When it Comes to Boxing, Adam Pollack is the Foremost Jack-of-all-Trades

Published

3 years ago

February 15, 2022

When-it-Comes-to-Boxing-Adam-Pollack-is-the-Foremost-Jack-of-all-Trades

The world of prizefighting is braced by men with a wide range of skills, but rarely has there been a jack-of-all-trades as versatile as Adam Pollack. At various times a coach, a cornerman, a manager, and a promoter, and now a judge and a referee, Pollack also is a prolific author and a one-man book publishing house, and he does it all while balancing a career as a criminal defense attorney. If he were a cartoon character, he would be the Energizer Bunny.

Pollack was born and raised in the Los Angeles area, earned his undergraduate degree at UC-Santa Barbara and attended law school at the University of Iowa College of Law in Iowa City, where he now resides. An epiphany of sorts in his obsession with prizefighting came when he stumbled on a copy of “Legendary Champions” at a video store in the 1980s. The documentary, ladled with footage from old films gathered from the inventory of Big Fights Inc., the company founded by Jim Jacobs and Bill Cayton, inspired Adam to dig deeper into the sport’s rich history. He began by collecting videos of old fights and trading with other aficionados.

“I found boxing to be fascinating on so many levels,” he says, “and wanted to get involved in boxing in some capacity.” To this end, in the late 1990s, he spent a summer as an intern at Top Rank’s headquarters in Las Vegas.

Outside of Iowa, Pollack is best known for his publishing house, Win By KO Publications. The web site currently lists 23 titles, 10 of which are books that Pollack himself authored. All of the books are non-fiction, save for “Death in Vegas,” a novel by Las Vegas neurologist Dr. Margaret Goodman.

The rich history of boxing is muddled by old books bespattered with false information. “The authors may have done the best they could given the limited resources they had to tap into,” said Pollack in a conversation with author Thomas Hauser, “but these old books are filled with errors.” And what about autobiographies of famous old-time prizefighters? “Most…are self-serving and wildly inaccurate,” says Pollack.

Boxing history books published in the 21st century tend to have more integrity because the technological revolution has made it possible to access primary sources such as old next-day newspapers rather than relying on second-hand reports. In this same vein, record-keepers in the digital age (think “boxrec”) are more fastidious than their counterparts of yesteryear who, with less resources at their disposal, produced record books that could best be called sketchy, leaving holes in the careers of antiquarian prizefighters, even title-holders.

Someone once said that the only good history is revisionist history, and Adam Pollack would undoubtedly say “amen” to that. Misinformation and lack of information inspired him to set forth on a journey to write the true history of several early heavyweight champions. The lives of Jack Johnson and Jack Dempsey were such that Pollack was unable to confine their stories to a single volume. He currently is working on Part Two of the Dempsey saga, which he hopes to complete by the end of the year.

Pollack’s books and other biographies in the Win By KO catalog are so meticulously detailed that they can fairly be called definitive. For example, future historians who want to learn more about the great Brazilian boxer Eder Jofre need look no further than Christopher Smith’s biography. It’s 606 pages long with hundreds of rare photographs. The book is being translated into Portuguese; the language spoken by the vast majority of people in Brazil.

Among works in progress, Pollack is especially enthused by Joe Botti’s forthcoming book on the Gatti brothers, Arturo and Joe. “It’s a great read,” says Pollack, “meticulously researched.” This book too will clock in at more than 600 pages.

Would-be authors should understand that there is a limited market for boxing history books. “Is there some money to be made? Yes, but you won’t retire on it,” he says. “I’m not giving up my day job.”

The boxing literature is replete with hypotheticals. For example, could Jim Jeffries have defeated Jack Johnson if Jeffries had been in his prime when they fought? Adam Pollack would seem to be more qualified than anyone to address this question.

“Jim Jeffries in his prime was very good and, yes, he could have succeeded in other eras,” says Pollack, deflecting the question. “I believe that a great fighter today could go back to the old days and compete successfully and vice versa. Some will do better than others. All fighters tailor their style to the rules in effect in their era. However, I hate hypotheticals. There are so many confounding variables when comparing fighters from different eras. What type of gloves? How many rounds? What was the scoring criteria? Who was the referee?”

Pollack refereed his first professional fight in 2014. He has been on TV several times, including several “ShoBox” cards on Showtime, and has shared the ring with rising stars like Jaron “Boots” Ennis, Zhilei Zhang, Frank Sanchez, Brandun Lee, Gary Antuanne Russell, Michel Rivera, and Joseph George.

“Would I like to referee a world title fight someday? Absolutely,” he says, and still in his 40s, he has plenty of time to realize that goal.

Aside from being immersed in the sport in various capacities, Pollack is also a fan and, like most fans, he is frustrated that so many of the best match-ups don’t happen until one or both fighters is past his prime. “Pro football and pro basketball are so big because at the end of every season, the two best teams compete,” he says. He doesn’t need to elaborate.

To learn more about the “Win By KO” publishing house and its various offerings, click here: winbykopublications.com. All of the books can be ordered from Barnes and Noble or from Amazon, the leading on-line booksellers.

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Results from the Chumash Casino where Akhmedov Gave a GGG-like Performance

Published

6 hours ago

December 13, 2024

David A. Avila

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Shades of Triple G.

Kazakhstan has another middleweight killer as Sadriddin Akhmedov overran veteran Raphael Igbokwe to win by knockout on Friday evening.

“He’s a tough guy, but I’m a tough guy too,” said Akhmedov of his Texas foe.

Akhmedov (15-0, 13 KOs) excited the crowd at Chumash Casino with a strong performance against a gritty Igbokwe (17-6, 7 Kos). The Kazakh fighter has Gennady Golovkin’s old trainer Abel Sanchez at his side.

It was evident in the first round that Akhmedov wields power, but it was also evident that Igbokwe was not going to quit. Blow after blow was absorbed by the Texas-trained fighter and he continued to press forward.

Akhmedov telegraphed his overhand rights but fired quick and accurate left hooks. Igbokwe withstood the power for round after round.

At the end of the fifth round both fighters continued to fire punches after the bell rang. It angered the two middleweights.

Akhmedov must have still been angry when the sixth round began as he erupted with a 12-punch barrage. Several big blows connected and the Texas fighter was in trouble. Though Igbokwe escaped the first barrage he was unable to avoid the second and the fight was stopped by referee Rudy Barragan at 56 seconds of the sixth round.

The Kazakhstan fighter thanked his fan support and his new trainer Sanchez.

“Every morning at 7 a.m. he wants to kill me,” Akhmedov said of Sanchez.

Other Bouts

A battle between Olympians saw Carlos Balderas (15-2, 13 KOs) knock out Cesar Villarraga (11-11-1) in the sixth round for the win at super lightweight.

A one-two combination found the mark for Balderas at 56 seconds of the sixth round. Villarraga beat the count but once the fight resumed the referee stopped the fight after Balderas connected with another right.

“My coaches told me it was there,” said Balderas of the right cross that finished the fight.

Balderas fought for Team USA in the Olympics and Villarraga for Team Colombia.

Super welterweights Jorge Maravillo (10-0-1, 8 KOs) and Damoni Cato-Cain (8-1-2) fought to a split draw after eight back-and- forth rounds.

Cain-Cato sprinted ahead for the first three rounds behind subtle pressure and focusing on the body then the head against the taller Maravillo. Then, it stopped.

Maravillo stopped retreating and used his long stiff left jabs as a probe and counter punch and became the stalker instead of the prey. It turned the fight around. But Cain-Cato was reluctant to give up too much territory and fought through a damaged left eye to keep the match tight. After eight rounds one judge saw Maravillo the winner, another saw Cato-Cain, and a third saw it even for a split draw.

It was a fitting score.

Angel Carrillo (4-0-1) out-pointed Joshua Torres (0-2-2) with combination punching and in-and-out maneuvers to win by decision. Though 14 years younger, Carrillo wore a protector near his chest. Twice he placed it far above his belly button and was never warned.

Fidencio Hernandez (3-0) was the more polished fighter and used straighter punches and a tighter defense to shut out Laguna Beach’s Josaphat Navarro (1-3-1) and won by unanimous decision.

In her pro debut Perla Bazaldua (1-0) won by knockout over Mollie Backowski (0-4) in a super flyweight contest. Bazaldua fights out of Los Angeles and has long been touted as a one of that city’s best amateur prospects. Now she is a pro.

Photo credit: Lina Baker / 360 Promotions

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 308: SoCal Rivals Rocha and Curiel Rumble and More

Published

18 hours ago

December 13, 2024

David A. Avila

Avila Perspective, Chap. 308: SoCal Rivals Rocha and Curiel Rumble and More

Decades ago, battles between regional warriors were as common as freeway traffic in Los Angeles during rush hour.

Bobby Chacon repped San Fernando Valley, Mando Ramos came from the docks of San Pedro, Danny “Little Red” Lopez lived in Alhambra and Ruben “Maravilla Kid” Navarro hailed from East L.A. And they rumbled repeatedly with each other.

The boxing sphere in California has grown much larger despite the closure of boxing palaces such as the Olympic Auditorium, Hollywood Legion Stadium, Great Western Forum, the L.A. Coliseum and Wrigley Field.

Those were classic venues.

Today in the 21^st century boxing continues to grow.

Golden Boy Promotions presents SoCal regional rivals Santa Ana’s Alexis Rocha (25-2, 16 KOs) facing Hollywood’s Raul Curiel (15-0,13 KOs) in a welterweight clash on Saturday, Dec. 14, at Toyota Arena in Ontario, Calif. DAZN will stream the main card and YouTube.com the remainder.

Ontario is located in the Inland Empire known as the I.E.

Rocha, 27, has grown into a crowd favorite with a crowd-pleasing style developed by Orange County boxing trainer Hector Lopez. I remember his pro debut at Belasco Theater in downtown L.A. He obliterated his foe in three rounds and the small venue erupted with applause.

Wherever Rocha goes to fight, his fans follow.

“Anyone I face is trying to take food away from my family,” said Rocha.

Curiel, 29, has traveled a different road. As a former Mexican Olympian he took the slower road toward adapting to the professional style. Freddie Roach has refined the Mexican fighter’s style and so far, he remains unbeaten with a 10-fight knockout streak.

“I want to fight the best in the division,” said Curiel who is originally from Guadalajara.

Super welter hitters

Another top-notch fighter on the card is super welterweight Charles Conwell from Cleveland, Ohio. Conwell (20-0, 15 KOs) faces Argentina’s undefeated Gerardo Vergara (20-0, 13 KOs) in the co-main event.

Conwell may be the best kept secret in boxing and has been dominating foes for the past several years. He has solid defense, good power and is very strong for this weight class. Very Strong.

“I got to go out there and dominate,” said Conwell. “This is a fight that can lead me to a world championship fight.”

Golden Boy Promotions got lucky in picking up this fighter who could compete with any super welterweight out there. Anyone.

Vergara, 30, is another Argentine product and if you know anything about that South American country, they groom strong fighters with power. Think Marcos Maidana. This will be his first true test.

“I really hope he (Conwell) backs what he is saying,” said Vergara.

Marlen Esparza vs Arely Mucino

Former flyweight world titlists finally meet, but at super flyweight.

Olympic bronze medalist Marlen Esparza fights Mexico’s Arely Mucino in a fight that should have taken place years ago. Both are both coming off losses in title fights.

Esparza has the “fast hands” as she said and Mucino the “aggressive style” as she mentioned at the press conference on Thursday in Ontario.

It’s a 10-round affair and could mark the end for the loser.

Friday Night Fights

Undefeated middleweight Sadridden Akhmedov (14-0, 12 KOs) headlines a 360 Promotions and faces Raphael Igbokwe (17-5, 7 KOs) in the main event on Friday, Dec. 13, at Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, Calif. UFC Fight Pass will stream the event.

Akhmedov hails from Kazakhstan and if you remember legendary Gennady “Triple G” Golovkin also hails from that region. Tom Loeffler the head of 360 Promotions worked with GGG too among other legends.

Is Akhmedov the real deal?

Former American Olympian Carlos Balderas (14-2) is also on the card and fights veteran Cesar Villarraga (11-10-1) who has been known to upset favorites in the past.

Fights to Watch

Fri. UFC Fight Pass 7 p.m. Sadridden Akhmedov (14-0) vs Raphael Igbokwe (17-5).

Sat. DAZN 10:30 a.m. Murodjon Akhmadaliev (12-1) vs Ricardo Espinoza (30-4).

Sat. DAZN 5 p.m. Alexis Rocha (25-2) vs Raul Curiel (15-0); Charles Conwell (20-0) vs Gerardo Vergara (20-0); Marlen Esparza (14-2) vs Arely Mucino (32-4-2).

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Cardoso, Nunez, and Akitsugi Bring Home the Bacon in Plant City

Published

2 days ago

December 11, 2024

Arne K. Lang

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Cardoso, Nunez, and Akitsugi Bring Home the Bacon in Plant City

The final ShoBox event of 2025 played out tonight at the company’s regular staging ground in Plant City, Florida. When the smoke cleared, the “A-side” fighters in the featured bouts were 3-0 in step-up fights vs. battle-tested veterans, two of whom were former world title challengers. However, the victors in none of the three fights, with the arguable exception of lanky bantamweight Katsuma Akitsugi, made any great gain in public esteem.

In the main event, a lightweight affair, Jonhatan Cardoso, a 25-year-old Brazilian, earned a hard-fought, 10-round unanimous decision over Los Mochis, Mexico southpaw Eduardo Ramirez. The decision would have been acceptable to most neutral observers if it had been deemed a draw, but the Brazilian won by scores of 97-93 and 96-94 twice.

Cardoso, now 18-1 (15), had the crowd in his corner., This was his fourth straight appearance in Plant City. Ramirez, disadvantaged by being the smaller man with a shorter reach, declined to 28-5-3.

Co-Feature

In a 10-round featherweight fight that had no indelible moments, Luis Reynaldo Nunez advanced to 20-0 (13) with a workmanlike 10-round unanimous decision over Mexico’s Leonardo Baez. The judges had it 99-91 and 98-92 twice.

Nunez, from the Dominican Republic, is an economical fighter who fights behind a tight guard. Reputedly 85-5 as an amateur, he is managed by Sampson Lewkowicz who handles David Benavidez among others and trained by Bob Santos. Baez (22-5) was returning to the ring after a two-year hiatus.

Also

In a contest slated for “10,” ever-improving bantamweight Katsuma Akitsugi improved to 12-0 (3 KOs) with a sixth-round stoppage of Filipino import Aston Palicte (28-7-1). Akitsugi caught Palicte against the ropes and unleashed a flurry of punches climaxed by a right hook. Palicte went down and was unable to beat the count. The official time was 1:07 of round six.

This was the third straight win by stoppage for Akitsugi, a 27-year-old southpaw who trains at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card gym in LA under Roach’s assistant Eddie Hernandez. Palicte, who had been out of the ring for 16 months, is a former two-time world title challenger at superflyweight (115).

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