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08/14/2005 Archived Entry: "Rahman Returning to the ‘Mecca of Boxing’ with Win Over Reluctant Barrett; Mayorga Decisions Picirillo!"
Rahman Returning to the ‘Mecca of Boxing’ with Win Over Reluctant Barrett; Mayorga Decisions Picirillo!
By Juan C. Ayllon at Ringside
Rahman (right) lands a crushing right hand on Barrett (Tom Glunz photo)
CHICAGO, August 13, 2005 – Following his defeat of Lennox Lewis on September 24, 1994 for the heavyweight championship of the world, devout Muslim Hasim Rahman said, “I’m going to Mecca.” With tonight’s unanimous decision win over Monte Barrett, Rahman ensured a return to the Mecca of boxing—the Heavyweight Championship of the World—against one WBC Titlist Vitaly Klitschko. However, securing this shot was anything but pretty. As Rahman later admitted, he expected Barrett to trade with him at rings center. Instead, Barrett used movement, jabs and quick counters to fight an oddly disengaged bout that frustrated both Rahman and 15,101 spectators in attendance alike.
In round one, Barrett circled on his toes as Rahman stalked and fired jabs. Barrett flicked jabs. The two swapped jabs. Rahman landed a right over the shoulder as the two fell into a clinch. The two hit and held momentarily. Pressuring, Rahman jabbed and landed a right to the side as Barrett jabbed back. Rahman jabbed twice and missed a right. Barrett jabbed. Rahman pushed Barrett to the ground. The two fell into a clinch. Barrett circled and Rahman jabbed and banged an inconsequential right to the back.
In round two, Barrett pumped the jab, circled and retreated. Rahman jabbed and measured. Restless, the crowd booed. Barrett glanced with a big right and Barrett escaped. Rahman missed with another big right. Barrett speared him with two jabs, a right and a sidearm right. Rahman forced Barrett back with jabs. Barrett jabbed as he retreated, then pushed him off as he missed another right. Rahman looked frustrated and somewhat confused. Barrett landed another right near a loudly booed rounds end.
In round three, Rahman stalked, jabbed and threw a right to Barrett’s hip. Barrett jabbed and circled. Rahman landed several jabs and ate a right. Barrett jabbed and lanede a right to the body. Barrett threw a left right left and circled out. Barrett landed a crisp right to the head. Rahman landed a left jab and missed a right. Rahman smacked a hard jab to the midsection. Trapping Barrett on the ropes, he cracked a hard left and right on the ropes but Barrett escaped. Again, the crowd booed at the rounds conclusion.
In round four, Rahman threw three hard jabs and Barrett jabbed repeatedly, threw a right and caught a hard right that drew a loud approval from the crowd. Barrett circled out and jabbed. Rahman landed a hard right to the body and fell into a clinch. Rahman continued to stalk, but could not close the gap by and large. Barrett landed a slapping right to the head, then another when caught in corner. Rahman landed a right and later a clubbing left. The crowd booed as the bell rang.
Round five began with Barrett circling to his right. Rahman pursued and jabbed, while Barrett jabbed. Rahman landed a hard left jab that snapped Barrett’s head back. Switching to a southpaw stance, Barrett jabbed with his right. Rahman banked two hard jabs and missed a heavy right hand. Rahman exploded a heavy right off the head that buckled Barrett’s legs, then landed yet another. Barrett escaped. Barrett ducked under another right on the ropes.
In round six, Barrett retreated and jabbed, while Rahman pawed with the left. Barrett ducked under an aborted right and swatted Rahman with a right, then another. He landed a hard jab that stopped Rahman in his tracks momentarily. Barrett landed a hook to the body and the two exchanged before falling into a clinch. Barrett banged a right to the body, ate a hard left jab that snapped his head back and ducked under a right. The two swapped blows while in a clinch. Barrett bounced a right off Rahman, Rahman landed a short right to the head and ate one down the pipe as the round ended.
Round seven, Barrett jabbed, then Rahman followed suit. Barrett jabbed and feinted a right, causing Rahman to flinch as he leaned away. The two wrestled and popped in close. Barrett snapped Rahman’s head back with a jab. Barrett jarred with several rights coming off the ropes. He landed another at rings center. Rahman stunned Barrett with a thudding right to the side of the head while trapping him in a corner. Clinching, Barrett escaped. Barrett landed a sharp right. Rahman missed a wild counter. Again, the crowd booed at the rounds conclusion.
Rahman banged his gloves together at the commencement of round eight, then waited as Barrett had loose tape secured on his right glove. Once the fight resumed, there was more of the same circling and stalking. Barrett landed a pair of rights. Rahman landed a potent left hook to the head. Barrett landed a jarring left hook to Rahman’s jaw that drew a roar from the crowd. Rahman hit Barrett with a large overhand right that similarly wowed the crowd in the final seconds of the round.
In round nine, the two clashed heads, prompting Referee Nady to call time and have a doctor examine a cut on Rahman’s head. Afterwards, Rahman ate a right and bounced one in return as the two fell in close. Barrett dug a right to the ribs and Rahman flurried ineffectually to the head. Oddly, the two bounced on their toes and stared at one another. Then, they posed for a few minutes. Apparently tired of pursuing an unwilling opponent, Rahman bounced on his toes and walked away. A few jabs ensued and the bell rang.
In round 10, Barrett cracked a big right off the top of Rahman’s head. The two exchanged jabs. Barrett landed a left hook and an overhand right to the head, then ripped a left and later a right to the body. Barrett connected with a right to the head and ate one in return. The two wrestled momentarily. Rahman jabbed and ducked under a right. Barrett landed a right on Rahman’s head and winged another. However, Barrett knelt to the ground momentarily and covered his head when Rahman turned him awkwardly and rendered him in a vulnerable position. The ref intervened and the bell rang moments later.
In round 11, Barrett did his best Muhammad Ali to Rahman’s plodding Frazier as he stuck and moved while Rahman followed desperately trying to cut off the ring. Rahman threw a ponderous jab and Barrett ducked under a highly telegraphed right hand. More boos.
In the 12th and final round, Barrett suddenly came alive. Rahman jabbed and ate a hard right. Barrett launched a hard left-right combination that prompted an observer to say, “Alright, where was this during the rest of the fight?” Rahman knocked Barrett’s mouthpiece out with a right. As things just began to heat up, Nady inadvertently broke the two to replace the mouthpiece. Resuming action, Barrett drilled a left-right through Rahman’s gloves and speared him with a hard left jab. He drilled him with another left jab and a potent right hand. A tiring Rahman leaned on him. Barrett attacked Rahman with furious lefts and rights. He landed another crackling right to the head. The two traded intensely as the round wound down. Ironically, this drew loud boos from the crowd, as if to protest the lack of solid action during the preceding 11 rounds.
In the end, the judges scored the bout 116-112, 118-110 twice for a unanimous decision victory for Hassim Rahman, winning him the WBC Interim Heavyweight Title.
Mayorga misses Piccirillo with a with an uppercut to the body (Tom Glunz photo)
Ricardo “El Matador” Mayorga, 154 lbs., 26-5-1, 22 KO’s, combined a new jab and improved movement with his usual power game in winning a decisive victory over tough Italian Michele Piccirillo, 154 lbs., 44-2, 28 KO’s and picked up the vacant WBC Light Middleweight Title in the process.
Like Chicago’s Sammy Sosa in his last season with the Chicago Cubs, Mayorga swung for the fences and mostly missed in round one. He initiated launching violent one-twos, missing with the right and several follow-up hooks. Piccirillo jabbed and circled. Mayorga landed a right to the stomach and a wild, overhand right to the head. Bouncing on his toes, Picirillo continued to circle and jab. Mayorga missed a couple wild rights and landed another. He landed a looping right to the side of the head as the two passed.
On his toes, Piccirillo began round two circling and dogged the incoming. He jabbed. Mayorga landed an overhand right and knocked Piccirillo to the canvas. Following up, Mayorga knocked Picirillo back into the ropes with a wild fusillade. Piccirillo landed a single hook to the jaw. The two traded in close. Mayorga double jabbed and missed with a right. Mayorga connected with a left-right combination and knocked him down again. With Mayorga stalking, the two clashed heads. Mayorga swung and missed with another right.
In round three, Piccirillo attempted a feeble attack and countered in close, then scrambled to get away. Bleeding form the forehead, he jabbed, then ate a combination from Mayorga. Piccirillo landed a crisp right that sent spray flying from Mayorga’s head. Mayorga missed a downward arcing right that drew gasps from the crowd. Piccirillo countered, then jabbed and banged in a right cross to the head. Up on his toes, Mayorga dodged a right hand and dug right to the body. He measured Piccirillo and missed a right. Piccirillo became more belligerent, landing a few and missing with others, as Mayorga took some time off and danced around.
Piccirillo jabbed at the beginning of round four. Mayorga missed with a reaching right as Piccirillo retreated. Mayorga landed a right then caught a potent combination as he sought to follow-up. Piccirillo was warned for hitting behind the head. Piccirillo landed two smashing rights to the head. Immediately, Mayorga knocked Piccirillo to his haunches with a single, stunning right. Up quickly, Piccirillo boxed more carefully. The two exchanged in close. Mayorga landed another right to the top of Piccirillo’s head. Mayorga wobbled momentarily as Piccirillo landed a sharp counter. Piccirillo landed a flurry to the body. Mayorga bounced on his toes. Piccirillo ducked under a pair of rights as the two exchanged fire in close at rounds end.
Round five, Piccirillo pumped several jabs and retreated as Mayorga jabbed to the body and missed with a right to the head. Piccirillo sent spray from Mayroga’s heads with a right of his own. Mayorga clubbed Picirillo with a right. Piccirillo danced, then reengaged and circled. Piccirillo fired off a handful a handful of jabs, some missing their mark. In turn, Mayorga bounced on his toes, drawing the ire of the crowd with resounding boos. Responding, Mayorga forced the action, backing up Piccirillo. Trading iin close, Mayorga landed a looping right. Circling, Piccirillo jabbed and dodged a left hook, and ducked under a follow-up left hook-straight right combination at rounds end.
In round six, Piccirillo jabbed and circled. Mayorga moved his head, shimmied, and jabbed. Picirillo landed a series or jabs and a right. Mayorga connected with his own right hand, then another. Mayorga forced his way in close; Piccirillo fought his way out with a two fisted flurry. Trading at rings center, Piccirillo ate a right hand counter. He landed another crisp right. Mayorga hooked to both sides of the body as he drove Piccirillo to the ropes, then gestured profanely when he escaped at rounds end.
Round seven, Piccirillo circled and jabbed as Mayorga pivoted at center ring. Mayorga threw two hard rights, jabbed and missed a big right. Mayorga landed a right to the body, then a right to the head. He attacked with increased ferocity and raised his hand up signaling eminent victory. He continued to pressure, but missed a lot. Piccirillo landed a sharp right off the ropes. Then, Piccirillo cracked Mayorga with a crisp left-right combination. Mayorga landed a right to the head at the bell.
In round eight, Piccirillo initiated with spearing jabs. Suddenly, he was staggered by several booming rights and floundered on the ropes, as the two tangled on the ropes, prompting the ref to intervene. Afterwards, Mayorga continued to chase. His head cleared momentarily, Piccirillo caught another right to the head and clinched. Mayorga cracked yet another chopping right to the head and missed with an uppercut. Piccirillo landed a smacking right, then jabbed out of harms way. Piccirillo jabbed repeatedly then caught a left jab; he landed a hard right and a couple follow-up rights that caught Mayorga flush. Another Piccirillo right to the head brought a scowl to Mayorga’s visage. Mayoroga landed a right and the two exchanged in close. Mayorga banged in a booming right to the head at the bell.
In round nine, Piccirillo peppered behind the jab and circled carefully. Mayorga bent at the knees, held his hands very low—inviting Piccirillo to hit him—and stalked. Piccirillo didn’t take the bait, instead jabbing and circling. Mayorga pounced with a right, then leaned out of the way of a counter left hook. He landed another right to the head and caught a solid uppercut to the chin. Piccirillo pumped the jab and landed a hard right. Mayorga punished with both hands blazing. He closed out the round with a flourish of hard lefts and rights to the body at rounds end.
In the tenth round. Piccirillo snapped his jab and Mayorga countered. Still circling, Piccirillo moved and pumped several more punches in Mayorga’s face. Mayorga clubbed with a left to the face. Tthe two swapped frenzied punches in close. Mayorga caught a chopping left to the head as he launched a right. Piccirillo jabbed and ducked under another right. Mayorga landed a left uppercut and swallowed a right to the head. Piccirillo landed a chopping left and Mayorga a swatting right. Piccirillo, as always, used space to his advantage, avoiding most of the damaging blows. Piccirillo landed a one-two and ate a right. Mayorga landed with both fists in close as the two clinched. Mayorga chased and Piccirillo boxed his way out of harms way.
In the 11th round, Piccirillo continue to circle and jab while Mayroga pressured and chased. At one point Mayorga raised his hands to the sides in a sign of exasperation. The two swapped in close, where Piccirillo landed a crisp left to the head. Mayorga was being outboxed.
In the 12th round, Mayorga gestured alternatively to the ground and his groin region, daring Piccirillo to fight. Falling into a clinch, Piccirillo caught some shots to the back of the head and returned in kind, prompting a warning from the referee. Mayorga lunged and missed. Mayorga swung and missed with a wild left hook. Piccirillo threw a left-right combination that missed. The crowd booed loudly as Piccirillo remained evasive and Mayorga failed to connect. To the crowd’s delight, Mayorga landed a flurry of lefts and rights that dropped Piccirillo momentarily. However, he failed to capitalize as he landed a somewhat ineffectual flurry as the final bell rang to a crescendo of boos.
The judges scored it 117-110, 117-108 and 120-105 for Ricardo Mayorga.
Wished good luck before his fight with Saleta, Oliver McCall said, “He’s the one who’ll need good luck!” Oliver “The Bull” McCall, 235 lbs., 44-8, 31 KO’s made good on his promise after a shaky start, stopping Przemyslaw “Chemek” Saleta, 247 lbs., 42-6, 21 KO’s, in four rounds.
McCall lands a booming right that sets up the coupe de gras (Tom Glunz photo)
Round one, McCall rushed out quickly, bringing to mind Brewster’s assault on Golota as the two traded in close. McCall landed a booming that brought Saleta’s knee up. The moment passed. Settling down, Saleta landed some combinations and established the jab. He bobbled McCall’s head with a right but stuck to a conservative high guard and jab routine. Saleta landed a flurry to the body. McCall just missed a looping overhand right and was countered in close. McCall landed a left hook and Saleta banged in a right at the bell.
In round two, Saleta jabbed repeatedly and missed with a right as McCall retreated. He landed a one-two. McCall backed him up with a double jab. Saltea jabbed and landed a right to the head. Saleta landed a left right, a right to the body. McCall jabbed, and was countered. Saleta launched a potent four-punch combination to body and head. He landed a left hook to the head, a left-right to the body and a left hook to the head. He landed another punishing right to the head forcing McCall to hold. McCall launched a couple of leaden rights over the top, but Saleta landed a right back hard. McCall jabbed. McCall appeared to age before the audience’s eyes, as was being systematically beaten by the younger lion at this juncture.
McCall (right) lands the knockout blow on Saleta (Tom Glunz photo)
Saleta initated round three with jabs, then a right. A right to the body and a hook to the head sent spray from McCall’s head. Saleta remained the aggressor. McCall landed a jarring right to the head, then another. Saleta rocked McCall with an overhand right. Saleta landed a booming right hook to the head. Ever dangerous, McCall landed a right to the head of is own and jabbed. Saleta jabbed to the body. McCall landed a left-right combination to the chest; Saleta landed a hard flurry. Jabbing, Saleta caught a couple stiff jabs to the head and ducked under a hard right. McCall banged in a stiff right before the bell terminated the round. Smiling confidently, Saleta corrected McCall, who walked to the wrong corner at rounds end.
The two exchanged jabs at the beginning of round four. Saleta landed a hook to the body. McCall countered. Saleta double jabbed, threw a straight right and hook to the head. McCall jabbed. McCall bounced a right off the top of Saleta’s head to no effect and landed an uppercut and a flurry of punishing shots in close. Coming alive, McCall began bombing in earnest and landed a thudding right to the head. He landed another. The two swapped hard leather. McCall landed a huge right to the head and a smashing overhand right that dropped Saleta to all fours. After looking him over briefly, the referee waved it over at 2:40 into round four.
Afterwards, Tom Tsatas, advisor and training partner of Carl Davis and Fres Oquendo said, “I think Saleta prepared for a different fight; Golota starts out slower, he takes his time and he’s a different fighter. I think power is the last thing to go on a fighter so even if he’s 40 years old, his power didn’t’ go away, he’s relaxed. I also think his heart for Saleta was more into fighting Golota; it was more personal.”
Saleta and his girlfriend talk at the post-fight conference (Tom Glunz photo)
[Editor's note: Andrew Golota, his originally scheduled opponent, was injured in sparring and was replaced by McCall as Saleta's opponent for the evening].
On his way back to the dressing room, McCall said, “I feel good, I feel good! You know, once I got warmed up, after I got to put things together, and see what I’m going to take him out with, and it just took a round or two, I stopped to see his strengths and I said, ‘Well, I seen some weaknesses and that was he stays open and he keeps his hands very far apart. My trainer already told me to come with the uppercuts. So, I said, ‘Okay, it’s the timing and the win to come with him, so when I catch him, I’ll finish.’ Once I hurt him, I knew I could finish him, once I really started to get him.”
Commenting on what’s next on his horizon, he said, “I’m ready to take on whoever they bring on. I’m going to train harder, goin’ to be in better shape!”
Przemyslaw Saleta said, “Oliver hit me and he can punch, I thought I was doing well and then I got cut. I could have tried to stick and move, but I know what people want. They want someone who comes to fight but I paid the price tonight.
“I want everyone in Poland and in Chicago to know that I did the best I could do.”
Collazo (left) digs a vicious left into Gonzalez (Tom Glunz photo)
Luis Collazo, 147 lbs., 25-1, 11 KO’s demonstrated why heart and an ability to absorb punishment is not always a good thing, as he systematically punished the faded, but durable Miguel Angel Gonzalez, 146 ½ lbs., 49-4-1, 39 KO’s and forced a stoppage in eight rounds in defending his WBA Welterweight Championship belt.
Gonzalez stalked in round one. Collazo landed a right hook to the head. Gonzales returned in kind. Collazo shoed flashes of the speed that won him the title vs. Riviera, up on his toes and peppering with both hands. Gonzalez landed a couple hooks to head and body and a couple of rights.
In round two, Gonzalez landed a lead right and several other punches as he initiated. Collazo unleashed a series of quick one-twos that backed Gonzalez to the ropes. The two exchanged in close. Collazo snapped Gonzalez’ head back with a straight left and began landing flush shots with increased frequency. Collazo landed several double jab-straight left combinations, then spun out. Plodding, Gonzalez banged in some hard hooks and rights.
In round three, Collazo increased his effective work rate. Gonzalez banged in a pair of hooks to the head and hard hooks to the body. Collazo ripped flurries of lefts and rights to the head and a couple of jarring lefts to the head. The two traded in close. Collazo bounced a hard straight left off Gonzalez’ head, then jarring right hooks as he opened up and backed Gonzalez off. Collazo was out-landing Gonzales. A jarring left hook snapped Gonzalez’ head back. A straight left sent spray cascading from Gonzalez’ head.
Collazo (left) and Gonzalez swap punches (Tom Glunz photo)
Gonzalez pounced with increased urgency at the beginning of round four, jarring Collazo to head and body. Collazo landed a potent left right to the head, then followed with stiff flurries that had the crowd roaring with approval. Collazo snapped Gonzalez’ head back repeatedly with straight lefts in a corner and landed four follow-up punches to the head and a straight right at rings center. Gonzalez drew large cheers as he banged back with abandon, trapping Collazo on the ropes for a good 30 seconds. Collazo backed him off with a flurry of his own at rounds end.
In round five, the two traded blows at rings center. Out-speeding Gonzalez, Collazo landed a burst of blows. Undeterred, Gonzalez pursued. Collazo repeatedly banged in two and three punch combinations to the head and snapped Gonzalez’ head back with a right left.
Round six saw Gonzalez back Collazo up with a furious, two fisted assault, then repelled as Collazo unloaded with impunity, snapping Gonzalez’ head back several times for good measure. Gonzalez pressured, but Collazo landed the greater preponderance of blows. Collazo backed Gonzalez to the ropes, repeatedly jarring his head with both fists. However, Gonzalez came back with a vengeance, backing Collazo to the ropes with a two fisted assault of his own.
In round seven, Gonzalez again initiated. However, once again, he caught more than he landed. And again, Collazo repeatedly jarred. Hemming him in with the odd elbow, and pressure, Gonzlaez worked Collazo over on the ropes with raking shots to body and head.
Ironically, in between rounds, Gonzalez’ corner threw in the towel for an automatic TKO at one second into round eight. Their charge had seen enough abuse.
Produced by Don King Productions, the “Global Glory” fight card held at the United Center produced a lot of action, entertainment and contrast in styles. Even as Hasim Rahman cemented his shot at the Mecca of boxing in garnering a mandatory shot at WBC Champion Vitaly Klitschko with his victory, the overall production made serious inroads in helping reestablish Chicago as a serious venue for championship boxing. Either way, that’s a serious win for boxing any day.
Oliver McCall (in golden shirt) chats on his cell while Reverend
Jesse Jackson (right) watches the fights (Tom Glunz photo)
Juan C. Ayllon (right) with the legendary former man in charge
of boxing at Madison Square Garden and current PR guy for
Don King, Bobby Goodman (Tom Glunz photo)
