Martin Luther King Was a Fighter

Published

10 years ago

January 19, 2015

MEMPHIS, BEFORE AND AFTER – Martin Luther King Jr. was the most important kind of fighter.

This is a story about Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America, where King was murdered on April 4, 1968.

Memphis is much like many places, where both the good and the bad have refused to die. Much of the good was on display when Memphis hosted the Lennox Lewis versus Mike Tyson extravaganza in June of 2002. What would stand for years as the biggest pay per view event in history didn’t go off in glittery Hollywood, Vegas, or New York City. Memphis got the funk, and spread it around as part of the city’s extraordinary public relations achievement. Media members were given a card that pretty much got you into any of the city’s attractions.

The heaviest, most lasting impression of fight week had nothing to do with the bout itself, or Memphis culture, but like many things in this fascinating town, there was a twisting, tie –in along the Mississippi.

I have vivid memories of the scene inside The Pyramid, wincing in unwanted sympathy every time of the many times Lewis thudded in another right hand, until Tyson finally crumbled in bloody defeat. I can’t remember another time I heard Emanuel Steward shrieking in anywhere near as high a pitch, as Lewis fought like one of the best heavyweights in history.

We all know there are different types of history. Memphis history has guts, glory, and some fine, fine music, but sadness sits atop the ledgers of longevity.

Boxing images became inconsequential compared to standing on the balcony outside room 306 of the former Hotel Lorraine, now the National Civil Rights Museum, restored but unchanged from that horrible evening at 6:01pm, when King was martyred.

There was an excellent, extensive photo exhibition by Muhammad Ali’s longtime confidant Howard Bingham, highlighted by images from the Rumble in the Jungle, in conjunction with the Lewis-Tyson bout. The photographs were crisp and thought-provoking. Again, the entertainment-based gallery paled to the sad, stark realities of the museum, which chronicled the US civil rights struggle, horrors, and eventual progress. Except for two young black women, another white colleague and I were by ourselves. I felt a ton of guilt, by association alone. It was one of those times when you can hate one man for disgracing the rest. The women were sweethearts, saw our sadness, and made some small talk to provide a comfort level. I still felt communal shame. Hard to sit in a model of the Rosa Parks bus and avoid it.

King’s final public words show he knew what was coming. He said it was the glory of the Lord. “And then I got to Memphis. And some began to say the threats, or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers?…But it doesn’t matter with me now. Because I’ve been to the mountaintop.” King probably received death threats every day.

King also received the Nobel Peace Prize, among many other accolades. Prior to his assassination, which he understood was imminent, he stated that he’d rather his obituary omitted listing awards, to focus on his message. “I’d like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to give his life serving others. I’d like for somebody that day to say that Martin Luther King Jr. tried to love somebody,” said King as he spoke of his priorities, and lack of fear. “Other shallow things will not matter.”

Maybe if the day’s law enforcement leaders had spent a bit of time and money to protect King, he’d still be around. Instead, he was spied on and sabotaged. In Memphis, police had King under surveillance from a fire station adjacent to his hotel and witnessed his murder. An undercover officer who ran across the street initiated first aid. Even if you can dismiss the probability of governmental evil involved, it’s disgraceful at best that the supposed elite intelligence of our nation was basically sitting on top of a fugitive, who went about killing someone while under the officers’ noses. Monday, January 20 has been designated a federal holiday since Ronald Reagan signed the order in 1983, effective in ‘86. It took 14 more years until every holdout state had recognized the holiday. That says more about Arizona, New Hampshire and Utah than it does about Memphis.

It would be great to say we’ve all subsequently made it to the mountaintop, but that would be a lie. The sick white brothers are still out there, and they’ve got just as many sick siblings, wearing many different skins. Meanwhile, Memphis remains high on the list of US murder and violent crime locales. Maybe there is enough color blind love in people of all ethnicities to make Dr. King’s dream a possibility. As long as most of us keep trying, maybe the rest will either fall in line or fall in time.

Memphis has a decent boxing scene, as reflected by last Friday’s Showbox telecast, with consistent club cards along the riverside. I’m betting there are very few sick brothers in those gyms or at those arenas.

King was never particularly noted as a boxing fan but I think he’d approve of such gatherings and enjoy them. I’ve seen times when a fight crowd comes just about as close to achieving equal, multi-cultural utopian kinship as our flawed species gets. There was a color line against black challengers decades ago, but it seems boxing established certain civil rights ahead of many other public forums.

It’s heartbreaking that King did not get the chance to enjoy triumphant sunset years like Nelson Mandela, or witness the inauguration of Barack Obama. It’s sad he couldn’t live to be at least a healthy 83 years old, and experience the soulful celebration that was Beale Street during Lewis-Tyson. For a few magic moments, you could dance on the packed pavement amidst blaring blues. It almost seemed like the promised land.

As great as the game may be, like most of us, boxing is still a shallow thing.

Martin Luther King Jr. tried to give his life serving others.

Martin Luther King Jr. tried to love somebody.

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Results from the Chumash Casino where Akhmedov Gave a GGG-like Performance

Published

6 hours ago

December 13, 2024

David A. Avila

Results-from-the-Chumash-Casino-where-Akhmedov-Gave-a-GGG-like-Performance

Shades of Triple G.

Kazakhstan has another middleweight killer as Sadriddin Akhmedov overran veteran Raphael Igbokwe to win by knockout on Friday evening.

“He’s a tough guy, but I’m a tough guy too,” said Akhmedov of his Texas foe.

Akhmedov (15-0, 13 KOs) excited the crowd at Chumash Casino with a strong performance against a gritty Igbokwe (17-6, 7 Kos). The Kazakh fighter has Gennady Golovkin’s old trainer Abel Sanchez at his side.

It was evident in the first round that Akhmedov wields power, but it was also evident that Igbokwe was not going to quit. Blow after blow was absorbed by the Texas-trained fighter and he continued to press forward.

Akhmedov telegraphed his overhand rights but fired quick and accurate left hooks. Igbokwe withstood the power for round after round.

At the end of the fifth round both fighters continued to fire punches after the bell rang. It angered the two middleweights.

Akhmedov must have still been angry when the sixth round began as he erupted with a 12-punch barrage. Several big blows connected and the Texas fighter was in trouble. Though Igbokwe escaped the first barrage he was unable to avoid the second and the fight was stopped by referee Rudy Barragan at 56 seconds of the sixth round.

The Kazakhstan fighter thanked his fan support and his new trainer Sanchez.

“Every morning at 7 a.m. he wants to kill me,” Akhmedov said of Sanchez.

Other Bouts

A battle between Olympians saw Carlos Balderas (15-2, 13 KOs) knock out Cesar Villarraga (11-11-1) in the sixth round for the win at super lightweight.

A one-two combination found the mark for Balderas at 56 seconds of the sixth round. Villarraga beat the count but once the fight resumed the referee stopped the fight after Balderas connected with another right.

“My coaches told me it was there,” said Balderas of the right cross that finished the fight.

Balderas fought for Team USA in the Olympics and Villarraga for Team Colombia.

Super welterweights Jorge Maravillo (10-0-1, 8 KOs) and Damoni Cato-Cain (8-1-2) fought to a split draw after eight back-and- forth rounds.

Cain-Cato sprinted ahead for the first three rounds behind subtle pressure and focusing on the body then the head against the taller Maravillo. Then, it stopped.

Maravillo stopped retreating and used his long stiff left jabs as a probe and counter punch and became the stalker instead of the prey. It turned the fight around. But Cain-Cato was reluctant to give up too much territory and fought through a damaged left eye to keep the match tight. After eight rounds one judge saw Maravillo the winner, another saw Cato-Cain, and a third saw it even for a split draw.

It was a fitting score.

Angel Carrillo (4-0-1) out-pointed Joshua Torres (0-2-2) with combination punching and in-and-out maneuvers to win by decision. Though 14 years younger, Carrillo wore a protector near his chest. Twice he placed it far above his belly button and was never warned.

Fidencio Hernandez (3-0) was the more polished fighter and used straighter punches and a tighter defense to shut out Laguna Beach’s Josaphat Navarro (1-3-1) and won by unanimous decision.

In her pro debut Perla Bazaldua (1-0) won by knockout over Mollie Backowski (0-4) in a super flyweight contest. Bazaldua fights out of Los Angeles and has long been touted as a one of that city’s best amateur prospects. Now she is a pro.

Photo credit: Lina Baker / 360 Promotions

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 308: SoCal Rivals Rocha and Curiel Rumble and More

Published

18 hours ago

December 13, 2024

David A. Avila

Avila Perspective, Chap. 308: SoCal Rivals Rocha and Curiel Rumble and More

Decades ago, battles between regional warriors were as common as freeway traffic in Los Angeles during rush hour.

Bobby Chacon repped San Fernando Valley, Mando Ramos came from the docks of San Pedro, Danny “Little Red” Lopez lived in Alhambra and Ruben “Maravilla Kid” Navarro hailed from East L.A. And they rumbled repeatedly with each other.

The boxing sphere in California has grown much larger despite the closure of boxing palaces such as the Olympic Auditorium, Hollywood Legion Stadium, Great Western Forum, the L.A. Coliseum and Wrigley Field.

Those were classic venues.

Today in the 21^st century boxing continues to grow.

Golden Boy Promotions presents SoCal regional rivals Santa Ana’s Alexis Rocha (25-2, 16 KOs) facing Hollywood’s Raul Curiel (15-0,13 KOs) in a welterweight clash on Saturday, Dec. 14, at Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif. DAZN will stream the main card and YouTube.com the remainder.

Ontario is located in the Inland Empire known as the I.E.

Rocha, 27, has grown into a crowd favorite with a crowd-pleasing style developed by Orange County boxing trainer Hector Lopez. I remember his pro debut at Belasco Theater in downtown L.A. He obliterated his foe in three rounds and the small venue erupted with applause.

Wherever Rocha goes to fight, his fans follow.

“Anyone I face is trying to take food away from my family,” said Rocha.

Curiel, 29, has traveled a different road. As a former Mexican Olympian he took the slower road toward adapting to the professional style. Freddie Roach has refined the Mexican fighter’s style and so far, he remains unbeaten with a 10-fight knockout streak.

“I want to fight the best in the division,” said Curiel who is originally from Guadalajara.

Super welter hitters

Another top-notch fighter on the card is super welterweight Charles Conwell from Cleveland, Ohio. Conwell (20-0, 15 KOs) faces Argentina’s undefeated Gerardo Vergara (20-0, 13 KOs) in the co-main event.

Conwell may be the best kept secret in boxing and has been dominating foes for the past several years. He has solid defense, good power and is very strong for this weight class. Very Strong.

“I got to go out there and dominate,” said Conwell. “This is a fight that can lead me to a world championship fight.”

Golden Boy Promotions got lucky in picking up this fighter who could compete with any super welterweight out there. Anyone.

Vergara, 30, is another Argentine product and if you know anything about that South American country, they groom strong fighters with power. Think Marcos Maidana. This will be his first true test.

“I really hope he (Conwell) backs what he is saying,” said Vergara.

Marlen Esparza vs Arely Mucino

Former flyweight world titlists finally meet, but at super flyweight.

Olympic bronze medalist Marlen Esparza fights Mexico’s Arely Mucino in a fight that should have taken place years ago. Both are both coming off losses in title fights.

Esparza has the “fast hands” as she said and Mucino the “aggressive style” as she mentioned at the press conference on Thursday in Ontario.

It’s a 10-round affair and could mark the end for the loser.

Friday Night Fights

Undefeated middleweight Sadridden Akhmedov (14-0, 12 KOs) headlines a 360 Promotions and faces Raphael Igbokwe (17-5, 7 KOs) in the main event on Friday, Dec. 13, at Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, Calif. UFC Fight Pass will stream the event.

Akhmedov hails from Kazakhstan and if you remember legendary Gennady “Triple G” Golovkin also hails from that region. Tom Loeffler the head of 360 Promotions worked with GGG too among other legends.

Is Akhmedov the real deal?

Former American Olympian Carlos Balderas (14-2) is also on the card and fights veteran Cesar Villarraga (11-10-1) who has been known to upset favorites in the past.

Fights to Watch

Fri. UFC Fight Pass 7 p.m. Sadridden Akhmedov (14-0) vs Raphael Igbokwe (17-5).

Sat. DAZN 10:30 a.m. Murodjon Akhmadaliev (12-1) vs Ricardo Espinoza (30-4).

Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Alexis Rocha (25-2) vs Raul Curiel (15-0); Charles Conwell (20-0) vs Gerardo Vergara (20-0); Marlen Esparza (14-2) vs Arely Mucino (32-4-2).

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Cardoso, Nunez, and Akitsugi Bring Home the Bacon in Plant City

Published

2 days ago

December 11, 2024

Arne K. Lang

Cardoso-Nunez-and-Agitsuki-Bring-Home-the-Bacon-in-Plant-City

Cardoso, Nunez, and Akitsugi Bring Home the Bacon in Plant City

The final ShoBox event of 2025 played out tonight at the company’s regular staging ground in Plant City, Florida. When the smoke cleared, the “A-side” fighters in the featured bouts were 3-0 in step-up fights vs. battle-tested veterans, two of whom were former world title challengers. However, the victors in none of the three fights, with the arguable exception of lanky bantamweight Katsuma Akitsugi, made any great gain in public esteem.

In the main event, a lightweight affair, Jonhatan Cardoso, a 25-year-old Brazilian, earned a hard-fought, 10-round unanimous decision over Los Mochis, Mexico southpaw Eduardo Ramirez. The decision would have been acceptable to most neutral observers if it had been deemed a draw, but the Brazilian won by scores of 97-93 and 96-94 twice.

Cardoso, now 18-1 (15), had the crowd in his corner., This was his fourth straight appearance in Plant City. Ramirez, disadvantaged by being the smaller man with a shorter reach, declined to 28-5-3.

Co-Feature

In a 10-round featherweight fight that had no indelible moments, Luis Reynaldo Nunez advanced to 20-0 (13) with a workmanlike 10-round unanimous decision over Mexico’s Leonardo Baez. The judges had it 99-91 and 98-92 twice.

Nunez, from the Dominican Republic, is an economical fighter who fights behind a tight guard. Reputedly 85-5 as an amateur, he is managed by Sampson Lewkowicz who handles David Benavidez among others and trained by Bob Santos. Baez (22-5) was returning to the ring after a two-year hiatus.

Also

In a contest slated for “10,” ever-improving bantamweight Katsuma Akitsugi improved to 12-0 (3 KOs) with a sixth-round stoppage of Filipino import Aston Palicte (28-7-1). Akitsugi caught Palicte against the ropes and unleashed a flurry of punches climaxed by a right hook. Palicte went down and was unable to beat the count. The official time was 1:07 of round six.

This was the third straight win by stoppage for Akitsugi, a 27-year-old southpaw who trains at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card gym in LA under Roach’s assistant Eddie Hernandez. Palicte, who had been out of the ring for 16 months, is a former two-time world title challenger at superflyweight (115).

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