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03/16/2006 Archived Entry: "Russell Jordan vs. Oscar Diaz: Tough Fight"
Russell Jordan vs. Oscar Diaz: Tough Fight
By Dave Iamele March 2006
Photos of Jamar Patterson and Russell Jordan © Marianne Iamele
Jordan (right) uncorks a right on Diaz
The referee jumped between the two boxers and waved his arms, ending the fight in the 5th round. Just like that, Russell “Spiderman” Jordan’s big shot had abruptly misfired. As the ring announcer proclaimed Oscar Diaz the victor, Jordan stood in his corner shaking his head back and forth.
I studied the dejected young man’s face as Diaz and his corner celebrated. Russell looked like this was all a bad dream that he wanted to wake up from. Why?...how?…Jordan may have wondered as he stood there for what must have seemed an eternity. Where did it all go wrong? Hadn’t he trained harder than ever before? Didn’t he do everything his trainer asked of him? Who did all that road work and sparring? Russell Jordan did--believe it.
So, why did he lose? Whose fault is it? Is it his manager’s fault for selecting too difficult an opponent? Is it his trainer’s fault for working him too hard? Is it because Diaz was just too good, too big, and too strong? Is it Russell’s fault for not fighting the “right fight”?
Well, it’s always easy to put the blame on someone, and in boxing especially, blame is passed around like a bottle at a bonfire. But, the truth is that it was really no one’s fault. Should his manager have passed up this bout because maybe his kid wasn’t “ready” yet? Pass up the main event on ESPN for the most money his guy’s ever seen? Of course not, Chip Pugliese is a good manager and he cares about his fighters. Was he worried every minute from the time the bout was signed until it was over? You bet he was. He knew it was a tough task for Russell, his first time as a main event on television against a tough Texan with a good record and a good punch. I can assure you that Chip took that bout for a lot of good reasons, but the two biggest were that he believed Russell had a real shot a winning and that if Russell should happen to lose, it still would be good exposure for him and a good learning experience.
Likewise, blame would be unjust to pass on to Russell’s trainer. You could tell just by looking at Jordan that he was clearly in shape. I also dismiss the opinion expressed by some upon seeing Russell weigh-in at a light 143 pounds that he had over-trained. Russell’s trainer is no dope; he knew how big this fight was and he knows his fighter. You can believe that Russell didn’t “leave it all in the gym.”
As for the opponent, Diaz, I’ve already stated that he is no push-over with a pumped-up record; he’s a strong, experienced, 147-pounder with a good chin. The main component here that led to Jordan’s downfall is the experience of Diaz. Having competed in twice as many bouts and having previously been featured on ESPN2 were the two largest factors in allowing Diaz the composure and will to defeat Jordan.
So, how does a fighter gain these traits that will help contribute to victory? By taking tough fights and, win or lose, gain experience, learn, and make adjustments. Of course, this whole theory only works if the fighter can and will learn and make adjustments, and if he has enough natural talent.
I believe Russell is smart and talented enough to come back from this defeat and go on to do big things in boxing. Russell thought his toughest fight would be against Oscar Diaz, but right now is his toughest fight: coming back. Fighters have a choice to make after a loss like Russell suffered. He can give up--and when I say give up I don’t mean quitting boxing, I mean becoming an opponent and just staying in good enough shape to show up and get a payday--he can buckle down, rededicate himself, study tapes, and listen to his trainers.
Which choice will Russell Jordan make? Well, I have a vision in my head. It’s a couple years later and I’m at The Turning Stone watching the end of Jordan vs. Diaz II. Jordan has kept Diaz at the end of a stinging right jab and landed the left from different angles all night. Diaz has tried to impose his will and bull-in, but Jordan has either kept him off with the jab or tied him up on the inside. Now, in the closing moments of the last round, Jordan stuns an exhausted Diaz and drops him for the ten-count with a beautiful five-punch combination! That’s the kind of potential Russell Jordan has. What he does with it now is his choice, and the real tough fight.
Jamar “The Young Prince” Patterson Still Undefeated
Jamar Patterson was told that his bout would be televised live to ESPN2 viewers tuning in to the February 24 edition of Friday Night Fights. However, in order to fit him in, his bout would have to be the “swing bout.” This term means that his fight could go on anywhere from second to last and could be either four or six rounds, depending on how much time needed to be filled.
If this doesn’t sound like an ideal set-up for a young, 4-0 boxer, that’s because it isn’t, but it’s just one of the many things you put up with for national television exposure. On this particular evening, Jamar vs. Sheldon Rudolf of Patterson, New Jersey, (4-3 w/ 2 KOs) would be the “walk-out bout,” which is the bout that takes place after the main event, usually when the majority of fans are departing—hence the name. I can tell you that none of the over 2,000 paying customers left before enjoying the opportunity to see The Young Prince ply his trade.
I couldn’t say whether it was the frustration of having been left off the previous boxing show at The Turning Stone or simply pent-up energy from having to wait through the first six bouts, or a combination of both, but what I can say is Patterson tore into Rudolf like the New Jersey native had insulted his mother! Credit must be given to Rudolf. For a 4-3 fighter, he hadn’t come to Jamar’s backyard to lie down. After weathering Jamar’s barrage in the opining round, Rudolf battled back to engage in several exciting back-and-forth exchanges over the remaining three rounds.
When the final bell sounded, the crowd showed their appreciation by a loud round of applause and thunderous foot stomping along with several shouts of J a a a m a a r r ! The scoring was close, which accurately reflected the shifting tides in the hard-fought contest. One judge scored the four-rounder even, with the other two giving the bout to Patterson.
So, Utica’s Young Prince improves to five wins with no defeats and three KOs. This was an important bout for Jamar, and he passed the test. He reacted positively in front of the television cameras and didn’t freeze up, and he went four hard rounds with a fighter who was trying just as hard as he was to win the bout.
Sheldon Rudolf’s 4-3 record didn’t look like much on paper, but I think it would be a safe bet that the next guy to take on the now 4-4 boxer may be in for an unpleasant surprise against the game competitor.
Recent TV Action
The evening following the action at The ‘Stone, on Saturday, February 25, Sugar Shane Mosley showed that he still has a little sweetness left by stopping Fernando Vargas in the 10th round. The bout was tight in the scoring at the time of the stoppage with one judge giving Vargas the edge by one point and the other two judges having Mosley up by one point. Although the scoring was close, the referee believed the bout had to be stopped due to Vargas’ right eye having been swollen shut, preventing him from being able to see out of the eye and protect himself. HBO commentator, Larry Merchant, correctly pointed out that in the tough old days this bout never would have been halted, citing the Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Carmen Basilio rematch in which Basilio’s eye looked like a grapefruit growing out of his head.
This past weekend boxing fans saw about as dominating a performance as they’re likely to ever see in a title unification bout where undefeated Welshman Joe Calzeghe dominated the previously unbeaten Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy from St. Petersburg, Florida. Boxing at about 2:00 a.m. local time at the MEN Arena in Manchester to accommodate US television, Joe showed that his 40-0 record with 31 KOs was no aberration by winning virtually every round against the highly touted Lacy. Calzeghe kept Lacy on the end of his jab all night and used angles and good footwork on the outside to keep the ever-charging Lacy off balance and at bay. When Lacy did bull his way in, Calzeghe quickly tied up his powerful opponent, negating his strength. This was the biggest bout at 160 pounds since Roy Jones beat Bernard Hopkins back in 1994.
After the Showtime telecast ended, HBO presented Miguel Cotto vs. Gianluca Branco. The young up-and-coming Puerto Rican superstar Cotto showed why boxing insiders are comparing him to Felix Trinidad by becoming the first fighter to stop the once-beaten Italian inside the distance. Cotto took the starch out of the tough, faster handed Branco by relentlessly hammering his body and head until he just couldn’t take anymore.
Cotto’s people already are looking for a June 10 match-up with slick but inexperienced Paul Malinaggi, probably to take place at Madison Square Garden.
Coming Up
Fans of heavyweight boxing haven’t had much reason to get excited recently, but I can give them two good reasons to cheer up:
Hasim Rahman vs. James Toney, March 17; it’s on HBO and not PPV. Rahman was awarded the WBC title upon Vitali Klitschko’s retirement, and this will be his first defense of his second reign as champion.
As for James Toney, he defeated the unlikable John Ruiz last year to win the WBA version of the heavyweight crown only to see his victory negated to a no-contest when his post-fight drug test showed traces of steroids in his system.
These are two of the top competitors in today’s watered-down heavyweight class, and this bout will be the first step in clearing up the heavyweight muddle and, hopefully, eventual unification.
The previously mentioned heavyweight pariah, John Ruiz, may have been finally forced out of the heavyweight title picture this past December when he lost a controversial decision to the 7’ 2” Russian giant, Nicolay Valuev over in Berlin. Valuev may be the biggest stiff since Italy’s Primo Carnera left the boxing ring for the wrestling ring, but if he got rid of the boring Ruiz, fight fans already owe him a thank-you. The big Russian’s new co-promoter, Don King, is looking for a soft touch for the new WBA strap holder that King has cleverly dubbed “King Kong.”
WBO titleholder Lamon Brewster is scheduled to take on Sergei Liakhovich on April 1, and IBF belt holder Chris Byrd is scheduled for a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko on April 22. In their first bout in 2000, Wlad won a 12-round decision over Byrd.
Well, that covers all four of the current heavyweight belt holders and their immediate plans. Hopefully they’ll consider fighting each other in the near future so boxing can once again have one unified heavyweight champion. Hey, it’s my column, and if I want to engage in pipe dreams, I will!
Originally Printed March 15, 2006 as “Utica’s Patterson battles his way to 5-0” in Utica Observer-Dispatch. Reprinted with permission.
