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01/21/2008 Archived Entry: "TV’s Greatest Reruns!"
TV’s Greatest Reruns!
(Bring Back the Titans)
By Jill Diamond at ringside
NEW YORK - Anyone who expected a boring evening was vastly disappointed. The two old men of boxing (both whom celebrated birthdays this month) gave everything they had to the game. It didn’t have the passion of two old cowboys duking it out in the headlights of their battered Fords, or the impact of two opposing locomotives on the same track slam dancing against coiled steel; but what you got was an electric evening, a diverse card and a wild and frenetic crowd screaming for their heroes. Yahoo!
I would say that Roy Jones, Jr. was in control of the fight at all times. His show boat showmanship was actually engaging, a flashback to Ali’s rope-a-dope tactics. Tito Trinidad gave a focused and serious performance, but it was Roy the cat- and – Tito the mouse through most of it; not to mention (Whoops! I just did) some questionably low blows that were left uncalled by the fair and generally astute Arthur Mercante, Jr.
The only thing I question was the great divide in the scoring. Unanimous, absolutely, but the gap a little unfair and didn’t take into account stylistic differences of the two fighters. Never-the-less, Jones floored Tito in the 6th and the 10th and even though Tito rose quickly, seemingly none-the-worse, they were clear knock downs.
Mike Mollo prior to his bout versus Golota
It was a very long night, and the other fights varied in quality. The Pay-Per-Few didn’t begin until nine pm, and the Main Event went on after eleven. The smart money started arriving around ten; just in time to cheer for what many considered the fight of the night: Mollo vs Golota (let it be noted, that if Jones and Tito are considered “boxing’s old men”, Golota is their grandfather, having turned forty that night). After the Golota-Mollo fight, Don King referred to it as the Battle of the Gladiators. If this was the appetizer, the meal never came close.
I have never witnessed two such battle weary men slugging away with such determination. Early in the twelve rounds, what appeared to be a head butt bloodied Golota’s left eye. I was surprised the fight wasn’t stopped a few rounds later when the eye completely shut. Mollo continued to chip away at stone-faced Golota, and threw some solid punches, mostly to the head. By the eighth round both men were staggered, but still on their feet, doing their best to find their target and slam into it.
To everyone’s amazement, Mollo, who was floored mid-fight, somehow finished that round and survived the rest. At times, he came in so low, that Golota continually punched the air above Mollo’s head. Many in the press had expected the much smaller Mollo to be shark bait for the “Foul Pole,” but Mollo charged on with such heart and determination that the fight ended to a standing ovation. Mollo was also the only ‘looser’ to exhibit enough dignity to show up at the press conference and make a statement. If he didn’t win the fight, he certainly won the night.
Mike Mollo’s Statement:
“I couldn’t believe the number of combinations he threw for an old man. I fought the best I could. I got nervous and flustered. I wish I had done better. I didn’t fight my best fight but my hat is off to him.”
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Two rising stars to watch are Angelo Santana, who made his pro debut at MSG, taking out his opponent in the first round of four and Alexander Devon, a charming, muscled twenty year old who chop-chopped Demarcus Corley. To note, both these men have interesting backgrounds. Angelo swam (yes, swam) from Cuba to the US to follow his dream as a boxer and Alexander started boxing at seven and is still with the same trainer.
Perhaps the upset of the evening was “call me” Alex (Bunema)’s easy win over Roman Karmazin. He dropped him twice, the second time, was enough to tell the story. Roman seemed slow from the start and never gained strength.
An electric evening, vindicating Don King; and leaving even the fussiest fan, satisfied.
