Articles of 2006

Vargas Rematch Heating Up For Team Mosley

Published

18 years ago

June 29, 2006

Shane Mosley’s trainer/father Jack meets the press

In anticipation of the super rematch between Shane Mosley and Fernando Vargas at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas on July 15, Jack Mosley, Shane’s trainer/father, spoke with the boxing press via telephone conference call on June 28. This is what he said.

Jack Mosley: When Shane came up, he had speed. I called it speed boxing. Speed and power. That’s what it is.

Jack Mosley: We don’t go in looking for a knockout. If it comes, it comes. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. We will outbox him, outpoint him and out-power him in every category. It will be a different fight altogether.

Jack Mosley: I started Shane out when he was eight years old and my methods will be the same. They are winning methods. He has won national tournaments and titles. Shane, they always say, is a three-time world champion. He is a five time world champion. He won two titles off Oscar each time he fought Oscar, the WBC and the IBA then the WBC and the WBA. He also won the IBF. So he’s a five-time world champion in three different weight classes. I want to make that clear because he is not getting his just do. I just think he needs credit for that accomplishment.

Jack Mosley: My training methods Danny has seen some of them but not everything. He has been up in camp with Ishay, but I have some other things I have implemented that is going to make a difference in this fight coming up with Vargas.

So there will be some changes?

Jack Mosley: It will be the same it is just some things that have been added. I am just adding, not changing stuff. I am making sure Shane can do what Shane can do best. He has the capabilities to do what he has done in the past. Some people say, He is 34 years old. Shane is still confident and strong and can still do some things out there and I am bringing it all out again.

Do you think there will be pressure on you since he won the first fight?

Jack Mosley: Well, you know what, Shane is going to win the fight. There is no question about it. I am not thinking about what people are going to say what they say and I know what I’ve got in Shane. Like I said, he is a five-time world champion in three different weight classes and I was a part of that. Shane and I did that together. I don’t care what they think. I already know what I did, I started Shane from scratch. How many trainers can say they started a fighter from scratch and gotten those accomplishments? Not too many, I say. There are some, but not too many. So I don’t care what they say. I already know what I did. And I don’t need anybody to tell me. And I don’t need any praise from anyone either. I already know what I did in my own head.

When you got together with Shane to come back, did you discuss parameters?

Jack Mosley: There was nothing to talk about. He asked me if I would train him and I said Fine.

Did he say why he wanted you to train him again?

Jack Mosley: John is training Bernard Hopkins, so what better person to have than the one who started him out?

One thing we noticed was that Shane was not throwing the combinations. Did you notice that?

Jack Mosley: Yeah, yeah. I know the reason why he did it and how it happened, too. All of the things that have caused it to happen, we have eliminated.

Can you tell us what?

Jack Mosley: I don’t want to say what it was. I don’t want to step on anyone’s toes.

Is there a different feeling when you are in the corner with your son than anyone else?

Jack Mosley: My son is my son more than anything else. I try to do the same thing with all of my fighters preparation for fights, taking care of them physically, mentally and I just try to do what I can and treat them as a human being to make sure they are the best they can be while they are out there. I don’t just throw my fighters to the wolves, if I can prevent that, I don’t care who the fighter is. I try to give him a better than 50% chance to win a fight. That’s how I train my fighters.

Did you always want Shane to be a boxer?

Jack Mosley: That was Shane’s idea, to box. Dad, I want to box, I can do this. I had him in karate and things like that. He was good a karate, too. But then the funds ran out and I was at the gym training and trying to lose weight and he would tag along and I brought him with me because I had to keep an eye on him and he wanted to box. And he wanted to be a world champion and he loved it with a passion and that’s what you’ve got to do. Love it with a passion and work with a passion and that’s what I told him.

What did you tell him when he went in a different direction?

Jack Mosley: Sometimes in life people need to do things on their own and stuff. Like when he wanted to play basketball and he wanted to play football and I said go ahead, it’s good for your boxing. You want to make changes and see what you can do and what you can’t do and that’s kind of what it was besides other things. But the bottom line is he is here and we are going to do it again. We are going to work hard and kick some but out there and make history.

In looking at the Mayweathers. Could you ever imagine training a fighter to fight your son?

Jack Mosley: I wouldn’t do it. I absolutely would not do it. I don’t love money that bad. I would never train somebody to beat my blood up. Because after the fight you still have to fellowship with your some and things like that it’s your family. You can’t have a problem like that at Christmas and other holidays that’s crazy, that’s your family. I would never do that.

Could you define power boxing?

Jack Mosley: Instead of calling it boxer-puncher I just combined the two and decided to call it power boxing. We’ll just box the guy with power and speed. There is still speed there but it is power boxing. And you are boxing with power that is basically what it is.

In this fight are you going to concentrate on hitting Vargas in the eye?

Jack Mosley: We are going to concentrate on hitting Vargas everywhere we can hit him. Wherever he lets us hit him, we are going to hit him. If he wants us to hit him in the eye again, we’ll hit him in the eye again. If he wants us to hit him in the body we’ll hit him in the body. There is going to be a spot to hit him. If he blocks the eye, there will be someplace else to hit him, that’s all.

Did you ever stop by the gym as an observer while Shane was being trained by others?

Jack Mosley: No, I was busy training my other fighters.

Do you see things you can implement that you couldn’t when he was younger?

Jack Mosley: I think Shane can do all of the things he could do when he was a younger fighter. He is older, but he’s not an abused fighter. He’s not a fighter that’s been hanging out all night long or every weekend. He takes care of himself. He’s a t the gym, he’s a work-a-holic, he eats good food and takes his vitamins. He’s just not one of those guys that is going to be hanging out. He can do those things he did when he was in his 20’s. I am watching him right now and I know he can do them because he is doing them right now. It is just muscle memory and he is doing those things again.

How difficult was it to stay away from the gym?

Jack Mosley: When Shane was an amateur and had to go to Colorado Springs, they had coaches there that would take him to different places. I wasn’t there, but I knew he knew his craft very well to handle himself with anybody in the corner. Because he is already trained. He knows what to do. What are they going to show him. He’s already won three national titles. All they can say is Shane, be more busy or jab a little more’ but he already knows how to do everything while he was traveling around the United States with the Olympic team. He already knew what to do.

What about Shane’s style against Vargas?

Jack Mosley: It’s just that he got away from it. So he’s getting back to it. Shane is just as good if not better.

There was talk about your training following the first Forrest fight

Jack Mosley: I already knew what Shane could do he just couldn’t do it. There were some other things happening in his life, so he couldn’t do it and I already knew that. People may have known that but it wasn’t their business. Against Vernon there were a lot of distractions, but what are you going to do? When the chemistry is thrown out of whack when you have a good chemistry that is working for you, it messes up everything. That happens to the best of us. I thought he won the rematch against Vernon Forrest and I thought he won the rematch against Winky Wright even though I wasn’t there I thought he beat Winky Wright. I think right now, the track he is on, he can really do some stuff without those kinds of distractions right now.

Do you have a theory on why father-son combinations don’t work?

Jack Mosley: I think a lot of times the fathers do not allow their sons to grow and they want to live their life through their son. Then you have outside influences you have people in the fighter’s ear and the father’s ear trying to manage things and manipulate. People that are envious and jealous and they want to break that up. People that are around the camp that don’t want to see it work. But it’s there and there are people that don’t want to see it work. Number one, it is the money they want the money. I had to save all of my money. I had to save all of my time at my job vacation time and sick time and they wouldn’t let me off of work, so that’s why I had to save all of my sick time. It’s like thirteen days that you had to stay every year and that was my vacation every year. Because I am trying to support my son to be the best he can be. People see that and they don’t like it. They are just jealous of it. But then you have fathers who want to live their lives, not all but some, and that is a reason why it doesn’t work. Even people in your family get jealous they don’t want it to work.

There are a lot of reason why the father-son combinations to not work. They tried it with the Williams sisters and their father, but they were strong enough to stay together. They had a strong bond and didn’t allow anyone to come between them.

There is a lot of money there. There are agents and people that want to manage – it’s all about the money and everybody knows that. They even try to make up a story saying he can’t do the job. But they weren’t there in the beginning. When they are amateurs and go to Colorado Springs and win the title and come back who’s waiting? The guys with the millions of dollars and they didn’t train them. What about the guys that train the fighters from scratch. He took four years out of his life to train the kid and he gets nothing. That is sad.

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Robert Ecksel

Articles of 2006

Peter/Toney Ii: Peter Has The Brutal Punch

Published

18 years ago

December 31, 2006

Adam Berlin

Samuel Peter claims he has dynamites in my two hands?

Heavyweight contenders Samuel “The Nigerian Nightmare” Peter and James Lights Out? Toney get it on a second time this Saturday from the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Fla. (Showtime).

The hard-slugging Peter, unlike Toney, is one of those strong, silent types notorious for letting their fists to the talking one the opening bell sounds, but the Nigeria Nightmare is as confident as ever and determined to turn Lights Out’s lights out for good.

I have got dynamites in my two hands,? said Peter, according the Lagos, Nigeria Vanguard, and I will crush James Toney once and for all. The Toney camp made the mistake of their lives by protesting and seeking a rematch. I am ready to teach him a bitter lesson.?

Sam Peter walked away with the W for Peter/Toney I at the Staples Center in LA last September, but it was by disputed split decision a verdict so disputed, there was even a dispute about the dispute which forced the WBC’s hand into mandating Saturday’s rematch.

Samuel Peter is the biggest thing to hit African boxing since Ghanaian superstar Azumah Nelson rocked the feather and junior welterweight divisions. The President of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, Prince Olaide Adeboye, admitted, according to allAfrica.com, We are rooting for Samuel Peter, of course. He is one boy we believe in to bring back the country’s lost glory in professional boxing. I am personally making arrangement to be at the ringside to see him fight Toney again. I was at the first fight in Los Angeles in September.

Peter has the brutal punch, and to me he was the clear winner of the first fight. But the WBC Board of Governors, of which I am a member, voted 21-10 for a rematch. There was nothing those of us Africans on the board could do in the circumstances. But I believe Peter will confirm he is better than Toney and will then go ahead to meet the champion and claim the belt for Nigeria and Africa.?

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Articles of 2006

The Sweet Science P4P Rankings for Asia

Published

18 years ago

December 31, 2006

Scott Mallon

There are claims that boxing is dying. Hogwash. The heavyweight division isn’t the only division in boxing and 2007 promises to be a banner year in boxing; especially for boxers hailing from Asia.

While Asia isn’t Vegas or Atlantic City, it is a region packed of diamonds in the rough; undiscovered gems and potential superstars who wait for their moment in the sun.

The Sweet Science P4P Rankings – Asia

1) Manny Pacquiao – There’s no way to dispute Pacquiao is the best fighter in Asia, if not all of boxing. He’s exciting, he wins with Je Ne Sais Quois and is definitely “the man” in boxing.

2) Pongsaklek Wonjongkam – Although his competition leaves much to be desired, his longevity and skills are undeniable. He is currently Thailand’s only world champion and is undefeated in ten years. Need I say more?

3) Chris John – A victory over Juan Manuel Marquez, however controversial, shows he belongs at the top of the heap. He easily outpointed Renan Acosta to close out 2006 and should have no trouble defending against Jose Rojas in February. A fight with Pacquiao would not be a good move on his part but a rematch with Marquez would not hurt – especially if he defeats the Mexican again.

4) Hozumi Hasegawa – Hidden away in Japan, Hasegawa is a sharp punching southpaw who put former champion Veeraphol Sahaprom to sleep. He recently bested Genaro Garcia and his herky-jerky style will give fits to any one who steps in the ring with him.

5) Masomori Tokuyama – Tokuyama has never shied away from a good fight and although he only fought once in 2006 (UD12 Jose Navarro), he ledger shows wins over Katsushige Kawashima (twice), Gerry Penalosa (twice) and In Jin Chi (twice). A fight with Hozumi Hasegawa is a distinct possibility in 2007.

6) Nobuo Nashiro – With only seven fights under his belt he took on WBA champion Martin Castillo – and defeated him. Although he’s only fought a total of nine fights, nearly all have been against quality opposition. A victory in a rematch with Castillo would cement his claim as the king of the 115-pound division.

7) Yukata Niida – This light-hitting minimumweight defended his title twice in 2006, winning a technical decision against unbeaten Eriberto Gejon (Tech Win 10) and the other on points over Ronald Barrera (W 12). Scheduled to meet Katsunari Takayama early next year – the best has yet to come for this WBA belt holder.

8) In Jin Chi – Won back the title he lost to Takashi Koshimoto in January from Rudolfo Lopez. While there’s little uncertainty to his skills, at thirty-three, 2007 may provide some insight as to just how much he has left.

9) Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai –Sor Nonthachai is an exciting, top-shelf fighter with an iron chin. Has no trouble making mincemeat of mid-level opposition and deserves a title shot in 2007. Time is running out.

10) Rey Bautista – He’s young, relatively inexperienced in big-time boxing, but will continue to shine in 2007. One of the better prospects in boxing, he should snag a title in 2007.

Asian Fighters Ranked in Ring Magazine

Pound for Pound:

Manny Pacquiao (Philippines): #2

Jr. Lightweight

Manny Pacquiao (Philippines): #1
Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai: #9

Featherweight

Chris John (Indonesia) #1
In Jin Chi (Korea) #3
Takashi Koshimoto (Japan) #5
Hioyuki Enoki (Japan) #7

Jr. Featherweight

Somsak Sithchatchawal (Thailand) #4

Bantamweight

Hozumi Hasegawa (Japan) #2
Veeraphol Sahaprom (Japan) #3
Ratanachai Sor Vorapin (Thailand) #6
Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym (Thailand) #10

Jr. Bantamweight

Nobuo Nashiro (Japan) #1
Katsushige Kawashima (Japan) #7
Pramuansak Phosuwan (Thailand) #10

Flyweight

Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (Thailand) #1
Takefumi Sakata (Japan) #7
Daisuke Naito (Japan) #10

Jr. Flyweight

Koki Kameda (Japan) #1

Minimumweight

Yukata Naiida (Japan) #2
Eagle Kyowa (Japan/Thai) #4
Katsunari Takayama (Japan) #5
Rodel Mayol (Philippines) #7

Boxing in Thailand

There’s no shortage of boxers in Thailand. With a huge pool of Muay Thai fighters to draw from and several talented amateur boxing prospects turning pro after the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Thailand seems destined to remain a boxing powerhouse in Asia.

The country is known for having tough, determined and disciplined fighters who give their all whenever the step in to the ring. However, consistently losing while fighting abroad and padding their records with no-hopers has done nothing to enhance their reputation.

Whether because of a lack of marketability, a lack of funds or their unwillingness to travel abroad, the vast majority of boxers from Thailand remain a mystery to fans in the west. If anything though, the boxing scene involving Thai fighters will be active. In fact, it’s one of the most active in the world; since 2000, the number of fights has nearly doubled in the country.

The Sweet Science P4P Rankings – Thailand – August 2006

1) Pongsaklek Wonjongkam
2) Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym
3) Somsak Sithchatchawal
4) Wandee Singwancha
5) Sirimongkol Singwancha
6) Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai
7) Veeraphol Sahaprom
8) Pramuansak Phosuwan
9) Terdsak Jandaeng
10) Oleydong Sithamerchai

Current Sweet Science P4P Rankings – Thailand

1) Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (Flyweight) – Definitely the top dog in Thailand

2) Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai (Super Lightweight) – He’s a seasoned fighter who has proven himself in the big-time. He’s one Thai who can fight outside of Asia. He has an abundance of skills and one-punch power. His overall ability and ease in dispatching anyone other than championship caliber get him the runners-up spot.

3) Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym (Super Bantamweight) – After losing to Vladimir Sidorenko he’s bounced back. He’s young, he can punch, but the former interim champion needs to prove himself against a name fighter.

4) Somsak Sithchatchawal (Super Bantamweight) – Was his win over Monshipour a fluke or was Celestino Caballero just that good? Did Sithchatchawal catch Monshipour at the right time and can he rebound from the devastating loss? The jury is still out.

5) Wandee Singwancha (Flyweight) – He doesn’t have much of a punch which will be his downfall in the end. He can box, as was evidenced in his recent victory over Juanito Rubillar, but this won’t be enough. He can no longer make the Jr. Flyweight limit and with no punch he’ll have a hard time competing against the “big boys.” Although he’s now rated second by the WBC, he doesn’t deserve to be.

5) Sirimongkol Singwancha (Super Lightweight) – Get this guy a fight. He’s better than Jose Armando Santa Cruz and would have beat up Inada had the fight taken place. He’ll fight anyone but his biggest obstacle is staying motivated fighting tomato cans in Thailand. Like many Thais, he needs a fight against a name opponent.
6) Wandee Singwancha (Flyweight) – He doesn’t have much of a punch which will be his downfall in the end. He can box, as was evidenced in his recent victory over Juanito Rubillar, but this won’t be enough. He can no longer make the Jr. Flyweight limit and with no punch he’ll have a hard time competing against the “big boys.” Although he’s now rated second by the WBC, he doesn’t deserve to be.

7) Pramuansak Phosuwan (Super Flyweight) – A genuine tough guy. Always calm and focused no matter how heated the battle. But at thirty-eight, he’ll be in trouble should he fight one of the division’s elite.
8) Veeraphol Sahaprom (Bantamweight) – Will be lucky to get another crack at the title. Although he has a puncher’s chance of winning a belt, that’s about all he has left at this point. A third shot at Hasegawa is unlikely.

9) Oleydong Sithamerchai (Minimumweight) – He’s fought better than the usual opponents faced by Thais at his level and he moves up one spot with the departure of Terdsak Jandaeng. He lacks the punch and is in the wrong division to become a superstar. He’ll need to defeat a name opponent to convince me.

10) Saenghiran Lookbanyai / Napapol Kittisakchokchai (Super Bantamweight) – These two square-off in early March, supposedly to see who deserves a shot at Israel Vasquez. Kittisakchokchai has the edge in experience but some feel Lookbanyai has the edge in heart and is the favorite.

Neither has defeated a top twenty fighter and yet are ranked number one and two respectively in the WBC’s world.

In Kittisakchokchoi’s lone shot at the big-time, he was TKO’d in 10 by Oscar Larios. His dreadful performance against Larios and lack of quality opposition leads me to believe Saenghiran might have more of a shot at beating him than some suspect. Regardless, neither of them lasts longer than six rounds with Israel Vasquez.

Honorable Mention: Wethya Sakmuangklang, Denkaosan Kaovichit, Devid Lookmahanak, Nethra Sasiprapa, Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo, Pornsawan Kratingdaenggym

Thai Fighters Ranked in Ring Magazine

Pongsaklek Wonjongkam: #1 Flyweight
Pramuansak Phosuwan: #10 Jr. Bantamweight
Veeraphol Sahaprom: #3 Bantamweight
Ratanachai Sor Vorapin: #6 Bantamweight
Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym: #10 Bantamweight
Somsak Sithchatchawal: #3 Jr. Featherweight
Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai: #9 Lightweight

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Articles of 2006

Iceman Stops Tito Ortiz Win Streak

Published

18 years ago

December 31, 2006

David A. Avila

LAS VEGAS—UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck “Iceman” Liddell’s fists proved too much for Huntington Beach’s Tito Ortiz who was stopped in the third round before a sold out crowd at the MGM Garden Arena on Saturday.

The punching machine Liddell (20-3, 13 KOs) repeated his victory in UFC 66 over the much-improved grappler Ortiz who has improved his punching and blocking. Ortiz was trying to avenge his loss of April 2004.

Despite all the new weapons displayed by Ortiz it wasn’t enough as Liddell pummeled the former champion and retained his title with a technical knockout at 3:59 of the third round. Referee Mario Yamasaki stopped the bout.

“This was the most satisfying victory of my career,” said Liddell, 36, of Santa Barbara. “Tito came back real tough.”

Ortiz (15-5, 8 KOs), a former wrestler, worked on his boxing technique knowing he would need it against the former boxer Liddell. But Liddell’s experience allowed him to find the right moment to pounce on Ortiz.

“I had him hurt, I just kept throwing punches,” said Liddell who also knocked down Ortiz in the first round with a left hook.

Ortiz was gracious in defeat.

“Chuck is the best fighter Pound for Pound in the (mixed martial arts) world,” said Ortiz, 31, who suffered a gash on the side of his left eye from a punch. “I’m disgusted by myself. I let my fans down.”

Other bouts

Underdog Keith Jardine (12-3-1) knocked out Forrest Griffin (13-4) at 4:41 of the first round in their light heavyweight showdown. A right uppercut followed by a left hook wobbled Griffin who was sent to the floor by a barrage of punches. On the ground Jardine landed right after right until referee John McCarthy stopped the fight for a technical knockout.

“I couldn’t believe he was hurt,” said Jardine about Griffin who is known for his resiliency. “I was so nervous coming into this fight, but now I know I belong here.”

Canada’s Jason McDonald (18-7) choked out Chris Leben (15-3) in a middleweight bout that was up for grabs. Though Leben seemed to control the fight with stunning left hands, once the fight went to the ground McDonald managed a chokehold at 4:03 of the second round. Referee Steve Mazagatti saw Leben was unconscious and stopped the fight.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski (12-5) caught Brazil’s Mario Cruz (2-2) with a sneak right hand while both were tangled on the ground. Then the Belarusian pummeled Cruz until referee Herb Dean stopped the fight at 3:15 of the first round.

Third season winner of the Ultimate Fighter television reality season Michael Bisping (12-0) of Great Britain won by technical knockout over Eric Shafer (9-2-2) at 4:29 of the first round. A knee knocked Shafer groggy then Bisping knocked him to the ground and pounded him. Referee Mario Yamasaki stopped the bludgeoning.

Thiago Alves (16-4) caught Peru’s Tony De Souza (15-5) with a knee as he attempted to dive for his legs in a welterweight contest. After that it was pretty much over as Alves pummeled De Souza at 1:10 of the second round forcing referee John McCarthy to halt the bout.

Gabriel Gonzago (7-1) proved too strong for Carmelo Marrero (6-1) in a heavyweight bout. At 3:22 of the first round Gonzago of Massachusetts manipulated his way into arm bar forcing Pennsylvania’s Marrero to tap out.

Japan’s Yushin Okami (19-3) pounded Georgia’s Rory Singer (11-6) into submission at 4:03 of the third round of a middleweight bout. Okami seemed the more-rounded fighter with effective kicks to the head and more accurate punching.

Christian Wellisch (8-2) jumped to a quick start with an accurate left hook that rattled Australia’s Anthony Perosh (5-3) in a heavyweight bout. During the first round it seemed the Sacramento fighter might end the fight but the Aussie hung tough. Wellisch won by unanimous decision.

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