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Three Punch Combo: Handicapping Keith Thurman’s Next Opponent and More

Published

2 years ago

February 18, 2018

THREE PUNCH COMBO — Welterweight champion Keith Thurman (28-0, 22 KO’s) is set to return to the ring on May 19^th against an opponent to be determined. When Thurman does return, it will be on the heels of a 14-month layoff and he has made it very clear the opponent will not be any of the top contenders at welterweight. So just who will be in the ring with Thurman on May 19^th? Here are the realistic options.

Adrian Granados (18-6-2, 12 KO’s)

I would venture to say Granados is probably option A. Granados is a tough gritty fighter but somewhat limited and not a big puncher. He can give Thurman rounds and will give an honest effort to keep Thurman on his toes; in essence, give Thurman a nice tune up fight. Showtime, who will be airing Thurman’s return, has also broadcast the last two fights for Granados which were competitive losses to Adrien Broner and Shawn Porter.

Alan Sanchez (20-3-1, 10 KO’s)

Sanchez is on an eight fight winning streak since losing to Luis Collazo in September of 2013. Similar to Granados, he is durable and not a big hitter. Though Sanchez has decent skills, he cannot come close to matching the skills or athleticism of Thurman. The win streak will help sell him as a somewhat credible opponent and the durability is a plus as Team Thurman will certainly be looking to get their fighter rounds in advance of bigger things later this year.

Levan Ghvamichava (18-3-1, 13 KO’s)

Though Ghvamichava has lost two of his last four, those losses were to solid opponents and he is coming off a good win against 2012 Mexican Olympian Oscar Molina. Ghvamichava is an aggressive but plodding type of fighter who is very slow and easy to hit. He would be ideal in that Thurman won’t have to look for him; he will bring the fight to Thurman. In addition, Ghvamichava’s style would probably make for an entertaining fight and ultimately give Thurman a good chance to score a spectacular knockout.

When a Win Is a Loss and a Loss Is a Win –

The Story of Romallis Ellis vs. Vince Phillips

In boxing, talented veteran fighters still in the prime of their career are often very selective in their choice of opposition following a setback. The term “cherry picking” is sometimes used to describe their selection of opponents as they look to maneuver their way back into a big fight. However, these types of fights are often mismatches that do little to help their career and that fans detest.

Taking a risk of losing in a crossroads fight for that talented veteran against a quality opponent is often seen as bad business. The pay may be on par with fighting a lesser opponent so why take the risk of losing? But taking that risk may pay big dividends even if the fighter loses. As a matter of fact, a hard-fought loss against a solid opponent may even do more than a win. Take the case of the Romallis Ellis-Vince Phillips welterweight contest in 1997 where the end result benefited the loser more so than the winner.

The aggressive, hard punching Phillips, once a highly touted prospect, began 1997 with his career on the ropes. Problems with drugs hindered early portions of his career. Inside the ring, he had suffered TKO losses to journeyman Anthony Jones in 1993 and a fast rising undefeated Ike Quartey in 1996 in what was a welterweight title fight. Now at 35-2 and at a crossroads following a couple wins against nondescript opponents, Phillips agreed to take on former US Olympic bronze medalist Romallis Ellis in an HBO fight in January of 1997.

Ellis came out of the 1988 Olympics with some fanfare but his career had never really gotten much traction. Ellis faced a lot of subpar opponents early in his career and suffered a bad loss to journeyman Daryl Lattimore in 1992. Management issues and injuries stemming from being struck by a car led to periods of inactivity following the Lattimore loss. However, following the accident Ellis took on a big challenge in stopping Pedro Sanchez in October of 1996. The big win raised his record to 23-1 and set up the showdown on HBO just a few months later against Phillips.

The fight, scheduled for 10 rounds, was a good crisp professional fight with many close rounds and many good exchanges throughout the night. It was evenly matched and entertaining. At the final bell, it was anyone’s guess as to who would get the nod. In the end, it would be Ellis who won a split decision in what was easily the biggest victory of his career.

What happened next can really only happen in boxing. Kostya Tszyu held a 140-pound belt. HBO had taken notice of the hard punching Australian and wanted to bring him on board. For his HBO debut, Tszyu’s people wanted a particular type of opponent. They wanted Tszyu to put on a show. To do this, they needed an aggressive opponent who would bring the action to Tszyu but who also was seen as exploitable. In addition, the opponent needed to have somewhat of a name

Coming off another loss in his career, Vince Phillips fit that profile perfectly. Tszyu’s team thought their guy would make an explosive HBO debut. But Phillips had other things in mind when they faced each other in May of 1997 and pulled off a career resurrecting upset. The win for Phillips turned his career around and he probably never would have received the opportunity if he got the nod against Ellis a few months earlier.

On the flip side, Ellis found it tough to get a big contest following the Phillips win. But he eventually did get an offer to fight new 154-pound champion Raul Marquez. It was a bad matchup for Ellis in that he was badly outsized by the naturally bigger Marquez who dominated him and stopped him in the fourth round. Ellis could never get his career on track following the Marquez defeat and the win against Phillips was ultimately the final win of his career.

Flyweights Set to Steal the Thunder on SuperFly 2

HBO’s Boxing After Dark returns next week with a tripleheader in a card titled SuperFly 2. The event is headlined by a highly anticipated 115-pound title fight between title-holder Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (44-4-1, 40 KO’s) and his mandatory challenger Juan Francisco Estrada (36-2, 25 KO’s). Also on the card is an intriguing high stakes 115-pound crossroads bout between Carlos Cuadras (36-2-1, 27 KO’s) and McWilliams Arroyo (16-3, 14 KO’s). Though I love these two fights, it is the flyweight title bout between champion Donnie Nietes (40-1-4, 22 KO’s) and his mandatory challenger Juan Carlos Revco (39-3, 19 KO’s) that I think steals the show.

The 35-year-old Nietes, who hails from the Philippines, is a former three weight class world champion. He turned pro in 2003 and first won a world title in 2007 in the 105-pound division. He added a 108-pound belt in 2011 and a flyweight title in 2017, all the while not losing a single title fight during this time frame. He is a skilled boxer-puncher who will work behind the left jab from his orthodox stance and uses angles very well to land accurate power punching combinations. Nietes likes to be first and will also mix in some well-timed fluid uppercuts from the outside.

The 34-tear-old Revco, who hails from Argentina, is a former multi-division champion having won titles in both the 108-pound division as well as at flyweight. He is an aggressive fighter by nature who likes to work behind a stiff, well timed left jab to work his way inside. Once inside, he will go to work firing off combinations to both the head and body. Similar to Nietes, Revco prefers to lead and be first.

As we all know, in boxing styles make fights. And the styles of Nietes and Revco make for guaranteed action. Neither is afraid to be first and they will be letting their hands go from the opening bell. They are both crisp accurate punchers and neither would be considered a defensive wiz. In particular, there is not a lot of head movement from either. I see a fight that is competitive with plenty of punches landed on both sides.

It may not be getting the press of the 115-pound fights, but I think Nietes-Revco turns out to be the show stopper.

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Matt Andrzejewski

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The BWAA Shames Veteran Referee Laurence Cole and Two Nebraska Judges

Published

2 years ago

August 2, 2018

Arne K. Lang

In an unprecedented development, the Boxing Writers Association of America has started a “watch list” to lift the curtain on ring officials who have “screwed up.” Veteran Texas referee Laurence Cole and Nebraska judges Mike Contreras and Jeff Sinnett have the unwelcome distinction of being the first “honorees.”

“Boxing is a sport where judges and referees are rarely held accountable for poor performances that unfairly change the course of a fighter’s career and, in some instances, endanger lives,” says the BWAA in a preamble to the new feature. Hence the watch list, which is designed to “call attention to ‘egregious’ errors in scoring by judges and unacceptable conduct by referees.”

Contreras and Sinnett, residents of Omaha, were singled out for their scorecards in the match between lightweights Thomas Mattice and Zhora Hamazaryan, an eight round contest staged at the WinnaVegas Casino in Sloan, Iowa on July 20. They both scored the fight 76-75 for Mattice, enabling the Ohio fighter to keep his undefeated record intact via a split decision.

Although Mattice vs. Hamazaryan was a supporting bout, it aired live on ShoBox. Analyst Steve Farhood, who was been with ShoBox since the inception of the series in 2001, called it one of the worst decisions he had ever seen. Lead announcer Barry Tompkins went further, calling it the worst decision he has seen in his 40 years of covering the sport.

Laurence Cole (pictured alongside his father) was singled out for his behavior as the third man in the ring for the fight between Regis Prograis and Juan Jose Velasco at the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans on July 14. The bout was televised live on ESPN.

In his rationale for calling out Cole, BWAA prexy Joseph Santoliquito leaned heavily on Thomas Hauser’s critique of Cole’s performance in The Sweet Science. “Velasco fought courageously and as well as he could,” noted Hauser. “But at the end of round seven he was a thoroughly beaten fighter.”

His chief second bullied him into coming out for another round. Forty-five seconds into round eight, after being knocked down for a third time, Velasco spit out his mouthpiece and indicated to Cole that he was finished. But Cole insisted that the match continue and then, after another knockdown that he ruled a slip, let it continue for another 35 seconds before Velasco’s corner mercifully threw in the towel.

Controversy has dogged Laurence Cole for well over a decade.

Cole was the third man in the ring for the Nov. 25, 2006 bout in Hildalgo, Texas, between Juan Manuel Marquez and Jimrex Jaca. In the fifth round, Marquez sustained a cut on his forehead from an accidental head butt. In round eight, another accidental head butt widened and deepened the gash. As Marquez was being examined by the ring doctor, Cole informed Marquez that he was ahead on the scorecards, volunteering this information while holding his hand over his HBO wireless mike. The inference was that Marquez was free to quit right then without tarnishing his record. (Marquez elected to continue and stopped Jaca in the next round.)

This was improper. For this indiscretion, Cole was prohibited from working a significant fight in Texas for the next six months.

More recently, Cole worked the 2014 fight between Vasyl Lomachenko and Orlando Salido at the San Antonio Alamodome. During the fight, Salido made a mockery of the Queensberry rules for which he received no point deductions and only one warning. Cole’s performance, said Matt McGrain, was “astonishingly bad,” an opinion echoed by many other boxing writers. And one could site numerous other incidents where Cole’s performance came under scrutiny.

Laurence Cole is the son of Richard “Dickie” Cole. The elder Cole, now 87 years old, served 21 years as head of the Texas Department of Combat Sports Regulation before stepping down on April 30, 2014. At various times during his tenure, Dickie Cole held high executive posts with the World Boxing Council and North American Boxing Federation. He was the first and only inductee into the inaugural class of the Texas Boxing Hall of Fame, an organization founded by El Paso promoter Lester Bedford in 2015.

From an administrative standpoint, boxing in Texas during the reign of Dickie Cole was frequently described in terms befitting a banana republic. Whenever there was a big fight in the Lone Star State, his son was the favorite to draw the coveted refereeing assignment.

Boxing is a sideline for Laurence Cole who runs an independent insurance agency in Dallas. By law in Texas (and in most other states), a boxing promoter must purchase insurance to cover medical costs in the event that one or more of the fighters on his show is seriously injured. Cole’s agency is purportedly in the top two nationally in writing these policies. Make of that what you will.

Complaints of ineptitude, says the WBAA, will be evaluated by a “rotating committee of select BWAA members and respected boxing experts.” In subsequent years, says the press release, the watch list will be published quarterly in the months of April, August, and December (must be the new math).

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Popo vs. “La Hiena”: Blast From the Past – Episode Two

Published

2 years ago

July 30, 2018

Ted Sares

When WBA/WBO super featherweight champion Acelino “Popo” Freitas met Jorge Rodrigo “Il Hiena” Barrios in Miami on August 8, 2003, there was more on the line than just the titles. This was a roughhousing 39-1-1 Argentinian fighting an equally tough 33-0 Brazilian. The crowd was divided between Brazilian fans and those from Argentina. To them this was a Mega-Fight; this was BIG.

When Acelino Freitas turned professional in 1995, he streaked from the gate with 29 straight KOs, one of the longest knockout win streaks in boxing history. He was fan-friendly and idolized in Brazil. Barrios turned professional in 1996 and went 14-0 before a DQ loss after which he went 25-0-1 with 1 no decision.

The Fight

The wild swinging “Hyena” literally turned into one as he attacked from the beginning and did not let up until the last second of the eleventh round. Barrios wanted to turn the fight into a street fight and was reasonably successful with that strategy. It became a case of brawler vs. boxer/puncher and when the brawler caught the more athletic Popo—who could slip and duck skillfully—and decked him with a straight left in the eighth, the title suddenly was up for grabs.

The Brazilian fans urged their hero on but to no avail as Barrios rendered a pure beat down on Popo during virtually the entirety of the 11th round—one of the most exciting in boxing history. Freitas went down early from a straight right. He was hurt, and at this point it looked like it might be over. Barrios was like a madman pounding Popo with a variety of wild shots, but with exactly one half of one second to go before the bell ending the round, Freitas caught La Hiena with a monster right hand that caused the Hyena to do the South American version of the chicken dance before he went down with his face horribly bloodied. When he got up, he had no idea where he was but his corner worked furiously to get him ready for the final round. All he had to do was hang in there and the title would change hands on points.

The anonymous architect of “In Boxing We Trust,” a web site that went dormant in 2010, wrote this description:

“Near the end of round 11, about a milli-second before the bell rang, Freitas landed a ROCK HARD right hand shot flush on Barrios’ chin. Barrios stood dazed for a moment, frozen in time, and then down he went, WOW WOW WOW!!!! Barrios got up at the count of 4, he didn’t know where he was as he looked around towards the crowd like a kid separated from his family at a theme park, but Barrios turned to the ref at the count of 8 and signaled that he was okay, SAVED BY THE BELL. It was panic time in the Barrios corner, as the blood continued to flow like lava, and he was bleeding from his ear (due to a ruptured ear drum). In the beginning of round 12, Freitas was able to score an early knockdown, and as Barrios stood up on wobbly legs and Freitas went straight at him and with a couple more shots, Barrios was clearly in bad shape and badly discombobulated and the fight was stopped. Freitas had won a TKO victory in round 12, amazing!!!!”

Later, Freitas tarnished his image with a “No Mas” against Diego Corrales, but he had gone down three times and knew there was no way out. He went on to claim the WBO world lightweight title with a split decision over Zahir Raheem, but that fight was a snoozefest and he lost the title in his first defense against Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz.

Freitas looked out of shape coming in to the Diaz fight and that proved to be the case as he was so gassed at the end of the eighth round that he quit on his stool. This was yet another shocker, but others (including Kostya Tszyu, Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya and even Ali) had done so and the criticism this time seemed disproportionate.

Popo had grown old. It happens. Yet, against Barrios, he had proven without a doubt that he possessed the heart of a warrior.

The Brazilian boxing hero retired in 2007, but came back in 2012 and schooled and KOd the cocky Michael “The Brazilian Rocky” Oliveira. He won another fight in 2015 and though by now he was visibly paunchy, he still managed to go 10 rounds to beat Gabriel Martinez in 2017 with occasional flashes of his old explosive volleys. These later wins, though against lower level opposition, somewhat softened the memories of the Corrales and Diaz fights, both of which this writer attended at the Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, Connecticut. They would be his only defeats in 43 pro bouts.

Like Manny Pacquiao, Freitas had a difficult childhood but was determined to make a better life for himself and his family. And, like Manny, he did and he also pursued a career in politics. Whether he makes it into the Hall will depend on how much a ‘No Mas’ can count against one, but he warrants serious consideration when he becomes eligible.

As for the Hyena, on April 8, 2005, he won the WBO junior lightweight title with a fourth round stoppage of undefeated but overweight Mike Anchondo. In January 2010 he was involved in a hit and run accident in which a 20-year-old pregnant woman was killed. On April 4, 2012 Barrios was declared guilty of culpable homicide and sentenced to four years in prison. He served 27 months and never fought again, retiring with a record of 50-4-1.

Ted Sares is one of the oldest active full power lifters in the world. A member of Ring 10, and Ring 4’s Boxing Hall of Fame, he was recently cited by Hannibal Boxing as one of three “Must-Read” boxing writers.

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The Avila Perspective Chapter 6: Munguia, Cruiserweights and Pacman

Published

2 years ago

July 18, 2018

David A. Avila

Adjoining states in the west host a number of boxing cards including a world title contest that features a newcomer who, before knocking out a world champion, was erroneously categorized by a Nevada official as unworthy of a title challenge.

Welcome to the world of Mexico’s Jaime Munguia (29-0, 25 KOs) the WBO super welterweight world titlist who meets England’s Liam Smith (26-1-1, 14 KOs) at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, July 21. HBO will televise

Back in April when middleweight titan Gennady “GGG” Golovkin was seeking an opponent to replace Saul “Canelo” Alvarez who was facing suspension for performance enhancement drug use, it was the 21-year-old from Tijuana who volunteered his services for a May 5^th date in Las Vegas.

Bob Bennett, the Executive Director for Nevada State Athletic Commission, denied allowing Munguia an opportunity to fight Golovkin for the middleweight titles. Bennett claimed that the slender Mexican fighter had not proven worthy of contesting for the championship though the tall Mexican wielded an undefeated record of 28 wins with 24 coming by knockout.

To be fair, Bennett has seen many fighters in the past with undefeated records who were not up to challenges, especially against the likes of Golovkin. But on the other hand, how can an official involved in prizefighting deny any fighter the right to make a million dollar payday if both parties are willing?

That is the bigger question.

Munguia stopped by Los Angeles to meet with the media last week and spoke about Bennett and his upcoming first world title defense. He admitted to being in the middle of a whirlwind that is spinning beyond his expectations. But he likes it.

“I’ve never won any kind of award before in my life,” said Munguia at the Westside Boxing Club in the western portion of Los Angeles. “I’ve always wanted to be a world champion since I was old enough to fight.”

When asked how he felt about Nevada’s denying him an attempt to fight Golovkin, a wide grin appeared on the Mexican youngster.

“I would like to thank him,” said Munguia about Bennett’s refusal to allow him to fight Golovkin. “Everything happens for a reason.”

That reason is clear now.

Two months ago Munguia put on a frightening display of raw power in knocking down then WBO super welterweight titlist Sadam Ali numerous times in front of New York fans. It reminded me of George Foreman’s obliteration of Joe Frazier back in the 1970s. World champions are not supposed get battered like that but when someone packs that kind of power those can be the terrifying results.

Still beaming over his newfound recognition, Munguia has grand plans for his future including challenging all of the other champions in his weight category and the next weight division.

“I want to be a great champion,” said Munguia. “I want to make history.”

The first step toward history begins on Saturday when he faces former world champion Smith who was dethroned by another Mexican named Canelo.

Cruiserweight championship

It’s not getting a large amount of attention in my neighborhood but this unification clash between WBA and IBF cruiserweight titlist Murat Gassiev (26-0, 19 KOs) and WBC and WBO cruiserweight titlist Oleksandr Usyk (14-0, 11 KOs) has historic ramifications tagged all over it.

The first time I ever saw Russia’s 24-year-old Gassiev was three years ago when he made his American debut at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello. It’s a small venue near East L.A. and the fight was attended by numerous boxing celebrities such as James “Lights Out” Toney, Mauricio “El Maestro” Herrera and Gennady “GGG” Golovkin. One entire section was filled by Russian supporters and Gassiev did not disappoint in winning by stoppage that night. His opponent hung on for dear life.

Ukraine’s Usyk, 31, made his American debut in late 2016 on a Golden Boy Promotions card that staged boxing great Bernard Hopkins’ final prizefight. That night the cruiserweight southpaw Usyk bored audiences with his slap happy style until lowering the boom on South Africa’s Thabiso Mchunu in round nine at the Inglewood Forum. The sudden result stunned the audience.

Now it’s Gassiev versus Usyk and four world titles are at stake. The unification fight takes place in Moscow, Russia and will be streamed via Klowd TV at 12 p.m. PT/ 3 p.m. ET.

Seldom are cruiserweight matchups as enticing to watch as this one.

Another Look

A couple of significant fights took place last weekend, but Manny Pacquiao’s knockout win over Lucas Matthysse for the WBO welterweight world title heads the list.

Neither fighter looked good in their fight in Malaysia but when Pacquiao floored Matthysse several times during the fight, it raised some red flags.

The last time Pacquiao knocked out a welterweight was in 2009 against Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas. Since then he had not stopped an opponent. What changed?

In this age of PEDs there was no mention of testing for the Pacquiao/Matthysse fight. For the curiosity of the media and the fans, someone should come forward with proof of testing. Otherwise any future fights for the Philippine great will not be forthcoming.

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