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.

Muhammad Ali: My Favorite Celebrity Encounter, Page 2 of 6 - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com

Muhammad Ali: My Favorite Celebrity Encounter, Page 2 of 6 - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com

Mosely Says Mayweather Vs. Pacquiao Dead Even

Doghouse boxing interviewed Shane Mosely about Pacman and Floyd Jr. and asked him which of the two was the better boxer.

"I am," said Mosely.

He may have a point there. Mosely had 2 losses to Vernon Forrest, 2 to Winky Wright, and 1 to Miguel Cotto. I can't remember the one with Cotto but it's likely Mosely was lured into a punching match at close range. Mosley's losses to Wright and Forrest were "technical." By that I mean they went the full 12 rounds and went to a decision, which tells me he's got a solid chin. Cotto couldn't knock him out either and that one went to a decision.

Judging by the Mayorga fight and then later the demolition of Margarito, its likely that we're looking at a different Shane Mosely. Mosely's attack on Margarito was merciless, a bombardment of monuymental proportions at a time when everybody believed Margarito was invincible.

It was the plaster gloves that were invincible, unfortunately. So I think Mosely may be the best fighter of all, in spite of his 5 losses. He's 38 now, and if not for errors of strategy,and advancing age, few people would argue with that.

Boxing Results: Kelly Pavlik vs Miguel Angel Espino. - TheOnlineWire.com

Boxing Results: Kelly Pavlik vs Miguel Angel Espino. - TheOnlineWire.comSo I'm glad for Pavlik in his predictable 5th Round TKO victory over Victor Espino. Predictable or not, it's still boxing and anything could happen? Who hasn't caught the big punch you never saw, literally or figuratively?

Mayweather Vs. Pacquiao Fight on Hold from Drug Testing Disagreement, Page 2 of 2 - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com

Mayweather Vs. Pacquiao Fight on Hold from Drug Testing Disagreement, Page 2 of 2 - Associated Content - associatedcontent.comLooking for the epic Mayweather - Pacquaio fight? Here's what's happening by that by one of my internet pals, Jake Emen, one of the best boxing writers of our day...

Andre Ward Defeats Mikkel Kessler in Showtime Super Six Tournament - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com

Andre Ward Defeats Mikkel Kessler in Showtime Super Six Tournament - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com

Let the Games Begin: Pacquio Vs. Mayweather

The Pacuiao - Cotto fight had a scripted ending. I've always liked Cotto but Manny Pacquiao was riding the crest of a wave. His triumphs in the boxing ring raised him to godly heights, and his resilience in bouncing back from disappointments guided his path to future conquest.

I'm angry with Antonio Margarito for putting a question mark or shadow over Cotto's career. We'll never know whether the gloves were loaded but it is likely they were, making the Cotto defeat even more tragic. That's not to say that Pacquiao wouldn't have won against Cotto anyway. Pacquiao is a superb competitor with a take-no-prisoners attitude. His boxing skills, ring savvy, and control of physical space have developed to a point where Floyd Mayweather Jr. has to be thinking about Pacquiao in the way an up-coming new and hungry fighter thinks about his first chance at a title.

Mayweather, of course, is a great champion. Beneath the obligatory flamboyance, trash talking, and in-your-face attitude demanded by a peculiar boxing tradition, Mayweather is as far better guy than the media gives him credit for. But that works in his favor, too, and builds the gate for another Superfight.

There is also another thing "beneath it all," and it is that Mayweather has the seasoning not only of his own generation of fighters--he has the seasoning of several generations. In spite of whatever public shenanigans he's planning to amuse himself and fight fans, expect Mayweather to be as serious beneath it all as the soldier who marches at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Broadway Boxing Brings You the News

I've been AWOL on boxing for rather a long time, but I haven't forgotten about the sport. I tune in once in a while, though I've missed the recent "big fights." I'm looking forward to Cotto-Pacquiao and whatever's beyond that with Floyd Mayweather, but I'm often happy to watch the uknowns, the lesser knowns. I like Broadway Boxing for that, because it's almost local. I like the concept of the unknown, breaking out and moving to the next level. Or languishing, dying, never to be heard from again.

While they produce the occasional snorer, I find most of Broadway Boxing's promotions to be highly entertaining. There are things to be learned from boxing superstars like Mayweather but there are things to be learned from the up-and-coming fights you see on Broadway Boxing, too. The Broadway cards are less distracting, absent the big-fight glitz.

Chris Algieri took on a game (Henry?" White up on Long Island tonight. Algieri's from there. He has a job as a lab tech. He's working on his Master's degree, having graduated from a New York state college. He's 25, wants a title (who doesn't?) and says he walk after he gets one. Then, it's off to Medical School, he says.

The interesting background doesn't stop there. Algieri's a former kickboxing champion, a fact which might have you think he'd do a lot of bouncing around. He didn't, at least with White he didn't. The odd thing was that he threw no jabs. I'm crazy about the jab but for this kid I'm making an exception. In place of a jab, Algieri fires as many left hooks as there are cars on the Long Island Expressway. He doubles the hook, triples it, hitting up high and on the body.

White was a good fighter, with a lot of grit. He punched up inside with short pops and had decent power that didn't connect enough through Algieri's high guard. Few body punches from White--he was on the receiving end of same and wore down.

Another thing to like about Chris Algieri is the way the punches flow naturally, one from the other. No right hands without a left hook to follow and the other way around, too. Algieri has a great chopping right, too, though he oftened missed the elusive White who seemed aware of it. White seemed not aware of the hard straight rights that hammered in from overhead angles.

It was interesting, a good match, but Algieri remains undefeated, now at 10 and 0.

Gladiator: "Sugar" Shane Mosley - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com

Gladiator: "Sugar" Shane Mosley - Associated Content - associatedcontent.comThis is a bio about Shane Mosely by a boxing historian I know via internet contact.

King's Gym; Reading, PA - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com

King's Gym; Reading, PA - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com

Chris Arreola: Aspiring to Be like Jack Johnson, Page 2 of 2 - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com

Chris Arreola: Aspiring to Be like Jack Johnson, Page 2 of 2 - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com

Georgia Grand Jury Indicts Suspects in Ex-Boxing Champion Vernon Forrest's Murder - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com

Georgia Grand Jury Indicts Suspects in Ex-Boxing Champion Vernon Forrest's Murder - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News - FOXNews.com

Kelly Pavlik denying Paul Williams, boxing fans - ESPN

Kelly Pavlik denying Paul Williams, boxing fans - ESPNHaving met up with Paul Williams earlier this year in Canastota, NY, I was looking forward to the planned Pavlik - Williams matchup. According to ESPN's crack boxing reporter, Dan Rafael, the fight has big problems. Cancellation, in fact. You can read Rafael's column on the details right here but it's still anybody's guess what's going to happen.

Golden Boy Promotions Hosts ESPN Friday Night Fights with RJ Sockwell

:: Golden Boy Promotions Inc. ::Golden Boy Boxing is promoting a fight card tonight featuring the one and only R. J. Sockwell vs. Martin Vierra. R.J has a 4 and 0 record with three KOs but, of course, the peeps at BoxRec have mixed up the name and posted Vierra's opponent as Robert Stockwell. It's an easy mistake to make, but poor Vierra--he thinks he's going to fight a guy with an oh and oh record.

Vivian Harris is at the top of the card at the Desert Diamond Casino in Tucson, Arizona. Also featured on the card is Philadelphia' Danny Garcia with a no-loss record and lots of KOs.

Keith Thurmond, up from Florida, is also a guy to watch. There are a couple of females on the card, too, and they're probably happy that Women's Boxing is back at the next Olympics.

Alfredo Angulo Rises up from Cintron Loss

 

David Rosetti and I visited with Kermit "killer" Cintron at the Hall of Fame Induction weekend at Canistota New York. Cintron was just off a stunning victory over tough Alfredo Angulo so recently that one side of his face store showed bruising. That was a great comeback for Cintron, a Pennsylvania boy who got his start in nearby Reading, PA. Ya gotta' love your local boys and Cintron is a 1st class gentleman, soft-spoken and sincere outside the ring. His tee-shirt has it right--life is a fight.

Lots of fight fans favored Angulo to win but it didn't turn out that way, so then it was Angulo's turn to stage a comeback fight. He told the ESNPN interview he was going to bring it and that's exactly what he did when he faced Gabriel Rosado.

Philadelphia boxer Gabriel Rosado wasn't paying attention in a half clinch with Alfredo Angulo in their Friday Night Fights Match on ESPN August 7. Both fighters had a hand free but Angulo fired a bomb that sent Rosado to the canvas. Rosado protested the knockdown and seemed okay but was distracted as Angulo closed in,determined to crush his opponent. Referees tell boxer to "protect yourself at all times" and that's advice that Rosada should have followed. Another crashing right hand put him to the canvas a second time. At that point, Rosado was wobbly, an impression that didn't escape Angulo's notice.

Angulo wasn't going to be nudged out of the game, not by a long shot. A third knockdown and the referee decided against a continuation. Rosado wasn't happy, but his chances of surviving were pretty slim.

Anthony Direlle Continues Serial TKOs

It was a matter of time before Alfreda Contreras would have hit the deck for the 10 count. Direlle's from Flint, Michigan and is not as well known as bro Andre Direlle but he's a hard hitter and 18 people retired from the ring against Direlle with only one decision and that one, unamimous.

Direlle is also notable because he returned to boxing after a long battle with cancer. He was out of the ring from 2006 to 2008 when he was cleared by his doctors to return to the sport.

Contreras was tough and had game during his match with Direlle on Friday Night Fights. Direlle opened up early with hard shots. Contreras has some moves but he's not a hard puncher and Direlle posted up and blasted back confidently. The referee wisely stopped it in seven.

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.