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Houston Boxing Hall of Fame Ushers in ‘Eternal Champions’ — 2013 Inductees

May 3rd, 2013

By Karl Hegman

 



Juan Diaz, at right, headlined this year’s inductees (photo by Tom Glunz)

The long years stretch behind us into the past, forming corridors of time which echo to the opening bell’s ringing sound of valor. Those years and that valor have been given tangible focus here in a quiet shrine of tribute to the greatest champions the sport of pugilism has seen emerge from the sprawling metropolis of America’s fourth largest city. It is a city steeped rich in boxing tradition, and the flame that was lit from within these unique athletes was kindled there, never to go out.

A champion fighter must possess a certain kind of edginess and moral complexity in order to achieve their highest calling as a boxer. They all celebrate the same qualities and actions which add up to what we call heroism in this grim, cultish and yet beautiful art of the body. They are traits for all times and all champions of the highest caliber, and their lofty connotations are safe now as always because those who would pull it down somehow never stand tall enough to reach it. Read the rest of this entry “

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Questions and Answers with Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero

April 30th, 2013

by Chip Mitchell

Chip Mitchell: Okay, Robert, now you are a very spiritual person. How has your spirituality played a part in your boxing career?

Robert Guerrero: You know, it plays a big part. Not just in boxing, it plays a big part in my life. You know, outside of the ring, with my family, raising my kids in church, believing in Jesus Christ, it’s a big part of my life and that’s what guides my whole life. That goes through my training camp, boxing, being in the ring. It really is the number one thing in my life.

Chip Mitchell: Now, you’ve fought Orlando Salido who was a pressure fighter. You’ve fought Andre Berto who represents power and speed. You fought warriors such as Katsidis, boxers such as Escobedo and Cassamayor. There were other styles like Litzau and Aydin that weren’t the easiest to deal with. I already believe you are mentally strong. Does fighting so many different styles, along with that mentality, make you the optimum opponent to give Floyd a “1” in his loss column?
Robert Guerrero: Oh, most definitely! I mean, you hit it right on. Having the proper experience to be in the ring helps build a fighter the right way. Then you get the chance to fight different types of styles, so you have different experiences. Then when a fighter gets to the top they’re ready for it and they stay there. Having the mental experience outside of the ring, inside of the ring, putting all that together as a package, it’s a deadly force.

Chip Mitchell: Robert, you are 6-time champion in 4 different weight classes. I’m going to say that again. SIX TIME CHAMPION IN FOUR DIFFERENT WEIGHT CLASSES! That is a marvelous accomplishment. Not many people know this. Do you ever feel underappreciated?
Robert Guerrero: No, I don’t. You know, all I do is go out there and fight, set my heart and fight the best I can. If it gets recognized, it gets recognized; if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. But you know what, I know I put God first and he’s blessed me to be in this position. And being in this position, it’s incredible. It’s incredible and it truly is a blessing, and it’s helps me take full advantage of it. After this fight, everybody will know the accomplishments that I have, especially after beating Floyd Mayweather.

Q: What have you seen in Floyd that gives you so much confidence that you’re the man that’s going to take his O away?
Robert Guerrero: You know, being smart in the ring, fighting an intelligent fight. A lot of these guys just come in, they either lose their head or they’re mad at him and all game plans go out the window and also, being able to make the adjustments in the ring. Having the experiences that I’ve had throughout my boxing career and the different weight classes with guys who are fast, guys who are slick, guys who put pressure, guys who are boxer punchers, just having all the experience and putting it all together and being able to recognize to make those adjustments in the ring.

Q: So, Robert, any last comments before we let you go?

Robert Guerrero: I’m just ready to go. Can’t wait until fight night. That’s it. Thank you, God bless, and bye.

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Estrada Defeats Yusbov in Chicago

April 28th, 2013

BY JOE HARRISON

Photos by  Leslie Banaszek



David Estrada, at right, stalks his opponent (photo by Leslie Banaszek)

CICERO, IL — Following a two-year layoff, “King” David Estrada (26-6, 16 KOs) returned to the ring and defeated Rahman Mustafa Yusubov (9-11, 7 KOs) by a six-round unanimous decision at Cicero Stadium located just outside of Chicago. The bout was the main event of International Rumble 3 presented by Sammy Merza Promotions.

Estrada started off with a good jab and landed some straight right hands, but the ring rust was apparent as he continuously missed with a looping left hook and showed fatigue very quickly. Read the rest of this entry “

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Touching Gloves with…Curtis Cokes

April 15th, 2013

BY DAN HANLEY



Talking with Curtis Cokes brought me to another time and place. To an era that was as indifferent to a Prima Donna culture as it was feral in its taste for blood. Such was the sport in the day of Curtis Cokes and of those who gave value for money in this brutal, leather-slinging trade we call the fight game.

DH: Curtis, where are you from?

CC: Originally from Corsicana, Texas, but when I was about 4 years old we moved to Dallas.

DH: What was life like growing up in the Lone Star State?

CC: It was rough. See, this was the ’40s and ’50s. There were eight of us kids in the family and we had to deal with segregation. I resented it but you had to learn to accept it.

DH: How did you get started in the sport?

CC: Well, I was always interested in the sport from listening to Joe Louis and Ray Robinson on the radio, but not as a participant. I was really into baseball and basketball. I played against Goose Tatum of the Harlem Globetrotters and had a tryout as a shortstop with the Brooklyn Dodgers. But in both cases I was told the same thing, that I was too small. This is what’s great about boxing, they classify you according to weight class. Even a small man has an opportunity in boxing. Read the rest of this entry “

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Melankomas — A Legendary Turkish Boxing Pioneer

April 2nd, 2013

By Christopher Shelton

 



Boxers – courtesy Matti Mattila – CC-BY

With Easter having passed just days ago, it’s interesting to note that arguably one of boxing’s greatest stars arrived on scene shortly after Jesus of Nazareth departed this earth.

The first literary boxing historian was the blind poet, Homer, from modern Anatolia, Turkey. Homer recorded, circa 850 BCE, an Anatolia bout from the year, circa 1250 BCE. According to Philostratus, the first boxing rules were written by Anatolians. The first Olympics boxing champion was from the modern Anatolia, Turkey named Onomastos. The region is important because it raised the profile of the village, Smyrna, to fame amongst competitive villages. He remains perhaps the greatest boxing champion to this day, 2013.

Onomastos’ popularity and respect was so universal that following his first Olympics victory, 688 BCE, he was allowed to write the first official boxing rules. He remains the only 4-time Olympics boxing champion in 2700 years. As such, he was the most idolized Olympics boxing champion for sixteen years, 688 – 673 BCE. Read the rest of this entry “

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