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01/22/2005 Archived Entry: "Novak, Galvan and Walker Overcome Snow and Adversaries in Victory!"
Novak, Galvan and Walker Overcome Snow and Adversaries in Victory!
By Pat Doljanin
Johnny Novak
MERRILLVILLE, IN: The threat of a 8-12” inches of snow meant nothing to Indiana fight fans as they braved the elements and packed the Radisson Star Plaza in Merrillville, Indiana last night. 1,500 + fans would not be disappointed as Octavious James’, “One In A Million Boxing”, served-up a first rate evening of boxing that showcased some of Indiana’s and Chicago’s rising stars.
Jamie Alvarado, Michoacan, Mexico and Christopher Rivera, St. Louis, Missouri kick-started the action with a Lightweight scrap that was scheduled for four rounds.
The action heated-up early as Alvarado pressed the action and landed a short, right uppercut to Rivera’s belly. Rivera managed to get to his feet, barely beating the count. Not having recovered from the initial knockdown, Rivera goes down from a stiff jab.
The game Rivera got to his feet at the ref’s count of “seven”, only to be dropped for a third and final time by an overhand right. Official time 2:30 of the 1st round. Alvarado improves to 1-2-2.
Chicago Middleweight Trinidad Garcia pounded-out a unanimous decision over always-ready Chris Patterson. Garcia had to deal with a cut over his left eye, the result of an unintentional head-butt. Garcia improves to 4-1-1.
“Hurricane” Ivan Rodriguez, Waukegan, IL, stopped a scrappy, but limited, Duwan Collier, Milwaukee, WI at 1:18 of the 1st round. A right-hand / left-hook combination did the job. Collier was on queer-street before he hit the canvas. The 122 pound Rodriguez improves to 4-0.
Someone must have told Gary, Indiana’s Angel Hernandez he was double-parked as he dispatched Joseph Mundine in 42-seconds of the opening stanza. The Gary junior lightweight moves to 7-1.
Ruben Galvan
In what had to be a tougher fight than he expected, Hammond, Indiana’s Ruben Galvan was forced to go the distance by a gutsy and determined Chris Regular, Greenwood, MS.
Galvan looked to make quick work of Regular as he staggered him early in round one. Regular displayed his tenacity early on as the pounding appeared to bring him to life.
Short on skill, but long on will, determination and guts, Regular took the fight to Galvan and pressed the action. You could see the confidence grow in Regular as he switched to southpaw and clubbed Galvan with over-hand lefts as the two finished round 4 in toe-to-toe fashion.
The decision was unanimous for Galvin, 60-54, 59-54, and 58-56, but the announcement was met with a chorus of boo’s. The fair and knowledgeable fight fans of Indiana saw it much closer than the scoring indicated. Galvin’s record improves to 21-7-2 with the win.
Michael Walker
In a fight that I looked forward to with a lot of personal interest, Michael “The Midnight Stalker” Walker, Chicago, IL locked horns with the tough Aundalen Sloan, Green Bay, WI in a scrap scheduled for six.
What made this fight intriguing was that bother boxers recently defeated the talented David “The Weasel” Estrada. This fight would be a good barometer for Walker as he looked to improve his level of opposition with each outing.
With his hands held high and his elbow protecting a torso that looks as if it were carved from onyx, Walker set the pace early as he walked-down Sloan and battered him with left hooks to the body and head.
Walker’s conviction to work the body paid dividends as it seem to take the starch out of Sloan’s punches as early as the 4th round.
The 5th round saw Walker land combinations as he tried to put-away the game, but withering Sloan.
Round six saw Walker rededicate himself to Sloan’s body as he raked him with double and triple, left hooks. The toe-to-toe action brought the round to a close and the crowd to their feet.
The decision was academic. 59-55 and 60-54 (twice) all for Michael Walker as the talented middleweight improves to 6-0 with 5, KO’s.
I got a chance to chat with Walker after the fight and he had this to say: “This guy was tough. I hit him on his chin, on his body, but he would not go down.”
Walker was plagued with back spasms (I saw him laying on a heating pad in his dressing room prior to his fight) and felt this prevented him from getting the leverage he needed on his punches.
The curtain closer was an eight round battle for the Indiana State Junior Welterweight belt between Ryan Maraldo, Indianapolis, Indiana and Hammond, Indiana’s Johnny Novak.
A pro-Novak crowd was not disappointed as Novak used his jab, movement and combinations to pound-out a unanimous decision over the game, but outmatched Maraldo.
The tempo was set in the first round as Maraldo played “bull” to Novak’s “matador.” Maraldo never stopped coming forward and his pressure was constant, unfortunately, Novak made him pay every step of the way.
With the Indiana belt around his waist, Novak improves to 12-0-1 and looks to make the next step-up in the talent laden junior welterweight division.
For a state that’s known mostly for their love of basketball, Hoosier’s appear to have an affinity for boxing, too. This pleases One In A Million’s Octavious James: “I think these fans know they are going to get competitive and entertaining fights.”
And in James, they’re getting someone who puts on a first-class event. Always the dapper gentleman, James can be seen at all of his events commiserating and shaking hands with the audience like a politician running for re-election. His appreciation is genuine as he personally thanks fans, fighters and sponsors for their support and participation.
I wrote this recap for Juan Allyon, Cyberboxingzone.com’s capable boxing writer who is convalescing with a cold. Juan thought it would be interesting to get a perspective from a manager/trainer and a boxer. When he asked me if I’d be interested in penning a recap and my personal impressions of the night’s fights, I jumped at the opportunity.
From left to right: Pat Doljanin, Ivan Rodriguez and Albert Falcon
My partner, Albert Falcon, and I train and manage Ivan Rodriguez who fought on this card. We also manage Al “Speedy” Gonzales who’s with his trainer Jesse Reid getting ready for a February 4th appearance on Showtime.
Personally, Ivan and I were most impressed with Michael Walker. “I’ve know Mike from the amateurs. We fought together at the Great Lakes Golden Glove Regionals”, Ivan said.
Ivan and I would like to see Michael use his jab more. “My coach, Pat, should me how important the jab is”, Ivan mentioned. “And Coach Jesse (hall of fame trainer Jesse Reid) told me: Son, that jab will save your life one day.”
I think it’s a good idea for Michael go back to California and train for his next fight. He’s got a good trainer in Martin McGarry, a class-act and one of the good guys in the game. I strongly believe a boxer is only going to improve by working with people whose skill level is equal or better than they are.
Ivan thought Johnny Novak has some good abilities: “he’s only 24 and he has the natural gifts of height and reach.” I believe Novak is going to have to learn to use that reach. I think he could have stopped Maraldo, but he was smothering his punches by standing too close.
In closing, I want to thank Juan and Cyberboxingzone.com for the opportunity. I would also like to thank our gracious host, Octavious James, for allowing my fighter to appear on his card. One In A Million’s next event will be March 25th.
And a special thanks to Matt McCarthy who was kind enough to put the pen to paper while I was working with Ivan. Matt’s company, Tube City, was also one of tonight’s sponsors.
Photos courtesy of Juan C. Ayllon
