Antonio Escalante Vs. Miguel Roman

Last night on ESPN was a candidate for Fight of the Year, if not for Fight of the Century.  It was in the 126 pound class but you’d never know it.   Non-stop action and more fury than a combat zone.   Escalante emerged the winner but this was one of those fights when there were two winners.

Miguel “Mickey” Roman advanced like General Patton the whole night through to ten rounds.  Apparently, these guys knew each other since they were little kids in Juarez, Mexico.  They had street fights then—it must have been like unrequited love the way they went at it.

You’ve got to love both these warriors.  Escalante is a beautiful fighter, a champion with all the tricks, and some bad punching to boot.

Miguel Roman ought to be nicknamed something more than “Mickey” –unless that references “slip you a Mickey”…one of those Knockout Drops they used to lay on you in those old-time crime flicks.   Man, what a furious little beast, determined and powerful, going at the body with both hands on the inside.   

Roman went down once in a flurry of punches—in the late rounds.   Escalante staggered at times, looked a little woozy.  I got a little woozy just watching it.  There was no layoff in intensity, not for a  brief moment.  The boxing people got PPV all wrong—where people pay good money for ho-hum fights when you can watch action like this for free.  

The arena was packed.  Two guys fighting for heart and pride.   Enough cannot be said for the two of them..

Yuri Foreman Fights Miguel Cotto and a Bar Mitzvah

Does Yuri Foreman have a chance against Miguel Cotto? Sure, he does but it depends on how much Cotto has left from his earlier battles. I would guess that a guy like Cotto has plenty in reserve to take on the undefeated 28-0 Foreman. The reason the fight is attractive is because Foreman is another in a long line of Jewish fighters who gained notoriety.

Foreman’s quick, tireless, and energetic but, having no more than 8 KO’s in his 28 wins, you’d have to say he depends on volume not power to dispatch opponents.

I expect Cotto will be effective burrowing inside, muting the snap of Foreman’s punches. Should be great for Cotto fans—the fight is on June 5 at Yankee Stadium in New York City. Man, I wish I was a rich Boricueno…. I wouldn’t mind being there…

I hope they get that Bar Mitzvah thing straightened out. Foreman’s sin slate would look tarnished if the kid being Bar Mitzvah-ed couldn’t have that booking date. Foreman’s strongest desire, right up there with being a champ is to be a Rabbi. A Rabbi you wouldn’t want to argue with….

Muhammad Ali Belongs to History

A Smithsonian tribute...

Travis Kauffman Heads Feb 27 Allentown Fight Card

Heavyweight Travis Kauffman heads a fight card February 27 at the Rodeway Inn in Allentown. This should be interesting as the 18-1 son of Reading trainer Marshall Kauffman sustained his first setback against Tony Grano last year. That explains the "1." Kauffman has some flash, has good size, moves wel, and exhibits sharp punching. The issue with comeback fights, however, is how well a guy can get back from a loss, how well they can put the psychological damage behind them.

The fight card also features Jason Cintron, brother to Kermit "the Killer" Cintron. It gets a double plus because it's got an amateur boxoff as an added attraction. Amateur boxing programs are very important, and from personal experience, Travis Kauffman spares no efforts in bringing his young amateur teams to maturity.