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Regarding Thomas Hauser's Role With HBO, and TSS
photo by Howard Schatz
Any real boxing fan who has even a slight familiarity with modern-day boxing journalism knows that Thomas Hauser, the esteemed Ali chronicler and HBO gadfly, took a job with HBO, as a consultant.
On February 29, Hauser, who has written for TSS since December 2010, and who I am friendly with, wrote me this email:
As of this week, I’ve undertaken a new role. I’ve agreed to serve as a consultant to HBO Sports. I will have no decision-making authority at HBO. I’m not authorized to represent the network to third parties in business matters. I’ll continue to write about boxing for various websites and print publications. To the extent that my by-line appears less frequently this year than it has in the past, it will be because I’m currently engaged in the time-consuming task of writing a novel about Charles Dickens. I’m grateful to the leadership at HBO Sports for giving me this opportunity.
One of my first thoughts was: This is like Bob Woodward taking a job in the Nixon administration. The more I pondered, and I did ponder, and am still pondering, because I always question what I do, and my role, and my behavior, and my ethics and boundaries, and the ethics and boundaries found in fightwriting and journalism in general, I dismissed that analogy. Bob Woodward yes, Nixon administration, no. I don't think that's fair to the current administration at HBO, and maybe even the past one, led by Ross Greenburg, of whom Hauser was no fan.
I never gave more than a half second thought to telling Hauser that I'd rather he no longer contribute to TSS. Even when the pundits, and fellow members of the fraternity weighed in, many harshly, I didn't reconsider. Mainly because I acknowledge that everyone who does this for a living has conflicts. Everyone. And if they choose not to acknowledge that, then that's on them. Was part of me disappointed that Hauser will now not be in a position to publicly dissect the most powerful organization in the sport? Absolutely. That's a huge loss. The contacts he had in HBO, who could and would share with him details of the sausage-making enterprise, the passion and intensity and skill he exhibited in his critiques, his lobbying on behalf of fans who simply want to watch the best fight the best…Hauser's jump to HBO leaves a gaping void in our game which cannot be understated and will not be filled. Boxing got lucky when Hauser chose to apply his talents to our sport. His tenacity and skill as an investigative reporter are unmatched in the boxing realm, and I suspect could be applied to the same effect in any sphere.
But the man is allowed to follow his own path. And I'm certain that the same traits and desires which were evident in his annual critiques will be applied, just in a different way, and sadly, not for our consumption. Hauser, I think, will still lobby for what is best, what is right, but he will do so sitting across from the decision makers, instead of through the keyboard.
In an attempt to clarify what I think about this development, and also how Tom sees the arrangement, and his place in the fightwriter fraternity, and in the journalism world, I offer this question and answer back and forth I did with Tom.
Q) When you told me that you were taking a job at HBO, one of my first thoughts was: This is like Bob Woodward taking a job in the Nixon administration. Is that a poor analogy?
A) As you said in a phone call, Nixon has left the White House. I've always had a great deal of respect for the many things that HBO does well and I've maintained friendships with a number of people at HBO Sports. I’ve been a “talking head” on several HBO Sports documentaries and written numerous articles for the HBO Sports website. I think my appointment speaks to HBO’s commitment to give its subscribers the best programming possible and to remain a positive force in boxing in the years ahead. It's a signal to the boxing community that HBO Sports is willing to listen to constructive criticism and is open to new ideas.
Q) I tend to think that just about no one is free from conflicts of interest when they work most any journalistic beat, so I try to be quite judicious when I sling arrows in this arena. But some folks, some of whom themselves have to negotiate conflicts of interest from various masters they serve, were not shy about slinging arrows at you. And part of me gets that; many of us have looked to you over the years as the Seymour Hersh of the fightwriter set. Your reporting on the inner workings at HBO, for me, was something I looked forward to every holiday season like I do the Grinch cartoon. You held them to a high standard, and you set a high standard of behavior. Did you think long and hard about accepting this HBO gig, because you are seen as the ombudsman of the sport?
A) I'd much rather be part of a team and help the team get things right than criticize after the fact.
Q) Usually you write about the fighters and the suits and such. A bunch of columns have come out touching on your news. Any assertions, or contentions, or accusations that you want to address? Did all the writers get it right, or do you want to use this forum to offer a correction or clarification?
A) Some of the columns were responsibly written and raised concerns that were honestly felt. Others were wildly inaccurate and silly —
[John, Chapter 8, Verse 7]: “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone.”
Q) If I may read between the lines. My perception is that you mainly took issue with how Ross Greenburg ran the show at HBO. I understand Ken Hershman hired you. He's had a good track record at Showtime, and so far so good, I guess, at HBO. But what if you perceive him to be going off the rails? Would you write about that, for TSS, or some other publication? How would you handle that?
A) I certainly plan to write about fights that are on HBO and other networks and also about other matters of interest to the boxing community. Readers can make their own judgment regarding the credibility of what I write, knowing that I'm a consultant to HBO Sports. In the past, I wrote one or two lengthy investigative reports about HBO each year. I don't think that's consistent with my new role, and I won't do it. If other journalists feel that my becoming a consultant to HBO Sports has created a void, then they should fill it.
Q) Can you touch on your role with the BWAA, as one of the stories focused on that?
A) I resigned today (Tuesday) as chairman of the six-person BWAA membership committee. One of the other committee members will assume that role.
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Canelo Proves Too Canny and Tough for Edgar Berlanga in Las Vegas
Canelo Proves Too Canny and Tough for Edgar Berlanga in Las Vegas
Never underestimate a Puerto Rico versus Mexico fight.
Mexican superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez needed all 12 rounds to defeat Puerto Rico’s super strong Edgar Berlanga and retain the unified super middleweight championship on Saturday.
Berlanga never quit.
“He’s very strong,” Canelo said.
Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) showed that championship fighting is like high-speed chess and Berlanga (22-1, 17 KOs) did not have enough moves to out-wit the Mexican redhead at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Especially on Mexican Independence Day weekend.
Despite an early knockdown by a Canelo left hook, Berlanga was able to survive the Mexican fighter’s onslaught and withstand punishment that could have felled a rhinoceros.
“I got a little bit of Mexican in me,” Berlanga joked.
During an exchange in the third round Alvarez snapped a quick left hook that timed the Puerto Rican perfectly. Down he went for only the second time in his career. But he got up quickly and rallied a bit in the round.
It was the theme of the fight.
Every time Alvarez scored heavy with combinations to the head and body, Berlanga responded back as much as possible. He never wilted though he had plenty of opportunities.
It was a methodical attack by the Mexican champion that kept Berlanga guessing in every round. The Puerto Rican tried firing back and using his height and reach but Alvarez was always a step ahead.
Berlanga managed to score, but he never could mount a long rally. In the fifth round Berlanga used rough tactics including a head butt that angered Alvarez. It was the first time the Boricua was able to connect heavily.
But Alvarez proved too canny for Berlanga. The Mexican redhead who has won world titles as a super welterweight, middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight, showed off his experience. The Puerto Rican could only absorb the blows and retaliate. But his strength was impressive.
“He will be a champion,” said Alvarez.
After 12 back-and-forth rounds, both hugged like old friends. It was exactly the type of fight Alvarez wanted for the thousands of Mexican and Puerto Rican fans at the arena and worldwide.
Alvarez was deemed the winner by unanimous decision 117-110, 118-109 twice and retains the world titles.
“I did good,” said Alvarez. “I’m the best fighter in the world.”
Berlanga was gracious in defeat.
“I could have done a lot more, but I was fighting a legend,” Berlanga said.
Other Fights
After nine rounds of whistles and boos by a disgruntled crowd due to inactivity, Erislandy Lara (31-3-3, 19 KOs) fired a lead left cross to drop Danny “Swift” Garcia (37-4). Lara was making the third defense of the WBA middleweight world title he won with a one-punch knockout of Thomas La Manna.
The battle between counter-punchers did not please the fans, but slowly Lara kept Garcia at bay with his sharp right jabs. The Cuban southpaw caught Garcia moving with his hands down with a single strafing left. Down he went for the first time in his career and the fight was ended at the end of the ninth round.
It was the first loss by knockout for Garcia, the former super lightweight and welterweight world titlist.
Plant
Once again Caleb Plant (23-2, 15 KOs) made the fight personal and found Trevor McCumby (28-1, 21 KOs) a worthy challenge for the interim super middleweight title for most of the fight.
It was thoroughly entertaining.
McCumby battered Plant early and put him to the canvas twice, although only the second was ruled a knockdown. A strong left hook to the shoulder caught Plant perfectly and down he went.
That seemed to wake up Plant.
The former super middleweight world titlist who lives in Las Vegas took the fight inside and pinned McCumby to the ropes. Plant went to work from that point on and did not allow his foe another big opportunity.
In the ninth round Plant pinned McCumby against the ropes once again and unloaded a dozen blows that ravaged the Arizona fighter. Referee Allen Huggins stopped the fight at 2:59 of the ninth round.
“Word on the street is I cant fight inside,” said Plant sarcastically.
Rolly Wins
Former lightweight champion Rolly Romero (16-2) proved too experienced for the rugged Manuel Jaimes (16-2-1) who resembles slightly Antonio Margarito. The only problem is he doesn’t punch enough like the Tijuana tornado.
Romero hit and held through much of the fight until the referee warned him repeatedly. Still, Romero was busier and far more accurate than Jaimes. All three judges scored in favor of Romero 99-91.
Photo credit: German Villasenor
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Stephen Fulton Nips Carlos Castro in a Prelude to Canelo vs Berlanga
In his first fight back after being dominated and stopped by pound-for-pound king Naoya Inoue in a fight for super bantamweight supremacy in July of last year, Stephen Fulton nipped upset-minded Carlos Castro, improving to 22-1 (8) in his first start as a featherweight. The verdict was split, with Fulton prevailing by 96-93 and 95-94 with the dissenter favoring Castro 95-94. The decision seemed fair although not in eyes of the predominantly Mexican crowd which booed the decision.
This was an entertaining 10-round fight between two evenly-matched 30-year-old campaigners. Long-time Phoenix resident Castro (30-3) put Fulton on the deck in round five with a counter right hand and Fulton rode his bicycle to shed the cobwebs as the round played out. But the Philadelphian, with new trainer Bozy Ennis in his corner, recuperated well and had a strong sixth round.
In round eight, Castro buckled Fulton’s knees with another straight right, but was unable to press his advantage. The bout served as the “main” prelim to the four-fight PPV card.
—
In a welterweight contest slated for “10,” Mexico City’s Ricardo Salas, a 6/1 underdog, scored a second-round stoppage of Roiman Villa. The end in this slam-bang and all-too-brief skirmish came at the 2:06 mark of round three when Salas, fighting off the ropes, nailed Villa with a perfectly-placed, short right hand. Villa went down for the count.
Salas, whose de facto manager is the ubiquitous Sean Gibbons, improved to 20-2-2 with his 15th win inside the distance. From Colombia by way of Venezuela, Villa (26-3) was making his first start since being stopped by Boots Ennis in July of last year.
—
In the opener on the PBC YouTube channel, super featherweight Jonathan “Geo” Lopez, a 21-year-old Pennsylvania-born southpaw, won a wide 8-round decision over rugged San Antonio campaigner Richard Medina. Lopez pitched a shutout, winning 80-71 on all three cards, but this was hardly a stroll in the park for him.
Lopez, who improved to 17-0 (12), simply had too much class for Medina. A 20/1 favorite, the Eddy Reynoso-trained boxer hurt Medina at the end of round seven and put him on the canvas in the final round with a straight left hand, but Medina (15-3) kept on plugging away and maintained his distinction of never being stopped.
Also
In an off-TV fight, super middleweight Bek Nurmaganbet, a 26-year-old Kazakh, won his eighth straight inside the distance, improving to 12-0 (10) with a second-round stoppage of SoCal’s Joshua Conley (17-7-1).
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Rocky Hernandez Improves to 36-2 with a Controversial TD in Hermosillo
Matchroom was in northwestern Mexico tonight in the city of Hermosillo for a card that aired on DAZN. In the featured bout, super featherweight Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez was awarded a technical decision over Thomas Mattice when the bout was halted by the ringside physician at the start of the seventh round because Hernandez had severe cuts around both eyes. The first cut, over his right eye, developed in round four. Replays showed that the second cut, over his left eye, was caused by a right uppercut. However, in the eyes of veteran Texas referee Mark Calo-oy, the damage was caused by an accidental head butt. That sent the bout to the scorecards where Hernandez was deemed the victor by tallies of 59-55, 58-56, and 58-55 per ring announcer David Diamente who had trouble reading the results submitted to him by a boxing commissioner.
Hernandez, who turned pro at age 15 in Mexico City, is best known for his rumble with defending WBC 130-pound title-holder O’Shaquie Foster. Rocky was leading that fight with 30 seconds remaining in the final round when the roof fell in on him. He trained for tonight’s bout at the DLX and Top Rank gyms in Las Vegas under Kay Koroma and Brandon Woods, the latter of whom trains Trevor McCumby. Neither Koroma nor Woods was in his corner tonight.
It was the first fight outside the U.S. for Cleveland’s hard-luck Thomas Mattice who had won five straight heading in and appeared to be turning the bout in his favor. Mattice declined to 22-4-1.
Semi-wind-up
Twenty-four-year-old Hermosillo knockout artist Sergio Mendoza showed that he is a rising force in the flyweight division with a third-round stoppage of stocky Ensenada southpaw Angel Ramos. Mendoza crumpled Ramos with a short left uppercut in round two. Ramos attempted to rise, but it became a moot point when the match was waived off.
Mendoza improved to 24-0 with his twenty-first knockout. Ramos, a 12-year pro whose career has been slowed by injuries, falls to 30-2-2.
Also
A 10-round super middleweight contest that shaped up as a slugfest proved the opposite. Local product Julio Porras (12-0, 8 KOs) won a wide decision in a snoozefest over Venezuelan import Isaac Torres who had won all 10 of his previous fights by stoppage, none of which lasted beyond six rounds.
Torres turned timid after Porras decked him with a left hook in the second frame. He fought off his back foot for the reminder of the bout, seemingly content to simply last the distance. The scores read 100-89 and 99-90 twice.
It was hard to get a good read on Porras who trains in Seatle with David Benavidez and Diego Pacheco, but at age 22 he appears to have a bright future.
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