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01/28/2006 Archived Entry: "2006 Shaping Up to be a Good Year for Boxing"
2006 Shaping Up to be a Good Year for Boxing
By Dave Iamele
Photos of Russell Jordan © Marianne Iamele
Courtesy of Utica Observer-Dispatch
Rochester's Russell Jordan on his way to a 3rd-round KO of Max Cuevas, December 2005, Turning Stone Casino
Welcome to my first column for 2006. This year isn’t even one month old but already is shaping up to be a memorable one boxing-wise.
Already Zab Judah has lost his status as boxing’s only unified champion by losing a 12-round decision to relatively unknown Carlos Baldomir from Argentina. Remarkably, it appears that the previously scheduled PPV showdown between Judah and Floyd Mayweather still will take place.
This past Saturday evening, Erik Morales and Manny Pacquaio engaged in their rematch in the first PPV event of the year. Their first bout would have been 2005’s fight-of-the-year if not for the instant classic, the epic Diego Corrales vs. Jose Luis Castillo bout. The first time around, Morales got the decision over a bloodied Pacquaio, but the rematch saw a focused Pacquaio extract a brutal revenge by knock-out in the 10th round.
For those who did not pay the $44.95 PPV price, the replay will be shown prior to Arturo Gatti’s bout on HBO this Saturday evening.
Boxing Returns to The ‘Stone
The Turning Stone will host a night of professional boxing to be telecast on ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights on February 24. I urge local fans to turn out instead of tuning in and wait until the following evening to watch televised boxing (more on that later).
Spiderman after his KO victory
The main event features Rochester’s talented welterweight, Russell “Spider Man” Jordan (12-2 w/ 8 KOs) vs. Lou Duva-managed prospect, Oscar Diaz (23-1 w/ 11 KOs). Taking on Diaz—who is one tough Texan--is a big step up for Jordan, but should he beat him, it would be a huge win. Jordan’s manager, Chip Pugliese, believes that Russell can win the bout and is definitely not just putting his man in there to be an opponent for Diaz.
The under card will feature another Duva prospect, 140-pounder Kendall Holt (20-1 w/ 12 KOs) who is no stranger to viewers of Friday Night Fights. Cindy Serrano (12-0-1 w/ 7 KOs) of Brooklyn returns to The ‘Stone for the second time. In December, she won fans over by engaging in an exciting bout with the West Coast’s Rhonda Luna.
Also, finally returning to The ‘Stone is Utica’s own Jamar Patterson (4-0 w/ 3 KOs). Jamar wasn’t too happy about not being included on the December card, and I expect him to take out his displeasure on whoever is unlucky enough to be facing him in February.
Other bouts will be added later. One fighter you won’t see there is Utica’s heavyweight prospect, Derrick Brown because he will be boxing in March on the undercard of Hasim Rahman vs. James Toney. Derrick helped Rahman prepare for his bout with Lennox Lewis in South Africa, and now he’ll be able to get some good exposure by competing on this major card in Atlantic City.
Even with the unfortunate absence of the D-Train, the February boxing show at The ‘Stone looks to provide some good action. Remember, the only thing better than watching a local prospect on television is watching him live. If you want to be sure to see Utica’s Young Prince, Jamar Patterson, show his stuff, I suggest turning out for the live event because you never know which bouts, other than the main event, will be televised.
If you want to see some good televised boxing, wait until Saturday night’s PPV featuring Fernando Vargas against Shane Mosley. These two fighters had exciting bouts with Golden Boy Oscar de la Hoya, and how they will match up against one another is the intriguing question that makes this bout interesting. Both guys are looking for a big win, and you can bet that neither will leave anything in the tank when this one’s over.
Also appearing on the Mosley/Vargas undercard is one of my favorite little warriors, Marc “Too Sharp” Johnson (44-4 w/ 28 KOs). Johnson will attempt to prove that he’s not too old by capturing Jhonny Gonzalez’ WBO bantamweight title. A win over the streaking Gonzalez would give Johnson his fourth title and be a nice icing on the cake for the career of this future boxing hall-of-famer.
And, speaking of great little fighters …
Mighty Mites Inducted into International Boxing Hall of Fame
Congratulations must go out to two of boxing’s best little fighters, Michael ‘little hands of stone” Carbajal (49-4 w/ 33 KOs) and Humberto “Chiquita” Gonzalez (43-3 w/ 31 KOs). Carbajal and Gonzalez will be the only two living inductees in the modern category this year (Edwin Rosario also will be inducted, but passed away in 1997), and you would be hard-pressed to find anyone to say they’re not deserving.
These two 108-pound fighters ensured their induction by taking place in one of the best (if not THE best) flyweight trilogy ever. Their 1993 initial match-up was the fight of the year, and Carbajal survived two vicious knockdowns to come back and KO Gonzalez in the 7th round. The rematch provided revenge for Chiquita as he won a 12-round split decision, and he solidified his edge by winning their third encounter by decision.
These two great fighters were the Ali and Frazier of their weight class, and it will be a pleasure to see them enshrined this June in Canastota. The fact that they are going in together is a wonderful coincidence; maybe ’06 will be a lucky year for boxing.
A Mesi Situation
When last seen in a boxing ring, Buffalo’s Baby Joe Mesi had won a thrilling victory over former cruiserweight champion Vassiliy Jirov, but the win cost Mesi dearly. He absorbed a brutal amount of punishment and was knocked down three times in the last two rounds. Afterward, it was revealed that Mesi had suffered three subdural hematomas, which basically is “bleeding of the brain” or blood clots.
That was almost two years ago, and Mesi has been under “permanent” medical suspension ever since. Recently, however, Mesi won an important legal victory that may land him inside the ring again (for better or worse) as early as ’07. A Nevada state judge ruled that the Nevada State Athletic Commission had no authority to continue suspending a boxer who no longer holds a valid boxing license. Mesi’s had expired, so their jurisdiction had ended. This ruling means Mesi is free to apply for a license anywhere in the US, and money-grubbing commissions already have stepped forward to let Baby Joe know that they would be more than happy to grant him a license.
Many are baffled as to why a nice, relatively wealthy, good-looking, young man like Mesi would risk his life to continue to box. Well, I’ve spoken to Baby Joe, and he certainly seems to be a genuinely down-to-Earth guy. I never believed he was big enough or talented enough to become heavyweight champion…even in today’s age of watered-down champs and contenders. But, I can tell you that Joe Mesi believes different. He believes he has what it takes to be champion, and that he is “healed” from his head injuries.
I just hope that chasing his dream doesn’t end up costing him his life; but, if I’ve learned only one thing by visiting Canastota every June for Induction Weekend for the past 15 years, it’s this:
For the vast majority of these warriors, boxing is their life. They would knowingly die in pursuit of greatness; it’s part of their mentality and make-up, and perhaps this primal determination is what makes them pursue their goal--their dream of becoming World Champion--no matter how great the cost.
Why Boxing?
That’s the question I hear more than any other. People want to know why I don’t write about a “normal” sport like baseball or football? Well, in a nut shell, I know that I respect and admire these boxers for their courage and passion, and I look forward to every up-coming bout with an enthusiasm and interest--to the neglect and indifference of all else--that only another boxing junkie could understand. There is no more pure and true contest than professional boxing in the sporting world. Forget the lousy decisions and blind judges and politics. After the bell sounds, ending the final round, just look closely at the faces of the two boxers in the ring. Look into their eyes; they’ll tell you who won.
After a dramatic KO, inspect the vanquished and the victor. You ca n taste the sweet victory of the winner and smell the bitter tang of the loser as his senses slowly return and he understands that the pursuit of the dream has just taken one big step backwards. This human drama always engages and touches me more deeply than any missed put, blocked field goal, grand slam, or slam dunk. I guess that’s what makes me a boxing fan.
To Contact Me
Here’s my E-mail address: iamele@adelphia.net. Please feel free to drop me a line and let me know how you like the column. I promise I’ll do better in replying to all who bother to write.
Happy New Year to all boxing fans!
Originally Printed January 27, 2006 as
“Good Bouts Plentiful in 2006, Including at Turning Stone” in Utica Observer-Dispatch. Reprinted with permission.
