The Meaning of a Punch

Alex Morris writes an arresting portrait of 16-year-old amateur boxer Nisa Rodriguez, capturing the pitfalls and frustrations faced by women boxers. Telling photos add dimension to a world closed to the salon set. Morris' strong narrative features the usual gym characters: flamboyant boxing promoters, strutting gangstas, and dysfunctional families battling poverty and a lack of prospects. Rodriguez herself, who must spar with men in a sport short on females, shines through with hope and courage.
in New York by Alex Morris, 26 November 2007
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Pocono Challenge IV: Boxing at the Big Wheel

POCONO CHALLENGE IV





The Jesse Harris Boxing Team will be hosting its fourth boxing show at The Big Wheel on North 5th Street in Stroudsburg on Saturday, December 1. Some quick notes:

• Doors open at 6:00 p.m with the first bout set to begin at 7:00 p.m.

• Five fighters from the Jesse Harris Boxing Team are scheduled to compete. Interesting newcomers are John Grimaldi and Jarod Sharp. You’ll see that “new” doesn’t necessarily mean “inexperienced.” Jarod will be starting at ESU in January, and Joe is at NCCC. For Grimaldi, this will be his first bout with USA Boxing. The Pocono Mountain southpaw has been working hard at the gym and getting "A"s in school. Lucas Robinson will also compete--he's from Pedone's Heavy Hitters and will be making his debut on the Jesse Harris boxing card.


• Jeremy Kramer has returned to the ring after a hiatus and still looks sharp. Jeremy’s a hard worker, as most boxers must be. Jeremy juggles boxing with a nearly full-time job, and studies at East Stroudsburg University. Another returning fighter is Navy veteran Joe Boneillo, another ESU student, motivated to box by the childhood memory of a relative in the fight game.


• Another thing to look forward to is that Open Class fighter, R.J. Sockwell will be fighting his last match as an amateur. Sockwell’s been boxing the pros in frequent sparring sessions around the country, so the move to professional boxing is a logical step. Sockwell comes from a boxing family and has it in his genes. A while back, R.J introduced me to his cousin, heavyweight Monte Barrett, and also to Zab Judah. Both of these well-known fighters had, like myself, gone to watch Sockwell compete in the New York PAL semi-finals in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn. It should be an interesting match. With RJ's spreading reputation, there are lots of boxers wanting to take Sockwell down.

• Another Stroudsburg boxing team will have fighters on the card. Danny Sandoz of Pedone’s Heavy Hitters will be featured in the 110 pound class. Danny’s trained by Brian Pedone of East Stroudsburg. You wouldn’t think a guy in Sandoz’ weight class could punch so hard, but you’d be wrong. Another competitor from Pedone's boxing club is Lucas Robinson.

As of this writing, arrangements are still being made to find an opponent for heavyweight Anthony "Jug" Himelright. Anthony was disappointed last time around when his opponent failed to show. This time, Xtreme Fitness owner and boxing impresario Jesse Harris has lined up two possible opponents for Himelright.

"I hope they both show up," says the volatile Himelright with the characteristic wide grin.


• Other PA boxing teams which will participate in the event include the Harrisburg Boxing Club, Bozy’s Dungeon of Philadelphia, Blaze Boxing in Lancaster, Tiger Schulman’s gym in Allentown, Simmerall's Gym from Scranton, PA. Participating New Jersey teams are from New Brunswick and Pleasantville, NJ.


• Tickets for the bouts are $20.00 with Ringside Tables for $25.00.


• Tickets can be purchased at the Big Wheel or at Jesse Harris Xtreme Fitness on Rte 209 south of Stroudsburg (formerly known as the JBA Gym).





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The Big Wheel is located by heading North from Stroudsburg on North Fifth Street (also known as Rte 191). There's always some confusion (my own) about whether the Big Wheel is in Stroudsburg or East Stroudsburg. Don't worry about it. It's straight out from 5th Street, just a little past Stoke Mill Road. For BOXING INFORMATION call JESSE HARRIS XTREME FITNESS AT 570-421-7611.

The Lions of Madison Square Garden: Cotto and Mosely

The lions fought toe-to-toe in Madison Square Garden last night as Miguel Cotto battled to a unanimous but close decision against Sugar Shane Mosely, one of the world’s best fighters. Mosely’s 44-5 record doesn’t say it all for him and boxing insiders recognize him for the true champion he is. Mosely’s defeats came from serendipity, from rising to insurmountable challenges, from a refusal to take the easy routes that others with better win-loss records would have taken.

For that matter, Miguel Cotto seems to have metamorphosized from a block of stone, a dauntless throwback fighter who speaks softly and takes no prisoners. There’s not a wall or a block of stone anywhere that Miguel Cotto wouldn’t go up against with his fists and his iron will. The quiet, unadorned American champion from Puerto Rico does not have the outgoing personality of his predecessor, Felix Trinidad, but he’s gone further into the dark night of visceral struggle than anyone in modern boxing history. Miguel Cotto is quick to express his admiration of Trinidad but says:

“I’m Miguel Cotto. I’m not Felix Trinidad.”

The thousands of fans at Madison Square Garden and millions more in America already know that. Miguel Cotto may have a setback along the way to boxing greatness, but he’s gotten up off the deck to win before. As with all lions, he is made up of tooth and claw and an indomitable heart.

Calzaghe Defeats Mikkel Kessler in Denmark November 3

Joe Calzaghe’s defense of his super middleweight title wasn’t exactly a walk in the park but it had a predictable ending. He struggled through the early rounds trying to avoid Mikkel Kessler’s right hand rocket shots, but gained ground through the middle rounds on ring experience and boxing skills.

Keller found a temporary solution to Calzaghe’s habit of leaning too far forward—the right uppercut. After a late discovery of that punch, he used it effectively until the more experienced Calzaghe made an adjustment. After that, it was experience all the way which won the rounds for Calzaghe, peppering with jabs, lots of body movement, and plenty of punches.

Give Kessler his props, though, there’s no quit in the boy. Kessler had a resurgent twelfth round in which he tracked Calzaghe with his body radar to mount a hard punching and furious attack.

Final thoughts: Fire Howard Lederman from HBO. That screeching voice and continuing cheerleading for the popular favorite makes him a useless sidetrip and obstacle to boxing enjoyment. If ever there’s been a guy who has no insight into a fight, it’s Lederman. He had Kessler winning only two rounds at the end of the fight. What on earth does that man do to keep his job? The official judges had the fight much closer than Lederman did, and the official judging was about right in my book.

RJ Sockwell Breaking It Down on the Mosely-Cotto Fight

Blogging's a lot of fun. From blogging, I've learned a lot about writing and a lot about boxing. I often consult with other people at the gym to get opinions and ideas about where this is going. RJ Sockwell's one of the people I often talk to. Sockwell often gives me a different insight into the world of boxing. So it seemed natural that I'd ask him to write an article for us about the upcoming Mosely-Cotto fight. Here's RJ's commentary:

Fast & Furious" is the way HBO is billing the fight between two mega-stars of the Welterweight Division, Miguel Cotto and "Sugar"Shane Mosely. Lets start with champion, Miguel Cotto, and his record of (30-0, 25 KOs). The current undefeated WBA world welterweight champion is a devastating puncher but he’s most effective to the body. Cotto’s performance in his last fight on June 9th against my man Zab "Supa"Judah, former two-division world champion, ended up in a 11th round knockout. That shot Cotto directly into superstardom.

I feel that Cotto doesn’t have the greatest chin in the world and that will be the way Shane will get him out. Let’s take a look at the 3rd generation "Sugar", Mr. Mosely himself (44-4, 37 KOs ) , a three-division world champion. He had a few big performances in recent years most notably against Oscar de la Hoya and Fernando Vargas. Mosely fought both those opponents twice each, as well as world champions Phillip Holiday, Raul Marquez, Jesse James Leija and John John Molina. That’s not to mention Mosley’s victory overt Luis Collazo for the WBC Interim Welterweight title.

Let me break it down for you on the Mosely-Cotto fight:

Mosely will start strong and finish the exact same way. Cotto will start slowly as usual but will land those oh so effective body shots early on to try and slow Mosely down bc Mosely has the speed of a 07 Ferrari. For the first four rounds, I see Mosely beating Cotto to the punch. You never know how Cotto will respond to that constant pressure along with the fact that Cotto punches in between his opponent’s punches. I have Mosely winning the fight by knockout in the 10th round !

It’s not what I think, at least not on the bigger scale of things. What do you guys think after reading my analysis? I urge you to visit the poll over on the right and vote for who you think will win. And don’t forget to tune in to HBO PPV on sat. Nov. 10 for what could be the Fight of the Year.