Liberty Boxing Enterprises presents world class professional boxing at Albert Park Field, outside under the lights in San Rafael, California, on Friday, September 16, 2011. In the eight-round main event, former WBF Welterweight Champion Paul Nave, “The Marin County Assassin,” of San Anselmo, CA will fight Brandon Hoskins, “The Pride of Missouri” from Hannibal, MO at welterweight, topping a five-bout card.

Hoskins is unbeaten as a professional and boasts a record of 15 wins and 0 losses with 8 knockouts with a better than 50% knockout ratio. Hoskins is 24, less than half Nave’s age. Nave will be 4 days shy of his 51st Birthday come fight time. Hoskins was a three-time Golden Gloves Champion as an amateur and had a stellar record of 50 wins with only 7 defeats. After a ten-year hiatus from the boxing game due to back surgery, Nave returned to the ring in March 2009 and has won four straight fights, the last being a 3rd round knock-out of Daniel Schlienz from Duluth, Minnesota on June 4th, 2010. Nave has a record of 19 wins, 8 losses and 3 draws with 8 knockouts and was recently rated 15th in the US as a welterweight by the USBA, a branch of the IBF. Nave states, “At my age I’m jumping in deep water, but we’ll see if I can swim to the top.”

Matched for the undercard in an intriguing four-round lightweight female fight is Novato’s own Marquita Lee, making her pro debut, against Laura Deanovic of San Francisco, CA. Also on the card once again is Luis Alfredo Lugo of Richmond, CA, by way of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico against Jovanni Rubio of Santa Rosa, CA in a six-round super lightweight bout. Richmond’s amateur boxing standout Ulises Soriano will make his pro debut in a four round super featherweight contest against Jesus Partida of Redwood City, CA. Rounding out the card is John Dunham of Stockton, CA in a four round super lightweight bout against Aldwayne Simpson from Richmond, CA.

Tickets are available online at Ticketmaster.com or by calling Liberty Boxing Enterprises at (415) 454-1113

The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation told the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) that it will not host another Bare-Knuckle fight promoted by FelKO, which last Friday staged the controversial bout featuring Bobby Gunn at its casino on Native American land not subject to the Arizona State Boxing & MMA Commission’s jurisdiction.

In an apparent response to an ABC press release Wednesday that condemned the event as “perhaps, criminal,’’ Fort McDowell Director of Marketing Tom McGill wrote Association Vice President Gregory Sirb that “there will not be any more Bare Knuckle Boxing events provided by FelKO Promotions.

In a letter acquired by 15 Rounds from the ABC, McKee also wrote that no “financial compensation was paid to the boxers from FMC (Fort McDowell Casino) so it was not a professional event. FelKO Promotions did not pay anything either.’’

ABC President Tim Lueckenhoff does not believe that the fighters were not paid.

“There is no way I could imagine that either fighter is going to fight for free after being paid in the past,’’ Lueckenhoff told 15 Rounds Thursday in an e-mail. “It is hogwash!’’

Gunn, who won a third-round stoppage over a Chris Stewart, is a well-known pro who fought for cruiserweight titles, including the International Boxing Federation’s version two years ago in a loss to Tomasz Adamek.

If no money was paid, it would have been an amateur event, which means it would not be subject to state regulation. Then, however, Lueckenhoff said it still would have to be regulated by USA Boxing.

If true, Lueckenhoff said, “this must be sanctioned by USA Boxing.’’

Before the bout last week, Dave Feldman of FelKO said he expected controversy. He said he also understood the safety concerns initially expressed by the Arizona Commission.

Dennis O’Connell, Arizona’s executive director, said he would never have allowed the event. In a news release last week, the state’s regulatory agency stated that bare-knuckle bouts “have serious health and safety implications.’’

The ABC called it “abhorrent, barbaric, egregious.” The national association said the bout also was “in contravention of a multitude of federal, state, and tribal boxing laws and regulations.’’

The ABC questions whether the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation has in fact a working commission. In 2008, Fort McDowell terminated a relationship it had with the Arizona commission, which had supervised pro cards on the reservation as part of a compact that it continues to have with casinos on Native American property.

The ABC promised to investigate “with the possibility of a referral to the U.S. Attorney’s Office toward the ends of barring any such activity in the future, instituting a criminal prosecution, or both.’’

Feldman said last week that he plans further Bare-Knuckle bouts. He said he has spoken to people in other states interested in bringing back an era in boxing that vanished more than a century ago. Feldman declined to identify either the people or the states.

LOS ANGELES, August 11 – One of the most exciting fighters in the sport of boxing today, Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo has an aggressive style and knockout power that has made him a must-see competitor for years. Now, Angulo will continue his attack on the junior middleweight division as a member of the Golden Boy Promotions team, and the Mexican warrior has just one goal in mind…to win a world championship.

“I always want to give the fans a great show and I work hard to get to my goal of retiring as a world champion,” said Angulo, a former interim WBO and WBC Continental Americas junior middleweight champion. “I believe Golden Boy Promotions is the right company to further my career and achieve my goals in boxing. I can’t wait to become Golden Boy’s next world champion.”

“There are a handful of fighters who always deliver excitement whenever they’re in the ring and Alfredo Angulo is certainly one of those select few,” said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Alfredo has already accomplished a lot in this sport, but at 29, there’s much left for him to accomplish and we’re going to be with him every step of the way as he moves from being a star to being a superstar.”

A native of Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, Alfredo Angulo (19-1, 16 KO’s) is a 2004 Mexican Olympian who took the professional game by storm as soon as he debuted in 2005. A devastating puncher whose relentless pressure has seen him break the likes of Ricardo Cortes, Richard Gutierrez, Andrey Tsurkan and Cosme Rivera over the course of his six-year career. Angulo rebounded from the lone loss of his career via decision to Kermit Cintron in 2009 to win the interim WBO World Title just two fights later against then-unbeaten Harry Joe Yorgey. In 2010, Angulo continued to show his world-class talent with knockouts of Joel Julio and Joachim Alcine. Following Angulo reaching a settlement with his prior promoter Gary Shaw Productions, he is ready to resume his quest to rule the junior middleweight division with Golden Boy Promotions in his corner.

A date and opponent for Angulo’s Golden Boy Promotions debut will be announced shortly. For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com; follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GoldenBoyBoxing or visit us on Facebook at Golden Boy Facebook Page.

By now you’ve read the press release about my Monday column, the one that was to be a workaday review of Kelly Pavlik’s comeback match with Darryl Cunningham, written for a transcendent website that gets more daily hits than every boxing site combined. After that would come a masterwork that announced my comeback as a serious voice.

I cancelled all that, Wednesday. After Pavlik cancelled his fight and offered a telling interview to Alec Kohut on Tuesday, I had a contentious phone call with the editor of the site for which I’d intended to write my next two columns. A transcript follows.

Me (cutting in): Listen, hey, wait, I’m tired of spending hours each week fretting over what strangers will opine of my subject. I need to start thinking about me, and riffing on art museums and favorite novelists. And I’m getting that tattoo of 15rounds.com on my lower back changed to a dolphin, just so you know – with the 5 becoming a dorsal fin.

Editor: Do what you want with your body. But remember our deal.

Me: I remember it and planned to honor it. A throwaway review of a mediocre fight, something to reintroduce me to readers as a writer who can fashion a passable report without experimenting, followed by a sprawling epic about Marvin Gaye’s use of boxing to overcome drug addiction, written to the chord changes of “Inner City Blues” and featuring interviews with much of Detroit.

Editor: That was the plan.

Me: Right, and then I realized you’re using me. You’re going to use my Marvin Gaye opus to drum up a hundred more clicks then tell me to scram.

Editor: Depends on how the second column goes over. You have to prove –

Me: I’m a famous writer. If I end a sentence with a preposition or use a hyphen in lieu of a semicolon, everybody talks about it. I coauthored a book with Thomas Hauser, for goodness’ sake! People know Bart Barry.

Column: And that’s why we offered to pay you what we thought was reasonable.

Me: “Reasonable”? I know you offered David Greisman $10,000 per column. Now maybe on the East Cost or the West Coast or the Midwest, Greisman’s name means more than mine, but in South Texas, in San Antonio, the Centertown portion – Houston Street? – my name is bigger than his. He gets $10,000 per column, and I get $50. C’mon!

Editor: What are you talking about? That $10,000 number is preposterous.

Me: I know what I know. At least offer me, like, $59, or fly me to Los Angeles, where boxing occasionally happens. I’d do my column for $50 in L.A. But you’re asking me to write about a deceased Motown talent, in South Texas, for $50. It’s outrageous, pardon my French.

Editor: Your what?

Me: It’s despicable – and I don’t mean to cuss. About my invoice . . .

Editor: We have a standard way of reimbursing our writers, one you are familiar with and –

Me: I don’t do this for the money, OK? I’m not one of these knucklehead boxing writers who acquires contemporary art or manages an expensive designer-eyeglass collection. Believe me, I’m fine. And if I’m fine, and I don’t write for money, obviously I’m not going to write unless I get paid what I think I’m worth! I don’t mean to swear, but it’s illogical.

Editor: You seem worked up. Are you back on the caffeine?

Me: Really, this again? Find me one writer who so much as tweets without a mug of coffee in his fist. I’ve been honest about those few times I had too much at Starbucks and it made me incoherent. Do you have any idea how hard it is to generate words out of thin air and have others question your talent and craft?

Editor: That’s what you are paid to do. Do you how many boxing fans would love to get paid for their opinions?

Me: You know what, I’m like any other guy. When some Wal-Mart greeter goes to a job where he makes less in a day than I make in an hour, does he do it for me? No. I write for the money – money I do not need. Frankly, I don’t even care if anyone reads my Marvin Gaye masterpiece.

Editor: For which we would pay you $50.

Me: How is a writer going to make $35 for a column comparing Marco Antonio Barrera to Jane Austen, a column maybe 20 people finished, and fewer than 10 enjoyed, and then take short money for a story on Marvin Gaye?

Editor: This was supposed to be a redemptive effort for you. After your issues with editors.

Me: Every writer fights with editors. One time, one time, Frauenheim and I get in a conversation and miss the early shuttle to Cowboys Stadium, and Abrams calls, and I tell him what happened, and he says it’s not a big deal, and I say it is. The only reason people talk about that is because Bart Barry is a famous name.

Editor: This is an impasse.

Me: Look, there are knowledgeable people out there. One guy, we call him “Spandex” – he knew a guy whose grandfather met Henry Miller in Paris – and he told me I need to not just write about art museums but really bore into them, controversial stuff about minimalism.

Editor: And when readers say it’s nonsensical?

Me: Maybe if they’d get off their asses and pay a subscription fee or send an eloquent email, instead of worrying about what Bart Barry is writing, maybe then . . .

(End Transcript)

As you can see from what’s above, my side of the story, I walked away from that other gig for good reasons. We can all agree this was the best thing for my boxing-writing career. Don’t miss my next column.

Bart Barry can still be reached at bbarry@15rounds.com, where he’s still happily writing, having never once fought with his editor.

In a heated back-and-forth grudge match, undefeated Vernon Paris got off the canvas to score the biggest win of his career to date with a seventh-round stoppage of world ranked Tim Coleman in the ESPN2 Friday Night Fights main event at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California on Friday night.

Coleman (19-2-1, 5 KOs) of Baltimore, Maryland downed Paris (25-0, 15 KOs) of Detroit, Michigan late in the second-round with a clean right hand. However, the Detroit native got right back into the fight at the start of the third as the action went both ways through five rounds.

Paris, 140, turned the fight in the sixth, as he hurt Coleman, 140, to the body early and eventually downed him twice with left hands downstairs. Coleman, who entered the bout the IBF#5/WBA #14 ranked light welterweight, rose from his knees the second time just before the bell sounded to end the sixth. In between rounds Coleman told his corner he was ready to continue, but Paris made sure not to give him the time he needed to recover.

Seconds into the seventh, Paris forced Coleman to the ropes and placed another solid left to his body. Coleman fell back on his left knee and referee Dan Stell immediately stopped the bout without a count. Official time of the stoppage was 27 seconds of the seventh.

With the victory Paris claims the USBA Light Welterweight title and will likely appear among the top ranked 140-pounders by the IBF when their next rankings are released. The fight had gained additional heat from a war of words between Paris and Coleman on their Facebook pages. When they arrived at the casino hotel Thursday morning, an altercation in the lobby in which Coleman admittedly threw a punch, led to separate weigh-ins and off site lodging for both main event fighters. In a show of good sportsmanship, Coleman moved past the heightened in-ring security to embrace Paris after the fight.

In impressive fashion, lightweight prospect Mike Faragon (16-0, 7 KOs) of Guilderland, New York broke down Ira Terry (24-6, 14 KOs) of Memphis, Tennessee to the body en route to a second-round referee’s stoppage.

Faragon, 134 ¾, ended an aggressive run by Terry, 129, in the second with a right to the body that referee Raul Caiz asked the prospect to keep up. With Terry clearly bothered by the blow, Faragon targeted his midsection with the ensuing onslaught. With Terry still standing but wilting against the ropes, Caiz leaped in to stop the bout. Official time of the stoppage was 2:32 of the second.

What could have evolved into a solid scrap ended prematurely as unbeaten Art Hovhannesyan (14-0-2, 8 KOs) of Glendale, California by way of Gyumri, Armenia clashed heads with former featherweight titleholder Cristobal Cruz (39-12-3, 23 KOs) of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico in the fourth and ultimately final round.

Ending a long layoff, Cruz, 130, got off to a solid start in the bout landing well with his awkward, winging style. Hovhannesyan, 130, landed one of his better shots, a right hand, just before stepping in with his head. The head clash opened a bad gash just right of center on Cruz’ forehead. Scoring the abbreviated fourth-round under the California rules, each fighter took a card 39-37, with the third judge’s card forcing the draw, 38-38.

Sergio Nunez (3-0-1, 2 KOs) of Maywood, California pounded out a one-sided four-round unanimous decision over debuting Ricardo Cubillas (0-1) of Riverside, California. Nunez, 134 ½, was by far the better schooled boxer, but Cubillas, 135, was game enough to last the distance. In the end, all three judges scored the bout a shutout, 40-36, for Nunez.

Promoters for a bare-knuckle fight featuring former cruiserweight contender Bobby Gunn Friday night at a casino on Native American land near Phoenix are promising enhanced safety measures for a controversial bout that the Arizona State Boxing & MMA Commission would cancel if it had the power to do so.

“Absolutely, we would not allow it,’’ Commission Executive Director Dennis O’Connell said of the bout at the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, which is not subject to regulation by the state agency that oversees boxing and mixed martial arts.

Dave Feldman of FelKO Promotions said he understands the Commission’s objection.

“I respect their opinion 100 percent,’’ Feldman said. “I’d be a fool, otherwise. That’s why we’re taking all of these safety precautions.’’

Feldman said plans for the Gunn fight against MMA fighter Chris Thompson include two referees instead of one. The bout, the main event on the card (first bell/8 p.m., PST), is scheduled for ten 90-second rounds. Although the knuckles will be bare, Feldman said wrists and other parts of the hands will be taped. He also said additional medical personnel will be at ringside.

Cuts are the biggest fear, Feldman said. Rules have been modified to allow each cut-man an additional 30 seconds to stop the bleeding.

“Safety is paramount,’’ said Feldman, who says he has researched a bygone version of a street sport that has been not been conducted under official rules or with public approval for more than a century, or probably since 1889 when John L. Sullivan reportedly knocked out John Kilrain in the 75th round in Mississippi.

Feldman said the Gunn-Thompson bout will be regulated by the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation. However, the Tribe is not a current member of the national Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC). It has not been since September of 2008, O’Connell said from the ABC’s annual convention in Washington, D.C.

In 2008, Fort McDowell also terminated a working relationship with the state Commission, which had regulated a few pro cards on the Yavapai reservation as part of a state-wide compact that includes other Arizona tribes.

In 2008, a Phoenix police officer, Barry Scott died on Sept. 16 four days after a bout on a FelKO promoted card at Fort McDowell featuring cops-versus-firemen. It was not regulated because the fighters were amateurs. Hunter, who wore gloves and headgear, died of suspected head trauma that might have been inflicted during heavy sparring while training.

With increasing interest in mixed martial arts, Feldman believes there might be a future for bare-knuckle boxing. However, he expects controversy and admits he is uncertain about what might happen.

“We’ll see,’’ said Feldman, who said he already has plans for more bare-knuckle boxing, perhaps in other states.

O’Connell said opposition to the bout was expressed in opening remarks at the ABC convention’s first day in Washington, D.C.

The Commission also sent out a press release, dated July 29 and headlined:

State Boxing Commission Not Involved in Upcoming Bare-Knuckle Bout at Fort McDowell.

In the second of only three paragraphs, the Commission’s release said:

“Bare-knuckle matches or bouts have serious health and safety implications for participating contestants. For that reason, Arizona laws and regulations governing boxing and mixed martial arts require the use of approved gloves. A bare-knuckle bout would never be sanctioned by the Arizona State Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Commission, nor any other state or tribal commission that is a member of the National Association of Boxing Commissions.”

For a while, in a strange way I was glad I couldn’t make it to Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun Casino last Friday. I had to work my 9-5. Or on that particular day, my 2-10. The hours in the news media industry keep me off balance and last week, they prevented me from making the two hour drive to the Constitution State.

If I was there, though, I would have seen 6’7″ Mariusz Wach knock Mike Tyson-conqueror, Kevin McBride, unconscious with one jaw-crushing right hand.

—-

I had been ringside for both heavyweight’s previous fights. Wach’s was a third round knockout over North Carolina’s Jonathan Haggler, while McBride’s was a unanimous decision loss to Wach’s fellow countryman, Tomasz Adamek.

In the lead-up to his fight with Adamek, I got the chance to sit down with McBride at the Brick City Bar & Grill. Alongside a few other reporters, I sat next to him, in a seat that was only stone’s throw away from the bar — the bar that’s home to the liquid that sent not only McBride’s career, but his life, spiraling downward a few years back.

But the Irishman wasn’t there to throw back Jameson or guzzle down Guinness. Accompanied by his longtime friend and manager, Jerry Quinn, as well as an Irish-Catholic priest from Boston, McBride was there to talk about his upcoming fight. He seemed focused and determined.

He didn’t answer any questions in great detail, nor did he provide a quote that was worthy of the front page. What he did provide was a refreshing dose of honesty.

He knew there was only one way to win that night in Newark, Adamek’s adopted hometown. He was going to have rock Adamek’s world. He was going to have to hit “Goral” so hard “it’ll feel like the all of Ireland hit him.”

But that never happened. In fact, McBride hardly land as much as a jab. It’s quite possible McBride’s mighty right hand never even grazed Adamek’s flesh. At 285 lbs., McBride was too big, too slow.

After the fight, a battered McBride whose face was almost unrecognizable talked about the possibility of retirement.

“I’ll have to talk to my family and my wife,” McBride said. “There’s a good chance I will. I am a fighter and I am a warrior. I probably will step down. I tried, but I didn’t succeed, but that’s life. If you try, you’re still a winner though. You know, boxing’s a beautiful sport and I love the sport, but I’m not getting any younger. I’m 38 next month.”

He didn’t. So I met with him again before his fight with Wach at a press conference at Global Boxing Gym in North Bergen, New Jersey. I asked him about the remarks he made after the fight with Adamek.

“Definitely, there is always that thought [of retiring],” the Irishman said. “After the Adamek fight, I felt like I should have retired. I have two beautiful kids and a lovely wife. But people said, you know, look at George Foreman…the last thing that leaves you is the punching power. Whenever there’s an opportunity, there’s a chance…I can be world champion.”

But what good is punching power if you can’t find the person you’re supposed to punch?

In reality, McBride was never a skilled boxer. And at 295 lbs. last Friday, he had zero chance of beating the undefeated giant who is Mariusz Wach. His weight, lack of speed, and age, transformed him into a walking heavy bag.

Wach beat McBride to the punch each time the two engaged over the first nine minutes. McBride looked out of place.

Then in the fourth round, Wach decided to up-the-ante. Just like trainer Juan de Leon had wanted, Wach came out aggressive, constantly coming forward, touching up McBride.

After walking McBride down so that his back were against the ropes, Wach unleashed a one-two. McBride nonchalantly threw his left hand out in front of body trying to flick away Wach’s jab. But what immediately followed that jab was an ill-intentioned right hand that McBride never saw. It landed flush on the Irishman’s jaw and knocked him unconscious before he even hit the canvas.

The big man crashed to the mat immediately, his arms and legs spread every which way so that when he finally did lay motionless on the mat, his body resembled that of a chalk outline. Doctors and medical personnel were rushed into the ring. He would leave in a stretcher.

I was watching from the comfort of my own home — on Youtube. I was sipping on a glass of Maker’s Mark, debating if I should switch to Justerini & Brooks.

I knew the punch was coming, I was waiting for it. When it landed, my insides got twisted. For a moment, I was glad I wasn’t there to see it in person.

But then I thought, if boxing were a bunch of robots, nobody would be interested. As much as it is the appeal and beauty of organized violence, it’s the human element that attracts us to this sport. People identify with fighter’s all the time because they can relate to them — whether it is by hometown, race, or religion.

So I suppose I am sorry I was unable to attend. It’s those gut-wrenching, lump-in-your-throat, stomach-in-your-mouth, type-moments that get your heart racing and the blood flowing. The undefeated heavyweight — Mariusz Wach’s right hand and the subsequent collapse of McBride — brought forth all of those feelings.

While boxing is definitely eye-pleasing, it’s more poetic than beautiful. And there are plenty of tragedies. McBride’s career, I suppose, is one of those.

On the flip side, I’m happy for Wach. He’s also good guy, who’ve I’ve spoken to on a few occasions. He was elated after he dropped McBride, his joy was written all over his face. From when I first saw him work out almost a year ago, Wach has certainly improved. He’s trained with former heavyweight champion Michael Moorer, and this go around with Baby Joe Mesi’s old trainer, Juan de Leon. His improvements are showing, as is evident by the punishing KO he delivered to McBride.

And on that note — to McBride; I hope it’s as clear to you as it is to everyone else: please get out now. For yourself, for your wife, and for your children, Caoimhin and for Grainne.

Let’s hope this was it for the big Irishman. If he exits like he should, it would mean he will never become the first Irish-born man to win the heavyweight crown. But hell, at this point, with all the alphabet soup titles floating around, beating Iron Mike in many ways is a greater achievement than claiming some portion of heavyweight glory.

To the career of Kevin McBride, I’ll toast this Jameson.

Kyle Kinder can be reached via Twitter at Twitter.com/KyleKinder

Fast-rising super bantamweight prospect Roman Morales makes a quick return to the ring Friday night at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California. Morales, who fought just two weeks ago, will take on Rodrigo Aranda in a bout that will air on the nationally broadcast ESPN2 Friday Night Fights.

Morales (5-0, 4 KOs) of San Ardo, California is coming in off of a devastating first-round knockout of normally durable Juan Tepoz (4-6-1) on July 22nd. Morales, a highly touted amateur before turning pro this past February, ran through Tepoz, scoring two knockdowns in the opening round. Morales had got off to a slow start in his bout prior, something his team had worked to improve upon.

“I told him to start fast, and to start fast we have warm up more in the dressing room,” says his trainer Rodolfo Tapia. “Work a little more, like we do in the gym. Then when the bell rings, show the people what you have. That was the plan, and it worked real good.”

Morales’ manager Repo Ric had some advice for his young upstart going into the bout as well. “I saw Roman eat before the last fight, and he had a turkey sandwich and some french fries,” recalls Repo. “I told him, ‘I want those fries slid off your plate and I want them slid off your plate now. For one thing, people are watching you and another it is three hours before the fight and you have french fries in your stomach with grease and everything.’ So he threw the french fries out right away. The other was that he wasn’t warming up enough, so I told his trainer to warm him up a little more. So I don’t know which one it was, but he did start off a lot faster than he had normally, so hopefully this next fight he will start off fast.”

With really only one full week to train and prepare for his next assignment, Morales quickly got back into the gym, getting sparring with both world ranked Eloy Perez and solid pro Rufino Serrano, who also fights this Friday. Some may be hesitant to schedule two fights so close together for their fighter, but Morales wiped a lot of any worries there could have been away by ending his last fight so quickly.

“He had a sparring partner for one round,” says Repo of the Tepoz victory. “He went home and got right back in that gym, since he just went down the street to do a sparring session, and he got some more sparring that week and is ready to fight again. If he had a hard fight with some bumps bruises then that would be different. But other than that no, keep him moving. If every fight was like the last fight, we would like to go two weeks after this fight.”

Shortly after the victory over Tepoz, Morales’ and his trainer learned that their fight this Friday would make television, and received some other encouraging words from their promoter. “After the fight, Gary Shaw called us over to ringside and was very happy,” recalls Tapia. “He told Roman to keep doing what he is doing, and he promised him a title shot next year. He told Roman that he has been doing good things and to listen to his coach, stay busy and stay focused. That made Roman very happy, and that is a big thing for the main guy to say that.”

Shaw’s words not only encouraged Morales, but also pleased his manager. “My dream was to get with Gary Shaw,” says Repo. “I like the man and I like his company. For me to get with him and with everything progressing the way it is, and for Gary Shaw to say what he’s saying, and for me to be able to do what I do, I love it. I really feel good that Gary talked to them and said he may have a title belt for them next year.”

Five fights in, Team Morales seems to be clicking on cylinders. “People have said some bad things about Repo, but now I tell them that they have to realize Repo is doing a pretty good job,” says Tapia, who is also Morales’ uncle. “I know a lot of people are jealous of Repo in Fresno and always talk bad things about him, but he has been really good for us. He’s been keeping Roman busy and taking him on his way to the top.”

It has been so far so good, but Repo Ric knows there is still plenty of work ahead. “I have been around plenty of promoters, and I have worked for plenty of promoters, and I have learned,” says Repo. “I get in there and learn, and the way I have been moving Roman Morales is showing me that I have learned. From some of the things I have picked up, and I am able to achieve on my own. All I do is boxing. My whole life is boxing, boxing, boxing. I think I am a skillful manager and I learned from the best and I am going to keep learning. I am never going to get too old to learn, and I am never going to learn everything, but I am going to keep learning.”

Next up is an opponent that could provide a stern test, despite his less than threatening record. Rodrigo Aranda (8-14-2, 2 KOs) of Las Vegas, Nevada is a veteran that has been in with a who’s who of prospects. “This kid we are going to fight is really durable,” says Repo of Aranda, who has only been stopped once in his career. “The purpose is to get some experience because it is hard to find him fights, everyone keeps pulling out. If everyone is going to keep pulling out, then we are going to have to go the distance with some of these fighters. That way he will have some ring experience. If he takes him out, he takes him out, but he doesn’t have to. Break him down and he’ll be 6-0, with four knockouts.”

Knockout or not, Team Morales plans to leave Santa Ynez with the victory and get right back to work on Monday.

Tickets for Friday’s event, promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, are available online at StarTickets.com.

Photos by Stephanie Trapp/trappfotos@gmail.com

Colorado’s Mike Alvarado successfully continued his comeback Saturday. Ohio’s Kelly Pavlik will successfully continue his comeback Saturday. Top Rank continues to promote both. And American boxing aficionados who are not within driving distance of Southern California’s thriving gym scene continue to be nostalgic about better times.

Saturday’s Fox Sports Español telecast was a reminder of this. There was Alvarado, fighting in Denver at a venue called Softball Country Arena – which appeared to be a field with a set of tracks behind it where trains moseyed past. Rumor is, ticket sales went well. But Alvarado is in a much different place from where he once was.

Today he is 31-years old. He is fighting Off-Off-Broadway, to be charitable. Since his quick rise on the professional scene, one aided by Telefutura’s “Solo Boxeo” (its invaluable predecessor, not the current imposter), he has fought in cities like Cicero, Ill., Gary, Ind., and Commerce City, Colo. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

Sixty-two months ago, Alvarado fought in the co-main event of a Top Rank card in Tucson, Ariz., in a venue called Club Envy. The club itself was small, as I recall it. The parking lot was converted to a fighting venue. There were folding chairs and a chainlink fence and metal tubs of beers on the perimeter. The turnout was mediocre, as Arizona boxing was by then nine months into a cruel freeze – one our own Norm Frauenheim reports may just now be thawing.

Some of the usual characters were at Club Envy, though not as many. Phil Soto, Top Rank’s Arizona publicist, placed seat assignments on ringside tables and put me beside TheSweetScience.com’s Phil Woolever – arguably boxing writing’s most poetic soul. Woolever spoke his observations into a handheld voice recorder, and we shared a few jokes about the hot pink trunks one of the undercard combatants wore in the ring that night.

Alvarado was sharp, threw tight combinations, impressed observers with his right uppercut, and got hit plenty with right crosses. His opponent that night, Maximino “Holy Hands” Cuevas, boasted an 8-3-1 record that was headed for 10-11-1. He was there to lose and found his way out of the match with a left-eye injury after round 5.

Alvarado was disappointed the fight didn’t go longer, implying he would have been hit with fewer punches as it went on. Saturday’s junior welterweight fight against Gabriel Martinez showed that either Alvarado’s five-year-old claim was never particularly true, or he’s lost some of the fast-twitch from his reflexes. He still gets hit hard with right hands.

But he also shows the same impressive chin he showed in his youth, back when Top Rank very nearly called him a top prospect in its stable – before the arrests and private disappointments. Last June, as Top Rank spent a week in San Antonio to promote Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.’s match with John Duddy, Alvarado’s career had collided with another obstacle, and Top Rank personnel were not timid about expressing their displeasure with Alvarado.

Yet, there was Alvarado on a Top Rank broadcast Saturday – a marker we’ll return to.

Kelly Pavlik, too, has performed a sabotage of sorts on his prizefighting career, a career Top Rank’s Bob Arum once promised would eclipse in riches and acclaim Oscar De La Hoya’s. Pavlik was his hometown’s professional-sports franchise. Youngstown, Ohio, perhaps the closest thing boxing has to a sister city, rallied round its one excuse for optimism. Pavlik let the city down.

Talk to folks above the legal drinking age in Youngstown, and you’ll find most have a story or two about the hell-raising Pavlik brothers. A few weeks ago that hell-raising won national attention, as Kelly and his brother staged a sparring match to whose credentials list local police were belatedly added. Pavlik doesn’t want to talk about it. Boxing media, excepting only Michael Woods, were happy to comply with the fighter’s wishes during last week’s conference call.

You know who’s happy to talk about it, though? Guys in boxing gyms. In South Texas at least, where most heavybag habitués’ names end in an s or z, there’s a long-held suspicion Pavlik was the beneficiary of what President George W. Bush once called “the soft bigotry of low expectations.” Pavlik’s white skin lowered expectations, Pavlik sprang over the shortened hurdles, and Pavlik became far more famous than a Mexican or Puerto Rican might have for knocking-out middleweight champion Jermain Taylor.

Is this accurate? Not really. Boxing gyms are often racially fixated and cruel places, and Pavlik deserves better than the “white hope” and “middleweight drunk” titles his name now triggers.

Just the same, by now, Pavlik was supposed to be a pay-per-view mainstay, selling-out edifices like Ohio State’s Horseshoe or Cleveland Browns Stadium. Instead, Pavlik now hopes for a “walk-up” crowd in Youngstown’s Covelli Center on Friday. He’ll be fighting someone named Darryl Cunningham on Showtime’s “ShoBox” program, one whose subtitle is “The New Generation.”

Top Rank will promote that show, too. Just like Alvarado’s show Saturday. Why is this worth mentioning? Because it tells you something about the fabric of Bob Arum’s company.

Contrary to general impressions, Arum engenders loyalty by showing loyalty. He may bark at his fighters. Hell, he may even crow about them in the press. But Top Rank always answers the phone when one of its stable calls. It finds a place for tough action fighters, regardless of their private mistakes. People, it seems, like Arum more the better they know him.

If Oscar De La Hoya is the future of boxing promotion, this is a trait he should learn from his former promoter. De La Hoya has an opposite track record: He is most beloved by those who are farthest from him.

Meanwhile boxing’s own comeback remains in neutral, exactly between first gear and reverse.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

Distractions are an ally or an annoyance or a dirty word. Manny Pacquiao can’t get enough of them. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. sneers at them, then moves on to the next one. Kelly Pavlik doesn’t know what to do with them. Not yet, anyway

For Pavlik, learning how to manage them, or at least live with them, might be his greatest challenge, bigger even than an Aug. 6 tune-up against left-handed Darryl Cunningham in a super-middleweight battle to reassert himself at his profession’s highest level in a projected fight with Canadian Lucian Bute, also a left-hander.

News about Pavlik for the last year has mostly been about a lifestyle gone awry and a stretch in rehab. A difficult personal trial is hard enough without media attention. With it, the challenge threatens to become a succession of exaggerated cheap shots that can knock out a career, or at least leave a promising one short of fulfillment.

Pavlik’s fight against Cunningham in front of neighbors and the nosy in hometown Youngstown, Ohio, will happen on Showtime’s ShoBox within a few weeks of news about a reported altercation with his brother. According to various reports, they had been drinking. Even if drinking had not been mentioned, the public would have assumed it anyway.

“There’s nothing you can do about that stuff,’’ Pavlik said at the end of a national conference call Wednesday. “Ninety percent of Americans get into fights with siblings. I can’t get into a shoving match with mine. It is what it is.’’

In what is perhaps a good sign in the process of learning how to manage the inevitable, Pavlik sounded philosophical. There were times before his last fight and first one after release from rehab in May when he got exasperated, then annoyed, at repeated questions about the experience.

“Got a new thing I throw out there now: ‘Who cares?’ ‘’ he said when confronted by the question Wednesday. “I just can’t worry about pressure from the public or what people are going to say.

“…I’m going to be Kelly Pavlik.’’

That might be easier to say than do. I get the sense that Pavlik is still stunned to discover how fickle success and celebrity can be. In his early rise to the top of the middleweight ranks, he came across as a nice guy with a blue-collar approach and personality. He was gritty and genuine. Still is. That’s why I’ll be cheering for him, although I wonder if everybody in the Youngstown crowd at Covelli Center will be.

“You know what, I’m not sure,’’ Pavlik said when asked whether he expected a lot of support from a big crowd of hometown fans. “I’m hoping they are. Word is, it’s going pretty good right now. There’s a lot of people still saying they’re going to get their tickets. Mainly, you expect a walk-up crowd in Youngstown. That’s one of the big things, too.

“I’m going to do my thing. I’m going to put on a great show. I’m going to fight as hard as I can. Whatever happens — my true fans, and I’m sure there’s a lot — they’ll be in for a real treat.”

They will be and many also will be back, but only if Pavlik begins to beat back distractions in a compelling comeback that could be as gritty as it is genuine.

Quotes, anecdotes
· A noted publicist, on Zab Judah saying he thought he was getting “a standing eight-count’’ while on all fours after Amir Khan dropped him with a borderline shot on the trunk’s belt: “He must have been talking about a crawling count.’’

· Memo to Tim Bradley: Find the trash can into which Riddick Bowe dumped the World Boxing Council’s heavyweight title belt in 1992. That’s where the 140-pound belt stripped from you this week by WBC President Jose Sulaiman belongs.

AZ notes
· Pavlik (37-2, 32 KOs) said he is fighting Cunningham (23-2, 10 KOs) because is a left-hander, who will help him get ready for Bute. Pavlik didn’t mention Jesus Gonzales (27-1, 14 KOs), also left-handed and his sparring partner before a loss to Sergio Martinez. Gonzales, who is fighting to get in to the 168-pound title mix after a two-year hiatus, plans to continue his Phoenix comeback this fall.

· Thunderstorms tore off the roof of a popular gym, KO Boxing, in south Phoenix a few days ago. Phoenix promoter Michelle Rosado and Phoenix bantamweight Emilio Garcia are seeking donations to rebuild the gym, which is located on some of the city’s meanest streets. An ongoing rebirth of the Arizona market continues in September, first on Sept. 2 with an Alma Carrasco Canez-promoted card at El Zaribah Shriners in Phoenix and then on Sept. 17 with card in Parker at BlueWater Resort & Casino with unbeaten Top Rank prospect Jose Benavidez, Jr., an unbeaten junior-welterweight, in a featured fight. Benavidez, a Phoenix native, is back in trainer Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, Calif.

Fallon, NV — The City of Fallon, NV and Let’s Get It On Promotions are pleased to announce the fourth annual “Rural Rumble” Fallon Fights 2011, Saturday August 27th at the Churchill County Fairgrounds. “Rural Rumble 2011” will feature world class professional boxing.

“We are thrilled to be presenting the fourth annual “Rural Rumble” once again in Fallon.” Says Fallon, NV Mayor Ken Tedford Jr. “Boxing has played an important role in this area for over a century, and we are proud to continue the tradition.”

Headlining the card is Northern Nevada favorite Derek Hinkey (8-2, 7 KOs) of McDermitt, NV. Hinkey will be making his highly anticipated return to the ring on August 27th after a prolonged layoff due to a hand injury from his fight against Ariel Espinal in 2009.

“It just never really healed correctly and caused me discomfort in my past two fights.” Says Hinkey. “But I’m 100% now and chomping at the bit to get back in there.”

Hinkey, who lives and trains in Las Vegas, stayed in shape and in the gym while allowing his hand to heal. He has trained with several high-profile boxers and MMA fighters in the recent past which kept his game sharp. He will need his best as he takes on the experienced and tough Anthony “Powerhouse” Bartinelli (20-14-2,13 KOs) of Phoenix, AZ in a six round middleweight bout. Bartinelli is no stranger to fighting top names in the middleweight division, and will prove to be a test for Hinkey.

In a light-heavyweight match-up, Reno’s Carlos Gaytan (2-0-1, 2 KOs) will be facing San Jose’s Anthony Johnson (4-0, 1 KO). Both fighters come into this fight undefeated.

Returning to the ring on August 27th is jr. middleweight Jose “Chuy” Elizondo (1-0) of Carson City, NV. Elizondo, who was a stand out amateur, scored a spectacular shut-out decision over Rodrigo Espinoza on April 29th.

In a separate bout, highly regarded amateur Carlos Vasquez of Reno, NV will be making his pro debut against Vincente Medellin (1-0) of Los Angeles. Vasquez, who’s brother is highly ranked amateur Santos Vasquez, decided that his aggressive boxing style was better suited for the professional side of boxing. Vasquez vs. Medellin will take place at 112 lbs.

In a local boxing match-up, cruiserweights Bubba Dupree (0-1) of Reno, NV will be facing Jack “The Motor” Montgomery (0-1) of Winnemucca, NV.

More details will be released soon.

Tickets are available by calling 775 423 4556. Advance tickets are $10 children (ages 6-17) $12 adults; at gate $12 children $15 adults; $50 ringside, $500 for VIP tables. All bouts subject to change.

LAS VEGAS — Super-featherweight “El Negro Mexicano”, “Lightning” Lonnie Smith (13-2-2, 9 KOs) is back in action Friday, July 29th at the South Point Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas.

Coming off an impressive unanimous decision win over Oxnard’s “Dangerous” David Rodella in April, Smith looks to advance his career by facing California’s Robert Vargas (5-1). This will be “Lightning” Lonnie’s second televised fight in a row.

“The ultimate goal is to be champion,” says Smith. “And I train like one, so that is the next step.”

After appearing on several of their shows, Let’s Get It On Promotions inked a long-term promotional agreement with Smith this year.

“The win over Rodella on television was huge,” says Let’s Get It On Promotions’ Tommy Lane. “It gave fight fans the opportunity to see what we’ve seen all along. The response we received after that fight about Lonnie was incredible.”

Smith vs. Vargas is scheduled for 6-rounds and will be televised on Telefutura’s “Solo Boxeo” series. Check local listings. Tickets are available by calling 702-797-8055.

Photo by Stephanie Trapp

Englishman Amir Khan will never fail to look unbeatable against an opponent who considers contact optional. If you are a prizefighter who relies on once-youthful reflexes to get the better of every exchange, there’s a good chance you have no chance against Khan. He is too fast and confident. He is going to hit you, and if being hit ruins your prefight strategy, ruined you will be.

Brooklyn’s Zab Judah, older and slower and newly devoted to the Prince of Peace, was just such a man – one who wanted no part of being hit.

And so, Saturday at Mandalay Bay, Amir Khan stopped Judah at 2:47 of round 5 with a punch that hit Judah on the belly button, making Khan a unified titlist at 140 pounds. And Judah – who try, try, tried again to get the fight stopped – was left with little more than another professional paragraph that ends “, if only.”

After the fight, Khan said he believed Judah a better boxer than Timothy Bradley, the recognized champion at 140 pounds. Khan is right. If you understand the word “boxer” in the headgear-and-big-gloves, hit-and-don’t-get-hit, make’em-say-“ooh! ahh!” sense of the term, Judah is a better boxer than Bradley. But Bradley is twice the fighter Judah is.

Don’t for a second think Khan’s ability to dominate a formerly flashy prizefighter with diminished reflexes is indicative of how Khan would fare against a prime volume puncher. Khan looked unstoppable against Paulie Malignaggi. And it told you nothing about how he’d look when Marcos Maidana laid hands on him. Maybe Malignaggi was no Zab Judah, but neither was Maidana any sort of Timothy Bradley.

Frankly, it’s hard to concentrate on another disappointing match in a papered (but still sparsely occupied) arena in a depressed American city when there is a looming debt crisis.

Let’s spend some time thinking about this looming crisis, then. No, not the politics of it. That part is beneath us. Rather, let’s look at the consequences of our Treasury bonds losing their AAA rating.

Since July of 1944, America has effectively owned the world’s printing press. When the Allies met in Bretton Woods, N.H., and agreed to make the dollar the world’s reserve currency, our country was given an extraordinary economic advantage. We have not used this advantage predatorily as European history tells us we could have, no, but we’ve still taken some liberties with it. In 1971, President Nixon “temporarily” suspended the redemptions we’d promised the Allies – dollars to gold – and floated the world’s reserve currency, and every other currency along with it. In the 1980s, President Reagan used the printing press to lose a race to bankruptcy with the Soviet Union.

Today we are told to fear a takeover of the world’s economy by China – as if the yuan were poised to replace the dollar. That is unlikely. After all, it took 65 million deaths in World War II for the world to agree on a common currency.

But what if our Treasury bonds were to lose their AAA rating?

It is instructive to look at the case of American International Group (AIG) in 2008 to start answering that question. AIG, believe it or not, never exactly defaulted on its debt. Instead, it issued an incredible number of bonds to borrow money to leverage its positions. And AIG’s bondholders bought those bonds based on their AAA rating – with an agreement that if AIG were to lose its high rating, it would provide additional collateral.

When AIG’s debt was downgraded by rating agencies, it suddenly had to produce tens of billions of dollars in additional collateral to meet its obligations. Its ability to raise additional capital reflexively cancelled, AIG faced default, and our federal government – owner of the world’s printing press – intervened, covered AIG’s debt, and prevented default.

Now, imagine AIG were a country whose debt the entire world owned and who suddenly lost its AAA rating. Then imagine there was no federal government to step in and prevent default.

Welcome to the United States of America in 2011.

What happens if U.S. Treasury bonds lose their AAA rating? Nobody knows. The quality of American debt is the one constant in every economic model designed and used for the last 67 years. America is uniquely empowered by the rest of the world to print money in a crisis. It has never struck anyone that a country with this advantage would consider not using it.

Every fixed-income model used by every country relies on the U.S. Treasury bond to be a standard. If this were to change, one assumes, the algorithms on which the world’s financial models are built would trigger immediate downgrades of every entity that owns U.S. Treasury bonds.

And you thought AIG was interconnected?

If American debt loses its AAA rating, it will be ruinous to our way of life, and more ruinous to everyone else’s. Quickly enough – deprived of its standard – the credit-rating system, itself, will disappear. And without a way to know who will pay and who will default, the entirety of the global economy will congeal.

Take solace in this, though: Unlike the case of 2008, when a tiny and private band of men conspired to end the world’s economy, this time it will be elected officials of the United States that publicly raze it. A democratic solution for ending the world as we know it – which does seem fairer.

Oh, about Amir Khan? It’s hard to say. He seems to be positioning himself for a run at the winner of Mayweather-Ortiz (Mayweather) at welterweight. Timothy Bradley seems to be positioning himself for a run at Manny Pacquiao. That is, both Khan and Bradley are mapping their careers on the assumption that Pacquiao-Mayweather never happens. Hard to argue with them.

Chances are, we’ll be deprived of both Bradley-Khan and Pacquiao-Mayweather, then. Let’s hope that’s the extent of our deprivations.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

LAS VEGAS – Bernard Hopkins tried to stir up some interest Saturday in a rematch with Joe Calzaghe by mentioning the possibility and then telling UK reporters to speak to Calzaghe about it.

Hopkins suggested a rematch was in order when UK reporters told him that Calzaghe was in Las Vegas to watch fellow Brit Amir Khan fight Zab Judah.

“You’ll have something to write about on Sunday,’’ he cracked at the UK reporters who were at Mandalay Bay for a breakfast roundtable.

Hopkins (52-5-2, 32 KOs) has always believed he was robbed of a victory in a 2008 split decision that went to Calzaghe, now 39 and retired. Controversy preceded the fight when Hopkins told Calzaghe that he’d never let “white boy” beat him.

“I won that fight,’’ said the 46-year-old Hopkins, who faces Chad Dawson (30-1, 17 KOs) on Oct. 15 in defense of the light-heavyweight title he won against Jean Pascal in a victory that made him the oldest ever to claim a major title. “I think I lost that fight when I called light-skinned. I think that changed the way people looked at that fight.’’

It was not known early Saturday if Calzaghe was interested. He has never indicated one way or another whether he has even considered a comeback.

“He retired because he knew the world wanted to see a Hopkins-Calzaghe rematch,’’ Hopkins said. “Joe knew the pressure would be too much.’’

Hopkins, who always has a lot to say, also offered to fight UK heavyweight David Haye, who balmed his embarrassing loss Wladimir Klitschko on a broken toe

“Hey, I’ll fight David Haye tomorrow,’’ Hopkins said. “I’ll spot him 20 pounds.’’

Hopkins thought Haye had blamed the loss on a busted big toe. When told it was a small toe, Hopkins said:

“OK, I’ll spot him 50.’’

Hopkins (52-5-2, 32 KO) lost his light heavyweight belt to Calzaghe in April 2008 by split decision in a bowling shoe ugly fight that was debated by many but is regarded fondly by few. After that win, Calzaghe (who was already the super middleweight champion) fought just once more, beating the shell of Roy Jones Jr in November 2008 in a pay-per-view bomb in Madison Square Garden.

Calzaghe then retired with a record of 46-0 (32 KO), but it’s a record many still don’t consider truly great, despite the Welshman having never lost a fight. Now 39 years old, Calzaghe has made no serious indication that he’s looking to return to the ring, but there has been mild speculation since he retired. The biggest headlines he’s made in his time out of the ring came, unfortunately, when he admitted to cocaine usage. He also appeared on the reality show contest “Strictly Come Dancing.”

CABAZON, CALIFORNIA – World ranked super middleweight Anthony Dirrell is still looking to earn the lofty status he has with some of the sport’s sanctioning bodies after Kevin Engel provided little resistance through less than two rounds of action in the ESPN2 Friday Night Fights main event at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa on Friday night.

Dirrell (23-0, 20 KOs) of Flint, Michigan could not miss Engel (18-5, 15 KOs) of Saint Louis, Missouri with his right hand throughout the fight. Before the end of the first, Dirrell’s right had already drawn blood from the Missouri native’s right eye.

Things did not get much better for Engel, 174, in the second as a Dirrell one-two downed the late notice replacement for Alejandro Berrio. Dirrell, 169 ½, met Engel with a right soon after he regained an upright position. The blow forced Engel’s mouthpiece out of the ring and drew blood from his mouth. Moments later, with Engel’s back to referee Lou Moret, Dirrell landed below the belt. Engel went down to a knee and remained there as Moret counted him out for the knockout.

Despite Engel’s protests, the fight was over at the official time of 1:44 of the second round. Dirrell, the WBC #4/WBA #9 ranked super middleweight, fought just twenty days ago, scoring a fifth-round stoppage of Dante Craig in his hometown of Flint, Michigan.

“It was short, but it was beautiful,” said Dirrell’s assistant trainer Leon Lawson Jr. after the bout. “He worked on his precision punches, made everything land and got him out of there.”

Engel’s team was upset the fight ended on a low blow, but Lawson felt the result was inevitable. “He did get hit low, I will admit, but he was looking for a way out of there anyway,” said Lawson. “You can tell when a fighter is looking for a way out. It is what it is, but Anthony was going to beat his ass anyway.”

Originally scheduled opponent Alejandro Berrio would have represented a move up in class of opposition for Anthony, the brother of former title challenger Andre Dirrell, had he stuck with the fight. “We are looking to step-up, but the guys keep dropping out,” said Lawson. “We are ready to fight anytime, against anybody they put in front of us.”

Lawson revealed tentative plans for Anthony to return to the ring sometime in September back in Michigan. The possibility exists that Andre would make his return to the ring on the same bill, against Sebastien Demers.

After having only accepted the fight on Monday, Aaron Martinez (15-1-1, 3 KOs) of East Los Angeles, California upset previously unbeaten prospect Joseph Elegele (12-1, 10 KOs) of Winter Haven, Florida via eighth-round technical decision.

If Martinez, 146, is a welterweight, Elegele, 145, looked like a middleweight in the ring. Somewhat surprisingly Martinez rocked Elegele late in the first round as he took advantage of his shorter arms in a clinch along the ropes. Martinez, by no means a puncher, came over the top with a right hand that stunned Elegele. Martinez’ follow-up attack downed the tall southpaw. Martinez looked primed for unexpected stoppage when the bell rang to end the first.

Martinez went for broke early in the second, but appeared to punch himself out by midway through the round. Elegele regained his footing around the same time a headbutt drew blood from Martinez’ left eye later in the round.

Elegele came out more aggressively to start the third, while the Martinez work rate dipped significantly from the two previous rounds. Both started swinging to start fourth, which got the crowd excited. Despite his size disadvantage, it was Martinez setting the distance and the pace throughout the fourth.

Just when Elegele looked to have the fifth in the bag, Martinez sprang to life again and pressed Elegele in a corner. The round consisted mostly of Elegele jabs, so perhaps that flurry could have stole the round for the East L.A. native. Having taken the fight on just a few days notice, Martinez appeared to be looking to take a breather in the sixth. Fortunately for Martinez, Elegele remained in stalker mode and did not really force the action when there appeared to be an opening. Martinez closed out the round well, another that Elegele appeared to have early.

Elegele narrowly escaped the seventh, as Martinez had him in trouble before the bell intervened again. Martinez ran out and rocked Elegele against the ropes in the eighth. The underdog Martinez seemed let Elegele off the hook as he moved to the outside. Just as the fight appeared to be headed to a dramatic ending, a terrible head clash busted open both men. Martinez’ gash was by far the worse of the two, as the cut went down to his skull.

Stopping the fight at that moment was the only call, sending things to the hands of the judges. Scoring the biggest win of his career, Martinez took all three cards by score of 76-75 and 77-74 twice.

In a offense-first, defense never type fight, Kurtiss Colvin (6-0, 5 KOs) of Austin, Texas scored one spectacular knockdown en route to a third-round stoppage of previously once-beaten Cleven Ishe (3-2, 1 KO) of Long Beach, California

Ishe, 159, threw from his hips, but did find Colvin, 159, at times in the fight. Colvin had a clear technical advantage, but chose to swing for the fences the entire way. Some clowning around led Colvin into a solid left hand to end the second round.

Ishe came out swinging to start the third, but Colvin quickly turned the fight around with a wide right hand that knocked the Long Beach resident into a cartwheel. When Ishe returned to his feet, Colvin quickly pounced before referee Lou Moret stopped the action at 1:24 of the third.

Looking to rebound from a draw in his last outing in May, Julian Williams (7-0-1, 4 KOs) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania pounded out a workmanlike unanimous decision over Raul Rodriguez (2-6-1, 1 KO) of Bakersfield, California.

Williams, 154, controlled most of the action, but did not dominate Rodriguez, 154, the way one may have expected based on their records. The sixth especially brought some competitive exchanges, as Rodriguez decided to stand his ground and trade with Williams. The Philly fighter was the better and more accurate puncher, but Rodriguez did catch him at times with some pretty clean shots. In the end, two judges had Williams the shutout winner, 60-54, with one judge giving Rodriguez a round for a 59-55 final tally.

Rising super bantamweight prospect Roman Morales (5-0, 4 KOs) of San Ardo, California tore through normally durable Juan Tepoz (4-6-1) of Santa Rosa, California in a one-sided first-round stoppage victory.

Morales dropped Tepoz with a quick combination along the ropes early in the first. Pegged as a normally slow starter, Morales continued to disprove that label as he punished a wincing Tepoz when action resumed. Unable to combat Morales’ fast hands, Tepoz headed down to a knee while the San Ardo native sped up the process with a right hand. Referee Lou Moret decided to stop the contest without a count at 2:30 of the first. Morales returns to the ring August 5th at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California.

In the night’s opener, DonYil Livingston (5-0, 3 KOs) of Palmdale, California easily moved past journeyman Cameron Allen (3-8, 1 KO) of Battle Creek, Michigan by pounding his way to a fourth-round stoppage.

Livingston took the fight to Allen early, stuffing right hands at short range behind his jab. By the second, Allen already seemed winded and was eventually rocked by a quick one-two at close range. Livingston had the Michigan resident in trouble late in the round and opened the third in much the same fashion. Though fading, Allen continued to wing shots from the ropes with little success.

Allen immediately went into retreat at the start of the fourth as Livingston pressured the journeyman. A Livingston left to body finally dropped Allen midway through the round. With his mouthpiece on the mat, Allen got a short reprieve from the onslaught before Livingston went right back downstairs. With Allen hunched over, Livingston landed a couple blows to his cranium which had him headed back to the mat. Referee Tony Crebs jumped in to stop the contest at 2:03 of the fourth-round.

In the walkout bout, Dushane Crooks (1-0) of Brooklyn, New York by way of Clarendon, Jamaica dropped Greg Baca (0-1) of San Bernardino, California in the second-round en route to a four-round unanimous decision. Baca, 157, had some success early, as he rocked Cooks, 156 ½, forcing the Brooklyn resident to hold on for a moment.

Crooks turned the fight in his favor with a left hook that dropped Baca. When Baca quickly popped back up, Crooks landed a couple more shots before referee Tony Crebs could jump in for the eight-count.

From the second on, the fight was completely in Crooks’ control. The Jamaican-born slugger rocked Baca with another wild left and followed up with a combination that shot his mouthpiece out of the ring. After another decisive round, all three judges handed in scorecards of 39-35 or Crooks.

Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.

Classy super bantamweight prospect Roman Morales returns to the ring tonight in a six-round attraction against pugnacious swinger Juan Tepoz on the undercard of the ESPN2 Friday Night Fights-televised main event of Anthony Dirrell-Kevin Engel at the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon, California.

Morales (4-0, 3 KOs) of San Ardo, California is coming in off of a fourth-round knockout of veteran Jaime Villa in June. Morales, a highly touted amateur before turning pro this past February, has two more fights scheduled over the next 49 days, but first must make it past an aggressive and determined Tepoz tonight. Morales weighed in at 120 ¼-pounds Thursday.

Tepoz (4-5-1) of Santa Rosa, California is riding a three-fight skid, but those two fights came against prospects Richard Contreras and Michael Ruiz Jr. Though he has yet to score a knockout, Tepoz has shown flashes of power as he did manage to score an official knockdown of Ruiz in their first meeting. Tepoz scaled 120 ¼-pounds Friday.

Morales should be at the peak of his powers as a cut in the Villa fight gave him a short reprieve from the ring, not that the eager prospect asked for a break. In addition, Morales got some quality ring time with world ranked super featherweight Eloy Perez in preparation of tonight’s bout.

Perez and Morales have become fairly regular sparring partners in recent months, something that will surely benefit the San Ardo native as he progresses in his young career. Perez, perhaps only a fight or two away from challenging for a world title, has been impressed with the young upstart.

“He’s always in shape,” says Perez. “When I’ve sparred him, he’s always ready. He’s always quick and able to go the rounds. He’s real fast, real slick and he can switch. He fights with both hands. His footwork is real nice. He has skills and it seems like he is learning and working on things he needs to pick up on. He’s a good kid. He has a good amateur background. He’s good. I think he’s a young prospect coming up, he just needs to stay busy.”

Morales, promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and managed by Repo Ric, plans to stay busy should everything go as planned tonight in Cabazon. Morales will get a quick turnaround and fight Isaac Hidalgo (8-7-2, 1 KO) of Tucson, Arizona on August 5th in Santa Ynez, California and then fight on the undercard of Eloy Perez-Daniel Jimenez in Salinas on September 2nd.

Tickets for tonight’s event, promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, are available online at Ticketmaster.com.

Zab Judah speaks like a preacher these days. He has to believe, even if few in the gambling congregation do anymore. The proverbial last stand sometimes brings out the prophet in a man. Against Amir Khan Saturday night at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay, that’s where Judah finds himself.

“Zab Judah will be the winner; Zab Judah will be the winner,’’ he said in a conference-call refrain. “I promise you.’’

Promise has always been the issue with Judah. It’s been unfulfilled throughout a series of misadventures ever since his unmistakable talent launched him so rapidly that stardom must have seemed like an entitlement. It never is, of course. Losses to Kostya Tszyu, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Miguel Cotto, Joshua Clottey, Carlos Baldomir and Cory Spinks are lessons that fast hands and agile feet won’t win if not accompanied by maturity.

Maturity is about the only thing slow to develop in Judah (41-6, 28 KOs), now 33 and a Christian living in Sin City. Doubt lingers about whether enough of it is there even now. That accounts for the 5-to-1 odds favoring Khan (25-1, 17 KOs) in the junior-welterweight bout for two pieces of the 140-pound title.

Other than a gritty and poised performance in 2007 against a Cotto then at his best, Judah has never shown anything that says he can contain his emotions — maintain his composure — at the moment of inevitable adversity in a big fight.

That label was affixed to his reputation in 2001 against Tszyu, who looked as if he were about to be overwhelmed by the swift Judah in the first round. In the second, Judah’s confidence got the best of him. He mocked Tszyu by shaking his hips. Judah dropped his hands. Then, Tszyu dropped him with a right. Judah stumbled around, picked up and threw his stool like an angry bar patron at last call and futilely went after referee Jay Nady. Ten-year-old images are unfair perhaps. But in the age of YouTube, they endure. Judah has been stumbling through his career ever since.

A mini-riot erupted during the 2006 bout against Mayweather, who looked across the ring and apparently didn’t see a security guard. Mayweather was the only one to display any poise, which in hindsight looks like a huge upset after his reported and repeated altercations with rent-a-cops. Mayweather moved into a neutral corner and calmly waited out the storm. For Judah, there was a six-month suspension and a $75,000 fine.
Days of suspension, fines and rage are behind him, he swears.

“I’m more focused on my career and my family,’’ Judah said. “I’m at a great place in life right now.’’
Changes in lifestyle, he says, are complemented by a more purposeful approach to business. A boyhood hero, retired defensive wizard Pernell Whitaker, is his trainer instead of his dad, Yoel. Fathers as trainers have always been problematic. Emotions get confused and in the way. With Whitaker, that dangerous potential is gone. Whitaker says Judah has become a more scientific boxer, which means more deliberate skill and less of the undisciplined emotion.

There’s also Victor Conte, whose infamous past includes Balco, Barry Bonds and performance enhancers. Conte has moved into boxing in an attempt to rebuild his reputation as a nutritionist and conditioning coach. Neither the family physician nor my auto mechanic has any idea what hypoxic training is. If Conte’s new-world methods had anything to do with Nonito Donaire’s stunning, second-round stoppage of Fernando Montiel last February, however, Khan has reason to worry.

Judah believes that Khan, the World Boxing Association’s champion, will enter the ring Saturday with a strategy based on what he saw in his many meltdowns.

“The old Judah,’’ said the International Boxing Federation’s champ, who figures to test Khan’s questionable chin early and often with an uppercut. “But after the first round, I think we’ll come back to the corner and say: ‘Guys, I don’t think this is the Zab Judah we prepared for.’ ‘’

But it isn’t the first round. It never has been for Judah. It’s what happens later. I can’t help but wonder how Judah would have reacted last December if it had been him instead of Khan in a wicked 10th round. The poised Khan held on instead of panicking or overreacting in the face of a withering assault from Marcos Maidana. Maidana’s repeated punches left Khan looking as if he were precariously balanced on a tight rope. But he stayed upright and held on to win by decision.

I’m not sure Judah would have kept his wits about him. He never has.

Yet, he has a chance against Khan. Judah is called a live dog. That means he’s a cornered one. There are no more chances if he loses in one more an attempt to prove he has grown beyond his reputation and grown up into the fighter everybody thought he would be.

AZ market on the mend
The Arizona market, dormant for the last two years, is staging one of boxing’s biggest comebacks these days.

There are two cards in the state Friday — one (first bell/7:30 p.m.) staged by longtime and legendary promoter Don Chargin at Tucson’s Casino del Sol and the other (first bell/7:30 p.m.) by Michelle Rosado of Face II Face Events in Phoenix at Madison Events Center.

The Arizona State Boxing Commission, strapped by budget cuts and suddenly busier than ever, will only regulate the Phoenix card, which will feature young Phoenix fighters, including bantamweight Emilio Garcia (2-0-1).

Chargin’s card will be regulated by the Pascua Yaqui, which owns and operates Casino del Sol. Without the tribe’s regulation, the two probably would have been scheduled on different dates. The Commission doesn’t have the personnel to work two on the same night.

There are several reasons for the boxing resurrection in Arizona, which has been home to six cards during the last four months. Controversy over the state’s tough immigration bill, SB 1070, has lessened since last year.

The biggest factor, however, is simply in the documents needed by Mexican fighters. For a couple of years, Mexican nationals were forced to get work visas instead of a tourist visa. Work visas are harder and more expensive to acquire

About a year ago, the state determined that Mexicans could again fight in Arizona with a tourist visa. That re-opened the market in a border-state with a rich boxing tradition.

Chargin has always been fond of Arizona. Over the years, the Hall of Fame promoter has staged several cards at Casino del Sol’s spacious outdoor arena.

“My wife and I used to say that Casino del Sol was our favorite place,’’ said Chargin, who lost his beloved wife, Lorraine, in April 2010.

Chargin, who will feature unbeaten super-bantamweight Christopher Martin (22-0, 6 KOs) of San Diego against Mexican Jose Silveria (12-3, 4 KOs), isn’t surprised by the state’s comeback. There are too many boxing gyms throughout Phoenix and Tucson to keep it down for long. A lively gym culture ensures that a boxing market will always be there.

“They’ve tried and tried and tried to kill it, but they can’t,’’ Chargin said.

AZ NOTES, QUOTES
• There are initial talks for Phoenix super-middleweight Jesus Gonzales’ third fight in his hometown, probably in the fall. Gonzales’ promotional company, Fanbase, approached Fernando Vargas about fighting Gonzales. Vargas has talked about a comeback, but his initial price was too high. Darin Schmick of Fanbase said Vargas asked for $2.5 million and a percentage of the gate. Big money might have been Vargas’ way of saying he’s not serious about a comeback. Schmick said he is still willing to talk to Vargas about the proposed fight. But a deal probably means Vargas would have to subtract a few figures from the seven he wants

• Junior-welterweight prospect Jose Benavidez Jr. is scheduled for his next bout in Parker, Ariz., at BlueWater Resort & Casino on a Sept. 17 card that will also feature Filipino Mercito Gesta. The date conflicts with Mayweather’s comeback against Victor Ortiz at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand on Sept. 17. Promoters for the Parker card, Top Rank and Showdown, talked about moving the date. October 1 was a possibility. But the promoters stayed with Sept. 17, in part because of contractual obligations.

CLICK TO ORDER THE FIGHT
NEW YORK (July 20, 2011) – USBA heavyweight champion Maurice “Sugar Moe” Harris’ often tumultuous boxing career is back in a good place, after he redeemed himself last Saturday in Atlantic City, when he stopped Derric “The Shaolin Fist” Rossy in the 12thround at Resorts Casino Hotel.

Harris (25-15-2, 11 KOs) was coming off of a disappointing loss by third round to Tony “The Tiger” Thompson (36-2, 24 KOs) in May, shown live on ESPN Friday Night Fights in their IBF Box-Off.

Rossy (25-5, 14 KOs), rated No. 15 by the IBF, served as a litmus test for Harris, a 35-year-old whose major claim to fame is winning the 2002 Thunderbox Heavyweight Tournament, defeating Thompson in the $100,000 finale, as well as defeating world champion Sergei Liakhovich. The New Jersey fighter found himself at the crossroads once again, facing possible retirement if he lost to Rossy, the former Boston College football standout who had previously defeated WBO champion and 1988 Olympic gold-medal winner Ray Mercer (DEC12) and world title challenger Carl David Drummond (DEC10).

“I never looked at the fight like that,” Harris said, “only as another challenge, another fight. I don’t focus on something like that (in a career-ending fight) because I always need to focus on my opponent and our fight. I did show resiliency when I needed to win. It was a good win, one of my top five, but I was only about 70-percent of what I can really be. I hadn’t been 12 rounds since last August. I was still a little rusty. You can do that (12 rounds) in the gym but it’s not the same as in a fight. I did feel good going into the fight and afterwards.”

Harris dropped Rossy in the sixth, led by two rounds going into the 12th, and finished the show in impressive style. The veteran had worn-down Rossy and eventually trapped his tiring opponent on the ropes in the 12th, decking him again with a three-punch combination, an overhand right to the chin serving as an exclamation point. Rossy got to his feet but Harris moved in to finish him, backing Derec onto the ropes again, and unloading a four-punch combination against his defenseless opponent. Referee Earl Morton halted the action at 1:35 of the final round.

“This fight proved that Maurice’s last one was a fluke.” Harris’ promoter Mario Yagobi (Boxing 360) commented. “He couldn’t respond right after getting hit with so many illegal hits behind the head. I said that before this fight and still believed in Maurice. He was the stronger, bigger guy who showed a lot more skills than his opponent. Rossy came to win. He was in great shape, at 225 pounds, and had a six-pack stomach. Maurice showed his experience, dropping him the sixth, and finishing with a 12th round knockout. Rossy was banged up; his face had a lot of bruises and welts. From the eighth or ninth round, he looked like a beaten fighter.”

“The last two rounds were my strongest,” Harris noted. “I caught my second wind. I knew one good assault would close the deal. I hadn’t had a knockout in a long time (2002 vs. Liahkovich). I thought I had him out in the sixth, but he stayed right in there until the last round. I hit him with some good combinations. He fell and got up, but I knew he was finished.

“The Thompson fight is still in the back of my head. We’ve both won once and I’d like a third fight to settle things. I won’t get over it until we do. I wish him luck in his fights but, even if it’s sparring, I want to fight him again. He didn’t fight the best Maurice Harris but, then again, neither did Rossy.”

Because Harris, rated No. 9 by the IBF, fought an optional defense against Rossy, Maurice has a mandatory coming up against a challenger to be determined. Chazz Witherspoon is the No. 1 rated IBF challenger, followed in order by Steve Collins, Cedric Boswell, Antonio Tarver and Michael Grant.

Other members of Boxing 360’s stable include WBC #5 super bantamweight Leon “Hurry Up” Moore, former IBF super middleweight champion Alejandro “Naco” Berrio, unbeaten welterweight prospect Vitaliy “Demyan”Demyanenko WBC Caribbean & NY State super middleweight champion Lennox “2 Sharpe” Allen, Dominican lightweight champion Eudy “AK47” Bernardo, KO king Tyrone Brunson, heavyweight Mike Mollo, unbeaten NABF featherweight champion Amanda “The Real Deal” Serrano, Nick “Hands of Gold” Casal, middleweight prospect DonYil Livingston, Joel Diaz Jr., and “King”David Estrada.

Go to www.Boxing360.comfor more information about Harris, Boxing 360 or any of its other fighters.

Since discovering His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ just a few years ago, Zab Judah has undergone some monumental changes both in and outside the ring.

Since finding Christ, it’s almost as if Judah’s had a another man in the ring fighting alongside him, or a fourth man in his corner — perhaps he was an ex-carpenter.

Things have seemed to have gone just right for Judah since the beginning of his resurrection.

In a way, Zab Judah is the R. A. Dickey of boxing. That is to say, like an old MLB pitcher who lost his stuff, Judah, like Dickey, has had to reinvent himself in order to resurrect his careers. Judah’s by looking in the mirror and becoming a more mature human being (as well as a re-dedicating himself to his craft); and Dickey by learning how to throw a nasty knuckleball.

Both are great stories. Both are above average talent. But both aren’t going to make the All-Star Team.

There are many people, including many members of the media, who love Judah in this fight. Don’t count me amongst them.

Sure it’s a great story — the man who hit rock bottom with a loss to Carlos Baldomir reinvents his entire career to reign supreme in one of boxing’s deepest divisions. It would be remarkable. I just don’t see it happening.

Here’s why.

I sat ringside for Judah’s fight against Lucas Matthysse. I had Matthysse winning the fight by one point. The judge’s disagreed, Judah walked away with the win. No arguments from me, it was a close fight.

In his next fight against Kaizer Mabuza, Judah unleashed all hell on his South African counterpart in round seven and scored a TKO victory. That seventh round came after some really shaky early rounds. Heading into the seventh round, I had Judah losing that fight as well.

Had him losing against Matthyse, losing against Mabuza before he righted the ship in the seventh.

On Saturday night, Amir Khan certainly won’t start as late as Matthysse (just remember that crippling body shot he delivered to Chino Maidana in the first stanza of their twelve round brawl). Khan will use his blazing hand speed to overwhelm Judah, much like he did Paulie Malignaggi. I guess what remains to be seen is if Khan fade late again like he did against the aforementioned Maidana.

If so, maybe Judah catches Khan being sloppy, but I doubt it. Under the guidance of Coach Roach, I don’t think Khan makes the same mistake twice. Once he establishes an early lead on the scorecards, my guess is Khan rides his bike to the win. He doesn’t want a Maidana round 10 all over again.

While I expect Khan to win big, I’m am hoping Judah lands that signature left uppercut square on Khan’s jaw. Let see if it really is made of glass.

—-

Just for fun, Las Vegas thinks Tomasz Adamek has a better shot at beating Vitali Klitschko than Zab Judah does of defeating Amir Khan on Saturday. Tomasz Adamek is +300 against Dr. Iron First, while Judah is an even bigger underdog against Khan at +350.

Like Austin Powers, I also like to live dangerously, so I’m going to stay on “5” — I’ll take the favorite, I’m going chalk…I’m laying the points.

Kyle Kinder can be reached via Twitter @KyleKinder.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Tex. – Contrary to stereotypes about South Texas, held by the rest of the country, yes, but also other Texans, this city plays home to a superb contemporary-paint collection by local artists. Art Museum of South Texas is a jewel of sweeping modern canvases and craftily presented views of the bay on which it stands.

It is also home to work by Dorothy Hood, creator of large-scale and abstract works that challenge as much as they delight. A woman doing abstract paintings in 1960s Texas and finding enduring appreciation 150 miles from the border with Mexico: not exactly the impression of Lone Star State one gets from reading The New York Times.

A pox on the stereotypes, then!

Sing it out for South Texas, and sing it out for junior welterweights Amir Khan and Zab Judah.

Khan, a 24-year-old Englishman of Arab descent, currently holds the WBA’s version of a 140-pound title but is not his division’s king. Judah, a 33-year-old New Yorker of Brooklyn descent, has held a number of titles and routinely stretched his fans to the end of their emotional tether. The two will meet Saturday at Mandalay Bay in a match HBO will televise.

Their fight will be filled with the absence of Timothy Bradley, the junior welterweight champion last seen manhandling Devon Alexander in a deserted Pontiac Silverdome about six months ago. Bradley will still be the best 140 pounder after Khan and Judah finish a battle for mandatory-challenger status.

Bradley, it seems, has run into promotional difficulties. One didn’t have to be a cynic to suspect this the morning after his last fight. Then, Bradley strode through Southwest’s terminal at Detroit Metro Airport round 7:00 a.m. The best prizefighter in one of boxing’s best divisions not only didn’t have a first-class ticket but had to hustle to get a decent seat on a flight that rose with the sun.

Rumor is, Bradley may head to promoter Top Rank, after forgoing a chance to extend his professional relationship with Gary Shaw. Leaving a matchmaker for a promoter is a good idea. That Top Rank will know what to do with an African American from Palm Springs, Calif., though, is disputable.

What is indisputable is Bradley’s fear of Amir Khan. There is none. Whatever Bradley’s actual reason for declining a title-unification bout with Khan, fear can be dismissed. Khan’s stand-up, boxer-puncher style is custom made for Bradley. Khan is no faster than Devon Alexander and has roughly half the chin. And Bradley fearlessly gave Alexander the business till he quit in January.

Khan, though, could do Bradley quite a favor by beating Zab Judah on Saturday. Judah, in his latest incarnation at least, is more than capable of beating any of the top-5 junior welterweights. He is a wildcard and always has been.

Since his 2008 loss to Joshua Clottey – yes, the timid turtle from Cowboys Stadium – Judah has turned his life around and figured things out and adjusted his priorities and, why, every other cliché used by athletes whose talent outpaces their achievements. He’s had impressive wins against unimpressive foes and one unimpressive win against an impressive foe.

He’s also gotten a recent helping of positive press disproportionate to recent accomplishments. Most of this can be attributed to his promoter Kathy Duva, a refreshingly accessible craftsperson who treats the print media much better than many of her peers. Much of the rest of Judah’s darling treatment is attributable to the residue left by hopes appended to him years ago.

That was before Kostya Tszyu sent Judah stumbling everywhere in 2001. It was before Carlos Baldomir put him on Queer Street in 2006. It was before Floyd Mayweather solved him 90 days later. And it was before Miguel Cotto brutalized him in 2007.

Thing is, if you add Mickey Ward and Cory Spinks to the names above – Tszyu, Mayweather, Cotto and Clottey – and consider that Judah fought all of them in their primes, you come to a conclusion Judah himself has come to: He’s faced much better men than Amir Khan has. Much better men than Amir Khan is, too.

But Judah is a stereotypical front runner, one of the modern era’s greatest four-round fighters. And when the going has got tough in his career, Judah has not got going.

Khan, for his part, is considered by many the stereotype of a protected European champion. He roars like a lion when standing before overmatched opponents like Paulie Malignaggi or an old and blood-blinded Marco Antonio Barrera, but he cut a significantly different figure peddling frantically away from Marcos Maidana in December – yes, the same limited Argentine who just had a terrible time with old Erik Morales.

So what? Corpus Christi is supposed to be a warm-water, oil-rigged net for catching tourists of modest means and more-modest tastes. If you’re not standing at the end of a jetty with a fishing rod and fears of heat stroke, you’re supposed to be watching sea otters at the aquarium, marching across the USS Lexington’s 100-degree flight deck, or gobbling freezer-to-fryer seafood inside the humid belly of a concrete shark.

And yet, mere yards from that bazaar is South Texas Museum of Art. So much for stereotypes.

A prediction, then? Khan-Judah will be a fine match that either guy might win. The difference-maker, likely, will be Khan’s trainer Freddie Roach. He’s had plenty of time and case history from which to shape a strategy that will unman Judah. He may not be able to protect Khan’s chin from Judah’s quick hands, but he’s had an entire camp to teach his charge how to counter those hands.

And Judah, well, his record in big fights speaks for itself.

I’ll take Khan, SD-12.

***

A special note of thanks to local artist Miranda Gonzalez whose “Alejandro the Sea Horse” inspired the better parts of what’s above.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

If it isn’t the biggest upset in many years, New Jersey’s suspension of the three scorekeepers in the decision given to Paul Williams and stolen from Erislandy Lara is a stunner that is laudable for its immediacy, yet incomplete in its scope, language and accountability.

To wit: It is hard to judge, which is something Al Bennett, Hilton Whitaker and Don Givens were not able to do on cards that must have made Lara feel like a bank teller with a note from a guy in a ski-mask.

In a letter Wednesday to Lara’s reps at Golden Boy Promotions and Williams promoter Dan Goossen, New Jersey Commissioner Aaron Davis told them of the indefinite suspensions after a review that did not turn up “evidence of bias, fraud, corruption or incapacity.’’

For now, we’ll have to take New Jersey’s word on the first three. But incapacity? It can mean a lot of things. Presumably, New Jersey meant to say that the scorekeepers were capable enough to know which end of a pencil to use.

But “being incapable” is part of Merriam-Webster’s primary definition. Synonyms include inability, incompetence and ineptitude. The three scorekeepers were all of that in scoring a majority decision Saturday for Williams in an Atlantic City bout dominated by Lara, who from opening bell through the 12th repeatedly rocked Williams by landing 49 percent of his power punches.

Davis’ letter, which included an apology, said New Jersey was “unsatisfied” by the scoring. But “unsatisfied’’ is not a satisfactory explanation for New Jersey’s assignment of three scorekeepers to a high-profile, HBO-televised bout. Bennett, Givens and Whitaker will have to undergo further training before they are issued another scorecard, according to Davis’ letter. Left unexplained is what kind of training they underwent in the first place.

A lot already has been said about their relative lack of experience. It’s been reported that Bennett, who scored it a 114-114 draw, had never worked a title fight televised by HBO or Showtime. OK, but does that explain how not one of the threesome knew that Lara was winning? Bennett was closer to reality than either Whitaker (115-114) or Givens (116-114), but all three might as well have been watching waves from a seat on the boardwalk instead of a one-sided fight from a perch at ringside.

The training, assignment and identity of judges has always been a murky process — different from state-to-state, nation-to-nation. HBO does a good job in providing some details about their respective records, including scores in significant fights. Yet, there are still nights when the three judges might as well be Manny, Moe and Jack.

Who are these guys?

For Williams-Lara, it looks as if the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board had no clue. It’s no surprise that Bennett, Givens and Whitaker didn’t either.

REMEMBERING KIMBALL
I couldn’t help watching the Lara-Williams controversy without thinking about what George Kimball would have written. It would have been uniquely his and his alone. Through the terrible toll of cancer, Kimball never lost his ability to express outrage or be outraged. I suspect it kept him alive long after doctors told him he had six months to live in 2005 when he was diagnosed with a death sentence. Kimball, who died on July 6, just loved a good fight.

Kimball was a fellow Army brat. I went to more high schools than he did. But he had more of everything else.

He became a mentor for me and then a friend during two weeks in Athens for the 2004 Olympics. During the preliminary rounds of boxing at a rundown gym in a lousy Athens neighborhood, I bet him 50 Euros that the U.S. wouldn’t win a single medal. Kimball, then a Boston Herald columnist, looked at me like the fool I was, took the American field and collected the 50 Euros on the night Andre Dirrell won bronze, two nights before Andre Ward won gold.

As I paid him off, he gave me a shrewd, amused look – pure Kimball.

“Why don’t you pay me after we get back to the Olympic Village?’’ he said. “That way, I won’t get robbed while we try to get out of this place.’’

For anybody who loves great writing from irreplaceable characters, his death robs us all.

AZ NOTES, ANECDOTES
· The Arizona market, dormant for the last few years, continues to heat up. On Friday, July 22, two cards are scheduled, one in Phoenix and one in Tucson. Longtime promoter Don Chargin is in Tucson at Casino del Sol with a card scheduled for seven fights and featuring super-bantamweight Christopher Martin (22-0-2, 6 KOs) of San Diego against Mexican Jose Silviera (12-3, 4 KOs). In Phoenix, Michele Rosado of Face II Face Events is at Madison Events Center with a card that includes two bantamweight bouts, featuring Emilio Garcia in one and Alexis Santiago in the other. If a large, noisy crowd at a Phoenix news conference Wednesday is a sign, both are becoming local attractions.

· Phoenix super-middleweight Jesus Gonzales, entertaining and gutsy in an ESPN2 victory last Friday, got six stitches for a cut over one eye suffered in an apparent heat butt with Francisco Sierra. Gonzales is expected to fight again in Phoenix sometime in the fall. Another fall fight is also expected for 19-year-old Phoenix prospect Jose Benavidez, Jr., who pushed his junior-welterweight record to 12-0 in his hometown debut six weeks ago. Benavidez fought with injuries to both hands in his last victory. The hands have healed. He’s back in the gym.

Morganville, NJ (July 12, 2011) – Well regarded junior middleweight prospect Denis “Da Mommas Boy” Douglin outpointed hard-nosed Philadelphian Philip McCants over six rounds last Saturday evening at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ.

Fighting for the first time since a shocking loss in February, Douglin effectively outboxed McCants, connecting with jabs, hooks and hard straight left hands throughout the contest. McCants proved to be game and displayed a great chin, but Douglin’s skillful performance earned him a clear-cut unanimous decision victory.

Scores were 60-54 twice and 58-56.

“It felt great to finally get back in the ring,” said Douglin, who had a bevy of fans cheering him on. “I had a very serious training camp and what happened in my last fight made me work even harder.”

He was also glad to get rounds in against a credible opponent.

“I’m glad I fought a tough opponent. I didn’t want to face a guy that would go down if I breathed in his direction. Phillip McCants is a solid fighter and this was the start of a new beginning.”

Douglin, who improved to 13-1 with 8 knockouts, has already returned to the gym and expects his next bout to be announced shortly.

Fans can follow him at twitter.com/damommasboy.

Boxing insiders will forgive David Haye. Many of us have already. What he did some Saturdays ago against Wladimir Klitschko, the ballsy hustle of it, was different to us only for reasons of scale. We see the same embellishment and churlish irony from smalltime promoters each month. Supposedly, it’s part of prizefighting’s charm.

We endure it out of self-interest. If the heavyweight division could just get back on the front page of . . . well, OK, the homepage of, well, something, laymen would again talk about our sport. They’d want to read about it, too. Advertisers would return. Writers would be paid.

But what about those laymen? If you know any, they approached you this week about Klitschko-Haye because you’ve mentioned boxing to them at Starbucks. These aren’t your friends from the gym. These are the people with whom you talk about boxing, work or federal-debt-ceiling negotiations.

And what they wanted from you, believe it or not, was a little outrage. They watched Klitschko-Haye, because it was for the heavyweight championship of the world, and they were unimpressed. So, they wanted your eyes to flash or your voice to rise Monday. They wanted to hear what Haye did was unacceptable. When you explained the fight wasn’t that bad and Klitschko is very effective at what he does and Haye’s trash-talking is just the way of the world, you know what these laymen thought?

Hadn’t watched boxing in ages. Seems I haven’t missed anything.

We won’t mourn these absentee fans’ future absence because that’s what the 1990s and 2000s were for – fretting over a dwindling interest in our sport. Today, God love us, we’re defiant; those moronic ghouls, we say, they just want senseless violence and don’t even know what a counterpunch is!

There went the last three casual fans? Very well. No one here but the choir, then, so let’s preach to us.

We found comfort on Friday and Saturday – a couple reminders of why we stick with this sport no matter how little this sport cares that we do. Arizona super middleweight Jesus “El Martillo” Gonzales made a fine scrap with Mexico light heavyweight Francisco Sierra on ESPN2, Friday. And Saturday “Bam Bam” Brandon Rios made one of the finest three-round championship fights of the last 30 years, with Urbano Antillon on Showtime.

But it was all ruined by HBO. There is a temptation to think that way, sure. It was hard to watch Saturday’s fare in the aficionado’s proper order – Showtime first, HBO second – without going to bed a little downtrodden. HBO set out to rehab one of its house fighters, and he lost, and the Atlantic City judges – unaware HBO had quit on its house fighter – turned in majority-decision scorecards confirming a rehabilitation.

Paul Williams’ victory, contrary to popular sentiment, was not all that is wrong with boxing. At this point, a 100-round fight couldn’t turn that trick. Williams’ victory instead was a lesson in the corrupting effect of vesting a small group of people with disproportionate power, but if we’re going to play the boxing-as-metaphor game, we might as well find a worthier subject to treat than some Machiavellian advisor or other.

You know what? Let’s scrap the game altogether and just celebrate what Gonzales, Sierra, Rios and Antillon gave us.

Jesus Gonzales, possessed of one remarkable punch and many flaws, returned to the place where he was comprehensively undone by Jose Luis Zertuche almost six years ago. He dropped Sierra in the fourth round with a left cross he throws to the body as well as any southpaw in the game. Then he was dropped in the fifth by a Sierra right hand to the chin Gonzales leaves unguarded as any southpaw’s in the game. But Gonzales rose from the canvas to win a fair unanimous decision.

His attack consists of a bunny hop, a pair of jabs and a lunging left hand followed by backwards hops and a reset. Something like this.

Gonzales bounces, sets. He jabsjabs, then leaps. Right hand in his front pocket, chin good and high, he dives forward. The left fist uncoils perfectly from behind his left shoulder, and his wrist turns over at the instant before impact, to make a punch forceful enough to crack a human rib – a feat Gonzales achieved against Kendall Gould 50 months ago in Fountain Hills, Ariz. – the very sort of punch that would fold Andre Ward in half were it to land. The odds of that happening are long. Ward is much better than Sierra. Much better than Gonzales, too. But anyway.

Gonzales is not the future star promoter Bob Arum thought he was in 2003. But ESPN2 could do a lot worse than televising Gonzales’ next three or four fights.

Writing of Arum’s roster of future stars – the fluctuating team of a curmudgeonly coach – how about that Brandon Rios? Little was missing from his 8 1/2 minute destruction of Urbano Antillon but the finish. With Antillon dazed and stumbling away, Rios just missed a chance to run across the ring and finish him like Marvelous Marvin Hagler finished Tommy Hearns in the only better three-round fight you can think of.

This was a fight for a world lightweight title. It was a fight in which neither man gave ground. A fight that saw Antillon, felled twice and on the verge of unconsciousness, scoff at a ref’s suggestion the fight should not resume. A fight of gorgeous uppercuts and hooks and no defense for its own sake. A treat that Rios ended by catching Antillon’s left hook to the body and countering it with a right cross, twice. Poetic.

Yes, sport in general has forgotten but not forgiven David Haye. And there are fewer prospective boxing fans today than there were two weeks ago. But there are still prizefighters from the Mexican tradition out there. And in that, friends, we must find our solace.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter.com @bartbarry

PHOENIX – Jesus Gonzales wears a Fifties’ style hat that is everywhere these days. Old-school is new-century chic. Everybody has a hat and a Twitter account. But Gonzales has been wearing the hat for as long as anybody in Phoenix has known him, which means his hometown still calls him Ernie.

“Yeah, I’m a lot more of an Ernie than a Jesus,’’ Gonzales said not long after he began his pro career in 2003 as Jesus instead of the Ernie who had promoters and managers buzzing about a powerful, promising amateur nearly a decade ago.

Then, Top Rank’s idea was to re-name Gonzales in an attempt to better sell him to Mexican and Mexican-American fans. But a stage name never changed the identity. Gonzales, now a super-middleweight, has always been the friendly, approachable personality you would expect an Ernie to be. It’s who he is. It’s who his 4-year-old son is. He didn’t name him Jesus, Jr. He’s Ernie III.

“If Ernie The Third was here right now, he’d be racing around this place, playing, saying hello to everybody and just having fun,’’ Gonzales (26-1, 14 KOs) said at US Airways Center where he faces Francisco Sierra (24-3-1, 22 KOs) Friday night in an ESPN2-televised bout.

If fathers are like their sons, Gonzales, now 26, still has lot of the kid in him. There have been tough days, moments inside and outside of the ring that he wishes he could re-do. Through it all, however, Gonzales is still that kid, just having some fun.

A lot of hyped prospects collect as many grudges as they do scars in careers that go awry. But there’s no chip on Gonzales’ shoulder. There’s only that hat. Let somebody else be angry. Gonzales moves forward with undiluted optimism rare in a cynical business, yet as undiminished as the power in a left-hand that accounts for his nickname, El Martillo — The Hammer.

The temptation is to say that Gonzales is just naïve. But there’s something refreshing about a fighter who hasn’t let the game’s unforgiving criticism drive him into bitterness. For a couple of years, he couldn’t get a fight because of management problems and old stories about interference from his father, another Ernie, who is no longer his trainer.

He wound up doing whatever he could to support his growing family. Another child is on the way. He loaded trucks for Target at midnight. He worked late-night shifts as a security guard. In tough times, he saw people stuck in the same place he was.

“I did whatever I could to make a little money,’’ he said.

He vowed that if he ever got back into a position where he could help, he would. Since he launched his Phoenix comeback with a victory in March, that’s what he’s been doing. He has worked with underprivileged school kids and spent time with cancer patients. The Phoenix City Council honored him for work in the community.

“I’ve been in a position where nobody would help me,’’ Gonzales said as he stood in front of a wall covered by posters full of cheers done in crayon by school kids. “I can’t give anybody money, cause I don’t have any money. But I can give them my support.’’

Gonzales, a people person, is back in the fight to become a people’s champ, which seemed to be his destiny when he signed with Top Rank. If anything, his renewed attempt at recapturing an Ernie’s promise will be at least as difficult as it was when the name changed and Jesus’ hopes unraveled.

He returns to the scene of his lone loss Friday at US Airways Center against an opponent, Sierra, who took the fight on short notice when Henry Buchanan of Maryland backed out late last week. In some ways, the place and the opponent bring Gonzales back to the beginning of the end. He was stopped in eight rounds by Jose Luis Zertuche in 2005.

It’s difficult to judge Sierra. The Mexican failed to make the contracted 168 pounds Thursday, meaning he can’t win the North American Boxing Federation’s vacant title. Only Gonzales can. Sierra was heavy in two trips to the scale – 176.5 pounds the first time and 175 an hour later. He reportedly had been training for a fight later in July in Mexico. He agreed to the Gonzales bout only last Friday. It’s hard to know if Sierra is ready.

Nonetheless, his record says he’s dangerous. He beat former champion Jose Luis Lopez and lost to Edison Miranda. Twenty-two knockouts in 28 fights add up to fight-stopping, career-ending power. If Sierra is ready, he looms as Gonzales’ toughest challenge since Zertuche.

What’s more, the ESPN2 cameras will be there. Gonzales fell off the national radar after the Zertuche loss. Against Sierra, he has a chance to re-introduce himself and perhaps get in line for a shot at even bigger prize.

Gonzales is known for being the last fighter to beat reigning super-middleweight Andre Ward. It happened in the amateur ranks. Gonzales hasn’t forgotten and – for a while at least – neither had Ward. A couple of years ago, Ward was quoted as saying he wanted to avenge the loss to Gonzales. Ward has bigger fish to fry these days. First, there is Carl Froch for the Super-Six Tournament title.

For Gonzales, perhaps there’s a better chance at a fight against Kelly Pavlik, who is trying to get back into the mix after a stint in rehab.

“Pavlik makes some sense,’’ said Gonzales promoter Darin Schmick, whose Fan Base card includes lightweight Emanuel Lucero (26-6-1, 14 KOs) against Roy Jones-promoted Yaundale Evans (14-0, 10 KOs) on a seven-fight card scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. (PST).

Gonzales sparred with Pavlik before Pavlik was beaten in 2010 by Sergio Martinez in a crushing defeat. According to Gonzales, he injured Pavlik’s rib cage.

“I spent three weeks with him in camp,’’ Gonzales says. “If we fought, he knows how it would go. I don’t think he’d take a chance against me. I think Pavlik wants big money in a world title fight. But we’ll see. Right now, I’ve got Sierra that’s more than enough to worry about. I’ll just keep on working, doing what I do.’’

Doing what an Ernie would do.

Rising bantamweight prospect Michael Ruiz Jr. moved past the first rival of his professional career in his last outing in May and now has his sights set on a former amateur nemesis in Randy Caballero.

Ruiz (8-0-1, 3 KOs) of Fresno, California put tough Jonathan Alcantara in his rearview with a unanimous six-round decision in Reno, Nevada on May 27th. Alcantara held Ruiz to a draw last November, but managed to only win one round on one official card in the rematch. Ready to move on to the next level, Ruiz and his team are eyeing the Golden Boy Promotions-promoted Caballero (12-0, 7 KOs) of Coachella, California.

Caballero claimed the WBC Youth Intercontinental Super Bantamweight title with a victory over Alexis Santiago this past Friday at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California. Caballero claimed an eight-round unanimous decision over the previously unbeaten Santiago, but the scoring left some scratching their heads. Despite the competitive nature of the bout, only one of the three judges seated ringside managed to find a round to give Santiago.

Ruiz’ manager Repo Ric happened to be on hand working the event. Ruiz’ Tio Alfredo lives in the Indio area and has been keeping his eye on Caballero, who has fought seven of his last eight fights at the Fantasy Springs Casino. Prior to the fight, Alfredo got Repo’s attention with a suggestion. It was Ruiz’ uncle’s idea that Repo match Ruiz with Caballero a couple fights down the road.

“When I watched him, I got pissed off and called him out,” recalls Repo, who was not impressed one bit by Caballero’s performance. “The scorecard was pathetic. [Caballero] lost every round, and that was bull. Santiago was bad, he threw way more punches. The scores were so bad.”

Outraged by the decision and intrigued about a potential Caballero-Ruiz showdown, Repo confronted the new titleholder and his father-trainer Marcos. “I said why don’t you fight Mike Ruiz, let him get a shot at that title,” recalls Repo. “His father and I got into a confrontation in front of everybody. They filmed it and it was in the paper and everything. I called him out baby, I called him out.”

Reports of the backstage argument made Caballero’s hometown paper The Desert Sun and video was filmed and posted on YouTube. Caballero, who cites an amateur victory over Ruiz, tells the camera, “I’ll sign anything.” Repo Ric would like to hold him to that by getting Caballero to fight Ruiz outside the friendly confines of his home arena and on a card promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions.

Word about the potential match-up and the confrontation got to Ruiz, and the Fresno-prospect decided to take a look at the bout, which aired nationally on Telefutura. Ruiz’ assessment of Caballero’s victory mirrored that of his manager’s. “Randy is a good fighter and everything, but he was fighting in his hometown, so he got some favor from the judges,” says Ruiz.

“If Alexis had a little more power, it would have been a different fight, but he did outpunch [Caballero] in the first four rounds,” says Ruiz. “He had him beat, then Randy got a couple rounds, but the last round I gave to Alexis. All in all, I thought Alexis had the fight, but what can I say.”

In the YouTube video, Caballero is quick to mention his amateur win over Ruiz, but as is often times the case, an amateur victory is not a good indication of how a pro fight would unfold. “I fought him once in the amateurs,” recalls Ruiz of their 2008 meeting, which took place at 112-pounds. “I had only about thirteen amateur fights, and he had 240. It was my first time at nationals and I fought him in the semi-finals and he beat me by a couple points. I fought straight up with him, but he beat me on points.”

“I fought a pro style against him there, but I was just starting,” explains Ruiz. “In the pros it’s a different style. He’s a good fighter. He was a good amateur and it would be a good fight.”

Given Caballero’s notoriety, a fight with him would be a quality opportunity for Ruiz to make a name for himself on the world level. It’s an opportunity Ruiz looks forward to gaining. “This would be an opportunity for me to show everything I have, everything I have been working for and everything that my trainers have put me through, step-by-step,” explains Ruiz. “This would be a good challenge for me and I am excited. So whenever they put that fight together, I am ready.”

Ruiz is always in the gym and in fighting shape should he get the call that a fight is signed. Should the call come in that Randy Caballero has signed the contract, Ruiz vows to be ready for the challenge. “I am ready and I have no doubt in my mind,” says Ruiz. “I will pour everything out of my heart and my body. If I fight the way I am supposed to fight and do everything I am supposed to do and give it my all, then I have no doubt I will beat him. If my team has no doubt, I have no doubt in myself. I am going to go in there and handle this. This is what I am here for.”

Photo by Stephanie Trapp/trappfotos@gmail.com

Eight months ago, Paul “The Punisher” Williams walked towards the ring at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ. Standing in the middle of the ring waiting for him was another threat to his rise to stardom, Sergio Martinez. Williams had already defeated Martinez in a closely contest twelve round slugfest that was already hailed by many as the fight of the year. As a featured fighter among HBO’s heavy stable of boxers, he was en route to lucrative pay per view showdowns and rumored to be in talks with the sport’s elite.

Six minutes after entering the ring, that all came crashing down.

With a looping overhand left, Sergio Martinez had knocked Williams out cold in the second round of their rematch. As Martinez and his team celebrated, Williams lay unconscious on the canvas; hovered over by ringside physicians. After a few minutes, he regained his composure and was able to take in what had happened. Instead of disappointment, anger, or great sadness, Williams had a look of shock on his face. He stood in disbelief as Martinez’ arm was raised.

He’s been here for years

On Saturday, Williams returns to the very ring he was knocked out in. Instead of going back to the drawing board and making changes, Williams hopped right back onto the horse. He will be facing Erislandy Lara. Formerly a star of the Cuban amateur system, he has since become a highly regarded up and coming fighter. As an amateur, he compiled an amazing record of 310-10.

Williams has been here before. In 2008, he suffered a decision loss to Carlos Quintana, only to come back four months later to knock him out in two minutes. Despite his two losses, Williams holds a claim that few fighters can; he has defeated everyone he has ever faced.

“I have never been in a comeback fight,” stated Williams, who takes exception to the word ‘comeback.’
“To me it’s just another fight. Some of the top guys out there, like many Pacquiao, he lost a couple times. He didn’t have a comeback fight – he just comes back and fights. This is what we do. Guys that do have comeback fights, they are guys that don’t know themselves what they are doing.”

Williams knows what he’s doing. He stands at 6’1” and towers over all of his opponents. Instead of backing away and working behind his jab, Williams stands in and slugs it out against his opposition. His exciting style has made him a favorite among fans of the sport.

In regards to Lara, Williams knows he is not a typical fighter to come back against. “He is the new lion on the block and all that. You always see on TV how the young lions are trying to overtake the old lions, but this old lion isn’t ready to leave… We are going to have to go through the rain and get wet. We are going to have to go through the fire and get burnt… I am looking forward to a rough fight. It is going to be exciting for the fans to see. I am going to be excited to see it too. I am just hoping that nobody gets seriously hurt…just hurt.”

And what of Lara’s extensive amateur background? Williams’ trainer George Peterson is not concerned. “Amateurs are all right,” stated Peterson, “but this is a professional boxing match. That amateur record doesn’t matter to us one way or another.”

The co-feature of the evening features two relative unknowns facing off in a super-bantamweight showdown with a title on the line. Champion, Akifumi Shimoda of Japan, squares off against Rico Ramos of California. This is an interesting scrap that could very well show us here the future of the division lies.

Chris Arreola continues his active comeback trail/weight loss showcase against Friday Ahunanya. HBO will showcase highlights of the match during the broadcast. Say what you want about Arreola, but he is just fun to be around. Arreola who has been fined in the past over his foul language, seemed to loosen the vocabulary of the presenters of the press conference on Wednesday. Kerry Davis of HBO began a sentence with a “Yo,” while promoter Dan Goosen dropped a profound “damn.” His having to lay off the late night tacos and beers brought about laughter at the packed press event.

The Championship event is promoted by Goossen Tutor Promotions, with the Williams-Lara bout in association with Golden Boy Promotions and the Ramos-Shimoda bout in association with Teiken Promotions and hosted by Caesars Atlantic City. The Williams vs. Lara and Shimoda vs. Ramos bouts will be broadcast on HBO’s Boxing After Dark beginning at 10:15 PM ET/PT (delayed on the west coast). Tickets, priced at $300, $200, $100 and $50, are on sale and can be purchased at the Boardwalk Hall box office, by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 736-1420 or online at ticketmaster.com.

It’s been over a year since we last saw Kermit “The Killer” Cintron in action. Not since last May when he tangled, literally with Paul Williams in a fight which saw Williams topple from the ring landing on the floor outside and ultimately unable to carry on have we seen Cintron. Since then Cintron has taken time out and spent it with his family but now he’s ready to get back to work & that starts this Saturday against tough Carlos Molina live on Showtime as chief support to the much anticipated Brandon Rios-Urbano Antillon fight. It represents a welcome return for the Reading, Pa based Cintron who’s now 31 boasting an impressive 32-3-1(28). All of the blemishes on the former IBF Welterweight champion’s record were tinged with controversy of some sort. First the two fights with Antonio Margarito because of the possibility Margarito’s gloves had been tampered with like that had been prior to the Shane Mosley, leading many previous Margarito opponents to cry foul play. Whilst Sergio Martinez in many people’s opinions did enough to beat Cintron but the fight was only called a draw. Most recently of course he lost to Williams leading to a hiatus. He’s what Cintron had to say on all those fights, his return and future plans.

Hello Kermit, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – You’ll be fighting Carlos Molina in a few weeks, what are your thoughts on that fight & how do you rate him?

Kermit Cintron – I think Carlos Molina’s a good fighter, very tough. He comes to fight. I have to be very prepared for this fight and I’ve been doing it. I’ve been down here (he’s training in Houston) for 5/6 weeks now. Just getting myself prepared for the fight.

Anson Wainwright – It’ll have been 14 months since we last saw you fight, why was there such a long space of time since you last fought. What have you done in that time?

Kermit Cintron – Oh yeah after the Paul Williams fight I decided to take some time off and take care of a few personal things back home. For the reasons I just wanted to spend time with my kids. I’m always on the run with training camps, so I decided to take the time off and enjoy the time.

Anson Wainwright – Of course your last fight was when you lost a technical decision to Paul Williams. He fell from the ring and injured himself. What are your thoughts on that and how did you see things?

Kermit Cintron – Well you know it’s a fight I should have won, except for the accident. Boxing’s a little shady like that, it is what it is. But I can only move forward. I was looking great against Paul Williams. I feel like I was winning every round. All I can do now is focus on future fights. Big fights coming up, and make sure I take of business and finish my fights.

Anson Wainwright – Could you tell us about your team, who is your manager, trainer & your promoter? Also could you tell us about what gym you train at?

Kermit Cintron – Josh Dubin & James Prince are my managers, they gave me the opportunity to sign with Top Rank. I’ve got Ronnie Shields as my trainer. Brian Caldwell is my strength and conditioner. We have a great team. I feel like I have the Dream Team that every fighter would want. Everybody gets along, everybody works together. I’m not longer with Lou Di Bella. When I’m in Houston, I train at the Savannah Boxing gym owned by Willie Savannah who is Juan Diaz (Former WBA, WBO & IBF Lightweight Champion) manager. When I’m home I’m not in the Boxing gym just the gym working on my strength and conditioning with Randy Yocum who’s a good friend of mine he helps me when I’m home. Brian Caldwell & Randy Yocum do talk and keep each other updated with what I have to do. So it all works out.

Anson Wainwright – There are many options at Light Middleweight, provided all goes well for you against Molina. What are you looking to do next?

Kermit Cintron – As of right now I don’t have anything. My focus is on Carlos Molina. If I don’t get passed him there’s nothing else for me in the future. Make sure I come out victorious and look good and I’m sure that’ll help get me go fights afterwards.

Anson Wainwright – What are your thoughts about the current Light Middleweight champions WBC Alvarez, WBA Cotto & Trout, IBF Bundrage & WBO Dzindziruk?

Kermit Cintron – I think there all good fighters, there champions for a reason. One of the fighters I’d like to fight is Dzindziruk who has the WBO but I think the weakest right now that I believe to be champion is the young kid who just fought Saul Alvarez. I think it’s showed twice now that the two European fighters he fought him for the world title. Both fighters did absolutely nothing to win the fight against him.

Anson Wainwright – You drew with current Middleweight champion Sergio Martinez, many people thought you actually lost that fight. What are your thoughts on that fight?

Kermit Cintron – I have to respect the judges they had it a draw. I felt I won the fight. I think it was a close fight but that I won it. I should have fought the twelfth round after they took the point from Martinez. But decided to waste time thinking I won the round but they ended up giving the round (to him) and that’s how it ended up being a draw.

Anson Wainwright – Another fighter you fought was Antonio Margarito, he stopped you twice. What are your thoughts on those fights & do you believe Margarito was using loaded gloves against you or was it just a case of him being the better guy?

Kermit Cintron – I believe in the second Margarito fight he used those wraps whatever they were. After the fight I told my manager Josh Dubin in the locker room “I’ve never been punched so hard and felt his knuckles through his gloves like I did tonight” It was weird at the time nobody knew anything but then he gets caught a few years later.

Anson Wainwright – Do you feel as though he punched harder the second time you guys fought?

Kermit Cintron – I believe so yes.

Anson Wainwright – What goals do you still have as a professional Boxer?

Kermit Cintron – I definitely want to be a world champion again. Everybody in this game wants to make big bucks. I just want to come out on top and be one of the best fighters whoever put Boxing gloves on.

Anson Wainwright – Where do you see your future in terms of what weight classes do you want to fight at back down at Welterweight, at Light Middleweight or higher?

Kermit Cintron – I fell like I’d like to go back to 147 and win a world title there again. Hopefully it can happen, but I know for sure It can become a champion at 154. I’m not thinking higher, It wouldn’t be the right move for me. I do want to go back to 147 and challenge for a title in that weight class.

Anson Wainwright – Making 147 wouldn’t be a problem for you?

Kermit Cintron – I don’t believe so. I feel I could make the weight. The second week of training camp for this fight I was already down at 155, I had to pretty much cheat a little with my diet because I couldn’t keep my weight up. I like to stay the same (weight) until the last 2 weeks of the fight which was going to be 152. I think I can make 147 easily.

Anson Wainwright – If we can talk a little about you as a person, could you tell us about your younger days and how things were for you growing up in Puerto Rico and then Reading, Pennsylvania?

Kermit Cintron – As you know I was born in Puerto Rico, I moved to The United States when I was 8. I moved outside Philadelphia it’s called Warminster. I came to Reading because of my room mate in college and he was from there. The first year we were in college we really clicked and became really close friends so we started to make plans after our first year. I found a Boxing gym and that’s how I started Boxing.

Anson Wainwright – How did you first become Interested and take up Boxing?

Kermit Cintron – I grew up around Boxing. My uncle who raised me was a professional fighter himself but I was more into Wrestling. As you know I Wrestled for a bunch of years. I ended up going to college with a scholarship for Wrestling. I ended up dropping out of school in my sophomore year to give Boxing a try. After signing to go pro after being an amateur for a year. I turned pro just to make a few bucks and ended up being signed by a promotional company which was Main Events. That’s when I started taking this serious.

Anson Wainwright – You have come a long way for a guy who turned pro without much of an amateur Boxing background?

Kermit Cintron – Yeah, I had pretty much no amateur background, no National Championships. So I pretty much had to come up the hard way. I can honestly say I’m not doing to bad.

Anson Wainwright – What do you like to do with your time when you’re not training or fighting?

Kermit Cintron – I love spending time with my kids and my wife. I try to enjoy being with them, hang out and chill. I do a lot of Golfing. My younger brother likes Bowling so I go Bowling with him.

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for your fans?

Kermit Cintron – July 9th is my comeback fight after a year off. It’ll be on Showtime if you can’t make it to the fight in California at the Home Depot Center watch it on Showtime.

Thanks for your time Kermit. It’s good to see you getting back to action.

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

Boxing fans are advocates for the sports by default.

They want to see the sweet science back in the spotlight, they preach the Gospel of boxing whenever they can; whenever a big fight is on the horizon.

In America at least, boxing’s fan-base has been shrinking since the start of the new millennium. The sport has shed a chunk of casual fans over the last tens years or so and has struggled to get them back.

It is true, however, that the bowing out by many casual fans in the US has left the boxing community with arguably the most knowledgable, passionate, and engaging fan-base in all of sport. But the fact of the matter is — for the sport to thrive like it did only some time ago, the casual fan needs to pay attention again.

Not all fans of boxing should know who Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym is.

Like any fight involving Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao, Saturday’s heavyweight unification bout was a chance perhaps win back a few of those fans — especially the one’s who fell in love with the heavyweight division watching Ali or Tyson.

Wladimir Klitschko vs. David Haye was being billed as the most important heavyweight bout in at least the last eight years. So when the HBO telecast went live at 4:45 EST, everyone gathered around the television set, hardcore and casual fans, alike. We were dutifully fulfilling our duty as loyal sheep — sheep herded by the Shepard that is boxing.

It blew. I blame Haye. Haye blames his foot.

I don’t care that Klitschko didn’t look amazing. It’s not his job to put himself in harms way when he doesn’t have to. He’ll sell 50,000 tickets in Germany if he was fighting a corpse. He keeps winning, people keep watching — just not in the US. It’s as simple as that. If I were him, I’d do the same thing. Keep opponents at bay, get the job done. Leave with my belt and my marbles.

It’s Haye who failed to make this exciting. He didn’t take risks. Even when he had to know he was down big in the later rounds, Haye continued keep at distance, only letting his right hand fly two or three times per round.

I was and still am a bit angry. I wanted a hearty heavyweight meal. Instead me and everyone else, including hundreds of thousands who probably haven’t watched a heavyweight fight in years, got served a side salad.

There’s hope that Tomasz Adamek – Vitali Klitschko in September will create some fireworks, but I won’t try to convince the world it’s a great fight like I did for this one.

Instead, I’ll once again suggest to those looking to come back to boxing or enjoy a change of pace from UFC, watch Manny Pacquiao.

While there are a ton of great fights sets for the rest of the calendar year, there is one in particular that stands out for me. That fight is the third installment Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez.

Sure, you’re probably saying, “Well, of course you are looking forward to watching the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world. That’s obvious.”

But, you must remember that not everyone is in love with this fight. Countless members of the media and fans on Twitter have written this fight off already. They say Pacquiao has outgrown Marquez; that when Marquez came up to 142 lbs. to fight Floyd Mayweather he wasn’t himself — too big, too slow; and that since their last bout in early 2008 years, Manny has fought his best boxing.

To those people, I say: I agree whole-heartedly. But to me, that’s not a reason to hate this fight. It’s a reason to love it.

First and foremost, Marquez is Mexican and is used to eating Mexican food. Therefore it’s unlikely he’ll claim he was holding in diarrhea like Joshua Clottey did after he was thoroughly dominated for twelve rounds in the ring with the Pacman. Second, Marquez is still Mexican and will undoubtedly show more heart and take more risks against Pacquiao than Mosley did.

Once Marquez starts taking those necessary risks in the mid-to-late rounds, he’ll probably end up with his back on the mat, staring up at the MGM ceiling.

It’s exactly what boxing needs. They were in two wars already, that much we know. It’s unlikely their third go at the rodeo will be as competitive as the first two, but I don’t care.

Pacquiao is the most exciting fighter in boxing — and at the time of the fight, it will be two years since he’s won a fight by knockout. That will change. I’m looking forward to it.

To the casual fans, the ones who decided the open up the boxing door last weekend only to find the stinker that was Klitschko-Haye behind it: Wait until the world’s number one ranked fighter returns in November. Check back then, please.

Klitschko-Haye was another swing and a miss for boxing to regain momentum. But no worries. When in doubt, watch the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Sure it’s a wait, but all good things require some patience.

Everyone loves a home run, everyone loves a knockout. Like Babe Ruth, I’m calling this shot. Pacquiao-Marquez will be a four-bagger.

Kyle Kinder can be reached via Twitter @ Twitter.com/KyleKinder

In all walks of life it helps to have some sort of gimmick to set you apart from your piers. Unbeaten Lightweight contender Sharif “The Lion” Bogare uses an unusual but catchy ring entrance; he enters the ring in a cage which is carried by dancers, inside Bogare is dressed as a Lion. Of course an entertaining ring entrance only takes you so far, you have to be able to actually fight once you get inside the squared circle. So far Bogare 22, has done all that he has been asked to do boasting a perfect 20-0(12) record. The Ugandan who now lives in Las Vegas is trained by well respected trainer of champions Kenny Adams who is helping bring out Bogare’s undoubted talent. Despite only being a pro for 3 years he’s already world ranked by the IBF at number 12.

Hello Sharif, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – Firstly you recently beat Raymundo Beltran. How did you find that fight, what can you tell us about the win?

Sharif Bogare – That fight was a good experience for me. I did what I had to do. The first few rounds I was Boxing him very good. When I got cut, the blood started to go into my site a little bit. That fight wasn’t so hard for me; I think I won that fight easy.

Anson Wainwright – When can we expect to see you in action next?

Sharif Bogare – Mmm hopefully next month or in the next two months. Right now I’m looking at those top guys. I’m ready for whoever my promoter brings, I’m ready to fight anybody.

Anson Wainwright – You turned pro back in April 2008 and have quickly moved to 20-0(12) with 2 wins this year already. How have you found fighting in America as a pro?

Sharif Bogare – You know America is the place for Boxing. Every fighter wants to fight here, they dream of coming here. It’s like a home to me right now because it’s where my business takes place.

Anson Wainwright – How did moving from Uganda to America come about?

Sharif Bogare – Everything back home was hard but I came to America to turn professional. I was in Thailand for the World Championship and I decided to remain behind and turn professional, because I could take care of my business.

Anson Wainwright – Could you tell us about the team behind you, your manager, trainer & promoter? Also where do you regularly train?

Sharif Bogare – I have two managers right now, one is Jimmy Alex and Ralph Heredia. My trainer is Kenny Adams, one of the best trainers in the world. My promoter is Golden Boy Promotions owned by Oscar De La Hoya. I train in Las Vegas at a gym called Pound for Pound.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us how you came to be in contact with those guys as there based in America?

Sharif Bogare – Before I came to America I already had contact with Jimmy Alex my manager. So it came from that & I came to Las Vegas.

Anson Wainwright – You have a reputation of coming into the ring dressed as a Lion in a cage. Can you tell us about this and how it came about?

Sharif Bogare – You know my manager and my team saw the way I fight when I just got here in the U.S and they said I fight like a Lion. The Boxing world needs entertainment, Like Naseem (Hamed) he used to do the entrances. We don’t only want to come in the ring and fight it’s important to have an exciting entrance and entertain then take care of business in the ring too.

Anson Wainwright – Presumably things were tough growing up in Uganda? Could you tell us the path it took you as a child through to how you got involved in Boxing?

Sharif Bogare – For me my family wasn’t a wealthy family so I was a young kid who used to struggle. We used to fight on the streets and I got impressed with it. A friend of mine started bringing kids from different families and let them fight each other. What we used to do was take off our shirt and wrap them around our hands like Boxing gloves and started fighting each other. So one day a friend said “Hey Sharif” there’s a Boxing gym right next to your house you should go join. It looks scary not everybody walks straight into the gym , so a friend of mine who was a little older than me took me but he never got in the Boxing ring he was scared. One of the boxers in the gym was like “what are you here for” we said “we’re here to do some Boxing” I took of my shirt and did some shadow boxing, they saw me. I had a little bit of skills that I brought from the ghetto and everything developed from there.

Anson Wainwright – Kassim Ouma is from Uganda, is your situation similar to his in that you can’t go back to your country now?

Sharif Bogare – For me my situation is much different from Kassim. Kassim was in the army. For me I can go home and visit and see my family.

Anson Wainwright – Your still very young , but you had a decent amateur career? If so can you tell us about it the titles you may of won and your record?

Sharif Bogare – Boxing in Uganda we had really good competition. If you fought for Uganda you had to be the best in the country so back home I had a lot of competitions and experience from there I fought in the Central Africa games I won gold medals there. Then I went to the Commonwealth (games) in 2006 in Melbourne, Australia. I got all the way to the quarter finals, but I think I never lost there; the amateur style wasn’t good for me. You hit a guy and they give them the point! So thought I go professional. We did African championship in Madagascar then from there we qualified for the World Championships in Chicago. Then from there I turned professional. Back home in Uganda I think I had a lot of fights but we never had record books. But from what I recall 60 something fights and I lost 4 or 5 fights.

Anson Wainwright – Have you been able to spar with any top pros since you came to America?

Sharif Bogare – Umm I’ve sparred with a lot of good prospects and World champions. When I just got here one of the bigger names I sparred with was Zab Judah. I sparred with a lot of good fighters.

Anson Wainwright – What are your goals in Boxing?

Sharif Bogare – My dream is to make it to a World title. To be a world champion. I have dreamed about it since I was a little kid.

Anson Wainwright – Who is your Boxing hero?

Sharif Bogare – I would say (Mike) Tyson. I grew up watching him.

Anson Wainwright – When your not Boxing, what do you like to do with your time?

Sharif Bogare – For me my life is I’m addicted to training. If I’m off after a fight I go to the gym, lift weights, go to the park and run. I keep busy all the time.

Anson Wainwright – Do you have a message for the Lightweight division?

Sharif Bogare – They better stay ready Sharif is coming! I’m always going to get better. My last fight moved me to the next level. I’m coming for you. Sharif “The Lion” Bogare is coming to take the titles!

Anson Wainwright – Is there anything you’d like to add?

Sharif Bogare – I’d like to thank my team and the gym back in Africa Kampala Boxing club it’s the same one Boza Edwards & John Mugabi came from.

Thanks for your time Sharif.

Anson Wainwright

15rounds.com

In the moments after two contemporary prizefighters meet at a press conference to question each other’s class, family, sexual orientation and all the rest, each man invariably wants to beat on the other in hot blood. But by the time their fight arrives months later, each man has a higher motivation: Prevent that sonofabitch from embarrassing me in front of the world.

That is how we get what we got from David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko for the last two months. That is how we get what we got Saturday afternoon.

And what we got was not good. It was another dull half hour from Wladimir Klitschko, whose reign has been so unexceptional that we no longer blame him for its dullness. And Klitschko was the exciting part of Saturday’s production, too, beating Haye by unanimous-decision scores of 118-108, 117-109 and 116-110.

My scorecard concurred, 117-109. Its details are unimportant.

What is important, though, is a durable rule of contemporary prizefighting that rarely fails: The violence in the ring will be inversely proportionate to the violence of the promotion.

Somewhere between salesmanship and Hamlet’s line about an actress protesting too much lies the above truth. But still they hooked us with the spectacle of a palpably furious Ukrainian giant across from a cocky Brit, one who nervously predicted the men’s pending collision would cause a great, great fight.

They hooked us because of a residual or-die-trying ethic that still adheres to our sport, or better put, adheres to our imaginations when we think about our sport. Today that ethic is gone from most of prizefighting and all of the heavyweight division.

What caused its general exit from the world stage – deregulation maybe – is anyone’s guess. But everyone’s honor is now for sale, flamboyantly so.

David Haye just cashed the largest check of his career, honor be damned. He will live happily ever after this disgrace – one that began with a promise of beheadings and ended with his flopping on the canvas to draw penalties like a soccer player. Haye will sleep each night on a mattress stuffed with money and tell himself – and have young people believe that – his main purpose was making money. If that required a con, well, all the better.

What he needed to say after his shameful effort was this: “Bollocks, that guy can hit! I sat across from him at press conferences, and all I saw was an oaf I’d have no trouble whacking. But in that ring, mate, he’s a monster. He looked nine-feet tall, he did. And he’s fast, too. I tried to rush him a few times. He hit me. I realized the best chance I had of staying conscious, being in a healthy state of mind when I collected my purse, you know, was to keep him afraid of my right hand. That required me not to throw it but threaten with it. He was the better man tonight, and he’ll be the better man tomorrow. I’m sorry I crossed him.”

Instead, Haye removed his boot from his right foot and implored interviewers to look at the right toe he claimed to have broken three weeks before. It was about selling the next sham, of course. It was the first line of a pitch you’ll hear soon enough: “I went 12 rounds with the best heavyweight in the world, on a broken foot! You can be right sure the next time you see the ‘Hayemaker’ at 100 percent, some unlucky bloke is going to sleep.”

Which is why fight fans should hold men like Haye to account. Trouble is, most of the men old enough to remember honor as more than a slogan have abandoned boxing. And those who’ve replaced them find a certain postmodern charm in prizefighters’ unreliable first-person narratives. “Fighting” as a word, anymore, is a decorative tool for improving one’s prize.

None of this excuses Wladimir Klitschko. Saturday brought another serving of a delicious between-rounds show that never fails to please: Trainer Manny Steward imploring the reluctant “Dr. Steelhammer” to nail a much smaller man.

Steward, with an assist from Larry Merchant, provided frustrated HBO viewers the affirmation they needed. Steward assured us we were not alone in our disbelief: The hardest punching man in the world really would skitter round the ring before he’d fight toe-to-toe with an opponent he outweighed by 30 pounds.

Klitschko jabbed. Jabbed. Feinted and jabbed. Hooked off the feinted jab. But that’s not to say there’s anything wrong with jabbing, nothing at all, don’t misunderstand, please! Klitschko jabbed. Jabbed.

And Haye circled and looked menacing. He leaped forward and back. He impressed Roy Jones. Then he did something major that will be covered in the next paragraph.

Haye circled. He growled. He shouted inciting words at Klitschko. He promised a right hand. He then did something major that will be covered in the next paragraph.

Haye landed on his left foot. He got to the final bell and waved his right fist. Then he did something major that will be covered in the next column . . .

So it went. The fight boxing badly needed was a dud. Apologists will emphasize the conditioning each man showed. His skilled footwork or hand speed. The possibility that a lot of things could have happened. Apologists, in other words, will make a prizefight for the heavyweight championship of the world sound like the summary of a Women’s World Cup match.

In an interesting interview with RingTV.com last week, Many Steward said, “People don’t see Wladimir’s footwork. That amazes me.”

Klitschko’s footwork, though, balletic, backwards moving, tuned to the retreating commands his sharp mind sends it, is not what anyone wants to see from a baddest man on the planet. It’s not that we all don’t see Wladimir’s footwork, Mr. Steward; it’s that those of us who do are amazed by it.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry