Connect with us

Articles of 2009

What Was He Looking At?

Published

on

The good news is it wasn’t all bad news for the junior welterweight division Saturday night on SHOWTIME.

On the positive side, World Boxing Organization junior welterweight champion Timothy Bradley looked good for the brief period of time he was defending his share of the 140-pound title against former lightweight champion Nate Campbell while newly crowned WBC title holder Devon Alexander looked even better beating up former champion Junior Witter to claim what was a vacant throne room.

As for the bad news, referee David Mendoza apparently wasn’t looking at all because he was the only guy in Rancho Mirage, CA. who didn’t see Bradley’s bald head slam into Campbell’s accidentally, causing a deep cut over Campbell’s left eye in the third round that Mendoza incorrectly ruled had been caused by a punch. When Campbell complained of impaired vision, Mendoza raised Bradley’s hand, a victory that should become a no-contest if the California Athletic Commission still exists.

Football long ago proved the efficacy of instant replay and in no sport might it be more helpful than boxing. Certainly it could not cure all the sport’s ills but Saturday night it would have given Mendoza clear evidence to overturn himself.
br />Quite naturally, Campbell’s advisors immediately began efforts to file a protest and his promoter, the bombastic Don King, was in the ring hollering that Campbell had to fight two people, Bradley and Mendoza. As usual that was over the top and far from accurate. Mendoza made an innocent mistake. A bad one to be sure but that hardly made him part of some conspiracy to deny the aging Campbell his due.

Bradley (25-0, 12 KO) looked in the early going like he might take care of that himself with no help needed from anyone else. While it is fair to point out that many things can change in the course of a 12-round fight, the three completed ones belonged so utterly and completely to the young champion it is difficult to extrapolate a way Campbell (33-6-1, 25 KO) might have altered the outcome.

At 25, Bradley was faster, more agile, a more accurate puncher and totally on top of both his game and Campbell’s. Now 37, Campbell had been forced to give up his unified lightweight title a few months ago after no longer being able to make the 135-pound limit and in this fight the ravages of boxing seemed to be clear for the first time. Making weight was not his problem in Rancho Mirage. Making a fight of it was.

Although Campbell was coming off brilliant performances against Juan Diaz and Ali Funeka, who he beat 24 hours after having to give up the lightweight title they were scheduled to fight over because of his problems on the scales, he simply looked used up against Bradley, who may be the best of the 140-pound champions not named Manny Pacquiao.

In fact, the cut was almost a blessing because Bradley had dominated the third round, pinning the almost defenseless Campbell along the ropes and pummeling his head and body when they cracked heads and blood began to spurt. Perhaps Mendoza simply assumed the cut had to come from the number of punches Bradley had landed but the only way that cut came from a punch was if Bradley’s head was inside his glove, which it was not.

What is most interesting is not how the fight went but how it ended. Had it gone on, the conclusion seemed to already be written. But now that Campbell can claim foul might he also get a rematch?

None is required because he was not the mandatory challenger so Bradley can avoid him if he’d like but why would he? The only reason would be if no one is willing to pay him to beat about Campbell for a while longer. If they are, he might as well take it because there is nothing Campbell did during the nine minutes they were together that should convince Bradley or his promoter, Gary Shaw, that there is much to fear from the 37-year-old former champion.

The same may not be true of Alexander, another King fighter who has been grossly under promoted. He has been a top-flight junior welterweight for more than a year but he has seldom been seen on national television and until getting his shot against Witter, who coincidentally is the man Bradley stopped to win the WBO title last year in England, was all but unknown except to boxing aficionados.

In this moment he was brilliant, easily solving the problems of Witter’s unpredictable style. If Witter was just a runner one could say he moves well but he is a guy who holds, wrestles, switches back and forth between southpaw and traditional styles for no good end and is generally horrendous to watch.

Given that, the 22-year-old Alexander (19-0, 12 KO) gets extra points from this corner because he rid the ring of the guy in eight rounds, thereby freeing observers from another 12 minutes of having to watch Witter (37-3-2, 22 KO) do we know not what.

Alexander is not known for his punching power but he twice hurt Witter badly and by the eighth round had him holding on for dear life. In fact, he held on so fiercely he was sternly reprimanded by the referee before the close of the eighth round.

So sternly it seemed that he decided he’d had enough and quit on his stool, a decision supported by the judges’ cards. One had Alexander winning all eight rounds while the other two fellows, perhaps wishing a visitor to these shores well, gave Witter one round for his trouble.

Speaking of trouble, what kind of trouble might the left-handed Alexander give Bradley if the two chose to meet in a unification fight? That would be a battle of young lions and, frankly, is the only fight that makes real sense for either of them.

It would cost one their title and very likely both will be forced to make some meaningless mandatory defense first but with Pacquiao having moved up to challenge WBO welterweight champion Miguel Cotton it is the one fight in the division someone might pay to watch. And, more importantly, to televise.

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Results-and-Recaps-from-New-York-Where-Taylor-edged-Serrano-Once-Again
Featured Articles4 days ago

Results and Recaps from New York Where Taylor Edged Serrano Once Again

From-a-Sympathetic-Figure-to-a-Pariah-The Travails-of-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr
Featured Articles1 week ago

From a Sympathetic Figure to a Pariah: The Travails of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr

Results-and-Recaps-from-NYC-where-Hamzah-Sheeraz-was-Spectacular
Featured Articles3 days ago

Results and Recaps from NYC where Hamzah Sheeraz was Spectacular

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Catterall-vs-Eubank-Ends-Prematurely-Catterall-Wins-a-Technical-Decision
Featured Articles1 week ago

Catterall vs Eubank Ends Prematurely; Catterall Wins a Technical Decision

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

Philadelphia-Welterweight-Gil-Turner-a-Phenom-Now-Rests-in-an-Unmarked-Grave
Featured Articles4 days ago

Philadelphia Welterweight Gil Turner, a Phenom, Now Rests in an Unmarked Grave

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Avila-Perspective-Chap-333-Jake-Paul-JC-Chavez-Jr-Zurdo-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 333: Jake Paul, JC Chavez Jr, Zurdo and More

A-Boxing-Card-in-Alabama-Goes-Pfft-A-True-Tale-from-the-Underbelly-of-the-Sweet-Science
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Boxing Card in Alabama Goes Pfft: A True Tale from the Underbelly of The Sweet Science

Avila-Perspecrive-Chap-334-Back-to-Back-Boxing-Cards-in-the-Big-Apple
Featured Articles5 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 334: Back-to-Back Boxing Cards in the Big Apple

Paro
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

When-Boxing-Was-Big-on-the-Fourth-of-July-A-TSS-Classic
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

When Boxing was Big on the Fourth of July: A TSS Classic

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Mbilli Blasts Out Sulecki in Quebec; Wilder TKOs Herndon in Wichita

Gibbons
Featured Articles17 hours ago

From the Boondocks to the Big Time, The Wild Saga of Manny Pacquiao’s Sidekick Sean Gibbons

Results-and-Recaps-from-NYC-where-Hamzah-Sheeraz-was-Spectacular
Featured Articles3 days ago

Results and Recaps from NYC where Hamzah Sheeraz was Spectacular

Results-and-Recaps-from-New-York-Where-Taylor-edged-Serrano-Once-Again
Featured Articles4 days ago

Results and Recaps from New York Where Taylor Edged Serrano Once Again

Philadelphia-Welterweight-Gil-Turner-a-Phenom-Now-Rests-in-an-Unmarked-Grave
Featured Articles4 days ago

Philadelphia Welterweight Gil Turner, a Phenom, Now Rests in an Unmarked Grave

Avila-Perspecrive-Chap-334-Back-to-Back-Boxing-Cards-in-the-Big-Apple
Featured Articles5 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 334: Back-to-Back Boxing Cards in the Big Apple

From-a-Sympathetic-Figure-to-a-Pariah-The Travails-of-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr
Featured Articles1 week ago

From a Sympathetic Figure to a Pariah: The Travails of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr

Catterall-vs-Eubank-Ends-Prematurely-Catterall-Wins-a-Technical-Decision
Featured Articles1 week ago

Catterall vs Eubank Ends Prematurely; Catterall Wins a Technical Decision

Avila-Perspective-Chap-333-Jake-Paul-JC-Chavez-Jr-Zurdo-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 333: Jake Paul, JC Chavez Jr, Zurdo and More

When-Boxing-Was-Big-on-the-Fourth-of-July-A-TSS-Classic
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

When Boxing was Big on the Fourth of July: A TSS Classic

A-Boxing-Card-in-Alabama-Goes-Pfft-A-True-Tale-from-the-Underbelly-of-the-Sweet-Science
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Boxing Card in Alabama Goes Pfft: A True Tale from the Underbelly of The Sweet Science

Mexico's-Francisco-Rodriguez-Jr-is-the-TSS-Fighter-of-the-Month-for-June
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Mexico’s Francisco Rodriguez Jr is the TSS Fighter of the Month for June

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

Holly-Holm-Joshua-Edwards-and-Rene-Alvarado-Sparkle-on-the-Paul-Chavez-Undercard
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Holly Holm, Joshua Edwards, and Rene Alvarado Sparkle on the Paul-Chavez Undercard

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Mbilli Blasts Out Sulecki in Quebec; Wilder TKOs Herndon in Wichita

Avila-Perspective-Chap-332-Jake-Paul-vs-Chavez-Jr-plus-Mbilli-Deontay-and-More
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 332: Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr., plus Mbilli, Deontay and More

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

Paro
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending