Cyber Boxing Zone -- News

RABBIT PUNCHES: RODNEY VERGES

JOHNSTON SHINES IN REMATCH

Their first fight was his worst night as a pro, but now Stevie Johnston was tasting sweet revenge. The last time the re-crowned WBC champ faced Cesar Bazan, he seemed more perplexed by the Mexican's style rather than being beaten by a better fighter.

The Denver native Johnston had a game plan and used his stick and move style to take what I thought would result in an easy decision. But hey, when is any decision in boxing easy?

NO SUCH THANG

There is no such thing as an easy decision, as one panelist had Bazan winning by three points at the end of 36 minutes of scrapping.

CROSS KEY

Throughout the fight 'Lil Stevie landed more straight left crosses than the IBF has vacant #1 contenders. This was the key to victory for the 5'5 Johnston.

HOLDS WIN OVER PAGE

Stevie, who out pointed WBA welter champ James Page in '93, sounded as if he wanted nothing to do with "Sugar" Shane Mosley any time soon. Saying that he wants to fight once in Denver, and then Mosley, I'll have to see it to believe it.

STUCK BETWEEN ROCK

However, it is a no win situation for the aspiring lightweights. The reason being, I give Floyd Mayweather Jr. another year at junior lightweight before he moves up to 135 lbs.

In this instance they are stuck between Shane the rock, and Pretty Boy Floyd, the hard place.

REGGIE DESERVES ROY

Speaking of winning a shot at the "world" champ in their division, hasn't Reggie Johnson more than earned his shot at Roy Jones? Roy Boy stated that he'll fight Sweet Reggie only if HBO makes him plenty happy.

And with the new attitude HBO has employed to jump start boxing, I hope to see Roy and Reggie square off early this summer.

ROY NOT A FIGHTER INSIDE

It is painfully obvious that Mr. Jones' happiness is in the money and not for love of the game. Time and again, he gets paid stupid amounts of money for making nothing more than an "appearance" on HBO.

FEARED ANCIENT AND UNARMED COP

Watching Roy coil away from 37 year old Rick Frazier, as if he were trying to avoid the heat of Smokin' Joe Frazier.

This sickens me considering Roy's ability, and Frazier's obvious lack there of.

COMPARE

What ever happened to the safety first style of guys like Hector Camacho and Pernell Whitaker? Hey, these guys too did whatever they could not to get hit. The only difference is they fought EVERYBODY.

WILL ROY EVER CATCH ON?

So hopefully the only champion not to catch on to the latest craze of thrill seeking might hear me and take an interesting, or God forbid, a competitive fight.

GOLDEN MAN

David Reid, the lone 1996 U.S. Gold Medalist and the third head of the young monster that is tearing it's way through boxing right now will be the third member of the '96 class to garner some gold as a pro Saturday.

GOOD CROP

Fernando Vargas was the second to grab a (IBF) title, next in line to the previously mentioned WBC champ Mayweather. Look for Reid to devour French pastry Laurent Boudouani somewhere around the eighth round this Saturday night when HBO showcases Reid in prime time.

RETIRED LONG TIME CHAMP

The 31 year old WBA titilist was last seen knocking out a "shot" fighter turned speech therapist in Terry Norris. His two fights with Guillermo Jones showed the boxing world that he ain't got much.

BIG FIGHT AT 154 LBS!

The new question is, when are we going to see David Reid and "Ferocious Fernando" Vargas in the same ring? Unless it's for a TV interview, it won't be in 1999.

Y2K FEAR

So I hope that we don't see Armageddon as numerous so called prophets having predicted. Or to at least hold off our world ending catastrophe until after we see, Vargas and Reid, Felix Trinidad vs. Oscar De La Hoya, and the many other great fights that await the devoted fan.

KISS DI BELLA AND UNCLE SETH TOO

I would like to take this moment to write a thank you note to Home Box Office's Sports Prez Seth Abraham and #2 man Lou Di Bella. These two guys deserve a lot of credit for trying to bring the sport of boxing back to an apex of sorts.

Even thought they started off the year with a crapper of a show, they've put on more great fights in this first quarter of 1999 than they did in all of last year.

Rodney Verges

Note: The writer is featured exclusively at www.fighters.com and can be reached a dranjd@yahoo.com