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It’s Easy To Root For Patty Alcivar

Published

12 years ago

March 27, 2013

When a boxer walks up the three steps before entering the ring, more often than not, those last steps represent the culmination of an arduous journey that has led them to the squared circle.

On the eve of the eighth fight of her professional career, for the NY State super flyweight title, Patty Alcivar (6-1, 3 KO) can reflect on a long and tumultuous road that led to professional boxing.

Born in Elmhurst, Queens to Colombian immigrant parents, Alcivar early in life faced challenges that forged a focus, drive, and determination that is required of every fighter.

After growing up in an abusive household that saw her father leave when she was ten, Alcivar made the difficult decision to leave home at the age of fifteen. “My mom was left with four girls to raise on her own,” Alcivar related before a training session at the Trinity Boxing Club in Manhattan. “She was overwhelmed and did not know how to handle it. I was the middle child and for some reason became the emotional punching bag. I felt it was better to be on my own than in a house where I felt hated.”

Renting a room from an elderly woman in her neighborhood, Alcivar continued to attend high school. She supported herself by working after school and weekends at a local store. She learned how to stretch a dollar early as the weekly rent for her room did not leave much left over from her paycheck.

However, with a safe, peaceful place to call her own, Alcivar began to build a life for herself. She ultimately graduated high school with honors and at age sixteen ran in the New York City marathon. She received a special dispensation from the Road Runners Club that allowed her to compete at such a young age. This would mark the beginning of a series of triumphs in the world of sports.

An early love of dance and ballet first attracted Alcivar’s attention. When lessons became too expensive to continue, Alcivar transitioned to martial arts training. Beginning with Korean karate she advanced to the study of a Japanese style that involved full contact sparring. It was there that she found an outlet for feelings that felt right.

After winning a national amateur tournament in karate, Alcivar looked for her next challenge.

At this time she had begun to work in a shelter for battered women. “Everything in my life has happened for a reason,” Alcivar stated emphatically. “My work at the shelter gave me a great education and understanding of the cycle of domestic abuse.” It also led her to boxing.

Staff members at the shelter were given the perk of taking free classes at The New School. Alcivar chose one being given about boxing. Upon arriving at the class she was disappointed to learn that while technique and fitness would be taught, there would be no actual contact or sparring.

Upon learning about her disappointment, instructor Martin Snow invited Alcivar to hit him with her best shot. A well placed punch to the solar plexus doubled over the six foot five inch Snow, and a trainer/fighter relationship was born.

There followed an outstanding amateur career that saw Alcivar capture a gold medal at the first women’s National Amateur Boxing Championships in 1997, followed by a silver medal the following year, along with two consecutive NYC Golden Gloves titles in 1998 and 1999. She was also the first female boxer to be voted athlete of the year by the U.S. Olympic Committee.

As her amateur career wound down a move to the pro ranks seemed like the logical next step. However, Alcivar balked at turning pro. “I had heard so many negative things about pro boxing it was scary,” a reflective Alcivar noted. A five year hiatus from the sweet science followed.

Finally in 2009 Alcivar began her pro career. Her first pro fight took place in Columbia, Tennessee and was part of a reality television pilot called ‘Dreamers.”

Since that first fight her pro career has moved along with fits and starts, not uncommon to women professional fighters.

Securing a manager and promoter in the male dominated world of boxing has proven difficult for Alcivar. “One of the reasons I struggled to get on cards and find proper management is because I refuse to compromise my integrity and I stand my ground.”

Numerous dinner invitations to “discuss” career strategy have forced Alcivar to read between the lines. One prominent manager even invited Alcivar to spend the weekend at his house so they could “plan” her career.

With noted entertainment lawyer Elizabeth Lemere handling her contractual negotiations, and an agreement with newly formed Uprising Promotions, Alcivar continues on her quest to fight for and win a world title.

How that quest ultimately turns out is a story yet to be written. Whatever fame may come her way in the ring, Alcivar is already rooted in service and giving back to others.

She will soon begin her third year as a coach/mentor for the Road Runner Club’s “Run for the Future” program, in which she trains twenty New York City female high school students to run their first 5K race. “Many of these girls come from troubled homes and I am like a big sister to them. We talk not only about sports and fitness, but about life as well.” Alcivar explained. “My message to young girls everywhere is to never let anyone tell you you’re not good enough.”

Following the progress and hopeful rise of Alcivar through the ranks should be interesting. Will she be able to navigate her way through the treacherous waters of boxing and one day place a world title belt around her waist?

For a woman who decided long ago to face her fears and live her dreams, a belt alone cannot be a measure of victory.

Patty Alcivar faces Eileen Olszewski for the NY State super flyweight title on March 27 at the Five Star Banquet in Long Island City, NY, on a card promoted by Uprising Promotions, headlined by the promoter, Ronson Frank. Doors open 6:30pm. First bout 7:30pm. For ticket information call Trinity Boxing Club (212) 374-9393.

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2015 Fight of the Year – Francisco Vargas vs Takashi Miura

Published

9 years ago

January 4, 2016

The Sweet Science

The WBC World Super Featherweight title bout between Francisco Vargas and Takashi Miura came on one of the biggest boxing stages of 2015, as the bout served as the HBO pay-per-view’s co-main event on November 21st, in support of Miguel Cotto vs Saul Alvarez.

Miura entered the fight with a (29-2-2) record and he was making the fifth defense of his world title, while Vargas entered the fight with an undefeated mark of (22-0-1) in what was his first world title fight. Both men had a reputation for all-out fighting, with Miura especially earning high praise for his title defense in Mexico where he defeated Sergio Thompson in a fiercely contested battle.

The fight started out hotly contested, and the intensity never let up. Vargas seemed to win the first two rounds, but by the fourth round, Miura seemed to pull ahead, scoring a knock-down and fighting with a lot of confidence. After brawling the first four rounds, Miura appeared to settle into a more technical approach. Rounds 5 and 6 saw the pendulum swing back towards Vargas, as he withstood Miura’s rush to open the fifth round and the sixth round saw both men exchanging hard punches.

The big swinging continued, and though Vargas likely edged Miura in rounds 5 and 6, Vargas’ face was cut in at least two spots and Miura started to assert himself again in rounds 7 and 8. Miura was beginning to grow in confidence while it appeared that Vargas was beginning to slow down, and Miura appeared to hurt Vargas at the end of the 8th round.

Vargas turned the tide again at the start of the ninth round, scoring a knock down with an uppercut and a straight right hand that took Miura’s legs and sent him to the canvas. Purely on instinct, Miura got back up and continued to fight, but Vargas was landing frequently and with force. Referee Tony Weeks stepped in to stop the fight at the halfway point of round 9 as Miura was sustaining a barrage of punches.

Miura still had a minute and a half to survive if he was going to get out of the round, and it was clear that he was not going to stop fighting.

A back and forth battle of wills between two world championship level fighters, Takashi Miura versus “El Bandido” Vargas wins the 2015 Fight of the Year.

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Jan 9 in Germany – Feigenbutz and De Carolis To Settle Score

Published

9 years ago

January 4, 2016

The Sweet Science

This coming Saturday, January 9th, the stage is set at the Baden Arena in Offenburg, Germany for a re-match between Vincent Feigenbutz and Giovanni De Carolis. The highly anticipated re-match is set to air on SAT.1 in Germany, and Feigenbutz will once again be defending his GBU and interim WBA World titles at Super Middleweight.

The first meeting between the two was less than three months ago, on October 17th and that meeting saw Feigenbutz controversially edge De Carolis on the judge’s cards by scores of (115-113, 114-113 and 115-113). De Carolis scored a flash knock down in the opening round, and he appeared to outbox Feigenbutz in the early going, but the 20 year old German champion came on in the later rounds.

The first bout is described as one of the most crowd-pleasing bouts of the year in Germany, and De Carolis and many observers felt that the Italian had done enough to win.

De Carolis told German language website RAN.DE that he was more prepared for the re-match, and that due to the arrogance Feigenbutz displayed in the aftermath of the first fight, he was confident that he had won over some of the audience. Though De Carolis fell short of predicting victory, he promised a re-vamped strategy tailored to what he has learned about Feigenbutz, whom he termed immature and inexperienced.

The stage is set for Feigenbutz vs De Carolis 2, this Saturday January 9th in Offenburg, Germany. If you can get to the live event do it, if not you have SAT.1 in Germany airing the fights, and The Boxing Channel right back here for full results.

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2015 Knock Out of the Year – Saul Alvarez KO’s James Kirkland

Published

9 years ago

December 29, 2015

The Sweet Science

On May 9th of 2015, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez delivered a resonant knock-out of James Kirkland on HBO that wins the 2015 KO of the Year.

The knock-out itself came in the third round, after slightly more than two minutes of action. The end came when Alvarez delivered a single, big right hand that caught Kirkland on the jaw and left him flat on his back after spinning to the canvas.Alvarez was clearly the big star heading into the fight. The fight was telecast by HBO for free just one week after the controversial and disappointing Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao fight, and Alvarez was under pressure to deliver the type of finish that people were going to talk about. Kirkland was happy to oblige Alvarez, taking it right to Alvarez from the start. Kirkland’s aggression saw him appear to land blows that troubled the young Mexican in the early going. Alvarez played good defense, and he floored Kirkland in the first round, displaying his power and his technique in knocking down an aggressive opponent.

However, Kirkland kept coming at Alvarez and the fight entered the third round with both men working hard and the feeling that the fight would not go the distance. Kirkland continued to move forward, keeping “Canelo” against the ropes and scoring points with a barrage of punches while looking for an opening.

At around the two minute mark, Alvarez landed an uppercut that sent Kirkland to the canvas again. Kirkland got up, but it was clear that he did not have his legs under him. Kirkland was going to try to survive the round, but Alvarez had an opportunity to close out the fight. The question was would he take it?

Alvarez closed in on Kirkland, putting his opponent’s back to the ropes. Kirkland was hurt, but he was still dangerous, pawing with punches and loading up for one big shot.

But it was the big shot “Canelo” threw that ended the night. Kirkland never saw it coming, as he was loading up with a huge right hand of his own. The right Alvarez threw cracked Kirkland in the jaw, and his eyes went blank. His big right hand whizzed harmlessly over the head of a ducking Alvarez, providing the momentum for the spin that left Kirkland prone on the canvas.

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez went on to defeat Miguel Cotto in his second fight of 2015 and he is clearly one of boxing’s biggest stars heading into 2016. On May 9th Alvarez added another reel to his highlight film when he knocked out James Kirkland with the 2015 “Knock Out of the Year”.

Photo by naoki fukuda

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