Last Saturday night at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California, the network that won 26 Emmys (HBO) presented “The Night of the Rising Stars II” on its Boxing After Dark series, producing an aesthetic, if not financial success. The concept of spotlighting blue chip prospects on a tripleheader with all of the HBO bells and whistles is hopefully a keeper. ShoBox has been a big winner for Showtime on a relatively meager budget; imagine what HBO could do with it with better venues, production and marketing.
But on the night of prospects, it was the 33 year old relatively unknown Sergio Martinez, 44-1-1 (24), from Madrid, Spain by way of Buenos Aires, Argentina who turned out to be the true star of the evening. The southpaw was not widely known in America, fighting abroad for most of his career. He won a WBC title eliminator in April 2007, and has been awaiting his opportunity. Martinez has won 28 straight since his lone loss to Antonio Margarito in 2000.
James Kirkland, a sensation in Rising Stars I, was originally scheduled to reprise his role on the card at the increased pay rate of over six figures. But he dumped promoter Gary Shaw, eliminating that possibility. However he was still offered $125,000 to face Martinez but passed because of a prior commitment on ESPN.
Joel Julio was also offered a six figure deal for the HBO card but elected to pass. Finally Alex Bunema, 30-6-2 (16), a 33 year old from Memphis originally from Kinshasa, Congo, accepted the opportunity to face Martinez for the interim WBC light middleweight title. Bunema’s career was on a huge surge this year with KO victories over Roman Karmazin and Walter Matthysse.
In the final analysis Kirkland and Julio may have made the right decision. It’s unlikely that either is ready for Martinez at this point. Martinez repeatedly popped his jab and boxed beautifully, landing hard lefts for eight rounds. Bunema hit the deck in round three after a combination and served essentially as a human punching bag for the duration of the fight.
At the end of round eight, referee Raul Caiz Sr. stopped the fight on the advice of the ringside physician. It was an excellent call. Bunema was taking a steady beating from the sharp shooting Martinez and had virtually no chance of winning.
Statistically, Bunema fared as poorly as it looked in the ring. He was outlanded 212 to 31 in total punches and 111 to 19 in power punches. To allow a guy who was losing every round and was being out punched on a nearly 7:1 ratio to continue on would have been irresponsible on the part of all concerned.
Sergio Martinez won’t be sneaking up on future opponents. He started Saturday as the opening bout on a card of prospects and now everyone knows what the insiders already knew.
It was HBO’s choice to feature the highly touted Yuriorlis Gamboa in the main event. A 2004 Gold Medalist for Cuba, his was the name they were paying for to put the card together. So the veterans opened the card and were paid accordingly.
However, Martinez was so impressive in his victory that it’s a good bet that he’ll be back on HBO, and in a main event. This guy would be trouble for anyone at that weight limit, and if he does get his rightful shot against titlist Vernon Forrest, I like his chances. In fact, with his footwork, hand speed, and driving jab, a rematch with Margarito could be interesting.
As for the Rising Stars, Alfredo Angulo, 14-0 (11), stopped Andrey Tsurkan, 26-4 (17), in the 10th round for his 10th straight knockout in an action packed junior middleweight bout scheduled for 10 rounds. Angulo is the real deal. He comes out fighting and doesn’t stop until the fight is over, dishing it out while taking your best.
The two combined for 230 punches in the first round. Both of Tsurkan’s eyes were swelling by the third round, and Angulo was cut over the right eye. But Angulo’s sustained work rate was having an impact by round four and he just grew stronger as the fight went on. If Tsurkan or his people though that Angulo’s inexperience would cause him to weaken late, they were dead wrong.
Actually, if anything, the fight could have been stopped two or three rounds before its end. Angulo corner man Rudy Hernandez deserves props for his excellent work in making the cut a non factor.
Finally referee Tony Crebs stopped the bout at 2:27 of round 10 when Tsurkan’s corner waved the white flag.
It’s no mystery as to how Angulo achieved his victory. It was his work rate. He landed 400 of 1211 total punches and 296 of 607 power punches, a scorching 49%. Tsurkan had heart but was out of his depth, landing 143 of 729 total punches and 76 of 360 power punches.
Angulo said after the fight that he would like to take on Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. or possibly John Duddy next. Personally, I think he overwhelms either one. If you ask me, the best fight down the road would be with the heavy hitting Kirkland. There would be some serious leather thrown in that one.
In the main event, Yuriorkis Gamboa, 12-0 (10), showed impressive offensive skills in stopping Kansas City fireman Marcos Ramirez, 25-1 (16). But I remain unconvinced. When Gamboa was last on HBO as a main eventer in May he was dropped by Darling Jimenez. This time the fireman decked him in round one, although it should be noted that TV replays indicated that the blow was a left elbow.
Anyway you look at it Gamboa took too many hard shots, particularly from a civil servant. You have to wonder if maybe he should not as yet be on the fast track to a featherweight belt. Will his chin stand up to more worthy opposition? Can he iron out his defensive flaws before meeting someone who knows how to exploit them?
Ramirez went down twice in round two. After knockdown #2, referee Jerry Cantu counted nine-ten at 1:41. The fireman had looked as if he was going to try to beat the count, but probably better for him he didn’t. But he did get a fast count.
Despite the hype and the purse, it seemed as if the card was upside down.Gamboa was the least impressive of the winners in my view, while Martinez, whom nobody had ever heard of in America, impressively and professionally dismantled a tough opponent.
NOTES:
The word is that Aaron M. Davis, the boxing commissioner in that hotbed of boxing, Kansas, for the past three years, is about to be named as Larry Hazzard’s replacement as Commissioner of the New Jersey Athletic Control Board.
Talk about culture shock! He’ll soon learn that he’s not in Kansas anymore, Toto.