FYI, Thomas Hauser Is Not JUST a Boxing Writer

Published

11 years ago

May 29, 2014

Over the span of his decades putting thoughts into words, and presenting the results to readers, including you folks who log on to TSS, Thomas Hauser has found the boxing world to be a rich feeding-ground to bring his talents to the fore. His intense curiosity, at what makes people tick, how they react when pushed, or pulled, has resulted in a full bookshelf’s worth of quality material.

The latest, which is sitting next to “Whitey Bulger,” by Cullen and Murphy, on the shelf in the living room, is called “Reflections.”

When it arrived in my mailbox, I tore open the packaging, and looked at the cover. Not a bent nose to be seen. Not a cascade of blood-tinged sweat being evicted from anyone’s brow…no, I looked at Ringo, John, George and Paul staring back at me.

In case you didn’t know, Hauser doesn’t just do boxing. He began his career as the author of Missing, a politically-themed effort made into an Academy Award-winning film. Right now, he’s moving a novel on Charles Dickens into the selling stage. In “Reflections,” the writer ponders the Beatles, and explores racism, religion, and the effort is dedicated to the people at Columbia in NYC, where he studied undergrad and in the law school.

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A reader might chuckle, as I did, discovering the first article Hauser wrote for publication, after leaving a career as a litigator for Wall St. firms, “The Crank-Call Caper.” Oh, and I do think the purchase price of the book is worth it to read about Hausers’ introduction to coitus. Teaser: Someone ended up crying post-fling.

Another tease: did you know that Hauser has written under the pseudonym “Martin Bear” rather extensively?

I chatted with the TSS contributor about this book, and the state of the planet.

Question from Michael Woods: A non-boxing book…you getting tired of the sport?

Answer from Thomas Hauser: I’ve always tried to balance my life so that I’m involved creatively with a wide range of subjects. In the past, I’ve written books on subjects as diverse and Beethoven, Chernobyl, and moral values. This fall, Counterpoint is publishing a novel I wrote entitled “The Final Recollections of Charles Dickens.” “Reflections” reflects that pattern. It includes all of the articles I’ve written over the years that have nothing to do with sports.The book starts off with a look at the Beatles. There won’t ever be anything like that and them again, will there? Is that disheartening? Or should we just enjoy the experience and not lament the passing of the era? Certain performing artists are special. Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley are two other examples. The first thing that separates them from their peers is their talent. The Beatles could sing, but three of them were also wonderful songwriters and all four played their instruments well. But another reason the Beatles stand out in history is that they helped shape the music of their time and the era in which they were at their creative peak (the 1960s). Muhammad Ali did that as an athlete. The Beatles did it as a rock band. Will there ever be a phenomenon like the Beatles again? Probably not. The world is different. In the 1960s, music was the lifeblood for the youth culture. That’s no longer the case. But people can still enjoy the Beatles music the same way they enjoy great plays, great books, and great art from the past.

Q) You did a Q n A with Al Sharpton. A new scandal, of sorts, erupted after the book came out. It turns out Sharpton was a rat, you could argue, working to snare bad guys on behalf of the the FBI. Would that new info inform or change the essay in the book?

A) No. The recent reports regarding Al Sharpton were a rehash of old news. The Q&A with Sharpton (and also the negative thoughts about Sharpton expressed in the book by Roger Wilklns and Mary Frances Berry) stand on their own. Also, I have to say, the interview with Sharpton was quite revealing to me. At one point, I asked him what flaws he saw in himself, And he answered: “Vanity. A lack of discipline. Responding out of anger. Doing what I think is politically expedient. Saying something that I know will make a good sound bite on the evening news but isn’t necessarily the best way to communicate the truth. Giving in to the temptation to seize the moment instead of working to define the hour, which is a much more difficult task. You know, part of being a good minister is to minister with yourself and deal honestly with your own flaws. And a lot of that for me was maturity and spiritually coming in tune with the idea that, if I’m going to be effective, I have to deal with my own sins. Real spiritual purity is learning that you can’t have a ministry where you’re feeding on the applause of the crowd. You have to feed the needs of the crowd. That might not always make the crowd happy. It might not make them applaud. It might not be the sound-bite that some guy who’s looking for a story on the evening news wants from you. But I know the difference between saying something because it’s cute and it’s going to make the news, as opposed to saying something that needs to be said and is giving voice to something important that has been ignored and will give people a broader understanding of a good cause. You know that song they sing in church: “If I never reach perfection; Lord, I tried.” Well, I’m trying.” (EDITOR NOTE: Thanks to Hauser for highlighting that excerpt. What superb, insightful, self-reflective material from Sharpton. That he is cognizant of his flaws and voices that makes him rise in my estimation a tick. We should all be so cognizant, yes?)

Q) A chapter touches on homelessness. Do you reflect and became angry so many of those past problems don’t get solved adequately, or are you able to summon optimism? The homeless rate in NYC is astounding for such a wealthy city…or maybe it isn’t astounding…

A) I’m frustrated by the disparity of wealth in America today. But I’m also frustrated by the teaching of creationism as science, the lack of a serious effort to combat global warming, and a host of other problems. The political system is broken, and I’m not optimistic that it will be fixed in the near future.

Q) Finally, what is a desired takeaway for the reader of “Reflections?”

Some of the essays in “Reflections” deal with subjects like the origins of Christmas Carols and Santa Claus and are meant to be fun. Others (such as “A God to Hope For”) are on a deeper scale and meant to be thought-provoking. My hope is that readers will have a good time, smile a lot, and use the more serious essays as a starting point for expanding their own thoughts.

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Ringside at the Cosmo: Pacheco Outpoints Nelson plus Undercard Results

Published

2 hours ago

January 25, 2025

Arne K. Lang

Ringside-at-the-Cosmo-Pacheco-Outpoints-Nelson-plus-Undercard-Results

LAS VEGAS, NV – Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Promotions was at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas tonight for the second half of a DAZN doubleheader that began in Nottingham, England. In the main event, Diego Pacheco, ranked #1 by the WBO at super middleweight, continued his ascent toward a world title with a unanimous decision over Steven Nelson.

Pacheco glides round the ring smoothly whereas Nelson wastes a lot energy with something of a herky-jerky style. However, although Nelson figured to slow down as the fight progressed, he did some of his best work in rounds 11 and 12. Fighting with a cut over his left eye from round four, a cut that periodically reopened, the gritty Nelson fulfilled his promise that he would a fight as if he had everything to lose if he failed to win, but it just wasn’t enough, even after his Omaha homie Terence “Bud” Crawford entered his corner before the last round to give him a pep talk (back home in North Omaha, Nelson runs the B&B (Bud and Bomac) Sports Academy.

All three judges had it 117-111 for Pacheco who mostly fought off his back foot but landed the cleaner punches throughout. A stablemate of David Benavidez and trained by David’s father Jose Benevidez Sr, Pacheco improved to 23-0 (18). It was the first pro loss for the 36-year-old Nelson (20-1).

Semi wind-up

Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz, who as a pro has never fought a match slated for fewer than 10 rounds, had too much class for Hermosillo, Mexico’s rugged Omar Salcido who returned to his corner with a puffy face after the fourth stanza, but won the next round and never stopped trying. The outcome was inevitable even before the final round when Salcido barely made it to the final gun, but the Mexican was far more competitive than many expected.

The Cuban, who was 4-0 vs. Keyshawn Davis in closely-contested bouts as an amateur, advanced his pro record to 5-0 (2), winning by scores by 99-91 and 98-92 twice. Salido, coming off his career-best win, a 9^th-round stoppage of former WBA super featherweight title-holder Chris Colbert, falls to 20-2.

Other TV bouts

Ernesto “Tito” Mercado, a 23-year-old super lightweight, aims to become the next world champion from Pomona, California, following in the footsteps of the late Richie Sandoval and Sugar Shane Mosely, and based on his showing tonight against former Beijing Olympian and former two-division title-holder Jose Pedraza, he is well on his way.

After three rounds after what had been a technical fight, Mercado (17-0, 16 KOs) knocked Pedraza off his pins with an overhand right followed by short left hand. Pedraza bounced back and fell on his backside. When he rose on unsteady legs, the bout was waived off. The official time was 2:08 of round four and the fading, 25-year-old Pedraza (29-7-1) was saddled with his third loss in his last four outings.

The 8-round super lightweight clash between Israel Mercado (no relation to “Tito”) and Leonardo Rubalcava was fan-friendly skirmish with many robust exchanges. When the smoke cleared, the verdict was a majority draw. Mercado got the nod on one card (76-74), but was overruled by a pair of 75-75 scores.

Mercado came out strong in the opening round, but suffered a flash knockdown before the round ended. The referee ruled it a slip but was overruled by replay operator Jay Nady and what would have been a 10-9 round for Mercado became a 10-8 round for Rubalcava. Mercado lost another point in round seven when he was penalized for low blows.

The scores were 76-74 for Mercado (11-1-2) and 75-75 twice. The verdict was mildly unpopular with most thinking that Mercado deserved the nod. Reportedly a four-time Mexican amateur champion, Rubalcava (9-0-1) is trained by Robert Garcia.

Also

New Matchroom signee Nishant Dev, a 24-year-old southpaw from India, had an auspicious pro debut (pardon the cliché). Before a beaming Eddie Hearn, Dev stopped Oakland’s Alton Wiggins (1-1-1) in the opening round. The referee waived it off after the second knockdown.

Boxers from India have made large gains at the amateur level in recent years and Matchroom honcho Eddie Hearn anticipates that Dev, a Paris Olympian, will be the first fighter from India to make his mark as a pro.

Undefeated Brooklyn lightweight Harley Mederos, managed by the influential Keith Connolly, scored his seventh knockout in eight tries with a brutal third-round KO of Mexico’s Arturo de Isla.

A left-right combination knocked de Isla (5-3-1) flat on his back. Referee Raul Caiz did not bother to count and several minutes elapsed before the stricken fighter was fit to leave the ring. The official time was 1:27 of round three.

In the opener, Newark junior lightweight Zaquin Moses, a cousin of Shakur Stevenson, improved to 2-0 when his opponent retired on his stool after the opening round.

Photo credit: Melina Pizano / Matchroom

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Najee Lopez Steps up in Class and Wins Impressively at Plant City

Published

1 day ago

January 24, 2025

Arne K. Lang

Najee-Lopez-Steps-Up-in-Class-and-Wins-Impressively-at-Plant-City

Garry Jonas’ ProBox series returned to its regular home in Plant City, Florida, tonight with a card topped by a 10-round light heavyweight match between fast-rising Najee Lopez and former world title challenger Lenin Castillo. This was considered a step-up fight for the 25-year-old Lopez, an Atlanta-born-fighter of Puerto Rican heritage. Although the 36-year-old Castillo had lost two of his last three heading in, he had gone the distance with Dimitry Bivol and Marcus Browne and been stopped only once (by Callum Smith).

Lopez landed the cleaner punches throughout. Although Castillo seemed unfazed during the first half of the fight, he returned to his corner at the end of round five exhibiting signs of a fractured jaw.

In the next round, Lopez cornered him against the ropes and knocked him through the ropes with a left-right combination. Referee Emil Lombardo could have stopped the fight right there, but he allowed the courageous Castillo to carry on for a bit longer, finally stopping the fight as Castillo’s corner and a Florida commissioner were signaling that it was over.

The official time was 2:36 of round six. Bigger fights await the talented Lopez who improved to 13-0 with his tenth win inside the distance. Castillo declined to 25-7-1.

Co-Feature

In a stinker of a heavyweight fight, Stanley Wright, a paunchy, 34-year-old North Carolina journeyman, scored a big upset with a 10-round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Jeremiah Milton.

Wright carried 280 pounds, 100 pounds more than in his pro debut 11 years ago. Although he was undefeated (13-0, 11 KOs), he had never defeated an opponent with a winning record and his last four opponents were a miserable 19-48-2. Moreover, he took the fight on short notice.

What Wright had going for him was fast hands and, in the opening round, he put Milton on the canvas with a straight right hand. From that point, Milton fought tentatively and Wright, looking fatigued as early as the fourth round, fought only in spurts. It seemed doubtful that he could last the distance, but Milton, the subject of a 2021 profile in these pages, was wary of Wright’s power and unable to capitalize. “It’s almost as if Milton is afraid to win,” said ringside commentator Chris Algieri during the ninth stanza when the bout had devolved into a hugfest.

The judges had it 96-93 and 97-92 twice for the victorious Wright who boosted his record to 14-0 without improving his stature.

Also

In the TV opener, a 10-round contest in the junior middleweight division, Najee Lopez stablemate Darrelle Valsaint (12-0, 10 KOs) scored his career-best win with a second-round knockout of 35-year-old Dutch globetrotter Stephen Danyo (23-7-3).

A native Floridian of Haitian descent, the 22-year-old Valsaint was making his eighth start in Plant City. He rocked Danyo with a chopping right hand high on the temple and then, as Danyo slumped forward, applied the exclamation point, a short left uppercut. The official time was 2:17 of round two.

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Japanese Superstar Naoya Inoue is Headed to Vegas after KOing Ye Joon Kim

Published

2 days ago

January 24, 2025

Arne K. Lang

Japanese-Superstar-Naoya-Inoue-is-Headed-to-Vegas-after-KOing-Y-Joon-Kim

Japan’s magnificent Naoya Inoue, appearing in his twenty-fourth title fight, scored his 11^th straight stoppage tonight while successfully defending his unified super bantamweight title, advancing his record to 29-0 (26 KOs) at the expense of Ye Joon Kim. The match at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena came to an end at the 2:25 mark of round four when U.S. referee Mark Nelson tolled “10” over the brave but overmatched Korean.

Kim, raised in a Seoul orphanage, had a few good moments, but the “Monster” found his rhythm in the third round, leaving Kim with a purplish welt under his left eye. In the next frame, he brought the match to a conclusion, staggering the Korean with a left and then finishing matters with an overhand right that put Kim on the seat of his pants, dazed and wincing in pain.

Kim, who brought a 21-2-2 record, took the fight on 10 days’ notice, replacing Australia’s Sam Goodman who suffered an eye injury in sparring that never healed properly, forcing him to withdraw twice.

Co-promoter Bob Arum, who was in the building, announced that Inoue’s next fight would happen in Las Vegas in the Spring. Speculation centers on Mexico City’s Alan Picasso (31-0-1, 17 KOs) who is ranked #1 by the WBC. However, there’s also speculation that the 31-year-old Inoue may move up to featherweight and seek to win a title in a fifth weight class, in which case a potential opponent is Brandon Figueroa should he defeat former Inoue foe Stephen Fulton next weekend. In “olden days,” this notion would have been dismissed as the Japanese superstar and Figueroa have different promoters, but the arrival of Turki Alalshikh, the sport’s Daddy Warbucks, has changed the dynamic. Tonight, Naoya Inoue made his first start as a brand ambassador for Riyadh Season.

Simmering on the backburner is a megafight with countryman Junto Nakatani, an easy fight to make as Arum has ties to both. However, the powers-that-be would prefer more “marination.”

Inoue has appeared twice in Las Vegas, scoring a seventh-round stoppage of Jason Moloney in October of 2020 at the MGM Bubble and a third-round stoppage of Michael Dasmarinas at the Virgin Hotels in June of 2021.

Semi-wind-up

In a 12-round bout for a regional welterweight title, Jin Sasaki improved to 19-1-1 (17) with a unanimous decision over Shoki Sakai (29-15-3). The scores were 118-110, 117-111, and 116-112.

Also

In a bout in which both contestants were on the canvas, Toshiki Shimomachi (20-1-3) edged out Misaki Hirano (11-2), winning a majority decision. A 28-year-old Osaka southpaw with a fan-friendly style, the lanky Shimomachi, unbeaten in his last 22 starts, competes as a super bantamweight. A match with Inoue may be in his future.

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