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The One Punch KO Artist
When the discussion turns to one punch KO artists, Ernie Shavers comes immediately to mind—and then, upon some reflection, so does Mike Tyson, Sam Langford, Joe Louis, Bob Satterfield, and a bunch of others:
John Mugabi, Thomas Hearns, Ruben Olivares, David Tua must be included in any list and so should big boppers like the Klitschkos, Foreman, Liston, Baer and perhaps Jeff âCandy Slimâ Merritt, Herbie Hide, Jaime Garza, Edwin Valero, Khaosai Galaxy and Ricardo Moreno.
However, two come to mind front and center for this reporter: Julian âThe Hawkâ Jackson and Gerald âG Manâ McClellan (pictured). And if The Ring magazine sees fit to rank them 25 and 27, respectively, as it did in its updated September 2018 list of the greatest punchers of all time, then I submit that The Ring needs to go back to the drawing board.
The Hawk
âJulian Jackson was the hardest pound-for-pound puncher in human history. He relied on it time and time again, one punch was all it took. At any time from either hand a showstopper could come from nowhere. But his god given power came at the cost of ending up on the wrong end of a few vicious knockouts. Those that live by the sword die by the sword.â â Rhythm Boxing
For sheer ability to consistently stun and paralyze an opponent with one single shot, few were more lethal than âThe Hawk.â The operative word here is âconsistently.â
His frightening and career-altering KO of Herol Graham in 1990 triggered this vivid description by Robert Portis in The Fight City: âOne of the most brutal and awe-inspiring one-punch knockouts ever witnessed won lead-fisted Jackson his second divisional title and further cemented his reputation as an all-time great puncher. The favoured Graham had dominated the first three rounds to such an extent that Jacksonâs eyes were swelling shut and after the third round the ringside doctor informed âThe Hawkâ that he would soon have no choice but to stop the fight. The one-sided boxing lesson continued in round four before Jackson suddenly struck with a vicious right hook that instantly knocked Graham out cold.â
Graham recalled the incident in a conversation with Tom Gray of The Ring: âI made the mistake of going for a sucker punch, when he was in the corner, and Jackson responded with a knockout punch. I had to go to the hospital and there were some scary moments because I couldnât remember a thing about the fight. Three or four hours later it all came back to me and that was a really powerful right hand shotâŠ.â
The Virgin Islander was 29-0 when another banger, Mike McCallum (26-0), stopped him somewhat controversially in 1986.
The Hawk added other unforgettable KOâs against the likes of Terry Norris, Â Buster Drayton, In Chul Baek, Ismael Negron ,Thomas Tate, Wayne Powell, and Dennis Milton. Many were unconscious before they hit the canvas. In particular, his KOs of Norris, Powell, and Drayton showed his signature raw power in a most frightening manner.
As one observer said, âThe amount of speed, torque, and power generated in close quarters was unbelievable. He could knock out someone in a phone booth.â
Jackson ended his career in 1998 with a record of 55-6-0. Forty-nine of his wins came by way of KO and all 6 losses came the same way. Two of those losses came against perhaps the most concussive puncher of them all, Gerald McClellan. Heck, if Jackson was arguably the most lethal, then what of the guy who iced him twice?
The G-Man
Trained early in his career by Manny Steward, McClellanâs signature was the quick victory; a malevolent, torque-fueled knockout. In fact, only two of his first 29 fights went beyond the third round–and 20 of his final career victories were in the first round. He won the vacant WBO middleweight title by knocking out still another KO artist, John Mugabi, in one round in 1991.
(The previous year, McClellan was extended the distance in 8-round fights by Sanderline Williams and Charles Hollis. Williams possessed one of the best chins in boxing. The Hollis fight was an anomaly that simply defied logic.)
Going up against Gerald was like facing a Gatling Gun. Left hooks, right hooks, combos, straight shots and brutal bodywork, all off a stiff jab. Many of his opponents ended up like the Hawkâsâunconscious before they hit the mat. Truth be told, the two were more alike than different.
In August 1993, McClellan and Jackson fought on a star-studded show in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Both knocked out their opponent in the first round. McClellan stopped his man, Jay Bell, in 20 seconds of the opening round with a vicious body shot. As Bell lay on the canvas, writhing in agony, the crowd looked on in disbelief. McClellan was defending the WBC version of the title that he won from Jackson. It was the quickest KO in middleweight championship history.
This fight with Bell came between McClellanâs two knockouts of Jackson. The first was a spectacular KO which was named the 1993 âKnockout of the Yearâ and the second (May 1994) was the result of a savage body shot in the first round in what would prove to be McClellanâs penultimate fight.
Now then, The Hawk simply cannot be considered the ultimate KO artist if he was twice KOâd by the G-Man, but one thing is certain: both had ferocious punching power. Julian Jackson was a worthy inductee into the International Boxing Hall of Fame and Gerald McClellan belongs there too.
Postscript: Obviously, more could have been written about Geraldâs subsequent boxing career, but this writer prefers not to do it. Dwelling on that tragedy has been done by better writers than me. Suffice to say, I remain a friend with the McClellan family.
Ted Sares can be reached at tedsares@roadrunner.com
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Ramirez Outpoints Barthelemy and Vergil Ortiz Scores Another Fast KO in Fresno
Northern California favorite Jose Ramirez avoided an upset and knockout artist Vergil Ortiz destroyed his opponent on Saturday to set up a showdown with Australiaâs power-punching Tim Tszyu.
After a 13-month layoff Ramirez (29-1, 18 KOs) shook off ring rust and avoided an upset by Cubaâs Rances Barthelemy (30-3-1, 15 KOs) in a battle between former world champions at Save Mart Center in Fresno.
It was Ramirezâs first bout under Golden Boy Promotions and he was nearly derailed by the slick counter-punching southpaw in the third and six rounds with laser left counters that connected every time. Though he was floored in the third round it was ruled a push down by referee Jack Reiss.
Fans gasped.
âHe throws that left hand and I got hit with it in one round,â Ramirez said. âIt motivated him.â
Once Ramirez figured out the remedy, he kept the fight inside and attacked the body and head. Barthelemy was unable to uncork one of his long lefts at close distance.
From the seventh round on the former super lightweight champion took control and kept the Cuban fighter against the ropes and unloaded shots to the body and head. He nearly forced a stoppage in the 11th round.
Barthelemy survived but all three judges scored it big for Ramirez after 12 rounds: 119-109 twice and 118-110.
Vergil KOs Number 21
Knowing a win sets up a massive showdown against Aussie slugger Tim Tszyu, the Texas slugger Vergil Ortiz (21-0, 21 KOs) wasted no time in blasting out Puerto Ricoâs Thomas Dulorme (26-7-1, 17 KOs) with a perfectly placed left hook to the body. Dulorme collapsed to the ground in agony.
Referee Tom Taylor stopped counting at 2:39 of the first round.
âIt was a very calculated punch,â Ortiz said.
It was a commanding one round performance that sets up the showdown against the equally powerful Tszyu who despite losing a split decision to Sebastian Fundora last month by split decision, retains his reputation as a dangerous puncher.
Ortiz, who has 21 knockouts in 21 fights, will probably be fighting Tszyu in Los Angeles on June 1 if all negotiations go smoothly.
âTim (Tszyu) I know you are watching the fight,â said Ortiz. âIâm ready. Letâs put on a great performance.â
Other Bouts
Oscar Duarte (27-2-1, 22 KOs) proved his knockout loss against Ryan Garcia would not stop him from improving as he defeated Jojo Diaz (33-6-1) by knockout at 2:32 of the ninth round in a super lightweight match. Referee Michael Margado wisely stopped the bludgeoning as a towel came flying in almost simultaneously.
It was the first time Diaz was ever defeated by knockout, though he never touched the canvas. It was also the first time Duarte trained with Robert Garcia and the difference was notable as he repeatedly walked through incoming fire and attacked the smaller fighter continuously.
âI want to fight the best in the world,â Duarte said.
Female Title Fight
A rematch battle for the flyweight championship saw Argentinaâs Gabriela Alaniz (15-1) defeat Marlen Esparza (14-2) this time with a two-fisted attack to win by split decision after 10 rounds.
Esparza failed to make weight and walked in three pounds overweight and Alaniz took advantage to win the WBA, WBC, and WBO flyweight titles in the rematch. Once again the scores were puzzling but this time in favor of Alaniz 97-93, 96-94, and 92-98.
Alaniz now holds the WBO, WBA, WBC flyweight world titles.
Welterweights
Mexicoâs Raul Curiel (15-0, 13 KOs) busted body shots on Jorge Marron Jr. (20-5-2) and floored him twice in the first round. The second body blow left Marron paralyzed and unable to continue at 1:31 of the first round as referee Thomas Taylor counted him out.
Curiel, who is managed by Frank Espinoza and son, proved heâs ready for the upper levels of the welterweight division.
âI think Iâm ready for the bigger names,â Curiel said. âYou see the results.â
Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy
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Avila Perspective, Chap. 282: Ryanâs Song, Golden Boy in Fresno and More
Avila Perspective, Chap. 282: Ryanâs Song, Golden Boy in Fresno and More
Donât call it an upset.
Days after Ryan Garcia proved the experts wrong, those same experts are re-tooling their evaluation processes.
Itâs mind-boggling to me that 95 percent thought Garcia had no chance. Hear me out.
First, Garcia and Haney fought six times as amateurs with each winning three. But this time with no head gear and smaller gloves, Garcia had to have at least a 50/50 chance of winning. He is faster and a more powerful puncher.
Facts.
Haney is a wonderful boxer with smooth, almost artistic movements. But history has taught us power and speed like Garciaâs canât be discounted. Think way back to legendary fighters like Willie Pep and Sandy Sadler. All that excellent defensive skill could not prevent Sadler from beating Pep in three of their four meetings.
Power has always been an equalizer against boxing skill.
Ben Lira, one of the wisest and most experienced trainers in Southern California, always professed knockout power was the greatest equalizer in a fight. âYou can be behind for nine rounds and one punch can change the outcome,â he said.
Another weird theory spreading before the fight was that Garcia would quit in the fight. That was a puzzling one. Getting stopped by a perfect body shot is not quitting. And that punch came from Gervonta âTankâ Davis who can really crack.
So how did Garcia do it?
In the opening round Ryan Garcia timed Devin Haneyâs jab and countered with a snapping left hook that rattled and wobbled the super lightweight champion. After that, Garcia forced Haney to find another game plan.
Garcia and trainer Derrick James must have worked hours on that move.
I must confess that I first saw Garciaâs ability many years ago when he was around 11 or 12. So I do have an advantage regarding his talent. A few things I noticed even back then were his speed and power. Also, that others resented his talent but respected him. He was the guy with everything: talent and looks.
And that brings resentment.
Recently I saw him and his crew rapping a song on social media. Now heâs got a song. Next thing you know Hollywood will be calling and heâll be in the movies. Itâs happened before with fighters such as Art Aragon, the first Golden Boy in the 50s. He was dating movie stars and getting involved with starlets all over Hollywood.
Is history repeating itself or is Garcia creating a new era for boxing?
Since 2016 people claimed he was just a social media creation. Now, after his win over Devin Haney a former undisputed lightweight champion and the WBC super lightweight titleholder, the boxer from the high desert area of Victorville has become one of the highest paid fighters in the world.
Ryan Garcia has entered a new dimension.
Golden Boy Season
After several down years the Los Angeles-based company Golden Boy Promotions suddenly is cracking the whip in 2024.
Vergil Ortiz Jr. (20-0, 20 KOs) returns to the ring and faces Puerto Ricoâs Thomas Dulorme (26-6-1, 17 KOs) a welterweight gatekeeper who lost to Jaron âBootsâ Ennis and Eimantas Stanionis. They meet as super welterweights in the co-main event at Save Mart Arena in Fresno, Calif. on Saturday, April 27. DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotions card live.
Itâs a quick return to action for Ortiz who is still adjusting to the new weight division. His last fight three months ago ended in less than one round in Las Vegas. It was cut short by an antsy referee and left Ortiz wanting more after more than a year of inactivity in the prize ring.
Ortiz has all the weapons.
Also, Northern Californiaâs Jose Carlos Ramirez (28-1, 18 KOs) meets Cubaâs Rances Barthelemy (30-2-1, 15 KOs) in a welterweight affair set for 12 rounds.
Itâs difficult to believe that former super lightweight titlist Ramirez has been written off by fans after only one loss. That was several years ago against Scotlandâs Josh Taylor. One loss does not mean the end of a career.
âMy goal is to get back on top and to get all those belts back. I still feel like I am one of the best 140-pounders in the division,â said Ramirez who lives in nearby Avenal, Calif.
An added major attraction features Marlen Esparza in a unification rematch against Gabriela âLa Chuckyâ Alaniz for the WBA, WBC, WBO flyweight titles. Their first fight was
a controversial win by Esparza that saw one judge give her nine of 10 rounds in a very close fight. Those Texas judges.
In a match that could steal the show, Oscar Duarte (26-2-1, 21 KOs) faces former world champion Jojo Diaz (33-5-1, 15 KOs) in a lightweight match.
Munguia and Canelo
Donât sleep on this match.
Its current Golden Boy fighter Jaime Munguia facing former Golden Boy fighter Saul âCaneloâ Alvarez in a battle between Mexicoâs greatest sluggers next week at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 4.
âI think Jaime Munguia is going to do something special in the ring,â said Oscar De La Hoya, the CEO for Golden Boy.
Tijuanaâs Munguia showed up at the Wild Card Boxing gym in Hollywood where a throng of media from Mexico and the US met him.
Munguia looked confident and happy about his opportunity to fight great Canelo.
âItâs a hard fight,â said Munguia. âTruth is, its big for Mexico and not only for Mexicans but for boxing.â
Fights to Watch
Fri. DAZN 6 p.m. Yoeniz Tellez (7-0) vs Joseph Jackson (19-0).
Sat. DAZN 9:30 a.m. Peter McGrail (8-1) vs Marc Leach (18-3-1); Beatriz Ferreira (4-0) vs Yanina Del Carmen 14-3).
Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Vergil Ortiz (20-0) vs Thomas Dulorme (26-6-1); Jose Carlos Ramirez (28-1) vs Rances Barthelemy (30-2-1); Marlen Esparza (14-1) vs Gabriela Alaniz (14-1).
Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy Promotions
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Ramon Cardenas Channels Micky Ward and KOs Eduardo Ramirez on ProBox
The Wednesday night bi-monthly series of fights on the ProBox TV platform is the best deal in boxing; the livestream is free with no strings attached! Tonightâs episode was headlined by a super bantamweight match between San Antonioâs Ramon Cardenas and Eduardo Ramirez who brought a caravan of rooters from his hometown in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico.
Cardenas, coached by Joel Diaz, entered the contest ranked #4 by the WBA. He was expected to handle Ramirez with little difficulty, but this was a close, tactical fight through eight frames when lightning struck in the form of a left hook to the liver from Cardenas. Ramirez went down on one knee and wasnât able to beat the count. It was as if Cardenas summoned the ghost of Micky Ward who had a penchant for terminating fights with the same punch that arrived out of the blue.
The official time was 1:37 of round nine. Cardenas improved to 25-1 with his14th win inside the distance. Ramirez, who was stopped in the opening round by Nick âWreckingâ Ball in London in his lone previous fight outside Mexico, falls to 23-3-3.
Co-Feature
In an upset, Tijuana super welterweight Damian Sosa won a split decision over previously undefeated Marques Valle, a local area fighter who was stepping up in class in his first 10-round go. Sosa was the aggressor, repeatedly backing his taller opponent into the ropes where Valle was unable to get good leverage behind his punches.
The 25-year-old Valle, managed by the influential David McWater, was the house fighter. This was his 10th appearance in this building. He brought a 10-0 (7) record and was hoping to emulate the success of his younger brother Dominic Valle who scored a second-round stoppage of his opponent in this ring two weeks ago, improving to 9-0. But Sosa, who brought a 24-2 record, proved to be a bridge too high.
The judges had it 97-93 and 96-94 for the Tijuana invader and a disgraceful 98-92 for the house fighter.
Also
In a fight whose abrupt ending would be echoed by the main event, 34-year-old SoCal featherweight Ronny Rios, now training in Las Vegas, returned to the ring after a 22-month hiatus and scored a fifth-round stoppage over Nicolas Polanco of the Dominican Republic.
A three-punch combo climaxed by a left hook to the liver took the breath out of Polanco who slumped to his knees and was counted out. A two-time world title challenger, Rios advanced to 34-4 (17 KOs). Polanco, 34, declined to 21-6-1. The official time was 0:54 of round five.
—
The next ProBox show (Wednesday, May 8) will have an international cast with fighters from Kazakhstan, Japan, Mongolia, and the United Kingdom. In the main event, Liverpoolâs Robbie Davies Jr will make his U.S. debut against the California-based Kazakh Sergey Lipinets.
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