Should He Be “Tap Out” Victor Instead of “Vicious Victor?”

Published

13 years ago

June 26, 2012

Ron Borges

OrtizLopez Hogan18 Perhaps it is time for Victor Ortiz to change his nickname from “Vicious Victor’’ to “Tap Out’’ Victor?

For the second time in his career, Ortiz quit in the midst of a fight and for the third time he looked for a way out, the latter being his bizarre hugfest with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. while in the midst of taking a beating that led to him first head butt Mayweather like a billy goat and then eat a rapid fire combination that knocked him out as he tried to plead for forgiveness by repeatedly grasping Mayweather after referee Joe Cortez said, “Let’s go!’’

To be fair, Saturday night was slightly different but he still failed to adhere to the warrior’s code that rules boxing. In what had become a surprisingly close fight, Ortiz found himself getting as good as he was giving against Josesito Lopez, a journeyman junior welterweight who was refusing to be overwhelmed even though Ortiz can crack despite his apparent heart defect.

According to Ortiz early in the ninth round, Lopez “busted my jaw.’’ At the end of the round Ortiz ignored the pleading of his corner and signaled to referee Jack Reiss that he was through.

“Say what?’’ Reiss asked, incredulous. “What’s broken? Are you stopping the fight?’’

Ortiz was at that point struggling to free himself from the grasp of trainer Danny Garcia, who was pleading for him to continue. He then looked at Reiss when he asked if he was stopping the fight and said “Yes.. My jaw’s broken.’’

According to his manager, Roberto Arellano, Ortiz’s jaw was indeed broken in two places and was re-set the next day with a plate screwed into it. Certainly the pain was immense but sadly for Ortiz boxing isn’t called the hurt business for nothing.

Absorption of absurd amounts of pain is a requirement if one is to maximize one’s gifts in prize fighting. It is expected and demanded. This is not UFC, where a man can quit with no penalty. Quit inside a boxing ring once and you are seen as suspect. Do it twice and you become thought of the way Lopez expressed it Saturday night after his hand was raised.

“I’m a man,’’ said Lopez (31-4, 19 KO), who fought much of the night with his left eye half closed and his right swollen. “I’m not intimidated by nothing. He tried to intimidate me but it didn’t work. Victor has no heart!’’

Harsh though that may seem to civilians and absurd as it may sound to many who do not understand boxing’s harsh demands, there is nothing worse that can be said about a fighter than those four words: “Victor has no heart.’’

Fighting with a broken jaw for nine more minutes would have been excruciating. It is far easier to tell someone else what they should do with their pain than it is to face your own. Yet the demands of boxing are clear when you sign on. You do not quit.

That is what separates fighters from the rest of the population. When good sense and every fiber of your body is screaming at you to retreat, they go forward. When it is clear the pain is unbearable, they fight on. It is the warrior’s code, the fighter’s heart. Sadly, Victor Ortiz does not follow the code nor have that heart.

He can punch like a mule and it would be unfair to say he is totally without heart because he is not. He fought bravely against Andre Berto and for much of the fight with Lopez. Both lashed him with big punches and he fought back. The problem for Ortiz is when the opponent not only continues to lash him but appears to get the upper hand and asks him to pay a price for victory he feels is too high.

When that happens, Ortiz folds up and quits as he did against Marcos Maidana in 2009, did in a more curious way against Mayweather and did over his corner’s protest Saturday night. Would fighting on with a broken jaw be common sense? Of course not but is boxing common sense in the first place? No it is not.

Fighting with a broken jaw is far from without precedent. Ken Norton broke Muhammad Ali’s jaw in the second round of their 1973 fight in San Diego. Ali fought on despite increasing swelling and lost a split decision. But one does not have to go that far into history to find an example of the warrior’s approach to a broken jaw.

In 2006, Arthur Abraham, then IBF middleweight champion, had his jaw broken in two places by Edison Miranda in the fifth round. Abraham fought on after initially saying he wanted to stop, won the fight and the next day had 22 screws and two plates riveted into his jaw. He was widely praised for his bravery and ate out of a straw for some time.

Had Ortiz at least tried to go on one would have more respect for his decision but unlike Ali, Abraham and others in boxing’s painful history, he did not. His jaw appeared to come unhinged in the latter moments of the ninth round and he ran for the remaining seconds and understandably so.

But after coming to his corner he not only refused to listen to his trainer but called the referee over and said his jaw was broken and he could not go on. Would not go on is a better way to put it.

After he quit against Maidana in 2009 after being knocked down and pummeled, Ortiz told a national TV audience, “I’m going to stop while I’m ahead, and that way, I can speak well when I’m older. We’ll see what happens from here on out, man. I’m young, but I don’t think I deserve to be getting beaten up like this. So I have a lot of thinking to do.”

His conclusion was to return to boxing and he did well enough. He won a welterweight title, got up off the floor to beat Berto and provided fans with some sizzling action because his defense is as bad as his offense is good. But he fouled blatantly against Mayweather once he got frustrated and his first night back after a nine month layoff he blatantly fouled Lopez several times as well, rabbit punching him behind the head. Admittedly Lopez at times was dipping low but as Reiss told Ortiz twice that didn’t give him the right to drill him in the back of the neck, a particularly vulnerable area for a boxer.

Ortiz did it more than once and he did it more than twice, truth be told. Reiss threatened to penalize him but did not. Soon Lopez would, cracking his jaw with a sweeping hook that landed with Ortiz’s mouth open. That, too, was fitting because frankly he talks too much and fights too little.

But now he has a lot more thinking to do because, frankly, a boxing ring is not the place for him. Victor Ortiz can punch like a mule and he can be vicious at times but long before he fought Mayweather James Toney, a boxer who is as old school as Ortiz is New Age, predicted Ortiz would quit again. James Toney was right.

When faced with the harshest side of the business he himself chose, Victor Ortiz at least twice has chosen the one act that is unacceptable.

He tapped out. Now maybe he is too.

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Ron Borges

Jorge Garcia is the TSS Fighter of the Month for April

Published

7 hours ago

April 28, 2025

Arne K. Lang

Jorge-Garcia-is-the-TSS-Fighter-of-the-Month-for-April

Jorge Garcia has a lot in common with Mexican countrymen Emanuel Navarrete and Rafael Espinoza. In common with those two, both reigning world title-holders, Garcia is big for his weight class and bubbled out of obscurity with a triumph forged as a heavy underdog in a match contested on American soil.

Garcia had his “coming of age party” on April 19 in the first boxing event at the new Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California (roughly 35 miles north of San Diego), a 7,500-seat facility whose primary tenant is an indoor soccer team. It was a Golden Boy Promotions event and in the opposite corner was a Golden Boy fighter, Charles Conwell.

A former U.S. Olympian, Conwell was undefeated (21-0, 16 KOs) and had won three straight inside the distance since hooking up with Golden Boy whose PR department ballyhooed him as the most avoided fighter in the super welterweight division. At prominent betting sites, Conwell was as high as a 12/1 favorite.

The lanky Garcia was 32-4 (26 KOs) heading in, but it was easy to underestimate him as he had fought extensively in Tijuana where the boxing commission is notoriously docile and in his home state of Sinaloa. This would be only his second fight in the U.S. However, it was noteworthy in hindsight that three of his four losses were by split decision.

Garcia vs. Conwell was a robust affair. He and Conwell were credited with throwing 1451 punches combined. In terms of punches landed, there was little to choose between them but the CompuBox operator saw Garcia landing more power punches in eight of the 12 rounds. At the end, the verdict was split but there was no controversy.

An interested observer was Sebastian Fundora who was there to see his sister Gabriela defend her world flyweight titles. Sebastian owns two pieces of the 154-pound world title where the #1 contender per the WBO is Xander Zayas who keeps winning, but not with the verve of his earlier triumphs.

With his upset of Charles Conwell, Jorge Garcia has been bumped into the WBO’s #2 slot. Regardless of who he fights next, Garcia will earn the biggest payday of his career.

Honorable mention: Aaron McKenna

McKenna was favored to beat veteran campaigner Liam Smith in the co-feature to the Eubank-Benn battle this past Saturday in London, but he was stepping up in class against a former world title-holder who had competed against some of the top dogs in the middleweight division and who had famously stopped Chris Eubank Jr in the first of their two encounters. Moreover, the venue, Tottenham Hotspur, the third-largest soccer stadium in England, favored the 36-year-old Liverpudlian who was accustomed to a big fight atmosphere having fought Canelo Alvarez before 50,000-plus at Arlington Stadium in Texas.

McKenna, from the small town of Monaghan, Ireland, wasn’t overwhelmed by the occasion. With his dad Feargal in his corner and his fighting brother Stephen McKenna cheering him on from ringside, Aaron won a wide decision in his first 12-round fight, punctuating his victory by knocking Smith to his knees with a body punch in the 12^th round. In fact, if he hadn’t had a point deducted for using his elbow, the Irishman would have pitched a shutout on one of the scorecards.

“There might not be a more impressive example of a fighter moving up in class,” wrote Tris Dixon of the 25-year-old “Silencer” who improved his ledger to 20-0 (10).

Photo credits: Garcia/Conwell photo compliments of Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy; McKenna-Smith provided by Mark Robinson/Matchroom

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Chris Eubank Jr Outlasts Conor Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Published

2 days ago

April 27, 2025

David A. Avila

Chris-Eubank-Jr-Outlasts-Conor-Benn-at-Tottenham-Hotsour-Stadium

Feudal bragging rights belong to Chris Eubank Jr. who out-lasted Conor Benn to
emerge victorious by unanimous decision in a non-title middleweight match held in
London on Saturday.

Fighting for their family heritage Eubank (35-3, 26 KOs) and Benn (23-1, 14 KOs)
continued the battle between families started 35 years ago by their fathers at Tottenham
Hotspur Stadium.

More than 65,000 fans attended.

Though Eubank Jr. had a weight and height advantage and a record of smashing his
way to victory via knockout, he had problems hurting the quicker and more agile Benn.
And though Benn had the advantage of moving up two weight divisions and forcing
Eubank to fight under a catch weight, the move did not weaken him much.

Instead, British fans and boxing fans across the world saw the two family rivals pummel
each other for all 12 rounds. Neither was able to gain separation.

Eubank looked physically bigger and used a ramming left jab to connect early in the
fight. Benn immediately showed off his speed advantage and surprised many with his
ability to absorb a big blow.Chris Eubank Jr Outlasts Conor Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Benn scrambled around with his quickness and agility and scored often with bigcounters.

It took him a few rounds to stop overextending himself while delivering power shots.

In the third round Benn staggered Eubank with a left hook but was unable to follow up
against the dangerous middleweight who roared back with flurries of blows.

Eubank was methodic in his approach always moving forward, always using his weight
advantage via the shoulder to force Benn backward. The smaller Benn rocketed
overhand rights and was partly successful but not enough to force Eubank to retreat.
In the seventh round a right uppercut snapped Benn’s head violently but he was
undeterred from firing back. Benn’s chin stood firm despite Eubank’s vaunted power and
size advantage.

“I didn’t know he had that in him,” Eubank said.

Benn opened strong in the eighth round with furious blows. And though he connected
he was unable to seriously hurt Eubank. And despite being drained by the weight loss,
the middleweight fighter remained strong all 12 rounds.

There were surprises from both fighters.

Benn was effective targeting the body. Perhaps if he had worked the body earlier he
would have found a better result.

With only two rounds remaining Eubank snapped off a right uppercut again and followed
up with body shots. In the final stanza Eubank pressed forward and exchanged with the
smaller Benn until the final bell. He simply out-landed the fighter and impressed all three
judges who scored it 116-112 for Eubank.

Eubank admitted he expected a knockout win but was satisfied with the victory.
“I under-estimated him,” Eubank said.

Benn was upset by the loss but recognized the reasons.

“He worked harder toward the end,” said Benn.

McKenna Wins

In his first test in the elite level Aaron McKenna (20-0, 10 KOs) showed his ability to fight
inside or out in soundly defeating former world champion Liam Smith (33-5-1, 20 KOs)
by unanimous decision to win a regional WBA middleweight title.

Smith has made a career out of upsetting young upstarts but discovered the Irish fighter
more than capable of mixing it up with the veteran. It was a rough fight throughout the
12 rounds but McKenna showed off his abilities to fight as a southpaw or right-hander
with nary a hiccup.

McKenna had trained in Southern California early in his career and since that time he’s
accrued a variety of ways to fight. He was smooth and relentless in using his longer
arms and agility against Smith on the outside or in close.

In the 12 th round, McKenna landed a perfectly timed left hook to the ribs and down went
Smith. The former champion got up and attempted to knock out the tall
Irish fighter but could not.

All three judges scored in favor of McKenna 119-108, 117-109, 118-108.

Other Bouts
Anthony Yarde (27-3) defeated Lyndon Arthur (24-3) by unanimous decision after 12 rounds. in a light heavyweight match. It was the third time they met. Yarde won the last two fights.

Chris Billam-Smith (21-2) defeated Brandon Glanton (20-3) by decision. It was his first
fight since losing the WBO cruiserweight world title to Gilberto Ramirez last November.

Viddal Riley (13-0) out-worked Cheavon Clarke (10-2) in a 12-round back-and-forth-contest to win a unanimous decision.

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 323: Benn vs Eubank Family Feud and More

Published

4 days ago

April 24, 2025

David A. Avila

Avila-Perspective,-Chap.-323:-Benn-vs-Eubank-Family-Feud-and-More.jpg

Next generation rivals Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. carry on the family legacy of feudal warring in the prize ring on Saturday.

This is huge in British boxing.

Eubank (34-3, 25 KOs) holds the fringe IBO middleweight title but won’t be defending it against the smaller welterweight Benn (23-0, 14 KOs) on Saturday, April 26, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. DAZN will stream the Matchroom Boxing card.

This is about family pride.

The parents of Eubank and Benn actually began the feud in the 1990s.

Papa Nigel Benn fought Papa Chris Eubank twice. Losing as a middleweight in November 1990 at Birmingham, England, then fighting to a draw as a super middleweight in October 1993 in Manchester. Both were world title fights.

Eubank was undefeated and won the WBO middleweight world title in 1990 against Nigel Benn by knockout. He defended it three times before moving up and winning the vacant WBO super middleweight title in September 1991. He defended the super middleweight title 14 times before suffering his first pro defeat in March 1995 against Steve Collins.

Benn won the WBO middleweight title in April 1990 against Doug DeWitt and defended it once before losing to Eubank in November 1990. He moved up in weight and took the WBC super middleweight title from Mauro Galvano in Italy by technical knockout in October 1992. He defended the title nine times until losing in March 1996. His last fight was in November 1996, a loss to Steve Collins.

Animosity between the two families continues this weekend in the boxing ring.

Conor Benn, the son of Nigel, has fought mostly as a welterweight but lately has participated in the super welterweight division. He is several inches shorter in height than Eubank but has power and speed. Kind of a British version of Gervonta “Tank” Davis.

“It’s always personal, every opponent I fight is personal. People want to say it’s strictly business, but it’s never business. If someone is trying to put their hands on me, trying to render me unconscious, it’s never business,” said Benn.

This fight was scheduled twice before and cut short twice due to failed PED tests by Benn. The weight limit agreed upon is 160 pounds.

Eubank, a natural middleweight, has exchanged taunts with Benn for years. He recently avenged a loss to Liam Smith with a knockout victory in September 2023.

“This fight isn’t about size or weight. It’s about skill. It’s about dedication. It’s about expertise and all those areas in which I excel in,” said Eubank. “I have many, many more years of experience over Conor Benn, and that will be the deciding factor of the night.”

Because this fight was postponed twice, the animosity between the two feuding fighters has increased the attention of their fans. Both fighters are anxious to flatten each other.

“He’s another opponent in my way trying to crush my dreams. trying to take food off my plate and trying to render me unconscious. That’s how I look at him,” said Benn.

Eubank smiles.

“Whether it’s boxing, whether it’s a gun fight. Defense, offense, foot movement, speed, power. I am the superior boxer in each of those departments and so many more – which is why I’m so confident,” he said.

Supporting Bout

Former world champion Liam Smith (33-4-1, 20 KOs) tangles with Ireland’s Aaron McKenna (19-0, 10 KOs) in a middleweight fight set for 12 rounds on the Benn-Eubank undercard in London.

“Beefy” Smith has long been known as one of the fighting Smith brothers and recently lost to Eubank a year and a half ago. It was only the second time in 38 bouts he had been stopped. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez did it several years ago.

McKenna is a familiar name in Southern California. The Irish fighter fought numerous times on Golden Boy Promotion cards between 2017 and 2019 before returning to the United Kingdom and his assault on continuing the middleweight division. This is a big step for the tall Irish fighter.

It’s youth versus experience.

“I’ve been calling for big fights like this for the last two or three years, and it’s a fight I’m really excited for. I plan to make the most of it and make a statement win on Saturday night,” said McKenna, one of two fighting brothers.

Monster in L.A.

Japan’s super star Naoya “Monster” Inoue arrived in Los Angeles for last day workouts before his Las Vegas showdown against Ramon Cardenas on Sunday May 4, at T-Mobile Arena. ESPN will televise and stream the Top Rank card.

It’s been four years since the super bantamweight world champion performed in the US and during that time Naoya (29-0, 26 KOs) gathered world titles in different weight divisions. The Japanese slugger has also gained fame as perhaps the best fighter on the planet. Cardenas is 26-1 with 14 KOs.

Pomona Fights

Super featherweights Mathias Radcliffe (9-0-1) and Ezequiel Flores (6-4) lead a boxing card called “DMG Night of Champions” on Saturday April 26, at the historic Fox Theater in downtown Pomona, Calif.

Michaela Bracamontes (11-2-1) and Jesus Torres Beltran (8-4-1) will be fighting for a regional WBC super featherweight title. More than eight bouts are scheduled.

Doors open at 6 p.m. For ticket information go to: www.tix.com/dmgnightofchampions

Fights to Watch

Sat. DAZN 9 a.m. Conor Benn (23-0) vs Chris Eubank Jr. (34-3); Liam Smith (33-4-1) vs Aaron McKenna (19-0).

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