ANOTHER LUMP OF COLE: Texas Ref Steps In It Yet Again

Published

10 years ago

May 12, 2015

Deep in Southern Texas, a man who deserved better had a Texas Two Step tattooed on his heart, on Saturday afternoon.

The rude welcome occurred in a town called Hidalgo, near the Mexican border, and the man who will bear the scars from the treatment, who deserved so much better, traveled from Scotland. Not sure how many travelers to Texas, the Lone Star state, which collectively prides itself on a frontier spirit, a “tell it like it is” mindset, with so many of the citizens inclined to advertise a proud mindset of independence of spirit, will leave the state having been been stomped on in such a manner, but your heart goes out to the Scotsman, Ricky Burns.

After 12 rounds of rumbling, the scorcards were read: 117-109, 1116-110, 116-110, for the Texan, Omar Figueroa. So at least the two points taken from ref Laurence Cole, who turned in a subpar outing, making himself way too much part of the fight, instead of being, ideally, pretty much out of sight, out of mind, didn’t obviously affect the outcome.

Yes, the stomper, to my eyes, wasn’t so much opponent Figueroa, who coincidentally or not lives in Texas. No, it was the man tasked with being a fair and impartial arbiter of the proceeding, one Laurence Cole, who in my mind deserves a heaping helping of scorn for his (mis)condusct on Saturday afternoon.

Cole, from the get go, seemed to be acting as if Burns owed him moolah and told him his mom wears combat boots when asked to be paid back…

This was the Premier Boxing Champions main event, a super lightweight attraction which ran on CBS. Therefore, being on terrestrial TV, more folks than usual were able to check out the methods of Cole, who has a rich and lengthy history of stepping in cow pies while being the third man in the ring.

Burns started strong, color man Paul Malignaggi told us in round one. Cole interjected himself in the mix, too much, almost right away. He warned Burns for a behind the head shot which Malignaggi and fellow analyst Virgil Hunter said looked OK.

In round two, viewers saw Cole yank the arm of the Scotsman away from Omar, while the two were mixing it up. That, friends, is an unorthdox move, and one which can result in a clear deficiency situation for the person who is having an interloper tug on their body while they are trying to fend off the offense of their foe. The customary move is to demand that a fighter disengage a limb, once, twice, and then, really only on last resort, when a referee has noted that there is a break in the action, might he choose to resort to interceding physically. Again in round two, Cole grabbed Burns’ arm, like he was breaking up a scuffle between a couple of rough-housing toddlers, rather than two world class prizefighters. Hunter commented on it, and said he disagreed with the practice. “There he does it again,” said Hunter. Then he warned Burns again. “Cole has become a big factor in this fight,” Hunter said, before round two ended.

I almost expected Cole, whose face often features the look of a teen who has been caught canoodling himself in the bathroom by a finger-wagging parent, to walk to the Omar corner, ask the kid if he wanted an espresso…

In round three, Hunter and Paulie couldn’t stop fixating on Cole, and blow by blow man Mauro Ranallo hopped in too. “I think he heard us, he’s letting them fight out,” said Ranallo, before Cole once again did the arm grab. This time, though, he did it to Omar…

Round four saw Cole being Cole-y; he warned the tourist, like a cop pulling over the guy with the Grateful Dead sticker. Omar punched after Cole yelled stop, but received no chiding. The two men worked hard, and the fight was a bit sloppy, but fun to watch…apart from the ref’s stepping into the spotlight. Omar dipped his head in, as he did time and again, but Burns got warned for pushing his head down.

In round five, Cole gave a second warning for holding…right before Omar held. Burns did some work behind the head, though maybe because Omar dipped his head on the way in. Billy goat-ing Figueroa kept on using the top of his head as a butting agent into the sixth. “I think they should be allowed to fight,” Hunter told us after the fifth. He intoned for a “fair fight,” for Omar to be held to the same regulations as the Scot.

In round six, Omar, in his first fight at 140, brawled ruggedly, made it ugly and the ref made it uglier. He took Burns’ right arm and yanked it away while the men were fighting. To be fair, it wasn’t an easy fight to over-see, but Cole did himself no favors with his work.

On to the seventh…Cole was Mr. Grabby Hands to start the round. He slapped Burns’ arm, then grabbed Omar, and I wondered if he was getting a bonus for each time he touched them. “It’s been a beautiful ugly fight,” Ranallo told us. To round eight..Mr. Grabby yanked Omar, then warned Burns for leading with his head. With a minute left the ref took a point from Burns, for holding. Malignaggi didn’t like the call, and he called it a harsh move. Omar plowed ahead, head down, and then threw some rabbit punches, and didn’t get chided.

In the ninth, the two men kept rumbling. Cole was pretty chill, bless him. In the tenth, grabby did it again, to the Texan, so give him points for consistency. Both were too tired to grab as hard so Cole was now backing off more so. In the 11th, Cole went a grabbin, agin. Burns winced at a left hook to the body. Then Cole took a point, another one, from the Scot, for grabbing. BECAUSE he was DEAD TIRED after eating a hellacious body shot. Poor call, and a shady look which benefitted the home towner. Not very kind to the tourist, Mr. Cole…

In the 12th, Cole was out of range, thankfully, for long stretches. Then he got hands-y, but of course. Happily, neither fighter landed a punch after Cole gave them an edge by holding the foe’s arm, so that’s a good thing.

So, we went to the cards, knowing Omar got an extra two points, compliments of Cole, from his iffy, maybe severely iffy, point deductions. The judges gave it to Omar, and many on social media howled. CompuBox said Burns went 270-886 to 289-799 for the Texan; I thought a win for either man would be understandable, and reserve my scorn not for the judges, but for the ref, who has a track record of missteps and seems to be rewarded for his incompetence, with continued activity, rather than being sent for remedial training, on the Golden Gloves circuit.

It was a fun/ugly fight to watch, made that much worse by the work of a man with a track record of doing just this. How many more times will I and others like me have to write this article? He has a history, he did the grabb-y thing in the Chris John-Rocky Juarez fight; and should have been banned for two years when in 2006 he told Juan Manuel Marquez he was ahead on the cards and wondered if he wanted to have the fight stopped after a butt; he was critiqued hard for his work in the Andre Dirrell-Arthur Abraham and Orlando Salido-Vasyl Lomachenko fights, and was removed from duty after being announced as the overseer of the Manny Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey fight.

Malignaggi might have had a flashback, to when he met Juan Diaz there in 2009. After losing a decision, he announced, “I had to deal with a lot of politics. That was ridiculous. I knew I was going to have to deal with this…I’m telling you, this state never gives a fair shake to anyone coming to this state to fight hometown fighters. It never happens.”

Time for Texas to do the right thing, and send Laurence Cole to the scrap heap. His missteps are too numerous to ignore, not if they seek to remain a viable landing place for big bouts.

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Jorge Garcia is the TSS Fighter of the Month for April

Published

20 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

5 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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