If Pacquiao Really Won Why Bother Writing What He Needs To Do This Time?

Published

10 years ago

April 3, 2014

This coming April 12th, WBO welterweight title-holder Timothy Bradley 31-0 (12) will defend his title in a rematch against the man he won it from 22 months ago, Manny Pacquiao 55-5-2 (38). The controversial split decision in favor of Bradley has been the topic of debate since the decision was announced. In a ringside poll after the fight, 48 out of 51 observers who cover boxing saw Pacquiao as the winner by an overwhelming majority. Harold Lederman, HBO’s unofficial judge, scored the fight 119-109 for Pacquiao as did ESPN.com. On June 21st 2012, five WBO championship committee judges scored the fight 117-111, 117-111, 118-110, 116-112 and 115-113 all in favor of Pacquiao and basically said if they had the power, which they do not, they would’ve overturned the result.

Yes, I’m the same person who emphatically insists that if you don’t score the fight live and in the moment, your score doesn’t count after you go back and score the replay after knowing the result. So let’s throw out the WBO committee’s scores because they watched the tape of the fight a week after it took place. I just mentioned them because they were another faction who like everyone else saw Pacquiao as the winner. Instead, let’s go by those who scored the fight live and were polled immediately after the fight along with Lederman and ESPN.com. That makes it 50-3 in favor of Pacquiao. In addition to that, I haven’t encountered one fan who said they had Bradley as the winner. I could care less how any fan, writer or official scored Pacquiao-Bradley or any other fight regardless whether or not they agree or disagree with me. It just doesn’t effect me because I know what I saw and heard. During the fight the commentators didn’t focus on Pacquiao’s lack of killer instinct or aggression, aside from mentioning that he hasn’t won by stoppage since 2009. And after the fight boxing writers and fans weren’t focused on Manny’s civilized demeanor either. The talk was centered on one topic, and that was how convincingly Pacquiao, 35, won the fight and how the decision was an out-right robbery. Nobody was talking about Pacquiao’s complacency or lost desire. However, somewhere along the line that changed and the debate now is more pointed to what Manny must do to win and how he needs to find his mean streak again, as if that’s what cost him the decision last time.

Excuse me, if I go by what everyone has said regarding how the last fight went and who won, wouldn’t Bradley, 30, be the fighter who has to change and be better this time since 50 out of 53 supposedly knowledgeable observers saw Pacquiao winning it going away back in June of 2012? If I am to be led by what those supposed experts concluded 22 months ago, Pacquiao did everything right but get the decision the last time.Yet there’s been a plethora of newspaper, internet and blog articles and posts specifically pointing out how Pacquiao has to rediscover his meanness again if he really wants to win this time. Even Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach has been sucked into the conversation, but then again he always wants Manny to win by kayo. What!?? The fighter who everybody thinks won the last time and only lost two or three rounds out of twelve, he’s the one who has to reinvent himself? Maybe what they’re really trying to say is that they fear the fight might be similar to the last one and Bradley may get the decision again. But how is that possible, unless the same judges who worked the first fight work the rematch, which of course will not be the case.There’ll be a ton of articles written between now and the fight with cookbook analogies and breakdowns as to what both Pacquiao and Bradley must do strategically to win. But since everyone is insistent that Pacquiao handled Bradley the first time, why write what he has to do this time aside from making sure the same judges don’t work the fight? I think those writing and suggesting what Pacquiao needs to do on April 12 are writing more for themselves in an effort to try and showcase what they know more than anything else.

It seems that’s there’s a new template for boxing writing unfolding. And in that world A+B=C every time. There’s also a faction who try to view boxing as rocket science and view fighters as robots that can be programmed. Some believe that strategies and fight plans are rehearsed like Seal Team Six would rehearse for an overseas op. No, that’s not the case. Fighters cannot work on three or four things at one time especially during the fight, and if anyone preaches so, they’re wrong and never spent meaningful time around championship caliber fighters and trainers. Actually, good trainers try as hard as they can to keep things simple/stupid. And that’s because things happen too fast during a fight and they don’t want to bog down their fighters mind with too much info and instructions. And that applies in the gym too.

There are legitimate fight plans and good fighters and good trainers use them, but they’re subject to moment by moment change, and they are never elaborate. Sure, Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard showed the boxing world that Marvin Hagler wasn’t unbeatable if he was forced to lead and carry the fight. On paper or in the boxing laboratory that’s sounds great, “if you’re fighting Hagler, make him lead.” I saw dozens of fighters eaten alive moving away from Hagler. The problem with that cookbook analogy is, name the fighters not named Duran or Leonard who could neutralize Marvin while fighting in retreat? The cookbook formula is only as good as the fighter in the kitchen.

Look at how many punches Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes missed in their fights with Jimmy Young and Michael Spinks. The fact is Ali and Holmes hated to fight in the role of George Foreman, however Jimmy and Michael forced them to fight as the predator against them because that was Jimmy’s style and Michael’s style during his heavyweight days. How many other fighters would’ve had so much success forcing Muhammad or Larry to fight as the aggressor being they had two of the best jabs in heavyweight history, but Young and Spinks could and did?

Remember when it used to be said how Joe Frazier and Mike Tyson couldn’t fight if you made them go back? And that was true, neither Joe or Mike were terribly effective while going back. The problem with that was how many fighters were good enough to force them back when they were in their prime?

Since mostly everyone thinks Pacquiao won the first fight, what does he have to do different in the rematch? Manny knows how to fight and what he basically has to do is make Bradley more uncomfortable this time than he did last time with volume punching coming in waves and hopefully the judges won’t be wearing blindfolds. Since Manny doesn’t fear being knocked out by Bradley, he and Roach can roll the dice and take the risk and try to go for a knockout this time. And if that’s the case, what are Bradley’s options? If he wastes his time thinking about perfect foot positioning or glove placement, he’s sure to be a former champ the morning after the fight. The best case for Bradley is that he can give Pacquiao just enough to think about with his quick combos/boxing/movement and then get out, or try to catch him in between exchanges.

But if Manny is really aggressive, he’ll be limited in that department as well. Basically, Pacquiao wants to make it a war and Bradley needs to keep it a boxing match. When I was training at Frazier’s gym in Philadelphia as an amateur there was a period when Meldrick Taylor was training and sparring every day etc. As you know, Taylor was one of the quickest handed and best boxers you’d be likely to find. And his co-trainer, George Benton, forgot more about boxing than Freddie Roach will ever know. It was understood that Meldrick already knew to keep his hands up, his chin down and his feet placed right. What they worked on more than anything else was keeping his combinations flowing effortlessly. Nothing tricky about it. The idea is if fighters of that caliber stay in really good condition, and do all the basics right, then learn how to punch in combination, you’ll do well. Does Mikey Garcia really do any more than that?

Ray Arcel, who was a great trainer (infinitely better than anyone today, with the exception of Nacho Beristain) was once asked what advice he gave Roberto Duran. He said, “Roberto Duran already knew how to fight. I didn’t show him anything. Once in a while I’d pantomime throwing a jab, just to remind him to throw it. That was it.” To make a salient boxing point it really doesn’t have to be broken down molecule by molecule, unless you’re trying to sound smarter than everyone else. Boxing doesn’t work like that because nobody is punching at or moving away from the perfect fight plan in the boxing laboratory. Maybe to some writers and fans, boxing is so mysterious, so beyond anything they can do, that they have to attribute things to it that simply don’t exist. In a sense, they’re right: it is something that almost no one can do.

On April 12th both Pacquiao and Bradley will enter the ring with two, perhaps three things on their mind that they’ll try to execute against each other during the bout. Once the fight starts there may be a few tweeks but that’s it. No scripts or cookbooks in the corner on fight night. It isn’t rocket science, it’s boxing fundamentals and basics conveyed via the trainer to the fighter. And often times it’s more simple/stupid than what most think or want to believe it is.

Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com

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Frank Lotierzo

A Closer Look at the Weslaco ‘Heartbreaker’ and an Early Peek at Inoue-Nery

Published

1 day ago

April 30, 2024

Arne K. Lang

A-Closer-look-at-the-Weslaco-Heartbreaker-and-an-Early-Peek-at-Inoue-Nery

Brandon Figueroa returns to the ring on Saturday after a 14-month absence. He meets Jessie Magdaleno in a 12-round featherweight affair at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas with the winner potentially headed to a match with Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue. Figueroa vs. Magdaleno will be part of the four-fight pay-per-view telecast topped by Canelo Alvarez’s super middleweight title defense against Jaime Munguia.

Akin to Magdaleno, Figueroa (24-1-1, 18 KOs) is a former super bantamweight (122-pound) champion. He won the WBA version of the world title with a 10^th-round stoppage of Damien Vazquez and added the WBC belt with a seventh-round KO of previously undefeated Luis Nery who fights Inoue this coming Monday at the “Big Egg” in Tokyo.

Throughout history, many prominent boxers have been identified with the place that hewed them. Students of boxing history can identify the Saginaw Kid, the Terror Haute Terror, the Cincinnati Cobra – the list is long – and even casual fans can name the Brockton Blockbuster, the immortal Rocky Marciano.

Brandon Figueroa hails from Weslaco, a small city in the southern tip of Texas. It is part of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, commonly abbreviated RGV, and the locals feel an emotional tie to the entire valley, a place where the unofficial language among the adult population is Spanglish, a melding of Spanish and English.

Brandon’s older brother Omar Figueroa Jr, who retired in 2022 with a record of 28-3-1 after losing his last three fights, became a local hero after becoming the first boxer from the Valley to win a world title, in his case the WBC lightweight diadem. Brandon, 27, has the opportunity to out-do him by becoming the first boxer from the Valley to win titles in two weight divisions.

The brothers were introduced to boxing by their father, Omar Figueroa Sr. A mailman now in his twenty-seventh year working for the U.S. Postal Service, the elder Figueroa never boxed but followed the sport closely and hoped that one of his sons would follow in the footsteps of his sporting heroes Julio Cesar Chavez and the late Salvador Sanchez. Brandon borrowed a page from the Chavez playbook when he scored his signature win over Luis Nery. A left to the solar plexus ended the match. Nery replied with a sweeping left hook, but it was all instinct. In a delayed reaction, he crumpled to the canvas after launching the errant punch and was counted out.

Although Omar Sr has a picture in his cell phone of Brandon in fighting togs when Brandon was two years old, he insists that he discouraged his younger son from pursuing a career in boxing. “He was too skinny and didn’t have Omar’s natural talent,” the elder Figueroa told this reporter when we chatted at Las Vegas’ Pound4Pound Boxing Gym. “Then, when Brandon was about 12 or 13, he started hurting bigger boys with punches to the body in sparring and I thought, hold on, maybe I have something here.”

Omar Sr. opened a gym, Pantera Boxing, to give his sons a leg up and eventually enough kids from the neighborhood started coming by to field an amateur boxing team.

Omar Figueroa Sr was born in Northern Mexico and came to the United States at age nine. Many of his siblings – he was one of nine children — reside in Mexico but close enough for family get-togethers. The Figueroa family has crossed the international bridge that connects the two countries on many occasions. Returning to Weslaco, they share the span with border-crossers seeking refuge in the United States.

“One of the things I’ve noticed,” says Brandon, “is that there are a lot more Europeans crossing over that bridge into the U.S. than we used to see, especially people from countries like Russia and Ukraine.”

About that nickname: Brandon acquired it while visiting relatives in Rio Bravo, Mexico, situated roughly 18 miles from Weslaco. He was just a boy, perhaps 11 or 12, and it was teenage or pre-teen girls who affixed the “Heartbreaker” label to him. Indeed, in the looks department, he could give Ryan Garcia a run for his money. (Back off, ladies, Brandon has a steady girlfriend.)

Brandon Figueroa doesn’t want boxing to define him. “I’m also a businessman,” he says, noting that he owns several parcels of Weslaco real estate and owns stock in one of his sponsors, LOCK’DIN, a start-up, high-performance beverage company whose Board of Directors includes Manny Pacquiao.

Brandon Pacquiao

In high school, Brandon took classes in theater. He has a role in a forthcoming Amazon Prime movie, “Find Me,” and a starring role in the first episode of the reconstituted “Tales from the Crypt” which will air on HBO Max.

When Brandon quits boxing, will Hollywood beckon? “I can’t imagine settling down anywhere but in the Valley,” he says. “The Valley will always be a part of me.”

In his last outing, Figueroa won an interim WBC featherweight title with a lopsided decision over Mark Magsayo. In theory, that boosted him into a fight with Rey Vargas who was allowed to keep his WBC featherweight title after moving up to 130 where he suffered his first defeat at the hands of O’Shaquie Foster. But in boxing, “money” trumps “mandatory” and Vargas jumped at the chance to fight in Saudi Arabia where he was fortunate to retain his title when he received a draw in his match with Liverpool’s Nick Ball.

The most lucrative fight out there would be a match with four-belt super bantamweight champion and pound-for-pound king Naoya Inoue who has expressed an interest in moving up to featherweight after disposing of Luis Nery. Yes, that’s putting the cart before the horse, but Brandon Figueroa thinks the challenger from Tijuana, despite his impressive record (35-1-1, 27 KOs) has scant chance of winning. “I found a hole in Nery’s style,” he said, “and knew that once fatigue set in for him, he would be mine.”

Inoue vs. Nery is a very big deal in Japan in part because there’s a hero and a villain. Luis Nery is the only man to defeat the popular Shinsuke Yamanaka, a long-reigning title-holder who quit the sport after Nery knocked him out twice. After their first meeting, Nery’s “A” and “B” samples tested positive for a banned substance and he came in three pounds overweight for the rematch (a substantial edge in a small weight class), for which he was suspended and dropped from the WBC rankings. Nery, wrote TSS correspondent Tamas Pradarics, “repeatedly cheated on the Japanese in ugly and disgusting ways,” and the Japanese haven’t forgotten.

If Brandon Figueroa goes off to Japan some day to oppose Naoya Inoue, it will take some doing to contort him into a villain. “I love the Japanese people and the Japanese culture,” he says, “the whole Samurai thing which is so in tune with the warrior spirit of Mexicans.”

—

The pay-per-view portion of Saturday’s show is available for purchase on various cable and satellite platforms including Prime Video, DAZN.com, and PPV.com. First bell is slated for 8 pm ET/5 pm PT.

Brandon Figueroa vs. Jessie Magdaleno will be the second bout on the four-fight PPV program. It will follow the WBA world welterweight title fight between Eimantas Stanionis and Gabriel Maestre and will precede the WBC interim world welterweight title fight between Mario Barrios and Fabian Maidana.

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Ramirez Outpoints Barthelemy and Vergil Ortiz Scores Another Fast KO in Fresno

Published

4 days ago

April 27, 2024

David A. Avila

Ramirez-Outpoints-Barthelemy-and-Vergil-Ortiz-Scores-Another-Fast-KO-in-Fresno

Northern California favorite Jose Ramirez avoided an upset and knockout artist Vergil Ortiz destroyed his opponent on Saturday to set up a showdown with Australia’s power-punching Tim Tszyu.

After a 13-month layoff Ramirez (29-1, 18 KOs) shook off ring rust and avoided an upset by Cuba’s Rances Barthelemy (30-3-1, 15 KOs) in a battle between former world champions at Save Mart Center in Fresno.

It was Ramirez’s first bout under Golden Boy Promotions and he was nearly derailed by the slick counter-punching southpaw in the third and six rounds with laser left counters that connected every time. Though he was floored in the third round it was ruled a push down by referee Jack Reiss.

Fans gasped.

“He throws that left hand and I got hit with it in one round,” Ramirez said. “It motivated him.”

Once Ramirez figured out the remedy, he kept the fight inside and attacked the body and head. Barthelemy was unable to uncork one of his long lefts at close distance.

From the seventh round on the former super lightweight champion took control and kept the Cuban fighter against the ropes and unloaded shots to the body and head. He nearly forced a stoppage in the 11^th round.

Barthelemy survived but all three judges scored it big for Ramirez after 12 rounds: 119-109 twice and 118-110.

Vergil KOs Number 21

Knowing a win sets up a massive showdown against Aussie slugger Tim Tszyu, the Texas slugger Vergil Ortiz (21-0, 21 KOs) wasted no time in blasting out Puerto Rico’s Thomas Dulorme (26-7-1, 17 KOs) with a perfectly placed left hook to the body. Dulorme collapsed to the ground in agony.

Referee Tom Taylor stopped counting at 2:39 of the first round.

“It was a very calculated punch,” Ortiz said.

It was a commanding one round performance that sets up the showdown against the equally powerful Tszyu who despite losing a split decision to Sebastian Fundora last month by split decision, retains his reputation as a dangerous puncher.

Ortiz, who has 21 knockouts in 21 fights, will probably be fighting Tszyu in Los Angeles on June 1 if all negotiations go smoothly.

“Tim (Tszyu) I know you are watching the fight,” said Ortiz. “I’m ready. Let’s put on a great performance.”

Other Bouts

Oscar Duarte (27-2-1, 22 KOs) proved his knockout loss against Ryan Garcia would not stop him from improving as he defeated Jojo Diaz (33-6-1) by knockout at 2:32 of the ninth round in a super lightweight match. Referee Michael Margado wisely stopped the bludgeoning as a towel came flying in almost simultaneously.

It was the first time Diaz was ever defeated by knockout, though he never touched the canvas. It was also the first time Duarte trained with Robert Garcia and the difference was notable as he repeatedly walked through incoming fire and attacked the smaller fighter continuously.

“I want to fight the best in the world,” Duarte said.

Female Title Fight

A rematch battle for the flyweight championship saw Argentina’s Gabriela Alaniz (15-1) defeat Marlen Esparza (14-2) this time with a two-fisted attack to win by split decision after 10 rounds.

Esparza failed to make weight and walked in three pounds overweight and Alaniz took advantage to win the WBA, WBC, and WBO flyweight titles in the rematch. Once again the scores were puzzling but this time in favor of Alaniz 97-93, 96-94, and 92-98.

Alaniz now holds the WBO, WBA, WBC flyweight world titles.

Welterweights

Mexico’s Raul Curiel (15-0, 13 KOs) busted body shots on Jorge Marron Jr. (20-5-2) and floored him twice in the first round. The second body blow left Marron paralyzed and unable to continue at 1:31 of the first round as referee Thomas Taylor counted him out.

Curiel, who is managed by Frank Espinoza and son, proved he’s ready for the upper levels of the welterweight division.

“I think I’m ready for the bigger names,” Curiel said. “You see the results.”

Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 282: Ryan’s Song, Golden Boy in Fresno and More

Published

5 days ago

April 26, 2024

David A. Avila

Avila Perspective, Chap. 282: Ryan’s Song, Golden Boy in Fresno and More

Don’t call it an upset.

Days after Ryan Garcia proved the experts wrong, those same experts are re-tooling their evaluation processes.

It’s mind-boggling to me that 95 percent thought Garcia had no chance. Hear me out.

First, Garcia and Haney fought six times as amateurs with each winning three. But this time with no head gear and smaller gloves, Garcia had to have at least a 50/50 chance of winning. He is faster and a more powerful puncher.

Facts.

Haney is a wonderful boxer with smooth, almost artistic movements. But history has taught us power and speed like Garcia’s can’t be discounted. Think way back to legendary fighters like Willie Pep and Sandy Sadler. All that excellent defensive skill could not prevent Sadler from beating Pep in three of their four meetings.

Power has always been an equalizer against boxing skill.

Ben Lira, one of the wisest and most experienced trainers in Southern California, always professed knockout power was the greatest equalizer in a fight. “You can be behind for nine rounds and one punch can change the outcome,” he said.

Another weird theory spreading before the fight was that Garcia would quit in the fight. That was a puzzling one. Getting stopped by a perfect body shot is not quitting. And that punch came from Gervonta “Tank” Davis who can really crack.

So how did Garcia do it?

In the opening round Ryan Garcia timed Devin Haney’s jab and countered with a snapping left hook that rattled and wobbled the super lightweight champion. After that, Garcia forced Haney to find another game plan.

Garcia and trainer Derrick James must have worked hours on that move.

I must confess that I first saw Garcia’s ability many years ago when he was around 11 or 12. So I do have an advantage regarding his talent. A few things I noticed even back then were his speed and power. Also, that others resented his talent but respected him. He was the guy with everything: talent and looks.

And that brings resentment.

Recently I saw him and his crew rapping a song on social media. Now he’s got a song. Next thing you know Hollywood will be calling and he’ll be in the movies. It’s happened before with fighters such as Art Aragon, the first Golden Boy in the 50s. He was dating movie stars and getting involved with starlets all over Hollywood.

Is history repeating itself or is Garcia creating a new era for boxing?

Since 2016 people claimed he was just a social media creation. Now, after his win over Devin Haney a former undisputed lightweight champion and the WBC super lightweight titleholder, the boxer from the high desert area of Victorville has become one of the highest paid fighters in the world.

Ryan Garcia has entered a new dimension.

Golden Boy Season

After several down years the Los Angeles-based company Golden Boy Promotions suddenly is cracking the whip in 2024.

Avila

Vergil Ortiz Jr. (20-0, 20 KOs) returns to the ring and faces Puerto Rico’s Thomas Dulorme (26-6-1, 17 KOs) a welterweight gatekeeper who lost to Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Eimantas Stanionis. They meet as super welterweights in the co-main event at Save Mart Arena in Fresno, Calif. on Saturday, April 27. DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotions card live.

It’s a quick return to action for Ortiz who is still adjusting to the new weight division. His last fight three months ago ended in less than one round in Las Vegas. It was cut short by an antsy referee and left Ortiz wanting more after more than a year of inactivity in the prize ring.

Ortiz has all the weapons.

Also, Northern California’s Jose Carlos Ramirez (28-1, 18 KOs) meets Cuba’s Rances Barthelemy (30-2-1, 15 KOs) in a welterweight affair set for 12 rounds.

It’s difficult to believe that former super lightweight titlist Ramirez has been written off by fans after only one loss. That was several years ago against Scotland’s Josh Taylor. One loss does not mean the end of a career.

“My goal is to get back on top and to get all those belts back. I still feel like I am one of the best 140-pounders in the division,” said Ramirez who lives in nearby Avenal, Calif.

An added major attraction features Marlen Esparza in a unification rematch against Gabriela “La Chucky” Alaniz for the WBA, WBC, WBO flyweight titles. Their first fight was

a controversial win by Esparza that saw one judge give her nine of 10 rounds in a very close fight. Those Texas judges.

In a match that could steal the show, Oscar Duarte (26-2-1, 21 KOs) faces former world champion Jojo Diaz (33-5-1, 15 KOs) in a lightweight match.

Munguia and Canelo

Don’t sleep on this match.

Its current Golden Boy fighter Jaime Munguia facing former Golden Boy fighter Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in a battle between Mexico’s greatest sluggers next week at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 4.

“I think Jaime Munguia is going to do something special in the ring,” said Oscar De La Hoya, the CEO for Golden Boy.

Tijuana’s Munguia showed up at the Wild Card Boxing gym in Hollywood where a throng of media from Mexico and the US met him.

Munguia looked confident and happy about his opportunity to fight great Canelo.

“It’s a hard fight,” said Munguia. “Truth is, its big for Mexico and not only for Mexicans but for boxing.”

Fights to Watch

Fri. DAZN 6 p.m. Yoeniz Tellez (7-0) vs Joseph Jackson (19-0).

Sat. DAZN 9:30 a.m. Peter McGrail (8-1) vs Marc Leach (18-3-1); Beatriz Ferreira (4-0) vs Yanina Del Carmen 14-3).

Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Vergil Ortiz (20-0) vs Thomas Dulorme (26-6-1); Jose Carlos Ramirez (28-1) vs Rances Barthelemy (30-2-1); Marlen Esparza (14-1) vs Gabriela Alaniz (14-1).

Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy Promotions

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