is a pretty unforgiving, albeit emotional, chap and I sometimes wondered, as I read through the chapters, whether he really understood that life sometimes involves compromise and that sometimes winning the war means losing a few battles. On the other hand, who can argue with his successes and, as much of the narrative discloses, he achieved much personal gratification from wanting and meeting the challenge of getting somebody to become the best they can become or overcoming themselves to get to a spot where they can be effective. Indeed, describing his relationship with the Shamrock Express, Chris Reid, is nothing short of poignant.
It's clear that Teddy has left a bridge for the next chapters in his life........and the hints as to where he might go next are intriguing to say the least, though it's also clear that he has fallen in love with being a color analyst and as he says, " I'll stand behind the microphone right now, where nobody can talk back, at least not too much!"
In sum, Teddy Atlas comes off in this book as a person who is very aggressive and opinionated, but also very honest and with great personal integrity. Whatever he says, he does not sugarcoat it and, above all, the fact he is acting in the best interests of both his fighters and boxing itself is manifest. More importantly, the book makes it crystal clear that he did it his way. Bottom line, the book is well worth the price.
On the Edge
By Ted Sares
Buddy McGirt once said, "I remember my fight with him like it was yesterday, He came up to me before the fight and asked for my autograph. He was wearing a cowboy hat, cowboy boots, had a chew of tobacco in his mouth and a cup in his hand. He definitely could have been someone to look out for. He had an awkward style, but he could sure fight."
Buddy could have added that he shared something with the likes of Danny "Little Red" Lopez, Bobby Chacon, Saad Mohammed, Tito Trinidad and Arturo Gatti. He had that knack......that special flair for the dramatic.....of coming back from the brink of defeat to take his opponent out in breathtaking fashion. Only a fool would ever count him out. With a no-defense, full-offense brawling style, he would take take several blows to land one of his heavy handed straight rights. Hanging tough, he would suddenly and dramatically turn the tables at the end. Once he had his opponent hurt, he would close things out decisively.
He had emerged seemingly out of nowhere as one of the fight game's most exciting, tough-as-nails welterweights and the fans came to love him both as a fighter and as a young man with an obvious big heart, full of personality and promise. He was the quintessential blood and guts warrior who, like the aforementioned fighters, always seemed to grab victory from the throes of defeat. His come from behind victories over Anthony Stephens, Adrian Stone, and, in his final fight, Nick Rupa, won him not only the USBA welterweight title, but a hugh fan following throughout the boxing world and the ESPN circuit. Possible big fights were on the horizon and names like Tito Trinidad and Yori Boy Campas were being mentioned. In boxing parlance, he was a hot property. Hell, He was Gatti before Gatti.
He was also a loving son and was from a close knit family, but from another perspective, he lived his life freely......the way he wanted to, on the edge, the wild and dangerous side, but as his boxing success increased, his personal life seemed to be stabilizing somewhat. Though, as his brother related, "settling down and going to work wasn't part of his life. He had several jobs, he was one of the best roofers in the County, but that just didn't appeal to him." By some accounts, he was also robbing drug dealers, an activity that can have the most serious of repercussions. Allegedly, he would do this in a dangerous, crime ridden area of his town known as "The Bottoms."
He became a professional boxer at age 21 on July 13, 1987 against Billy Pryor whom he knocked out in the third round in Mobile, Alabama. He knocked out his next four opponents. After these bouts, he was a bit inconsistent, though extremely exciting, winning some and losing to rugged Canadian Stephane Ouellett, and then to Eric Holland in a televised slugfest from Philadelphia in August 1994 featuring savage back-and-forth exchanges. Curiously, Holland, a bright prospect, would never be the same after this brutal bout. Things changed for the better on January 4, 1994, when he fought tough Buddy McGirt in Florida. Even though he lost a ten round decision, he gained respect from those who witnessed the fight, but more importantly, he gained self-confidence knowing he could hang tough with somebody as capable as McGirt. I recall the look on Buddy's face toward the end of that fight and it was one of extreme caution and fear as he was being stalked until the final bell. I sensed something........here was someone to keep an eye on.
Things exploded quiet literally on October 26, 1994 when he fought Anthony Stephens for the USBA Welterweight Title. The fight was televised on ESPN. In a previous bout, Stephens had knocked Felix Trinidad off his feet before before being ko'd by Tito. Coming from behind, he savaged Stephens, knocking him down an astounding five times before the fight was mercifully halted in the twelfth and last round. Becoming the new USBA champion, he was now looking ahead to better fights and bigger paydays.
His next fight on April 7, 1995 against a streaking prospect from the UK named Adrian "The Predator" Stone reinforced his growing reputation for the dramatic. The undefeated Stone was the favorite, and in the early goings, he lived up to his billing giving him a solid beating. But he kept his cool, regrouped and suddenly, like a lightening bolt, took command winning by a sensational knockout in round ten. As is my wont, I was up and screaming at the end, hardly believing the sudden turn of events. One thing was now certain; he had become one of my very favorite fighters. I had found my Bobby Chacon and Saad Muhammad all wrapped into one fighter
After quickly disposing of Kenny Lewis, he then faced capable veteran Nick Rupa on July 7, 1995 in what would turn out to be his last fight. True to form, he was losing the fight, but suddenly turned the tables and ko' d Rupa in round seven.... and he did it it in front of his proud family. It was Rupa's first stoppage loss and he too would never be the same fighter. I could hardly wait for his next fight.
It would never come. Sadly, seventeen days after the Rupa fight, my favorite fighter was missing. Between July 24 and August 11, 1995, boxing had lost one of its grittiest warriors, but his parents, three younger brothers, wife and child, lost
far more. His truck was found on the railroad tracks outside of town where some speculated a "fierce battle" had taken place. Days later, his body was found in a swamp.The autopsy revealed he had received a blunt trauma to the head, but not one that would have resulted in his death. More than ten years later, the circumstances surrounding his death remain the subject of much speculation and have been detailed by far better writers than I and I'll leave that part of the unfinished and highly complex tragedy to them.* Suffice to say the pathos, intrigue and cross currents are the stuff of movies and best sellers.
One account I came across indicated that after he was found in the swamps, his body was loaded onto the back of a train engine and taken home to Mobile, Alabama as the sun was setting in the distant western sky. If so, then the man for whom he was named, the Outlaw Jesse James, must surely have been smiling down on the Outlaw Jesse James Hughes who lived like he fought...........on the edge.
"Boxing has become America's tragic theater." Joyce Carol Oates
*See: "Ten Years Later: Death of Jesse James Hughes Remains a Mystery" by Sean Newman, May 10, 2005.
By Ted Sares
The other night I was playing in a Texas Hold ' em tournament and was taking a pretty good beating. I had lost most of the early rounds because my opponents were throwing wild shots and making (and winning) wild bets. It took some time to make the necessary adjustments. It was like fighting off the ropes landing an occasional counter or short inside uppercut but nothing big. I was taking two blows for every one I landed. Then, out off desperation, I started a rope-a dope strategy, dropping out early if my pocket cards were weak and playing only strong cards. Finally I started landing (and winning) more than I was receiving (and losing), gradually working myself to the center of the ring where I went from short to medium stack with my chips. I was coming back and making a solid fight of it. By then a few others had been blown away, and only five of us remained. All tough; all seasoned; all mean.
Finally, like a boxer waiting for his opportunity, I saw the opening I was waiting for all night. And like a boxer, I don't believe in the happenstance of luck. I believe luck is being prepared and ready when opportunity presents itself. That's exactly what happened here, or at least that's what I thought had happened.
After we touched gloves and the small and big blinds were put in, the cards were dealt. The initial bets were made, though two players dropped out leaving three to fight on. I was dealt the 4 and Aceof spades in the pocket and had a remote chance for a flush and decided to stay with that possibility being the main incentive. Moreover, with an Ace, you have take a peak at the flop, don't you? And that's when my "luck" changed.............for the better.
After the referee (er the dealer) confirmed that the pot was right, he dealt the flop in Vegas style flipping over three card all at once. It unveiled a 7, 6, and 8. I no longer had a chance for a flush, but with a 4, I now had a decent chance at a straight. if I got a 5 on the turn, I would have it and then take matters into my own hands. Lo and behold, I got it! So from that point forward, it was a different kind of fight with a different kind of fight plan. Now it was all about taking control and betting. And boy did I ever bet, "sucking" the others into a very generous pot....heck, the worse I could do would be to split it. It was like going into the 10th round with an insurmountable lead.......and even with a couple of knockdowns, the decision was in the bag. What a great feeling. The river card was another 6 that paired with one from the flop. It seemed inconsequential (I really wasn't even paying all that much attention since I had my sweet straight) so it was time to go for the kill......the knockout. I went all in with all my chips. But to my surprise, so did the remaining players. I was expecting it from the guy to my right who had been feinting and bluffing all night and I suspected he might have a straight going as well. But remember, even if he did, I was holding that sweet ace for back-up.
But it was the guy to my left that I should have been watching. Instead of quitting on the stool like Tyson against McBride, he stayed in. There was a 5, 7, 8, and a pair of 6's showing. I mean, how in the hell could I lose? Even of he had a set (three of a kind) of 6's, he was a goner.
Then, the moment of truth arrived. Time to turn over our cards. I looked to my right. To my pleasant surprise, all he had was a pair of Kings. He was bluffing and he got caught by my full-throttle offense, no defense style of play. I was Danny "Little Red" Lopez and he was Jose Torres. I had come the floor to beat him and he was done. I had knocked him out. It felt great.
As I was reaching for the monster pot that would now make me the tournament winner and pay for a month of premium cigars, I heard those tentative, albeit deadly and final, words from the guy to my left.............."just hold on there one minute........." Oh, oh, something was very wrong here.
I guess I had lost my focus in that last round and didn't see it coming. But he did. He flipped over his pocket cards and there they were. The knockout punch hit me squarely is the sweet point of my jaw and rendered me speechless, no small feat. He had the third 6 and another 8 which gave him a full boat (officially known as full house when you have three of a kind and two of a kind). He had three 6's and two 8's...............good enough to take me out in the last round of a fight I thought I had in the bag.
I got blind sided by a full boat. I was Gabe Ruelas and I got knocked out cold by Arturo Gatti's left hook! And that's just the way it happens. It's always the punch you didn't see coming that does it.
"The commonest mistake in history is underestimating your opponent; it happens at the poker table all the time." ~David Shoup
The Night The Tiger Roared
By Ted Sares
I suppose a good title for this piece might be, "The Greatest Fighter Nobody Ever Heard About," but that's not the angle I am going to pursue. I'd rather concentrate on a fight and a fighter in an attempt to extract some measure of excitement from what I witnessed on television from the Aladdin Theatre in Las Vegas on December 11, 1976. They almost pulled a Heidi at the end, but thankfully I was able to see this bout to its amazing conclusion. Now I just got through watching the video again, but I can't really believe what I saw...................and I thought I had seen just about everything. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Roy "Tiger" Williams was a classic Philadelphia fighter except for one thing. Most of his wars were fought in the gym and Roy was known throughout the boxing world as the toughest gym fighter around and someone you might want to spare with to prepare for a rough fight. In Zaire, for example, Ali sparred with big Roy and told the media that Williams was bigger, stronger, tougher, and hit harder than Foreman. Probably hype, but maybe not. Roy was both big (6'5) and scary looking. He also had great hand speed, threw punches in combinations, and had a short and deadly left hook that he launched with incredible speed. To make scary matters even scarier, he made a loud grunting sound everytime he threw a punch.
Williams was always known as a very moody, temperamental person and much of this may have had to do with treatment he received from Ali, for it was rumored that Ali abused him physically in sparring and verbally in camp. Williams also thought Ali owed him money and that he and Ali sparred 10 rounds two days in a row, both trying to hurt the other and at the end. Ali paid the Tiger what the he wanted. At any rate, Roy was feared or avoided by most of the fighters of his era. Perhaps with better handling and management he could have been a top contender or beyond. Though he haunted the gyms, he did have a stamina problem that probably could be traced to poor conditioning.
The following quote from Ernie Shavers book, "Facing Ali," attests to Roy's reputation: "Ali had a sparring partner named Roy "Tiger" Williams. He said, 'If you beat Tiger Williams, I'll give you a shot.' I knew Tiger Williams. He was a tough, tough guy. So I made my mind up I would knock this guy out........." And that brings us to December 11, 1976 at the Aladdin.
The bell rang and Ernie started strong and hit Roy with some of his patented bombs but the Tiger was going nowhere. He had never been stopped but he had never faced a fighter with Shaver's one punch power. As the fight progressed, a ever-so-subtle change occurred around the 8th round as Ernie began to tire and the Tiger began to snap his punches off with more authority all the time grunting with each punch................uhuu, uhuu, uhuu. (Ernie had built up his upper body with weights and commentator Jerry Quarry suggested such a technique could tighten up Ernie's muscles and tire him out.)
In any event, the Tiger was beginning to roar. The ninth round saw a big change both ways. The Tiger started strong and landed a number of solid shots He seemed in charge but then tired midway though the round and Ernie came on, bombing away and Roy had to hold on and regroup. With about a minute to go, it happened. Roy snapped off one of the hardest left hooks I have ever seen and staggered Ernie who was now in big trouble. After some follow-up shots, Shavers looked ready to go as Tiger mixed short left hooks with two or three short right leads on top of Shaver's shaven head. Ernie had no answer and likely was saved by the bell. He staggered back to his corner a very tired boxer. The crowd, which included Joe Louis, was up and roaring; they were anticipating the kill. Clearly, this was the Tiger's time.
The last round began and Shavers came out visibly exhausted while Williams appeared confident and ready to end matters and finally emerge as a serious heavyweight contender. He quickly moved Ernie into a corner and applied brutal, non- stop punishment until the Referee called a standing 8 count. Tiger thought the fight had been stopped, turned around and raised his hands in victory but when he turned back to see a determined Shavers still standing, his spirit visibly sagged. Still, he came on and hit Shavers with blows that would surely have knocked out anybody else. Then, all of a sudden, Ernie started to connect with some medium hard blows to Roy's body which slowed him down. Then Ernie connected with one of his deadly uppercuts with Tiger on the ropes and it straightened him up. He was now hurt and Ernie sensed it. He moved the Tiger into a corner and began throwing his own bombs. Roy Tiger William could not withstand the ferocious onslaught and the Referee now gave him a standing eight, incredibly the second in the round! Ernie stood poised, albeit exhausted, and ready to go. As the referee ordered Roy to begin fighting he took a step forward, hesitated, and then collapsed in the corner a beaten man. Ernie sagged over the ropes too tired to celebrate. The fight was over. Ernie had won, but the Tiger had indeed roared.
As Shavers would later say, "......I trained hard. The first eight rounds, I was ahead on points. He came back in the ninth and the beginning of the tenth, and damned near destroyed me. But I knew I had to win for the Ali fight. They gave me a standing eight count, asked me questions, asked my name, where I was fighting, who I was fighting? I said Las Vegas, Ernie Shavers, Roy Williams. So I knew then, I had to go on the chin and stop him. He came forward toward me and I stepped in and hit him on the chin and I hurt him. And that's when God gave me the strength, and I stopped him."
Roy would close out his career with seven straight wins, 6 by ko. His final record was a decent 30 wins (22 by ko's ) and 6 Losses. Among his opponents were the capable Harold Carter, Larry Holmes, Jimmy Young, Jeff Merritt, Bob Stallings, and Henry Clark. I believe he nows lives in Las Vegas. Shavers, of course, got his fight with Ali...............and God knows he earned it. He would finish with a marvelous record of 74 wins (an astounding 68 by ko), 14 losses and one draw.
Arguably, Ernie Shavers might have been the best heavyweight who never won a title. On the other hand, Roy Tiger Williams might well have been one of the best fighters nobody ever heard of.
"I wouldn't drive through Philadelphia because I didn't want to take a chance on running into Williams." Ernie Shavers
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