Articles of 2009
OUCH–Arnaoutis Gets A Steppingstone Gig

The resilience of the out-gunned Greek army against the immense Persian forces during the ancient Battle of Thermopylae is regarded as the prime example of how courage and tactical guile can match size and power.
This Saturday night, Athenian Mike Arnaoutis will need to display the same fortitude as his countrymen if he is to withstand the violent offense of Victor Ortiz in their HBO-televised bout in San Jose, California.
Ortiz has blitzed through his opposition on route to compiling a 23-1-1 (18 KOs) record and earning recognition from many publications as the brightest prospect in the sport. His only setbacks have been a technical draw and disqualification loss, and bare no reflection on the Californianâs adaptable boxing style that is complemented with a striking blend of speed, power and a boyish charm that could conceivably make Ortiz a crossover star. Promotional heavyweights Golden Boy and Top Rank have already engaged in a hostile battle for the services of the junior welterweight credited with the ferocity of Fernando Vargas and the magnetism of Oscar De La Hoya.
Conversely, Arnaoutis has lost much of the lustre that saw him attract noisy Greek-American crowds during his string of appearances on Showtimeâs ShoBox series a few years ago. After going 19 fights without a loss, the New Jersey-domiciled fighter suffered two consecutive defeats in relatively high-profile matchups.
Arnaoutis, 21-2-2 (10 KOs), received the opportunity to face Ortiz after the withdrawal of faded veteran Vivian Harris, and it is a condemnation of the Greekâs standing that he is in the role of a facilitator to the development of a 21-year-oldâs career.
It wasnât long ago that Arnaoutis was at the center of marketing campaigns and careful match-making. He was first discovered by Mike Michael of the now defunct London-based Panix Promotions that once guided Lennox Lewis. As professional sports are somewhat ironically frowned upon in the home of the Olympic Games, Arnaoutis knew that he would have to leave Greece if he wanted to chase his pugilistic ambitions. Consequently, he bombarded Michael with phone calls for six months until the Londoner made the trip to Athens to view the fighter who claimed 12 Greek amateur titles.
âIn Greece, if you have the professional boxing talent, you will still end up being a policeman or a member of the government because that's the way it is, unless you leave,â said Michael in 2006.
Realizing that Arnaoutis had some potential, Michael brought him to London and subsequently America with the expectations of making the young fighter into a crowd pleasing puncher that could attract strong interest from an ethnic following.
âGreek-Americans would love to embrace a fighter,â said Pete Spanakos, a 1960 U.S. Olympian of Hellenic heritage. âThey would go nuts. If the Greek media took hold of this kid, his career would take off. I canât even imagine what it would be like seeing a Greek flag waving at Madison Square Garden.â
Such an occasion initially seemed a likely possibility as Arnaoutis knocked out the normally durable Jessie Feliciano in the first round, one fight after an entertaining draw with the then-unbeaten powerhouse Juan Urango. Arnaoutis combined sharp-punching from his southpaw stance with nifty footwork and a quick jab and seemed ready for a world title in 2006 after signing with Joe DeGuardiaâs Star Boxing.
Yet his meeting with WBO 140-pound beltholder Ricardo Torres ended in frustration as two of the ringside judges favored the champion by narrow margins. Arnaoutis seemed seconds from a definitive victory in the seventh round after flooring Torres in spectacular fashion. But he failed to capitalize on the opening and spent the remainder of the fight seeking a one-punch knockout instead of dictating the contest with his slick combination punching. Torres regrouped and ultimately outworked Arnaoutis for the points victory.
Most of the media in attendance had Arnaoutis winning the bout and the loss seemed to be purely a consequence of inexperience rather than any obvious shortcomings.
âThis was a fight that Arnaoutis could â and should â have won,â reported veteran boxing writer Graham Houston. âIt was a learning experience for the previously unbeaten Arnaoutis, and I think he can come back a better fighter, but on this night he failed to seize the moment â and the moment passed all too quickly.â
In his next outing Arnaoutis was presented with another significant opportunity when he was paired with the touted Kendall Holt. Yet the intriguing matchup turned into a desultory affair that ESPN accurately described as âhorrible and a big disappointmentâ. Both fighters showed a reluctance to engage and Arnaoutis seemed baffled by Holtâs flashy style, only displaying aggression in the boutâs closing stages.
Arnaoutis was floored in the final round of the fight and the affair seemed to dull his appetite for the fightgame, leading to an 11-month layoff.
In his biggest tests, Arnaoutis appeared caught between styles. While he possesses solid classical boxing skills, he has a tendency to search for highlight reel one-punch finishes instead of consistently unleashing the smooth flurries that brought him success earlier in his career. He does not administer remarkable punching power, and the damaging shots landed on Feliciano and Torres were a result of high quality technique instead of natural force.
Arnaoutis was conceivably carried away by trying to impress his growing Greek-American soccer-style fanbase with spectacular knockouts instead of playing to his more functional strengths.
Since the setback against Holt, the 29-year-old has rattled off four victories against mediocre opposition and has undertaken changes on both sides of the ropes that figure to boost his sagging prizefighting career.
Six months ago he had his first child with wife Eleni and the new arrival seems to have provided Arnaoutis with renewed vigour.
âThings are different now,â he explains. âI have a lot more responsibility since [the birth of my daughter]. She inspires me to train harder and come fight night I know she will be motivating me to go out there and look my absolute best.â
Arnaoutis has also split from Mike Michael and worked with a variety of trainers before settling on James âBuddyâ McGirt. The latter development ought to see Arnaoutis focus more on slick movement and conventional boxing technique, two attributes that brought McGirt and a variety of his fighters world title success. Arnaoutis says his experience with McGirt in Florida has been so fruitful that he will leave his New Jersey base in favor of a permanent move to the Sunshine State.
Crafty boxing will be a prerequisite if Arnaoutis aspires to disrupt Ortizâ charge toward the top of the 140-pound division. Ortiz, a southpaw himself, has yet to face a skilful portsider, while Arnaoutis has the experience of battling the rugged Urango. Moreover, Arnaoutis must feel better about the blemishes on his slate given the subsequent prominent performances by Urango, Torres and Holt.
A focused gameplan that plays to Arnaoutisâ assets of quick combination punching coalesced with clever use of the ring will give the Greek his best shot at thwarting the fierce intent of his opponent. But the remorseless march of Ortiz can only be momentarily resisted.
Defending Thermopylae must have been a less daunting task.
Articles of 2009
UFC 108 Rashad Evans vs. Thiago Silva

Former champion Rashad Evans meets Brazilâs venerable Thiago Silva in a non-title belt that can lead to a return match with the current champ, but first things first.
Evans (15-1-1) and Silva (14-1) meet in Ultimate Fighting Championship 108 in a light heavyweight bout on Saturday Jan. 2, at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. A win by either fighter could result in a world title bid. The fight card is being shown on pay-per-view television.
Events can change quickly in the Octagon and anybody can beat anybody in the 205-pound weight division. Just ask Silva or Evans.
Silva and Evans are both experienced and can vouch firsthand about the capriciousness of fighting in MMA and especially as a light heavyweight. On one day this man can beat that man and on another day, that man can beat this man. It can make you absolutely daffy.
Evans, 30, is the former UFC light heavyweight world champion who only defended his title on one occasion and lost by vicious knockout to current champion Lyoto Machida of Brazil. Itâs the only defeat on his record.
Silva, 27, is a well-rounded MMA fighter from Sao Paolo, Brazil who is versed in jujitsu, Muy Thai and boxing. He can end a fight quickly in a choke hold just as easily as with a kick or a punch. His only loss came to who else: Machida.
Evans and Silva know a win can push open the door to a rematch with current UFC light heavyweight champion Machida.
âA win against Rashad would put me in the track against Lyoto,â said Silva, in a telephone conference call. âThat's what â what I want to do.â
When Silva fought Machida the two Brazilians were both undefeated and feared in the MMA world. The fight took place in Las Vegas and with one second remaining in the first round a perfectly timed punch knocked Silva unconscious.
âI was humbled big time, man,â says Silva who fought Machida in January 2009. âI learned a lot from that fight. I think I can correct the mistakes from that fight, not overlooking anything else right now, but just I want to get the chance to fight him again.â
For Evans it was a different circumstance. The upstate New Yorker held the UFC title and was defending it after stopping then champion Forrest Griffin by knockout. Still, many felt Machida was far too technically versed. Evans was stopped brutally in the second round.
âI've made it a point to not â to not get distracted on what I want to do, because you know Thiago (Silva) is a very hungry fighter,â said Evans who has not fought since losing the title to Machida last May. âMy focus is just on Thiago so much. You know I don't want to overlook him, you know, not even a little bit.â
Dana White, president of UFC, says the winner of this fight could conceivably fight Machida in the near future. Evans and especially Silva are motivated by the open window.
âI learned a lot from that fight. I think I can correct the mistakes from that fight,â says Silva. âNot overlooking anything else right now, but I just want to get the chance to fight him again.â
What a prize. The winner gets to face the man who beat him: Machida.
Articles of 2009
Ten Boxing Wishes For 2010

As 2009 comes to a close, one reflects on what went well and what went wrong during the year in boxing. There were many highlights. Pacquiao vs. Cotto and Showtimeâs Super Six tournament were part of the best that boxing had to offer. But there were some low points too therefore the industry has some work to do in order to keep generating fans. Here are some suggestions for 2010:
10. Better pay per view cards
Paying 40 to 50 bucks to watch the main event gets old real quick. Why do we have to sit through a horrible under-card to get to the main course? Itâs like being fed spam appetizers before the Thanksgiving turkey. It seems that the pay per view promoters just donât get it. Are they watching what they put on or do they only watch the âbig fightâ as everyone else is slowly being conditioned to do so?
9. Time to make Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. fight
Okay, I understand heâs the son of one of the greatest fighters that ever lived. But heâs had 42 fights against low to mid level competition and has never managed to look spectacular. Itâs time to throw the 23 year old out of the nest to see if he can fly. My suggestion is a fight against Sergio Mora or maybe even Yuri Foreman. Neither of these guys can punch. They may outbox Junior but they wonât totally humiliate him.
8. No more ridiculous Pay Per View mismatches
Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Juan Manuel Marquez shouldâve never been made. It was a ridiculous fight when it was announced and it was more ridiculous when it took place. Unable to bring Manny Pacquiao to the bargaining table for a third match against Juan Manuel Marquez, someone figured that pairing up the 135 pound champion against a natural 147 pounder like Mayweather would be a great idea. The pay per view generated over a million buys but the fact that millions of people were treated to an incredibly boring mismatch is whatâs truly worrisome. I can guarantee you one thing about this card. The sport of boxing lost fans once the show was over and done with. Talk about short term thinking.
7. Chris âThe Nightmareâ Arreola shows up for a fight in amazing shape
It was painful to see Chris Arreola take a beating from the Ukrainian giant, Vitali Klitscho. The champion certainly earned his âDr. Ironfistâ moniker as he plowed his powerful shots into the former #1 WBC heavyweight contenderâs face. He reddened and bloodied the young Mexican American with an assortment of weapons and foot movement seldom seen on a six foot seven inch heavyweight. Arreola was brave and unrelenting in battle. He never stopped coming forward and took chances when he could. His work in the ring at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles wasnât the problem. Where Arreola let himself down was outside the ring. His unwillingness to condition himself into a finely tuned athlete cost him certain immortality as the first ever heavyweight champion of Mexican descent. Arreola has the heart and skills but it was his mental fortitude that broke down. Anyone whoâs followed the Riverside fighter knows that his best weight is somewhere in the 230 pound range. It certainly isnât at the 252 pounds he registered on the scale at the Staples Center. Those fifteen to twenty extra pounds might have made all the difference in the world. Maybe he wouldâve been a little quicker, maybe he couldâve sustained a faster pace in order to tire out the champion. In his most recent fight against Brian Minto, Arreola weighed in at a career high 263. It looks like âThe Nightmareâ isnât willing to change for anyone. At this pace, the only nightmares heâll be providing will be to the management of Hometown Buffets all across Riverside. Just kidding âNightmareâ!
6. More respect for the lighter weights
Real boxing fans know that the most exciting fighters in the sport are usually found toiling in weight divisions south of 154 pounds. Pacquiao, Cotto, Juan Manuel Marquez, Edwin Valero, Israel Vazquez, Juan Ma Lopez, Vic Darchinyan, Rafael Marquez and countless others have been the real driving force behind this sport. Itâs those great fighters that have made boxing fanatics out of casual fans. The heavyweights may get all the money and glory but itâs the little guys who make the sport shine and itâs time they received greater compensation. Itâs dismaying to think that a mediocre heavyweight can make three or four times as much as the great Rafael Marquez.
5. An American Heavyweight champion
Speaking of heavyweights, two Americans tried and failed at dethroning Vitali Klitschko this year. Both Kevin Johnson and Chris Arreola did their best to wrestle the belt away from âDr. Klitschkoâ but came up short since they were easily outclassed. What happened to the great American Heavyweight? Whereâs our new Joe Frazier or Ali? Even a new Gerry Cooney or a Ken Norton would do at this point. Iâve got a feeling that the only way weâre going to see an American champion is if Klitschko retires. My money is on Arreola. Although undisciplined and rough outside the ring, heâs got tons (no pun intended) of natural talent. Heâs without a doubt the most talented American heavyweight on the scene.
4. More ShoBox
The Showtime Cable network gave us the best boxing on TV for the price of a cable television subscription. Their ShoBox series has been a proven hit for Senior VP of Sports Programming Ken Hershman. The concept is simple yet brilliant. Match up two up and comers with great records and letâs see what happens. Sometimes the results are surprising. Many have passed the ShoBox test and went on to bigger and better things. Others have been exposed as having padded records and eventually their careers stall and take a dive.
3. More safety in Mexico so I can attend a show without a gun battle breaking out
Having lived near the Tijuana border all my life Iâm dismayed at the war zone that the city has evolved into. Every day there are reports of shootings fueled by the drug war trade. Believe it or not, there was a time when Tijuana was safe and most wouldnât have thought twice about crossing the border for some seafood and nightlife. No more. Having covered several boxing cards on Revolucion Avenue many years ago, I got a taste of just how important the sport is to Mexican fans. Itâs also important to me but not that important. For now Iâll stick to covering shows at the Pechanga Casino and in the less dangerous city of L.A. I never thought Iâd say that.
2. Pac Man vs. Mayweather
This is the fight everyone wants to see. Seeing how Mayweather dominated Pac Manâs arch enemy, Juan Manuel Marquez, you have to wonder if the Filipino can handle Lilâ Floydâs speed and size. One thing is for sure, betting against Pacquiao doesnât usually work out for me. It never has. Thereâs no future in it. So if the fight gets done itâs Pacquiao by TKO in ten.
1. And finally
One final wish is reserved for all the readers of TheSweetScience.com I wish you all a healthy and happy 2010. Thank you for your continued loyalty to the site. Itâs very much appreciated.
Articles of 2009
A Very Special New Year's Day Column

It has been just over four months since Nick Charles, the play-by-play announcer for Shobox: The New Generation, was diagnosed with stage IV bladder cancer and forced to take a medical hiatus from the monthly show that has aired since 2001.
Since then he has undergone grueling chemotherapy treatments that have resulted in him losing all of his hair as he forces himself to live as normal of a life as possible. Through sheer force of will, as well as the strength and support that he receives from his wonderfully loving family and his strong Christian faith, the 63-year-old Charles has managed to keep his weight up while not falling prey to the always lingering threats of depression, cynicism and negativity.
If one was unaware that he was battling such an insidious disease, youâd never know from talking on the phone to him that he has been to hell and back. He has lost none of the inspiring energy that has endeared him to members of the boxing community and legions of worldwide viewers.
âIâm doing great,â Charles said during a telephone conversation on December 30th. âIâve been off the chemo for a month, and the doctors have told me that Iâm 80 percent in remission. Iâm going to see them again in three months. It may come back, but if it takes one year, or two years, or however long, Iâm going to make the most of the good time.â
As physically and emotionally wrenching as the grim diagnosis and subsequent treatment has been, even for someone as perpetually positive as Charles, the longtime announcer said a lot of good things have come from it.
Having been married three times, Charles is the father of four children: Jason, 38, Melissa, 34, Charlotte, 22, and Giovanna, 3 œ.
While Charles is not big on regrets, he is the first to admit that he wasnât always there for his older children. For many years he traveled the world as a CNN correspondent, often putting the demands of his career above all else, including those closest to him. Nowhere was the strain more evident than in his relationship with Melissa.
Having been divorced from Melissaâs mother since 1977, Charles said his relationship with that daughter has been especially âhot and cold, all of our lives.â
His illness has enabled them to forge a relationship that has been âbased on a massive amount of forgiveness and understanding.â
âThis has had a tremendous healing effect on both of us,â said Charles. âMy illness has had a fortifying effect on a lot of things, the most important of which is my relationships with my family.â
That also includes his first wife, with whom he has had an often acrimonious relationship over the past three decades.
âIt took a long time for the scab to become a scar, but we had lunch one day and it was so great to once again see the gentle, soft sides of each other,â he explained. âThe whole divorce process creates a hardness that doesnât always go away.â
Charles is also the grandfather to three children, some of whom are about the same age as his youngest daughter. He jokes that he has a ânuclear 21st century familyâ because of the similar ages of two generations of children. One of the hardest things for him has been the realization that he canât always play with them in manner in which he would like.
âThe hemoglobin is the fuel in your tank, so when itâs low you canât will yourself to do things no matter how much you want to,â said Charles. âYou canât just sleep it off or work through it. I donât want the kids to wonder why I canât play in the backyard with them, or kick a soccer ball, or throw them in the air.â
Particularly difficult is when Giovanna reminds her father of how handsome he is, but then innocently asks him what happened to his hair, eyebrows and lashes.
âYou try to keep things on a need to know basis, which is not easy when dealing with curious kids,â said Charles.
While Charles might look like the kind of guy that things have often come easy to, the reality is that his beginnings were far from auspicious. But, he says, his often challenging Chicago childhood blessed him with the steely resolve that has helped him so much during the arduous journey he is now on.
âI had it pretty rough growing up,â he explained. âI remember the lights and the heat being shut off and eating mustard sandwiches. I went to work at 13 and always had insecurities about the future. But I always expected and saw the best in people, so when I got sick, never once did I say 'Why me?â
Since taking a leave of absence from Shobox, the outpouring of support from the boxing community has warmed Charlesâs heart. For a guy that is battling for his life, he actually considers himself fortunate to be surrounded by so much goodness in both his personal and professional lives.
âI always hear that boxing people are ruthless, but I couldnât disagree more,â said Charles. âIâve probably received about 1,000 e-mails, and people are always following in sending their best wishes. From the relatively unknown people in boxing to many of the more famous people, there has been an outpouring of true affection.â
Charles said that the Top Rank organization has been exceedingly kind and gracious. He was touched beyond description when he learned that officials in Oklahoma got special permission to have a seamstress sew âKeep Fighting Nickâ onto their sleeves. He chokes up when talking about cut man Stitch Duran giving up an endorsement opportunity so he could put Charlesâs name on his outfit. He never tires of hearing shout-outs from fighters on television.
Charles has always been a people person with an inordinate faith in the goodness of his fellow man. Battling this illness has only made his already strong faith in humanity even stronger.
âAdversity is a great teacher, and it really teaches you who your genuine friends are,â said Charles. âI have a lot of friends.â
He also has a remarkable wife, Cory, a CNN producer to whom he has been married for 11 years. She is the daughter of an electrician, a self-made woman who exudes all of the warmth of her native Brooklyn. She has reinforced her husbandâs spiritual base by her love, optimism and strength of character.
âIf I get down, she reminds me to not get too caught up,â said Charles. âI believe in eternity, and that has put me pretty much at peace.â
More than anything else, Charles wants to get himself back behind a microphone sooner rather than later, and hopefully on Shobox. He is the first to admit that viewers âdonât watch the series to see Nick Charles,â but he is proud of the fact that he was âpart of the identityâ of such a popular show.
âAnd people love comeback stories,â added Charles. âThatâs the message Iâm getting from the people out there.â
In boxing the word âchampionâ is often overused because it pertains only to winning belts and receiving worldwide recognition for being the best at your craft. The reality is that lifeâs real champions have other qualities, such as the innate ability to treat people well and always make them feel better about themselves, especially when the recipients of the goodwill are in no position to give them anything back.
By that standard of measure, Charles is as much, if not more of a champion than all of the boxers he has covered during the nine years that Shobox has been on the air.
I know I speak for scores of others when I say, âHappy New Year, Champ. We hope that you are the comeback story of the year in 2010.â
-
Featured Articles5 days ago
The Haney-Lomachenko Tempest Smacks of Hagler-Leonard; Dave Moretti Factored in Both
-
Featured Articles3 weeks ago
In the Homestretch of His Career, Philadelphiaâs Joey âTankâ Dawejko Keeps on Rolling
-
Featured Articles1 week ago
Avila Perspective, Chap. 237: Battles for Undisputed Status in Dublin and Las Vegas
-
Featured Articles3 weeks ago
Avila Perspective, Chap. 235: Canelo Alvarez, Silk Pajamas and More
-
Featured Articles2 weeks ago
Romero Controversially TKOs Barroso; Sims Nips Akhmedov in a Barnburner
-
Featured Articles1 week ago
Nine TSS Writers Analyze the Haney-Lomachenko Fight
-
Featured Articles4 weeks ago
Underdog Victor Morales and Undefeated William Zepeda Score Fast KOs in Texas
-
Featured Articles3 weeks ago
Former LA Times Scribe Steve Springer Reflects on His Days on the Boxing Beat