|
Written by Michael Woods
|
|
Friday, 10 February 2012 22:46
|
 Angel Hernandez stepped into the main event of Friday Night Fights, which unfolded at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, on Wednesday, after Derek Ennis and then Terrance Cauthen fell out. He surprised some by making it out of the first round Friday night, but he didn't escape Andrade's left or the second round, as ref Steve Smoger halted the uneven scrap at 1:39 of round two. People who'd followed the drama which bubbled up in fightgame circles the last couple days, as Hernandez' ex promoters alleged he was not fit to fight, breathed a sigh of relief that the boxer didn't absorb punishment for a lengthy period of time. Andrade (15-0 with 10 KOs entering; age 23; from Rhode Island) weighed 153 1/2 pounds on Thursday, while Hernandez (30-10 with 17 KOs; age 36; living in Chicago) was 152 3/4. In the first, the 2008 Olympian came out bombing. The lefty hurled power lefts, and towered over his foe by a head. We heard... Read more...
|
|
|
Written by The Sweet Science
|
|
Friday, 10 February 2012 10:31
|
 Can you imagine if the events in the movie "Groundhog Day" really happened? Can you imagine having to live the same day, over and over and over? Boxing fans could be mistaken for thinking they were actually living the real life version of "Groundhog Day," having to tolerate the Floyd Mayweather/Manny Pacquiao negotiations, which to no surprise after repeated back and forth jockeying, have failed yet again, for about the millionth time. As an alternative, Floyd Mayweather Jr. will now face Miguel Cotto on May 5th at the MGM in Las Vegas, in the junior welterweight division, with Mayweather moving up from welterweight. On paper, the fight appears captivating. Cotto will be at his optimum weight, 154 pounds, he is coming off the back of a three fight winning streak, which has seen him defeat Yuri Foreman,... Read more...
|
|
|
Written by Springs Toledo
|
|
Thursday, 09 February 2012 10:39
|
 EPILOGUE: THE WINDING ROAD I pray you, in your letters, When you shall these unlucky deeds relate, Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate… ~ Othello (V.ii.340-342) It’s still dark when I do my roadwork on these blue-cold January mornings. I stretch under a street light and try to breathe deeply without yawning. Three times a week I do this and three times a week I dread it until about a mile in. Then the steady drumbeat of a good stride clears my lungs and frees my mind. Life feels fine for a while. There’s a dull hum in the small hours. I don’t know if it’s produced by distant traffic or high voltage transformers but it can be hypnotic. It’s good for fighters, even better for writers. Thoughts and fears and hopes and hates rush into this one’s head with chilled breath …with deep gasps. I usually get a second wind at the two mile mark, at the Texaco station.... Read more...
|
|
|
Written by David A. Avila
|
|
Wednesday, 08 February 2012 10:25
|
 Retired fighters claim your money. A large number of retired prizefighters are now eligible for pension money from the California State Athletic Commission pension fund. All those who fought between 1981 and 1995 in that state and no longer fighting professionally can claim their money that was set aside. “It’s difficult to find out where they’re at,” said George Dodd, CSAC Executive Officer for the past several years. “We need to get the word out.” Leading the list of boxers eligible for pension is Rafael “Bazooka” Limon, Lupe Pintor, Jose Luis Ramirez and Daniel Zaragoza, who are all former world champions from Mexico that fought in California a number of times during the 1980s and 1990s. Limon engaged in some incredible wars with the likes of Bobby Chacon, Cornelius Boza-Edwards and Lionel Rose to name a few. Pintor was a former bantamweight... Read more...
|
|
|
Written by Raymond Markarian
|
|
Wednesday, 08 February 2012 10:19
|
 His Lordships Restaurant in Berkeley, Ca was the place we met with 2011 Trainer of the Year Virgil Hunter to discuss his life’s work. The retired probation officer and trainer of the 2011 Fighter of the Year Andre Ward, was having lunch facing a backdrop overlooking the San Francisco Bay Bridge with over thirty retired colleagues that also worked in programs to help the troubled youth. Every month, Hunter meets with these old friends to relive old memories and talk shop. During our visit, Hunter talked of being the generally recognized trainer of the year. In a reflective interview that speaks more of his commitment than accolades do, Hunter shows us where he paid his dues, tells how he broke ground in the fight game, explains the story of the best boxer in the Ward family. RM: Virgil, congrats on being named the 2011 BWAA Trainer... Read more...
|
|
|
Written by Frank Lotierzo
|
|
Tuesday, 07 February 2012 17:33
|
 What is it about Floyd Mayweather 42-0 (26) that is so frustrating for those who would be described as being his biggest critics? It's not like you have to watch him in the ring long to glean that's he's really a special fighter/boxer. And anyone who is so blinded by their bias that can't admit that he really is spectacular, can't be taken seriously. The thing that draws fire from his staunches critics is we just don't know how truly great he really is. At his best is he as great as Thomas Hearns or Roberto Duran were pound-for-pound? No. Is he a greater pound-for-pound fighter than say Pernell Whitaker or Juan Manuel Marquez? Probably. However, the problem that ends up being the elephant in the room when trying to find a place to slot Mayweather historically is, he hasn't competed in a truly great era, which makes it that more difficult to judge him. The other... Read more...
|
|
|
Written by The Sweet Science
|
|
Tuesday, 07 February 2012 14:19
|
 Boxing fans know David Diamante as a guy with dreadlocks that reach below his waist and as one of the best ring announcers in the business. The sweet science is his first love. But recently, it has been his secondary gig. Since the start of the 2011-2012 NBA season, Diamante has been the in-arena voice of the New Jersey Nets. Last fall, David read an article about the Nets holding auditions for a new PA announcer. He applied for the position, went through a rigorous audition process, and got the job. Then, like everyone else, he waited through a contract dispute between the owners and players that delayed the start of the NBA season until December 25th. “It was tough sitting out the lockout,” David says, “although I’m sure it was tougher for the players and a lot of other people associated with the Nets. It was a great Christmas present for me when everything was settled and the games started.... Read more...
|
|
|
Written by Frank Lotierzo
|
|
Monday, 06 February 2012 22:50
|
 Watching Philippine born Nonito Donaire 28-1 (18) pound out what should've been a unanimous decision victory over Wilfredo Vazquez 21-2-1 (17) to capture the vacant WBO junior featherweight title this past weekend, one had to be mildly impressed. Donaire has now won titles at flyweight, super flyweight, bantamweight and junior featherweight. And in doing so it appears that he's maintained his power and aggression along the way, which although rare, not as much so when fighters are moving up just four pounds with each division as Donaire has. Regardless of the decision, anyone with their eyes and mind open surely observed that with the exception of two or three rounds, Donaire pretty much did what he wanted with the former title holder Vazquez. For most of the fight it looked as if Vazquez was more interested in keeping Donaire from dominating... Read more...
|
|
|
Written by Michael Woods
|
|
Monday, 06 February 2012 16:27
|
 It might not be the fight you want, but there are things to like about the Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley fight, which is all but signed, sealed and delivered for June 9 in Las Vegas. ESPN’s Dan Rafael reports that the Pacquiao side is all good with their terms for the bout and that Top Rank is certain the Bradley team will sign off on their particulars in short order. Pacquiao has taken some heat in certain circles for taking on boxers some deem quite past their primes, including Ricky Hatton, Antonio Margarito, Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez, in recent years. That can’t be said for Bradley; the 28 year-old Californian is 28-0, and should be at the peak of his form as an athlete. He has shown beyond-ample stamina as pro, and should push Pacman physically. That could prove a problem if indeed the Congressman’s best days after in the rear view mirror.... Read more...
|
|
|
Written by Springs Toledo
|
|
Monday, 06 February 2012 12:05
|
 Mary Darthard, surrounded by family members after the tragedy that was Lytell-Darthard II. PART 8: THESE HANDS Bert Lytell was haunted by a ghost. It followed him wherever he went for the last four decades of his life. Sometimes he’d be sitting in a chair at his brother’s house in Oakland, surrounded by light-hearted nieces and chattering relatives, and then he wouldn’t be there anymore. His eyes would dull and lower to something that wasn’t there. Ellen noticed her uncle staring at the floor and asked her parents about it. They told her what he saw. He saw Jackie Darthard, the shadow of Jackie Darthard, dying on a hospital cot. April 21st 1948. Bert Lytell was 24 years old and 160 lbs when he marched down the aisle to fight his second main event at the Milwaukee Auditorium. He slipped through quivering ropes and paced the ring, rolling his shoulders and reveling... Read more...
|
|
|
