During the early years of Atlantic City boxing, the fight game was bustling. An array of ring talent, from club fighters to champions, came to the shore to compete at thriving venues like the Northside’s Waltz Dream Arena and Convention Hall on the Boardwalk. Although ring action was plentiful, the biggest fights were still happening elsewhere. However, everything changed once gambling came to town. As casinos popped up along the Boardwalk, Atlantic City fights got bigger and bigger. By the late 1970s, boxing was on the rise, and within a few years, business was booming. Heavyweight champion Mike Tyson ushered in the city’s peak era in the late 1980s, a time when more than just fight fans turned their attention to Atlantic City for some of the biggest sporting events ever. A decade later, Arturo Gatti ushered in another rise in AC’s prominence with a series of thrilling appearances in the city. Although AC never again topped the impact of those days, boxing action at the shore remained vital for decades to come.

John DiSanto and Matthew H. Ward have co-authored a book that tells the story of Atlantic City boxing from 1865 to 2020. The image-driven book includes more than 200 photos, many of them previously unpublished and seen for the very first time. This book is now available for sale and can be ordered directly from the authors (ACBoxingBook.com) or your favorite bookseller including Amazon.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
John DiSanto is the founder of PhillyBoxingHistory.com and the Briscoe Awards and is the chairman of the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame. Matthew H. Ward is a historian and journalist who specializes in boxing, Jersey Shore, and Philadelphia history.

ABOUT THE BOOK
Boxing in Atlantic City, released on November 1, 2021, is a 128-page soft cover book that includes 230 photographs. The cover price is $23.99.

ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
Arcadia Publishing and History Press is the nation’s leading publisher of books of local history and local interest. Arcadia has an extraordinary catalog of more than 15,000 local titles and publishes 500 new books each year.

By Bart Barry-

Tuesday marked the publication date of Toronto writer Jimmy Tobin’s Killed in Brazil? The mysterious death of Arturo “Thunder” Gatti (Hamilcar Publications, $10.99), the latest in a series of boxing-themed true-crime books under the Hamilcar Noir imprint.  The book is excellent for the questions it asks.

I realized somewhere in the first 20 pages I care more about Jimmy’s writing than Gatti’s legacy.  Maybe I knew that before I began reading Killed in Brazil? but I was not conscious of it.  I revert to the first-person earlier than appropriate, here, because it affords an insight about Jimmy’s writing; he makes a reader conscious of his thoughts more and more often than most writers.  

Where I find myself lost in other gifted writers’ words or stories, or simply skimming lesser writers, I find myself more aware when reading Jimmy, I find myself guessing why he made certain choices, asking how much of what I’m thinking he intended.  Oftentimes I pause and answer a question he poses then decipher his reason for asking it, but when he is at his best, I find, I can’t decipher why he asked a question, and I like that discovery.  I like that he’s gone in a direction I can’t explain because I know he is an intelligent writer and a thoughtful person, tender even, who writes with authority, and so, if he’s gone somewhere without leaving breadcrumbs, I know he’s invited me to a place I’d not have accessed without him.

This is not a long book but a dense one.  I read it in three sittings, but I’m not a fast reader, particularly, and the more I enjoy a book the more slowly I read it.  Killed in Brazil? is 71 pages long – fewer than 25,000 words – but one finishes it without a sense it needed to be any longer, and a further sense that in hands less capable than Tobin’s, in fact, it might have been shorter.

The dispassion with which Arturo Gatti gets treated is a unique appeal of this book.  When has anyone treated anything about Gatti dispassionately?  Ever since his first fight with Mickey Ward most of us have found ourselves effectively bullied into attributing to Gatti magical powers he often didn’t possess.  For fear of getting browbeaten by his vocal champions most of us either didn’t dare or didn’t bother to write his fights with Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather were such mismatches they evinced no courage from any of their three participants.

Tobin gives Gatti’s vocal champions, those given to browbeating, plenty of space on his pages.  After affording their implications lots of credit in the book’s opening third, “Fracture”, Tobin spends the book’s middle third, “Preternatural”, doing pure boxing writing, the hooks and uppercuts and willfulness of Gatti’s career, before finishing with “Confrontation” – the book’s final third.  The third third is the book’s best, as it shows us more of its author, what he values, than its two predecessor parts.

Tobin begins Part III with a commemorative mass in Jersey City, N.J., and gives the opening quote to promoter Lou DiBella as he attains an applause line about Gatti never quitting in his life and definitely not in Brazil, where Gatti’s people believed Gatti’s small Brazilian wife incapacitated, strangled and hanged her husband.  Then Tobin gives the stage to television investigators and Gatti familiars and their attorneys, many American, some Canadian, and one can read their rage and certainty in every quote. 

Then Tobin quietly dismisses them and just sort of wanders away to material that is much more interesting; like a man cornered in a bar by drunken fans – their chests painted in the team’s colors, their hatred for the other side distorting – who spots a noted intellectual having a quiet beer in an opposite corner, Tobin gracefully shares the actual findings of actual courts of law then begins contemplating what drove Gatti to do the thing Brazilian authorities concluded he did do, and the effect of its denial:

“When a family loses one of its own to suicide, a panic descends.  This panic is rooted in the need to understand, to quarantine this act of destruction, to make it intelligible before the suffering borne of mystery spreads.  This process can be quick: if the family recognized the person as capable of suicide, a clear chain of causality, of logic, can be established between the episodes of a traumatic life and its cessation. And identifying this chain brings solace. At that point of death, the dead no longer suffer. And just as important, the living don’t suffer for them. There is no more bearing witness, no more helplessness, no more hope, no more living tied to the mast in the tempest of another’s turmoil. Yes, a suicide like Gatti’s can rend a family’s chronology, forcing parents to live the nightmare of burying their child, but it is beautiful in its power to liberate. It can be heroic.”

That is a remarkable paragraph.  I’ve now read it, re-read it and transcribed it, and I still don’t know if I agree with it, but it enchants me.  It’s a daring turn and one Tobin makes deftly.  It represents a talented writer’s choice: What it is about prizefighting that causes what brain damage might make a father and husband an addict and suicide is a worthier direction than appeasing readers who just want reassurances their favorite fighter never took his own life.

Killed in Brazil? concludes with a loving treatment of Gatti’s son and Gatti’s legacy, completing for its author a circle begun with the book’s dedication.

Bart Barry can be reached via Twitter @bartbarry

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (October 10, 2019) – The Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame (CBHOF) has announced its six-member Class of 2019 to be inducted during the 15th annual CBHOF Gala Induction Dinner on Saturday night, November 9, in the Uncas Ballroom at Mohegan Sun.

The new CBHOF inductees are boxers Arturo “Thunder” Gatti, “Bad” Chad Dawson, Delvin Rodriguez, Eddie Campo and Teddy “Redtop” Davis, as well as referee Arthur Mercante, Sr.

“Once again,” CBHOF president John Laudati said, “the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame has elected a great class of Inductees. The 2019 class includes giants of the sport such as Arturo Gatti and Arthur Mercante, Sr., modern era stars in Delvin Rodriguez and ‘Bad’ Chad Dawson and historically significant fighters Teddy “Red Top” Davis and Eddie Compo. We look forward to seeing all of our boxing fans, family and friends at our gala induction dinner at Mohegan Sun on November 9th. “

Not many remember the first time Hall of Famer Gatti fought in Connecticut. It was in August of 1998. Looking to snap a three-fight losing streak, Gatti took on the 21-3 Reyes Munoz. If you went for a hotdog you might have missed the first-round TKO for Gatti. The second appearance in Connecticut was far more memorable. It was the first in his trilogy with CBHOF member Micky Ward. The rousing affair at the Mohegan Sun Arena was the Fight of the Year in many publications. Ward won a majority decision, but the heart Gatti showed to withstand a brutal barrage in a scintillating Round 9 will forever stay in the minds of the fans who were there that night. Gatti would go on to win the next two fights with Ward. He also beat the 54-3-1 Tracy Harris Patterson to win the IBF super featherweight title. One of his successful title defenses came against the 44-3 Gabriel Ruelas. Gatti moved up to welterweight to take on Oscar De La Hoya, losing by TKO, but earning more respect for his grit. In 2005, Gatti beat Jesse James Leija to capture the WBC super lightweight title. Who did he lose it to? None other than the incomparable Floyd Mayweather Jr. in June of 2005. Gatti had a record of 40-9-0 before his tragic death at the age of 37 in July of 2009.

Dawson’s spectacular career of New Haven light heavyweight product Dawson was appropriately launched at the home for the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame. After a sterling amateur career, Dawson made his pro debut on Aug. 18, 2001 at the Mohegan Sun Casino. He scored a second-round TKO over Steve Garrett. Six of his first 10 fights were at the Mohegan Sun. Twenty one of his 41 fights have been in Connecticut. It was a meteoric rise for Dawson, who began his career 29-0. After beating CBHOF member Eric Harding to capture the NABF light heavyweight title in 2006, Dawson was ready for the 31-0 WBC light heavyweight champion Tomasz Adamek. It was no contest. Dawson battered Adamek in winning the unanimous decision in 2007, hastening the talk of him being one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world at the age of 25. Dawson would go on to defeat some of sport’s heavy hitters. He twice made successful title defenses against Glenn Johnson. He twice beat Antonio Tarver for the IBF and IBO light heavyweight titles. He twice fought the legendary Bernard Hopkins. The first bout Dawson appeared to be winning easily, but it was ruled a no contest. He beat Hopkins easily in the rematch. Dawson was 32-1 when he decided to drop in weight to take on WBC and WBA super middleweight champ Andre Ward, losing by TKO. Dawson remains active with a 37-5 record.

If you look up the word action in the dictionary, don’t be surprised if you see a Rodriguez’ picture. The Danbury product always gave people their money’s worth in a career where he won 19 of his first 21 bouts, including a TKO of 21-2 Luis Hernandez in a bout in May of 2006 that gave Rodriguez the USBA welterweight title. He lost his first title defense against Jesse Feliciano but showed his resilience by beating the 26-2 Oscar Diaz in his hometown of San Antonio to regain the USBA welterweight crown. Not only did Rodriguez beat Diaz in his own backyard, he knocked Diaz out in the 11th round in July of 2008. In March of 2009, Rodriguez would make a successful defense of his title by defeating a 20-1 Shamone Alvarez at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Rodriguez would eventually fight for the WBA super welterweight title, losing a decision to the 24-0 Austin Trout in 2012. In 2013, Rodriguez got a shot at the rugged Miguel Cotto, losing by a TKO. Rodriguez, who also dabbles in broadcasting, finished his career in 2017 with a 29-9-4 record.

Eddie Campagnuolo, aka Eddie Campo, had more letters in his last name than he did defeats in an outstanding professional career. If the name Campagnuolo doesn’t ring a bell, that’s because the featherweight boxer who was born and lived most of his life in New Haven would change his name to Eddie Compo. He wasn’t known as a fearsome puncher with just 14 knockouts in an 11-year career, but his winning percentage is one of the best in boxing history. Compo was 75-10-4. Compo would beat CBHOF inductees Teddy “Redtop” Davis, Julie Kogon, and Chico Vejar in a career where he took on all comers. Compo won his first 25 professional fights, many at the New Haven Arena. There was plenty of buzz around Compo’s world featherweight title fight with CBHOF inductee Willie Pep at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury in September of 1949. That’s because Compo was 57-1-3. Pep was 141-2-1. It may have been the only bout in the history of boxing where the two combatants combined for just under 200 wins with a mere 3 defeats. Pep won with a 7th-round TKO. Compo retired in 1955 and lived to the age of 69 before passing away in 1998.

Born Murray Cain in South Carolina in 1923, Davis struggled at the beginning of his career as a featherweight in the Midwest. He won only one of his first nine professional bouts. But a shift to New England turned his career around. He first made a name for himself by taking the legendary Willie Pep the distance in back-to-back fights in Hartford in 1948. In 1953, Davis captured the USA New England Light title with a victory over the 49-3-1 George Araujo in Boston. Just one month later, Davis made a successful title defense against Araujo in Madison Square Garden. In 1954, Davis would make successful title defenses in Waterbury and New Haven. It wasn’t until 1958 that Davis lost a title fight, bowing to Steve Ward in a bout for the New England Super Light title in Hartford. Davis would also take on the likes of Sandy Saddler, Eddie Compo, and Tony DeMarco in a solid career that spanned 14 years. Davis may have hung on a bit too long. He went 4-22-1 in his final 27 fights, causing his career record to end up at 71-75-6. He was just 42 when he died in 1966.

After refereeing more than 140 world title fights in 47 years, Mercante Sr. retired at the age of 81 in 2001. He would stay around the sport, accompanying his son Arthur Jr. to a fight card in Connecticut in 2004. As related in a 2010 espn.com story by Wallace Matthews, Mercante Jr., also a referee, heard a thump on the floor while staying in a Connecticut hotel with his dad. Fearing the worst, Mercante Jr. scurried to see if his dad had fallen to the floor. “I looked over and he’s down there doing push-ups,” Mercante Jr. related. Mercante Sr. was 84 at the time but he had lost none of the toughness that made him what the New York Times called the “most prominent referee in of the past half century” after the elder Mercante passed away in 2010. Mercante Sr. is best known for being the referee in the first Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier fight in New York in 1971, but he had New England roots. Mercante Sr. was born in Brockton, Mass., where he was a childhood friend of Rocky Marciano. Mercante was also in the Navy, where his commanding officer was Gene Tunney, a former heavyweight champion of the world and a member of the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame. Mercante has also been inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Tickets for the CBHOF 15th annual Gala Induction Dinner, reasonably priced at $90.00, are on sale and available to purchase by calling Ann Murphy at Mohegan Sun (1.860.862.8846) or Sherman Cain at 1.860.212.9029. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. ET, followed by a full sit-down dinner at 7 p.m. ET.

Go online to www.ctboxinghof.org for additional information about the Connecticut Boxing Hall of Fame, its 15th annual Gala Inductee Dinner, event sponsorship opportunities, or past CBHOF inductees.

Miami, OK (February 14, 2017) – On Friday, February 10, boxing fans were treated to a fight of the year candidate between junior welterweights Ivan “The Beast” Baranchyk of Brooklyn, NY and Arizona’s Abel Ramos. The bout took place at the Buffalo Run Casino in the main event of ShoBox: The New Generation. It was a significant fight for both combatants, with Baranchyk looking to move further up the ladder while Ramos hoped to become a player at 140 pounds by taking out his highly regarded foe.

When the matchup was announced, Baranchyk and Ramos were expected to put on an entertaining fight. What ultimately transpired however far exceeded expectations.

For ten rounds, Baranchyk and Ramos had the capacity crowd on their feet cheering on the incredible action. Both men hit the canvas and were badly hurt at different points of the fight, trading punches at a frenetic pace. They bled, brawled and left everything in the ring in a fight that was among the greatest in ShoBox’s 17 year history.

Scores were 99-91, 97-92 and 97-93 for Baranchyk, who is 14-0 with 10 knockouts. Ramos, whose stock went up tremendously in defeat, is 17-2-2 (12 KO’s).

The CompuBox stats were similar to the first showdown between Arturo Gatti and Mickey Ward. Baranchyk and Ramos combined to land 664 total punches and 482 power shots. Gatti-Ward I saw a total of 618 connects with 521 being power punches.

“I believe this has to be the best fight in ShoBox history,” exclaimed Baranchyk’s promoter Tony Holden, who promotes him along with DiBella Entertainment and Fight Promotions Inc. “Ivan is a natural crowd pleaser. He has the biggest heart in boxing and incredible conditioning. Like we saw many times from the late, great Arturo Gatti, Ivan was hurt, bloodied and took a lot of punches but his will powered him to victory. I believe he could become the next Arturo Gatti but there’s still work to do.”

Lou DiBella, who promoted the aforementioned Ward, believes Baranchyk is boxing’s newest action star.

“We got stats from CompuBox and they were almost identical to Gatti-Ward 1 and Corrales-Castillo 1, two of the greatest fights in boxing history. Baranchyk and Ramos put on a fight for the ages and I think the comparison to Gatti-Ward is a good one. Ivan’s offensive mindedness and willingness to take and give punishment is reminiscent of Arturo Gatti. He’s already shown he can get a crowd behind him and that was proven by how quickly the fans in Miami, OK adopted him as if he were one of their own. I really think he can become the Belarusian Gatti.”

NEW YORK/TORONTO (Dec. 23, 2014) – Fight Network is going to celebrate Boxing Day in style this Friday (Dec. 26), airing six fights featuring the late, great Arturo “Thunder” Gatti (40-9, 31 KOs) from 9 a.m. ET — 9 p.m. ET.

Gatti was arguably boxing’s most popular, exciting fighter from his professional debut in 1991 until his retirement in 2007. He had an unearthly knack for sensational comebacks during a fight, as well as for enduring and dishing out tremendous pain.

The native of Italy lived in Montreal and Jersey City (NJ) during his colorful career until his untimely death in 2009. Known by boxing many fans as a “Human Highlight Film” in the ring, he was posthumously induted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in 2012.

Fight Network is a 24/7 television channel dedicated to complete coverage of combat sports. It airs programs focused on the entire scope of the combat sports genre, including live fights and up-to-the-minute news and analysis for boxing, mixed martial arts, kickboxing, professional wrestling, traditional martial arts, fight news, as well as fight-themed drama series, documentaries and feature films.

Below find the Arturo Gatti Marathon programming schedule for this Friday on Fight Network:

9:00 a.m. ET – Calvin Grove (49-8), May 4, 1997 at Caesars Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, NJ

11:00 a.m. ET – Angel Manfredy (22-2-1), Jan. 17, 1998, Convention Hall, Atlantic City, NJ

1:00 p.m. ET – Oscar de la Hoya (32-2), Mar, 24, 2001, MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV

3:00 p.m. ET – Terron Millett (26-2-1), Jan. 26, 2002, Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

5:00 p.m. – Micky Ward (37-11), May 18, 2002, Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, CT

7:00 p.m. – Micky Ward (38-11), Nov. 23, 2002, Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, NJ

Gatti-Ward I was the consensus 2002 Fight of the Year, round nine the Round of the Year. The late Emanuel Steward, who was the HBO color commentator for Gatti-Ward I, called it (9th rd.) the mythical Round of the Century.

Information:

www.FightNetwork.com

Twitter & Instagram @fightnet

www.Facebook.com/FightNetwork

ABOUT FIGHT NETWORK: Fight Network is the world’s premier combat sports network dedicated to 24/7 coverage, including fights, fighters, fight news and fight lifestyle. The channel is available in the U.S. on Cablevision in parts of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, Texas-based Grande Communications, Armstrong Cable in Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, as well as on Shentel Cable in Virginia, West Virginia and portions of western Maryland. Fight Network is also on Roku set top boxes in the U.S. and Canada and available on all major carriers in Canada and more than 30 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Fight Network recently launched on live streaming website KlowdTV.com.

Recognized as sports television’s best storyteller and the leading TV platform for boxing, HBO Sports presents five of its acclaimed boxing documentaries on consecutive Thursday evenings this summer on HBO2. Featuring HBO Sports’ trademark blend of unseen archival footage, home movies, revealing interviews and unique storytelling, the festival launches June 26 with the powerful ALI-FRAZIER I: ONE NATION… DIVISIBLE and concludes with the celebrated 2013 presentation LEGENDARY NIGHTS: THE TALE OF GATTI-WARD.

Films include:

ALI-FRAZIER I: ONE NATION… DIVISIBLE (June 26, 7:00 p.m. ET/PT) chronicles the remarkable events and personalities surrounding the fight that reflected the cultural divide of the United States in the ‘60s and early ‘70s. Regarded by many boxing observers as “The Fight of the Century,” the match featured two undefeated heavyweights squaring off at New York’s Madison Square Garden in a contest that was much more than a title bout. The documentary was awarded a prestigious George Foster Peabody Award in 2001.

SUGAR RAY ROBINSON: THE BRIGHT LIGHTS AND DARK SHADOWS OF A CHAMPION (July 3, 7:00 p.m.) reviews the life of the man many consider the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in history. The Sports Emmy®-winning documentary explores his unparalleled ring career, the innovations he brought to the business side of the sport and his intriguing lifestyle.

JOE LOUIS: AMERICA’S HERO… BETRAYED (July 10, 6:45 p.m.) tells the story of the legendary boxer, born 100 years ago, and his tremendous impact on segregated America. The documentary reveals how the grandson of slaves became one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, served as an iconic figure in World War II and later carried himself with dignity and class through numerous setbacks.

KLITSCHKO (July 17, 6:00 p.m.) chronicles the dynamic brotherhood of Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko from their humble beginnings in the Soviet Union to their dominance as reigning world heavyweight champions. A production of BROADVIEW Pictures funded by FILM-UND MEDIENSTIFTUNG NRW, the documentary was directed by Sebastian Dehnhardt and nominated for the 2013 Sports Emmy® for Outstanding Sports Documentary.

LEGENDARY NIGHTS: THE TALE OF GATTI-WARD (July 24, 6:30 p.m.) revisits one of boxing’s greatest rivalries: the three-fight slugfest between Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward. The blend of interviews, thrilling ring action and previously unseen archival footage presents a fresh look at the electrifying trilogy forged by two ring warriors.

Following its Thursday night presentation on HBO2, each documentary will also be available on HBO On Demand® and HBO GO®.

It’s probably just a scheduling coincidence, but the suggestion is there Saturday night in HBO’s decision to air its beautifully-done Legendary Nights: The Tale Of Gatti-Ward after the Mike Alvarado-Ruslan Provodnikov fight in Denver.

Arturo Gatti-Micky Ward stands alone. Their three-fight rivalry is called a classic because it can’t be duplicated. But that doesn’t mean we can’t hope.

Alvarado (34-1, 23 KOs) is smart enough not to promise one in junior-welterweight bout he knows will be challenging enough against Provodnikov (22-2, 15 KOs), who is already on the ballot for a Fight of the Year contender with his dramatic loss to Timothy Bradley in March. Classics are good for history. But they aren’t easy on careers.

“When I sit here and think about it, it’s kind of scary,’’ Alvarado said when asked about the Gatti-Ward parallel during a conference call. “Those dudes about killed each other. That’s a big step. Those are some big names to categorize ourselves with. It’s an honor to be in that kind of fight. We’ll see what happens. I am ready to perform and show greatness.’’

HBO’s documentary of Gatti and Ward, also junior-welterweights, is a poignant portrayal of two fighters who will be forever tied together by the violence they shared. They were Blood Brothers in the truest sense of the term.

“We could see in front of our eyes this bond starting to form,’’ ringside analyst and philosopher Larry Merchant says during the film. “It was a bond of pain and respect, and it couldn’t be written in a script. It had to be seen live; seen happening in front of our eyes.’’

Alvarado-Provonikov is scheduled to begin at 9:45 p.m., ET/PT. The Ward-Gatti documentary will follow the bout, scheduled for 12 rounds. Other HBO dates for Ward-Gatti film are Oct. 21, Oct. 24, Oct. 26. Oct. 30 and Nov. 3.

NOTES
· One of the best lines in Ward-Gatti came from Kathy Duva, who promoted the late Gatti. “At one point, somebody said he was sort of boxing’s answer to The Grateful Dead,’’ she said. “You had this same group of people that kept coming over and over and over.’’

· Here’s a new guide for the pound-for-pound ratings: If Floyd Mayweather Jr. won’t fight them, they should be ranked. That means Manny Pacquiao stays in this corner’s top five. Also, it probably means Bradley belongs there. After his victory over Juan Manuel Marquez, Bradley said he should be No. 3. He also said he wanted Mayweather. Don’t see that happening. Bradley’s tactical mastery makes him a problematic opponent, even for Mayweather, who probably wouldn’t fight a Top Rank boxer anyway.

· Marquez trainer Nacho Beristain’s sour grapes about Bradley’s split-decision at Las Vegas’ Thomas & Mack Center were insulting and more. They didn’t ring true. When Marquez agreed to the fight, Beristain told Mexican media that he didn’t like the bout. He said Bradley had the kind of style that always gave Marquez trouble. Beristain was right. Yet, he whined anyway. Give me a break.

· During an informal session with media members before Bradley-Marquez on Oct. 14, Gennady Golovkin said he would still like to fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., despite Chavez’ messy performance and inability to make the contracted weight, 168 pounds, in a controversial decision over Brian Vera. The weight question is ballooning into issue that could knock Chavez off Golovkin’s list of possibilities. Golovkin says he’ll fight anybody between junior-middleweight (154) and super-middle (168). But he doesn’t want to fight a cruiserweight (200).

· And Top Rank has scheduled onetime Phoenix prospect Jose Benavidez Jr.,17-0 as a junior-welterweight, for a comeback on Nov. 16 in Laughlin, Nev. An opponent has yet to be determined. Benavidez hasn’t fought since he was rocked in a victory by unanimous decision over Pavel Miranda a year ago in Carson, Calif. It’ll be his first fight since undergoing further surgery on a troublesome right hand.

HBO Sports, winner of nine George Foster Peabody Awards and 33 Sports Emmys® for documentaries, presents a new installment of the acclaimed LEGENDARY NIGHTS boxing documentary series this month when THE TALE OF GATTI-WARD looks back at one of boxing’s greatest rivalries, spotlighting the three-fight slugfest between Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward. Blending archival footage and new material shot this summer, the exclusive HBO presentation debuts SATURDAY, OCT. 19 (12 midnigh ET/PT), exclusively on HBO, immediately following “World Championship Boxing: Mike Alvarado vs. Ruslan Provodnikov,” which begins at 9:45 p.m.

Other HBO playdates: Oct. 21 (9:15 a.m.), 24 (5:10 p.m., 12:05 a.m.), 26 (11:00 a.m., 4:45 a.m.) and 30 (1:00 p.m., 1:00 a.m.), and Nov. 3 (7:55 a.m.), 7 (9:00 p.m.) and 15 (7:30 p.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Oct. 23 (6:00 a.m., 10:00 p.m.) and 29 (11:30 p.m., 4:50 a.m.), and Nov. 2 (2:45 p.m.), 10 (8:45 a.m.) and 12 (4:30 p.m.)
The special will also be available on HBO On Demand and HBO GO.
“2013 marks the tenth anniversary of the third fight of the landmark Gatti vs. Ward trilogy, so now is the ideal moment to revisit this classic rivalry,” says Ken Hershman, president, HBO Sports. “This retrospective will offer new perspectives and deliver revealing insights on the two ring warriors who produced this all-time great moment in boxing history. Combined with the ‘World Championship Boxing’ presentation from Denver, this ensures a memorable night of boxing programming on HBO.”
LEGENDARY NIGHTS: THE TALE OF GATTI-WARD revisits the unforgettable three-fight trilogy authored by junior welterweights Arturo Gatti of Jersey City, NJ and Micky Ward of Lowell, Mass. Over the course of 13 months, these two throwback sluggers engaged in 30 electrifying rounds of action, with Gatti winning both Atlantic City bouts (Nov. 23, 2002 and June 7, 2003), following Ward’s dramatic triumph in the opener (May 18, 2002) in Uncasville, Conn. The film also documents Ward’s journey this past June to Canastota, NY for Gatti’s posthumous induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
The first 2002 battle was named Fight of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America, and the three fights have been widely celebrated as one of boxing’s greatest rivalries.
THE TALE OF GATTI-WARD features HBO Sports’ acclaimed blend of new interviews and thrilling fight action, highlighted by previously unseen archival footage and new material shot in summer 2013. All three fights aired live on HBO, featuring the ringside commentary of Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant and the late Emanuel Steward on the first and third fights. Lampley, Merchant and George Foreman called the second bout.
In a remarkable twist, Ward wound up being Gatti’s trainer for his final pro fight, against Alfonso Gomez in July 2007. Gatti fought 21 times on HBO in his pro career, while Ward appeared six times on HBO.
Interview subjects include: HBO Boxing host Jim Lampley; boxing commentator Larry Merchant; referee Frank Cappuccino; promoters Lou DiBella and Kathy Duva; Micky Ward and his wife, Charlene; former fighter Dicky Eklund; Gatti manager Pat Lynch; trainer Buddy McGirt; and writer Ron Borges.
Celebrating the most memorable fights in the network’s 40 years of presenting the sweet science, LEGENDARY NIGHTS captured the Sports Emmy® Award for Outstanding Edited Sports Series when it debuted in 2003.
LEGENDARY NIGHTS: THE TALE OF GATTI-WARD is executive produced by Rick Bernstein; directed by Bentley Weiner and Gabriel Spitzer; senior producer, Dave Harmon; creative director, Bill McCullough; editor, Fernando Villegas; writer, Aaron Cohen; director of photography, Thom Stukas; original score composed by Jose Cancela & Amy Beauchamp; narrator, Mark Wahlberg.

Highlights of LEGENDARY NIGHTS: THE TALE OF GATTI-WARD:
On the fighters:
Boxing commentator Larry Merchant: “Micky defined the essence of the journeyman fighter. After all, he was still working as a road grader while his career was going on, but he was a serious prizefighter and he raised his game to a place that few fighters of that type or stripe ever do.”
Gatti manager Pat Lynch: “It’s funny, the first time I met [Arturo Gatti] he told me he was going to be a world champion, which I kind of shrugged off. You know, this young, 19-year-old kid coming down from Canada. Not cocky, but confident.”
Gatti promoter Kathy Duva: “At one point, somebody said he was sort of ‘boxing’s answer to the Grateful Dead.’ You had this same group of people that kept coming over and over and over.”
On the first fight:
HBO Broadcaster Jim Lampley: “I was trying to tell all my friends why this was must-see TV. It was truly an insider’s prizefight. I don’t know how many of the fans who came to Mohegan Sun [for the first fight] that night really understood what they were about to see.”
Fighter Micky Ward: “It’s weird, but I was actually proud of [Arturo]…I know how hard it is to go through that and continue…I can actually say I was proud of him for being that tough.”
On their friendship:
Micky Ward: “Arturo will be a part of me forever. The memories will be in my mind forever. Our fights will be in my head forever. We’ll be linked forever throughout boxing history together. So we’ll be together forever.”
Ward promoter Lou DiBella: “I think they both understood in their own ways the historic significance of what they’d just gone through.”
Kathy Duva: “Somehow the whole became much greater than the sum of its parts. The two of them together created history. Neither one could have done it by himself. But together, they became iconic.”

For the first time in 13 years, and leave it to local world champion “Mile High” Mike Alvarado to do it, the Denver area will host a world championship boxing event. A sellout crowd is expected. It will be broadcast live on HBO beginning 9:45 pm ET and will be book-ended with some incredible programming for boxing fans — the replay of last week’s Timothy Bradley – Juan Manuel Márquez world welterweight title fight before and Legendary Nights: The Tale of Gatti-Ward, following the live fight.

BOB ARUM: There is not much I can say as a promoter. You don’t have to sell this fight. Everyone that knows anything about boxing knows that this fight will be a candidate for ‘Fight of the Year.” Two great warriors – two guys that entertain the public. You don’t need a sales pitch for this one and it’s showing at the box office as there are so few tickets left and by fight time it will be sold out.

ARTIE PELULLO: Bob has said it all about what the fight is going to be. It’s a great television fight, a fan-friendly fight. These guys don’t know any other way other than to come right at you. It will be another “Fight of the Year” candidate. Mike Alvarado is a great champion and Ruslan is hungry and wants to fight. He’s been doing this for 5 ½ years and is no stranger to fighting in others’ hometowns – as he has never fought in his. I have been promoting events for over 30 years and for the first time fifteen family members are coming out to see the fight – a first for me. I would like to introduce Ruslan and his manager Vadim Kornilov, two young kids grateful for the opportunity Mike Alvarado has given them.

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: It has been an extraordinary training camp. We have been in camp for eight weeks and it’s almost over. We are adding the final touches this week and it’s never been better. Every muscle and bone in my body is ready to go.

MIKE ALVARADO: This is exciting. It’s a dream come true to defend this title in my hometown and having all of my main supporters here. It’s a blessing. Training camp has been great and I’m ready to get in there and do what I always do – win this fight and retain this title and go on to bigger and better things. I’m excited about it. At the end of this week everyone is going to see a great performance out of me.

HENRY DELGADO: Mike never needs extra motivation to fight but I have seen extra effort in this training camp. We have to tell him to back off a little bit. It’s going to be an exciting fight. The whole city is on fire – everywhere you go people are talking about the fight. This is a great thing for Denver. They have the Broncos, the Rockies and now Mike Alvarado is on the scene. There is great buzz in the city so tune into the fight – there is going to be some fireworks.

How do you feel about the expectations of this fight?

MIKE ALVARADO: All of our fights have been top-caliber fights. The anticipation is from the wars that we have been in tells us that this fight has ‘War’ written all over it and there’s a good chance that this fight will turn into that. I have a good game plan and I know how I’m going to box to win this fight, but you never know, this fight could turn into a crazy war and we could see Rios I all over again.

Do you expect that to happen again after 4 or 5 in a row?

MIKE ALVARADO: I am not expecting a war because of the way I have been training and how I’ve seasoned as a professional. I know I am going to stay strong, boxing and focused on my game plan to make the fight go the way I need it to go and not make it a war. But you never know – that one show could change the fight around.

HBO has positioned this fight to be broadcast the same night as the special Legendary Nights: The Tale of Gatti-Ward, the all-action trilogy. How does that make you feel?

MIKE ALVARADO: When I sit here and think about it, it’s kind of scary, those dudes about killed each other. That’s a big step. Those are some big names to categorize ourselves with. It’s an honor to be in that kind of fight. We’ll see what happens. I am ready to perform and show greatness.

How do you feel about he expectations?

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: I try not to think about that and not to worry about that. My job is to get ready for the fight and to come in and do what I do best.

How do you expect Alvarado to approach you in the fight?

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: I’m sure Mike is 100% ready for this fight and is approaching this fight very seriously. He said he is going to try and box me and I am ready for anything. I can also box, I am not only a brawler and we can compete in any style that he chooses. I think if Mike chooses to box it will be better for me because I think that Mike is a better brawler than he is a boxer.

What type of fight do you feel it will evolve into?

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: I think we are going to have to fight no matter what. Whether it will be one punch, but I think it will turn into a fight no matter what. I don’t think either of us can run for the entire fight and I don’t think he’ll be able to box with me as well as he thinks. This will turn into a fight. If I can make Timothy Bradley fight me I don’t think there is anyone that won’t end up fighting me.

What did he think about Bradley’s fight on Saturday?

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: I was not surprised at all. I know Timothy Bradley is a great champion. He comes in prepared for all of his fights and he was 100% ready. I saw what I expected to see, Timothy Bradley outbox Marquez. I heard Marquez say that he was going to have to finish him off after Ruslan and knowing the type of fighter that Timothy Bradley is, I didn’t think that would happen. He couldn’t finish him off. Timothy is a warrior and he was going to come in and fight. Bradley fought the way he fought because Marquez let him fight that way. You cannot beat Timothy Bradley by boxing – you need to pressure him and break him down inside and outside and to the body – that’s the only way you can beat that guy. You cannot box him. I think that’s the main mistake Juan Manuel Marquez made, he thought he could beat him by boxing. I was not surprised at how the fight went but surprised that one of the judges gave it to Marquez. I get more and more surprised by the judging in every fight I watch and wonder what fight they are watching.

You are the only one to hurt Bradley. What does that say about you and boxers?

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: It’s up to you guys and the fans to summarize the fight. I didn’t come into the ring to move around and box. I came into the ring not to box but to win the fight. I wasn’t looking for the easy way out and to box him. I knew I needed to break him – that’s a risk but I knew I had to take it to win.

Are you worried about not having Freddie Roach at the fight?

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: From the beginning we knew there was a chance that Freddie would not be in the corner on the day of the fight. We knew he had obligations to Manny Pacquiao. We trained with Freddie for eight weeks exactly and it has been an awesome training camp. Also we have been working on how we defeat Mike Alvarado. It has all come together. I am going to have Freddie’s assistant Marvin Somodio in my corner. Marvin has been there every day and I know what to do. I know what to do once the fight comes. I am not worried about Freddie not being there. He is obviously the backbone of our team – he is the captain and I had hoped he could be there, there is a chance he could be there on fight night but I am ready if he’s not.

What did you think about Bradley-Marquez?

MIKE ALVARADO: Bradley fought great. He obviously did what he had to do. He had a game plan together to win that fight and he stuck to it. He didn’t let Marquez take him out of his game like Ruslan did and executed to win the fight. I give Tim a lot of credit. He’s a great champion and it was a good fight to watch. He fought the wrong fight against Provodnikov and he recovered well from that. He walked in there thinking he was going to be able to walk thru him and that type of fight happens. Every fight is different and that’s how that fight had to end up. I fought in that same venue, same ring and same referee so I knew what he was going through. My fight (with Rios) turned into the same kind of fight so maybe it’s something about that place. But on Saturday, he fought great and put on a great performance.

But the referee stopped your fight and let Bradley go on…

MIKE ALVARADO: I didn’t get the opportunity to come back and show that I could fight back from what was going on in that moment. I was disappointed, but it is what it is and the referee had to do his job and I’m just glad I redeemed myself to prove what should have happened. So I’m happy where I am now and ready to put on another good performance.

Are you puzzled that you didn’t get a bigger fight since beating Rios?

MIKE ALVARADO: That’s just the way it goes sometimes with the negotiations and the way fights get set up. I am ready for this fight and know that those fights will still be available. It is a dream come true to bring the title home to my hometown – to be able to perform in front of these people. I can’t take away from that and all those other bigger fights are yet to come and I’ll be ready for them.

Do you think your boxing could be the difference in this fight?

MIKE ALVARADO: I think it will be the difference. In my training and I have learned and developed that. Experimenting with it in my last fight with Rios gave me confidence that I can adjust in a fight. Sticking to my game plan, keeping the focus and not letting it break into a fight like that is the plan. Keeping the focus is what I have to do to win this fight.

How have the demands been on your time while training and fighting in hometown?

MIKE ALVARADO: I have been able to keep my focus and my eyes on my game plan. It’s exciting to me and I’m very hyped up for this moment in my life and I am ready for what I need to do. Its here and its coming really soon. I have the support from everyone and it is a dream feeling. I’m ready for it and I can’t wait.

Mauricio Herrera is a common opponent. How are you different now?

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: I watched the fight between Herrera and Alvarado and you could see that Mike was going toe-to-toe with him. When I fought him there was moving a lot and clinching a lot and didn’t want to fight me. He won the fight by holding me and moving around. Both fights were great fights. For me, it was something I had to go through in my career in order to change and it was a changing point for me. Now I am fighting with the greatest trainer and having a great training camp. I am definitely more experienced and a different fighter now.

ARTIE PELULLO: Marvin Somodio is not a replacement for the corner – he has been training with Ruslan every day.

BOB ARUM: Freddie met Somodio in the Philippines. He is a kid that has worked in the camp with Manny and Freddie and he has come to America and is working out of Freddie’s gym. He speaks perfect English and can understand everything that his being said. Even though Ruslan uses an interpreter on the call he is fluent in English.

ARTIE PELULLO: Vadim would also be there to translate whatever needs to be done. Vadim does the translation when it is not 100% clear in the action of the moment and now he would be doing it for Marvin as he did it for Freddie.

VADIM KORNILOV: Freddie has not yet confirmed that he will no be there on fight night. It is just something that we are expecting because he is training Manny right now. I have been translating in the corner for the past 15 fights.

Are you worried about being in too many wars?

MIKE ALVARADO: It hasn’t caught up to me yet. Being in those kinds of fights has made me that much better as a fighter. Being in fights like that has helped me adjust into being a better boxer. Being in wars can take a toll and can catch up to you. It has helped with my training also. We have brought in Rudy Hernandez who helped with different training methods and the experience he has been through. I am still learning and becoming a better boxer that will help in those kinds of wars.

BOB ARUM: Let me say this. If you are watching fights on HBO, there are no more appearance fights. The fights are competitive. The fights are hard fights. HBO pays the most money and they expect their subscribers to get the most value. It’s not about picking and choosing. We all know that some like picking an easy fight after a tough fight and you can still do that but HBO isn’t going to pay for it.

What is your best chance of winning?

MIKE ALVARADO: Provodnikov is not used to fighting backwards as well. There are a lot of different training methods we have used as well for this fight. Boxing will come in handy and there are other tactics we will use as well. This fight is going to be very interesting. I am going to go in there and use what I worked on for this fight. Boxing is going to definitely be an option, but fighting is a huge option as well. This is a must-see fight and anything can happen.

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: I think that Timothy Bradley and Mike Alvarado are two different fighters. Bradley is a lot more awkward than Mike is and comparing their boxing styles… I don’t compare them as boxers. I compare them as two different style fighters. I think my fight with Alvarado will be more interesting that the Bradley fight because I think there will be more moments of exchanging in this one so I don’t see the point in comparing the two fighters.

What has to happen for you to win the fight?

MIKE ALVARADO: It’s each fighter and how he adapts to how the other fighter is bringing the fight. Adjustments are huge at this level and that’s where the corner comes in and gives instructions on how to adjust. Whoever adjusts best will overcome.

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: Obviously like in any fight, the fighter is going to have to adjust. But like I said before, whoever has the strongest will is going to win this fight. Whoever has the most willpower, whoever is stronger mentally is going to win this fight.

MIKE ALVARADO: I’ve been in these kinds of fights before and I know how they can end up. I am very strong mentally and very strong-willed. I’ve been there before and need to use my will to make the fight go my way. I’m ready to put on a great show and ready to win this fight.

BOB ARUM: We all know it’s going to be a great fight. We don’t have to keep asking the same questions over and over again. These guys are warriors. They are going to come to fight. Yea, there will be some good boxing. What we are going to see is really a knock-down fight. You can ask the questions seventeen different ways and the answers are all the same.

RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV: A lot of different fighters have had a plan when coming into the ring with me but usually in fights with guys like Mike Alvarado and myself the plan changes after the first punch. That is my hope for this fight

MIKE ALVARADO: I am ready to go and perform and put on a good show and I hope that everybody enjoys it.

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Denver’s very own homegrown world champion “Mile High” MIKE ALVARADO will make the first defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) interim junior welterweight title a “home game”, when he battles No. 1 contender the “Siberian Rocky” RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV of Russia, This Saturday! October 19, at 1STBANK Center in nearby Broomfield, Colo. This marks the area’s first world championship fight featuring a local fighter since September 15, 2000 when former World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight champion Stevie Johnston unsuccessfully challenged defending WBC lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo, via majority draw, at Pepsi Center. Alvarado vs. Provodnikov will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing®, beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT.

Alvarado (34-1, 23 KOs) and Provodnikov (22-2, 15 KOs) enter this world title tilt fresh from Fight of the Year performances that took place in March, just two weeks apart from each other, and were televised on HBO®. They boast a combined record of 56-3 (38 KOs) — a winning percentage of 95% and a victory by knockout ratio of 68%.

Promoted by Top Rank® and Banner Promotions, in association with Tecate, remaining tickets to the Alvarado vs. Provodnikov world title fight event, priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25, plus applicable fees and taxes, can be purchased online at TicketHorse.com, order by phone at 866-461-6556 and at Tickethorse kiosks located at all Colorado Dick’s Sporting Goods Stores (for credit card purchases only).

For fight updates go to www.toprank.com, www.banner-promotions.com or www.hbo.com/boxing, on Facebook at facebook.com/trboxing, facebook.com/trboxeo, facebook.com/banner-promotions or facebook.com/hboboxing, and on Twitter at twitter.com/trboxing, twitter.com/trboxeo, twitter.com/bannerboxing or twitter.com/hboboxing.

CANASTOTA, NY – For a generation of boxing fans, Arturo “Thunder” Gatti was an unforgettable hero of the boxing ring. His many extraordinary battles were some of the most exciting and treasured wars of modern boxing history, and his large and loyal fan base has always maintained that he was one of the sport’s most valued performers. Today, the International Boxing Hall of Fame made it official by announcing that Gatti would be enshrined as a member of the IBHOF at their annual ceremony on June 7, 2013 in Canastota, NY.

Gatti, who compiled a 40-9, 31 KOs, record over his 16-year professional career, was elected in his first year of eligibility. Election to the Hall of Fame is the ultimate honor in the world of boxing.

He was a two-time world champion, winning the IBF junior lightweight title in 1995, and the WBC junior welterweight title in 2004. However, Gatti was a fighter who transcended boxing titles, and could pack arenas whether or not the championship was on the line. His string of sold out events at the cavernous Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City set records and earned him the nickname “The Bruce Springsteen of Boxing”, for his ability to attract fans and sell tickets.

His career included four bouts selected by The Ring as the “Fight of the Year” (1997, 1998, 2002 & 2003), and several other fights that were in contention through the years. Gatti was a staple on HBO, making his debut on the network with his December 15, 1998 title-winning effort against Tracy Harris Patterson at Madison Square Garden. His long-term contract with HBO ran until the end of his career in 2007.

Gatti’s thrilling style and ability to rally when seemingly on the brink of defeat branded him as the “Human Highlight Reel”. Of all his memorable performances, it is likely that Gatti is best remembered for his legendary trilogy of bouts with Micky Ward. The rivalry was named the second greatest boxing trilogy in history (behind only Ali-Frazier), and is permanently etched in the memory of everyone who watched these three rousing fights.

He fought his entire career with Main Events as his promoter and Pat Lynch as his manager, a rare exhibit of loyalty in modern day boxing.

“Arturo Gatti will live on in our memories, and the memories of his legion of fans, as a boxing legend,” said Kathy Duva, Main Events CEO. “Therefore, it is fitting that the Hall of Fame has chosen to include him among the many legends whose memories are preserved for all time in Canastota. I know that someday being included there meant a great deal to Arturo during his lifetime, as he spoke about it from time to time. His inclusion in the hall is an honor that he richly deserves.”

“I was extremely happy when I got the news that Arturo was inducted,” said Pat Lynch. “It was such an honor and a privilege to work with him. My only wish is that Arturo could be here to enjoy it.”

The International Boxing Hall of Fame induction ceremony is the centerpiece of an all-star weekend in Canastota, NY, where boxing fans and fighters gather every year to honor the very best of the sport.

The nickname is Bam Bam. Bold and Bolder might be more appropriate for Brandon Rios, who isn’t afraid of promises or punishment.

Rios’ confrontation with Mike Alvarado on Oct. 13 at Carson, Calif., is generating buzz about a possible Fight of the Year. But Rios raised the bar, or at least the blood lust, for a junior-welterweight bout that could upstage the main event, Nonito Donaire versus Toshiaki Nishioka.

“A Micky Ward-Arturo Gatti kind of fight,’’ Rios said Thursday during a conference call.

For bruises, danger and drama, Ward-Gatti is the modern standard. It’s not the sort of fight that Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Andre Ward would seek. They see themselves as scientists who try to balance their craft with a sweet balance of offense and defense. Their philosophy has been heard for as long as there has been an opening bell. They live by one credo: Hit and not get hit. Delete the not from that formula and add as many hits as possible, and you’ve got a pretty good idea at what Rios hopes to inflict and perhaps endure.

That stretch of canvas between the ropes is no checker board for Rios, who is moving up in weight, to 140 pounds, after a controversial failure to make the lightweight limit, 135. He has no patience for what he calls “little chess games.’’

When Rios looks at the unbeaten Alvarado, he could be looking into a mirror. He sees a similar style and the same stubborn streak of pride that demands, if not welcomes, a walk though harm’s way.

“It’s going to be a bloody, massacre fight,’’ said Rios, who told trainer Robert Garcia that he has been dreaming about a chance to do battle in a fight that would be the equal of Gatti-Ward. “I’ve been telling Robert since I started as a professional I’ve been waiting for that type of fight and hopefully this is that fight.’’

Whether that chance will be there in an outdoor ring above the Home Depot Center’s tennis court, however, depends on Alvarado. Alvarado’s trainer, Henry Delgado, left it open-ended as to whether Rios will encounter the Alvarado he expects.

Fans and media have yet to see Alvarado’s boxing skill, Delgado says. His instincts draw him into exchanges from which there is no retreat.

“He makes it tougher than it has to be, because he’s a warrior,’’ Delgado said. “But we’ve got some surprises coming. We have options, lots of options.’’

Options are often forgotten after the first big punch lands, of course. That’s when even the most seasoned fighter reverts to what he knows and does best.

“He looks to come forward; I like to come forward,’’ said Rios, who says there’s nothing new about a heavier weight which he believes makes him stronger and able to hit with the power of a welterweight. “I don’t change my style.’’

Or his hopes of realizing a dream that many avoid like a nightmare.

Tyson can’t escape 20-year-old controversy
New Zealand’s withdrawal of Mike Tyson’s request to enter the country because of his conviction for raping Desiree Washington is just another sad chapter in a 20-year-old controversy.

Tyson, who was scheduled to speak at series of events in New Zealand, has long denied that he committed the crime. Legal experts, including Harvard professor Alan Dershowitz, criticized the 1992 Indianapolis trial and Tyson’s legal defense.

In 2001, Tyson underwent a lie-detector test in Phoenix, where he was living at the time. According to test results acquired by The Arizona Republic, Tyson was truthful when he said he did not rape Washington. But the conviction will always be on his record. Fair or not, it also will always be there for people seeking to make political capital out of it, no matter what he says or they believe.

AZ Notes
Unbeaten Phoenix prospect Jose Benavidez Jr. (16-0, 13 KOs) has a change in opponents for his undercard appearance on Donaire- Nishioka undercard on Oct. 13. Benavidez now is scheduled to face Pavel Miranda (17-7-1, 7 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico.

Iron Boy Promotions of Phoenix is back at Celebrity Theatre Saturday, Oct. 6, with a card full of young fighters, including Phoenix super-bantamweight Emilio Garcia (6-0-1) against Jensen Ramirez (2-1-1) of Tucson. Opening bell is scheduled for 6 p.m.