Broner Is 143 Pounds In AM, But Escobedo Fight Is ON

Published

12 years ago

July 21, 2012

Lee Wylie

Well, that was a fiasco. Broner was 133 1/2 Friday, needed to be 140 or under Saturday AM…and weighed 143 pounds. So quite rightly, Team Escobedo pulled out. And then pulled back in…he gets a chunk of Broner's purse, because The Show Must Go On, and boxing is the theater of the unexpected.

Adrien Broner-Vicente Escobedo: U.S Bank Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio. Shown on HBO and BoxNation in the UK.

Vicente Escobedo, 26-3 {15} must be thinking to himself: How do you solve a problem like Broner? It's a good question. Maybe, he figured, after seeing Broner weigh in three and a half pounds over the limit on Friday, that part of the problem was solved. Perhaps Broner was looking past Escobedo, to bigger things in the near future, and maybe he wasn't mentally focused on this test. Thus far, Broner, 23-0 {19}has looked simply sensational en route to establishing himself as, in many people's eyes, boxing's premier young talent. The Cincinnati native's flamboyant and boisterous behaviour -he's one of the most polarizing fighter's around- makes him a true entertainer. None of this would matter though, if Broner couldn't back it up once inside the roped square. Unfortunately for Escobedo, not to mention the other twenty-three others who have already tried,he does.

Vicente Escobedo is what I would call a nice fighter.He's pretty well-rounded, throws a decent jab, motors well around the ring,is the owner of decent hand speed and power, and has the cajones to mix it up if the situation occurs. That said, I don't think he has the specialist tools that would be required to solve a problem like the one awaiting him, because I don't think the weight issue will suddenly render Broner a so-so talent. It's not that Escobedo does anything particularly bad,it's just that he fails to possess any stand-out attribute that would really disrupt Broner and take him out of his game. So far,Escobedo has came up short against the most talented fighters he's faced -Katsidis in 2009 and Guerrero in 2010- and hasn't fought anyone of their calibre in his last four fights {Walter Estrada, Rocky Juarez, Lonnie Smith and Juan Ruiz}.In terms of athleticism, skill and technique, Escobedo is probably in for the toughest fight of his life.

Notwithstanding a close unanimous decision win over hard hitting southpaw Daniel Ponce de Leon back in March of last year, Broner has looked every bit the boxing prodigy that many have been quick to bestow upon him. Using his vast array of defensive craft to first neutralize and stabilize his opponent's offense, Broner then sets about quickly dispatching them using his lightning quick offensive bursts and high-grade power power -none of his last three opponents have made it beyond the fourth round- and his superior ring mechanics. Often compared to Floyd Mayweather Jr, and for good reason I might add,Broner shares a lot of common attributes with his self professed idol. Defensively, both possess the uncanny ability to stand within punching range of their opponents, before making them miss by inches with a subtle move -namely a roll of the shoulder-while remaining perfectly poised and balanced, allowing for a counter. Also, on offense, both are as smooth and relaxed as they come. Neither fighter throws much more than a jab or a straight right hand, although Broner tends to work the body more with left hooks, but both share the same mentality when it comes to letting their hands go -straight, untelegraphed, cerebral punching. This allows them to reveal no more of their intended movement towards an opponent than someone displaying a poker face would reveal his next card to his fellow player.

The mere fact that Broner is being talked about as a “next Floyd Mayweather,” and not just for his out of the ring demeanor either,gives an idea as to just how highly regarded he is.

Prediction:

In spite of a sudden rise in upsets of late, it's really hard to imagine one coming into fruition this Saturday. Escobedo is a good fighter, Broner meanwhile is a potentially great fighter, even if questions now arise about his focus and professionalism. Broner's sheer athleticism alone would probably be too much for Escobedo to deal with. Once you throw in Broner's superior speed, technique and power however, suddenly, the odds looked stacked in his favour.

From a strategical point of view, Escobedo should come out moving, fighting off the back foot,looking to implement his advantages in height and reach by attempting to keep Broner on the outside. Broner is a counter-puncher, so Escobedo should give him very little to counter -plenty of feints before throwing and a lot of punch variation.The jab, boxing's straightest and quickest punch,is an important weapon against a counter-puncher, especially if you're trying to keep the fight at arms length as Escobedo will be, but he must not allow Broner to familiarize himself with it, as his timing is impeccable.

Of course,such strategies are easier plotted than produced. Does Escobedo really possess the skill-set to execute such a strategy and pull off the upset? Not likely by my reckoning. Broner, even at this early stage in his career, is of an entirely different breed to Escobedo.The superior speed, reflexes, skill, defensive/offensive ratio and just about any other boxing nuance you can think of should equate to Broner having an easy time of it tonight.

I do believe Escobedo, as he should, will come out looking to box behind his jab trying to keep Broner on the end of the stick. However, despite his counter-punching nature, Broner is highly adept at walking his man down while at the same time making him miss {something Chad Dawson found extremely difficult to pull off against Jean Pascal}. Broner is excellent at cutting off the ring; his foot speed and quickness enable him to maneuver his opponent into where he wants them. Once Broner positions his opponent, he can inflict damage with either hand. Broner's last two stoppages have come via a straight right hand and a short left on the inside. Even with only a little experience, Broner is one of the few fighters competing today whose many attributes never seem to be placed in jeopardy by any of his others -despite the wide stance, which allows for his punching power and defense, his quickness around the ring remains cat-like as does the transition from defense to offense.

With Broner,I get the feeling that we haven't yet seen the very best of him. Maybe we will see something special tonight? I believe Broner has the perfect opponent -one who has never been stopped- in front of him to really make a statement. Look for Broner to have found his range by the third round, where he will then proceed to dominate his less talented opponent with the jab, straight right hand and lead left hook. I also have a feeling, as with many a taller fighter, that Escobedo won't like it to the body.Watch for Broner to be working that area every time Escobedo finds himself with his back to the ropes. Simply put, Broner should be able to dominate Escobedo in just about every aspect of the fight.

With bigger fights on the horizon -namely at 135 pounds and even above- Broner must not look past the opponent at hand. Like I mentioned earlier, there's been an unprecedented sequence of upsets recently, and thus I now finds himself second guessing some of these perceived boxing formalities.

Not here though.

I fully expect Broner to have put an end to matters by the eighth round, thus taking his knockout streak to four and looking just as spectacular inside the ring tonight as he will likely do coming down the aisle outside it.

It's been mentioned here before. We know how GOOD Adrien Broner is, now let's see how GREAT he can be….One step at a time though.

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Lee Wylie

Floyd Schofield Wins a Banger and Gabriela Fundora Wins by KO

Published

2 days ago

November 3, 2024

David A. Avila

Floyd-Schofield-Wins-a-Banger-and Gabriella-Fundora-Wins-by-KO

Floyd Schofield Wins a Banger and Gabriela Fundora Wins by KO

LAS VEGAS-Shades of Henry Armstrong and Baby Arizmendi. If you don’t know those names, look them up.

Floyd Schofield battled his way past Mexico’s super tough Rene Tellez Giron who walked through every blow the Texan could fire but lost by decision on Saturday.

It was a severe test and perfect matchmaking for Schofield who yearns for the big bouts against the lightweight giants roaming the world.

Schofield (18-0, 12 KOs) remains undefeated and won the war over thick-necked Mexican Tellez Giron (20-4, 13 KOs) who has never been knocked out and proved to be immune to big punches.

In the opening rounds, the Texas fighter came out firing rapid combinations from the southpaw and orthodox stances. Meanwhile the shorter Tellez Giron studied and fired back an occasional counter for two rounds.

Tellez Giron had seen enough and took his stand in the third stanza. Both unleashed blazing bombs with Schofield turning his back to the Mexican. At that moment referee Tom Taylor could have waved the fight over.

You never turn your back.

The fight resumed and Schofield was damaged. He tried to open up with even more deadly fire but was rebuked by the strong chin of Tellez Giron who fired back in the mad frenzy.

For the remainder of the fight Schofield tried every trick in his arsenal to inflict damage on the thick-necked Mexican. He could not be wobbled. In the 11^th round both opened up with serious swing-from-the-heels combinations and suddenly Schofield was looking up. He beat the count easily and the two remained slugging it out.

“He hit me with a good shot,” Schofield said of the knockdown. “I just had to get up. I’m not going to quit.”

In the final round Schofield moved around looking for the proper moment to engage. The Mexican looked like a cat ready to pounce and the two fired furious blows. Neither was hit with the big bombs in the last seconds.

There was Tellez Giron standing defiantly like Baby Arizmendi must have stood in those five ferocious meetings against the incomparable Henry Armstrong. Three of their wars took place in Los Angeles, two at the Olympic Auditorium in the late 1930s as the U.S. was emerging from the Great Depression.

In this fight, Schofield took the win by unanimous decision by scores 118-109 twice and 116-111. It was well-deserved.

“I tried to bang it out,” said Schofield. “Today I learned you can’t always get the knockout.”

Fundora

IBF flyweight titlist Gabriela Fundora needed seven rounds to figure out the darting style of Argentina’s Gabriela Alaniz before firing a laser left cross down the middle to end the battle and become the undisputed flyweight world champion.

Fundora now holds all four titles including the WBO, WBA and WBC titles that Alaniz brought in the ring.

Fundora knocked down Alaniz midway through the seventh round. She complained it was due to a tangle of the legs. Several seconds later Fundora blasted the Argentine to the floor again with a single left blast. This time there was no doubt. Her corner wisely waved a white towel to stop the fight at 1:40 of the seventh round.

No one argued the stoppage.

Other Bouts

Bektemir Melikuziev (15-1, 10 KOs) didn’t make weight in a title bout but managed to out-fight David Stevens (14-2, 10 KOs) in a super middleweight fight held at 12 rounds.

Melikuziev used his movement and southpaw stance to keep Pennsylvania’s Stevens from being able to connect with combinations. But Stevens did show he could handle “The Bully’s” punching power over the 12-round fight.

After 12 rounds one judge favored Stevens 116-112, while two others saw Melikuziev the winner by split decision 118-110 and 117-111.

Super middleweight WBA titlist Darius Fulghum (13-0, 11 KOs) pummeled his way to a technical knockout win over southpaw veteran Chris Pearson (17-5-1, 12 KOs) who attempted the rope-a-dope strategy to no avail.

Fulghum floored Pearson in the first round with a four-punch combination and after that just belted Pearson who covered up and fired an occasional blow. Referee Mike Perez stopped the fight at 1:02 of the third round when Pearson did not fire back after a blazing combination.

Young welterweight prospect Joel Iriarte (5-0, 5 KOs) blasted away at the three-inch shorter Xavier Madrid (5-6, 2 KOs) who hung tough for as long as possible. At 2:50 of the first round a one-two delivered Madrid to the floor and referee Thomas Taylor called off the beating.

Iriarte, from Bakersfield, Calif., could not miss with left uppercuts and short rights as New Mexico’s Madrid absorbed every blow but would not quit. It was just too much firepower from Iriarte that forced the stoppage.

Photos credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy

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Results and Recaps from Turning Stone where O’Shaquie Foster Nipped Robson Conceicao

Published

2 days ago

November 2, 2024

Arne K. Lang

Results-and-Recaps-from-Turning-Stone-where-O'Shaquie-Foster-Nipped-Robson-Conceicao

Top Rank was at the Turning Stone casino-resort in Verona, New York, tonight with an 8-bout card topped by a rematch between Robson Conceicao and O’Shaquie Foster with the victor retaining or recapturing his IBF world junior lightweight title. When the smoke cleared, the operative word was “recapturing” as Foster became a two-time title-holder, avenging his controversial setback to the Brazilian in Newark on July 6.

This was a somewhat better fight than their initial encounter and once again the verdict was split. Foster prevailed by 115-113 on two of the cards with the dissenting judge favoring Conceicao by the same margin. Conceicao seemingly had the edge after nine frames, but Foster, a 4/1 favorite, landed the harder shots in the championship rounds.

It was the thirteenth victory in the last 14 starts for Foster who fights out of Houston. A two-time Olympian and 2016 gold medalist, the 36-year-old Conceicao is 19-3-1 overall and 1-3-1 in world title fights.

Semi-wind-up

SoCal lightweight Raymond Muratalla (22-0, 17 KOs) made a big jump in public esteem and moved one step closer to a world title fight with a second-round blast-out of Jose Antonio Perez who was on the canvas twice but on his feet when the fight was stopped at the 1:24 mark of round two. Muratalla, a product of Robert Garcia’s boxing academy, is ranked #2 by the WBC and WBO. A Tijuana native, Perez (25-6) earned this assignment with an upset of former Olympian and former 130-pound world titlist Jojo Diaz,

Other Bouts

Syracuse junior welterweight Bryce Mills, a high-pressure fighter with a strong local following, stopped scrawny Mike O’Han Jr whose trainer Mark DeLuca pulled him out after five one-sided rounds. Mills improved to 17-1 (6 KOs). It was another rough day at the office for Massachusetts house painting contractor O’’Han (19-4) who had the misfortune of meeting Abdullah Mason in his previous bout.

In a junior lightweight fight that didn’t heat up until late in the final round, Albany’s Abraham Nova (23-3-1) and Tijuana native Humberto Galindo (14-3-3) fought to a 10-round draw. It was another close-but-no- cigar for the likeable Nova who at least stemmed a two-fight losing streak. The judges had it 97-93 (Galindo), 96-94 (Nova) and 95-95.

Twenty-one-year-old Long Island middleweight Jahi Tucker advanced to 13-1-1 (6 KOs) with an eighth-round stoppage of Stockton’s teak-tough but outclassed Quilisto Madera (14-6). Madera was on a short leash after five rounds, but almost took it to the final bell with the referee intervening with barely a minute remaining in the contest. Madera was on his feet when the match was halted. Earlier in the round, Tucker had a point deducted for hitting on the break.

Danbury, Connecticut heavyweight Ali Feliz, one of two fighting sons of journeyman heavyweight Fernely Feliz, improved to 4-0 (3) with a second-round stoppage of beefy Rashad Coulter (5-5). Feliz had Coulter pinned against the ropes and was flailing away when the bout was halted at the 1:34 mark. The 42-year-old Coulter, a competitor in all manner of combat sports, hadn’t previously been stopped when competing as a boxer.

Featherweight Yan Santana dominated and stopped Mexico’s Eduardo Baez who was rescued by referee Charlie Fitch at the 1:57 mark of round four. It was the 12^th knockout in 13 starts for Santana, a 24-year-old Dominican father of three A former world title challenger, Mexicali’s Baez declines to 23-7-2 but has lost six of his last eight.

In his most impressive showing to date, Damian Knyba, a six-foot-seven Pole, knocked out paunchy Richard Lartey at the 2:10 mark of round three. A right-left combination knocked Lartey into dreamland, but it was the right did the damage and this was of the nature of a one-punch knockout. Referee Ricky Gonzalez waived the fight off without starting a count.

Knyba, 28, improved to 14-0 (8 KOs). A native of Ghana coming off his career-best win, a fourth-round stoppage of Polish veteran Andrzej Wawrzyk, Lartey declined to 16-7 with his sixth loss inside the distance.

Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 303: Spotlights on Lightweights and More

Published

3 days ago

November 1, 2024

David A. Avila

Avila-Perspective-Chap-303-Spotlights-on-Lightweights-and-More

Those lightweights.

Whether junior lights, super lights or lightweights, it’s the 130-140 divisions where most of boxing’s young stars are found now or in the past.

Think Oscar De La Hoya, Sugar Shane Mosley and Floyd Mayweather.

Floyd Schofield (17-0, 12 KOs) a Texas product, hungers to be a star and takes on Mexico’s Rene Tellez Giron (20-3, 13 KOs) in a 12-round lightweight bout on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada.

DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotion card that includes a female undisputed flyweight championship match pitting Argentina’s Gabriela Alaniz and Gabriela Fundora.

Like a young lion looking to flex, Schofield (pictured on the left) is eager to meet all the other young lions and prove they’re not equal.

“I’ve been in the room with Shakur, Tank. I want to give everyone a good fight. I feel like my preparation is getting better, I work hard, I’ve dedicated my whole life to this sport,” said Schofield naming fellow lightweights Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta “Tank” Davis.

Now he meets Mexico’s Tellez who has never been stopped.

“I’m willing to do whatever it takes,” said Tellez.

Even in Las Vegas.

Verona, New York

Meanwhile, in upstate New York, a WBC junior lightweight title rematch finds Robson Conceicao (19-2-1, 9 KOs) looking to prove superior to former titlist O’Shaquie Foster (22-3, 12 KOs) on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, N.Y. ESPN+ will stream the Top Rank fight card.

Last July, Conceicao and Foster clashed and after 12 rounds the title changed hands from Foster to the Brazilian by split decision.

“I feel that a champion is a fighter who goes out there and doesn’t run around, who looks for the fight, who tries to win, and doesn’t just throw one or two punches and then moves away,” said Conceicao.

Foster disagrees.

“I hope he knows the name of the game is to hit and not get hit. That’s the name of the game,” said Foster.

Also on the same card is lightweight contender Raymond Muratalla (21-0, 16 KOs) who fights Mexico’s Jesus Perez Campos (25-5, 18 KOs).

Perez recently defeated former world champion Jojo Diaz last February in California.

“We’re made for challenges. I like challenges,” said Perez.

Muratalla likes challenges too.

“I think these fights are the types of fights I need to show my skills and to prove I deserve those title fights,” said Fontana’s Muratalla.

Female Undisputed Flyweight Championship

WBA, WBC and WBO flyweight titlist Gabriela “La Chucky” Alaniz (15-1, 6 KOs meets IBF titlist Gabriela Fundora (14-0, 6 KOs) on Saturday Nov. 2, at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada. DAZN will stream the clash for the undisputed flyweight championship.

Argentina’s Alaniz clashed twice against former WBA, WBC champ Marlen Esparza with their first encounter ending in a dubious win for the Texas fighter. In fact, three of Esparza’s last title fights were scored controversially.

But against Alaniz, though they fought on equal terms, Esparza was given a 99-91 score by one of the judges though the world saw a much closer contest. So, they fought again, but the rematch took place in California. Two judges deemed Alaniz the winner and one Esparza for a split-decision win.

“I’m really happy to be here representing Argentina. We are ready to fight. Nothing about this fight has to do with Marlen. So, I hope she (Fundora) is ready. I am ready to prepare myself for the great fight of my life,” said Alaniz.

In the case of Fundora, the extremely tall American fighter at 5’9” in height defeated decent competition including Maria Santizo. She was awarded a match with IBF flyweight titlist Arely Mucino who opted for the tall youngster over the dangerous Kenia Enriquez of Mexico.

Bad choice for Mucino.

Fundora pummeled the champion incessantly for five rounds at the Inglewood Forum a year ago. Twice she battered her down and the fight was mercifully stopped. Fundora’s arm was raised as the new champion.

Since that win Fundora has defeated Christina Cruz and Chile’s Daniela Asenjo in defense of the IBF title. In an interesting side bit: Asenjo was ranked as a flyweight contender though she had not fought in that weight class for seven years.

Still, Fundora used her reach and power to easily handle the rugged fighter from Chile.

Immediately after the fight she clamored for a chance to become undisputed.

“It doesn’t get better than this, especially being in Las Vegas. This is the greatest opportunity that we can have,” said Fundora.

It should be exciting.

Fights to Watch

Sat. ESPN+ 2:50 p.m. Robson Conceicao (19-2-1) vs O’Shaquie Foster (22-3).

Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Floyd Schofield (17-0) vs Rene Tellez Giron (20-3); Gabriela Alaniz (15-1) vs Gabriela Fundora (14-0).

Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy

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