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The Boxing World Mourns the Passing of Patrick Day
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Patrick Day passed away today, Oct. 16, 2019, at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, succumbing to a traumatic brain injury incurred in his bout last Saturday with Charles Conwell. Day was felled by a devastating left hook in the 10th round and hit his head on the canvas as he fell. He was taken from the ring on a gurney and died without regaining consciousness. A former New York City Golden Gloves champion and 2012 U.S. Olympic team alternate, Day, 27, had been on the deck twice previously during the fight, but had good moments during the middle rounds.
New Jersey boxing writer Ryan Songalia, who has followed Day since his amateur days, called him one of the true gentlemen of the sport. Dozens of others weighed in on social media with the same sentiment when they heard that Day had been hospitalized, including Long Islandâs Chris Algieri, the former WBO junior welterweight champion who had likewise known Day since his amateur days. âOne of the true nice guys in the sport who stood out as a consummate gentleman warrior,â wrote Algieri. In the words of British promoter Eddie Hearn, Patrick Day had a smile that could light up a room.
One of the most poignant social media posts was written by Charles Conwell. âIf I could take it all back, I would,â said Conwell. âI canât stop thinking about it myself. I prayed for you so many times and shed so many tears because I couldnât even imagine how my family and friends would feel. I see you everywhere you go and all I hear is wonderful things about you.â
Conwell indicated that he was thinking of quitting boxing. Joe Higgins, Patrick Dayâs coach and mentor, responded: âAs devastated as we are, we realize you are equally devastatedâŠThank you for your kind wordsâŠ(Patrick) would have wanted you to continue.â
Patrick Day was born and raised in Freeport, New York, a community on the South Shore of Long Island. He recalled that he was 14 years old when he first hit a heavy bag. The bag was in Joe Higginsâ garage. Day came in the open door uninvited and a great friendship was born.
Aside from Day’s immediate family, no one is more devastated than Higgins who ran the boxing program for Freeportâs Police Athletic League. Higgins remembers being there when Dayâs Haitian-American parents brought him home from the hospital. The Higgins and the Days live across the street from each other in one of the nicer sections of the community. (Dayâs father is a physician; his mother has worked as a translator at the United Nations. Patrick Day attended Nassau County Community College and earned a Bachelorâs Degree online in Health, Wellness, and Nutrition from Kaplan University.)
A second-generation New York City firefighter who lost a brother in 9/11, Joe Higgins spent months digging through the rubble of the World Trade Center and developed severe respiratory problems, forcing an early retirement. The boxing gym was his refuge and he believed firmly that the kids he was teaching would grow up to be better citizens because of the life lessons they learned there. (ESPN reporter Mark Kriegel, speaking to Higgins as Patrick Day lay in a coma, was told by a distraught Higgins that he had commanded his assistants to padlock the gym and have the locks changed and that he could never bring himself to go back there again.)
Ring deaths have become all too common lately. In July, fights on back-to-back nights produced ring fatalities.
Maxim Dadashev died from injuries suffered in his bout with Subriel Matias on July 19 at the MGM National Harbor Casino and Resort in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Dadashevâs corner pulled him out after the 11th round, but it was too late even though Dadashev protested the stoppage. The fighter collapsed as he was leaving the ring and died on July 23 without regaining consciousness.
Argentine boxer Hugo Santillan and Uruguayâs Eduardo Abreu fought to a 10-round draw in Buenos Aires on July 20. Santillan passed out as the scorecards were being tallied and fell into a coma with a brain injury. He died five days later.
On September 21, Boris Stanchov, a 21-year-old boxer fighting under an assumed name, suffered a sudden and fatal heart attack following the fifth round of a 6-round contest in Qazim Dervishi, Albania. This was Stanchovâs sixth documented pro fight. He had lost the previous five.
Thereâs a certain irony in the fact that Patrick Day was from Freeport. On Feb. 20 of last year, the town of Freeport, Illinois, held a day to honor native son Gerald McClellan who suffered permanent brain damage in a fight with Nigel Benn in London in February of 1995.
Freeport, New York, and Freeport, Illinois are approximately 800 miles apart, but now they are linked with something other than the name that they share.
âYouâll never hear my guys spit out curse words or embarrass their mothers, but donât mistake their kindness for weakness because theyâll knock the snot out of you,â Joe Higgins told Yahoo combat sports writer Kevin Iole for a story that ran four years ago this month.
By all accounts, Patrick Day didnât need boxing to turn him into a gentleman. It was always in his DNA, instilled there by his parents. May he rest in peace.
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Fast-Rising Omar Trinidad KOs Slavinskyi at the Commerce Casino
![Fast-Rising-Omar-Trinidad-KOs-Slavinskyi-at-the-Commerce-Casino](https://tss.ib.tv/boxing/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/avila.png)
East L.A.âs Omar Trinidad knocked out Ukraineâs Viktor Slavinskyi to retain the WBC Continental Americaâs featherweight title on Friday in a strategic but entertaining contest.
Fighting in front of frenzied crowd of supporters Trinidad (16-0-1, 13 KOs) defeated southpaw Slavinskyi (15-3-1, 7 KOs) with a measured and careful attack at the Commerce Casino in Commerce, Calif.
Fans familiar with Trinidad (pictured over the right shoulder of promoter Tom Loeffler) are familiar with his aggressive pressure fighting style, but the Boyle Heights pugilist took a careful approach against Slavinskyi. Instead of a pounding assault Trinidad kept the fight at a distance and used his reach advantage to perfection.
It was reminiscent of long-armed fighters of the past like the late great Mando Ramos of the late 1960s who could punch or box. Pick your poison.
Trinidad employed a constant jab and well-placed counter shots. The right hand, in particular, was especially effective.
âI couldnât miss with the right,â said Trinidad
For seven rounds Trinidad dominated with counter-punching. Then, Slavinskyi increased the pressure and forced the East L.A. fighter to come along. He did.
âIf I could get a knockout Iâd put him in the blender,â Trinidad said.
From the eighth round until the end Trinidad engaged in his usual fast and furious style and was especially effective with uppercuts in ninth round. Slavinskyi walked into a right uppercut that sent him across the ring and into the ropes. Referee Ray Corona ruled it a knockdown.
In the final round Trinidad wasted no time in looking to unload with an uppercut and Slavinskyi walked into a right hand version. There was no escape as he was ruled unable to continue by Corona at 2:31 of the 10th and final round.
Trinidad keeps the title.
âThe left hook and right uppercut was the money shot,â said Trinidad. âIt was well-timed and it was a money shot.â
Welterweights
A fight between buddies from the same Armenian amateur team saw Aram Amirkhanyun (16-0-1, 4 KOs) defeat Gor Yeritsyan (18-1, 14 KOs) by split decision after 10 hard-fought rounds in a welterweight fight for a regional title.
The judges scored it 96-94 Yeritsyan and 96-94 twice for Amirkhanyun. No knockdowns were scored.
Iyana âRight Hook Roxyâ Verduzco (2-0) proved that adapting into a pro style was not a problem in soundly defeating Pittsburghâs Colleen Davis (3-2-1) after six featherweight rounds. Her best weapon was accuracy.
Verduzco, who is trained by her mother Gloria Alvarado, had been one of the most decorated amateur boxers for many years. In just her second pro fight the tell-tale signs of the amateur style were gone.
While the taller Davis circled rapidly to the left, Verduzco calmly waited for the openings and blasted away with pinpoint shots to the body and head. Her right hook was deadly accurate and the left found openings whenever they appeared.
Davis was able to land rights but just not enough to offset the incoming fire from the Southern California fighter. After six rounds all three judges scored it 60-54 for Verduzco.
In a firefight, Abel Mejia (5-0, 4 KOs) barely survived a second round knockdown against Tijuanaâs rugged Jose Correa (6-10, 4 KOs) and rallied to remain relevant in the super featherweight match. In the fourth and final round Mejia beat Correa to the punch with a left hook that knocked out the tough Mexican challenger at 55 seconds as referee Ray Corona stopped the fight.
A super featherweight fight saw Hawaiiâs Jaybrio Pe Benito (5-0, 4 KOs) power past Texan Michael Land (1-5-1) for a knockout win at 1:30 of the second round. Benito was too powerful and busy for Land who tried but was unable to slow down the assault.
Photo credit: Lina Baker
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Avila Perspective, Chap. 289: East LA, Claressa Shields and More
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Avila Perspective, Chap. 289: East LA, Claressa Shields and More
East Los Angeles has long been a haven for some of the best fighters around if you can keep them out of trouble. For every Oscar De La Hoya or Seniesa Estrada there are thousands derailed by crime, drugs or drinking.
Boxing has always been a favorite sport of East L.A. Every family has an uncle or two who boxes.
On Friday, 360 Promotionsâ Omar Trinidad (15-0-1) fights Viktor Slavinskyi (15-2-1) in the main event at Commerce Casino, in Commerce, CA. UFC Fight Pass will stream the fight card.
The City of Commerce used to be part of East L.A. until 1960 when it incorporated. Itâs still considered to be part of East Los Angeles, but informally.
Plenty of fighters come out of East L.A. but few make it all the way like De La Hoya and Estrada. Will Trinidad be the one?
The first world champion from East L.A. or âEast Losâ as some call it, was Solly Garcia Smith back in the late 1800s. Others were Richie Lemos, Art Frias and Joey Olivo. There is also 1984 Olympic gold medalist Paul Gonzalez.
Once again 360 Promotions brings its popular brand of fights to the area. On this fight card includes two female bouts. One features Roxy Verduzco (1-0) the former amateur star fighting Colleen Davis (3-1-1) in a featherweight fight.
All that action takes place on Friday.
Elite Boxing
The next day, also in East L.A., Elite Boxing stages another boxing card at Salesian High School located at 960 S. Soto Street in the Boyle Heights area of East Los Angeles.
Elite Boxing has promoted several successful boxing cards at the Catholic high school grounds. The area is saturated by many of the best eateries in Los Angeles. Donât take my word for it. Check it out yourself and grab some of that delicious food.
Boxing has long been a favorite sport of anyone who lives in East L.A. Itâs a fight town equal to Philadelphia, Brooklyn or Detroit. Thereâs something different about the area. For more than 100 years some of the best fighters continue to come out of its boxing gyms. Some will be performing on these club shows.
For tickets or information go to www.eliteboxingusa.com
Claressa Shields in Detroit
Speaking of fight towns, pound-for-pound best Claressa Shields who won two Olympic Gold Medals in boxing, moves up another weight division to tackle the WBC heavyweight world champion Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse on Saturday, July 27, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan.
DAZN will stream the heavy-duty fight card.
Shields (14-0) cleaned out the super welterweight, middleweight and super middleweight divisions and now wants to add the big girls to her conquests. She will be facing Canadaâs Lepage-Joanisse  (7-1) who holds the WBC belt.
The last time Shields gloved up was more than a year ago when she fought Maricela Cornejo. Donât blame Shields. She loves to fight. She loves to win. The last time Shields lost a fight was in the amateurs and that was three presidential administrations ago.
Shields doesnât lose.
I wonder if Las Vegas even takes bets on her fights?
The only fight she may have been an underdog was against Savannah Marshall who was the last opponent to defeat her. And that was in 2012 in China. When they met as pros two years ago, Shields avenged her loss with a blistering attack.
Donât get Shields mad.
Perhaps her toughest foe as a pro was in her pro debut when she clashed with Franchon Crews-Dezurn in Las Vegas. It was four rounds of fists and fury as the two pounded each other on the undercard of Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev in November 2016.
That was a ferocious debut for both female pugilists.
Assisting Shields on this fight card will be several intriguing male bouts. One guy you should pay special attention is Tito Mercado (15-0, 14 KOs) a super lightweight prospect from Pomona, California.
Many excellent fighters have come out of Pomona including Sugar Shane Mosley, Shane Mosley Jr., Alberto Davila and Richie Sandoval who just passed away this week.
Sandoval was best known for his 15-round war with Philadelphiaâs Jeff Chandler for the bantamweight world title in 1984. Read the story by Arne K. Lang on this link: https://tss.ib.tv/boxing/featured-boxing-articles-boxing-news-videos-rankings-and-results/81467-former-world-bantamweight-champion-richie-sandoval-passes-away-at-age-63 .
Fights to Watch
Fri. UFC Fight Pass 7 p.m. Omar Trinidad (15-0-1) vs Viktor Slavinskyi (15-2-1).
Sat. ESPN+ 12:30 p.m. Joe Joyce (16-2) vs Derek Chisora (34-13).
Sat. DAZN Â 3 p.m. Claressa Shields (14-0) vs Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse (7-1), Michel Rivera (25-1) vs Hugo Roldan (22-2-1); Tito Mercado (15-0) vs Hector Sarmiento (21-2).
Omar Trinidad photo by Lina Baker
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Arneâs Almanac: Jake Paul and Womenâs Boxing, a Curmudgeonâs Take
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Jake Paul can fight more than a little. The view from here is that he would make it interesting against any fringe contender in the cruiserweight division. However, Jakeâs boxing acumen pales when paired against his skill as a flim-flam artist.
Jake brought a 9-1 record into last weekendâs bout with Mike Perry. As noted by boxing writer Paul Magno, Jakeâs previous opponents consisted of âa You Tuber, a retired NBA star, five retired MMA stars, a part-time boxer/reality TV star, and two undersized and inactive fall-guy boxers.â
Mike Perry, a 32-year-old Floridian, was undefeated (6-0, 3 KOs) as a bare-knuckle boxer after forging a 14-8 record in UFC bouts. In pre-fight blurbs, Perry was billed as the baddest bare knuckle boxer of all time, but against Jake Paul he proved to have very unrefined skills as a conventional boxer which Team Paul undoubtedly knew all along. Perry lasted into the eighth round in a one-sided fight that could have been stopped a lot sooner.
Jake Paul is both a boxer and a promoter. As a promoter, he handles Amanda Serrano, one of the greatest female boxers in history. That makes him the person most responsible (because the buck stops with him) for the wretched mismatch in last Saturdayâs co-feature, the bout between Serrano and Stevie Morgan.
Morgan, who took up boxing two years ago at age 33, brought a 14-1 record. Nicknamed the Sledgehammer, she had won 13 of her 14 wins by knockout, eight in the opening round. However, although she resides in Florida, all but one of those 13 knockouts happened in Colombia.
âWe found that in Colombia there were just more opportunities for womenâs boxing than in the United States,â she told a prominent boxing writer whose name we wonât mention.
The truth is that, for some folks, Colombia is the boxing equivalent of a feeder lot for livestock, a place where a boxer can go to fatten their record. The opportunities there were no greater than in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in 1995. It was there that Peter McNeeley prepped for his match with Mike Tyson with a 6-second knockout of professional punching bag Frankie Hines. (Six seconds? So it would be written although no one seems to have been there to witness it.)
Serrano vs Morgan was understood to be a stay-busy fight for Amanda whose rematch with Katie Taylor was postponed until November. Stevie Morgan, to her credit, answered the bell for the second round whereas others in her situation would have remained on the stool and invented an injury to rationalize it. Thirty-eight seconds later it was all over and Ms. Morgan was free to go home and use her sledgehammer to do some light dusting.
The Paul-Perry and Serrano-Morgan fights played out in a sold-out arena in Tampa before an estimated 17,000. Those without a DAZN subscription paid $64.95 for the livestream. Paulâs next promotion, where he will touch gloves with 58-year-old Mike Tyson (unless Iron Mike pulls a Joe Biden and pulls out; a capital idea) with Serrano-Taylor II the semi-main, will almost certainly rake in more money than any other boxing promotion this year.
Asked his opinion of so-called crossover boxing by a reporter for a college newspaper, the venerable boxing promoter Bob Arum said, âItâs not my bag but folks who donât like it shouldnât get too worked up over it because no one is stealing from anybody.â True enough, but for some of us, the phenomenon is distressing.
—
The next big womenâs fight happens Saturday in Detroit where Claressa Shields seeks a world title in a third weight class against WBC heavyweight belt-holder Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse.
A two-time Olympic gold medalist, undefeated in 14 fights as a pro, Shields is very good, arguably the best female boxer of her generation which makes her, arguably, the best female boxer of all time. But turning away Lepage-Joanisse (7-1, 2 KOs) wonât elevate her stature in our eyes.
Purportedly 17-4 as an amateur, the Canadian won her title in her second crack at it. Back in August of 2017, she challenged Cancunâs Alejandra Jimenez in Cancun and was stopped in the third round. Entering the bout, Lepage-Joanisse was 3-0 as a pro and had never fought a match slated for more than four rounds.
![Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse](https://tss.ib.tv/boxing/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Vanessa-300x263.png)
Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse
True, on the womenâs side, the heavyweight bracket is a very small pod. A sanctioning body has to make concessions to harness a sanctioning fee. Nonetheless, how absurd that a woman who had answered the bell for only 11 rounds would be deemed qualified to compete for a world title. (FYI: Alejandra Jimenez was purportedly born a man. She left the sport with a 12-0-1 record after her win over Franchon Crews Dazurn was changed to a no-contest when she tested positive for the banned steroid stanozolol.)
Following her defeat to Jimenez, Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse, now 29 years old, was out of action for six-and-a-half years. When she returned, she was still a heavyweight, but a much slender heavyweight. She carried 231 pounds for Jimenez. In her most recent bout where she captured the vacant WBC title with a split decision over Argentinaâs Abril Argentina Vidal, she clocked in at 173 ÂŒ. (On the distaff side, thereâs no uniformity among the various sanctioning bodies as to what constitutes a heavyweight.)
Claressa Shields doesnât need Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse to reinforce her credentials as a future Hall of Famer. She made the cut a long time ago.
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