Articles of 2004

Stevens Right to Suspend Evander Holyfield

Published

19 years ago

November 24, 2004

It seems there is a man in the sport of boxing with some character. And some courage.

Ron Stevens, the chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission, suspended former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield indefinitely in light of his horrendous showing earlier this month against Larry Donald. It was Holyfield's third loss in a row, and it's long overdue for common-sense people like Stevens to start making bold decisions.

Holyfield was hit with jabs, right hands, left hooks, body shots – just about everything in Donald's limited arsenal. Too bad it's not Holyfield's chin that went, because he'd have been knocked out early and not sustained another long, extended beating. When you consider the punches absorbed in the Donald loss, and combine those with the ones accumulated over the last few years from the likes of James Toney and Chris Byrd, you have to figure that Holyfield will eventually feel the effects of his stubborn refusal to acknowledge the obvious.

Holyfield began to slide as far back as 1998, when he sluggishly outpointed the ordinary Vaughn Bean over 12 rounds. He has been mostly bad over the last six years, with his only good performance coming against Hasim Rahman in 2002. But things really took a turn for the worse last October, when Toney humiliated Holyfield and registered a 9th round TKO. It was such a one-sided debacle that it was hard to watch.

When Holyfield finally fell, even the crowd seemed relieved.

The Donald fight was supposed to be his evidence that he could still carry on in this brutal sport at age 42. But it turned out to be evidence to the contrary. He has no business in a boxing ring. It's like allowing drunk drivers to enter the Indy 500.

It's a common problem in this sport – negligent state powers-that-be allowing washed up fighters to enter boxing rings. It has resulted in the sad falls of some of the sport's greatest fighters: Bobby Chacon, Meldrick Taylor, Riddick Bowe.

Chacon was reportedly collecting cans for cash a few years back – a result of his suffering from dementia. Taylor is downright indecipherable these days. And Bowe, even though his speech is slurred and his actions are questionable, was readmitted into a boxing ring recently.

They'll all end up like Muhammad Ali: Prisoners of their own bodies because of a hopeless attempt to rediscover past glories.

Ali would have probably been fine had he quit after his classic third confrontation with Joe Frazier. Really, what was the point in continuing after that anyway? To beat up on boring Spaniard, Alfredo Evangelista? Or chase a fleet-footed Jimmy Young?

In the end, Ali was issued a cruel punishment by Larry Holmes in a fight that should have never happened. Had Stevens been around, maybe it wouldn't have happened.

The saddest story of all may be Wilfred Benitez. The youngest world champion in boxing's history, Benitez won the junior welterweight title from Antonio Cervantes at age 17. He moved up and beat Carlos Palomino by convincing decision in 1979 and won a third world title by knocking out Maurice Hope in 1981.

He is perhaps the greatest Puerto Rican fighter of all time, a defensive wizard who possessed such an uncanny ability to make people miss that he was nicknamed “Radar.” But, later in his career, he began to fade, and he took beatings. He was dominated by Mustafa Hamsho and flattened by Matthew Hilton. It led to his present condition: A virtual invalid who lives a lonely, isolated, tragic life.

He can't remember people he met five minutes prior. He can't remember people he's known for years.

He can barely remember his own brilliant career.

Again, had someone like Stevens been around 20 years ago, perhaps he would have suspended Benitez. But Stevens is just one commissioner in one state. There are 49 other states. Holyfield will surely take advantage of some state's lenient boxing policy.

Sadly, unless more people like Ron Stevens intervene, the great Evander Holyfield might one day end up like Chacon, Ali, Taylor, Bowe and Benitez.

Because of people who haven't intervened, he might anyway.

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Matthew Aguilar

Articles of 2004

2004 Boxing Pound for Pound List

Published

18 years ago

December 31, 2004

Matthew Aguilar

The final boxing pound-for-pound list of the year for 2004.

1. Bernard Hopkins: The top guy from beginning to end, Hopkins took care of Oscar De La Hoya with a body shot in the biggest fight of 2004. Now, he'll wait for Jermain Taylor to progress a little further, or he'll go the rematch route with Felix Trinidad. Either way, Hopkins stands to earn a lot of money in 2005 and extend that all-time middleweight reign.

2. Floyd Mayweather: How long has it been since we've seen Mayweather in a meaningful fight? Certainly not in 2004, when he outpointed the difficult DeMarcus Corley. He's slated for a January outing against a no-name. Enough stalling, already, “Pretty Boy”. Fight someone we care about (preferably Kostya Tszyu), or you'll lose your #2 position sometime in 2005.

3. Felix Trinidad: “Tito” stormed back with a magnificent knockout of Ricardo Mayorga in 2004, and now hopes to capitalize on it with big money fights. He'd like nothing more than a rematch with his only conqueror, Hopkins, but he may also opt for old nemesis Oscar De La Hoya. Either way, Trinidad is sure to fight a big fight sometime in the coming year.

4. Kostya Tszyu: What a difference one fight makes. As recently as late October, the boxing world was wondering whether Tszyu was even serious about the sport anymore. We found out with a second round demolition of Sharmba Mitchell. And that made the junior welterweight division very attractive. Tszyu has several options now, including Arturo Gatti and Mayweather or even a hop up to welterweight to challenge Cory Spinks. Let's hope one of them happens in 2005.

5. Manny Pacquiao: Pacquiao fought twice in 2004, and what a fight the first one was. His thrilling war with Juan Manuel Marquez was the best brawl of the year, and there is a chance that the two rivals will go at it again in 2005. If not, Pacquiao has a list full of options: Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, etc. Pacquiao will fight one of them in the next year.

6. Marco Antonio Barrera: Another guy thought to be washed up when the year started, Barrera resurrected his career for the second time with a masterful victory over Paulie Ayala and a close decision over rival Erik Morales in another great fight. Barrera is obviously shooting for a return with Pacquiao, who decimated him in November 2003. Barrera says it was an off-night. Hopefully, we'll find out if that was the case.

7. Winky Wright: Winky entered the “superstar” realm in 2004 with a pair of decision victories over Shane Mosley. The first was very impressive, as Wright practically shut Mosley out. The second was closer, but proved once again that Winky was the superior fighter. He'd like a shot at Trinidad or Oscar De La Hoya, but neither will happen. He'd probably be best off shooting for a name like Fernando Vargas or Ricardo Mayorga.

8. Juan Manuel Marquez: After several years on the outside looking in, Marquez is finally in a position to make some money after his courageous performance against Pacquiao. He rose from three first-round knockdowns to wage the fight of his life in a fight that was ruled a draw. It would also be interesting to see Marquez against countrymen Barrera and Erik Morales.

9. Erik Morales: “El Terrible” fought another great fight against Barrera, but, again, it was in a losing cause. He has now lost two of three to his fierce rival, and probably wants nothing to do with him anymore. But, eventually, talk of Barrera-Morales 4 will come up again. In the meantime, Morales could shoot for Pacquiao or Marquez.

10. Glencoffe Johnson: The newest entry, Johnson pumped some life into boxing in 2004 with a pair of upsets of Roy Jones Jr. and Antonio Tarver. Now, he's set to make some really big money in rematches with either, or a shot at old conqueror Hopkins. Either way, Johnson is better than anyone imagined.

11. Jose Luis Castillo: Castillo made some comeback noise of his own in 2004, beating Juan Lazcano for his old vacant title and decisioning Joel Casamayor for another big win. He says he wants Kostya Tszyu next, and if that materializes, boxing fans will be in for a treat. If not, Castillo vs. Diego Corrales is a great fight.

12. Oscar De La Hoya: Hard to erase that picture of De La Hoya grimacing in agony courtesy of a Hopkins shot to the ribs, but the “Golden Boy” had no business fighting at 160 pounds. He should drop down to junior middle or even welterweight again if he has any hope of regaining his past form. But 2005 could be the final year for one of boxing's all-time great attractions.

On the brink: Antonio Tarver, Diego Corrales, James Toney

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Articles of 2004

Heavyweight Joe Mesi Bringing Lawsuit

Published

18 years ago

December 31, 2004

Editor

As reported by the Buffalo News, Joe Mesi is suing the New York State Athletic Commission and the MRI center that conducted tests on the heavyweight boxer after his bout with Vassiliy Jirov. Mesi reportedly suffered brain injuries in the Jirov bout, which has left his boxing status uncertain.

The lawsuit alleges Mesi's medical records were improperly released to the NYSAC. The records, the lawsuit goes on to allege, were then released to the media, prejudicing Mesi's right to have his status reviewed by the appropriate boxing authorities.

The lawsuit does not seek specific monetary damages, as the extent of damages will be affected by whether Mesi is able to resume his career as a leading heavyweight contender.

Mesi hopes to have his status reviewed by the Nevada State Athletic Commission within the coming month. The ruling of the NSAC promises to be key in whether Mesi will be able to resume his boxing career.

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Articles of 2004

The Best in Chicago Boxing Returns

Published

18 years ago

December 31, 2004

Editor

Dominic Pesoli's 8 Count Productions and Bob Arum's Top Rank Incorporated along with Miller Lite presents SOLO BOXEO DE MILLER, THE ARAGON RUMBLE, another installment of The Best in Chicago Boxing on Friday, January 14th, broadcast live internationally as part of Telefutura's Friday night professional boxing series.

The newly remodeled Aragon Ballroom is located at 1106 W. Lawrence Ave. near the corner of Lawrence and Broadway in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood and is easily accessible, just 4 blocks west of Lake Shore Drive and just 4 miles east of the Kennedy expressway. There are three large parking lots located within a 1/2 block of the Aragon Ballroom. Additionally, the Howard Street Blue Line stops just across the street. Doors will open at 6pm with the first bell at 7pm.

Headlining the action packed card is the American debut of super-bantamweight Ricardo “PIOLO” Castillo, 12-2 (6KO's) of Mexicali, Mexico as he squares off in a scheduled ten rounder against WBO Latino Champion, Edel Ruiz, 24-12-3 (13KO's) of Los Mochis, SI, Mexico. Castillo will be accompanied to the ring by his brother, World Lightweight Champion Jose Luis Castillo.

In the co-main event of the evening, one of Chicago's most popular fighters, middleweight “MACHO” Miguel Hernandez, 14-1 (9KO's), battles hard swinging local veteran “MARVELOUS” Shay Mobley, 7-4-1 (2KO's), of One In a Million Inc.in a scheduled eight rounder.

The huge undercard bouts include;

Carlos Molina vs TBA, six rounds, junior middleweights
Frankie Tafoya vs TBA, four rounds, featherweights
Ottu Holified vs. Allen Medina, four rounds, middleweights
Francisco Rodriguez vs. LaShaun Blair, four rounds, bantamweights
Rita Figueroa vs. Sarina Hayden, four rounds, junior welterweights

Said Dominic Pesoli, President of 8 Count Productions, “it was a terrific evening last month and our fans were thrilled to be at the Aragon to watch David, Speedy and Luciano. David Diaz's fight against Jaime Rangel was a fight people will talk about for a long time. Our commitment to our fans is to make every event of ours better than the last one. This main event is terrific, both guys are very tough Mexicans who won't take a step back.

The fans love Miguel and Mobley figures to be a very tough opponent. Him and David Estrada had a six round war last June at our show. And the undercard showcases a lot of new, younger talent that is coming out of Chicago right now. Tafoya and Holifield have both had very successful beginnings to their careers and Francisco Rodriguez comes with fantastic amateur credentials and David Diaz says he has all the talent to be a great pro.”

“We've got big plans for 2005 and this show should take up right where last months show left off. The huge crowd loved the action last time and I'm sure they'll say the same thing this time.”

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