Thoughts on why Wladimir is using the WBA Title to elude Anthony Joshua

Published

8 years ago

October 20, 2016

Elude Anthony Joshua – This time last week it looked certain that IBF heavyweight title holder Anthony Joshua 17-0 (17) was going to defend his title against former lineal champ Wladimir Klitschko 64-4 (53) on December 10th. But Klitschko went off in a different direction, spurning Joshua for a Dec. 10^th match with Lucas Browne in Hamburg, Germany. The reason for spurning Joshua, according to Klitschko, is that the WBA refused to sanction the bout and he wanted the bout to be for both titles. This doesn’t make sense because with Tyson Fury giving up the lineal belt, the bout with Joshua would have been for the real title.

Over the years I’ve been a defender of Wladimir when he was the subject of some pretty staunch criticism. I grew tired of most media and fans saying he was heartless and only thrived because the heavyweight division was so pedestrian. I retorted that nobody dominates for nearly a decade like Wladimir did without being a special fighter. As a challenger and title holder, Klitschko never ducked or side-stepped anyone who was considered a threat. Never have I questioned his constitution as a fighter, never.

Sadly, because the division which Wladimir ruled was so run-of-the-mill, he never had an opportunity to take part in a super fight. In all the years that he was on top, Klitschko never confronted another fighter his size with equal reach and equal or better skill than him. That was until the UK’s Anthony Joshua emerged. I don’t think it’s the slightest reach to assume that Joshua would’ve represented the most formidable foe Wladimir had ever shared a ring with. And that I believe has a lot to do with why Wladimir had a sudden change of heart and wouldn’t go through with fighting Joshua unless the WBA title was on the line (and even then I’m not sure).

Perhaps Wladimir doesn’t think he can win and is concerned about tarnishing his legacy. Think about this. For the better part of his title reign, boxing fans longed to see Wladimir, or his brother Vitali, matched against a fighter who they didn’t tower over, and who also brought something to the ring that they had to address….such as an abundance of size, power, skill or speed. However, the reality is that that fighter never showed up. This resulted in both Klitschko brothers fighting guys I often referred to as tweeners — meaning they didn’t do any one thing particularly well, and because of that they’d be at the mercy at whatever Wladimir or Vitali dictated they do during the bout. And more often than not, that’s how their bouts unfolded.

Unlike past greats Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes who, like Wladimir Klitschko, dominated for a long period of time, Klitschko never built up the cache of forgiveness if he had a bad night. Ever since Wladimir suffered his first defeat against Ross Purrity, during his second year as a pro, Wladimir has had doubters regarding just how good he really is. In 20 years as a professional fighter, with at least half of those years as a defending title holder, Wladimir never had that career defining signature bout — something that Joshua clearly would’ve represented to him, with the only problem being that he’s now 40 years old and on the decline whereas Joshua, at 27, is entering his prime.

Had Joshua and Klitschko met, neither would’ve held a physical advantage over the other. With that, the fight would’ve come down to who could impose his will and vast skill on the other. But it’s even more than that. Who between them will take the initiative to get off first and put the other on defense? I believe that Joshua would’ve been the one who fought with the greater sense of urgency from the onset. Anthony has complete belief in his power and that he can land it. He fights with the mindset that suggests that he fully believes if he can draw first blood, he’ll not allow his opponent any chance of return once he gets them in trouble and fighting to survive. Conversely, Klitschko enters the ring with shaky confidence and approaches his bouts with steep trepidation. And that’s the wrong sign to send a young-hungry Lion the likes of Anthony Joshua. There’s no doubt in my mind that Joshua knows down to his core that Wladimir wouldn’t come out and go right at him from the opening bell. Klitschko has never approached any fighter that way. Was it plausible to believe Wladimir would change his ways against a fighter his size with faster hands and fight-altering power in either hand? No, of course not.

Wladimir knows today that belts really mean nothing. Had he fought Joshua and defeated him, it would no doubt be the defining moment of his career. However, the risk would’ve been just as dramatic. Had Klitschko fought Joshua and was stopped in dramatic fashion, as I believe he would’ve been, he never could have recovered from that. The talk the next day in most boxing circles would go something like this…..”See, Klitschko was never that good to start with. He feasted on a bunch of no-hopers who lacked boxing skill or legitimate knockout power. The first time he fought a fighter his size with equal skill and faster hands, he was demolished. Joshua proved that Wladimir was a big fish in a small pond and only excelled because the division he dominated was devoid of good fighters.” And sadly, there is some merit to that point of view.

At this time Anthony Joshua firmly looks like the future of the heavyweight division. Even in Klitschko’s prime, Joshua would have been a bad matchup for him. Simply because Joshua can do everything that Wladimir could, only he can put his punches together even faster and more fluidly. In addition to that, Joshua doesn’t enter the ring with the trepidation that Wladimir has had since he lost to Puritty. Joshua fights with total confidence and doesn’t fear letting his hands go. Granted, there are some questions surrounding just how good Joshua’s chin is. He was really shook by Dillian Whyte a couple bouts back, and Whyte isn’t close to being the puncher that Wladimir Klitschko still is. The problem for Wladimir in fighting Joshua is that Joshua would have undoubtedly gone right after him and within seconds of the bout Klitschko would’ve been on the defense. Therefore Klitschko’s experience advantage and the unknown regarding Joshua’s chin would have never come into play.

Wladimir Klitschko is a very wealthy man. Sure, he would’ve earned more money fighting Joshua than he had in any other fight during his career. But the risk was too great when the money probably wouldn’t have changed his lifestyle. He lost an ugly fight to Tyson Fury in his last bout, and along with that went his title. However, he wasn’t beaten up or embarrassed. The chances of him saying that after fighting Joshua are not in his favor. And it is for that reason I believe Klitschko used the WBA title not being on the line as his means of getting around fighting Joshua.

The question now is whether he can defeat Lucas Browne and, if so, will he continue to fight. If he does, eventually fighting Joshua will be an issue. Only then Wladimir will be that much older and Joshua will be that much more experienced and confident.

Elude Anthony Joshua – / Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com

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The 50 Greatest Lightweights of All Time: Part Five (10-1)

L.A.’s Rudy Hernandez is the 2024 TSS Trainer of the Year

Published

2 days ago

December 16, 2024

Arne K. Lang

L.A.’s Rudy Hernandez is the 2024 TSS Trainer of the Year

If asked to name a prominent boxing trainer who operates out of a gym in Los Angeles, the name Freddie Roach would jump immediately to mind. Best known for his work with Manny Pacquaio, Roach has been named the Trainer of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America a record seven times.

A mere seven miles from Roach’s iconic Wild Card Gym is the gym that Rudy Hernandez now calls home. Situated in the Little Tokyo neighborhood in downtown Los Angeles, the L.A. Boxing Gym – a relatively new addition to the SoCal boxing landscape — is as nondescript as its name. From the outside, one would not guess that two reigning world champions, Junto Nakatani and Anthony Olascuaga, were forged there.

As Freddie Roach will be forever linked with Manny Pacquiao, so will Rudy Hernandez be linked with Nakatani. The Japanese boxer was only 15 years old when his parents packed him off to the United States to be tutored by Hernandez. With Hernandez in his corner, the lanky southpaw won titles at 112 and 115 and currently holds the WBO bantamweight (118) belt. In his last start, he knocked out his Thai opponent, a 77-fight veteran who had never been stopped, advancing his record to 29-0 (22 KOs).

Nakatani’s name now appears on several pound-for-pound lists. A match with Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue is brewing. When that match comes to fruition, it will be the grandest domestic showdown in Japanese boxing history.

“Junto Nakatani is the greatest fighter I’ve ever trained. It’s easy to work with him because even when he came to me at age 15, his focus was only on boxing. It was to be a champion one day and nothing interfered with that dream,” Hernandez told sports journalist Manouk Akopyan writing for Boxing Scene.

Akin to Nakatani, Rudy Hernandez built Anthony Olascuaga from scratch. The LA native was rucked out of obscurity in April of 2023 when Jonathan Gonzalez contracted pneumonia and was forced to withdraw from his date in Tokyo with lineal light flyweight champion Kenshiro Teraji. Olascuaga, with only five pro fights under his belt, filled the breach on 10 days’ notice and although he lost (TKO by 9), he earned kudos for his gritty performance against the man recognized as the best fighter in his weight class.

Two fights later, back in Tokyo, Olascuaga copped the WBO world flyweight title with a third-round stoppage of Riku Kano. His first defense came in October, again in Japan, and Olascuaga retained his belt with a first-round stoppage of the aforementioned Gonzalez. (This bout was originally ruled a no-contest as it ended after Gonzalez suffered a cut from an accidental clash of heads. But the referee ruled that Gonzalez was fit to continue before the Puerto Rican said “no mas,” alleging his vision was impaired, and the WBO upheld a protest from the Olascuaga camp and changed the result to a TKO. Regardless, Rudy Hernandez’s fighter would have kept his title.)

Hernandez, 62, is the brother of the late Genaro “Chicanito” Hernandez. A two-time world title-holder at 130 pounds who fought the likes of Azumah Nelson, Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr., Chicanito passed away in 2011, a cancer victim at age 45.

Genaro “Chicanito” Hernandez was one of the most popular fighters in the Hispanic communities of Southern California. Rudy Hernandez, a late bloomer of sorts – at least in terms of public recognition — has kept his brother’s flame alive with own achievements. He is a worthy honoree for the 2024 Trainer of the Year.

Note: This is the first in our series of annual awards. The others will arrive sporadically over the next two weeks.

Photo credit: Steve Kim

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A Shocker in Tijuana: Bruno Surace KOs Jaime Munguia !!

Published

3 days ago

December 15, 2024

Arne K. Lang

A-Shocker-in-Tijuana-Bruno-Sarace-KOs-Jaime-Munguia

It was a chilly night in Tijuana when Jaime Munguia entered the ring for his homecoming fight with Bruno Surace. The main event of a Zanfer/Top Rank co-promotion, Munguia vs. Surace was staged in the city’s 30,000-seat soccer stadium a stone’s throw from the U.S. border in the San Diego metroplex.

Surace, a Frenchman, brought a 25-0-2 record and a 22-fight winning streak, but a quick glance at his record showed that he had scant chance of holding his own with the house fighter. Only four of Surace’s 25 wins had come by stoppage and only eight of his wins had come against opponents with winning records. Munguia was making the first start in the city of his birth since February 2022. Surace had never fought outside Europe.

But hold the phone!

After losing every round heading into the sixth, Surace scored the Upset of the Year, ending the contest with a one-punch knockout.

It looked like a short and easy night for Munguia when he knocked Surace down with a left hook in the second stanza. From that point on, the Frenchman fought off his back foot, often with back to the ropes, throwing punches only in spurts. Munguia worked the body well and was seemingly on the way to wearing him down when he was struck by lightning in the form of an overhand right.

Down went Munguia, landing on his back. He struggled to get to his feet, but the referee waived it off a nano-second before reaching “10.” The official time was 2:36 of round six.

Munguia, who was 44-1 heading in with 35 KOs, was as high as a 35/1 favorite. In his only defeat, he had gone the distance with Canelo Alvarez. This was the biggest upset by a French fighter since Rene Jacquot outpointed Donald Curry in 1989 and Jacquot had the advantage of fighting in his homeland.

Co-Main

Mexico City’s Alan Picasso, ranked #1 by the WBC at 122 pounds, scored a third-round stoppage of last-minute sub Yehison Cuello in a scheduled 10-rounder contested at featherweight. Picaso (31-0-1, 17 KOs) is a solid technician. He ended the bout with a left to the rib cage, a punch that weaved around Cuello’s elbow and didn’t appear to be especially hard. The referee stopped his count at “nine” and waived the fight off.

A 29-year-old Colombian who reportedly had been training in Tijuana, the overmatched Cuello slumped to 13-3-1.

Other Bouts of Note

In a ho-hum affair, junior middleweight Jorge Garcia advanced to 32-4 (26) with a 10-round unanimous decision over Uzbekistan’s Kudratillo Abudukakhorov (20-4). The judges had it 97-92 and 99-90 twice. There were no knockdowns, but Garcia had a point deducted in round eight for low blows.

Garcia displayed none of the power that he showed in his most recent fight three months ago in Arizona and when he knocked out his German opponent in 46 seconds. Abudukakhorov, who has competed mostly as a welterweight, came in at 158 1/4 pounds and didn’t look in the best of shape. The Uzbek was purportedly 170-10 as an amateur (4-5 per boxrec).

Super bantamweight Sebastian Hernandez improved to 18-0 (17 KOs) with a seventh-round stoppage of Argentine import Sergio Martin (14-5). The end came at the 2:39 mark of round seven when Martin’s corner threw in the towel. Earlier in the round, Martin lost his mouthpiece and had a point deducted for holding.

Hernandez wasn’t all that impressive considering the high expectations born of his high knockout ratio, but appeared to have injured his right hand during the sixth round.

Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank

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Ringside in Ontario where Alexis Rocha and Raul Curiel Battled to a Spirited Draw

Published

3 days ago

December 14, 2024

David A. Avila

Ringside in Ontario where Alexis Rocha and Raul Curiel Battled to a Spirited Draw

ONTARIO, CA -Two SoCal welterweights battled to a majority draw and Ohio’s Charles Conwell wowed the crowd with precision and power in his victory.

In the main event Alexis Rocha sought to prove his loss a year ago was a fluke and Raul Curiel sought to prove he belongs with the contenders.

Both got their wish.

After 12 rounds of back-and-forth exchanges, Rocha (25-2-1, 16 KOs) and Curiel (15-0-1, 13 KOs) battled to a stalemate in front of more than 5,000 fans at Toyota Arena. No oner seemed surprised by the majority decision draw.

“We got one for the people It was a Rocha landed impressive blows while Curiel just could not seem to get the motor running.

Things turned around in seventh round.

During the first half of the fight, it looked like Rocha’s experience in big events would be too much for Curiel to handle. Rocha landed impressive blows while Curiel just could not seem to get the motor running.

Things turned around in seventh round.

Maybe trainer Freddie Roach’s words got to Curiel. The Mexican Olympian who now lives in the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, suddenly planted his feet and ripped off five- and six-punch combinations. It was do or die.

The change of tactics forced Rocha to make changes too especially after absorbing several ripping uppercuts from Curiel.

Back and forth the welterweights exchanged and neither fighter could take charge. And neither fighter was knocked down though each both connected with sweat-tossing blows.

The two fighters battled until the final seconds of the fight. After 12 blistering rounds, one judge saw Rocha the winner 116-112, while the two other judges scored it 114-114 for a majority draw.

“I respect this guy. It was 12 rounds of war,” said Santa Ana’s Rocha.

Curiel felt the same.

“I respect Rocha. He is a good southpaw,” Curiel repeated. “Let’s do it again.”

Battle of Undefeated Super Welterweights

Few knew what to expect with undefeated Charles Conwell (21-0, 16 KOs) facing undefeated Argentine Gerardo Vergara (20-1, 13 KOs). You never what to expect with Argentine fighters.

Conwell, a U.S. Olympian, showed why many consider him the best kept secret in boxing with a steady attack behind impressive defense. He needed it against Vergara, a very strong southpaw.

Vergara seemed a little puzzled by Conwell’s constant pressure. He might have expected a hit-and-run kind of fighter instead of a steamroller like the Ohio warrior.

Once the two fighters got heated up in the cold arena, the blows began to come more often and more powerfully. Conwell in particular stood right in front of the Argentine and bobbed and weaved through the South American fighter’s attack. And suddenly unleashed rocket rights and left hooks off Vergara’s chin.

Nothing happened expect blood from his nose for several rounds.

For six rounds Conwell blasted away at Vergara’s chin and jaw and nothing seemed to faze the Argentine. Then, Conwell targeted the body and suddenly things opened up. Vergara was caught trying to decide what to protect when a left hook jolted the Argentine. Suddenly Conwell erupted with a stream of left hooks and rights with almost everything connecting with power.

Referee Thomas Taylor jumped in to stop the fight at 2:51 of the seventh round. Conwell finally chopped down the Argentine tree for the knockout win. The fans gasped at the suddenness of the victory.

“We broke him down,” Conwell said.

It was impressive.

Other Bouts

Popular John “Scrappy” Ramirez (14-1, 9 KOs) started slowly against Texas left-hander Ephraim Bui (10-1, 8 KOs) but gained momentum behind accurate right uppercuts to swing the momentum and win a regional super flyweight title by unanimous decision after 10 rounds

Bui opened the fight behind some accurate lead lefts, but once Ramirez found the solution he took the fight inside and repeatedly jolted the taller Texas fighter with that blow.

Ramirez, who is based in Los Angeles, gained momentum and confidence and kept control with movements left and right that kept Bui unable to regain the advantage. No knockdowns were scored as all three judges scored the fight 97-93 for Ramirez.

A battle between former flyweight world champions saw Marlen Esparza (15-2, 1 KO) pull away after several early contentious rounds against Mexico’s Arely Mucino (32-5-2, 11 KOs). Left hooks staggered Esparza early in the fight.

Esparza always could take a punch and after figuring out what not to do, she began rolling up points behind pinpoint punching and pot shots. Soon, it was evident she could hit and move and took over the last three rounds of the fight.

Mucino never stopped attacking and was successful with long left hooks and shots to the body, but once Esparza began launching impressive pot shots, the Mexican fighter never could figure out a solution.

After 10 rounds two judges scored it 98-92 and a third judge saw it 97-93 all for Esparza.

Victor Morales (20-0-1, 10 KOs) won by technical knockout over Mexico’s Juan Guardado (16-3-1, 6 KOs) due to a bad cut above the right eye. It was a learning experience for Morales who hails from Washington.

Left hooks were the problem for Morales who could not avoid a left hook throughout the super featherweight fight. Guardado staggered Morales at least three times with counter left hooks. But Morales turned things around by controlling the last three rounds behind a jolting left jab that controlled the distance.

At one second of the eighth round, referee Ray Corona stopped the fight to allow the ringside physician to examine the swelling and cut. It was decided that the fight should stop. Morales was awarded the win by technical knockout.

A super bantamweight fight saw Jorge Chavez (13-0, 8 KOs) score two knockdowns on way to a unanimous decision over Uruguay’s Ruben Casero (12-4, 4 KOs) after eight rounds. Chavez fights out of Tijuana, Mexico.

Photo credit: Al Applerose

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