TRYING TO MAKE TURKEY SALAD

Before we file away in our memory banks last Friday’s Fernando Vargas-Ricardo Mayorga fight, held at Staples Center in Los Angeles, we would just like to leave some commentary on the good, bad, and the ugly of the event.

THE GOOD

* First and foremost, Don King, the promoter of “The Brawl” along with Main Events, should be commended for making the trip to Iraq and entertaining the troops there with a special viewing of the event. In fact, as he has done for decades, King televised the card to all troops internationally via Armed Forces Network. Following the fight King spent time with the troops and had lunch with them in the military dining facility. Even those of us who might not be politically aligned with the legendary promoter have to salute his commitment to the troops and his efforts to boost morale.

*Blow by blow announcer Joe Tessitore continues to impress as the game’s premiere action caller. His calling of a fight is always perceptive and passionate. Rich Marotta, as the analyst, proved to be an excellent complement to Tessitore. One wonders where he was when HBO was conducting its Boxing After Dark analyst search. Even Roy Jones Jr. showed up as a guest analyst for one fight and contributed some astute commentary.

*Competitively, the pay per view event was better than expected.

In the opening bout Roman Karmazin knocked out Alejandro “Terra” Garcia in three rounds in a WBA junior middleweight eliminator. It was Garcia’s first fight in 18 months, or since he was floored five times in losing his title to Jose Antonio Rivera.

On paper it looked like a competitive match with the former two time WBA titlist Garcia and the former IBF title holder Karmazin. But in the ring, Garcia was never in it. He was floored in round one from a body shot, and another body shot set up a combination that floored and finished Garcia, who fell going forward and was counted out by referee Raul Caiz Jr. while on all fours.

In the co-feature, Jesse Feliciano put up a valiant effort against IBF welterweight belt holder Kermit Cintron before referee John Schorle stopped the fight at 1:53 of round 10 after a huge flurry by Cintron of power lefts and rights.

Cintron’s right hands hurt Feliciano in round one, and he injured his right hand in the process. Strangely, the injury did not manifest itself until he had raised his hands in victory, and then he went to the canvas grimacing in pain.

Calls to Cintron were not returned as of late Monday. A Main Events spokesperson said that there was no word yet as to the severity of Cintron’s injury, nor was there any word of the status of Cintron’s proposed February 2 unification bout with WBO title holder Paul Williams.

In any event, Feliciano, 15-6-3 (9), hung tough with the 29-1 (27) Cintron, a knockout artist who landed big shots but couldn’t put the gritty Feliciano away. In truth, Feliciano was simply all heart and determination. He took Cintron’s best, landed some good counters, out hustled and frustrated Cintron, but his punches just didn’t have the steam to seriously hurt the title holder.

Expectations were not high for Feliciano entering the fight. Tessitore advised viewers that the over/under in rounds for the fight was a low, low, 5.5.

Cintron seemed disappointed with his performance, but truly he didn’t do anything wrong, Feliciano just did a lot right and his gutty performance earned him some deserved respect.

Credit Ricardo Mayorga for having the self-control and discipline, as well as the stamina to outpoint Fernando Vargas in his home town. Credit Vargas for giving, sad as it is to say, his best effort in his swan song. Together they exceeded expectations and managed to put on an entertaining fight. Credit both men for standing and trading and keeping a fast pace for 12 rounds.

The fight will be rebroadcast this Saturday on ESPN Classic at 8 p.m. ET.

THE BAD

*Vargas-Mayorga was fought for the WBC Continental Americas super middleweight title. Phooey. That was an excuse to go 12 rounds and give the WBC a flat fee for sanctioning it. Neither man is a super middleweight, in athletic terms anyway. They both entered the ring at 164, the highest of their careers.

In fact, Mayorga was talking about returning to his “best weight” of 147. More than likely, however, he’ll be facing WBC super welterweight titlist Vernon “The Viper” Forrest, assuming Forrest wins this week on Showtime over mandatory challenger Michele Piccirillo. (More on that card later this week.) Mayorga is the only man to ever defeat Forrest, and Vernon is salivating at the thought of revenge with two good arms this time.

*Vargas managed to drop 100 pounds and overcame the resulting anemia to get back into the ring. The pictures shown of his washboard abs at the weigh in were not to be confused with the fighter in the ring that night. He looked as if he had already gained over 20 pounds and he had a kangaroo pouch around his middle.

That’s what happens when you weigh a Vargas on Thanksgiving. He’ll be a heifer again within two months.

It can’t be a healthy thing for him. Vargas could well have won the fight if he didn’t leave his legs and his balance at the Dunkin’ Donuts. The fluctuation in weight, the steroids, and the beatings absorbed in the ring may give “El Feroz” problems in future years.

*Mayorga apologized to Vargas for the statements that he made about Fernando’s wife and mother, saying that’s how he prepared for a fight. But, you know, this is getting tiresome. It seems to be his M.O. for every fight — vulgar insults, a near brawl, followed by an after fight apology. Who is ever going to take this guy seriously again?

Perhaps the best strategy for his next opponent should be…go the press conference, wait until he insults your entire family, and then plant a big kiss on his cheek. Then he won’t be able to “prepare” to fight you.

AND THE UGLY…

*I realize that PPV was the only way to get this card on the air, but at $44.95, I still say it was not worth the investment for most fans. Call me pampered but when I pay $44.95 for PPV, I demand HDTV. Also there was time for four fights– we should have had them.

Remember that Vargas is getting about $4 million plus upside and Mayorga about half of that.

It was boxing’s version of “Seinfeld,” a fight about nothing.

*The production to the show was second rate. The PPV was distributed by Showtime and the network advertised it on the air and on their website, but apparently had little else to do with it. There was no Showtime advertising apparent and the network was only mentioned once, by a fighter. I’ll bet they’re happy about that, as a Showtime production is normally first rate.

On a couple of occasions there was literally dead air as the camera scanned the Staples Center, an apparent communication problem.

Don King was shown on screen standing with the troops on a number of occasions. Yet, except for a couple of exceptions the production team wasn’t prepared and there was no response from King.

Tessitore asked, “How are things going over there?”

King stood smiling, waving his flag, awaiting his cue.

Later on a concluding thank you to King, the promoter was seen sitting in a chair surrounded by troops, still waving the flag but not saying anything.

When King and the broadcast did get coordinated, we got a couple of White House talking points from King, an update on The Surge, and a free Don King sales job for the Roy Jones Jr. -Tito Trinidad fight on January 19.

* Mayorga has nine children? How dreadful for Mrs. Mayorga.

MY GUT FEELING TELLS ME THAT…

There’s more than meets the eye with the sudden departure of Pat Rizzo from Top Rank. A 21 year employee in charge of ticketing, she was nicknamed “Razor,” and for good reason. But she has been described by colleagues as a “hard worker” who had many friends in the sport, at least those who earned her respect.

The details of her sudden departure are being kept under wraps for now. It was said that no notice was given, and Top Rank employees were unable to give an explanation.

It doesn’t sound like a happy ending, but we send her our best wishes in her future endeavors.