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11/20/2005 Archived Entry: "Under Mayweather--Mitchell: The Rest of the Show"
Under Mayweather--Mitchell: The Rest of the Show
By Katherine Dunn
Photos by Sara Welty
Mayweather (right) lands a devastating right to Mitchell's body (photo by Sara Welty)
The moniker for this HBO broadcast was the clunky, “Pound for Pound King Battle of Champions,” but the 8 bout card drew a reported 7, 106 cheerful fans to the Rose Garden arena in Portland, OR on a night when a huge local college football rivalry was being played. The night was sponsored by Brand Jordan of Nike, and Michael Jordan was at ringside. So was the fan friendly bling king,heavyweight James Toney. For the local fight fans this was a huge event. Jimmy Lennon Jr. handled the ring announcing. Former greats from Portland, Richard “Sweet” Sue, Ray Lampkin, and Thad Spenser were introduced in the ring. Roger Mayweather and Buddy McGirt were working opposite corners. And Roy Jones Jr. was signing autographs and playing with visiting kids after his commentating duties.
Fight fans become involuntary experts in all possible variations of the national anthem, and this one was extraordinary. It was a jazz saxophone version played to mind-boggling heights by Mike Phillips, who was introduced as the only non-athlete to sign an endorsement contract with Brand Jordan. Then there were the bouts.
In the Main Event:
As everyone now knows--- WBC Jr Welterweight (140 lb) Champion Floyd Mayweather Jr, 147 lbs, (now 35-0, 24 KO’s) of Grand Rapids, MI, used a hard right to the body to stop 2 time former world champ Sharmba Mitchell, 145 1/2 lbs, (now 56-5, 30 KO’s) of Washington, D.C. at 2:05 of the 6th round in a scheduled 12. Mayweather earned 4.3 Million dollars. Mitchell’s purse was $175,000.
Mitchell is counted out (photo by Sara Welty)
In other bouts:
Middleweights
Andre Ward, 160 lbs, (Now 7-0, 4 KO’s) of Oakland, CA was the sole U.S. Olympic Gold Medallist in 2004 and he’s a smooth stylist. Ward had it pretty easy over 6 rounds versus Darnell Boone, 158 1/2 lbs, (6-2-1, 3 KO’s) of Youngstown, OH. The crude but sturdy Boone was outclassed but never down-hearted in this little affair.
Ward lost the crowd when he started show boating. He spent rounds 2 through 4 dancing at the end of a lazy jab as Boone surged after him without results.
Boone’s nose was bleeding in the third but his moment arrived in the fourth when he briefly trapped the lackadaisical Ward on the ropes and landed a 1-2 combo to the face that dropped the Olympian on his butt. Ward got up fast and unhurt but this kink in the plot delighted the crowd, inspired Boone and got Ward’s attention.
In the fifth Boone was warned for holding. The sixth had Ward reverting to his long distance style with Boone pursuing.
The unanimous decision win for Ward was deserved and no surprise, but the crowd booed lustily any how-- An aesthetic reaction to Ward’s cool disengagement and an endorsement of Boone’s more visible commitment. The judges called it 59-55, 58-56, and 57-56, all for Ward.
The press rows reacted to two of the judges scoring the knockdown round only 10-9 for Boone. Judge Andy Dinger called it a 10-8 round for Boone. Judges Denis Ryan and Robert Flamme called it a 10-9 round. Ryan defended his scoring afterwards with good humor and a logical argument. Though many of us are accustomed to the idea that a knockdown is an automatic 10-8 score, says Ryan, in fact it should be viewed as a point deduction.
“Andre Ward was winning the rest of the round extremely decisively,” explained Ryan. And Boone “failed to score much after the knockdown. The knockdown was worth two points but not three points,” says Ryan. Since Boone was losing the round, two points gave him the round. A 10-8 score would have given Boone 3 points for the knockdown.
Ward’s purse for this performance was $20,000. Boone’s was $4,000.
Jr. Welterweights
Former IBF 130 lb. Champion, Steve “Mister” Forbes, 143 lbs, (now 29-3, 9 KO’s) of Portland, OR, was scheduled for ten rounds versus Julio Cesar Sanchez, 142 3/4 lbs, (now 22-16-1, 14 KO’s) of Mexicali, Mexico.
Despite his record Sanchez could box a bit. Forbes paid him the courtesy of close attention in the first round right up to the point where Forbes put together a left right combo that decked Sanchez. Beating the count Sanchez survived to the bell and came out fiercely to take the second round on all three judge’s cards. Forbes spent that round in skilled blocking, deliberately slowing the action.
In the third Forbes ate a right hand that staggered him. He covered and hung on for a moment before launching his own attack and connecting with a perfect right uppercut to the jaw that dropped Sanchez flat. Trying to rise, Sanchez toppled over onto his side and dozed through the count. A spectacular KO victory for Forbes at 2:36 of the 3rd round.
Forbes purse was $10,000 and Sanchez earned $5,000.
Lightweights
Wes Ferguson, 132 3/4 lbs, (now 12-1-1, 3 KO’s) of Flint, MI won a unanimous decision in a rough 8 round tangle with Silverio Ortiz, 139 3/4 lbs (now 12-8, 6 KO’s) of Los Angeles, CA. Ortiz lost a point in the 4th for fouls and Ferguson slipped to the deck but got up quick in the 8th. The final round was a wild exchange that had the crowd roaring on its collective feet at the bell. The scores were 78-73, 76-75, 78-73, all for Ferguson.
Light Heavyweights
Nelson Zepeda, 174 1/2 lbs, (now 3-0-1, 2 KO’s) of Portland, OR fought to a 6 round draw with Robert “Bo” Marthaller, 172 1/4 lbs, (now 3-1-1, 2 KO’s) of Portland, OR. The two had split a series of encounters as amateurs so this grudge match was packed with passion though lacking in finesse. The crowd loved this scrambling war and the two fighters greeted each other as friends when it was over.
Jr. Featherweights
Selso Bosquez, 119 1/2 lbs, (now 3-2, 2 KO’s) of Portland, OR was the harder puncher but Refugio Navarro, 120 3/4 lbs, (now 5-3) of Compton, CA was far busier and backed Bosquez up consistently. Navarro stayed on the attack and landed frequently. A unanimous decision in four rounds for Navarro. The scores were 38-37, 39-36, and 39-36.
Welterweights
Teefo Seetso, 151 lbs, (now 3-0) of Botswana via Denver, CO had so much trouble making weight that he stepped on the scale in the crowded lobby of the Benson Hotel nude. In a 4 rounder, Seetso met Osvaldo “Waldo” Rojas, 147 lbs, (now 2-1, 1 KO) of Portland, OR. Rojas can actually box some and he dominated the first round with jabs and combinations while Seetso covered and waited. In the middle rounds, Seetso came on with a powerful if slow attack to the body and bulled Rojas to the ropes. The final round was a leather storm of toe-to-toe action. Seetso won a split decision. All three judges called it 39-37. One of them saw it for Rojas. The other two saw it for Seetso.
Jr. Welterweights
Older fans in the Pacific Northwest may remember a quick, tough, and heavy-handed featherweight from the early 1980’s named Donny Fosmire. He was known for his no-prisoners approach, innovative fouls, and an appropriate “Li’l Devil” tattoo. Fosmire, of Portland, is now 40 years old, has a record of 10-10-1, 6 KO’s, and weighed 142 lbs for a 4 round Saturday night encounter he took on some three days notice. Fosmire stepped in with National Golden Glove champ Lorenzo Reynolds,139 1/2 lbs, (now 10-0, 4 KO’s) of Saginaw, MI. Reynolds won every round on the judges cards, and Fosmire lost a point for fouls in the third, but the rugged Portlander stuck it out, and made it awkward for Reynolds. The scores were 40-34, 40-35, 40-35.
More action from Mayweather-Mitchell, with Mitchell (right) on the attack (photo by Sara Welty)
Most of the undercard boxers earned around $1,800. Fosmire, the last minute substitute, earned $3,200.
All purse amounts are according to the Oregon State Police Boxing and Wrestling Commission.
Saturday,November 19, 2005
Rose Quarter Arena, Portland, OR
HBO cable broadcast
Promoter: Goosen Tutor Promotions
Matchmaker: Tom Brown
Ring Announcer: Jimmy Lennon Jr.
Referees: Richard Steele, James Ericksen, Dave Hagen
Judges: Duane Ford, Jim Howard, Greg Baker, Perla Rodriguez, Robert Flamme, Andy Dinger, Denis Ryan
Time keepers: Mary Ann Phillips, Rosie Myhre, Bill Meartz
Ringside Physicians: Dr. John Denker, Dr. Mark Holloma
Sanctioned by the Oregon State Police Boxing & Wrestling Commission
Executive Director: Brad Darcy
Mayweather (left) bounces a left off Mitchell's head. All photos by Sara Welty, Copyright 2005. You can contact Sara at: sarahweltyphotography@yahoo.com
