tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57865432285823563622024-03-14T04:03:15.256-07:00Houston Boxing Blogpeterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786543228582356362.post-59571547628465108892022-12-31T05:29:00.004-08:002022-12-31T20:11:54.606-08:002022 Houston Boxing Awards<p>By Peter Lim</p><p></p><div dir="auto"></div><p></p><div dir="auto">Houston fans were treated to two scintillating fights in 2022 involving multiple world titles. As a result, never before has the runner-up position figured so prominently in the Houston Boxing Awards. Both fights were won conclusively and without controversy by the Houston-area fighters. One made history with the unification of all four major belts and crowning of an undisputed champion in the junior middleweight division. The other was equally exhilarating, and although a vacant junior welterweight alphabet belt was at stake, was not quite as magnitudinal as the first. The aforementioned pair of fights dominated this year's awards in the categories of Fighter of the Year, Fight of the Year, Knockout of the Year and Round of the Year. </div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><div>A new category - Female Fighter of the Year - was included in this year's awards. </div><div dir="auto"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div><div dir="auto"><div>For the first time since the inauguration of the Houston Boxing Awards in 2015, Trainer of the Year was won by someone other than Ronnie Shields.</div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div><div><div>Noticeably absent from this year's awards was Jermall Charlo who was sidelined in 2022 due to injury. </div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div><div>And the awards go to ...</div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fighter of the Year</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jermell Charlo</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMKVTmwX9tpoKs1bJONs19SQ95-_27NAOq1L5-bxMsKkd3-m0-QSoqcgQ9qP-vtBgX-tqoBTWHcJkhozptn7yyWlYOfP4IkhpTSmHHIIzmR7hTuM0TE1XaWPBkTTTrf9QoiPQaK8y7dmlBi57uNsgFIDyrdOUUfZiGrs20Ofl2o-4WET4dTjrh-Mn/s1000/final%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMKVTmwX9tpoKs1bJONs19SQ95-_27NAOq1L5-bxMsKkd3-m0-QSoqcgQ9qP-vtBgX-tqoBTWHcJkhozptn7yyWlYOfP4IkhpTSmHHIIzmR7hTuM0TE1XaWPBkTTTrf9QoiPQaK8y7dmlBi57uNsgFIDyrdOUUfZiGrs20Ofl2o-4WET4dTjrh-Mn/s320/final%20(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Hosanna Rull</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Charlo and Brian Castano proved their elite mettle in their 2021 firefight for the unified and undisputed 154-pound championship. Both displayed equal amounts of heart, punch resistance and abilities to both box and brawl. The fight logically and judiciously ended in a draw.</div></span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><div>When the two collided again in the 2022 rematch, Castano was basically the same fighter from a year ago while Charlo upped his game a notch by unveiling a PhD-level ring IQ to compliment his physical prowess. The first six rounds was a continuation of the first encounter with both fighters duking it out on relatively even terms. But Charlo spent the second half of the fight deploying a more cerebral strategy that methodically and gradually dismantled Castano. He smothered and held to disrupt Castano's momentum and circled and ambushed to keep Castano where he wanted him. In the tenth round, Charlo lured Castano into a trap and unleashed a right to the ribcage followed by a compact left hook to the head that penetrated Castano's guard sending him crumpling to his knees. Castano bravely made it to his feet on wobbly legs but a follow-up barrage put Castano down again prompting the referee to step in, call a halt and declare Charlo the victor.</div><div></div></div><div><br />With the win, Charlo retained his three 154-pound alphabet belts while seizing Castano's one, becoming one of three undisputed champions to hold all four major belts in 2022; Devin Haney is the unified champion at 135 and Naoya Inoue at 118. (Josh Taylor previously held all the belts at 140 but vacated three of the four over the course of the year.) Besides clinching the top award locally, Charlo also became a frontrunner for Fighter of the Year worldwide.</div></div></div><div><div><br /></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Runner up</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;">Regis Prograis</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOMDnZVQWaxoaQiFeZucXfdMmPh5mgC9XnIo9Vpk39L3cSiygyzh0twFSUVm38H0xBPAY7dPWMoC_ycL5x1p4gjAHGeU1HqrLEJdzAr-qLbM396dRdBFikjONlKtXnVXzLNfuDRDeNdH472uvgDEBSR5u4jECVzMELS-WEWVQSM0CHjJoPFWsvfEK/s1078/prograis-fighter.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="1078" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOMDnZVQWaxoaQiFeZucXfdMmPh5mgC9XnIo9Vpk39L3cSiygyzh0twFSUVm38H0xBPAY7dPWMoC_ycL5x1p4gjAHGeU1HqrLEJdzAr-qLbM396dRdBFikjONlKtXnVXzLNfuDRDeNdH472uvgDEBSR5u4jECVzMELS-WEWVQSM0CHjJoPFWsvfEK/s320/prograis-fighter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Hosanna Rull</span></div><div style="font-size: small;"><br /></div><div><div>Prograis (28-1, 24 KOs) captured a vacant alphabet belt in November with a disciplined and workmanlike knockout win over Jose Zepeda (35-3, 27 KOs) to embark on his second reign as a 140-pound world titleholder. In what was supposed to be an almost 50-50 matchup between two hard-hitting and iron-chinned southpaws, Prograis comprehensively and systematically broke Zepeda down and eventually stopped him in the eleventh round with a prudent mix of tactical boxing, power punching and cunning. Zepeda remained dangerous throughout but Prograis' defense and punch resistance allowed him to absorb Zepeda's punches well and avoid being hit by more than one or two shots at a time. It was a career-best and possibly a career-defining win for Prograis who briefly held another version of the title in 2019.</div><div style="font-size: small;"><br /></div></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div>Earlier in the year, Prograis also stopped Tyrone McKenna (23-3-1, 6 KOs) of Northern Ireland in the sixth round in Dubai.</div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>2021 winner: Jermall Charlo</b></div></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Female Fighter of the Year</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Marlen Esparza</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DA3XRrj7KfUqxtiJ62jR0szAKthqhD_yx8MbB_gVPoHpQoa6UoN1aOqTne-yR6HOoRvK4tbYF1mfRp9avA2TB9DW-S_JqtVmhgfdrTv_9kj6IKcMTh_gmh9HJfCcp1X95i3VljlD7bb1rsItV-vatGiojaj_5IyWspj1uLx05MGOlYDgRpVmUfRt/s640/image.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DA3XRrj7KfUqxtiJ62jR0szAKthqhD_yx8MbB_gVPoHpQoa6UoN1aOqTne-yR6HOoRvK4tbYF1mfRp9avA2TB9DW-S_JqtVmhgfdrTv_9kj6IKcMTh_gmh9HJfCcp1X95i3VljlD7bb1rsItV-vatGiojaj_5IyWspj1uLx05MGOlYDgRpVmUfRt/s320/image.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo courtesy of Golden Boy Promotions<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div><div>Like her male counterpart Jermell Charlo, Esparza (13-1, 1 KO) also made history in 2022 by unifying the female flyweight world championship for the first time. Esparza, 33, successfully defended her alphabet belt and added another to her name by defeating Naoka Fujioka (19-3, 7 KOs) of Japan via lopsided 10-round decision in San Antonio in April. Esparza returned to the ring with both belts on the line in August to defeat Eva Guzman (19-2-1, 11 KOs) of Venezuela, also by decision. As her record suggests, Esparza, a 2012 Olympic bronze medalist, does not pack much punching power but makes up for it with technical savvy and ring IQ.</div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fight of the Year</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jermell Charlo TKO10 Brian Castano</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtpYjSyaaZGCwJsFTMHc3dUmGVw7JIl08eWuzUW_2cEZXbxtMhaSogvbFpS3GwZanBXbzlwGUX3tNZcXCPYVu42eBAg0__9K-4ot9WetliQ_c47hLWmnE1yMrC0Ot4pDYb5txXzlYQ9w1zhyIOqOBLxvXTvBnKPeEwGZ1HhudRxrGe1f7uwvT2Spg/s810/IMG-0386.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="810" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtpYjSyaaZGCwJsFTMHc3dUmGVw7JIl08eWuzUW_2cEZXbxtMhaSogvbFpS3GwZanBXbzlwGUX3tNZcXCPYVu42eBAg0__9K-4ot9WetliQ_c47hLWmnE1yMrC0Ot4pDYb5txXzlYQ9w1zhyIOqOBLxvXTvBnKPeEwGZ1HhudRxrGe1f7uwvT2Spg/s320/IMG-0386.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Hosanna Rull<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div><div>The magnitude of this victory is further amplified considering it was a rematch of the 2021 Fight of the Year that ended in a draw. Charlo spent the first half of the rematch slugging it out on even terms with Castano much like he did in the entirety of their first encounter. But at the halfway mark of the rematch, he transformed himself from trigger-happy cowboy to cool and calculated assassin. Like a matador, he deliberately slowed the action to throw Castano off his game and dictate the tempo instead of bullheadedly locking horns with Castano at every turn. When Castano tried to initiate an exchange, Charlo would spin out, glide away or hold to kill the action. He would still engage Castano but only on his own terms.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>The end was sudden, unexpected and brutal. By refusing to fight Castano's fight, Charlo forced Castano into taking more risks and making more mistakes. Unable to make his own adjustments to Charlo's new adaptation, Castano continued pressing forward with reckless abandon. In the tenth round, Charlo had Castano where he wanted him and detonated a right to the body, left to the head. Castono found himself on the deck not knowing what hit him. He beat the count but virtually everyone, including Castano himself, knew the fight was essentially over at that point. Charlo's follow-up assault that ended the fight for good was a mere formality.</div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div><div>Whether it was scripted by trainer Derrick James or improvised mid-fight, Charlo's bait and switch tactic at the midway point that turned the tables of the fight will go down as one of the shrewdest battlefield strategies in the playbooks of the sweet science. </div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Runner up</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Regis Prograis TKO11 Jose Zepeda</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGcaCsCN-h8fiqTy7eiZXkLQxeWvYNP9W-pS2nug7I4g9sSdhlFDntyQUaivH1qKpBxYvIfQGMzlc2eBX5_FfX5b0V6el5yg7CMtjN6w0GANkUnPHQgyXu06ArShF7wg72oG-oEoLlUxCVHVzxvsnZF0GzDk-z-EsFyaHs42haWqVqrzN5YSmMOIk/s480/IMG-0385.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="480" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGcaCsCN-h8fiqTy7eiZXkLQxeWvYNP9W-pS2nug7I4g9sSdhlFDntyQUaivH1qKpBxYvIfQGMzlc2eBX5_FfX5b0V6el5yg7CMtjN6w0GANkUnPHQgyXu06ArShF7wg72oG-oEoLlUxCVHVzxvsnZF0GzDk-z-EsFyaHs42haWqVqrzN5YSmMOIk/s320/IMG-0385.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Hosanna Rull<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div>Forget the fact that this fight was for an alphabet belt. This was a genuine high-quality matchup between two battle-tested, cream-of-the-crop 140-pound southpaws renowned for their formidable punching power, punch resistance and aggressiveness. The showdown had all the makings for Fight of the Year but it ultimately was won by brain as much as brawn, with Prograis reading Zepeda's style and body language and capitalizing on his flaws more effectively than vice versa,</div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div></div><div><div>Prograis was first to the draw more often, got the better of most of the exchanges and was the more elusive of the two. Although he pulled comfortably ahead after 10 rounds, the heavy-handed Zepeda had his moments in every round as he jolted Prograis with his fair share of power punches. The accumulation of Prograis' shots gradually began to take a toll on Zepeda and he became an easier target as the fight wore into the late rounds. Sensing the time was ripe for the kill, Prograis turned up the heat in the eleventh round and soon caught Zepeda with a huge overhand left that sent him reeling to the ropes. Prograis pounced on his trapped and injured prey with a two-fisted assault that sent Zepeda flailing to the canvas, prompting the referee to waive the bout over without a count.</div><div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>2021 winner - Jermell Charlo D12 Brian Castano</b></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Knockout of the Year</span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jermell Charlo TKO10 Brian Castano</span></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div><div>Over the course of 21 rounds in two fights, Charlo and Castano clobbered each other with everything they had. Both fighters were rocked, shaken and buzzed by each other's blows but each seemed to have sufficient durability to withstand the other's power, shake off the ill-effects and return fire with a vengeance. The first fight ended in a draw with both camps having a credible case to make that they deserved the victory. That all changed abruptly in the tenth round of their rematch when a perfectly-executed, precision-perfect body-head combination by Charlo ensured that this time around, the result was definitive, conclusive and concussive. </div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div><div>Charlo's window of opportunity to land that combination lasted no longer than a fraction of a second but he took it. Right to the body, left to the head and that was it. Game over. Neither punch would have caused much damage individually but the combined effect of both was devastating. It was eerily reminiscent of the right to the body, left to the head that Mike Tyson used to stop Razor Ruddock in 1991. What made the knockout even more impressive was the fact that the fight-ending left hook was partially blocked by Castano's glove before making contact with his head. In addition, Castano had always displayed a sturdy chin and had never been in serious trouble before. </div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div><div>Regardless of what Charlo does from here on out, he will have one of the weirdest knockout reels ever. Prior to knocking out an iron-chinned Castano with a partially-blocked shot, he deflated Jeison Rosario with, of all things, a jab to the body that was, guess what, also partially deflected. In 2019, Charlo began his victory celebration a tad prematurely after pummeling Tony Harrison to the canvas only to discover that the referee had not yet halted the fight; he stopped Harrison for real shortly after realizing his mistake. In 2017, Charlo stunningly froze Erickson Lubin stiff for the full count with a strange hook-uppercut hybrid that merely clipped Lubin on the chin. And in 2016, Jermell's mandatory challenger Charles Hatley almost started a riot when he unceremoniously gatecrashed his identical twin Jermall's post-fight interview with a shove, mistaking him for Jermell. Charlo made Hatley pay 11 months later by violently knocking him out in the sixth round.<br /></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div><div>With that said, in addition to Knockout of the Year, if there was an award for the most misleading stat in boxing, Charlo's unimposing 51 percent knockout rate has to be the undisputed winner by leaps and bounds.<br /></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div><div><b>2021 winner - Efe Ajagba KO3 Brian Howard</b></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Prospect of the Year</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Austin Williams, 13-0 (9KOs)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0za8aBdRn9M50r4JgXm-OszETnDG3UmI4ADbz0J_L-a9wzdFb4aEh2l6xgx4t1oHQBjNsQ7PcA8UPwQEXtDnTIGzIx3_6Tb5Sw5BUvQnUaGS1S8UtQhSocnqojeatdgZpa1ocViBl0YRhK_izm_MHC4IXlr4Db5Tubc3K8ejilgJ7ZuwC8ee7Qfw/s2592/IMG_0765.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1936" data-original-width="2592" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0za8aBdRn9M50r4JgXm-OszETnDG3UmI4ADbz0J_L-a9wzdFb4aEh2l6xgx4t1oHQBjNsQ7PcA8UPwQEXtDnTIGzIx3_6Tb5Sw5BUvQnUaGS1S8UtQhSocnqojeatdgZpa1ocViBl0YRhK_izm_MHC4IXlr4Db5Tubc3K8ejilgJ7ZuwC8ee7Qfw/s320/IMG_0765.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Peter Lim<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Southpaw middleweight Williams went 4-0 (2 KOs) in 2022 including wins over two previously-undefeated fellow prospects. Most impressive was his first-round TKO over Chordale Booker (17-1, 7 KOs) in April. In that fight, Williams demonstrated both his ability to beat his opponent to the punch with his reach alongside a skillset to dominate exchanges at close quarters. Williams ended the year with a lopsided 10-round decision win over undefeated but untested Simon Madsen (13-1, 10 KOs) of Denmark.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div dir="auto">A late convert but fast bloomer to the sweet science who first laced on a pair of gloves at the ripe old age of 18, WIlliams took to boxing like a fish to water. A former basketball player, he emigrated from court to ring after falling short of making the starting lineup on his college hoops team. In a brief amateur career, he succeeded in winning an open division national title before joining the pro ranks in 2019. Even before turning pro himself, WIlliams was entrusted as a coach, doing everything from conducting beginners classes for kids to training full-fledged professionals. Most recently, he was deemed knowledgeable and articulate enough to serve as a guest commentator and analyst for DAZN.</div><div dir="auto"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div dir="auto"><div><div dir="auto"><b>2021 winner - Darwin Price<br /></b></div></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Comeback of the Year</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Miguel Flores</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gy5wtPQrp8hDP8VdYLdXtcl3vInAxDjbAdhLXXykyNnJ-Koep4NgNwQritb5OUmwe604Dps1k9PhR-n0ujTho7X4eCvAMHRak2kLHN7KkWIL_mvBp5jEM7FAeExE0adpof314MKHFIslwIzmbUVDTevmnt9Z8hS5GbeQo6o7deJyT-6PVSqSKa8s/s750/IMG-3174.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gy5wtPQrp8hDP8VdYLdXtcl3vInAxDjbAdhLXXykyNnJ-Koep4NgNwQritb5OUmwe604Dps1k9PhR-n0ujTho7X4eCvAMHRak2kLHN7KkWIL_mvBp5jEM7FAeExE0adpof314MKHFIslwIzmbUVDTevmnt9Z8hS5GbeQo6o7deJyT-6PVSqSKa8s/s320/IMG-3174.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Hosanna Rull<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div><div>It is rare for a fighter to win Comeback of the Year on the strength of a draw but featherweight Flores deserves this honor considering the slump from which he was coming back and the big-name opponent he was up against. Flores (25-4-1, 12 KOs) seemed like the perfect comeback opponent for former three-division titleholder and future hall-of-famer Abner Mares (31-3-2, 15 KOs) after a four-year layoff. In his last three fights, Flores was 1-2 against a caliber of opposition ranging from A-plus to D-minus. In 2019, he fought gallantly in a unanimous decision loss to four-division titleholder and Mares' arch rival Leo Santa Cruz. In his next fight, Flores was brutally stopped by southpaw contender Eduardo Ramirez in a fight he took on 10-day's notice. In what was supposed to be a stay-busy fight in 2021, Flores was gifted a split-decision victory against Diuhl Olguin who had a losing record of 15-17-4 (10 KOs) in his hometown at the Toyota Center. Olguin has fought 13 times since without a win, dipping to 15-29-5 (10 KOs). On paper at least, Flores was custom made for Mares to return to action against.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>But somebody forgot to send Flores the memo that he was merely supposed to be the fall guy. Mares started aggressively punching in sharp, fluid combinations like he hadn't accumulated any ring rust from his four-year absence. But Flores took his best shots well and returned fire with gusto like the young, hungry prospect he was before several derailments he encountered in his 13-year career. After eight rounds of spirited back-and-forth action, Mares seemed to run out of gas allowing Flores to finish strong in the last two rounds.The draw was probably a fair verdict but no one would've raised an eyebrow had Flores' hand been raised at the end of the night. Most significantly, though, Flores, 30, regained a measure of relevance on the world stage. </div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div><div><b>2021 winner - Marlen Esparza</b></div><div dir="auto"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div dir="auto"><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Upset of the Year</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Adrian Taylor SD8 Efetobor Apochi</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDU_3ko6KW424OzVCFFvvKMQGDrtrFS8xpZQSd_eKVKuPLR_zxISaxA_LS8eOrcGUEKazYE67ryQryVVJVIO2toEqnjKebybzs4ZD6maqbsMD2gfa93Fpg8j-OQRljm-JBUSfj9VLeJIGyzyLs91tmS34Ndxz2pqoba8T4kqaBtvVGWg2CoG8pHmJ/s2592/IMG_0821.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="1936" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDU_3ko6KW424OzVCFFvvKMQGDrtrFS8xpZQSd_eKVKuPLR_zxISaxA_LS8eOrcGUEKazYE67ryQryVVJVIO2toEqnjKebybzs4ZD6maqbsMD2gfa93Fpg8j-OQRljm-JBUSfj9VLeJIGyzyLs91tmS34Ndxz2pqoba8T4kqaBtvVGWg2CoG8pHmJ/s320/IMG_0821.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Peter Lim<br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div>For the second year running, cruiserweight Apochi came up at the short end of Upset of the Year by split decision. Despite losing his last fight, albeit barely, Apochi was statistically a clear favorite against Taylor. Although both fighters entered the ring with relatively even records, Apochi (11-2, 11 KOs) had a superior level of opposition. The Houston transplant from Nigeria had previously stopped fighters with 14-0, 10-1 and 11-2 records. His only loss was a razor-close split decision to fellow-undefeated Brandon Glanton (13-0, 11 KOs) last year. </div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div></div><div><div>Taylor (13-1-1, 5 KOs), on the other hand, was still fighting four- and six-rounders mostly against fighters with losing records. His best win came via split decision against an 8-1 fighter, he fought a 9-1 fighter to a draw and lost a four-round decision to a 3-6 journeyman. In addition, Apochi had stopped every fighter he had defeated while Taylor had a subpar 36 percent knockout rate.</div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div><div>Still, Taylor managed to edge Apochi via an eight-round split decision for the upset, sending him back to the drawing board. At age 35 and 0-2 in his last two fights, time might be running out for Apochi to regain a semblance of the promise he had in 2020 when he walked away with the Prospect of the Year award. </div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div><div><b>2021 winner - Brandon Glanton SD10 Efetobor Apochi</b></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Round of the Year</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Jermell Charlo vs. Brian Castano, round 7</span></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div><div>Round 7 of Charlo vs Castano II was neither very action-packed nor dramatic. But it was pivotal. It was the round in which Charlo flipped a switch and turned the tide on what was, up till then, an evenly-contested shootout and a continuation of their first fight that ended in a draw. Almost on cue, at exactly the halfway point of the fight, Charlo did an about-face in his game plan, not by stepping on the gas but down-shifting a gear or two. Rather than frenetically trading punches with Castano, Charlo settled down, played defense and capitalized on Castano's mistakes to methodically dissect and dismantle the tough and aggressive Argentine. That change of tactic paid dividends in the tenth round when it created the opening for the body-head combo that ended the fight.</div><div></div></div><div><div><br /></div></div><div><div><b>2021 winner - Brandon Glanton vs Efetobor Apochi, round 10</b></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div><div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Trainer of the Year</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bobby Benton and Aaron Navarro</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzCkhOVenFOFjjFOP5TeT02mCrDUc7QPgRqUzE0u4LbcDrAc71_6k67n0362tEpOi_Ntz2ktAmOE_MHzZazujJbqduiXUrGw6dgQ_s94bgJNP40a-Jp0II02NeAIUkuUK9UhclQLHjodPuXXmJSBlt1cR2lhzRXZskNV6LpFA6W5yVJmaqi0-h6oo/s1620/bobby-aaron.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzCkhOVenFOFjjFOP5TeT02mCrDUc7QPgRqUzE0u4LbcDrAc71_6k67n0362tEpOi_Ntz2ktAmOE_MHzZazujJbqduiXUrGw6dgQ_s94bgJNP40a-Jp0II02NeAIUkuUK9UhclQLHjodPuXXmJSBlt1cR2lhzRXZskNV6LpFA6W5yVJmaqi0-h6oo/s320/bobby-aaron.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Hosanna Rull</span></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div><div>Co-trainers Bobby Benton and Aaron Navarro last won this award in 2019, but had to share it with co-winner Ronnie Shields in a tie. This year, they stand alone atop the podium. Together, Benton and Navarro devised an astute game plan for Regis Prograis and steered him through 11 rough-and-tumble rounds against the ever-dangerous Jose Zepeda to regain a portion of the junior welterweight crown. Their main rival, Shields, was left out of the running due largely to middleweight titleholder Jermall Charlo being inactive in 2022 due to injury. (Jermell Charlo is trained by Derrick James of Dallas) Besides Prograis, Benton and Navarro also serve as chief seconds to Comeback of the Year recipient Miguel Flores.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>2021 winner - Ronnie Shields</b></div><div><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /></div></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>R.I.P. Maurenzo "Toughie" Smith, 1978-2022</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtNM6Ftig7YnRJC9SZ9QsOtbpaDrBxAF3WoZT5_qBmQubWRvOUNIQCzzZ-pOUieOSHaatfJ7MUce1svvnk5Aaxo8FTTPSJ5ueb2640ZKfYFsLZbrMQtCvlX3nbWPbGzftskiWVL_1lv6zxI7iQvdXn9hamz62J6fQJuf-XY-OtKO8xgGmIkyiulVF/s1620/IMG_2811.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtNM6Ftig7YnRJC9SZ9QsOtbpaDrBxAF3WoZT5_qBmQubWRvOUNIQCzzZ-pOUieOSHaatfJ7MUce1svvnk5Aaxo8FTTPSJ5ueb2640ZKfYFsLZbrMQtCvlX3nbWPbGzftskiWVL_1lv6zxI7iQvdXn9hamz62J6fQJuf-XY-OtKO8xgGmIkyiulVF/s320/IMG_2811.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Hosanna Rull<br /></span><b style="font-size: large;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div></div></div><div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></div></div><div></div></div></div><div></div></div></div>peterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786543228582356362.post-55935738937680852552021-12-30T23:01:00.053-08:002021-12-31T18:17:15.534-08:002021 Houston Boxing Awards<p> By Peter Lim</p><p>Despite Covid-19 and its variants still running rampant, the sport of boxing worldwide registered a relatively clean bill of health in 2021, displaying formidable punch resistance against the pandemic's onslaught. Granted, the sport saw its share of cancellations and postponements but it was a minor setback compared to the battering the virus has wreaked upon many other sectors of the global economy. Virtually every world titleholder - from 105-pound Seneisa Estrada to 277-pound Tyson Fury - defended their belts in 2021.</p><p>Houston proved to be a microcosm of the worldwide boxing scene with the vast majority of its active boxers at every level fighting at least once in 2021. The recipient of the Comeback of the Year award managed to secure three fights during the year. It is a testament to the dogged determination and dedication these ring warriors have for their brutal but beautiful craft. </p><p>And the awards go to ...</p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b>Fighter of the Year </b></h2><h3 style="text-align: center;"><b>Jermall Charlo </b></h3><div dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div dir="auto"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Uba_sFnRhySZQJcjOg1s__X2xBrPP2JoVFJkG5e-ZOJMr7uPXL5zM9lbXRoFbsFDc0p_ReR1I0c1HpE7rPxh1ZDEmvPu46qHo0gISrJQk6ma21YWFaWMbHuY_uZByFr7Z6MPqa5ifWg/s810/IMG-0386.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Uba_sFnRhySZQJcjOg1s__X2xBrPP2JoVFJkG5e-ZOJMr7uPXL5zM9lbXRoFbsFDc0p_ReR1I0c1HpE7rPxh1ZDEmvPu46qHo0gISrJQk6ma21YWFaWMbHuY_uZByFr7Z6MPqa5ifWg/s320/IMG-0386.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="auto">Photo courtesy of Hosanna Rull</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">Jermall Charlo wins the top award on the strength of his lopsided title defense against a game but outclassed Juan Macias Montiel in June at the Toyota Center. Coming off his career-best performance against Sergiy Derevyanchenko last year, the undefeated Charlo entered the fight a heavy favorite.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">Montiel’s record was mixed; he had stopped all 22 of the opponents he had beaten but had four losses to his name. In his only other outing against an elite fighter, he was thoroughly dominated and blasted into oblivion by Jaime Munguia in two rounds in 2018. </div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">Although Charlo fell short of knocking Montiel out, he did everything else expected of him. He dictated the tempo and outmaneuvered Montiel every step of the way with his superior skillset. The hometown favorite was first to the draw from the outside, and when the battle went into trenches, he landed the first and last blows in most exchanges.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">What Montiel lacked in finesse, he made up for in grit and guts. Alternating between orthodox and southpaw, Montiel found sporadic success in the trenches with multi-punch flurries upstairs and down but they were too few and far between to stymie Charlo’s momentum or even win any rounds decisively. </div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">Charlo might not have scored the knockout that most predicted but it was still a commanding enough performance to beat out his twin brother Jermell and Marlen Esparza for Fighter of the Year.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><b>2020 winner: Tie between Jermall Charlo and Jermell Charlo</b></div><div dir="auto"><br /><div dir="auto"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: center;">Fight of the Year</h2><h3 style="text-align: center;">Jermell Charlo D12 Brian Castano</h3><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIlS6wNjM4oZBbSy1ekytSEf5HqRjvHiLn3Vb89pEt3lhNWRx0mqZsUWqNa4lH2IIA7-QL3q2_Bt3_Ii-BJMMXgxppeOZ8IU76si_kfszswDZnIfbSlS-JUuXk3PGECblqHENR-6rUIg/s500/IMG-0387.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIlS6wNjM4oZBbSy1ekytSEf5HqRjvHiLn3Vb89pEt3lhNWRx0mqZsUWqNa4lH2IIA7-QL3q2_Bt3_Ii-BJMMXgxppeOZ8IU76si_kfszswDZnIfbSlS-JUuXk3PGECblqHENR-6rUIg/s320/IMG-0387.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div dir="auto">Photo courtesy of Hosanna Rull</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">The stakes could not have been higher in this July shootout at the AT&T Center in San Antonio; Charlo was putting his three alphabet belts on the line and Castano his one for the undisputed and unified junior middleweight championship of the world. What transpired in the ring not only lived up to its hype but surpassed it. Every round was competitive, many too close to call but none were lacking in action.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">Going into the fight, Charlo was perceived to be the better boxer and Castano the fiercer brawler but Charlo showed he knew his way around deep in the trenches and Castano proved unexpectedly competent on the chess board.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">Taller and rangier, Charlo favored the circle-and-ambush strategy, moving around the ring, shifting directions, snapping with the jab and stepping in with power punches and combinations at opportune moments. But the cagey Argentinian knew a thing or two about the space-time continuum and repeatedly timed Charlo with lead rights to close the distance and unload follow-up volleys up close and personal. </div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">Up close and personal was where Castano more comfortable but Charlo held his own on the inside as he shoulder rolled with the punches and returned fire with ferocity and precision. Particularly potent was Charlo's counter left hook that rocked Castano on several occasions. </div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">At the end of ten frenetic rounds, the fight was declared a draw with Charlo winning on one judge's scorecard, Castano on another and the each boxer winning six rounds apiece on the third. Although the fight failed to produce a unified champion as expected, it churned out more than its fair share of thrills and suspense to win Fight of the Year.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><b>2020 winner: Jermall Charlo W12 Sergiy Derevyanchenko</b></div><div dir="auto"><b><br /></b></div><h2 style="text-align: center;">Knockout of the Year</h2><h3 style="text-align: center;">Efe Ajagba KO3 Brian Howard</h3><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpIuO646Q5KxupZ71-HzV0pMgFYd9LB-faem0Q6dMK3gnPvGMguggeeI8msP1Wpg4v8ws1kk2IVEZubPcSP4VR7Gmxz8xddWqOSCqYbMFTgdu_vRMC2H_tyzjjkUNsghvbFHNMY-0eq0/s1600/IMG_0682.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1196" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpIuO646Q5KxupZ71-HzV0pMgFYd9LB-faem0Q6dMK3gnPvGMguggeeI8msP1Wpg4v8ws1kk2IVEZubPcSP4VR7Gmxz8xddWqOSCqYbMFTgdu_vRMC2H_tyzjjkUNsghvbFHNMY-0eq0/s320/IMG_0682.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div dir="auto">Photo by Peter Lim</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">Going into the fight, everyone knew that any time Ajagba landed that sledgehammer of a right hand, it would be lights out for the hapless recipient. But two rather nondescript previous opponents had proven elusive enough to avoid a direct hit and last the distance with power-punching Nigerian.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">Ajagba spent the first two rounds prodding and probing with his left jab to create openings for his moneymaker shot. When Ajagba unleashed his right, he rocked and rattled Howard even if it was just a grazing or partially-blocked blow. The writing was on the wall.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">In the third round, Ajagba fired off a missile of a right as Howard was winging a left hook. It landed flush on the ear sending Howard crumbling face first to the canvas where he remained unconscious in a contorted position for the full count and the some. The savage and sudden conclusion was simply a shoo-in for Knockout of the Year.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">Unfortunately, Ajagba couldn’t ride the momentum the Howard knockout into his next fight when he stepped up his level of opposition against Frank Sanchez. Ajagba was dropped in the seventh round en route to losing a 10-round unanimous decision for his first career defeat.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><b>2020 winner: Jermell Charlo KO8 Jeison Rosario</b></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><h2 style="text-align: center;">Prospect of the Year</h2><h3 style="text-align: center;">Darwin Price (18-1, 11 KOs)</h3><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAQQq_BY3ka8KW1HqyjLv8Wqw9hkcSn7f_6PiyjuvMTCIE9eNMsVNXfxp_u4BtLH7e_1x8Ja1Gd7ehhFFAyH0A3fbXDpvVZphHGEMrVtSxLzoLp0lYFZaxd0O8y8Ymr8-xBrJXKDeE4-JnyjQYcj-_b2eGdkvq5dvP7nAQ9ffFaIpHapuotktlkm3O=s1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAQQq_BY3ka8KW1HqyjLv8Wqw9hkcSn7f_6PiyjuvMTCIE9eNMsVNXfxp_u4BtLH7e_1x8Ja1Gd7ehhFFAyH0A3fbXDpvVZphHGEMrVtSxLzoLp0lYFZaxd0O8y8Ymr8-xBrJXKDeE4-JnyjQYcj-_b2eGdkvq5dvP7nAQ9ffFaIpHapuotktlkm3O=s320" width="320" /></a></div>Photo courtesy of Darwin Price<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div dir="auto">It might seem peculiar that a fighter with a knockout loss as recently as December 2019 would take home this award. But upon further inspection that blemish becomes far less incriminating, looking more like a positive instead of negative; Price had won every round on every scorecard against Malik Hawkins before succumbing to a knee injury in the sixth round. </div></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto">In October Price entered the ring a slight underdog against the highly-touted and previously-undefeated Jean Carlos Torres (19-1, 15 KOs). Price, a former national amateur champion, seamlessly assumed the role of matador against the hard-charging Torres all night. Gliding fluidly around the ring, he sidestepped Torres' attacks while utilizing his longer reach to spear Torres from the outside with stiff jabs and straight rights. When Torres closed the distance, he was met with jolting right uppercuts, one of which resulted in a knockdown in the third round. So thorough and methodical a beating Torres was taking that his corner decided to spare him further punishment and capitulated before the start of the seventh round.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div></div><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto">Price was also a candidate for Comeback of the Year and Upset of the Year but was edged out by Marlen Esparza and Glanton W10 Apochi respectively. For Prospect of the Year, the lanky junior welterweight beat out streaking upstarts Eridson Garcia and Austin Williams on the strength of the overall quality of his opposition.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div></div><div dir="auto"><b>2020 winner: Efetobor Apochi</b></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: center;">Comeback of the Year</h2><h3 style="text-align: center;">Marlen Esparza </h3><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjC4T1ALfp_9jwOJh1inWevdLbHIOVjMmcSY9_8bDtuxZcbdTp1pZOzWW0Ih37h9d1d46N-r_jmy4ZBs0t1V1Jf9slwHxyQJQb2m7Kh9CAJCdmdQlrhuBEO37R0KkgBEBWw1QilLqMG4XuffvlohdXtSYSDcHy3TRBRWRf0eChWMheJ76mLxJYGpYH3=s640" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjC4T1ALfp_9jwOJh1inWevdLbHIOVjMmcSY9_8bDtuxZcbdTp1pZOzWW0Ih37h9d1d46N-r_jmy4ZBs0t1V1Jf9slwHxyQJQb2m7Kh9CAJCdmdQlrhuBEO37R0KkgBEBWw1QilLqMG4XuffvlohdXtSYSDcHy3TRBRWRf0eChWMheJ76mLxJYGpYH3=s320" width="320" /></a></div>Photo courtesy of Golden Boy Promotions<br /><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">In 2019, flyweight Marlen Esparza suffered a ghastly gash on her forehead from a headbutt en route to her first professional defeat to Seneisa Estrada. The bleeding was so profuse it affected Esparza's vision causing the fight to be stopped in the ninth round with Estrada declared the winner via technical decision. It was a bitter loss considering there was no love lost between Esparza and Estrada who was moving up a weight division to fight Estrada for an interim title.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">But the 2012 Olympic bronze medalist got right back on the saddle as soon as the cut healed with a four-fight win streak, the third resulting in a world-title belt she wrested from Ibeth Zamora Silva via unanimous decision in June. In December Esparza successfully made her first defense the belt by outpointing Anabel Ortiz and cementing her claim for Comeback of the Year.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><b>2020 winner: Regis Prograis</b></div><h2 style="text-align: center;">Upset of the Year</h2><h3 style="text-align: center;">Brandon Glanton SD10 Efetobor Apochi</h3><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUHi4gU7zTvd9nfyU-yqdzuW_ciZDq2L1g4NfwAVMRVtry0idcko_Rgr1ngLL4X2YWZZNWPI5OGSEytFam4ojd0PgVG24lXusKKjTLT_13wEzEL-k2-EbxZj7ZMNin5acNzGMx-7SsP-hp_IQDDkiENhctTCaqx6rV4af2ESkiuGaRzsC4jtz_lky6=s2592" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="1936" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUHi4gU7zTvd9nfyU-yqdzuW_ciZDq2L1g4NfwAVMRVtry0idcko_Rgr1ngLL4X2YWZZNWPI5OGSEytFam4ojd0PgVG24lXusKKjTLT_13wEzEL-k2-EbxZj7ZMNin5acNzGMx-7SsP-hp_IQDDkiENhctTCaqx6rV4af2ESkiuGaRzsC4jtz_lky6=s320" width="239" /></a></div>Photo by Peter Lim<br /><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">Coming into the fight, Efetobor Apochi (11-0, 11 KOs) vs. Brandon Glanton (13-0, 11 KOs) might’ve seemed like a dead-even matchup on paper. But upon closer scrutiny of their respective histories, Apochi had to be the favorite. He had a long international amateur career plus an impressive knockout victory over fellow undefeated prospect Deon Nicholson. Glanton, on the other hand, was a former college football player, a late convert to the sweet science and was still at the stage of his career of fighting opponents from Palookaville. </div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">Despite the disparity in experience and education, it was the supposedly less-seasoned Glanton who displayed the better fundamentals which ultimately tipped the balance in this closely-contested firefight. “Bulletproof” proved an apt nickname for Glanton as he kept his chin tucked, knees bent and gloves firmly shielding his chin and ribcage throughout. Apochi, on the other hand, fought complacently with head high and hands low for much of the bout.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto">For 10 rounds, the two evenly-sized cruiserweights engaged in a scintillating back-and-forth battle that was fought with both brain and bravado. Apochi assumed the role of boxer-puncher as he chipped away at Glanton's fortifications with his jab to create openings for power shots while Glanton was the banger-boxer who hid behind a tight guard while blasting away with counters from both fists with decapitating intentions. It was Glanton who was landing the cleaner punches on account of his better defense.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">A pivotal moment came at the end of round six when Glanton landed a thunderous left hook followed by an overhand right that dropped Apochi along the ropes. Apochi appeared out on his feet as the ropes held him up but was spared further punishment as the bell rang. To his credit, he shook off the cobwebs regained his composure in between rounds and never strayed from his game plan. He even staggered Glanton with a clubbing right at the end of the tenth but failed to capitalize.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">As the adage goes in boxing, in a razor close fight the fighter who scores the knockdown wins the fight and such was case in this fight as Glanton was declared the victor via split decision. With the win, Glanton emerges from obscurity as a force to be reckoned with in the division while Apochi saw his stock dip, losing not only his undefeated record but his 100 percent knockout rate.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">Glanton-Apochi was a strong candidate for Fight of the Year but was edged out by Charlo-Castano on the magnitude that it was a world championship unification bout.</div></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto"><b>2020 winner: Eddy Valencia W8 Pablo Cruz</b></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div></div><h2 style="text-align: center;">Round of the Year</h2><h3 style="text-align: center;">Brandon Glanton-Efetobor Apochi, round 10</h3><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpjdo602W8LYWIl0vkIbjS2-voX1xTKnK7rweqh5Rco9LQCUYf7-hAzHIaOyx1eawX9XUcggh9O71H6lnUH0fVLf7npqcgfT3iZKL22iOdaSRO4sLjTXT0LtsntOaM3zuSEupbLxNoyG0jH0c4sl7dkKKk_w6yfyFqv_B6hr8rtDHsUSqcKwYW8CYy=s2592" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="1936" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjpjdo602W8LYWIl0vkIbjS2-voX1xTKnK7rweqh5Rco9LQCUYf7-hAzHIaOyx1eawX9XUcggh9O71H6lnUH0fVLf7npqcgfT3iZKL22iOdaSRO4sLjTXT0LtsntOaM3zuSEupbLxNoyG0jH0c4sl7dkKKk_w6yfyFqv_B6hr8rtDHsUSqcKwYW8CYy=s320" width="239" /></a></div><br /><div dir="auto">Photo by Peter Lim</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">Almost every round in this action-packed shootout could conceivably be a candidate for Round of the Year but the tenth round trumps the rest on the closeness of the fight and how crucial it was to the outcome; a little more urgency and a punch or two more would have altered the result. Having suffered a sixth-round knockdown, Apochi was a behind on the scorecards and needed a knockout, or at the very least, knockdown to secure a victory. The Nigerian pecked away with his jab to set up power shots while Glanton continued to do what had worked for him all night - keep his chin down, gloves up and hammer away with both fists.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">In the final moments of the fight, Apochi landed a chopping right to the jawbone that buckled Glanton's knees and sent him reeling backwards. But instead of pouncing on his buzzed opponent, the Apochi opted to step back, admire his work and gloat, allowing Glanton to finish the fight on his feet and win the fight via split decision. As it turned out, had Apochi scored a knockdown for a 10-8 round, he would have avoided his first career loss. </div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><b>2020 winner: Jermell Charlo vs. Jeison Rosario, round 6</b></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: center;">Trainer of the Year</h2><h3 style="text-align: center;">Ronnie Shields </h3><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9ihyR0X8xFqfhaBiksvtR5xmcyPPYGIoldtxo_S_hDZa6083PCVptPbfZf9W5GuIdh_FxsCUWACHoNKpNoZ2-lBAe8emU6-635qu3_nBJYlz-KRln2SlTPXgNWu9HvuOXYCL6lUcr1bNZ1RvgsEMD8zswJZu0gypN4RH40pGtrc95yULYsjCykza0=s2592" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="1936" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9ihyR0X8xFqfhaBiksvtR5xmcyPPYGIoldtxo_S_hDZa6083PCVptPbfZf9W5GuIdh_FxsCUWACHoNKpNoZ2-lBAe8emU6-635qu3_nBJYlz-KRln2SlTPXgNWu9HvuOXYCL6lUcr1bNZ1RvgsEMD8zswJZu0gypN4RH40pGtrc95yULYsjCykza0=s320" width="239" /></a></div>Photo by Peter Lim<br /><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">Ronnie Shields was the only trainer to have a fighter win a world title fight in 2021 when Jermall Charlo dominated and outpointed Juan Macias Montiel at the Toyota Center in June. Shields has been Charlo's chief second since the two division world titleholder turned pro in 2008. Besides Charlo, Shields also cornered for Erislandy Lara (1-0), Guillermo Rigondeaux (0-1) and Efetobor Apochi (1-1) in 2021.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">Honorable mention in this category goes to co-trainers Bobby Benton and Aaron Navarro. The Benton-Navarro team cornered for the Regis Prograis (1-0), Darwin Price (2-0) and Eridson Garcia (2-0) in 2021.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><b>2020 winner: Ronnie Shields</b></div></div>peterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786543228582356362.post-45327051573955301602020-12-31T19:47:00.008-08:002020-12-31T23:13:15.189-08:002020 Houston Boxing Awards<p> By Peter Lim</p><p>Photos courtesy of Hosanna Rull</p><p>Covid-19 dropped boxing to its knees with a sucker punch in 2020 forcing the sport to take a prolonged respite in a neutral corner for much of the year. Down but not out, the sweet science came storming back with a vengeance by mid-year. What the pandemic depleted in quantity of bouts was adequately compensated for by the quality of fights that did take place. All prominent Houston area boxers fought at least once in 2020 and, as the following awards will reveal, most acquitted themselves well on the world stage.</p><div><br /></div><div>For the first time in six years, the race for Fighter of the Year deadlocked in a tie. Guess what? The co-winners also happen to share identical DNA and those genes proved dominant enough to procure the Fight of the Year, Knockout of the Year and Round of the Year awards.</div><div><br /></div><div>Prospect of the Year is always a highly competitive category in a boxing Mecca like Houston and this year was no different. Comeback of the Year and Upset of the Year were weak categories this year simply because there were so few fights from which to select. Trainer of the Year was a no-brainer.</div><div><br /></div><div>And the awards go to:</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div><b>Fighter of the Year</b></div><div><u>Tie: Jermall Charlo and Jermell Charlo</u></div><div><br /></div><div>Both twins, 30, turned out impressive performances on the same night but trying to determine which was better was like comparing apples to oranges since each was noteworthy for different merits. At 160, Jermall (31-0, 21 KOs) passed his sternest test to date with a clear but hard-fought victory over a talented and tough-as-nails Sergiy Derevyanchenko. Jermell (34-1, 18 KOs) unified three of the four major 154-pound titles by stunningly knocking out Jeison Rosario with, of all things considering the weapons in his arsenal, a jab to the body.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2q3dkgx6URE-Qg-fQk4zv1LjxZsljwwHD1BNuUOcAamv1UUTWBG06ApFimh2-xUH3sum1eKQAU8CrUgMzIZpnOfrFN1ZECp7a_7adi8lWVgvTedFoy4D3QuumDZs2QEQJkj07CrwCRl0/s600/IMG-0396.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2q3dkgx6URE-Qg-fQk4zv1LjxZsljwwHD1BNuUOcAamv1UUTWBG06ApFimh2-xUH3sum1eKQAU8CrUgMzIZpnOfrFN1ZECp7a_7adi8lWVgvTedFoy4D3QuumDZs2QEQJkj07CrwCRl0/s320/IMG-0396.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div dir="auto">Besides reaching the finish line in unison for the 2020 top award, the twins are also just about neck and neck in terms of overall achievement at this juncture of their careers. But two things stand out that are too irresistible to not compare and contrast - their jabs and their highlight reel knockouts. Again, it's like apples and oranges.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div>Left Jab: When a fighter scores knockdowns against not one but three different opponents in world title fights with his jab, that's no fluke; it's one serious weapon. That's exactly what Jermall did against Cornelius Bundrage, Wilky Campfort and Julian Williams. When a fighter not just knocks down but knocks OUT a double world titleholder with a double jab - first to the head then to the body - it's not just a serious weapon, it's seriously insane. But that's exactly what Jermell did to Rosario.</div><div><br /></div><div>Highlight Reel KOs: Jermall's seemingly impossible and unprecedented 2016 catch-and-counter maneuver - blocking an incoming shot with the right glove and countering with the right uppercut - that sent Julian Williams crashing face first was simply a stroke of genius. By contrast, Jermell's upstairs-downstairs jab that deflated Rosario alongside the hybrid right hook/uppercut that froze Erikson Lubin in 2017 were simply freak-of-nature knockouts. Does that make him the evil twin genius? </div><div><br /></div><div>2019 Winner: Jermell Charlo</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto"><b>Fight of the Year</b></div><div dir="auto"><u>Jermall Charlo W12 Sergiy Deveryanchenko</u></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div>The scores of 118-110, 117-111 and 116-112 were fair but they failed to reflect the competitiveness of the scintillating battle at the highest of skill sets. The taller, rangier Jermall controlled the action from range but not by much, as Deveryanchenko was able to catch Jermall with hard jabs and counter punches. When Deveryanchenko managed to close the distance he got the better of the exchanges, but also not by much, as Charlo showed proficient and ferocious infighting ability. Both fighters were visibly rocked but displayed the aplomb and punch resistance to shake it off and storm back.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Uba_sFnRhySZQJcjOg1s__X2xBrPP2JoVFJkG5e-ZOJMr7uPXL5zM9lbXRoFbsFDc0p_ReR1I0c1HpE7rPxh1ZDEmvPu46qHo0gISrJQk6ma21YWFaWMbHuY_uZByFr7Z6MPqa5ifWg/s810/IMG-0386.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Uba_sFnRhySZQJcjOg1s__X2xBrPP2JoVFJkG5e-ZOJMr7uPXL5zM9lbXRoFbsFDc0p_ReR1I0c1HpE7rPxh1ZDEmvPu46qHo0gISrJQk6ma21YWFaWMbHuY_uZByFr7Z6MPqa5ifWg/s320/IMG-0386.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>At the end of the day, it was Jermall's superior combination punching that tilted the balance. Jermell unleashed three or four shots at a time while Deveryanchenko was limited to one or two. And by mixing long and short punches in rapid-fire sequence, he dictated the price of real estate and kept the cagey Russian guessing all night. </div><div><br /></div><div>It was a bold statement-making victory for Jermall. The 12 grueling rounds with Deveryanchenko was a precious mettle detector - gut check, chin check and IQ test rolled into one - and Jermall registered gold and platinum on all counts. But most importantly, Jermall had convincingly defeated a fighter that both Gennady Golovkin and Danny Jacobs barely squeaked by. </div><div><br /></div><div>2019 Winner: Josh Taylor MD12 Regis Prograis</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Knockout of the Year</b></div><div><u>Jermell Charlo KO8 Jeison Rosario<br /></u></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div>Jab to the body, jab to the head is one the most basic combinations taught to all beginners. it is typically used in the amateurs to score points and in the pros to set up the straight right. Rarely is the reverse sequence - jab to the head, jab to the body - ever utilized in either the amateurs or pros. And almost never does it result in a clean knockout. But that's how Jermell retained his one alphabet belt while seizing two from Rosario.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIlS6wNjM4oZBbSy1ekytSEf5HqRjvHiLn3Vb89pEt3lhNWRx0mqZsUWqNa4lH2IIA7-QL3q2_Bt3_Ii-BJMMXgxppeOZ8IU76si_kfszswDZnIfbSlS-JUuXk3PGECblqHENR-6rUIg/s500/IMG-0387.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIlS6wNjM4oZBbSy1ekytSEf5HqRjvHiLn3Vb89pEt3lhNWRx0mqZsUWqNa4lH2IIA7-QL3q2_Bt3_Ii-BJMMXgxppeOZ8IU76si_kfszswDZnIfbSlS-JUuXk3PGECblqHENR-6rUIg/s320/IMG-0387.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div>Jermell scored knockdowns in rounds one and six, both with left hooks to the head. Rosario rose from the first without trouble and on shaky legs from the second, but still comfortably beating the count. Early in the eighth round, Charlo pumped a double jab, first to the face then to the body, the latter of which was partially deflected by Rosario's elbow. Rosario hit the deck like he was struck by a cannonball, writhing in agony and gasping for air for the full ten count and then some. </div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">The knockout was not only devastating and conclusive but atypical and bizarre.</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto">2019 Winner: O'Shaquie Foster KO8 Jesus Bravo</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><b>Prospect of the Year</b></div><div dir="auto"><u>Efetobor Apochi (10-0, 10 KOs), cruiserweight</u></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div>When Apochi moved to Houston from Nigeria to train under Ronnie Shields in 2017, he knew he needed to hit the ground running. He began boxing at 19 and turned pro at the ripe old age of 29. With no time to lose, he embarked on a frenetic fight schedule averaging a fight every three months from 2017-2019, stopping every opponent along the way. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic presented a massive speed bump in his race up the ranks curtailing him to just one fight in 2020. But it was televised on Fox Sports and Apochi made the most of it; he dropped Joe Jones (11-3, 8 KOs) three times en route to a third-round TKO, raising his record to a perfect 10-0 (10 KOs).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzAFs1_JqNrcX5hhMgDZgs4GGiDfk7F-sik_tV8Lfvq0INWA_r_7Dztjlv3vkcNfP77TAYnKj68IIGLCYvsDDXN_rEFuXh0LzzPPLZIY6f1AuuxAFINpRbWKTYuLIW76RNn87qhpOGMY/s2048/IMG_0824.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1530" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEzAFs1_JqNrcX5hhMgDZgs4GGiDfk7F-sik_tV8Lfvq0INWA_r_7Dztjlv3vkcNfP77TAYnKj68IIGLCYvsDDXN_rEFuXh0LzzPPLZIY6f1AuuxAFINpRbWKTYuLIW76RNn87qhpOGMY/s320/IMG_0824.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>At 5-foot-11, Apochi is a tad on the short side for a cruiserweight by today's standards. But guess what? His role model just happens to be Mike Tyson who, at that same height, not only dominated but almost decapitated many a taller and longer man. Not only does Apochi's body type resemble Iron Mike's, his peekaboo, bob-and-weave style is eerily reminiscent of the man he grew up idolizing. As his record suggests, Apochi packs numbing power in both fists but he can also box effectively if he so chooses.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tyson was the youngest boxer to capture a heavyweight title and he dominated the division with crushing brutality. Apochi aspires to follow in his footsteps in the cruisers, but from the opposite end of the age spectrum. </div><div><br /></div><div>2019 Winner: O'Shaquie Foster</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><b>Round of the Year</b></div><div dir="auto"><u>Jermell Charlo vs. Jeison Rosario, round 6</u></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div>Jermell scored a flash knockdown in the opening round and was clearly the more educated fighter of the two. But what Rosario lacked in finesse, he made up for in aggression and moxie. He applied suffocating pressure, punching with wicked intentions from both sides upstairs and down from rounds two to six. But just before the bell ending round six, Jermell countered a Rosario charge with a perfectly timed check hook to the chin that turned his legs into spaghetti as he crumpled to the canvass. </div><div><br /></div><div>The punch seemed to snap Rosario's will power and sap him of his punching power as he visibly faded in the seventh round. Jermell dramatically ended the fight with the double jab for Knockout of the Year in the eighth round. But that likely wouldn't have happened without the momentum-changing sixth round, </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPimmZZnSqUgMwSX8_LFb_z5in2fPW2RX4IAN4iSnyW-ABtprStnn5NSTUGzJyzRZ-zwXATHOkOesBkE8nBtB0Zh5ZZa3ZCB2xAM5YacT28Kyr2EYGFvQj1kbrD0dqEVvSWRprJ1dLsZ0/s500/IMG-0388.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPimmZZnSqUgMwSX8_LFb_z5in2fPW2RX4IAN4iSnyW-ABtprStnn5NSTUGzJyzRZ-zwXATHOkOesBkE8nBtB0Zh5ZZa3ZCB2xAM5YacT28Kyr2EYGFvQj1kbrD0dqEVvSWRprJ1dLsZ0/s320/IMG-0388.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>2019 Winner: Efe Ajagba vs. Iago Kiladze, round 3</div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div dir="auto"><b>Comeback of the Year</b></div><div dir="auto"><u>Regis Prograis</u></div><div dir="auto"><br /></div><div>Returning to action after his loss last year to Josh Taylor (2019 Fight of the Year), Prograis (25-1, 21 KOs) scored a third round TKO over previously undefeated Juan Heraldez (16-1-1, 10 KOs) at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Prograis would've liked to have fought a bigger name for his comeback but after negotiations fell through with Maurice Hooker (twice) and Pablo Cesar Cano, he had to settle for the unheralded Heraldez. Nevertheless, it was a resounding win in front of a global audience on the Davis-Santa Cruz undercard.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWQDNA-p0ANWsOhUC3gpm8UKM4p5m46vNfuLoX0OAyBQ0VC5I_OXbvozXFOUoCV5gF0JPcRYgrG9DBqsB4_jfTUxM-v31TVkzuOOs1hRn1H-vD8A8y9wjU5dIRLRiX7oXhjRjk2yDpbY/s480/IMG-0385.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWQDNA-p0ANWsOhUC3gpm8UKM4p5m46vNfuLoX0OAyBQ0VC5I_OXbvozXFOUoCV5gF0JPcRYgrG9DBqsB4_jfTUxM-v31TVkzuOOs1hRn1H-vD8A8y9wjU5dIRLRiX7oXhjRjk2yDpbY/s320/IMG-0385.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>2019 Winner: Miguel Flores</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Upset of the Year</b></div><div><u>Eddy Valencia W8 Pablo Cruz</u></div><div><br /></div><div>Valencia (16-5-6, 5 KOs) outpointed Cruz (20-3, 6 KOs) in an entertaining give-and-take shootout in Mexico on Dec. 9. Cruz entered the ring riding a six-fight winning streak while Valencia had lost three of his last five fights. Cruz started strongly but Valencia, a southpaw, gradually figured him out and timed him with the cleaner, sharper punches for most of the rounds.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9K5P2ryrCsVTpVqI0c0uk3SRH6xbJ2aTw48MyH2Z1Wh-6JJadQhraq_sEy1HKs9XRrwn0hqyk_OivpT708Zm4tuW2QMwpUERp0xRUSgaXpUJCAMoTKUgGpgBJ8exs8yXZMIxSL739aI/s1620/IMG-0395.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9K5P2ryrCsVTpVqI0c0uk3SRH6xbJ2aTw48MyH2Z1Wh-6JJadQhraq_sEy1HKs9XRrwn0hqyk_OivpT708Zm4tuW2QMwpUERp0xRUSgaXpUJCAMoTKUgGpgBJ8exs8yXZMIxSL739aI/s320/IMG-0395.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Cruz, a right hander, had outpointed Diuhl Olguin, also a right hander, 11 days prior to fighting Valencia, leaving himself little to no time to make adjustments for a lefty. In addition, Cruz actually turned himself left-handed in the gym to spar with stablemate Miguel Flores who was preparing to take on southpaw Eduardo Ramirez on the Dec. 5 Spence-Garcia undercard. To say that Cruz might have spread himself too thin in the weeks leading to the upset is probably an understatement. But then again, we're talking about an Energizer Bunny who recently fought on a Saturday night in San Antonio and then ran a full marathon the following Sunday morning in Houston. </div><div><br /></div><div>2019 Winner: Xu Can W12 Jesus Rojas</div><div><br /></div><div dir="auto"><b>Trainer of the Year </b></div><div dir="auto"><u>Ronnie Shields </u></div><div><br /></div><div>Shields was the only Houston-area trainer to have been in the corner of the winner of a world title fight in 2020. He had a major supporting role in the Fighter of the Year, Fight of the Year and Prospect of the Year awards. Add Erislandy Lara, who was 1-0 in 2020, into the mix and Shields wins the award by a virtual shutout. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQUHWkKO8bGFN6_LL7O4k3Ae-p7dX2tVHmADQp8SZdawe2MKJ6NyYyHbFAuWM1_854VR2BCo3H7mGURojOk4QanakHh8UF8hCAmoy6EcWQ8IW5-F0l2eQYzNNz3ORzkL3vgVGXvAXrfc/s2048/IMG_0793.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1530" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQUHWkKO8bGFN6_LL7O4k3Ae-p7dX2tVHmADQp8SZdawe2MKJ6NyYyHbFAuWM1_854VR2BCo3H7mGURojOk4QanakHh8UF8hCAmoy6EcWQ8IW5-F0l2eQYzNNz3ORzkL3vgVGXvAXrfc/s320/IMG_0793.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div>2019 Winner: (Tie) Ronnie Shields and co-trainers Bobby Benton and Aaron Navarro</div><div></div></div>peterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786543228582356362.post-39099182890099484092020-01-06T10:28:00.000-08:002020-01-06T12:14:55.204-08:002019 Houston Boxing Awards<br /><br /><b>By Peter Lim<br /><br /><br />Photos courtesy of Hossana Rull</b><br />
<br /><br />Houston area boxers went 4-2 in world title fights in 2019. The fourth largest city in the country began the year without a world titleholder but ended with two, both of whom share identical DNA. One regained the world title he controversially lost last year with a sensational late-round KO in the rematch and the other was awarded an alphabet belt without a fight, the result nonsensical, off-the-cuff policy changes by the sanctioning body.<br /><br />
2019 also saw last year’s Fighter of the Year win a world title but lose it later in the year in a title unification bout that was named Fight of the Year. Comeback of the Year was atypically awarded to a fighter on the strength of his performance in loss in a world title fight. And for the second year running, Trainer of the Year went to the same co-winners in a tie.<br /><br />
And the awards go to:<br /><br />
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Jermell Charlo went 2-0 (2 KOs) in 2019 edging out his twin brother for the top award on the strength of his electrifying 11th-round knockout of Tony Harrison to reclaim his 154-pound alphabet belt in the highly-anticipated rematch. Harrison had wrested the title from Charlo via controversial unanimous decision in last year’s Upset of the Year. The momentousness of the grudge match was further heightened by the urgency with which Charlo scored the knockout. <br /><br />
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<br /><br />Except for a flash knockdown Charlo (33-1, 17 KOs) scored in the second round, the fight played out like a continuation of the first fight. Charlo loaded up with haymaker rights and wide left hooks while Harrison (28-3, 21 KOs) boxed behind a high guard and periodically caught Charlo coming in with stiff one-twos. <br /><br />
In the eighth round, Charlo began working his jab overtime which gradually chipped away at Harrison’s defense and created openings. Harrison defiantly showboated each time he got nailed by a power punch, a telltale sign he was buzzed.<br /><br />
In the eleventh round, with the fight dead even, Charlo buckled Harrison’s knees with a left hook and followed up with a right hand-left hook that dropped Harrison. Harrison beat the count only to be bombarded by a double-fisted barrage that dropped him against the ropes. Harrison struggled to his feet but the writing was on the wall. Charlo quickly pinned him against the roped and unloaded with both hands prompting the referee to intervene and call a halt.<br /><br />
Earlier in the year, Charlo blasted out Jorge Cota in three rounds. Cota was a last minute replacement for Harrison who pulled out due to an ankle injury. That fight was inconsequential save for the fact that it was a strong contender for Knockout of the Year.<br /><br />
2018 Winner: Regis Prograis<br /><br />
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It’s seldom that a superfight exceeds its hype but Taylor-Prograis sure did. Not only did the fight win the Houston Fight of the Year award, it made the shortlist for most worldwide FOTY lists.<br /><br />
It couldn’t get more high stakes than this. Both Taylor and Prograis had won 140-pound alphabet titles in the semifinals of the WBSS tournament and the RIng Magazine title was on the line in addition of their respective belts. For the winner loomed a lucrative super showdown loomed against Jose Ramirez, holder of the remaining two belts, for the undisputed championship.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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The two southpaws dispensed with any feeling out process and let their fists fly with wicked intentions from opening to final bell at the 02 Arena in London. But it was more than a Gatti-Ward-like slugfest. Both fighters showed their versatility and IQ, deploying jabs, combinations, counter punches and slick defensive skills. <br /><br />
For 12 action-packed rounds both fighters ripped murderous punches at each other upstairs and down, shots that had dropped or stopped their respective previous opponents. That there were no knockdowns was a testament to each fighter’s tank-like punch resistance. Prograis had a slight edge early on while Taylor found his groove in the middle rounds. The already-torrid pace was taken up a notch in the championship rounds, each fighter trying to pull ahead at the finish line. <br /><br />
Ironically, it was defense that ultimately tipped the balance in such a heated battle. Prograis held his gloves low while Taylor made himself a difficult target with a high guard. Prograis often made Taylor miss with zippy head movement but rarely made him pay. Taylor caught many incoming blows on his arms and gloves and returned fire with counters. Most significantly, he often killed Prograis’ offensive momentum with should blocks.<br /><br />
The scores were tallied at 117-113, 116-112 and 114-114 for Taylor. But it was one of those spectacular fights in which it was difficult to declare a loser.<br /><br />
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It couldn’t have been a more picturesque and decisive one-punch knockout. And the pull-counter maneuver Foster used to deliver the shot couldn’t have been more textbook or surgical. <br /><br />
A switch-hitter, Foster (17-2, 10 KOs) alternated between right-handed and southpaw to tactically circle and stab Bravo (19-2, 17 KOs) with left and right jabs. In the seventh round, Foster began engaging Bravo on the inside, emboldening Bravo to come forward and let his fists fly.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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But it was a trap; as Bravo became more aggressive, he was opening himself up to counter punches. Late in the eighth round, Foster baited Bravo into throwing a one-two, took half a step back and fired a perfectly-timed straight right. Like a sniper’s bullet, it caught Bravo smack on the point of his chin separating him from his senses before he hit the canvass. Bravo had never previously been stopped.<br /><br />
2018 Winner: Jermall Charlo KO2 Hugo Centeno <br /><br />
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In 2019 junior lightweight Foster went 3-0 (2 KOs) against opponents with a combined record of 63-15-5, which included the Knockout of the Year award. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Foster (17-2, 10 KOs) began the year with a homecoming fight stopping Fatious Fassinou in the third round in his native Beaumont in February. He ended the year winning a 10-round unanimous decision over Alberto Mercado.<br /><br />
Sandwiched between those two bouts, Foster, 26, stole a page from Evander Holyfield’s playbook with the Knockout of the Year over Jesus Bravo. Luring Bravo in, Foster made Bravo miss by talking a half step back and exploded with a counter right to the chin that dropped Bravo face first for the full count. It was eerily reminiscent of Holyfield’s KO of Buster Douglas in 1990.<br /><br />
2018 Winner: Efe Ajagba<br /><br />
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At first glance, it would be difficult to justify awarding Comeback of the Year to a boxer who went 1-1 (1 KO) in 2019, especially since it was on account of his loss. But Flores (24-3, 12 KOs) beats out all other candidates for this award after taking into consideration the near-rock bottom abyss from which he was coming back from and the elite caliber of the fighter to whom he lost.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<br />After winning the 2016 Prospect of the Year award, Flores had a disastrous 2017. His status dipped from undefeated to having two back-to-back stoppage losses on his record. First he was TKOed in his hometown by Dat Nguyen, an inactive and unheralded 19-3 fighter. Later that year, he was stopped controversially on cuts to Chris Avalos despite dropping Avalos and winning every round prior to the ruling.<br /><br />
Hampered by several fights that fell through and an ankle injury, Flores only managed to notch two wins against journeymen in the two years following the Avalos loss. But a glimmer of hope flickered midway through the year when he was offered a stepping-stone role against future hall of famer Leo Santa Cruz for a vacant 130-pound alphabet belt on the co-main event of Deontay Wilder-Luis Ortiz II. <br /><br />
A former world titleholder at 118, 122 and 126 pounds, Santa Cruz (37-1-1, 19 KOs) was expected to steamroll through Flores for his fifth world title in four weight divisions. But Santa Cruz had his work cut out for him as a determined Flores fought with brain, brawn and bravado. Strategically alternating between boxing and brawling, Flores forced Santa Cruz to dig deep into his reservoir of experience and guile to win a unanimous decision. It was more a testament to Santa Cruz’s talent and pedigree than an exposé of Flores’ shortcomings.<br /><br />
Despite adding a third “L” to his record, Flores’ strong showing against such a decorated fighter on such a big stage did more to raise his profile and stock than any number of wins against obscure opponents in equally obscure locales. <br /><br />
2018 Winner: O’Shaquie Foster<br /><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Upset of the Year: Xu Can W12 Jesus Rojas</span></div>
<br />Their pre-fight records said it all: Can was 15-2 (2 KOs) and Rojas was 26-2 (19 KOs). An unknown boxer from China with a less-than impressive record, Can was supposed to be a stay-busy fight, an easy defense of Rojas' alphabet featherweight belt. Even less impressive than Can's overall record was his dismal 12 percent knockout rate.<br /><br />
But what Can lacked in power, he more than made up for in volume punching and uncompromising tenacity. Cheered on by a sizable contingent of Chinese fans at The Toyota Center, Can turned himself into the Energizer Bunny, throwing punches in bunches, forcing Rojas to constantly set and reset, for the entirety of the fight. Rojas stood his ground well and returned fire with gusto but it was Can who usually got in the first and last blows of the exchanges. At the end of the torrid battle, Can won by scores of 117-111, 116-112 and 118-110.<br /><br />
Can’s subsequent title defenses - TKO6 Shun Kubo (13-1, 2 KOs) and W12 Manny Robles (18-0, 8 KOs) - suggest his upset of Rojas was no fluke. Might he be one of those Rocky Balboa stories who was plucked from obscurity for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and made the most of it? What Can does in the 2020s will answer that question.<br /><br />
2018 Winner: Tony Harrison W12 Jermell Charlo<br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Round of the Year: Efe Ajagba vs. Iago Kiladze (round 3)</span><br />
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It seemed like just another routine day at the office for the streaking heavyweight Ajagba (12-0, 10 KOs) who had connected fluidly with jabs and straight rights, one of which dropped Kiladze in round two. Kiladze (26-5-1, 18 KOs) was 0-4-1 in his last five fights.<br /><br />
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<br />Ajagba, 25, appeared to have Kiladze out on his feet in the third round as he continued to spear the Georgian with ramrod rights. As Ajagba continued to press the action, Kiladze, out of nowhere, unleashed a desperation right to the chin that dumped the 6-foot-6 Nigerian heavily to the canvass for the first time in his career. Dazed but unfazed, Ajagba got to his feet and jabbed and moved to make it out of the round.<br /><br />
Ajagba shook off the cobwebs to continue to dominate and eventually stop Kiladze in the fifth round. But that shocking, near-disastrous third round was his sternest gut and chin check at this juncture in his promising career.<br /><br />
2018 Winner: Jared Hurd vs. Erislandy Lara (round 12)<br /><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Trainer of the Year: (Tie) Ronnie Shields and co-trainers Bobby Benton/Aaron Navaro</span></div>
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For the second year running Trainer of the Year ends up as a tie between Shields and the team of Benton and Navarro. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Shields went 2-0 in world title fights, both with the same fighter. In June, Jermall Charlo (30-0, 22 KOs) won a near shutout decision against Brandon Adams at the NRG Arena. Charlo returned to action in December dropping Dennis Hogan twice en route to a seventh-round TKO. Shields was also in Efe Ajagba’s corner for the Round of the Year award.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDS0U6S3cEZafspjyUyOeu0-ebNNRNZLJokYoIsAUZELvhMlPG0x4Nm1Z2mr49URM6Y4H_1b8sJ4zYWBO6HYGxYo6vxG41gN3Qxb255FYGMZFrdGgTvFs2fVtOc_sha2XPZHm-Dw3-2JM/s1600/bobby-aaron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDS0U6S3cEZafspjyUyOeu0-ebNNRNZLJokYoIsAUZELvhMlPG0x4Nm1Z2mr49URM6Y4H_1b8sJ4zYWBO6HYGxYo6vxG41gN3Qxb255FYGMZFrdGgTvFs2fVtOc_sha2XPZHm-Dw3-2JM/s320/bobby-aaron.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Co-trainers Benton and Navarro were 1-2 in world title fights in 2019. Regis Prograis wrested a 140-pound alphabet belt from Kiryl Relikh via sixth-round TKO in April. Prograis subsequently lost the belt to Josh Taylor in the Fight of the Year in October. Benton and Navarro were also in the corner of Miguel Flores when he fell short of winning a 130-pound belt against Leo Santa Cruz in November. Benton and Navarro also co-train the 2019 Prospect of the Year O’Shanique Foster and Comeback of the Year Miguel Flores.peterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786543228582356362.post-28883317364749877032018-12-30T23:34:00.002-08:002019-01-09T00:57:07.232-08:002018 Houston Boxing Awards<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">By Peter Lim</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Photos courtesy of Hosanna Rull</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Just like that, Houston is once again devoid of a world
titleholder as the two boxers who held alphabet belts were dethroned in 2018, both
somewhat controversially. Their defeats are detailed in the Fight of the Year
and Upset of the Year awards.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">For the first time in four years the Fighter of the Year
award goes to a boxer who does not share identical DNA with anyone. Trainer of
the Year for 2018 ended up in a tie.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">And the awards go to...</span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Fighter of the Year</span></u></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Regis Prograis</span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">It was a busy year for Prograis (23-0, 19 KOs) who went 3-0 (2 KOs) in
2018, including wins over two recent world titleholders. But it was more than
his body of work that won Prograis the top award; over the last 365 days Prograis
unveiled a range in skillset never seen before in his arsenal. </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">In March, Prograis scored four knockdowns en route to a
second-round TKO over former double junior welterweight belt-holder Julius
Indongo. Four months later, Prograis stopped previously undefeated Juan Jose
Velasco with body shots in his hometown of New Orleans.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">In October, Prograis returned to New Orleans to take on
former 135-pound titleholder Terry Flannagan in a quarterfinal matchup of the
WBSS junior welterweight tournament. Against Flannagan, the southpaw Prograis
unexpectedly morphed from Marvin Hagler to Hector Camacho. While the
seek-and-destroy Prograis got hit with everything that Indongo and Velasco
threw at him, the slick and savvy Prograis barely got touched as he outboxed
and outfoxed Flannagan, dropping him in the eighth round en route to lopsided
decision.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Prograis moves on to the semifinals of the WBSS
tournament that is set to culminate in 2019 with the winner walking away with
two of the four major 140-pound alphabet belts. Should Prograis achieve that
distinction, he might well be repeat a winner of this award.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jMgO6IN2vnb-rzlSwyHT33XVsduZfAZi_CkHYbUoSkxGeEv3bnmH38TcGY9-_0n7DVrUuJPwFmULFF5KjwMOu78E5LBPZOut5b4L3hChMxT8lYN4nMcpPy1Zwuzwyf2a15tmzZiIW7Q/s1600/regis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jMgO6IN2vnb-rzlSwyHT33XVsduZfAZi_CkHYbUoSkxGeEv3bnmH38TcGY9-_0n7DVrUuJPwFmULFF5KjwMOu78E5LBPZOut5b4L3hChMxT8lYN4nMcpPy1Zwuzwyf2a15tmzZiIW7Q/s320/regis.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Runner up: Jermall Charlo</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Charlo went 2-0 (1 KO) in 2018, but the two wins could
not be more dissimilar. In April Charlo blasted out Hugo Centeno as casually as
having lunch. In December he struggled against Russian southpaw Matt Korobov who
took the fight on five days’ notice.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">2017 winner: Jermell Charlo <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Fight of the Year</span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Jared Hurd W12 Erislandy
Lara</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Hurd-Lara was a high-stakes showdown between two
titleholders to partially unify the 154-pound championship.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">In the first round, southpaw Lara (25-3-2, 14 KOs) did what Lara does best
by outboxing Hurd while remaining an infuriatingly elusive target. But Hurd’s relentless
pressure forced Lara to fight in the pocket from the second round onwards.
Lara, though, proved an educated brawler, and held his own in the trenches and even
got the better of many of the exchanges with cleaner and more accurate shots.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">But Hurd (23-0, 16 KOs) also did what Hurd does best which is, put his
foot on the accelerator in the later rounds. Working his left hook overtime,
Hurd upped the already torrid pace of the fight to dominate the late rounds.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">At the end of the 11<sup>th</sup> round, Lara was ahead
by seven rounds to four on one scorecard and six rounds to five on the other
two. But in the 11<sup>th</sup> hour, Hurd dropped Lara with a textbook right
uppercut-left hook combo that earned him the victory via razor-close split
decision.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNumKhO7KKcvQpsqp9FngVhCkwITBh68LyR5bO4Mwkm2CvWGbnHOSfE_l7jTw3ow0Ds2RArmKGw5MqMK4tXGEPo_oAFcQtFHXZ8PkGTjOujuUKA8R-j3WrACChc5EJb2ZWDsSSLCFDYwQ/s1600/IMG_0617+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNumKhO7KKcvQpsqp9FngVhCkwITBh68LyR5bO4Mwkm2CvWGbnHOSfE_l7jTw3ow0Ds2RArmKGw5MqMK4tXGEPo_oAFcQtFHXZ8PkGTjOujuUKA8R-j3WrACChc5EJb2ZWDsSSLCFDYwQ/s320/IMG_0617+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><br /></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Runner up: Jermall Charlo
W12 Matt Korobov</span></b></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">A tricky southpaw, Korobov controlled the first half of
the fight with jolting lead lefts while evading much of the incoming fire. Fighting
with more urgency, Charlo rallied in the second half of the and almost stopped
Korobov in the final round to win a decision that was much closer than the
scores of 119-118 and 116-112 (twice) suggested.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">2017 winner: Dat Nguyen TKO6 Miguel Flores <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">KO of the Year</span></u></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Jermall Charlo KO2 Hugo
Centeno</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Centeno (26-2, 14 KOs) was as tall and lanky as Charlo
and was coming off a career-best, one-punch knockout of previously undefeated
Immanuel Aleem, but nevertheless entered the ring a substantial underdog. Still, he was expected to give Charlo
some trouble with his boxing and punching ability.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Instead, Charlo (28-0, 21 KOs) barely broke a sweat in
taking out the Californian. After Charlo won the battle of the jabs in the opening
round and the writing was on the wall. Early in the second round, Charlo deployed
the jab to set up a multi-punch combination punctuated by a pinpoint left hook
to the chin that dropped Centeno along the ropes for the full count.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Charlo was widely viewed as a leading contender to challenge
Gennady Golovkin and Saul “Canelo” Alverez, the two superstars in the division.
But he was also considered too high-risk and low-profile for either to want to
take on that challenge. In blowing away out Centeno as effortlessly as he did,
Charlo certainly raised his profile but also his risk factor.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><br /></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Runner up: Regis Prograis KO2 Julius Indongo</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Prograis relentlessly tore into Indongo from the opening bell
and never allowed Indongo to establish his awkward rhythm that troubled so many
of his previous opponents. He dropped Indongo at the end of the first round and
thrice more in the second for a TKO, emphatically stating after the fight that
he had outdone Terrence Crawford who needed three rounds to dispose of Indongo.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">2017 winner: Jermell Charlo KO1 Erickson Lubin</span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Comeback of the Year</span></u></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">O’Shaquie Foster</span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">An alternate on the 2012 US Olympic team, junior
lightweight Foster seemed poised for a promising pro career. But dealing with
logistic and legal problems, he faltered as he stepped up in competition losing
his ninth and 12<sup>th</sup> fights in 2015 and 2016 respectively. On paper at
least, he was all but written off as wasted talent.</span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">In the opposite corner, Fernandez was a young, exciting
and undefeated crowd pleaser. A high-volume puncher with good power and killer
instinct, the Spaniard had generated significant inroads into the American
market by fighting on ShowBox on three occasions. He was promoted by former
middleweight champion Sergio Martinez. But fights are not fought on paper and
Foster refused to be a stepping stone.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Foster (14-2, 8 KOs) established a rhythm and executed a gambit
that befuddled Fernandez (17-1, 15 KOs) from the outset. Moving side to side,
he whipper-snapped his jab forcing Fernandez to constantly reset. At opportune
moments, he lured Fernandez into jolting lead rights and sneaked out the side
door before Fernandez could return fire. Fernandez began fighting with more
urgency late in the fight to no avail as Foster slipped, slid and counter
punched his way to a convincing unanimous decision victory.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJT-rbfymmzbkh2hickIGgYIFnwMpF93WwxiobpR5GI8wcuY0O7x1V6keldGcMnsQinC2kBCYZ9m6RGArHr_TWCt4YkWJgej2Mpnk0K5Q2dPm1oYVK41TYvAu5T4_FSVyIXjnuLeBpsAk/s1600/IMG_0735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1196" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJT-rbfymmzbkh2hickIGgYIFnwMpF93WwxiobpR5GI8wcuY0O7x1V6keldGcMnsQinC2kBCYZ9m6RGArHr_TWCt4YkWJgej2Mpnk0K5Q2dPm1oYVK41TYvAu5T4_FSVyIXjnuLeBpsAk/s320/IMG_0735.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">2017 winner: Alfonso Lopez</span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Upset of the Year</span></u></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Tony Harrison W12 Jermell
Charlo</span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Had the judges scored this fight like the vast majority
of the boxing public, Charlo (31-1, 15 KOs) would have been in a neck-to-neck finish with
Prograis for Fighter of the Year. Charlo pressed the action throughout,
dictated the tempo and forced Harrison (28-2, 21 KOs) to fight in retreat. Rattling off
multi-punch combinations and spearing Harrison to the body with straight
rights, Charlo won the majority of the exchanges and finished strongly. Harrison
found his mark with picturesque head-snapping jabs and occasional counter punches
but they were too few and far between to change the momentum or steal more than
a round or two. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">But at the end of the day, the ringside jurists
unanimously gave the fight to Harrison by scores of 115-113 (twice) and
116-112, which was approximately how most ringside observers scored it, only in
reverse. Houston Boxing scored the fight 118-110 for Charlo. CompuBox had
Charlo landing more punches in nine of the 12 rounds and out-landing Harrison
160-128 overall. Besides Upset of the Year, Harrison-Charlo also gets the
unofficial award of robbery of the year. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuMRHfjtDokubR-M2NfvfgJwaJG-HCyQVtSDJVmGsfWtgeZLpHeKwymYLRKJZu0G2-tHIoyzhjoCdQjr5PqherSue3SJus7T33pOWgUdomI9u0ANUT415nn5WHrjMELwvwvZoRX8pJSQ/s1600/final+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnuMRHfjtDokubR-M2NfvfgJwaJG-HCyQVtSDJVmGsfWtgeZLpHeKwymYLRKJZu0G2-tHIoyzhjoCdQjr5PqherSue3SJus7T33pOWgUdomI9u0ANUT415nn5WHrjMELwvwvZoRX8pJSQ/s320/final+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><br /></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Runner up: O’Shaquie
Foster W10 Jon Fernandez</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Utilizing springy legs and a snappy jab, Foster (14-2, 8
KOs) exposed and literally ran circles around the highly-touted, previously-undefeated
and well-connected Fernandez (17-1, 15 KOs) while boxing his ears off over 10
rounds.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">2017 winner: Dat Nguyen TKO6 Miguel Flores</span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Round of the Year</span></u></b><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></u><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Jarett Hurd vs. Erislandy
Lara - Round 12</span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Lara controlled the first half of the fight but Hurd came
on strong in deep waters, like he always does. After 11 action-packed rounds,
Lara was ahead 105-104 on two of the judges’ cards and 106-103 on the third.
Had Lara won the final round, he would’ve won a narrow unanimous decision. Had
he stayed on his feet but lost the round, the fight would’ve been a majority
draw. It was that close.</span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Hurd needed to drop or stop Lara in the final round to
win the fight, and drop him he did. Lara was crouched in a defensive shell when
Hurd lifted his head with a right uppercut and followed with a left hook that sent
Lara to the canvass. Lara beat the count and survived the rest of the round but
the 10-8 round was enough to earn Hurd a split decision by the narrowest of
margins – 114-113 (twice) and 113-114. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnPTIb_0mr0luro695uGnlzPn3zfU4BKm9IvrURyinwhWEisIA72TV2yKdbmD7CVGJvx765VV9jOaIuPM-9rS1G3i_Zd06XMAi6iwMREmWCCCjsV6PiBznIw6FgqQCy-ESyOU-P7lRFE/s1600/100_1362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnPTIb_0mr0luro695uGnlzPn3zfU4BKm9IvrURyinwhWEisIA72TV2yKdbmD7CVGJvx765VV9jOaIuPM-9rS1G3i_Zd06XMAi6iwMREmWCCCjsV6PiBznIw6FgqQCy-ESyOU-P7lRFE/s320/100_1362.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Runner up: Jermall Charlo
vs. Matt Korobov (Round 12)</span></b></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Usually a sharp precision puncher, Charlo simply couldn’t
find southpaw Korobov for 11 rounds and Korobov made him pay with straight
lefts. But in the 12<sup>th</sup> round, Charlo finally connected with more
than a single punch as he sent Koborov reeling with a straight
right-left hook combination. Koborov bravely made it to the final bell on wobbly
legs, but had Charlo found his range earlier in the fight, it might have been a
very different ending</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Prospect of the Year</span></u></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Efe Ajagba</span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Ajagba (8-0, 7 KOs) put his awesome punching power - his
sledgehammer right in particular - on display in 2018, going 5-0, 4 KOs over
the past 12 months with all four of his knockouts coming in the first round.
But it was Ajagba’s lone none-knockout victory that perhaps most underscored
how terrifying his punching power is; Curtis Harper avoided colliding with
Ajagba’s fists by stepping out of the ring and walking away as soon as the
opening bell rang for a first-round disqualification.</span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">The 6-foot-7 heavyweight needed less than five rounds to
dispose of his five opponents who spotted a combined record of 36-12-2,
including previously undefeated Nick Jones (7-1, 2 KOs). Representing Nigeria, Ajagba,
24, made it to the quarterfinals of the 2016 Olympics before relocating to
Houston in 2017 to train under Ronnie Shields. He is promoted by Richard
Schaeffer’s Ringstar Sports.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bgDg6-sYXpNaKdcGlY9u6UiItZBOWGRHVhuRNcO_clTqJG1PzusBQkjsybVUy8QOfZPZ7vbD0Pc3zHcwBGo8Y3HGpCa4g-Nz0ZFk_8VFxLANvhTE88z0a2g63RW8076nsTxrycRXn6A/s1600/IMG_0682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1196" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bgDg6-sYXpNaKdcGlY9u6UiItZBOWGRHVhuRNcO_clTqJG1PzusBQkjsybVUy8QOfZPZ7vbD0Pc3zHcwBGo8Y3HGpCa4g-Nz0ZFk_8VFxLANvhTE88z0a2g63RW8076nsTxrycRXn6A/s320/IMG_0682.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;"><br /></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Runner up: O’Shaquie
Foster</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Foster reinvigorated his stagnant with a masterful win
over a streaking young prospect in Jon Fernandez, elevating himself to
Fernandez’s former position. </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">2017 winner: Arturo Marquez </span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: 0.25pt; line-height: 107%;">Trainer
of the Year</span></u></b></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Tie: Ronnie Shields and co-trainers
Bobby Benton and Aaron Navarro</span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Between the co-winners
of this award, Shields and Benton-Navarro worked the corners in six of the
seven of the awards. Shields has Jermall Charlo, Lara
and Ajagba in his stable at the Plex Gym, and Benton and Navarro are the
co-trainers for Prograis and Foster at the Main Boxing Gym.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DCaTL-rlpeJOcpkynF5MaUwWTNB-lYGtph0fbbXUVSsdH1bovGi7vtrMKWKoiTMj7jKgAsYlbQaS-JsBaQ5rP7OXHh-f7UP-p3sfge2CQDcDDCXqOekzgVIHwZBFcSs08lOI9fg9KuY/s1600/final+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7DCaTL-rlpeJOcpkynF5MaUwWTNB-lYGtph0fbbXUVSsdH1bovGi7vtrMKWKoiTMj7jKgAsYlbQaS-JsBaQ5rP7OXHh-f7UP-p3sfge2CQDcDDCXqOekzgVIHwZBFcSs08lOI9fg9KuY/s200/final+%25281%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEsCuA7LVZ7kniSi5QloG1u_Y1D6YMvXcY9cmTKpfeweK9FS6UtCylSEBbzz6QYVwkma_PMy3kqDNc2ewOEHjN4bvH9Np3tRCoM7rxUeu_p_j7_DRh-1RpOqQBHQfLV_KxlSSLosnMYM/s1600/IMG_2336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEsCuA7LVZ7kniSi5QloG1u_Y1D6YMvXcY9cmTKpfeweK9FS6UtCylSEBbzz6QYVwkma_PMy3kqDNc2ewOEHjN4bvH9Np3tRCoM7rxUeu_p_j7_DRh-1RpOqQBHQfLV_KxlSSLosnMYM/s200/IMG_2336.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
peterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786543228582356362.post-1559443095909260632017-12-19T21:37:00.000-08:002017-12-31T03:15:15.001-08:002017 Houston Boxing Awards<b>By Peter Lim</b><br />
<b>Photos by Hosanna Rull</b><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">For the third consecutive year, the same DNA belonging to two different fighters claimed the Fighter of the Year award. While the
award went to one twin in 2015 and 2016, his brother, younger by a full minute,
took home the honors in 2017. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">The same bout received awards in three different
categories – Fight of the Year, Upset of the Year and Round of the Year, and
the same boxer won in the Fighter of the Year and Knockout of the Year
categories. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">In the Knockout of the Year and Upset of the
Year awards, two Houston fighters competed against themselves for first and
second place. But while the winning fighter was the contender for the Knockout
category, it was the losing fighter who was involved in both the candidates for
Upset. </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">And the awards go to … </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Fighter of the Year</span></b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";">Jermell Charlo (30-0, 15 KOs)</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkKWAi1bEV1ReBtNokxLPpY_Vo50VuktRgitpy2dYVBB_PvitIga02oWUAkcnnsBj9aWGjNxDRyyvCEC6OJzo5Y3dBaOK6VsUIwxFHxc6oEV4p2pq0BlUFAQGd3T94v7e0v_bxcJpzUU/s1600/final.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="773" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkKWAi1bEV1ReBtNokxLPpY_Vo50VuktRgitpy2dYVBB_PvitIga02oWUAkcnnsBj9aWGjNxDRyyvCEC6OJzo5Y3dBaOK6VsUIwxFHxc6oEV4p2pq0BlUFAQGd3T94v7e0v_bxcJpzUU/s320/final.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 7.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">It’s almost a no-brainer that the fighter
who’s up against himself for Knockout of the Year, both in
world title fights, gets the Fighter of the Year award. Jermell Charlo outdid
his twin brother, who won this award in 2015 and 2016, by scoring two
jaw-dropping KOs in defense of his world junior middleweight title. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">In April, Charlo rendered Charles Hatley
unconscious with a laser right starkly reminiscent of Evander Holyfield’s fight-ending
punch against Buster Douglas. Six months later, Charlo stole a page from Mike
Tyson’s playbook and executed the punch Tyson used to KO Michael Spinks when,
out of the blue, he dropped and paralyzed Erickson Lubin for the full count in
the first round. Granted, both Hatley and Lubin might have fallen a tad short
of deserving a title shot, but given the way Charlo effortlessly and savagely
dispatched of them on the world stage, he deserves the Fighter of the Year award
hands down.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>Runner up </b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>Erislandy Lara (25-2-2, 14 KOs)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Lara equaled Jermell Charlo’s feat by making two
successful defenses of a different version of the world 154-pound title. He
stopped Yuri Foreman with a body shot in January and methodically outpointed
Terrell Gausha in October. But Lara’s title defenses didn’t come close to
equaling the high drama and explosiveness of Charlo’s knockouts.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><u>2016 winner: Jermall Charlo</u></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Fight of the Year</span> </b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>Dat Nguyen TKO6 Miguel Flores</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlRncs51IgzPv9-QYr-xUdBY06rDfaIGLNrT-33bmlo9sh04FXnhlVIcSFxCaTCIcdPYTlapCydP_8XSQDwfjGHE31DhTVEG0ylipBiIZZsCOjwak8DKtLc7c2F3M6uLb5envMz8EyF0/s1600/IMG_1193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlRncs51IgzPv9-QYr-xUdBY06rDfaIGLNrT-33bmlo9sh04FXnhlVIcSFxCaTCIcdPYTlapCydP_8XSQDwfjGHE31DhTVEG0ylipBiIZZsCOjwak8DKtLc7c2F3M6uLb5envMz8EyF0/s320/IMG_1193.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Featherweights Nguyen (20-3, 7 KOs) and Flores (21-1, 9 KOs) engaged in
six action-packed rounds of ferocious back-and-fourth boxing and slugging at the
Silver Street Studios in February. Flores threw double-fisted combinations,
snapping straight punches to the head before ripping the body with his
signature hooks that had folded many of his previous opponents. But the
stockier Nguyen absorbed the incoming blows with aplomb and returned fire with
a vengeance. While Flores was landing at a higher volume, Nguyen’s punches
seemed to shake and rattle the hometown favorite more than vice versa. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">In the sixth round Nguyen unleashed a
right-left-right combo. All three punches connected flush with maximum impact
sending Flores crashing heavily along the ropes. Flores bravely struggled to
his feet before the count of 10 but he was clearly hurt and discombobulated,
and Nguyen’s follow-up assault prompted the referee to step in and call a halt
to the fight. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b><br />
Runner up </b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>Craig Callaghan W10 Josue Garcia</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">A tall, lanky welterweight from Liverpool,
England, Callaghan utilized his superior height and reach to beat Garcia to the
punch and outbox him over 10 rounds at the Ballroom at Bayou Place in May. But
Garcia was never out of the fight as he kept pressing the action and hurt
Callaghan on several occasions making it a suspenseful and entertaining affair.
</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><u>2016 winner: Craig Baker KO8 Steve Lovett</u>
<br /><b>
</b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Knockout of the Year</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>Jermell Charlo KO1 Erickson Lubin</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglduyeSY-762BdWCD2EWBWIx0vnUobTVDUdYH9iLBhcy3895_OZ5bM23UbnjPS8PLRCyVdwxjtDqf2G1ClgNinIuJOstAZbBMPugO2Nb2_KEY1tMfPqFeRBXDmo_1FHaUkWU97Fmd2QgY/s1600/final+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglduyeSY-762BdWCD2EWBWIx0vnUobTVDUdYH9iLBhcy3895_OZ5bM23UbnjPS8PLRCyVdwxjtDqf2G1ClgNinIuJOstAZbBMPugO2Nb2_KEY1tMfPqFeRBXDmo_1FHaUkWU97Fmd2QgY/s320/final+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Charlo had sparred numerous rounds with one
of the most talented lefties in the sport, Errol Spence Jr., so he came well
prepared for any southpaw tricks Lubin had to offer. But no one could have
foreseen the highly unorthodox punch angle at which the knockout blow was
delivered. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Both fighters were cautious and neither had
connected with anything significant before the knockout, which was as sudden as
it was brutal. As Charlo was setting up for a right cross, Lubin evasively
dipped to his left. But, mid-pivot, Charlo instantaneously turned the cross
into a hybrid hook-uppercut landing his right fist smack on Lubin’s right jaw. The
blow short-circuited Lubin’s nervous system as he collapsed like he was hit by
a taser, frozen stiff on his side with his arms outstretched for the full count.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b><br />
Runner up </b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>Jermell Charlo KO5 Charles Hatley</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Charlo dominated from the opening bell and
could have ended the fight at any time after the first round but he seemed
intent on waiting for the perfect moment to get as spectacular a knockout as possible.
That moment came in the fifth round when he drilled Hatley with a harpoon of a
right that sent him crashing face first to the canvass where he remained
unconscious for the full count and then some. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><u>2016 winner: Tie – Jermall Charlo KO5 Julian
Williams and Deontay Wilder KO9 Artur Szpilka</u></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><u><br /></u>
<br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">
Upset of the Year</span></b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>Dat Nguyen TKO6 Miguel Flores</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEnPJO35IlJDyHsXiV2a2rGNjK1X1g8TWBJc1BiZZkrlafVjfyE27SyfO0xoB_DvMzFKOPFgxJ4XVllSNDwHteYxVDTyG9YixI6zkD_uIYr-lGh4GfWBxqgEm7-G7Be_5p6JS6sZxtW8/s1600/IMG_1282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYEnPJO35IlJDyHsXiV2a2rGNjK1X1g8TWBJc1BiZZkrlafVjfyE27SyfO0xoB_DvMzFKOPFgxJ4XVllSNDwHteYxVDTyG9YixI6zkD_uIYr-lGh4GfWBxqgEm7-G7Be_5p6JS6sZxtW8/s320/IMG_1282.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">The pre-fight writing on the wall said it
all. Flores was an undefeated PBC prospect fighting on a PBC card in his
hometown. He was coming off a high-profile breakout year in 2016 during which
he went 3-0. Nguyen, on the other hand, had two six-round fights in 2016
against nondescripts opponents after a three-year layoff. Nguyen, 10 years
older than Flores, was supposed to be just another notch in Flores’ gun holster
en route to an imminent world title shot.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">But somebody forgot to deliver the script to
Nguyen’s dressing room. After a sluggish start, Nguyen found his groove in the
second round and began rocking Flores with well-timed power punches. Flores
threw the more fluid combinations but, with the reflexes of a teenager, the
34-year-old Nguyen countered with bad intentions. In the sixth round, Nguyen
fired a perfectly executed right-left-right that sent Flores crashing
heavily to the canvass. The follow-up onslaught that led to the stoppage was a mere formality that
earned Nguyen the win and the 2017 Upset of the Year award.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b><br />
Runner up </b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>Chris Avalos TKO5 Miguel Flores</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Like his fight against Nguyen, Flores was
expected to win handily against Avalos, and he was doing just that until the
shocking and dissatisfying end. Flores outboxed and out-slugged Avalos throughout, dropping him in the third round,
but Flores was unable to continue after the fifth round due to a nasty gash on his
eyelid. Flores and Avalos clashed heads all night but the referee
controversially ruled the cut was the result of a punch.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><u>2016 winner: Thomas Williams Jr. TKO2 Edwin
Rodriguez</u></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Prospect of the Year</span> </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>Arturo Marquez (9-0, 5 KOs)</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5ntHCTHThEsPdJRUKYQ-w0SUthyphenhyphenVJk6DPC7D_u9ZgT-qZt6KdKhuepxSRyGoVlv4kN2CheSHLkr6KAPVrrp9f33BdQBzWVhJPAEBh9d5PEWtd3Zj3-bBSgQq8Zrd0tAhmb-Tk0tX6Hc/s1600/IMG_0671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5ntHCTHThEsPdJRUKYQ-w0SUthyphenhyphenVJk6DPC7D_u9ZgT-qZt6KdKhuepxSRyGoVlv4kN2CheSHLkr6KAPVrrp9f33BdQBzWVhJPAEBh9d5PEWtd3Zj3-bBSgQq8Zrd0tAhmb-Tk0tX6Hc/s320/IMG_0671.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></b></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Since joining the pro ranks last year, welterweight Marquez has embarked on a busy fight schedule, averaging a fight every two months. A well-rounded boxer-puncher, Marquez, 21, defeated three fighters with winning records (2-1, 2-0 and 6-1) in the first half of 2017 but suffered the first knockdown of his career, a black eye and bloody nose as he struggled to beat a fighter with a 4-19 record in November. Still, given his high activity and overall level of competition, Marquez beat out the other Houston up-and-comers to take home the Prospect of the Year award. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">
<b></b><br />
</span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>Runner up - Efe Agjaba</b></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">
</span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Since joining the pro ranks under the mentorship of Ronnie Shields, Agjaba has stopped all three of his pro opponents, two of whom had winning records, in the first round. As an amateur, this 6-foot-6 heavyweight reached the quarterfinals at the 2016 Rio Olympics representing Nigeria. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">
</span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><u>2016 winner: Miguel Flores</u><br /><br /> </span></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">
</span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><b>Round of the Year </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>Dat Nguyen vs. Miguel Flores - Round 2 </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidj060z_qx280FZuXAi6QmzBd4kO1pixcBgDWtJVLDApxpyeafuPRIf3F-k0jy98p4SovEbtte-MoHWRrcwJA1JjWgIW_dYNzCpFrzuwMXXVwJTfTF0ob9Rpb6xiglN1mNQC1grAVDLo4/s1600/IMG_1119+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidj060z_qx280FZuXAi6QmzBd4kO1pixcBgDWtJVLDApxpyeafuPRIf3F-k0jy98p4SovEbtte-MoHWRrcwJA1JjWgIW_dYNzCpFrzuwMXXVwJTfTF0ob9Rpb6xiglN1mNQC1grAVDLo4/s320/IMG_1119+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">In the opening round, Flores effortlessly
imposed his will on Nguyen, beating him to the punch and rattling him with
two-fisted combinations as the 24-year-old unbeaten
prospect was expected to do against an opponent who was 10 years his senior.
But in the second round, Nguyen stood his ground against Flores’ onslaughts and
rocked Flores as he returned fire with a vengeance. The subsequent rounds were
fought on equally furious terms before Nguyen stopped Flores in the sixth
round, but the second round was the momentum changer that ultimately turned the
tide.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>Runner up </b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>Craig Callaghan vs. Josue Garcia
– round 10</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Aware that he needed a knockout to render moot an
insurmountable points deficit, Garcia let his hands go, swinging with
decapitating intentions in the 10<sup><span style="font-size: small;">th</span></sup> and final round. He managed to
graze Callaghan with some hail-Mary punches but never connected cleanly enough
to get the desired result. It was sure fun to watch him try, though.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><u>2016 winner: Tie – Jermell Charlo vs. John
Jackson (Round 8) and Thomas Williams Jr. vs. Edwin Rodriguez (Round 2)</u></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><b><br />
<br />
Comeback of the Year </b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>Tie: Edwin Rodriguez and Ryan Karl</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>Edwin Rodriguez (29-2, 20 KOs)</b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQM8Lv9HAvyAE4PL3glEb5rYrDjLxTyNYcu4gR78RMQEIYwCSNXFrc3g81-qmfbS5RZY26fc4H8QRNrOrTkI6oO8r2DQM7eEZSHDDaltTpNwOvpF-YM0UnYo3tn9mumeGu5X5z8o9qF8/s1600/IMG_0036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQM8Lv9HAvyAE4PL3glEb5rYrDjLxTyNYcu4gR78RMQEIYwCSNXFrc3g81-qmfbS5RZY26fc4H8QRNrOrTkI6oO8r2DQM7eEZSHDDaltTpNwOvpF-YM0UnYo3tn9mumeGu5X5z8o9qF8/s320/IMG_0036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></b></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">After a disastrous 2016 in which he suffered
his first knockout loss and an ACL injury, light heavyweight Rodriguez came
back in 2017 with a second-round stoppage win against Melvin Russell (11-3-2, 7
KOs). Rodriguez would have been the runaway winner for this award had he beaten
Chad Dawson in November, but the fight was scrapped at the last minute due to
Dawson sustaining an injury.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>Ryan Karl (15-1, 9 KOs)</b></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYhVdI7Rie4eH4ZSMwBGqRSqOa8llyPB4VmK9vRVgc3RQ0oe8SSU6UqEs1sY7smIGPqtq04QNlpIJLLGKtC8scRClVyfjQgEcgyVzz-Erli7PDtkF167TKiideYn9aWh62dWovrFzZbvE/s1600/IMG_1290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYhVdI7Rie4eH4ZSMwBGqRSqOa8llyPB4VmK9vRVgc3RQ0oe8SSU6UqEs1sY7smIGPqtq04QNlpIJLLGKtC8scRClVyfjQgEcgyVzz-Erli7PDtkF167TKiideYn9aWh62dWovrFzZbvE/s320/IMG_1290.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Welterweight Karl suffered his first career
defeat when he was stopped by fellow-undefeated prospect Eddie Ramirez in
February. But he rebounded with two decision wins later in the year, to begin a
back-to-the-drawing-board rebuilding process of his career.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>Runner up </b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>Virginia Fuchs</b></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">2016 was a heart-breaking year for Fuchs,
falling one victory short at both the Continental Games and World championships
to qualify for the Rio Olympics. But she roared back in 2017, going 18-0, winning gold at four international tournaments and the USA Boxing Nationals. Fuchs, 29, intends to go for
gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><u>2016 winner: Craig Baker<br />
</u>
</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><b></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><b>Trainer of the Year</b></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>Ronnie Shields</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdv_DOWUDx-xeqqmi2ZmLUdaG7Tld0HeA658wrbUuYz426mQhFJeWtK_eI8rmJ4JEb0L_OZrfW6jckzbdk4qavVEJbE3cLLm6vdCisxbuM-FYJZc8_JwDPyhiSYuNaE5T7lhg8gKgZNM/s1600/final+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdv_DOWUDx-xeqqmi2ZmLUdaG7Tld0HeA658wrbUuYz426mQhFJeWtK_eI8rmJ4JEb0L_OZrfW6jckzbdk4qavVEJbE3cLLm6vdCisxbuM-FYJZc8_JwDPyhiSYuNaE5T7lhg8gKgZNM/s320/final+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></b></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">For the second year running, no other trainer
came even close to Shields for Trainer of the Year. In addition to guiding Erislandy Lara to
two successful world title defenses, Shields served as chief second to Jermall
Charlo in his middleweight debut, a four-round blowout over highly-ranked Jorge
Sebastian Heiland. As trainer to both Edwin Rodriguez and Ryan Karl, Shields also
saw victories in all the fights mentioned in Comeback of the Year award.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>Honorable mention:</b></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Bobby Benton</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Aaron Navarro</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Derwin Richards</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Dwight Pratchet</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><u>2016 winner: Ronnie Shields</u></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>peterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786543228582356362.post-33073708613506357532017-12-06T17:43:00.002-08:002017-12-07T20:05:34.096-08:00Lomachenko vs. Rigondeaux: a historical first<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Unprecedented
Showdown</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">When two ridiculously talented southpaws, both ranked in
virtually every current top 10 pound-for-pound list, face each other in the
ring, it is undoubtedly a super showdown. Throw in the fact that it is the
first time in the history of the sport that a pair of two-time Olympic gold
medalists will pit their wits against each other and ‘super showdown’ might
actually be an understatement. It’s a
crying shame that virtually nobody outside the boxing world will pay much
attention to this once-in-a-lifetime collision course. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">New Generation</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Vasyl Lomachenko (9-1, 7 KOs) and Guillermo Rigondeaux
(17-0, 11 KOs) represent the epitome of the new generation of fighters who,
courtesy of stellar amateur careers, have been able to bypass palooka and journeymen competition and dive straight into the deep
waters of fighting gatekeepers, contenders and even titleholders from the get
go. Naoya Inouye, Artur Beterbiev, Dimitri Bivol and Anthony Joshua are among
other members of that generation.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">A gold medalist at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, Lomachenko
fought for a world title in his second pro bout, losing narrowly by split
decision. He won a 126-pound title in his next fight and by his sixth outing,
he became a two-division titleholder at 130. Rigondeaux, who struck gold at the
2000 and 2004 Olympics, became a 122-pound world title holder in his ninth
fight and, three fights later, partially unified the championship by defeating
a fellow titleholder.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Past opponents</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Lomachenko’s previous opponents represent a far better gauge
as to how he will fare against Rigondeaux than vice versa. Like Rigondeaux,
Gary Russell Jr. was a slick, speedy counter-punching southpaw, and Nicholas
Walters loosely resembled a right-handed version of the Cuban. Lomachenko
easily defeated both.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Rigondeaux, on the other hand, has never encountered a southpaw
style even vaguely reminiscent of the Ukrainian’s. But his best opponent to
date, Nonito Donaire, was ranked among the best pound-for-pound fighters at that
time, and except for suffering the first knockdown of his career, he outclassed
and dominated Donaire.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Will it be Holmes-Spinks
I or II?</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The outcome of this this good-big-man-versus-good-little-man
showdown ultimately boils down to which fighter will be first to the punch,
dictate the tempo, control the action and get the better of the exchanges. Either
way, it will play out like a miniature, southpaw version of Larry Holmes’ and
Michael Spinks’ two epic collision courses in the ‘80s.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Like Spinks, Rigondeaux will be rising two divisions to
fight Lomachenko. Eight pounds at super featherweight, after all, is about as
significant a size advantage as the roughly 20 pounds Holmes had on Spinks at
heavyweight. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Holmes-Spinks 1 was fought on Spinks’ terms as he tactically
swash-buckled, flurried and frustrated Holmes en route to a historical upset. In
the rematch, Holmes turned the chess board into a prison yard and used his
superior size to bulldoze, bully and buckle Spinks, winning 11 of 15 rounds
only to be robbed on the scorecards in one of the worst travesties in the
history of the sport.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Should Rigondeaux be able to utilize his savvy, accuracy and
timing to the max, he will be faster on the draw, fluster Lomachenko and
neutralize his firepower by punching between the bigger man’s punches. And if
he can keep it up for the duration of the fight, as Spinks did in his
first encounter with Holmes, accolades will rain down upon him for pulling off
a David-versus-Goliath feat. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">But if the larger-framed Lomachenko can utilize his superior
size and strength to move Rigondeaux around and walk through his punches, like
Holmes did to Spinks in the rematch, he should win the majority of the rounds
and maybe even score a knockdown or two along the way. In this case scenario, provided
the judges are not as inept and/or corrupt as those who decided Holmes-Spinks
II, Lomachenko should win comfortably.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<i>See prediction at: http://peterliminator.blogspot.com/2017/12/vasyl-lomachenko-vs-guillermo-rigondeaux.html</i></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<br /></div>
peterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786543228582356362.post-38533795889353221202017-03-24T02:57:00.000-07:002017-03-26T21:15:45.157-07:00Golovkin W12 Jacobs afterthoughts<b>Is Triple G losing some spunk in his step or was Jacobs as crafty as he appeared?</b><br />
<br />
Granted, Jacobs didn't win the fight but snapping the murderous-punching Golovkin's 23-bout knockout streak and falling short of an upset by a round or two was certainly a major feather in his cap. So dominant and complete a fighter was Golovkin that he might have lost fewer rounds in his previous 16 title defenses combined than he did to Jacobs in this one fight.<br />
<br />
Was it a matter of Golovkin losing half a step in his 35-year-old legs or was Jacobs just an exceptional fighter with sufficient savvy and ring IQ to derail Golovkin's penchant for having judges at ringside obsolete? Whatever the case, Jacobs managed to expose some chinks in Golovkin's armor, weaknesses that future big-name opponents the likes of Saul 'Canelo' Alvarev, Jermall Charlo and Billy Joe Saunders will be eager to exploit.<br />
<br />
-- Golovkin is no counter puncher. Jacobs showed that if you're first to the punch, Golovkin will step back and reset rather than return fire immediately. Many of Jacobs' flurries were designed to impress the judges rather than inflict damage, much like they do in the amateurs. But they nevertheless stopped Golovkin in his tracks even though he caught most of the incoming fire on his gloves and arms.<br />
<br />
-- He is troubled by fleet footwork. Golovkin can handle lateral movement as long as its only in one direction; he will chase you down, cut you off and chop you up regardless of whether you're moving east or west. But by consistently sidestepping and abruptly changing directions, Jacobs effectively foiled Golovkin's seek-and-destroy <i>modus oenrandi</i>.<br />
<br />
-- Golovkin has proven equally adept at confronting orthodox and southpaw opponents alike with calculated yet uncompromising brutality, but he seemed confused and somewhat frustrated against a switch-hitter. Although Jacobs was virtually ineffective offensively as a southpaw, his alternating between stances seemed to throw Golovkin off his game.<br />
<br />
But as problematic as Jacobs was, Golovkin still found a way to win, albeit barely. Facing the toughest challenge of his career, Golovkin dug deep into his body and soul to box, bang and bully his way to victory, which speaks volumes of his ability to overcome any adversity thrown his way.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />peterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786543228582356362.post-53554126892311459112017-03-01T00:15:00.000-08:002017-03-30T00:52:45.981-07:00Nguyen TKO6 Flores an early candidate for Upset of the Year and Comeback of the Year<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At first glance, Dat Nguyen’s and Miguel Flores’ pre-fight
records of 19-3 (6 KOs) and 21-0 (9 KOs) respectively might not have appeared
that disparate. But upon further inspection, Nguyen’s stunning sixth-round TKO
victory over the previously undefeated Flores must surely be considered an
early candidate for Upset of the Year, and Nguyen a contender for Comeback of
the Year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDTVEQ-k8ShjEJuU8HSV2gmjFpgYI4KQbWoD6rxEiG6Kzk05wJDobNDuuZwJptlGv_3SHxviw7PGvNoHt0zGBXq1c-xoDjPCaAoPtnLz1xX3A3aZoIkfozXcSHvNb8dpTix55103RyRI/s1600/IMG_0534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVDTVEQ-k8ShjEJuU8HSV2gmjFpgYI4KQbWoD6rxEiG6Kzk05wJDobNDuuZwJptlGv_3SHxviw7PGvNoHt0zGBXq1c-xoDjPCaAoPtnLz1xX3A3aZoIkfozXcSHvNb8dpTix55103RyRI/s400/IMG_0534.JPG" width="298" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Flores (L) and Nguyen face off at thee weigh in.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One boxing website listed Flores as a 51-1 betting favorite
going into the fight. That’s nine points more
than the 42-1 odds that Buster Douglas faced in his 1990 monumental
upset of Mike Tyson in Tokyo. While the 51-1 number might be unverified, the
multiple obstacles Nguyen had to overcome were nevertheless very real.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Consider the following:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nguyen was fighting an upcoming, undefeated PBC fighter in
his backyard on a PBC card. A full 10 years older than Flores, Nguyen was
inactive in 2014 and 2015.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He was plagued by managerial snafus early in his career and
often had to accept fights on short notice. He fought twice last year, both six
round fights against nondescript opponents. Flores, on the other hand, had been
moved carefully up the ladder and had a breakout year in 2016 culminating in a
career best performance against highly-touted Ryan Kielczweski.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Previously trained by Buddy McGirt, Nguyen was self-trained for this fight. Taking the fight on four weeks' notice, he assembled an impromptu squad of sparring partners, one of whom also drilled him on the punch pads. Nguyen instructed him on how to hold the pads for each combination, so he essentially trained his sparring partner on how to train him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the weigh in, Nguyen seemed genuinely perplexed that he
tipped the scales 1.25 pounds over the contracted weight of 128 pounds. But he insisted he had made weight at his
gym in Florida on a scale that had never failed him before.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When the bell sounded, Nguyen looked every bit the role of
sacrificial lamb he was scripted to play. The younger, sharper Flores
effortlessly speared him with long punches from range before ripping in crisp
combinations upstairs and down in a one-sided first round.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But instead of breaking Nguyen down, Flores’ punches only
seemed to chip away the ring rust that had accumulated over years of sporadic
activity. The result was a scintillating, give-and-take affair that saw both
fighters rain hellacious punishment on each other.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ultimately, it was Nguyen’s better punch resistance that won
him the fight. He absorbed Flores’ best shots with aplomb, allowing him to walk down,
break down and eventually stop the younger hometown favorite. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">See Nguyen-Flores fight reports in </span><a href="http://www.boxingscene.com/miguel-flores-makes-no-excuses-tko-loss-dat-nguyen--113873"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Boxing Scene</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="http://www.chron.com/sports/insider/article/Dat-Nguyen-TKOs-local-favorite-Miguel-Flores-10949813.php"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Houston Chronicle</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Read about Miguel Flores' tragedy and triumphs at: </span><a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/article/Undefeated-featherweight-Miguel-Flores-not-10943428.php"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/article/Undefeated-featherweight-Miguel-Flores-not-10943428.php</span></a></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>peterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786543228582356362.post-43511854697483397682017-02-01T01:05:00.003-08:002017-02-01T01:27:15.288-08:00Unprecedented transparency in Santa Cruz-Frampton <div style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleTallBody; font-size: 17px;">
Leo Santa Cruz vs. Carl Frampton II turned out to be as entertaining and action-packed a scrap as their first fight. Both fighters showed remarkable sportsmanship and mutual respect before, during and after the bout. But thrilling fights and gallantry are a dime a dozen in the sport of boxing. What made this fight really exceptional was its pre- and post-fight level of transparency. </div>
<div style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleTallBody; font-size: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleTallBody; font-size: 17px;">
To reveal one's game plan is short-sighted at best, foolhardy at worst, in any sport. Santa Cruz, though, had no inhibitions about throwing all his cards on the table and laying out the exact fight strategy he had devised before going into battle. Frampton edged him in their first encounter with superior gamesmanship, yet Santa Cruz saw no need to hide the adjustments he intended to make In the rematch. Santa Cruz executed everything he declared he would do - utilize his longer reach to control distance and tempo, tone down his natural propensity to brawl and only engage in exchanges on his terms - to a tee to win the fight. So confident of victory was Santa Cruz that he even had the foresight to talk about a rubber match before weighing in for the rematch.</div>
<div style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleTallBody; font-size: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleTallBody; font-size: 17px;">
Frampton, for his part, displayed a degree of perspective and humility rarely seen in the sport. In close fights, the loser typically truly believes he had won in the immediate aftermath. It usually takes a week or two of reflection and reviewing replays before he grudgingly concedes defeat. But minutes after the fight was over, Frampton spoke with the objectivity and overview of an unbiased journalist who had just covered the fight from ringside supplemented by multiple camera angles. With brute honesty, he candidly admitted that the fight was close but the verdict fair, apologized to his fans and admonished himself for ignoring what Santa Cruz openly stated he was going to do. </div>
<div style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleTallBody; font-size: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleTallBody; font-size: 17px;">
Santa Cruz's more conservative approach did not diminish the thrill level of the fight, but much of the credit should go to Frampton for pressing the action and forcing Santa Cruz to brawl more than he wanted to. Each fighter is now the culprit for the other's only loss so a third encounter is simply a no-brainier.</div>
<div style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleTallBody; font-size: 17px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: UICTFontTextStyleTallBody; font-size: 17px;">
Frampton campaigned vigorously for the rubber match to be held in Belfast, and that would probably be fair since the first two fights were waged on American soil. Although Frampton could easily fill to capacity the largest soccer stadium in Ireland, Vegas or New York would still make more economic sense for all parties involved. London, perhaps, would be an evenhanded compromise.</div>
peterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786543228582356362.post-27900869642563800112016-12-31T14:09:00.000-08:002017-01-04T23:53:16.724-08:002016 Houston Boxing Awards<br />
<br />
What a bizarre two years it has been for Houston boxing. On Jan. 1, 2015, the fourth largest city in the United States was devoid of any professional world titleholders. But by Dec. 31, 2016, there were three; all were compressed in the same division and two had identical DNA.<br />
<br />
Houston professional boxers went 4-1 in world title fights in 2016, three of which involved the same above-mentioned genetic makeup. Right beneath the world championship stage, there was a hive of activity with a multitude of Bayou City prospects and contenders clamoring to get to or remain there. Some were more successful than others but all made dramatic marks in either reaching or falling short of their goals.<br />
<br />
Many of this year's awards came so compellingly close to the wire that some ended in a tie and a runner-up had to be declared in each category. Two new awards, Trainer of the Year and Event of the Year, were also included in 2016.<br />
<br />
And the awards go to:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Fighter of the Year</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Jermall Charlo</b></div>
<br />
Last year's winner outdid himself and the other contenders in 2016 to
walk away with the award for the second year
running. In May, Jermall Charlo, Jermell Charlo and Erislandy Lara
became early frontrunners for this award when they all overcame tough
challenges in world title fights on the same card. But Jermall ended
the year with a stroke of pugilistic genius that <span class="dbox-bold" data-syllable="su·per·ced·ed, "><span class="oneClick-link oneClick-available">propelled him past </span></span>the rest of the competition.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNI4_6pqNOTNpoBfH1ZoGSZ0qqITT07G1x709rzJYr0g_MJTsJIdnVPipItDsCYStnXF5aKJZNO6PmTBU-yC4tFbdtmxpdcny-PTrm-5LxfZrQQyv5vLnrM0-PUApLrAJuoax2wbDDu4/s1600/100_2176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNI4_6pqNOTNpoBfH1ZoGSZ0qqITT07G1x709rzJYr0g_MJTsJIdnVPipItDsCYStnXF5aKJZNO6PmTBU-yC4tFbdtmxpdcny-PTrm-5LxfZrQQyv5vLnrM0-PUApLrAJuoax2wbDDu4/s320/100_2176.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Impressive enough as Charlo's victory was against Austin Trout, it paled in comparison to his next title defense seven months later against Julian Williams. Charlo (25-0, 19 KOs) dropped Williams (22-1-1, 14 KOs) in the second round with a perfectly-timed jab but Williams held his own, rocking and socking Charlo with clean punches throughout.<br />
<br />
But as both fighters were fighting on even terms, Charlo upped his game in the fifth and executed a catch-and-counter that dropped Williams face first to the canvass. It was a maneuver virtually unprecedented on the world stage given the level of difficulty coupled with its split-second delivery. Charlo picked off an incoming right cross with his right glove and in a blink of an eye, returned fire with a right uppercut, which is one of the hardest punches to land let alone deploy as a fight-ending counter.<br />
<br />
Charlo's body of work at this early juncture of his career speaks volumes about his potential as a future great. He has dropped and stopped opponents with every punch in the sweet science
- left jab, left hook, left uppercut, right cross and right uppercut. In addition, he has scored knockdowns in three of his four title fights with a mere jab. Charlo, 26, has been almost exclusively a head hunter, though, so it'd be interesting to see if he can be equally devastating with body punches.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Runner-up: Jermell Charlo</b></div>
<br />
Given his superior ring generalship and experience, Jermell Charlo (27-0, 13 KOs) was favored to beat John Jackson (20-3, 15 KOs) for a vacant world title. But the usually aggressive and brutish Jackson ventured off script to morph effectively into a stick-and-move stylist and throw Charlo off his game plan. Going into the eighth round with a five-point deficit on all three judges' cards, Charlo was forced to improvise and he did just that, stringing together a concoction of long and short punches that violently put an end to Jackson's bait-and-switch.<br />
<br />
<b>Honorable Mention</b>:<br />
Erislandy Lara<br />
Regis Prograis<br />
<div>
Miguel Flores</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2015 winner: Jermall Charlo</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Fight of the Year</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Craig Baker KO8 Steve Lovett</b></div>
<br />
Competition for Fight of the Year was so intense this year it could
easily have been a four-way tie. But Baker KO8 Lovett topped the list on
account of its level of suspense, brutal end and both fighters hailing
from the Houston area.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lP1npiPZ7tUvKpmvC_LjQ79A1Xk52UguRWXJD9g9SvkXMFsQRh6qcBePYi1p0wTk6brydvBuXsdWZHBEeMyIl1coLCPKpV2ecc4fsmwb9DJHGqKOhLeNnbm0UYtyyx8k4YgKzGrkW50/s1600/100_0055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lP1npiPZ7tUvKpmvC_LjQ79A1Xk52UguRWXJD9g9SvkXMFsQRh6qcBePYi1p0wTk6brydvBuXsdWZHBEeMyIl1coLCPKpV2ecc4fsmwb9DJHGqKOhLeNnbm0UYtyyx8k4YgKzGrkW50/s200/100_0055.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEHk53fNWI6H7Kbmt1csnFkEe9TIOVW6Ev1zNkPlMIDAVyJq7aTIAXiiR5R5t_5R5nj5DS8vGeFgBWMSSlQLw79fJzRNy4l5Vc0djbDfialzqxewgEBvN9uK_eZwUVEphCyraqP-3peQ/s1600/100_1569.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEHk53fNWI6H7Kbmt1csnFkEe9TIOVW6Ev1zNkPlMIDAVyJq7aTIAXiiR5R5t_5R5nj5DS8vGeFgBWMSSlQLw79fJzRNy4l5Vc0djbDfialzqxewgEBvN9uK_eZwUVEphCyraqP-3peQ/s200/100_1569.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Baker (17-1, 13 KOs) and Lovett (15-1,12 KOs) were a dead-even matchup on the tale of the tape and it pretty much played out that way in the ring. Both were similar in style, size and experience but ultimately, it was Baker's superior poise and discipline that sealed his victory.<br />
<br />
For three rounds both fighters were equally impressive in landing stiff jabs and identical combinations. But towards the end of the fourth, a huge counter left hook dumped Baker heavily to the canvass. Lovett seized the momentum and continued to rock Baker in the fifth with solid left hooks and straight rights.<br />
<br />
In the sixth, though, Baker began making subtle adjustments, tightening up on his defense and firing compact and calculated punches in combination. Lovett, on the other hand, kept trying to duplicate the single one-punch success he had in the fourth.<br />
<br />
By the seventh, Lovett was beginning to unravel as Baker dominated the exchanges with cleaner, crisper shots. An accumulation of direct hits from Baker, particularly with the right uppercut, had Lovett reeling and out on his feet before Baker sent him crashing to the canvass and unable to beat the count with two seconds remaining in the eighth round.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Runner-up: Miguel Flores W10 Ryan Kielzweski</b></div>
<br />
Flores vs. Kielzweski was basically a showdown between two undefeated featherweight contenders since Kielzweski's only prior defeat was daylight robbery. Kielzweski was deemed to be the superior boxer and Flores (21-0, 9 KOs) the more dangerous puncher, particularly with left hook downstairs. But for 10 action-packed rounds Kielzweski (26-2, 8 KOs) held his own in the trenches and Flores did some nifty combination punching from long range. Flores' higher punch output ultimately tipped the balance on the scorecards, earning him a hard-fought 10-round unanimous decision.<br />
<br />
<b>Honorable mention</b>:<br />
Jermell Charlo TKO8 John Jackson<br />
<div>
Jermall Charlo KO5 Julian Williams</div>
<div>
Erislandy Lara W12 Vanes Matiryosan</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2015 winner: Edwin Rodriguez KO3 Michael Seals</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Knockout of the Year</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Tie: </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Jermall Charlo KO5 Julian Williams</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Deontay Wilder KO9 Artur Szplika</b></div>
<br />
The
two knockouts that tied for this award, both with world titles at stake, could not be more diametrically
polar. One was the result of an educated split-second reflex maneuver and the other a raw, neanderthal club-swinging
exchange. While the Houston fighter emerged victorious in the first encounter, it was the Bayou City boxer who was stopped in the co-winner.<br />
<br />
<b>Charlo KO5 Williams</b><br />
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8LUfqqSY_HOt7Ddj-NVuCbMMPqvn7ZYE0pdUgxkH-jnYdAQT8-MFhh2lFEQSh3Eciq-hxpnNywiZ1ejkTWWinAeFN1pyGGAAb_Z8BDMt_UqnxuMoTpat-C6LRU-w-rML2C5Uhb3Mtx0/s1600/100_2198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8LUfqqSY_HOt7Ddj-NVuCbMMPqvn7ZYE0pdUgxkH-jnYdAQT8-MFhh2lFEQSh3Eciq-hxpnNywiZ1ejkTWWinAeFN1pyGGAAb_Z8BDMt_UqnxuMoTpat-C6LRU-w-rML2C5Uhb3Mtx0/s320/100_2198.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Charlo
dropped Williams with a crunching left jab in the second round, but the
fight was suspenseful and evenly contested throughout until its
scintillating end. Midway through the fifth round, Charlo deflected an
incoming right cross with his own right and instinctively returned
fire with an uppercut from the same fist that dropped Williams face
first to the canvass. It was a meticulously executed catch-and-counter
maneuver for the ages. Williams struggled to beat the count but the fight
was essentially over at that point; Charlo's follow-up flurry that put
Williams down for good was basically a formality, like an inconsequential garnish to an immaculately-broiled filet mignon. <br />
<br />
<b>Wilder KO9 Szpilka</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
For eight rounds, Wilder and
Szpilka were both measured and disciplined in executing their
respective game plans. Wilder got the better of the exchanges on account
of his superior reach and technical proficiency, but Szpilka defiantly held his own with tenacity. In the ninth
round, though, both fighters inexplicably opted to hurl haymakers with reckless abandon at the exact same moment, Wilder with is
right and Szpilka with his southpaw left. Spzilka's Hail-Mary missed while Wilder's landed
rendering Szpilka unconscious on the canvass for several minutes.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Runner-up: Craig Baker KO8 Steve Lovett</b></div>
<br />
When a fighter drops and seriously hurts the other in an even fight, it typically marks a turning point in favor the one who didn't hit the canvass. Instead, the knockdown (the first in his career) that Baker survived in the fourth round ignited a mix of composure and sense of urgency that enabled him to elevate his game to the next level. Baker didn't make the same mistakes again and foiled Lovett's follow-up assaults to stop him in the eighth in cerebral yet violent fashion.<br />
<br />
<b>Honorable mention</b>:<br />
<div>
Jermell Charlo KO8 John Jackson</div>
<div>
Thomas Williams TKO2 Edwin Rodriguez</div>
<div>
Eugene Hill KO2 Nick Guivas</div>
<div>
Mason Menard TKO9 Bahodir Mamadjonov<br />
Pablo Cruz TKO4 Lavale Wilson</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2015 winner: Saul Alvarez KO3 James Kirkland<br />
<br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Prospect of the Year</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Miguel Flores</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Miguel Flores surpassed Craig Baker for Prospect of the Year as narrowly as Baker-Lovett surpassed Flores-Kielzweski for Fight of the Year. It was Flores' busier fight schedule and higher level of competition that won him the award at the finish line.<br />
<br />
Flores (21-0, 9 KOs) went 3-0 in 2016. He was expected to defeat his first two opponents of the year, but when matched against Ryan Kielzweski (26-2, 8 KOs) in August, it was a virtual tossup. The feisty and talented Kielzweski proved to be a solid mettle detector that forced out a skill set, level of poise and adaptability that Flores never had to pull from his sleeve before.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Runner-up: Craig Baker</b></div>
</div>
<div>
In his impressive come-from-behind KO of previously undefeated Steve Lovett, Baker revealed dexterity to overcome adversity, recuperative prowess and a formidable arsenal from long range and up close and personal. Baker might be the most underrated, overlooked prospect in the red-hot light heavyweight division of 2017.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Honorable mention</b>:</div>
<div>
Ryan Karl (13-0, 9 KOs)</div>
<div>
David Perez (8-0, 4 KOs)<br />
<br />
<div>
2015 winner: Regis Prograis</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Round of the Year</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Tie:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Jermell Charlo vs. John Jackson (Round 8)</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Thomas Williams vs. Edwin Rodriguez (Round 2)</b></div>
<br />
Round of the Year ended in a tie between a Houston fighter who dramatically turned the tide in a fight in which he was badly losing on the scorecards, and one who was gunning for an early knockout but had the tide abruptly turned against him.<br />
<br />
<b>Jermell Charlo vs. Jackson (Round 8)</b><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEbo4Z2RcM02xOrBjckoJN-Ku7I1UynJhMZbHi3B8GlOLfWoublKzdG7J4go3Is0Xbta19dNYfVkQjeZ4rKr2ooi-l44bGUYE6A3KSigLED-Nki6kWoE75UI5ceboXIOM8Xry0umpmDo/s1600/100_0534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEbo4Z2RcM02xOrBjckoJN-Ku7I1UynJhMZbHi3B8GlOLfWoublKzdG7J4go3Is0Xbta19dNYfVkQjeZ4rKr2ooi-l44bGUYE6A3KSigLED-Nki6kWoE75UI5ceboXIOM8Xry0umpmDo/s320/100_0534.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Jermell Charlo (28-0, 13 KOs) was thrown a curve ball when Jackson (20-3, 15 KOs), usually a seek-and-destroy fighter, unexpectedly reinvented himself as a slick boxer-counter puncher in this bout for a vacant world title. Utilizing a circle-and-ambush strategy, Jackson forced Charlo to assume the role of aggressor. Like a roadrunner against a rattlesnake, Jackson patiently picked, pecked and pitty-punched his way to a comfortable 69-64 lead after seven rounds on all three scorecards.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But Charlo took the judges out of the equation in the eighth round. At center ring, Charlo struck with a pinpoint one-two that froze Jackson in his tracks. Seizing the moment, Charlo followed up with two left hooks that sent Jackson reeling discombobulated into a corner, prompting the referee to call a halt and save Jackson from further punishment.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<b>Williams vs. Rodriguez (Round 2)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yQSsg__a1arZ3khtYBWnRODwsptXnqqlYVD4qRGZ1F41ippSmx4PHyHsQwDWGviyDioLIrIHIjJhDGypZSiUD3j_KHWMfyx0fP3CpAFvUkDSx81z3G4-a2vD-i2b-9CpAiUEaNVhMr0/s1600/100_1346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yQSsg__a1arZ3khtYBWnRODwsptXnqqlYVD4qRGZ1F41ippSmx4PHyHsQwDWGviyDioLIrIHIjJhDGypZSiUD3j_KHWMfyx0fP3CpAFvUkDSx81z3G4-a2vD-i2b-9CpAiUEaNVhMr0/s320/100_1346.JPG" width="320" /></b></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Rodriguez, a player in the 2015 Round of the Year, was also part of this year's award. But while he came up on top of the fight in question last year, he ended up on the losing end in 2016. <br />
<br />
Last year, Rodriguez answered the opening bell swinging with reckless abandon and dropped Michael Seals in the first round only to taste the canvass twice himself when Seals returned fire with equal ferocity. Surviving the round by the skin of his teeth, Rodriguez somehow found the guile to stop Seals in the third round.<br />
<div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike><br /></strike></div>
<div>
In 2016, Rodriguez hurt southpaw Thomas Williams in the second round, and again, he went for broke in trying to knock Williams out. Williams, though, did his homework and knew Rodriguez was a sitting duck when throwing caution to the wind. He carefully covered up, reset and blasted Rodriguez to the canvass with a right hook-overhand left. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Runner-up: Miguel Flores vs. Ryan Kielzweski (Round 10)</b></div>
<br />
After nine competitive fast-paced and action-packed rounds, Flores and Kielzweski had enough left in their tanks to save the best for last. The fight was close enough that both boxers knew they had to finish strong to steal the verdict and they let their fists fly. The result was a microcosm and sped-up version of many of the previous rounds in which Flores landed the more picturesque combinations while Kielzweski connected with cleaner, harder single shots.<br />
<br />
<div>
<b>Honorable mention</b>:</div>
<div>
Jermall Charlo vs. Julian Williams (Round 5)</div>
<div>
Deontay Wilder vs. Artur Szpilka (Round 9)</div>
<div>
Craig Baker vs. Steve Lovett (Round 8)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2015 winner: Edwin Rodriguez vs. Michael Seals (Round 1)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Upset of the Year</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Thomas Williams TKO2 Edwin Rodriguez</b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwoJq7Nh4lIGyL_tXDw8e0AFDYukMXfZw-fkcW8dDRCKLRqBwOR6xkz2ibsZeRKmEcDfQ2TDMSBEb_mztyqefk6bbJx0VM_PX-qiUU80Ztr9OTv7lQ-4KkU0kT_r_p7JUfeoN_I-iljM/s1600/100_1335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwoJq7Nh4lIGyL_tXDw8e0AFDYukMXfZw-fkcW8dDRCKLRqBwOR6xkz2ibsZeRKmEcDfQ2TDMSBEb_mztyqefk6bbJx0VM_PX-qiUU80Ztr9OTv7lQ-4KkU0kT_r_p7JUfeoN_I-iljM/s320/100_1335.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Rodriguez (28-2, 19 KOs) was riding an impressive four-fight winning streak since his 2014 loss to Andre Ward, while Williams (20-2, 14 KOs) was still in damage control mode following his embarrassing TKO loss to a faded Gabriel Campillo, also in 2014.<br />
<br />
Rodriguez came out swinging wildly in the opening round, looking to decapitate with every shot, while Williams calmly covered up and stood his ground. The writing was on the wall. Rodriguez hurt Williams in the second round and daringly moved in for the kill abandoning any semblance of defense. Rodriguez was begging to be countered and Williams gladly obliged with a southpaw right hook followed by a monster haymaker left that sent Rodriguez crashing violently to the canvass.<br />
<br />
Rodriguez beat the count on spaghetti legs as the bell sounded to end the round but the referee nevertheless opted to wave the fight over, denying him the opportunity to recover and repeat the brink-of-disaster comeback he pulled off in the 2015 Fight of the Year.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Runner-up: Justin DeLoach W8 Junior Castillo</b></div>
<br />
Southpaw Castillo (12-1, 10 KOs), a 2012 Olympian from the Dominican Republic, was favored to defeat DeLoach (16-1, 8 KOs) on account of his Olympic pedigree. But the speedy and savvy DeLoach dropped Castillo twice en route to a unanimous eight-round decision.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Honorable mention</b>: <br />
Anna Alimardanova (Azerbaijan) W4 Virginia Fuchs at Women's World Boxing Championships</div>
<div>
Ingrit Valencia (Colombia) W4 Virginia Fuchs at Americas Olympic Qualifier</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2015 winner: Virginia Fuchs W3 (twice) Marlen Esparza at the US Olympic Trials</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Comeback of the Year</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Craig Baker</b></div>
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4ixnEYN29or5JIV4nBTL7Z6fsAndg6I3l_FV8yIQ721McP39shdcvVpkZc9_epqBwGGAxJeJp2DXVY0pb8RWD1yqT_2gRzd4QTknOYUQviR9Priny4BxN3BFcoDEjrv7IwM0cLgSpEo/s1600/100_0055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4ixnEYN29or5JIV4nBTL7Z6fsAndg6I3l_FV8yIQ721McP39shdcvVpkZc9_epqBwGGAxJeJp2DXVY0pb8RWD1yqT_2gRzd4QTknOYUQviR9Priny4BxN3BFcoDEjrv7IwM0cLgSpEo/s320/100_0055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
Baker was coming off a one-year layoff following his first career loss, a third-round TKO to Edwin Rodriguez which was widely viewed as a premature stoppage. He was pit against undefeated Steve Lovett, who by contrast, had kept himself busy by fighting five times in 2015.<br />
<br />
Baker hit the canvass hard in the fourth round courtesy of a Lovett left hook and looked to be in trouble again in the fifth. But he braved the storm, caught his second wind and tweaked his game plan to seize control of the fight in the seventh and systematically blast Lovett away in the eighth.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br />
Runner-up:
Juan Diaz </b></div>
Diaz lost to Baker in this category because, he won two fights in
2016 he was expected to win, while Baker upped his game to defeat an
undefeated prospect in a 50-50 fight. Nevertheless, Diaz looked impressive in his two TKO wins in 2016 after an 18-month layoff due to a rotator cuff injury.<br />
<br />
<div>
<b>Honorable mention</b>:</div>
<div>
Junior Castillo</div>
<div>
Medzhid Bektemirov</div>
<div>
Radmir Akhmediyev</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2015 winner: Cornelius White</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Trainer of the Year</span></b><span style="font-size: large;">:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Ronnie Shields</b>
</div>
<br />
Ronnie Shields was 3-1 in world title fights in 2016. He started the
year on a losing note when Artur Szpilka was brutally KOed by Deontay
Wilder for a heavyweight title in January. But Shields rebounded
strongly in May when two of his charges, Jermall Charlo and Erislandy
Lara successfully defended their titles on the same card. Shields' ended
the year with fireworks when Charlo scored a spectacular highlight-reel
knockout against Julian Williams.<br />
<br />
<b>Honorable mention</b>:<br />
Aaron Navarro</div>
<div>
Bobby Benton</div>
<div>
Juan Lopez</div>
<div>
Derwin Richards</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Event of the Year</span></b><span style="font-size: large;">:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Charlo twins make history</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div align="left">
While twins have held world titles at the same time before, Jermall and Jermell Charlo became the first siblings born minutes apart to claim titles concurrently in the same division in the history of the sport. On the same May 21 card in Las Vegas, Jermall successfully defended his world title against Austin Trout and Jermell knocked out John Jackson to win a different version of the 154-pound crown.</div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Runner-up: Tie </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Marlen Esparza signs with Golden Boy Promotions </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Professional boxing returns to Downtown Houston</b></div>
<br />
<b>Esparza turns pro</b><br />
After losing her third consecutive bout to crosstown rival Virginia Fuchs, twice in last year's Olympic Trials and in the finals of the 2016 USA Boxing nationals, Marlen Esparza, a 2012 Olympic bronze medalist has opted to go pro. She is the first female boxer to sign with Golden Boy Promotions.<br />
<br />
<b>Boxing back in downtown</b><br />
Promoter Lou Savarese brought boxing back to downtown after a four-year hiatus when he staged a card at the Ballroom at Bayou Place on Dec.1.<br />
<br />
See 2015 Houston Boxing Awards at: <a href="http://houstonboxing.blogspot.com/2015/12/2015-houston-boxing-awards.html">http://houstonboxing.blogspot.com/2015/12/2015-houston-boxing-awards.html</a><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
peterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786543228582356362.post-14902945855618836662016-12-15T01:27:00.000-08:002016-12-15T01:27:56.558-08:00Charlo-Williams afterthoughts<b>Jermall Charlo's Catch-and-Counter KO of Julian Williams is one for the ages</b><br /><br />
<div>
Jermall Charlo's momentary lapse of sportsmanship should not
detract from the masterful maneuver he executed to win the fight. The
level of difficulty of the catch-and-counter Charlo used to separate
Williams from his senses cannot be overstated. <br /><br /> It is hard
enough to pull off the catch-and-counter with the same fist, let alone
score a knockout with it. And the uppercut is probably the hardest punch
to set up, let alone deploy as a split-second reaction counter. But it
seemed almost second nature to Charlo when he blocked an incoming right
cross with his right glove and instantaneously returned fire using the
same hand with pinpoint accuracy to seal his victory.<br /><br /> The
maneuver was not just brilliant, it might well be unprecedented in the
history of championship-level boxing. If there are any readers out there
who know of a similar catch-and-counter sequence that led to a
stoppage in a major fight, please post a comment and tell us about it. <br /><br /> Charlo's latest victory also unveiled some other interesting qualities about the fighter:<br /><br />
-- When a fighter drops his opponents with a mere jab in three out of
four title fights, make no mistake about it; it is the real deal. Not since Mark Breland has a
fighter been able to not just stun, but seriously hurt other men of
equal size with the most basic punch in boxing. Pound for pound, Charlo
might have the best jab in the sport today.<br /><br />-- With his latest win, Charlo has scored knockdowns and knockouts with
every punch in the book - left jab, left hook, left uppercut, right
cross and right uppercut. The only weapon that has yet to emerge from his
arsenal is body punching.<br /><br /> -- He has a pretty
decent set of whiskers. Charlo's punch resistance was a question mark
before the Williams fight but he absorbed everything Williams landed
with aplomb, unflinchingly returning fire with composure each time he
was nailed by a clean shot.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
-- In the process
of passing the chin test, the fact that Williams was able to connect
with flush punches throughout the encounter exposed the holes in
Charlo's defense. Slicker, more experienced fighters the likes of
Canelo, Triple G and Danny Jacobs might be able to exploit the chinks in
Charlo's armor more effectively than Williams.<br /><br /> -- Charlo
appears overly concerned about his public persona and what his
opponents, the media and fans say about him. Against Williams, he was
able to contain his frustrations until after the fight was over but as his
stardom grows, he might find it harder to keep his emotions in check. </div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Originally published in: http://www.boxingscene.com/jermall-charlo-catch-counter-ko-williams-one-ages--111711 and http://peterliminator.blogspot.com/2016/12/jermall-charlo-vs-julian-williams.html</i></span>peterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786543228582356362.post-55797899551892421222016-10-17T01:32:00.000-07:002016-11-06T00:03:49.322-07:00Long-reigning lefties<div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The legacies of recent long-reigning lefties</span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Although only 8-15 percent of the adult population is left handed, four of the last five US presidents were southpaws, a piece of political trivia lost amidst the </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">pre-election mudslinging. Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barrack Obama signed </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">legislation, declarations of war, and congressional vetoes from a
starboard-centric position; George W. Bush was the only president since 1980 to commandeer the nation favoring his port side. Regardless of who wins the presidential election on November 8, the United States will take a turn to the right again since </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump are lefties.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Of the four above-mentioned left handed presidents, three of them - Reagan, Bill Clinton and Obama - were two-term Oval Office holders. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The sport of boxing has also seen lefties conquer and rule for extended stretches. Some were more charismatic than
controversial while vice versa was the case for others. Some ruled with ruthless
heavy handedness, some with slick maneuvering and others with a combination
of both. But all blazed notable trails of their own in the sport, although some
were more conspicuous than others.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Here are some
recent long-reigning lefties and the legacies they left behind in the sport:</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pugilist and politico</span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Manny Pacquiao</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">’s world title reign has already spanned the terms of
three US presidents. He won his first world title as a
flyweight in 1998 while Bill Clinton was still in office and held titles at various divisions during the Bush and Obama administrations. Having
dethroned Jessie Vargas for the WBO welterweight belt three days before the general election, Pacquiao's streak will most
likely extend into the term of the next US president.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pacquiao’s full body of work has yet to be written since he is
still competing at the highest level of the sport. But he will
undoubtedly stand out not just for conquering multiple weight
divisions per se, but the almost superhuman way in which he did
it. </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">While a boxer’s physical attributes typically diminish or, at best,
remain the same as he bulks up in weight to fight naturally bigger men, the Filipino phenom is an exceptional
anomaly to the rule. Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KOs), not only carried but
enhanced his power, speed and punch resistance as he moved up, dropping and
stopping top-notch opponents who had never or rarely been stopped. His punching
power and chin seemed to hit the ceiling at 140 pounds, but nevertheless, his
ability to deliver and absorb punishment against much larger-framed foes is
remarkable and virtually unprecedented, considering he began his career as a puny,
malnourished 106-pounder.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pacquiao’s rags-to-riches narrative also transcends the
pugilistic arena into the political sphere. He was able to parlay his immense
popularity as a boxer to get elected as a congressman and senator in the
Philippines. Given the Filipino electorate's preference of celebrity over substance in choosing its leaders, it
might not be that inconceivable that President Pacquiao will be negotiating
treaties from Malacanang Palace (the Philippines’ equivalent of the White
House) with Clinton, Trump or their successors in the near or distant future. </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Torpedo-proof chin</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Marvin Hagler</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">‘s reign
as undisputed middleweight champion was uninterrupted and confined to a single
weight division. An uncompromisingly ferocious boxer-puncher, Hagler (62-3-2,
52 KOs) unified and ruled the division from 1980 to 1987. He defended the
championship 12 times, taking on a star-studded list of challengers
including fellow legends Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard,
who eventually dethroned him. Like Pacquiao, Hagler was naturally right-handed
but fought from a southpaw stance.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 7.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Three decades after his retirement, Hagler’s jawbone remains the gold standard for the proverbial cast iron chin. During his reign,
Hagler almost unflinchingly withstood direct nuclear-powered hits delivered
with full torque and leverage from bona fide knockout artists the likes of
Hearns and John Mugabi.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Torpedo-proof chin aside, Hagler's legacy also stems from being amongst
a tiny minority of champions to know when it was time to walk away
from the sport, move on and never look back to second
guess what he had accomplished. His nemeses Leonard,
Hearns, Duran and Mugabi all lingered on way past their primes only to
suffer physically debilitating and sometimes humiliating defeats
against younger, stronger opponents while attempting to defy father
time and reclaim past glory. Hagler didn't make that same mistake. (Michael
Spinks also comes to mind).</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Defensive Genius</span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pernell</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 7.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Whitaker </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">held world
titles from 130-154 pounds between 1989 and 1997. His longevity was due
largely in part to his legendary defensive wizardry. It was like fighting a ghost;
Whitaker (40-4-1, 17 KOs) could move half an inch to make his opponents
miss by half a mile while remaining tantalizingly and tauntingly within the pocket.
With cat-like reflexes, he would deftly dip, duck, turn and spin away from
incoming blows, never having to maneuver out of punching range.</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">In the history of the sport, only a handful of other fighters
had that almost supernatural prowess to read body language and know their
opponents’ next move before they did. Willy Pep, Wilfred Benitez and
Floyd Mayweather Jr. also had that ability but among this very exclusive club of defensive geniuses, Whitaker was the only southpaw.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Whitaker’s longevity and success is also exceptional for a
negative reason. While drink and drugs have long been the demise of many a potentially great fighter, Whitaker reached his full potential and then some in spite of his well-documented appetite for both. (Johnny Tapia also comes to mind) The argument could be made that Whitaker might have been an even greater
fighter had he led a cleaner lifestyle but his superb Hall-of-Fame credentials
would be hard to top by any measure or any one.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Greatest underachiever</span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Hector Camacho</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> held world titles at 130, 135 and 140 pounds
between 1983 and 1991. Above 140, he also did battle against legends the likes
of Sugar Ray Leonard, Oscar De La Hoya, Roberto Duran and Felix Trinidad. </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">That said, Camacho (79-6-3, 38 KOs) might go down as the most
underachieving fighter in the history of the sport. Given his immense natural
talent, his career should have been much more spectacular than what it was.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Camacho was blessed with brilliant ring IQ, blazing hand and
foot speed, a granite chin and, although his under-50 percent knockout rate
doesn’t reflect it, when he elected to sit down on his punches, he could rock your world. Outside the ropes, Camacho was outlandish, charismatic,
controversial and downright entertaining. A promoter’s dream, he sold himself
without even trying.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">But as his arrest record suggests, Camacho wore his heart on his
sleeve and lived his life on the edge. His run-ins with the law typically
involved drugs and reckless, impulsive acts committed in the heat of the moment, a
tell-tale sign that his mind was not always on his next fight and his body not
always at the gym. He underperformed against less skilled opponents, doing enough to win, but when matched against elite fighters, he struggled and
was usually dominated.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The cruel irony is, while Camacho failed to live up to his full potential in life,
having to settle for a supporting role in the biggest fights of his career, he also played second fiddle in the circumstances leading to his
death. A womanizer, gambler and thrill seeker that craved the center of
attention, he was one of those love-him-or-hate-him figures who, at any given moment of his adult
life was always at risk of being whacked by any
number of jealous husbands, bookies, gang bangers or average Joes he had beaten
up outside a titty bar. But when Camacho was gunned down in 2012, evidence
suggests he was an inconsequential, unintended victim. The drug dealer (who was
also killed) he was hanging out with appeared to be the principal target. The
“Macho Man” was merely collateral damage.</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"><b>Hard punch but soft chin</b></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";">
</span>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";">
</span><div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";"><b>Humberto 'Chiquita' Gonzalez</b> (43-3, 30 KOs) won, lost, regained and partially unified the junior flyweight title between 1989 and 1995. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of fame in 2006. Like Hagler, Gonzalez often switched to orthodox mid-fight but fought predominantly as a southpaw.</span></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial";">
<div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>
<div>
Like Hearns and Tommy Morrison, Gonzalez was one of those guys whose punch resistance was inversely proportional to his punching power. In other words, he hit hard but his chin was soft, a combination that often made for suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat fights. Gonzalez's stoppage losses to Michael Carbajal and Saman Sorjaturong won the <i>Ring Magazine</i>'s Fight of the Year honors in 1993 and 1995 respectively.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Gonzalez and Carbajal became the first 108-pounders to garner million-dollar purses in their explosive first encounter in 1993, paving the way for other little men to earn big paydays in the sport.</div>
</span></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: middle;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Fighting behind enemy lines</span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Mark
Johnson</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> (44-5, 28 KOs) reigned as a flyweight world titlist from 1996
to 1998 and held versions of the super flyweight title on two separate
occasions from 1999 to 2004. Johnson’s legacy stems not only from becoming the
first black fighter to win a flyweight title but more significantly, how he got
there.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">As a diminutive African-American
boxer, Johnson faced an uphill battle from the outset in gaining recognition in
the 112-pound division where fighters and their fans are overwhelmingly Latino.
But he defied the odds and gained notoriety by fighting behind enemy lines at
the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles, the city with the third largest
population of Mexican nationals behind Mexico City and Guadalajara. A skillfully slick southpaw,
Johnson went 12-0 at The Forum in front of an audience that favored brute
machismo over brilliant mechanics. Ethnocentric fans bought tickets to his
fights at The Forum hoping to see him lose, but he never did.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: middle;">
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Thai Tyson</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Khaosai Galaxy </span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 7.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">(47-1, 41 KOs) reigned as a 115-pound world titlist from 1984-1991,
making 19 defenses of his belt. He was inducted into the International Boxing
Hall of Fame in 1999 and was ranked the 19</span><sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">th</span></sup><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> in </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ring</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Magazine</span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">’s Top 100
Punchers of All Time issue published in 2003.</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Nicknamed the 'Thai Tyson' because of his concussive power, Galaxy
was one of very few fighters to have never lost his title in the ring and retire as champion. (Floyd Mayweather Jr. was the most recent boxer to do so) Khaosai, alongside his brother Khaokor, also became the first twins
to hold world titles concurrently, a distinction that was only recently matched
by Jermall and Jermell Charlo.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Despite
his lofty accomplishments Galaxy remains largely unknown outside his native
Thailand and die-hard circles of boxing aficionados. </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Imagine
how much greater his legacy would've been had he fought in the post-globalization era
of multi-media marketing/management that Pacquiao enjoyed.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Like Hagler, Galaxy,
without much fanfare, reinvented himself from an A-plus fighter to a B-minus
movie star in his retirement, never acting upon any urge to make a
comeback.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: middle;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The anti-Camacho</span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Winky
Wright</span></b><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 7.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> (51-6-1, 25 KOs)</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">won
and unified various versions of the junior middleweight title between 2001 and
2005. </span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The antithesis of Hector Camacho,
Wright might go down in history as one of the most under-recognized and
underappreciated exponents of the sport. Gifted with superb ring generalship,
he took on some of the best boxers of his era. He defeated Shane Moseley (twice) and Trinidad, fought Jermaine Taylor to a draw and pretty much held his own in a loss to Bernard Hopkins. But Wright
never came close to attaining the superstardom or earning power of his
higher-profile adversaries. </span></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Despite his immaculate
skills, Wright didn't pack much punching power and his style was drearily academic and fan-unfriendly. Outside the ropes, his on-camera persona was rather
pedestrian to say the least.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: middle;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The latecomer and late bloomer</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Sergio
Martinez </b>(51-3-2, 28 KOs) </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">ruled as middleweight champion between 2010 and 2014 toppling
the best and biggest names of the division.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">His reign stands out because he
defied improbable odds on two fronts; he conquered and ruled a division 7-13
pounds above his natural fighting weight, and more importantly, he was a
latecomer and late bloomer who crafted his skills on the job to
attain top-10 pound-for-pound status. Lacing on gloves for the first time at
the overripe old age of 20, Martinez somehow managed to turn a start in bicycling and
soccer into a borderline Hall-of-Fame boxing career.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Ironically, Martinez was
eventually dethroned by Miguel Cotto, a fellow bulked-up welterweight, not one of the bigger
full-fledged middleweights he was reputed to overcome in his prime. </span></div>
<div style="background: white; vertical-align: middle;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
</div>
peterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786543228582356362.post-40460681939568624462016-06-02T00:54:00.000-07:002016-06-15T00:34:34.032-07:00Craig Baker vs. Steve Lovett<b>Crosstown Texas rivals collide in Florida</b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>By Peter Lim </b></span><br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr">
In an intriguing east-versus-west matchup between
two Houston area light heavyweights, Craig Baker (16-1, 12 KOs) takes on Steve Lovett (15-0, 12 KOs) on June 12 at the Lakeland Events Center in Florida. Scheduled for 10 rounds, the fight will
be aired on Bounce TV.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Baker hails from Baytown, about 30 miles east of Houston, and Lovett from Stafford, a suburb just southwest of Houston. The cross town
fight is as dead-even a match-up in actuality as it is on paper. The winner propels himself from prospect to contender while the loser takes a U-turn back to the proverbial square one. Kudos to both fighters for taking such a risky fight at this early juncture in their careers.<br />
<br />
Being from the same area, they have sparred before so they will not be too much of a mystery to each other. Having similar styles, both boxers favor utilizing thumping jabs to set up potentially fight-ending rights. Standing at six-foot-two, Lovett has a slight height advantage over Baker. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
While Baker, 31, represents Lovett's sternest test to date, Baker has faced tougher opposition. In his last fight Baker took on top-10 contender Edwin Rodriguez, Lovett's sparring partner and stablemate, and lost by third-round TKO in what was widely viewed as a premature stoppage. He is trained by Juan Lopez at the Lopez Boxing Club.<br />
<br />
“I’m excited about this opportunity to take on a fighter like Steve
Lovett,” Baker said. “He’s highly regarded but I know that I have the
skills and experience to beat him. I’m leaving it all in the ring. A win
here puts me in position to get big fights so I plan on being
impressive.” </div>
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<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Lovett, 31, sold his every worldly possession in Canberra, Australia to
move to the United States to train under Ronnie
Shields at the Plex Gym in 2014. Since then he has gone 8-0, 7 KOs with one no contest due to a cut. His only non-KO win came in his last fight when his opponent disgracefully and intentionally got himself disqualified by repeatedly hitting below the belt.<br />
<br />
"I helped Edwin Rodriguez prepare for his fight against Baker so I know him well," Lovett said. "I am at the stage to step up to the next level.”<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">See prediction at: <a href="http://peterliminator.blogspot.com/2016/06/craig-baker-vs-steve-lovett.html">http://peterliminator.blogspot.com/2016/06/craig-baker-vs-steve-lovett.html </a></span></i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Afterthoughts:</b><br />
It's baffling how Lovett was so flawless
for the first five rounds but unraveled so thoroughly like a ball of
yarn in the second half of the fight. Kudos to Baker for hanging tough and making the right adjustments. </span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">
</span></i></div>
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peterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786543228582356362.post-54674844875015550562016-01-15T21:07:00.000-08:002016-01-15T23:38:20.337-08:00Artur Szpilka and Rocky Baboa: Life imitates art<b>By Peter Lim</b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If life mimics art,
Artur Szpilka's world heavyweight title shot this Saturday sure bears some
uncanny parallels to the 1977 academy award winning flick <i>Rocky</i>.
And since Sylvester Stallone penned the screenplay loosely based on former
fringe contender Chuck Wepner's valiant attempt at wresting the heavyweight
championship from Mohammad Ali in 1975, this is actually a case of life
imitating art imitating life.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KKbWy0fxJB4/VpnmHyGwWOI/AAAAAAAAAZk/1CP1IXlVEK0/s1600/2016-01-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KKbWy0fxJB4/VpnmHyGwWOI/AAAAAAAAAZk/1CP1IXlVEK0/s320/2016-01-15.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Szpilka (20-1, 15 KOs)
takes on WBC heavyweight titleholder Deontay Wilder (35-0, 34 KOs) in a
Showtime-televised bout at the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, NY, on
Saturday. A native of Warsaw, Poland, Szpilka, 26, moved to Houston last
year to train at the Plex Gym under Ronnie Shields.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the movie Stallone’s
character Rocky Balboa found himself plucked from obscurity and thrust
into the spotlight for a chance at the most coveted prize in boxing when
heavyweight champion Apollo Creed’s challenger pulled out at the last minute.
The same scenario led to Szpilka being offered the WBC title shot when Wilder’s
original opponent withdrew seven weeks prior to the fight. Despite the relative
short notice, Szpilka did not hesitate to accept the challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“When I was young I
dreamed of this,” Szplilka said. “I know I can win. I’m hungry.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Szpilka enters the
ring a heavy underdog, as Balboa did in the movie against the physically bigger knockout
artist that was Creed. While Creed had stopped every opponent he had
faced, Wilder, 30, comes pretty darn close, sporting a 97 percent knockout
rate. At six-foot-seven, Wilder towers over Szpilka who stands six-foot-three.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“He’s tall but he’s
not big,” Szpilka said. “I don’t care (if) everybody thinks he has strong punch
and everybody is scared of him. I love fighting tall guys.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the movie, Creed’s
handlers cautioned him about venturing into unfamiliar southpaw turf. Guess
what? Wilder’s pro experience against southpaws is limited to the one minute
and 10 seconds it took him to dispatch badly faded former Olympic gold medalist
Audley Harrison in 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“He’s never fought
with southpaw like me,” Szpilka said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shields, though,
played down Szpilka’s left handedness as merely something incidental.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“It’s not the southpaw
style that’s going to get him; Artur Szpilka is going to get him,” Shields
said. “It’s not because of his style that he’s going to win the fight; he’s
going to win the fight because he’s a better fighter.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mickey, Balboa’s
grizzled trainer, conditioned him to rip the body with murderous intentions, a
tactic Balboa successfully deployed that almost won him the fight in the final
round against Creed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here’s what Shields
had to say about his game plan: “We will get inside (Wilder’s
reach) and we’re going to do something that a lot of people haven’t done and
that is go to his body. Go look at all of his fights and see how many times
he’s been hit to the body – not a whole lot.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rocky</span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> will not be the movie it is without Balboa’s love interest
Adrienne, played by Talia Shire. Szpilka would not be the man he is without his
girlfriend of four years Camila, whom he says keeps him grounded. And just like Adrienne
gifted Balboa a dog named Butkus from her pet shop, Szpilka’s pooch Cycu came
over from Poland along with Camila.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A pivotal moment in
the movie occurs when Balboa comes to the realization that he is in over his
head about dethroning the champion and strives instead for the lesser milestone of
becoming the first man to last the distance against Creed. This is
where the real life script diverges way off course from the fictional one.
Artur Szpilka vows he is in it to win it, and not just go the distance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"He talks shit
every time, but he will have trouble," Szpilka said. "I have confidence
and I will be champ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 4.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">“I will fight hard and
after the fight you will hear, ‘the new heavyweight champion of the world.’”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br />
<b>Read this blogger's prediction at:</b><br />
<b><a href="http://peterliminator.blogspot.com/2016/01/deaontay-wilder-vs-artur-szplika.html">http://peterliminator.blogspot.com/2016/01/deaontay-wilder-vs-artur-szplika.html</a></b><br />
<br />
<b>Read article on Artur Szpilka at: <a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/article/Polish-fighter-takes-long-road-to-title-bout-6762948.php">http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/article/Polish-fighter-takes-long-road-to-title-bout-6762948.php</a><a href="http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bellaire/sports/article/Houston-trained-Szpilka-eyes-shot-at-belt-6753692.php"></a></b></div>
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peterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786543228582356362.post-79342682088833303572015-12-31T00:34:00.000-08:002016-12-25T00:03:23.824-08:002015 Houston Boxing Awards<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">By Peter Lim</span></b> <br />
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There was no shortage of action involving Houston fighters in 2015, a year that marked the end of a seven-year drought during which the Bayou City was devoid of any world titleholders. The city also played host to some remarkable match-ups that were considered for the categories of Fight of the Year, Knockout of the Year and Upset of the Year.<br />
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And the awards go to ...<br />
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<b>Fighter of the Year: </b><br />
<b>Jermall Charlo</b><br />
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Charlo (23-0, 18 KOs) ended Houston's dry spell of world titleholders since Juan Diaz lost his triple crown in 2008 when Charlo dropped Cornelius Bundrage four times en route to a third-round TKO in September to win the IBF junior middleweight belt. He defended the belt less than three months later, scoring three knockdowns against Wilky Campfort for a fourth-round TKO. Both fights were aired on NBC.<br />
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Granted, Bundrage was over the hill and Campfort was overmatched, but Charlo nevertheless showed vestiges of Mark Breland's jab, Thomas Hearns' right cross and Ray Leonard's creative punching angles in both fights. Should he prove to have Marvin Hagler's chin, he will be as complete a fighter as they come.<br />
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<b>Honorable mention</b>:<br />
Virginia Fuchs (flyweight) <br />
Jermell Charlo (junior middleweight)<br />
Edwin Rodriguez (light heavyweight) <br />
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<b>Fight of the Year: </b></div>
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<b>Edwin Rodriguez KO3 Michael Seals</b></div>
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The five explosive knockdowns in three action-packed rounds earned this doozie of a back-alley brawl the 2015 Fight of the Year honors for it's heart-stopping, Hagler-Hearns intensity. Both fighters were one punch away from being rendered unconscious at any given moment.<br />
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Rodriguez (28-1, 19 KOs) came out like a madman and dropped Seals (19-1, 14 KOs) in the opening moments of the fight but tasted the canvass twice and was on the verge of being stopped before the round was over. Still on unsteady legs, Rodriguez resumed his street-fighter mode and dropped Seals again in the second round. Seals was still very much in the fight and trying to set Rodriguez up for a debilitating counter when he was dropped for good in the third round.<br />
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<b>Honorable mention</b>:<br />
Saul Alvarez KO3 James Kirkland <br />
Dardan Zenunaj KO7 Bryant Cruz<br />
Regis Prograis W8 Amos Cowart </div>
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<b>Knockout of the Year: </b><br />
<b>Saul "Canelo" Alvarez KO3 James Kirkland</b><br />
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After Alvarez (46-1-1, 32 KOs) survived Kirkland's initial blitzkrieg and dropped Kirkland in the opening round, there was little doubt as to who had the superior skill set in this highly anticipated showdown at Minute Maid Park. But rather than exercising caution against the always-dangerous Kirkland (32-2, 28 KOs), Alvarez turned executioner and delivered the spectacular knockout the sport so badly needed a week after the Mayweather-Pacquiao snoozer. Trapping Kirkland against the ropes in the third round, Alvarez dropped Kirkland with a right uppercut and blasted him into oblivion seconds later with a sweeping right smack on the button.<br />
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<b>Honorable mention</b>:<br />
Edwin Rodriguez KO3 Michael Seals</div>
Ivan Baranchyk KO1 Shadi Sharaweb<br />
Miguel Flores KO2 Alfred Tetteh<br />
Jermell Charlo KO7 Joachim Alcine<br />
Pablo Cruz KO2 Luis Alberto Lopez<br />
Dardan Zenunaj KO7 Bryant Cruz</div>
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<b>Round of the Year: </b><br />
<b>Edwin Rodriguez vs. Michael Seals </b>(round one)<br />
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Usually a cerebral boxer-puncher, Rodriguez inexplicably morphed into a violent lunatic, clubbing Seals to the canvass in the opening seconds of the first round. Rodriguez moved in for the kill, swinging wildly like a drunken sailor in a bar fight, only to be dropped heavily by a short counter right. Rodriguez continued to attack with reckless abandon and was caught again by perfectly-timed right that left him almost comatose on the canvass. Discombobulated and delirious, he barely managed to struggle to his feet just before the bell sounded.<br />
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Still buzzed, Rodriguez somehow sobered up enough to beat Seals to the trigger, drop him again in the second round and stop him in the third. But had the bell not saved Rodriguez in the first round, this would undoubtedly have been the Upset of the Year, instead of the Round of the Year.<br />
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<b>Honorable mention</b>:<br />
Cedric Agnew vs. Kevin Engel (round four)<br />
Saul Alvarez vs. James Kirkland (round one)<br />
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<b>Upset of the Year: </b><br />
<b>Virginia Fuchs W3 </b>(twice)<b> Marlen Esparza</b> <br />
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Southpaw Fuchs was 0-5 in her previous bouts against 2012 Olympic bronze medalist and tournament favorite Esparza, but she stepped up her game when it mattered most. She defeated Esparza not once, but twice, at the 2015 Olympic Trials in Memphis in October. Fuchs went on to win the gold medal at the Olympic Test Event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in December.<br />
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<b>Honorable mention</b>:<br />
Robinson Castellanos W10 Rocky Juarez<br />
Samuel Gutierrez W8 Juan Leija<br />
Cortez Coleman TKO3 Robert Silva <br />
Cesar Vila TKO3 Craig Callaghan<br />
Adam Lopez KO2 Pablo Cruz<br />
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<b>Prospect of the Year:</b><br />
<b>Regis Prograis </b><b><br /></b><br />
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Prograis (16-0, 13 KOs) is awarded Prospect of the Year on the strength of his back-to-back wins over previously undefeated fighters, both on ShoBox: the Next Generation. In August, Prograis resoundingly outpointed Amos Cowart (11-1-1, 9 KOs) over eight rounds. He ended the year stopping Abel Ramos (14-1-2, 9 KOs) on cuts in nine rounds in front of his hometown crowd at the Bayou City Events Center in December. The plucky southpaw displayed a concrete chin in both fights.<br />
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<b>Honorable mention</b>: <br />
Miguel Flores (featherweight)<br />
Steve Lovett (light heavyweight)<br />
Ryan Karl (welterweight)<br />
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<b>Comeback of the Year: </b><br />
<b>Cornelius White</b><br />
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White (23-4, 17 KOs) was all but written off after three consecutive losses, two by knockout, and a lengthy layoff due to eye surgery. But he came back strong in October, outpointing legitimate contender Marcus Oliveira (26-2-1, 21 KOs) over 10 rounds proving he is still a force to be reckoned with in the light heavyweight division. <br />
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<b>Honorable mention</b>:<br />
Cedric Agnew<br />
Bahodir Mamadjonov<br />
Pablo Cruz</div>
peterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786543228582356362.post-24058302455688646722015-12-13T02:09:00.001-08:002015-12-14T00:52:48.537-08:00Dynamic ShoBox Quadrupleheader in Houston<div dir="ltr">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><b>Action packed Dec. 11 card in Houston </b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">An international cast of boxers, eight of whom were undefeated, took the stage </span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">on a thrilling ShoBox quadruple header on Dec. 11 </span>
at the Bayou City Events Center in Houston. At the end of the night,
five boxers had suffered their first losses, all by stoppage.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">The card was staged by Savarese Boxing Promotions and DiBella Entertainment.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">In
the main event local favorite Regis Prograis (16-0, 13
KOs) stopped Abel Ramos (14-1-2, 9 KOs) in the ninth round on cuts in blood-and-guts junior welterweight war.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Prograis,
a southpaw, was the more accurate and elusive of the two. Utilizing difficult southpaw stances and firing from various angles, he tattooed Ramos to the head and body with
multi-punch flurries. By the third round, a cut
had opened above Ramos' left eye. Ramos,
23, hung tough and delivered jolting hooks to the head and rights to
the body but Prograis, 26, absorbed them well and continued to dominate
the exchanges.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">"People
think they're going to knock me out, but that ain't happening,"
Prograis said. "My chin is golden. You ain't going to knock me out with
nothing."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">By
the eighth round, Ramos' cut was visibly impairing his vision as he
kept pawing at it with his gloves. He obviously couldn't see the punches
coming as Prograis was hitting him with virtual impunity. His corner
stopped the fight before the bell sounded to start the ninth round.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the co-main event, grit and guts prevailed over skill and speed as lightweight <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Dardan
Zenunaj (11-1, 9 KOs) of Belgium stopped Bryant Cruz (16-1, 8 KOs) in
an electrifying war of attrition. Cruz plastered Zenunaj with rapid-fire
flurries and defended himself well from incoming artillery, but the
Belgian stubbornly kept chugging forward.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Zenunaj's
dogged determination paid off in the fourth when he wobbled Cruz with a
left hook to the temple and immediately pounced with a follow-up salvo punctuated with a left hook to
the jaw that sent Cruz to the canvass. Cruz beat the count and continued
to rattle off multi-punch combinations for the next two rounds. But the
writing was on the wall. While Cruz's punches bounced harmlessly off the
Belgian, Zenunaj seemed to hurt Cruz every time he connected.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">In
the closing seconds of the seventh round, Zenunaj unleashed a right
uppercut followed by a sweeping left hook that sent Cruz to the deck for
the second time. Cruz wearily made it back to his corner but trainer
Ronnie Shields would not allow him to come out for the eighth and final
round.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“I
wanted it to be a war for all of the people watching and I did it, so
I’m feeling really good," Zenunaj said."He is really good, much stronger
than I believed he would be. He hung in there, but I did the work and I
won."</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Murderous punching </span><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Russian
junior welterweight Ivan Baranchyk (9-0, 8 KOs) scored a blood-curdling first
round knockout over Shadi
Shawereb (9-1-2, 5 KOs) in a junior welterweight bout. With
half a minute left in the round, Baranchyk cornered Shawereb and followed an overhand right with a decapitating left hook
that dropped him for the full count and then some. Shawereb remained on
the canvass for several
minutes.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Middleweight Steve
Rolls (13-0, 7 KOs) of Canada scored a come-from-behind fourth round stoppage over Steed Woodall (9-1-1, 6 KOs) of
England. Working his left jab overtime, Woodall dominated the first three
rounds, scoring a flash knockdown
in the second round.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">But just as Woodall seemed to be taking full control, Rolls found his timing for one-twos in the fourth for which Woodall had
no answers. With Woodall trapped in a corner, Rolls unleashed a
double-fisted volley that bounced Woodall's head around like a speed
bag. Referee Lawrence Cole stepped in to save Woodall from further
punishment at the 2:36 mark.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Local favorite Pablo Cruz (12-1, 4 KOs) dropped previously
undefeated Luis Alberto Lopez (6-1, 3 KOs) three times en route to a
second-round knockout in a featherweight bout. Cruz caught Lopez coming in with a short left hook that sent him to the canvass in
the opening round. In the second round,
Cruz fired a straight right followed by a left hook that felled him
again. Lopez rose on spaghetti legs and Cruz pounced with a laser of a
right hand that put him down for good.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">“Coach
Aaron (Navarro) kept telling me to throw the right hand and double it,”
Cruz said. “I caught him with it and I saw him wobble a little so I put
more power to it and boom, that was that.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Southpaw
Aziz Izbakiyez (2-0, 2 KOs) of Kazakhstan,
scored three knockdowns over Joshua Clayton (0-1) for a first round TKO
in a middleweight bout. Clayton jumped on Izbakiyez when the bell
sounded and unloaded with both fists in a corner. But the Kazakh covered
himself well and countered with a right-left-right hook that dumped
Clayton to the canvass. Izbakiyez scored two more knockdowns courtesy of
straight lefts before the referee stepped in.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Featherweight Darryl Hayes (5-5, 1 KO) dropped Jose Ortiz (0-4-1) in the first round en route to a four-round decision victory.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Houston-based Cuban Yunier Fleitas (5-0-1, 1 KOs) dropped Patrick Simes (1-5)
in the second round en route to a six-round decision in a middleweight bout.</span></span></div>
</div>
peterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786543228582356362.post-14576133840614083252015-10-16T02:49:00.002-07:002015-10-16T03:05:15.516-07:00Roman Gonzalez vs. Brian Viloria<b>A miniaturized version of the Rumble in the Jungle</b><br />
<div>
<br />
Doesn't
this
showdown resemble a miniaturized Rumble in the Jungle? Starve Foreman
and Ali down to half their body weights and chop off their heights by a foot and
what you get is
Roman Gonzalez versus Brian Viloria - a seemingly indestructible
destroyer at the
peak of his prowess against an accomplished 34-year-old veteran whom
many consider past his prime. Both are multi-division world titleholders
and potential Hall of Fame inductees.</div>
<br />
Style-wise,
Gonzalez is a rare breed of educated slugger while Viloria is a
quintessential boxer-puncher. As his record suggests,
Gonzalez (43-0, 37
KOs) has been nothing but consistent thus far in his career, having
beaten everyone he has faced including several fighters who defeated
Viloria. Both an overachiever and underachiever, Viloria (36-4, 22 KOs) has shined against top-shelf
fighters but also under-performed down to the level of mediocre
to above-average
opponents. Like Ali in Kinshasa 41 years ago, Viloria enters the ring a
substantial
underdog in New York.<br />
<br />
<b>Assets and liabilities</b><br />
<br />
<b>Power:</b>
Both fighters' formidable punching power stem not from their physical strength per se, but timing and accuracy. Conventional wisdom suggests that a calculating boxer-puncher always
has a higher connect rate than a relentless volume puncher, analogous
in military lingo, to a sniper always having more kills, bullet for
bullet, than a machine gunner. But the exception proves the rule in this
case.<br />
<br />
Viloria does pack one-punch knockout power, especially
with explosive counters, but they have to be perfectly timed and
smack on the button to get the job done. He knows how to set his opponents
up for a fight-ending punch, but more often than not, he doesn't
connect cleanly enough to get the desired result. Gonzalez, on the other
hand, throws punches in bunches with remarkable pinpoint precision.
Even arm punches, thrown without much torque or leverage, can force
opponents to reset and regroup because they connected spot on.<br />
<br />
<b>Body punching: </b>Gonzalez
is a headhunter; when he punches to the body it's a means to an end,
secondary almost, designed to set up subsequent shots to the head rather
than inflict damage in and of themselves. When Viloria zeroes in on the
torso, he blasts away with the wickedest of intentions.<br />
<br />
<b>Chin:</b>
Both fighters have proven to have sturdy whiskers but Viloria's have
been tested more than Gonzalez's. Viloria has been in more give-and-take
wars and in his only stoppage loss against Carlos Tamara, he was more
out of gas than hurt. Offense being Gonzalez's best defense, he
rarely allows an opponent to plant his feet long enough to deliver a big punch.<br />
<br />
<b>Defense:</b> Here again, conventional
wisdom is defied. Gonzalez has superb armor and head movement but it is often
overlooked because of his hyper-intense offense. Viloria, supposedly the
more cerebral of the two, has been caught flush by stick-and-movers
and crude brawlers alike.<br />
<br />
<b>The Intangibles</b><br />
<br />
The
sport of boxing could certainly benefit from the publicity windfall that
an against-all-odds, Ali KO8 Foreman type upset would generate, but at age 34, can Viloria repeat at the garden what a 32-year-old Ali pulled off in the jungle? That Viloria has struggled against gatekeeper type opponents suggests he lacks the versatility to adjust and improvise mid-fight like Ali did with the rope-a-dope 41 years ago. <br />
<br />
But despite the overwhelming odds against him, there remain a few remote scenarios in which Viloria might emerge victorious. He does have the capacity to end a fight with a single punch but, as mentioned above, it has to be a perfectly-timed direct hit. Should Viloria connect consistently with rib-rattling body shots, will it take it's toll on Gonzalez in the later rounds?<br />
<br />
Viloria is most dangerous when hurt and at the receiving end of relentless double-fisted attacks, which is exactly Gonzalez's modus operandi. And the Hawaiian Punch does have a knack for stopping fighters
with high knockout percentages who had never or rarely been stopped. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Read this blogger's prediction for Gonzalez-Viloria at: <a href="http://peterliminator.blogspot.com/2015/10/roman-gonzalez-vs-brian-viloria.html.">peterliminator.blogspot.com/2015/10/roman-gonzalez-vs-brian-viloria.html.</a></span> peterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786543228582356362.post-954025190099338512015-09-26T01:20:00.000-07:002015-12-13T02:19:54.160-08:00Too much ado about 49-0<b>Marciano's record has been mangled, misinterpreted and misunderstood by many in the media. The reality is, 49-0 represents a heavyweight milestone and nothing else.</b><br />
<i><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">By Peter Lim</span> </b></i><br />
<br />
So much has been made about Floyd Mayweather's recent victory over Andre Berto that raised his ledger to 49-0, equaling the record Rocky Marciano retired with and took to his grave. But really, how relevant was Mayweather's accomplishment?<br />
<br />
The number has been a jinx for sure, with several champions and titleholders attempting to reach or surpass that mark, coming tantalizingly close but falling a hair short at the finish line.<br />
<br />
Larry Holmes, in the 21st defense of his heavyweight crown, was 48-0 when he was monumentally upset by reigning light heavyweight champ Michael Spinks 1985. Two-division champion Ricardo Lopez was 47-0-1 in 1998 when Rosendo Alvarez fought him to a draw in a unification straw-weight bout. And in 2013 Chris John was 48-0-3 when he was stopped by Simpiwe Vetyeka in the 19th defense of his WBA featherweight title.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But the truth of the matter is, only Holmes' derailment to Spinx has any real bearing to 49-0. Marciano's undefeated record represents a heavyweight milestone and means very little outside that weight division. While 49-0 has been spin-doctored and over-hyped as a pinnacle achievement for the entire sport of boxing, in actuality, it only applies to the big boys. Fighters in lighter divisions have exceeded that magical number, and then some. </div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Julio Cesar Chavez eclipsed Marciano's 49-0 record by either 38 or 41 victories, depending on one's criterion; Chavez was 87-0 when he was gifted with a draw against Pernell Whitaker in 1993, and 89-0-1 when he suffered his first lost against Frankie Randall the following year. Willie Pep was 62-0 before losing to Sammy Angott in 1943. And Yori Boy Campas was 56-0 when he lost to Felix Trinidad in 1994.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Granted, Marciano and Mayweather might still share the record as boxers who retired with the most victories without a loss, but should their status be elevated above those who opted not to call it quits after exceeding 49-0? Chavez, Pep and Campas continued to win world titles and fight at the highest levels after their first defeats. Chavez ended his career at 107-6-2, 86 KOs, Pep at 229-11-1, 65 KOs and Campas at 103-17-3, 79 KOs. Holmes, too, remained competitive enough to vie for a world
title on four occasions after his first loss to Spinks, ending his career at 69-6,
44 KOs.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
Even the aforementioned Lopez and John might have surpassed 49-0, depending one's definition of "undefeated" as opposed to "unblemished." Lopez finished his career undefeated at 51-0-1, and John was undefeated in 51 fights (48-0-3) before suffering his first loss. Technically speaking, Ricardo Lopez is the fighter who retired with the best undefeated record while Marciano and Mayweather share the best unblemished record of retired boxers.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The prestige of 49-0 gets even more diluted when zooming further back to a prehistoric age when, God forbid, if you missed the fight
on the radio
or black-and-white TV, you had to read about it on actual paper and ink
the
next morning. Before this modern era of multi-million-dollar signing
bonuses and slick multi-media marketing,
boxers typically fought for their next meal rather than their next Maserati. Fighters often had to accept fights on less than a week's
notice,
sometimes against naturally bigger men, while laboring at
exhausting day jobs. <br />
<br />
Jake LaMotta, for example, made his debut in March of 1941 and ended the year at 18-2, averaging two fights a month. Sam Langford, in his 22-year career, fought everyone at lightweight to heavyweight.<br />
<br />
Imagine how many other fighters would have exceeded the 49-0 mark in the old days if exceptional talents the likes of Ray Robinson, Archie Moore, Henry Armstrong, Sandy Saddler, Barney Ross and countless more were scouted early, carefully coddled, selectively matched and afforded the luxury of eight-week training camps like their present-day contemporaries.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
peterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786543228582356362.post-86767838790548007392015-09-11T02:06:00.000-07:002015-09-11T02:23:09.186-07:00Jermall Charlo fights for IBF beltJermall Charlo will most likely bring a world title back to Houston after a seven-year drought. Charlo fights for the IBF junior middleweight belt against Cornelius Bundrage at the Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut on Saturday.<br />
<br />
Read my prediction of the fight at: <a href="http://peterliminator.blogspot.com/2015/09/jermall-charlo-vs-cornelius-bundrage.html">http://peterliminator.blogspot.com/2015/09/jermall-charlo-vs-cornelius-bundrage.html </a><br />
<br />
Since Juan Diaz lost his three world lightweight world title belts to Nate Campbell in March of 2008, Houston has been devoid of a world titleholder. Houston's boxers sport a 0-5-1 record in title fights since Diaz's dethroning. This is how it went down:<br />
<br />
<b>Nov. 8, 2008</b>: Houston's Raul Marquez was stopped in the sixth round by Arthur Abraham in Germany for the IBF middleweight title.<br />
<b>Feb. 9, 2009</b>: Juan Diaz was stopped in the ninth round by Juan Manuel Marquez for the RING Magazine lightweight belt.<br />
<b>Feb. 28, 2009</b>: Rocky Juarez fought to a draw against Chris John at the Toyota Center for the WBA featherweight belt.<br />
<b>Sept. 19, 2009</b>: Juarez was outpointed over 12 rounds by John in a rematch in Las Vegas. <br />
<b>July 31, 2010</b>: Diaz lost to Juan Manuel Marquez again in a rematch by 12-round decision. <b> </b><br />
<b>March 29, 2014</b>: Cedric Agnew was stopped in the eighth round by Sergey Kovalev for the WBO light heavyweight belt.<br />
<br />
Can Jermall Charlo break the dry spell? <br />
<br />
Read <i>The Houston Chronicle</i> article on Charlo-Bundrage at: <br />
<a href="http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/fortbend/sports/article/Missouri-City-boxer-relishes-title-shot-6493763.php">http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/fortbend/sports/article/Missouri-City-boxer-relishes-title-shot-6493763.php</a>peterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786543228582356362.post-86634028566473537902015-08-25T22:21:00.002-07:002015-08-26T22:55:38.050-07:00Regis Prograis - 10 years after Hurricane KatrinaThe 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina happens to coincide with other landmark events in Regis Prograis' life. Prograis (15-0, 12 KOs) and his family were uprooted from New Orleans to Houston by Katrina in 2006 but Prograis has made the most of the city that offered him refuge and a new life.<br />
<br />
Read more:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bayarea/sports/article/Katrina-evacuee-makes-most-of-fresh-start-in-ring-6464892.php">http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bayarea/sports/article/Katrina-evacuee-makes-most-of-fresh-start-in-ring-6464892.php</a><br />
<br />
<br />peterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786543228582356362.post-53328737162064986852015-08-15T00:57:00.000-07:002015-08-25T22:38:48.645-07:00Esparza-Fuchs rivalry heading to Memphis in OctoberHouston is home to the two top female amateur flyweights in the country - Marlen Esparza and Virginia Fuchs. Esparza recently returned from the Pan Am Games in Toronto with a silver medal and Fuchs won the National Golden Gloves championships. The crosstown rivals will compete in the 2015 Olympic Trials in Memphis, October 25-31.<br />
<br />
Having lost all five of her previous bouts against Esparza by close decisions, Fuchs has little faith in the highly-subjective scoring system. Should she face Esparza again, as expected, at the trials, her best bet for victory is to go for broke, leave nothing to doubt and force the outcome out of the judges' hands, she said.<br />
<br />
Read more:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bayarea/sports/article/Golden-Gloves-title-spurs-Fuchs-dreams-6438167.php">http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bayarea/sports/article/Golden-Gloves-title-spurs-Fuchs-dreams-6438167.php</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/article/Esparza-Fuchs-rivalry-resumes-with-eye-on-Rio-5154476.php">http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/article/Esparza-Fuchs-rivalry-resumes-with-eye-on-Rio-5154476.php</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.boxingscene.com/esparza-fuchs-showdown-anticipated-usa-nationals--73796">http://www.boxingscene.com/esparza-fuchs-showdown-anticipated-usa-nationals--73796</a> peterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786543228582356362.post-79523484009115926672015-07-23T00:36:00.002-07:002015-08-25T22:23:15.265-07:00Local trio on fast trackI've been writing so much about the foreign imports and neglecting the homegrown fighters. Devonte Williams (7-0, 5 KOs), David Limerick (4-0, 3 KOs) and Armando Frausto (4-0, 3 KOs) are three Houston fighters still in the infancy of their careers.<br />
<br />
Despite joining the prizefighting ranks less than a year ago, all three have embarked on a hyper-hectic fight schedule averaging a fight every two months. Williams, 22, is a defense-oriented stylist, Limerick, 26, a seek-and-destroy slugger, and Frausto, 22, an aggressive boxer-puncher.<br />
<br />
Read more at: <a href="http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/katy/sports/article/Three-prospects-hoping-to-find-gold-in-ring-6395003.php">http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/katy/sports/article/Three-prospects-hoping-to-find-gold-in-ring-6395003.php</a><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFmRL1ymBKyRljueBzmtmcqWJGj_oxOifo3iYVnDZY8NMCyfoL4T2LIz78sfXNFlq_7coyUQ2b1jPylonjbd0kO1KKNyemmoDCS8ILXqYDNRTPmIA36T4YA8gaqo5hmKvPvk60y9AzCc/s1600/100_2021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFmRL1ymBKyRljueBzmtmcqWJGj_oxOifo3iYVnDZY8NMCyfoL4T2LIz78sfXNFlq_7coyUQ2b1jPylonjbd0kO1KKNyemmoDCS8ILXqYDNRTPmIA36T4YA8gaqo5hmKvPvk60y9AzCc/s320/100_2021.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Junior welterweight David Limerick (R)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXyu12qOlPFkEgDIYkEnAMJ4IQttEgjNZD7lOnpvv-YHns2YvmkUR9E3_JuAFdL9KCksT8y72c83N9Gg5mzKevdyNgmulvZ8B9zjSqEg95kc16NVhNb8cpQDb1Ah_T17ppp6bk4-w_Nw/s1600/100_2017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXyu12qOlPFkEgDIYkEnAMJ4IQttEgjNZD7lOnpvv-YHns2YvmkUR9E3_JuAFdL9KCksT8y72c83N9Gg5mzKevdyNgmulvZ8B9zjSqEg95kc16NVhNb8cpQDb1Ah_T17ppp6bk4-w_Nw/s320/100_2017.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Featherweight Armando Frausto </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpIaDRGN6YqhQVhC3rBkBCcdFqBm-51MoUUd-1o88hiAEErZcHGdPwxOL_HEfeo0zI-0YLy2OPYIB5V2dvnwBhOX8AQh4WX_9fyQyePDs47TTf1LNdCMqo_L6nTMk64uMis9kPaR6Ujo/s1600/IMG_0123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpIaDRGN6YqhQVhC3rBkBCcdFqBm-51MoUUd-1o88hiAEErZcHGdPwxOL_HEfeo0zI-0YLy2OPYIB5V2dvnwBhOX8AQh4WX_9fyQyePDs47TTf1LNdCMqo_L6nTMk64uMis9kPaR6Ujo/s320/IMG_0123.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welterweight Devonte Williams</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />peterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786543228582356362.post-30257227551958756392015-07-22T02:36:00.000-07:002015-08-25T22:24:10.116-07:00Foreign fighters invade HoustonAccording to promoter and former heavyweight contender Lou Savarese: "Houston, in the last eight months, has become the most diverse city in the United States surpassing New York."<br />
<br />
That diversity has impacted the Houston boxing scene, evidenced by teams of flag-waving, anthem-singing expatriates showing up at local fight cards cheering on fighters from their respective lands in languages ranging from Uzbek to Afrikaans to Polish.<br />
<br />
Read more about some of the foreign insurgents who have injected a dose of international adreneline to what was already a colorful and cosmopolitan fight fraternity:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/heights/sports/article/Savarese-s-slate-shines-spotlight-on-Houston-s-6371386.php">http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/heights/sports/article/Savarese-s-slate-shines-spotlight-on-Houston-s-6371386.php</a><br />
<br />
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<br />
<a href="http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bellaire/sports/article/Russian-Uzbeks-strive-for-boxing-success-in-5511661.php">http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bellaire/sports/article/Russian-Uzbeks-strive-for-boxing-success-in-5511661.php</a><br />
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<br />peterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5786543228582356362.post-35815121535016509512015-07-22T01:32:00.000-07:002015-08-25T22:24:30.738-07:00Rocky retiresAfter losing his last fight to Robinson Casstellanos in January, Rocky Juarez decided to retire after 22 years of competing as an amateur and pro. Juarez, 35, came tantalizingly close to striking gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, losing a controversial decision in the featherweight finals. His near miss at the Olympics would prove to be an omen in the pro ranks. Juarez fought five times for a world title with four losses and a draw.<br />
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<a href="http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/heights/sports/article/Juarez-calls-time-on-extended-career-6358680.php">http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/heights/sports/article/Juarez-calls-time-on-extended-career-6358680.php</a>peterliminatorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08275308374552229721noreply@blogger.com0