Boxiana, If Taught and Managed Wisely, Can Be Safe Part 2


The PhD level of Boxiana is best described to impregnate chess stratagem with a sophisticated and cohesive punch sequence that will offspring croquet calm with desert thirst desperation to complement a comprehensive educational criterion that accounts for each of its many facets, some of which are outlined in this essay, to firstly circumvent high risk injuries and to install a chameleon malleable foundation. For example, the knight can check the king, while concurrently threatening the queen, bishop, rook and a pawn, who can become greater later, therefore, one should be taught as such from inception to avoid, counter, or subtract with an omnipresent center of gravity footwork, while having copious options readily at their disposal i.e., offer deceptive angles, reaction counters with maximum balance during and after youthfulness, coiling missiles en route, possum breathing, unravel six-inch velocity flow, and perpetual investment in effective body sculpturing, among others.
Weight disparity when sparring is often mismatches that are conducted in gyms where the trainer is ill equipped to properly create a plan that benefits everyone equally. In most cases a trainer is un-interested in making an hour long trek to another establishment for evenly matched sparring sessions, where both pupils can learn and heighten their competence. A skillful engineer travels and invites other coaches to make the necessary sacrifices together as a boxing community should, common mismatches are; middleweights who trade with junior welterweights, a lightweight versus junior middleweight, or a welterweight spying on a super middleweight. Multiply this by ten or fifteen years of recycled negative habits and poor knowledge to out maneuver another boxer, and you wonder why no one names their baby girl, Fistiana.

Texas boxing fans can breathe a big sigh of relief now that the holidays are over and big time boxing is returning to San Antonio tomorrow night. Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (44-0-1, 31 KOs) of Culiacan, Mexico will take on his countryman, Marco Antonio Rubio (53-5-1, 47 KOs) of Torreon for the WBC middleweight belt.  Also, one the world's best pound-for-pound boxers, Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire (27-1, 18 KOs) takes on Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr. (21-1-1, 18 KOs) for the WBC 122-pound title.  The show will be broadcast live on HBO starting at 9:00 pm CST.  Both main eventers are no strangers to San Antonio. Chavez Jr. has posted three victories in the Alamodome, and his father, Julio Cesar Chavez, Sr. fought Pernell Whitaker to a controversial twelve-round draw (Whitaker deserved the decision) in front of 60,000 fans, one of the most attended boxing events in United States history.  That bout took place in September of 1993.  Chavez Jr. was present at that fight as a seven-year old boy. Tickets can be purchased at the Alamodome box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, online at www.ticketmaster.com and via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone lines at  (800) 745-3000.

JM: Is going to Canada to fight Lucian Bute completely non-negotiable for you?

Andre Dirrell: “It is non-negotiable. It isn’t because Canadians sit there and rob you, it isn’t because of Canada. They will rob you wherever. The hype will be around him just like Carl Froch, the hype was all around him. The crowd plays a big role and a big factor in the fight. When you put pressure on a guy and you are the hometown fighter, the judge can look at that and say well that’s great execution and it’s all because the crowd is going crazy. Meanwhile you really did nothing. I honestly want to just have a fair fight on mutual ground. He is the champion and I am the challenger. If he believes he is a champion and that he has what it takes than lets fight on mutual ground. I am not saying come to my backyard, but we can go to California and do it."

After weeks of speculation, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. announced yesteray that his May 5th opponent would be three-division champion Miguel Cotto. Although Cotto may be the best economic choice for Mayweather outside of Manny Pacquiao, is this really a competitive fight? Based simply on the fact that Mayweather chose to fight Cotto, I'd have to say no.

Press Release: Tensions rose and a scuffle broke out between heavyweights Magomed "Mago" Abdusalamov (12-0, 12 KOs) and Pedro Rodriguez (8-0, 6 KOs) at the weigh-in for Friday, February 3rd's ESPN2 Friday Night Fights broadcast from the Texas Station Gambling Hall & Hotel in Las Vegas. The two undefeated big men will meet in an eight-round televised feature attraction tomorrow night. "This is typical Russian/Cuban rivalry that goes back to amateur boxing for many, many years," said co-promoter Sampson Lewkowicz.  Warrior's Boxing provided the following weights for tonight's ESPN Friday Night Fights (10 p.m. ET on ESPN2 HD, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN3):
Edison Miranda 174.5 vs. Isaac Chilemba 174;
Hylon Williams Jr. 130 vs. Rances Barthelemy 130;
Magomed Abdusalamov 227 vs. Pedro Rodriguez 243.

Press Release: Star Boxing held the final press conference at The Times Union Center in Albany, New York on Thursday for its boxing event on Saturday, February 4th. Both main event participants, Joe "The Future" Hanks and monstrous Cuban Rafael Pedro expressed full confidence heading into their ten-round heavyweight battle. Also at the press conference were  bantamweights Sahib Usarov of Russia and Yan Barthelemy of Cuba who will face each other in the co-feature. On Friday, February 3rd at 4:30pm, fans are invited to the public weigh-in where the fighters on the six-bout card will face-off for the final time prior to their scheduled bouts. The weigh-in will take place at the Hampton Inn and Suites located at 25 Chapel Street in Albany. Finally, on fight night, fans are welcome to stay at the Times Union Center where they can participate as extras in the filming of "The Challenger", a motion picture which will use the arena for its final boxing scenes. Advance tickets, priced at $30, $40, $50 and $75, are available through the Times Union Center Box Office, (www.timesunioncenter-albany.com) or by calling Star Boxing at 718-823-2000.

Press Release: Thomas Dulorme (13-0, 10 KOs), of Carolina, Puerto Rico, will face southpaw Jose Reynoso (15-3-1, 2 KOs), of Riverside, Calif., by way of Mexico in the main event on ShoBox: The New Generation on Friday, Feb. 17th. The headlining fighters will make their ShoBox debuts in a ten-round welterweight bout with a contracted limit of 143 pounds. In the co-feature at Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif., Puerto Rico's Jonathan “Mantequilla” Gonzalez (14-0, 13 KOs) will battle Billy Lyell (24-10-2, 5 KOs) from Ohio, in a ten-round junior middleweight match.

Referee Wayne Kelly suffered a fatal heart attack yesterday and passed away at the age of 63. The IBF confirmed the sad news today.  Kelly was a New Yorker who served the United States in the Viet Nam War and had a brief pro career (going 4-3 acording to boxrec). However, it was as a referee that Kelly made his name.  Boxing fans have Kelly to thank for one of the greatest comebacks in memory, becaue Kelly allowed Arturo Gatti to fight on despite two virtually closed eyes, which enabled Gatti to knock out Wilson Rodriguez and establish himself as the blood-and-guts warrior of his generation. Had Kelly stopped the bout sooner, Gatti's career might not have followed the same arc and the 2002 battle against Micky Ward may never have happened. Kelly also officiated one of the best cruiserweight bouts of all time, O'Neill Bell-Jean Marc Mormeck I, as well as Wladimir Klitschko's heavyweight title unification win over Sultan Ibragimov, both in 2006. However, it was a decade earlier, when a proper ruling by Kelly touched off one of the most violent incidents in boxing history. Kelly, clearly hesitant to end the bout via disqualification, had no choicer but to disqualify Andrew Golota for repeatedly hitting Riddick Bowe with low blows. Kelly's verdict touched off a riot in New York City's Madison Square Garden. Boxingtalk sends its condolences to the friends and family of Wayne Kelly, who is survived by his children Ryan and Jaclyn. To see Kelly in action during the Bowe-Golota fight, click here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HV8A7jCf4Cg, and during the Gatti-Rodriguez fight, click here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpQ-x1EGRL4

Angelo Dundee, the trainer of Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and other great champions, passed away at age 90 last night.  I find this news especially startling, because I had just spent ninety minutes on the phone with Dundee last week discussing his experiences in the sport of boxing.  At that time, Dundee seemed to be full of life and he assured me that he enjoyed the conversation we had more than I did. (I find that hard to believe).  Since I’ve been a boxing fan, I’ve always wanted to have a conversation with Angelo Dundee.  With all of the anticipation that had been building up for almost fifteen years, the conversation we had was better than anything I could have hoped for.  The following paragraph is what Dundee said last week regarding the state of boxing today. ANGELO DUNDEE: “Boxing will be the way it’s supposed to be when the fans know who the fighters are.  The problem today is that people don’t know who’s who or what’s what.  When I was in Philly, everybody knew all the fighters.  We need for the promoters to promote these kids.  We need for the managers to manage these kids.  Our world is a smaller place.  The worst thing that can happen in this business is silence.  Right now, boxing is having a lot of silence.  But boxing is always going to come back.  I’m not the least bit concerned.  You can’t repeat the old days, and in twenty years, it’s gonna be completely different than it is today.  It’s evolution.  I would never have guessed that there would be great fighters coming out of Europe, but look at what’s happening.  You never know where the next great fighter is going to come from.  I’ve been doing this for years and I learn something new all the time.  Right now, I’m working with about four or five kids who are getting ready for the next Olympics.  For the first time, I’m training amateurs and teaching them the amateur style.  Let me tell you, I’m having a lot of fun.  I go to the gym a couple days week.  I’m still in action, I’m still moving, I’m still scheming…  I haven’t worked a day in my life.  I do something I love and I still have a feeling for it.  I’m a very fortunate individual.”

My pop (r.i.p) always told me promoter Bob Arum would do to Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather the same thing he did with Yuriorkis Gamboa and Juan Manuel Lopez- saying the fight needed to marinate for a while and then BOOM Orlando Salido put those plans to rest and the fight fans wanted to see never happened. You think Arum would know that this could happen again. To be honest, I'm rooting for manny or mayweather to lose just to make this guy understand some fights dont need to simmer to be made.... Whats ur take ? --Ed (panama city, panama)
Bread's Response: My take is simple. Bob Arum does what's best for his company's financial future and not always his fighters. Manny Pacquiao and Yuriorkis Gamboa should be upset with Arum. He has kept them out of winnable, legacy defining fights.

Press Release: On Saturday, Feb. 18, Paul "The Punisher" Williams, Tavoris "Thunder" Cloud and Chris "The Nightmare" Arreola will bring their respective games to Corpus Christi, Texas on a show that will emanate from the 9,200-seat American Bank Center Arena to be promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions. On the Showtime Championship Boxing world championship doubleheader, Williams will face Nobuhiro Ishida bout and Cloud will defend the IBF light heavyweight title vs. Gabriel Campillo. Arreola will battle Eric Molina to headline the preliminary bouts on Showtime Extreme.

In this interview, IBF junior middleweight champion Cornelius “K-9” Bundrage (31-4, 18 KOs) talks about Cory Spinks’s recent win over Sechew Powell and his desire to unify the titles at junior middleweight.

Press Release: Things got hot at the final press conference prior to the rematch between IBF cruiserweight champion Yoan Pablo Hernandez (25-1, 13 KOs) and his predecessor, Steve “USS” Cunningham (24-3, 12 KOs). “That is my belt, it is coming back to me,” Cunningham shouted during the face-off. “You better hug it tonight. I am the real champion. Nobody is going to help you this time. I live, eat, sleep boxing. Nobody ever helped me. No referee helped me up off the ground when I got knocked down. I am worried, I am worried for you! I am the real champ.” After a controversial doctor's stoppgae gave Hernandez the title, Cunningham is eager to set the record straight. Back in October, the 35-year-old American was knocked down in the first round but came back strong. Before the seventh round, the fight was stopped after headbutts had opened two cuts in Hernandez´ face. “It was the wrong decision to stop the fight,” Cunningham said. “All I ask for on Saturday is an equal playing field. Hernandez is a good fighter but I am better. I will prove that I am the best cruiserweight.” Hernandez was unimpressed. “That´s no problem for me. He is American and Americans talk a lot. We´re used to it. I look forward to the rematch. Cunningham is a top cruiserweight, a very strong opponent, but I deserved to win the first fight and I will beat him again. If there is any doubt left that I am better, I will erase all doubts on Saturday night.”

Press Release: At its February 4th show, Crown Boxing will have former heavyweight champions Leon Spinks and Ken Norton plus ex-contender Earnie Shavers signing authorgraphs. The show, to be hald at LVH-Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, features a main event of cruiserweight Victor Barragan against Jonte Willis, plus three featherweight bouts and two professional MMA fights.  “We are excited to bring this full card of professional fighting,” said Ken Ciancimino, Executive Vice President. “We’ve had the latest and greatest at LVH (formerly known as Las Vegas Hilton).  Thirty–four years ago Leon Spinks fought Muhammad Ali here.  Keeping boxing alive here at LVH only makes sense.”

Angelo Dundee passed away late Wednesday night at the age of 90. He was surrounded by family in his last moments and went peacefully.  Dundee will best be remembered as the trainer of Muhammad Ali, leading him to the highest of heights as a three time world heavyweight champion. He also was the head trainer for Sugar Ray Leonard during the height of Leonard’s career.  Dundee was Leonard's chief second during his legendary first fight with Thomas Hearns, and Dundee's simple advice ("You're blowing it son") helped Leonard reclaim the momentum. Dundee also trained 15 former world champions during a career that started in 1951 in Miami. That list includes Willie Pastrano, Carmen Basilio and George Foreman.  Dundees’ contributions to the sport of boxing will never be forgotten. His book “My View from the Corner” should be mandatory reading for all boxing trainers.  He is a legend of the highest rank in boxing history and will be sorely missed. --Rick Evans

UPDATE: The Nevada Athletic Commission granted Floyd Mayweather a one-fight license and Floyd Mayweather vs. Miguel Cotto is now official for May 5th in Las Vegas' MGM Grand Arena.  At stake will be Cotto's WBA 154-pound super championship, marking only the second time Mayweater has fought at junior middleweight. The fight will be shown on pay-per-view but two issues not addressed in the press release are whether the fight will be a true 154-pound fight (as opposed to some weight limit between 147 and 154) and who will distribute the pay-per-view (HBO's name was not included on the release). CLICK BELOW TO SEE THE FULL PRESS RELEASE

According to the Los Angeles Times, when Floyd Mayweather appeared today before the Nevada Athletic Commission, he said he intends for Miguel Cotto to be his opponent on May 5th.  Although it is not the hoped-for super fight of Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao, Mayweather-Cotto presents a match-up between the WBC 147-pound champion and WBA 154-pound super champion respectively, that will be well-received by boxing fans. Mayweather will certainly be the betting favorite due to his speed advantage. Mayweather was appearing before the commission in order to obtain a boxing license, which in theory was at risk because he pleaded guilty to a domestic violence incident that will require him to serve a short jail term starting on June 1st. However, the jail term was specifically delayed so Mayweather could fight in Las Vegas on May 5th, so his ability to get licensed was never in serious doubt.  Cotto has spent his entire twelve-year pro career under the promotional banner of Top Rank, but his last fight, a victory over Antonio Margarito, fulfilled his contractual obligations and left him free to determine his future fights without the input of Top Rank, a company that is not on the best of terms with Mayweather to put it mildly. It is expected that Pacquiao and Top Rank will now finalize Pacquiao's next fight for June 9th -Scott Shaffer

What are your predictions for this month's fights? Nonito Donaire vs. Wilfredo Vazquez Jr., Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. vs. Marco Antonio Rubio, Tavoris Cloud vs. Gabriel Campillio, Paul Williams vs. Nobu Ishida, Adrien Broner vs. Mikey Perez and Marcos Maidana vs. Devon Alexander?

John's response: Thanks for the kind words. Here are my predictions for those fights:
-Donaire TKO7 Vazquez
-Rubio TKO10 Chavez Jr.
-Cloud TKO5 Campillo
-Williams UD12 Ishida
-Broner TKO5 Perez
-Maidana UD12 Alexander

Press Release: Art Pelullo/Banner Promotions and Thompson Promotions will promote the Friday, February 24th edition of ESPN2's Firday Night Fights at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino in Dover, Delaware. In the ten-round main event, Juan Carlos Burgos, 28-1 with 19 KOs, of Tijuana, Mexico, will face Cristobal Cruz, 39-12-3 with 23 KOs, also of Tijuana. Cruz is a former IBF featherweight champion, but this bout will take place at the super featherweight limit of 130 pounds. Burgos, 25 years old, upset previously undefeated Luis Cruz in his last fight on November 11th. Burgos has won three fights in a row since his only loss in a WBC featherweight title challenge against Hozumi Hasegawa in November, 2010 – Juan gave a tremendous effort but lost by 12-round decision on Hasegawa’s home turf in Nagoya, Japan. Cruz, 34 years old, is a 20-year pro – he made his debut in Mexico at 14. He won the IBF world title in October, 2008, and made three successful defenses before losing the title in May, 2010. His title reign included wins against Orlando Salido, who currently holds the WBO featherweight title, and Jorge Solis.

Super middleweight contenders’ Edwin “La Bomba” Rodriguez (20-0 with 14 KOs) and  Don “Da Bomb” George (22-1 with 19 KOs) will face off against each other in a ten-round, super middleweight fight on the Sergio Martinez-Matthew Macklin undercard on March 17th.  Both fighters seemed ecstatic and confident about getting in the ring today, in a conference call held to announce the fight. “Rodriguez is a great fighter. I have seen a lot of tape on him coming up; he is a great fighter and a big super middleweight. I am sure he will be in tip top shape, and that this fight will be a war. I will come out on top. I don’t care if it is a unanimous decision, majority decision, knockout or whatever. I will lay it all on the line for this fight. This is my big opportunity, you may only get one in life and this is it for me” stated George. In response, Rodriguez claimed “George is a very, very skilled fighter. I don’t take anyone lightly. I am training hard and I am sure he is training hard as well. I am looking forward to a good fight. I am very confident. The best man is going to win on March 17th and that is all that matters.” The fight will be HBO's co-feature, to be broadcast live on HBO from the theater in Madison Square Garden. -- John McCormick

CLICK BELOW FOR A COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT OF THE CONFERENCE CALL 

Press Release: The Boxing Writers Association of America ("BWAA") have named the July 17th draw between Delvin Rodriguez and Pawel Wolak, which aired on ESPN2 Friday Night Fights, as the BWAA Fight of the Year. Their action-packed fight, promoted by Star Boxing at New York City's Roseland Ballroom ended in a majority draw. Rodriguez won the rematch on December 3rd, 2012, by way of a ten-round unanimous decision (100-90, 98-92 and 98-91) at Madison Square Garden. In addition to the BWAA, Rodriguez-Wolak 1 was also selected as Fight of the Year by numerous publications and websites including Sports Illustrated and Delvin was named Connecticut Fighter of the Year by the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame.