Derric Rossy Rages Against the Machine, Bad Judges and Not Getting Over the Hump

Published

9 years ago

February 10, 2015

Michael Woods

34.

Not old.

But not young, not for a boxer not named Hopkins.

Clock ticks, screwjobs by judges stick in the craw, but can’t let the ire derail you, must use injustices and close calls as motivator, not let cynicism dampen desire.

But oh does it sting.

To know that on March 14, the guy you know you beat, in every fiber of your 6-3, 235 pound bodily vessel, gets a shot in an IBF title eliminator, that smarts more than any liver shot could, because it’s an emotional blow.

Derric Rossy is a 34-year-old old contender who hasn’t yet been able to get over that proverbial hump fight and get that needed W which makes him a graduate of “B School,” of that that certain level of talent and accomplishment, into a realm where he could get a title crack. He told me on Tuesday that I will see on Saturday that he has dealt with the slings, arrows and screwjobs as well as can be. I will see for myself on Saturday night, on CBS Sports Network, as Rossy headlines against stocky power-hitter Akhror Muralimov, in the first foray into cable scraps for that BCS cable property. Mike Lee (13-0 with 7 KOs; age 27; from Chicago), the Notre Dame grad, will also strut his stuff, in the ring against 6-3-1 Gary Tapusoa, and also at the announce table with Col. Bob Sheridan and Benny Ricardo.

“Yep, I got the L in a couple of those fights, I’m stuck in a little story,” the Medford (Long island), NY native Rossy told me. The ex Boston College (2003 graduate) footballer, who had some pro tryouts but was seen as a “tweener,” too big for linebacker, to small to play end, stated that he’s not in woe is me mode. No self pity did I hear; “I’m still a contender. And anyone in the ring with me, they know it’s gonna be a fight.”

I had the Bruce Springsteen channel on in the background, and found myself getting pumped up as “Promised Land” played. Does he like Broooce, does he use music to motivate, I wondered? Somewhat, Rossy told me. Hell, I was happy he knows who Bruce is, being that some of the prospects I talk to don’t, lol. But desire to get to that place where the Pianetas, and Leapais have been, getting a shot at Wladimir Klitschko, that definitively does fuel him.

His record isn’t gleaming, he’s 29-9 with 14 KOs, and he’s been stopped out five times, maybe one or two dubiously. In step up fights, it hasn’t gone his way. Losses to Eddie Chambers, Kubrat Pulev, Audley Harrison, Fres Oquendo and Czar Glazkov mean some folks think Rossy is of a certain caliber. Is he better than the Chars and Pianetas and Leapais, who had those records of gleaming plausibility which helped land them lottery ticket fights…if not better, than no worse…

Oh…that Glazkov fight.

Does that sting something fierce.

Indeed.

He feigned acceptance, then dropped the pretense. “Glazkov is fighting in an IBF eliminator March 14. Am I pissed? It hurts. It stings. I think it was stolen from me. I deserved it (Glazkov won MD on 8-9-14), the whole of me thinks so…there’s not an inch of me that thinks otherwise. A layman who watched would understand…but part of me has to be like, it is what it is. Glazkov was in supreme condition. But it stings. In the long run, judges don’t realize what they take away from you. But I still gotta do my thing. In the future I have to send a message that they can’t steal it from me, that they have to take it from my dead hands.”

Rossy isn’t an eyes tightly closed type. He knows 34 is 34 and he ain’t Hopkins.

“Is this clock ticking? I feel great. I started late, at 24, in Golden Gloves. I was looking to get lean and keep muscle, and my dad (Carlos Rossy, fought in Army, fought as pro, trains Derric) suggested a boxing workout. I met my first trainer, Al Gavin. He made me fall in love with the sport. He was nurturing, a really good guy. He gave me a passion I didn’t know I had. It’s like being introduced to a woman you don’t know you’re going to fall in love with. Like a really great blind date! And sometimes it can be a sonuvabitch, it’s not all happiness. But when you’re passionate about it, you stick with it.”

Rossy turned pro in 2004, and with a few bad judging outings, and the stoppages and the like, I wondered if he’d been close to saying eff it once or twice… “A couple times,” he said. “You reach a boiling point, when it’s not going your way. When the sport betrays you…But you have to have that blind faith, deep in you, it’s your calling to do this.”

The faith is still present, he maintains. And his foe, a 27-year-old Uzbeki living in Texas, on Saturday will pay the price for the betrayals, he tells me.

Now, it can be argued he is what he is…so how does he get over that hump? For one thing, after a loss to Joey Dawejko, Rossy gave up his 9 to 5, construction work, and is now a full time fighter. He saved up dough to invest in himself, basically.

“I figured, I want to work at it one hundred percent, or stop. And I see the progress, it’s day and night.” He seeks to work smarter, not harder, throw more combos, not go home-run hunting so much, be a more cerebral fighter, he said. He says he’ll need to be that smart fighter Saturday, as his foe is “not polished, stocky, strong, you stand in front of him, you disappear. And not getting over the hump to this point, there’s nothing deterring me. It motivates me more.”

We talked some about that fine line between acceptance, and realism, and self doubt, which can plant negative, self defeating thoughts in you…

“Oh yes, when I’ve lost, I’ve scrutinized myself. The self doubt creeps in. But hope comes back. The reassurance, ‘I can do this.’ What separates these fighters, the ‘A’ and ‘B’ fighters, it’s a fine line.”

We could see a greener Muralimov (16-0 with 13 KOs) look to land a filthy one, get off balance, and get countered by this more cerebral Rossy on CBS, friends. Rossy doesn’t think he has an iffy chin, so he won’t get stopped for a sixth time, he said. “But I can’t fall asleep,” he noted.

34. Not old.

But not young.

“Is it my last chance? There’s a little bit of that, I can’t lie. But I rage against the machine. I still feel good. And we fighters, we know this sport is dangerous. We accept that. I want to send a message, that you put me in a fight, you see fireworks. No matter what, when I fight, it is a fight, it could be with Klitschko, you know you’re getting my best. And when I think about the Glazkov fight, it does more than hurt, it makes you furious. I was being light hearted about it, but it was so close, I could smell it, taste it. When those guys are on TV, I see me. I gotta use it, this guy’s gonna feel my fury. I’m gonna project on Muralimov whatever needs to be projected, the frustration built up, I’m gonna let it go. You’re gonna see a person who is worth that title shot. I’m just as good as anybody.”

Follow Woods on Twitter, and get note when trouble’s busing in from outta state.

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Michael Woods

Ramirez Outpoints Barthelemy and Vergil Ortiz Scores Another Fast KO in Fresno

Published

3 days ago

April 27, 2024

David A. Avila

Ramirez-Outpoints-Barthelemy-and-Vergil-Ortiz-Scores-Another-Fast-KO-in-Fresno

Northern California favorite Jose Ramirez avoided an upset and knockout artist Vergil Ortiz destroyed his opponent on Saturday to set up a showdown with Australia’s power-punching Tim Tszyu.

After a 13-month layoff Ramirez (29-1, 18 KOs) shook off ring rust and avoided an upset by Cuba’s Rances Barthelemy (30-3-1, 15 KOs) in a battle between former world champions at Save Mart Center in Fresno.

It was Ramirez’s first bout under Golden Boy Promotions and he was nearly derailed by the slick counter-punching southpaw in the third and six rounds with laser left counters that connected every time. Though he was floored in the third round it was ruled a push down by referee Jack Reiss.

Fans gasped.

“He throws that left hand and I got hit with it in one round,” Ramirez said. “It motivated him.”

Once Ramirez figured out the remedy, he kept the fight inside and attacked the body and head. Barthelemy was unable to uncork one of his long lefts at close distance.

From the seventh round on the former super lightweight champion took control and kept the Cuban fighter against the ropes and unloaded shots to the body and head. He nearly forced a stoppage in the 11^th round.

Barthelemy survived but all three judges scored it big for Ramirez after 12 rounds: 119-109 twice and 118-110.

Vergil KOs Number 21

Knowing a win sets up a massive showdown against Aussie slugger Tim Tszyu, the Texas slugger Vergil Ortiz (21-0, 21 KOs) wasted no time in blasting out Puerto Rico’s Thomas Dulorme (26-7-1, 17 KOs) with a perfectly placed left hook to the body. Dulorme collapsed to the ground in agony.

Referee Tom Taylor stopped counting at 2:39 of the first round.

“It was a very calculated punch,” Ortiz said.

It was a commanding one round performance that sets up the showdown against the equally powerful Tszyu who despite losing a split decision to Sebastian Fundora last month by split decision, retains his reputation as a dangerous puncher.

Ortiz, who has 21 knockouts in 21 fights, will probably be fighting Tszyu in Los Angeles on June 1 if all negotiations go smoothly.

“Tim (Tszyu) I know you are watching the fight,” said Ortiz. “I’m ready. Let’s put on a great performance.”

Other Bouts

Oscar Duarte (27-2-1, 22 KOs) proved his knockout loss against Ryan Garcia would not stop him from improving as he defeated Jojo Diaz (33-6-1) by knockout at 2:32 of the ninth round in a super lightweight match. Referee Michael Margado wisely stopped the bludgeoning as a towel came flying in almost simultaneously.

It was the first time Diaz was ever defeated by knockout, though he never touched the canvas. It was also the first time Duarte trained with Robert Garcia and the difference was notable as he repeatedly walked through incoming fire and attacked the smaller fighter continuously.

“I want to fight the best in the world,” Duarte said.

Female Title Fight

A rematch battle for the flyweight championship saw Argentina’s Gabriela Alaniz (15-1) defeat Marlen Esparza (14-2) this time with a two-fisted attack to win by split decision after 10 rounds.

Esparza failed to make weight and walked in three pounds overweight and Alaniz took advantage to win the WBA, WBC, and WBO flyweight titles in the rematch. Once again the scores were puzzling but this time in favor of Alaniz 97-93, 96-94, and 92-98.

Alaniz now holds the WBO, WBA, WBC flyweight world titles.

Welterweights

Mexico’s Raul Curiel (15-0, 13 KOs) busted body shots on Jorge Marron Jr. (20-5-2) and floored him twice in the first round. The second body blow left Marron paralyzed and unable to continue at 1:31 of the first round as referee Thomas Taylor counted him out.

Curiel, who is managed by Frank Espinoza and son, proved he’s ready for the upper levels of the welterweight division.

“I think I’m ready for the bigger names,” Curiel said. “You see the results.”

Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 282: Ryan’s Song, Golden Boy in Fresno and More

Published

4 days ago

April 26, 2024

David A. Avila

Avila Perspective, Chap. 282: Ryan’s Song, Golden Boy in Fresno and More

Don’t call it an upset.

Days after Ryan Garcia proved the experts wrong, those same experts are re-tooling their evaluation processes.

It’s mind-boggling to me that 95 percent thought Garcia had no chance. Hear me out.

First, Garcia and Haney fought six times as amateurs with each winning three. But this time with no head gear and smaller gloves, Garcia had to have at least a 50/50 chance of winning. He is faster and a more powerful puncher.

Facts.

Haney is a wonderful boxer with smooth, almost artistic movements. But history has taught us power and speed like Garcia’s can’t be discounted. Think way back to legendary fighters like Willie Pep and Sandy Sadler. All that excellent defensive skill could not prevent Sadler from beating Pep in three of their four meetings.

Power has always been an equalizer against boxing skill.

Ben Lira, one of the wisest and most experienced trainers in Southern California, always professed knockout power was the greatest equalizer in a fight. “You can be behind for nine rounds and one punch can change the outcome,” he said.

Another weird theory spreading before the fight was that Garcia would quit in the fight. That was a puzzling one. Getting stopped by a perfect body shot is not quitting. And that punch came from Gervonta “Tank” Davis who can really crack.

So how did Garcia do it?

In the opening round Ryan Garcia timed Devin Haney’s jab and countered with a snapping left hook that rattled and wobbled the super lightweight champion. After that, Garcia forced Haney to find another game plan.

Garcia and trainer Derrick James must have worked hours on that move.

I must confess that I first saw Garcia’s ability many years ago when he was around 11 or 12. So I do have an advantage regarding his talent. A few things I noticed even back then were his speed and power. Also, that others resented his talent but respected him. He was the guy with everything: talent and looks.

And that brings resentment.

Recently I saw him and his crew rapping a song on social media. Now he’s got a song. Next thing you know Hollywood will be calling and he’ll be in the movies. It’s happened before with fighters such as Art Aragon, the first Golden Boy in the 50s. He was dating movie stars and getting involved with starlets all over Hollywood.

Is history repeating itself or is Garcia creating a new era for boxing?

Since 2016 people claimed he was just a social media creation. Now, after his win over Devin Haney a former undisputed lightweight champion and the WBC super lightweight titleholder, the boxer from the high desert area of Victorville has become one of the highest paid fighters in the world.

Ryan Garcia has entered a new dimension.

Golden Boy Season

After several down years the Los Angeles-based company Golden Boy Promotions suddenly is cracking the whip in 2024.

Avila

Vergil Ortiz Jr. (20-0, 20 KOs) returns to the ring and faces Puerto Rico’s Thomas Dulorme (26-6-1, 17 KOs) a welterweight gatekeeper who lost to Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Eimantas Stanionis. They meet as super welterweights in the co-main event at Save Mart Arena in Fresno, Calif. on Saturday, April 27. DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotions card live.

It’s a quick return to action for Ortiz who is still adjusting to the new weight division. His last fight three months ago ended in less than one round in Las Vegas. It was cut short by an antsy referee and left Ortiz wanting more after more than a year of inactivity in the prize ring.

Ortiz has all the weapons.

Also, Northern California’s Jose Carlos Ramirez (28-1, 18 KOs) meets Cuba’s Rances Barthelemy (30-2-1, 15 KOs) in a welterweight affair set for 12 rounds.

It’s difficult to believe that former super lightweight titlist Ramirez has been written off by fans after only one loss. That was several years ago against Scotland’s Josh Taylor. One loss does not mean the end of a career.

“My goal is to get back on top and to get all those belts back. I still feel like I am one of the best 140-pounders in the division,” said Ramirez who lives in nearby Avenal, Calif.

An added major attraction features Marlen Esparza in a unification rematch against Gabriela “La Chucky” Alaniz for the WBA, WBC, WBO flyweight titles. Their first fight was

a controversial win by Esparza that saw one judge give her nine of 10 rounds in a very close fight. Those Texas judges.

In a match that could steal the show, Oscar Duarte (26-2-1, 21 KOs) faces former world champion Jojo Diaz (33-5-1, 15 KOs) in a lightweight match.

Munguia and Canelo

Don’t sleep on this match.

Its current Golden Boy fighter Jaime Munguia facing former Golden Boy fighter Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in a battle between Mexico’s greatest sluggers next week at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 4.

“I think Jaime Munguia is going to do something special in the ring,” said Oscar De La Hoya, the CEO for Golden Boy.

Tijuana’s Munguia showed up at the Wild Card Boxing gym in Hollywood where a throng of media from Mexico and the US met him.

Munguia looked confident and happy about his opportunity to fight great Canelo.

“It’s a hard fight,” said Munguia. “Truth is, its big for Mexico and not only for Mexicans but for boxing.”

Fights to Watch

Fri. DAZN 6 p.m. Yoeniz Tellez (7-0) vs Joseph Jackson (19-0).

Sat. DAZN 9:30 a.m. Peter McGrail (8-1) vs Marc Leach (18-3-1); Beatriz Ferreira (4-0) vs Yanina Del Carmen 14-3).

Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Vergil Ortiz (20-0) vs Thomas Dulorme (26-6-1); Jose Carlos Ramirez (28-1) vs Rances Barthelemy (30-2-1); Marlen Esparza (14-1) vs Gabriela Alaniz (14-1).

Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy Promotions

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Ramon Cardenas Channels Micky Ward and KOs Eduardo Ramirez on ProBox

Published

6 days ago

April 24, 2024

Arne K. Lang

Ramon-Cardenas-Channels-Micky-Ward-and-KOs-Eduardo-Ramirez-on-ProBox

The Wednesday night bi-monthly series of fights on the ProBox TV platform is the best deal in boxing; the livestream is free with no strings attached! Tonight’s episode was headlined by a super bantamweight match between San Antonio’s Ramon Cardenas and Eduardo Ramirez who brought a caravan of rooters from his hometown in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico.

Cardenas, coached by Joel Diaz, entered the contest ranked #4 by the WBA. He was expected to handle Ramirez with little difficulty, but this was a close, tactical fight through eight frames when lightning struck in the form of a left hook to the liver from Cardenas. Ramirez went down on one knee and wasn’t able to beat the count. It was as if Cardenas summoned the ghost of Micky Ward who had a penchant for terminating fights with the same punch that arrived out of the blue.

The official time was 1:37 of round nine. Cardenas improved to 25-1 with his14th win inside the distance. Ramirez, who was stopped in the opening round by Nick “Wrecking” Ball in London in his lone previous fight outside Mexico, falls to 23-3-3.

Co-Feature

In an upset, Tijuana super welterweight Damian Sosa won a split decision over previously undefeated Marques Valle, a local area fighter who was stepping up in class in his first 10-round go. Sosa was the aggressor, repeatedly backing his taller opponent into the ropes where Valle was unable to get good leverage behind his punches.

The 25-year-old Valle, managed by the influential David McWater, was the house fighter. This was his 10^th appearance in this building. He brought a 10-0 (7) record and was hoping to emulate the success of his younger brother Dominic Valle who scored a second-round stoppage of his opponent in this ring two weeks ago, improving to 9-0. But Sosa, who brought a 24-2 record, proved to be a bridge too high.

The judges had it 97-93 and 96-94 for the Tijuana invader and a disgraceful 98-92 for the house fighter.

Also

In a fight whose abrupt ending would be echoed by the main event, 34-year-old SoCal featherweight Ronny Rios, now training in Las Vegas, returned to the ring after a 22-month hiatus and scored a fifth-round stoppage over Nicolas Polanco of the Dominican Republic.

A three-punch combo climaxed by a left hook to the liver took the breath out of Polanco who slumped to his knees and was counted out. A two-time world title challenger, Rios advanced to 34-4 (17 KOs). Polanco, 34, declined to 21-6-1. The official time was 0:54 of round five.

—

The next ProBox show (Wednesday, May 8) will have an international cast with fighters from Kazakhstan, Japan, Mongolia, and the United Kingdom. In the main event, Liverpool’s Robbie Davies Jr will make his U.S. debut against the California-based Kazakh Sergey Lipinets.

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