Connect with us

Asia & Oceania

Monday Morning Cornermen (Nov. 20 edition)

In this new section of The Sweet Science, we step back and take a critical look at the fights that took place on the previous weekend

Share The Sweet Science experience!

Published

on

critical look

In this new section of The Sweet Science, we step back and take a critical look at the fights that took place on the previous weekend, we compare our own previews with the way the actual fights went on, and we take your opinions and questions (along with those of special guests) to create a final analysis to another weekend of boxing. Follow us every Monday at #MMCatTSS and @TheSweetScience , and send us your thoughts at diegomorillabox@hotmail.com

Death, Taxes and Tete 

If you’ve seen the already viral video in which South Africa’s Zolani Tete defeats Siboniso Gonya in 11 seconds with the WBO bantamweight title on the line, you probably already did the math. And there is only one possible result to this equation. It is truly, absolutely, most definitely and heretofore eternally impossible for anyone to one-up Tete in his achievement of defending a title with only ONE punch thrown, while limiting the opponent du jour to absolutely zero punches at all. In my Sunday Report Card I called Gonya’s lone attempt at anything resembling a punch a “measuring jab” that would actually be better described as a “one-rep warmup or stretching exercise, at best”. You take that pawing movement out of the picture, and what you have is the most literal one punch demolition in the history of championship boxing, period, bar none, sign-seal-and-deliver-it-cuz-this-is-it. A record? Yes. A breakable one? Nope. Even if someone manages to score a one-punch KO in less time, it’s still the same single punch performance! My advice, dear folks at Guinnes? Spend a little bit more on Mr. Tete’s printed picture for your wall of fame, because he’s going to be up there for a while now, with “a while” meaning “the rest of human history up until people stop punching each other,” which is pretty much another way to say “never.” Som’n like that.

Wake Up Calls for Everyone

A fighter rises from the canvas to stage a comeback rally and finally win the fight and keep his career alive. Sounds familiar? Well, there’s a reason for that. You saw that in every boxing movie ever, from Rocky to… well, Rocky VIII or wherever they are right now. And this weekend, you saw it in more than one main event from Ireland to Las Vegas. Frampton was dropped in the seventh and came back to beat Garcia. Nyambayar visited the canvas against De La Torre in the second and rallied to keep his “O”. And everywhere else, the favorites of the day got cut and hurt but persevered to keep their careers going. A sign of the times? Fights becoming closer and more competitive everywhere? Not necessarily. But it is always great to see the basic premise of boxing as the theater of the unexpected perpetuating itself in rollercoaster performances. It keeps fans engaged, fighters focused and screenwriters busy. Just another week of good, old, anything-can-happen boxing, that’s all. And when it is this good, you really don’t need anything else on TV.

Hey Mr. Wu… What Shall I Do?

Breaking news for this week in boxing and politics: a rich guy who jockeyed his way into a position of power failed miserably to produce any of the positive changes he promised to implement, and his grand plans to overhaul the whole system and make things great again ended in disappointment, failure, and ultimately impeachment. Yes, you guessed it: we’re talking about the departure of Mr. Ching-Kuo Wu (who else?) from the helm of the mighty mighty AIBA, boxing’s only governing body (the rest are “sanctioning bodies,” in case you wonder). The institution in question announced that both them and Mr. Wu have parted ways, somehow amicably, which means they’ve found a way not to sue each other for decades.

But this also means the end of Wu’s desire to basically own boxing, in all of its facets, forever. Wu’s master plan included the creation of the mildly successful World Series of Boxing, a semi-pro competition designed to “bridge the gap” between old-school amateurs and budding professionals by means of a team competition in which fighters retained their Olympic eligibility while collecting fees for each fight or on a yearly basis, and the catastrophic APB, a pro-style competition which was shut down recently for the foreseeable future, with no prospects of ever reviving.

Sure, AIBA as an organization is responsible for whatever happens to those competitions and the careers of those boxers who invested their time and effort in competing there. But right now it will be interesting to see how that once grand plan to finally unite boxing under one single FIFA-like institution worldwide will continue under the interim presidency of Franco Falcinelli from Italy, their newly appointed leader. Wu was known for collecting a lot of enemies by trying to force boxing commissions worldwide to pick between AIBA titles and competitions and the rest of the governing bodies, and now that he is gone we have to wonder whether this marry-me-now-or-lose-me-forever extortion scheme will continue.

Colon’s Misguided Struggle for Respect  

You probably saw the videos or the photos already: a man holding a large sign over his head is escorted out of a weigh-in ceremony by security, while protesting the presence of the fighter who ruined his son’s life. We’re talking about the heart-breaking flash appearance of Richard Colon, father of Prichard Colon, during the weigh-in of Terrel “Tyger” Williams in Flint, Michigan, last Thursday, before Williams’ fight against Rosemberg Gomez.

Colon made the trek from Florida to stage his protest in honor of his son, who is now in a coma and considered to be brain damaged to the point of being permanently committed to a bed, unable to walk or even talk. Colon’s situation is the result of numerous rabbit punches applied by Williams in their fight back in October of 2015, but as much as Williams is at fault for applying those punches, it is also the role of Joe Cooper, the referee of that fateful bout, and to a large extent of the boxing commission of Virginia, as well as its ringside doctor Richard Ashby, which should receive some extended scrutiny in this disaster.

Granted, Colon accepted to continue fighting after telling the doctors that he felt “dizzy and hurt”, and that places some of the blame on himself. But as much as Williams is at fault for defiantly punching Colon again after being warned by the referee, it is also true that Cooper attempted to dismiss the gravity of the situation by urging Colon to stop pretending to be hurt and to continue fighting. And as much as Williams deserves to be the subject of Richard Colon’s grief and rage, Cooper should be equally called out  for his role in the fight, as well as the state commission and every person involved (from cornermen to other officials) who failed to knock some common sense into a dangerous situation.

The seriousness of Colon’s injury and the gravity of the whole situation demands a greater analysis that exceeds the limits of this humble column. But as much as Williams is to blame for his arrogant and reckless behavior in the ring, there is an entire culture of misguided testosterone prevailing over safety procedures that begs for an immediate revision. Colon will be there, waiting for it, as a silent reminder of Williams’, Cooper’s, his own and, to a large extent, our own collective shortcomings.

Check out more boxing news on video at The Boxing Channel.

 

To comment on this article at The Fight Forum, CLICK HERE.

Share The Sweet Science experience!
Advertisement
Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles1 week ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Pacquiao-is-Back,-Fabio-in-England-and-More.jpg
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap 329: Pacquiao is Back, Fabio in England and More

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Delving-Into-'Hoopa'-With-Notes-on-Books-by-George-Plimpton-and-Joyce-Carol-Oates
Featured Articles4 weeks ago

Delving into ‘Hoopla’ with Notes on Books by George Plimpton and Joyce Carol Oates

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles1 week ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles1 week ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Paro
Featured Articles6 days ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles5 days ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles3 days ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles4 days ago

Mbilli Blasts Out Sulecki in Quebec; Wilder TKOs Herndon in Wichita

Avila-Perspective-Chap-332-Jake-Paul-vs-Chavez-Jr-plus-Mbilli-Deontay-and-More
Featured Articles4 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 332: Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr., plus Mbilli, Deontay and More

Holly-Holm-Joshua-Edwards-and-Rene-Alvarado-Sparkle-on-the-Paul-Chavez-Undercard
Featured Articles3 days ago

Holly Holm, Joshua Edwards, and Rene Alvarado Sparkle on the Paul-Chavez Undercard

A-Boxing-Card-in-Alabama-Goes-Pfft-A-True-Tale-from-the-Underbelly-of-the-Sweet-Science
Featured Articles37 minutes ago

A Boxing Card in Alabama Goes Pfft: A True Tale from the Underbelly of The Sweet Science

Mexico's-Francisco-Rodriguez-Jr-is-the-TSS-Fighter-of-the-Month-for-June
Featured Articles1 day ago

Mexico’s Francisco Rodriguez Jr is the TSS Fighter of the Month for June

Jake-Paul-Outpoints-Julio-Cesar-Chavez-Jr-plus-Other-Results-from-Anaheim
Featured Articles3 days ago

Jake Paul Outpoints Julio Cesar Chavez Jr plus Other Results from Anaheim

Holly-Holm-Joshua-Edwards-and-Rene-Alvarado-Sparkle-on-the-Paul-Chavez-Undercard
Featured Articles3 days ago

Holly Holm, Joshua Edwards, and Rene Alvarado Sparkle on the Paul-Chavez Undercard

Mbilli-Blasts-Out-Sulecki-in-Quebec-Wilder-TKOs-Herndon-in-Wichita
Featured Articles4 days ago

Mbilli Blasts Out Sulecki in Quebec; Wilder TKOs Herndon in Wichita

Avila-Perspective-Chap-332-Jake-Paul-vs-Chavez-Jr-plus-Mbilli-Deontay-and-More
Featured Articles4 days ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 332: Jake Paul vs Chavez Jr., plus Mbilli, Deontay and More

A-Closer-Look-at-Mario-Barrios-Poised-to-Wreck-the-Comeback-of-a-Legend
Featured Articles5 days ago

A Closer Look at Mario Barrios, Poised to Wreck the Comeback of a Legend

Paro
Featured Articles6 days ago

Liam Paro Returns with a Flourish on Wednesday’s ‘No Limit’ Card in Queensland

More-Medals-for-Hawaii's-Patricio-Family-at-USA-Boxing's-Summer-Festival
Featured Articles1 week ago

More Medals for Hawaii’s Patricio Family at the USA Boxing Summer Festival

Callum-Walsh-Umar-Dzambekov-and-Cain-Sandoval-Remain-Unbeaten-at-Santa-Ynez
Featured Articles1 week ago

Callum Walsh, Umar Dzambekov and Cain Sandoval Remain Unbeaten at Santa Ynez

Vito-Mielnicki-Whitewashes-Kamil-Gardzielik-Before-the-Home-Folks-in-Newark
Featured Articles1 week ago

Vito Mielnicki Jr Whitewashes Kamil Gardzielik Before the Home Folks in Newark

Avila-Perspective-Chap-331-Callum-Walsh-Brian-Norman-Galal-Yafai-and-More
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 331: Callum Walsh, Brian Norman, Galal Yafai and More

Brian-Norman-Jr-Bombs-Out-Jin-Sasaki-with-a-Frightful-Left-Hook
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Brian Norman Jr Bombs Out Jin Sasaki with a Frightful Left Hook

A-Fight-Fan-and-Teremoana-Samson-Junior-Leon-Teremoana
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

A Fight Fan and Teremoana Samson Junior Leon Teremoana

Catching-Up-with-Clay-Moyle-Who-Talks-About-His-Massive-Collection-of-Boxing-Books
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Catching Up with Clay Moyle Who Talks About His Massive Collection of Boxing Books

Richardson-Hitchins-Batters-and-Stops-George-Kambosos-at-Madison-Square-Garden
Featured Articles2 weeks ago

Richardson Hitchins Batters and Stops George Kambosos at Madison Square Garden 

Avila-Perspective-Chap-330-Matchroom-in-New-York-plus-the-latest-on-Canelo-Crawford
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Avila Perspective, Chap. 330: Matchroom in New York plus the Latest on Canelo-Crawford

The-Shafting-of-Blair-the-Flair-Cobbs-a-Familar-Thread-in-the-Cruelest-Sport
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

The Shafting of Blair “The Flair” Cobbs, a Familiar Thread in the Cruelest Sport

Opetaia-and-Nakatani-Crush-Overmatched-Foes-Capping-Off-a-Wild-Boxing-Weekend
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Opetaia and Nakatani Crush Overmatched Foes, Capping Off a Wild Boxing Weekend

Fabio-Wardley-Comes-from-Behind-to-KO-Justis-Huni
Featured Articles3 weeks ago

Fabio Wardley Comes from Behind to KO Justis Huni  

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending