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Corrales-Castillo I: The Hors d’oeuvres Before the Feast Were Tasty, Too
The anniversary date is approaching of the best boxing match I ever saw live and in person, the epic first meeting of lightweight champions Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo, which Corrales won the night of May 7, 2005, by miraculously rallying to win on a 10th-round stoppage after being decked twice himself in that very same round. There have been more consequential fights I have covered from ringside – Hagler-Leonard, Tyson-Spinks, Tyson-Douglas and Chavez-Taylor I immediately spring to mind – but for unrelenting excitement and nearly incomprehensible momentum swings, Corrales-Castillo I tops even Arturo Gatti’s two slugfests with Ivan Robinson and his unforgettable trilogy with Micky Ward.
But lost, or nearly so, in the annual homages paid to what Corrales and Castillo did in the ring that night at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay is the celebration that preceded it at the same site the night before. That would be the 80th annual Boxing Writers Association of America Awards Dinner, the first for the organization not held on the East Coast. I have particularly fond memories of that historic occasion because I, the then-BWAA president, had an instrumental role in making it happen, as did several others, but I couldn’t have known that the accompanying attraction the following night – Corrales-Castillo, which was televised by Showtime – would arguably make for the best weekend for boxing in the memories of many who were on hand for both events. If Corrales-Castillo I is a top contender for best fight ever, then the BWAA Awards Dinner the night before still stands as the undisputed champion of any such commemoration of the sweet science.
It was BWAA member and Las Vegas Review-Journal boxing writer Kevin Iole who first forwarded the idea that, since so many big fights were staged in his town, it might make sense to stage the 2005 dinner there. That seemed reasonable to me, so months in advance I sought to set things in motion. There were two prerequisites: the dinner would have to be paired with an attractive fight card the following evening, and be held at the same casino property hosting that card. I contacted officials at both HBO and Showtime, but it was then-Showtime Sports executive Jay Larkin – now, sadly, deceased – who enthusiastically said he would not only furnish an appropriate main event, but was willing to go a half-million dollars over his normal budget to make just the right pairing. Given today’s bloated financial figures (see Mayweather-Pacquiao), that might not seem like much, but it was a major commitment on the part of Jay’s company 15 years ago. With Showtime aboard, the Mandalay Bay also came on board as the host casino-hotel for the fight and the dinner, with Gordon Absher as gung-ho as Larkin and BWAA officers to ensure that everything went as smoothly as possible. What did happen, of course, exceeded ever our wildest expectations.
Interestingly, the 95th BWAA Awards Dinner, which remains in limbo because of the pandemic, was being discussed for Vegas in early May, to be held in conjunction with a Canelo Alvarez bout as is his custom for Cinco de Mayo weekend. Although our event still takes place most often in New York, we returned to The Strip a couple of times since 2005 and even went farther west, to Los Angeles, on another occasion. But wherever and whenever current BWAA president Joe Santoliquito and event coordinator Gina Andriolo choose to go, topping that 2005 dinner will be as daunting a task as attaching our event with a fight that can match or exceed Corrales-Castillo I.
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Here is the column I wrote about the 80th annual BWAA Awards Dinner that appeared in the Philadelphia Daily News on May 10, 2005:
The wife was straightening the tie to my rental tuxedo when I made the mistake of fishing for a compliment.
“So what do you think?” I asked. “Cary Grant, right?”
“You look nice,” my wonderful but honest Annie finally allowed. “But Cary Grant? I don’t think so.”
OK, so I’m never going to get a casting call for the remake of North by Northwest. Doesn’t matter. An hour after adjusting those tricky cuff links, I was made to feel like a suave and debonair star of the screen at the 80th annual Boxing Writers Association of America’s Awards Dinner, which was as close to Hollywood glitz as an ink-stained media wretch ever is going to get.
The host venue, Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, literally rolled out the red carpet for arriving guests. Fight fans were lined to the side holding out gloves and programs for the many current or former world champions to sign. None of the autograph seekers confused me for Cary Grant either, or for Bernard Hopkins for that matter, but, as president of the BWAA, I got pulled over for five television interviews. As I offered my thoughts on whatever to a microphone wielder with a blow-dried haircut, a camera crew to my left was interviewing Sugar Ray Leonard. One to my right was quizzing Don King.
At a resort that has a shark habitat, it occurred to me that I was chum in the water during a TV feeding frenzy. And I couldn’t help but think that there never had been a night like this since the BWAA was founded in 1925 as the Boxing Writers Association of Greater New York.
Every year, usually in April (note: dinners now are held in various months, depending on the fight with which it can be linked), the BWAA convenes at a New York hotel to pass out awards to the Fighter of the Year, Manager of the Year, Trainer of the Year and so forth. It’s a nice affair, reasonably well-attended, and a blip on the radar screen of the Big Apple’s daily social calendar. Put it this way: the BWAA dinner isn’t knocking the Yankees off the back pages of that city’s tabloids.
Fourteen months ago, however, Las Vegas Review-Journal boxing writer Kevin Iole, the Western representative to the BWAA’s board of directors, posed some simple questions. How come there never had been a BWAA Awards Dinner in Las Vegas, which is now the site of most major fight cards held in this country? And shouldn’t the organization’s premier event be accessible to members from California, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico, most of whom had never or would never make it to New York for our annual shindig?
Hey, even the Army-Navy football game was played in the Rose Bowl once. So I told Kevin I would consider a BWAA road trip if (1) a host casino-hotel stepped forward, and (2) a suitable fight card could be arranged the following night as an anchor to our event.
Kevin soon advised me that the Mandalay Bay was willing to come aboard for May 7. Shortly after that, Showtime Sports head Jay Larkin committed to providing the best card he possibly could for the following night.
Saturday night, after Diego Corrales stopped Jose Luis Castillo in 10 rounds in a lightweight unification slugfest that became an instant classic, people still were coming up to me and saying this had been one of boxing’s best weekends ever.
Hey, after 79 BWAA dinners – 76 in New York, two at Catskills resorts, one in Atlantic City – it probably was time for someone to float a test balloon in the southern Nevada desert. All I did was let go of the string that had kept us tethered to New York, New York.
The person most responsible for making the BWAA Awards Dinner a happening is Gordon Absher, public relations director for the Mandalay Bay. Gordon recruited so many big names, the group photographed in the ring that had been set up in place of a dais was the most impressive assemblage of boxing talent in one place anyone could remember.
Anyone lucky enough to be holding a ticket – and the event sold out, which probably is a first – could look around the room and see, among others, Leonard, Hopkins, Oscar De La Hoya, Vitali Klitschko, James Toney, Chris Byrd, Lamon Brewster, Winky Wright, Floyd Mayweather, Hasim Rahman, Shane Mosley, Erik Morales and Zab Judah.
There were Imax screens set up to either side of the ring for video highlights of the nominated fights and fighters, and a snappy, tightly scripted format that the people responsible for staging the Academy Awards would be wise to emulate.
Additional kudos go to Iole, our point guy at the scene; BWAA event coordinator Gina Andriolo and BWAA vice president Jack Hirsch, who helped stuff the goody bags attendees took home along with their memories.
Perhaps the most amazing development of all is that representatives of several prospective host venues, on both sides of the country, approached me with preliminary offers to host the 2006 BWAA Awards Dinner.
Hey, so what if Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman, the Oscar-winning stars of Million Dollar Baby, declined my invitation to meet and mingle with the fight folk?
The way this Cary Grant wannabe looks at it, that was their loss, not ours.
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Canelo Proves Too Canny and Tough for Edgar Berlanga in Las Vegas
Canelo Proves Too Canny and Tough for Edgar Berlanga in Las Vegas
Never underestimate a Puerto Rico versus Mexico fight.
Mexican superstar Saul “Canelo” Alvarez needed all 12 rounds to defeat Puerto Rico’s super strong Edgar Berlanga and retain the unified super middleweight championship on Saturday.
Berlanga never quit.
“He’s very strong,” Canelo said.
Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs) showed that championship fighting is like high-speed chess and Berlanga (22-1, 17 KOs) did not have enough moves to out-wit the Mexican redhead at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Especially on Mexican Independence Day weekend.
Despite an early knockdown by a Canelo left hook, Berlanga was able to survive the Mexican fighter’s onslaught and withstand punishment that could have felled a rhinoceros.
“I got a little bit of Mexican in me,” Berlanga joked.
During an exchange in the third round Alvarez snapped a quick left hook that timed the Puerto Rican perfectly. Down he went for only the second time in his career. But he got up quickly and rallied a bit in the round.
It was the theme of the fight.
Every time Alvarez scored heavy with combinations to the head and body, Berlanga responded back as much as possible. He never wilted though he had plenty of opportunities.
It was a methodical attack by the Mexican champion that kept Berlanga guessing in every round. The Puerto Rican tried firing back and using his height and reach but Alvarez was always a step ahead.
Berlanga managed to score, but he never could mount a long rally. In the fifth round Berlanga used rough tactics including a head butt that angered Alvarez. It was the first time the Boricua was able to connect heavily.
But Alvarez proved too canny for Berlanga. The Mexican redhead who has won world titles as a super welterweight, middleweight, super middleweight and light heavyweight, showed off his experience. The Puerto Rican could only absorb the blows and retaliate. But his strength was impressive.
“He will be a champion,” said Alvarez.
After 12 back-and-forth rounds, both hugged like old friends. It was exactly the type of fight Alvarez wanted for the thousands of Mexican and Puerto Rican fans at the arena and worldwide.
Alvarez was deemed the winner by unanimous decision 117-110, 118-109 twice and retains the world titles.
“I did good,” said Alvarez. “I’m the best fighter in the world.”
Berlanga was gracious in defeat.
“I could have done a lot more, but I was fighting a legend,” Berlanga said.
Other Fights
After nine rounds of whistles and boos by a disgruntled crowd due to inactivity, Erislandy Lara (31-3-3, 19 KOs) fired a lead left cross to drop Danny “Swift” Garcia (37-4). Lara was making the third defense of the WBA middleweight world title he won with a one-punch knockout of Thomas La Manna.
The battle between counter-punchers did not please the fans, but slowly Lara kept Garcia at bay with his sharp right jabs. The Cuban southpaw caught Garcia moving with his hands down with a single strafing left. Down he went for the first time in his career and the fight was ended at the end of the ninth round.
It was the first loss by knockout for Garcia, the former super lightweight and welterweight world titlist.
Plant
Once again Caleb Plant (23-2, 15 KOs) made the fight personal and found Trevor McCumby (28-1, 21 KOs) a worthy challenge for the interim super middleweight title for most of the fight.
It was thoroughly entertaining.
McCumby battered Plant early and put him to the canvas twice, although only the second was ruled a knockdown. A strong left hook to the shoulder caught Plant perfectly and down he went.
That seemed to wake up Plant.
The former super middleweight world titlist who lives in Las Vegas took the fight inside and pinned McCumby to the ropes. Plant went to work from that point on and did not allow his foe another big opportunity.
In the ninth round Plant pinned McCumby against the ropes once again and unloaded a dozen blows that ravaged the Arizona fighter. Referee Allen Huggins stopped the fight at 2:59 of the ninth round.
“Word on the street is I cant fight inside,” said Plant sarcastically.
Rolly Wins
Former lightweight champion Rolly Romero (16-2) proved too experienced for the rugged Manuel Jaimes (16-2-1) who resembles slightly Antonio Margarito. The only problem is he doesn’t punch enough like the Tijuana tornado.
Romero hit and held through much of the fight until the referee warned him repeatedly. Still, Romero was busier and far more accurate than Jaimes. All three judges scored in favor of Romero 99-91.
Photo credit: German Villasenor
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Stephen Fulton Nips Carlos Castro in a Prelude to Canelo vs Berlanga
In his first fight back after being dominated and stopped by pound-for-pound king Naoya Inoue in a fight for super bantamweight supremacy in July of last year, Stephen Fulton nipped upset-minded Carlos Castro, improving to 22-1 (8) in his first start as a featherweight. The verdict was split, with Fulton prevailing by 96-93 and 95-94 with the dissenter favoring Castro 95-94. The decision seemed fair although not in eyes of the predominantly Mexican crowd which booed the decision.
This was an entertaining 10-round fight between two evenly-matched 30-year-old campaigners. Long-time Phoenix resident Castro (30-3) put Fulton on the deck in round five with a counter right hand and Fulton rode his bicycle to shed the cobwebs as the round played out. But the Philadelphian, with new trainer Bozy Ennis in his corner, recuperated well and had a strong sixth round.
In round eight, Castro buckled Fulton’s knees with another straight right, but was unable to press his advantage. The bout served as the “main” prelim to the four-fight PPV card.
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In a welterweight contest slated for “10,” Mexico City’s Ricardo Salas, a 6/1 underdog, scored a second-round stoppage of Roiman Villa. The end in this slam-bang and all-too-brief skirmish came at the 2:06 mark of round three when Salas, fighting off the ropes, nailed Villa with a perfectly-placed, short right hand. Villa went down for the count.
Salas, whose de facto manager is the ubiquitous Sean Gibbons, improved to 20-2-2 with his 15th win inside the distance. From Colombia by way of Venezuela, Villa (26-3) was making his first start since being stopped by Boots Ennis in July of last year.
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In the opener on the PBC YouTube channel, super featherweight Jonathan “Geo” Lopez, a 21-year-old Pennsylvania-born southpaw, won a wide 8-round decision over rugged San Antonio campaigner Richard Medina. Lopez pitched a shutout, winning 80-71 on all three cards, but this was hardly a stroll in the park for him.
Lopez, who improved to 17-0 (12), simply had too much class for Medina. A 20/1 favorite, the Eddy Reynoso-trained boxer hurt Medina at the end of round seven and put him on the canvas in the final round with a straight left hand, but Medina (15-3) kept on plugging away and maintained his distinction of never being stopped.
Also
In an off-TV fight, super middleweight Bek Nurmaganbet, a 26-year-old Kazakh, won his eighth straight inside the distance, improving to 12-0 (10) with a second-round stoppage of SoCal’s Joshua Conley (17-7-1).
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Rocky Hernandez Improves to 36-2 with a Controversial TD in Hermosillo
Matchroom was in northwestern Mexico tonight in the city of Hermosillo for a card that aired on DAZN. In the featured bout, super featherweight Eduardo “Rocky” Hernandez was awarded a technical decision over Thomas Mattice when the bout was halted by the ringside physician at the start of the seventh round because Hernandez had severe cuts around both eyes. The first cut, over his right eye, developed in round four. Replays showed that the second cut, over his left eye, was caused by a right uppercut. However, in the eyes of veteran Texas referee Mark Calo-oy, the damage was caused by an accidental head butt. That sent the bout to the scorecards where Hernandez was deemed the victor by tallies of 59-55, 58-56, and 58-55 per ring announcer David Diamente who had trouble reading the results submitted to him by a boxing commissioner.
Hernandez, who turned pro at age 15 in Mexico City, is best known for his rumble with defending WBC 130-pound title-holder O’Shaquie Foster. Rocky was leading that fight with 30 seconds remaining in the final round when the roof fell in on him. He trained for tonight’s bout at the DLX and Top Rank gyms in Las Vegas under Kay Koroma and Brandon Woods, the latter of whom trains Trevor McCumby. Neither Koroma nor Woods was in his corner tonight.
It was the first fight outside the U.S. for Cleveland’s hard-luck Thomas Mattice who had won five straight heading in and appeared to be turning the bout in his favor. Mattice declined to 22-4-1.
Semi-wind-up
Twenty-four-year-old Hermosillo knockout artist Sergio Mendoza showed that he is a rising force in the flyweight division with a third-round stoppage of stocky Ensenada southpaw Angel Ramos. Mendoza crumpled Ramos with a short left uppercut in round two. Ramos attempted to rise, but it became a moot point when the match was waived off.
Mendoza improved to 24-0 with his twenty-first knockout. Ramos, a 12-year pro whose career has been slowed by injuries, falls to 30-2-2.
Also
A 10-round super middleweight contest that shaped up as a slugfest proved the opposite. Local product Julio Porras (12-0, 8 KOs) won a wide decision in a snoozefest over Venezuelan import Isaac Torres who had won all 10 of his previous fights by stoppage, none of which lasted beyond six rounds.
Torres turned timid after Porras decked him with a left hook in the second frame. He fought off his back foot for the reminder of the bout, seemingly content to simply last the distance. The scores read 100-89 and 99-90 twice.
It was hard to get a good read on Porras who trains in Seatle with David Benavidez and Diego Pacheco, but at age 22 he appears to have a bright future.
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