JULY 2006
01 Rinsing Off the
Mouthpiece By GorDoom
02 Poem of the Month
By Tom Smario
03 Pollack's Picks
By Adam Pollack
04 Top Women Worth Watching
and Televising By Adam Pollack
05 Holman Williams Belongs in
the Hall of Fame By Harry Otty
06 Touching Gloves
With... "Joltin" Jeff Chandler By Dan Hanley
07 Puppy Garcia Was
Something Special By Enrique Encinosa
08 Muhammad's Real War
By Cliff Endicott
09 Champagne On Ice
By Ron Lipton
10 "Dick Tiger: The Life and Times
of a Boxing Immortal" By Adeyinka Makinde
11 Floyd Patterson: He
Always Got Up By Ron Lipton
12 Nat Fleischer, "Mr.
Boxing" By Monte Cox
13 "Ring of Hate" Book
Review by J.D. Vena
14 "Gilroy Was
Here" Book Review by Mike Delisa
15 Audio
From the Archives [mp3] The CBZ presents another classic boxing-themed radio
show. This month we have the Thin Man in "The Passionate Palooka," from July 6,
1948
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Top Women Worth Watching and Televising
By Adam Pollack
If promoters and television producers put these women on their cards, they won't be
disappointed by the entertainment value they bring.
168 lbs to 175 lbs
Laila Ali (22-0, 19 KO's): She's one of the best pound-for-pound fighters today,
for she can box and punch and is very entertaining. However, Ali needs to take on one or
both of the two women listed below if she wants to call herself a great fighter. Remember,
Muhammad never ducked the top guys. Rematching Gwen O'Neil, who she's already stopped in 3
rounds, doesn't cut it.
Ann Wolfe (23-1, 16 KO's): Extremely tough and strong and would make for Ali's
toughest test, despite the fact that her skills are not on Laila's level. Wolfe has twice
avenged her only defeat, which came early in her career at the hands of Valerie Mahfood,
and is coming off a KO2 over Cassandra Giger, against whom Ali required 8 rounds to take
out.
Leatitia Robinson (14-0, 9 KO's): Former top U.S. amateur has speed, footwork, and
solid defensive and offensive skills, as well as decent pop, though she's not as big a
puncher as Ali or Wolfe.
Up-and-comers:
Ijeoma Egbunine (12-1, 8 KO's): At age 25, this Georgia-based Nigerian is
improving, coming off a recent KO2 win over Valerie Mahfood and KO2 over Asa
Sandell.
Natascha Ragosina (11-0, 8 KO's): She's a Kazakh who fights out of Germany and
although 30 years old, has solid boxing skill and a crafty outside style. She has wins
over Yyvone Reis (KO10), Valerie Mahfood (W10), and Dakota Stone (W10). More of a boxer
than puncher.
Tiffany Junot (0-0): Former top U.S. amateur has an entertaining style that will
work well in the pros.
140 lbs to 147 lbs
Mary Jo Sanders (21-0, 6 KO's): Sanders is very talented and entertaining and has
the skill to back it up. She is not afraid of top opposition and has an impressive resume.
Sanders has wins over the very tough Chevelle Hallback, an entertaining 130-pound
champion, as well as Terri Blair, Layla McCarter, Melissa Del Valle, Belinda Laracuente,
and Eliza Olson. Although really a welterweight, she just moved up in weight to junior-
middleweight defeat then 8-0 Tricia Turton via 10 round unanimous decision.
Holly Holm (14-1-2, 5 KOs): This 5-foot-8-inch 24 year old southpaw's resume
includes a unanimous decision upset win over Christy Martin, a unanimous decision win over
Mia St. John, and a unanimous win over Terri Blair, the fighter who recently stopped Sumya
Anani.
Terri Blair (8-10-2, 5 KOs): She's women's boxing's version of Fred Pendleton or
Emanuel Augustus -- poor record but fights anyone and has improved with time. She's a
southpaw coming off two huge upset KO10 wins over Sumya Anani, long considered one of
women's boxing's best pound-for-pound fighters. After scoring a KO10 over Anani, Blair
replicated her feat, scoring a KO9 in the rematch.
Sumya Anani (25-3-1, 10 KOs): Anani is an aggressive, in-your-face fighter with a
very entertaining style and strong left hook. Although she has a win over Christy Martin,
age and inactivity may have finally caught up with the 34 year old, having lost her last
two against Terri Blair. Perhaps she should avoid southpaws.
Up-and-comers:
Myriam Lamare (12-0, 6 KO's): This 31-year-old from France has victories over Eliza
Olson, Iva Weston, Jane Couch, and Belinda Laracuente. She has scheduled what should be a
very interesting matchup against Anne Sophie Mathis, whose record is 11-1 with 10KOs and
who is coming off a KO9 win over then 14-0 Nathalie Toro.
Molly McConnell (5-1, 2 KO's): Good amateur background, only loss is to Terri
Blair, whom she had previously beaten.
Jill Emery (6-0, 3 KO's): Sure she's 35, but this 5-foot-9-inch southpaw has a
fantastic amateur background, including multiple international tournament
victories.
Agnieszka Rylik (17-1, 11 KO's): Polish southpaw has a recent win over Eliza Olson,
although she suffered an earlier split-decision loss to Tracy Byrd.
Natalie Brown (3-0, 3 KO's): She had a very solid and extensive amateur
background, winning a number of championships.
130 lbs to 135 lbs
Chevelle Hallback (25-4-1, 11 KO's): The best at this weight range right now, she
has victories over Alicia Ashley, Layla McCarter, Britt Van Buskirk, Melissa Del Valle,
Emiko Raika, and Belinda Laracuente. A rough, tough, gritty veteran willing to fight
anyone.
Eliza Olson (9-5-3, 2 KOs): Most of her losses have been at a higher weight, but
when she moved down to lightweight, she defeated the well respected Jessica
Rakoczy.
Jessica Rakoczy (23-2, 8 KO's): Rakoczy has two victories over Mia St. John and
decision wins over Terri Blair, Belinda Laracuente, and Layla McCarter. However, she lost
to Eliza Olson, who had lost to Sanders.
Emiko Raika (15-2-1, 6 KO's): Although she lost to Hallback, she had a previous
close victory over Missy Fiorentino and has come back with a win over Laracuente.
Jelena Mrdjenovich (17-1, 11 KO's): This 23-year-old Canadian has skill and a
punch, coming off a KO6 and KO5 over Francesca Alcanter in entertaining bouts, and a W10
over Mia St. John, but to be the best she needs to take on stiffer opposition.
Kara Ro (13-0, 7 KO's): Former top Canadian amateur stands 5-foot-8 and has wins over
Tracy Byrd and Belinda Laracuente, as well as an earlier victory over Terri Blair, but has
been inactive of late.
Up-and-comer:
Lissette Medel (2-0): Former amateur has the strength and tenacity to do something.
122 lbs to 126 lbs
Missy Fiorentino (13-1, 6 KO's): Furious Fiorentino is one of the best pound for
pound women in the world right now and is amongst the most exciting to watch. She is all
action, working the body and head in nonstop fashion. She has a recent victory over 18-2-1
Esther Schouten, and just moved up to lightweight to defeat Jamie Clampitt, who was 16-3-1
coming into the fight and had a win and draw with Eliza Olson. Firoentino and Hallback or
Garside would make for a great fight.
Jeanine Garside (5-0-1, 1 KO): Canadian southpaw can box and punch. Although she
easily won a title against 12-1-2 Lisa Brown in only her 4th pro bout, rematch resulted in
a majority draw.
Laura Serrano (16-2-2 with 6 KO's): This experienced southpaw was an excellent
champion in her day and at 38 is making a comeback, scoring a recent victory over Tracy
Byrd. How much she has left is a question mark, but her career includes draws with Christy
Martin and Melissa Del Valle, and victories over Alicia Ashley and Chevelle
Hallback.
Up-and-comers:
Rhonda Luna (11-0-1, 1 KO): Just fought a draw with now 12-0-1 Cindy Serrano, but
reports are that Luna might have deserved the decision.
Cindy Serrano (12-0-1, 7 KO's): Just fought a draw with Luna and has a victory over
Sharon Gaines.
Ina Menzer (14-0, 7 KO's): This Kazakh fights out of Germany and is only 25 but
word is she can fight.
Jeri Sitzes (11-6-1, 5 KO's): SheÕs taken the hard road up, and has
only gotten better with time. ÊDespite her record, this gal can fight at a
good pace and has the skill to back it up.
Melissa Hernandez (3-0-1, 1 KO): Former amateur has an entertaining style and just
fought a draw with Kelsey Jeffries, who had over 40 fights.
Melissa Roberts: Word is that this U.S. amateur champion is turning pro, and if she
does, watch out. She is as tough as nails and an action fighter.
115 lbs to 118 lbs
Myung Ok Ryu (4-0, 3 KO's): North Korean has wins over Mariana Juarez and Alicia
Ashley.
Zhang Xi Yan (2-0): In only her second pro bout, this former world amateur champion
Chinese southpaw defeated Alicia Ashley.
Anita Christensen (18-0, 7 KO's): Danish fighter is tough and skilled and does have
a split decision victory over Ada Velez, though she pretty much only fights in her home
country of Denmark and has lately taken on soft opposition.
Bettina Csabi (28-0, 10 KO's): 28-year-old Hungarian is mostly known in Europe and
basically sticks to fighting in her home country against lesser-knowns.
Melinda Cooper (17-0, 9 KO's): 21-year-old Las Vegas fighter has an entertaining
style but needs to step up the competition.
Mariana Juarez (pictured; 14-4-3, 8 KO's): This tough and entertaining Mexican based out of
Los Angeles comes to fight, is very well conditioned, and has a solid chin. She lost her
title to Ryu in China in what is rumored to be a questionable stoppage. Injury has kept
her sidelined for quite some time, but she recently signed with Marco Antonio Barrera.
Alejandra Oliveras (7-0, 3 KO's): Argentinean is coming off an eighth-round
knockout win over Jackie Nava, who was 13-1-1 with 8 KO's and was coming off a unanimous
decision victory over the very experienced and well respected 33-9 Kelsey Jeffries.
Up-and-comers:
Kaliesha West (3-0): This young pro had a good amateur career and has an
entertaining pro style, working the body and head and coming forward with stiff
punches.
Vanessa Juarez (1-0): This young former U.S. amateur champion is a quick southpaw
who just turned pro.
Stella Nijhof (1-0): Very experienced former U.S. amateur champion southpaw just
turned pro.
112 lbs and under
Regina Halmich (50-1-1, 15 KO's): She's a star in Germany and has fought the who's
who of the division.
Mary Ortega (28-2-1, 7 KO's): Only 26 years old, has the experience necessary to
prepare her for anyone.
Wendy Rodriguez (17-2-3, 2 KO's): Tough little scrapper out of Los Angeles has the
experience and speed to give anyone a tough bout.
Carina Moreno (8-1, 3 KO's): Former U.S. amateur champion from California is very
well rounded, but coming off a technical decision loss to Rodriguez.
Julia Sahin (15-0, 2 KO's): German could be on track to fight Halmich.
Up-and-comers:
Susianna Kentikian (11-0, 9 KO's): She's only 18, but this Armenian fighting out of
Germany has already has built up a good looking record, although not against any name
fighters.
Becky Garcia (5-0, 3 KO's): Had solid amateur experience.
Heather Donoho (3-0): Short but strong, had good amateur experience.
Chantel Cordova (3-0, 2 KO's): She has the amateur background and at 19 can take
her time to develop.
Adam Pollack is a CBZ staff writer. Contact him at
apollack11@hotmail.com.
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