Failed Bout a Symptom of Boxing Illnesses

If you’re a fan of battling press releases, then boxing is the sport with unparalleled action.

There will be no fight between junior middleweight contenders Vanes Martirosyan and Alfredo Angulo. Ranked number one and two respectively by the World Boxing Council, it was anticipated the two men would meet on Nov. 5 in Cancun, Mexico in a title elimination bout that would have been televised by HBO.

However, like many fights in boxing that are highly anticipated but ultimately never come to fruition, this is another in a long line of match-ups that for a myriad of reasons will likely never see the light of day.

The finger pointing began shortly after an inflammatory worded press release issued by Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions entitled “Vanes Martirosyan turns down chance of a lifetime against Alfredo Angulo” appeared yesterday via email.

In the release, that read like an indictment, all of the blame was heaped upon Martirosyan, who is a nice young kid and also undefeated at 30-0 (19)KO.

“It was going to be a November to remember...or so fight fans thought” is how the missive began. [The fight was] “…slated to be aired by HBO, giving both fighters the platform every top level fighter craves. In this case however, it was only Angulo who craved it.”


Besmirched contender Vanes Martirosyan pictured here keeping in shape while working the speed bag.

There are differing opinions as to whether it was only Angulo that craved the bout. Team Martirosyan had issues with many of the conditions under which the bout would have been contested. The fight was to have taken place in Mexico, home of both Angulo and the world headquarters of the WBC. The purse money was rumored to be a lowly wage for a fight of such supposed magnitude.

Hours later, in a counterpunch of a press release, Martirosyan’s manager of the moment Steven Feder (they dissolved their relationship Friday) offered up an interesting thesis and fired back as to why his man turned the fight down.

“First, we were the number one contender for the WBC belt when they let (Saul) Alvarez fight a welterweight (Mathew Hatton) for the belt. To appease Vanes, they let him fight for the Silver belt. Vanes won the belt so he was again set to fight Alvarez. Then they ordered Vanes to fight Angulo in another eliminator. We said “okay” again, and then they said that it would have to be in Mexico. We would have agreed, but to top it off, they offered just a little more money to Vanes than what he got when he fought Joe Greene in New York, so we had to say no.”

It should be pointed out that Saul Alvarez is the current and undefeated WBC junior middleweight titlist and is signed to a promotional contract with Golden Boy Promotions. At 21-years-old he is perceived to be the “golden goose” of the company - its future if you will.

However, many followers of the sport and those within the industry believe: (a.) he has been protected and coddled by his promoter all along the journey to his world title (b.) he is the favorite son of the WBC (c.) his talent does not match the hype (d.) Martirosyan, if given the chance to fight Alvarez, would likely win.

“I think Golden Boy did well to protect their champion,” continued Feder in the release. “They knew we were going to turn down the Angulo fight under these conditions beforehand.”


Once feared, Alfredo Angulo is attempting to get back into title contention. He is currently unable to secure Visa to enter the United States.

Quotes attributed to Angulo in the release (a recent Golden Boy Promotions acquisition who has had promotional, managerial and immigration problems) also points the finger of blame directly at Martirosyan.

“We offered him everything in this fight, the winner would fight in a WBC world title fight, neutral officials so he wouldn't feel uncomfortable about fighting in Mexico and he would have made three times more for this fight than he's ever made before,” said Angulo. “I guess he loves that 30-0 record more than actually fighting real fights against real fighters.”

Serge Martirosyan, who is Vanes’ uncle and manager stated the following in the Martirosyan release: “While it is always an honor to fight on HBO and to face a great fighter such as Angulo, the circumstances have to be right. Both Angulo and Vanes are warriors. In my opinion they would both beat all of the belt holders at 154 pounds. Why should they fight each other now without a belt involved? They can fight later in a unification fight for a lot more money. I think it would be a really good fight and I can see why the fans want to see it but these guys work their asses off their whole life to get to this point. Angulo and Vanes both deserve to get compensated accordingly for this fight. These other champs at 154 are fighting welterweights. They should be fighting top-10 ranked junior middleweights and not welterweights. They should fight Angulo and Vanes.”

In the end, it will be Golden Boy Promotions, Angulo and the WBC that will have the final say in this war of words.

For rejecting the offer, Martirosyan will be unfairly punished. It is more than probable the WBC will withdraw his number one ranking and blackball him in the future. In the coming weeks, expect an announcement from Golden Boy trumpeting a WBC elimination match-up between Angulo and a less deserving opponent in a title elimination bout on the same date in November in Cancun and on HBO. For standing up to Golden Boy, Martirosyan will face an uncertain future.

“On one hand I'm shocked, but on the other, this doesn't really surprise me,” is apparently what Angulo stated to Monica Sears, Golden Boy’s press release writer. “Vanes Martirosyan is a tough guy, but only on the Internet. He calls everybody out, says he's not getting big fights, but then when he gets offered the opportunity of a lifetime, he turns it down. He needs to get out from behind his computer where he likes to talk about me and get into the ring where he can fight me.”

The wars in those boxing press releases can get nasty. It’s about the only place a boxing fan can get any action these days.


September 2011

Vitali Klitschko a Goliath in Boxing Trunks

WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitscko will meet Tomasz Adamek today in Wroclaw, Poland. He is seen here putting the finishing touches on his training.

He might be 40 years-old, but at at a towering 6'7 1/2” tall and 243 pounds of muscle and bone, Vitali Klitschko is most probably one of the scariest middle-aged men on the face of the planet. Don't forget that he's also the World Boxing Council heavyweight champion who has only lost twice in a professional boxing professional career that began way back in 1996.

Tonight, Klitschko, unbeaten since he was forced to stop by a cut inflicted at the hands of Lennox Lewis eight years ago, squares off against Tomasz Adamek in a soccer stadium in Wroclaw, Poland. The bout will take place in front of a sold out crowd of 42,000 souls, most of which will be cheering for Adamek, their native son.

With flecks of gray now sprouting up throughout his hair, “Dr. Ironfist” as he is known, because of the PhD. he holds in Sports Science, stepped on the scales Friday afternoon with all of the swagger befitting the heavyweight champion of the planet earth. While his younger brother Wladimir holds the three other heavyweight belts of note, Klitschko the elder is at least his equal in this familial, double-headed version of heavyweight champions.

Cool, calculating and supremely intelligent, Klitschko is a master of psychological warfare, the likes of which have not been seen in heavyweight boxing since Muhammad Ali packed up his rucksack and called it a career almost thirty years ago.


Champion and challenger weighed-in on Friday. The size difference is an obvious impediment to Adamek's chances.

Vitali will often stand as close as he can get to his opponents as it's all the better to threaten them with his imposing size. He stares down his long nose with an unblinking sneer. When he shakes their hand he squeezes until it hurts and will usually pull his man toward him in effort to check his balance and strength. Whereas Ali was boisterous and seemingly out of control, Klitschko is the picture coolness and calm.

He went so far earlier this week to show up at Adamek's public workout, seat himself in the front row with his trainer and gaze intently at his foe in an in an effort to unnerve and rattle him.

“Vitali was there and he was making his attempt at trying to intimidate Tomasz,” said Adamek's trainer Roger Bloodworth. “He's a smart guy, he has his degrees, he is bigger than Tomasz and he wants to use all of his assets to impose himself. But, as you saw, Adamek didn't react.”

Indeed, Adamek has proven to be a tougher nut to crack than many of the others that have fallen victim to Klitschko's mind games – and fists. Adamek is a former light heavyweight and cruiserweight world champion who has lost only once in a 45-fight pro career that began twelve years ago. His move to heavyweight in 2009 has been virtually flawless.

A plain-spoken, unassuming, guy next door type, the Pole is a heavy betting underdog in what is perceived as a virtual David versus Goliath match in boxing gloves and trunks.


Adamek takes a break from training to enjoy the view of the New York City skyline.

“I know I can win. I'm quicker than he is, I'm faster too,” said Adamek who scaled 216 pounds at Friday's weigh-in. “I'm not afraid of Vitali, I am not afraid of his size. In fact, I welcome it.”

Few outside of Adamek's inner circle give him any legitimate shot against the Ukrainian born monster. Klitschko has thudding power that slowly breaks opponents down. He is a one-two man all the way who rarely lobs a body shot or a hook, but his left jab is a rapier-like, two-by-four of a shot. A volume puncher who rarely clinches, he gets up on his toes sporadically. As a big man, he is not graceful and is primarily effective when coming forward. Only three of the victims in his forty-two wins have seen the final bell.

“I will give my best to improve my knockout rate,” said Klitschko earlier this week. “The only thing I'll promise you is that there will be no questions after the fight about who won.”

When asked whether he was concerned that Adamek is six years younger, likely quicker of hand and of foot and will be fighting in front of what promises to be a raucous, partisan crowd, Klitschko feigned indifference and is of the notion that size will ultimately prove to be the determining factor.

“I'll say this about Adamek – he is not a heavyweight. To be a heavyweight you have to be born as one, like me and my brother. Tomasz Adamek was not born as a heavyweight. He has only become a heavyweight because he is now eating like a heavyweight.”

The old saying in boxing is that a good big man will always beat a good little man. More often than not, that axiom does prove to be the case. Klitschko is twenty-seven pounds heavier, six inches taller and has a longer wingspan by at least five inches.


Klitschko brutalized Shannon Briggs over twelve rounds when the two met in October 2010.

Tomasz Adamek, however, believes he is the proverbial little engine that can – and will.

“Whenever I fight, I fight to win,” he says. “I've been preparing for this moment all of my life. I have a strong heart and a stronger spirit. I'm not going into the ring to lose. I want to win this fight and I will win this fight. For me, this is my dream. Yes, he is bigger than me, but I am faster. My pace is going to kill him.”

Let the battle begin.


September 2011

Nothing Remains Perfect Forever

Unbeaten in his professional boxing career, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. beleives he will remain so after he meets Victor Ortiz later this month in Las Vegas.

The anger is still there. So is the bling, the Maybach and the mansion. And let’s forget about the thick wads of one-hundred dollar bills.

During the year or so that Floyd “Money” Mayweather, Jr. has been away, not much changed in the sport of boxing. Promoters still wage their war of words on the Internet, the alphabet sanctioning cartels continue to stupefy, Manny Pacquiao is still the champion of champions and HBO still has the deepest pockets of anyone.

One thing, however, may have changed. It is imperceptible, really. But if you look closely you can see it. It’s like paint that slowly fades from the heat of the sun, cracks a bit with the changing of the seasons and then ultimately peels away. It’s a process that takes time and is not always apparent.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is aging - because nothing can remain perfect forever.

He has slight lines on his brow now and his eyes are not as clear. The muscles are not as large or well defined. Watch him on the mitts with his uncle, trainer and former world boxing champion, Roger Mayweather and the movement is a bit stilted, more forced and less natural. There are slight hesitations. Shane Mosley showed that Mayweather, who stands flat-footed now more than ever, can be hit and he can be hurt.


Proof that Shane Mosley did indeed land a punch against Mayweather in their May 2010 bout. This right hand landed in the second round and staggered Mayweather, albeit briefly.

While his ring record is still pristine at 41-0 (25)KO, in a professional career that began way back in 1996, he’s not the same fighter that he once was. That would be impossible, especially in light of the fact that reflexes, quickness and speed all dull with the encroachment of Father Time. He has only stepped into the bright light of the squared circle four times in as many years. Ask Sugar Ray Leonard what that does to a fighter’s ability.

“I don’t think I can lose,” says Mayweather, who has now blown out the candles on thirty-four birthday cakes. “They have to come up with a gameplan to beat me, there’s no gameplan how to beat me.”

The opponent on Sept. 17 is WBC welterweight titlist “Vicious” Victor Ortiz, a southpaw banger who is a decade younger. Still green compared to Mayweather, what Ortiz lacks in experience he makes up for with aggressiveness and desire. He is the youngest opponent Mayweather will have stepped into the ring with since Diego “Chico” Corrales whom he faced and defeated by stoppage in 2001.

When asked if anything concerns him in regards to facing an opponent who is younger, bigger and that punches harder, Mayweather seemed to be at a loss for words. There have been no occasions recently when the man in the opposing corner possessed all of those attributes.

“I don’t know,” said Mayweather, who smiled and paused before continuing. “Victor Ortiz is a good little fighter. I’ve got nothing negative to say about him. He’s a young, strong champion.”


Young and eager, Victor Ortiz welcomes the chance to prove himself against Mayweather's talent.

While not dismissive of Ortiz, Mayweather and his team simply perceive him as another evening at the show. But it is interesting that when asked, Mayweather claims he cannot point to anything specific pertaining to the strengths or weaknesses of Ortiz.

His uncle Roger claims he has never really seen Ortiz fight and also cannot tell you what he does or does not do well. “To be honest with you, I don’t know ‘cause I’ve never seen him,” he says. “I’ve seen him on TV, but I’ve never actually seen him fight. I don’t really know what he do often or what he don’t do often. I don’t know. I haven’t seen him enough to figure him out.”

By the time the night of the fight rolls around, it will have been over 500 days of inactivity for Mayweather. Days that have seen nights spent at betting windows and casino parlors, inside dark nightclubs, aboard yachts in Biscayne Bay and hanging out with good friend Fifty Cent. There have also been days spent in courtrooms in front of judges. He has been seen putting a flame to a one-hundred dollar bill.

When Roger, who does not push the panic button quickly, was asked if the sporadic forays into the ring is a concern for the well-being of his nephew, he said it could be. “Well, you always concerned about the rust because I mean, when you ain’t active, you know…there’s a difference between when you active and you ain’t active. Since he ain’t been active that much…this fight will be a good tune-up for him.”


Mayweather and Ortiz had the chance to size up one another during a press conference to hype their upcoming pay-per-view title fight.

Many see this as much more than a tune-up bout for a potential bout against Manny Pacquiao in 2012. Ortiz is a serious fighter with much still to achieve. Larger than Mayweather, he packs a stronger punch as his 22 knockouts in 29 wins proves. There is little not to like about the youngster who wears his heart on his sleeve. If he is to make his move, he knows it has to come in less than three weeks. At this point in their lives, it could be Ortiz that has much more to fight for.

However, Mayweather, who will now often make an effort to be kinder and gentler in dealing with the press and fans feels that he has seen all of this before.

“I’m ‘Money’ Mayweather,” he says with pride. “I’ve been here since I was nineteen, I’m thirty-four now. I’ve got to tell you this. I tell every fighter this: It looks different when you on the outside. It looks totally different on the outside. All I gotta’ say is one thing: They put forty-one in front of me and forty one came up short.”

But there is also one other thing the Mayweathers should keep in mind. Nothing remains perfect forever.


September 2011

Time Is Not On His Side

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is 34 years old and time is ticking away on what is left of his career in boxing.

He could very well be the top pound-for-pound boxer on the face of the planet, but the biological clock is ticking away on Floyd Mayweather, Jr.’s opportunity to prove that notion.

It has been just over a year since the still-undefeated Mayweather skipped up the steps and slipped through the ropes of a squared circle. It was last May against Shane Mosley when we last witnessed Mayweather display his wares in a near flawless performance. In the meantime, however, there have been late night escapades in Las Vegas, brushes with the law and appearances before criminal court judges of the Clark County, Nevada justice system.

The old saying is that Father Time waits for no one, particularly an aging prizefighter who has made ring appearances only five times in as many years. With 34 birthdays behind him, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. perhaps better knows as “Money” is at the age where boxers historically begin to experience dulled reflexes, waning speed and a suppressed appetite for feasting on punches.

Unless your name is Archie Moore, George Foreman or Bernard Hopkins, the forecast for boxers at Mayweather’s current age is normally gloomy with a high probability of dark clouds. Should he continue to pursue a career in boxing, it would have to be understood that Mayweather will be in the certain twilight of what was once a spectacularly bright career.

There is no question that Mayweather has not been living the life of a prizefighter for the past half decade. While he maintains a svelte shape it is not what the old times would have called “fighting shape.” And there is a difference.


Sugar Ray Leonard defeated Marvelous Marvin Hagler on April 6, 1987 in an amazing comeback performance.

Sugar Ray Leonard, who like Mayweather went through oft-times of inactivity and short retirements was frequently reminded of what it was like to be a fighter on a part-time basis.

“I was susceptible to the punches,” Leonard once told me. “I would swell and cut whereas before I never did.”

Certainly the body becomes accustomed and conditioned to receiving punches as long as one is routinely subjecting themselves to regular sparring sessions and punishment in the gym. But to train and fight on a sporadic basis is a risky proposition.

The example of Leonard, at the end, is most illuminating and may serve as a guidebook as to what Mayweather can expect. Blessed with speed, quickness, punching power and the ability to take a punch in his prime years, once Leonard retired for the first time in November 1982 at age 26, he was never the same again.

While he returned to the ring several times over the next 15 years and picked up world titles along the way, his last true great performance came with a close win in 1987 over Marvelous Marvin Hagler for the middleweight title. At that time, however, Leonard was only 31. He never won a fight after the age of 33 and was brutally pummeled in his last two fights against Terry Norris in 1991 and Hector Camacho in an ill-thought comeback in 1997.

While many fighters have prospered into their mid-to-late thirties they are usually the exception rather than the rule. Many have and do win bouts, but they will struggle at the world class level. It is one thing to beat a ham-and-egger in a remote casino town in the hinterlands, but quite another to compete against a world class opponent on a pay-per-view event in Las Vegas.


In 1994, George Foreman became the oldest man in history to win the heavyweight championship when he knocked out Michael Moorer in Las Vegas.

While George Foreman and Bernard Hopkins are celebrated for winning world titles at 45 and 46 respectively, Foreman did so because he had massive one shot punching power and he rehabilitated himself during a long comeback. He also changed his fighting style from frenetic to patient. Hopkins has relied on his ability to maintain remarkable physical condition as well as relying on questionable in the ring tactics and guile as well as facing green opposition.

Should he continue, Mayweather will have neither the luxury of a slow, gradual comeback nor will he have the chance to experiment with an alteration to his fighting style against lesser foes. Mayweather will likely be thrust back into the spotlight with an immediate and dangerous superfight versus Manny Pacquiao.

By the time that happens, Mayweather will be 35-years-old and he will be closer to 40 than he will 30. Inactivity will have blunted his timing and stilted his movement. He very well may have spent more time in courtrooms before a judge than in a ring before a referee. He will likely have spent more time analyzing his NBA betting picks than he will have spent performing morning roadwork.

Furthermore, there is the issue of heredity. It is well-known that Floyd emanates from a fighting family of Mayweathers. His father, Floyd. Sr., his uncle and current trainer Roger, and uncle Jeff all were practitioners of the sweet science.

All three were world-class fighters, but only Roger won world titles. While each seemed to possess different skill sets they were all thought of as savvy, schooled, accomplished, respected professionals.

Although Floyd, Jr. is a different animal and infinitely more talented than his father and two uncles, it is nonetheless interesting to examine the career arcs of the rest of the family.


Floyd Mayweather, Sr. (left) Mayweather, Jr. and Roger Mayweather hamming it up at a press conference.

And if the old saying is true that the apple doesn’t fall from the tree, then Floyd Mayweather, Jr. may have cause for concern should he make an attempt to continue his pugilistic endeavors into his advancing years.

Uncle Roger, the most successful of the three brothers, held his last world title at age 28 when he lost it to the great Julio Cesar Chavez in 1989. While the “Black Mamba” fought on for another decade he lost seven times and struggled against sub par opponents.

Floyd Mayweather, Sr. never managed to procure so much as a world title shot and his claim to fame was a technical knockout loss at the hands of the aforementioned Sugar Ray Leonard in 1978. Mayweather, Sr. won for the last time at age 31.

Jeff, the least accomplished of the trio of boxing Mayweather brothers, won only three fights after age 30 and was retired completely before age 32.


June 2011

Of Complacency and Old Sayings for Pacquiao

Shane Mosley (left) and Manny Pacquiao will meet on May 7 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las, Vegas.

The old saying is that "Complacency is devastating."

For Manny Pacquiao, who will face Shane Mosley next month in Las Vegas, the most significant danger for him would seem to be just that.

For all intents and purposes and except for several weeks a year, Pacquiao has moved on to a life that doesn’t involve boxing. Congressman in his native Philippines, philanthropist, father, husband and celebrity pitch man, the world’s top ranked boxer has made it clear he isn’t going to be stepping into the squared circle too many more times before calling it a career.

He’s beaten about everyone - except for the reluctant Floyd Mayweather, Jr. - and now it seems Pacquiao is simply hanging around the game to show up a few times a year, collect multi-million dollar paydays and pound just about anybody that steps in front of him into a pulp.

But with that career strategy there is danger. When a boxer continually meets guys in what Teddy Atlas calls "gentleman’s agreement" fights where there is some danger of losing – but not really – he more often than not becomes complacent and is upset in stunner.

Boxing history is littered with great fighters that suffered shock losses at the peak of their powers. It wasn’t the man in the opposing corner that caused the loss; it was their own lack of focus.


The last fight Mosley won was over two years ago. He punished Antonio Margarito in Jan. 2009 and stopped him in the ninth round.

While most believe that Shane Mosley, who is 39-years-old and is coming off a lackluster draw to Sergio Mora and a one-sided loss to Mayweather, Jr. is well past his "sell by" date, some believe he will pose a legitimate threat to Pacquiao the part-time fighter.

Not the least of whom is Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, who has been sounding the alarm bells ever since this fight was first announced.

"I don’t see this as easy a fight as one some people say," warned Roach. "Shane will be tough early on in the fight and dangerous."

The other factor to consider is that Mosley is well aware that if he performs badly it will be his last grab at the proverbial brass ring. Mosley will come to the fight focused and with a game plan. Whether his brain will be able to transmit that plan to his aged body is another factor entirely. However, another old saying is that "Every great fighter has one last great performance in him."

While I’m of the notion that performance for Mosley came against Antonio Margarito over two years ago, there are many that don’t share that outlook; foremost among them, his father Jack and his trainer Naazim Richardson.

Whatever the case, an argument can be made for Mosley’s chances seeing how he is a former world champion in three weight divisions and has never been knocked out in over 50 fights during a career that has spanned nearly 18 years.

If the stars align just right and complacency rears its ugly head, Shane Mosley could have a shot.

But like an old wise named Don King once said: "He got two chances – slim and none – and slim’s outta’ town."


April 2011

Boxing Needs a Mayweather and King Union

It would be a match made "Only in America" if Don King and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. decide to work together.

Floyd and Don.

Don and Floyd.

It has a nice ring to it, at least that’s what I think.

Oh, yes. We could be seeing the perfect union if the “World’s Greatest Promoter” and quite possibly the world’s greatest fighter (I have him ranked #2) decide to come together as one and go forward from this time and place.

What a marriage it would be.

They were pictured together earlier this week at King’s haunt in Palm Beach, Florida with cash in hand and smiles all around.

Don King and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. free to roam what is left of the tattered boxing landscape. Should the two men decide to pair up it could be the just the stimulus program this beleaguered sport is sorely in need of. Think of it as an infusion of magnanimity, a plateful of personality and a dollop of excitement topped with cash, jewels and pizzazz.

While the suits at HBO, Showtime and Golden Boy Promotions have done their level best over the past several years to scrub away the grime that made the fight game what it once was - there is just something about the romantic idea of Don King (who now resides on the fringe) being center stage once again - along with “Money” Mayweather - that would knock the boxing universe, currently centered at HBO’s corporate office at 1100 Ave of the Americas in New York City, from it axis.


Mayweather, adorned in designer duds and shades, is the most well-known boxing personality in the United States.

Quite simply, King and Mayweather have the ability to turn the world of boxing upside down. What you thought was right would be wrong and what you thought was wrong would be right.

It could be better than good. Imagine King in his tuxedo or bedazzled jean jacket. Imagine Mayweather in Armani with a Rolex. Imagine the press conferences, the cross county media tour, the private jet and a cackling King selling “Money” to the masses.

What is clear is that with the collapse of the recent Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao negotiations is that Floyd is in desperate need of a real, honest to goodness boxing promoter that can conceptualize a big deal, cultivate it and then bring it to fruition.

Mayweather’s current affliction is that he does not have capable representation when it comes to boxing. Al Haymon is not a promoter, nor is Leonard Ellerbe. I make the case that Golden Boy Promotions, Mayweather’s current pseudo-promoter are more television packagers for HBO and entertainment partners with the MGM Grand than they are boxing promoters.

The nearly 80-year-old King still has the high-powered wattage to light up a nearly darkened sport - he just needs the right fighter - and Mayweather is the only fighter left that can bring out King’s talents - and vice versa.

Whether King can consummate a deal to make the mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao is anyone’s guess. However, the chances of King sealing a deal with Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, are much, much better than the fight being made with Mayweather’s aforementioned representatives.


There is the possibility that King could negotiate the impossible and bring the world a Mayweather vs. Pacquiao showdown.

King and Arum, in the boxing business for eons and who once were the only promoters in boxing that mattered, have both indicated they could work together should the circumstances warrant. It would be fitting then, with the sport currently teetering on a precipice of irrelevance and insignificance, if the two octogenarians could circumvent the HBOs the Golden Boys and others who profess to know everything about boxing - but really know nothing - could bring the only fight in the world that anyone cares about to reality.

While Golden Boy has done a serviceable job with Mayweather over the past several years, there is a feeling that that Mayweather could be even bigger and badder with a promoter of King’s ilk by his side. Mayweather seems to know as much as he has flirted with King in the past, but has never been able to summon the intestinal fortitude to put a pen to paper and sign with the high-haired one.

If history is any reminder, remember it was King that has put together the largest and most significant boxing extravaganzas that the sport has ever been privileged to witness. Adjusted for inflation, King’s numbers dwarf those of recent times. Imagine the dollars that he and “Money” could do together.


July 2010

Kessler and Froch Engage in an Instant Classic

Mikkel Kessler (left) and Carl Froch waged a twelve round war in which Kessler eventually garnered the victory.

In the best fight thus far of the Showtime network's Super Six World Boxing Classic, 168-pound super middleweights Mikkel Kessler and Carl Froch engaged in a back and forth battle that will likey be in the running for fight of the year honors.

WBC champion Froch, from Nottingham, England, made the trek to Kessler's home country of Denmark. The fight took place in the small town of Herning before an enthusiastic, partisan crowd of more than 10,000.

After twelve rounds of heated action in a bout that featured wild exchanges, it was Kessler that emerged with the title belt by unanimous scores of 117-111, 115-113 and 116-112. This writer also pegged it for Kessler at 115-113.

Kessler, who suffered a serious cut high on his left brow had to dig down deep in order to secure the victory. He was uncharacteristically aggressive and abandoned his careful boxing style and went blow-for-blow with the heavy-handed Englishman.

"I knew he was not that good at fighting backards," said Kessler just after the decision in his favor was announced. "He fought my fight instead of me fighting his fight and that was the difference."

Kessler, 43-2, 32 knockouts, got off to a good start by landing quick left jabs and offering plenty of movement. He enjoyed the speed advantage over Froch, now 26-1, 20 knockouts, who was the stronger and more deliberate puncher. But as the fight wore on, it was Froch who seemed to take control by using unorthodox punches fired from long range.


Froch's big right hand kept Kessler honest, but it wasn't enough for him to keep his championship.

However, by the sixth round the pendulum had swung and it was Kessler who seemed to find a second wind. It allowed him to take charge of the second half of the bout as he took the fight to Froch. Standing in front of "The Cobra", the Danish fighter was able to nail him repeatedly with stinging combinations and powerful right hand shots. As a result, Kessler won five of the last seven rounds on my unoffcial card.

The final two rounds were ferocious in nature as both prizfighters stood their ground and unloaded every punch in their arsenal. Both bled from cuts and threw caution to the wind. It was a classic donnybrook where either man could have been felled by any punch at any moment. This was thought to be the type of brawl that would play to Froch's stengths, but it was Kessler who put his punches together more effectively enabling him to outfight Froch, who tended to land the singular harder shots.

"No excuses," said a disappointed Froch after he learned of his first loss. "It was very close and I don't want to take anything away from Mikkel Kessler. I thought I did it all and I thought there were three times when I had him badly hurt."

For Kessler, who desperately needed the win after having suffered a one-sided loss to Andre Ward in the first round of the tournament, it was a homecoming worthy of his nickname - the "Viking Warrior".

Kessler's confidence had been badly shaken in the loss to Ward last November. The manner in which he was defeated led many to write him off as a serious threat to the tournament favorites. When the unique series was announced, it was Kessler, the former WBA and WBC super midleweight champion, who had been favored by many to emerge the victor of the entire affair.

Kessler, who has delved into modeling in the past, had his handsome good looks marred by a wide, deep cut and swelling around his eyes. But he was unable to mask the happiness of his win. His blue eyes twinkled and his bright smile told the story of his night.

"I look like a fighter tonight," he happily declared as he clutched his newly obtained championship belt. "Maybe the modeling will have to stay in my past."


April 2010