Danny Garcia Ready For His Close-Up, Mr. DeMille

Published

13 years ago

March 21, 2012

GarciaHolt Hogan7 Hall of Fame manager Shelly Finkel might have backed away from boxing, but that doesn’t mean he’s turned his back on boxers, and especially not those whose careers he most recently oversaw. Finkel, who began his own career as a promoter of such renowned musical acts as the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Jimi Hendrix, the Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin, made the crossover to boxing in 1977 and went on to manage or advise the likes of Evander Holyfield, Pernell Whitaker, Meldrick Taylor, Mark Breland, Mike Tyson, Michael Moorer, Fernando Vargas and Mike McCallum.

Since July 2010 Finkel, 67, has been chief executive officer of Empire Sports and Entertainment, which primarily deals with the music industry. Maybe it really is true that what goes around eventually must come around.

“I still love boxing, but more and more the politics of it I don’t like,” Finkel said of his decision to return to another business where the hits, as well as the misses, just keep a’coming. “Managing boxers wasn’t as much fun as it used to be.”

Which is not to say that Finkel does not retain a warm, fuzzy spot in his heart for many of the 20 or so fighters whose contracts he was obliged to divest himself of, including Victor Ortiz, Deontay Wilder, Roberto Guerrero and Vanes Martirosyan. But few held more personal appeal to Finkel than Philadelphia-based junior welterweight Danny “Swift” Garcia, who challenges WBC super lightweight champion Erik “El Terrible” Morales on Saturday night in Houston’s Reliant Center. To Finkel’s way of thinking, Garcia possesses all the qualities – both personal and professional – that can lead to superstardom.

HBO will televise the scheduled 12-round bout, Garcia’s debut as a main-eventer for the pay-cable giant.

“Danny was a very, very good amateur who won most of the titles,” Finkel said. “He could punch big and he’s a good-looking kid. I think all of that is showing now. He’s just coming into his own.”

Morales (52-7, 36 KOs), of course, also had all that going for him once. But, at 35, the Tijuana native has lots and lots of miles on his pugilistic odometer, maybe even more than 47-year-old Bernard Hopkins, the enduring classic who is still is the WBC light-heavyweight champion at an age when most fighters have long since been consigned to the junkyard. And if Garcia (22-0, 14 KOs), who celebrated his 24^th birthday yesterday, is only now approaching peak efficiency, the question about Morales that begs to be answered is whether he is finally saying goodbye to his long run as a big-time performer.

Finkel has long observed the ceaseless struggle between old acts on the way out and new ones on the way in, both in concert halls and boxing arenas, so he has a pretty good idea of how this particular conflict of experience vs. youth will play out. Or maybe he just wants to believe in the hot kid whose star he still would have his wagon hitched to, had not another opportunity presented itself.

“His first couple of pro fights, even though he was scoring knockouts, he was still tentative,” Finkel said of Garcia. “Now he’s feeling comfortable. I think the last fight, (a split decision over former world champion Kendall Holt that didn’t appear to be that close), when he got nailed with a good shot and shook it off, raised Danny to the next level.

“I think Danny is the best prospect to come out of Philly in the last 20-plus years, since Meldrick Taylor. I just think he’s ready for Morales. Danny has the power to keep pushing Erik back. He just has to fight smart and not be overly impressed that, hey, `I’m in here with Erik Moarles’ If he looks at Erik as just another fighter he has to beat, and not some sort of legendary figure, Danny will win. I don’t doubt that at all.”

That feeling of absolute confidence also runs deep in Angel Garcia, who has trained his son since he was 10 and expects to profitably remain on the job for a good while longer. Morales may well be headed to induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame some day, but that Morales is as long gone as Holyfield’s hair or Tyson’s six-pack abs.

“We’re not underestimating Morales, who was and still is a good fighter, but there’s no way at all I can see him beating Danny,” the elder Garcia said. “Ten years ago, Morales was very dangerous. Now? He’s just someone else in Danny’s way. He’s got the title, but (the powers-that-be) wanted him to get it. It was politics.”

That is a not-so-subtle dig at the Mexico City-based WBC, whose rulings often seem to favor Mexican fighters. But while Angel Garcia declined for his son to take on Morales somewhere in Mexico, he is sure what is about to go down will be conclusive enough that it can survive any potential heist by pencil.

“Knockout, decision, it don’t matter,” Angel said. “Danny will win big enough that everybody is going to know who the new champ is and deserves to be. Now is the time for Danny to explode and put his name out there. He’s going to be the first Latino (Garcia is of Puerto Rican descent) champion from Philadelphia.”

Morales, it should be noted, was truly a wondrous champion, and a leading pound-for-pound guy on his way to winning the first three of his four titles in different weight classes. He won his first bejeweled belt at 21, in 1997, on an 11^th-round knockout of Daniel Zaragoza. That watershed victory – there would be many others — boosted his record to 27-0, with 21 wins inside the distance.

He won the opener of his three memorable showdowns with Marco Antonio Barrera, and was 47-0 when he finally lost, in his second matchup with Barrera on Nov. 27, 2004. At that point, Morales could have retired and started the clock ticking on a first-ballot selection to the IBHOF. And if not then, his points nod over Manny Pacquiao on March 19, 2005, might have been a good time to step away and enjoy the rest of his life. That outcome – Pacquiao’s only defeat in the United States – does not seem now, in retrospect, to be such an upset.

But fighters on top always believe they’re going to stay there forever, and the wear and tear that all legends show on their way there started to become evident. From Sept. 10, 2005, to Aug. 4, 2007, Morales lost four in a row, to Zahir Raheem, to Pacquiao twice and to David Diaz, sending him into a 31-month retirement.

The Morales that returned to the ring in 2010 is clearly a diminished version of his former self, but not an empty shell, either. He is not the risk-taker he once was, sacrificing some aggression for restraint, the better to check further erosion of his physical gifts. It is a telltale concession to age and all the punishment his body has absorbed, but the wise fighter learns to time his retreats as well as his attacks, and Morales, if nothing else, remains an intuitive counterpuncher capable of exploiting an opponent’s mistakes.

Youth is not always served in boxing, and it might not be on Saturday. But whether a new star rises in the sky or an old one vanishes from view, the journey to discovery should be interesting.

Post Views: 1,073

Share The Sweet Science experience!

Bernard Fernandez

Bivol Evens the Score with Beterbiev; Parker and Stevenson Win Handily

Published

4 hours ago

February 22, 2025

David A. Avila

Bivol-Evens-the-Score-with-Beterbiev-Parker-and-Stevenson-Win-Handily

It was labeled the best boxing card in history.

That’s up for debate.

And there was some debate as Dmitry Bivol avenged his loss to Artur Beterbiev to become the new undisputed light heavyweight world champion on Saturday by majority decision in a tactical battle.

“He gave me this chance and I appreciate it,” said Bivol of Beterbiev.

Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) rallied from behind to give Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs) his first pro loss in their rematch at a sold out crowd in the Venue Riyadh Season in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Like their first encounter the rematch was also very close.

Four months ago, these two faced each other as undefeated light heavyweights. Now, after two furious engagements, both have losses.

Beterbiev was making his first defense as undisputed light heavyweight champion and made adjustments from their first match. This time the Russian fighter who trains in Canada concentrated on a body attack and immediately saw dividends.

For most of the first six rounds it seemed Beterbiev would slowly grind down Bivol until he reached an unsurmountable lead. But despite the momentum he never could truly hurt Bivol or gain separation.

Things turned around in the seventh round as Bivol opened up with combinations to the head and body while slipping Beterbiev’s blows. It was a sudden swing of momentum. But how long could it last?

“It was hard to keep him at the distance. I had to be smarter and punch more clean punches,” said Bivol.

Beterbiev attempted to regain the momentum but Bivol was not allowing it to happen. In the final 10 seconds he opened up with a machine gun combination. Though few of the punches connected it became clear he was not going to allow unclarity.

Using strategic movement Bivol laced quick combinations and immediately departed. Betebiev seemed determined to counter the fleet fighter but was unsuccessful for much of the second half of the fight.

Around the 10^th round Beterbiev stepped on the gas with the same formula of working the body and head. It gave Bivol pause but he still unleashed quick combos to keep from being overrun.

Bivol connected with combinations and Beterbiev connected with single body and head shots. It was going to be tough for the referees to decide which attack they preferred. After 12 rounds with no knockdowns one judge saw it a draw at 114-114. But two others saw Bivol the winner 116-112, 115-113.

“I was better. I was pushing myself more, I was lighter. I just wanted to win so much today,” said Bivol.

Beterbiev was gracious in defeat.

“Congratulations to Bivol’s team” said Beterbiev. “I think this fight was better than the first fight.”

After the match it was discussed that an effort to make a third fight is a strong possibility.

Heavyweight KO by Parker

Joseph Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) once again proved he could be the best heavyweight without a world title in knocking out the feared Martin Bakole (21-2, 16 KOs) to retain his WBO interim title. It was quick and decisive.

“Catch him when he is coming in,” said Parker, 33, about his plan.

After original foe IBF heavyweight titlist Daniel Dubois was forced to withdraw due to illness, Bakole willingly accepted the match with only two days’ notice. Many experts and fans around the world were surprised and excited Parker accepted the match.

Ever since Parker lost to Joe Joyce in 2022, the New Zealander has proven to be vastly improved with wins over Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang. Now you can add Bakole to the list of conquests.

Bakole, 33, was coming off an impressive knockout win last July and posed a serious threat if he connected with a punch. The quick-handed Bakole at 310 pounds and a two-inch height advantage is always dangerous.

In the first round Parker was wary of the fighter from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He kept his range and moved around the ring looking to poke a jab and move. Bakole caught him twice with blows and Parker retaliated.

It proved to be a very important test.

Parker refrained from moving and instead moved inside range of the big African fighter. Both exchanged liberally with Bakole connecting with an uppercut and Parker an overhand right.

Bakole shook his head at the blow he absorbed.

Both re-engaged and fired simultaneously. Parker’s right connected to the top of the head of Bakole who shuddered and stumbled and down he went and could not beat the count. The referee stopped the heavyweight fight at 2:17 of the second round. Parker retains his interim title by knockout.

“I’m strong, I’m healthy, I’m sharp,” said Parker. “I had to be patient.”

Shakur Wins

Despite an injured left hand southpaw WBC lightweight titlist Shakur Stevenson (23-0, 11 KOs) won by stoppage over late replacement Josh Padley (15-1, 6 KOs). It was an impressive accomplishment.

Often criticized for his lack of action and safety-first style, Stevenson was supposed to fight undefeated Floyd Schofield who pulled out due to illness. In stepped British lightweight Padley who had nothing to lose.

Padley was never hesitant to engage with the super-quick Stevenson and despite the lightning-quick combos by the champion, the British challenger exchanged liberally. It just wasn’t enough.

Even when Stevenson injured his left hand during an exchange in the sixth round, Padley just couldn’t take advantage. The speedy southpaw kept shooting the right jabs and ripping off right hooks. At the end of the sixth Stevenson briefly switched to a right-handed fighting style.

Stevenson used his right jabs and hooks to perfection. Double right hooks to the head and body seemed to affect the British challenger. A clean left to the body of Padley sent him to the floor for the count in the ninth round. It was a surprising knockdown due to his injured left. Padley got up and the fight resumed. Stevenson unloaded with right hooks to the body and down went the British fighter once again. He got up and tried to fight his way out but was met with another left to the body and down he went a third time. Padley’s corner tossed in a white towel to signify surrender. The referee stopped the fight at the end of the round. Stevenson scored his 11^th knockout win.

Photo credit: Mark Robinson / Matchroom

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Post Views: 346

Share The Sweet Science experience!

Early Results from Riyadh where Hamzah Sheeraz was Awarded a Gift Draw

Published

7 hours ago

February 22, 2025

Arne K. Lang

Early-Results-from-Riyadh-where-Hamza-Sheeraz-was-Awarded-a-Gift-Draw

After two 6-round appetizers, British light heavyweights Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith got the show rolling with a lusty 12-round skirmish. Things went south in the middle of the seven-fight main card when WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adames locked horns with challenger Hamzah Sheeraz. This was a drab fight owing to a milquetoast performance by the favored Sheeraz.

Heading in, the lanky six-foot-three Sheeraz, whose physique is mindful of a young Thomas Hearns, was undefeated in 21 fights. Having stopped five of his last six opponents in two rounds or less, the 25-year-old Englishman was touted as the next big thing in the middleweight division. However, he fought off his back foot the entire contest, reluctant to let his hands go, and Adames kept his title when the bout was scored a draw.

Sheeraz had the crowd in his corner and two of the judges scored the match with their ears. Their tallies were 115-114 for Sheeraz and 114-114. The third judge had it 118-110 for Adames, the 30-year old Dominican, now 24-1-1, who had Ismael Salas in his corner.

Ortiz-Madrimov

Super welterweight Vergil Ortiz Jr, knocked out his first 21 opponents, begging the question of how he would react when he finally faced adversity. He showed his mettle in August of last year when he went a sizzling 12 rounds with fellow knockout artist Serhii Bohachuk, winning a hard-fought decision. Tonight he added another feather in his cap with a 12-round unanimous decision over Ismail Madrimov, prevailing on scores of 117-111 and 115-113 twice.

Ortiz won by adhering tight to Robert Garcia’s game plan. The elusive Madrimov, who bounces around the ring like the energizer bunny, won the early rounds. But eventually Ortiz was able to cut the ring off and turned the tide in his favor by landing the harder punches. It was the second straight loss for Madrimov (10-2-1), a decorated amateur who had lost a close but unanimous decision to Terence Crawford in his previous bout.

Kabayel-Zhang

No heavyweight has made greater gains in the last 15 months than Agit Kabayel. The German of Kurdish descent, whose specialty is body punching, made his third straight appearance in Riyadh tonight and, like in the previous two, fashioned a knockout. Today, although out-weighed by more than 40 pounds, he did away with Zhilei “Big Bang” Zhang in the sixth round.

It didn’t start out well for Kabayel. The New Jersey-based, six-foot-six Zhang, a two-time Olympian for China, started fast and plainly won the opening round. Kabayel beat him to the punch from that point on, save for one moment when Zhang put him on the canvas with a straight left hand.

That happened in the fifth round, but by the end of the frame, the 41-year-old Zhang was conspicuously gassed. The end for the big fellow came at the 2:29 mark of round six when he couldn’t beat the count after crumbling to the canvas in a delayed reaction after taking a hard punch to his flabby midsection.

Kabayel remains undefeated at 26-0 (18 KOs). Zhang (27-3-1) hadn’t previously been stopped.

Smith-Buatsi

The all-British showdown between light heavyweights Joshua Buatsi and Callum Smith was a grueling, fan-friendly affair. A former 168-pound world title-holder, Smith, 34, won hard-earned unanimous decision, prevailing on scores of 115-113, 116-112, and a ludicrous 119-110.

There were no knockdowns, but Liverpool’s Smith, who advanced to 31-2 (22) finished the contest with a bad gash in the corner of his right eye. It was the first pro loss for Buatsi (19-1), an Olympic bronze medalist who entered the contest a small favorite and was the defending “interim” title-holder.

This contest was also a battle of wits between two of America’s most prominent trainers, Buddy McGirt (Smith) and Virgil Hunter (Buatsi).

Check back shortly for David Avila’s wrap-up of the last three fights.

Photo credit: Mark Robinson / Matchroom

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Post Views: 401

Share The Sweet Science experience!

Cain Sandoval KOs Mark Bernaldez in the Featured Bout at Santa Ynez

Published

23 hours ago

February 21, 2025

David A. Avila

Cain-Sandoval-KOs-Mark-Bernaldez-in-the-Featured-Bout-at-Santa-Ynez

Northern California’s Cain Sandoval remained undefeated with a knockout win over Mark Bernaldez in a super lightweight battle on Friday on a 360 Promotions card.

Sandoval (15-0, 13 KOs) of Sacramento needed four rounds to figure out tough Filipino fighter Bernaldez (25-7, 14 KOs) in front of a packed crowd at Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez.

Bernaldez had gone eight rounds against Mexico’s very tough Oscar Duarte. He showed no fear for Sandoval’s reputed power and both fired bombs at each other from the second round on.

Things turned in favor of Sandoval when he targeted the body and soon had Bernaldez in retreat. It was apparent Sandoval had discovered a weakness.

In the beginning of the fourth Sandoval fired a stiff jab to the body that buckled Bernaldez but he did not go down. And when both resumed in firing position Sandoval connected with an overhand right and down went the Filipino fighter. He was counted out by referee Rudy Barragan at 34 seconds of the round.

“I’m surprised he took my jab to the body. I respect that. I have a knockout and I’m happy about that,” Sandoval said.

Other Bouts

Popular female fighter Lupe Medina (9-0) remained undefeated with a solid victory over the determined Agustina Vazquez (4-3-2) by unanimous decision after eight rounds in a minimumweight fight between Southern Californians.

Early on Vazquez gave Medina trouble disrupting her patter with solid jabs. And when Medina overloaded with combination punches, she was laced with counters from Vazquez during the first four rounds.

Things turned around in the fifth round as Medina used a jab to keep Vazquez at a preferred distance. And when she attacked it was no more than two-punch combination and maintaining a distance.

Vazquez proved determined but discovered clinching was not a good idea as Medina took advantage and overran her with blows. Still, Vazquez looked solid. All three judges saw it 79-73 for Medina.

A battle between Southern Californian’s saw Compton’s Christopher Rios (11-2) put on the pressure all eight rounds against Eastvale’s Daniel Barrera (8-1-1) and emerged the winner by majority decision in a flyweight battle.

It was Barrera’s first loss as a pro. He never could discover how to stay off the ropes and that proved his downfall. Neither fighter was knocked down but one judge saw it 76-76, and two others 79-73 for Rios.

In a welterweight fight Gor Yeritsyan (20-1,16 KOs) scorched Luis Ramos (23-7) with a 12-punch combination the sent him to the mat in the second round. After Ramos beat the count he was met with an eight punch volley and the fight was stopped at 2:11 of the second round by knockout.

Super feather prospect Abel Mejia (7-0, 5 KOs) floored Alfredo Diaz (9-12) in the fifth round but found the Mexican fighter to be very durable in their six-round fight. Mejia caught Diaz with a left hook in the fifth round for a knockdown. But the fight resumed with all three judges scoring it 60-53 for Mejia who fights out of El Modena, Calif.

To comment on this story in the Fight Forum CLICK HERE

Post Views: 462

Share The Sweet Science experience!