There are prizefights that begin with one participant looking so confident and establishing such a superiority of craft that you wonder if this mightn’t be a genuinely unique experience in the presence of a genuinely unique talent. But then, with a comfortable lead built, the participant takes a middle round off before ultimately showing skill enough to earn a decision victory.

“The Sweetest Thing” by Mischa Merz (Seven Stories Press; $18.95) is a book very much like that sort of prizefight.

Merz, an Australian journalist and masters-division amateur champion, has no want of talent. The book’s opening pages include a wealth of well-shaped insights like this description of the women’s dressing room at Gleason’s Gym in New York City:

“. . . boxing boots stuffed in every spare bit of space, a mirror and bench designed for makeup application, pink bandanas drying off along with hand wraps, and exfoliating sponges and bottles of conditioner jostling for space. It was an object lesson in the human capacity to absorb many conflicting ideas into a complex identity . . .”

“The Sweetest Thing” introduces the sport of boxing in such a joyful first-person voice that a reader sympathizes immediately with the narrator. You do not start by cheering for Merz to trounce a rival so much as find a fight. She has traveled from the other side of the world, combed YouTube.com for footage of opponents, and put herself through the rigors of a training camp. You hope someone grants her the test she seeks.

This is a book about women’s boxing and its search for respectability, but it is not a book of sermons. For being a double outsider – an Australian woman in American boxing – Merz has an uncommon perspective. And her observations about fighting are first rate.

“People assume that pain is what a fighter fears most,” Merz writes. “But actually it isn’t. Pain is familiar and tolerable. Humiliation lurks like a hidden phantom, it can tower over you, it is mysterious and confusing. Very few fighters are willing to sacrifice their trademark style for victory.”

That is a fantastic series of sentences. It explains a great deal about why, despite fans’ and commentators’ urgings, fighters rarely toss caution windward and rush crazily at even light-hitting opponents. It is a sensation anyone who has sparred knows well; you are more willing to take abuse from a sparring partner in an empty gym than a crowded one, which sets the hands on the clock of your true fear – humiliation, not pain.

One page later Merz provides even better writing about the experience of being hit in the face, one that nature prepares none of us for. And in the next chapter – aptly named “Big Hat, No Cattle” – Merz expands on the nature of her own discomfort:

“The turmoil within comprised a potent mix of distress, humiliation, and many different and disorienting facets of existential pain, but no actual physical pain.”

All odes to the writer’s eye aside, there is no alternative path to that insight. You do not write a sentence that good unless you’ve donned headgear and sparring gloves and been struck in the face by someone who knows how.

A little bit before the halfway point of “The Sweetest Thing,” Merz’s fistic adventuring brings her to a boxer worthy of a quick detour. Melissa Roberts, a USMC boxer from New York, is a special combination of talent, ferocity, arrogance and charm.

Merz knows this in part because of renowned trainer and former world champion Anne Wolf’s familiarity with Roberts. Here’s something Merz and Wolf might not know about Roberts (though one suspects they do): In February, Roberts, now known as Melissa Parker, made one of the finest four-round fights, professional or amateur, seen in years.

Fighting in the Regional Golden Gloves tournament held at San Antonio’s Municipal Auditorium, Parker boxed a hellacious 12 minutes with 132-pound local favorite Selina Barrios, beating Barrios by a score of 3-2. The decision was disagreeable to Texans in attendance. But afterwards, Parker was friendly and confident as could be the right woman had won.

Merz’s own championship victory in a Ringside tournament, surprisingly, leads to her book’s least-pleasant chapter, a regrettable 27-page departure from the likable character found in the other 255 pages. Merz trains her prose on a transsexual competitor once named Paul but now calling herself Pauline. Merz comments relentlessly on Pauline’s oddity. As a reader, you play along, anticipating an amiable conclusion to the anecdotes. But there isn’t one. Pauline is a curiosity for curiosity’s sake, a freak, in other words, whose purpose is to illustrate boxing’s eccentricity of characters.

You suddenly stop cheering for Merz. You stop overlooking mishaps like reporting that dogs called Camacho and Hagler “were named after the two greatest welterweights of the modern era.” Or numerous references to the Wild Card Gym’s “Freddy Roach.” And you begin to wonder about the origin of Merz’s mean-spirited fixation on American obesity.

Fortunately, one chapter later, a very interesting treatment of training alongside former world champion Lucia Rijker, Merz is back in form. She returns to being a participant journalist, a narrator who won your loyalty with such descriptive gems as “spank of gloves on bags,” “affirmative action overstatement,” “compelling androgyny,” and “bland microclimate.”

The book ends on a well-written if dubious note, chronicling the unprofessionalism of a Gleason’s Gym fighter named Melissa Hernandez. After weeks of buildup and silly trashtalk Hernandez refuses to fight in a main event because she is not present to see an opponent’s hands wrapped. When some predictable palliation comes from Hernandez’s camp, Merz does her profession a service by gently ridiculing it.

“The Sweetest Thing” is an enjoyable read, finally. It is a book that will please anyone, male or female, who has become a fighter or wondered what it would be like to try.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter.com @bartbarry

Former two-time world title challenger Richard “Bam Bam” Duran passed away Tuesday, one week after suffering a stroke at the far too young age of 44. Though he had an excellent six-year pro run, preceded by a long and meritorious amateur career, Duran may have touched even more lives in gyms near his Sacramento, California home in recent years. Duran survived by seven children, and their loss is mourned by the large Sacramento boxing community.

Duran turned pro at 22-years-old in 1988 and quickly became a staple on Sacramento boxing cards while running his mark to 26-0. His unbeaten run led to an April 1993 crack at respected IBF Super Bantamweight titleholder Kennedy McKinney. The fight took place at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, but resulted in a unanimous decision defeat. However, Duran’s impressive showing led to another title bout, this time against another respected champion in Tracy Harris Patterson, who turned back the challenge via unanimous decision in Reno, Nevada.

Duran fought once more, three months later, dropping a decision to prospect Eddie Croft in San Mateo, California. In his immediate life after boxing, Duran did encounter some personal setbacks, which included a jail term for manslaughter as the result of a bar fight. However, Duran managed to turn his life around and become a positive example for aspiring boxers in Sacramento.

“I knew Richard “Bam Bam” Duran for a few years,” recalls former California Golden Gloves champion Michael Ortega. “I would usually run into him at local amateur boxing events here and there. I knew Richard as a good coach. I never trained with him, but I knew he looked out for his fighters and was a solid coach who knew the ins and outs of a boxing ring. From what I knew he was a very cool and outgoing dude that always had fun fight stories to tell. I also know he was one bad ass fighter, as I heard great things from my first trainer Angelo Nunez and most every trainer after. Richard “Bam Bam” Duran will always have a place here in Sacramento’s fight scene. May he rest in peace, and his memory live on.”

“Rest in peace champ, my prayers are with you and your family,” says former fighter and current matchmaker Edward Rodriguez, who fought Duran in the amateurs. “We had fun in the ring when we were both fifteen years old in Hayward, California. You will be missed. I still remember what we talked about. You might have beat me, but I beat the guy that beat you, and you said I might have lost but we did get best fight of the night. It put a mile on my face. God bless.”

“I would like to offer my condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of “Bam Bam” Duran,” said world ranked light heavyweight contender Otis Griffin. “ I did not know him close, but I recognize him as one of Sacramento’s historical gym legends. He has passed a great deal of boxing IQ to myself and younger NorCal fighters. My last memory of “Bam” was just this weekend as Gilbert Zaragoza told me of the legendary PAL wars and how so many fighters came before us that never got the spotlight. “Bam” you are remembered, and the stories will never fade from the Sacramento gyms and because of this you will live forever in the heart of the city.”

“I am truly saddened by Richard Duran’s death,” said Sacramento-based lightweight prospect Stan Martyniouk. “He was not only a great boxer but an amazing person as well, who helped out a lot in the boxing community as a trainer and mentor. He will always be remembered. My prayers go out to his family. Rest in peace, champ.”

“I will tell you that Richard has helped his community for many years,” said Sacramento fight legend Tony “The Tiger” Lopez. “He worked at helping keep kids off the streets while never asking nothing from anybody. He was a true warrior in and out of the ring.”

“They don’t men like him no more,” said former Sacramento fight favorite Richard Savala. “He worked to keep kids out of trouble as the boxing coach at Lord’s Gym. He was a great mentor in Sacramento. This guy was always trying to help kids learn the sport of boxing, which kept those kids out of trouble. He was a great man, and he will be greatly missed in Sacramento.”

There will be services held for Richard Duran on Monday at the Lord’s Gym in Roseville, California. For more information, e-mail info@lordsgym.org or call the gym at 916-783-1989.

Richard “Bam Bam” Duran (1966-2011)

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

Photo courtesy Greg Huerta/Smash Time Boxing

Knockout talk is pretty standard stuff in the build-up for any fight, especially one that Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley have transformed into an event. But it has a different tone this time around, because Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach hopes a stoppage will either lure Floyd Mayweather Jr. into the ring or provide Pacquiao an edge in an argument for the ages if the much-discussed fight never happens.

“ It would be incredible for Manny to be the first one to stop him and just prove to the world how much better he is than that guy that couldn’t stop him,’’ Roach said Wednesday during a conference call when asked about the chances at a knockout of the durable Mosley on May 7 at Las Vegas MGM Grand.

Not that anybody had to ask, but that guy, of course, is Mayweather, who on Thursday had a preliminary hearing on felony and misdemeanor charges from alleged domestic violence delayed in Las Vegas until July 29.

Translation: The Pacquiao-Mayweather fight isn’t any more likely today than it was a year ago when Mayweather was terrific and resourceful in surviving a rocky second round, yet characteristically cautious in settling for a one-sided decision over Mosley.

For now, Pacquiao has only the fights that can help him build his case while the prosecution for Nevada’s Clark County its own. Common opponents are poor comparisons, made unreliable by time, circumstances and styles. But Mayweather leaves the Filipino Congressman without options or even much of a clue as to what he intends to do.

“It’s hard to judge him,’’ Pacquiao said when asked if he thought Mayweather feared him. “I don’t know what the reason is. I really don’t have an idea. I can’t say something. We don’t know, so it’s hard to judge him.”

Instead, Pacquiao does what he always has done. He moves forward. There is a sense that he already is at work on the finishing touches to a legacy that would be incomplete without Mayweather, yet still as brilliant as any.

News broke in Mexico that Juan Manuel Marquez already has a Top Rank offer to fight Pacquiao for a third time sometime in the fall. Top Rank’s Bob Arum was annoyed at the Marquez questions. He dismissed them twice, first Tuesday in a conference call with Mosley and again on Wednesday.

But it only would be a surprise if Marquez had not been approached by Top Rank. Marquez, who has a draw with Pacquiao and a controversial loss by decision to the Filipino, represents a chance for Pacquiao to eliminate lingering doubts about his ability to beat the accomplished Mexican. It also is another opportunity to further build his case in the potential debate about whether he was better than Mayweather, who outweighed Marquez and dominated him for 12 rounds, yet again settled for a decision in September, 2009.

If Pacquiao could somehow be the first to knock out Mosley and the first to stop Marquez, he would win the debate no matter what Mayweather does or doesn’t do. It’s a risk, first and foremost in terms of the motivation it provides Mosley, who is a better bet to win by stoppage than Pacquiao, especially within the first three to four rounds.

Another cracking right in the early rounds might accomplish for Mosley what eluded him against Mayweather. It might finish Pacquiao in another spring stunner during boxing’s season of upsets, especially if the 39-year-old Mosley can summon up a will, way and maybe a big left hand. Against a stumbling Mayweather, Mosley was curiously unable to capitalize.

The guess here is that Mosley won’t squander that kind of an advantage again. If he does, Pacquiao will be on his way to a significant victory and perhaps a stoppage that could win an argument, which on Thursday looked more likely than a Mayweather fight.

NOTES, QUOTES
• Insightful Al Bernstein offered an intriguing possibility that could surprise Pacquiao. During a Showtime conference call Thursday, Bernstein said Mosley might unleash a potent left that has been dormant lately. “The left-hand,’’ Bernstein said. “I think that’s the secret.’’

• Boxing’s best, hidden on premium networks and pay-per-view for years, goes back to prime time for the first time in generations Saturday night when the third episode in Showtime’s Fight Camp 360, an inside look at Pacquiao-Mosley, will air on CBS at 8 p.m., Eastern and Pacific. There were mixed reviews for the first two episodes. The third figures to attract the biggest audience, meaning there is motivation for Showtime to make it the best of the four.

Photo by Chris Farina / Top Rank

In just over a week’s time Manny Pacquiao will meet Shane Mosley in the much talked about Welterweight clash. The night before Top Rank will put on another show from The Mandalay Bay the headliner will be Las Vegas native Diego Magdaleno 18-0(6), he meets tough Mexican Gilberto Sanchez Leon. Last time out he impressively stopped Marcos Jimenez to win the NABF Super Featherweight title to claim the biggest win of his career. It was also his third stoppage in a row; he’ll have a tough time repeating that against Leon who’s only been stopped once in over 40 previous bouts. Here’s what the 24 year old Magdaleno had to say ahead of the clash.

Hello Diego, welcome to 15rounds.com

Firstly thank you for having me for this Interview

Anson Wainwright – You’re scheduled to fight on 6 May in Las Vegas. You’ll be facing Gilberto Sanchez Leon, what are your thoughts on the fight and what do you know about him?

Diego Magdaleno – About the fight. I know that this guy, I’ve seen one of his last fights at the Palms (Hotel Casino in Las Vegas) when my younger brother was on the card, he fought a well known guy Robert Marroquin and I remember catching glimpses of that fight, he’s a tall fighter but doesn’t fight with his reach, he likes to fight on the inside. He’s got some things that I saw that I can adapt to and cut him down to size.

Anson Wainwright – In your last fight you beat Marcos Jimenez and won the NABF 130 title. Can you tell us about this fight?

Diego Magdaleno – Oh that fight was a tremendous fight. I’m still getting compliments on that one. It was something I’ve looked forward to my whole Boxing career, getting a title shot, hopefully that helps me get a world title shot. I took every possible thing that I can work on to achieve the victory on that fight. It was intense from the beginning. Marcos Jimenez was a good fighter, one of the best one’s out of Puerto Rico. I took that and brought it into the ring. We went in with a plan to basically not let him breath and things that I did like pressuring him from the beginning of rounds and eventually the outcome was I was overwhelming him with punches. That’s what the plan was and it worked.

Anson Wainwright – People would look at your record and say you don’t have a very high KO ratio, obviously the last 3 fights have been stoppages. Have you got any thoughts on that?

Diego Magdaleno – Umm (Laughs) Like I tell everybody else, I’m getting comfortable in the ring, you know it’s not that I wasn’t before but I’m starting to sit down on punches, putting everything together. The work outs have been marvellous. Every fight I have is a learning experience, I learn a lot off every fight. I go back and watch my tapes from the very first fight to the last; I review myself, more than I do my opponent before every fight. I think that’s what’s helping me out that way. That way I can see myself as a fighter and what I’m doing wrong in the ring. I really like to focus on myself and better myself.

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

Diego Magdaleno – Top Rank is my promoter. My manager/trainer is Pat Barry & Dawn Barry (Pat’s Wife) is also my manager. Augie Sanchez (Former World title challenger) is there I wouldn’t call him an assistant coach, him and Pat work so well together. There’s no real head guy. It’s great cos we all work together on everything we do, it works out well. I train at Barry’s Boxing Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Anson Wainwright – What was it like growing up in Las Vegas. I believe there has never been a fighter born in Las Vegas who won a world title.

Diego Magdaleno – I wasn’t born in Las Vegas. I was actually born in Beverly Hills, California at the famous Cedar Sinai Hospital. I started Boxing out in East L.A I was there for about a year until I moved to where I now call home Las Vegas, I was about 8 years old when I moved here. I started my amateur career here in Las Vegas. This is home to me, but I was born in California. But it’s the capital of Boxing and Boxing has always taken place here. I see all the world title fights, they come to the MGM and Mandalay Bay and all the headliners and I just see how close it is and every fight just drives me to get up there. So everytime I go to the big fights I think I’m not far away. I just have to keep pushing and working hard. I’m trying to show my younger brother Jessie who’s 3-0 with 3 knock outs.

Anson Wainwright – You were a very good amateur, can you tell us about your amateur career and what tournaments you won? Also what was your final record?

Diego Magdaleno – Off the top of my head 130 something fights, like 116 and like 15 loses. I went to the Olympic trials twice, unfortunately the last time I went to the Olympic trails in 07 I lost I think in the Quarter Finals. I always made it to the finals of most tournaments and always came up short. I took Second in the Golden Gloves, I took second in the National PAL’s, and I went over to Canada and won there. I won the USA’s in 07 that was prior to the trials for the Olympics.

Anson Wainwright – Your younger brother Jessie turned pro in late last year. What can you tell us about him?

Diego Magdaleno – We have a good bond, we work hard together and I try to be the big brother and be an example to him, show him hard work can get you what you want . We want world titles. I think I can be a good role model to him. As far as work outs together, we run, we do everything together. We have the same relationship other brothers we bump heads and collide. I’m the more serious type of guy, as Jessie goes I would say he’s more of a character. He likes to joke around and have fun with everything and when I’m in the gym, it’s just a different environment, it’s work to me it’s serious and he likes to have fun and mess around with me and try to get into my head. It works out, we have fun.

Anson Wainwright – What do you think of the Super Featherweight division WBC Takahiro Aoh, WBA Takashi Uchiyama, IBF Mzonke Fana & WBO Ricky Burns? Are you targeting anyone and how far do you think you are from a title shot?

Diego Magdaleno – I’m targeting any of those guys. As far as upcoming fights. They say I’d be fighting for a world title at the end of this year. I’ve seen the guys and there quality guys. There not guys I can take lightly but I think that I have a good chance with the world champions. I work hard in the gym and think when Top Rank gives me the chance to be a world champion I’ll do everything to make it happen.

Anson Wainwright – What do you like to do away from Boxing to relax? What are your hobbies and Interests?

Diego Magdaleno – One thing I like is the outdoors, I like to stay active. I love hiking, spending time with my family because when it comes to being serious with Boxing I hide out, I go back into my tunnel and exclude everyone from my world. When I have a chance I love to help people and be with the family. One of my little hobbies I like to do is interior decorating, not many people know about that, like house projects.

Anson Wainwright – Who was your Boxing hero growing up? And who you enjoy watching today?

Diego Magdaleno – There’s a lot of great fighters out there. One of the last fights I watched was Victor Ortiz and Berto that was a tremendous fight. It brings Boxing back to life. I like Manny Pacquiao who’s an intense fighter. There a lot of guys who keep me on my toes and the Boxing game exciting. When I was growing up I liked Chavez he was an animal in his prime. De La Hoya’s another guy I liked.

Anson Wainwright – What are your goals in Boxing? If it wasn’t for Boxing what do you think you’d be doing for a living?

Diego Magdaleno – My plan in Boxing is definitely to win world titles, that’s the ultimate. If it wasn’t for Boxing, I’d always been Interested in Law Enforcement. So I’d probably be doing something like that.

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for the Super Featherweight division?

Diego Magdaleno – I have a big message. It’s gonna be the guy out in the dark who’s gonna get them. So keep in mind Diego Magdaleno is out there.

Thanks for your time Diego.

Anson Wainwright

15rounds.com

Going into the 2008 Olympic Games Felix Diaz was little know and not favoured to bring back a medal. That all changed in the space of a few weeks when he won the Dominican Republic’s only gold of the games. Following that success he elected to turn pro in the summer of 2009 and has progressed well winning all nine fights so far stopping six of his opponents inside the distance. The 27 year old southpaw has picked up important International experience fighting in four different countries to date. He’s next due to see action again in Russia on the 18 June, though no opponent is known as yet.

Hello Felix, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – You were supposed to face Yuri Nuzhenko recently but that fight fell out can you tell us about this?

Felix Diaz – Unfortunately the originally planned opponent, Yuri Nuzhenko, had to be replaced shortly before the bout. My promoter and the opponent were unable to agree on the number of rounds for the bout, so I heard. The opponent that I boxed against instead was in fact too easy. I want to box against strong opponents in order to develop my skills further and win titles. I would have liked to box against Nuzhenko to show the world that I am ready for the big fights.

Anson Wainwright – You have fought in several countries already, can you tell us about this from your point of view?

Felix Diaz – I have already boxed in many different countries. I find it interesting and meeting people from different cultures has helped my personality grow. People are enthusiastic about boxing all over the world, regardless of race, culture or language.

Anson Wainwright – Who are your managers, trainers & promoters? Also where do you regularly train?

Felix Diaz – My management company is Mundo Boxing S.L. from Santo Domingo. They have around ten top prospects under contract. Our legal advisor is the German lawyer Rafael Villena y Scheffler. My trainer is Pedro Luis Diaz Benitez, who also trains Odlanier Solis, David Lemieux and Jean Pascal. As you can see, I have gathered a top team around me, which is without a doubt essential to win World Championship titles and to defend them. I train in the Dominican Republic as well as in Florida and in Canada.

Anson Wainwright – You won Gold for your country at the 2008 Olympics. How did this change things for you? Did you become an over night celebrity in The Dominican Republic?

Felix Diaz – With the Olympic victory, a lot has changed for me. I can’t go anywhere in my country without being recognised, and in the United States and elsewhere, people often come and talk to me, too. I am proud to have won the gold medal for the Dominican Republic and for all Latinos in Beijing in 2008, and hope to be an inspiration to young people. As a professional boxer, I would of course like to earn money in order to provide a better life for my family and myself.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your amateur career? What titles did you win and what was your final record?

Felix Diaz – My amateur record lies at 280 victories, and just under 40 lost bouts. My biggest title was the Olympic victory 2008 in Beijing.

Anson Wainwright – What do you like to do in your spare time away from Boxing?

Felix Diaz – Besides boxing, I like to listen to music, and also play basketball, I very much like to eat, and I love spending time with my family.

Anson Wainwright – I believe that your homeland is quite poor what can you tell us about your childhood and how it took you into Boxing?

Felix Diaz – My childhood was not very different to that of other poor children. Life consisted of going to school, eating, playing, and then going to bed. My brother is the reason why I started boxing.

Anson Wainwright – Two of the top fighters from the Dominican Republic are Joan Guzman & Fernando Guerrero. What is your relationship with them?

Felix Diaz – I would call Joan Guzman a friend of mine. I don’t know Fernando Guerrero personally.

Anson Wainwright – Who is your Boxing hero and why?

Felix Diaz – My boxing hero is Oscar de la Hoya. Not only because of his quality as a boxer, but also because of his entrepreneurial qualities. My goals in boxing are to become World Champion quickly, and then part of the top ten of the best boxers of all classes. I would also like to fight Manny Pacquiao, and of course win against him.

Thanks for your time Felix

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

LOS ANGELES – To live in this city one must be pathologically optimistic. It is a machine designed to do wondrous things but comprising 10 million self-interested parts. Every day two or more of these competing parts collide, and the machine seizes up. The trick to residing here is to identify the culpable pieces and assume that tomorrow, finally, the machine will run as planned.

It won’t. It doesn’t. That’s where the pathology comes in.

Not altogether unlike being a boxing fan. On Tuesday, Joseph Agbeko acquired a nerve condition called sciatica and cancelled his championship fight with Abner Mares – the concluding event of Showtime’s Bantamweight Tournament. That meant a fight-week upgrade, from consolation match to main event, for Vic Darchinyan and Yonnhy Perez, two men who’d fought hard but unsuccessfully in December’s semifinals.

Darchinyan was ready for primetime billing. Perez was not.

Neither was I, frankly. But on Wednesday morning, it was too late to cancel my flight. I traveled here, then, to see what else besides boxing the city had to offer.

The unique cause of each day’s traffic mess is ever in the air round here. Sometimes it’s a tanker-truck sprawled across four lanes. Other times it’s a bicycle race down the middle of the busiest surface streets in the West. Thursday afternoon it was the arrival of President Obama in pursuit of diners affording $13,000-per-plate comestibles.

Before you’re even to your rental car, then, someone’s explaining how today’s traffic event reflects nothing systemic about the city. It’s an isolated incident, and tomorrow will be different.

What actually was different was Thursday’s entertainment. After staging one of the better post-lockout NHL playoff games, on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks were at it again two nights later in Staples Center. A few single-seating tickets were still available.

And the players are twice as big and thrice as fast as I remembered them from my days as a Massachusetts schoolboy hockey player in the early 1990s. The game has changed.

So has boxing – or at least the promotion thereof. Friday’s weigh-in for Darchinyan-Perez happened at the JW Marriott, part of a sprawling downtown idea called “L.A. Live.” It was two escalators and three hallways from the entrance and fit comfortably in a small conference room. There were no t-shirts for sale, no fight posters, no keychains for fans. There was, really, no reason at all to be there, which is why most of the media was not.

Did Joseph Agbeko’s sudden misfortune affect the Bantamweight Tournament’s promotion? Of course. You never want to cancel a main event, and Abner Mares is a Mexican prizefighter managed by Californians. He would have sold tickets.

Which is more than could be said for the event’s co-promoters. It was a three-way effort made by Oscar De La Hoya (absent all week), Don King (absent all week), and Gary Shaw. You might recognize two of those names, King and Shaw, from January’s “Silence at Silverdome” debacle in Pontiac, Mich.

At some level King gets a pass because he is four months from being an octogenarian and was a ticket-selling dervish in his prime. Shaw is a different story. This year his shows have come under increased scrutiny for their inability to draw fans. Shaw has a remarkable eye for talent, but he is not a promoter in the traditional sense of the word.

It has reached shameless proportions. On Saturday, about 10 minutes before Showtime went on the air, a ring announcer took the microphone and beseeched those gathered at Nokia Theatre to move into the three panels captured on television.

Three minutes after that, a venue security guard confirmed the ticket count at “about 2,000.” Even without imagining how many of those tickets were given away, the numbers are discouraging. Nokia Theatre, without seating people on its stage as it does for boxing events, holds 7,000. That is, 2/3 of Saturday’s available seats were empty.

If promoters still tried to feed their families by attracting crowds, such a turnout would be disastrous. But today, so long as a check from HBO or Showtime clears, all is well. It is not an original commentary but still a poignant one: Boxing has cultivated the seeds of its demise.

Alas, there’s always the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. That is where I spent Saturday afternoon. It is a splendid place with an exhaustive contemporary-art selection. Too, if you like the work of Pablo Picasso, and it seems Americans certainly do, “LACMA” is a good place to spend an afternoon.

A lesser place to spend an evening was waiting for Darchinyan-Perez, though the undercard was passable, and the usual delay before the televised part of the card was not more than 15 minutes.

But the main event was a dud. Even before an accidental bump of heads made blood to shoot from a spot between Jonnhy Perez’s eyebrows, causing ringside doctor Paul Wallace to stop the fight a minute into round 5, it was obvious Perez was overmatched.

Vic Darchinyan rushed out his corner to assault Perez from the opening bell; no feeling-out, no establishing the jab. Darchinyan landed that left uppercut he throws so well from his southpaw stance then brought a barrage of seeing-eye overhand lefts to Perez’s jaw, dropping the Colombian in round 2.

The match wasn’t close. All three judges had Darchinyan by the wide score of 50-44 at the fight’s conclusion.

Darchinyan is more than a bully. He is savage. He is arrogant. But he finds accomplished boxers with power punches in early rounds, and that is no mean feat. And he also fights whomever he is asked to fight.

This city, meanwhile, is a bit different than promised. But its temperate climate and friendly people make you like it more each time you visit. There are lots of reasons to come to Los Angeles, then. Sadly, boxing is not among them.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry.

During the last five years, fans of boxing and mixed martial arts have battled over which sport reigns supreme. Most fight fans strongly support one side and dislike the other. Think of it as a far more physical comparison to Yankees-Red Sox, Giants-Cowboys or Celtics-Lakers.

Many would wonder why MMA fans disdain boxing and vice versa. Are the sports really that similar that they have to compete with one another? Is one threatening the other? Are the combatants responsible for fueling the fans by claiming that they could wipe the floor with any fighter competing in the opposite sport because they are just that good? These questions may never have a simple yes or no answer.

For the first time, this writer attended a mixed martial arts card with the intentions of doing more than observing the card for personal enjoyment; and yes that does mean I am a fan of both sports.

Regardless of what meritless claims are floating around internet message boards, Twitter pages or Facebook statuses, the two sports have a number of similarities and differences that were immediately evident upon entering the Mennen Arena in Morristown, NJ.

According to event organizers, the opening bell was scheduled for 7:30 pm however there was no action inside the octagon until 8:33. Boxing cards also rarely begin at the scheduled start time. A fight featuring local favorite Scott Fairlamb also fell out on 24 hours notice when his opponent failed to show up at the weigh in. Fairlamb, who is 0-1 in MMA and compiled a 5-0-1 record in the squared circle acknowledged that he’s dealt with last minute letdowns in both sports.

“Every time I ever fought, I was supposed to fight (a different opponent than the one I ended up facing,” said Fairlamb, who last boxed professionally in 2007.

One major difference was that MMA pundits came to soak in all of the action and not just cheer on one fighter. The crowd was about the same size from the first fight all the way until the main event, where in boxing, most spectators either come to watch a specific fighter or don’t arrive until most of the undercard bouts were completed. MMA supporters are definitely more into the sport as a whole, while most boxing fans follow fighters they know or those of their ethnic background.

Furthermore, items from various items were for sale at independent booths near the octagon. From t-shirts sporting fighters’ names to sweatshirts with company logos, there were many choices. Information about a local MMA academy and a magazine were also on display; neither of which I recall seeing at a boxing card.

From a fan demographic standpoint, the two are far apart. Boxing, one of the world’s oldest sports, brings in fans of all races, sizes and color. Most of the spectators at last night’s card were Caucasian, even though fighters of Brazilian and African American descent competed.

Contrary to popular belief about MMA producing non-stop, not all of the fights were entertaining. In fact, like in boxing, one of the heavyweight bouts was slow paced, hard to follow and filled with lapses in action until a one punch knockout occurred; sound familiar?

Additionally, when the two fighters were on the ground and neither was attempting to advance their position, the referee didn’t stand them up. Inside the squared circle, a clinch is typically broken up within a few seconds.

In the first bout of the evening, karate specialist Yusaf Yolda was led to the ring by approximately ten people, many of whom appeared to have no business walking down towards the octagon. Were they looking for their thirty seconds of fame? Perhaps so. Boxers also have large entourages that accompany them from the dressing room into the battleground.

I saw a fighter from Brazil that lost a close decision to a fan favorite claim he was a victimized by the judges, fans get on their feet when a stoppage appeared imminent and “title fights” where the winner received a belt created by the event organizers.

An exciting main event was ruled a no contest after one of the combatants was deemed unable to continue by a ringside official. Although the injured fighter, fan favorite Andy Main, wanted to fight on, the doctor’s surprising decision ruined what had the makings of the evening’s best fight; Fans even demanded a refund while shouting expletives towards the ring.

Overall, it’s safe to say that prior to the disappointment with the main event, fans had a great time throughout the evening, showed all of the fighters respect and didn’t challenge other spectators to a fistic duel. In this respect, boxing fans should follow the example of MMA fanatics and let the action take place between the two fighters.

After observing eight fights from the makeshift media section, a penalty box used for high school hockey games, it’s safe to say that the two sports have a number of parallels and variations. Many fans seem to enjoy bashing the opposite sport for the sake of argument, when in reality, there should be mutual respect.

In both the octagon and squared circle, fighters can suffer a serious injury at any given moment, train hard to cut weight and make major sacrifices in effort to better their careers. Regardless if the boxing vs MMA debate continues for years to come or is finally put to rest, fans should respect fighters in both sports for what the punishment they put their bodies through to make a living.

Victor Ortiz’ personal triumph in his dramatic upset of Andre Berto re-affirms an increasingly forgotten fundamental. Defeat is important. It’s an opportunity, one that now confronts Juan Manuel Lopez.

Lopez finds himself where Ortiz was nearly two years ago. With his stunning loss to Orlando Salido Saturday, Lopez has fallen from the undefeated ranks, an insulated niche, and into the harsh, unforgiving light that forces a fighter to question himself and endure further questions from everybody else. It’s a final chapter for many, the first in a newborn stardom for a few and perhaps one that Floyd Mayweather Jr. just wants to sidestep.

Unbeaten only means untested. Rocky Marciano retired at 49-0, but it’s hard to find him among history’s top 10 in any all-time ranking.

From this corner’s perspective, defeat is an inescapable rite of passage for fighters with the highest aspirations. It’s also what keeps the public interested. It’s no coincidence that the reported audience of 1.5 million for Ortiz’ welterweight decision over Berto in a unanimous counter to doubts about his courage was HBO’s biggest of the year. The irresistible drama attracted a crowd that gathered for a glimpse at whether there was enough within Ortiz to overcome. There was. He did.

Your turn, JuanMa.

The guess here is that the likable Lopez can and will. It won’t be easy. The Ortiz experience is the freshest example of that. Anguish and anger stood in the way of Ortiz after the 2009 surrender to Marcos Maidana.

Unlike Ortiz, few doubt Lopez’ will. But there are plenty of questions about the featherweight’s commitment. He got too comfortable, perhaps softened and deluded about an illusion of invincibility that comes with an unbeaten record. By now, his marital problems and inattention to training, including a trip to the Philippines for Manny Pacquiao’s birthday party, are well-documented. There also was some arrogance. In a conference call before the Salido loss, Lopez called himself the favorite of Puerto Rican fans.

“With all due respect to Miguel Cotto and Ivan Calderon, both great champions, I feel I am the most popular boxer in Puerto Rico,’’ Lopez said a days before Salido’s eighth-round stoppage forced a reassessment of that claim.

Lopez first step would appear to be a rematch with Salido. There had been plenty of talk with boxing circles about a Lopez showdown with Yuriorkis Gamboa. But promoter Bob Arum pushed aside that possibility until, he said, somebody showed him the money. If Lopez can mature into the committed fighter he is expected to be, that money and perhaps more will be there.

A key to Lopez’ predicted stardom is his personality. Fan-friendly, Arum said. Some, probably many, of those fans might not be as friendly as they had been. But that’s a good thing if Lopez forges himself into the fighter they have always expected.

Those fans will renew that friendship, strengthen it as never before, if Lopez answers their criticism the way Ortiz did.

Ex-Phoenix fighter killed in police shooting
In a sad story, a onetime promising light-heavyweight was killed by Phoenix police early Monday. Robert Charlez, 40, was shot to death while sitting outside of a fence on a freeway overpass. According to police, officers asked Charlez to come down from a bridge across I-10.

Officers shot when Charlez advanced on them with what police said was an article of clothing wrapped around his right hand. According to police, Charlez said he had a gun. A police spokesman told Phoenix media that Charlez “had a simulated weapon in his hand at the time of the shooting.” But it wasn’t clear whether there was a gun or a knife in Charlez’ right hand. According to The Arizona Republic, the police spokesman did not say what the object was.

Charlez’ right hand was powerful. In 1992-93, Charlez scored six knockouts, winning seven fights and losing one, before getting into trouble with the law.

“A good fighter and a nice guy,’’ said Phoenix cornerman Dominic DiGuiseppe, who worked with Charlez at former trainer Willy Borchert’s old gym in west Phoenix.

Notes, quotes, anecdotes
• A NABF title will be at stake and perhaps represent another step toward a shot at a major title for Phoenix super-middleweight Jesus Gonzales (26-1, 14 KOs) on June 4 in front of a hometown crowd at Celebrity Theatre against Henry Buchanan (20-2, 13 KOs).
• And Shane Mosley talks as if he will be facing a much smaller task in Manny Pacquiao on May 7 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand. “Lately, I’ve been dealing with bigger guys, monsters,’’ Mosley told Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times during a media day at his training camp. “To have a guy with a smaller frame in front of me this time, he doesn’t intimidate me at all.” Mosley might want to take a second look at Pacquiao. Pacquiao has the legs of a much bigger man. Those legs look like a couple of tree trunks. They are the source of his speed, balance and power.

It has been both a great and busy time to be a Northern California fight aficionado or roving fight scribe in 2011. After years of sporadic events and a club scene that was almost nonexistent, professional boxing is thriving again in the region, thanks in large part to Don Chargin and his team of co-promoters, with additional shows being put on by fight promoters both new and old as well. The trend continues this week, with several other shows in the offing in the not too distant future.

Banks-Martinez II, Becerra Featured in Sacramento

One of the promoters that has been active in the region over the years, Nasser Niavaroni of Uppercut Promotions, will host his first event of the year at the Red Lion Hotel in Sacramento, California this Friday. In the featured attractions, local heavyweight Hector Martinez will look to even up the score against Yohan Banks in a six-round rematch and rising lightweight prospect Maximilliano Becerra will take on Christian Gonzalez in the four-round co-feature.

Banks (4-4-3, 2 KOs) of Redwood City, California took a highly competitive four-round split decision over Martinez (5-5, 4 KOs) of Broderick, California at the Feather Falls Casino & Lodge in Oroville, California back in March of last year. Banks scored a second-round knockdown that proved to be the difference in a wildly action-packed heavyweight slugfest. Martinez has fought once since, dropping a hard-fought four-round split decision to Lamont Williams this past January. Banks was last in the ring this past September, as he weathered three rounds against hyped former football player Quadtrine Hill, before scoring the come-from-behind stoppage in the fourth round of a pay-per-view undercard bout at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Becerra (4-0-1, 2 KOs) of Vacaville, California returns to the intimate venue at which he fought his first three pro bouts against the unknown Gonzalez (2-0, 1 KO) of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico in the four-round co-feature. Becerra, who proved to be a solid ticket seller, pleased his local following with a dominant four-round unanimous decision over Omar Sanchez at the Fairfield Sports Center in nearby Fairfield, California this past January. Gonzalez has no fights reported since 2009, but it is likely he has fought during that time in Mexico.

In another intriguing bout, former toughman and Badge VS. Badge competitor Larry Ward of Sacramento will make his pro debut against former amateur standout Joshua Landers of the Bronx, New York. Landers, who currently trains out of the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California, is also making his professional debut.

Three other boxing matches and two mixed martial arts fights will round out the card. Tickets for the event are available by calling the Red Lion Hotel at 916-922-8041.

Sanchez Back in Action June 3rd

Locally popular welterweight Alan Sanchez (7-2-1, 2 KOs) will return to the Fairfield Sports Center for the third straight time in his career as the main event on June 3rd. Sanchez, who trains out of the JL Tepito Boxing Club in Fairfield, had been scheduled to fight at the venue on March 25th, but had to pull out with a minor arm injury. Sanchez packed the Sports Center for his two fights there, and will likely do the same in June.

Sanchez’ gym mate Lamont Williams (4-1, 1 KO) of Fairfield will be featured on the card in a four-round cruiserweight bout. Williams fought just this past Friday in San Francisco, California, as he rose from a first-round knockdown to drop Juan Hernandez twice and cruise to a four-round unanimous decision.

Exciting lightweight prospect Guy Robb (3-0, 1 KO) of Sacramento will also be on the bill in Fairfield in June. Robb thrilled his local following last time out at the Sports Center, as he went toe-to-toe with relentless Manuel Morales for four-rounds en route to a majority decision victory. Robb, who is slated to take to the ring one week prior in Reno, Nevada, drew large crowds in Fairfield in both February and March. In his previous outing, Robb dominated Fairfield’s Omar Sanchez, scoring two knockdowns on his way to a four-round unanimous decision.

When tickets go on sale for the event, promoted by Don Chargin Productions, Golden Boy Promotions, Jorge Marron Productions and Paco Presents, they will be made available by calling Paco’s Mexican Restaurant at 530-669-7946.

Griffin Gets another Shot

World ranked light heavyweight Otis Griffin (23-7-2, 9 KOs) of Sacramento came up short in a recent IBF title eliminator against Yusaf Mack, but will not have to wait long to get right back in the mix at 175-pounds. Griffin has signed to fight IBF #9 ranked Karo Murat, with the IBF #2 position at stake, on May 7th in Germany.

“After the Yusaf Mack fight, I didn’t take much time off and I was right back in the gym,” Griffin told 15rounds.com Wednesday. “I didn’t have any injuries or anything, so I need to go out and take advantage of this opportunity.”

In scouting Murat (23-1, 13 KOs) of Kitzingen, Bayern, Germany, Griffin has come to expect an action-packed encounter. “I expect him to come forward and bring a high pressure style, much like Arthur Abraham,” says Griffin, the IBF #7 ranked light heavyweight. “He is going to try and put a dent in me or hurt me and finish me off. So that is pretty much what we are preparing for.”

Rarely do two opportunities, such as the fights with Mack and Murat, come back-to-back. This is something that is not lost on the 33-year-old Griffin. “I am tremendously looking forward to this fight,” said Griffin, who has been sparring USA Boxing #3 ranked amateur super heavyweight O’Jayland Brown. “It is an opportunity for redemption. It’s my third world title eliminator. So we are praying it turns out victoriously this time around.”

The light heavyweight elimination bout, which will be Griffin’s second career bout in Germany, serves as one of main undercard attractions to the IBF Middleweight title bout between champion Sebastian Sylvester and mandatory challenger Daniel Geale.

Notes

-Plans are coming together for a July 3rd event at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport in Burlingame, California. WBO #2 ranked super featherweight Eloy Perez (21-0-2, 5 KOs) of Salinas, California would be in the main event. Local unbeatens Bruno Escalante Jr. (3-0-1, 2 KOs) and Joe Gumina (2-0, 2 KOs) are already pegged to fight in separate bouts on the undercard. All three fighters notched wins last Friday in San Francisco.

-According to eyewitnesses, perhaps not the most unbiased, but eyewitnesses nonetheless, longtime San Francisco-based prospect Karim Mayfield has been giving Manny Pacquiao excellent work in training camp down at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood. Promoters of last Friday’s event in San Francisco made attempts to get Mayfield (13-0-1, 8 KOs) on the bill, but had trouble finding an available opponent. Mayfield made a quick trip up to the City anyway to cheer on fellow Straight Forward Club fighter Jonathan Chicas, who was making his pro debut. Chicas (1-0, 1 KO) stopped debuting Maja Khali in just over a minute.

-Another Straight Forward Club fighter, Miguel Lopez of Oakland, California, returns to the ring next Friday on the undercard of Jesse Brinkley-Peter Quillin at the Reno Events Center in Reno, Nevada. Lopez (2-0, 1 KO) will take on former nationally ranked amateur Jose “Chuy” Elizondo of Reno, who will be making his pro debut in a four-round light middleweight bout. Despite turning pro back in May 2009, Lopez has only two pro fights under his belt even though he is always in shape, should his phone ring. Elizondo has been trying to turn pro for about the last two years, but has had injuries flare up at inopportune times.

-Former amateur standout Jason Montgomery (2-1-1) of Hayward, California returns to the ring for the first time since suffering his lone loss against another well regarded young pro in Alejandro Galarza (1-0, 1 KO) as part of a private show at the Lakeside Golf Club in Burbank, California on May 19th. Montgomery, who trains under Arvin Jugarap at the Kennel Boxing Club in San Leandro, California, dropped a hard-fought four-round unanimous decision to prospect Cleven Ishe on March 5th. Also on the card, cruiserweight Tony Johnson (4-0, 1 KO) of San Jose, California takes a step up in class against Brent Urban (7-3-1, 5 KOs) of Dallas, Texas in a four-rounder.

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

In the summer of 2006 Nobuo Nashiro first sprang to prominence when he wrested the WBA Super Flyweight title away from Martin Castillo, impressively stopping the Mexican in the tenth due to cuts. It looked even more impressive when you take into account it was only Nashiro’s eighth fight, he had only been a pro for 3 years completing just 42 rounds. Since then Nashiro has taken on all comers with mixed results, with his record currently standing at 14-3-1(9). The 29 year old, two time WBA 115 champion hopes his recent strong showing against Mexican Tomas Rojas can keep him relevant and in the mix for big fights further down the line. He’s currently ranked by the WBC 10 & The Ring 5.

Hello Nobuo, welcome to 15 rounds. com

Anson Wainwright – Firstly you recently fought Tomas Rojas for his WBC Super Flyweight title. You lost a razor close decision. What are your thoughts on the fight?

Nobuo Nashiro – I wound up getting out manoeuvred, and wasn’t able to force him into an exchange. I wanted to fight it out toe-to-toe, but he wouldn’t let me. I’m very upset about it.

Anson Wainwright – Though its early days do you know what your next move will be? Are you thinking of moving up to Bantamweight or do you intend to get back in line and have another go at winning a title at Super Flyweight?

Nobuo Nashiro – I want to be champion again. If there’s a chance, I’ll fight at either weight class.

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

Nobuo Nashiro – I belong to Mutoh Boxing Gym in Nagai, Osaka. My promoter and manager is the owner of the gym, Mr. Takashi Edagawa. My trainer is Mr. Toshiyuki Fujiwara.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your gym and the other fighters who train there?

Nobuo Nashiro – We have a really great atmosphere in the gym here. It’s great for training. We also have a special conditioning & strength coach who helps us out, so we can stay in top physical condition. My gym mates are: former Japanese Bantamweight Champion, WBC #20 Bantamweight Mikio Yasuda (WBC #20); former Japanese Middleweight Champion Tetsuya Suzuki; WBC #15 Flyweight Hiroshi Mukai; and Japan #5 Welterweight Takayuki Hosokawa. We’ve got a lot of talented, good boxers here.

Anson Wainwright – How did you first become interested in Boxing and can you tell us about your first experience with it? Who was your hero growing up and why?

Nobuo Nashiro – The first time I saw a boxing match, when I was eight years old, it was fascinating—so cool—I was hooked. When I was a kid, I admired WBC Bantamweight Champion Joichiro Tatsuyoshi. I really admired the exciting way he fought.

Anson Wainwright – When you’re not Boxing what sort of things do you enjoy doing to relax?

Nobuo Nashiro – I like fishing.

Anson Wainwright – Who do you consider your toughest opponent to date and what is your best performance so far?

Nobuo Nashiro – The Alexander Munoz fight was a tough fight. For me, my best fight was when I first won the world title from Martin Castillo.

Anson Wainwright – Much is made of the Kameda brothers, they are very different from most Japanese people. Is this a fight you’d like and what are your thoughts on them?

Nobuo Nashiro – Of course I want to fight them. I’m confident I would win. The Kameda Brothers generate a lot of talk and get a lot of exposure, but I don’t think they will achieve as much as Mr. Hasegawa and Mr. Nishioka.

Anson Wainwright – I have heard that you have sparred a lot with Mr. Hasegawa. How was that? Recently, Hasegawa moved up to featherweight and became world champion. Is making the weight at super flyweight difficult for you too? Do you also have a plan to move up and challenge for a world title?

Nobuo Nashiro – About Mr. Hasegawa, I really respect him as a boxer. He’s strong, and I think he’s an amazing boxer.
I don’t have any trouble making weight at super flyweight, but if there’s a chance at super flyweight or bantamweight, I’ll fight at either weight.

Anson Wainwright – We haven’t heard about Sasha Bakhtin lately, but I believe the two of you sparred. What was your impression of Bakhtin?

Nobuo Nashiro – I’ve also sparred with Sasha Bakhtin. He’s really good, and I think if he gets a chance, he’ll be a world champion.

Anson Wainwright – Your opponents in world title matches so far have been Castillo, Garcia, Munoz, Cazares, and Rojas. With the exception of Munoz, they have all been Mexican, and all of them are Latino. What is your impression of Mexican and Latino boxers? Is there a difference between the way Mexican and Latino boxers and Japanese boxers fight?

Nobuo Nashiro – Each and every one of them was different, but they are all smooth, with relaxed shoulders, and can attack from various different angles. Also, they have a variety of punches in their arsenals. I’ve learned a lot from fighting them.

Anson Wainwright – You’ve never fought abroad, have you? Someday, would you like to fight abroad?

Nobuo Nashiro – If I have a chance, I’ll fight anyone, anywhere, anytime. I want the chance for a big match.

Anson Wainwright – There are many elite boxers in the Bantamweight division now. For example, Montiel, who beat Hasegawa, Donaire, Darchinian, Mijares, Mares, Moreno. What is your dream match?

Nobuo Nashiro – If I was allowed to fight them, I think I’d like to fight any of the names you mention here. If it came true, I’d be really happy. More than anything, I just want the chance.

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for your fans that support you in your fights?

Nobuo Nashiro – I want to keep on fighting. If I get the chance, I’ll fight anyone. I hope you can watch my explosive fights!

Thanks for your time Nobau.

Anson Wainwright & Loren Goodman

15rounds.com

Special thanks to Loren Goodman, without whom this Interview wouldn’t of been possible.

Victor Ortiz approached his title fight against Andre Berto with a ferociousness that, frankly, we’ve never seen in Ortiz, pre-fight.

The 147 pound Ortiz looked the same as the 140 pound Ortiz, but he talked a whole lot different. That much I knew. I wrote about that six weeks ago.

What I didn’t know, however, was that Ortiz’s “more vicious” approach to his April 16 championship showdown would translate into a “more vicious” performance in the ring — as dominant a performance one could have when being knocked down twice.

The dominance started almost immediately, as both fighters came out firing, with Ortiz striking first. Roughly ninety seconds into their WBC middleweight title bout Ortiz sent Berto the crashing to the mat — a knockdown which referee Mike Ortega would rule a push.

That didn’t matter, however, as Ortiz went right back to work, overwhelming Berto with punches in bunches. A right cross staggered the then-undefeated champion, forcing him to retreat to the corner, and ultimately, after absorbing a flurry of punches from the heavy-handed Ortiz, caused the champ took a knee.

Berto would never fully recover from being sent to the canvas twice in the first stanza, and credit Ortiz for never letting him do so. That hasn’t always been the case with Ortiz.

In the past, the young Mexican-American has let hurt opponents rejuvenate and regain their strength. The Marcos Maidana and Lamont Peterson bouts serve as exhibit’s A and B on that matter. But the “more vicious” Victor Ortiz kept his foot on the gas, not even letting Berto catch his breath when he was taunting him while against the ropes.

Even when he hit a speed-bump — a major speed bump — in round six in the form of becoming one with the canvas courtesy of a Berto right hand, he weathered the storm and returned the favor in the closing seconds of the round, sending Berto down with a short left hook.

He looked like a man possessed, as hungry as ever. He also looked like a true welterweight, his body no longer drained from the days of making the 140 pound junior welterweight limit.

But what was obvious to me at the kick-off press conference was ever-present throughout the fight. Ortiz wasn’t out to just win, he was out to make a statement — and that he did.

“It wasn’t until last fight…it was one of those things in the end I felt like a piece of gum on the bottom of somebody’s shoe,” Ortiz said at the press conference.

He continued, “I’m tired of this ‘Oh, he’s got no heart, he’s got no balls,’…the list [of criticism] goes on and on and on,” Ortiz said six weeks ago.

Ortiz was breathing fire, he was pissed, and possessed. Many thought Berto’s hands would . Not so. Not last Saturday.

Unless Ortiz lands a life-changing payday against Mayweather or Pacquiao, a rematch — likely PPV — would be the next most lucrative bout.

In the past, perhaps I’d question whether Ortiz would be able to bring that same fierceness, that same intensity to the ring twice. But not this time. If they do square up again, I’m taking Ortiz, no questions asked.

The Ortiz at 147 is ferocious. He knew exactly what he wanted and he found a way to get the job the done.

“They say Andre Berto is the best [at 147]. I disagree,” Ortiz said in late March. “Berto is no chump. He’s the champ for a reason. But April 16th, I’m changing that.”

Talking the talk and walking the walk. Bravo. A tip of the sombrero to you, the new…

Kyle Kinder can be reached at KyleKinder1@gmail.com or Twitter.com/KyleKinder

Photo by Claudia Bocanegra

In today’s internet age, the way a fighter markets himself has a huge bearing on the progression of his professional career. Promoters, television producers and venues need fighters that put butts in seats in order to do business. One fighter, yet to even turn professional, has proven to have the ability to do just that. Heavyweight Larry Ward expects to pack the Red Lion Hotel in his home city of Sacramento, California this Friday night, just as he has recently as an amateur.

Ward’s road to professional boxing is in many ways a familiar one, and in others quite unique. Like many eventual pugilists, Ward liked boxing as a kid, but had aspirations in other sports. “I always messed around with [boxing] as a kid, but never took any classes or anything,” recalls Ward. “I thought I was going to turn professional in football, but that didn’t pan out. I wanted to do something with my athletic background and started boxing.”

Ward found organized boxing while in the Army in the late 1990’s. “I fought in a couple smokers after I joined the military and I did really well in those little tournaments,” says Ward. “From there, I just continued boxing because I was pretty good at it. I got second place in my first tournament, and from there did some more smokers in the military and won all of them.”

When Ward left the Army he found toughman competitions in Colorado. His success in those tournaments convinced him that he may have a future as a fighter for pay. After finding work at a prison, Ward continued to box before moving to California in 2004. “When I finally came to California I didn’t want to start boxing right away, so I took some time off,” says Ward. “I eventually got back into it and started doing the battle of the badges. I asked for the toughest guy they had and ended up knocking him out. He wanted a rematch, so we did it again, and the same thing happened again.”

If you have heard the name Larry Ward, but you are not quite sure where, it may have been on a Bay Area newscast. On May 21, 2010 at the Radisson Hotel in Sacramento, Ward, who works at the California Medical Facility, a state prison in nearby Vacaville, took on Casey Johnson, a police officer from Oakland, California. The event was the initial promotion of Badge VS. Badge, which is run by respected trainer Gary Shurley and Tom Gaffney, and matches amateur boxers/law enforcement officers in bouts sanctioned by the International Association of Boxing.

According to most accounts, Ward was the clear victor when the fight was over, and indulged the pro-Johnson crowd, many of whom were likely off-duty Oakland PD, by returning their taunts with some gestures of his own. Soon thereafter, before the decision had even been read, a fracus broke out in the crowd. It was clear some of the out-of-the-ring activities involved Oakland PD and when the YouTube video surfaced many local news outlets picked up on the story.

While the situation that occurred is not the way a promoter or a fighter would like to get their name out there, that is the way it happened for Badge VS. Badge and Larry Ward. “It was bittersweet in a way,” says Ward. “It got publicity. Maybe not the right publicity, but either way, it got publicity.”

Now that some time has past, Ward seems to have put the event in the right perspective. “You get a whole bunch of guys in a crowded area and you mix booze and testosterone, of course occasionally you are going to get a couple guys trying to do too much,” says Ward. “At every event, you get guys shadowboxing, thinking they can do the same thing, and you mix alcohol with it, and they can get a little carried away with it.”

If there is another positive to take away from the incident for Ward, it would be that no matter where he fights in his professional career, he is likely to never enter a more unfriendly environment than he did that night in Sacramento. “That wasn’t even the only incident that night,” says Ward. “That just happened to be the one that was videotaped. There were a couple other incidents that night with me and a couple of the guys. It was just one of those nights when you walk into a hostile area, and you just want to leave in one piece. But if you are a fighter, then you love to fight. So for me, I didn’t have a problem with it. It just let me know it was going to be a fight pretty much all night.”

What most of the news outlets did not pick up on in their coverage of the incident, was that the bad blood may have started in the weeks leading up to the actual fight. Ward, and the promoters of Badge VS. Badge, have done what some professional promoters have only slowly begun to do in recent years, and that is build up fights and their fighters by using the internet, and more specifically sites like YouTube, as their primary vehicle.

Ward, who goes into character in his pre-fight videos, had angered supporters of the Johnson camp with some of his remarks in those YouTube-hosted segments. “The video is how the whole incident started with the Oakland crowd,” explains Ward. “They watched the videos and they didn’t appreciate what I had to say about their boy Casey Johnson and it kind of blew up.”

The videos helped make the event a box office success, as over 2,000 patrons jammed into the Radisson that night to see the Ward-Johnson main event. “I try to get things sparked up and get people a little upset,” says Ward. “I mean, anybody can get some gloves and box. But if you put a personality behind the gloves, you can go a long way. Like Kimbo Slice, he used to have all these YouTube videos, but when he started fighting he actually wasn’t that good. But if you are pretty good at fighting, and have a personality with it and a few videos, the sky’s the limit.”

Ward plans to continue shooting videos with his persona, “Cyco,” as he embarks on his journey into the professional ranks seeks bigger and better things. “It is good to get people wound up,” says Ward. “But me, I am just a regular dude. I have dreams and aspirations just like the next person, but I have got to pump myself up so I will be that guy that people love to hate. I am glad that it is turning out well for me and I keep winning and people keep hating to see me win. So far, it is just a dream come true for me. I am going to keep putting the videos out. I am going to keep talking stuff. I am going to keep dancing in the ring and hopefully one day I will be a household name. That is my main objective at the end, to be someone that everybody talks about.”

While Ward is turning pro in his own backyard, he is not getting the luxury of going up against fall guy this Friday night at the Red Lion Hotel. Promoter Nasser Niavaroni of Uppercut Promotions has matched Ward against Joshua Landers, a well regarded amateur formerly of the Bronx, New York that now trains at the famed Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, California.

“I have never had an easy fight either,” says Ward. “Every guy that I have fought was the best at his craft. In a way it is good, because I want to see if I really have it or if I don’t. So I want to be in with somebody that really has it. Somebody is going to be upset, and it is not going to be me. It is going to be a test of wills. I feel that this guy has never fought anybody like me, and I can’t say that I have fought anybody like him. So we are going to see what is going to happen.”

This Friday is the culmination of a lot of hard work and sacrifice for Larry Ward. The clock may not be on the side of the 34-year-old, but he feels everything has come together for a reason and at the right time. “I definitely wanted to turn pro when I came to California when I was 27, but I didn’t have enough confidence in myself at the time,” admits Ward. “So I figured if I had a couple more fights under my belt I could gain some confidence and then I would be ready. At this point I am very confident, so it might have taken a long road, but I am here now and I am ready to make the most of my opportunity.”

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

DOVER, Del. — Dover Downs Hotel & Casino will present two heavyweight championship bouts on Friday, May 27 in the Rollins Center arena. For the IBF Intercontinental World Heavyweight Title Franklin “Yah-Yah” Lawrence, 14(9)-2-2, of Indianapolis, Ind. vs. Jason “The Sensation” Gavern, 20(9)-7-4 of Kissimmee, Fla.

The star of the evening is Amir “Hardcore” Mansour with 13 wins (ten KOs) and zero losses, of Wilmington, Del., for the IBF North American Heavyweight Title. This will be Mansour’s first title shot.

The undercard features super middleweight “Mighty” Mike Tiberi, 16(7)-1 of Smyrna, Del., and featherweight “Queen” Ronica Jeffrey, 5(1)-0 of Brooklyn, N.Y. More bouts will be announced soon. Nick Tiberi is the matchmaker.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow at noon, ranging from $40 to $200 and may be purchased at 800-711-5882 or www.doverdowns.com. The first bout will begin at 7:30 p.m. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Will call will be open from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.

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Owned by Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: DDE), Dover Downs Hotel & Casino® is a premier gaming and entertainment resort destination in the Mid-Atlantic region. The casino consists of table games and more than 2,600 video lottery terminals controlled by Delaware Lottery. The Crown Royal® Poker Room offers Texas Hold ‘Em with a Bad Beat Jackpot and daily poker tournaments. Live, world-class harness racing is featured November through April. The Colonnade features a Race & Sports Book with professional football parlay betting and horse racing simulcasts, a casino lounge called Fire & Ice at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, and shops and restaurants consisting of The Marketplace, Swarovski, Godiva, Fashions of The Colonnade, Doc Magrogan’s Oyster House, Frankie’s Italian Restaurant and Sweet Perks Too. The AAA-rated Four Diamond hotel is Delaware’s largest with 500 luxurious rooms/suites, indoor pool, sauna, exercise room, gift shop, Toppers Spa/Salon, 1600-seat Rollins Center® and 35,000 sq. ft. of multi-use event space. Property amenities include additional restaurants/bars. For more information, please visit www.doverdowns.com.

When “Dazzling” Darren Barker 22-0(14) steps into the ring on the 30th April to meet Domenico Spada for the Vacant European Middleweight title it will be his first fight in a year. The 28 year old Londoner won the very same title last time out outpointing tough Frenchman Affif Belghecham before having a hip operation that keep him out for several months. Thankfully at the start of this year Barker was able to get back in the gym and train without any problems. He knows it wont be easy against Spada who has never been stopped in his 35 fights but believes this is the fight that can springboard him back out not only onto the European level but also ultimately the world scene where he hopes to campaign in the future. Barker is currently rated WBC 5, IBF 10 & WBO 14. Here’s what he had to say.

Hello Darren, welcome to 15rounds.com

Thanks for having me.

Anson Wainwright – You will return to action against Domenico Spada at the end of April. What can you tell us about this fight and what do you know of Spada?

Darren Barker – The fight itself is a massive fight, I haven’t fought in a year. He’s world ranked. As a fighter he’s a real tough, experienced guy, he knows his way around the ring. He’s been in there with top quality operators and it’ll be a real test for me.

Anson Wainwright – By fight time it will have been over a year since you last fought, can you tell us about the hip injury and how things are with you now?

Darren Barker – Yeah it’s fine. I had my left hip operated on which was stopping me from running for a couple of years and became a real problem, so I had the surgery. It’s better now than it’s ever been. I’m able to run now. It’s been fantastic. It wasn’t worth having a fight with a lower class opponent. We thought it best to get back in there and carry onwards and upwards towards this world title shot.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your team who is your manager, trainer & promoter? Also what gym and where will you base yourself for the Barker fight?

Darren Barker – My manager & trainer is Tony Sims and I’m promoted by Matchroom. It’s a gym in Hainault in Essex. It’s an amateur Boxing club in the evening. In the day it’s Tony Sims gym.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your amateur career? Also what was your final record?

Darren Barker – I started at Finchley Amateur Boxing club and I left there when I was about 15 and I moved to Repton Boxing club and when I won the NABC and on the back of that I boxed for England in early 2002 won my first Multi Nations for England and got picked for the Commonwealth games, I won gold in Manchester. I boxed in the World Championships, European Championship, so yeah I had a good amateur career. I’m not sure I must have had near a 100 amateur fights, I had about 80 club fights, with fighting for my country it must have been about 100. I wasn’t a very good junior, as a kid I was slow to mature.

Anson Wainwright – What current pros did you fight in your amateur days?

Darren Barker – Timothy Bradley, Andre Berto, Paul McCloskey, Andy Lee, Karoly Balzsay. There’s bundles. I beat Paul McCloskey in the Commonwealth games. Andre Berto I believe I won that, I was seven points up going into the last round and he beat me by two points. I’m still convinced I won that, but that’s Boxing.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your early years growing up in London and how it took you into Boxing?

Darren Barker – Well my route into Boxing was sort of typical, my dad was a boxer. Even though he never pushed me into it, It was just a natural thing. I wanted to make my mum and dad proud. I thought I’ll give it ago and it went on from there. I went to the Boxing club; I started to get quite good at it. I started setting my own goals and started to achieve them and went from there.

Anson Wainwright – When you’re not training for a fight what do you do with your time? What are your hobbies?

Darren Barker – Football! I’m a Chelsea fan (Soccer Club). I’m Football mad to be honest. I go to practically every home game. I’m a family man; I have a little daughter & a girlfriend Gemma. That takes up most of my time.

Anson Wainwright – What do you think of the current state of the Middleweight division?

Darren Barker – Yeah there’s some good prospects coming through and good contender already there. There’s fights to be made. It’s good to be around the division. There’s still some big domestic fights. The Middleweight division is in a good state and it’s good to be part of it.

Anson Wainwright – Last year you were scheduled to fight Matthew Macklin in September and had to pull out through Injury. It then looked like you two would meet this spring before he decided to go another way. Can you tell us your thoughts on the Macklin situation?

Darren Barker – I’m sick of talking about it to be honest. I’m gutted because I know full well I’d beat him, I’ve got his number. Who knows maybe these fights haven’t happened and we’ll fight for a world title. we’ll see we’ll leave a question mark over it. Just see how our careers progress.

Anson Wainwright – If it wasn’t for Boxing what would you be doing for a living?

Darren Barker – I dunno that’s a tough one. I don’t really know to be honest. I know I’m not good enough to play for Chelsea! Haha That’s in my wildest dreams. I really don’t know. Sport is my passion, something maybe involving sport. Whatever I put my mind to I’d of had a good go and succeeded at it.

Anson Wainwright – Who was your favourite fighter growing up?

Darren Barker – Mike Tyson. Even though I didn’t see a great deal of his fights live, I watched them back. As I got older Tony (Sims) introduced me to Sugar Ray Robinson, he was the best Pound for Pound fighter there ever was.

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for the Middleweight division?

Darren Barker – Keep and eye out for me. At the end of the day I’m a young 28 years old, I’m enthusiastic, I’m hard working, I’m determined, I’m ambitious. I think with all those attributes and my Boxing abilities it puts me in good stead for the future.

Thanks for taking time to speak with us.

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

Weekend Thoughts – It was again a weekend of shocks, first Andre Berto losing to Victor Ortiz & then Juanma Lopez being stopped by Orlando Salido. I didn’t see either coming I thought Berto would be too much for Ortiz, maybe now Ortiz will fulfil his undoubted potential. As for Berto it’s back to the drawing board. You almost get the feeling they waiting to long for one of the name guys at Welterweight and in the mean time feasted on the Freddy Hernandez of this world. I was equally stunned to see Juanma lose, it’s really disappointing that the Lopez-Gamboa fight didn’t happen, it’ll be even longer before we see those guys exchange leather now, if at all. You have to give Salido credit he went in to the lions den knowing he’d need a stoppage and he did just that. One look at Salido’s record and you knew it wasn’t going to be easy for Lopez but it’s still surprising. Rumours are spreading that Lopez had several personal problems going into the fight and he also blew up in weight. It’s also been mentioned they may fight sometime in the fall…I was in Manchester to see Amir Khan make the fourth defence of his WBA 140 title against Paul McCloskey. While won handily enough it wasn’t without controversy, first the doctor entered the ring when McCloskey was cut from a headbutt in the sixth, before the fight was quickly halted going to the cards. It wasn’t all sweetness and light afterwards at the press conference where things got pretty heated. I think it will be a while before Khan is seen fighting on British shores, which is a shame when you think around 17,000 turned up and helped create a fantastic atmostphere.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA — World ranked super featherweight contender Eloy Perez jabbed, bobbed and weaved his way to an utterly one-sided ten-round decision victory over Alejandro Rodriguez at the Longshoremen’s Hall on Friday night. With the victory, a crack at a world title may be right around the corner.

Perez (21-0-2, 5 KOs) of Salinas, California just had too much class for Rodriguez (12-2, 6 KOs) of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico to have any chance in the bout. Perez, 129 ½, gave a performance the great Willie Pep would have been proud of, as Rodriguez, 129, could not crack the code that was the Salinas resident’s defense.

Perez, the WBO #2 ranked super featherweight, won many of the rounds with his jab and defense alone. There were no openings for the tentative Rodriguez to exploit, as Perez was selective with his offense while still controlling every second of the fight.

Rodriguez was by no means an immovable object either, as he routinely jumped back two steps from every moderately stiff shot. By the seventh round, Perez began to open up for longer stretches than he had earlier in the fight, but Rodriguez offered little in return. In the eighth, Perez stunned Rodriguez with a short left hook, prompting the Mexican to hold on for a bit.

For the most part, Perez seemed satisfied putting on a boxing clinic and never really pressed for anything more. When it was all said and done, Perez had won every round, if not every minute, of the fight and all three judges handed in identical scorecards of 100-90.

With the victory, Perez successfully defended his WBO NABO Super Featherweight title and remains in line for a crack at the WBO 130-pound title holder Ricky Burns. Word after the fight was that Perez may finally get to headline an oft-talked about event in Monterey County this summer.

2008 U.S. Olympian Gary Russell Jr. (15-0, 9 KOs) of Capitol Heights, Maryland easily outboxed Adolfo Landeros (21-19-1, 10 KOs) of Hidalgo, Hidalgo, Mexico en route to a six-round unanimous decision in the televised co-feature.

Russell, 128, just had too much speed for the serviceable Mexican journeyman Landeros, 128, to handle. Russell got a knockdown in the first, when he rocked Landeros with a straight left and followed with a quick combination. However, the experienced Landeros managed to cover up and survive the round. Other than that, Russell never seemed to have Landeros in any serious trouble.

The bout became more of an inside fight in the second and remained one much of the rest of the way. Landeros began to land more frequently in the third, but most of the telling blows were coming from the former U.S. Olympian. Perhaps Landeros’ best shot was an uppercut he landed that gave Russell reason to pause late in the third. Landeros followed up with two clean blows upstairs.

Throughout the fight, Landeros remained game, continuously coming forward, despite the quick hands of Russell. When Russell utilized his speed, Landeros had absolutely no chance. However, when Russell stood still and sat down on his punches, it gave Landeros the opportunity to land in spots. Even in those instances, Landeros was clearly outgunned.

The fight closed with some entertaining action in the sixth. Russell got Landeros motivated again briefly with a hard short left. With Landeros coming forward again, Russell landed a right, straight left combo that hurt the Mexican. Russell closed out the round pressuring Landeros, but the journeyman would not end the fight in retreat, deciding to throw with him, even with his back against the corner. In the end, scores read 60-53 three times for Russell.

Lamont Williams (4-1, 1 KO) of Fairfield, California regrouped from a first-round knockdown to down Juan Hernandez (1-1, 1 KO) of Redwood City, California in the same stanza before boxing his way to a four-round unanimous decision victory.

Hernandez, 197 and listed at 5’8” tall, dropped the 6’2” Williams, 194, with a right hook which came on the heels of a solid left hand. Hernandez came rushing at Williams once the fight resumed and appeared to have the Fairfield resident in some trouble. However, Williams managed to get some space and land a short right that stunned Hernandez. Williams followed up with a flurry that dropped Hernandez into the ropes, thus evening up the knockdown tally for the round.

Hernandez was clearly hurt by the knockdown, but managed to make it out of the first. Not surprisingly, Williams seemed to have the clearer head going into the second. With about a minute to go in the round, Williams caught Hernandez with a right uppercut and sent him down against the ropes with the following combination to score his second knockdown in the fight.

Over the next two rounds, Hernandez was never really able to get close enough to do the damage he did with his right hook in the first, and Williams boxed his way to the clear decision. Scores read 40-35 across the board for Williams.

In mere seconds, Jonathan Chicas (1-0, 1 KO) of San Francisco got his pro career off to a rousing start via first-round knockout of Maja Khali (0-1) of Oakland, California. Chicas, 140, scored a quick knockdown with a right, left hook combination. Khali, 139, gamely rose to his feet, but soon found himself on his knees after a well-placed left to his body put him in that position with referee Ed Collantes counting to ten in front of him. Collantes would reach the full count at the time of 1:07 of the opening round.

Increasingly locally popular brawler Joe Gumina (2-0, 2 KOs) of San Bruno, California demolished pro mixed martial artist Harry Gopaul (0-1) of Sacramento, California in about half of a round, exciting his throng of fans on hand at the Longshoremen’s Hall.

Gumina, 181, rocked Gopaul, 183, with a right hand as the two came together and traded before the sound of the opening bell had the chance to fade away into the night. Gopaul looked to tie up Gumina, but the local hero kept his right hand free and scored a knockdown with three clubbing blows. Gopaul unwisely came rushing toward Gumina as soon as referee Jon Schorle finished his eight count and was caught in an exchange of right hands that sent him down for the second time. Gopaul got back up and looked to brawl with Gumina some more, but was rocked again by a left uppercut that sent him into a corner. With Gopaul taking shots, Schorle leaped in and stopped the bout at 1:31 of the first round.

Gumina, who will be in camp with super middleweight champion Andre Ward this coming week, has a tentative fight set for July 1st at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport in Burlingame, California, but hopes to get back into the ring sooner than that.

In the closing fight of the night, which pitted two southpaws, former amateur star Bruno Escalante Jr. (3-0-1, 2 KOs) of San Carlos, California by way of Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines impressively steamrolled normally durable journeyman Shaun Solomon (1-3-1) of Moreno Valley, California inside of two rounds.

Escalante, 120, was too quick and even too strong, despite giving away size to Solomon, 121 ½, who had been stopped just once in his professional career prior to Friday night. Escalante stunned Solomon with the first straight left he landed in the bout and dropped him with the same shot seconds later.

Escalante focused some of his attack on Solomon’s body to begin the second, prior to landing a left uppercut that sent the Moreno Valley resident down like a redwood. Referee Ed Collantes immediately called a halt to the bout at the time of 46 seconds of the second round. Escalante is slated to appear on the aforementioned July 1st event in Burlingame, but he may take a fight before that date as well.

Photos by Stephanie Trapp/trappfotos@gmail.com

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

SAN ANTONIO – Saturday night as the HBO fights were getting under way, an enormous event happened here in the downtown area. Fiesta Flambeau, the annual commencement of this city’s 11-day Battle of San Jacinto celebration and our country’s largest illuminated night parade, sent brilliant floats and marching bands through the town, eliciting roars of gaiety from Texans along the route.

A parade that begins after dark in America’s seventh-largest urban area says many things about its city’s safety and sense of community. All of them good.

While this was going on, HBO showed British junior welterweight Amir Khan make an enthusiastic homecoming in Manchester’s M.E.N. Arena. A few hours later, Showtime presented Puerto Rican champion Juan Manuel Lopez in a homecoming of his own before a similarly raucous gathering at Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez.

Then there was the sobriety of Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut, where welterweight titlist Andre Berto swapped blows with Victor Ortiz – and the cheers of a few hundred paying customers soughed over the canvas like a gentle breeze on a field of blue bonnets.

For once, the attendance at these three shows was inversely proportionate to the quality of their prizefights. The Mancs went wild, as ever, for Khan’s talented-amateur routine, as he won a technical decision over someone named Paul McCloskey, after a protect-the-brand stoppage by a squeamish British doctor. The Puerto Ricans, meanwhile, expressed some robust displeasure with referee Roberto Ramirez when he decided Lopez’s fourth minute of walking unconsciousness was somehow more disagreeable than its three predecessors and raised Mexican Orlando Salido’s glove in the eighth round.

These were authentic crowds, though, whatever else they were.

There was nothing authentic about the purses or celebrity enjoyed by Andre Berto and Victor Ortiz before Saturday night. Had someone thought to follow Berto’s career four years ago and drop breadcrumbs, today he could walk that path backwards to the place HBO Sports lost its way. And Victor Ortiz reminded Oscar De La Hoya of himself, which was the main reason he was still fighting on HBO.

Much of the derision both men’s careers had merited went away Saturday. Ortiz manhandled Berto, beating him by unanimous decision in a fantastic scrap – and a tip of the cap to Norm Frauenheim, who took us to task for questioning Ortiz’s heart and character last week. Berto proved to be about what we thought he was, though after looking frightened in the opening round fought back hard and made it to the closing bell.

And that brings us – smoking, juking, feinting – to what will happen at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theater on Saturday when Ghana’s Joseph King Kong Agbeko fights Mexican Abner Mares in the finals of Showtime’s Bantamweight Tournament.

What does Agbeko-Mares have to do with Berto-Ortiz, Lopez-Salido, Khan-McCloskey or Fiesta Flambeau? Authenticity, and how we perceive it.

There was a time in our sport when shortcuts to authenticity were abetted by network television. Excite a programmer’s fixation with viewer demographics, put together a snazzy out-of-ring persona, and cash checks disproportionate to your achievements.

But as Thomas Hauser emphatically noted almost two years ago: “A television network has the power to give fighters exposure. A television network has the power to steer fighters to a particular promoter. A television network cannot (repeat, cannot) create stars.”

In its novel tournament structure, introduced with the Super Six and furthered by the Bantamweight Tournament, Showtime gave 10 lesser-celebrated prizefighters a chance to earn stardom. From the original Super Six, two fighters – Andre Ward and Carl Froch – have emerged as authentic stars. Two others, Arthur Abraham and Mikkel Kessler, have proved to be good but somewhat less than their reputations implied. Andre Dirrell is now considered suspicious if not fraudulent. And Jermain Taylor was driven into retirement.

Of the four men elevated by the Bantamweight Tournament, all have acquitted themselves according to form thus far. Armenian Vic Darchinyan was already seen as a bully with a fragile psyche who nevertheless made entertaining matches. Colombian Yonnhy Perez is a man who is capable of beating anybody when he is on, and carries a chance of being a little off each time he fights for a title.

Abner Mares surprised plenty of folks in December when he bullied the bully, roughing up Darchinyan and beating him by split decision. And Agbeko, as it turns out, might be boxing’s best-kept secret.

Joseph King Kong Agbeko – what his Ghanaian birth certificate apparently reads – comes from an East African country much better at producing world-class prizefighters than supporting them. Agbeko is soft-spoken and polite. Aside from the gorilla mask and manacles he used to wear to the ring, preceded by a leggy blonde as his moniker demanded, Agbeko is nondescript. But he is a special talent.

Agbeko does many things well. He reminds us that a low lead hand and good legwork mustn’t always make for an insipid style. He can box, slug or fight. He is a pleasure to watch. He is worth the trip from South Texas to Southern California – especially if he’s sharing a ring with Mares and a marquee with Perez and Darchinyan.

I’ll be in Los Angeles on Saturday because I believe in what Showtime is doing with the Bantamweight Tournament. I’ll not be in Las Vegas two weeks later because I am unsure what Showtime is doing with Pacquiao-Mosley. Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley are authentic stars, but Pacquiao-Mosley may not be an authentic superfight.

Authentic stars: Agbeko-Mares creates an opportunity to find another one. The winner of the Bantamweight Tournament will be the best 118-pound prizefighter unless Filipino Nonito Donaire demonstrates otherwise. Donaire is crazy talented, yes, but his authenticity, of one kind or another, seems to face annual crises.

Communities see through promotional noise and find authenticity where it exists.

I’ll take Agbeko, SD-12, on Saturday – and regard him as his division’s ruler until he’s beaten, and hope you all do the same.

Bart Barry can be reached at bbarry@15rounds.com

It’s been just over a year since Luis “El Mercedez” Ortiz made his debut, he’s been very busy so far going 7-0(5). Next Saturday he makes his third start of the year when he steps up in completion fighting Derek Bryant. To date Ortiz has fought and impressed beating several tough journeymen in a manner that belies his limited pro experience. However he’s no novice and took part in over 350 amateur fights in his native Cuba before defecting. He’s adapted quickly to the new way of life, and is quickly making a name for himself as one of the fastest moving Heavyweight around. Here’s what Ortiz had to say.

Hello Luis, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – You’ve had a busy start to 2011 fighting twice already & you will be in action on 23 April. Who you will be facing?

Luis Ortiz – I will be facing Derek Bryant 20-6.

Anson Wainwright – What is your fight schedule for 2011?

Luis Ortiz – For 2011 my promoter Henry Rivalta of Dream Team Boxing promotions had great plans for me with 5 more scheduled bouts this year. He has helped me since I started as a pro and he will lead me to the promise land. We will be side by side when I become champ one day. I will make him proud of me.

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

Luis Ortiz – My manager is Osmiri el moro Fernandez who is also my trainer. I am promoted by Henry Rivalta and Carlos Rodriguez of Dream Team Boxing Promotions. They are the best and treat me like family. I train at PFC professional fighting center.

Anson Wainwright – Getting from Cuba to America is notoriously difficult, can you tell us about how leaving Cuba came about and how you did it?

Luis Ortiz – Rather not think about that question just keep thinking about when will my daughter arrive one day and when I will be able to hold her in my arms, then I can be even greater.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us a little about why you decided to leave Cuba for America and turn pro? What sacrifices have you made by leaving Cuba?

Luis Ortiz – I left Cuba with a dream in my mind. To come to America and become champion of the world. To make a life here and to one day bring my wife and little daughter who I love and miss so much.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your amateur career? What titles did you win, did you win the Cuban National title, and did you fight in tournaments abroad? Also what was your final record?

Luis Ortiz – I did win the nationals in Cuba and also the worlds. I was the Cuban World Champion and participated in various events and international competitions. My amateur record was 343-26.

Anson Wainwright – Back in March your countryman Odlanier Solis fought Vitali Klitschko losing in the first round but of course he injured his knee. What are your thoughts and feeling on that fight?

Luis Ortiz – I wish Solis could have done better but no one really knows what happened in that night. I don’t judge any fighters but I know I can beat Klitschko when my time comes and I know it will come one day.

Anson Wainwright – Obviously there are many Cubans fighting in the pro’s now but who fighters still in the amateurs over there do you think would make good pros?

Luis Ortiz – Rosniel Iglesias 64 kgs and Leniel Perot Cruiserweight.

Anson Wainwright – How are things for you in Florida compared to how they were in Cuba?

Luis Ortiz – A lot better but I feel bad my daughter can’t enjoy as I do.

Anson Wainwright – What are your thoughts on the current Heavyweight division?

Luis Ortiz – The Heavyweight division is dead. I’m here to revive it. I will work hard and give fans the boxing they want to see in heavyweights. No more boring Heavyweights when they watch me, I promise.

Anson Wainwright – How do you see fights with Wladimir Klitschko-David Haye & Vitali Klitschko-Tomasz Adamek going?

Luis Ortiz – I don’t think Haye will beat Klitschko and Adamek might pose a threat. In 2012 I would love to face any of the four, any of them especially Haye I can beat him easy. I hope when I get there they will all give me a shot after all isn’t that what our beautiful sport of boxing is about fighting the best. HERE I COME BABY.

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have anything you want to say to the Heavyweight division?

Luis Ortiz – I want to say to the Heavyweight division that I respect the game, that’s why I train so hard everyday no breaks. When I become champ instead of taking a break, I will work harder. To all the contenders, see you soon.

Thanks for your time “El Mercedez”

I want to thank 15 rounds.com for my interview and say thank you to all who support me and my dreams.

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

Dream Team Boxing Promotions in Association with Promociones Miguel Cotto & Dade Promotions are providing an interesting card on 23 April from Miami-Dade County Fair & Expo, Miami, Florida.

Luis Ortiz 7-0(5) -V- Derek Bryant 20-6-1(17) Heavyweight

Ed Paredes 26-3-1(16) -V- Juliano Ramos 16-4(13) Welterweight

Inocente Fiz 5-0(3) -V- Damian Frias 16-4-1(7) Welterweight

Richard Abril 14-2-1(7) -V- TBA Lightweight Abril’s only loses are to Breidis Prescott & Henry Lundy both via split decision when both were unbeaten.

Joey Hernandez 18-1-1(10) -V- TBA Light Middleweight

John Jackson 15-2-1(13) -V- TBA Super Featherweight

Claudio Marrero 6-0(5) -V- TBA Super Featherweight

Juan Carlos Payano 5-0(3) -V- TBA Super Bantamweight

Humberto Savigne 3-1(2) -V- Cruiserweight

Pedro Rodriguez 4-0(4) -V- TBA Cruiserweight

Yoandris Salinas 6-0(3) -V- TBA Super Bantamweight

Kadel Martinez 1-1(0) -V- TBA Super Bantamweight

New signing Carlos Buitrago of Nicaragua will also make his American debut. “Chocorroncito” is only 19 years old, but already 17-0(12) and fights at Strawweight where he is already world ranked. Also in a special attraction Abner Cotto 10-0(5) returns to action.

Miguel Cotto is also expected to attend as a special guest.

For more information call 305-278-2514 or 305-917-5656.

It’s popular these days to rip Victor Ortiz. It’s also a little too easy, perhaps because his quick mix of honesty and anger create a convenient target. The heart is always there, on Ortiz’ sleeve and never hidden beneath layers and loopholes. But it’s the heart that’s under attack. The critics say Ortiz doesn’t have one.

In our playground full of clichés, heart has been confused with courage. For anybody who forgot or just didn’t know, Ortiz, battered as a child in a broken home, became the legal guardian for a younger brother. That’s heart, the kind that many of our celebrated winners could use a lot more of.

Photo by Claudia Bocanegra

So, please, don’t question Ortiz’ heart. It’s proven. But you can question his focus. That’s the issue Saturday night in his welterweight date with unbeaten Andre Berto in a HBO bout at The Foxwoods in Connecticut. Talented and powerful, Ortiz’ resume is tarnished with two fights that leave questions about whether he can fight, adjust and endure long enough to prevail in the face of a tough challenge

He didn’t against Marcos Maidana, whom he knocked down three times before his infamous surrender in the sixth about a year-and-half ago at Staples Center in Los Angeles. About 18 months later in a troublesome moment that led critics to recall his loss to Maidana, he seemed to settle for a majority draw in December after knocking down Lamont Peterson twice in the third in Las Vegas.

In the immediate aftermath of both, Ortiz didn’t sound or appear frustrated. Only after an unrelenting tide of media criticism did he react in anger.

“I felt like a piece of gum on the bottom of someone’s shoes,’’ he said in February during a news conference in New York. “So, I said to myself: ‘It’s my turn.’

“I’m going in against some tough opposition. Andre Berto is no chump. But now I’m hungry. I’m tired of people saying I have no heart or no balls. At the end of the day, I’m not scared of getting in the ring or challenging anyone.’’

But there’s more to the task than having the courage to make that walk from the dressing room, through the crowd, up the steps, under the ropes and into harm’s way. There’s finishing the job and that’s what Ortiz has yet to do in a defining fashion. Berto gives him that opportunity.

Ortiz is armed with powerful motivation. The media have piled on, putting a massive chip on his shoulder. As motivation, it figures to drive him and make him very dangerous during the first three to four rounds. But then what?

The guess here is that Berto will be careful early and still around later. Once the anger is gone as an emotional weapon, Ortiz will have to rely and re-fashion his evident talent with adjustments. He’ll have to think his way through adversity. I don’t think he will, simply because he has yet to show that he can. Still, a part of me will be cheering for him because of the media criticism arrayed against him.

His honesty, that heart, makes him a likable underdog at a career crossroads that could either propel him to real stardom or make him as forgettable as that chewed-up piece of gum.

The old Boxing adage “Win and look good next time” applied to Adrien “The Problem” Broner 20-0(16), the young Cincinnati prospect scrapped by former world champion Daniel Ponce De Leon to claim a narrow points win. It wasn’t the most impressive performance of Broner’s career but it was against by far his toughest opponent to date. Next up he returns on HBO on 11 June against a resurgent Jason Litzau, it’s another tough fight for “The Problem” but one that could set him up for a world title fight later in 2011. At the moment he’s rated WBC 10, WBA 5 & WBO 6.

Hello Adrien, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – Your last fight was a big step up for you, beating Daniel Ponce De Leon. What are your thoughts on that fight? Were you happy with your performance?

Adrien Broner – It was a great fight, I stuck to the game plan and did what I was supposed to do to get the win.

Anson Wainwright – Many people have commented on that fight saying you were negative and not very good to watch. Would you like to respond to that?

Adrien Broner – You know I wasn’t trying to be a negative person, I was just trying to be myself and do it as comfortably as possible.

Anson Wainwright – Do you think you learned a lot from fighting De Leon?

Adrien Broner – I definately learned a lot. Going to somebody elses territory and taking the win it really showed me lot. I’ll do the same things, stay focused and do what I got to do to win. I think I did a great job and put on a helluva performance.

Anson Wainwright – When do you hope to be back in action next?

Adrien Broner – June 11, it’s supposed to be Jason Litzau on HBO. I’m hearing it may take place in Texas but I don’t know yet.

Anson Wainwright – You were a very good amateur and had a lot of fights. Can you tell us what titles you won in the amateur’s and what your final record was? Can you tell us what happened to prevent yourself from fighting in the last Olympics?

Adrien Broner – National Silver Gloves, Junior Olympics I got the bronze, Junior Golden Gloves. I had over 300 fights, I know I lost 15 for sure. I never got the chance to turn up (For the Olympics) and you know things came up in my life and I had a couple of setbacks, I’m back now.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us who is in your team? Your manager, trainer, promoter? What gym do you train at?

Adrien Broner – I’m with Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya. I’m with Al Haymon Management. I’m co-promoted by R&R promotions with Andrew Williams in Cincinnati. Mike Stafford is my trainer too. I have a helluva team, my dad comes in and helps. I train in various places, sometimes I go to Colorado, sometimes I go to Texas, you know we move around. I train in Cincinnati at the Mount Arben PAL gym.

Anson Wainwright – You mentioned you’re with R&R Promotions who are based out of Cincinnati and you’ve fought there several times to date. Is building a home following something that’s important to you?

Adrien Broner – It’s very important to me, because a lot of people don’t have the fan base at home and I have a pretty good following. Soon we should have a big fight.

Anson Wainwright – If you fought at home now, how many fans do you think would come and watch you?

Adrien Broner – The sky’s the limit right now. I’d probably bring the whole of Cincinnati if I fought at home.

Anson Wainwright – You fight at 130 what are your thoughts on that division? How far do you think you are from fighting for a world title?

Adrien Broner – About one or two fights, I think I should be a world champion by the end of this year. There’s some ok guys in my division but I know I’m going to wipe out the one’s out above me.

Anson Wainwright – Have you sparred with any of the top guys at or around that weight?

Adrien Broner – Yeah, The Peterson’s, Devon Alexander, Shawn Porter, Ricardo Williams, I sparred a lot of guys, Diego Magdeleno. It went good, it was a great experience, I do what I’ve got to do, just be myself.

Anson Wainwright – How did you get into Boxing in Cincinnati growing up?

Adrien Broner – Growing up in Cincinnati was very rough, I’m coming up in the hood and rough areas. I put it all together as fuel to my fire in boxing and that’s what I’ve done and It worked out, which is great.

Anson Wainwright – What do you like to do away from Boxing? What are your hobbies and Interests?

Adrien Broner – Sometimes I play basketball, listen to music, I like Rap music. Chill with my family and play with my kids.

Anson Wainwright – Aaron Pryor was with you for the Ponce De Leon fight, Is he one of your Boxing heroes?

Adrien Broner – He was one of my first trainers when I first came to the gym, we hit the pads together and stuff so I know Aaron pretty well. I also like Roy Jones Jnr & Floyd Mayweather

Anson Wainwright – People have said after you’re last fight your Mayweather Lite. What do you think of those sort of comments?

Adrien Broner – I like them, I agree.

Anson Wainwright – Since your last fight you have travelled overseas to visit American soldiers along with Oscar De La Hoya, Seth Mitchell & Daniel Jacobs. Can you tell us about the trip?

Adrien Broner – It was great, it was the experience of my life, it’s not everyday you get to go overseas and see what’s really going on out there. These soldiers are really fighting for us and If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be able to fight today. Some of it was very emotional and touching to see those guys, they’re dedicated to what they do. They look at us like hero’s but at the end of the day they’re the real heroes because they’re the ones over there putting their life on the line defending the country. It was great.

Anson Wainwright – What are your goals in Boxing?

Adrien Broner – I’m trying to be not just one of the best to come from Cincinnati but one of the best to ever be in the Boxing business.

Anson Wainwright – Finally is there anything you’d like to say in closing?

Adrien Broner – There’s definitely a problem in the game, that’s why they call me the problem. You can catch me on facebook on Adrien “The Problem” Broner or follow me on twitter at ajthe problem21.

Thanks for your time Adrien

Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com

Midweek Musings – I hear that after James Kirkland’s loss his trainer Kenny Adams, passed out. He’s been to hospital and I’m told doing well. Last year I spent three months in Las Vegas and spent a good deal of time with Kenny, he’s one of Boxing’s characters. He’s a helluva trainer too. I’d just like to wish him well an hope to see him back ringside soon…Rumours are that Humberto Soto hasn’t signed to face Urbano Antillon in what was a much anticipated rematch. Apparently his contract has run out with Zanfer & Top Rank and he is exploring other options, a move accross the street to Golden Boy is possible…Over on this side of the pond the Amir Khan-Paul McCloskey show has gone from PPV on Sky to ordinary Sky Sports to Primetime in the space of a week. I rate McCloskey highly and think he’s more than capable of giving Khan some trouble, though you have to figure Khan’s speed and extra class should tell…I’m looking forward to the Omar Narvaez-Cesar Seda fight Friday in Argentina, Narvaez is long reigning and very experienced champion but Seda is confident and a very live underdog…Also on Friday in Spain Jason Booth goes to fight Kiko Martinez for the vacant European Super Featherweight title. That could be a closely contested fight…On Showtime Juanma Lopez takes on grizzled former champion Orlando Salido, who’s a tough night for anyone…In the HBO show I’m expecting Andre Berto to stop Victor Ortiz who moves up to 147.

Well, nobody saw that one coming.

Or should I say, nobody saw those TWO coming?

Or three or four…

It was a weekend of upsets and almost upsets, where a legend’s legend grew even in defeat and prospects were halted in their tracks by opponents who were supposed go quietly into the win column.

This past weekend also served as a reminder of why we all love boxing. Once a boxer steps into the squared circle, they literally all have a puncher’s chance.

In Las Vegas, future Hall-of-Famer Erik Morales lost a close decision to thunder-fisted Argentinian, Marcos Maidana, but once again won the respect of the boxing community. At the same site, just a few fight’s earlier, down went former undefeated phenom James Kirkland, thrice. And one night prior, in Montreal, before his home fans, up in flames went my 2010 Prospect of the Year, David Lemiuex.

Morales was supposed to be decapitated by the stone hands of Maidana, wasn’t he? At least I thought so. And I wasn’t alone.

But then on Friday ESPN’s Dan Rafael and Yahoo’s Kevin Iole were both reporting that many respected media members were giving Morales a real chance to win on Saturday night. Maybe they got information that day that nobody else had because prior to Friday I can’t recall one reporter — or fans not of Mexican descent — giving “El Terrible” a chance to win. In fact, the general consensus seemed to be that everyone loved the undercard of “Action Heroes,” but was turned off by the Morales-Maidana main event.

But after twelve rounds of action, El Terrible’s head remained attached to his neck and he stood waiting to hear the judge’s scorecards with a realistic chance that afterwards it would be his hand raised in victory. That wasn’t the case, however, and rightfully so, as Maidana earned himself a majority decision victory over the world-class veteran.

The fight was a pleasant surprise that concluded a card that was host to what will perhaps be the biggest surprise of the entire year — and could very well earn Upset of the Year honors some months down the road.

When Kevin Iole asked his twitter followers “Who do you like?” with regards to the James Kirkland-Nobuhiro Ishida bout, DiBella replied in all capital letters, “YOU’RE KIDDING, RIGHT?”

No way, no how, not in a million years was Nobuhiro Ishida going to beat James Kirkland. I thought so, Lou DiBella thought so, the whole boxing world thought so…except Nobuhiro Ishida himself.

And for the first twenty seconds, nobody’s thoughts changed. And then coinciding with the twenty-first second was Nobuhiro’s perfectly placed left cross that crashed through Kirkland’s jaw. His legs gave out and he methodically collapsed to the canvas for the first of three visits. The last visit, a violent knockdown that resulted in Kirkland’s entire body jolting upon impact, was enough for the firm, but fair Joe Cortez to call a halt to the bout.

Stunning.

And then there was the main event of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec where hometown hero David Lemieux took a step up in opposition when he faced the resilient veteran, Marco Antonio Rubio. Lemieux, my vote for 2010 Prospect of the Year, entered this fight with an unblemished record of 25-0, with 24 knockouts.

The heavy-handed Canadian unloaded his usual bombs on his opponent, but Rubio reacted much differently than the twenty-five that came before him. He withstood Lemieux’s blows, and by the sixth round Rubio had no problems at all trading with Lemieux — in fact, that’s just what he wanted to do.

Lemieux, against the advice of his corner, came out in the seventh and did what he knows how to do — and that was let his hands fly and look for the KO. It would come alright, but it would be Rubio who got the TKO victory.

With Lemieux hurting after hitting the canvas, chief second Russ Anber stepped up to the apron and called for a halt to the bout.

Even from watching on television, you can feel the air being sucked out of the Bell Centre. The hometown hero left humbled in defeat.

Stunning.

There were other upsets and other shocks over the weekend, but none as significant as these three. Together, they represent what we all love about boxing.

After Ishida’s TKO of Kirkland, DiBella, myself, and millions of fans around the globe collectively ate their words. But DiBella tweeted immediately after the bout, acknowledging that he and everyone else in the world didn’t see that coming. But it’s fights like these that keep people watching the sport, that keep fans on the edge of their seats.

“This kind of upset…shocker…part of the beauty of boxing,” DiBella tweeted.

And to that, I’ll simply add…this kind of weekend…embodied the beauty of boxing.

Kyle Kinder can be found on Twitter.com/KyleKinder or KyleKinder1@gmail.com

As the old saying goes “Third time lucky” it was certainly a charm for South African Takalani “Panther” Ndlovu 32-6(18). Recently he won the IBF Super Bantamweight title when he bested Steve Molitor over twelve rounds. Ndlovu 33, had previously lost twice to Molitor in 2007 & 2010 both times in Canada, the first time being stopped in the ninth round. On the second occasion he fought Molitor to a standstill but still lost a decision. Originally hailing from the township of Soweto, he’s come a long way the world seems to be his oyster. Here’s what he had to say on winning the title, what his future hopes are and what life was like growing up in South Africa and the path he took into Boxing.

Hello Takalani, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – Firstly congratulations on a terrific win over Steve Molitor to claim the IBF Super Bantamweight title. What can you tell us about the fight looking back?

Takalani Ndlovu – Thank you. Going into this fight I was realistic. I knew I had to fight and give it my all to win the belt; I didn’t want to leave anything to the judges. I enjoyed my preparations, it was like when you study for exams and can’t wait to write the paper and I couldn’t wait to get into the ring. I also knew Molitor was looking past me because of our previous encounters, the possible plans Top Rank had for him after this fight and he was banking on my past mistakes and losses to him to beat me.

Anson Wainwright – How did you feel when they announced that you had won and were the new champion? Will winning the title change your life?

Takalani Ndlovu – I was emotional. It was a dream a true. I believe my life will change for the better

Anson Wainwright – Thought it is obviously early days what are your future plans now you are the champion?

Takalani Ndlovu – I haven’t had time to sit with my promoter and discuss the way forward. It’s too early to tell, but knowing Branco he has some plans in mind.

Anson Wainwright – It was the third time you had fought Molitor. What was different this time?

Takalani Ndlovu – My mindset and surroundings was different, I matured, I not only had a trainer, but a teacher, I was taught and was willing to learn. We had the same goal and interest. I owed the opportunity to fight Molitor for the 3rd time to my promoter Branco and I was not going to let him or myself down without a fight. I put in more and took nothing for granted.

Anson Wainwright – Who are the members of your team; who is your manager, trainer & promoter? Also what gym do you train at?

Takalani Ndlovu – I train at BRD boxing gym in the south of Johannesburg. My trainer is Mr. Manny Fernandes, my promoter Mr. Branco Milenkovic; I’m managing my boxing career now with the help of my wife and my promoter.

Anson Wainwright – In your career to date you have fought all over the world in Canada, Germany, Britain, America as well as in South Africa. What can you tell us about this experience? Did it help mould you as a fighter & person?

Takalani Ndlovu – As a fighter I learned a lot from my traveling, there are many things and people in my life that helped mold me as a person. I’m grateful for every experience.

Anson Wainwright – Could you tell us about your youth growing up in Soweto? Was it similar to many boxers and it was tough for you?

Takalani Ndlovu – Growing up in Soweto was never easy. Most boxers have a similar story to tell. There were many challenges, but I had a choice. With the guide of my late cousin I followed boxing and at the age of 9 I decided to try it. Turned out my cousin opened a gift I had, but wasn’t aware of it. I boxed and it’s been my bread and butter.

Anson Wainwright – Last year the Soccer World Cup took place in South Africa. What did you think of it? Did you go to any games? What impact has that had on your country?

Takalani Ndlovu – It was breathtaking, it brought Africans closer together! I went to a few games. South Africa has changed since the world cup; our economy is standing the test of time. Africa is shinning on the map.

Anson Wainwright – When you’re not boxing what do you enjoy doing with your spare time?

Takalani Ndlovu – I work as a personal trainer and boxing instructor, but importantly I enjoy spending time with my family. My wife and kids are wonderful and humorous beings. I always look forward to spending time with them.

Anson Wainwright – What do you think of the other champions at Super Bantamweight WBC Nishioka, WBA Shimoda & Interim champion Rigondeaux & WBO Vazquez?

Takalani Ndlovu – I don’t know much about them. I know I might have to face one of them one day, I won’t say much I’ll cross the bridge when I get to it. My promoter is a capable man and anything is possible, I’m game to defend my title

Anson Wainwright – Now that you are world champions what goals do you have still in Boxing?

Takalani Ndlovu – I’d like to defend my title three or four times and maybe unify with one of the champions in my division

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for the people of South Africa after your title win?

Takalani Ndlovu – I’m humbled by the like and support I received. I’d like to thank my fellow South Africans/fans for their support and well wishes, I hope to defend my title long enough to be able to give back to my supportive community and the South African boxing world.

Thanks for your time Takalani.

Anson Wainwright

15rounds.com

Weekend Thoughts – The HBO PPV card on Saturday was billed as “Action Heroes” and it certainly lived up to its name. Many people believed the main event was a mismatch, however Erik Morales rolled back the years giving Marcos Maidana hell all the way through. It was a remarkable performance by “El Terrible” his right eye was closed midway through the second. It was truly inspiring to see the tough Mexican veteran now entering his 35th year roll back the years, if there’s ever been a fighter who fought with such heart I’ve yet to see him, it really was that humbling. The fight most people looked forward to going into the card was Michael Katsidis-Robert Guerrero, it never let us down either. Though for large parts of the fight Guerrero out boxed Katsidis, there were several outstanding exchanges. Guerrero on the back of a very good win deserves a fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. The referee Russell Mora had a poor night, he missed a knock down in the second when Guerrero’s glove touched down. He also penalized Katsidis twice in the eighth for low blows, incredibly without any prior warning, he then did the same to Guerrero in the ninth. I’ve always been a big fan of James Kirkland but his first round loss was stunning, I never saw that coming…It was a weekend of shocks first on Friday Night Fights Marco Antonio Rubio took a shellacking for 5 and a half rounds before he stunning David Lemieux coming on strong in the sixth before the well thought of Canadian was rescued in the seventh. On Shobox all three favored fighters lost, Marcus Johnson lost to Dyan Davis, Willie Nelson to Vincent Arroyo & Danny O’Connor was upset against Gabriel Bracero. While over in Primm, NV Ghanian Olympian Bastie Samir drew with unheralded Lester Gonzalez. In Japan Hozumi Hasegawa was surprisingly stopped in four by Jhonny Gonzalez.

A suspicion was confirmed Saturday. No, it wasn’t the suspicion we all harbored about Erik “El Terrible” Morales’ shopworn frailty. Morales’ comportment in the main event of “Action Heroes” was first rate. Rather, the suspicion was that this new generation of fighters, while competitive and proud, is not what the last generation of fighters was.

Argentine junior welterweight Marcos Maidana whacked and plowed his way to a majority decision against Morales – Mexico’s former super bantamweight, featherweight and super featherweight world champion – at MGM Grand in a fight broadcast on HBO pay-per-view Saturday. Maidana won by scores of 116-112, 116-112 and 114-114.

My scorecard went 118-113 for Maidana. I had the Argentine winning rounds 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 11 and 12. I had Morales winning rounds 5 and 8. I had rounds 2, 7 and 10 even. If those even rounds all went Morales’ way, as many an “Action Heroes” viewer saw them, I still had Maidana winning 7-5.

A word or two about “Action Heroes” viewers. They were, almost to a man, advocates. It was not possible to buy the card without a zealous belief in “El Terrible.” Those who’ve shown Morales their zeal through the years were rewarded Saturday, they were vindicated Saturday, and they were thrilled Saturday. But they were not objective Saturday.

All paeans to punch accuracy and effect aside, Morales had rounds in which he landed fewer than 10 meaningful blows. Maidana was not in Morales’ class but was ineffectively aggressive throughout. And if you want boxing to entertain, you present scorecards that value ineffective aggressiveness over any criterion but its effective cousin.

If there was a loser Saturday it was not Morales or Maidana – though Maidana’s terrifying mystique was eroded. Instead, the losers were a new generation of fighters in general and two prizefighters in specific.

Those two prizefighters are Victor Ortiz and Amir Khan. Ortiz wilted and quit under Maidana’s assault 22 months ago then informed Staples Center patrons he should not have to endure an assault like Maidana’s. Khan then spent six minutes shamelessly fleeing Maidana in December while successfully defending his WBA 140-pound title in a performance for which he was lauded.

How does that performance look today?

While you consider that, consider this: Erik Morales, a 34-year-old veteran of 57 prizefights who retired almost four years ago and met Maidana 14 pounds above his prime fighting weight, just acquitted himself more nobly than Khan and Ortiz combined. And he did it with one eye.

The punches with which Maidana struck Morales – the same blows that still wake Ortiz and Khan with nightmares – had nary an effect on Morales who, after having his right eye shuttered by a left uppercut in round 1, did not wobble, run or signal for a doctor in the 33 minutes that followed.

That an overweight, overaged guy unable to see a left hook for 11 rounds just beat back the most-feared puncher in boxing’s most-competitive division does not speak well of our sport’s new generation. Not well at all.

And beat him back, Morales did.

The opening round saw Maidana’s relentless and undisciplined attack land all over Morales’ body, causing HBO commentator Jim Lampley to call Morales, quite rightly, a “shell” of his former self.

Maidana raced out his corner and whacked away at Morales spinning the former champion making him look poorly balanced and fragile bruising him with huge shots and rendering his right eye useless with a ferocious inside uppercut that nearly signaled the end.

But Morales knew the storm would subside. He had been across from men just as determined and feral as Maidana. And those men had twice Maidana’s class and savvy. Morales returned fire with three-punch combinations. He watched Maidana stumble and play motorboat while breathing.

Maidana never got comfortable as he’d planned because he was unable to chase Morales bullying him hitting him making him reel and retreat or skip sideways desperately – Maidana was unable to relax because he was across from a man who was not intimidated by him in the slightest a man whose fear of being struck by Maidana dissipated with each Maidana strike.

Then Morales buckled Maidana with a naked left hook lead. Morales was too old to hit Maidana with combinations half as intricate as he’d thrown a decade ago. But Morales still forced Maidana backwards and made the Argentine’s eyes grow with surprise and worry.

Maidana deserved to win for approaching the championship rounds with more self-belief than he deserved to carry charging after Morales reminding the crafty Mexican of the seven-year difference in their ages.

But Morales’ severe arrogance was not diminished. A half hour of combat with Maidana served only to remind him of his greatness.

Who were the winners Saturday? Maidana, for having his hand raised. Morales, for burnishing his legacy at age 34 in a way he could not at age 30. Morales’ generation of fighters, generally. And Manny Pacquiao, specifically.

If you did not watch Morales in his middle rounds with Maidana and think of Pacquiao, you were not watching creatively enough. Morales threw half as many punches at Maidana, coming off the ropes, as he’d thrown at Pacquiao. And Maidana retreated, held or pushed his head under Morales’ chin. One-one-two from Morales made Maidana pause. One-one-two, one-one-two from Morales made Pacquiao bang his hands together and hurl himself on Morales like a doberman on a t-bone. Pacquiao twice slashed to the canvas, at 130 pounds, a man Maidana could not affect at 140.

Let us have no more loose talk of greatness, then, about today’s junior welterweight division. They are a good if coddled lot. They are not worthy of comparisons to men like Morales, Pacquiao, Juan Manuel Marquez or Marco Antonio Barrera.

They have dignity and heart, yes. But they do not have “dignidad y corazón” – not the way Morales used those words Saturday.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter: @bartbarry

Intrigue is attached to Marcos Maidana-Erik Morales, perhaps for debatable reasons in a fight that might be determined more by what each fighter can’t do rather than what they can.

By now, fears for Morales’ well-being are well-documented. Rival promoters, trainers and media have talked about their concerns, which – right or wrong – have helped sell the junior-welterweight fight Saturday night Las Vegas’ MGM Grand on an HBO pay-per-view card. A heightened sense of danger never fails to attract a crowd.

Morales is quick to say that he picked Maidana, who in fact was the first option after Juan Manuel Marquez said no. Nevertheless, Morales, who is about a year into his comeback, looks at Maidana and sees vulnerabilities.

I suspect that Morales is looking at the powerful son of an Argentine gaucho with the sharp eye of the insightful trainer he could be and should be. Maidana’s loaded war chest includes everything but a GPS. There aren’t many smart bombs in there.

Maidana says referee Joe Cortez allowed Amir Khan to survive a ferocious 10th round in Maidana’s loss on Dec. 11 in the Fight of the Year. He won’t have Cortez to blame Saturday night. Tony Weeks has the assignment.

But the referee could have been Barney Fife for all that it mattered against the courageous Khan. Maidana had only himself to blame. He simply didn’t know how to set up a fight-ending combination. Maidana’s last trainer, Miguel Diaz, suggested exactly that when he called the Argentine’s tactics in pursuit of the wounded Khan “disorganized.’’

Maidana’s lack of tactical focus, surely detected by Morales, appears to be the cumulative result of never one trainer long enough in his corner to direct, discipline and refine all of his evident talent. After 18 months with Diaz, he left the experienced corner man following the loss to Khan.

“I feel that I reached a point with Miguel where I wasn’t advancing anymore,’’ Maidana said. “I think that’s what happened to me in the Khan fight. I felt that I needed a change.’’

The change was supposed to include Nacho Beristain, Marquez’ longtime trainer in Mexico City.

“I was there in Mexico,’’ Maidana said. “I traveled to Mexico. We had an agreement. I was supposed to train with Beristain. As soon as I touched down in Mexico, Beristain informed us that he wasn’t going to be able to work with us, that Marquez pretty much prevented him from working with him, that Marquez made a comment that possibly down the line there could be a fight with Maidana.

“I think maybe he just got jealous and he didn’t want me to train with him.’’

Maybe.

A string of maybes in any corner often adds up to an incomplete fighter, a beatable one. I’m not sure Morales, now 34 and back after losing four straight before an abbreviated retirement, still has the physical wherewithal to beat him. The best of his Hall of Fame career appears to have been left in the ring against Marco Antonio Barrera and Manny Pacquiao.

Uncertainty in Maidana’s corner, however, creates a hedge, a reason to wonder whether Morales can in fact pull it off. Angered at Beristain’s sudden about-face, Maidana hired an able and experienced Rudy Perez. But there is no way to know whether the two can forge a working relationship within a few weeks. The corner shuffle had to cause some early confusion in Maidana’s approach to training camp.

“Yes, of course, I was upset,’’ Maidana said. “I was very upset. That’s something that’s very unprofessional. I was upset about it. But at the end of the day, there’s other trainers at the same level, if not better than Beristain. I think I found that in Rudy Perez. But, yes, I think it would bother anybody.’’
Bothered long enough perhaps for Morales to do what few think he can anymore.

“Look, he’s only been with Rudy Perez for a little bit of time,’’ Morales said. “It’s only been a few weeks. …It’s very clear to me what type of fighter I’m going to face. It’s going to be the same old Maidana. I don’t think that Rudy Perez can be a miracle worker.’’

The biggest miracle for Maidana might be a long-term trainer. Without one, his promising career might be remembered as disorganized, a puzzle full of unfulfilled potential.

As the old saying goes it’s not the size of the dog in the fight it’s the size of the fight in the dog” and this certainly applies to “Fast” Eddie Chambers. He lives in a world of Heavyweight giants, pretty much every opponent in his career has had height, reach and weight advantages over him. As you can see by his 36-2(18) record among the pro’s he’s more than held his own. The 29 year old debuted back in 2000 and learned on the job until he started 2007 when he made a move from the Heavyweight pack beating Derric Rossy KO7, Dominick Guinn PTS10 & then outpointing Calvin Brock in an IBF title eliminator. That win set him up to fight Alexander Povetkin, a former Olympic gold medalist. It was to be Chambers first defeat but he had learned a lot from fighting on the road for the first time as a pro. After four more wins the later being against Samuel Peter who he outpointed. He again traveled to Germany, this time he took on 6’7 behemoth Alexander Dimitrenko who outweighed him by in excess of 40 pounds. Not to be denied he boxed the fight of his life stunner the previously unbeaten Ukrainian again on points. The win set him up for a title challenge when he met Wladimir Klitschko in Germany in early 2010. Like many men previous he found it difficult to get past the big man and was stopped late in the twelfth. It hasn’t affected his desire, after 11 months off when he let the battle scars mentally & physically heal he rebounded to outpoint old adversary Rossy over the distance back in February. No he intends to watch several other fights play out over the next few months before looking for another big fight.

Hello, Eddie, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – Back in February you returned from a near year long absence and beat Derric Rossy. Can you tell us about the fight and how happy you were to be back in action?

Eddie Chambers – Umm well I wasn’t happy with my performance. I feel like to a degree I gave my best but I still expected more from me even in the weakened state I was. It was a good comeback fight; there was a lot on the line. I just really wanted to dazzle the crowd and also get a stoppage, that’s what I expected. Beat the guy like I beat him the last time (Chambers scored a seventh round TKO over Derric Rossy in 2007) Of course he’s gotten better, but no matter how much better he is than before I think, I’m on another level and I think I’d have proved it further if I’d stopped him. But all the respect to Rossy who took the shots and continued to fight the way he did through out the fight.

Anson Wainwright – Though it’s early days when are you looking at fighting next & who are you targeting?

Eddie Chambers – Well honestly with me I’m just targeting the top guy. My goal obviously is to be world champion and I’ve been close at one time or another. I think that’s where I should be looking but everything that will get me toward that, any kind of fight with name fighters. I know there’s some fights already made up and I just want to let them happen so I won’t make any decision right away with Haye fighting Wladimir, Adamek fighting Kevin McBride. So there’s really not a lot for me to go at right now as far as top contenders for the titles. So we’ll just sit back and wait just a bit. Then jump in with whoever’s ready. Of course you know and everybody knows I’ll fight anybody and I’m looking for that soon. So hopefully I get that opportunity to fight for the title again. I’d like to fight Haye but of course he’s fighting Wladimir and not looking to fight a tough fight with me who’s not really to well known to away fans. He wouldn’t have much to make from me & Wladimir as well, but it’s not to be because what’s the point he’s beaten me already all he has is to lose. So why not just go about there business and fight each other and leave me in the rear view. I’d love to get those guys in the ring & hopefully that comes very very soon.

Anson Wainwright – Of course in 2010 you challenged Wladimir Klitschko for his IBF & WBO Heavyweight titles; you were stopped late in the twelfth. What can you tell us about that fight from your point of view? Was it a good learning curve despite the defeat? How good do you think he is?

Eddie Chambers – You’ve got to say great. I believe I’m just as good as anybody period, skill wise and ability wise but they go into the fight with a plan coupled with Emmanuel Steward but there’s no unbeatable force right now. I believe If I had had the right plan and been in the right state of mind to execute that plan I think just as he was successful, I could of been successful, it just happens that way. But he has a heck of a championship pedigree, he’s been there years now, he’s been world number one for a long time. He has to go down in the era as one of the greats of Boxing especially Heavyweight Boxing. So the plan they had worked to perfection as it does most other times. When I say perfection there was a lot of difficulty he had with me in some areas as far as landing some shots, there was frustration there but that’s because of my ability and toughness. I didn’t bring enough focus to deal with the preparation he had. I was in great shape I was prepared physically but mentally I wasn’t prepared for what It meant, when you see 55,000+ in the stadium I realized this is something big and then when you get in the ring you realize there’s a whole lot more on the line and you have to get your feet wet a little bit. I didn’t have a huge amateur background, I did have experience but I was never really able to see that before except in the fight before which was Dimitrenko which was on a much smaller scale, though it was important to my career. I’ve seen it and fought the great Klitschko now I have to prove I’m great. I may never get another shot at him (Wladimir) but at least there will be some guys that I can prove that on in the future.

Anson Wainwright – You didn’t fight in 11 months after the Klitschko fight. What did you do with your time off?

Eddie Chambers – Well I took about 11 month’s total. I took it off because it was necessary. I even talked to Emmanuel Steward and he gave advice to me. You see a lot of guys and they get stopped or lose a big fight and it takes a lot out of them physically and mentally and guys comeback straight away and you can’t do that. You take that physical trauma and that’s enough as it is then you take the mental beating you give yourself for losing. You lose that opportunity and it hurts, it takes some getting used to it. I’m not going to lie I sat around most days and didn’t enjoy anything for awhile. I didn’t go outside, I didn’t see people because of how I felt, it hurt. There was so much riding on it in my mind. It takes some serious heart, it’s a rough period and you have to find something which you enjoy and that’s what I did in the time off and tried to enjoy myself best I can. Once I got back I didn’t forget the Klitschko thing because that’s something you need to remember in your mind but now I’m turning the page in my career and trying to start another run.

Anson Wainwright – Who are members of team Eddie Chambers; Who’s your manager, trainer & promoter? Also what gym do you train at?

Eddie Chambers – My manager and trainer is one person right now Robert Murray Snr and my promoter is Dan Goossen. I train at James Shuler’s Memorial gym in West Philadelphia.

Anson Wainwright – You weigh around 210 which isn’t much over the Cruiserweight limit. How tempting is it to drop down a few pounds and try to win a world title there? Especially with a possible Super 6 tournament and even a fight with fellow Philly fighter Steve Cunningham?

Eddie Chambers – Oh I would hope I never have to fight Steve. He’s a friend of mine but we both understand the sport. It was tempting (To drop down to Cruiserweight) at one time; it was more tempting when I was challenging to be Heavyweight champion of the world. I could say hey while I’m waiting I could prove how good an athlete I am by going down and fight for the Cruiserweight championship as well. That’s a little greedy but that’s a challenge, that’s the kind of thing I was trying to put out there. I thought of it at one time but I just believe going down would be like a step back, most people would expect me to do so well and dominate what if god forbid I had a tough fight or lost a fight in the Cruiserweight division their going to look at me an say he wasn’t much anyway. My stock would drop, even If it was a tough fight where they expect you to blow these guys out because your bigger faster and stronger and they say he’s not as good as we thought he was.

Anson Wainwright – You’re from Pittsburgh can you tell us about how life was growing up and how it took you into Boxing?

Eddie Chambers – Well my upbringing was tough, very tough at times. It as tough on me dealing with some kids, I was a real good kid and it made it more tough. I think what got me into it was my father, he used to fight too and he could see what was going on. He heard something’s about some of the kids and I really didn’t have the most confidence. He got a bit tired of hearing about me dealing with some guys giving me problems so he said “I’m going to create a monster” make me a tough guy or at least at that time give me some confidence. I was a little chubby kid and and some kids picked on me not physically more verbally. So he took me to the gym so I could defend myself, I didn’t honestly want to do it, It took me awhile to get me in the gym and stay in the gym. I was trying to avoid the fights at all costs. He took me in and the first day I sparred, handled the kid. I did well and I was sort of surprised but it didn’t do to much to me because I had a couple of tough sparring sessions after that and I was thinking this wasn’t something I really wanted to do, get hit in the face and head and didn’t plan it as a career for myself. So I just went out the next tournament, the Golden Gloves. I fought the first fight and I beat the kid half to death basically and I was thinking this was a fluke so in the next round I stopped the guy in the first round. So I was like wow I’ll keep going till I lose. It took me ten fights before I lost in the amateurs and I had 8 straight stoppages and that loss was just before a National tournament. I thought this is something to do and I seem pretty good at it and as I progressed I continued to get better and better and better. I went to the Olympic trials; I tried that didn’t make it. I think I was more suited to the professional game. I only had 4 years amateur, a lot of kids have there first fight at like 8 years old. I turned professional at 18 and did more of my real learning when I turned professional, once I go to that point I pretty much had everything under control and I real started to develop at that time and I learned at a good pace. That’s pretty much how it happened.

Anson Wainwright – One of the biggest fights in Boxing appears likely to take place this summer with Wladimir Klitschko unifying with David Haye. What do you think of that fight how do you see it going?

Eddie Chambers – Honestly I think David Haye has a good shot if he can land a good shot. But I think by 4, 5, 6 Wladimir will hit his groove, use his jab, line that right hand up. It will be difficult for Haye to land, Haye could land over the top and with his speed you never know. I think Wladimir’s height and reach it’ll be hard for David Haye. Towards the middle rounds Wladimir will land a couple of right hands and it’ll be over.

Anson Wainwright – Away from Boxing can you tell us a little about yourself, what are your Interests & Hobbies?

Eddie Chambers – Most of them are still sports besides video games and when I’m playing them there sports games. I love to play Basketball and I also love to bowl. I’ve been working at my bowling game and been doing pretty well with it. Just spend time with friends; I’ve just done a road trip with family and friends to visit others. These are things I like to do.

Anson Wainwright – Have you ever bowled a perfect game?

Eddie Chambers – No, I’ve bowled a clean game but never a perfect game. Honestly my highest score and some people would laugh is about 215. I’m learning still. It’s fun and a good sport. Hopefully one day I’m good enough to play in the US open, I’ll keep working on it.

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for the Heavyweight division?

Eddie Chambers – Honestly it’s not an I’m going to knock everyone out type of message, I just encourage the guys out there to give me a shot, or lets make great fights for the fans to enjoy. I think that would be the best thing to Boxing especially the Heavyweight division. If we can get that done we could really turn some heads. People mention MMA more than Boxing and it’s tough when you perform in it and not get a real fan base. I just really hope we can make the best fights out there.

Best Wishes & thanks for your time Eddie.

Anson Wainwright

15rounds.com

Unlike many of his compatriots Cuban born Yoan Pablo Hernandez elected to leave his homeland for Germany and not Miami, Florida. It seems to be the right think for him with many of the top Cruiserweights in the world plying their trade in Europe particularly Germany. Just a few weeks back Hernandez 26, took his record to 24-1(13) when he stopped Steve Herelius to claim the WBA Interim title. Now he hopes to be able to unify the title and with his promoter Sauerland Events behind him he could certainly get the opportunity in the near future. Here’s what the newly minted champion had to say.

Hello Yoan Pablo, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – Firstly congratulations on your win over Steve Herelius. You stopped him in the seventh round, what did it mean to get the win and how happy were you with your performance?

Yoan Pablo Hernandez – Thank you. I was very happy about the victory. Everyone could see it after the fight, that I was perfectly happy. It was the moment for which I had waited such a long time. I have no words to describe it. My performance was also good. I had trained hard for the fight.

Anson Wainwright – He injured his leg and there was a long delay between the fourth and fifth rounds. This would have been very different from your point of view as you had to just wait to see what would happen. What was going through your mind during the interval?

Yoan Pablo Hernandez – I still was ready. I didn’t care. I only wanted to fight and to win. But I was not sure, if it could be a trick. But after all I didn’t think so. Such injuries could happen. That’s boxing.

Anson Wainwright – You’re the WBA Interim champion and the full champion is Guillermo Jones. Is that a fight you are looking for next?

Yoan Pablo Hernandez – That would be great. But I’m also ready to fight against the other champions. I will fight whoever my management can organize.

Anson Wainwright – Late last year it was mentioned that your promoter Wilfred Sauerland was looking to set up a Cruiserweight Super 6. What are your thoughts on that?

Yoan Pablo Hernandez – I like this idea. Such a tournament with the best fighters in my division would be great.

Anson Wainwright – There are several very good fighters at Cruiserweight what do you think of the current champions WBC Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, IBF Steve Cunningham & WBO Marco Huck?

Yoan Pablo Hernandez – They all have their strengths. Cunningham has got great technical skills. Huck is physical strong. And Wlodarczyk has got a little bit of both – technical and physical.

Anson Wainwright – You were born and raised in Pinar del Rio in Cuba, what was it like when you were young growing up there?

Yoan Pablo Hernandez – It was not so easy. As a kid I had a few problems. We had not so much money, so sometimes I went to school without shoes or with home made slippers. Sometimes I didn’t go, because it was awkward for me. But later, as a young fighter, I saw a lot of the world. That was a big motivation and helped me. In the end I decided to go to Germany…

Anson Wainwright – Most Cuban’s have moved to Miami, Fl. do you know Gamboa, Rigondeaux, Solis etc and why did you go to Germany and not Miami?

Yoan Pablo Hernandez – Not every guy from Cuba is the same. Everyone has got his goals. And everyone has got his place, where he likes to stay. I felt, that I’m able to achieve my dreams and goals in Germany. The like the German style.

Anson Wainwright – Obviously Boxers can’t turn professional in Cuba & you decided to leave and go to Germany. Can you tell us about this and how you find living in Germany where it is significantly different?

Yoan Pablo Hernandez – Ha-ha, that’s really not so easy to say. Of course I miss my mother, my father, my sisters and brothers. We are a big family. But one brother is also in Germany. I also miss the sun. But on the other hand I like the silence here in Germany. And I like it to have my own family here with my girl-friend Sally and our son Yoan Jr.

Anson Wainwright – You fought for Cuba in the 2004 Olympics, can you tell us about this experience? Also what other tournaments did you do win medals at? What was your final record in the amateur’s?

Yoan Pablo Hernandez – The Olympic Games are one thing, everyone is dreaming about it. Who is able to be there, could be happy – even if his success in the tournament is not so big. I learned a lot there and it was a big experience for me.

Anson Wainwright – What do you like to do away from Boxing to relax? What are your hobbies & Interests?

Yoan Pablo Hernandez – I’m really a quiet guy. I like it, to enjoy the silence. For example I like to look movies in my apartment and to do something with my laptop.

Anson Wainwright – You lost to Wayne Braithwaite back in 2008. Was it a case of the fight being a bit to soon in your pro career for you? What are your thoughts looking back on that fight?

Yoan Pablo Hernandez – That fight was really a lesson for me. But I think such an experience is good for every fighter. If you don’t feel a defeat, you can’t learn from it. For me it was a help to the right point of time.

Anson Wainwright – Who was your hero growing up?

Yoan Pablo Hernandez – First I like Mike Tyson. Later I have admired Muhammad Ali.

Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for the cruiserweight division?

Yoan Pablo Hernandez – Go on with your training. The way is not so long….

Thanks for your time & keep up the good work.

Anson Wainwright

15rounds.com

Midweek Musings – It was a busy weekend of fights, throught out the world. Giovani Segura repeated his win over Ivan Calderon only sooner, stopping the diminutive Puerto Rico in three, battering him to the body mercilessly until Calderon crumbled. The skies the limit for Segura, who will now move up to Flyweight and look to fight one of his countrymen either Julio Cesar Miranda or newly crowned Hernan Marquez…The aforementioned Marquez travelled to Panama and was involved in a war with Luis Concepcion. Both men were down before Marquez closed the show in the eleventh…In an Interesting Heavyweight tussle Robert Helenius of Finland stretched Sam Peter in the ninth after dominating through out. Helenius is 6’6 so would of had a significant height and reach advantage over Peter. The former WBC champion has always had problems with guys like Helenius who would likely of used the same game plan that the Brothers Klitschko employed on 3 occasions. Though he’s only had 15 fights and is 27 years old Helenius seems to be very much a player in the Heavyweight division while Peter looks to be fading into gatekeeper status. Also on the same card Marco Huck won a workmanlike decision over Ran Nakash…Krzysztof Wlodarczyk retained his WBC Cruiserweight title for the second time with a close split decision win over previously unbeaten Francisco Palacios. Hopefully now Steve Cunningham, Huck & Wlodarczyk have taken care of there mandatories & Yoan Pablo Hernandez took care of business against Steve Herelius we will see the much talked about Cruiserweight super 6.

There are some differences between writing for a boxing website like this one and writing for a sports website with a boxing page, like, say, CBSSports.com. The largest difference is the catering you do within the large chasm between an aficionado’s knowledge of our sport and a casual fan’s primary interests: violence, controversy, redemption. When you write about prizefighting for the casual fan, in other words, you often have to traffic in clichés.

The sole reason to do it, then, is for greater compensation; boxing aficionados are an ever-dwindling number of men, while casual sports fans are, apparently, a growing contingent in America. The obvious drawback is that if you have 1,000 words to work with, and 300 go towards who your subjects are and why a reader should care, there isn’t very much room left for new ideas.

Finally, this is a challenge any television series that chooses boxing as its subject will encounter. FX Network’s “Lights Out” – whose series finale happens Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET – did a passable job of it. “Lights Out” won’t have a second season, because its ratings weren’t robust, but don’t use that to infer failure.

Another sentence or two about boxing writing. The pursuit of greater compensation, anymore, is a fool’s errand. There was a time when the creation of boxing websites seduced entrepreneurially minded folks, but those days have passed. You’d have a better chance of finding an American prospect in the heavyweight division, today, than a boxing writer who’s had a pay raise since 2008.

That is why – whether your expertise lies in the throwing of hands or the crafting of sentences – a boxing writer should write for aficionados wherever he can find them. Let posterity do with that what she will.

Such a quixotic stance is not possible for a television show. It must cross-over all sorts of competing lines. It must entice folks with seemingly nothing but age and gender in common. The peril of trying to be lots of things to lots of people is that you ultimately must combine a faithful replication of your subject with the need to deliver what others – often more opinionated than serious – already expect. That sort of maneuvering leaves you little space for transcendence.

“Lights Out” has been entertaining. It has been true to our sport. Its acting has been for the most part very good. But it has also wanted for transcendent moments. To employ a fully inapt analogy, if “Lights Out” were a figure skater, it would do very well in the compulsories but leave its judges unaffected after the free-skating program.

“Lights Out” came with a number of interesting extras. Its web presence on FXNetworks.com is well-built. The mini episode “Split Decision” answers questions its episodes ask. The show came with the usual boxing stuff – fatherly trainer, prodigal younger brother, self-sacrificing wife. But it also had a refreshing cast of daughters.

Still, there was always the steep hill of a white American heavyweight champion in the year 2005 to climb. You assume this casting choice was about mainstream marketability – even while thinking you’re dirty for suggesting it.

The program’s two most intriguing performances, though, came from black actors, only one of whom is American, and neither of whom is featured on the official cast page. Reg E. Cathey, the American of the duo, played Barry K. Word, a Don King-inspired hustler who is different from other partial interpretations of King for being slighter of stature and somewhat effeminate.

Cathey’s performance as a fight promoter brings pleasant surprises. You cannot overplay King – he is too famous, too much a self-caricature, and in every way too large. Cathey’s interpretation, then, is enjoyable for its subtlety and slyness. This is also what distinguishes the acting of Holt McCallany, who plays the title character, Patrick “Lights” Leary. More about McCallany in a bit.

The largest thrill of “Lights Out,” though, was the performance of British actor Eamonn Walker, who played a disturbed, fragile trainer named Ed Romeo. Walker appeared in only two episodes, but his performance was the show’s most memorable. Regardless of whom he shared a scene with, Walker was the actor on whom you focused.

Walker has an intensity that is sometimes unrestrained. Anyone who watched HBO’s “Oz” will immediately recognize elements of Walker’s ferocious Muslim character, Kareem Said, in Ed Romeo. But where Kareem Said had few dimensions – always enraged, always eloquent, every line said with wide eyes and a clenched fist – Ed Romeo is a new character.

Ed Romeo is softer, thicker and older. He is helpless. He demands too much of his charges but offers more than he asks. Ed Romeo is not an interpretation of an actual boxing trainer. Ed Romeo is an aesthetic achievement.

As mentioned, Holt McCallany also does well. He plays a former heavyweight champion, with impressive understatement. Patrick Leary is not complicated and does not think he is. Like the best fighters he knows more than he says.

But as a program “Lights Out” was beginning to have soap-operatic departures. An alcoholic mother and her conman boyfriend showed up late in the season. A mob boss began dating Leary’s sister. Leary’s brother accidentally stabbed the champ with scissors. The deus ex machina, in other words, was starting to creak across stage. You began to worry who might show up in Episodes 14-26, if there were a Season 2.

There will not be; “Lights Out” will not be back. That does not mean the show was a failure. Would that HBO had ended “Big Love” after its novel first season.

“Lights Out” was a minor success. If there is justice in show business, all its cast will find quality future work. If you get a chance, then, watch the series finale Tuesday and see what you think. You might well find yourself checking-out the first 12 episodes on DVD in the future.

Bart Barry can be reached at bbarry@15rounds.com

Star Boxing’s rising undefeated welterweight prospect from Philadelphia, Raymond “Tito” Serrano returns home for the first time in over two years when he takes on Corey Alarcon in the main event of “Unfinished Business” tonight at the South Philly Asylum Arena in Philadelphia, PA. The bout is promoted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing and KEA Boxing Promotions.

The 21-year-old, Serrano (14-0, 7KO’s) burst onto the scene in late 2007 scoring a first round TKO over Tierre King. Since then he has gradually begun to make the transition from prospect to up and coming contender. Serrano has been featured on ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights” on two separate occasions, both times winning impressive eight round unanimous decisions (UD8 Jay Krupp 12-1, UD8 Ronald Warrior 13-2-1). Serrano picked up three wins in 2010, including an impressive eight round victory over current IBA Intercontinental Welterweight Champion Ayi Bruce in July (19-3, 12KO’s) in July. Bruce holds a decision win over former top-rated welterweight Shamone Alvarez.

Alarcon is no pushover and has been in the ring with a number of top prospects including Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Vernon Paris, Rocky Juarez, Chad Broussard, and Mike “No Joke” Stewart. Alarcon also owns a victory (DQ) over welterweight contender and soon to be world title challenger, “Vicious” Victor Ortiz.

Serrano and Alarcon (14-16-1, 4KO’s) officially weighed-in minutes ago with Serrano tipping the scales at a ripped and ready 146lbs. and Alarcon weighing in at 147 1/2 lbs.

Doors open at 7:30PM and first bout is at 8PM. Tickets are $100 (VIP ringside), $100 (VIP upper box), $65 (ringside) and $45 (general admission). You can purchase tickets at www.KEAboxing.com (973-903-2907) or at the Arena box office.

ABOUT STAR BOXING:

Star Boxing, Inc. has been in operation since1992. Star Boxing has worked to produce some of the most exciting and memorable boxing events in recent history. Star has continued to work with and develop a number of very exciting world champions, world rated contenders and young prospects. Star has consistently brought credibility, integrity, and exciting fights to the boxing industry. For more information on Star Boxing, visit the official website at www.starboxing.com

This Saturday after a long cold winter, the heat is on at Bally’s in Atlantic City when super middleweight prospects clash in the main event of a Pound for Pound Promotions eight bout professional card. Philadelphia’s Farah Ennis puts his unblemished record (17-0 11 KOs) on the line against the also unbeaten Oxon Hill, Maryland resident Alexander Johnson (10-0 4KOs) in a ten round contest.

This should be a serious test for Johnson making his Garden State debut after a standout amateur career. For the well traveled Ennis he looks to add to the momentum following his last bout at Harrah’s in Atlantic City when he TKO’ed Victor Lares for the NABF belt.

In the heavyweight co-feature the heavy handed Amir Mansour (12-0 9KOs) of Wilmington, Delaware will try for his lucky thirteenth win against Laredo, Texas native Hector Ferreyro (21-9 6KOs).

The other heavyweight fight of the evening will be a western shoot out when Los Angeles, CA’s Damian Wills (29-2-1 22KOs) steps in against durable Las Cruces, New Mexico resident Arron Lyons 12-9-1 9 KOs).

Also featured will be favorite son of Bayonne the city that put the “Garden “ in the Garden State Bobby Rooney (11-3-1 6 KOs) in his first bout 2009 when he squares off against Walter Foster (4-3-1 4 KOs) of Berkley, Missouri.

Locals Victor “The Viper” Valenzuela (8-1 1KO) of Passaic, Chris “Greetings from Asbury Park” Green (4-2 1KO) and popular junior middleweight Thomas LaManna (1-0), a senior at Millville HS, round off what should be a top night of boxing.

This writer will be on hand to cover all of the action from ringside so make sure to stay tuned for an in depth report from all of the action that transpires!

Erik Morales has heard questions loaded with suggestions that he is damaged and in danger of permanent disability or worse when Marcos Maidana’s power figures to land with probability dictated by a record that includes 10 first-round knockouts and stoppages in 87.1 percent of his 31 fights.

Fear not, Morales says.

“I feel good,’’ Morales said this week at the end of a conference call 11 days before his April 9 date with Maidana at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand. “I feel calm.’’

The questions, he says, are coming from his former promoter, Fernando Beltran.

“It is a matter of revenge, because I am not with him anymore,’’ Morales said through an interpreter, Golden Boy Promotions matchmaker Eric Gomez. “I know Fernando Beltran is causing these problems.’’

At 33, Morales is still at an age when many are at the end of their prime, which means they are still capable in mind and body. Like so many Mexican fighters, however, it’s not the age so much as the record. They are kids, teenagers, when they begin a trade so often mastered in a perilous exchange built on the ability to set up a punch by enduring two, three and four. Morales was 16 when he answered his first pro bell, one of 57.

“I know I have been in some wars,’’ Morales said in a matter-of-fact tone with a comment that also is a matter-of-record, yet cuts both ways.

For him, the experience represents well-practiced skill, the knowhow to avoid power long enough to counter it and transform it into an advantage. But those wars aren’t video games. They come with a physical price, each tagged with the same question: How much is left? I have no doubt that Beltran is asking, again and again.

He wouldn’t be the first former promoter to do so and he won’t be the last. Maybe, he is motivated by reasons other than concern. Maybe not. But Beltran also is asking only what so many others have. Morales’ four fights, all defeats, before he left the sport after losing to David Diaz in 2008 were full of troubling signs. Two of them were to the undisputed best, Manny Pacquiao.

It was the second loss to Pacquiao in 2006 that left a moment impossible to forget. Morales was down in the third and final round. He looked up at his father and trainer, who urged him to get up and continue. Morales waved him off with a gloved right hand. It was as if he was saying good bye. No, no more. For one of the toughest fighters of his generation, it was a concession that his best days were over.

Perhaps, a flicker of what he once was will be there for what would be a significant upset of Maidana.

“I’m not old,’’ said Morales, who won three comeback fights in Mexico last year. “I just decided, at 30 years old, to take a little break.’’

In Maidana, Morales sees a flawed fighter. At 28, Morales would have beat him, no doubt. Five years later, however, there are doubts about whether the toll he paid in speed and reflexes against Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera left him with enough to match the knowhow, especially when Madaina’s shotgun style of power is unleashed. It’s one thing to know how to get out of the way. Doing it, however, is something altogether different.

According to Gomez, Morales passed a battery of medical tests in Mexico, including one administered in Mexico City by the same neurosurgeon who reportedly put a plate in Barrera’s skull in 1997 to correct a congenital condition, one not related to boxing.

What’s more, Morales believes he is stronger perhaps healthier than ever, in part because he doesn’t have to break himself down to make junior-welterweight, 140 pounds. At his featherweight prime, Morales often would step onto the scale at the official weigh-in looking as if he had starved himself. He was always as gaunt as a refugee. If you saw him a couple of months and several meals later, he was hard to recognize.

Maybe, the fears have been overstated. I can’t help but think of Evander Holyfield in 1996 before his first fight with Mike Tyson. From promoter to bookie to fan, the prevailing talk was that Holyfield was damaged. Few thought he could win. The better chance was that he would suffer serious injury.

Holyfield won.

Maybe, Morales will too.

In the meantime, however, I can’t help but wonder about the questions and worry about the result.

Next Friday Canadian protégé David Lemieux puts his unblemished 25-0(24) record on the line when he faces grizzled Mexican veteran Marco Antonio Rubio 49-5-1(42) in a WBC Middleweight title eliminator. It’s a huge step up in class for Lemieux, who so far has only been past 5 rounds once in his career that has seen him complete just 55 rounds of pro action. However he’s a young man in a rush, though he knows Rubio won’t be easy “Rubio’s a very dangerous fighter, he’s a big puncher, he’s got quite an awkward style. He’s been in the ring a lot, he’s a veteran, he knows what he’s doing” he remains confident in his own abilities and thus see’s only one outcome “I’m very well prepared. I’m stronger than Rubio and I’m coming in to win”. He believes he’s destined to achieve big things in the ring and hopes to prove his legion of fans correct in their prophecy of him being one of the leading candidates to bring some new life to the stagnant Middleweight division. For Lemieux he see’s Boxing as a gift and wants to be more than a champion he wants to be an entertainer who can have crossover status. A win over Rubio in front of his home fans in Montreal would be another step in the right direction for the precocious youngster.

Hello David, welcome to 15rounds.com

Anson Wainwright – You fight next on 8 April against Marco Antonio Rubio in a WBC title eliminator. What are your thoughts on that fight and what do you think of Rubio?

David Lemieux – My thoughts on the fight, Rubio’s a very dangerous fighter, he’s a big puncher, he’s got quite an awkward style. He’s been in the ring a lot, he’s a veteran, he knows what he’s doing. It’s going to be an Interesting fight but I’m very well prepared. I’m stronger than Rubio and I’m coming in to win and to look great.

Anson Wainwright – You are widely thought of as the best young fighter in Canada and fight in front of big crowds. What can you tell us about your popularity? Do you do any commercials, TV work etc?

David Lemieux – Yeah, they’re actually about to start a show on me, a little documentary and maybe move up to bigger channels and do a 24/7 type show, we’re working on that. I’m on TV quite often and the media always talks about me. Yeah I’m quite popular here, people know my name. I’m there young hot prospect coming up, so they’ve got to support me. I’m 25 and 0 with 24 knock outs. I always look good when I go in the ring; I give them what they want.

Anson Wainwright – So far in your career you have stopped all but one of your opponents. What can you tell us about your power?

David Lemieux – I think I’m a very powerful puncher probably one of the top pound for pound punchers in the world. I believe anybody I hit I will knock out; I believe I can do a lot of damage. I work a lot on different things but my power has always been there and has been natural.

Anson Wainwright – In your pro career you’ve only boxed 55 rounds, how far do you feel you are from challenging the likes of WBC champion Sergio Martinez?

David Lemieux – Actually I’m ready anytime now. I could be ready for him (Martinez). I like his style, he’s a good fighter but I believe I have the ability and the technique to beat him. But right now we’re concentrating on the Rubio fight and then we’ll talk about whether they want to fight me. I have no problem fighting these guys.

Anson Wainwright – What do you think of some of the other champions and big names WBA Felix Sturm, IBF Sebastian Sylvester & WBO Dmitry Pirog? How about Kelly Pavlik & Daniel Jacobs?

David Lemieux – Yeah actually it’s a very active division. I would like to fight Sturm; I would like to fight all the big names, whoever they have for me. If it’s a good deal we’ll fight. I’m not scarred of anybody. I don’t go in with any hesitation when I’m getting ready for a fight no matter who It is I’m ready to fight and win. So Martinez, If It’s Pavlik, Sturm, Zbik, Chavez Jnr, Pirog whoever I’ll fight and I’ll beat them.

Anson Wainwright – What was it like for you growing up in Quebec, did you have the usual tough upbringing many fighters do?

David Lemieux – When I was young I used to have a lot of problems. I’m talking about a young age 8, 9, 10 I used to come home with the police, get locked up in a child facility for maybe a few months, a year or so. When I was younger used to cause a lot of vandalism, not come home, I used to always cause trouble. So I’ve been kicked out from a lot of schools from a young age and had a lot of problems. But then when I got into Boxing it saved my life, It turned everything around. I started to be disciplined; I went to the gym all the time. I didn’t want to get thrown out of the gym because Russ Anber my coach would tell me If I get into problems you will get kicked out of the gym and I didn’t want to get kicked out of the gym so I became careful at what I did. I got a lot of discipline and started on the right road and here I am now.

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your amateur career, what titles did you win and what was your final record?

David Lemieux – In the amateur’s I won a few things, 3 times National Champion, a few International fights. I think I had 72 fights, maybe 12 loses the rest were victories. I never had a huge amateur career like most guys, I was always the professional type of fighter, I never had that style. I didn’t want to stay in the amateurs to long. I was always practicing a professional style like the guys I was growing up with Otis Grant, Hercules Kyvelos all the guys were pro’s and I wanted to be there fast. So when I turned 17 I wanted to go pro right away but my coach told me to wait a year and go slowly. At 18 years old we turned pro.

Anson Wainwright – Instead of going to the 2008 Olympics you decided that your future was in the pros and turned over in 2007. Can you tell us more about this?

David Lemieux – Hell no! I never liked the amateur’s; I wanted to get out of there as fast as I could. The type of fighter I am, I’m a slow starter. In the amateur fights I never had the opportunity, especially International fights you get to fight the better guys, they score they hit and run. I would want to do what I could but It (The distance of the fight) was short. I didn’t like that so I wanted to turn pro as soon as I could. Because my style didn’t match the amateur’s, now in the pros I can do what I want to do. I’m starting to fight 12 rounds I’ve been doing a few 12 rounds fights and I’ve got time and I’m a power puncher, so it’s perfect for me. I’m like a ticking time bomb! Haha

Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us a bit about yourself as a person away from Boxing, what do you enjoy doing to relax?

David Lemieux – I’m actually a very simple guy. I like being around my girl, going out this and that but not drinking, no nightclubs. I like to keep things quiet. Being with friends. I like going on vacation, I love travelling so whenever I don’t have a big fight coming up I like to go down south, Cuba, Miami, wherever.

Anson Wainwright – Who are the members of your team, your manager, trainer, promoter & what gym do you train at?

David Lemieux – My promoter is Yvon Michel, I’ve been with him since the beginning. My coach has been Russ Anber since I was 9 years old, he’s also my manager. He’s known Internationally, he’s a very good coach. There’s a new guy who takes care of my sponsorship his name is Anthony Aquino. Pedro Luis Diaz the Cuban coach that trained Odlanier Solis for the Heavyweight title fight with Klitschko. I have a very good team that we can go very far with. I train at Ring 83.

Anson Wainwright – Do you have a Nickname?

David Lemieux – No I don’t have a nickname. People tend to give me nicknames but I don’t stick with them. They call me “Hello, Goodnight” Haha the Knockout artist. But I’m not into nicknames, people who know me give me whatever they want. But no when I go in the ring I don’t have a particular nickname.

Anson Wainwright – When did you decide you wanted to make a living out of Boxing?

David Lemieux – After I won the Nationals when I was 15, I thought I like this. Then I turned pro and I had my winning streak, I thought “Yeap, this is what I want to do for a good part of my life”.

Anson Wainwright – What are your goals in Boxing?

David Lemieux – I wish I could go to Heavyweight! Haha I’m going to be a Middleweight for I don’t know how long then I’m going to jump to Super Middleweight. I want to win the Middleweight title defend it and go to Super Middle and win that and hopefully everything goes good, stay healthy and keep winning. I want to be a champion for a long time. I want to be crowd pleasing, to come see me. I don’t just want to be a world champion; I want to be a great entertainer. I want them to love watching me fight even if there not Boxing fans. I want to attract all types of people when I fight, I love to give motivation. A lot of people outside of Boxing who tell me they love to watch my fights because of the way I fight and how explosive I am. There really intrigued by that and also there are a lot of woman who like to watch me fight! Haha

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

David Lemieux – Thank you very much for your support, keep watching because I’m going very far.

Thanks for your time David.

Anson Wainwright

15rounds.com

Random Musings – It’s never quiet with Bernard Hopkins, over the years he’s been involved in some crazy scene’s at press conference’s & weigh in’s. Earlier this week, he was subdued by his normal standards when Jean Pascal blew his top http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UImI4JjWj9Y Previously he nearly started a riot in Puerto Rico before the Trinidad fight http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr1eTEUPp8E&feature=related think back to the hand he put in Winky Wright’s face http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kHVxuVYVLE or how about how his remarks to Joe Calzaghe http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NowwnTx0cU&feature=related

Hopkins is a one off athlete; it’s truly amazing that he’s still going at 46. If you think through the various sports in the world and who is still competing at the highest levels at such an advanced age in any sport let alone one as rigorous taxing as prizefighting. His mastery of the mental part of the game is legendary; you’re never sure what you’ll get with the loquacious Hopkins. He’s the last of a dying breed.