Bryant Jennings vs. Maurice Byram: The Battle of Philadelphia Heavyweights

Pennsylvania Heavyweight Championship Belt held in Philadelphia in January 2012, and the fact I’m writing about it now should give you some idea of my own state of affairs.

Both Jennings and Byarm are from Philadelphia so that made the matchup sort of a neighborhood thing for me. So many great fighters have come out of Philadelphia, a fight town if ever there was one.

In the small world of amateur boxing, it’s a wonder that the two heavyweights never never met in the ring but that made it more interesting.

Both men took the fight on a week’s notice, with Byarm being the heavier of the two. The heavier Byarm was not markedly inferior in boxing skills but the overburdened mid-section gave the edge to opponent Jennings.

I thought both these guys could ascend to the higher levels of the sport but Jennings seemed to have a better grip on the body discipline.

Jennings is a heavyweight with fast hands, a tight left hook, a great sense of balance, and an awareness of ring space. I liked Byarm, a guy who knew what he was doing but wasn’t often allowed to do it.

The athletic Jennings looked like he’d been training for months. He controlled Byarm with the jab, mixed up his punches very well, and kept going hard in the paint for the whole ten.

Jennings got the UD. The takeaway is that Byarm could be a better heavyweight than this night showed, but needs desire and discipline. I liked him and wish he’d make a commitment to stay in shape.

Bryant Jennings looked like a guy who would do what he had to do to get to the top. He’s an impressive heavyweight prospect.

From Byarm, Jennings, having once been turned down for a fight with Liakhovich finally got what he wanted and pulled the big upset by stopping the big guy on March 24.

Bad Left Hook covered that fight and join the ranks of boxing watchers who think Bryant Jennings is a real future prospect.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. And the Supreme Court of Boxing - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. And the Supreme Court of Boxing - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.comHead-butted, Mayweather likely felt as if his head had suddenly been fast frozen. That sort of thing doesn't melt right away.

Delvin Rodriguez Most Robbed Boxer of Year on Friday Night Fights

I've been away from the boxing gyms for rather a long time but the sport is still dear to my heart. Last night, on FNF, Delvin Rodriguez accomplished what few imagined. He beat Pawel Wolak in a ten-rounder that qualifies for Fight of the Year.

One problem--the decision was political. One judge had Delvin Rodriguez the clear winner, while two others worked together on the same score card to make it a majority draw.

For the two "draw" judges, it was a kumbaya decision, one that will allow the New York fans to swell with pride at their local hero, Pawel Wolak, who truly is an inspired fighter, but not a boxer, not when you've got to face the slick skills and solid punching power of a guy much smaller than himself.

The weird thing is that everyone goes along with it. It's like the boxing version of a happy ending. Here's what I posted on Dan Rafael's ESPN2 site before the fight occurred:

"I like Teddy Atlas. I like Pawel Wolak. But Delvin Rodriguez clearly won the fight and those 2 judges who scored it a draw probably watched too many "Rocky" movies.

Rodriguez hardly got hit as he rolled with punches all way way, like you're supposed to when you're faced with a rushing bull like Wolak. So Lederman and the other schmuck judge were impressed by the bull in the china-shop routine...so what? Delvin scored often and accurately with combinations and, for those who understand anything about boxing, he did what you're supposed to do with guy who gives you the bum's rush.

Wolak is a man of iron will and steady heart, definitely, but his haymarket square style was outslicked and outfought. This was boxing politics with the same butt-kissing required that kills boxing.

All the more bitter after Teddy Atlas et al spent the whole night talking about the bad judging for Paul Williams vs. Erlandy (sp). Atlas had Rodriguez winning by one round, though he played politicis when he said there there was nothing wrong with the judging.

There was a lot wrong with the judging. It was strictly "boxing establishment" judging and Julie Lederman's connections, and a desire to have an entertaing sequel. These ppl think they're helping boxing but they're killing it. And they're killing the hearts of great fighters like Delivin Rodriguez, who have all the skills, all the heart, and talent the way boxing is supposed to be.

What were Lederman and the other judge doing--watching each other's score cards? Please, Teddy Atlas.....you know this game.... let's not have these kumbaya decisions. "

Victor Ortiz Beats Andre Berto, Grabs WBC Gold in a War! - Boxing News

Victor Ortiz Beats Andre Berto, Grabs WBC Gold in a War! - Boxing NewsMajor upset in the boxing world. Many of the boxing writers copped to the story line that Golden Boy promotions had thrown Victor Ortiz to the dogs in having him fight Berto. It's boxing, ppl.... and winners and losers are just a shot away.

Paula Duffy: Boxer De La Hoya, Home From Troop Visit, Faces Turmoil at Work

Paula Duffy: Boxer De La Hoya, Home From Troop Visit, Faces Turmoil at WorkSome boxers with a conscience--De La Hoya brought some boxers to Iraq. It's important. I'm impressed. Danny Jacobs, too--and two others. Check it out.

Ravens' Tommy Zbikowski's pro boxing career | TBD.com

Ravens' Tommy Zbikowski's pro boxing career | TBD.comHow far will this guy go? Football players turned boxers haven't had a good history but there's always a first time.

Douglin doesn’t deny he’s ‘Da Momma’s Boy’ - Boxing - Yahoo! Sports

Douglin doesn’t deny he’s ‘Da Momma’s Boy’ - Boxing - Yahoo! SportsI saw this kid fight on TV--he was pretty good, managed by his mom. Boxing moms are the bombs...

Can the World Series of Boxing reinvigorate the amateur fight game? - Boxing - Yahoo! Canada Sports#mwpphu-post-form#mwpphu-post-form#mwpphu-post-form#mwpphu-post-form

Can the World Series of Boxing reinvigorate the amateur fight game? - Boxing - Yahoo! Canada Sports#mwpphu-post-form#mwpphu-post-form#mwpphu-post-form#mwpphu-post-formTwo of the worst Olympic boxing performances ever by the United States have been the last two games, the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In 2004, the U.S.A. boxing team took home only two medals, a gold and a bronze, and in 2008 the U.S. won only one medal, a bronze.

Could be that help is on the way. The World Series of Boxing is a good idea. It provides amateur athletes a modest salary and other support to help with training.

Boxing Movie "The Fighter" Could Join Other Great Boxing Films - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com

Boxing Movie "The Fighter" Could Join Other Great Boxing Films - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.comGreat boxing movies of the recent past include the Rocky movies, Cinderella Man, and my all-time favorite, Raging Bull. Who else but Robert DeNiro could make movie magic of great lines like "I don' go down fuh no-bod-y!" That was DeNiro's Jake LaMotta character telling his brother he wouldn't take a dive in a fight no matter if the brother told the mob boss he'd deliver.

I didn't know we'd be waiting so long when I wrote an Associated Content article in October 2007 about The Fighter, a boxing film modeled on the life of "Irish" Mickey Ward. Finally, the movie has been released to strong, favorable reviews.

Robert Guerrero Talks Escobedo, Marquez-Katsidis, More - Boxing News

Robert Guerrero Talks Escobedo, Marquez-Katsidis, More - Boxing News... Here's a fighter con caractere.... Robert Guerrero. I've been following him since he started. He's from Gilroy, not far from where one of my sisters lives. He's a family favorite with my crazy bro-in-law's family, too--they from Nevada and So. Cal.

Guerrero was on his way to the Big Title Belt in the Sky when his wife became grievously ill and he stopped fighting to take care of his family. That's character. I'm not sure I would have done the same. Of course, in my case, I have no boxing talent. Up with the real fighters, the only thing I learned about myself was that I could take a beating.

At some point, I figured out that wasn't the object of boxing. You were supposed to be better than all the other guys. Anyway, this is about Guerrero.

He's coming to the East Coast (New Jersey) on November 6. He's one tough hombre, a little wiry guy with great heart, a good chin, and skills. I can't imagine being out of boxing for so long and making a comeback but Guerrero has lots of shine. His last victor was over Joel Casamayor and everyone knows he was not boxing dunce.

Anyway, be there for Guerrero, "the Ghost." You'll like him lots.

Boxer Hatton's fight license withdrawn | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features

Boxer Hatton's fight license withdrawn | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, FeaturesEveryone's weighing in on Ricky "Fatty" Hatton's loss of his boxing license. Hatton says he doesn't have a drinking/cocaine problem but the British board which licenses boxers thinks otherwise.

The loss of a license to fight in England does not necessarily translate into the loss of his license to fight elsewhere, but it's a moot point. Hatton is an enterprising, likable, and entertaining personality but his career lost lustre in his defeats, and his out of boxing behavior likely wreaked havoc on his physical skills.

Hatton was a good fighter, but not a top-tier fighter. I hope he can get over his beer and coke problems and discover that life has excitement beyond what the ring provides. We do understand the unparalleled excitement which comes from climbing into a boxing ring under hot lights of television and the roaring of the crowd, but booze and drugs can't fill that hole.

Ricky Hatton has to make a good life outside the ring. He still has his promoter's license. He can help others, first of all by serving as a model and giving up on self-medication.

Michael Vick, Antonio Margarito and Plaxico Burress: Athletes' fate in the court of public opinion - NFL - Yahoo! Canada Sports

Michael Vick, Antonio Margarito and Plaxico Burress: Athletes' fate in the court of public opinion - NFL - Yahoo! Canada Sports This is an article about...well, the people named in the title. First of all, they need to get Plaxico Burress out of jail after the New YOrk mayor prejudiced the entire New York City court system against him. As for Vick, he's the best quarterback. Antonio? Well, he got off lucky and wasn't charged with anything, but they rescinded his boxing license. California refused to give it back. Texas just granted him a license. But read the whole thing...

Danny Sandoz & Aaron Gosciilo at the Gym

 

Boxer Timothy Bradley: Too Much Fun Against Lamont Peterson?

Boxer Timothy Bradley: Too Much Fun Against Lamont Peterson?Timothy Bradley vs. Lamont Peterson was a great 2009 fight. Peterson has had one sucessful comeback fight and needs to make a date for another. Timothy "Desert Storm" Bradley is on the hunt for greater glory and just might find it.

The July 17 matchup between Tim Bradley and Luis Carlos Abregu will be broadcast on HBO’s Boxing After Dark. HBO rightly bills the junior middleweight match between California’s Alfredo Angulo (18-1, 15 Kos) and Joachim Alcine (32-1, 19Kos) as a “co-main event.”

Rabbi Foreman Loses Title to Mourning Miguel Cotto

I like both these fighters, and I have a bitter feeling about Cotto's loss to Margarito. I fear Cotto took an unnecessary beating from Margarito who may have stored plaster in his gloves.

But I didn't expect Foreman to last so long against Miguel Cotto, who was mourning the death of his father, but has tremendous heart and coping skills.

According to the New York Times (not coverage I usually read but not bad, on the whole) story, Foreman stayed even with Cotto, who had gone up a weight class to take Foreman's title.

Foreman gets considerable street cred for his travails and his life's tale. Too bad he had to leave Israel to get proper gym time. That's too bad. Word to Bibi--support a boxing program. He went to New York and worked in the garment district for $200 bucks a week, according to the NYT.

Foreman was interviewed on Fox News a day before the fight. It wasn't the most exciting interview because the geeky guy who interviewed Foreman made the usual trite noises that TV people do when interviewing boxers. But Foreman was affable, a bit reticent, as he told his story in brief.

Seems like a win-win for Miguel Cotto, for Yuri Foreman, for Yankee Stadium. The ninth round TKO came as a surprise when Foreman slipped and aggravated an existing leg injury. Unable to move on his legs, Cotto did what he was supposed to do, crushing his opponent and ending the fight.

I like one of the refreshingly honest quotes from Foreman after the fight. Foreman didn't take a knee in talking about the leg injury (made no excuses in other words)

"“I’m a world champion,“And now, I’m a former world champion. But when you have a title, you never quit. I didn’t want it to be stopped.”

The quote is from the New York Times, story by Greg Bishop. The link is provided in the text and the article is well worth reading.

Danny Sandoz v. Anthony Cintron

 

Danny at Work: Pedone's Gym

 

Danny "Super" Sandoz working out at Brian Pedone's Heavy Hitters Gym in Stroudsburg. Danny's kept faith with the boxing while others have tailed off into...whatever.... His weight still hovers around 115 but he looks better, more muscled up, and his boxing skills are sharp. He's got a match scheduled for this weekend in Philadelphia and expects to go to the Ringside Tournament in Missouri during the summer.

Floyd Mayweather Fighting Manny Pacquaio in November?

That's what Larry Merchant is saying anyway, and he says he has some sources for expressing that opinion. According to Merchant, Pacquiao is accepting Mayweather's terms for steroid and similar testing 14 days before a scheduled fight.

This needs to happen because PacMan didn't look so hot fighting a sluggish Joshua Clottey recently. Clottey seemed as if were worried about catching germ from Manny Pacquaio so infrequently did he punch at his opponent.

Clottey was content to protect himself and try the occasional KO punch but even seemed to lack enthusiasm for that. I think Mayweather's far the better fighter, and his showing against Sugar Shane Mosely proved he had a chin.

So....this fight has to come off because there is no alternative to Mayweather and it's the fight everyone wants to see. My prediction, unfortunately, is that Pacquiao's people are playing with perceptions, and that they'll find some reason for the fight to take place.

So whom would you believe? Me or Larry Merchant? (Don't answer that one.)

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Gym Training. Heavyweights. (www.twitter.com/Maywea...

Remember Leyon Azuibike? Here he is with his brother, whom I've never met, working out with Roger Mayweather. Naturally athletic and smart, both of them. I think they've got something going on....

Undercard to Mosely V. Mayweather Not so Atrocious - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com

Undercard to Mosely V. Mayweather Not so Atrocious I'm weird. I like the undercards. Where you start is not necessarily where you end up. The only guy I know who was born with a title belt around his waist was Muhammad Ali.