A Note To Pavlik: 50Gs Is A Lot in Y’Town…BORGES

Published

14 years ago

August 5, 2011

Ron Borges

PavlikHopkins_Hogan_4 Maybe Bernard Hopkins and Sergio Martinez did more damage to Kelly Pavlik than anyone suspected? Or maybe it was his friends Jack Daniels, Johnny Walker and Jose Cuervo who left him so dazed and confused that he no longer knows who he is.

What other conclusions can one arrive at after Pavlik’s rambling interviews this week following his decision to pull out of Saturday night’s “ShoBox: The Next Generation’’ main event against journeyman Darryl Cunningham?

The fact that the former middleweight champion found himself headlining a cable television show dedicated to developing fighters of the future rather than on some grand stage in Las Vegas or New York should have been a clue to how far he’d fallen. But when you have no clue, you end up reacting to events more like Inspector Clouseau than Sherlock Holmes and that is exactly what Pavlik did.

Railing at his promoter, Bob Arum, and his manager, Cameron Dunkin, Pavlik said he was “tired of being a puppet’’ and was “still one of the biggest names in boxing.’’ Maybe in Youngstown he is but in boxing Kelly Pavlik, through his own fault to great extent, has become yesterday’s news since being badly beaten by Sergio Martinez and then disappearing for 13 months after repeatedly pulling out of a fight with Paul Williams because of a staph infection before finally entering rehab to combat a battle with alcohol, a battle which maybe isn’t going so well.

His return in May resulted in a lack luster win on points over Alfonso Lopez and led to scheduling another tune-up fight against a 36-year-old journeyman southpaw in an attempt to prepare Pavlik for a proposed November super middleweight title fight in Canada with rising star Lucian Bute, for which Pavlik would be paid $1.35 million plus $25,000 in training expenses.

When Pavlik learned the economic details of those two fights it led him to conclude Arum was trying to “cash in’’ on him, putting him in a fight with Bute that would be difficult to win for half what he alleged former super middleweight champion Mikkel Kessler had been offered.

Pavlik then listed past purses of $2.5 million for journeyman middleweight title challenger Gary Lockett and $3 million for Bernard Hopkins, comparing them unfavorably with the projected $1.35 million for Bute and said, “How does that happen?’’

Well, Kelly, one way it happens is to let a then 44-year-old man like Hopkins slap you silly in a catch-weight fight above the middleweight limit while embarrassing you by exposing just how primitive your skills really were.

Another way is to follow that up a year and a half later by being beaten to a bloody pulp in a middleweight title unification bout against Martinez in which Pavlik looked like he hadn’t learned a thing from his lopsided loss to Hopkins.

A third way is to make one excuse after another for pulling out of an oft-scheduled but never contested fight with Paul Williams, as Pavlik did by claiming a staph infection in his hand had become all but incurable and then see Martinez destroy Williams with one punch.

The last way is to follow the Martinez loss with a 13-month layoff punctuated by a well-publicized drift into alcohol abuse that ended up sending the former champion into rehab.

“How does that happen?’’ Pavlik asked about the downward drift of his purses. Well, now you know.

Arum denied Inter-Box, who promotes Kessler, ever offered the Dane $3 million to fight Bute or that his promotional company was looking to cash out on a former champion who had become damaged goods at 29. Whether they were or not however was immaterial because all Pavlik had to do is what one of the biggest names in boxing should do in such a circumstance. All he had to do was win those fights and the money would be there.

Big money for rematches with Martinez or Hopkins, if he wanted to try and avenge either loss, or with the winner of SHOWTIME’S Super 6 tournament final between Andre Ward and Carl Froch. The kind of money he grew used to making when he was a big though somewhat manufactured name.

Seldom has anyone gained more for beating up two guys who have since proven to be suspect fighters whose talents were vastly overrated by the public: Jermain Taylor and Edison Miranda. Pavlik stopped them both four years ago and became an instant star but that star quickly went into nova after Hopkins exposed his shortcomings a year later and nothing seems to have been quite right with him since.

The downward slide of Kelly Pavlik’s career finally hit bottom this week when he pulled out of a $50,000 fight with Cunningham in his hometown of Youngstown, an act that judging by comments on the website of the Youngstown Vindicator did not set too well with the struggling local populace.

Youngstown is one of those Rust Belt towns the world forgot. Its manufacturing-based economy has been broken for years and is showing no signs of rallying. Yet the people there had adopted Pavlik as a symbol of the fight that’s still in them and a shining example that no matter how often you get hit if you just keep on fighting, your hand will be raised.

People in such circumstances don’t want to hear a native son say, “I’m not going to fight a southpaw for peanuts,’’ as Pavlik told WFMJ-TV this week. To such people, $50,000 isn’t peanuts. It’s a life raft.

Worse, Pavlik said in another interview that he would fight Bute for $1.1 million in Atlantic City “but I got to put the guy on a stretcher to win the fight in Canada…it’s kind of like Top Rank is cashing in on me.’’

So he’s willing to fight Bute for less money in the U.S. than he’d get in Canada but he’s not willing to take a title shot against him across the border in Bute’s hometown because he doubts he’ll get a fair shake? Most people in Youngstown would walk through fire in their shorts for $50,000, never mind $1.35 million.

“I don’t need to fight no more,’’ Pavlik said, and maybe he doesn’t. Then again, maybe he doesn’t have much fight left in him after losing his aura of invincibility to Hopkins and Martinez, losing his way to an alcohol problem he recently said he wasn’t sure was really a problem and losing his mind if he doesn’t think a $1.35 million payday for a fighter in his dwindling circumstances is an opportunity.

Arum was surprisingly calm about the decision, saying “If he doesn’t want to fight why push him?’’ But his trainer, Jack Loew, was critical of Dunkin, with whom he has often quarreled, claiming it was only after Dunkin explained to Pavlik the financial details of the two fights that his fighter walked away from.

Reportedly, Pavlik did not show up to run or to train at Loew’s Southside Boxing Club after speaking with Dunkin and three days later issued his public manifesto. After he did, SHOWTIME quickly cancelled the show, Arum moved on, Bute’s promoters began seeking another opponent and no one in boxing seemed remotely surprised at anything but the obvious fact that the one guy who doesn’t know any more who Kelly Pavlik is Kelly Pavlik.

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Ron Borges

Ringside at the Fontainebleau where Mikaela Mayer Won her Rematch with Sandy Ryan

Published

3 days ago

March 30, 2025

Arne K. Lang

Ringside-at-the-Fontainebleau-where-Mikaela-Mayer-won-her-Rematch-with-Sandy-Ryan

LAS VEGAS, NV — The first meeting between Mikaela Mayer and Sandy Ryan last September at Madison Square Garden was punctuated with drama before the first punch was thrown. When the smoke cleared, Mayer had become a world-title-holder in a second weight class, taking away Ryan’s WBO welterweight belt via a majority decision in a fan-friendly fight.

The rematch tonight at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas was another fan-friendly fight. There were furious exchanges in several rounds and the crowd awarded both gladiators a standing ovation at the finish.

Mayer dominated the first half of the fight and held on to win by a unanimous decision. But Sandy Ryan came on strong beginning in round seven, and although Mayer was the deserving winner, the scores favoring her (98-92 and 97-93 twice) fail to reflect the competitiveness of the match-up. This is the best rivalry in women’s boxing aside from Taylor-Serrano.

Mayer, 34, improved to 21-2 (5). Up next, she hopes, in a unification fight with Lauren Price who outclassed Natasha Jonas earlier this month and currently holds the other meaningful pieces of the 147-pound puzzle. Sandy Ryan, 31, the pride of Derby, England, falls to 7-3-1.

Co-Feature

In his first defense of his WBO world welterweight title (acquired with a brutal knockout of Giovani Santillan after the title was vacated by Terence Crawford), Atlanta’s Brian Norman Jr knocked out Puerto Rico’s Derrieck Cuevas in the third round. A three-punch combination climaxed by a short left hook sent Cuevas staggering into a corner post. He got to his feet before referee Thomas Taylor started the count, but Taylor looked in Cuevas’s eyes and didn’t like what he saw and brought the bout to a halt.

The stoppage, which struck some as premature, came with one second remaining in the third stanza.

A second-generation prizefighter (his father was a fringe contender at super middleweight), the 24-year-old Norman (27-0, 21 KOs) is currently boxing’s youngest male title-holder. It was only the second pro loss for Cuevas (27-2-1) whose lone previous defeat had come early in his career in a 6-rounder he lost by split decision.

Other Bouts

In a career-best performance, 27-year-old Brooklyn featherweight Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington (15-0, 9 KOs) blasted out Jose Enrique Vivas (23-4) in the third round.

Carrington, who was named the Most Outstanding Boxer at the 2019 U.S. Olympic Trials despite being the lowest-seeded boxer in his weight class, decked Vivas with a right-left combination near the end of the second round. Vivas barely survived the round and was on a short leash when the third stanza began. After 53 seconds of round three, referee Raul Caiz Jr had seen enough and waived it off. Vivas hadn’t previously been stopped.

Cleveland welterweight Tiger Johnson, a Tokyo Olympian, scored a fifth-round stoppage over San Antonio’s Kendo Castaneda. Johnson assumed control in the fourth round and sent Castaneda to his knees twice with body punches in the next frame. The second knockdown terminated the match. The official time was 2:00 of round five.

Johnson advanced to 15-0 (7 KOs). Castenada declined to 21-9.

Las Vegas junior welterweight Emiliano Vargas (13-0, 11 KOs) blasted out Stockton, California’s Giovanni Gonzalez in the second round. Vargas brought the bout to a sudden conclusion with a sweeping left hook that knocked Gonzalez out cold. The end came at the 2:00 minute mark of round two.

Gonzalez brought a 20-7-2 record which was misleading as 18 of his fights were in Tijuana where fights are frequently prearranged. However, he wasn’t afraid to trade with Vargas and paid the price.

Emiliano Vargas, with his matinee idol good looks and his boxing pedigree – he is the son of former U.S. Olympian and two-weight world title-holder “Ferocious” Fernando Vargas – is highly marketable and has the potential to be a cross-over star.

Eighteen-year-old Newark bantamweight Emmanuel “Manny” Chance, one of Top Rank’s newest signees, won his pro debut with a four-round decision over So Cal’s Miguel Guzman. Chance won all four rounds on all three cards, but this was no runaway. He left a lot of room for improvement.

There was a long intermission before the co-main and again before the main event, but the tedium was assuaged by a moving video tribute to George Foreman.

Photos credit: Al Applerose

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William Zepeda Edges Past Tevin Farmer in Cancun; Improves to 34-0

Published

3 days ago

March 29, 2025

David A. Avila

William Zepeda Edges Past Tevin Farmer in Cancun; Improves to 34-0

No surprise, once again William Zepeda eked out a win over the clever and resilient Tevin Farmer to remain undefeated and retain a regional lightweight title on Saturday.

There were no knockdowns in this rematch.

The Mexican punching machine Zepeda (33-0, 17 KOs) once more sought to overwhelm Farmer (33-8-1, 9 KOs) with a deluge of blows. This rematch by Golden Boy Promotions took place in the famous beach resort area of Cancun, Mexico.

It was a mere four months ago that both first clashed in Saudi Arabia with their vastly difference styles. This time the tropical setting served as the background which suited Zepeda and his lawnmower assaults. The Mexican fans were pleased.

Nothing changed in their second meeting.

Zepeda revved up the body assault and Farmer moved around casually to his right while fending off the Mexican fighter’s attacks. By the fourth round Zepeda was able to cut off Farmer’s escape routes and targeted the body with punishing shots.

The blows came in bunches.

In the fifth round Zepeda blasted away at Farmer who looked frantic for an escape. The body assault continued with the Mexican fighter pouring it on and Farmer seeming to look ready to quit. When the round ended, he waved off his corner’s appeals to stop.

Zepeda continued to dominate the next few rounds and then Farmer began rallying. At first, he cleverly smothered Zepeda’s body attacks and then began moving and hitting sporadically. It forced the Mexican fighter to pause and figure out the strategy.

Farmer, a Philadelphia fighter, showed resiliency especially when it was revealed he had suffered a hand injury.

During the last three rounds Farmer dug down deep and found ways to score and not get hit. It was Boxing 101 and the Philly fighter made it work.

But too many rounds had been put in the bank by Zepeda. Despite the late rally by Farmer one judge saw it 114-114, but two others scored it 116-112 and 115-113 for Zepeda who retains his interim lightweight title and place at the top of the WBC rankings.

“I knew he was a difficult fighter. This time he was even more difficult,” said Zepeda.

Farmer was downtrodden about another loss but realistic about the outcome and starting slow.

“But I dominated the last rounds,” said Farmer.

Zepeda shrugged at the similar outcome as their first encounter.

“I’m glad we both put on a great show,” said Zepeda.

Female Flyweight Battle

Costa Rica’s Yokasta Valle edged past Texas fighter Marlen Esparza to win their showdown at flyweight by split decision after 10 rounds.

Valle moved up two weight divisions to meet Esparza who was slightly above the weight limit. Both showed off their contrasting styles and world class talent.

Esparza, a former unified flyweight world titlist, stayed in the pocket and was largely successful with well-placed jabs and left hooks. She repeatedly caught Valle in-between her flurries.

The current minimumweight world titlist changed tactics and found more success in the second half of the fight. She forced Esparza to make the first moves and that forced changes that benefited her style.

Neither fighter could take over the fight.

After 10 rounds one judge saw Esparza the winner 96-94, but two others saw Valle the winner 97-93 twice.

Will Valle move up and challenge the current undisputed flyweight world champion Gabriela Fundora? That’s the question.

Valle currently holds the WBC minimumweight world title.

Puerto Rico vs Mexico

Oscar Collazo (12-0, 9 KOs), the WBO, WBA minimumweight titlist, knocked out Mexico’s Edwin Cano (13-3-1, 4 KOs) with a flurry of body shots at 1:12 of the fifth round.

Collazo dominated with a relentless body attack the Mexican fighter could not defend. It was the Puerto Rican fighter’s fifth consecutive title defense.

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 319: Rematches in Las Vegas, Cancun and More

Published

5 days ago

March 28, 2025

David A. Avila

Avila-Perspective-Chap-319-Rematches-in-Las-Vegas-Cancun-and-More

Rematches are the bedrock for prizefighting.

Return battles between rival boxers always means their first encounter was riveting and successful at the box office.

Six months after their first brutal battle Mikaela Mayer (20-2, 5 KOs) and Sandy Ryan (7-2-1, 3 KOs) will slug it out again for the WBO welterweight world title this time on Saturday, March 29, at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas.

ESPN will show the Top Rank card live.

“It’s important for women’s boxing to have these rivalries and this is definitely up there as one of the top ones,” Mayer told the BBC.

If you follow Mayer’s career you know that somehow drama follows. Whether its back-and-forth beefs with fellow American fighters or controversial judging due to nationalism in countries abroad. The Southern California native who now trains in Las Vegas knows how to create the drama.

For female fighters self-promotion is a necessity.

Most boxing promoters refuse to step out of the usual process set for male boxers, not for female boxers. Things remain the same and have been for the last 70 years. Social media has brought changes but that has made promoters do even less.

No longer are there press conferences, instead announcements are made on social media to be drowned among the billions of other posts. It is not killing but diluting interest in the sport.

Women innately present a different advantage that few if any promoters are recognizing. So far in the past 25 years I have only seen two or three promoters actually ignite interest in female fighters. They saw the advantages and properly boosted interest in the women.

The fight breakdown

Mayer has won world titles in the super featherweight and now the welterweight division. Those are two vastly different weight classes and prove her fighting abilities are based on skill not power or size.

Coaching Mayer since amateurs remains Al Mitchell and now Kofi Jantuah who replaced Kay Koroma the current trainer for Sandy Ryan.

That was the reason drama ignited during their first battle. Then came someone tossing paint at Ryan the day of their first fight.

More drama.

During their first fight both battled to control the initiative with Mayer out-punching the British fighter by a slender margin. It was a back-and-forth struggle with each absorbing blows and retaliating immediately.

New York City got its money’s worth.

Ryan had risen to the elite level rapidly since losing to Erica Farias three years ago. Though she was physically bigger and younger, she was out-maneuvered and defeated by the wily veteran from Argentina. In the rematch, however, Ryan made adjustments and won convincingly.

Can she make adjustments from her defeat to Mayer?

“I wanted the rematch straight away,” said Ryan on social media. “I’ve come to America again.”

Both fighters have size and reach. In their first clash it was evident that conditioning was not a concern as blows were fired nonstop in bunches. Mayer had the number of punches landed advantage and it unfolded with the judges giving her a majority decision win.

That was six months ago. Can she repeat the outcome?

Mayer has always had boiler-oven intensity. It’s not fake. Since her amateur days the slender Southern California blonde changes disposition all the way to red when lacing up the gloves. It’s something that can’t be taught.

Can she draw enough of that fire out again?

“I didn’t have to give her this rematch. I could have just sat it out, waited for Lauren Price to unify and fought for undisputed or faced someone else,” said Mayer to BBC. “That’s not the fighter I am though.”

Co-Main in Las Vegas

The co-main event pits Brian Norman Jr. (26-0, 20 KOs) facing Puerto Rico’s Derrieck Cuevas (27-1-1, 19 KOs) in a contest for the WBO welterweight title.

Norman, 24, was last seen a year ago dissecting a very good welterweight in Giovani Santillan for a knockout win in San Diego. He showed speed, skill and power in defeating Santillan in his hometown.

Cuevas has beaten some solid veteran talent but this will be his big test against Norman and his first attempt at winning a world title.

Also on the Top Rank card will be Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington and Emiliano Vargas, the son of Fernando Vargas, in separate bouts.

Golden Boy in Cancun

A rematch between undefeated William “Camaron” Zepeda (32-0, 27 KOs) and ex-champ Tevin Farmer (33-7-1, 8 KOs) headlines the lightweight match on Saturday March 29, at Cancun, Mexico.

In their first encounter Zepeda was knocked down in the fourth round but rallied to win a split-decision over Farmer. It showed the flaws in Zepeda’s tornado style.

DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotions card that also includes a clash between Yokasta Valle the WBC minimumweight world titlist who is moving up to flyweight to face former flyweight champion Marlen Esparza.

Both Valle and Esparza have fast hands.

Valle is excellent darting in and out while Esparza has learned how to fight inside. It’s a toss-up fight.

Fights to Watch

Fri. DAZN 12 p.m. Cameron Vuong (7-0) vs Jordan Flynn (11-0-1); Pat Brown (0-0) vs Federico Grandone (7-4-2).

Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. William Zepeda (32-0) vs Tevin Farmer (33-7-1); Yokasta Valle (32-3) vs Marlen Esparza (15-2).

Sat. ESPN 7 p.m. Mikaela Mayer (20-2) vs Sandy Ryan (7-2-1); Brian Norman Jr. (26-0) vs Derrieck Cuevas (27-1-1).

Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank

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