Thursday, July 30, 2009
International Boxing Hall of Fame: - Associated Content
International Boxing Hall of Fame: - Associated ContentClick on the headline--this is an article I wrote for an Associated Content website--tells you about the Boxing Hall of Fame in Canistota, NY.
International National Boxing Hall of Fame, Canistota, New York
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Pro boxer Vernon Forrest fatally shot in Atlanta | ajc.com
Pro boxer Vernon Forrest fatally shot in Atlanta | ajc.comIt kind of really sucks that we lost Gatti to a murder and now, Vernon Forrest. Vernon was a genius kind of fighter who could figure out the other guy and make him pay. What else could account for his two wins over the great Shane Mosely? Also notable is the way he took on Mayorga and made him look rough (which he is) and unschooled (which he was, last time I looked).
To me, those were greater accomplishments than his win over Sergio Mora, which brought him more notoriety because of Mora's participation on Ray Leonard-Sly Stallone Contender Series.
My condolences to Vernon Forrest's family and friends, as little as that may help.
To me, those were greater accomplishments than his win over Sergio Mora, which brought him more notoriety because of Mora's participation on Ray Leonard-Sly Stallone Contender Series.
My condolences to Vernon Forrest's family and friends, as little as that may help.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
In Memoriam: Arturo Gatti
Late in his ring career, Gatti was soundly defeated by Floyd Mayweather, Jr. but exhibited the highest standards of courage and determination in his three battles with the legendary Irish Mickey Ward. Gatti was one of a kind, and while the media has not paid as much attention to him as it has to football stars like Michael Vick or the late Brian McNair, the boxing world mourns the death of this great champion.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Christy Brunner : Victor in Battle of Lancaster
This girl Christy has a winning personality and a fighting spirit. She didn't let a previous setback stop her from making Catherine Beck wish she were somewhere else this night. Christy was always strong and athletic, but looks hard to beat as she uses her boxing skills to outclass and outpunch an opponent who showed great heart.
Ivan Matute -- Fast and Furious
I met Ivan in two different gyms. He's currently at Brian Pedone's where I had a chance to work with him just a little. He's coming along very well under Brian's excellent tutelage and positive influence. Ivan came to the PA gyms with some experience in the sport from when he lived in New York. Check him out...he's nice...
Josh Rivera--Young, Well-Schooled, and Determined
I don't know if the young Mr. Rivera is 14 or whether he's turned 15, but he's shown steady improvement, a great work ethic, natural athletic talent, and fierce determination. The opponent was no shrinking violet and brought a lot of fight to this match.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Pacquiao KOs Hatton--Who Knew?
I did, and so did a lot of other people. I didn't pay for the fight and didn't see it yet but Hatton is unidirectional. He could probably beat a guy who just stood there and didn't punch back. Punching back against Pacquiao was probably a little bit like punching a puff of smoke. In this case, the smoke punched back. If you've seen Manny Pacquiao fight, you've seen he is capable of volcanic explosion.
If you looked at the Hatton-Mayweather fight, you would see Hatton lunging toward Mayweather in a corner. In my memory, I keep thinking I see Mayweather grinning. Then boom, it's over!
Freddie Roach must have seen Mayweather grinning before he knocked Hatton out. In the pre-fight hoopla, I saw Freddie Roach grinning, too. And this time I wasn't day-dreaming.
I'm glad Ricky Hatton made 7 or 8 million from the fight. Not bad for what Mayweather calls a good "class-B fighter."
If you looked at the Hatton-Mayweather fight, you would see Hatton lunging toward Mayweather in a corner. In my memory, I keep thinking I see Mayweather grinning. Then boom, it's over!
Freddie Roach must have seen Mayweather grinning before he knocked Hatton out. In the pre-fight hoopla, I saw Freddie Roach grinning, too. And this time I wasn't day-dreaming.
I'm glad Ricky Hatton made 7 or 8 million from the fight. Not bad for what Mayweather calls a good "class-B fighter."
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Broadway Boxing from B.B. King's in New York
I'm at a burn-out crossroads with boxing so it's refreshing to watch the new young guns (and some older ones) on Broadway Boxing. Interesting matchups last night. I liked the 4-rounders by virtual unknowns--that's sometimes more exciting than the "big names." Put me on your mailing list--we're in Pennysylvania but fully intend to make it over there on some fine evening...
BTW, what's up with Curtis Stevens. I've heard nothing lately.
BTW, what's up with Curtis Stevens. I've heard nothing lately.
Monday, April 13, 2009
HBO Saturday Night: Paul Williams Decisions Winky Wright
It was the type of fight that appeals more to inveterate boxing fans than the World's Best KOs Crowd. Wright is a specialist, one of boxing's top surgeons, but it looked a bit as if he'd been suffering from a hangover when he faced a busy Paul Williams.
Seeing Paul Williams in fast action was almost enough to make you forget about his whipping against an inspired and much shorter Carlos Quintana a while back. Williams was looking like everything they say he is against Wright, who may have been sluggish due to a long layover, but had his stuff working as usual. It was the famed Wright defenses which kept him from getting KOd but his face looked battered at the end. The thing I liked about Williams is that he seemed to be enjoying himself in the ring, and smiled amiably several times while walkig toward his corner. Williams' athleticism is akin to that of Jermaine Taylor's but "The Punisher" seems to have developed a great deal of restraint after his upset by Quintana. He knows when to hold 'em and knows when to fold 'em. Meanwhile, Williams pivoted fluidly out of tight spots and left Wright looking like he needed a GPS to track him.
Winky didn't look bad at all, I thought, just slower and much less productive as you would expect from a 37 year old. Williams, meanwhile, knew where he was in the ring all the time and delivered speedy combinations with a great deal of authority. I look for Paul Williams to do great things so long as he stays focused on boxing and doesn't let the peripherals get to him. The boxing life has its own particular hazards, as most people know.
Winky Wright's story is a great story and he's one of the ring legends you hope would retire though he's not going to. In this fight against Williams, he showed heart, spirit, and determination up to the final rounds. I'm glad it went to a decision with Wright keeping his feet and his dignity intact.
Such as it is...
Seeing Paul Williams in fast action was almost enough to make you forget about his whipping against an inspired and much shorter Carlos Quintana a while back. Williams was looking like everything they say he is against Wright, who may have been sluggish due to a long layover, but had his stuff working as usual. It was the famed Wright defenses which kept him from getting KOd but his face looked battered at the end. The thing I liked about Williams is that he seemed to be enjoying himself in the ring, and smiled amiably several times while walkig toward his corner. Williams' athleticism is akin to that of Jermaine Taylor's but "The Punisher" seems to have developed a great deal of restraint after his upset by Quintana. He knows when to hold 'em and knows when to fold 'em. Meanwhile, Williams pivoted fluidly out of tight spots and left Wright looking like he needed a GPS to track him.
Winky didn't look bad at all, I thought, just slower and much less productive as you would expect from a 37 year old. Williams, meanwhile, knew where he was in the ring all the time and delivered speedy combinations with a great deal of authority. I look for Paul Williams to do great things so long as he stays focused on boxing and doesn't let the peripherals get to him. The boxing life has its own particular hazards, as most people know.
Winky Wright's story is a great story and he's one of the ring legends you hope would retire though he's not going to. In this fight against Williams, he showed heart, spirit, and determination up to the final rounds. I'm glad it went to a decision with Wright keeping his feet and his dignity intact.
Such as it is...
Monday, April 6, 2009
King, McCain seek pardon for boxer Jack Johnson -- Newsday.com
King, McCain seek pardon for boxer Jack Johnson -- Newsday.comArizona Senator John McCain's been involved with boxing for a long time. He boxed for the Naval academy before he entered the Naval Air Corps. I learned something new in reading this story. I knew "of" Peter King, from New York and rather liked him. What I didn't know about was his own involvement in boxing.
Jack Johnson was one of the most riveting figures in boxing history and his prosecution under the Mann Act was the direct result of WAIC, that dangerous affliction of people unwilling to face the facts. In his prime, Johnson was the best American fighter around. I've always thought of him as the "inventor" of modern boxing. Before Johnson, boxers always moved around the ring straight up in the manner of robots.
A little boxing history there, kids. And if you get a chance to read about an interesting time in boxing history, read an autiobiography or two about Jack Johnson. You'd be in danger of learning something...
Jack Johnson was one of the most riveting figures in boxing history and his prosecution under the Mann Act was the direct result of WAIC, that dangerous affliction of people unwilling to face the facts. In his prime, Johnson was the best American fighter around. I've always thought of him as the "inventor" of modern boxing. Before Johnson, boxers always moved around the ring straight up in the manner of robots.
A little boxing history there, kids. And if you get a chance to read about an interesting time in boxing history, read an autiobiography or two about Jack Johnson. You'd be in danger of learning something...
Sunday, March 22, 2009
How to Get That Multi-Million Dollar Job: Help Wanted in Heavyweight Division
Yesterday, I watched the Heavyweight boxing match between returning Vitali Klitschko and a certain Cuban Cruiserweight Mr. Gomez and I wondered why no one is applying for the job of Heavyweight champion of the world.
The ranks in the lighter weight classes are brimming with talent, but the Heavyweights of our era are clumsy behemoths who prefer the bludgeon to the scalpel. I'm not one of those people who doesn't appreciate the Kitchscko brothers, and their varied talents and interests. As boxers, they're not bad. But what irritates me in the Heavyweight ranks is that there is a lack of brilliance in the division.
In yesterday's match, Gomez was a beefed up Cruiserweight who took a shellacking at the hands of a six foot seven inch mesomorph with a powerful right hand. The best you could say of Gomez is that he was tough and brave and tried his damndest to make a fight out of it, largely without any special talent. He was a strong guy and tried to get close but was battered in every attempt. Gomez fought with his head straight up most of the time, didn't attack the body, and marched forward to deliver an occasional power shot, most of which fell short of the taller man's head.
There was a paucity of jabs from both boxers, who pawed at each other's forward hands to create openings. That's a legitimate tactic when you have a southpaw in the mix but you've got to have a real jab, too, if only to please the purists if not to hurt your opponent with it.
So Kitschko won, stopping the smaller guy within 9 rounds and I was glad for the end. Klitschko did pretty well for his tuneup, and the big question is what was the tuneup for? If there is to be a battle of behemoths, then he might fight Valuev. However, the safer choice for Klitchko's return may be Maskaev, another case where the tall stature and size may figure greatly.
I'm just wondering why there are such few applicants to the million dollar job. Surely, there's someone out there. Help wanted: Heavyweight Division.
The ranks in the lighter weight classes are brimming with talent, but the Heavyweights of our era are clumsy behemoths who prefer the bludgeon to the scalpel. I'm not one of those people who doesn't appreciate the Kitchscko brothers, and their varied talents and interests. As boxers, they're not bad. But what irritates me in the Heavyweight ranks is that there is a lack of brilliance in the division.
In yesterday's match, Gomez was a beefed up Cruiserweight who took a shellacking at the hands of a six foot seven inch mesomorph with a powerful right hand. The best you could say of Gomez is that he was tough and brave and tried his damndest to make a fight out of it, largely without any special talent. He was a strong guy and tried to get close but was battered in every attempt. Gomez fought with his head straight up most of the time, didn't attack the body, and marched forward to deliver an occasional power shot, most of which fell short of the taller man's head.
There was a paucity of jabs from both boxers, who pawed at each other's forward hands to create openings. That's a legitimate tactic when you have a southpaw in the mix but you've got to have a real jab, too, if only to please the purists if not to hurt your opponent with it.
So Kitschko won, stopping the smaller guy within 9 rounds and I was glad for the end. Klitschko did pretty well for his tuneup, and the big question is what was the tuneup for? If there is to be a battle of behemoths, then he might fight Valuev. However, the safer choice for Klitchko's return may be Maskaev, another case where the tall stature and size may figure greatly.
I'm just wondering why there are such few applicants to the million dollar job. Surely, there's someone out there. Help wanted: Heavyweight Division.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
AFP: Boxer Hatton plans to shock Pacquiao with speed and moves
AFP: Boxer Hatton plans to shock Pacquiao with speed and movesMy fight guy in Nevada, David Rosetti, tells me Hatton is the sure-fire winner. Size and power will be too much for Pacquiao at 140 lbs, Rosetti says. Rightly or not, though, the Pacman has the wildness factor going for him. Hatton may be too workmanlike, lacking in passion, and uninspired. Contrast that with wild-eyed and wild-punching Phillipino. I'm going against the Nevada odds here, and I'd say to look for the unexpected in this fight.
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