I’LL bet ya that a lot of you out there have said, when there is a lull in the conversation at the quiche and fondue party featuring a clever new white wine, “Boy that Talkin Boxin column seems to wander around aimlessly. It’s incoherent most of the time.” Not my fault. The effort is the product of a Bi-Polar disorder that can only be treated with medication. That medication comes in either tall clear bottle with a black label or a short can in gold with a black label. On the bright side being Bi Polar gives you twice as many chances in dating polars. Onward we go. Where we’re going is the real question.
Well we, that would be me, were going to play boxing reporter this week. It’s one of these events that comes upon me when I’ve been away from the MGD too long. At the Latin Fury PPV event I lost interest right after Carlos Hernandez beat up Daniel Santos. I didn’t really loose interest but with a seat a 8 dollar cab ride from the ring, no table to write on and no interest I retired to the press room. There I removed the next day’s Daily Racing Form (aka Equine Voting Guide) from my “official cover boxing carry all”. Before you ask, “:Why the Racing Form”, I’ll respond. I knew how the fights were going to come out and the following days race’s were a complete mystery. As truth is good for the soul, the race’s were also a mystery the next day as I voting for lot of losers. I now know how democrats feel.. While perusing the following days selections I kept a eye on the TV.
I did see on TV Manuel Marquez (no it’s his brother that fights Tom Austin next Saturday night at a former major Casino. ) KO Manuel Medina. After the last fight, when my driver, arrived I left. I missed the post fight press conference. Bad deal when you’re trying to act like a reporter. The fact that I don’t understand Spanish is no excuse. Someone hired Paul Rodriguez to be the “translator” for Marquez. During the conference something was said. Here’s Fightnews disclaimer on the story they first reported but I never saw or to my knowledge did anyone else. “Comments reported as made by Juan Manuel Marquez at the post fight press conference following his fight with Manuel Medina last Saturday regarding a fight with Naseem Hamed do not reflect the views of Fightnews nor the views of Marquez. Turns out comedian Paul Rodriguez, who was doing translations for English-speaking press, added an offensive statement to one of Marquez’ answers to an interview question, which reporters took as a direct translation. In this time of unrest, it’s a shame that in an attempt at humor, Rodriguez attributed statements to Marquez at an official press event that were not accurate.”
Talk about double write,. What a load of balogna. I contacted the writer of the original story to find out what was said. He was very polite but declined to tell me what he wrote. Since that time I have queried roughly 10,00 people and no knows what was said. “How many, Howie?” Many. The bottom line is no one knows what was said. So much for being a boxing reporter.
That aside let me climb back on the soapbox. Anything said about Prince Naseem, his brother or his latest conquest ( who some claim resembles a sheep) is fine with me. During his last trip to Las Vegas to mine some gold (He got his ass kicked by Marco Antonio Barerra). His brother( as spokesman) made the most offensive remarks about “Dirty Jews” that I have ever heard. Thank goodness Bob Arum had the guts to speak up against the attack. Then prior to the fight those in the MGM Grand Arena were asked to stand as Naseem spewed his brand of religious belief’s from the center of the ring. Time flipping out. He hates us. “Us’ being anyone but those that believe as he does. He see’s nothing wrong with the “Muslim fanatics” that flew plays into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. He’s a piece of English born garbage who wants to get back to his parents country of Yemen. As Mom use to say, “Go already, you camel riding lop eared son of a news agent.” Mom would have only said, “Go already”. I added the rest on my own.
“In this time of unrest, it’s a shame that in an attempt at humor, Rodriguez attributed statements to Marquez at an official press event that were not accurate.” This is a boxing website that doesn’t have the guts to report a “lousy fights” as “lousy fights”, they regurgitate any drivel in the hopes of making a buck but don’t want to be offensive to a piece of garbage. “Let’s just be nice.” What a disgrace to journalistic profession. But then we all know that an Internet site isn’t journalism. The aforementioned site proves it.
IF any sport has become the slave of television it’s our sport of boxing. Whether it was planned or just happened is open to discussion. The fact does remain that television is the tail that wags the dog. Certainly there are fight cards in many cities throughout the world each week. That’s where fighters are suppose to learn their trade. Where they learn to win and loose. Where they learn the tricks that will eventually make them “journeyman” in the finest sense of the trade. The plethora of fight cards that dot the world map are the minor leagues. It was in these setting that fighters either learned to compete or disappeared from the scene.
As a certifiable old “Geezer”, I yearn for the old days when fight cards were held in dimly lit rat trapped old building where the smoke from cheap cigars hung in the air like the fog that comes in on little cats feet. (“Jean, did he just write, “Fog come in on cat’s feet ?” “Yep” “Say that’s pretty good.” Editor note: IT should be it was penned by Carl Sandberg, writing about Chicago) Flashy older men sporting pinky rings, a big cigar, a pearl gray snap brim Al Capone Fedora while wearing a peroxide blonde’s on their arms like an ornament on last year’s Christmas Tree. Great flash from a distance but rather tawdry up close. Former fighters with busted up nose’s and cauliflower ears displayed like merit badge’s on an 60 year old Eagle Scout reliving past glories. This was their Hall of Fame. Their night to mingle, their night to relive the past. It could be written that the longer they were from their active days in the ring the better they got. Regardless they had competed. As time pass’s it’s the memories that last. Peanut shells on the flour, beer in a wax cup, hot dogs whose smell made them taste even better. Yellow mustard from Morehouse. Next weeks main eventer’s being introduced. Everyone dressed to the nines, tens and beyond.
Now what have we? Boxing in environments that are better suited to a conference on “How I turned $10.00 into a real estate empire.” For crying out loud what’s with The Bronco Bowl, HP Pavillion, The Radisson or Holiday Inn’s and my favorite the New Daisy Theatre. Just a couple of stops for professional boxing this month. There is on the list a Club 1402 Comfort Hall which sounds interesting. In Vegas the Mandalay Bay and the MGM are state of the art venue’s. But where’s the atmosphere. For goodness sakes there’s no cigar smoking allowed, a hot dog cost $5.00 with brown mustard and the $6.00 beer comes in a tacky plastic cup. Ex-fighters don’t hang around and current champs come dressed in a manner that would make a real bum ashamed. What’s happened ? TV had reared it’s ugly head.
That is not to ignore the Orleans , Sam’s Town ( Las Vegas) or the Blue Horizon type monthly boxing cards that brings the sport to the real fan base. The Aladdin in Vegas and The Boardwalk (Atlantic City) have announced monthly fairly priced boxing cards in the weeks to come.. While this is going on we have a card canceled in Phoenix and a headliner (Camacho the jerk) not showing up in Oakland.. But these are just peddles in a ocean. TV took charge and everything else was ignored. There are some signs that maybe TV has gotten a dose of reality. There are some signs.
Last week Top Rank’s Bob Arum took to the bully pulpit to announce that he has three more pay-per-view shows this year featuring primarily Latino fighters. This is not really news but as it was a slow news week it became news. When asked why he was going with PPV Arum said, “it’s the only way we can get the public that’s interested to watch these guys in meaningful fights, because there is, particularly at HBO, a real eastern bias as to the fights they choose to air, which is up to them. All the people live and work out of New York and I think that’s unfortunate. This is a way that we can present the fighters the fans in this part of the country like in meaningful fights. Our marketing is really Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and California. That’s who we concentrate on and I think we can make it work.” What may be lost here is Arum’s comment that about “HBO” having a eastern bias. No one “moans”, to the point of jerkdom, against the eastern bias more than I. In this case I would disagree with Arum. HBO puts fight like Gatti-Ward on cause more people would watch than three Latin’s matches fighting for meaningless titles. True fact This is just another segmentation of a market that may already been smaller than a gnat’s ear on the elephantine mosaic that is sport. .
TV may have seen the light. ESPN, Showtime and HBO have all reigned in their boxing programs. FOX has renewed their sometime popular Sunday cards but reduced the number. Showtimes Jay Larkin has had a vision. He’s realized that people will not watch lousy mismatches. He deserves a “Hartwell”, although their is no such award but I could start one, for canceling the Acelino Freitas (32-0)-Gabe Ruelas (49-6)fight. “The initial blame rests with me.” Nice try Jay but that’s not true. The blame rests with the WBA and WBO which sanctioned the fight. Give Jay credit for reading this column and realizing that another opponent might work better. Maybe the neighborhood fight club will make a comeback.
GOSH it’s fun when I get something right. It’s one of those Kodak moments without the stupid camera. A couple of weeks ago we did a “Penthouse to the Outhouse” bit. The prime example was Bernard Hopkins. When he put the “Wamp” on Felix Trinidad Sept. 29, 2001, he was the “Cat’s PagNags”. Yep King of the world. The big man. Now he’s fighting in his hometown, Philadelphia, on the undercard of a non-title match. The fight to be held March 29 features David Tua and Hashim Rahman in the feature. “Oh how the mighty have fallen.” As I wrote Hopkins has no one blame but himself and his big mouth which he used to spit our nonsense. Under the heading of “Pay backs are a bitch”.
The aforementioned fight card is promoted by Lou DiBelle who at one time was an advisor to Hopkins. Hopkins said some very unkind things about Lou and got sued. Lou won a nasty defamation suit (like there’s another kind) getting over $600,000 in coin of the realm. The realm being US Dollars. When DiBella hauled “A” from HBO he got a couple of TV dates as a settlement. Don King needed a TV date for Hopkins, funny how the name King always enters in when a jerk fighter is mentioned. DiBella had Tua-Hasim Rahman on March 29th. Great place for Hopkins to fight on the undercard in a meaningless defense against Morrade Hakkar of France. “I’m a big boy. I made a business deal that is good for my company. If it benefits Bernard, so be it. But it’s pretty telling that in his second fight since beating Trinidad, he’s opening a show in his hometown against a stiff who’s not worthy of being his opponent and he’s fighting for less money than he could have imagined he’d be making after beating Trinidad. I don’t have to do anything bad to Bernard or wish anything bad on him. He’s done it to himself,” said DiBella. Think DiBella will be rooting against Hopkins? “I’ll mostly be thinking, ‘what a waste.’ Think of where he could have been if he hadn’t lost his mind,” DiBella says. “What a far cry that night will be from where he should have been.” Nuff said and written. In fact probably too much.
IF ever there was a time to say “Too Much” that should be said now for boxing in the despot country of Indonesia. Jeff Pamungkas is a boxing writer who covers that country for a number of Internet sites. He reports that “Indonesian junior flyweight Johannes “Bones” Fransiscus, comatose from brain injuries suffered in a boxing match, finally died after being hospitalized at Graha Medika Hospital in Jakarta. The poor boxer had been hospitalized since February 4 after falling unconscious following his TKO loss in round seven against fellow Indonesian Slamet Nizar in a tough fight. Nizar’s last punch, a powerful right hook to the head just a few seconds before round seven finished, is suspected as the cause of Fransiscus’ death..” If this was an isolated incidence in the country one could pass it off as “one of those things”. That’s not the case here. Since the turn of the century 6 fighters have died as a result of ring injuries.
In this latest case the Doctor had to come into the ring to stop the fight. From reports, had the referee been doing his job the fight would have been stopped sooner. Whether this would have saved a life is merely conjecture. In December of 2001 during the WBC Convention in Pattaya Beach Thailand the WBC banned Indonesia from their organization. I attended the hearing where the representatives of Indonesia stood in front of the assembled boxing people from throughout the world and lied through their teeth. There was a nurse who had paid her own way to the meeting that was refused the opportunity to speak. “We have already discussed that”, intoned the good Dr. Jose’. She had documented proof that not 3 boxers had died but that upwards of 10 to 15 deaths had occurred.
There is some credit, I guess, that should be given to the WBC and Dr. Suliman for banning Indonesia and setting up a number of bandage type measure’s that were suppose to stop the bleeding but only hid the wound. Later it was discovered that the action was taken with a “wink and a nod” from the good Dr. as the ban was listed. How many deaths is it going to take to convince the WBC and other ranking organizations that the “money” they pull out of these third world countries is killing the sport ? How any young men have to die before ranking organization say “No Mas” to the money tainted with the blood of young athletics. The answer ? When pig fly or when an organization is put on trial for murder because that’s what they’re committing.
THERE are some out their in boxing land that consider my humble self as an expert on all thing boxing but especially in Thailand. The following e-mail found itself in my computer. “Dear Mr.Howard, Thanks for your news. We would like to discuss with you. Now, Yodsanan 3K-Battery is WBA super featherweight titleholder. In case the #1 ranked Joel Casamayor feel unwillingly to challenge the crown, can WBA order Yodsanan to make a mandatory defense with #2 Julien Lorcy? We truly thank in advance for your cooperation. ” I feel like Jack Nicholson in the movie “A Few Good Men”. “You can’t stand the truth”. That aside the truth is there is nothing that anyone can do to make a ranking organization follow its’ own rules. They are not only the law in regard to boxers but above any law. They make the drug cartels look like amateurs. I exclude the IBF from this criticism as they are based here in American where sometimes something is done. Not often but some times.
In answer to the question can the WBA force Yodsanan to fight the number 2? You bet. It’s there ball and bat. Here’s what I’d do to make the WBA lives up to its’ rules. I’d sue them in Thailand and stop any or all of their fighters from working in the Kingdom. If that failed I would get some Pol General (There’s a plethora of Political Generals in Thailand) to stop the WBA from taking any money out of the country. First though I would tell the WBA, “looks busters, either you get us a fight with your number one or we haul “A”..” Of course that won’t work. So take your world champion, e-mail; the IBF and tell them, “We’ll fight your champion (Carlos Hernandez) right now anytime or any place.” Thailand has more fighters in the WBA top 15 in weights 105-130 than any country other than Mexico. Will it happen ? Member the deal about pigs flying?
AFTER devoting a major portion of this column to the problems of boxing it’s nice to be able to report the positive also. He’s called a prodigy by Manny Stewart. Over 12,000 turned out at the Palace in Auburn Hills, Michigan when Octavio Lara, 18, made his debut. (That’s pronounced Day Bue not DAH BUTT ?) a winning won with a 3 round KO of Rafeal Sierra. Add Lara’s name with Cotto and there’s a couple of young star on the horizon.
Not a young star on the horizon is Shamba Mitchel. Either of my readers know my opinion of the loud mouth little gutter snipe. I forgot to mention that he also has a reality check coming. But first….Last Friday night I attended the ESPN Fights at Sam’s Town in Las Vegas. The PR type person said “it will be an awesome night”. She can be forgiven as her knowledge of boxing is even less than mine. “She know not of what she speaks.” That aside it was a great venue with every seat a great one, good fights and fun folk. . Well yes except for the two rows in front of the row in front of my humble self. There was a young lady sitting in the seat directly in front of me that had a set of lungs that were unbelievable. Not only that but she could really yell. And yell she did through out the opening match of the evening which was scheduled for 10 and unfortunately went the distance..
Between yells there was a short duration of time which allowed for sips of her Smiroff Ice (send a case to the house) and stamping of her dainty feet. She was so successful that among those that evacuated were Wayne McCullough, wife and child. She also drove me into the arms of demon rum. For that I should have thanked her but when her “guy” lost the silence was deadening. “What is that sound ?” “Silence.”
The main event was between Omar Weis, who knocked the heck out of Camacho jr., and the former Emanuel Burden. He now goes by the handle of Emanuel Augustus but still has no power. Weis has the quickness hands since my glory days on the 8th grade hayrides. Weis got the UD which he deserved. Now you’re asking yourself, Self, what is he on about ?” Here’s the answer. On February 5th the IBF proclaimed , “”In the event Augustus does not win the bout on February 7, then Gatti and Mitchell should negotiate a fight and the winner will become the mandatory for the IBF jr. welterweight title. No boxers may contract for any other fights (which clearly demonstrates an unwillingness to participate in this process) until this box off is concluded or they will automatically eliminate themselves from this box off and will be lowered in the ratings as provided in the IBF rules.” Mitchell’s promoter and flac are now under the illusion that Mitchell will fight Gatti with the winner facing Kostya Tzysu. Kids not going to happen, Save your breath. Tzysu will NEVER fight Mitchell. Remember they fought once and Mitchell quit like the dog he is. The latter called Mr. Tzysu a bum. Gatti will fight Kostya this summer. Case closed. IBF no like? Sooo?
HOOKS, jabs and things that go bump in the night. Did Shane Mosley’s no contest on Saturday night over Raul Marquez mean anything in the great shape of things wondrous ? NO. Raul Marquez is a good fighter now better known as an announcer on HBO Spanish Boxing. Regardless of what Mosley said after the shortened event the encounter proved nothing of interest. It did prove that “people” are not willing to go out on Saturday night to watch him fight. The turnout was an embarrassment to all concerned. Mosley, it appears, suffered more damage in his two losses to Forerest than at first appeared. He doesn’t really want to fight DeLaHoya unless he gets more than the 4.25 million that his management agreed to. All week he was saying he wants more money. One web site is reporting that he was misquoted. Gee that’s never happened before. Mosley, living in his own dream world said, I’ll get with Arum and Barry Frank (Mosley promoter) and get the figures right.” Arum said, “We have a deal. he doesn’t want the deal he agreed to, OK. We’ll fight Vargas.” Something to consider. The DeLaHoya-Mosley fight did 580,00 ppv. DeLaHoya-Vargas 900,00ppv. You can ghear the Oscar camp yelling, “Bring on Vargas
Writing of Oscar, as I was, the tickets for his farce of a fight with worn out Yori Boy Campus have gone on sale at $600, $400, $300, $200 and $100. Or you can buy it on PPV. Jessie James lives. What would Jesse James say if he was alive today ? “Rob trains hell ? Get me a fighter and lead me to a casino.”
Been kinda slack in regard to reporting on the Chick fight scene. Next Friday in Louisville Laila Ali (13-0) return to her Dad’s hometown to face Mary Ann Almager (14-5). This could be the stiffest test yet for Ali. Almager has been in with some of the best and shouldn’t be in awe of Ali. Probably won’t make any difference. On Saturday the “lil Darlin” Champion Vaia returns to action after riding the pine with an eye injury. She’ll show her stuff on a “All Heavyweights” show in Laughlin Nevada, the city on
the river. Is she a heavyweight ? Only in the hearts of her fans.
AS not mentioned before I rushed home from an afternoon of “liquid refreshment” and mingling with friends to watch both fights on TV. I’m only invited to “second level fights” at the venue in Vegas. Horse on them as neither HBO TV fight reached high enough for that level. Plus I had pizza at home. I’m a patience man. In fact it’s a fault. I’m too kind. Too nice and too gentle. No more slack for George “One Thought” Foreman, Larry “Hu” Merchant or Jim “No Nads” Lampley. Introducing the semi main ( member when they use to call it the “semi main”? Now it’s a special attraction.) Merchant said, “With Forrest loss boxing experts that had written off Six Heads Lewis had to reconsider.” What boxing experts ? Who the hell are they? I never reconsidered Six Heads Lewis and by my account I’m an expert. I wrote, “:Six heads Lewis stinks.” He does. WBO welterweight champion Antonio Margarito KO’s him in 2 at the 2:31 mark.. Case closed.
Then in regard to Shane Mosley said, “Many boxing experts considered Sugar Shane the best pound for pound.” That’s true Jim and you were one of them, Why don’t you have the guts to say, “I though Sugar Shane was the best pound for pound ?” Cause you got NO Nads. While on the subject of “NN” Lampley his introduction to Las Vegas was in usual HBO bad taste which is the guideline for the vulgar, foul and obnoxious. “This is the view from behind the Green Door of Las Vegas. A place where everything is available for a price. Some legal and some not.” (Editors note. The Green Door is a swingers club that caters to the extreme “physical ” taste’s of visitors. How Mr. Lampley or his crew would know about it is a mystery. Unless he was referring to the movie the “Behind the Green Door”. A movie produced by old college friends the Mitchell Brothers. How would I know all this ? I’m a reporter.) The quote from Lampley is not exact but darn close. I had only one beer with the pizza. Yes it was a Fosters Bomber but still only one. Those of us that live and work in Las Vegas don’t appreciate the constant slamming of the city but the “effete snobs of the New York Media” What No Nads said about Las Vegas can be said about every stop boxing makes.
Lampley and Merchant compounded my anger with their constant harping on referee Kenny Bayless who did a good job on the Mosley fight. At one point Bayless called a “T.O. BABY”. “When I tell you to break I mean break. Next time I’m taking a point.” “What’s he going to take a point for. Them complaining.” NO gentleman if you could listen you will know exactly what the warning was for. In addition if you had watch you would have understood what Bayless was talking about. But you two pompous ass’s don’t have time for that. Finally to Good Ole George. “Bob Arum is the greatest promoter in boxing.” George if Bob Arum is the very best (and he may well be) why did
you leave him for Don King ? I know I’m wound up tighter than a self winding watch at a self abuse convention. I hear your cries…so enough but….
AND finally. Was happy last week when Bobby Knight, basketball coach at Texas Tech, won his 800th game. Heck of a deal. I have been asked, sometimes late at night while enjoying an adult beverage with a new friend, “Howie you’re great. When are you going to get a prize for your brilliant writing ?” I now have an answer. I’ll paraphrase Bobby Knight of last week. “I know a man that became very popular when he was 85. When asked how he accomplished this the man said “I outlived all the sob’s that hated me.” That’s my plan.
(Opinions and editorials of HotBoxingNews.com is the opinion of those writers and may not be the opinion of HotBoxingNews.com)