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Avila Perspective, Chap.150: Old Soldiers and More
“Old soldiers never die-they just fade away,” said General Douglas MacArthur in his final goodbye to Congress back in 1951.
A couple of old soldiers in the world of prizefighting could be taking that same road.
Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, the conqueror of eight weight divisions, lost last weekend. Another old soldier in Oscar De La Hoya the “Golden Boy” and conqueror of six weight divisions returns to the prize ring in a couple of weeks.
Everyone has a time limit. Even legends.
Pacquiao’s defeat at the hands of Yordenis Ugas was not a surprise considering it was a very last-minute change after Errol Spence Jr. was forced to pull out due to an eye injury. He was not prepared for that style.
During his lengthy career the speedy southpaw overcame his size with eye-popping power and shiftiness that befuddled opponents. He was “the Matrix” come to real life and willing to test the best the boxing world could offer. It was a courageous mentality that made him beloved by the little guys all over the world.
From Marco Antonio Barrera and the Mexican three that included Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez, the Filipino blitzed through like a crazed zephyr to conquer the featherweights, then moved up and destroyed the lightweights and super lightweights with even more devastating results in knockout wins over David Diaz and Ricky Hatton.
As a welterweight Pacquiao stretched his abilities in defeating Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito. And ironically, he retired De La Hoya with a one-sided beating in 2008. Now, 13 years later, the East Los Angeles boxer who formed his own successful boxing promotion company has returned.
Another old soldier returning to the fight.
Oscar
Los Angeles has long been a bastion for prizefighting. Many of the greats from a century ago like Jack Johnson, Henry Armstrong and Manuel Ortiz fought in places like the Vernon Arena, Olympic Auditorium and long extinct venues like Hazard’s Pavilion.
De La Hoya was the first home-grown fighter to reach superstar status and the first Chicano fighter from East L.A. to conquer multiple weight divisions. He was a beloved son to all grandmothers, mothers and their children who were deemed second class by those ruling the city and southwestern regions of the USA.
De La Hoya was a shining example of how a simple kid from the nearby barrios, who attended schools like David Wark Griffith Jr. High and Garfield High could become a gold medalist in the Olympics, win a world title within two years of becoming a professional and become one of the boxing world’s biggest gate attractions.
By engaging in many of the most riveting fights against stars like Julio Cesar Chavez, Pernell Whitaker, Tito Trinidad, Shane Mosley, Fernando Vargas, Hector Camacho, and Ike Quartey the Golden Boy earned his nickname. He drew near a billion dollars in pay-per-view fights including his two biggest against Floyd Mayweather and Pacquiao.
Without De La Hoya those two fighters never make it to mega pay-per-view status. He launched them to the upper tier.
“I wasn’t ready to retire after I lost to Manny Pacquiao. I never felt like I was in wars so in boxing you’re just as old as how you feel,” said De La Hoya.
After 13 years De La Hoya (39-6, 30 KOs) returns to face former MMA champion Vitor Belfort (1-0) a muscular Brazilian with former boxing ties on Saturday, Sept. 11, at the Staples Center in L.A. The Triller Fight Club card will be streamed on pay-per-view by FITE.tv.
On Tuesday afternoon De La Hoya met with the media then performed a workout in front of the public at LA Live. Hundreds of curious onlookers got a glimpse of the now fit promoter who shadow boxed for a few rounds.
“I miss getting hit,” said De La Hoya.
The East L.A. promoter added that he wants to engage in a Tommy Hearns and Marvin Hagler type of slugfest or something similar to his first clash with Sugar Shane Mosley that took place at the Staples Center in June 2000. It was the first time any prizefight took place at that venue and the only time De La Hoya fought there.
Age catches up to everyone, but most old soldiers seem to ignore the signs that wrinkles, slower reflexes and diminished stamina seldom show up until the battle actually begins. We saw it last Saturday when Pacman’s legs failed him.
Still fresh in my memory was a physically fit looking Sugar Ray Leonard with ripped muscles facing Hector Camacho. Fans were impressed with Leonard’s physique until the bell rang and Camacho battered the former great.
Ironically, De La Hoya fought Camacho six months later and destroyed the Puerto Rican great.
Will De La Hoya be the next Leonard and learn the hard way?
Sunday Boxing Extravaganza
Jake Paul tangles with former MMA champion Tyron Woodley on Sunday Aug. 29, at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. Showtime pay-per-view will show the fight card that also features Amanda Serrano versus Yamileth Mercado in a Puerto Rico-Mexico war.
I’ve seen Paul a couple of times and regardless of the former opponents, this is one big dude. And he can fight some.
Yes, he is barely learning but the physical tools are there. He seems to be a tad better than his brother Logan Paul who exchanged blows with Floyd Mayweather a few months ago.
Jake Paul has that meanness needed when facing someone who can hurt you too.
Enter Woodley a former UFC champion who may not be a boxer but knows how to give a hit as well as take a hit.
Neither Paul nor Woodley will be giving boxing seminars on the sweet science but this will be a fight, plain and simple. Millions of Paul’s followers will be watching and that means new boxing fans.
Let’s talk about the women’s fight.
When mentioning the sweet science in women’s boxing you have to include Brooklyn’s Amanda Serrano. She’s won seven weight division world titles. Only Pacquiao has more.
Serrano (40-1-1, 30 KOs) currently has the WBC and WBO featherweight world titles and meets WBC super bantamweight titlist Yamileth Mercado (18-2, 5 KOs) of Mexico in a clash of champions on the Paul-Woodley fight card.
Few fighters, man or woman, can dominate a fight like Serrano. She’s a pure fighting machine with heavy hands and quick fists. Mercado has never fought anyone like Serrano, but you can’t discount any fight between a Puerto Rican and Mexican. They’re like gasoline and fire.
The last time Serrano fought a Mexican she experienced that firsthand against Yazmin Rivas in 2017. She admits that was her toughest fight.
Still, Mercado has a lot to overcome and will have to trade blows close up to defeat Serrano. That means war.
It’s a pretty good card and includes one of my favorite young fighters in super welterweight Charles Conwell (15-0) facing Juan Carlos Rubio (18-0). Enjoy.
Fights to Watch
Thurs. UFC Fight Pass 7 p.m. Edison Garcia (13-0) vs Armando Frausto (9-1-1).
Sat. FITE.tv 5 p.m. Kim Clavel (13-0) vs Maria Soledad Vargas (15-3-1).
Sun. Showtime pay-per-view 5 p.m. Jake Paul (3-0) vs Tyron Woodley (0-0); Amanda Serrano (40-1-1) vs Yamileth Mercado (18-2).
Check out more boxing news on video at the Boxing Channel
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The Ortiz-Bohachuk Thriller has been named the TSS 2024 Fight of The Year
The Aug. 10 match in Las Vegas between Knockout artists Vergil Ortiz Jr and Serhii Bohachuk seemingly had scant chance of lasting the 12-round distance. Ortiz, the pride of Grand Prairie, Texas, was undefeated in 21 fights with 20 KOs. Bohachuk, the LA-based Ukrainian, brought a 24-1 record with 23 knockouts.
In a surprise, the fight went the full 12. And it was a doozy.
The first round, conventionally a feeling-out round, but was anything but. “From the opening bell, [they] clobbered each other like those circus piledriver hammer displays,” wrote TSS ringside reporter David A. Avila.
In this opening frame, Bohachuk, the underdog in the betting, put Ortiz on the canvas with a counter left hook. Of the nature of a flash knockdown, it was initially ruled a slip by referee Harvey Dock. With the benefit of instant replay, the Nevada State Athletic Commission overruled Dock and after four rounds had elapsed, the round was retroactively scored 10-8.
Bohachuk had Ortiz on the canvas again in round eight, put there by another left hook. Ortiz was up in a jiff, but there was no arguing it was a legitimate knockdown and it was plain that Ortiz now trailed on the scorecards.
Aware of the situation, the Texan, a protégé of the noted trainer Robert Garcia, dug deep to sweep the last four rounds. But these rounds were fused with drama. “Every time it seemed the Ukrainian was about to fall,” wrote Avila, “Bohachuk would connect with one of those long right crosses.”
In the end, Ortiz eked out a majority decision. The scores were 114-112 x2 and 113-113.
Citing the constant adjustments and incredible recuperative powers of both contestants, CBS sports combat journalist Brian Campbell called the fight an instant classic. He might have also mentioned the unflagging vigor exhibited by both. According to CompuBox, Ortiz and Bohachuk threw 1579 punches combined, landing 490, numbers that were significantly higher than the early favorite for Fight of the Year, the March 2 rip-snorter at Verona, New York between featherweights Raymond Ford and Otabek Kholmatov (a win for Ford who pulled the fight out of the fire in the final minute).
Photo credit: Al Applerose
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Women’s Prizefighting Year End Review: The Best of the Best in 2024
Women’s Prizefighting Year End Review: The Best of the Best in 2024
It’s the end of the year.
Here are our awards for the best in women’s boxing. But first, a rundown on the state of the sport.
Maybe its my imagination but it seems that fewer female fights of magnitude took place in 2024 than in previous years.
A few promoters like 360 Promotions increased their involvement in women’s boxing while others such as Matchroom Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions seem stagnant. They are still staging female bouts but are not signing new additions.
American-based promotion company Top Rank, actually lost 50 percent of their female fighter roster when Seniesa Estrada, the undisputed minimumweight champion, retired recently. They still have Mikaela Mayer.
A promotion company making headlines and creating sparks in the boxing world is Most Valuable Promotions led by Jake Paul and Nakisa Bidarian. They signed Amanda Serrano and have invested in staging other female fights
This year, the top streaming company Netflix gambled on sponsoring Jake Paul versus Mike Tyson, along with Amanda Serrano versus Katie Taylor and hit a monster home run. According to Netflix metrics an estimated 74 million viewers watched the event that took place on Nov. 16 at Arlington, Texas.
“Breaking records like this is exactly what MVP was built to do – bring the biggest, most electrifying events to fans worldwide,” said Nakisa Bidarian co-founder of MVP.
History was made in viewership and at the gate where more than 70,000 fans packed AT&T Stadium for a record-setting $17.8 million in ticket sales outside of Las Vegas. It was the grand finale moment of the year.
Here are the major contributors to women’s boxing in 2024.
Fighter of the Year: Amanda Serrano
Other candidates: Katie Taylor, Claressa Shields, Franchon Crews, Dina Thorslund, and Yesica Nery Plata.
Amanda Serrano was chosen for not only taking part in the most viewed female title fight in history, but also for willingly sacrificing the health of her eye after suffering a massive cut during her brutal war with Taylor. She could have quit, walked away with tons of money and be given the technical decision after four rounds. She was ahead on the scorecards at that moment.
Instead, Serrano took more punches, more head butts and slugged her way through 10 magnificent and brilliant rounds against the great Taylor. Fans worldwide were captivated by their performance. Many women who had never watched a female fight were mesmerized and inspired.
Serrano once again proved that she would die in the ring rather than quit. Women and men were awed by her performance and grit. It was a moment blazed in the memories of millions.
Amanda Serrano is the Fighter of the Year.
Best Fight of the Year – Amanda Serrano versus Katie Taylor 2
Their first fight that took place two years ago in Madison Square Garden was the greatest female fight I had ever witnessed. The second fight surpassed it.
When you have two of the best warriors in the world willing to showcase their talent for entertainment regardless of the outcome, it’s like rubbing two sticks of dynamite together.
Serrano jumped on Taylor immediately and for about 20 seconds it looked like the Irish fighter would not make the end of the first round. Not quite. Taylor rallied behind her stubborn determination and pulled out every tool in her possession: elbows, head butts, low blows, whatever was needed to survive, Taylor used.
It reminded me of an old world title fight in 2005 between Jose Luis Castillo a master of fighting dirty and Julio Diaz. I asked about the dirty tactics by Castillo and Diaz simply said, “It’s a fight. It’s not chess. You do what you have to do.”
Taylor did what she had to do to win and the world saw a magnificent fight.
Other candidates: Seniesa Estrada versus Yokasta Valle, Mikaela Mayer versus Sandy Ryan, and Ginny Fuchs vs Adelaida Ruiz.
KO of the Year – Lauren Price KO3 Bexcy Mateus.
Dec. 14, in Liverpool, England.
The IBO welterweight titlist lowered the boom on Bexcy Mateus sending her to the floor thrice. She ended the fight with a one-two combination that left Mateus frozen while standing along the ropes. Another left cross rocket blasted her to the ground. Devastating.
Other candidates: Claressa Shields KO of Vanessa LePage-Joanisse, Gabriela Fundora KO of Gabriela Alaniz, Dina Thorslund vs Mary Romero, Amanda Serrano KO of Stevie Morgan.
Pro’s Pro Award – Jessica Camara
Jessica Camara defeated Hyun Mi Choi in South Korea to win the WBA gold title on April 27, 2024. The match took place in Suwon where Canada’s Camara defeated Choi by split decision after 10 rounds.
Camara, who is managed by Brian Cohen, has fought numerous champions including Kali Reis, Heather Hardy and Melissa St. Vil. She has become a pro fighter that you know will be involved in a good and entertaining fight and is always in search of elite competition. She eagerly accepted the fight in South Korea against Choi. Few fighters are willing to do that.
Next up for Camara is WBC titlist Caroline Dubois set for Jan. 11, in Sheffield, England.
Electric Fighters Club
These are women who never fail to provide excitement and drama when they step in the prize ring. When you only have two-minute rounds there’s no time to run around the boxing ring.
Here are some of the fighters that take advantage of every second and they do it with skill:
Gabriela Fundora, Mizuki Hiruta, Ellie Scotney, Lauren Price, Clara Lescurat, Adelaida Ruiz, Ginny Fuchs, Mikaela Mayer, Yokasta Valle, Sandy Ryan, Chantelle Cameron, Ebanie Bridges, Tsunami Tenkai, Dina Thorslund, Evelin Bermudez, Gabriela Alaniz, Caroline Dubois, Beatriz Ferreira, and LeAnna Cruz.
Claressa Shields Movie and More
A motion picture based on Claressa Shields titled “The Fire Inside” debuts on Wednesday, Dec. 25, nationwide. Most boxing fans know that Shields has world titles in various weight divisions. But they don’t know about her childhood and how she rose to fame.
Also, Shields (15-0, 3 KOs) will be fighting Danielle Perkins (5-0, 2 KOs) for the undisputed heavyweight world championship on Sunday Feb. 2, at Dort Financial Center in Flint, Michigan. DAZN will stream the Salita Promotions fight card.
“Claressa Shields is shining a spotlight on Flint – first on the big screen and then in the ring on Sunday, February 2,” said event promoter Dmitriy Salita, president of Salita Promotions. “Claressa leads by example. She is a trailblazer and has been an advocate for equality since she was a young lady. This event promises to be one of the most significant sporting and cultural events of the year. You don’t want to miss it, either live, in person or live on DAZN.”
Shields is only 29 years old and turns 30 next March. What more can she accomplish?
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Lucas Bahdi Forged the TSS 2024 Knockout of the Year
A Knockout of the Year doesn’t have to be a one-punch knockout, but it must arrive with the suddenness of a thunderclap on a clear day and the punch or punches must be so harsh as to obviate the need for a “10-count.” And, if rendered by an underdog, that makes the KO resonate more loudly.
Within these parameters, Lucas Bahdi’s knockout of Ashton “H2O” Sylva still jumped off the page. The thunderclap happened on July 20 in Tampa, Florida, on a show promoted by Jake Paul with Paul and the great Amanda Serrano sharing the bill against soft opponents in the featured bouts.
The 30-year-old Bahdi (16-0, 14 KOs) and the 20-year-old Sylva (11-0, 9 KOs) were both undefeated, but Bahdi was accorded scant chance of defeating Jake Paul’s house fighter.
Sylva was 18 years old and had seven pro fights under his belt, winning all inside the distance, when he signed with Paul’s company, Most Valuable Promotions, in 2022. “We believe that Ashton has that talent, that flashiness, that style, that knockout power, that charisma to really be a massive, massive, superstar…” said the “Problem Child” when announcing that Sylva had signed with his company.
Jake Paul was so confident that his protege would accomplish big things that he matched Sylva with Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield. Currently 18-0 and ranked #2 by the WBA, Schofield was further along than Sylva in the pantheon of hot lightweight prospects. But Schofield backed out, alleging an injury, opening the door to a substitute.
Enter Lucas Bahdi who despite his eye-catching record was a virtual unknown. This would be his first outing on U.S. soil. All of his previous bouts were staged in Mexico or in Canada, mostly in his native Ontario province. “My opponent may have changed,” said Sylva who hails from Long Beach, California, “but the result will be the same, I will get the W and continue my path to greatness.”
The first five rounds were all Sylva. The Canadian had no antidote for Sylva’s speed and quickness. He was outclassed.
Then, in round six, it all came unglued for the precocious California. Out of the blue, Bahdi stiffened him with a hard right hand. Another right quickly followed, knocking Sylva unconscious. A third punch, a sweeping left, was superfluous. Jake Paul’s phenom was already out cold.
Sylva landed face-first on the canvas. He lay still as his handlers and medics rushed to his aid. It was scarifying. “May God restore him,” said ring announcer Joe Martinez as he was being stretchered out of the ring.
The good news is that Ashton “H2O” Silva will be able to resume his career. He is expected back in the ring as early as February. As for Lucas Bahdi, architect of the Knockout of the Year, he has added one more win to his ledger, winning a 10-round decision on the undercard of the Paul vs Tyson spectacle, and we will presumably be hearing a lot more about him.
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