Connect with us

Articles of 2006

Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day Massacre

Published

on

CHICAGO – I can’t recall being so close to a canvas. Then again, I can’t remember ever catching a whiff of something so fetid that hadn’t been dead and left out in the sun for a few days.

Indeed, I spent Friday’s card with the photographers, leaning against the mat for the perfect shot. It’s a wonder with all the speckles of old blood and sweat on the Aragon Ballroom canvas that biohazard suits weren’t issued with the credentials. Cheers to the photographers for risking bacterial infection for the right shot, but next time – since my health insurance isn’t all that great – I’ll take my typical seat below the canvas as a writer.

Those with a weak stomach or queasiness need not apply for any part of the boxing world. There’s no way to prepare for the abnormal facial swelling and gaping cuts that pour blood.

Friday’s bouts would have sent those poor unprepared fools running out of the building onto Lawrence Avenue, decrying the evil atrocities they’ve witnessed. Somehow the smell of the canvas can turn my stomach – well, that and the threat of catching a skin-eating bacteria – but swelling and blood intrigue me.

Gilbert Venegas stepped into the ring as a fan favorite, only because of his Illinois roots. At 9-1-2, he’d proven to this boxing market his worth as an up-and-comer. Francisco Rincon weighed down Venegas’ rise – if only momentarily – when two uppercuts opened the wound over Venegas’ right eye. Liberal use of the jab shredded it the rest of the way to have the fight called in Rincon’s favor in the third round.

The worst was still to come. A very bloody St. Patrick’s Day massacre involving headliner David Diaz.

Four straight fights have yielded four straight cuts on the Chicago lightweight’s face. Silverio Ortiz of Mexico gets credit for making it a quartet, although referee Gino Rodriguez, Diaz and his corner agreed a headbutt caused it. My glance caught the cut after the headbutt and an instant after a broad left hook thumped Diaz’s right brow, turning the cut into a canyon. This was just the first round of the 10 which would be fought to completion.

Diaz planned to pressure Ortiz from the first bell. He’d hoped to avenge the draw his first career title shot for the IBA belt against Ramazan Palyani suffered in December. Diaz wanted to prove his conditioning’s worth. It’s a mindset in the ring he later regretted.

Ortiz staggered Diaz in the fifth round, but it seemed only the hometown chants were holding him up. Not only had Ortiz staggered him, his constant left-jabbing to that cut caused a constant bloody dribble down Diaz’s face and off of his chin. Both fighters were smattered in red by the end of the round, but the right side of Diaz’s was a grotesque sea of red.

The sixth round got underway, but Rodriguez called timeout to check the cut.

“I didn’t want them to stop the fight,” Diaz said afterward. “I didn’t like to win that way. (The cut) blurred me up a bit, but I didn’t want the ref to know it was bothering me.”

Diaz’s cornerman Jim Strickland deserves credit for having the cut sealed well enough for Diaz to concentrate on wobbling Ortiz in the eighth, although Diaz punched himself out with Ortiz on the ropes and couldn’t knock the Mexican down.

With the bulk of the blood stopped and Diaz ahead on points, there were few worries in Diaz’s corner. The judges’ scorecards reinforced that feeling afterward as the Chicagoan earned a unanimous decision for his 30th career victory.

“I feel that Gino did the right thing,” Diaz said. “I felt I did enough to win. I don’t feel ashamed of my fight.”

Standing with a fellow reporter in Diaz’s dressing room, we got a close look at the cut, which spanned nearly three quarters of his right eyebrow. Even Diaz didn’t know how horrible the gash he’d suffered.

“I’ve had bad cuts,” he said just before peering into the mirror behind him. “Oh, but not that bad.”

BELLY UP ON ‘LIGHTS OUT’

Karma did not prevail. Emanuel Steward made it a personal rule not to bet against James Toney. Steward’s caveat didn’t apply to the 2-to-1 odds stacked against Toney. Smelling a sure thing that Toney wasn’t in the physical capacity to shatter those odds, I predicted he wouldn’t have that belt by the end of the night.

Through all of that, karma failed to smite Toney’s doubters as Hasim Rahman retained his belt on a draw. Incredible.

These are the days to pick the small payoffs. The easy winners such as Duke and Connecticut, or the damned New York Yankees. Oh, how I despise those pinstriped sots, which is strange because I don’t even care about baseball.

It seems the underdogs have drained the universe of breakthroughs for the underdogs all this week. My NCAA bracket collapsed in a matter of a day. The serious gambler should take a bet-free sojourn away from the sporting world. It would be too tempting to bet on the longshot. God only knows how long it will be out of whack, so it’s best to avoid Tarver-Hopkins and everything leading up to and including the Kentucky Derby – that’s where the real sharks are setting traps for the financially bold bettors.

Beware, friends.

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles1 week ago

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

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

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

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Delving into ‘Hoopla’ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles1 week ago

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

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles1 week ago

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

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Paro
Featured Articles6 days 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 Articles2 weeks ago

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

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

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

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles6 days ago

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

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles3 days ago

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

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles4 days 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 Articles4 days ago

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

Holly-Holm-Joshua-Edwards-and-Rene-Alvarado-Sparkle-on-the-Paul-Chavez-Undercard
Featured Articles3 days ago

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

A-Boxing-Card-in-Alabama-Goes-Pfft-A-True-Tale-from-the-Underbelly-of-the-Sweet-Science
Featured Articles4 hours 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 Articles1 day 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 Articles3 days 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 Articles3 days 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 Articles4 days 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 Articles4 days 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 Articles6 days ago

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

Paro
Featured Articles6 days 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 Articles1 week 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 Articles1 week 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 Articles1 week ago

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

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

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

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

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

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

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

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending