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“I Only Punch Hard Enough To Win” aka Mayweather Hits Hard Enough To Beat Pacquiao
Howard Cosell to Muhammad Ali 9/20/72 in the ring after Ali stopped former heavyweight champ Floyd Patterson in their rematch:
Cosell: Muhammad, you couldn’t put Floyd down, is there anything left of your punch?
Ali: No Howard, I can’t punch, I only punch hard enough to win.
As most know, former heavyweight champ Muhammad Ali wasn’t known for his knockout power. Ali may perhaps be the greatest overall heavyweight fighter/boxer in history, but he certainly wasn’t a life-taker like Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Ron Lyle and Earnie Shavers. Incidentally, in eight fights against those feared killers, Ali went 7-1 (5). Former champs Larry Holmes and Gene Tunney also weren’t known as punchers, yet they convincingly beat beasts named Shavers and Dempsey.
When Ali fought Foreman in 1974 for the title, the prevailing thought was he couldn’t tickle George with his punch, therefore George should just walk right through him on his way to a spectacular knockout win. Ali knocked Foreman out. When Sugar Ray Leonard fought Marvin Hagler in 1987, Hagler was known for having a titanium chin and it was inconceivable to think Leonard could hurt Hagler, let alone beat him. Yet despite Leonard not being able to hurt Marvin, Hagler couldn’t just go to him as though Ray were handcuffed and rip his head off. Leonard went on to score the upset and make history. When Pernell Whitaker fought Julio Cesar Chavez in 1993, Chavez was known for having a cast-iron chin and a debilitating left-hook to the body, and everyone knew Whitaker couldn’t bust a grape when it came to punching power. So how in the world could he keep Chavez from tearing through him on his way to a stoppage victory? For the record, Whitaker boxed circles around Chavez and should’ve been awarded the decision instead of getting hosed when the fight was scored a draw.
Before the third bout between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez earlier this month, it was said that Marquez didn’t have the power to really hurt Pacquiao. Thus there was nothing for Manny to worry about fighting Marquez above 140 pounds, he should just blitz through him and win inside of five rounds just as his trainer Freddie Roach predicted he would. And you know what, they were half right. Marquez never hurt Pacquiao once over the course of 12-rounds. However, an overwhelming majority of the writers and fans who attended the bout thought Marquez won the fight and should’ve won the majority decision that went against him.
Forget for a second who you thought won the fight. The question is, if Marquez can’t punch a lick, then how did he manage to go the distance and prevent Pacquiao from breaking him down and busting him up? It’s not as if Marquez was kicking Pacquiao, he didn’t leg sweep him, nor did he posses a gun and we know Pacquiao wasn’t handcuffed. Again, why couldn’t Pacquiao, or Foreman or Hagler or Chavez simply walk through Marquez, Ali, Leonard and Whitaker? The answer is simple. All world class fighters can punch. No, they’re not all life-takers, but they can all hit with enough power to keep the baddest of the bad from simply taking liberties with them. Just because a fighter doesn’t go down or wince, doesn’t mean he’s not hurting or feeling a little pain or discomfort. Marquez yielded two things that stymied Pacquiao’s all out attack, his left and his right gloved-fist, nothing else. And as the world saw, Pacquiao couldn’t just go through Marquez could he? Marquez’s first tier boxing aptitude and ability along with his adequate power really were enough to get the job done and neutralize Pacquiao’s aggression.
Getting punched in the face by Marquez, Ali, Leonard or Whitaker is not something that their opponents thought was a walk in the park. To win a professional fight at the world class level, the fighter who is not thought of as being a big hitter doesn’t have to hurt his opponent to win. If Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather sign to fight, it’ll be repeated over and over how Mayweather can’t hurt Pacquiao enough to deter him from pressing the fight. And that’s probably true, although a fighter that hits as accurately as Mayweather can get anybody out if he catches him right. The point is, a good boxer doesn’t have to hurt or knock his opponent out to beat him conclusively. All he needs is to posses enough power to disrupt him and knock him slightly out of range, thus giving himself time and space to either get out before he’s countered or cut loose again. And all world class fighters hit hard enough to do that.
Physical strength and leverage is more important than punching power. An overload of strength can enable the bigger puncher to impose his power on his weaker opponent most of the time. However, physical strength and punching power don’t go hand and hand. Muhammad Ali wasn’t a knockout puncher, but he was never manhandled or moved around the ring by his opponent because his ring strength was very underrated. Marquez is no where close to the puncher that Pacquiao is, but in their last fight he demonstrated that he wasn’t inferior to Pacquiao when it comes to physical strength.
Fighting/boxing is much more than just hitting power. Today’s fans and writers are too enamored with power. The problem is, power has to be delivered. If the fighter who is supposedly a tremendous puncher meets an opponent who prevents him from delivering his power, what good is it, especially if he doesn’t have something else to fall back on?
If and when Pacquiao and Mayweather fight, most observers picking Manny will be confident that due to Floyd’s lack of finishing punch, Manny will be able to dictate the fight. Because they believe that Mayweather can’t punch, they’ll feel secure that Pacquiao should be able to do whatever he wants and just blast through him on demand during the bout. But they’re wrong. Mayweather punches hard enough to blunt and disrupt Pacquiao’s assault. And like Marquez, Mayweather will be able to make Pacquiao think and not just attack, something that Marquez showed really does impede Pacquiao’s aggression, thus rendering him less effective. If Mayweather can manage to make Pacquiao think his way through the fight, that’s a big edge for him and would probably be the difference as to why he won.
In their last fight, Marquez didn’t try to stand his ground and fight and trade with Pacquiao. He drew Pacquiao to him in a more controlled manner and then hit him on the way in. Whereas Pacquiao had to reach and lunge at Marquez who was going away from his power. Look for Mayweather to do the same. Floyd won’t even try to hurt Manny if they fight. He’ll shoot one-twos to his face and either knock him out of range for a return attack or blunt him in the middle of his aggression before he gets close enough to do any damage.
Like Muhammad Ali, Floyd Mayweather is no life-taker. But at the same time he punches hard enough to win and defeat a wrecking machine the likes of Manny Pacquiao. Does that ensure that Mayweather will win if and when he fights Pacquiao? Of course not. But he does punch hard enough to beat him convincingly.
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Emanuel Navarrete and Rafael Espinoza Shine in Phoenix
Emanuel Navarrete and Rafael Espinoza Shine in Phoenix
PHOENIX – Saturday was a busy night on the global boxing scene, and it’s quite likely that the howling attendees in Phoenix’s Footprint Center witnessed the finest overall card of the international schedule. The many Mexican flags on display in the packed, scaled down arena signaled the event’s theme.
Co-main events featured rematches that arose from a pair of prior crowd-pleasing slugfests. Each of tonight’s headlining bouts ended at the halfway point, but that was their only similarity.
Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete, now 39-2-1 (32), defended his WBO Junior Lightweight belt with a dramatic stoppage of more-than-willing Oscar Valdez, 32-3 (24). The 29-year-old champion spoke of retirement wishes, but after dominating a blazing battle in which he scored three knockdowns, his only focus was relaxing during the holidays then getting back to what sounded like long-term business.
“Valdez was extremely tough in this fight,” said Navarrete. “I knew I had to push him back and I did. You are now witnessing the second phase of my career and you can expect great things from me in 2025.”
“I don’t really know about the future,” said the crestfallen, 33-year-old Valdez. “No excuses. He did what he wanted to and I couldn’t.”
Navarrete, a three-division titlist, came up one scorecard short of a fourth belt in his previous fight last May, a split decision loss to Denys Berinchyk. This was Navarrete’s fourth Arizona appearance so he was cheered like a homeboy, but Valdez was definitely the crowd favorite, evident from the cheers that erupted as both fighters were shown arriving in glistening, low rider automobiles.
Both men came out throwing huge shots, but it was Navarrete who scored a flash knockdown in the first round, setting the tone for the rest of the fight. There was fierce action in every frame, with Navarrete getting the best of most of it, but even when he was in trouble Valdez roared back and brought the crowd to their feet. He got dropped again at the very end of round four, and Navarrete sent his mouthpiece into orbit the round after that.
When Navarrette drove Valdez into the ropes during round six it looked like referee Raul Caiz, Jr was about to intervene, but before he could decide, Navarrete finished matters himself with a perfect left to the ribs that crumpled Valdez into a KO at 2:42.
“He talked about getting ready to retire soon so I told him we had to fight again right now,” said Valdez prior to the rematch. There were numerous “be careful what you wish for” type predictions of doom and he entered the ring at around a two to one underdog, understanding the contest’s make or break stakes. “Boxing penalizes you if you have a lot of losses,” observed Valdez. “It’s not like other sports where you can lose and do better next season. In boxing, most people don’t want to see you again after a couple of losses.”
What Valdez might decide remains to be seen, but even in defeat he proved to be a warrior worth watching.
Co-Feature
After their epic, razor-close encounter almost exactly a year ago, it was obvious Rafael Espinoza, and fellow 30-year-old Robeisy Ramirez should meet again for the WBO featherweight title belt Espinoza earned by an upset majority decision. Espinoza turned the trick again this time around, inside the distance, but it was more anti-climactic than anything like toe-to-toe.
The 6’1” Espinoza, now 26-0 (22), was the aggressor from the opening frame, but 5’6” Ramirez, 14-3 (9) employed his short stature well to stay out of immediate danger and countered to the body for a slight edge. The Cuban challenger avoided much of their previous firefight and initially controlled the tempo. The crowd jeered him for staying away but it was an effective strategy, at least at first.
Espinoza connected much better in the fifth round and looked fresher as Ramirez’s face rapidly reddened. Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere in round six, Ramirez took a punch then raised a glove in surrender. Whatever the reason, even looking at Ramirez’s swollen right eye, it looked like a “No Mas” moment. Replays showed a straight right to the eye socket, but that didn’t stop the crowd from hooting their disgust after ref Chris Flores signaled the end at 0:12.
***
Richard Torrez, Jr, now 12-0 (11), displayed his Olympic silver medal pedigree in a heavyweight bout against Issac Munoz, 18-2-1 (15). Torrez, 236.6, found his punching range quickly with southpaw leads as Munoz, 252, tried to stand his ground but looked hurt by early body work that forced him into the ropes. He was gasping for breath as Torrez peppered him in the second, and Munoz went back to his corner on unsteady legs.
Munoz’s team should have thought about saving him for another day in the third as he ate big shots. Luckily, referee Raul Caiz, Jr. was wiser and had seen enough, waving it off for a TKO at 0:59.
“I don’t train for the opponent,” reflected Torrez, who isn’t far from true contender status. “Every time I train, I train for a world championship fight.”
***
Super-lightweight Lindolfo Delgado, 139.9, improved to 22-0 (16), and took another step into the world title picture against Jackson Marinez, now 22-4 (10), 139.2.
On paper this junior welterweight matchup appeared fairly even, and Marinez managed to keep it that way for almost half the scheduled ten rounds against a solid prospect but Delgado kept upping the ante until Marinez was out of chips. The assembled swarm was whistling for more action after three tentative opening frames, as Delgado loaded up but couldn’t put much offense together.
That changed in the 4th when Delgado connected with solid crosses. In the fifth, a fine combination dropped Marinez into a delayed knockdown and a wicked follow-up right to the guts finished the wobbly Marinez, who had nothing to be ashamed of, off in the arms of ref Wes Melton. Official TKO time was 2:13.
In a matter of concurrent programming, Saturday also held a lot of highly publicized college football and basketball games which likely detracted from the larger mainstream audience and media coverage this fight card deserved. That’s a shame but you can’t fault boxing, Top Rank, or any of the fighters for that because, once again, they all came through big time in Phoenix.
Photos credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank
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Brooklyn’s Richardson Hitchins Wins IBF 140-Pound Title in Puerto Rico
A change of champions took place as Richardson Hitchins rallied from a lethargic start to wrest the IBF super lightweight title from Australia’s Liam Paro by split decision on Saturday in Puerto Rico at Coliseo Roberto Clemente in San Juan.
Brooklyn has another world champion.
“I’m just happy to be a world champion,” Hitchins said.
Hitchins (19-0, 7 KOs) proved that his style of fighting could prevail over Paro (25-1, 15 KOs) who had previously knocked off another Puerto Rican champion, Subriel Matias.
Both fighters expected a different kind of encounter as Paro immediately started the fight with constant pressure and short, precise combinations. Hitchins had expected a different attack and seemed hesitant to pull the trigger.
“I couldn’t get my timing,” said Hitchins. “I thought he was going to put the pressure on me.”
Soon Hitchins ramped up his attack.
After Paro had jumped ahead with a constant strategic attack, Hitchins slipped into second gear behind a sharp right counter that found the target repeatedly.
Things began to swing in the Brooklyn fighter’s favor.
Those long arms came in handy for Hitchins who snapped off deadeye rights through Paro’s guard repeatedly. Soon the southpaw Aussie’s eye began to show signs of damage.
But Paro never quit.
Aside from using quick counters, Paro began firing lead lefts and the occasional right hook and uppercut. But seldom did he target the body. Slowly, the rounds began mounting in favor of the Brooklyn fighter.
Perhaps the best blow of the fight took place in the ninth round as Hitchins connected flush with a one-two combination. Though stunned, Paro trudged forward looking to immediately counter.
He mostly failed.
Still, Paro knew the rounds were not one-sided and he could close the distance. The Aussie fighter did well in the 11th and 12th round but could not land a significant blow. After 12 rounds one judge saw Paro the winner 117-11, while two others saw Hitchins the winner 116-112 for the new IBF titlist.
“He’s a hell of a boxer,” said Paro who loses the title in his first defense. “It’s not a loss, it’s a lesson.”
Other Bouts
A battle between Puerto Rican featherweights saw Henry Lebron (20-0) out-battle Christopher Diaz-Velez by decision after 10 action-packed rounds.
In a lightweight fight Agustin Quintana (21-2-1) gave Marc Castro (13-1) his first loss to win by split decision after 10 rounds.
Welterweight Jose Roman Vazquez (14-1) defeated Jalil Hackett (9-1) by split decision after 10 rounds.
Photo credit: Melina Pizano / Matchroom
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A Six-Pack of Undercard Action from the Top Rank Card in Phoenix
A Six-Pack of Undercard Action from the Top Rank Card in Phoenix
Top Rank promoted a 10-fight card tonight at the NBA arena in Phoenix. The undercard included welterweight standout Giovani Santillan and a bevy of young prospects.
Based on his showing tonight, Albert “Chop Chop” Gonzalez is a prospect on the cusp of being a contender. A high-octane fighter with ring smarts that bely his tender age, the 22-year-old Gonzalez pitched a near 8-round shutout over Argentina’s Gerardo Antonio Perez, advancing his record to 12-0 (7). Although Gonzalez was forced to go the distance after five straight wins by stoppage, Perez, an Argentine who had never been stopped and was better than his 12-6-1 record, had a granite chin.
LA junior bantamweight Steven Navarro improved to 5-0 (4 KOs) with a second-round stoppage of Gabriel Bernardi (7-2). Navarro had Bernardi, a Puerto Rican, on the canvas twice before referee Raul Caiz Jr waived it off.
In a welterweight contest slated for “10,” Giovani Santillan improved to 33-1 (18 KOs) at the expense of Fredrick Lawson who retired on his stool after only one round. It was a nice confidence-booster for Santillan who took a lot of punishment in his last fight vs. Brian Norman Jr, a fight that Santillan was expected to win. However, tonight’s win should come with an asterisk as Lawson, a Chicago-based Ghanaian, is damaged goods and ought not be permitted to fight again, notwithstanding his 30-6 record. (All six of his losses, including the last three, came inside the distance.)
In a welterweight contest slated for six rounds, 19-year-old SoCal prospect Art Berrera Jr advanced to 7-0 (5 KOs) with a second-round TKO over Juan Carlos Campos (4-2) who fights out of Sioux City, Iowa. Referee Wes Melton lost his balance as he stepped in to stop the one-sided affair with a nano-second remaining in round two and went flying into the ropes, but was seemingly unhurt.
In a major surprise, Cesar Morales, a former Mexican national amateur champion, lost his pro debut to unheralded Kevin Mosquera, a 23-year-old Ecuadorian. A flash knockdown in the opening minute of final round factored into the result. The judges had it 39-36 and 38-37 for Mosquera (3-0-1) and 38-38.
The night did not start well for Morales’ trainer Robert Garcia who had five fighters in action tonight.
In the lid-lifter, 21-year-old Las Vegas lightweight DJ Zamora, a protege of the late Roger Mayweather, improved to 15-0 (10 KOs) with a second-round stoppage of Argentine import Roman Ruben Reynoso (22-6-2). Zamora put Reynoso on the canvas in the opening round with a left to the solar plexus and knocked him down in the second round with a counter left to the chin. Reynoso made it to his feet, but had no beef when the fight was waived off. The official time was 1:56 of round two.
Bouts involving former Olympians Lindolfo Delgado and Richard Torres Jr plus two compelling world title rematches round out the 10-fight card. TSS correspondent Phil Woolever is ringside. Check back later for his post-fight reports.
Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank
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