BAM ON BOXING
My Thoughts on Pacquiao vs. Marquez
Posted on November 16, 2011 by Brittany A. Rogers
When
I was watching the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez fight Saturday
night, I felt like I was watching my favorite hockey team blow a 5-3
lead in the third period by backing off and watching the clock after
having played so well throughout the game.When Pacquiao and Marquez met the first time on May 8, 2004 in Las Vegas, NV, they fought a war and the fight was scored a 12-round draw. In their second bout, on Mar. 15, 2008 in Las Vegas, Pacquiao was awarded a controversial split decision. In their third bout on Saturday, Pacquiao again won, this time by majority decision. Certain fighters give other certain fighters a hard time. It’s as if someone has your number, so to speak. I think Marquez has Pacquiao’s number and will always give him a tough fight.
When Shane Mosley boxed Pacquiao earlier this year, he exposed Pacquiao in ways that few fans expected. Mosley fought defensively that night and even though Pacquiao won, he looked uncomfortable.
The third bout between Marquez and Pacquiao was unlike their first two brawls. Did Mosley’s exposure of Pacquiao cause this fight to be less of a brawl? Marquez fought a more defensive fight and Pacquiao, perhaps not expecting this, clearly could not adapt.
I love defensive fighters, but there is a catch. A defensive fighter has to be flashy and possess some aggressive tendencies or the judges seem to overlook him.
Marquez’ trainer made the mistake in telling him he was ahead on the scorecards as the fight was winding down. Fighters should never be told where they stand on the scorecards—or where their trainer thinks they stand. A fighter should start each round thinking the fight is even and each round a necessity. When fighters are told they are ahead in the scoring they tend to slack off, get lazy, or stop taking risks and that can be dangerous.
On Saturday night, Pacquiao entered the ring as a champion, but he did not look good even though he was the aggressor. This may have been simply an off night for Pacquiao--he did not do enough to convince anyone he was the better fighter that night, let alone in their first two meetings. Marquez made the mistake of taking his foot off the pedal in the last three rounds, allowing Pacquiao to steal the fight. It was a rookie mistake by an experienced fighter.
As for Pacquiao, he must understand that every fight should be treated the same--no single fight is more important than another. Once fighters start thinking they don’t need to train as hard mentally for certain fights, that is when no-name fighters steal the thunder. We Philadelphians know how to cheer on the underdog and the fact that Marquez was the underdog--though hardly a no-name fighter--and looked so good could be part of the reason people thought he was robbed.
I scored the fight even, giving Pacquiao the last three rounds. After watching the fight a second time, I again scored it a draw. I cannot complain that Pacquiao was awarded the fight even though I would have preferred a decision in Marquez’ favor.
Marquez fought great and looked like a champion. Pacquiao didn’t give up his heart, stayed close in the fight and you could tell he had something to prove. It was as if Pacquiao was the young lion who was out-schooled by the teacher, but later out-worked him in the last three rounds to steal the fight. As a fight fan, I have to respect that Pacquiao could have given up, but instead he worked hard enough to change the outcome in his favor.
Wilson vs. Mussachio on Saturday
Garrett Wilson, of South Philadelphia, risks his USBA cruiserweight title Saturday in a 12-round title defense against Chuck Mussachio, of Wildwood, NJ, at Bally’s Atlantic City. On paper, people could question why Wilson should even be fighting Mussachio. Wilson is 10-5-1, 4 K0s, and Mussachio is 17-1-2 , 5K0s, but take a look at their resume and you will see Wilson’s is more appealing, stepping up and taking risk after risk. This will make for an exciting fight as both men come to fight.
Wilson vs. Mussachio on Saturday
The co-feature looks solid as welterweight Ronald Cruz, of Bethlehem PA, who is 14-0, 11 K0s, takes on Anges Adjaho, of Buffalo, NY, who is 17-6, 9 K0s. Cruz is up-and-coming and he is taking more risks as time goes on. He is known for his brutal body shots and hopefully he will continue to impress on Saturday.
Also on Saturday’s undercard are heavyweight Bryant Jennings (10-0, 4 K0s), welterweight DeCarlo Perez (5-1-1, 2 K0s), middleweight Antowyan Aikens (2-0, 1 K0) and junior welterweight Naim Nelson (2-0). I am looking forward to seeing these fighters test themselves.
The author is a graduate in sport and recreation management at Temple University. She joined Peltz Boxing Promotions as an intern and also has her own company called Bam Boxing Promotions. Follow Peltz Boxing at peltzboxing.com, and on Twitter @PeltzBoxing and @bamonboxing.
Down Goes Frazier!
Posted on November 9, 2011 by Brittany A. Rogers
One
of the most famous lines in boxing history will never be the same and
this time the subject can’t get up. Howard Cosell announced the
Joe Frazier vs. George Foreman heavyweight championship fight in 1973
from Kingston, Jamaica, where the lines originated. Frazier had
the courage and the heart that defines the Philly Fighter. He
kept getting knocked down and he kept getting up. When Foreman knocked Frazier down the first of six times, roughly two minutes into the first round, legendary commentator Howard Cosell kept saying: “Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!”
That fight brought a third player, Foreman, into the Joe Frazier-Muhammad Ali mix. It was two years after Frazier beat Ali in their first fight that Foreman beat Frazier. Can you imagine there being a third player in the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao mix? Many of us can’t even fathom the thought of that, but it is possible and the Frazier-Foreman fight provides proof it can happen.
Philadelphia boxing has lost a lot of icons this year but our own Bernard Hopkins said it best: "His legacy in the city of Philadelphia is up there with the greats, maybe even surpassing the 76ers' Dr. J (Julius Erving)".
At a time when boxing was still a big deal, Philadelphia had one of the boxers in the world. It makes our history that much better. Frazier probably did not get the recognition he deserved in this city. Maybe it was because he did not fight here often (10 times in 37 fights) or because he was not always outspoken, but he always seemed to have a special spot in the heart of the Philadelphia sports fan.
I remember watching the fights with my dad when I was a young girl. He used to tell me about the stories of Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. He told me about their great trilogy, about Frazier’s win over Ali and the two losses to go along with it.
Hearing about Frazier’s deadly left hook made me want to know as much as possible about this standup guy, this dedicated fighter. I got his autobiography when I was about 10 years old and the book remains one of my earliest memories about fighters. I learned that our Philadelphia fighter was not from Philadelphia—he was born in South Carolina.
Reading about how he made his first makeshift heavy bag and how he hung it from an oak tree in his backyard was fascinating. Or when he injured his left arm and how--since his family did not have money to go to a doctor--he had to let the arm heal on its own. Due to that process Frazier could never straighten out his arm again. Perhaps that is why he was known for a brutal left hook instead of a stiff jab!
When I sit back and think of this year and all that the Philadelphia boxing community has lost, this one hits me in a different way. Frazier was the best-known athlete worldwide ever from Philadelphia and he represented the city as a gentleman.
Did you know that Smokin’ Joe was paid just $125 for his first fight in 1965 at Convention Hall against Woody Goss? Growing up poor and going from that $125 payday to a $2.5 million dollar payday against Ali in 1971 was a huge change. One thing about Frazier--he always seemed to be grounded and always seemed to remember his roots.
Floyd Mayweather, Jr., soon after hearing the news of Frazier’s death, tweeted: “My condolences go out to the family of the late great Joe Frazier. #TheMoneyTeam will pay for his funeral services.” I hope it happens--Frazier deserves it.
The author is a graduate in sport and recreation management at Temple University. She joined Peltz Boxing Promotions as an intern and also has her own company called Bam Boxing Promotions. Follow Peltz Boxing at peltzboxing.com, and on Twitter @PeltzBoxing and @bamonboxing.
Local Rivalries: We Need Them!
Posted on October 26, 2011 by Brittany A. Rogers
Neighborhood rivalries once
made Philadelphia a great fight town. Why can’t we return to
those days?When junior middleweights Derek Ennis and Gabriel Rosado (pictured) met July 30, 2010, at the Asylum Arena, it marked the last all-Philadelphia showdown in a major fight. Each fighter brought a strong fan base which added to the intensity of the evening. Even though he lost a 12-round majority decision to Ennis, Rosado took part in another all-Philadelphia matchup in February when he took against Jamaal Davis, though this time the fight took place at Bally’s Atlantic City with Rosado scoring a 12th-round knockout.
Despite the fierceness and importance of the recent showdowns, it is not unusual to see Rosado and Davis or Rosado and Ennis hanging out together at local shows. It seems as if their fights helped them form a bond which no one can take from them.
Prior to those two recent all-Philadelphia fights, I have to dig deep into my memory to recall others. In 1992, lightweights Anthony Boyle and Frankie Mitchell drew a standing-room-only crowd to the Blue Horizon. Ten years earlier, Jeff Chandler defended his bantamweight title against former Bok Vocational classmate Johnny Carter at the Civic Center.
The 60s and 70s were full of all-Philadelphia fights: Kitten Hayward vs. Percy Manning, Dick Turner, Bennie Briscoe and Gypsy Joe Harris; Harris vs. Johnny Knight; Briscoe vs. George Benton and Cyclone Hart; Hart vs. Willie Monroe and Boogaloo Watts; Benton vs. Joey Giardello; Giardello vs. Jesse Smith; Augie Pantellas vs. Sammy Goss; Goss vs. Tyrone Everett; William Watson vs. Alfonso Hayman and Mario Saurennann. You can go on and on, back to the days of the great lightweights Bob Montgomery, Wesley Mouzon and Ike Williams in the 1940s and further back than that. Big crowds witnessed those matches.
How times have changed! Today, it seems as if not only the managers, but also the fighters themselves do not want to fight each despite the fact that such fights help to build their fan base. If a local fighter can win over his rival’s fan base, so much the better. When that same fighter gets back into the ring, his fan base grows.
In the last Golden Age of Philadelphia boxing--the 1970s--The Spectrum averaged between 7,000 and 10,000 for fights, many of them being all-Philadelphia showdowns. Now, promoters are happy if they can fill up the Asylum Arena, which seats 1,100, or the National Guard Armory in Northeast Philadelphia, which holds 2,000. We also have fights at Harrah’s Chester and that only seats about 1,000 people.
Get the picture?
Currently, there are several appealing all-Philadelphia match-ups in several weight divisions. These fights once were the backbone of boxing in Philadelphia. Then along came the new breed of manager who is more focused on protecting his (or her) fighter than in testing the fighter to find out how good he is. Imagine being a manager and protecting a fighter all the way to a title and having no idea what he is about to step in with. Testing a fighter at the right time is crucial to the fighter’s career.
Mull these local matchups in your mind: light heavyweights Charles Hayward and Anthony Ferrante; junior middleweights Gabriel Rosado and Harry Yorgey; welterweights Raymond Serrano and Ronald Cruz, or throw Ray Robinson in there unless Serrano is staying at junior welterweight. If so, put Serrano in with Steve Chambers. What about super bantamweights Teon Kennedy and Rogers Mtagwa? There are many others that could be put together and draw attention and make for exciting fights.
Even though many Philadelphia fighters want to fight outside of the city, what could be better and more advantageous than fighting at home in front of your own friends and family? To do it against another local fighter is better yet. It will build your own fan base and help Philadelphia once again become a major fight city. Each fighter will gain not only ring experience but also friends and fans along the way.
The author is a graduate in sport and recreation management at Temple University. She joined Peltz Boxing Promotions as an intern and also has her own company called Bam Boxing Promotions. Follow Peltz Boxing at peltzboxing.com, and on Twitter @PeltzBoxing and @bamonboxing.
Bizarre Endings
Posted on October 19, 2011 by Brittany A. Rogers
The recent light-heavyweight championship fight in Los Angeles, CA,
between Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson had a bizarre ending, to say
the least. The TK0 victory awarded Dawson left a bad taste.
To replay the second round: Hopkins leaned on Dawson’s back;
Dawson lifted Hopkins and tossed him to the canvas; Hopkins suffered a
separated left shoulder; referee Pat Russell ruled an
unintentional foul and, when Hopkins could not recover, raised Dawson’s
hand in victory.Hopkins has a history of using alleged ring injuries or fouls to his advantage, trying to get a breather in the middle of a fight. He is 46 years old and people naturally thought he was up to his old tricks. He tried this in fights with Joe Calzaghe, Antwun Echols and Robert Allen. Even though no single punch put Hopkins on the canvas, it appears that what Dawson did was unintentional. Therefore, the referee’s decision is the correct one.
Boxing has had its share of bizarre endings. Problem is, unlike the old days, rematches are rare. If there is a controversial ending in another sport, more than likely those teams will meet again down the line. Even in a one-on-one sport like tennis, players compete against each other several times in a season.
The Sept. 17 welterweight title fight in Las Vegas, NV, between Floyd Mayweather, Jr., and Victor Ortiz had an unsatisfactory ending. Trouble began in the third round when Ortiz, who twice earlier had tried to head-butt Mayweather, finally succeeded and drew a stern warning from referee Joe Cortez. Ortiz practically left his feet and dove at Mayweather’s face. After Mayweather twice accepted Ortiz’ apology, Ortiz went in for a third apology and while the ref was looking away, Mayweather landed a left hook and a right hand to knock Ortiz out. Legal? Yes! Respectable? Not so much! Protect yourself at all times is a well-known saying in boxing and when a fighter sees an opportunity he must capitalize on it.
Let’s talk about last year’s fight in Carson, CA, between junior middleweights Kermit Cintron and Paul Williams. Williams led on two of the three scorecards after three rounds when, after some infighting and spinning, Cintron appeared to dive through the ropes onto the press table, then to the ground. Williams was on the canvas at the same time Cintron was on the ground. Cintron was unable to continue and Williams was awarded the victory by technical decision.
Why was Dawson awarded his victory by technical knockout and Williams his by technical decision when both opponents, Hopkins and Cintron, were unable to continue? Both fights were in California. Why the difference?
Perhaps Philadelphia got it right back in 1971 or maybe they robbed Eugene Cyclone Hart of a victory in his middleweight fight at The Spectrum against Denny Moyer. This bizarre finish found both men outside on The Spectrum floor with Moyer on top of Hart, whose head hit the concrete. The third ring rope down had become loose during an earlier prelim and when Moyer rushed Hart to the ropes, they fell through and onto the press table and the floor.
The boxing commission doctors declared a rare No Contest when the fighters failed to return to the ring immediately after the spill. Hart had controlled the fight until the tumble, having floored Moyer in the first round with his left hook. Back then, there was no such thing as a Technical Decision, which rewards the fighter who is ahead on points after four completed rounds. That rule did not come into use until many years later.
Boxing, as HBO commentator Larry Merchant says, is The Theater of the Unexpected and the unexpected is what keeps fans interested.
What about the second heavyweight title fight between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield win 1997 which ended with Tyson biting off a piece of Holyfield’s ear. That was just bizarre and it led to Tyson’s disqualification. Now that’s what I call intentional!
The bizarre ending to Tyson-Holyfield II goes down in boxing history, alongside the second match between Riddick Bowe and Evander Holyfield which featured a man in a parachute landing in the ring, or trying to. After punches were thrown—at the man in the parachute—and order was restored, the fight went on an Holyfield won by decision. Either way, bizarre endings and controversy seem to hurt boxing in the short run, but in the long run some of those fights are the ones we remember best.
For those of you complaining about money spent on the pay-per-view fight between Dawson and Hopkins, forget-about-it. This fight will go down in history! If everything in boxing was cut and dry, it wouldn’t give fans a reason to argue and be so passionate.
Also, for those in Philadelphia who bought the fight because they were excited to see Hopkins defy logic and beat a 29-year-old man, be happy you saw another solid fight, courtesy of undefeated junior welterweight Danny Garcia, who thrashed ex-champ Kendall Holt over 12 rounds.
Garcia is one of the few fighters to come out of Philadelphia, fight across the country and still come home to a strong fan base. He continues to do well for his city, his team and himself. After his April win over ex- champ Nate Campbell, he could have very simply taken an easy fight but he did not hesitate to step up and take on Holt.
Anyone who bought that pay-per-view got to see another one of the Philadelphia contenders test him and come out successful! Congratulations to Garcia!
The author is a graduate in sport and recreation management at Temple University. She joined Peltz Boxing Promotions as an intern and also has her own company called Bam Boxing Promotions. Follow Peltz Boxing at peltzboxing.com, and on Twitter @PeltzBoxing and @bamonboxing.
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