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Boxing’s Catch-22: Can We Reform the Sport Without Destroying It?
“I’m on the highway to hell
On the highway to hell…
…And I’m goin’ down
All the way” —Highway to Hell by AC/DC
You come in on your own
and you leave on your own– On Your Own by the Verve
“I was champion of the world and there are three things that go and that’s how a fighter knows that he’s all done. First, your legs go… The second thing is that your reflexes go, and the third thing is that your friends go, and you know you’re all done when there’s nobody hangin’ ‘round no more.”—Willie Pep
When the fighters get to the place sometimes known rhetorically as Palookaville, they quickly find out that there are no gold watches handed out here. Oh no, this is a dreadful place from which there rarely is a way out. The fighters don’t purchase the tickets; that’s done for them. In most cases the punishment absorbed in the ring accomplishes it, although sometimes the propensity might be inherent. Adrian Broner might be speeding down that road in a modern-day example of uncontrollable self-destructiveness, but thankfully this isn’t about Broner.
Picture: Perhaps the greatest of all-time Sugar Ray Robinson is seen hoisted on the shoulders of opponents Carmen Basilio and Gene Fullmer while Randy Turpin and “Bobo” Olson stand by. The picture above is from a December of 1965 ceremony honoring Robinson held at Madison Square Garden. On that night, Robinson was also given a trophy that turned out to be too heavy to put on any of the flimsy tables he had left. It was all gone.
Rocky Lockridge, a former champion, got there and remains homeless in Camden, NJ. Meldrick and Jermaine struggle. Leon Spinks seemed to have had the aforementioned innate propensity to get there. Without interdiction or intervention, others will get there just as sure as boxing is all about guilty pleasure. Larry Holmes and George Foreman are exceptions but for each exception, there are hundreds of ex-boxers who are struggling. For every De La Hoya, Froch and Mayweather, Jr., there are hundreds of Danny Williams’s and Bobby Chacon’s. Iran Barkley got there but thanks to many helping him to help himself, he got out and turned things around. Scores of others survive as best they can, sometimes getting help from the Retired Boxing Foundation or some of the Ring Associations.
The real tragedy is that the one sport that needs the tightest and sharpest regulations is the one with the poorest regulations. Money dictates exactly what goes on in boxing and like any other business endeavor; anything that can increase the gap between costs and revenue will be done including the neglect of the fighters. Medical insurance and pension plans narrow that gap. Thus, many fighters are booked for a one-way ticket without ever having access to counseling about viable options after they leave the fight game. Almost like meat, they are used up and then cast away to fend for themselves.
And for those who are damaged, the fate is far worse. Says neurologist Barry Jordan, M.D., director of the brain injury program at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains, N.Y.: “The problem with chronic brain injury is that when boxers develop it, the horse is already out of the barn. If you could find preclinical markers [signs of injury before the onset of permanent symptoms], you could advise them to stop boxing.” Thus, the best that can be done is to help them after the fact but that’s where the oxymoronic behavior has already set in and welfare is nonexistent.
To paraphrase the late Jack Newfield, if this can happen to our best (Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Louis, Willie Pep, Ali)—whether it be Parkinson’s, early senility, dementia, or Alzheimer’s—what does it mean for the rest? What does it mean for the lower end of boxing?
The Catch-22
The need to establish and enforce standards and uniformity without destroying boxing has been discussed ad nauseam. Fact is, boxing needs a Roto-Rooter. The state of boxing has become more complex and more difficult to cleanse than ever and therein may rest the problem. Unlike football, baseball, and basketball, the uniqueness of boxing and its lack of any structure or union create an inherent confusion that impedes reform.
It’s a Catch 22 that favors the promoters, officials, and spineless political hacks that remain unmoved in their single-minded quest to make money and/or gain power from the sport without giving back to those who generated the money in the first place. Nothing could be more incongruous or more unfair. However, boxer welfare has become a joke–an oxymoron.
Some have said that if the boxers themselves don’t do anything to take care of themselves, why should reformers care? However, as Cesar Chavez said, “You are never strong enough that you don’t need help.
Football players and their union –and even Rugby and Soccer players–are getting it. Movies like Concussion spotlight the complex issue of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and the attendant class-action lawsuits from hundreds of former players regarding head trauma. Sooner or later, boxers are going to get it and when they do, the impact of the Catch-22 will begin to diminish. As Las Vegas Assemblyman Harvey Munford says: “…Savvy lawyers one day will file lawsuits on behalf of boxers….”
Ted Sares is one of the world’s oldest active power lifters and holds several records. He enjoys writing about boxing.
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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
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 21st 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
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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