Countdown To Mayweather-Pacquiao: If There’s No Stoppage The Ending Will Be Controversial

Published

9 years ago

April 25, 2015

Most fans who you talk with emphatically believe there will be a rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao after they fight on May 2nd. And with so many feeling that way, you have to ask what does that tell you?

I believe it strongly conveys many boxing observers and aficionados feel regardless of who wins, the fight is going to go the distance and the outcome will most likely not be conclusive via the decision rendered. This shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone.

If you examine their careers over the last six years or so, it’s almost impossible to deduce that the bout will end by KO/TKO (although I feel the odds of that are greater than most others do). Mayweather, who has never been viewed as a fighter who wins inside the distance, hasn’t scored a clean stoppage since he TKO’d Ricky Hatton in the 10th round back in December of 2007. Yes, he stopped Victor Ortiz in September of 2011, but that was due to him nailing Ortiz with a sucker punch when Victor stupidly and unnecessarily extended his hands to touch gloves with Floyd after a break during the fight.

Pacquiao, who is the perceived puncher in the bout, hasn’t been laying a trail of splattered bodies across the ring either. Manny hasn’t won by stoppage in his last nine bouts going all the way back to November of 2009. So if we go by both fighters’ recent track record, the odds are heavily in favor the outcome of Mayweather-Pacquiao will be decided by the three judges appointed to score the fight by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. And the thought of that should scare both fighters and their fans.

What a stellar resume Nevada boxing judges have compiled over the past few years. Remember how one judge scored the Mayweather-Alvarez fight a draw? It’s almost impossible to justify Alvarez winning a single round of that fight – yet one judge scored six of them in his favor? And that was nine months after two judges scored the first Pacquiao-Bradley fight for Bradley. That was another atrocious decision in which the wrong fighter had his hand raised, and that ultimately set up the rematch in which Pacquiao jogged to a decision victory. With inconsistent Vegas judging in mind…would anyone be surprised if Mayweather or Pacquiao won a decision where the real score should be something like 116-112 or even 117-111, however we end up getting a majority or split decision? This would of course ignite the talk of an immediate rematch that the economics will dictate.

The post-fight narrative will supersede what actually takes place in the ring, if at all possible. And the promoters will try and make the viewer’s question what they saw, and the strange thing is that they’ll be able to do that.

In order for that not to be the case there has to be a clean stoppage by either fighter. If the fight goes to a decision it’s highly probable the ending will be controversial. Is it really plausible that if one of them doesn’t bash the other that the supporters of the losing fighter will not cry their guy was robbed? Of course they’ll say that and the promoters and everyone else will feed into it. And the reason for that is, there’s nearly a billion dollars to be generated if just one simple thing happens….and that is Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao fight a second time. It’s mind boggling that almost one billion dollars will be divvied up between the players involved if they can just take what will be the highest grossing fight in history and convince the public that for it to really mean anything, the two fighters have to meet one more time. That doesn’t seem like such a tough sell does it?

I know that former undisputed heavyweight/cruiserweight champion Evander Holyfield has said a few times that the boxing establishment doesn’t want Floyd Mayweather to retire undefeated. This is a view that is shared by others who follow the sport closely. It’s also a view that I don’t share and actually think the opposite is more in play. Many think for there to be a rematch, Mayweather must lose to Pacquiao by hook or by crook on May 2nd. Once again I disagree with the masses and implicitly believe Mayweather can win the fight and the odds are still great that he and Manny will go at it once more.

Let’s assume the fight goes the distance and Mayweather wins by decision. Say the scores are 116-112, 117-111 and 115-113, but 115-113 is the hardest to justify. You can be assured there will be a large faction of Pacquiao supporters who will highlight the 115-113 score, because in rounds that’s 7-5, and they’ll stress how if that judge changed on one round, he’d have the fight a draw. And if you flip one of the close rounds on the other two cards you end up with scores favoring Mayweather 115-113, 116-112 and 114-114. Suddenly the fight becomes really close and pretty soon the fact that Floyd controlled the fight most of the way will become a distant memory. Of course you’ll also hear how “Manny made the fight. He pushed Mayweather every second and Floyd just ran. If it hadn’t been for Pacquiao, there wouldn’t have even been a fight.” And that will gain momentum.

Floyd will then likely rationalize in his mind, I won and it wasn’t even my toughest fight. And for another 150 plus million dollars or more, I’ll take him to school again. Thus thinking to himself, Pacquiao can’t do anything differently in a rematch but bring more of the same of what didn’t work the first time. But I can be better because after being in the ring with him for 12 rounds, I know what he can and can’t do and I’m the type of fighter who can adjust, and I will.

The way I see it, if the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight goes to a decision, and the odds are it will, regardless of who wins the loser will have many making the case for him that he really won. So without a clean stoppage, in spite of how one-sided the fight may turn out to be, the decision will be seen as controversial and the drumbeat for a rematch will begin. And with nearly another half a billion dollars just waiting to be plucked from the willing public, who is going to object? In fact it seems almost as if a majority of boxing fans are counting on Mayweather and Pacquiao fighting twice.

The only thing that could throw the above scenario off is if Mayweather loses a decision in which he wholeheartedly believes that he won, the way Marvin Hagler felt after losing a split decision to Sugar Ray Leonard. Does Floyd say screw it like Hagler did and walk away from the sport never to been seen or heard from again?

I don’t think Mayweather would respond like Hagler, but the possibility certainly exists.

Frank Lotierzo can be contacted at GlovedFist@Gmail.com

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Frank Lotierzo

Ramirez Outpoints Barthelemy and Vergil Ortiz Scores Another Fast KO in Fresno

Published

5 hours ago

April 27, 2024

David A. Avila

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 Australia’s power-punching Tim Tszyu.

After a 13-month layoff Ramirez (29-1, 18 KOs) shook off ring rust and avoided an upset by Cuba’s Rances Barthelemy (30-3-1, 15 KOs) in a battle between former world champions at Save Mart Center in Fresno.

It was Ramirez’s 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.

“He throws that left hand and I got hit with it in one round,” Ramirez said. “It motivated him.”

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 11^th 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 Rico’s 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.

“It was a very calculated punch,” 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.

“Tim (Tszyu) I know you are watching the fight,” said Ortiz. “I’m ready. Let’s put on a great performance.”

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.

“I want to fight the best in the world,” Duarte said.

Female Title Fight

A rematch battle for the flyweight championship saw Argentina’s 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

Mexico’s 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 he’s ready for the upper levels of the welterweight division.

“I think I’m ready for the bigger names,” Curiel said. “You see the results.”

Photo credit: Cris Esqueda / Golden Boy

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 282: Ryan’s Song, Golden Boy in Fresno and More

Published

2 days ago

April 26, 2024

David A. Avila

Avila Perspective, Chap. 282: Ryan’s Song, Golden Boy in Fresno and More

Don’t call it an upset.

Days after Ryan Garcia proved the experts wrong, those same experts are re-tooling their evaluation processes.

It’s 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 Garcia’s can’t 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. “You can be behind for nine rounds and one punch can change the outcome,” 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 “Tank” Davis who can really crack.

So how did Garcia do it?

In the opening round Ryan Garcia timed Devin Haney’s 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 Garcia’s 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 he’s got a song. Next thing you know Hollywood will be calling and he’ll be in the movies. It’s 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.

Avila

Vergil Ortiz Jr. (20-0, 20 KOs) returns to the ring and faces Puerto Rico’s Thomas Dulorme (26-6-1, 17 KOs) a welterweight gatekeeper who lost to Jaron “Boots” 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.

It’s 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 California’s Jose Carlos Ramirez (28-1, 18 KOs) meets Cuba’s Rances Barthelemy (30-2-1, 15 KOs) in a welterweight affair set for 12 rounds.

It’s 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 Scotland’s Josh Taylor. One loss does not mean the end of a career.

“My 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,” said Ramirez who lives in nearby Avenal, Calif.

An added major attraction features Marlen Esparza in a unification rematch against Gabriela “La Chucky” 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

Don’t sleep on this match.

Its current Golden Boy fighter Jaime Munguia facing former Golden Boy fighter Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in a battle between Mexico’s greatest sluggers next week at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 4.

“I think Jaime Munguia is going to do something special in the ring,” said Oscar De La Hoya, the CEO for Golden Boy.

Tijuana’s 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.

“It’s a hard fight,” said Munguia. “Truth is, its big for Mexico and not only for Mexicans but for boxing.”

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

Published

3 days ago

April 24, 2024

Arne K. Lang

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! Tonight’s episode was headlined by a super bantamweight match between San Antonio’s 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 wasn’t 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 “Wrecking” 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 10^th 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, Liverpool’s Robbie Davies Jr will make his U.S. debut against the California-based Kazakh Sergey Lipinets.

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